With many offices and businesses opening up, and temperatures set to cool down, there is a renewed need for safe indoor hang-out spots. Here are a few places in and around Bushwick with extra COVID-19 protections to keep you safe and warm.
Sharks Pool Club
With several locations across the city, Sharks Pool Cub is a private pool club where you can play a game solo, with friends, bring a date or even take lessons from professionals. Reserve tables at an hourly rate through the Shark’s Pool Club app.
Each room is equipped with a pool table, cues and cue chalk, Bluetooth speaker to play your favorite tunes as well as comfortable seating, a mini fridge and a private bathroom.
Safety measures against COVID-19 include contactless entry through an app that opens the door of the venue at the time of your reservation and a limited number of people on site. Sanitizing essentials are provided in order for customers to wipe down the table and cues.
Price and capacity vary by location. The Bushwick location, Skylight Room, costs $36 per hour for up to a group of four guests. Add more guests for an additional fee.
Sharks Pool Club’s Skylight Room location is located at 99 Scott Ave.
Social Cues
Social Cues is an NYC-based private lounge that has locations across the city offering billiards, karaoke, darts, a big screen TV, Bluetooth speaker and a photo booth among other things. It is BYOB/F, so make sure to pack your favorite snacks and beverages. Decorating the walls of its East Williamsburg location, B.S.A., are vibrant works created by local artists.
COVID-19 precautions in place include portable air cleaners for each space, a sanitizing station and disposable microphone covers for karaoke.
Book online at an hourly rate through the Social Cues site. Reservations must be made by those 21 and older. Rates are $60 per hour Monday through Wednesday and $80 per hour Thursday through Sunday. The East Williamsburg location can be booked hourly with a guest capacity of up to eight people per party.
Social Cues’ B.S.A. is located at 35 Meadow St.
Transmitter
A space promoting racial and social justice through a collective of artists and curators, Transmitter Art Gallery is a safe place for those craving to enter a local art institution with increased COVID-19 health and safety protocols.
Transmitter requires staff and guests to be masked at all times, only one visiting party with a maximum of four guests is allowed to enter the gallery at a time and if a visitor arrives while the previous party is still enjoying the gallery, they will be politely asked to wait outside until the current party has left. All high-touch surfaces are sanitized between guests, hand sanitizer is readily available in the gallery and visitors are required to complete a COVID-19 waiver and contact form.
Transmitter is open from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays at 1329 Willoughby Ave. 2A in Bushwick.
Centerpoint Ceramics
If you want to (safely) get your hands dirty, visit Centerpoint Ceramics, a community-centered, membership-based pottery studio located in Bushwick.
Centerpoint offers one-on-one or small group instruction workshops for pottery enthusiasts at beginner and intermediate skill levels. Other workshops include eight-week courses held one night per week with a maximum of ten students, one-time workshops with one to six people, individual and couples wheel lessons and open studio time for those with prior experience. Pricing is based on the type of workshop selected and number of people attending the class.
The following COVID-19 protocols are currently in place at the studio: visitors must wear face masks at all times, guests must receive a temperature check and complete a contact tracing form upon entering the studio. Studio owner, Jennifer Urbanowski says, “Hand sanitizer and wipes are provided throughout the space. For members, there is an online sign-out sheet for the six different studio spaces to ensure that everyone is socially distanced.”
Centerpoint Ceramics is located at 355 Stockholm St.
Stems
Flower arranging, another hands-on, socially distanced activity can be booked at Stems, an eco-conscious florist located in Bushwick.
The 60-minute flower arranging workshop is taught by designer Shannon Cowan. Students will be provided with all of the tools and flowers necessary to create a unique seasonal arrangement.
Learn the basics of floral design, floral care, the principles of design and color theory as well as tips and tricks for arranging flowers independently. Tickets are available for $95 per person, which includes cost of materials. Private workshops are also available with a five guest minimum and costs $95 per person plus a $150 instructor’s fee.
Stems requires all staff and guests to wear a face mask, sanitizes in between guests, provides hand sanitizer within the space and offers small group instruction to allow for increased social distancing between guests.
Stems is located at 96 Knickerbocker Ave. #109.
Top photo courtesy of Social Cues. All other images courtesy of corresponding businesses.
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