11.26 A wknd w/ The Telling Time
The band of born-and-bred New Yorkers on three days of food, booze and watching NYC sports teams lose—all in South Brooklyn
Little-known fact: BdBK HQ is in Crown Heights, meaning on any given week we spend ~6-10 hours on trains going to and from Williamsburg/Bushwick/Ridgewood for shows—a journey that, in absolute absurdity, often requires crossing the same river twice (IYKYK).
We get that we made a choice. Instead of convenience, we opted for the comfort of knowing we’ll probably never run into anyone we know while out on an app date—or, on the opposite end of the potentially embarrassing spectrum, while we’re deathly hungover, wearing decade-old sweatpants and stuffing down a big-as-our-head bagel. However, sometimes it’s still nice to remind our readers that Brooklyn is not in fact totally synonymous with Bushwick, and that there’s a big, brave, not-at-all-new world that isn’t located right off the L/J/M/Z lines.
In this case, we’re not even talking about our neck of the woods, but the big ol’ chunk of Brooklyn below, and when it comes to navigating this lower section of the borough, good news! The born-and-bred New Yorkers of The Telling Time recently volunteered to serve as our South Brooklyn sherpas and have provided a thorough and fun (and funny!) guide to Bay Ridge and beyond—where, by the way, they appear to know every single business owner and bartender in existence.
But first! A word on the music. The punk/power-pop/alt trio released their five-track EP Meaningful Spaces three months ago, and ahead of the weekend they sent over some intel on their very rad new record and how they hope you, the listener, approach it:
“When figuring out what we should name the EP we wanted the title to reflect a thematic center which these songs are all held together by. We felt that theme is space - both the physical spaces we find ourselves in and the spaces in time that we try to better ourselves in. We hope you can walk through these songs as little short stories and put yourself in the different places the characters are - on the East Coast, on the West Coast, after hours in the back room of a bar, in the bedroom of someone special. Maybe you can relate to the sentiments expressed throughout. All of these songs occur in different spaces of time, likely the necessary spaces needed to grow. No matter where or when they occur they all seemed….well, meaningful in one way or another.”
According to the first track off the EP, “Something You Can’t Find,” You won’t find what you’re looking for in bars // Drunk and well past midnight… but if you want to TRY, Tom of the band has provided some very solid plans for finding booze (plus grabbing grub, getting buff and family fun in pasta form) in BK’s southern hemisphere. And best of all, the guide is pretty damn evergreen, so if you’re out of town for the holidays, never fear! This South BK blueprint is just as applicable next weekend, the one after that and any time you want to escape the ~scene~ and see what a slightly different, super authentic slice of Brooklyn has to offer.
Which, by the way, appears to be A LOT. We’ll see ya down there—
[BUT FIRST: PRESS PLAY]
Hey Folks! Tom from The Telling Time here. Just want to say that I’m super excited to be writing to whoever is reading. After taking a look at many of these BDBK Setlist features my bandmates and I noticed one glaring gap in things to do – there was nothing in South Brooklyn. Unless there was and I just didn’t read very far back.
We’re all born and bred New Yorkers and considering this is a Brooklyn based blog we wanted to give you something from our neck of the woods. Something different than another guide telling you about something cool to do in Bushwick, which for us is usually helpful. So, I hit up BDBK and they were willing to let me hopefully not bore you with some fun from Bay Ridge and not too far beyond.
Will this one be as cool as the others? Probably not! Will it have better food? Yup! Will the people featured throughout be true salt of the earth Brooklynites? I think so!
Without further ado, here’s the South Brooklyn Special:
FRIDAY
You need breakfast
Start your weekend off right with a baconeggandcheese (one word) at Bagel Boy (80th & 3rd). This place is a real home-base kind of a bagel shop where everything is phenomenal.
You need lunch
You’ve likely started working by now, or…maybe you haven’t. Regardless of what you do you need lunch. This is South Brooklyn, so time for another bagel shop. You need something good and quick, so you’ll hit lunch at Dyker Bagels. Get the Chicken Ridiculous. It’s their specialty and a neighborhood staple.
You need pregame music
Work is done. You napped the last hour and a half of the workday and forgot to hop on a Zoom. Gotta get the blood pumping by throwing on The Telling Time’s debut EP Meaningful Spaces. I’d say this is shameless self-promotion but the first line of the first song on the record is literally about going out on the South Side of Brooklyn. It’s just too fitting. Anyway feel free to put on some Cascada after this and get ready to see/meet some characters.
You need to start drinking
Time for the 3rd Ave bar crawl. We’ll start from the far end of Bay Ridge and work our way up. It should go as follows:
Pippin’s (91st & 3rd) – This is my buddy Steve’s place. His grandfather opened up this bar a long time ago and it is personally my favorite burger. The cheddar burger w/ cheddar on the fries is almost the only thing I get but anything on the menu is genuinely amazing. This is where you’ll begin, get a bite, and start downing Bud Lights like the townie you aspire to be. Maybe the Knicks are playing since it’s Friday and you can watch them hopefully not disappoint you. Steve if you’re reading this, you owe me money for this promotion.
The Kettle Black (87th & 3rd) – Walk a few blocks over and now the night is really going to take off. This place has the best wings in town without question and after dinner hour is a damn good time. Here you can find guys with slicked back hair try to make it sound like they know how to coach a professional sports team or hear adults who still wear basketball jerseys and backwards tilted fitted hats start most sentences with the word “Bro.” An eclectic mix of guidos, goons, drunks, guidettes, city workers, and more come together to drink. One of my favorite places in the world. Enjoy, it’s a trip.
Pour House (79th & 3rd) – About 10 blocks down you’ll enter this little corner bar where everyone you went to high school with will be hanging out. It’s a nice middle stop where you can play some darts and have what is known to some as the best Guinness in Bay Ridge. Ask for my guy Chris who runs the place and is a top-notch bartender. They keep it old school with proper buybacks and take care of you. Good place to keep it going but not blow all the energy because next you’ll head to…
The Salty Dog (75th & 3rd) – Remember Kettle Black? It’s that but drunker and with dancing and it’s firefighter-themed. This is where you will do shots and watch DJ Nicky Tats (yes, that’s a real person) sit atop an old school fire truck (which is actually inside) and spin the 1’s and 2’s and set the place off. Don’t black out but you may black out.
The Leif (Senator & 5th) – If you want to go into overtime you’ll walk up to 5th Ave and hit The Leif. A solid dive run by a real cool Irish guy with a thick brogue named Mike. It’s actually nice inside but there is some good people watching to do. Degenerate mode activated. Also they sometimes have shows in the back!
You’re drunk and you need late night food.
This is the end of the road. It’s 3 or 4am and it’s time to go straight down the avenue to the 86th and 5th gyro cart where you will be entertained while waiting for your mixed plate with spice rice. Some white sauce, some hot sauce. It’s the best Halal I’ve ever had and the guys who work the cart are hilarious. If you don’t do street carts, walk right across the street to Pizza Wagon for what many feel is the best slice in Bay Ridge. Get the Sicilian.
SATURDAY
You need to nurse your hangover.
Come on it wasn’t that bad. Hit up Bridgeview Diner (91st & 3rd) for some good breakfast. Sit in a booth and get the old-fashioned diner experience. Your breakfast order is all yours to choose.
You need to be buff.
You have to keep up with all the bros in the area. Now that you’ve had some food put some compression shorts on and make your way to the HIT Factory (80th & 3rd) to get a pump in. They have a host of really cool classes. Ask for Mike who is one of my best friends and a trainer there. Tell him you know me and force him to give you a discount. He is too nice and you can bully him despite him being 8x your size.
You need music gear.
Hit up Street Sounds (92nd & 3rd) for all of your gear needs. They are one of the biggest Gretsch dealers in the US and have an amazing collection of stuff. Rumor has it that Paul McCartney randomly showed up there one time and practiced in the basement because he needed somewhere private to go off the beaten path. Ask for Rocky who runs the place. He gives a mean guitar setup. Only thing is they keep weird hours and you almost never know when they’ll be open.
You need lunch again.
Pro Tip: Brooklyn’s unsung specialty is the roast beef sandwich. You will choose lunch at what I call the Holy Trinity of Roast Beef:
Roll N Roaster (Emmons Ave & E. 29th) – Venture out to Sheepshead Bay for what is my favorite restaurant of all time whose motto is “Cheez on anything you Pleez.” The king of the beef & cheez and a true Brooklyn landmark. In my opinion this is THE hangout.
Brennan & Carr (Nostrand Ave & Ave U) – Another iconic roast beef spot right near Roll N Roaster. I believe it’s been around since the 1930’s and has a little bit of a different style. Many prefer their beef and cheese and a lot of times I agree. It’s incredible. If you like your sandwich a little wet, ask for the KFJ (knife n’ fork job). The beef broth makes it.
John’s Deli (Stillwell Ave & 86th) – Another Brooklyn institution. This is more of an Italian-style roast beef sandwich. The way to go is the classic roast beef/gravy/mutz/onions on a hero. Next level stuff. My dad was eating that sandwich before I was born.
You need a walk.
Take a stroll down to Owl’s Head Park and the 69th Street Pier. It’s a beautiful view, beautiful park, and a great way to walk that food off. There’s a hill that overlooks the water where you can sit on a bench and take it all in.
You need to start having fun again.
Take a trip down to Coney Island where you can make the most of Surf Avenue. Stop by the Coney Island Brewery to get some really great beer. If it were earlier in the season you could hit Luna Park or a Brooklyn Cyclones game. If you still feel hungry, hit up Totonno’s on Neptune Avenue if there isn’t a line out the door. Legendary pizzeria that used to just close when they ran out of inventory. They keep more regular hours now from what I understand, but you never know.
You need dinner again.
Ok you’ve went home and napped. It’s Saturday night baby, time to blow some cash. Treat yourself and a friend to a nice dinner at either Positano (101st & 4th) or Chadwick’s (89th & 3rd). If you want to experience older men who look like they’re in the mafia and women who are wearing club-style outfits to go eat, this is your spot. You’ll spend more money than you would like but the food is as good as it comes. I once overheard a man talking about curb stomping someone here! If you’re looking for something more down to earth, hit Chadwick’s and get a steak or their famous pork chops. They’re a true Bay Ridge mainstay that always knock the food out of the park. Same owners as Pippins too, so it’s in the family.
You need to go out drinking again.
It’s Saturday night. Why waste it. I already walked you through all of Bay Ridge so I’m going to say go a little farther off. Here are the spots:
Pig Beach (Union St. & Bond St.) – Known for their BBQ but just as good for getting drinks. Nice outdoor area and always a solid crowd.
Union Hall (Union St. & 5th Ave) – They have a bocce court inside and have dance parties in the basement. What’s more to say?
Royal Palms (Union St. & Nevins St.) – If you’re into shuffleboard try this out. Also fun place to generally hang.
Threes Brewing (Douglas St. & 4th Ave) – Great beer again. Enough said again.
SUNDAY
You need to calm the fuck down.
Wake up and just chill, but also might as well keep spending money. You don’t want to cook for yourself. Head over Ho Brah (87th & 3rd) for some Mexican style brunch. This is a go-to and I will say get a bulldog if you’re feeling up to it. A nice big frozen margarita with a tiny little Corona sticking out of it? Why not?
You need to watch a NY Sports Team lose.
Head over to Windy City Ale House (80th & 3rd) to catch a football game. Strangely enough this is a Chicago-themed bar and my personal favorite bar in Bay Ridge to hang. Ask for Steve (different Steve) who owns the bar. He’s an incredibly nice guy who is yet another top-notch bartender. It’s a family spot where his brother helps run the bar and their mom helps in the kitchen. On Sundays this is where you’ll find folks who will dress head to toe in their team’s gear crying because they’re watching the Jets lose again. This is also a great hockey bar where I’ve seen a guy in broad daylight walk in wearing Rangers pajama pants. Go Team!
You need to see your family.
If you don’t live near your family maybe FaceTime them. It’s time for Sunday Dinner. For three Italians from New York the best advice is to go hang out with the people you care about and eat pasta. Isn’t that what’s important?
Well, that’s all folks. While there was some joking throughout, I’d just like to say South Brooklyn is a great place with great people and my favorite place in the world. Hope I didn’t exhaust you, hope you laughed, and hope you go check out The Telling Time on whatever streaming service you use or come see us play. See ya!
Itinerary above written + submitted by The Telling Time. Follow the band at @thetellingtime, buy music on Bandcamp and add the songs to your Spotify playlists!
Feature image provided by the band.
MORNING ANNOUNCEMENTS
In super rad (and quite unconventional) release news, sci-fi/horror punk band Dalton Deschain’s recently dropped album Demons & Dogmen comes with a 260-page horror novel—what the group promises is the “perfect gift for your loner goth and/or theatre kid cousin this holiday season!” This is an indisputably awesome idea, and you can scoop up the creative combo platter on Bandcamp and at Rough Trade now.
BIG-ASS BUMMER OF A PSA #2: We are once again sad to share that someone who played/attended our EWEL show last Friday caught a breakthrough case of COVID. If you were in attendance, or were around someone who was, we def recommend getting tested. Once again, we hate hate hate that this happened, and we hate hate hate HATE that this is still a thing—but again, could’ve been much worse. Vax up, mask up and please take care of each other.
In the spirit of the holiday, we just want to say THANK YOU. We love this community and everyone in it more than anything in the world, and we are so, so appreciative of the people (hey, that’s you) that make it so goddamn magical. <3
RELEASE RADAR
New(ish) stuff from local artists we love, listed in no order whatsoever:
“Too Late (ft. JER)” // Oceanator, JER
“Surrender” // Red Sun Radio, Azan
“2000 Miles” (Pretenders cover) // LAPÊCHE
IT’S HAPPENIN’
Here’s a look at the shows we’ve got coming up this month and beyond. Mark your calendars and come hang!
12.7 BDBK PRESENTS: Jelly Kelly, Slight Of, The Pretty Bitchin’, LEONE @ Berlin (tix here)
12.8 BDBK PRESENTS: Endearments, Roofers Union, J. Pastel @ Our Wicked Lady (tix here)
12.11 BDBK PRESENTS: Mary Shelley, Beeyotch, Tight Lips @ East Williamsburg Econo Lodge ($5 w/ $1 drinks from 8-9!) (info here)
12.15 BDBK PRESENTS: HYPEMOM, Street Rules, Monarch, Slumberjack @ Gold Sounds
+ ICYMI
Around the blog + on the radio + from the archives:
WANTED: Singer/songwriter for direct-to-vinyl live session
Thx 4 reading! Find more fun stuff at bandsdobk.com and @bandsdobk. <3