Nothing attracts a crowd like a rematch. For the second time in four years, the Kansas City Chiefs take on the San Francisco 49ers on the NFL’s biggest stage. With Taylor Swift expected to show up too, this upcoming Sunday will likely attract a mixed crowd gearing up for what some are saying will be the most people who’ve ever tuned in to watch a Super Bowl.
Lou’s Athletic Club, a new local sports bar, opened its doors this past October on the corner of Knickerbocker and Stanhope. Run by Bushwick bar-scene vets Richard Solinger and Claire Conway, who come from years of working countless nights at spots like Birdy’s and Carmelos. The two say they wanted to run a neighborhood sports bar that’s equally welcoming to jersey-adorned fanatics as much as cute cocktail first-date goers.
Most nights, a wide array of sports can be heard blasting, from the Copa America qualifiers to WWE’s Monday Night Raw. There’s countless booths and ample bar space to lean into while watching the likes of Lionel Messi shine for his new MLS team or Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes dueling it out in prime time or Jalen Brunson lead the New York Knicks to yet another exciting season.
Along the front room are countless booths and walls, thoughtfully lined with stills from past eras of New York. A fur-coat-adorned Walt Frazier subway ride, tender image of Mike Tyson holding two pigeons. My favorite might be the still from a Dennis Rodman and Hulk Hogan crossover that welcomes customers to the back room. Under the light of an enormous 16-foot projector screen sits a pool table, dart board, and a photo booth.
The cash-only joint tries to feel fun and approachable by populating the menu with names like the “Courtside Martini” and the “Club Margarita.” The season’s current cocktail is a “Hockey Toddy,” a warm Hot Toddy riff made with maple syrup and Canadian whisky. Conway tells me that the bar’s wine list is ever-changing too, generally paired with the changing seasons. There’s also a minimal menu of sausage and peppers, cracker jacks, and hot wings, but customers can pop over to local restaurants on busy Knickerbocker to bring a bite in themselves.
Lou’s Athletic Club is located at 384 Knickerbocker Avenue. Keep updated with their hours from their Instagram page.
Photos taken by taken by Joey Harvey for Bushwick Daily.
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