Henry Public

For something a bit different, we met friends on Governor's Island, an historic military base on a small island within spitting distance of downtown Manhattan. We'd been once before, and enjoyed an afternoon exploring the old fort and other historic buildings. This time, we rented bicycles and rode around the island a few times, checking the harbor views of New York City that we seldom get to see. It was a beautiful afternoon, with good friends, and a real joy.

Views of Lower Manhattan from Governor's Island

After we left our friends, we took the free ferry back to downtown Brooklyn’s Atlantic Terminal. We seldom venture that far towards the East River, so we decided to explore that area of Atlantic Avenue, check out some stores, and maybe find a pub to while away some time before dinner. We were reminded how small a city NYC really is: as we stood outside The Roebling Inn debating if we wanted to stop there, a former co-worker of Tina's darted out from the bar and invited us to join her and her husband. They were enjoying a quiet afternoon at their neighborhood bar with the two dogs they were dog sitting. We ordered a couple of glasses of house wine. While the wine was nothing special, the company more than made up for it. We chatted for some time, and enjoyed watching the neighborhood dogs hanging out. We learned the bar was both dog and child friendly, a bonus in New York City. Our host gifted us a bag of coffee from his company, Kitten Coffee. And when we parted ways, they recommended we stop by another local bar for some interesting cocktails and food.

The Roebling Inn

Just around the corner, just south of Atlantic and nearly hidden from sight was Henry Public, a bar that specializes in quality cocktails and British inspired local food. It ended up being quite the find. We seldom order cocktails, but we couldn't resist. I am fond of whiskey sours, but I seldom order them at a bar. The fresh ingredients used here, crafted with care, made a real difference. The Kings County Sour was the best whiskey sour I have ever tasted, the balanced sweetness, tartness, and smokiness resulting in a smooth drink. Tina was equally pleased with her drink, the Blackthorn Fix--this in spite of the fact that she doesn't by habit drink Gin and can’t , in fact, ever remember a time that she’s had it before. For dinner, we focused on their small plates. I had a chance to try something new--marrow bones--while Tina ordered the grilled summer beets. We shared a plate of NY cheeses, as well. Even better, their wine menu features New York State wines. Remembering our recent trip upstate, Tina selected the Fox Run Lemberger. Although we didn't visit Fox Run on our most recent trip, the vineyard is just down the road from where we were married; we’ve been there many times. I tried a Claret from Shinn Estate Vineyards, a recommendation from our friends earlier in the day. Both wines were rich, fruity, and medium bodied. The Lemberger was probably the lightest of the two, and had a distinct earthy quality that caused Tina to exclaim, “oh, I can taste the Finger Lakes, I can taste them, there they are!” The marrow was rich and buttery, the beets fresh, and the cheeses tasted of fresh grass. The food balanced well with the sweeter flavors of the wine. We sat around and enjoyed our time, watching people come and go, watching the bartender craft her delicious cocktails, and savoring our food and drink. As the evening wore on, costumed flappers from a party on Governor's Island began filling up the bar, blending perfectly with the bar’s classic British theme. We enjoyed the unintentional show before wandering home.

Henry Public

It is great to explore our City from time to time. There are so many hidden gems, its tough to find them all. Sometimes the recommendations of locals can help you find the best parts.