How a $20 horse race bet inspired 3 Royal Palms friends to open an Atlantic City-themed cocktail bar
Plus: A foraging walk in Prospect Park, beers at 2006 prices, and a cooking class for book worms.
In This Issue: Shania’s Max Bet Interview • New Openings • Local News • Business Buzz • Our Top Picks for this Week
Feeling lucky? Visit Shania’s Max Bet, a colorful new cocktail bar in Gowanus. 🎰
A $20 bet changed the course of history for longtime friends Jericho Davidson, Robin Daily, and Mike Brown, co-owners of the newly-opened cocktail bar Shania’s Max Bet in Gowanus.
“For almost every year for the last ten years, a big group of our friends spend the few days before Thanksgiving in Atlantic City. A couple years ago I was down bad,” Jericho explains. “Robin saw there was a horse called Shania’s Max Bet. Mike peer-pressured me into betting my last $20 on that race. She saved my trip and the rest is history.”
This stroke of luck is the inspiration for Shania’s Max Bet, which opened yesterday in the space previously occupied by beloved cocktail bar Dirty Precious. When the space became available last year, it seemed like the perfect fit for their vision.
The bar has an upbeat, colorful vibe, is decked out in Atlantic City-inspired decor, and specializes in modern takes on 80s and 90s club hits like Midori Sours and Mind Erasers. The menu will also feature classic cocktails and what Jericho describes as “a banger” of a natural wine selection.
The trio have a storied history in Gowanus. Jericho and Robin worked together for a decade at The Royal Palms shuffleboard club, just a few blocks away from Shania’s Max Bet, which is where they met Mike. “A lot has changed in Gowanus in the last 10 years,” Jericho says. “There are a lot of people doing a lot crazy and cool things.”
“We hope Shania’s Max Bet becomes another mainstay in a neighborhood full of great places. A fun and vibrant space built for community and friendship.”- Jericho Davidson
Jericho, Robin, and Mike frequent neighbors Runner and Stone and Liar Liar, and in addition to The Royal Palms, they also love Canal Bar and Lucky 13. “All three of those bars are so unique and wonderful in their own ways,” Jericho says. “We are really excited to be neighbors with so many great places.”
Visit Shania’s Max Bet at 317 3rd Ave at the corner of 1st Street.
Openings
La Bagel Delight re-opened this week at at 106 7th Avenue between Union and President Streets. The new space, which is just one block north of its former location, was previously occupied by Bagel Market.
Zig Zag Oyster Bar opened Tuesday in Prospect Heights. Check out our interview with the team. Kings Co Imperial opened Monday - see our first look!
Local News 🗞️
Property Shark released its annual analysis of NYC real estate sales, citing Carroll Gardens as the 4th most expensive neighborhood in the city. Park Slope came in at #12 with a $1.76 million median sale price, following behind Columbia Waterfront District and DUMBO.
An alternate side parking pilot will be launched next week in Prospect Heights. From Monday, August 3 through Friday, September 25, some streets will require vehicles to be moved once each week for street cleaning instead of the current twice per week schedule. If the pilot is successful, the schedule could become permanent.
Disruptions to the 2 and 3 trains will continue on weekends through August 24th, with 2 trains stopping at 34th street and 3 trains suspended.
Two large bear sculptures, towering at 26 feet and 13 feet, will soon arrive at their new home on the Gowanus Canal waterfront. The sculptures, which are created by Bushwick artist Jen Lewin, are the first of a collection of art pieces to be displayed in a public park in front of Nevins Landing, a two-building mixed-use space.
The Bears at the Gowanus Canal Waterfront 📸: Jen Lewin Studio/NY 1
Business Buzz ⚡️
Morgan’s Brooklyn Barbecue is launching Doggie Movie Nights every Tuesday throughout August! The series kicks off Tuesday, August 4 with a screening of 101 Dalmatians. Bring your pup, grab some BBQ and drinks, and settle in for a dog-friendly movie night with your neighbors on the patio.
Free pizza for book worms? Yes please! Brooklyn pizzeria Fini is offering free pies for kids age 17 and under who read three books in one month this summer.
Local business Brooke’s Appliances gets a shout out in The New York Times. This family-owned sales & repair shop has been in the neighborhood for over three decades! Visit them at 387 7th Ave between 11th and 12th streets.
Prospect Heights sushi restaurants Geido and Sushi Lin and Park Slope’s Sushi Katsuei are featured The Infatuation’s roundup of favorite NYC sushi spots. Congrats! 🎉
NYC Restaurant Week has arrived in Park Slope! Now through August 16th, dine at your favorite neighborhood restaurants with lunch and dinner prix-fixe menus at $30, $45 and $60! Check out this list of participating local spots: Chela, Palo Santo, Wayward Fare, Morgan’s Brooklyn BBQ, Alta Calidad, La Fleur Rouge, Baciccia Pizza e Cucina, The Dram Shop Bar, Masalawala & Sons, and Miriam.
Heads up! We’ll be taking a short summer break next week, and we’ll be back in your inbox on Thursday August 13th!
In the meantime, if you’re looking for ways to enjoy the rest of the season, don’t forget to check out our Ultimate Summer Guide. Wishing you a wonderful couple of weeks, and we’ll see you around the neighborhood!
Mychal
✨ Continue reading our ‘Secret Slope’ section at the bottom just for paid subscribers who want to stay a step ahead - soft openings & exclusives!
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Our Top Weekly Picks
Events with an asterisk* tend to sell out—reserve tickets early!
Thursday, July 30th:
Midsummer Nights— Trill Megan Jam: Flute Fest @ Brooklyn Conservatory of Music, 6:30pm: For the sixth year running, BKCM’s Midsummer Nights series is bringing four evenings of free music to BKCM’s front stoop in July and August. Curated by NPR Tiny Desk artist and former BKCM Jazz Leadership Fellow Mélanie Jean Baptiste Charles, this year’s lineup is a who’s-who of artists who are transcending genres and revitalizing jazz.
Foraging Walk with Robin Greenfield @ Prospect Park, 6-8pm: For one year Robin Greenfield is foraging every bite of his food and medicine—no grocery stores, restaurants, pharmacies or even a garden. “Nature” is his garden! Learn how to safely and sustainably forage the common edible and medicinal plants that most of us pass by without even knowing. Robin will introduce you to 10+ common edible and medicinal plants growing in your area, explain how to safely forage and how to harvest sustainably and be a friend to the plants. $10-$40 suggested donation.
20th Anniversary Party @ Union Hall, 4pm-2am: Celebrate Union Hall’s 20th anniversary with a bocce tournament accompanied by Brooklyn Brass All-Stars AND an all night party! Enjoy 2006 beer prices all night, brand new Union Hall merch prizes and giveaways, and more! Free.
Friday, July 31st:
Rooftop Films Presents: New York Non-Fiction 2026 @ Green-Wood, 7:45-11:45pm: A restless collection of New York City folklore drawn from lived moments, local histories, and the myths that circulate through its streets and boroughs. Doors open at 7pm, films begin at 9pm, and a Q & A with filmmakers followed by an afterparty kicks off at 10:30pm. $22.
Sunday, August 2nd:
Family Music Fest @ Prospect Park, 11am-2pm: Join Brooklyn Conservatory of Music at the LeFrak Center in Prospect Park. There will be music and fun for the whole family, including West African percussion with Amos Gabia, brass band grooves with Brownstone Brass, singalongs, and more. The festival is free for everyone, but group instrument lessons and musical experiences will be offered for $5 per child.
Wednesday, Aug 5th:
Vered Album Release Show @ Old Stone House, 4pm*: Beloved musician and creator of Baby in Tune- Vered, is playing a free show for her new album release of Adorable You. Vered and the Babes are reminiscent of a Doo-Wop band, using playful vocal harmonies, lively horns, pots and pans, and beatboxing to get everyone jumping and singing along. Free.
Summer Movies In the Park: Shrek 2 @ Prospect Park, 8:30pm: Prospect Park Alliance, Fort Greene Park Conservancy, and Rooftop Films announce Summer Movies in the Park, presented by NewYork-Presbyterian. This week, enjoy this beloved animated feature starring Shrek and his love, Fiona! Now married, they travel to Fiona’s kingdom, Far Far Away. Lawn opens at 6 and movie begins at 8:30pm.
Swoon Society Book Club & Cooking Class @ Good Girl NYC, 6:30-8pm: Join Good Girl & Paiging Through The City for an evening of good food, goood conversation and of course, a good book! This month’s read is The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston. Expect a fajita-making experience with tortilla-making demo paired with a book discussion (reading the book before is not mandatory, but be prepared for spoilers!). $60.
Plan Ahead for this Popular Event:
The Brooklyn Dribble @ Brooklyn Bridge Park (Saturday, August 8th, 2-5pm): New York Liberty’s largest community event, The Brooklyn Dribble, will return for a third year at Brooklyn Bridge Park. At this free, public event, thousands of basketball fans and families dribble basketballs along a one-mile route through Brooklyn Bridge Park, culminating in a Liberty Fan Fest celebrating the team and its community.
Submit an event to be considered for this weekly events roundup! Add any events for this week in comments below.
Neighborhood Job Board 📌
We’re hiring for a part-time Sponsorships & Partnerships Lead - see today’s job board for more info!
This week’s jobs: Special Events Coordinator at BAM, Experienced Barista at LILEO, Music Therapist at BKCM
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:
Leasing kicks off on a 450-unit development with affordable housing and a 60-unit building steps from the Gowanus waterfront:
