Opening: 🎉

• Drums and Flats will open Saturday, May 2nd at 6pm! Visit them at 56 5th Avenue between Bergen St & St. Marks Ave.

  

• Badshah will open this spring at 212 Flatbush Ave, featuring classic Indian favorites, shareable small bites, and fun cocktails (thanks to North Flatbush Ave BID for the heads up)!

  

Closing:

Larry’s Cà Phê will be closing their Park Slope location, which opened in August of last year, on May 3rd. Owner Tuan says his friend will be opening Yellow Pear Coffee (known for delicious corn butter mochi) in its place.

Argentinian Restaurant Estancia Piola in Gowanus has closed.

They will be missed!

Local News:

• Park Slope Open Streets is back! The 2026 season kicks off this Saturday, May 2nd, 2-10pm. Keep an eye on their IG linked here for updates!

• Friends from the Canal, a new public art installation by artist duo Mookntaka, is on view in Gowanus through August. Placed outside at three locations— Cafe Mars, Union Channel, and Wyckoff Gardens— the installation responds to the neighborhood’s state of flux and consist of three illuminated, character-driven sculptures.

  

• New bus lanes are coming to Flatbush Avenue. Construction kicked off on Tuesday and will be in progress through the fall, so expect reroutes and bus stop changes from Livingston Street to Grand Army Plaza.

• The Annual Fabulous 5th Ave Fair is accepting vendor applications. This 18 block street fair spans 18 bocks on 5th Avenue and features local vendors, live music & more. Vendors— scroll down to
  ”Fabulous 5th Ave Fair” (May 17) on the left hand side to view the application and reserve your spot!

• The Mamdani Administration launches a $4.5 million job training initiative in partnership with the Gowanus Canal Conservancy. The program will train an 18 member team—including those with histories of incarceration, homelessness or substance abuse— for careers maintaining critical infrastructure that reduces flooding and protects local waterways, including maintaining 1,035 rain gardens in East New York, Brooklyn, and South Ozone Park, Queens.

• New legislation may affect the way your bagel is made! A new bill passed by The New York Senate and Assembly is set to ban red dye 3, potassium bromate, and propylparaben due to potential harmful side effects. Watch local Bagel Connoisseur Sam Silverman explain how this decision may impact bagel shops, bakeries, and pizzerias.

• Looking for places to hang with your pup? Check out our guide to dog-friendly spots in the neighborhood.

  ---

Business Buzz: ⚡️

• Flamingo Baby Kitchen is on the move! They will be closing their current location on Union Street on Sunday May 17th and re-opening in a bigger space as Baby Flamingo Brunch & Bar! Stay tuned for updates.

  

• Emmy Squared launched its newest creation yesterday: The Skinny Square! A new take on the brand’s signature Detroit-style pizza but made with about 40% less dough, the result is a crispier, thinner base that offers a lighter take without sacrificing flavor.

• FLEA Park Slope will host a Mother’s Day Pop-Up with Brooklyn-based artist and illustrator Maggie Beckett to introduce her new stationary line. Beckett specializes in bespoke murals, custom stationery, illustrations, and commissioned fine art pieces that aim to evoke joy and a sense of nostalgia.

See you around the Slope!

Mychal

✨ Continue reading our ‘Secret Slope’ section at the bottom just for paid subscribers who want to stay a step ahead - soft openings & exclusives!

Do you have a story we should be sharing? 🗞️ Submit a tip anonymously here, or email us.

Our Top Weekly Picks:

Events with an asterisk* tend to sell out—reserve tickets early!

Weekend Events:

• CONDUCTOR: Art Fair of the Global Majority @ Powerhouse Arts—Thursday, April 30 to Sunday, May 3: Presenting individual artists and galleries from across Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, South Asia, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Oceania and Indigenous Nations around the globe, CONDUCTOR seeks to deepen ties with these regions of the world, providing an inclusive and accessible platform for cultural exchange and expanding opportunities for artists and their galleries to grow and develop their markets in New York. Tickets start at $15.

  

• Brooklyn Choir Project @ First Unitarian Congregational Society (Brooklyn Heights)—Friday, May 1st and Saturday, May 2nd, 7:30pm: The Brooklyn Choir Project is taking one of the oldest and most conservative of music genres – choral singing – and infusing it with the energy and ethos of New York’s indie and underground music communities. The all-star ensemble features 85 of NYC’s finest songwriters and singers! Each season the choir selects eight new songwriters and does eight world-premiere arrangements of their songs. $35.

• Park Slope Greek Festival @ 18th St (April 30th- May 3rd): Get a taste of Greece right here in Brooklyn with this fun festival featuring live music, raffles, games, vendors, food, & festivities! FREE.

Thursday, April 30th:

• Lectures on Tap -”Peering into Historic Landscapes: Art as Spatial Archives” @ Prospect Park West area (exact location TBA), 6:30pm*: What happens to architecture when it’s built from wood, cloth, or earth — and doesn’t survive? What if space doesn’t vanish when buildings do, but instead migrates into other materials? In this illuminating talk, Prof. Monique Lizardo explores how communities encode spatial knowledge into craft. $41.32.

Saturday, May 2nd:

• Park Slope Picnic (May 2nd, 12:30-2:30pm)*: Join Park Slope 5th Ave BID for this fun gathering outdoors! Bring your favorite picnic food to share, meet your neighbors, and enjoy live music, good vibes, and great conversation. It’s all about connecting and building community. Feeling sweet? Bake your award-winning dessert to share—you could win a prize! FREE (RSVP required).

• Free Orientation Reformer Workouts @ Studio Pilates South Slope, 7am-6:15pm*: In honor of Joseph Pilates Day, Studio Pilates South Slope is offering free 45-minute orientation workouts all day long. Each class is led by one of their instructors who will give every single person in the room 1:1 attention throughout. Whether you've been curious to try pilates or you've never stepped on a reformer, this is your invitation to experience Studio Pilates at no commitment & no cost. FREE (reservation required).

Sunday, May 3rd:

• Free Portrait Sessions @ Sit Still Kids Salon: Book a kids haircut and enjoy a complimentary mini professional portrait with them looking their best—at no additional cost! After your visit, you’ll receive a private gallery to view your images, with the option to purchase digital files or prints of your favorites. FREE w/ purchase of haircut.

• The People’s Ball @ Brooklyn Public Library (Central Branch), 7-10pm:

  This free event is held on the eve of the Met Gala and celebrates fashion, personal style and inclusivity, offering an alternative to expensive, exclusive galas and showcases the diverse styles that make up New York City’s urban runway. The evening will feature a performance by legendary Tony Award® winner and three-time Grammy nominee, Melba Moore and DJ sets by DJ Fritzo. FREE (registration recommended).

Monday, May 4th:

• Handwriting the Constitution @ Old Stone House, 6-9pm: Handwriting the Constitution invites people from all walks of life to meet in public spaces to handwrite the US Constitution or other documents written to protect human rights and freedoms. This art practice was created so that people will know their rights, deepen their understanding of laws created to protect these rights, and to help resist negative thinking. To date approximately 2000 people have participated, both nationally and internationally. FREE.

Plan Ahead for These Popular Events:

• 💰North Flatbush BID is hosting their 40th Anniversary Sweepstakes from May 4th-August 23rd! Enter for the chance to win $500 and share $500 with a local business! Play by shopping local on Flatbush Ave & saving receipts of $20 or more or writing an online review of any local businesses. Drawings will be held every other week. Click here for full details & sweepstakes rules.

• 🎵 Brooklyn Conservatory of Music Open Stages (May 9th): Open Stages is a neighborhood-wide, free music festival with stages all over Park Slope, and a celebration of Brooklyn’s vibrant music scene. Each year, the event transforms Park Slope into a lively tapestry of sound and culture, where the streets come alive with melodies and rhythms from around the globe. FREE.

Submit an event to be considered for this weekly events roundup! Add any events for this week in comments below.

Slope Steal of the Week 💰

The Dram Shop will be offering a free mimosa to all mothers on Sunday, May 10th with the purchase of a meal! 🥂

They are also serving a Mother’s Day Tex Mex Brunch from 11:30am-3pm. Yum!

Neighborhood Job Board 📌

Each week we publish a new job board link featuring local openings from Park Slope and nearby businesses. Listing is free and takes under 2 minutes.

This week: Jobs at Catskills Catering, Lonnies Bar (from the Ingas Bar team - opening soon!), Kings Co Imperial, BRIC, Brooklyn Arts Council

View Neighborhood Jobs

List a job for free | Subscribe for free to get the weekly job board in your inbox

✨ Secret Slope ✨

This week’s Insider section below the paywall includes:

Spotted on Flatbush Ave: a major NYC food favorite (and a reader just caught the first sign of it) + new renderings unveiled for an eight story building • A sneak preview of Barclays Center’s artsy upgrade

Read more

Presented by Small Door Vet - Park Slope

Use our exclusive code PSLPETS24 and get your first year of membership for just $24 ($125 in savings!)

If I’m going somewhere, my first question is always: Can I bring my dog?

Hi, I’m Emma. I’ve lived in Park Slope for almost 10 years, and I adopted my dog, Ruby, in July 2020 (you can follow along at @rubyinbrooklyn). Since then, I’ve been on the search to find places in the neighborhood that love dogs as much as I do.

Over time, I’ve built up a list of local spots that either allow dogs inside, have a takeout window, and/or offer genuinely great outdoor seating. These are the places that make it easy and enjoyable to bring your dog along for everyday life in Park Slope.

It goes without saying (but is worth mentioning): being a dog-friendly neighborhood only works if we all do our part. Please be mindful of each business’s rules, and only bring your dog if they’re comfortable in busy environments, can stay calmly by your side, and are on leash at all times.

“When walking your dog in a busy neighborhood like Park Slope, always use a sturdy, non-retractable leash for consistent boundaries and better control.”

— Dr. Dei, Lead Veterinarian at Small Door Park Slope

Without further ado, here’s an ever-growing list of some of my favorite dog-friendly places in Park Slope:

1. Annie’s Blue Ribbon General Store

232 5th Ave, Brooklyn, NY

11215

Friday-Tuesday: 10AM-6PM, Wednesday-Thursday: 10AM-7PM

Phone number: (718)-522-9848

Annie’s is one of those stores where you walk in and immediately feel taken care of. The team is so friendly, and the inventory is incredible. You’ll find everything from home goods to gifts to a whole section dedicated to dogs (toys, treats, leashes, collars).

Of course, they always have treats behind the counter, too.

They also host a weekly Thursday happy hour and regular events (including Mah Jongg classes), and they’re genuinely committed to building community in Park Slope. Plus, they’re home to two Mini Art Vending Machines by Park Slope’s very own Anastasia Inciardi!

2. Bagel World Park Slope

339 5th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215

Monday-Sunday: 6AM-6PM

Phone number: (718)-499-1143

Bagel World is a family-owned bagel shop and deli that’s been part of the neighborhood for over 20 years.

They’re making fresh bagels all day long, and the takeout window makes it an easy stop with your dog.

There are a few outdoor tables, but I highly recommend grabbing your bagel and heading across the street to the picnic tables by JJ Byrne Park. And if your dog is a fan of a dog park, the newly renovated Washington Park Dog Run is right around the corner.

“If headed to the dog park make sure your dog is current on all core vaccinations, including the Bordetella (kennel cough) vaccine, as contagious illnesses can spread quickly in these social environments.”

— Dr. Dei, Lead Veterinarian at Small Door Park Slope

3. Community Bookstore

143 7th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215

Monday-Saturday: 10AM-6PM, Sunday: 10AM-6PM

Phone number: (718)-783-3075

Community Bookstore is Brooklyn’s oldest operating bookstore!

They have an incredible selection of books, dog treats behind the counter, and a hidden-gem backyard garden that’s fully dog-friendly.

It’s one of my favorite little rituals: pick up a new book, then head to the garden and sit for a while with my dog. It feels like a secret, but one I’m very happy to let you in on.

We’ve partnered with Small Door to make it even easier for you to get the best pet care in Brooklyn. Use code PSLPETS24 and get your first year of membership for just $24 ($125 in savings!)

Your membership includes:

• A FREE annual wellness exam

• 24/7 Telehealth

• Same & Next Day Appointments

  Learn More

  ---

4. Gone to the Dogs

103 7th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215

Monday-Sunday: 11AM-6:30 PM

Phone number: (201)-375-3471

If you love to spoil your dog (and have them spoiled), this is the place!

Gone to the Dogs is a woman-owned business with a mission you can actually feel when you walk in: “Dog Goods that Do Good”. They collaborate with women makers from low-income, marginalized, and immigrant communities in NYC and the Global South, ensuring fair and livable wages.

Everything in the store is handmade and thoughtfully sourced from recycled, reclaimed, or renewable materials - and it shows. The pieces are colorful, detailed, and unlike anything you’d find at a typical pet store.

No visit is complete without your dog trying on a handmade baby alpaca sweater or a hand-loomed bow tie, and having their photo added to the polaroid wall of fame.

5. Impasto Pizzeria

200 Garfield Pl, Brooklyn, NY 11215

Monday-Sunday 12:00-9:00PM

Phone number: (718)-247-2473

The Park Slope location of Impasto Pizzeria opened just over a year ago and brought with it some of the best Roman-style pizza in the neighborhood. The crust is thick, airy, and somehow still light. They also serve gelato in the warmer months!

Their outdoor dining area is small but charming, and if you catch it at the right moment, you can almost convince yourself you’re not in Brooklyn anymore… or at least pretend you’re eating in Rome for a little while.

5. Lincoln Station Park Slope

170 7th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215

Monday-Friday: 7AM-8PM, Saturday-Sunday: 8AM-8PM

Phone number: (718)-673-5005

A newer (and very welcome) addition to the neighborhood, Lincoln Station has quickly become one of my go-to spots. There’s a to-go window right on 1st Street, plus first-come, first-served outdoor seating that’s perfect when you’ve got your dog with you.

Everything is made in-house, from baked goods to sandwiches (I highly recommend the broccoli and ricotta sandwich), salads, soups, and even rotisserie chicken. They also have coffee, beer, wine, and kombucha on tap.

7. Mr. Boddington’s Studio

153 7th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215

Tuesday-Saturday: 10AM-6PM, Sunday: 10AM-5PM, Monday: Closed

Opened in 2025, Mr. Boddington’s might just be home to the most beautiful stationery in the neighborhood - cards, notebooks, pens, everything!

If you love writing (or just love a really good notebook and pen moment), this place is hard to leave empty-handed.

And yes, they love dogs, too.

8. Muan House Thai Restaurant and Bar

339A 2nd St, Brooklyn, NY 11215

Sunday-Thursday: 11:30AM-10:30 PM, Friday-Saturday: 11:30AM-11PM

11:30 AM–10:30 PM

Phone number: (929)-397-0003

Muan House has one of the most colorful, inviting patios in the neighborhood, and it’s absolutely perfect for a date night with your dog.

The food is authentic, Bangkok-inspired Thai that genuinely made me want to order everything on the menu.

They opened in February 2026 and have already become my go-to recommendation whenever anyone asks where to eat in Park Slope.

9. Something Else on Fifth

206 5th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217

Monday-Friday: 12-7PM, Saturday-Sunday: 11AM-7PM

Phone number: (718)-622-1262

Something Else Brooklyn is exactly what it sounds like - in the best way! A little bit of everything: clothing, accessories, toys, candles, books, snacks, and more.

It’s one of those places you pop into quickly and then somehow spend way longer than you planned.

They love having dogs stop by, which makes it an easy “why not” detour on a walk.

10. The Ripped Bodice

218 5th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215

Monday-Friday: 10:30AM-6:30PM, Saturday-Sunday: 10AM-7PM

Phone number: (347)-227-8899

If you haven’t been to The Ripped Bodice yet, consider this your sign.

My dog actually pulls me there regularly - partly because the space used to be a pet store, but also because they truly love having dogs inside.

The team is incredibly knowledgeable and always has great recommendations, and the store itself is woman, queer, and sister-owned. It’s brought so much energy (and so many people) to Park Slope. I’ll never forget the line wrapped around the block on opening day.

11. Threes Brewing

333 Douglass St, Brooklyn, NY 11217

Monday-Saturday: 12PM-12AM, Sunday: 12-11PM

Phone number: (718)-568-9673

Threes Brewing has one of the dreamiest backyards in Park Slope. Think greenery, fairy lights, and the kind of atmosphere that makes you want to stay for hours once the weather warms up.

They opened in 2014 and have been a neighborhood favorite ever since (and yes, they’re award-winning, too). Between trivia nights, live music, a great beer list, a full bar, and genuinely excellent food, it’s one of those places that always feels like a good idea.

12. Wild East Brewing Co.

623 Sackett St, Brooklyn, NY 11217

Monday-Friday: 2-10PM, Saturday: 12-11PM, Sunday: 12-9PM,

Phone number: (718)-797-5135

Wild East Brewing Co. is an award-winning craft brewery that opened in February 2020, and it’s completely dog-friendly inside, which already makes it a standout. The space is big, open, and perfect for settling in for a while.

They’ve hosted everything from rescue events to vet gatherings to baby showers, and even my dog’s birthday party, which tells you everything you need to know.

The beer list is extensive, they regularly host weekend food pop-ups, and you can also bring or order your own food. Plus, they’ve got non-beer and non-alcoholic options, which I always appreciate. **This is also my official petition for them to bring back the Turnstyle Pickle.**

They do have two resident cats, so just something to keep in mind if your dog has a high prey drive.

13. Winner

367 7th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215

Monday-Wednesday: 7AM-7PM, Thursday-Sunday: 7AM-8PM

Winner opened in March 2020 and immediately became a Park Slope staple.

It does get busy (especially on weekends), so just be prepared to wait in line both to order and for a seat, but it’s SO worth it.

It’s takeout-only, with first-come, first-served outdoor seating, and an ever-changing menu for pastries, breads, breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Their pull-apart monkey bread might be my favorite baked good in all of Park Slope.

14. Small Door Veterinary

435 9th St, Brooklyn, NY 11215

Monday-Tuesday: 8AM-6PM, Thursday-Saturday: 8AM-6PM. Closed Wednesday and Sunday.

212-933-9044

Small Door Veterinary opened in Park Slope last summer, and it’s the kind of vet experience you’ll actually want to go to.

Think same or next-day appointments, 24/7 telehealth, and calm, fear-free spaces that make visits easier on both you and your dog. Plus, they’re American Animal Hospital Association-accredited and a Certified B Corporation, so you know the care (and values) are the real deal.

Thank you to Small Door Vet for sponsoring this neighborhood guide!

Sponsored content like this allows Park Slope Pulse to continue delivering top-quality local coverage to our community. Your support helps fund our dedicated writers. Interested in advertising with Park Slope Pulse? Contact us to learn more about partnership opportunities.

Small Door Veterinary began with a simple goal: to deliver superior veterinary care for pets while providing a personalized, modern, and convenient experience for pet parents. At Small Door, we believe that great care starts with strong relationships, which is why we take the time to truly get to know each pet and their family. By combining a membership-based approach with thoughtfully designed clinics, advanced technology, and a compassionate team, we make veterinary visits seamless, transparent, and stress-free. Our mission is to raise the standard of care, ensuring every pet receives the attention, expertise, and comfort they deserve.

Exclusive to Park Slope Living: Use code PSLPETS24 and receive a Small Door Membership for just $24 membership ($125 in savings!).

Once you join, enjoy:

• Free annual wellness exam

• Access to 24/7 telehealth

• Same- or next-day appointments

In honor of Joseph Pilates Day, Studio Pilates South Slope is offering free 45-minute orientation workouts all day long. Each class is led by one of our instructors who will give every single person in the room 1:1 attention throughout. Whether you've been curious to try us or you've never stepped on a reformer, this is your invitation to experience what we do, no commitment, no cost.

Reserve Your Spot Today!

Space is Limited

At Studio Pilates, we honor that legacy through every class — with reformer-based workouts designed to challenge and restore, whatever your level.

What to expect from your orientation workout

Your free orientation is a 45-minute reformer class led by one of our expert instructors. You’ll become familiarized with how we run our classes at Studio Pilates with the kind of personalized attention that makes every cue relevant to your body. No experience required — just show up ready to have fun and move your body.

On the day of, we will have a special Intro Offer available for new clients, 10% off class packs (available to new and current clients), raffles and more!

Reserve your Spot Today - Space is Limited

See you on the reformer!

Studio Pilates South Slope

577 4th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY

917-648-3272 · southslope@studiopilates.com

Thank you to Studio Pilates!

Sponsored content like this allows Park Slope Pulse to continue delivering top-quality local coverage to our community. Your support helps fund our dedicated writers. Interested in advertising with Park Slope Pulse? Contact us to learn more about partnership opportunities.

Opening:

The team behind buzzy Williamsburg restaurant Kings Co Imperial— who are also behind local favorite Stone Park Cafe— is bringing its celebrated Chinese-American cuisine to Park Slope! Opening is expected in June.

Popular fast-casual Lebanese chain NAYA will be moving into the storefront formerly occupied by Dave’s Hot Chicken, marking the restaurant’s fourth Brooklyn location.

Japanese restaurant KOMENORI is set to open this spring at 397 5th Ave in Park Slope, taking over the space once occupied by Flatiron Steakhouse.

Closing:

After 15 years of serving the neighborhood, the much-loved Dinosaur Bar-B-Que in Gowanus will be closing its doors at the end of the spring season.

Salon Sara June has closed down after 11 years in the neighborhood. They will be missed!

Local News:

An April Fool’s prank post advertising “Moms & Marijuana” and “Papas & Pot” gatherings in Park Slope generated unexpected interest. 👀

Park Slope USPS post office on 7th Street reopens after a monthlong shutdown due to repairs. 📪

Confused about the proposed changes to Grand Army Plaza? Check out this video for a visualization and explanation of the area’s history and current re-design plan. 🚗

Bakery, cafe, & tortilleria Vato was added to New York’s Michelin Guide 2026. Five out of the nine restaurants added are in Brooklyn! 🎉

Mayor Mamdani announced that six new community districts, including Prospect Heights, will have 100% trash containerization by the end of 2027. Higher density residential buildings will be required to place all trash in containers, following similar regulations for businesses and low-density residential buildings.

Business Buzz:

⚡️Park Slope in the news! ⚡️

Check out the local businesses highlighted this week:

Local neighborhood pub Freddy‘s is highlighted in this Brooklyn Magazine feature, which delves into the bar’s storied history.

Mark Langton, owner of Paddy’s of Park Slope, discusses identity, community, and being a safe space in the neighborhood.

ABC NY details the important role that The Old Stone House played in Brooklyn’s history.

It’s peak bloom season all over the neighborhood! Step into Green-Wood Cemetery, Prospect Park, or the Botanic Garden to take in the gorgeous sights & smells! 🌺

And a gentle reminder- Mother’s Day is May 10th! Check out our guide to gifts that will make mom happy while also supporting local businesses.

See you around the Slope!

Mychal

✨ Continue reading our ‘Secret Slope’ section at the bottom just for paid subscribers who want to stay a step ahead - soft openings & exclusives!

Do you have a story we should be sharing? 🗞️ Submit a tip anonymously here, or email us.

Presented by The Brightwood Skin

A Personalized Approach to Skincare at The Brightwood in Park Slope

We recently visited The Brightwood in Park Slope, tucked inside a brownstone on Prospect Park West. It feels calm, thoughtful, and not rushed. Every consultation is led by a highly trained Physician Assistant, with a focus on honest, personalized care. Their curated treatments include Sculptra, Botox, dermal fillers, microneedling, and other intentional skin treatments, all designed for natural, balanced results. It’s also laser season - they offer BBL (for sun damage and pigmentation) and MOXI (for texture and overall skin quality). If you’re in Park Slope and looking for a more thoughtful approach to aesthetics, it’s worth experiencing.

Book a consultation and receive 15% off with code PARKSLOPE15

Our Top Weekly Picks:

Events with an asterisk* tend to sell out—reserve tickets early!

Thursday, April 23rd:

The Arts Gowanus Tower Show: Opening Reception, 7-9pm: At this 4th annual show, 300 artists showcase the water tower that serves as the Arts Gowanus logo. All artwork will be priced at $200. The show is on view through May 17th. FREE.

Queereoke @ Ginger’s Bar, 8pm: Ginger’s is excited to bring Queereoke for Lesbian Visibility Week! On Thursday, April 23rd, the coast-to-coast karaoke series is happening in lesbian/queer women's spaces across 8 cities. FREE.

Friday, April 24th:

Sourdough Bread Making Class @ Zoller’s, 7pm: See what all the fuss is about as you discover how to make sourdough bread from scratch! You’ll leave class with your freshly baked loaf, in addition to a batch of sourdough starter so you can continue to bake at home! Ticket price includes 1 complimentary glass of wine. $85.

Jazz & Gin Speakeasy Soiree @ Urbane Arts Club, 7pm (Ditmas Park): Join Urbane Arts Club for hot jazz, cocktails & dancing at a former 1920s Brooklyn speakeasy! Each month features NYC’s best swing bands and swing DJs, classic burlesque, craft cocktails, and a free dance lesson. The club’s 1,200 sq ft ballroom boasts wooden floors plus a lounge and gallery. (Check out my recent experience at Jazz & Gin here)! $21.83.

Saturday, April 25th:

Park Slope Civic Council Civic Sweep, 10am-2pm: Celebrate Earth Day by beautifying Park Slope! It’s a hands on way to care for our streets. Show up, pitch in, and make a difference. Sign up for a One-Hour Litter Clean-Up Shift— all the tools you need are provided. Come out and help keep our neighborhood clean, green, and thriving! FREE- sign up here.

Gowanus Community Festival, 12-4pm: Celebrate Spring & Earth Day at this family-friendly community event! Enjoy activities, prizes, ice cream, face painting, live music, and more! FREE.

Green-Wood After Hours @ Green-Wood Cemetery, 7pm: Explore Green-Wood under the night sky, where the Cemetery transforms after dark. Discover the stories of remarkable New Yorkers who shaped history and culture and end the evening with rare access to the Catacombs, an underground space few ever see. $30.

Sunday, April 26th:

Park Slope Origin Story History Tour @ Old Stone House, 11am: Step back in time and uncover the rich tapestry of Park Slope’s history on this immersive walking tour. You’ll stand on the very ground where the Battle of Brooklyn raged in 1776 — the largest battle of the Revolutionary War. Discover the surprising connection between Park Slope and the Los Angeles Dodgers, and why Brooklyn locals still feel the sting of their departure decades later. Hear tales of the neighborhood’s gilded age mansions, its decline and near-abandonment in the mid-20th century, and its remarkable renaissance into the family-friendly, brownstone-lined streets we know today. $25.

Wednesday, April 29th:

Mahjong & Dim Sum Afternoon @ Leland Eating & Drinking House, 1-3pm: A cozy small-group lesson of Hong Kong-style Mahjong with Mahjong Master Lenny An, plus dim sum in a relaxed, social setting. Lesson & Dim Sum included. $50.

Brisket King @ Pig Beach BBQ (Queens), 5-9pm: Watch as chefs and BBQ experts battle head-to-head to be crowned Brisket King®. Every year brings different dishes, participants, vendors, and fun. Taste every dish from local and visiting chefs with all-access tickets, and wash it all down with craft beer, cider, spirits, and more drinks. See for yourself why Brisket King® NYC has been a premier BBQ event for 10+ years! $65.

Open House @ Farm.One, 6pm: What better way to celebrate Earth Month than visiting your neighborhood farm and learning about how by drinking their beer, you’re saving the planet? Whether you’re curious about their grow room, brewery, or general operation, they look forward to welcoming you onto the farm. Directors of Farming Kate Lodvikov & Dan Hubel, Brew Master Coy Eakes, and Acid Spirits founder Joe McDowell will be on site to answer questions, demo their equipment, and show you around! FREE.

Plan Ahead for These Popular Events:

🎵 Brooklyn Conservatory of Music Open Stages (May 9th): Open Stages is a neighborhood-wide, free music festival with stages all over Park Slope, and a celebration of Brooklyn’s vibrant music scene. Each year, the event transforms Park Slope into a lively tapestry of sound and culture, where the streets come alive with melodies and rhythms from around the globe. FREE.

🏡 Park Slope Civic Council 2026 Sustainability House Tour (Sunday, May 17th, 11am-3pm): The Sustainability House Tour celebrates the gorgeous and thoughtfully renovated houses in the neighborhood that focus on sustainable technology. Since 1959, it has helped shape Park Slope—bringing in new residents during a time of decline, supporting the preservation of brownstones, and continuing today as a key fundraiser for grants to local schools and community organizations. One highlight this year tells a story about community. Along with thoughtful upgrades like solar panels, the home opens to a series of connected backyards shared across neighboring properties. $55 non-members/$50 members.

Submit an event to be considered for this weekly events roundup! Add any events for this week in comments below.

Weekly Way to Give Back 🎗️

Arts Gowanus is partnering with CHiPS to add an exciting component to their Tower art show (see weekly events above for details) a tower-shaped Shell for donations!

The opening is next Thursday, April 23rd, from 7-9 PM at Union Channel, and they are accepting donations both at the opening and during open hours throughout the run of the show (Saturdays and Sundays from 12-6 PM through May 17th.) Click here for their most needed items.

Slope Steal of the Week 💰

Bogota Latin Bistro just announced their all-new happy hour—buy one, get one free on Mondays- Thursdays from 11am-7pm!

Margaritas, sangria, mojitos, pina coladas, and bottled beer are included in the deal. Check it out here.

Neighborhood Job Board 📌

Each week we publish a new job board link featuring local openings from Park Slope and nearby businesses. Listing is free and takes under 2 minutes.

This week: 30+ local jobs including Marketing Coordinator at Brooklyn Grange, Social Media Manager at The Six Bells, Director of Development & Institutional Advancement at Brooklyn Arts Council

View Neighborhood Jobs

List a job for free | Subscribe for free to get the weekly job board in your inbox

✨ Secret Slope ✨

This week’s Insider section below the paywall includes:

You’re invited to a tasting preview of Drums & Flats • The latest leasing commercial leasing updates in the neighborhood— including a ghost kitchen coming to 4th Ave! • A local hot spot kicks off weekend brunch service this weekend

Read more

Here is our list of 12 neighborhood spots broken down into three categories— laptop free or WiFi-free, limited laptop use, and small spaces that encourage conversation— so your daily coffee run can feel a little less like a trip to the office.

Laptop-Free or WiFi-Free:

Cafe Martin

Instead of WiFi, this small, community-centered cafe offers “connectivity in all the ways that matter.” It’s a great spot to read, write, or have a quiet conversation without distractions.

355 5th Avenue

Cafe Grumpy

You won’t get a WiFi signal at the 7th Ave outpost of this popular coffee shop, but you will find delicious coffee, freshly-baked pastries and a few barstools for chatting over espresso.

383 7th Avenue

Un Posto Italiano

With no WiFi and a strict no-laptop policy from Friday-Sunday, walking into this Italian cafe & artisanal fresh pasta shop is an escape from the constant buzz of NYC. There is seating in the back of the shop as well as in the backyard area.

205 Garfield Place

— 9 more neighborhood favorites (including a few hidden gems) below the paywall —

Read more

Curb recycling is not unique to cities, but Park Slope brownstones bring it to another level of performance. Stoops and ledges, low stone walls lining the sidewalk, decorative iron wrought fences - all create artful surfaces for display.

Stoop diving also offers a guilt-free peek into other people’s tastes—which is part of the fun. When you come across something that feels unexpectedly “you,” there’s satisfaction in knowing it’s landed in the right hands.

Park Slope is also unique for its high concentration of families with young children. Kids grow out of stuff constantly, which makes recycling necessary - and money saving for your neighbors. What one family no longer needs becomes a small windfall for another in the same stage of life.

Quality varies, but it’s often worth the risk when the price is free. And if you look long enough, you might just come across barely worn designer clothes in your size and favorite color.

Happy hunting!

Thank you to Randi Rosenblum for contributing this photo essay.

Randi Rosenblum is a Park Slope-based portrait photographer specializing in headshots, branding, and event photography. You can visit her website here and follow her on Instagram. To inquire, send her an email at info@randirosenblumphoto.com

Openings:

• Georgian wine & cuisine spot LILEO Coffee & wine bar will soon open in the old Java Andina location at 86 5th Ave between Warren & St Marks Pl.

• Hybrid brewery and homebrew shop Forever Brewing celebrated their official opening last weekend! They are located at 574 President St, in the space formerly occupied by Strong Rope brewery.

• The LayUp, a new sports bar, will open soon one block away from Barclays Center. Visit them at 47 5th Ave in the space formerly occupied by That Bar.

• Amal Pilates and Milk & Honey Cafe have opened in Windsor Terrace.

Local News:

• Mayor Zohran Mamdani has proposed a plan to re-design part of Grand Army Plaza. The proposal includes banning cars from parts of the southern end of the plaza and eliminating a treacherous four-lane crossing. The project’s timeline and budget has not yet been finalized.

“Grand Army Plaza is the gateway to Brooklyn’s backyard, Prospect Park — and it should welcome New Yorkers with a street design that puts safety first,” Mr. Mamdani said in a statement.

• NYC DOT is seeking feedback for a study that will re-envision the public space around Grand Army Plaza. To participate, take their online survey or attend an upcoming workshop.

• Last week we shared our top picks for rotisserie chicken spots. Amid all the controversy about the $40 half rotisserie chicken at a Greenpoint restaurant (helpful restaurant price chart from Eater), one the best deals can be found right here in Park Slope at La Taq with “The Bird Man” Special. Every Tuesday - $15 includes a 3lb Chile Guajillo Whole Rotisserie Chicken, Rice, Beans, Pico De Gallo & Fresh Handmade Corn Tortillas.

• Per Eater NY, Vato has been added to the Michelin Guide.

• Open Call Alert! Arts Gowanus, along with Brooklyn Pride and the Old Stone House, will present an outdoor art exhibit featuring works by Brooklyn-based LGBTQIA+ artists. They are seeking work by Queer artists that explores the privileges and responsibilities that come with being a member of a community. Accepted artworks will be printed on vinyl banners and displayed on the fence surrounding The Old Stone House and Washington Park from June 1 – August 1, 2026.

• This summer, the puppets and puppeteers at Puppetworks are preparing to take their final bow after their building on 6th Avenue and 4th Street was sold to a developer. The organization, which has been in the space for 35 years, is currently seeking another space. Currently, “Pinocchio” is running through Aug. 9th.

• A monster truck memorial outside of New Millennium Motors in Gowanus has been towed by the city and turned into scrap metal.

• City officials are warning drivers to avoid the northern section of Brooklyn’s Flatbush Avenue from late April through the fall as the transportation department overhauls the roadway in an effort to make its more bus-friendly.

• PureGym Park Slope, which has been closed for external construction, announces it is aiming to re-open at the end of the month.

• Update: The Cherry Blossoms are blooming! Plan your trip to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden while they are in peak bloom!

Last week, we asked you to share your favorite springtime activities in the neighborhood. We loved getting your responses!

“My favorite Park Slope springtime activity is walking in the park & then stoop hangs!”- Ann Cantrell, Owner, Annie’s Blue Ribbon General Store

See you at the Cherry Blossoms! 🌺

-Mychal

Do you have a story we should be sharing? 🗞️ Submit a tip anonymously here, or email us.

Presented by Studio Metamorphosis

Studio Metamorphosis Is Coming to Park Slope

Studio Metamorphosis is opening this spring, bringing its signature high-intensity, low-impact reformer workout to 7th Ave this May.

Rooted in form and alignment, the method uses small, controlled movements to create a deep, effective workout that’s gentle on the joints - and accessible for all levels.

With established studios in Boerum Hill and Los Angeles, this form-first approach is now arriving in Park Slope.

First class is $20.

Founding Memberships are now available - lock in the unlimited rate of $239/month (regularly $339) before doors open. Comes with 2 complimentary guest passes per month and available for use at all locations!

Get $100 off your founding membership.

Our Top Weekly Picks:

Events with an asterisk* tend to sell out—reserve tickets early!

Thursday, April 16th:

Plant A Garden Happy Hour @ Annie’s Blue Ribbon General Store, 5-7pm: Celebrate Spring and Annie’s gorgeous new window by artist Jordan Sondler! Enjoy an evening of art, mingling, sipping, and take home a treat for your green thumb. FREE.

Free Fitness Boot Camp @ Old Stone House, 6:30pm: This new weekly series for ages 12-17 is run by Kings Kid Fitness and teaches kids how working out can help them overcome adversity & setbacks. FREE.

Week-long event:

Brooklyn Bookstore Crawl (April 18th-25th): Visit any of 34 participating bookstores across the borough during the week leading up to Independent Bookstore Day on April 25 to win prizes, meet fellow book lovers, and support the unique literary culture of our Brooklyn neighborhoods. Pick up a passport at any participating store to get started! Afterparty will be held at The Center for Fiction. FREE.

Friday, April 17th:

Pickling & Fermentation + Beer Tasting @ Zoller’s, 7pm: Fermentation and pickling are some of the most fun and delicious ways to preserve fresh produce. In this class, you’ll learn both techniques and take home a jar of Kimchi and pickled veggies. Plus, enjoy a beer tasting from our friends at Catskill Brewery! $85.

Weekend Event:

Grand Opening— The Green-House at Green-Wood (Saturday April 18th, 10am-5pm & Sunday April 19th, 10am-3pm): Join Green-Wood for an unforgettable opening weekend as they celebrate their newest space with activities designed to delight visitors of all ages. From hands-on workshops to guided explorations, these programs offer something for everyone to discover, learn, and connect with this exciting addition to their historic grounds. FREE (RSVP recommended).

Sunday, April 19th:

Poetry Month Workshop & Open Mic @ Mockingbird, 2-4pm: Celebrate National Poetry Month and meet other sober / sober-curious friends! This workshop will begin with a guided poetry workshop open to all levels, using prompts to spark creativity and encourage self-expression. $11.99.

Monday, April 20th:

Half Baked— The Feel Food 4/20 Event @ Cobble Hill Cinemas, 7:30pm: Join Yerba Buena and celebrate 4/20 with a private screening of Half Baked, the classic comedy, starring Dave Chapelle, at Cobble Hill Cinemas. Guests will enjoy an evening featuring complimentary popcorn, trivia, prizes, gift bags, and more. $15.

Wednesday, April 22nd:

What the Fund?! An Intro to Investing @ 390 Social, 7pm: This beginner-level workshop will cover all of the basics of the who, what, where, when, why and hows of investing. $12.51.

Plan Ahead for These Popular Events:

Park Slope Picnic (May 2nd, 12:30-2:30pm)*: Join Park Slope 5th Ave BID for a fun gathering outdoors! Bring your favorite picnic food to share, meet your neighbors, and enjoy live music, good vibes, and great conversation. It’s all about connecting and building community. Feeling sweet? Bake your award-winning dessert to share—you could win a prize! FREE (RSVP required).

CONDUCTOR: Art Fair of the Global Majority @ Powerhouse Arts (April 30 to May 3, 2026): Presenting individual artists and galleries from around the globe, CONDUCTOR seeks to deepen ties with these regions of the world, providing an inclusive and accessible platform for cultural exchange and expanding opportunities for artists and their galleries to grow and develop their markets in New York. Tickets start at $15.

Submit an event to be considered for this weekly events roundup!

Weekly Way to Give Back 🎗️

Celebrate Earth Day with North Flatbush Avenue!

Wednesday, April 22nd, 4-7pm @ the 6th Ave Triangle

♻️ Textile & e-waste recycling
🎶 Live music
🏠 Community

Neighborhood Job Board

Each week we publish a new job board link featuring local openings from Park Slope and nearby businesses. Add your summer jobs for locals here!

This week: 26 local jobs including at Street Lab, Grow NYC, TOAST, Raaka Chocolate

View Neighborhood Jobs

List a job for free | Subscribe for free to get the weekly job board in your inbox

✨ Secret Slope ✨

This week’s Insider section below the paywall includes:

Third location for Park Slope bakery known for their award-winning croissants is arriving on Flatbush Ave • A proposal to lower speed limits to 20 MPH across Park Slope and nearby neighborhoods - and it could change how and where drivers get ticketed.

Read more

Perhaps you’ve been here before: you see a headline. Your heart sinks. Your favorite restaurant, coffee shop, or bar has just announced it’s closing. How can this be? Their food was so good! Their service so friendly! The vibes? Immaculate. When Park Slope Living shared a post on Instagram at the end of last year rounding up all the local closures in 2025, the comments section (and our inbox) was ablaze with such sentiments – dismay, surprise, confusion. But the reality, as we later reported, is that restaurants and other small businesses run on razor-thin margins, and factors like weather and school recess can cut them thinner still, causing bleeding that is sometimes too much to overcome.

In his recent article The Math Doesn’t Work, chef and restaurateur Ham al-Waylly asserts that while the numbers behind operating a New York City restaurant have never really added up, the math “really, genuinely, almost comically doesn’t work right now.” By al-Waylly’s estimation, after accounting for labor, cost of goods, rent, utilities, insurance and credit card fees, the window for profit is only about three to five percent “on a genuinely good month,” and even that narrow opportunity is susceptible to shrinking. To better understand the challenges businesses face, and to demystify the math behind keeping them open, I asked three local business owners to explain the factors that threaten survival – and how the community can help.

Jay Kumar, owner of neighborhood restaurants Lore and its newer cocktail bar cousin Folk, breaks it down into a simple hypothetical equation. If rent is $6,000 per month, he says, total annual costs – including labor, utilities, insurance, cost of goods, repairs, and more – will reach about $900,000. That’s $80,000 per month, with rent accounting for roughly 8% of that amount; that means the business would need to make $3,000 a day just to break even over the course of a year. (Put another way, the yearly goal is to make twelve times the annual cost of rent.) But, Jay explains, not all earning days are created equal, and that $3,000 per day figure is realistically a daily average each week. Traffic is typically lighter on weeknights, especially at restaurants like Jay’s, which are in more residential areas. The slower business from Tuesday through Thursday leans heavily on weekend revenue to hit that target average.

At Brewer’s Row, a beer bar and bottle shop on 7th Avenue, co-owner Fred Avila drills down into traffic patterns and Park Slope particularities further. He estimates that the bar needs to serve about 65 patrons per day to break even, a figure that depends on seasonality and other factors. “From our end we rely heavily on Tuesdays [when the bar hosts trivia nights] in addition to Fridays (evenings) and Saturday/Sunday (afternoons). Overall, we are busiest from March through the end of June, and September through the end of October,” Avila says. The demographics of Park Slope, a neighborhood home to many families with young children, play a large role in dictating this calendar. “If school is in session, we will be busy. If school is out for the summer, or any of the yearly breaks, we tend to slow down as many of our regulars and their families leave the area,” says Avila.

According to Avila, the large population of families in the neighborhood also means that people are in less need of a third space – a place to gather outside of the home and the office – as compared to neighborhoods with a higher concentration of younger, single residents. As a result, bad weather days can “slow things down considerably,” as locals are less likely to head to the bar than they are in neighborhoods like Murray Hill or Crown Heights, where weather makes less of an impact on business, says Avila. It’s “hard to estimate how much theoretical business we lose due to bad weather and the school year,” he explains, “but based on our busiest months it’s safe to say without these factors we’d have $100,000-$150,000 in additional revenue.”

That seasonality is also important at Cuppa Hive, a neighborhood coffee shop that recently opened its second location in Park Slope. “If there were twelve months of winter, we would not survive,” says Cuppa Hive’s owner Elchin Mamedaliev. The coffee shop’s original location, on 15th Street near 8th Avenue, relies on its proximity to Prospect Park to bring in revenue from foot traffic. That foot traffic wanes to near non-existence in the colder months of November to March – which Mamedaliev calls the slow season – and local families travel out of town during holidays and school breaks. February is especially challenging, Mamedaliev explains, as monthly fixed costs like rent and utilities do not change, but as the shortest month of the year, there are fewer days to generate revenue. Including closures from the blizzard this year, Mamedaliev says his businesses were only open for 25.5 days in February. “Imagine having a month that’s only a little over three weeks, when your rent and labor never changes,” he says. Those lost days are critical for a business like Cuppa Hive, which needs to serve 190-220 customers per day to break even each year, Mamedaliev estimates. “We tend to be open as much as possible,” he says, even if it means opening the shop himself on holidays.

Come springtime, small brick-and-mortar businesses see the light, so to speak. Warm weather months, weekends, and school being in session rebalance the books for small businesses and subsidize the losses they take in the slower (and colder) days of winter. “Two good days on the weekend can cover five bad days from February…but those two good days probably happen in May, so you have to wait for a few months. It tests stress capacity,” says Mamedaliev. (For small business owners, patience is both a virtue and a trait they learn after surviving their first winter.) But while warm weather brings respite, it isn’t quite a magic wand. I asked Mamedaliev if one bad weekend in May could bury a small business. “One weekend wouldn’t do much,” he explains, “but if it happens one weekend every month of the high season, it would really impact a lot.” After all, Mamedaliev says, there are plenty of costs beyond the more obvious expenditures of rent, utilities and labor: the (ever-increasing) cost of ingredients, supplies, paper goods, and unexpected appliance repairs, for example. Those costs hit businesses all year long, and just anticipating spring and summer while they pile up would be insufficient and ill-advised.

Business owners must innovate to mitigate those liabilities and survive the dark days, and that innovation starts with a real understanding of their customers. At Brewer’s Row, Avila and his co-owner Taylor Hederman host trivia nights every Tuesday and find other ways to cater to their clients, like opening early on St. Patrick’s Day (and ordering plenty of Guinness) for one of their busiest weekends of the year. Jay Kumar also logs both his busiest and least lively days, and is intentional about staffing at his restaurants accordingly. And Mamedaliev says he is constantly ideating around new seasonal drinks during his daily gym routine. Part of that thinking is calculating the precise margins for pricing. “My friend told me, ‘if you sell a coffee for $5, you must make a fortune…when I go to the grocery store, coffee is $1.75’” recalls Mamedaliev. “And I explained to him what makes the coffee cost $5, and then he was asking, how do you even survive?”

The answer, says Mamedaliev, is the community. “Without [our regulars], we wouldn’t make it,” he says, referring to local residents like the members of a cycling club who stop by the shop at 7 o’clock each morning. “The original idea for Cuppa Hive was not a coffee shop to-go, but more like a comfort space.” When fewer folks are frequenting Prospect Park or the sidewalks of the Slope, it is the locals that sustain our beloved businesses. Jay and Avila share the same sentiments about their respective establishments: Jay recently told Conde Nast that Folk “is a bar made for and by the community that lives here,” and Brewer’s Row, with its backyard picnic tables and offering of board games, is the ideal watering hole for the stroller-toting set and ale enthusiasts alike. As spaces designed to serve the Park Slope community, the best way we can reciprocate that support is to patronize them.

In a recent piece for Eater, Melissa McCart and Nadia Chaudhury reminded readers of the importance of dining local in a city with seemingly endless options: “it’s the small, local, family-owned places that truly rely on regular neighborhood customers to survive…find a gem in your own neighborhood and become a regular.” If showing up is not always possible financially or otherwise, Jay, Avila and Mamedaliev offer some other options: purchasing gift cards, writing Google reviews, sharing recommendations online or via word of mouth, subscribing to newsletters or following (and posting about) the businesses on social media – there are plenty of avenues for showing support. More than what keeps their lights on, it’s what keeps their owners going in trying times. These small businesses are deeply personal to their owners: more than their livelihood, they are an expression of themselves, a manifestation of their dreams. “I love what I do. You have to like it,” says Mamedaliev. “When I see the same people come in, the same faces, not having to ask what they want, because we already know what they want…that’s why it’s worth it.”

Opening:

LA-based coffee chain Canyon Coffee opened at 601 Vanderbilt Ave between Dean and Bergen Street.

Voodoo Queen, from the team behind Bogota Latin Bistro, is set to open at 147 5th Ave between St Johns Pl & Lincoln Pl. The opening was originally targeted for early March but has been delayed as they’re waiting on their gas to be turned on. Wishing them a smooth and speedy opening- stay tuned for an official date!

Wingery & bar Drums & Flats will open in the old Alchemy location this spring!

The Wild Bird Fund, currently based on the UWS, will open a second clinic in Park Slope at 183 Seventh Ave. Opening is expected in June.

Local News:

CHiPS 4th Avenue is expanding for the first time since their founding 50 years ago! This month, they will be moving their pantry program to a warehouse space in the Brooklyn Navy Yard. This will mean a more streamlined guest experience, a more organized volunteer experience, and a more open and accessible food service area at their existing location on 4th Avenue. The move will also help to expand their pantry operations to additional neighborhoods in need, community centers and public schools, and partner organizations that need food for their clients.

This Instagram reel highlights a foraging class in Prospect Park led by local “Wildman” Steve Brill. Check out upcoming class dates here!

Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani, DEP Commissioner Lisa F. Garcia, and DSNY Commissioner Gregory Anderson announced the completion of $24 million in new snow operations and composting facilities in Gowanus, Brooklyn. The 7,600-square-foot snow operations facility can store 6 million pounds of road salt — a first line of defense against dangerous conditions.

It’s that time of year: Cherry Blossom watch! Check out this regularly-updated Cherrywatch Map to plan your visit to Brooklyn Botanic Garden.

Business Buzz:

• Café Mars, “an unusual Italian restaurant,” is proud to announce it will completely transform its restaurant into an Italian izakaya for the month of May! From all-new food and drink menus to rigatoni chopstick holders to a neon katakana version of our sign to a Suntory “Divine Foam” draft machine, Café Mars is making a full blown Itameshi metamorphosis! Kicking off Wednesday, May 6th every Wed, Thur, Fri and Saturday all dinner services will exclusively feature a full menu of Café Mars’ vision of Itameshi cuisine. Make a reservation here.

• Gertie will be launching a “Bagels with Buddies” series! Every other week they’ll be partnering with some of their favorite friends to bring together the bagels and latkes of their dreams. Next week, on April 13th, the series will kick off with food writer & Top Chef judge Gail Simmons.

We love springtime in Park Slope! What is your favorite spring activity in the neighborhood? Comment and let us know!

-Mychal

✨ Continue reading our ‘Secret Slope’ section at the bottom just for paid subscribers who want to stay a step ahead - soft openings & exclusives!

Do you have a story we should be sharing? 🗞️ Submit a tip anonymously here, or email us.

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Our Top Weekly Picks:

Events with an asterisk* tend to sell out—reserve tickets early!

Weekend Event:

Brooklyn Fine Art Print Fair @ Powerhouse Arts (Thursday April 9th- Sunday April 12th): Powerhouse Arts is proud to present the return of the Brooklyn Fine Art Print Fair at their state-of-the-art arts fabrication facility in Gowanus, Brooklyn. Now entering its second edition, the borough’s first and only fair dedicated exclusively to fine art printmaking continues its mission to champion the medium while expanding access for artists, educators, and collectors alike to engage with a dedicated community of print masters, connoisseurs, and enthusiasts. $15.

Thursday, April 9th:

Humanist Happy Hour @ Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture, 7-9pm [Sponsored]: Unwind, connect, and meet new people at Humanist Happy Hour, a cozy, casual gathering designed for real conversation and community. Held every second Tuesday, this small-group hang is a space to talk about anything on your mind, from big ideas around philosophy and humanism to the everyday realities of life in the city. Whether you’re new to humanism or just looking to meet thoughtful, open-minded neighbors, you’ll find a welcoming, low-pressure atmosphere where meaningful connections come naturally. Refreshments are provided, and you’re welcome to bring your own. No pressure to drink, just come as you are. FREE.

Saturday, April 11th:

SMART TIPS for your City Garden with Nigel Rollings @ Old Stone House, 10am-2pm: You’re invited to a garden design workshop led by Nigel Rollings at the Old Stone House. Nigel taught a fabulous garden design course at Brooklyn Botanical Garden for many years. Old Stone House’s own Director of Gardens, Samuel Lewis, was one of his students! The event will touch on the history of garden design, tips for gardeners, and some fundamental garden design principles. $75.

5th Annual Cambodian New Year Party @ Whisk & Whiskey, 7pm-12am: Expect music, dancing, free rum tastings, Cambodian eats & drink specials at this 5th annual event. Celebrate community with Whisk & Whiskey! FREE.

Sunday, April 12th:

Needlepoint Meetup @ LoFi Bar, 1-3pm: Join CAG Club Needlepoint for their inaugural needlepoint stitch club! Bring your current WIP, have a drink, and meet fellow neighborhood stitchers. RSVP recommended.

Monday, April 13th:

Gowanus Current @ Nitehawk Cinema (April 13th, 7pm)*: This event sold out in its original location and has since been moved to a bigger theatre! One year after its world premiere, Nitehawk Cinema will screen Gowanus Current, a documentary that centers on the lengthy and divisive Gowanus rezoning process. Local filmmakers Jamie Courville and Chris Reynolds shot the film over the course of 10 years. There will be a discussion after the film moderated by journalist Brian Dunleavy. Tickets available here.

Tuesday, April 14th:

2026 Mahj Night at Annie’s, 6:30pm: Make new Mahjong friends or reunite with your classmates for this fun evening. Annie’s Blue Ribbon Mahj teacher, Todd Blumenthal, will guide the group through the new 2026 National Mah Jongg League Card! Todd will discuss hands, strategy, pivots, and thoughts on the new American Mah Jongg card, as well as backup plans you will need throughout the year to play your best game. Be sure to bring a notebook! Price of admission includes drinks, snacks, and good Mahj company. $10 from each ticket purchased will be donated to CHiPS. $35.

Plan Ahead for These Popular Events:

Park Slope Living x The Shaka Club Community Happy Hour @ 390 Social (Thursday, April 23rd, 7-9pm): We’re partnering with The Shaka Club to host a fun and welcoming community happy hour at 390 Social in Park Slope. If you’ve been looking for a way to meet new people locally, this event is designed to make that easy and relaxed. Instead of traditional networking or awkward mixers, Shaka Club uses their “Speed Intros” format - small rotating groups that make it easy to meet everyone attending in a natural way. Expect a curated group of 30–50+ locals in their 30s and 40s, Shaka Club’s Speed Intro group rotations, optional group activities and conversation prompts, hour drinks and food available to order, and a relaxed, social atmosphere designed to help people connect. $23.

(This previously sold out event has more tickets added!)

Fabulous Fifth Avenue Fair 2026 (Sunday May 17th, 10am-6pm): A day of small businesses, community, music and fun! The Park Slope 5th Avenue BID will fill eighteen blocks with local eateries, bars, stores, local art, and non-profits showing off their products and services. FREE.

Submit an event to be considered for this weekly events roundup! Add any events for this week in comments below.

Weekly Way to Give Back 🎗️

Park Slope Civic Council Civic Sweep (April 25th) This biannual clean-up event every Spring and Fall helps beautify our neighborhood. Volunteers can assist with weeding and mulching street trees, picking up litter, and painting over graffiti on lampposts (adult supervision required). PSCC provides all tools and supplies, and Community Service vouchers are available. When possible, they offer native plants for volunteers’ yards and collect unwanted electronics for recycling. Come out and help keep our neighborhood clean, green, and thriving! Sign up here.

Neighborhood Job Board

Each week we publish a new job board link featuring local openings from Park Slope and nearby businesses. Listing is free and takes under 2 minutes.

This week: Summer jobs, Trudie’s Tavern (from the Gertie & Gertrude’s Restaurant team), Powerhouse Arts

View Neighborhood Jobs

List a job for free | Subscribe for free to get the weekly job board in your inbox

✨ Secret Slope ✨

This week’s Insider section below the paywall includes:

New Gowanus developments are in progress on Smith and Carroll St.

Read more

There’s a moment most of us hit during the week: working from home isn’t quite cutting it, your go-to café is too loud, and the idea of schlepping into Manhattan feels unnecessary.

That’s exactly where The Shop Brooklyn fits in.

This newly-opened workspace in Gowanus was designed to be a happy medium: not an office you’re locked into for years, but not a bandaid fix either. It’s a space you can visit for the day or turn into a second home.

Work here for a day

If you just need to get out of the house, take a call, or reset your routine, The Shop offers drop-in access, private day office rentals, and fully bookable conference rooms.

The Shop is the kind of space that actually supports how people work now. The space can be quiet when you need it, social when you want it, and was designed with a level of intention that will probably make you want to stay longer than you’d planned.

Right now, we’re offering 50% off your first booking, whether that’s a day pass or a meeting room with promo code PARKSLOPE.

Book Now

Or stay for a spell

For those ready for a more permanent setup, this is where things start to move.

There are just a handful of private offices and artist studios remaining, and the mix is intentionally limited, no massive inventory, no endless rows of identical units. Once they’re gone, they’re gone.

Don’t worry, we’ve got something for you though: any offices signed by April 30th come with an extra month free, layered on top of existing founding member incentives when you name drop Park Slope Living.

See this as your sign to land somewhere early, before the space is no longer Brooklyn’s best-kept secret.

Built for Brooklyn (and beyond)

Beyond being a great workspace, The Shop is a part of a broader shift happening in Gowanus.

More people are around during the day. More businesses are planting roots. And spaces like ours are becoming the connective tissue between them.

Know someone else that would benefit from space at The Shop? Learn more about our neighborhood referral program today.

Refer Now

Thank you to The Shop Workspace

Sponsored content like this allows Park Slope Pulse to continue delivering top-quality local coverage to our community. Your support helps fund our dedicated writers. Interested in advertising with Park Slope Pulse? Contact us to learn more about partnership opportunities.

Brownstone Field Notes:

Habitat: East Coast; especially Brooklyn, Manhattan, Boston & Philadelphia
Plumage: Deep reddish-brown with hints of rich chocolate
Peak Season: 1850–1873 (construction peak)
Common Threats: Spalling, poor construction, or ill-advised 1970s renovations

A familiar sight on every tree-lined street in Park Slope, the brownstone is the “bird” everyone recognizes, but few stop to appreciate. Consider it the House Sparrow of buildings: almost never alone, perched along nearly every block, and no matter how many you see, there’s always another detail hiding in plain sight. In this article we’ll look at where brownstone came from, why it took over the neighborhood, and why — despite its beauty — it may not be the most durable plumage (façade).

Quick reminder from Part I: the term ‘brownstone’ technically refers to the stone veneer on the front façade — not the home. From here on, that’s the brownstone we’re talking about.

As is often the case in architecture, new styles tend to appear first in the most prominent buildings — and in nascent New York, those buildings were churches. Brownstone’s story actually begins earlier than most realize: St. Paul’s Chapel, the oldest church in Manhattan, incorporated brownstone as far back as 1766. It wasn’t until Trinity Church completed its full brownstone façade in the 1840s, however, that the material truly came onto the scene. As the wealthiest congregation in New York, this decision helped establish what would soon become a nearly mandatory aesthetic.

Trinity Church was built in the Gothic Revival style (also called Neo-Gothic). One of the hallmarks of Gothic architecture was the celebration of nature, and brownstone fit perfectly: soft, flat stone was easily carved into motifs of leaves, vines, and floral patterns while the warm red-brown tones added a natural palette to the architecture. We’ll explore Gothic identifiers in more detail in a future article, but for now it’s fun to note that long before weird architects were comparing buildings to birds, they were already finding inspiration by studying the natural world.

By the 1850s, brownstone had jumped from churches to rowhouses, quickly becoming the default material for new homes. Park Slope saw a real building boom after Prospect Park opened in 1867 and the Brooklyn Bridge followed in 1883 — suddenly, brownstone was the in-vouge material available to residents of our growing neighborhood. For more info on Park Slope’s development, check out the history section on the Park Slope Pulse Substack!

As an architect, I’d love to wax lyrical about how aesthetic values shaped the beautification of our neighborhoods — but, unfortunately, that’s only part of the story. While aesthetics certainly played a role in brownstone’s rise in popularity, it wasn’t the whole picture. Brownstone was also more affordable than other façade materials like limestone or marble, thanks to lower shipping costs and new steam-powered cutting technology, which made fabricating these façades far more efficient. In short, brownstone was both beautiful and accessible to a wider range of homeowners.

You have the Industrial Revolution to thank for steam channeling, also known as steam cutting. This new process transformed the previously labor-intensive work of shaping brownstone, making it far more efficient. Suddenly, brownstone could achieve the large-scale, grand façades of its more expensive counterparts, but at a fraction of the cost. As technology improved throughout the nineteenth century, the size of the stone grew, and joints became nearly imperceptible, giving architects the perfect canvas for elaborate ornamentation and making brownstone suitable for a wide variety of architectural styles.

Logistics played a big role in brownstone’s accessibility – the majority of the brownstone we see today was sourced from a single quarry in Portland, Connecticut, roughly 100 miles northeast of New York City. Situated along the Connecticut River, the quarry allowed the stone to migrate via the Long Island Sound and then down to New York, providing a much simpler and more efficient route than overland transport.

While Connecticut gets most of the attention, New Jersey had its own brownstone quarries too — producing stone that tended to be a bit lighter in color. Even Trinity Church, our Gothic Revival feathered friend from earlier, was decked out in brownstone from Little Falls, NJ.

Technically, brownstone is a type of sandstone (or freestone) dating back to the Triassic period. When first quarried, it often shows a pinkish hue, which gradually darkens with exposure to the elements — thanks to the iron-rich hematite in the stone. Think of it as the building’s feathers: young and rosy at first, then maturing into the deep, rich brown plumage that adorns our streets today.

While undeniably beautiful, brownstone is actually a rather delicate building material. It’s brittle, prone to cracking, and demands careful cutting and installation to last. Because of these durability challenges, many brownstones today are coated with a thin layer of stucco, carefully tinted to match the original stone beneath. An architect’s warning: if a brownstone is re-stuccoed improperly, the results can be disastrous — sometimes even less durable than the original stone beneath. If you’re planning a façade refresh, consult a professional to ensure your home can remain a proud part of the neighborhood’s character.

Ultimately, a mix of fortunate technological advances and widespread stylistic popularity made brownstone the star of our streets. In the next article, we’ll explore some of the less common — but no less fascinating — façade materials found in Park Slope. In the meantime, keep your eyes open on your next stroll: notice the scale of the stone, the subtle color variations, and the details that give each façade its unique story. Happy (brownstone) birding!

Pies ‘n’ Thighs opened its second location in Park Slope on April 1st. Get the first look here!

StretchLab & Studio Metamorphosis will be coming soon to the previous Starbucks location on 164 & 166 7th Ave (between Garfield & 1st St).

Mazi will be opening on Flatbush & 6th Avenue in the previous Purbird space.

Smorgasburg NYC re-opens this Sunday, April 5th at Prospect Park! Read about the new vendors at this year’s Smorgasburg.

Luna Park at Coney Island has re-opened for the season!

Slow Burn Ceramics has opened up a new member studio!

Closing:

Sushi restaurant Yamato closed this week after 30 years of service in Park Slope.

V Spot, the vegan restaurant that has been in the neighborhood for twenty years, has officially closed.

Puppet Works, which has been in Park Slope for 40 years, is looking for a new home. They are still operating from their current location and are performing “Aladdin & the Wonderful Lamp” through April 7th.

Local News:

It’s that time of year: Cherry Blossom watch! Check out this regularly-updated Cherrywatch Map to plan your visit to Brooklyn Botanic Garden.

The Brooklyn Museum is launching a $13 million new project to renovate and design permanent galleries for its historic African art collection, which will include revamped 6,400-square-foot galleries and will feature an inaugural installation of over 300 works from antiquity to the present.

Community Board 6, which represents the neighborhoods of Park Slope, Gowanus, Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, Red Hook and the Columbia Street Waterfront, passed a resolution advocating for the New York City Department of Transportation to be responsible for handing out parking tickets instead of the NYPD.

After a decade of more than 9,000 crashes, + 2,700 injuries & 8 fatalities in dangerous streets and intersections across Park Slope, The St. Johns Community Association released a Pedestrian & Traffic Safety Proposal for Park Slope. The proposal is being submitted to the Brooklyn DOT Commissioner Keith Bray and is seeking support from Community Board 6, District 39th, the 78th Precinct, and local elected officials.

Business Buzz:

Cuppa Hive Coffee is now offering a new Spring drink menu, which includes Iced Honey Lavender Latte, Iced Raspberry Matcha Latte, Raspberry Peach Lemonade, & more!

Principles GI has started a bi-weekly “Politics & Coffee” meet -up to discuss current events.

-Mychal

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Our Top Weekly Picks:

Events with an asterisk* tend to sell out—reserve tickets early!

Thursday, April 2nd:

Why Are You Single? A Singles Game Show with Marie Austin @ The Bell House, 8pm: Join comedian & host Marie Faustin on a hunt for dating red flags! Self-submitted single contestants are subjected to rounds of questioning, games, & an interrogation all to uncover why on earth they are single. The contestant with the most red flags...wins? $25.05.

Saturday, April 4th:

Pop Up Cookie Decorating Event with Brooklyn Cookie Designs @ Brewer’s Row, 1pm: Brewer’s Row and Brooklyn Cookie Designs are hosting a pop-up cookie decorating event! They think you deserve to sit down with a cold beer, pick up a piping bag, and make something absolutely unhinged out of a sugar cookie in celebration of Spring! Pre-order and reserve your cookies now and pick them up on the day of the event. Each preorder comes with 3 pre-baked sugar cookies. $25.

Discover Green-Wood Trolley Tour @ Green-Wood Cemetery, 1-3pm: Hop on board a cozy, warm trolley for an expert-led tour of Green-Wood’s historic landscape and some of the Cemetery’s most intriguing permanent residents. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a seasoned explorer, this is your chance to experience 478 acres of art, history, and nature. Walk in the footsteps of George Washington and his troops during the Battle of Brooklyn; visit the grave of Jean-Michel Basquiat, one of America’s greatest artists; and discover so much more! $30.

Sunday, April 5th:

Open Hearth Baking Day @ Old Stone House, 12-4:30pm: Come join the Old Stone House for Community Baking Day at the oven! Try your hand at baking in their wood-burning outdoor hearth! You can bring any dish or recipe (from bread to chicken, from cookies to pie) and cook it in the outdoor wood-fired oven! Old Stone House Dir. of Environmental Programs Angel Martinez Lombardo will guide you through cooking your food. FREE- RSVP required.

A Contra Dance for All @ Camp Friendship, 4:30-8pm: Enjoy this traditional social dance along with music from innovative quartet Kaleidoscope. Lesson for beginners will begin at 4:30 followed by dancing & live music. $15.

Monday, April 6th:

Jacobin: Who Speaks for the Working Class Majority @ Littlefield, 6:30pm: Krystal Ball joins Vivek Chibber and Matt Karp for a live recording of Confronting Capitalism on how class politics can convert popular anger into durable power — and why rebuilding labor is the precondition for any serious democratic renewal. The discussion will be moderated by Confronting Capitalism host Melissa Naschek. Tickets start at $11.79.

Tuesday, March 7th:

Cut Flower Gardening Workshop @ Brooklyn Botanic Garden, 5:30-8:30pm: Spoil yourself, your neighbors, and local wildlife with unique, home-grown flowers all year long! This class will demonstrate how to plan a seasonal cutting garden, focused on maximizing bloom time, cut-flower best practices, seed/bulb/plant selection, and harvest tips. This class is best suited for folks with some existing gardening knowledge/experience. $96.

The Art of Hand-Rolled Sushi @ Wild East Brewing Company, 6:30pm: Ready to roll like a pro? In this hands-on class, Chef Michelle will guide you step by step through the art of making sushi-inspired rolls from scratch. You’ll start by learning how to properly cook sushi rice, slice fresh veggies like a pro, and whip up a flavorful dipping sauce inspired by traditional Japanese ingredients. This class is laid-back and beginner-friendly—perfect whether you’re completely new to sushi or just looking to pick up a new skill. No prior experience is needed—just bring your love of food and a willingness to have fun. $64.80.

Plan Ahead for These Popular Events:

CONDUCTOR: Art Fair of the Global Majority @ Powerhouse Arts (April 30 to May 3, 2026): Presenting individual artists and galleries from across Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, South Asia, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Oceania and Indigenous Nations around the globe, CONDUCTOR seeks to deepen ties with these regions of the world, providing an inclusive and accessible platform for cultural exchange and expanding opportunities for artists and their galleries to grow and develop their markets in New York. Tickets start at $15.

Prospect Park Soiree (June 20th, 2026)*: Dine and dance under the stars at Brooklyn’s most magical gathering! Get ready to dance and raise a glass to Brooklyn’s Backyard. Prospect Park Alliance provides the entertainment and breathtaking setting, while you gather with thousands of friends and neighbors to enjoy an evening under the stars in Prospect Park. Show off your creativity with your attire and table décor, and raise your glass in a toast to Brooklyn's Backyard. Early bird admission: $64.73.

Submit an event to be considered for this weekly events roundup! Add any events for this week in comments below.

Slope Steal of the Week 💰

Pies & Pitchers at Greenwood Park Brooklyn

Wednesday nights

Get a FREE Margherita pizza with any pitcher of beer ordered.

Neighborhood Job Board

Each week we publish a new job board link featuring local openings from Park Slope and nearby businesses. Listing is free and takes under 2 minutes.

This week: Jobs at Rikud Studio, Big Reuse, Royal Palms Shuffleboard Club, Greenlight Bookstore

View Neighborhood Jobs

List a job for free | Subscribe for free to get the weekly job board in your inbox

✨ Secret Slope ✨

This week’s Insider section below the paywall includes:

A much loved Gowanus taproom has new owners reopening April 11 • My top pick for rotisserie chicken in the neighborhood

Read more

Welcome to LONGVIEW Park Slope - a design-driven collection of one-bedroom, one-bedroom + home office, and two-bedroom residences that offer panoramic views of the Brooklyn or Manhattan skylines. Perfectly positioned where historic Park Slope meets edgy, industrial-chic Gowanus, LONGVIEW blends timeless design with modern Brooklyn sensibility.

Residence layouts are defined by thoughtful proportions, quiet elegance, and an enduring sense of style. Each residence is designed to enhance space and flow with expansive custom windows inviting radiant natural light and a calming palette of materials that bring together a balance of warmth and modernity. From the private outdoor terraces featured in numerous homes to the selection of high-end finishes, every detail has been carefully considered to cultivate a life of ease, simplicity, and intention.

Inquire Now

Over 30,000 square-feet of thoughtfully curated amenities are designed to enrich daily life, seamlessly blending wellness, work, social connection, entertainment and relaxation.

Residents enjoy a state-of-the-art-fitness center, sports simulator room, children’s playroom, billiards lounge, and co-working lounge. Anchoring the experience is the highly anticipated Sunset Club — a beautifully appointed rooftop lounge featuring a private dining room, outdoor grilling and firepits and a wraparound terrace showcasing sweeping, one-of-a-kind views of Manhattan and Brooklyn.

Inquire Now

Rooted at the intersection of Park Slope & Gowanus, LONGVIEW is first and foremost a Park Slope address, surrounded by the neighborhood’s iconic tree-lined streets, landmark brownstones, and beloved culinary institutions like Al Di La alongside Michelin-starred Claro. Just beyond, Gowanus adds a complementary layer of creative energy, with cultural destinations including Powerhouse Arts, Public Records, and Royal Palms Shuffleboard Club. Together, these neighboring districts create a richly layered backdrop of culture, cuisine, and character, anchored by the timeless appeal of Park Slope.

With Prospect Park just moments away and seamless access to the N, R, W, D, F, and G trains, LONGVIEW offers the connectivity and convenience Park Slope is known for, placing world-class dining, unbeatable shopping, and sought-after cultural destinations across Brooklyn and Manhattan within easy reach. Onsite parking is also available, adding an extra level of everyday ease.

Thank you to Longview Park Slope

Sponsored content like this allows Park Slope Pulse to continue delivering top-quality local coverage to our community. Your support helps fund our dedicated writers. Interested in advertising with Park Slope Pulse? Contact us to learn more about partnership opportunities.

“We opened in the back of a dive bar on S 5th & Kent, and there was absolutely nothing there,” says Sanneh. “One of my favorite pictures from the time is of our dishwasher smoking pork butts in this offset smoker that we had in the yard…which was entirely not allowed, but made the most delicious pork.” The bar was situated on a deserted street with a burnt-out car nearby, a much more industrial Williamsburg than we know today.

“So I think from that, to what Pies is now in Williamsburg, which is a neighborhood restaurant, to this, it feels like we’ve sort of grown up along the way. I certainly have,” says Sanneh. She was 24 years old when she quit her full-time job to open the original Pies ‘n’ Thighs, so this leap of faith has become her entire career.

The menu has also evolved, growing to include more items and taking into account how people eat today. Sanneh explains that when they first opened, they would sometimes just serve whatever they felt like making that day. Now, they have staples on the menu like their fried chicken, buttermilk biscuits, and a variety of pies, and ones that might not be top of mind yet happen to be top-sellers, like the Hippie Banjo, made with organic fried egg, cheddar, avocado, sprouts & tomato on homemade anadama bread, and the Green Goddess Roast Chicken.

When I asked Sanneh what she attributes to the success of Pies ‘n’ Thighs after 20 years, she jokingly (or not-so-jokingly) says stubbornness, but then follows it up with, “We appeal to a huge variety of people, and so I think there’s something for everyone. We’re always really proud of our dining room. It’ll be the FedEx guy next to a family of four celebrating a birthday next to a hipster who’s recording across the street.” She credited the restaurant’s broad appeal for protecting it against trends, while also striving to exceed guest expectations. “We’re a place that specializes in fried chicken, but we’re also a bakery, and we’re also a scratch kitchen,” adds Sanneh. “We take a ton of time and pride in what we do, and often when people dine with us, there’s an element of surprise.”

And we can’t talk about the success of Pies ‘n’ Thighs without acknowledging the customer favorites. Sanneh asserts with confidence, “It’s a great recipe for starters. We use a very aggressive brine for the fried chicken, and it’s brined for 24 hours.” She spoke to the simplicity of the recipe, detailing that the chicken is only tossed in flour and then fried, creating crispy bits, while still keeping it really light.

“I’m a pastry chef, so the biscuits, they’re my personal pride and joy,” Sanneh says enthusiastically. “We’ve had the same recipe since we opened.” Previously the Pastry Chef at Diner, Sanneh used the same recipe there. And just like the fried chicken, it’s a simple recipe. She explains the key to the biscuit’s extra-flaky layers is the technique of incorporating the butter, keeping it soft on the inside and crispy on the outside, plus there’s a lot of tang from the buttermilk. “I think there’s something really satisfying about it having these flaky layers you can peel apart, and it’s also substantial enough to hold a sandwich,” states Sanneh. “A lot of our food, in my mind, tastes like the platonic ideal. This biscuit is exactly what I hoped a biscuit would taste like. And of course, honey butter doesn’t hurt.” I think we can all agree on that!

As Sanneh spoke about the recipes, it led to a great story involving the one and only Guy Fieri! “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” came in to cover the original location, and Fieri was very involved in the entire process. At the time, the restaurant was putting all the chicken on a sheet pan, sprinkling on the seasoning, believing this would make it stick better to the skin, and then putting it in a salt-and-sugar brine. His reaction to this process? “What…? This is not how you brine chicken. Why are you making this so hard?! Just put the spices in the brine.” This was 14 years ago. “He literally changed the recipe that day, which is so funny,” says Sanneh. “We never went back. I think it would taste the same, but it was an enormous pain in the ass. So our labor would have been higher over those years.”

Looking beyond the top-selling menu items that have received accolades from major media outlets, like Food & Wine and The New York Times, and the queen herself, Martha Stewart, I was curious about some underrated items that people should order more often. “The burnt end baked beans,” Sanneh answers with a smile. “I don’t know if they’re underrated, but I just think they’re exceptional - sweet, smoky, and a little bit spicy. My kids love them.”

And what’s one menu item she can’t live without? The homemade cornbread! “We griddle it on the cut side with butter,” says Sanneh. “It’s like a New York-style griddled corn muffin. The best part is peeling off the sheet of the really toasted, really buttery edge.” To my surprise, the roasted broccoli was another item she mentioned because it complements so many other dishes, such as the chicken breast or tenders, grits + eggs, or even making them into broccoli melts on their anadama bread.

All of these best-sellers and underdog items will be offered on the Park Slope menu, along with a few new additions such as their crispy, juicy chicken tenders, which launched not that long ago in Williamsburg after much trial and error, a chicken tenders sandwich, and a new kids’ menu in the form of a cute placemat.

The location itself will also have its own charm. Previously home to Chef Eric Huang’s Pecking House, the interior has gone through some changes to maximize seating and allow for food prep to be transformed into entertainment for guests. Unlike the Williamsburg location, where everything is prepared in the basement, this location will have a dining floor experience, where guests get to see biscuits being rolled out, chicken being seasoned and fried to a perfect golden brown, and pies being handmade from scratch. “Since we make everything in-house, we really wanted to showcase that,” Sanneh says excitedly. “When I go someplace and order a taco, and they’re rolling out the masa right in front of me, it’s so fun. It feels like the best trend now.”

The decor in the new space will also have its own personality. While the Williamsburg restaurant has a more DIY vibe, the Park Slope location is a bit more structured, yet still encompasses the personal touches you’d expect to see at Pies ‘n’ Thighs. Sanneh’s mom, Cheryl, is a ceramicist, so she made the shades for the pendants along the bar, as well as a few sconces, a ceramic Coors Light sign that’ll be a sconce and lit from behind, and some ceramic pies that she went rogue to create (“You just have to let her be Cheryl!” - Sanneh). “To me, it’s such a funny symbol of Pies because it’s handmade, it’s sort of funny, it also takes a lot of skill, and it’s something that will make the place feel like Pies – having a quirky little piece of art from my mom on the wall,” says Sanneh. There will also be a picture hanging from the Rock Star Bar bathroom, their original dive bar space, and other nods to their long history.

While Sanneh is already a part of the Park Slope community, having co-founded the popular Heaps Ice Cream on 7th Avenue with Matt Lieber, she’s excited to expand this connection, creating another space that’s familiar, accessible, and open day or night - a true neighborhood gem that people can keep coming back to for years to come.

Pies ‘n’ Thighs opens in Park Slope on Wednesday, April 1st, and is located at 244 Flatbush Ave (at 6th Ave), Brooklyn, NY 11217 (1 block from Barclays Center)

Walk down any street in Park Slope and they’re impossible to miss – a steady rhythm of brownstones marching down the tree-lined streets. For some, they’re merely an aesthetic backdrop for day-to-day life. For an architect, however, the result is a never-ending scavenger hunt: spotting different styles and patterns that hint to when a building was constructed and who might have lived there.

It turns out paying attention to those small details translates well to a hobby I picked up recently – one that, somewhat embarrassingly, has claimed my warm-weather weekends. If I tell you I am in my thirties and live within walking distance of Greenwood Cemetery, you can probably guess where this is going: bird watching. On a recent walk around the neighborhood, it occurred to me that the way I am learning to identify birds isn’t all too different from the way I learned to identify architecture. In both cases, we start with broad observations – the bird’s habitat or a building’s material give you general clues regarding typology before you shift your focus to smaller details such as patterns, colors, and shapes. Each new observation reveals little clues as to what you are really seeing.

Thanks to the help of some very patient birders, I’ve slowly learned which clues are important for birding and have, miraculously, even begun to recognize birds on my own. And while I am still quite hopeless when it comes to birding, identifying brownstones comes naturally after more than a decade of designing homes. I wanted to write this series to help you learn more about the buildings you live in and walk past everyday – and why they look the way they do. Thankfully, unlike birding, buildings stay put and require no early mornings or special gear. Your speed with binoculars (or lack thereof in my case) won’t matter either.

This series will walk through the basics of brownstone styles, how we define them, and what made them fashionable in the first place. By the end, I hope you’ll know where to look to better understand your neighborhood (hint: it’s always the front door) – and maybe, just maybe, turn to the person next to you and proudly explain why that mansard roof means the house is actually classified as Second Empire, not Italianate. I’m using Park Slope as our case study, but feel free to take these tips and tricks throughout Brooklyn and across New York.

Like any good field guide, let’s start by defining a few important terms. In everyday conversation, the term “brownstone” is used to describe most homes in Park Slope. Technically, however, this term refers to building material, not an architectural typology. A more accurate categorization would be a townhouse (or townhome), simply defined as a two-to-four-story home sharing one or two walls with its neighbors. The shared wall is the important detail and is what gives our homes that intimate city character we all love. It’s all a bit nuanced, so here’s the key takeaway: the building typology is a townhouse, while the primary façade material is brownstone.

Now this isn’t an advice column, but I might suggest resisting the urge to correct people if they misuse the term. I went with “Brownstone Birding” because it is much catchier than “Townhouse Tutoring” and gives readers a better visual description. It’s perfectly acceptable to separate technical definitions from their local vernacular as a hobbyist.

The fact that we call them “brownstones” does transition well to our first lesson in identifying a townhouse: observe the materials. Once you start looking, alongside brownstone you’ll also find limestone, brick, clapboard, and a whole host of other materials, each with its own story we will cover in future articles. Just as there are many species of woodpeckers, there are many variations of “brownstones”. Step one is confirming the bird hammering its head into a tree is, in fact, a woodpecker. Figuring out whether it’s pileated, red-bellied, or downy comes next. Translated to buildings, the first step in identification is observing the materials used in construction, following which we can start to look for stylistic attributes indicating styles such as Italianate, Romanesque, etc.

A word of warning: After 150 years of renovations and alterations, some Park Slope homes have evolved into slightly ‘Frankensteined’ hybrids containing multiple styles and materials. Just as birding doesn’t always follow logical rules (for example, the red-bellied woodpecker’s most easily identifiable feature is the bright red – you guessed it – head), you can’t always rely on buildings existing in their original state.

Have no fear though, after we’ve completed this series together you will be able to identify each and every part of your home. In Part II we will be diving deeper into brownstones – where the material comes from, why it was popular, and even a few maintenance tips if you’re currently living in one. In the meantime, keep an eye out on your next walk and start looking for the differences in each home on your street. Happy (brownstone) birding!

Subscribe to Park Slope Pulse to get Part 2 in your inbox next week!

Looking for something a bit more off the beaten path than dinner & drinks? Check out our guide to creative & quirky date ideas in the neighborhood.

al di là Trattoria

Chandeliers, red curtains, and church pews give the atmosphere of this Northern Italian restaurant a romantic, old-world feel.

Outdoor seating: Sidewalk

Alcohol: Full bar

Reservations: Resy

Location: 248 5th Avenue

Bar Goto Niban

Named one of the “Best Bars in NYC” by CN Traveler in 2024, Goto Niban blends Japanese cocktail tradition with New York drinking culture. Its dim lighting and sleek, sophisticated atmosphere make it a perfect date night choice.

Outdoor seating: No

Alcohol: Full bar

Reservations: No

Location: 474 Bergen St

Bar Louise

Founded by the team behind Pasta Louise, this 1940’s style cocktail bar features gorgeous decor, daily specials, and movie nights on the back patio.

Outdoor seating: Yes

Alcohol: Full Bar

Reservations: Resy

Location: 221 7th Ave

15 more of the Neighborhood’s Most Romantic Spots below~!

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French bakery Le Fournil has opened their first Brooklyn location at 186 5th Avenue at Sackett Street!

Smorgasburg NYC is BACK for their 16th season! They will re-open April 5th at Prospect Park! Read about the new vendors at this year’s Smorgasbourg.

The Biggie Experience, a museum celebrating life, music, and legacy of the late Notorious B.I.G., has opened at 503 Atlantic Avenue.

Closing:

Trailer Park is closing soon after being in business for 27 years in the neighborhood. Chris Houghton has owned the business since 1998, personally sourcing the shop’s eclectic mix of inventory from Pennsylvania Dutch Country.

The store specializes in vintage collectibles and made-to-order Amish furniture . You can visit Trailer Park at 77 Sterling Place (near 6th Ave).

Local News:

A No Kings march is planned for this Saturday March 28 at 1-3pm. It will start at Garfield Place and go along Prospect Park West.

A new bill would roll back the Eric Adams-era regulations on outdoor dining. The bill is currently being deliberated by City Council and would classify all “roadway cafes”— sidewalk dining areas— as “sidewalk cafes,” which are allowed to operate without any seasonal limitations.

The average one-bedroom rent in Park Slope has reached $3,706, marking a 6% decrease from last year.

More than 60 crashes were reported at the busy traffic circle at Grand Army Plaza in 2025, prompting some residents to push for measures like traffic calming, curb extensions, and synchronized traffic signals.

The stalled Atlantic Yards platform in Brooklyn, a project started in 2003, may receive $350 million in aid from New York State.

PS 107 and PS 124 PTA recently hosted a fundraiser at Rullo’s - with Julia Stiles as the trivia host!

Business Buzz:

Dilly Dally is now open 8am–4pm for coffee, sweet treats, and a fresh menu built for daytime.

Hope everyone enjoyed the first full week of Spring! See you at the park soon. 🌷

-Mychal

✨ Continue reading our ‘Secret Slope’ section at the bottom just for paid subscribers who want to stay a step ahead - soft openings & exclusives!

Do you have a story we should be sharing? 🗞️ Submit a tip anonymously here, or email us.

Our Top Weekly Picks:

Events with an asterisk* tend to sell out—reserve tickets early!

Thursday, March 26th:

Women’s History Month @ Brooklyn Public Library, 1-2pm (Central Library): In celebration of Women’s History Month, this special performance honors the artistry, strength, and cultural legacy of women through three contrasting works drawn from Chinese and Asian dance traditions. The program moves from radiant elegance to intimate lyricism and, finally, to bold heroism—offering audiences a vivid and accessible way to reflect on women’s contributions across cultures and throughout history. FREE.

Saturday, March 28th:

“All the Restaurants” Pop-up @ Framebridge Cobble Hill (12:00pm-4:00pm): Meet Park Slope artist John Donohue, founder of All the Restaurants, at a special pop-up. Donohue will be selling and signing limited-edition prints of his iconic sketches featuring beloved Brooklyn spots like Lucali, Frankies Spuntino, and Clover Club, with custom framing available on-site.

Park Slope Historic Churches Walking Tour, 1:30 to 3:30 pm: Park Slope’s houses of worship tell the story of the community that built them. They show the work of the families, immigrants, and leaders who shaped this neighborhood. The guided tour gives you a close look at that history and the beautiful architecture of each of these spaces. Participants will visit four houses of worship in small groups. At each stop, a member of the congregation will lead a tour and share the building’s story. $30/ $25 members.

Black Girl Art Show @ Brooklyn Navy Yard, 2-8pm: This nationwide traveling exhibition is dedicated to celebrating and showcasing the creativity, talent, and cultural impact of Black women artists. Each show brings together a curated collection of powerful, thought-provoking pieces alongside live art, music, and a marketplace of Black-owned brands. Guests can expect an inspiring, high energy celebration that feels equal parts art gallery, cultural gathering, and creative recharge. $68.55.

Brooklyn Conservatory Community Orchestra Gala: Waltz and Foxtrot @ St. Saviour High School Gymnasium, 7:30-10pm: Step back in time and onto the dance floor at the Brooklyn Conservatory Community Orchestra‘s biannual gala spectacular: a dazzling evening of waltzing and foxtrot inspired by the balls and fétes of Old New York in The Gilded Age. Expect an evening full of dancing, musical performances and delectable food and drink courtesy of the BCCO’s members. Laurie Shayler of Dance Connection will offer accessible group lessons in waltz and foxtrot dancing. The BCCO has a wonderful program planned, including classics by Strauss, Tchaikovsky, Richard Rodgers, Glenn Miller and Cole Porter and two jazz standards performed by their featured vocal soloist, Christine Cornell. $45 for one/ $75 for two.

Sunday, March 29th:

Trans Visibility Extravaganza @ Ginger’s Bar, 2-6pm: Give your money (and love) to trans artists and raise money for trans organizations at this all trans showcase featuring trans vendors, dj and performers! $12.51.

Tuesday, March 31st:

Tuesday March 31st, 7:30-9pm: Join us for a Community Night at Royal Palms Shuffleboard Club 🎉 We’re bringing together the community from Park Slope Living + Cobble Hill Collective for a relaxed evening of shuffleboard, drinks, and meeting fellow neighbors in person. We’ve reserved lanes (yes, free games!) so you can hang out and play a few rounds with locals & our team! More details here.

Wednesday, April 1st:

When Harry Met Sally @ Pasta Louise, 8pm: Watch this rom-com classic on a big screen and enjoy trivia and prizes all night, food and drink specials, and a free welcome drink! Food or drink purchase required.

Written in Brooklyn Storytelling Series presents: Now Or Never @ Farm.One, 8pm: A night of true stories about big leaps, last chances, and moments that changed everything. Some moments in life are low stakes, like choosing what to watch on Netflix. Others are… less chill. Quit the job? Say the thing? Stay at the hostel that has 1 out of 5 stars in Central America because you only have $10 to your name? At this month’s show, storytellers share true stories about the moments when life stopped politely waiting and demanded a decision: now… or never. $28.52.

Plan Ahead for These Popular Events:

Brooklyn Fine Art Print Fair @ Powerhouse Arts (Thursday April 9th- Sunday April 12th): Powerhouse Arts is proud to present the return of the Brooklyn Fine Art Print Fair at their state-of-the-art arts fabrication facility in Gowanus, Brooklyn. Now entering its second edition, the borough’s first and only fair dedicated exclusively to fine art printmaking continues its mission to champion the medium while expanding access for artists, educators, and collectors alike to engage with a dedicated community of print masters, connoisseurs, and enthusiasts. $15.

Hanami Nights @ Brooklyn Botanic Garden (Tuesday, April 21–Friday, April 24, 2026): Find a spot on Cherry Esplanade to enjoy the cherry blossoms, lit up for maximum effect, and savor the spring vibe with family and friends. Stroll in the Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden and along Cherry Walk, try your hand at origami and other Japanese crafts, view a curated display of bonsai, and enjoy live performances and specialty food and drinks. Bring a blanket and picnic under the cherry blossoms! $40 adults/ $20 kids.

Submit an event to be considered for this weekly events roundup! Add any events for this week in comments below.

Neighborhood Job Board

Locals make the best staff - they know the neighborhood, care about the community, and stick around. Each week we publish a new job board link featuring local openings from Park Slope and nearby businesses. Listing is free and takes under 2 minutes.

27 job openings across Park Slope and nearby neighborhoods

View Neighborhood Jobs

List a job for free | Subscribe for free to get the weekly job board in your inbox

Passover Meals 🫓

Miriam is helping make the Passover table effortless this year with a specially prepared Passover Package available for pre-order now. Designed to serve four ($295), the spread features a generous lineup of Mediterranean-inspired holiday dishes including matzo ball soup, braised short ribs with apricots and carrots, roasted harissa king salmon, or lamb shanks with prunes and pomegranate molasses. Packages arrive unheated with warming instructions included, making hosting easy!

Winner is offering a passover catering menu available for pickup and delivery orders on March 31st through April 1st. The menu features matzo ball soup, roasted Za’atar chicken, roasted brisket, and more.

Join Gertrude’s for a very special Passover Seder on Wednesday, April 1st at 8 pm as they welcome Rabbi Matt of Brooklyn Jews and the Center for New Jewish Culture. Chef Eli & Chef Mike will be serving up a special 5 course dinner, with beverage pairings.​

✨ Secret Slope ✨

This week’s Insider section below the paywall includes:

A buzzy, design-forward wellness concept is expanding into Boerum Hill - bringing pools, saunas, and a new kind of “third space” • A popular Ditmas Park cafe is expanding to Windsor Terrace

Read more

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed trying to figure out what skincare treatments are actually right for you, you’re not alone.

Between Botox, filler, lasers, and everything in between, it can be hard to know what will give you natural-looking results - or who to trust.

During a recent visit, what struck us most about The Brightwood Skin was how thoughtful and personalized the experience felt. The Brightwood is a physician-led boutique medical practice tucked inside a beautiful Park Slope brownstone, where the focus is on understanding your goals first - not pushing treatments.

Providers take the time to ask questions, learn about your skincare routine and lifestyle, and make recommendations tailored to you. They’re also refreshingly honest about what you don’t need, which builds a level of trust that’s hard to find.

One treatment they often recommend for subtle, long-term results is Sculptra, which works by stimulating your body’s natural collagen production to gradually restore volume and improve skin quality over time.

They also offer advanced laser treatments like BBL (BroadBand Light) and Moxi, which are especially popular in the winter and early spring months when sun exposure is lower. These treatments help improve tone, texture, and overall skin clarity with minimal downtime.

What we appreciated most is that everything feels tailored - not just to your skin, but to your comfort level and aesthetic goals. The focus is always on results that feel natural and aligned with you.

The Brightwood’s philosophy centers on natural results, patient care, and exceptional hospitality, and it’s evident in every part of the experience.

If you’ve been curious about exploring treatments but didn’t know where to start, The Brightwood is a great place to begin.

Book a consultation at The Brightwood Skin
Use code PARKSLOPE15 for 15% off your first visit

Book A Consultation

Thank you to The Brightwood Skin!

Sponsored content like this allows Park Slope Pulse to continue delivering top-quality local coverage to our community. Your support helps fund our dedicated writers. Interested in advertising with Park Slope Pulse? Contact us to learn more about partnership opportunities.

Nick Bello is a writer and photographer based in Park Slope. He loves to capture local scenery as well as research local history. Follow him on Instagram @nbello8 or on substack at:

South Brooklyn History

Discovering history in and around South Brooklyn 📚

By Nick Bello

How is Park Slope, known now for its charming brownstones and close proximity to one of the largest parks in NYC, responsible for producing one of the notorious criminals in American History? Many studies have been conducted to figure out what factors rely on determining whether or not someone will be a criminal. A few have concluded that if your family has criminals, then the statistical likelihood of you being a criminal is high. Another major factor is psychological makeup, with people who have narcissistic and psychopathic personality traits being the main culprits for crimes. A third factor is environment, where a theory called the Chicago Schools Theory, points to the neighborhood you grew up in, and the social disorganization you grew up in, as a factor in becoming a criminal.

The Early Days

Born Alphonse Gabriele Capone to Teresa and Gabriele Capone, Italian immigrants who came to New York from Sicily just six years before, Capone spent his early years on Navy Street near the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Early on he joined a local youth gang called the Boys of Navy Street. When Capone was 8 years old, he and the gang went out one night to punish a group of Irish men who had been harassing Italian women. The gang of boys marched through the streets with Capone donning a washtub strapped to his chest that he used as a drum and beat a song that the boys chanted to. When Capone was 11, the family would eventually make the move to Park Slope, a once upper middle class neighborhood that was now seeing a heavy influx of working class Italian families like the Capone’s. The Capone’s lived in multiple residencies on Garfield Place, the first being 38 Garfield Place before eventually settling at 21 Garfield Place. While attending P.S. 133 on Butler Street and 4th Ave, Capone hit a teacher during a classroom brawl and was promptly expelled. Capone was a smart student but he had problems with rules, leading him to eventually quit school after this incident. This is where Capone would start his involvement in the Mafia world, joining small gangs like the Junior Forty Thieves, the Bowery Boys and the Brooklyn Rippers.

With nothing to do now, Capone resorted to hanging out at various neighborhood joints. In Frank DiMatteo and Michael Benson’s recent book, Red Hook: Brooklyn Mafia Ground Zero, it is said that Capone hung out at a place called Pop’s Poolroom and when the place was eventually sold many years later, someone came in and bought the pool table that Capone played on. Another club Capone reportedly hung out at was the Association Club on Union Street and 4th Ave on the second floor of where Brownstone Bagels currently is. This is where young Capone would get his start in New York’s underworld as the club was owned by Johnny “The Fox” Torrio, a revered gangster who also mentored another infamous Brooklyn gangster named Frankie Ioele, or Frankie Yale as he became known as since his last name Ioele in Italian sounded similar to Yale.

Scarface Gets His Scars

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Ellie’s Cafe, from the team behind O’Rita’s Roasters has opened at 175 Prospect Ave, in the former No Filter Coffee space. Welcome to the neighborhood!

LA favorite Canyon Coffee is opening today, March 19th, at the former White Tiger location on 601 Vanderbilt Ave. This independent coffee roaster is based in Echo Park, Los Angeles, and founded in 2016 by partners Ally Walsh and Casey Wojtalewicz - focusing on organic, single-origin coffees that are sustainable and ethically sourced.

Apollo Bagels will soon be opening a manufacturing/retail space at Industry City.

Closing:

Strong Rope Brewery is closing the doors to their Gowanus taproom after ten years. Their Red Hook location will remain open! We will miss them!

Local News:

Restoration of The Vale in Prospect Park began this week. This $37.5 million, 8-acre project, which aims to transform key landscapes in Prospect Park’s Northeast corner, is the single largest capital allocation to Prospect Park since Lakeside in 2010-13.

Prospect Heights resident Kim “Ejae” Eun-jae, the voice behind the lead character in “KPop Demon Hunters,” takes home an Oscar!

Park Slope Civic Council is seeking host homes for the Park Slope Sustainability House Tour, which was a sold out event last year: “Our goal is to feature homes that are charming, welcoming, and thoughtfully cared for. We hope to showcase homes that reflect the character and warmth that make our neighborhood so special”. Park Slope Living is proud to be a media sponsor of this event again this year!

Some neighbors are urging the state to step in and speed up remediation for a contaminated site tied to the Gowanus Green development.

Business Buzz:

BKHL, The Parlour is now hosting Board Game Thursdays! They invite guests to enjoy a more relaxed and social side of their tea room with board games, fresh baked goods, and their perfectly brewed teas. In lieu of traditional afternoon tea service, Thursdays feature a casual à la carte menu alongside their well-known selection of freshly brewed teas, served in a selection of vintage mugs. Guests can choose from a growing library of vintage board games, new strategic favorites, and social games-offering something for every kind of table. The next game night is on March 19th from 3-9pm. $15. Walk-ins welcome - book here to ensure a table. And they now offer Vegan tiers on weekends! [Sponsored]

The Parlour, A Speak’teasy hidden under the stoop at 69 7th Avenue, Park Slope.

-Mychal

✨ Continue reading our ‘Secret Slope’ section at the bottom just for paid subscribers who want to stay a step ahead - soft openings & exclusives!

Do you have a story we should be sharing? 🗞️ Submit a tip anonymously here, or email us.

Our Top Weekly Picks:

Events with an asterisk* tend to sell out—reserve tickets early!

Book ahead— Tuesday March 31st, 7:30-9pm: Join us for a Community Night at Royal Palms Shuffleboard Club 🎉 We’re bringing together the community from Park Slope Living + Cobble Hill Collective for a relaxed evening of shuffleboard, drinks, and meeting fellow neighbors in person. We’ve reserved lanes (yes, free games!) so you can hang out and play a few rounds with locals & our team! More details here

Coming soon also— Thursday April 23rd, 7-9pm*: We’re partnering with The Shaka Club to host a fun and welcoming community happy hour for locals in their 30s & 40s at 390 Social in Park Slope. If you’ve been looking for a way to meet new local friends, this event is designed to make that easy and relaxed. Instead of traditional networking or awkward mixers, Shaka Club uses their “Speed Intros” format - small rotating groups that make it easy to meet everyone attending in a natural way. Use code PARKSLOPE for 15% off. Paid Park Slope Pulse subscribers get 50% off tickets - see promo code details here.

Thursday, March 19th (Today):

Jellycat & Friends Happy Hour @ Annie’s Blue Ribbon General Store, 5-7pm: Join Annie’s for the cutest happy hour yet! There will be face painting, a creative activity station with our friends at Klutz, a photobooth & bring your own Jellycat show & tell. PLUS a lucky draw for one Bashful Cream Bunny someone will be able to take home that night! FREE.

Wine Myth Buster @ Terre, 6-8pm: For years, wine has been caught in the crossfire of wellness trends, headlines, and half-truths. But what’s really inside a glass of wine? Terre is hosting a myth-busting evening with wine educator MariaPia De Pasquale, PhD, to explore the science, stories, and realities behind wine. The evening will cover polyphenols and what they actually are, how wine interacts with the body, what makes natural wine different and why not all wines are created equal. Expect a relaxed conversation, thoughtful tastings, and delicious food pairings along the way. Reserve on OpenTable.

Friday, March 20th:

An Evening of Ukrainian Songs — A Charity Concert @ Kvartira, 7:30pm: Some music speaks loudly. Some speaks quietly — and stays with us longer. This concert, held in an independent international bookstore, nonprofit, lending library, and community space, will feature Ukrainian music performed live, with proceeds supporting Ukrainian charitable efforts. $39.19.

Saturday, March 21st:

Reading Resistance @ The Old Stone House: Rur, 11am-1pm: Welcome to Reading Resistance, a series of plays at the Old Stone House that explore theater as a form of resistance. Listen to classic plays and new works read by world-class actors. Bask in whimsical visuals provided by animation, projection, and puppetry. March’s theme is resistance to unregulated AI. $12.51.

Sunday, March 22nd:

Give Her Flowers @ Mockingbird (March 22nd, 5-7pm): This is a creative, feel good gathering centered on beauty, intention, and community. This experience is equal parts social and hands on workshop, designed as a space to connect, create, and celebrate one another. The workshop will begin with an opening mixer where guests can arrive, mingle, and enjoy a complimentary mocktail included with each ticket. From there, you’ll move into a guided floral workshop where you’ll create your own hand bouquet, with step by step instruction and time to make your arrangement feel personal and expressive. $77.99.

Knit Together @ Farm.One, 4pm: Knitting is a mindful and relaxing activity that is so fun to do with friends! Come spend some quality time working on your knitting or crochet projects, getting inspired, and making connections. All skill levels are welcome, and we’ll help you cast on and knit your first stitches if you’re looking to learn! FREE.

Family Dance Party @ Rikud Studio, 3-5pm: Brooklyn-based father & son duo @saintjamesjoy will DJ this family dance party! Snacks are included and drinks are available for purchase. $15.

Monday, March 23rd:

Queer To Tell: A Storytelling Series @ Ginger’s Bar, 7pm: Come join Ginger’s to celebrate 1 year of the Queer To Tell: a Storytelling Series residency! The show will be hosted by the effervescent Tits Morality and feature 5 LGBTQIA+ storytellers from our past year of shows. The show will run about an hour and a half, with a 10 minute intermission. $12.50.

Plan Ahead for These Popular Events:

Park Slope Historic Churches Walking Tour (Saturday, March 28, 1:30 to 3:30 pm): Park Slope’s houses of worship tell the story of the community that built them. They show the work of the families, immigrants, and leaders who shaped this neighborhood. The guided tour gives you a close look at that history and the beautiful architecture of each of these spaces. Participants will visit four houses of worship in small groups. At each stop, a member of the congregation will lead a tour and share the building’s story. $30/ $25 members.

Gowanus Current @ Nitehawk Cinema (April 13th, 7pm)*: One year after its world premiere, Nitehawk Cinema will screen Gowanus Current, a documentary that centers on the lengthy and divisive Gowanus rezoning process. Local filmmakers Jamie Courville and Chris Reynolds shot the film over the course of 10 years. There will be a discussion after the film moderated by journalist Brian Dunleavy. Tickets available here.

Submit an event to be considered for this weekly events roundup! Add any events for this week in comments below.

Neighborhood Job Board

Locals make the best staff - they know the neighborhood, care about the community, and stick around. Each week we publish a new job board link featuring local openings from Park Slope and nearby businesses. Listing is free and takes under 2 minutes.

This week: Director of Advancement role; jobs at Sawa, Radio Bakery, PKLYN

View Neighborhood Jobs

List a job for free | Subscribe for free to get the weekly job board in your inbox

Slope Steal of the Week 💰

LUYA Omakase & Wine Bar is celebrating their 1 year anniversary!

From March 30 – April 2, they’re showing they’re appreciation by offering:
✨ One complimentary Omakase course
🥂 One complimentary drink (wine, beer, or sake)

Check out details here.

✨ Secret Slope ✨

This week’s Insider section below the paywall includes:

A Gowanus waterfront building is getting 3 new exciting businesses: a popular LIC-based brewery with outdoor seating, a natural wine shop (whose Park Slope owners you may know already!), and a hands-on design studio for kids and families • A new housing lottery launch (apply by March 23) with studio apartments starting at $903/month

Read more