The Bushwick Beer Garden
The BBG is a backyard in Bushwick, Brooklyn (Old Germania Heights) that has been crafted to resonate an authentic German Beer Garden. Happy times are celebrated there in the form of parties, dinner gatherings and brunches. You, dear reader, should come raise a frosted glass with us. Contact us to hang out or host a small gathering there for your group.
Bushwick Beer Garden Origins
It was April, 2008. Bushwick Brooklyn resident Paul Nicholson walked into the backyard of his Harman St. first floor apartment and stated to his roommate Jan VanDamme, "We have to build a beer garden." Without a word, Jan nodded. The next three months would be an intensive whirlwind of wood gathering, sawing, digging, screwing and idea entertaining.
The completed backyard now includes a pergola structure with a homemade table and benches, an "international lounge" surrounded by world flags, a grilling area with slate floor, a floral deck, hammock alcove and even a decorative wooden bar dubbed "The Giraffes Knuckle."
"We decided to stay true to German beer garden style," Paul explains. He's worked with wood many times making art sculptures.
"And we made sure not to include any branded materials," says Jan who works in advertising. The main ingredients to the backyard became wood, wrought iron pieces, glass and candles. Behind the bar, dozens of glass beer mugs await being filled with imported beers.
And from this a character was born. The Bushwick Beer Garden even has it's own crest which hangs overhead as one enters the structure. It resembles a shield of ancient Europe, divided into quadrants with paintings of things specific to this beer garden.
"People say to us, 'it doesn't even feel like Brooklyn'" Jan chuckles. He hopes it will inspire others to make thier backyards awesome and begin a backyard revival in Bushwick.
What to expect
We built the Beer Garden as a group, and as such we value community over all else. There is a social responsibility to Bushwick and the celebration of artistic integrity it stands for. Effort is put forth under scrutiny to create an atmosphere of openness, collaboration and festivity. What results is an uplifting experience that becomes the core meaning of ones journey to the land we've come to enhance and embrace.
Here are some attributes the BBG maintains:
-We have a grill and a bistro table. Pot luck style dinners comprise the menu. Marinate that steak, whip up that pasta salad and jar up that chutney - and bring it!
-Bring your iPod. It generates the music.
-Bring more beer with you than you will drink. Becks or better is encouraged. Watch for themed parties on the yahoo group.
-Parties will be announced through the yahoo group bushwickbeergarden. Join it now.
-You must be yourself. You will not be accepted as anyone else, no matter how hard you try.
-Parties are during the weekends only.
-You must attend a gathering or otherwise have a meeting in the BBG before hosting a gathering there.
Created and managed by:
Jan VanDamme email website
Paul Nicholson email website