East River: East River claims to be legit grit as opposed to hipster-imposed faux trash, but nonetheless it has the vintage décor, open space, and funk that Billyburg is known for, plus a view of the bridge and river. The recycled décor includes a ping-pong table, Old West-style mirror, and a pool table, with origins ranging from a local alcoholic to international friends of the owners. A disco ball and wall projections add funk, and the interior otherwise holds the building’s history, which included incarnations as a paint factory, biker bar, and speakeasy. The massive patio is especially neighborly, since the East River owners have invited patrons to bring their own burgers (tofu and otherwise) for BYOBBQ fests throughout the summer. On South Sixth it’s refreshingly outside the nightlife buzz, and the view lets you drift from the neighborhood to gaze at the East River. Now just imagine the water's blue, not brown, and filled with more fish than deceased mobsters. |
