Kentucky Derby 2017: Where To Cheer In Brooklyn

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK — Saturday is Derby Day, a day to don a silly hat, grab the nearest mint julep and start screaming your head off at horses you luckily won’t have to smell.

The 143rd Kentucky Derby post time may not be until 6:46 p.m., but the Brooklyn festivities will last throughout the day. Maybe that’s because one of Brooklyn’s own is listed as a favorite. Always Dreaming hales from the Brooklyn Boyz Stables and his owners — Anthony Bonomo and Vinnie Viola — hale from Williamsburg.

So go cheer that fine horse on Brooklyn style — loudly and in a bar. Here are Patch’s favorite events happening across the borough Saturday.

Brooklyn Derby

• Where: Greenwood Park, 555 Seventh Avenue
• Neighborhood: South Slope
• When: Open bar from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• What: Before and after the race there will be live performances by the Bluegrass Book Club and Dandy Wellington and His Band. There will also be a Derby Hat promenade.
• How Much: Waitlist tickets are available for $95

Sunny’s Kentucky Derby Party

• Where: Sunny’s Bar, 253 Conover Street
• Neighborhood: Red Hook
• When: Derby party runs from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. and will be followed by a bluegrass jam.
• What: Help save Sunny’s. Ticket sales for this open bar party (plus $10 mint juleps) will go to Sunny’s Forever — a fundraiser to help Sunny Balzano’s widow, who is trying to buy the building and save the bar.
• How Much: Tickets are $80 a head.

The 143rd Kentucky Derby Party at Fawkner

• Where: Fawkner, 191 Smith Street
• Neighborhood: Carroll Gardens
• When: 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• What: Fawkner will be serving up Derby Day specials that include a benedictine and bacon on brioche, burgoo stew, and chocolate julep pie. They will be rewarding excellence in hats.
• How Much: Free to go, not to eat and drink.

Kentucky Derby Party

• Where: Northern Territory, 12 Franklin Street
• Neighborhood: Greenpoint
• When: 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• What: There will be Hudson Bourbon mint juleps served all day and a Bosco GIF photo booth to capture the glory that is your hat.
• How Much: No cover, but pay your bills.

Derby Day At Bergen

• Where: Berg’n, 899 Berget Street
• Neighborhood: Crown Heights
• When: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
• What: Berg’n requests gentlemen don seersucker suits and ladies bring fancy hats to watch the races on the big screen.
• How Much: No tickets required.

Mable’s Seventh Annual Derby Party

• Where: Mable’s Smokehouse, 44 Berry Street
• Neighborhood: Williamsburg
• When: 3 p.m.
• What: Races, mint juleps, “friendly” wagering (so no leg-breaking, please) and Derby pie.
• How Much: Multiply your julep limit by $7

It's Derby Season! Saturday May 6th 3PM
A post shared by Mables Smokehouse (@mables_smokehouse) on Apr 20, 2017 at 1:23pm PDT

The 143rd Kentucky Derby Party

• Where: The Bell House,
• Neighborhood: Gowanus
• When: 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• What: The Bell House will host the Baby Soda Jazz Band so you can dance your way through Derby day and the race will play on the big screen.
• How Much: Tickets are $5 in advance and $10 at the door.

The 143rd Kentucky Derby Party at The Bell House! Don that special hat & sip on a Mint Julip! Prizes, Live Music & more! Saturday 5/6! Tickets: thebellhouseny.com #brooklyneats #brooklyn #derby #nycevents
A post shared by The Bell House (@bellhouseny) on Apr 20, 2017 at 11:42am PDT

The People’s Garden Fund Kickoff Party

• Where: The People’s Garden, 1237 Greene Avenue
• Neighborhood: Bushwick
• When: 2 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
• What: This is technically a Bushwick community garden party, with ice sculpting, live music, and face-painting. But there will also be a broadcast of the Derby and there is no law against wearing your fancy hat. It is, after all, a garden party.
• How Much: Donations accepted.

Cinco De Derby

• Where: Nu Hotel, 85 Smith Street
• Neighborhood: Downtown Brooklyn
• When: 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• What: This smashup of all the weekend’s festivities will offer bourbon margaritas and tequila mint juleps. There will be complimentary Cinco de Derby snacks and games on the patio.
• How Much: Free to register.

Photo Courtesy of Bill Brine/Wikimedia Commons