Pencil Factory: Greenpointers hailed Pencil Factory as a godsend upon its opening in 2001, not only by being the neighborhood''s first new bar since, like, 1930, but because it was actually a beautiful establishment. Broad-planked wood floors and lustrous tin ceilings meshed nicely with the old alchemy cabinets housing a broad selection of 12-year-old Scotch. Perfect pints and sidewalk seating with views of the sun setting over the Manhattan skyline made the place the pride of the ’Point. There was even a make-out-conducive nook in the back, named the "Miltonian Social Club" in honor of the corner''s long-time tenant. But there was never much hanky panky going on back there—Pencil Factory is simply not that kind of place—and that section is gone now. Thankfully, that''s just about the only thing that''s changed. Nowadays, there are a lot of fine places in the neighborhood vying for your drinking dollar, but Greenpoint''s oldest new bar is still its best. |
