Neighborhood Spotlight: Sternberg Park

Sternberg Park Spotlight:

Hey All, 

I want to introduce you to my favorite field in NYC, Sternberg Park. While it may not have the skyline views, or the most space, and might even have a gentle and humbling slant in one direction, it holds a special place in my heart. 

The reason Sternberg is such a special field, is that it was the field that helped me to escape the pandemic when it was at it’s most suppressive, and which in turn led me to NYC Footy. 

In the midst of Covid’s early stages, where nobody really knew anything, toilet paper was worth more than Ethereum, people were sanitizing Amazon packages with lysol wipes, and the only people who were holding were essential workers, who in reality are always holding us together, I had to good fortune of running into a few friends of mine who were going to a field to play some pick-up soccer.

They brought me to a field (Sternberg) where we slipped through a fence that may or may not have been inversely repaired by a good samaritan in the neighborhood and found ourselves on a huge and empty pitch. We proceeded to play a small pickup game for hours entirely unperturbed. 

Over the next couple of weeks, we bought nets, made a group chat (the first of what would be far far too many soccer group chats) and grew into a community. Or as everyone called them at the beginning of the pandemic, a pod.

It might seem like an exaggerated thing to say, but without this field, without that community and that experience, I don’t know where I would be right now. When everything else was collapsing, these pickup soccer games at Sternberg Park were far and away the best thing. Admittedly, it was the only game in town, but the point still holds true. 

Sternberg was the place where I, and a group of what started as 6 and that snowballed into a group of over 60, could go to get away from everything during a time when that was needed the most. It is also where I met the people who would make up my soccer tribe (shout out to Left Footed Letdown). 

Sternberg became a second home in the city, somewhere I felt always welcome and surrounded by friends and loved ones.  

The reason I bring this all up, is that as the world and the city transitioned out of peak Covid, and as things opened up and Sternberg Park became slightly less vital and specific resource, NYC Footy became that chamber of community for me as I believe it is and has been for so many others.

Many of us have such a field. A place where, week in and week out, people spend those preciously important hours with their friends, their self-selected communities, their homes away from home and I’m incredibly happy to selfishly be able to share mine with you all. 

NYCFooty holds leagues at Sternberg Park year round, and BetterPlayer holds practices there year round as well! So whether you’re a seasoned veteran, or you’re just looking to get started, this is the place for you.

Welcome to Sternberg Park.

The Field: Sternberg Park was renovated by the NYC Parks department during peak Covid (2020) so the turf is new and very clean. 

No bumps or divots to blame your bad passes on. Apart from the ever so slight tilt towards one end of the pitch, it’s a field in perfect condition. 

The fence outside of the field is even high enough that only the most misguided of shots will make it over. 

We typically play three 7v7 games side by side, for which there’s plenty of room. And we hold BetterPlayer practices there in the AM, so if you live in the neighborhood you should come check it out. 

The Neighborhood: Sternberg Park is located in East Williamsburg, roughly speaking, and so the list of bars and restaurants you can find within throwing distance of the field is very high.

That being said, there are a few places of note that I want to put in front of your face, just so you feel like you’ve got somewhere to start. 

First is Duck Duck

Duck Duck is bar that is almost synonymous with Sternberg Park. On any given game-day, you’re liable to find 20-30 Footy players perusing this warm bar, decorated (tastefully) with toy ducks. 

They’ve got a healthy list of draft beers, craft beers, and most any sort of liquid delight you could want. The barroom itself has a ton of seating, including a huge bar, tables everywhere, a cozy seating area. 

If there’s one drawback, it’s that the bar is cash only. But it’s a small mark against it, as they do have an ATM inside the bar. 

If you’re at Sternberg park and you’re looking for a warm drink, or to meet more of the Footy community, head to Duck Duck. 

Extra Credit: Duck Duck happens to sit directly across the street from the Win Son Bakery, which is an amazing Taiwanese joint that serves everything from breakfast sandwiches, friend chicken, and more traditional Taiwanese bites. 

Second is The Graham 

The Graham is a personal favorite of mine; a tavern that sits just a quick walk away from the field and who proudly states that “The soup of the day is tequila”. 

Recently, The Graham has begun to pivot itself to a more upscale type of scene during the day. But at night, it remains the same warm tavern with good food, outdoor space that runs half the bucket, buckets of beer, and year round frozen margs. It’s the kind of place you won’t mind going to for a quick drink after your game, only to realize you’ve been there for 2 hours and you still don’t want to leave. 

Extra Credit: They have heat lamps. 

Third is Blinky’s

If you’re looking for a bar that you could picture yourself going to on a Friday or Saturday night (or a Tuesday afternoon, live your life), Blinky’s is an excellent choice. Between it’s Miami Vice color scheme, the spacious backyard, excellent cocktails and cheap beer. I promise you’ll enjoy yourself one way or another. 

Extra Credit: If you get to Blinky’s and it’s too full, the good news is that you’re now on Grand St., which has more bars than Williamsburg knows what to do with. I’d recommend scuttling over to The Whisky on Grand, which is a sports bar with tons of room, as well as bar games like ping pong, shuttle board, and darts.

Directions:

The field is incredibly easy to access from almost any way you choose.

Subway: The field sits a five minute walk from both the G (Broadway) and L (Montrose Ave) trains, as well as the J and M (Lorimer St.), making it incredibly accessible from nearly everywhere.

Bus: The B46 and the B48, which run along Broadway, both stop a block away from the field.

Bike: There are a handful of CitiBike terminals littered on every side of the field. You can pick a random direction, start walking, and you will find one.

Thank all for listening and until next time!

-James