It’s already mid-January, which mean 2019 is officially in full swing. With that being said, there’s a good chance that you’ve made a few New Year’s resolutions. Depending on what kind of resolutions you’ve made, keeping up with them could be tricky — especially if you’re living in a city full of temptations (hello, New York).
However, if your New Year’s resolution is to channel your creative side, you’re in luck. As you could probably imagine, there are a handful of different bars and event spaces in the Bushwick area that encourage creativity. Some of them offer drink and draw nights, and others provide tools that’ll help guests channel their inner Bob Ross. Heck, some spaces even provide both.
1. Boobie Trap
Boobie Trap, an edgy bar on the corner of Bleecker St. and Irving Ave., offers drink and draw nights every Thursday from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tania, Boobie Trap’s bartender says not to worry about bringing drawing utensils, because the bar provides them. You don’t have to worry about bringing cash for a cover charge, either, because it’s totally free for customers to take part in. However, you’ll want to take advantage of the bar’s Happy Hour, which takes place during the creative event. During that time, you’ll be able to grab $4 well drinks, drafts and wines. In other words, bring cash for that.
2. The Bat Haus
The Bat Haus is a coworking space on Starr St. that hosts a variety of events, including its famous drink and draw every Wednesday night. The event takes place from 8 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. weekly, but you’d better get there quick, because seats fill up fast. Throughout the night, a professional model poses in the center of the room, and everyone spends time drawing them during different time increments. There’s a $10 admission fee, but it’ll score you unlimited beer throughout the night (if you’re over 21 years old, that is). The event runners offer drawing utensils, but you can bring your own if you’d like.
Julia’s Beer & Wine Bar, located on Cornelia St. and Woodward Ave., doesn’t offer a specific drink and draw night. However, the bar encourages its customers to get creative by providing paper and drawing utensils on each table. Artistic bar-goers who draw a picture and use the hashtag #JuliasDoodles are often rewarded by the bar with drink specials — so start drinking (er, I mean, drawing).
The Living Gallery, an event space located on Broadway and Dodworth St., offers drink and draw nights every Wednesday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. According to the space’s website, those running the drink and draw will provide the drinks, materials, and of course, the models.
The Footlight Bar, located off of the Seneca M subway stop in Ridgewood, Queens, offers drink and draws every Tuesday night from open to close. Bushwick Daily reached out to The Footlight Bar to learn more about its weekly event, and learned that it’s free to join. Every week, a different theme is chosen, and customers can use drawing utensils and paper provided by the bar to get creative. Tim Shea, one of Footlight’s bartenders who runs the recurring event, awards free shots of the bar’s “Fruity Booze” to those who’ve drawn the theme. (Apparently, Fruity Booze is a Footlight exclusive.)
As you can see, there are a handful of places where you can down some boozy bevs’ and get your creative juices flowing. If your New Year’s resolution was to channel your inner artist, go ahead and visit one of those spots.
Cover photo courtesy of Bat Haus.