When the opportunity arises to truly take in all that Brooklyn has to offer — an electrifying concert, a well-tuned brewery, a new restaurant or a finely crafted cocktail — I’m hardly one to pass up the chance to check it out.
And as we roll through May here at The Style Guide via my many freelance writing pursuits (from spirits to watches, menswear and more), I had an ideal chance to ring in an early start to summer.
How so? I visited the newly reopened, revamped LilliStar with my lovely girlfriend Mary along for the ride (and the sips & bites!). Newly opened just last spring, LilliStar has (in my opinion!) proven one of the hottest rooftop destinations in an already-happening Williamsburg scene. I had the chance to take in those stunning rooftop views while enjoying tasty, bodega-inspired bites (complete with bodega chip offerings behind the bar) during a special VIP preview earlier this week.
Oh, and as to the cocktail menu at LilliStar? It’s a true gem, with plenty of distinctive offerings (and distinctive names, like the mezcal-aquavit-fino-and-dill “Fried Pickles and Ranch”). Among other favorites, the “Jazzy Jerk Margarita” made wonderful use of sweet-yet-spicy, savory notes via Patron Blanco, sorel and jerk agave, along with inventive Jamaican jerk bitters.
And I wholeheartedly recommend embracing the season with the truly fun “Hot Doggin It,” served in a glass wrapped with a real “Hot Dog” wrapper. True to form, it boasts a savory blend of Lustau Vermut, Vida tequila, tomato water and mustard seed agave. The “One in a Melon,” ordered by my blonde-haired sweetheart Mary, was also a highlight, featuring Grey Goose, St. Germain, rose, watermelon, London essence rosemary & grapefruit tonic. Talk about a refreshing summer sipper on a balmy night.
We also enjoyed the “Caution, Total Awesomeness” frozen drink, with a vibrant blue color, a fun honeydew melon garnish and a mixture of Ford’s Gin, midori, white port, guanabana, aloe and citrus.
My two cents: The cocktail menu at LilliStar is as fun as you’re apt to find, the space offers room to spread out along with lovely skyline views and the ambience is utterly primed for a breezy summer of fun.
For the occasion, I also stepped out in some suitably sunny menswear, including a trusty Buck Mason camp collar shirt — polished enough for rooftop drinks, cool enough in the summer heat and sure to see lots of wear yet this summer. What’s on your to-do list for pre-summer sipping and menswear shopping? To get you started, here are a few choice reads and selections from this past week.
- Summer hasn’t even officially crossed over on the calendar yet, so it might seem a bit unusual to a hear of a collection with the “Pre-Fall” moniker, but that’s how things tend to work in the world of luxury fashion. Don’t let that scare you off, because the John Varvatos Pre-Fall 2024 Collection is suitably ready for spring and summer, complete with dusty earth tones, textured fabrics like linen and cotton, plus distressed leathers for which Varvatos is known. Accordingly, I wrote all about it for Maxim.com — stock up, preferably with that credit card handy.
- Speaking of luxury and prizing the finer things in life: Earlier this year, I had the chance to catch up with and dive deep into the world of luxury bespoke pocket knives via Pacific Northwest craftsman William Henry. The brand, going on 27 years and counting, makes insanely high-end, utterly breathtaking knives, blades, everyday carry tools and more, and the journey continues apace. Here’s a look at what makes the brand tick via Maxim.com — you can also find it in Maxim’s latest print issue!
- Here’s an easygoing yet surprisingly polished style find for your summer: The Taylor Stitch Easy Pants, as I covered just yesterday here on the blog. They blend the mid-rise and classic slim-straight cut of a chino with the breezy half-elastic waist of lounge pants, yet they manage to look refined, rather than sloppy. That’s an understatement, because they’re a pair of casually cool pants you could easily style with a pocket tee, with a chambray shirt or with a lightweight linen blazer.
On my end, that’ll wrap things up as another Brooklyn spring weekend arrives — there’s rain in the forecast this weekend, but that won’t dampen my spirits as I look ahead to a family weekend (all the way up from Florida!) in the borough.
Of course, a visit to McSorley’s Ale House, a visit to the Brooklyn Museum and a few visits to Brooklyn breweries are on the agenda. Follow along with all the fun on my Instagram, cheers and thanks for reading!
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