Sounds like a nice way to spend a rainy evening. The show starts at 8pm in the basement, and here’s the lineup:

8pm – Carl Banks
9pm – Lily Virginia
10pm – Christopher Sheard… Read the rest

Want to make a piece of jewelry you’ll actually wear? Want to have a cocktail while you’re making it? Then you should sign up Craft Night at Sycamore on Thursday, February 23 at 7:30pm. For The Makers, a DIY boutique jewelry tutorial company based in New York, will show you how to make an agate necklace (materials included) while you enjoy a signature cocktail. Tickets are $15 and are available online here.… Read the rest

Christopher Sheard has been making music for a large part of his life. Whether the inspiration comes from growing up in our area or one of the other places he’s hung his hat, he’s back here now, living near Church Ave, and trying to bring some of what’s made his life great back to the neighborhood. Every Wednesday night in February he’ll be at Sycamore, playing a residency with a curated list of musicians, no cover. I asked him some questions about his influences, the residency, and what makes Sycamore such a terrific hidden gem for live performances.

Tell us a little about how the residency came to be.
CS: February is typically a slow and cold month (although this year certainly seems to be an exception) so I think it’s a good time to stay put in one spot, as opposed to trying to play all over the city. I brought up the idea of a residency to John Hagan, who’s a good friend of mine (and a good man in general), I knew him way back when he was working the counter at Vox Pop, and he was cool with it.

It’s nice to have a place … Read the rest

Sycamore is hosting a series of Classic Cocktail Courses this winter, and next up they’re covering the classic rum cocktail on Saturday, February 25 at 5pm. Sycamore’s own Mike Mikos and The Farm On Adderley’s Wil Petre will help you make a drink that feels like summer in the dead of February:

These two expert barmen will lead us through a step-by-step demonstration of several classic rum cocktails and then divulge their own new recipe for a contemporary Brooklyn twist on a vintage classic.

The session’s recipe booklets will be included for guests to take home. Complimentary snacks will be provided.

$45 per person. Very limited space: Sign up here!… Read the rest

Flatbush CommUNITY Garden, located at the end of Albemarle and E 16th St, is holding a Winterfest fundraiser at Sycamore on Sunday, February 19. Stop by to have a drink, enter a raffle full of local prizes, and to learn more about the garden:

Come for drinks specials, delicious baked goods, pick up some seed bombs or a coupon book to support our garden, and win a raffle prize! We can also tell you more about the garden, as we expect to have spaces for next spring.

Amazing prizes are donated by your favorite local businesses: Qathra, Pilates on Rugby, TB Ackerson, Purple Yam, Brooklyn Banya Russian Baths, Latin Fever Dance Studios, the Castello Plan and the Farm on Adderley.

Flatbush CommUNITY Garden Fundraiser
Sunday, February 19 4 – 8 pm
@ Sycamore, 1118 Cortelyou Road
For more information, email flatbushcommunitygarden@gmail.com… Read the rest

At tomorrow’s fundraiser by the Cortelyou Library Friends Group at Sycamore, you’ll have a chance to purchase raffle tickets to win some great local prizes. Tickets are $3 each (or 4 for $10), and if someone you know would like to buy a raffle but can’t be there in person, they can give you their contact information and correct amount, and the Friends Group will fill out a ticket for them.

Here’s what you can win:

• Castello Plan: Brunch for two
• Café Madeline: Espresso drink and breakfast sandwich  (5 winners!)
• Cinco de Mayo: $15 Gift certificate
• The Farm on Adderley: Brunch for two (2 entrees and 2 drinks)
• Greenfield Pharmacy: $25 Gift certificate (2 winners!)
• Latin Fever Dance Studio: $100 Gift certificate for kid’s dance class
• Lindsay Aikman (Photographer): Hour-long pet portrait session
• Midwood Martial Arts: One month unlimited martial arts
• Mimi’s: $15 Gift certificate
• Natural Frontier Market: $25 Gift certificate
• Picket Fence: $25 Gift certificates (2 winners!)
• Purple Yam: Brunch for two (that’s Chef Romy pictured above, personally decorating the gift certificate)
• Qathra: Breakfast wrap and small latte / Panini and hot chocolate (2 winners!)
• Sycamore Bar … Read the rest

You can show you support your library (which is reopening on March 12) by getting a tote while enjoying one of the literary-themed drinks Sycamore bartender Mike Mikos has concocted.

And since we have so many talented artists in the neighborhood, the Friends Group would like to see some of your ideas for future tote bags. If you’ve got a design in mind, email cortelyoulibraryfriends@gmail.com for more information.… Read the rest

From Nelson, whose son Sam is pictured above delivering fig cuttings to Sycamore:

The fig cutting sale was a big success at Sycamore. We have sold out of our first round of cuttings. Sycamore and Flatbush Fig Farm collected and are donating on Monday $60. to the Flatbush CommUNITY Garden. For those who still want a fig cutting, we have added 6 new ones. $20 each or 2 for $30. This will be the last chance to get cuttings this year.

… Read the rest

Part 2 of Sycamore’s 4-part Tasting Series is bringing Kentucky Bourbon Distillers and Slope Cellars to the bar on Monday, February 20 at 8pm:

Drew Kulsveen of Kentucky Bourbon Distillers and Chris Hiatt of Slope Cellars take you on a journey through some of the finest small batch whiskeys produced in Kentucky today. Snacks to accompany these spirits will be provided from our friends at the Market & Mimi’s.

The cost is $30 per person. Limited availability, sign up here.… Read the rest

The Cortelyou Library Friends Group is having a fundraiser at Sycamore on Sunday, February 12 to celebrate the library’s reopening in March. Stop by for a book-themed drink, and get in on a great raffle. More raffle items are coming in, but so far they’ve got:

Toy Space – $25 gift certificate
Cafe Tibet – $25 gift certificate
TB Ackerson – nice bottle of wine (TBA!)
Lindsay Aikman Photography – hour-long pet portrait session
Cafe Madeline – five gift certificates for an espresso drink and breakfast sandwich… Read the rest