An Evening in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn

Although New York is not very far away, relatively speaking, given my stage in life it is quite difficult to get there. (Hence the reason this trip to Brooklyn was my first in the city in about five years.) Earlier, I would use my family home in Norwich, Connecticut as a jumping-off point for a day, overnight, or weekend in New York. With my son’s youth sports and other responsibilities looming, I figured if not now, when would I get to New York? A quick visit but it was enough to make a few recommendations for an evening in Boerum Hill, a neighborhood of Brooklyn.

Boerum Hill

One word of warning: this is not a comprehensive list! Remember, if Brooklyn were a separate city, it would be the fourth most populous in the nation. The following were two stops; for food and beverage in Boerum Hill. This is an inviting neighborhood nestled in the shadows of the high rises of downtown Brooklyn, but it seems like an escape from the hustle and bustle of that district. (Just as a point of reference, it is a quick walk from Boerum Hill to the Barclays Center, where the Nets play basketball.) Other than residences, the neighborhood is home to numerous eateries and boutiques.

Someday Bar NYC

This uber-cool bar is our first stop. It is located on Atlantic Avenue, the major boulevard in the neighborhood. The beer menu is more than impressive. Draft beers include many regional favorites with an emphasis on standouts such as Other Half. In can, there are almost 150 different choices. Here’s the catch though, just go to the refrigerator and pick out what you want in the can. (We don’t do that in Massachusetts.) I chose the draft Four Fours which is a collab between Equilibrium, Other Half, J. Wakefield, and Vitamin Sea. I thought it was kinda cool to be drinking a South Shore local brand during my evening in Boerum Hill. 

The inside is dimly lit, with furniture of all kinds to sit on, including living room chairs, bar stools, and couches, all certainly comfortable for conversation. The menu is creative bar bites including tacos, pretzel sticks, wings, and sandwiches. I chose the cauliflower wings. These are delicious morsels of cauliflower, fried (of course) and drizzled with a favorite sauce. 

Bijan’s

Bijan’s, a Mediterranean cafe located right around the block on Hoyt Street, is our next stop. Another quick bite and drink are in order here. This is one of those hip, small city eateries which looks enticing from the outside and in. To offset the fried cauliflower, here I ordered a cucumber salad and a gin cocktail for my drink. Eating outside on a warm summer night, the street scene provided the perfect backdrop. 

Someday Bar and Bijan’s make the perfect combo for an evening in Boerum Hill. Both have an easy, non-pretentious (yes, even for NYC) vibe that is good for catching up with friends. Both menus are excellent, albeit very different. Someday Bar has a mind-blowing beer list and bar food while Bijan’s focuses on cocktails, with a Mediterranean menu. They complement each other nicely. 

For more out-of-New England backyard road trips, check out An Evening in New Jersey, A Weekend in Philadelphia and the Eastern State Penitentiary.