SMAKK Studios shares their favorite Williamsburg haunts for design lovers

By Former Agent

The following is a guest post written by our friends at SMAKK Studios.

Founded in 2011 by Creative Director Katie Klencheski, SMAKK Studios is a branding and growth studio that partners with bold entrepreneurs to shape the brands of future. Located across the street from McCarren Park on the corner of 11th and Driggs, SMAKK is right in the heart of North Brooklyn. We’re surrounded by places to go and things to see that strike a chord with our design-savvy team. So naturally, we compiled some of our favorite spots in the area for fellow design aficionados to visit and swoon over.

Museum of Food and Drink (MOFAD)

image alt

As a studio of foodies, the SMAKK team was ecstatic when we first heard that MOFAD was coming to Brooklyn. The museum inspires curiosity about food through interactive exhibits that you can taste, touch, and smell. Within the museum is the MOFAD Lab, an experimental space that is currently featuring Chow: Making the Chinese American Restaurant, an exhibit about the history of one our country’s most beloved cuisines. The exhibit includes a Culinary Studio with a chef-designed tasting.

Brooklyn Barge

image alt

The view and experience alone are enough to draw a crowd to The Brooklyn Barge. Combine that with their simple American plates and cocktails, and you have an ideal spot for your next sunny summer lunch or cool evening happy hour. Located on a floating barge on the East River in Greenpoint, The Brooklyn Barge is a refreshing experience that you can’t find at just any waterfront bar and restaurant.

A/D/O

image alt

Located in an old warehouse in Greenpoint, A/D/O is a creative space (down the street from our office) that has brought some super interesting speakers and design exhibits to our North Brooklyn neighborhood. You can enjoy a bite to eat from Restaurant Norman in the atrium, collaborate with other designers in the workspace, or enjoy the latest installment in the courtyard. Be sure to stop by and check out the Spirit of the City (pictured) installation that is up now through September 2nd.

Dream Machine

image alt

A couple of blocks over from SMAKK is interactive pop-up experience Dream Machine, an Instagram-ready immersive interpretation of the human sleep cycle. A curator leads you through nine different rooms that are never what you’re expecting. Our favorites are the ball pit and laundromat rooms, in which neon lights create 80s vibes. We won’t reveal much more — the pop-up is open from Thursday-Sunday through September 9th, and we highly recommend you check it out.

The Springs

image alt

If you love design — and dogs — as much as we do, then you’ll love this funky, pup-friendly spot in Greenpoint. From the 50s style bar inside to the open green space out back, The Springs is the perfect place to unwind and enjoy. We have three dogs in the SMAKK office, so The Springs is always at the top of the list when we are deciding where to go for happy hour (Pictured above is Penny, the office diva).

Looking to get the ball rolling with SMAKK on your next project? Whether you’re ready to get started tomorrow or are just starting to research options, we’d love to connect. Drop us a line at hello@smkkstudios.com!

Let us know what you think of Nooklyn Stories by tweeting us @nooklyn, reaching out on Facebook, or finding us on Instagram @nooklyn.stories!

Photo Credits
1) Photo courtesy of SMAKK Studios
2) Photo courtesy of Museum of Food and Drink
3) Photo courtesy of The Brooklyn Barge
4) Photo courtesy of A/D/O
5) Photo by Jenn Hanft
6) Photo by Katie Klencheski