Broke but in love? Bowling at the Gutter in Williamsburg might be your best cheap date move for Valentine’s Day. At least Time Out NY thinks so:
Early (love) birds have a better chance of scoring thanks to the retro rates at Williamsburg’s first bowling alley in nearly half a century, The Gutter (200 North 14th St between Berry St and Wythe Ave, Williamsburg, Brooklyn; 718-387-3585, thegutterbrooklyn.com). Before 8pm, don rented lace-ups ($4 for two pairs) and hone your stance at one of eight ’70s-style lanes ($6 per game)—snapped up from a Midwestern factory—all while swigging $5 Genesee Cream Ales. Treat the night’s winner to a pizza party at Fornino (187 Bedford Ave between North 6th and 7th Sts, Williamsburg, Brooklyn; 718-384-6004), seven streets away. Nosh on a large bianca pie ($19), draped in ricotta, mozzarella and Parmesan cheese, and chug Peroni beers ($10 for two) before gamely asking for a rematch.
Brooklyn Bowl (map) is a gem of a venue for Williamsburg, what with the Blue Ribbon chicken, live music and top shelf bowling lanes, but sheesh, it can get expensive fast. That’s why we’re pysched to pass along a tweet they made offering free bowling Monday-Thursday 6p-7p, yes, happy hour. By the sound of it, the promo won’t last forever (through November) so get it while its hot. Here’s the tweet:
FREE BOWLING ALERT! All November, Mon – Thurs :: 6pm-7pm :: It’s a Very Happy Hour at Brooklyn Bowl! :: Come Early, Stay Late.
Bloomberg.com’s Ryan Sutton has just done the Brooklyn Bowl thing over in Williamsburg and gave it mixed results – he, like many of us, couldn’t help but get the sticker shock. Let’s see, $13 for a whiskey milkshake, $30-$50 for a bowling lane, $4 shoe rentals, yeah that would add up. He wasn’t too impressed with the Blue Ribbon chicken either, says he:
It’s semi-famous for fried chicken even though it shouldn’t be, at least not here, where it’s under-salted and dry, with a crumbly, insubstantial crust.
Of course, anyone bowling a 154 should be concentrating on other things besides the food. If you’re headed to Brooklyn Bowl, bring lots of cash or a hot credit card, don’t forget the socks, and if you’re feeling the munchies we recommend the fries, which even Ryan likes. If chicken is your thing, it’s still Brooklyn and we wouldn’t tell if you stuffed a bodega bird into your jacket pocket – it’ll cost you a fraction of the Blue Ribbon and we guarantee it won’t be “under-salted”.
photo: Brooklyn Bowl, credit: Adam Macchia
Brooklyn Bowl (map)
61 Wythe Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11211
(718) 963-3369
Although widely expected to open “right as Obama gives his speech”, as owner Robert Shapiro expressed to the Times, Brooklyn Bowl is no longer expected to finish on time for tomorrow’s opening.
Instead, according to Justin Bolognino, Media & Marketing Director of Brooklyn Bowl, expect the 16 bowling lane, Blue Ribbon restaurant and ‘Wetlands’-like rocknroll stage to debut in Williamsburg, Brooklyn in “1-2 months”.
Brooklyn Bowl is at 61 Wythe at N. 11th, Brooklyn, NY 11211
