YELLOW HOOK GRILLE: HOME OF NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL

Great News for Notre Dame fans: YELLOW HOOK GRILLE is the new home of NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL!  Starting this fall, you can catch EVERY NOTRE DAME football game here, with audio and great food/drink specials! The schedule for this season includes the following games:

8/30: vs RICE (3:30pm)

9/6: vs MICHIGAN (7:30pm)

9/13: vs PURDUE (7:30pm)

9/27: at SYRACUSE (TBA)

10/4: vs STANFORD (3:30pm)

10/11: vs NORTH CAROLINA (3:30pm)

10/18: at FLORIDA STATE (TBA)

11/01: vs NAVY (8pm)

11/08: at ARIZONA STATE (TBA)

11/15: vs NORTHWESTERN (3:30pm)

11/22: vs LOUISVILLE (3:30pm)

11/29: at USC (TBA)

01/12/2015: NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME vs TBA

So dust off the those #3, #7 #11 jerseys and make it point to get to Yellow Hook Grille for each and every NOTRE DAME game!  This should be a magical season!

CONGRATS are in order to our dear friend, TIM CLARKE on his phenomenal performance in the recent Lake Placid Ironman competition.  Tim finished 1st in his age group, 2nd place out of all amateurs, and 10th place overall with a time of 9:25.  As a result, he qualified for the prestigious Kona World Ironman Championships in Hawaii, later this year.  A fantastic performance! (photo credit: QT2 Systems)

FANTASY FOOTBALL SEASON is coming up quickly, so we're taking reservations for Fantasy Football Draft parties.  We have available space (inside/outside) and wi/fi access to help make your draft a successful one.  We also have food/drink specials for afternoon draft parties.  Call us at (718).238.1089 for more details.


Cheers!

SUMMER STROLL at "The 'Hook"!

We're halfway through the Summer Season and so far, Yellow Hook Grille has had a pretty good run.  From the great playoff run by the NY Rangers, to the most recent end of a thrilling World Cup, we've had more than our share of good times:

Next up on the Summer Calendar is the widely popular SUMMER STROLL.  Set to take place the next two Fridays (7/18 & 7/25), SUMMER STROLL magically transforms 3rd Avenue from a busy traffic nightmare to a tranquil, fun pedestrian experience, complete with food, entertainment and fun!

This year's edition promises to be even bigger than last year and we at Yellow Hook Grille are proud and excited to be a part of it.  Our patio will be in full swing and look for live entertainment both weeks to enhance the Summer Stroll experience!

So make sure to mark your calendar for this Friday, July 18th and next Friday, July 25th and join us for this year's SUMMER STROLL!  Let's make this year's edition more memorable than last year!


Cheers!

NY RANGERS- BACK IN THE SC FINALS

20 YEARS AGO, New York City found itself caught up in NYRangers frenzy as the Blueshirts won the Stanley Cup for the first time since 1940.  Celebrations across the city were epic and memories were made.  Little did we know that it would take another 20 years to get back to the Stanley Cup Finals, but here we are.  

Now that the Blueshirts are only four games away from hoisting the Cup once again, fans (both diehards and bandwagon alike) are gearing up for another epic run.  We're bringing our "A" game for the Stanley Cup Finals and expect big crowds for every game.  So, strap on your best looking NY Rangers gear and get your arses to Yellow Hook Grille for the Stanley Cup.

NO EXCUSES!

APRIL SHOWERS BRING MAY FLOWERS??

A couple of days after Mother Nature blessed us with 4.5 inches of rain, we're FINALLY (we hope) starting to get some signs of actual Spring weather! And with the forecasts calling for sunshine and temps hovering around the 70 degree mark all weekend, it's shaping up to be a great CINCO de MAYO WEEKEND.

Speaking of which, with CINCO de MAYO falling on a Monday this year, we're choosing to celebrate with specials and events all weekend long.  Here's a sample of what we have on tap this weekend:

TONIGHT: The NY Rangers, fresh off of their Game 7 win over Philadelphia, immediately turn around and head to Pittsburgh for the start of Round 2 vs Sid the Kid and the Penguins.  (7pm w/audio).

The Brooklyn Nets try to stave off elimination at home vs the Toronto Raptors (7pm).

SATURDAY: It's the first Saturday in May, which means one thing: The Kentucky Derby.  We'll air all the pomp and circumstance of the big race, starting at 4:30pm.  Race kicks off at around 6:15pm.  During that time, we will also host a promo event sponsored by Dos Equis and the lovely Dos Equis Girls (5pm)!

The Canadiens face off vs Boston in Game 2 of their epic series (12:30pm) and Los Angeles face off vs Anaheim later that night in 2nd round NHL playoff action.  The NBA is also hosting THREE Game 7's, which should make for some nail-biting moments!

SUNDAY: Celebrating "Cinco de Mayo" continues with live music (Kings County Ramblers), and our great "Mexican Madness Menu"!  Then catch the Rangers vs Pens, Game 2 (7:30pm w/audio)!


MONDAY: CINCO de MAYO officially hits us and we're prepared! Dos Equis on tap, Coronas on ice, Sangria & Margaritas at the ready and of course, great music & Mexican food!  Plus we'll have the Rangers vs Pens, Game 3 on Monday night (7pm w/audio)!


AND FINALLY: The Art of Brooklyn Film Festival takes place in our own Bay Ridge, Brooklyn starting on May 7 and runs through the 11th! Here's a chance to check out great films & shorts focusing on our great borough!  Check out the site for full details and viewing schedule/locations!

So as you can see, we're revving up for what should be a fun-filled weekend!  Make sure to stop by and enjoy yourselves!




CHEERS!

THE QUEST FOR THE CUP BEGINS TONIGHT!

The NHL Playoffs kicked off last night with three thrilling games, all with fantastic finishes.  The Canadiens, Penguins and Ducks all pulled off great wins and set the tone for the rest of the playoffs.

Tonight, the NEW YORK RANGERS are up to bat as they open their quest for the STANLEY CUP at Madison Square Garden with a highly anticipated matchup with the arch-rival PHILADELPHIA FLYERS.

These two teams have a long history of bad blood, especially during the playoffs.  Read more about that HERE.  The Flyers have won 6 out of 10 playoff series vs the Rangers and we won't even talk about the fights.

This season, both teams started out slow out of the gates; The Rangers had that miserable month-long road trip from hell to start the season; The Flyers even fired their coach after just three games into the season.  But both teams were able to right their ships just in time to find a groove and make their way into the playoffs where they find themselves facing one another for a chance to move into the second round.

The playoff schedule for both teams play out like this:

April 17: Philadelphia Flyers at New York Rangers, 7 p.m. ET.
April 20: Philadelphia Flyers at New York Rangers, 12 p.m. ET.
April 22: New York Rangers at Philadelphia Flyers, 8 p.m. ET.
April 25: New York Rangers at Philadelphia Flyers, 7 p.m. ET.
April 27: Philadelphia Flyers at New York Rangers, 12 p.m. ET*
April 29: New York Rangers at Philadelphia Flyers, TBA*
April 30: Philadelphia Flyers at New York Rangers, TBA*
*if necessary

Note that Game 2 is on Easter Sunday at 12 noon,  a rather odd scheduling quirk that has annoyed fans and the church-going public just a tad bit.  But that's the schedule and we'll just have to deal with it.

We're looking forward to hosting ALL of the games of this pivotal series, starting with tonight's Game 1 matchup.  We suggest that you get here early to get a good seat.

*If you are wearing NY Rangers gear, every time the Rangers score a goal, you get a shot of 2Gingers Irish Whiskey!

Throughout the series, we will carry  EVERY NY RANGERS GAME (with audio) and have special giveaways during some of our GAME WATCH parties, so make sure to make YELLOW HOOK GRILLE your home for NHL playoff hockey!


See you tonight!

CAMILLE LOCCISANO'S ITALIAN SUNDAY FEAST

In my last post, I hinted at something big coming down the pike for Yellow Hook Grille. I've been inundated with questions on what the big secret was and after shoring up the final details, I can finally announce the news.

We are excited and honored to be hosting a very special event.  The event, "CAMILLE LOCCISANO'S ITALIAN SUNDAY FEAST", is a special dinner/fundraiser benefiting "Frankie's Mission", an organization that supports families of children with cancer.

Cookbook/author Camille Loccisano will be our guest chef as she shares anecdotes and prepares a menu of favorite recipes from her recently released cookbook, "Foodships: Living Life One Recipe at a Time".

In addition, Yellow Hook Grille is proud to fill the air with live music by the talented Sal Casta, a long-time Brooklyn favorite!

The cost for the event is $40.00 per guest and it includes a sit down three course gourmet dinner offering a choice of appetizers, entrees and dessert.  On the menu:

Choice of Appetizer
*Prosciutto Baked Mushroom Caps in Cremini Marsala Moat
*Basil and Coconut Shrimp with Balsamic Apricot Sauce
*Roasted Garlic Potato Croquettes served with Spicey Scallion Cream Sauce
*Tricolor Crostini:
Tomato and Fresh Smoked Mozzarella
Honey Ricotta with Roasted Pine Nuts
Broccoli Rabe and Pancetta

Choice of Entrée
*Linguine Vongole
*Neapolitan Lasagna with Mini Sausage Meatballs
*Gnocchi with Gorgonzola Sauce
*Camille’s Signature Chicken Francese served with an Arugula Salad splashed with Champagne Dressing

Dessert
*Fresh Strawberries with Mascarpone Amaretto Sauce 
*Chocolate Espresso Cake with Whipped Cream

As you can see, this is a tantalizing menu and worth coming by for.  We are currently accepting reservations for this event and please note- RESERVATIONS ARE A MUST.  Checking off "yes" on the Facebook invite is not enough; You must call in to confirm your reservations and time slot at Yellow Hook Grille (718)-238-1089.  Seating times for the event run from 3pm -9pm, so book early to get your preferred seating time.

For those who know Camille and her story, this is a cause that is near and dear to her heart, ever since losing her own son to cancer.  She is a tireless supporter of "Frankie's Mission", and has hosted various fundraisers in support of this wonderful organization.  And we at Yellow Hook Grille are proud and honored to host this event for such a great cause.  To learn more about "Frankie's Mission", check out their web page.

We look forward to seeing you at what should be a great day of feast and fellowship!

*NOTE- We have limited seating after 7pm available; All other seatings are SOLD OUT!

WHAT WOULD JAMES DALTON DO?

Coming from Manhattan to Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, it was only a matter of time before I'd have to deal with a drunken idiot.  No big deal; I've dealt with that element for over 20 years, but always in Manhattan.  I finally had my first "encounter" with a neighborhood agitator on Friday; my first since I started working at Yellow Hook Grille.  It was interesting, to say the least.

The encounter took place during Happy Hour and it wasn't anything that happened suddenly; This was a situation that developed gradually.  It all started innocently enough.  I was grabbing some supplies for a delivery guy out by the patio area when I heard this loud screaming from a male.  I looked up and there was this guy, screaming into his phone while leaning against a car.  Strange, but hey, I'm in Brooklyn.  Expect the unexpected.

I go back inside the restaurant and as I make my way towards the front of the bar, I can see out of the corner of my eye, the same guy, now in full rant mode.  I turn to get a better look and I see that he's clearly drunk and still screaming at his phone, while carrying what looks like a can of Four Loko (they still sell that crap?).  He turns and stares at the bar and my "Spidey-Senses" tells me to keep an eye on him.  He began to make his way towards the bar and I had this feeling that he was going to try and come into the bar.

I make a beeline towards the door and got there just in time to block his entry.  He looks me up and down and says that he wants to come in.  Now this guy was drunk, twitchy and at the point where depending how you dealt with him, it could either be a smooth interaction or a cluster*** situation.  "Now", I asked myself,  "What would James Dalton do?".

(James Dalton, for the uninformed, is the classic bouncer, played by the late Patrick Swayze, from the cult film classic, "Road House").

Truth be told, if he wanted to, he probably could have torn me from limb to limb.  He was a big, burly biker guy.  But I wasn't going to let it get to that point; not if I could help it.

The next few minutes was a combination of him wanting to come in to use the phone, to him bragging about belonging to some motorcycle gang, to saying he used to own this block and that Mr. Lento knew him and his reputation. Lots of chest puffing, some "Don't you know who I am?" and a few more of "If you don't let me in, there's going to be trouble" talk.  Yada, yada yada.  Each time I simply deflected the conversation and tried to keep him at an even keel.  I wasn't interested in getting into a pissing match with him- We had a Happy Hour crowd and early diners and the last thing we needed was some jacked-up idiot making a scene and killing our night before it even began.

So I let him go on with his tough talk for a bit, but each time he attempted to walk in, he got rebuffed. And each time he raised his voice, I simply kept my voice on an even level so as to not add fuel to the fire. And when he finally realized that between myself and half of the Yellow Hook staff guarding the door, he wasn't going to get in, CC Ryder decided to move on down the block.

Unfortunately for the store across the street, they got the brunt of his ridiculous antics until the police showed up and shooed him away.  At the end of the day, everything worked out and we got a good laugh out of it.  I can only imagine what other "colorful individuals" I'll come across during my time at The 'Hook.  Stay tuned...


Cheers!

SPRING COMES TO BAY RIDGE & YELLOW HOOK....

April 3rd, 2014.  As we shake off what's (hopefully) left of this crazy winter, we finally look forward to one of the things that makes Yellow Hook Grille unique: The Patio.

I've been here for about a month now and that's all I've been hearing about is "The Patio, the Patio, oh I can't wait to sit out by the patio!".  Granted, by all accounts, the patio is impressive in size, especially for Brooklyn, where real estate is at a premium.  And while I did get a glimpse of what the possibilities are with this space during the recent Bay Ridge St. Patrick's Day Parade, I want to see for myself what the "patio scene" is really all about.  My gut feeling is that the reality will indeed match the hype, but I still want to see it for myself.  In other words, Bay Ridge, show me what you got. ;)

As the weather warms up, we've begun prepping the patio for full service.  The phone's already ringing off the hook with inquiries about the patio.  Right now, the patio is open for session drinking and we look to have full-service up and running shortly (inquire with the hostess when you arrive).

Speaking of warm weather, this weekend is shaping up to be a beautiful one and we are going to take full advantage of it!  Starting with our "Weekend Kick-Off" on Friday, we'll serve up $4 domestic drafts, well drinks and wine (4pm -7pm), and whatever happens after that?  Who knows!

SATURDAY is FINAL FOUR SATURDAY, and we're set for a great double-header, starting with UCONN vs FLORIDA (6pm), followed by KENTUCKY vs WISCONSIN (8:50pm).  We're serving up a special on Heineken/ Heineken Light buckets... with a twist!

Purchase a bucket of Heineken/Heineken Light (5/$20), and you'll get a raffle ticket, good for a chance to win our "VIP National Championship Game Experience" on Monday night.  This "Experience" entitles you and five of your friends to join us for the Big Game, where you'll get your own VIP table, complete with wings and buckets of Heineken or Heineken Light!  Afterwards, you'll even get to take home your own Fender Guitar, courtesy of Heineken!

SUNDAY is "Sunday Funday, Bay Ridge Style", where we start things off with our famous Sunday Brunch, complete with Bloody Mary's, mimosas and Amstel Radler shandies, which goes perfectly for daytime session drinking (and at a paltry 2% ABV, perfect for an afternoon of gossip-brunching without worrying about being tossed into a cab).

Later in the day, stick around for a live music set by the KINGS COUNTY RAMBLERS,  always a crowd favorite!  Start time: 4pm. No cover charge.

This is just the start of what should be a whirlwind of activity in and around Yellow Hook.  We have some big events planned in the near future, including a MAJOR event scheduled for the end of the month!  Come back here over the weekend for the scoop!  And don't forget, we're making final preparations and taking reservations for EASTER SUNDAY (April 20, 2014)!  We have a great menu planned for that day, so leave the apron at home and make plans to spend Easter with us!

So keep checking in and as always, for the most up-to-date information on news and events of the 'Hook, check our Twitter and Facebook pages.

And FINALLY.... CONGRATULATIONS to our own Bay Ridge, Brooklyn on landing the Art of Brooklyn Film Festival, slated to run May 7-11, 2014!  Hollywood comes to the neighborhood this Spring!  Make sure you get a chance to support this great event!


Cheers!

PARADE WEEKEND HIGHLIGHTS

The past weekend found the community of Bay Ridge awash in Irish pride as they celebrated the 20th Annual Bay Ridge St. Patrick's Day Parade.  We found ourselves caught up in the excitement as we also celebrated in our own special way.  With performances all weekend long from the HELL or HIGH WATER BAND, The JOHN RAFFERTY BAND and THE CANNY BROTHERS, the tone was set for a great time.  And indeed, a great time was had by all, highlighted by the parade marching by Yellowhook.  It was great seeing the families get excited about the parade and cheering on the dignitaries and marchers.  And aside from a blast of cold later in the day on Sunday, the rest of the weekend was perfect from a weather point of view.  Even Mother Nature couldn't put a damper on the kick-ass time that was had under the tent!

On a personal note, this was my first experience at the Bay Ridge St. Patrick's Day Parade and it exceeded my expectations.  It was pretty cool to see everyone get into the spirit of the day.  It was also great to catch up with friends I hadn't seen in a long time (some I've known for over 20 years). In most cases, it was like it was only yesterday, picking up where we left off.  And it was especially nice to have Bay Ridgers welcome me with open arms.  A great feeling that only added to the wonderful day.  I was especially impressed by the musical talent that played over the course of the weekend. Now I've seen these bands play in years past, but years later, listening to them again and it's like fine wine; they just seem to keep getting better and better. And we were lucky to have them play at this year's parade!

We salute the Parade organizers, the NYPD, FDNY, DSNY and of course, the performers that entertained the masses throughout the weekend on a terrific job.  The Parade itself went off without a hitch and everyone enjoyed themselves immensely.  We look forward to the 21st Annual Parade next year!

Now that we're finally done with the celebrations, it's time to look forward to Spring!  In less than a week, Opening Day kicks off the Major League Baseball league season (Yankees/Mets fans rejoice).  We also have a growing list of great events and surprises coming up in the month of April, so make sure to check back in with us (Event calendar will be up shortly)

Once again, thanks to everyone who chose to spend their Parade Weekend with us.  It was a wonderful time!

Our list of Twitter followers continue to grow and we love it!  If you on Twitter, make sure to give us a follow!


Cheers!

PARADE WEEKEND COUNTDOWN

Now that the chaos of NYC's St. Patrick's Day Parade has come and gone, it's time to turn our attention to something that's near and dear to the locals of Bay Ridge:  This weekend's 20th Annual Bay Ridge St. Patrick's Day Parade.

This year's parade takes place this Sunday, March 23rd, with the parade kicking off at 1pm.  The parade ends just past our place and of course, the natural thing to do is to stop by for some post-march cheer!  The whole weekend is stacked with events surrounding the 20th Anniversary festivities.  Some of the highlighted events include:


FRIDAY NIGHT: "The Parade Toast".  We're "officially" kicking off the start of the weekend festivities with everyone at the bar participating in the raising of a pint of cheer! It's the 20th Annual march of the Parade, so it's only proper to kick things off the right way with a proper salute! (9pm)

SATURDAY: "Party Under the Big Top".  Our celebration kicks into full gear with a live performance by the famous "Hell or High Water Band".  This band has been a local fixture for years with a huge and loyal following.  The performance is set to kick off at 4pm.

In addition to the band, we're also bringing in TIM ("Tusky") BUTLER and KEVIN JAMIN (of the infamous Sugar Bowl in Breezy Point) to serve as guest bartenders for the afternoon!  So expect to see a lot of familiar faces throughout the crowd! We expect no less than a stellar afternoon of good-pouring fun!

SUNDAY:  PARADE DAY.  Finally, the day we've all waited for. The 20th Annual Bay Ridge St. Patrick's Day Parade.  One of the most respected and attended parades in the New York City area, residents both present and former, make it a point to attend this cherished event.  This is one of those occasions where you really get to see the neighborhood pride on display.

We start the day bright and early with Sunday Brunch, complete with our special St. Patrick's Day menu.  From there, you can enjoy the pageantry of the Bay Ridge Parade as it marches right by our front windows!  The patio deck will be open as well to accommodate the masses, going and coming from the parade.

There will be another live music performance later in the day, this time from the immensely popular group, THE CANNY BROTHERS BAND. They have become a tradition for Yellow Hook on Parade Day and they NEVER disappoint.  We're expecting much of the same this year, so make sure you get here early to catch their set (4pm).

In short, this weekend is going to be EPIC.  It's not very often that you get to celebrate 20 years of something as wonderful as the Bay Ridge St. Patrick's Day Parade, so we're planning on making the most of it, RAIN or SHINE.  We are well stocked with plenty of beer, whiskey, food and music, so there are no worries there.  And of course, we NEVER charge a cover.

If you thought St. Patrick's Day in the city was a good time, wait to you experience it, Bay Ridge style!


For the latest information on what's happening at Yellow Hook Grille, make sure to follow us on TWITTER and FACEBOOK (we follow back)!  See you this weekend!


Cheers!