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In This Issue: Outdoor Dining Returns Year-Round • New Openings • Local News • Business Buzz • Our Top Picks for this Week
Park Slope Business Owners React to NYC Council’s Vote to Bring Back Year-Round Outdoor Dining
The newly approved legislation will allow roadway dining structures, previously only permitted April through November, to remain up year-round.
Here’s some great news for Park Slopers missing pandemic-era outdoor dining: the 1,649 restaurants in NYC that currently hold outdoor dining licenses will now be able to utilize them year-round.
The council’s decision, which reverses a 2023 vote that required the dismantling of roadway cafes during the winter, was supported by local Council Members Shahana Hanif and Alexa Avilés and is part of a larger package of bills which aim to lower costs for small businesses and improve quality of life for city residents.
Previously, sidewalk cafes could operate year around while roadway structures were required to be dismantled and reassembled each year. Now, businesses will have the option to enclose their sidewalk cafes during colder months as well as winterize and weatherproof their roadway structures.
Gloria Lopez, owner at Black Oak on Park Slope’s 5th Avenue, told Park Slope Pulse that she & the staff were really excited by the news of year-round outdoor dining making a return. The new guidelines will offer her business more seating and increased flexibility throughout the year.
The ability to utilize outdoor space year-round will give restaurants the opportunity to accommodate more guests in the winter months, a time when they often can use the financial boost. “As a smaller neighborhood restaurant, space can be a challenge for us, especially during the winter months when we sometimes have to turn guests away simply because we don’t have enough indoor seating,” explained Nick Alija, owner of Wild restaurant in Park Slope.
Outdoor dining has been a great addition to the neighborhood and will be really helpful for Black Oak, especially by giving us more seating and flexibility throughout the year.”- Gloria Lopez, Owner of Black Oak
Nick also highlighted the positive impact the new legislation could have on staff. “More seating means more guests to serve, which allows us to offer our employees more hours and create more consistent work throughout the year,” he notes.
To participate in year-round outdoor dining, restaurants must participate in NYC’s Dining Out program and pay accompanying annual fees, which businesses now have the option to pay in quarterly installments to reduce their upfront costs. The new legislation prohibits DOT rules that would allow roadway or sidewalk cafés to operate later than 11 pm. Restaurants will also be required to keep outdoor dining setups clear of trash, debris, graffiti, vermin, food scraps and unsanitary conditions or face fines.
“Overall, we see year-round outdoor dining as a really positive change,” Nick says. “Not only for our business and our employees, but for the neighborhood and the people who enjoy dining locally year-round.”
Openings
Pony’s, a new cocktail bar in Red Hook, will open Saturday, Aug 22nd. The bar occupies the corner spot on 424 Van Brunt St that formerly housed a yoga studio.
7th Ave Wine & Liquor Company, on 88 7th Ave between Berkeley and Union Streets, soft opened Monday under new ownership.
Local News 🗞️
A floating pool prototype, being built in Red Hook and slated to debut in the East River in 2027, is nearing completion. The pool, which was initially proposed in 2021, uses filtered river water.
A rendering of the East River’s floating pool prototype Park Slope resident and The New York Times editor Eric Athas launches his debut book, "Saying No to New: Why New Things Are Stealing Your Time, Money, and Happiness—and How to Take Back Your Life”, next month. Pre-order a signed copy from Community Bookstore on 7th!
Passing the Torch, a finance newsletter created by two sophomores at Park Slope’s Berkeley Carroll prep school, now has a subscriber list of 60,000.
A Gowanus-based activist group has filed a lawsuit alleging that more extensive clean up is needed for the Citizens former Manufactured Gas Plant Works Site, also know as Gowanus Green, where an affordable housing project is slated to be built. The site previously housed a gas plant for over 100 years.
Call for artists: Arts Gowanus is partnering with the MTA to beautify the vacant retail spaces at 4th Ave/9th St. Station in Gowanus! Artists are invited to submit up to five 2D works for consideration, to be reproduced and enlarged by Arts Gowanus for display inside the window bays.
Arts Gowanus is calling for artists to submit to their subway beautification project! Actor/director Steve Buscemi is hosting a one night, sold-out benefit for film preservation org IndieCollect at Park Slope’s Nitehawk Cinema. The benefit will include a screening of his 1996 directorial debut film Trees Lounge, which Nitehawk’s own bar is named after.
Business Buzz ⚡️
Check out these $9-and-under specials from Smorgasburg in Prospect Park on Sundays from 11am-6pm. Plus, collect vendor stickers and redeem for prizes!
Mexican restaurant Miti Miti announces Slow Motion Thursdays, where DJ Sin will be playing R&B classics and 90s/2000s throwbacks—plus an extended happy hour menu will be offered until 11pm!
I recently visited Grimm Tavern for the first time and loved sipping a funky orange wine accompanied by a delicious Caesar salad & some house-made potato chips and dip (because…balance). What meals are you enjoying most this summer?
Mychal
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Sponsored by MakeInspires
FREE Community STEAM Family Day at MakeInspires!
Looking for a fun Saturday morning with the kids? Join MakeInspires and Park Slope Living on August 29 from 10:00am–12:00pm for a FREE Community STEAM Family Day at MakeInspires’ Brooklyn makerspace! Families can try hands-on STEAM activities, explore the makerspace, meet the instructors, join a Family STEAM Challenge, and hear from founder Travis Sluss during a live parent Q&A. Plus, enjoy coffee and pastries from Brooklyn Granary & Mill and offers from Sit Still Kids while you connect with other local families.
Have another question or topic you want answered? Leave us a comment on Instagram here.
Our Top Weekly Picks
Events with an asterisk* tend to sell out—reserve tickets early!
Thursday, August 20th
Community Screening: Happy In The Bronx @ Puffin Foundation Brooklyn, 6:30-8pm: Join The Puffin Foundation for a free screening of Happy in the Bronx, a 27 minute documentary directed by Nancy Siesel that tells the story of a Bronx Zoo elephant named Happy who was held in captivity for 49 years. After the screening, Nancy will lead a panel discussion and/or an audience Q&A.
Saturday, August 22nd:
Battle of Brooklyn 250th Anniversary Reenactment @ Prospect Park, 10am: Join the Prospect Park Alliance, the Old Stone House of Brooklyn and the Brigade of the American Revolution to commemorate the 250th Anniversary of the Battle of Brooklyn, the largest battle of the American War for Independence. This event is free, open to the public, and paper tickets are not required.
Maryland 400 Remembrance Ceremony & Battle of Brooklyn Living History @ Old Stone House, 12pm: August 27, 2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Brooklyn, and to commemorate, this free event includes reenactor regiments from the Battle of Brooklyn, battle strategies and daily life during the Revolutionary War, and historical costumers.
Sunday, August 23rd:
The Battle of Brooklyn 250: The Meaning of Freedom @ Green-Wood, 10am-1pm: Immerse yourself in August 1776 at this free, family-friendly event through costumed interpreters, civilian and soldier stories, diverse perspectives on this pivotal moment, and a special parade and commemoration ceremony.
The Battle of Brooklyn @ Green-Wood Brooklyn Ice Cream Takedown 2026 @ Threes Brewing, 1-3pm: The Ice Cream Takedown returns triumphantly to Threes Brewing this summer! Try all the brilliant home made flavors with an all-you-can-eat ticket! Vote on your favorite $33.85.
Anniversary Party @ Luna La Mer, 10am-2pm: Celebrate two years of Luna La Mer with plants & ceramics by Brooklyn Horticulture, soft serve ice cream, olive oil tasting, face painting, a t-shirt design competition, and free samples.
Monday, August 24th:
Paint the Farm: A Botanical Watercolor Night (in partnership with Analog Stationer) @ Farm.One, 7pm: Inspired by the plants, herbs, and garden at Farm One, participants will learn simple watercolor techniques and create their own botanical-inspired paintings. The workshop includes guided freestyle painting and ends with a relaxed mini gallery moment to share everyone’s work. One drink provided; additional drinks available for purchase! $40.
Plan Ahead for this Popular Event:
Heel Toe Rodeo @ Littlefield (September 8th, 7:30pm): A beginner friendly line dancing event is coming your way! There will be lessons as well as open floor dances throughout the night. If you’ve ever been line dance curious (and let’s be honest, after that one scene in Footloose, who hasn’t?) then this is the event for you! Get your boots (or sneakers) on and let’s dance! $18.71.
Submit an event to be considered for this weekly events roundup! Add any events for this week in comments below.
Neighborhood Job Board 📌
This week’s jobs: Part-Time Social Media Assistant at Field To Frame, Part-Time Afterschool Sitter, & Independent Artist Vinyl Release & Production Assistant
View and list jobs by Brooklyn neighborhood for free! Have a link to a job listing already? Simply copy & paste the link and it will auto-fill the rest.
✨ Secret Slope ✨
This week’s Insider section below the paywall includes:
Housing lottery launches for a wellness-focused residential building in Park Slope • A new wellness destination is coming to Brooklyn Tower
