Are you feeling the holiday booze?
Four Kings County watering holes are serving up a special dose of Christmas cheer this season! These holiday pop-up bars have created Yuletide-themed menus, tinsel-covered interiors, and adopted seasonal nom de sugar-plums that will last until Dec. 25.
Trees of Greenpoint
In Greenpoint, bar The Springs has become the Ho Ho Holiday Lounge. The bar has decked the walls with wrapping paper, tuned each TV to a burning fireplace, and hung streams of garlands and Christmas lights overhead. The bar’s owner said that she couldn’t resist turning her tavern into a glowing Christmas carol jukebox for the third year in a row.
“I don’t get tired of Christmas music — it puts you in a good mood, and everyone loves it,” said Irene Reyes.
The Holiday Lounge has also teamed up with Christmas tree vendor Greg’s Trees, which sells its evergreens on the sidewalk outside, to turn its extensive backyard into a holiday extravaganza.
“They put up a little winter wonderland out there,” said Reyes.
The patio holds a decked-out tree, a Santa-style sleigh that can fit six, a 12-foot-tall reindeer, and a giant figure of Frosty the Snowman with holiday cartoons projected on his stomach. The man behind the decor said that he wanted to make Instragrammable moments for holiday tipplers.
“We want to make it a fun place for people — a place to take pictures,” said Greg Walsh.
Ho Ho Holiday Lounge (224 Franklin St. at Green Street in Greenpoint, www.thesp
Snow big deal
Restaurant and beloved Williamsburg brunch spot Sunday in Brooklyn has turned its bar area into “Snowday in Brooklyn,” an Alpine skiing lodge with wreaths on the windows, holly jolly ceramic figures on the bar, a snow globe on every table, and ornaments dangling from the ceiling. But it’s not the decor that calls for the Instagram — it’s the drinks!
Open your Christmas card menu to discover more than a dozen delectable winter cocktails (mostly $14–$16) with elaborate presentations. Highlights include the tropical, tequila-based Partridge in a Pear Tree, served in a bird-shaped glass with a bouquet for a cocktail-feather, a frozen pina colada-like Polar Bear Club served in a bear-shaped former honey container, and the knock-you-over strong and spicy Bad Krampus, served with a tiny stocking filled with coal.
The cozy spot fills up quick, so either make a reservation or plan to stop by late in the evening.
Snowday in Brooklyn [68 S. Second St. at Wythe Avenue in Williamsburg, (718) 360-9875, www.snowd
Downtown Miracle
The holiday pop-up craze started on the distant island of Manhattan with “Miracle on Ninth Street,” which has expanded into an annual franchise with branches across the country — and in Brooklyn! Hoyt Street bar Livingston Manor has become Miracle at Livingston Manor for the Yuletide season , adopting the drink recipes, fanciful glassware, and decor suggestions from the Miracle mothership.
The Downtown bar has adopted “Bad Santa” attitude along with its decorations, with festive letters announcing “Happy F—— Holidays,” pictures of a boozy Santa in the back, and bartenders wearing irreverent Christmas sweaters. So you can feel conmforatble ordering the “Die Hard”–referencing rum drink Yippie Ki Yay Mother F—–, or downing a Naughty Shot of bourbon and cinammon.
Miracle at Livingston Manor [42 Hoyt St. between Livingston and Schermerhorn streets, (347) 987–3292, www.livingstonmanorbk.com]. Mon–Thu, 4 pm–2 am; Fri–Sat, 1 pm–4 am; Sun, 1 pm–2 am.
Global treats
Latin bar Leyenda has been throwing its annual “Sleyenda” party since before Thanksgiving! The cocktail list includes plenty of holiday delights, you can dabble with a Nutcracker Old Fashioned featuring hazelnut-infused bourbon, pecan-infused rum, and macadamia nut syrup; warm up with Mexican hot chocolate, or get blitzed with Our Vixen Blitzen, made with rum, Irish whiskey, banana liquor, cinnamon, and more. Take the drinks to Leyenda’s back yard, where a spherical heated tent looks like giant snowglobe filled with fuzzy chairs, dripping with tinsel, and with a bit of mistletoe for holiday date nights.
Sleyenda [221 Smith St. between Baltic an Butler streets in Cobble Hill, (347) 987–3260, www.leyendabk.com]. Mon–Thu, 5 pm–2 am; Fri, 5 pm–3 am; Sat, noon–3 am; Sun, noon–1 am.
