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Welcome to Drunk Shopping, our feature celebrating the time-honored tradition of getting totally wasted while the sun's still shining before buying a bunch of debatably useful stuff that the sober you would be too timid or too restrained to take home. Each Friday we'll cobble together a new itinerary starting you off with a boozy Saturday or Sunday brunch before meandering through a few neighboring retailers and happy hours notable for seasonal specials, limited time availability, fantastic deals, recent openings, or new shipments.
How perfect is this: A weekend, a stretch of crisp and clear autumn weather, and Brooklyn's first Barneys—in Cobble Hill. It's brand new, folks—and just waiting for you to come in and wastedly fondle every little thing while trolling the place. Plus, it's pretty imperative we all find out ASAP how exactly Barneys does Brooklyn. More hip? More crunch? More urban? More of the same? Who cares—we're excited!
We're also hungry (actually mainly just majorly thirsty)—cue Drunk Shopping! We'll start out with brunch at Bar Tabac, a quintessentially French bistro serving a slew of $10 egg dishes alongside a Croque Monsieur ready and waiting to sop up your endless stream of $5 Bloody Marys and $4 mimosas. You heard.
From the restaurant, head a couple of blocks north and hang a left. Behold: Brooklyn's very own Barneys Co-op. Get on in there! Pendelton, Richard Chai, Helmut Lang, Alexander Wang, Thom Browne, Spiewalk, Vince, Dunderdon, Rag & Bone, new addition Carven—the world is your oyster. Touch it, try it on, buy it (or mull over what to look for on December 26th). Think about it—you're in Barneys, but you're also in Brooklyn. Fabulous! But don't get too starry-eyed. Your mission is to keep that buzz buzzing, and it's starting to wain.
That said, we're keeping with the whole "World is your Oyster" theme and letting you choose your course. Cobble Hill has a lot of shoptions. We suggest you lumber along Court and Smith Streets. You can pop into Dear Fieldbinder, Smith + Butler, Bird and Epaulet.
Or, you can visit Zoey the Dachshund-Chihuahua Mix at Callalilai or Kaight's new Brooklyn outpost—those are both on Atlantic. Or, If you're looking for a little levity in your lost and found, and/or a malt, a nibble or some organic victuals, hit the Brooklyn Farmacy. It's out on Henry—that's towards the river so just keep on keeping on for great views and hottie hunting. (Bonus: On Saturday they'll be hosting a block party with lobster and oysters.)
Either way, don't keep your liver waiting too long. Drinks are happening at Gowanus Yacht Club on Smith. Why? Prices top out at $5, they grill up hot dogs and you can sit outside and slur at passersby. If you're cold, fine—Brooklyn Social is down the block.
Enjoy! And please do share your Drunk Shopping tips, tales, and war stories in the comments.
· Babies and Simon Doonan Open Barneys Co-op Brooklyn [Racked NY]
· Zoey the Dachshund-Chihuahua Mix at Callalilai on Atlantic Avenue [Racked NY]
· RackedWire: Kaight Brooklyn's Opening Party [Racked NY]
· The Brooklyn Farmacy's Sad But Genius Lost and Found Display [Racked NY]
· Drunk Shopping [Racked NY]