All Things Brooklyn - Brooklyn Sting: Say ‘Da’ to Sputnik
One of the things that I like about being the Brooklyn Stinger is that it gives me the perfect excuse to explore parts of Brooklyn that I otherwise might not visit. I’ve been spending entirely too much time near my workplace in Park Slope, so when it was time to meet my friend Mark for a drink, I headed over to Clinton Hill. If you have to ask where the hell Clinton Hill is, you’re not the only one. Apparently it’s nestled between Fort Greene (home to Target and the Atlantic Terminal) and Bedford-Stuyvesant (home to the Notorious B.I.G.).
Our destination for the evening was Sputnik, a Russian-themed bar on the border between Clinton Hill and Bed-Stuy. Well, I was expecting a Russian-themed bar: stark atmosphere and twenty different types of vodka chased with pumpernickel bread. (Think Pravda on Lafayette Street.) Instead, Sputnik was a surprisingly bright restaurant with bar seating. With funky sixties-era lamps hanging from high ceilings, Sputnik reminded me more of the Jetsons than the Iron Curtain.
Sputnik was a good place for a low-key, mid-week drink. Happy hour is daily from 5pm-7pm with $3 mixed drinks and drafts. The Russian theme was especially evident on the specialty cocktail list, with concoctions like Cosmo-Naught, Gin Lenin, and Wired Russian. I couldn’t resist trying a Gagarin Grape. My drink looked like purple Kool-Aid on the rocks and tasted just like a grape Jolly Rancher. Not that that’s a bad thing.
I wouldn’t mind checking out Sputnik again on a weekend. An extensive burger menu, $1 PBRs, and a downstairs performance space merit another trip back to this part of Brooklyn. Sputnik hosts weekly DJ showcases on Friday nights and performances throughout the week. Legendary rap pioneer DJ Kool Herc has even played here. Judging from Sputnik’s photo gallery, the downstairs concerts can get pretty crazy.
If only Sputnik were easier to get to. It’s just off the G, but the G is the most inconvenient train in NYC. Still, I’ll be back.
Sputnik // 262 Taaffe Place, near DeKalb Avenue, Brooklyn, 11205 // G to Classon Ave // (718) 398-6666
6. January 2009 at 1:02 pm :
I love the shout out to Biggie!
6. January 2009 at 1:07 pm :
I LOVE Sputnik. It is such a great mix of people and music. I was there once for Manjinga, a great party thrown all over Brooklyn (the Brooklyn Museum, Sputnik, APT, etc).
http://www.myspace.com/manjingaparty
We live in Brooklyn baby!