Walking to this place makes you seem like you'll never get there...Maybe that's because I'm not from the area...Maybe it's because it's literally in the middle of nowhere (when it comes to nightlife, at least). But it's a really nice place once you do find it. My friend and I went for a burlesque show so it was set up a little differently than I think it usually is. There was a ball pit, the best burgers EVAR on a grill in the back patio area (bbq in October? sweeeet!), and the beer was free on the particular night we went. I'd come back and not be so scared of getting lost next time. read more

Love this venue for its split bar and music venue, and ability to show the most creative events, and best local music. I've been here many times, and its starting to grow on me as a favorite place to see shows. I can always see the stage and even at shows where everyone is dancing, the A/C is always just the right temp. I've been here NYC Popfest, lots of touring bands, local music, and even a movie night sing-along. All of these were done well. Drinks aren't too expensive at $6 for most of their beer selections on tap, and you have to check out their shots menu, which I cannot morally type for you here, lest I digitally blush in the process. I have seen them hold the two tables out in the front bar area for private parties, which is good for a party of about 20 people. Because my fiance works in the Gowanus neighborhood, I think its convenient to a lot of places I like to frequent, and Park Slope hoodies will find it convenient as well. read more

The Bell House - Newsies sing along. - Music Venues Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Want to give a BIG shoutout to the security lady who was working this weekend on Saturday. We were having a great time dancing all night until this one guy showed up and started literally grabbing every woman from behind on the dance floor to the point everyone was yelling no in his face. We went and found the security woman and she immediately took control of the situation, and pretty quickly kicked him out with the help of the other security guards. I feel extra safe seeing how well the whole thing was handled and really appreciated it! read more

I love this place, mainly for their Rub parties. Best selection of DJs playing the hottest hits in Hip Hop and R&B. The space is huge and fitting for large groups of people. Personally, I like coming here over output, because it is not as expensive and the crowd is great. read more

Are my reviews being deleted? I could of sworn I've written a review for Bell House years ago... The Bell House is a neat venue for musical performances. I think I came here 3 or 4 times to catch the Sons and Heirs (Morrissey and the Smith's tribute band). They hold an annual show on Valentine's Day. The space is pretty decent. It's a pretty wide and large room, big stage, and plus two bars. One in the front by the entrance and one where they perform. The bar here is pretty decent. I think a large can of high life was $5 which is reasonable. They have plenty of other beers and stuff on draft. I ordered a cider for my wife and she said iy was good. I think it was $7-8 bucks plus tip. The service at both bars was great. Friendly, polite, and quick. My only complaint here were the ticket prices. Advanced sales were made available online but the fees were kinda ridiculous. After paying the online discounted price along with the fees and all, it came out around the same price as the day of the show ticket price. That's my main complaint. There's no cover charge or anything, just stupid fees, and high ticket price for cover band shows. read more

The Bell House - Music Venues Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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We arrived around 10, we got inside in 10 minutes. When we left at 1, there were more than 100 people in line. So if you do not have tickets or if you are not invited, try to get here early. The place is like a warehouse, with a long bar at the end of it. It was a good night, and we had a lot of fun, but honestly something was missing. Like the place has nothing that connect everything into one big party. Maybe it is because I am more into electronic Music when I go to a place like that, and that night (Or at least the few hours we were here) was more about 90's. The prices (Halloween night) Entrance: 10$ Drinks: Around 9$ read more

The Bell House - Music Venues Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Cool place, its in the middle of no where thou. Before I go anywhere, i always check yelp; most of the reviews were positive, only complaint being the bartenders and that they can be rude sometimes. I had a great time attending the event here, however the other yelpers were on point when they said the bartenders were rude.There was a couple in front of me, the bartender was polite to them. when i was next, she totally skipped me and assisted someone else before she got to me. When i finally got my drink, she placed it on the counter a bit roughly, a bit spilt. read more

Super fun warehouse venue for those interested in breaking out on the dance floor. I have only been to their last-Saturday's-of-the-month event, The Rub, but it seems like the perfect place to jam out. Wear your sneakers or dress pretty. It's a pretty casual vibe with a diverse crowd of young people. They only accept cash, so bring some if you don't want to be charged extra at the ATMs. If you like booming loud music, you'll love it here. It gets super hot and sweaty. Mostly locals here, but that's what makes it a Brooklyn gem. Prices go up after a certain time so check on their event pages for times/price. Fairly cheap and worth it. read more

Came here for a comedy show. Nice venue. Beers aren't overpriced - they carry local and craft beer around 6-7 bucks a pint. They had a food stall too, selling pulled pork sandwiches - which looked great. Bar inside the show too. Easy walk back to the subway. read more

The Bell House - Music Venues Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Went to Bell House for a Moth Story Slam. Had fun listening to stories. Having never been to Brooklyn wasnt quite what to expect (hipsters...gangsters...???) Location was in an industrial area and felt abandoned that time of night. Luckily it was just a few minutes walk from the train. My only gripe was the lack of seating. Having fun running around all day doing touristy stuff my feet were KILLING me. Having to stand the two hours of the show was absolute agony. Would it kill you to drag in a few extra chairs? Pro tip, get there real early and maybe you could one of the few seats available. read more

The Bell House is my absolute favourite new music venue (and completely worth the trek out to Gowanus). I almost didn't want to write a review for this place because I want to keep it all to myself, but it's becoming significantly well-known that it won't remain a hidden gem much longer. 27 previous reviews suggest that the word has well gotten out already. The acoustics are outstanding and the physical space is gorgeous. I love the rafters and the hunting lodge chic is classier than Lodge's. Covers are completely reasonable, some shows are free, and I've chatted with some phenomenal performers after their sets. The bar has Boddington's. I have an all-out crush on The Bell House. read more

The Bell House - Music Venues Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

The staff is rude!! Mainly all the bouncers that stand around the back bar. They curse at you and try to physically remove you if you stand near the bar in back. My advice grab a drink and go straight to the dance floor to avoid any physical contact with these men. One of the bouncers even admitted that he puts his hands on anybody doesn't care if they're men or women. read more

The Bell House - Music Venues Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

I saw a really good show, but the process of the doors opening is unclear as the bar area opened for people to line up before it said it would on the ticket. The seating is abysmal. Be prepared to stand. read more

I will not be going back. I doubt it matters as venues disappear in NYC, but maybe this will prepare other future attendees. Or, here's a novel thought, maybe the Bell House management will read this and either not overbook a sit-down show or provide adequate seating. I had tickets to a great comedian who was performing at the Bell House last night. I showed up early and there was a line, but not too long of one and I wasn't worried about my place in it. It's not too long if there is adequate seating. There was not. I and at least 50 other people stood for the entire show. That's 50+ people before I stopped counting. This was not a band and no dance floor was needed. It was two comedians in a row. That's a show that you sit for... and not on a floor that has drinks spilled on it. The Bell House oversold the show and after the seats provided rapidly filled, people filled bar stools, sat on stairs, etc. With those spots gone, over 50 people were required to stand for a 2-3 hour show. What the hell? I can stand, but that's crappy service and that's me saying it in a nice way. I would be interested to know their plan for evacuation in case of fire and if they actually follow whatever code regulations they are faced with. So, they get one star and that's for what they have the promise to be--- not what they actually are. read more

Fantastic place to see a band! If the band is Tinariwen, and another cool ska-ish band that was their opening act. The front room is spare and warehouse-ish, with comfy couches and a large bar to hang out at. And White Allagash on tap, YUM, I loves me those Belgian beers. The back where the music is, is spacious, and you can get right up close to check out the band even if it's crowded. There's even room to shimmy a bit, if inspired, and I was! I had one of the greatest nights ever here, in a lifetime of greatest nights ever. Maybe it was the company I was keeping, but the fun at Bell House was world class with world music. read more

Cheap cover, decently priced drinks, coat check available but not mandatory. I came here for an event, "The Rub" on a Saturday night. (separate review). The Bell House is a former warehouse that has been refashioned into a music venue. Cover at the door is cash. The space is split into a smaller bar/lounging area and a large (dark) dance floor with a stage and another bar. Between them is something like a hallway, which leads to the entrance/exit. The hallway also houses a few benches and the coat check booth. The smaller room features a bar, and some couches off to corner. There are large windows where there may have been garage doors in the past. Drinks were pretty cheap, $5-8 for most of the beers and $8 for their mixed drinks. They had a pretty decent beer selection, featuring many of Brooklyn's local breweries. They also accept credit cards, so don't worry about cash. The large room houses a large stage, where the performances take place. There was another bar in there along the far wall, as well as a few bar stools/tables on the back wall. You get a pretty good view of the stage no matter where you are. My only real complaint is the shortage of seating. Gotta have a place to take a break from the dancing after all. read more

Expect the unexpected . You will definitely meet new friends from all over the world and NYC. Came on a Saturday night and the place was pack. And I do mean packed . I had so much fun!! Expect to hear all genres of music ( house, pop, reggae, soca , Reggaeton, Trap, oldies , goodies) trust me me you will definitely hear your new favorite song and the old one you forgot . We definitely took advantage of the photo booth and I recommend you do also . Drinks were awesome. Definitely a good time venue for locals and out of towners . read more

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Came here with two friends to see Maria Bamford on the 19th! Luckily we came here early (6:30pm, show started a little after 7:30pm) for a parking spot and a seat! Once you get checked in, there was a bar, some lounging area and saw a snack bar in the back. We waited for a short period then started lining up to be let into another room. Not long afterwards we were let inside to be seated and waited for Maria Bamford! read more

Very cool venue. We saw the English beat here last night. The concert room is very wide but not so deep so you are able to see the musicians very well. It's a dark rustic venue and almost barn like inside with the pitched roof. We love this place! There is a fully stocked bar with several tables in front. For food, there is a BBQ stand inside by the t-shirts. The pulled pork sandwich was good but I wasn't so crazy about the veggie option. If you like BBQ, go for it but if not, eat ahead of time! read more

The Bell House - Music Venues Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

We came here for a special event show, so this is more of a review of this place as a performance venue - we were never really able to experience the bar inside due to having to queue outside up until the show start time. It's hard to judge whether what was going on was the fault of the Bellhouse staff, or the show, or just general weirdness and misalignment of the planets. They were short on a bouncer, so everyone that was there for the show (at least, most of the people) had to queue outside, and then we were called in groups to get our hands stamped. Things were a little confusing, and it was difficult to get inside just to use the restrooms after waiting around. And then, once we did get into the theater, we were slightly dismayed to find that all that was left was standing room only seating, which sort of sucked after having stood outside already. We were able to order some beers during the show -- the theater inside had a *very* nice beer selection, so that was a saving grace. I was less grumpy about having to stand than Lee was, (he has a cycling injury that causes him a lot of pain after standing, but it's not the kind of thing he wants accommodation for,) but it was still slightly cranky-inducing. That's what we get for not getting there early enough I suppose! Anyhow, this OK experience wasn't bad enough to put us off of going to The Bellhouse in the future, we just know that we should be better prepared next time we go. I'm definitely willing to go again, crankiness notwithstanding. read more

Terrible bartenders, ridiculous rules. Can't stand at the bar because it's for service but it's huge, can only drink Brooklyn brewery beer. Really disappointed in this place. This is the least NYC style place I've ever been. It's like all the wussies took over New York. read more

My second time here for an event. This time for an NPR show. I am just loving this place. Looking like I may just make this a regular haunt...especially since I found a little gem of a restaurant nearby this time.... My original review follows below. First time here for a comedy show. I read the yelp reviews and acted accordingly, result- a great time &I no issues or complaints. The staff was courteous, the bar prices were very reasonable, plenty of street parking, and sat in the front row. I would definitely come back- great job! read more

What I like about The Bell House: 1) Its location. Although deserted at night, Gowanus is pretty safe and has a lot of artists, creative people in general, low industrial buildings, the canal - all things I like. And it's not too goddamn far away. It's more centralized to Brooklyn than Williamsburg and it's what dumbo wants to be (burn!). 2) A delightful happy hour. 2 for 1. A good beer costs about 5 or 6 bucks, but when its two for one, it's certainly well worth it. And the beer cheese or whatever is cheap and good snack. 3) The build-out is amazing. They did a great job preserving the original rafters and the decor is cool and airy. You could bring ten friends here to start off a birthday, easy. Probably 15. 4) The shows. Great shows. I like coming here. I like what's happening in this neighborhood. I just hope they don't zone it all residential...no more condos. read more

When you think the word "nightlife", Gowanus is probably not the first neighborhood to pop to mind. Most people probably couldn't even point to Gowanus on a map. But if the Bell House is any indication of things to come for the mostly-industrial stretch between Red Hook and Park Slope, that all could be changing very soon. The Bell House has all the trappings of a great neighborhood bar--vintage-style decor (dark wood, damask wallpaper, exposed filament bulbs, antique furniture and lamps), local beers on tap, and tasty fun snacks (Dub Pies!). For the uninitiated, Dub Pies are mini pot-pies, and in my mind are an excellent excuse to consume approximately half a stick of butter wrapped around what amounts to maybe 0.06 oz of chicken and vegetables, all while convincing yourself that you're having a balanced and substantial dinner. The Bell House also has an impressive-looking performance space, which I haven't yet had the privilege of experiencing (though certainly plan to). And finally, as an extra-special bonus, they have music trivia!! Monday's trivia spectacular was hosted by Takka Takka's Conrad, who personally told me that although my team, Bizarre Love Quadrangle, was not as music-savvy as the team looking up answers on their Google Phones, we certainly had the coolest name. I think that's worth something, don't you! The Bell House is well worth a trip to Gowanus, and even worth the walk down an eerily deserted block, especially if you're stealthily following peter d. In fact, I'd say it's just moved to the top of my list entitled Bars That Would Totally Be My Neighborhood Bar Were They Actually In My Neighborhood. read more

It's a deliberate move on my part to host parties and BBQs at my apartment on the last Saturday of a given month, so that I can then selfishly roll deep into The Bell House with a crew that I've drunkenly persuaded to be dragged along to the best damn dance party in Brooklyn. Nay, the entire city! Why? Because that's when The Rub takes the stage, a two-man DJ outfit (typically with a special, third guest each month) known to spin unreal mixes of hip hop, R&B, and top pop bangers, guaranteed to unleash anybody's inner hoodrat. With nods to funk, soul, disco, and new jack swing serving as build-up material for when the party breaks loose with more modern-day, club-thumping fare, this isn't just fun music, it's smart as hell, also, giving a bit of influential and historical context to everything you twerk to today. Simply put, The Rub at The Bell House is my favorite night out in NYC. Sure, you can find sweaty dance parties elsewhere, but they are typically cramped and creepy. You can also find big venue, celebrity DJ spots, but those can come with paycheck-punishing bottle service and elitist door policies. This monthly event in good ol' Gowanus is a communal, equal opportunity affair, where it doesn't matter who you are, how you're dressed, or any of that other hoopla - if you're down for a good-ass time and have ten bucks cover, then damnit, you're in. Looking for real people and a real night out? This shit is as real as it gets. That said, my advice is to arrive as close to 10p as possible. You may have to wait it out with a few Brooklyn Lagers before it picks up and gets packed, but it's beyond worth it, I guarantee you. I've had friends try to get in hours later, only to get shut out, due to a hope-shattering line around the block. Trust me, you don't want to be that guy. Mind you, The Bell House is certainly not limited to some one-night-a-month entertainment. The calendar is always packed and relevant, covering a wide range of events - burlesque shows, comedy shows, rock shows, spoken word performances, viewing parties, craft fairs, nerd expos, bingo nights, and Big Apple-based trivia competitions hosted by NY1's one and only Pat Kiernan, to give you just a wee sampling of what this fine venue has to offer. Even Bill de Blasio held his victory party here on the night of his primary win. If Brooklyn was one giant, weirdo high school, The Bell House would easily be its all-purpose auditorium. A former printing press (true story) reimagined as a hipster ski lodge (not a true story, but tell me I'm wrong) reimagined as a music venue (true story again), The Bell House houses about 500 party-ready patrons between the main room and storefront lounge, and I just love venues of this size. It's intimate without being pushy. The sight lines are fantastic, from wherever you're standing/dancing. And the whole thing is navigable in the sense that moving throughout the venue is not some Lord of the Rings-style adventure just to get from Point A to Point B. Whether it's The Rub or any other event, The Bell House seriously never disappoints. As for that unassuming crew I con into coming here on random last Saturdays post-apartment parties? They've caught onto me by now, and look forward to a booze-fueled night of bad dancing and bad decisions at The Bell House every damn time. And every damn time, The Bell House delivers. read more

1 star for the cool events that they have here. And -4 stars for the organizational skills and cleanliness. Why set up the door process such that you have to get a stamp at the door and then go back to the back of the line. Also the stamp is actually behind 2 sets of doors. The process could work of you made people AWARE of the process. No signs, no announcements. What make things worse is when things start late. I've been here several times (like 7) and only 2 times have things been on time and run smoothly. As a person who is generally on time, I find this extremely offensive. It's a flippin' free for all every time, except you have to pay. GET IT TOGETHER PEOPLE! I hate you. I really want another drink and am starving but refuse to spend another cent here. I also plan on leaving my gum somewhere inappropriate. Take that! read more

This review serves two dual purposes because I can't speak about the Bell House without also talking about the Rub, which is one of the best hip hop parties in NY. Bell House is the perfect venue for this event because it's huge! Two large rooms allow you to bounce back and forth hearing two different DJs. The Rub is one of the best hip hop parties I've been to. My friends and I were dancing up a storm all night! There are bars in both rooms, so you'll have plenty of opportunity to stay "happily hydrated." The main room is enormous and packs the people in, but I never felt like a sardine - i.e. there's plenty of space to dance without bumping into anyone. The second room gets more crowded throughout the night because it's smaller, so I'd start off the night in that second room and eventually make your way to the larger room as the evening progresses. Be prepared for long lines because The Rub is an enormously popular once a month party. Be sure to get there early. Besides, there's no reason to come late anyway because you'll miss hearing all the old school jams that we all used to rock out to. As I stood on line, I couldn't help but notice how diverse the crowd was both ethnically and stylistically. It was awesome and helped to create a great atmosphere throughout the night. I suspect that Bell House is also a tremendous place to hear live music. Check out their website for a calendar of events to see what acts are coming through. All in all Bell House is a great venue for one of the best parties in NYC! See you at the Rub. read more

Cool venue, enjoyed the show I saw there (drinking game version of Mean Girls). Drinks were reasonably priced enough for the area and the line to get in was easy and moved quickly. Only complaint, and now we know for the future, is that a lot of people got there early and we're saving lots (as in whole rows) of seats or multiple tables. As a venue that's always going to have a large number of people standing it was frustrating to arrive early and see many empty seats only to find they were unavailable. (Had it been a different type of performance this wouldn't have been a big deal.) read more

While I was highly disappointed when I first stepped into the place (it's actually not really house, just so you know) this place rocks. First off the place is huge. Lots of room to enjoy yourself and a large group of friends. Grab table or two, take a seat, and order up some rounds. The beers on tap are great and they make some pretty good cocktails at some not so bad prices. Now space and good beverages aside is it enough to drag me all the way to the edge of the Gowanus? No way. So why do I keep coming back? Because of the live performances. What live performances you ask? They have tons of different things going on here. The live comedy I've seen here is fantastic. Aziz Ansari, Louis CK, and lots of other great acts have performed here. Fancy burlesque? They got cool shoes from Wasabassco at least once a month. Live music is here on the regular. The throw parties here, such as the Rub; a 90's hip hop dance party. They even have shows where someone uses Tinder live and roasts them. It's pretty funny. So yeah, the smells of the Gowanus might be bad nearby. But they keep out the smell and swamp monsters that come out past midnight. Make your way here for a great night out. read more

The Bell House is everything I want in my home-y neighborhood bar, except it's a big club. The sound is good, the vibe is calm and friendly, the drink prices are reasonable and the events are interesting. (They showed the season premiere of LOST, preceded by a band whose genre was described as "recap rock.") I plan to attend their documentary series, which is occurring once a month as soon as they show something I haven't seen yet. read more

Let's call it 4.5 stars for argument sake. This is the new home of THE RUB, the last Saturday in every month's hip hop party. So let's talk logistics first. The location is in warehouse central AKA back seat bashing territory. If you see the Tercel rockin, don't come a knockin'! It is a good walk from the train so if you can drive, get there early and find parking in front. The standard $10 at the door gets you in. What's POPPIN?! : The music! That's what! Like the old set up, there are two rooms spinning hip hop, dance, reggae and popular classics. Instead of being upstairs and downstairs, they are side by side. The main dance floor has a big bar in the rear of the room and a makeshift bar at the entrance. Think of that backyard party where all the cans of beer are in the large garbage can / cooler in the corner...except now its $6 bucks a can. Feelin ACKWARD?!: I have never seen so many hipsters in one place. Its as if you poured water on the MTV logo and people with knit hats and ragged converse just started spawning everywhere like gremlins. And you know what happens if you give them alcohol after midnight? Let's just say you will see very strange things : fat guys dancing shirtless, rhythm-less nation trying to breakdance, major groping...and not to the music. Nothing another $8 shot and beer (that's one price for both) won't handle. THE VERDICT: I never have problems at the door since there is no dress code. I usually get in without a hitch. Never had A problem getting served at the bar. The music is stellar. The crowd is always into dancing...and not sitting on the side trying to look pretty or be stuck up. The location is big. No complaints. I have only been here for THE RUB. I will add more as I come for more events. read more

roderick a. here, on location at the bell house in Brooklyn. so I'm standing by the front of the stage as we speak, waiting for Charlotte Gainsbourg. and even though it's sold out I am not crowded in at all. the floor is big enough to hold, I'm guesstimating, about 800-900 people. the sound system is top-notch, which means no distortion, good bass and not much treble. and even though I'm surrounded by hipsters, these are not the douchy ones you see in Billyburg. the ones I've talked to are very knowledgable about music and are just plain cool. oh, and there's a lot of free parking to be had on the street. okay, lights are going down. and here comes Charlotte - bye! PS I was able to snag the setlist, because apparently everyone in the audience was so nice they didn't want to take it. Of course, being the loon that I am, I took it - as you can see from the picture. read more

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I came here for "The Rub" on the last Saturday of October for Halloween. Costumes were mandatory, so of course I dressed up as Jesse Pinkman from Breaking Bad. (I'm a girl...) I had come here before, dressed regularly and got in, but this time the bouncer refused to let me in saying that my ID was not mine and I didn't look like the picture. I showed him my credit card with the same name to prove my case. He didn't budge. Why on earth would I have a fake ID and a credit card with the same name?! So then I rubbed off my *very* minimal Halloween make-up to show him that it really was me. I recited all my information back to him, date of birth, home address, weight, height, EVERYTHING. He still would not let me in! He asked for a second photo ID-- who carries that with them??? (Ok maybe some people do) He says to me, "I can see the resemblance in the ID, but the face shape is not the same." WTF HOW DID MY FACE SHAPE CHANGE???? IT'S MY FACE!!! I must've had plastic surgery on my face in my sleep or something. IT'S HALLOWEEN, I'M IN COSTUME! Hellooooooo! I paid $40 from Queens to get there, and couldn't get in. Though he had let other people in with their faces fully painted. Next year, I guess i should skank it up a bit to get in. The Rub was cool the first time, but never coming back. read more

The location isn't much to rave about, being right by the Gowanus Canal and lots of desolate-looking warehouses, but it's a really big space with pretty cool events. It's great how they have so many different types of events. In addition to shows and music acts, they have all kinds of food events too, which I'm so down for! The last one I went to was the Brooklyn Cookie Takedown. It had a wonderful selection of participants, not to mention the cookies! However, they need more tables for people to gather, it's terribly awkward to standing around with plates of food and getting in everyone's way. Also, Miss Bartender, I KNOW you kicked us out of our space at the bar because we were eating and not buying drinks. That's fair. But tell me, why didn't you do that to all of the OTHERS who were doing the same? Is it because you found it easier to bully three petite Asian girls instead of the white hipsters and couples? Don't think we didn't notice your shitty attitude. But anyway, I still enjoy the events and I'll come back. And to the woman in the red coat who was yelling at us for cutting the line (even though we weren't) and screaming at us for taking her seats (they were totally unoccupied), take a Prozac, lady. read more

The Bell House is well worth my 50-minute ride from my UES home. I have been here twice for different kinds of parties. The first time I came here it was for a queer party and the second time (last night) I came here it was for a music show. Both were fun. As you enter, there is a room with bar and plenty of seating (both at the bar and couches/chairs spread across the floor), which is a perfect spot for talking to people in normal range voices (not shouting). The area has the best beer selections on tap. Last night I tried an Octoberfest and a Pumpkin Ale. Delish. However, if the bartender pours your beer in a glass and you want to go to the dance/music area, then you will need to pour that beer in a plastic cup. Then there's the dance/music area, which feels like you are entering a barn. No joke. I like it, though. There's a stage, a little bit of seating, a bar to the far left, and bathrooms a plenty (I've never had to wait). One thing to note is that the beer selection isn't as great so I found myself going back to the front room to refill. I've never had a problem with dance space so get ready to dance dance dance without worrying about elbows in your face, hips/butts bumping into you, flailing hands. :) However, watch out for a possible balloon or two that people started to throw up in the air last night. Fun times. Other little details: -$2 coat check for each item. -5-minute walk from the F train stop. -younger crowd (early twenties to early thirties) -laid back crowd. read more

One of 2 cool spots on this otherwise dark, gritty, industrial section of Gowanus-oh wait, that's all of Gowanus! First timer to this venue, and very impressed! Dark, but chandelier lit, there is a large front bar and event space- great for DJ, dancing & down & out chill vibe. The space behind has an equally large bar plus large stage and open space for seating or GA shows! Great selection of beers & cocktails, and serve 1 n/a beer fir those of u who care (recovering, preggo etc). Thoroughly enjoyed seeing a stand up show with Colin Quinn headlining! The other acts were super funny as well! Missed out on the first come first serve seating, but nobody kicked us off of the stairs we were sitting on, side stage, with a kick ass view! read more

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The crowd and music are great on the night when The Rub takes place. There are usually neighborhood people that want to have fun while listening and dancing to good music. The bad part of The Rub is the rude bouncers that work here. They seem to come from night clubs where they are allowed to abuse and push around patrons. This really huge bouncer pushed us on Halloween while we were in front waiting for our friends to get their coats from the coat check. We live in Park Slope and are professionals that keep it classy. It was incredibly shocking to be manhandled by a giant brute. It doesn't take much intelligence to be a bouncer. It's an incredibly easy job- especially in Park Slope where you're dealing with yuppies and hipsters all night. Why use force with patrons that adults in their 30s that are technically paying their wage. I left confused... Will not return until they learn how to treat guests. read more

Where...the...heck...was I?!? We got off the subway to head to the second night of the NY Burlesque Festival, which was held at the Bell House. We walked down a long and rather creepy street full of nondescript warehouses. I watch enough horror flicks to know that this was not good. A loud and obnoxious little Asian girl walking down a dark and abandoned street in the middle of the night, on the way to a party, is always the first to go. Although, for once, I wasn't the only minority in our group...so I had a 25% chance of surviving if a homicidal maniac should leap out from the shadows to take vengeance for a dastardly crime that we committed to a schoolmate when we were 12 and was oh so clever in being able to hide it, that a team of cops couldn't figure it out. Fortunately, nothing like that happened, because we turned the corner, and there was the Bell House! Yes! I live to Yelp yet another day. We got there early and chilled in the "front room" of the Bell House. The bar is a nice open area, with good seating. I'm told that the selection of beer is pretty decent (not a beer drinker), although the selection of "house special mixed drinks" were pretty hilarious, as they were named after albums. Heh. Clever. We get to the Will Call booth and get our tickets rather quickly. The guy running that booth has that ticket list memorized or something! WOOHOO! Later, when my husband arrived, the coat check girl was super nice about checking his 50000 pound dufflebag. I think I love these people! I wasn't totally in love with the space where the stage was. While the stage was rather big, and the lighting and sound were great, the stage wasn't high enough so that you could see anything if you were more then 3 people deep. Also, the bar in that space was on a riser, and so naturally, everyone went to stand on the riser to watch the show - blocking access to the bar, making getting drinks near impossible. Frustrated, I headed back out to the front bar in the other room, and was able to order drinks. The bartender chick was so awesome! I seriously heart all the staff here! So, long and short - I love the Bell House. I love the staff at the Bell House. I loved the NYBF! Only thing I didn't like - was the actual space where the stage was. It might be fine for bands, but for performances where the visuals are everything, it was definitely lacking. read more

I came here to end my night of birthday surprises, the night that I went they were having a 90's night which I love because as a baby of the 90's I love dancing to the music from that decade. My initial reaction to this place (and the people in the venue) was it looked like Urban Outfitters threw up all over the place. Which makes sense if you think about it because the 90's clothes, trends, etc are slowly coming back via hipsters and their love for flannel, choker necklaces and ironic t-shirts. The venue itself is a pretty good size: they have 2 bars and a few seats outside of the main room. The venue fills up pretty quickly so if you want coat check and a decent spot on the floor, I'd say come early-ish. The atmosphere is great, just a bunch of people ready to dance and have a good time. Although, I wish the floors were a little less sticky and the bathrooms were a little less stinky. I didn't really drink much while I was here but from what I could see, the drinks were cheap and they had a decent variety of beer and they had a full bar for mixed drinks. I'd come back to check out their other events. They played a good mix of music that will appeal to everyone (hip hop/rap, pop, rock) & and overall it makes for a good night out. read more

My first visit was for a Myspace party several weeks ago, but I only stayed for literally all of one minute. Last night, my girlfriend and I went to the monthly trivia night. We were sure we would cream all the losers there, especially since it was a Tuesday night and the people there did not look too smart. But then more people started showing up and our team of two started looking less and less invincible... we were David facing multiple Goliath-sized teams of almost 8 people. No matter, we got some beers, we found some stools and we prepared ourselves for the mental marathon. Pen in hand, group name chosen, we were off. First round, okay, second round, okay, third, fourth, fifth, sixth... at the end, we had found no magic slingshot and stone... we were dead last, receiving a very special honorable mention for our terrible performance. But what of it? The winning team got a $25 bar tab, meaning each player got a half a beer for their efforts. The crowd was laid back, the bouncer was cool, the solitary bartender was efficient, the trivia host looked like Jeremy Piven and Joe Rogan had a baby, and it all made for a fun night. I look forward to coming back many more times to redeem ourselves in trivia and to catch the wacky theme parties. read more