Court Square - 23rd Street (G, 7, E, M)
Warehouse hip, partway gentrified. Glassy new apartment buildings loom over the station exits, but probe towards the water and you’ll find old-brick auto repair garages, industrial design factories, ghost kitchens, and a surprisingly strong community vibe. A matcha latte out here is at least a dollar cheaper than anywhere in Manhattan.
Sister Stops: Hunters Point Av and Vernon Boulevard-Jackson Avenue.
Here’s a Friday date plan for you, that I think would be great to enjoy with a lover or friend, or by yourself.
Start out at The Local Gallery NYC, which features basketball-inspired art. It’s small and cool enough to be a crowd-pleaser, even for non-basketball enthusiasts. Just outside, you can grab some coffee at Ninth Street Espresso, a beer at Focal Point Brewery, or some food at Sobremesa or Sofun.
The Local NY, an arty hostel with a front-facing coffee-to-cocktail bar.
Stop by The Local NY, an arty hostel that frequently hosts events, and check in with the bartender or front desk manager (past the bar) to find out if there’s anything happening at the hostel or around the area later in the night that might interest you. One great option is right next door: a barbershop, Otis & Finn, that hosts Combover Comedy on Friday nights. I’d swing by Otis & Finn even if I weren’t going to the comedy show. The vibe is right, the cuts are fresh, the art is arting, the dog is a dawg.
Otis & Finn: Where you can't pet the dog, but you can certainly vibe with the dog.
Of course, the crown jewel of this stop is MoMa PS1, which I think of as MoMa’s weird little sister. You can easily spend an hour or two here. If the date’s going well, you can extend it with a visit to another restaurant, or another brewery, like Fifth Hammer Brewing Company or Greats of Craft (bonus - this one also hosts a lot of community events). If the date’s going REALLY well, you can even buy your beau (or yourself) candy or a stylish pair of sneakers from Extra Butter, or just take a breather in their velvet theater chairs.
Close out the night with a view of the skyline at the Lost in Paradise Rooftop. (Tip: you do need rooftop height to get the views out here; there’s too much construction for any ground-level skyline appreciation in the area).
An artist painting the entrance to MoMa PS1.
One last tip if you’re up for it: check the schedule at Modega for a dance class. Cool space, good vibes. I’d certainly get jiggy here.
What did I miss? Scroll past the pics to let me know in the comments!
Extra Butter, a sneaker and candy shop, with theater-like seating and music videos projected on the wall.
Look, did I take this photo just because the sign says Dyke? No, mom, I just wanted to give the street vibe around Court Square - 23rd Street.
