dear friend books — Local services in New York

Discovered this spot when it first soft opened. The overall atmosphere is stellar, with an incredibly relaxing mood set by both the heirloom tomato scented candles and the contemporary mid-century modern furnishings. The double mirrored candle sconce was one of the more whimsical pieces I first noticed, hooking me right away with the playful yet minimalist aesthetic of the space.

Aside from the decor, the venue is difficult to succinctly define. It is a rare books store (on my first visit, the shop attendant quoted a $4,000 price tag for a signed edition of some book that I had a hard time imagining anyone forking up the money to purchase) but also loosely a wine, beer, tea, and kombucha bar, carrying a small selection in each beverage category. I discovered a terrific local Greenpoint-based small batch "kombucha" brewer (Unified Ferments) specializing in fermenting specific tea varieties that distributes here and fell in love with the lapsang souchong. If you like the smell of campfires in Maine, you should try it. It's also a small social hub of sorts for the Bed-Stuy intelligentsia and creative crowd, with live events hosted occasionally for readings, music, and more.

The rear of the venue offers a spacious and open feeling back patio that's perfect for lounging outside in nicer weather. And lounging really is what I've found myself doing the most here. There's little in the way of entertainment distractions, aside from perusing niche magazine publications and books. But that simplicity also makes the space feel calming, perfect for unwinding and decompressing and almost necessitating a reconnection with the simple joy of conversing.

The staff has also been very friendly in all the times I've visited, adding to the inviting sense of welcome. The venue perfectly blends the role of small business and neighborhood hangout, with conversation and interactions that rarely feel like you're engaging in just another blunt commercial transaction. Instead, the staff has been open and candid, meandering through discussions with patrons that flow in whichever way the currents seem to carry the conversation.

This spot is one of my favorite destinations in the neighborhood, with an intimate and soothing character that acts as a great foil to the bombastic nightlife in other parts of Brooklyn. An oasis of tranquility for those days where you're gently coasting from the high peaks of a night of mind-numbing over stimulation at House of Yes or Mirage, but still imbued with the afterglow of that heightened desire for...

We have previously been patrons of this wine bar for years however our most recent experience left a lot to be desired and seems to indicate a lack of interest in having loyal customers. We waited outside for 10 mins past opening in the 90 degree heat while we watched the staff inside having conversations and hanging out. They ignored us and turned away a couple that tried to get their attention ahead of us. After 10 mins we tried a little knock and a wave and were given a terse 10 min hand signal to continue waiting outside while they continued laughing and hanging out inside.

I understand wanting to have fun hanging out with your friends before work, but why turn away paying customers and ask them to wait outside in the boiling sun for 20 minutes? Not a great look. Hopefully someone sees this and is able to make actionable change to the staffing policies. We used to really love this spot but this has certainly left...

Absolutely love the design and custom made interior at DFB, Anna is a wonderful host and I feel honored to have launched my book in this beautiful space among her carefully selected vintage finds. ‘A bookstore can be so much more, a place where people feel welcome and want to spend time. We do need time to enjoy beautiful things, especially books.’ Looking forward to come back soon for a glass of wine or delicious kombucha at the bar and read a magazine ….or talk to strangers who become friends. This...