Hot Times at Hot Bird

Monday was my birthday. I let a few friends take me out for lunch and some shopping at the big Unique Thrift in Fulton Mall. I ended festivities with a nice sunset bike ride out to Ridgewood Reservoir, my favorite spot in Brooklyn.

It was the first sweaty day of the season and with this kind of good fortune and cause to celebrate, Hot Bird was the obvious choice for late-night festivities.

The joint was packed. Every table was filled and the excitement in the air was palatable. Legs, skirts and smiles were out in force. Summer had arrived and we were all present to reap its rewards.  I bought a pint of Bear Republic IPA ($6) and sauntered out to the patio in my shorts and boat shoes with an ear-to-ear grin. 

“To the birthday boy!” shouted my dear friend Lauren Keegan.

Just as beers were raised and glasses clinked, the skies opened up and the great deluge began. The rain was icy cold and a strong wind slapped our faces.  The crowd scattered for coverage. I nearly began to cry.

The mood at the bar deflated, but thankfully, Hot Bird is no less impressive from the inside. My favorite song “Ain’t Nobody” by Chaka Khan came on the sound system and my spirits were lifted anew; it was a birthday miracle.

A dozen handpicked microbrews are in steady rotation at the bar with new offerings every week. Hot Bird also offers a robust selection of liquors. The interior is roomy, with ample seating and open floor space fit for the occasional spontaneous dance party.

Hot Bird opened its doors to the public in May 2010 with immediate success. Situated on one of the ugliest corners in Brooklyn, it is a small wonder that owner Frank Moe — who also owns — has established such a strong reputation so quickly.

“I’ve been here five nights in a row,” said local Julia Glanternik, “I actually got quoted in another article here last summer when I dropped my iPhone in a pitcher of beer.”

Straddling the border of Clinton Hill and Prospects Heights, Hot Bird attracts a decidedly more South Brooklyn crowd than most of its Central Brooklyn counterparts. More specifically, argyle sweaters, vanishing hairlines and baby bumps are not uncommon on the patio.

The first day of summer weather may have ended in defeat, but the day itself was one of the nicest presents I could receive. Every birthday should include good friends, tasty brews, and little bit of sunshine. Thanks to Hot Bird, I had a little bit of all three.