The Gowanus Yacht Club

Sign outside the Gowanus Yacht Club, changes day to day with a new quote or original statement for the day's events
Banner which hangs inside the beer garden

Gowanus Yacht Club is a beer garden located in the Carroll Gardens section of Brooklyn, New York City, located on the corner of Smith and President Streets.

Description and history

The outdoor beer garden was first opened early summer 2002, it rests on the vacant lot between "Bagles by The Park" and the entrance to the Smith–Ninth Streets New York City Subway stop (F G trains), and under the elevated IND Culver Line.[1] The garden opened its doors to the young hipster crowd, which was slowly taking over the predominately Italian neighborhood. Partial owners Alan Harding and Jim Mamary, said to be the pioneers developing an empire in Brooklyn, opened the Gowanus Yacht Club and similar restaurants along smith street and in the South Brooklyn region.[2] In years before this Smith Street was not known for its cafés and boutiques, but for its excessive crime rate.[3] Famous guests have included Alicia Goranson and other young celebrities native to South Brooklyn .[4]

The Gowanus Yacht Club is actually not yacht club, as the space it occupies is roughly 1,500 square feet (140 m2) and it is completely landlocked. It is really named after the Gowanus Canal which is four blocks away; however, the Canal has been shut to most traffic except industrial containers. One of the contributing factors to the decor of the Gowanus Yacht Club, old buoys and water skis are strapped and hung from a giant tent which covers half the space and provides the only rain protection at this all outdoor establishment.[5] Patrons are expected to seat themselves at old picnic tables, church pews and wooden fold out chairs. Screwed to the top of every third table is a makeshift umbrella stand providing essential shade during the 5 months this seasonal bar remains open, during the off season they sell Christmas trees.[6] The Gowanus Yacht Club has also recently equipped the patio with a misting system. The space's bathroom, which was formerly a port-a-potty, is now one bathroom in the lower level with a public slop sink. In recent years the space has become much more desirable, including a chalk board allowing customers to voice their opinions.[7]

Alan Harding, co-owner and ex-host of discovery channels "Cookin' in Brooklyn",[8] leads a staff of young employees, who lose their job every winter and are rehired around early May.[9]

Items offered

Beer list

The drink menu at the Gowanus Yacht Club tends to change from year to year. It is always made up of eight beers on tap, four of which are craft beers and often from local brewers, a dozen bottle and can options, and a house red and white wine. Non-alcoholic drinks are usually very limited.

Menu

The Gowanus Yacht club contains a very limited menu, lacking a full kitchen all items are cooked on a charcoal barbecue. The menu includes hamburgers, cheeseburgers which can be made both single and double stacked, along with a vegan patty. They also serve kielbasa, knackwurst, and swojska, all Brooklyn made polish sausage. The hot dog list includes a spicy hot dog, a Black Angus hot dog, a tofu dog, and a turkey hot dog. A variety of home made special toppings are also available, excluding lettuce, tomato, and mayonnaise. For sides they serve, nachos and cheese, Brooklyn backyard grown

Gallery

References

  1. ↑ Timeout NY "More Backyard Patios"
  2. ↑ New York Times "Restless Pioneers, Seeding Brooklyn"
  3. ↑ Time out New york "GYC"
  4. ↑ TMZ
  5. ↑ The Gothamist
  6. ↑ Pardon me for asking
  7. ↑ Eater
  8. ↑ Mouthfuls
  9. ↑ A Brooklyn Life

Coordinates: 40°40′51.54″N 73°59′38.82″W / 40.6809833°N 73.9941167°W