Something's Brewing at Hidden Rivers in Gowanus.
Plus: Make hand-rolled sushi, have your broken appliances repaired, and paddle the Gowanus Canal at sunset
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In This Issue: Hidden Rivers Interview • New Openings • Local News • Business Buzz • Events
On Tap: A Talk with Patrick Watson of Hidden Rivers
With twelve rotating taps from independent east coast breweries, beer cocktails, and a gorgeous back garden, the newly opened Hidden Rivers in Gowanus is a beer drinker’s dream. Patrick Watson, who co-owns the bar along with wife Michele Pravda, filled us in on what’s brewing with the buzzy new spot.
Hidden Rivers just opened last month, but the idea behind it is anything but new. When Michele and Patrick’s friend-turned-business-partner, Dhruv Mohindra, purchased the building around 8 years ago, some friends got together to crack a beer in the space to congratulate him. “At the time we joked about opening a bar there because the garden space is so special,” Patrick said. “Fast forward, here we are today. We felt the timing and need for a local and great beer bar in this area was now.”
Patrick and Michelle own the popular Brooklyn wine shop Smith & Vine and founded the now-closed Cobble Hill bar The JakeWalk and cheese & specialty food shop Stinky Bklyn. Aside from an extensive selection of local beers, the Hidden Rivers menu also features speciality cocktails, wines by the glass & snacks. Stinky Bklyn fans will be happy to know they have brought back their signature Stinky Pimento spread— as featured in the Ina Garten show— on the Hidden Rivers menu!
“Living in Carroll Gardens for over 20 years has shown us there’s no better place to live and operate our small businesses than Brooklyn.”- Patrick Watson
Patrick and Michelle love investing in the community and supporting neighboring businesses, especially their neighbors Liar Liar. “Coming from a background of wine, we feel they have one of the best wine programs in the area,” Patrick said. They also frequent Claireware Pottery and Royal Palms.
Their hope is that Hidden Rivers becomes a dependable neighborhood bar with the greatest tasting tap beer in the area, not to mention one of the only proper imperial pours of Guinness. We’ll cheers to that!
Visit Hidden Rivers at 291 Nevins St between Union St and Sackett St.
Openings
After closing the Flamingo Baby Kitchen space on Union Street in May, Flamingo Baby Brunch & Bar will open in their new location at 348 Douglass St (corner of 4th Ave) on Saturday July 18th.
Coffeine will open on Saturday, July 11th! Celebrate with them from 7am-5pm with coffee, good vibes, and free treats.
📸: Photo by @galine_d Yellow Pear has soft opened at 384 7th Avenue in the former Larry’s Cà Phê space. They are known for their delicious corn butter mochi— yum!
Sakul Thai Noodles will soon open at 61A 7th Avenue (between Union and Berkeley) in the former Spice Thai space. They specialize in Kuay Tiew, casual Thai noodle cuisine.
73° Nails opened at 73 5th Avenue between St. Marks Ave and Prospect Place. Their treatments are TPO-Free, HEMA-Free, harsh chemical- free, and they are currently offering 10% off to all new clients!
Local News 🗞️
Did you know that a Windsor Terrace parent wrote the FIFA World Cup official theme? We love to see our neighbors doing great things! Huge congrats to composer & producer Zach Golden!
The winners of Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest defended their titles last weekend despite battling 100 degree heat. Joey Chestnut, 18-time champion, ate an impressive 66 hot dogs while 12-time winner Miki Sudo wolfed down 38.7.
Red Hook Pool, which is one of five Olympic-sized pools in Brooklyn, is currently shut down due to mechanical issues. Last year, the swimming spot delayed its seasonal opening due similar mechanical issues.
Two Historic Crew Ships Sink in Red Hook: Nick Bello reported that Victory Chimes, a historic schooner connected to hospitality company Crew, sank in Red Hook just days after the historic Pilot went down. The cause of both incidents remains under investigation. Crew, the company behind Fireboat at Brooklyn Bridge Park, Montero’s Bar & Grill on Atlantic Avenue, and the former floating restaurant Pilot, describes its mission this way: “We create, restore, and operate places in and around the water. We preserve old ships and buildings, and bring forgotten waterfronts back to life.” The company is now focused on understanding what happened and safely raising the Pilot.
Business Buzz ⚡️
After two decades in Park Slope, Cheryl’s Global Soul is asking the community for support. A lease renewal, rising food costs, and fewer people dining in have put the restaurant at financial risk. Visit their GoFundMe to help.
Slope Steal of the Week: Enjoy a 6-course Omakase with a complimentary glass of house wine or sake at LUYA’s Happy Hour Omakase for $39 on Mon-Fri from 4:30-6:30pm!
Community Poll: Waffles for brunch, an afternoon coffee, corn butter mochi for dessert—I’m overwhelmed by all the delicious new options in the neighborhood! What neighborhood treats are you loving this summer? Let us know in the comments.
Looking for a fun summer activity? I love A Night at Niblo’s Garden’ at Green-Wood! I packed a picnic and enjoyed watching the fire-eaters, contortionists, Bindlestiff Family Cirkus, and musical performers from my spot by the gorgeous pond. I even got to see the bats come out at sunset. It’s happening again next week (see event listing below)!
Mychal
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Our Top Weekly Picks
Looking for a full lineup of summer events? Check out Park Slope’s Ultimate Summer Guide 2026.
Events with an asterisk* tend to sell out—reserve tickets early!
Thursday, July 9th:
Jazz in July @ Brooklyn Botanic Garden, 6-8pm (also July 16, 23): Celebrate summer at the Garden with live jazz on Thursday evenings. Bring a blanket to stretch out and enjoy the music, presented in partnership with local arts organizations. Performances start at 7. Each night also features a tour or other Garden activity. Included with garden admission.
Photo by Photograph: Liz Ligon (Time Out)
Candles & Cocktails @ Mockingbird, 7-9pm: Learn how to make your own scented coconut-based candle while enjoying non-alc beverages & bites Mockingbird’s cozy Park Slope lounge. Your ticket includes all candle-making materials, instruction, and one drink of choice. No experience necessary—just bring your creativity. $44.52
Sunset Paddle @ Gowanus Dredgers (July 9th, 7:30-9:30pm)*: Paddle along our Gowanus Canal to see a hidden side of Brooklyn, including the underside of bridges and our transforming industrial neighborhood. Discover the fun of canoeing as you explore the history of our Brooklyn neighborhood’s rich past, present, and future. $28.52.
Sunday, July 12th:
Repair Cafe @ Old Stone House, 11am-3pm*: Have a cherished lamp, small appliance, bike, piece of clothing, chair or guitar that needs a little fix to restore it to its former glory? Don’t throw it out! A group of volunteers will be available at this community repair event to fix your item, free of charge.
Park Slope History Walk, 4-6pm*: Have you ever wondered about the stories behind Park Slope’s brownstones, churches and historic landmarks? Park Slope Living is partnering with Urban Origins NYC for a private history walk led by licensed NYC tour guide James Farrington. After the walk, anyone who’d like to meet fellow history-loving Park Slope neighbors and continue the conversation is welcome to join us at a local bar nearby. $45.
Make your own Mug Workshop @ Still Life, 5:30-8pm*: In this 2.5-hour workshop, you’ll learn the basics of ceramic handbuilding while creating your very own new favorite mug! Amazing teacher and ceramic artist, Anjuli Wright, will guide the class through a mug-making demonstration and provide hands-on support as you work on your piece. No prior pottery is experience needed! $100.
Tuesday, July 14th:
The Art of Hand-Rolled Sushi @ Wild East Brewing Co: 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. This class is laid-back and beginner-friendly. You’ll make three of your own custom rolls, including a California roll, a spicy salmon roll, and a veggie roll wrapped in seaweed using classic sushi-style ingredients. $59.
Wednesday, July 15th:
Shuck Yourself @ LoFi Bar, 6:30-9pm: Learn how to shuck oysters like a pro and take home a new skill to brag about. Shucking oysters is easy to learn, and a fun skill you can brag about for years to come. Tickets include a 30 min oyster class and shucking demonstration, one hour of supervised shucking time with 12 oysters, and 3 oysters shucked by Mister Oyster himself. $71.21
Book Ahead for this Popular Event:
A Night at Niblo’s Garden @ Green-Wood (July 16th & 17th)*: This is one of my favorite summer events! Inspired by Green-Wood residents Martha and William Niblo, whose nineteenth-century pleasure garden once captivated New York City, this signature event brings history, performance, and a little bit of wonder together under the summer sky. $55/$50 for children ages 4-12/$44 for members.
Submit an event to be considered for this weekly events roundup! Add any events for this week in comments below.
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✨ Secret Slope ✨
This week’s Insider section below the paywall includes:
• A new, 18-story building is underway just blocks from the Brooklyn Museum • A revised plan for a long-postponed, large-scale housing project is set to begin in 2028 • A one-of-a-kind compound complete with a gallery, reading nook, and bathroom terrarium hits the market
