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Sign outside the Gowanus Yacht Club, changes day to day with a new quote or original statement for the day's events

Banner which hangs inside the beer garden

The Gowanus Yacht Club is a beer garden located in the Carroll Gardens region of Brooklyn, New York City,located on the corner of Smith Street and President Street.

History[edit]

The outdoor beer garden was first opened early summer 2002, it rests on the vacant lot between "Bagles by The Park" and the entrance to the "F" and "G" train station on Smith Street. ^[1]The garden opened it's doors to the young hipster crowd, which was slowly taking over the predominately Italian neighborhood. Partial owners Alan Harding and Jim Mamary, said to be the pioneers developing an empire in Brooklyn, opened the Gowanus Yacht Club and similar restaurants along smith street and in the South Brooklyn region.^[2] In years before this Smith Street was not known for it's cafe's and boutiques, but it's excessive crime rate.^[3] Famous guests have included Alicia Goranson and other young celebrities native to South Brooklyn .^[4]

Description[edit]

"The Gowanus Yacht Club" is actually anything but a Yacht Club, the space it occupies is roughly 1,500 square feet, and it is completely landlock. It is in fact named after the Gowanus Canal which is a far four blocks away. however if you walk to the Canal don't expect to see any yachts, the Canal has been shut to most traffic except industrial containers. This is one of the contributing factors to the decor of the Gowanus Yacht Club, old bouey's and water ski's are strapped and hung from a giant tent which covers half the space and provides the only rain protection at this all outdoor establishment^[5]. Patrons are expected to seat them selves at old picnic tables, church pews and wooden fold out chairs. Screwed to the top of every third table is a make shift umbrella stand providing essential shade during the 5 months this seasonal bar remains open, during the off season they sell Christmas Trees^[6]. The Gowanus Yacht Club has also recently equipped the patio with a misting system to make sure there isn't a summer day too hot for a cold beer. The down side to the establishment is it's bathroom, there is now one bathroom downstairs with a public slop sink. In years past the bathroom was a port-a-potty around the back, the first year it was built downstairs it didn't have a door, but in recent years it has become much more desirable, including a chalk board allowing customers to voice their opinions^[7].

Beer List[edit]

The drink menu at the Gowanus Yacht Club tends to change from year to year. It is always made up of eight beers on tap, four of which are craft beers and often from local brewers, a dozen bottle and can options, and a house red and white wine. Non-alcoholic drinks are usually very limited.

Menu[edit]

The Gowanus Yacht club contains a very limited menu, lacking a full kitchen all items are cooked on a charcoal barbecue. The menu includes hamburgers, cheeseburgers which can be made both single and double stacked, along with a vegan patty. They also serve kielbasa, knackwurst, and swojska, all Brooklyn made polish sausage. The hot dog list includes a spicy hot dog, a Black Angus hot dog, a tofu dog, and a turkey hot dog. A variety of home made special toppings are also available, excluding lettuce, tomato, and mayonnaise. For sides they serve, nacho's and cheese, Brooklyn back yard grown half sour pickles, and a bag of peanuts.

Staff[edit]

Alan Harding, co-owner and ex-host of discovery channels "Cookin' in Brooklyn" ^[8], leads a staff of young employees,who lose their job every winter and are rehired around early May. ^[9]