Vikings are invading Bay Ridge — beskytt ølene!*
Slap a slab of salmon on your altar to Odin and bust open a case of aquavit, because Bay Ridge Nights is going Norse in honor of the 17th of May Parade. Our fair neighborhood has its share of Nordic folk, and they sure aren’t afraid to show their pride — there is so much going on this weekend you’ll think you died and went to Valhalla!
On Friday take in dinner and a show at the Danish Athletic Club [741 65th St. between Seventh and Eighth avenues, (718) 748–7844]. The Norwegian Christian Home is throwing the feast, and you can springar, rudl, polska, and otherwise dance the night away with live music starting at 7 pm. Call the club for reservations.
After the dance dies down, set sail for the Leif Bar (6725 Fifth Ave. between 67th and 68th streets), order up a mug of ale that would put Aegir’s mythical pot to shame, and prepare to get more hammered than one of Thor’s foes.
Saturday is Viking Fest at Owl’s Head Park (68th Street and Narrows Avenue), where you can check out a Viking war ship — called a langskip — and watch some historical re-enactors give a sword-fighting demonstration. The invasion lasts from 10 am to 5 pm.
Then go to Leske’s Bakery (7612 Fifth Ave. between 76th and 77th streets), buy a kringler, take it to the late Nordic Delicacies (6909 Third Ave. between Bay Ridge Avenue and 70th Street), and silently pay your respects to the recently closed Ridge institution. Our lawyers tell us we can’t encourage you to shoot the pastry with a flaming arrow Viking-funeral-style — so don’t do that.
Scandinavians will take to the streets in full force on Sunday, as the 17th of May Parade rumbles through the Ridge. The march, which mostly heads down Third Avenue, steps off from 81st Street and Third Avenue at 1:30 pm and ends at the Lief Erikson Park grandstand (enter from 67th Street between Sixth and Seventh avenues).
After the parade, head over to Bay Ridge’s Scandinavian District (i.e. Sunset Park) for a langskip full of lager at one or all of three after-parties.
Sporting Club Gjoa (850 62nd St. between Eighth and Ninth avenues) is slinging suds and cooking up hamburgers, hot dogs, and lobster (why not?). And the Swedish Club (725 65th St. between Seventh and Eight avenues) will be swinging, too. Or you can head back to the Danish Athletic Club for a post-parade buffet and live music by accordion-heavy quintet the Smorgasbandet until 8 pm.
*Norwegian for “protect the beers!”
