06/16/04

A sailor's knot--not a velvet rope--marks this relaxed, hip neighborhood tavern near the Brooklyn Navy Yard.

by Kara Zuaro

The Scene
Red paint warms the walls and exposed brick peeks out from cracked plaster, giving the space an Old-World feel. A small scrawl on the bathroom wall reads, "I hate hipsters." Ironic or not, it probably won't get washed off the graffiti-friendly stall. After all, sarcasm reigns at indie-rock bars and the jukebox is a hipster magnet, featuring classics like Crazy Horse and the Replacements, along with up-to-the-minute indie-rock artists, from Modest Mouse to My Morning Jacket.

The Draw
As rents escalate, Brooklyn's low-budget music-minded set gets pushed deeper into the borough's depths and away from their favorite bars, like Boat in Carroll Gardens and Great Lakes in Park Slope. Keeping in tune with its nautical namesakes, Rope offers a fine selection of booze, tap beer and bottles for inhabitants of the still-affordable Clinton Hill neighborhood, and enough cheap Pabst and well-worn couches to accommodate Pratt students who wander over from campus.

05/03/04

new neighborhood bar

by sailorat

Been living in Fort Greene for over two years and never felt like there was a place for me to hang out until someone opened Rope. It's a laid back neighborhood bar where you can actually talk and meet people. They have an amazing jukebox if you like indie rock etc. I really like the bartenders there too. I've been told they are going to open a garden soon. It's just a great place, hope they put up some stuff on the walls, the place looks a little bare.

• Pros: great jukebox, late hours, cool people