Brooklyn's “Little Poland” swaps pierogi for pretzels this fall, as a massive Oktoberfest-style beer hall takes over the waterfront
Greenpoint has spent over a century building its reputation as “Little Poland,” home to the second-largest Polish community in the country and a neighborhood where pierogi shops and Polish bakeries still outnumber anything else.
This September, a corner of the waterfront takes inspiration from a completely different European country.
Zum Schneider, the 25-year-old German beer hall institution that opened in the East Village as a homesick founder's cure for a taste of authentic Bavarian beer, is transforming Franklin Point into a full-blown Wiesn-style Oktoberfest for the second year in a row, complete with tents, beer mugs, lederhosen and all.
It's already shaping up to be one of the city's biggest Oktoberfest events, and we've got all the details on how to get involved.
From an East Village remedy to a full-blown Bavarian invasion
Founder Sylvester Schneider opened the first Zum Schneider in 2001 with a simple, personal reason: he missed real German beer and decided that the East Village needed a real beer garden more than he needed to keep searching for one.
The venue has become an Alphabet City staple, as famous for its World Cup parties and in-house soccer team as its beer selection, and has spent much of the past 25 years as one of the city’s most trusted spots for true German hospitality.
Oktoberfest, or “Munich on the East River” as Schneider calls it, was born from that very instinct.
What started as a series of pop-up World Cup screenings has since morphed into a full-blown seasonal event under the big top, and after a breakout debut in Franklin Point last year, Schneider is bringing the entire operation back to Greenpoint for round two.
What's Really Happening at Franklin Point
Here's everything you can expect from this year's edition.
The setup mirrors the true Munich Wiesn more than anything New York ever could: beer served exclusively in traditional one-liter steins, a fully decorated and appointed beer hall, and a rooftop beer garden with breathtaking views of the East River for anyone who wants to enjoy their pretzel with the skyline in the background.
As for drinks, expect four real imported German beers: Paulaner, Weihenstephaner, Schneider Weisse, and HB Traunstein, as well as non-alcoholic German beer, wine, cider, Aperol Spritz, and soft drinks for those who want to skip the pint.
The menu ranges from crispy Haxn (roasted pork knuckle), to Wiesn Hendl (spit-roasted chicken), to Obazda (a Bavarian cheese spread that most New Yorkers have never tried), to giant imported pretzels and a full array of traditional sausages.
Waiters circulate among the tables in lederhosen and dirndls, communal tables fill up in no time, and the band Mösl Franzi & the JaJaJas plays a series of sing-along Bavarian songs, designed to get the whole tent clapping and dancing in unison.
Classic Wiesn games like Dosenwerfen (German for “can throwing”) round out the entertainment, along with a themed photo booth, and the entire initiative is designed for families, with free admission for children up to 12 years old when accompanied by a ticketed adult.
Ticket options at a glance
General seating is $25 on weekdays and goes up to $35 on Saturdays, while reserved seating starts at $35 and goes up to $45 for Saturday dates.
VIP access costs $110, and those looking to go big can book an all-inclusive table for $2,250.
Access to the rooftop beer garden, for anyone who just wants to enjoy the view with a beer in hand, costs a flat $15.
Tickets are already on sale at ZumSchneider.com and are valid for the entire weekend of celebrations, from October 1st to 4th.