For at least a handful of lucky survivors in this city, Memorial Day weekend is a symbol of more than a time of remembrance and an extra day off work. I’m talking about the commencement of Summer Fridays, baby!
Whatever time you manage to disembark from your work week responsibilities, our Summer Friday Bar Guide: Jefferson and Dekalb L Stop edition will have you sailing into the weekend with a drink in your hand and a smile on your face. Rest assured, many an hour was invested assembling and researching the following choices based on location, atmosphere, and most importantly, what kind of a happy hour they bring to the table.
The Rookery
Happy Hour 12:00 pm – 7:00 pm, Monday to Friday
Located just two blocks from the Jefferson L stop at 425 Troutman St., The Rookery is the ideal checkpoint to kick off your Summer Friday.
With a happy hour that starts at a spritely noon, this bar is an especially educated choice for you funemployed folks and bold 9-5ers that dipped out of the office before you even started working (let’s be honest).
Just last week, I knocked my entire drink over their patio in excitement upon catching word of their respectable happy hour. A whole afternoon of $5 well drinks, $5 wine, and discounted beers awaits you at this laidback spot (not to mention some plush greenery and a yard full of dogs).
Heavy Woods
Happy Hour: 3:00 pm – 8:00 pm, Monday to Friday
This put together little bar at 50 Wyckoff Ave. is great for extremely strong whiskey sodas and provides an excellent backyard oasis for Friday festivities. If you’re anything like me, the words “3:00 pm happy hour” are all the encouragement you need to make Heavy Woods the second stop on your Friday afternoon trajectory.
Suppress the memories of an especially soul-crushing work week in a $6 beer shot combo, or toast your way into longer weekends with a $7 frozen drink. Their happy hour runs until 8 and includes $4 well drinks and $1 off draft.
If that’s not enough to win you over, their tasteful and affordable food selection, provided by Tchoup Shop, will secure your devotion. I don’t know what half the words on the menu mean, but if you catch me eyeing up your corner of the patio, I’m probably checking out your order of their World Famous Nola Style BBQ Shrimp.
Left Hand Path
Happy Hour: 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm, Monday to Friday
Before you’ve had one too many to truly appreciate a good mixed drink, head just up the block to Left Hand Path at 89 Wyckoff Ave. From 5 to 7, you can pick up a $5 Old Fashion or — if your taste buds are on autopilot and the previous destinations have left you with simpler tastes — their $1 off draft, or $1 off wine.
In contrast to the bar’s cozy interior, their open outdoor space has more of a yard-party feel, so set up camp in the sun while sipping on a High Divide and you can bank on leaving Left Hand Path feeling sunkissed and twice as tipsy.
Old Stanley’s
Happy Hour: 2:00 pm – 8:00 pm, Monday to Friday
In my experience, the crowd at Old Stanley’s is either ready for bed or ready to rage, which is about the crossroads you’re going to be at by the time you roll up to this neighborhood dive bar.
I spent a few snowed-in nights parked on a Stanley’s barstool this winter and learned that one of its appeals is you never quite know where the night will end up. The vibe is usually good, and while I’ve had to ask the odd knob to kindly fuck off, I have only fond memories for this scrappy slice of Bushwick.
Happy hour specials are $1 off the $6 drafts and $1 off well drinks.
With their patio back in business, there’s more than enough space to claim a spot with friends and watch the night unfold. Happy Hour ends at 8 but the cheap drinks last all night, including a $6 beer shot combo and $7 well drinks.
Photo by Bundo Kim
