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Things are Piquant, Purple and Pequeña in Brooklyn. And the...
Taking a look at bars, clubs, gastropubs and lounges scheduled to open this fall in NYC.
The Sweet Afton
30-09 34 St. at 30 Ave., Astoria
The Irish brothers behind Wilfie & Nell in the West Village are back at it with The Sweet Afton in Astoria, which will also focus on high-quality pub grub (fried pickles, burgers), except instead of a menu from Momofuku alum Joaquin Baca, it'll come from P.J. Calapa, of Nobu 57. Also on tap: 10 draught beers and a special beer of the month. Sweet Afton, incidentally, is also the name of a Robert Burns poem. And a cigarette brand. (End of August)
La Pomme
37 W. 26 St. between Sixth Ave. and Broadway, Flatiron, 212-725-3860
The nightclub Ultra is set to transform this September into La Pomme, a 3,500-square-foot venue styled to look "Fellini-esque" and feel like a "sleek, lavish wonderland" filled with trompe l'oeil Victorian wallpaper (revealing razor blades, gold teeth and brass knuckles), a multimedia video wall, a scent machine (to better "enhance thematic parties"), snow machines and the occasional lascivious performance artist. Not for the faint of heart, or plain of face. La Pomme ("the apple" in French) will serve "inventive" cocktails as well as a menu of small bites until 4 a.m. (Soft open September 7, then to the public two weeks later)
Knitting Factory
361 Metropolitan Ave. at Havemeyer St., Williamsburg, 347-529-6696
Music venues are playing musical chairs: After stints in the Lower East Side and Tribeca, the legendary concert space known across the country (in Hollywood, Spokane, Boisee) as the Knitting Factory will move into the address that once held Luna Lounge, in Williamsburg, which seems like a natural fit, as far as the stylish and music-appreciating young people around there go. Opening day is Sept. 9, and the opening act will be local band Les Savy Fav. (September 9)
Bunga's Den
137 W. 14 St. between Sixth and Seventh Aves., Chelsea
Despite a completed interior and an elaborate (and seizure-inspiring) Web site, new neighborhood joint Bunga's Den is still waiting on a liquor license, but they're shooting for the end of August (or, more likely, early September). Once it opens, there'll be 68 seats and a "good jukebox," per co-owner Russ Sonosky, as well as a food menu, "after the bar is up and running." Plus: They're accepting bartender applications. (September)
Black Horse Pub
568 Fifth Ave. at 16 St., Park Slope, 718-788-1975
Although it's been on the verge of opening for months now, the Black Horse Pub is looking to open "worst case end of September, best case end of August," according to owner Brian McNally (no relation to Keith). Its Web site is already up and running, with handsome pictures of the bar's high ceilings (covered in black-painted tin), exposed brick walls and long wooden bar, eventually serving 16 beers on tap (none more than $5)—plus promises of English, Irish and American grub, as well a full English breakfast "when matches are on," which roughly translates to "all the live soccer you can handle" (on multiple flat screens). There will also be a traditional Sunday Roast, featuring Yorkshire Pudding and "all the trimmings." (End of September at latest)
Nunu Chocolate
529 Atlantic Ave. between Third and Fourth Aves., Boerum Hill, 917-776-7102
The chocolate shop Nunu Chocolate will be become a bar this fall, too—it'll still sell chocolate, but now it'll sell wine and beer alongside its (terrific) hand-dipped salt caramels and prosecco ganaches, giving chocolate lovers and after-dinner dessert-seekers a reason to linger. It's scheduled to stay open only until midnight or 1 a.m. or so, and it'll be a small, cozy place, with room for 25. (Late September)
Mission Dolores
249B Fourth Ave. between Carroll and President Sts., Carroll Gardens
The brothers behind Smith Street beer den Bar Great Harry are opening another brew-centric watering hole, right next to Cattyshack on Fourth Avenue in Park Slope. Mission Dolores, as it's called, will serve 24 craft beers and one cask ale on tap—18 American, plus six Belgian and German—as well as a handful of DUB meat pies, like it's done back at Bar Great Harry. The furniture and materials will mostly be salvaged, and the space is "bizarre," according to co-owner Mike Wiley, who describes it as "a huge Vol de Nuit," which as far as we're concerned sounds great. Bonus: Heated floors. The better for lying on the ground in the winter? Pacific Standard, watch your thoughtful, pleasant back. (Late September/early October)
Name TBD
18 Ninth Ave. near 13 St., Meatpacking District
The Gansevoort's new nightclub in the former Garden of Ono location doesn't yet have a name, but it does have (or at least will have soon, reportedly) a retractable roof. (October)
Highlands
150 W. 10 St. at Waverly Pl.
New York is getting another Scottish bar in the form of Highlands, a two-room "contemporary Scottish gastropub," according to co-owner and authentic Scot Brian McGrory. The space that once housed P*Ong will now be outfitted in Scottish furniture and plaid tartans—McGrory describes the main room as "focusing on industrial Scotland with influences from the distilleries... [with] a lot of metal, wood, tartan and warmth," and the side room, which is better for private parties, as taking "influences from a Scottish library/hunting lodge, [with] leather banquettes, re-upholstered vintage chairs with whispers of Tartan, coffered ceiling and a fireplace. Very cozy and very Scottish." The bar and kitchen will offer top-shelf Scottish cocktails, made from artisan Scottish booze (like the gin and tonic made with Hendrick's and house-infused cucumber ice, and the Scottish Ginger Mule, made with Crabbies Ginger Wine), alongside Scottish micro-brewed ales and gourmet Scottish cuisine from executive chef Jeremy Chambers Hammond (formerly of Public), like the Cullen Skink, a traditional smoked haddock, and the Gairloch Bay Mussels, steamed with garlic, lemon, mustard, dill and Galloway cream—all of which will fall in the $8 to $18 range. The kitchen will stay open until midnight. (October 12)
Empire Room
350 Fifth Ave. between W. 33 and W. 34 Sts.
From the same man behind tony after-work destination Campbell Apartment comes the Empire Room, a swanky new bar and lounge in the Empire State Building. Although anyone who waits in line for hours to make it all 102 floors up to the top probably deserves a drink, the Empire Room will actually be on the ground floor—but it's huge, clocking in at 3,500 square feet. In a past life the space was home to a post office, but as the Empire Room it's been given a $500 million makeover and outfitted with an Art Deco-themed interior that "harken[s] back to the golden age of the 1920s and ‘30s," according to owner Mark Grossich. Cocktails will, naturally, be upscale and expensive. (Late October/early November)
Karaoke BOHO
186 W. Fourth St. between Jones and Barrow Sts.
The karaoke standby Sing Sing plans to open another sing along joint called Karaoke BOHO, which'll offer similar songs in a similar layout, a similar booze plan and a similar recurring-events calendar (including their famous karaoke contest, every second Tuesday of the month). (Fall)
Standard Hotel's 18th and 19th Floors
848 Washington St. between W. 13 and Little W. 12th Sts., Meatpacking District, 212-645-4646
Slated to open sometime this fall (PR rep Michael Tavani says it's "a bit too premature for opening dates"), the Standard Hotel's refurbished 18th and 19th floors will be home to a pool, a bar, a cocktail lounge and a rooftop lounge. The décor will be sleek, black and shiny on the pool/bar side, gold and glittery on the cocktail lounge side. Basically just fancy throughout. (Late fall)
The Vanderbilt
570 Vanderbilt Ave. at Bergen St
Saul Bolton, the man behind Saul on Smith Street, and Ben Diatz, of Num Pang, are teaming up to bring you The Vanderbilt, a higher-end bar and restaurant serving higher-end food and higher-end cocktails. And here's an interview with Saul Bolton all about it. (Late fall)
44 Berry
44 Berry St. at N. 11th St., Williamsburg
Intel is minimal, but supposedly the under-development luxury apartment complex at 44 Berry will also house "a chic wine bar and restaurant." Chic! (Late fall/winter)
And if you know of additional venues or details, please let us know.
What other people are saying...
Kit_Moresby - May 21, 2010 at 10:23 PM
Brian and Keith McNally are brothers, which any food writer should know, and one simple Google search would reveal. Where do you find your writers?...
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Report This Commentsaraht - August 19, 2009 at 3:27 PM
The Nunu Chocolate space has an odd set up for a bar so it will be interesting to see how they pull that off. Really looking forward to the Black H...
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