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Spread Love, The Gowanus Way

A walk through the neighborhood with six local businesses


From the desk of Jason Mezydlo · @JasonMezydlo
Jason Mezydlo · Managing Sales Partner, Gordon Realty Partners
347.286.5797 · jason@gordonrealtypartners.com · JasonMezydlo.com
622 3rd Avenue, New York, NY

Welcome back to my Gowanus series. I started with Gowanus Open Studios and the artists who keep this corner of Brooklyn wonderfully strange, then followed the Fourth Avenue rezoning back to where the boom began. This time I wanted to hear from the people who unlock the doors every morning, the bakers, chefs, gallerists and bar owners who have built their lives a few blocks from the canal.

So I sent the same six questions to businesses all over the neighborhood. What drew you here? What do you love about it? How has it changed? Where’s your secret corner? What should a newcomer do first? Who deserves a shout-out? When the answers came back, something lovely happened. Without being asked, nearly everyone sketched out a route and pointed me toward the people next door. Talia Tutak at Sixteen Mill even laid out what she called “a pretty perfect Gowanus afternoon.” So rather than hand you a stack of separate profiles, I’m letting the neighbors walk you through a day in Gowanus, from first coffee to late night.

Morning, Coffee and Something Sweet

Still Life

The best way to begin a day in Gowanus is slowly, and nobody understands that better than Uri Meidan. Still Life, his café and art studio on Sackett Street, took almost a year to find. He looked in several neighborhoods before Gowanus offered what none of the others could: exposed brick, high ceilings and wooden beams, the bones of a place where people could “slow down, connect, and be creative.” Today it’s a coffee bar, a ceramics studio and a kind of community sketchbook all at once.

That last part is the one that charmed me. Guests doodle whatever comes to mind and tape it to the walls, then drift back a few days later to see what has landed beside it. “We love seeing how the drawings relate to each other, even when the people who made them have never met,” Uri told me. I can’t think of a better picture of a neighborhood. “Now that we’ve been here for a while, we really can’t imagine Still Life in any other neighborhood,” he said. “That mix of creativity and community feels like a very natural fit.”

Still LifeIn pictures

A corner of Still Life covered floor to ceiling in guests’ drawings held up with blue tape, above plywood tables, metal stools and a blue folding chair
The drawing wall at Still Life, where guests tape up whatever they sketched. Photo: Jason Mezydlo
A busy café counter with people ordering, plants and flowers on the bar and drawings taped to the white brick wall behind
The counter at Still Life, with guests’ drawings taped to the brick behind it. Courtesy of Still Life
A sunny café full of people at long tables with plants in the foreground and a wall of ceramic glaze samples behind
Long tables, good light and a wall of glaze samples. Courtesy of Still Life
A pottery studio seen through a glass wall, with people working at long tables under warm light
The ceramics studio, seen through the glass. Courtesy of Still Life
Guests at tables in a warmly lit café studio in the evening, with wooden shelving and a pottery studio behind glass
Still Life after dark, when the studio keeps going. Courtesy of Still Life
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A walk through Still Life, from the drawing wall to the counter. Video: Jason Mezydlo

Visit: 573 Sackett Street · stilllifecafe.com

Sixteen Mill Bakeshop

A few minutes’ walk away, Talia Tutak runs Sixteen Mill Bakeshop, a vegan, gluten-free bakery at 552 Union Street. Talia has lived in Carroll Gardens for years, so Gowanus always felt like part of her neighborhood, and when she found a space on Union Street that was just right for the bakery, she loved where it sat, “right between two busy Brooklyn neighborhoods, surrounded by art studios, creative spaces, and so many talented people.”

Her secret corner isn’t much of a secret, and she’s happy to admit it. “Not so secret, but definitely Union Street and 3rd Avenue! It’s my favorite little corner, surrounded by so many wonderful small businesses.” She’s the one who first sent me to Still Life, and her idea of a newcomer’s first afternoon is worth quoting in full: “Take a little stroll along the Gowanus Canal, grab a coffee at Still Life, stop by Sixteen Mill for some freshly baked treats, enjoy a glass of something a little stronger at Mercado Central, and pick up a bottle of wine to take home from Gowanus Wine Studio. That’s a pretty perfect Gowanus afternoon!”

Sixteen Mill BakeshopIn pictures

Talia Tutak setting out a bakery sign on the sidewalk in front of Sixteen Mill Bakeshop
Talia Tutak setting out the sign on Union Street. Photo: Tara Donne
A café table seen from above with pastries, a sliced loaf, iced drinks and hands reaching in
A Sixteen Mill spread, every bite of it vegan and gluten-free. Photo: Tara Donne
A small crowd waiting outside the Sixteen Mill Bakeshop storefront under a blue sky
A line out front on a sunny morning. Photo: Tara Donne
A baker smiling as she hands a pastry box through the bakery window
A handoff at the bakery window. Photo: Tara Donne
A baker lifting boiled bagels onto a tray in the bakery kitchen
Bagels coming out of the boil. Photo: Tara Donne
Hands holding three tall loaves of bread against an apron
Fresh loaves, still warm. Photo: Tara Donne
A rhubarb-topped muffin held up beside an iced coffee
A rhubarb muffin and an iced coffee. Photo: Tara Donne
Trays of fresh muffins cooling on a bakery rack
Muffins cooling on the rack. Photo: Tara Donne
A baker running flour through his hands over a large steel mixing bowl
Hands in the flour. Photo: Tara Donne
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Visit: 552 Union Street · sixteenmill.com · Instagram @sixteen.mill

Midday, the Bridge and the Canal

Ask Uri where a newcomer should begin and he’ll send you straight to the water. “Start at the Carroll Street Bridge, with its wooden planks and old steel structure that feel like a little piece of Gowanus history.” He’s right about the history. The bridge opened in 1889, it’s one of only four retractile bridges left in the country, sliding open and shut like a drawer, and it has been a city landmark since 1987. After a five-year restoration it reopened in June to people on foot and on bikes, with a fresh timber deck and its vintage sign still warning of a $5 fine for crossing faster than a walk.

The Carroll Street Bridge in Gowanus with its blue steel truss, red and white posts, a yellow and red gate, and new brick apartment buildings beside it
The Carroll Street Bridge, all blue steel and candy-striped posts, with new buildings rising along the canal. Photo: Jason Mezydlo
The cobblestone approach to the Carroll Street Bridge on an autumn afternoon, with the blue overhead truss, fall trees and people crossing with a stroller
The cobblestone approach on an autumn afternoon. Photo: Jason Mezydlo
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From there, Uri suggests a stroll along the canal, “where you can still see the fascinating contrast between new developments and old industrial warehouses covered in graffiti.” Miguel Aguilar of Surfish Bistro loves that same contrast on the neighborhood’s quieter, industrial side. “There’s something beautiful about a place that doesn’t try to hide its history,” he said. And Vanessa Collazos of Evalyn’s Tap House has the most honest tip of the bunch: “Watching people kayak the canal. I personally wouldn’t, but it’s incredible to watch.”

Two red canoes full of paddlers in life vests gliding along the green water of the Gowanus Canal beside a bulkhead, with a red crane and fenced construction site above
Paddlers on the Gowanus Canal, gliding past the construction along its banks. Photo: Jason Mezydlo

Our neighbors had a few more stops worth the detour. Uri heads to Thomas Greene Playground to clear his head, and on weekends to shoot hoops with his son, and he’s a big fan of the Textile Arts Center, “a really unique space where people can learn and experiment with everything from weaving to dyeing.” Paul at Café Mars sent me to Dolly’s Park, the community garden on President Street, “an oasis of calm that is the result of the decades-long effort of the community to turn a vacant lot into a beautiful park for the good of the neighborhood.”

Afternoon, Gallery Row

Field of Play

By afternoon, the art takes over. Field of Play is a member-curated gallery at 126 13th Street, and its home has a creative pedigree of its own. “Our space has housed artists’ studios for decades, giving it a distinct character and creative energy that we’re proud to carry forward,” director Matthew Logsdon told me. The gallery shares that legacy with its partner, Tappeto Volante, and has a soft spot for artists at turning points, giving them room for “ideas and bodies of work that go on to become defining milestones in their artistic practice.”

Right now you can catch ENERGY, a group show curated by Mark Sengbusch with work by Bernard Childs, Jonathan Dedecker, Alicia Gibson, Gilda Snowden and Kohana Wilson, on view through November 15. And mark your calendar for December 5, when their large Flat File Exhibition opens. It’s designed to make collecting original art approachable, whether you’re “a seasoned collector or considering your very first art purchase,” which makes it a perfect first stop for anyone with a new apartment and bare walls.

Matthew’s advice for newcomers is to wander the growing art district along and around Third Avenue, where Field of Play’s neighbors include Tappeto Volante, Kaje, haul, Ortega y Gasset and Powerhouse Arts. “Together, these spaces are helping shape Gowanus into an exciting destination for contemporary art, creative exchange, and cultural discovery.”

Field of PlayIn pictures

A bright white gallery with a wide-plank wood floor, paintings and a small sculpture on the walls and a green sculptural form standing in the middle of the room
If Only the Light Could Stay, with work by Song Watkins Park and Ryan Oskin, installation view. Photo: Masaki Hori
Fourteen members of the Field of Play team posed together on a white-painted stairway
The Field of Play team, from top left: Heather Drayzen, David Shaw, Yasmeen Abdallah, Kyra Wolfenbarger, Kate Skakel, David McDonough, eri king, Kate Sherman, Wesley Ware, Greg Dzurita, Matthew Logsdon and Patrick Bower. Not pictured: Mark Sengbusch and Reenal Igboanugo. Photo: Daniel Greer
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Visit: 126 13th Street · fieldofplaybk.com · Instagram @fieldofplaygallery

Evening, Dinner on Third Avenue

Café Mars

For dinner, Third Avenue gives you two stories that could only happen here. Café Mars, at 272 Third Avenue, has landed on the Michelin Guide’s Bib Gourmand list for its playful, sideways take on Italian food, but its roots run much deeper than its accolades. Paul lives close by and has been coming to Gowanus for more than a decade, ever since he worked at The Pines in 2013. When a space opened up in 2020, he jumped at it, and for a very personal reason. It sits across the street from where his Italian family first arrived in the United States, in 1901.

What he loves most is the spirit among the restaurants. “Gowanus is one of the few remaining neighborhoods where the hospitality community is actually a community and new businesses are welcomed with open arms,” he told me. “If someone’s ice machine goes down, there are 5 places more than happy to help out.” His advice for newcomers is simple: walk around and visit the local businesses, because “it’s easy to miss places and head to other neighborhoods for experiences that could be had closer to home.”

Café MarsIn pictures

Café Mars at night from the sidewalk, its rounded window glowing with pink, green and purple neon
Café Mars after dark, glowing on Third Avenue. Photo: Nick Glimenaskis
The bright dining room at Café Mars, with arched pale-wood walls, pink bar stools and a cobalt-blue bar back lined with bottles
The dining room and bar, all pale wood arches and pink stools. Photo: Nick Glimenaskis
Spiral girelle pasta with toasted breadcrumbs and herbs in a golden yellow bowl
Girelle, one of the housemade pastas. Photo: Patrick Dolande
Savory cannoli topped with tomato and bright orange roe on a blue plate over a green perforated table
Tomato cannoli, a savory spin on a classic. Photo: Patrick Dolande
A plate of fish over a pink sauce with tomato and crisp toppings, a neon sign glowing in the background
Cod, with the neon glowing behind it. Photo: Juan David Gracia
A plate of mussels and grilled skewers with sliced radish and a small dish of sauce
Mussels, fresh from the kitchen. Photo: Juan David Gracia
A bright green drink over crushed ice in a stemmed glass, topped with a pink paper umbrella
Something green from the bar, paper umbrella included. Photo: Juan David Gracia
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Visit: 272 Third Avenue · cafemarsbk.com

Surfish Bistro

A few blocks south, at 550 Third Avenue, chef and owner Miguel Aguilar has been cooking Peruvian food in Brooklyn for more than 15 years. He grew up in La Punta, Callao, “surrounded by the ocean,” and that connection to the sea runs through everything he makes. He opened Surfish Bistro in 2010 and moved to Gowanus when the restaurant outgrew its first home. “I saw a neighborhood with character, creativity, and a strong sense of community,” he said. “It felt like the right place for the next chapter of Surfish.”

Surfish is a family business, with Miguel’s wife, Magdalena, and their sons part of the journey, and if you go, Miguel has one order in mind. “I would invite everyone to Surfish Bistro for a fresh Peruvian ceviche! Ceviche represents so much of where I come from: the ocean, fresh ingredients, bold flavors, and the traditions of Peru.”

The story that stayed with me most, though, was about the bar across the street. “Lowlands Bar, right across the street from Surfish Bistro. From the moment we arrived in Gowanus, they welcomed us with open arms. We’ve been neighbors through so much, including the difficult days of the pandemic,” Miguel said. “We’re not just businesses operating in the same neighborhood. We’re people supporting each other, growing together, and building a community.”

Surfish BistroIn pictures

Chef Miguel Aguilar in his kitchen in a chef’s jacket and cap, holding up two butternut squash and smiling
Chef and owner Miguel Aguilar in the Surfish kitchen. Courtesy of Surfish Bistro
The corner outside Surfish Bistro, with a sea turtle mural on the building, a blue umbrella and a woman waving
The corner at Surfish Bistro, sea turtle mural and all. Courtesy of Surfish Bistro
A table seen from above, crowded with Peruvian dishes, ceviche, rice and salads
A Peruvian feast, from ceviche to rice. Courtesy of Surfish Bistro
Diners laughing together at a banquette beneath a colorful street-scene mural
Dinner under the mural. Courtesy of Surfish Bistro
A plated dish of glazed meat, peppers and herbs topped with a quail egg on a dark stone plate
Fresh off the line. Courtesy of Surfish Bistro
A smiling man in a cap holding up a whole salmon in a restaurant kitchen
The day’s catch. Courtesy of Surfish Bistro
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Visit: 550 Third Avenue · surfishbistro.com · Instagram @surfish_bistro

Night, Game On by the Climbing Gym

Evalyn’s Tap House

End the night on Butler Street at Evalyn’s Tap House, a warm, wood-paneled sports bar with a big central bar, the game on every screen and photographs of the canal on the walls. Vanessa Collazos and her team chose the spot for a clear reason: Movement Gowanus, the enormous climbing gym next door, was drawing crowds. “We said there’s a reason to be here, and Gowanus is changing,” she told me. “We got in early.” Being so close to Barclays Center doesn’t hurt, either.

Vanessa’s shout-out goes to the neighbor that brought her here. “Movement Gowanus! Their facility is huge, it’s crazy huge, and we hope it’s a landmark for years to come.” Her secret corner is a coffee at Cafecito Social before a long Saturday shift. As for me, you’ll find me at the bar with an NA beer and a front-row seat for the game.

Evalyn’s Tap HouseIn pictures

A large central bar with red-lit counters, stools all around and games playing on screens overhead
The central bar at Evalyn’s, with the game on. Courtesy of Evalyn’s Tap House
Wooden booths with candles on the tables beneath framed black-and-white photographs of the canal
Booths beneath photographs of the canal. Courtesy of Evalyn’s Tap House
A dining room with wooden tables and candles, glowing with golden-hour light from tall windows
The dining room at golden hour. Courtesy of Evalyn’s Tap House
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Visit: 236 Butler Street · evalynstaphouse.com · Instagram @evalyns.tap.house

Growing Without Losing Its Soul

Every single neighbor I heard from talked about change. Uri counts “probably six new buildings in various stages of development” within a block of Still Life, and he’s been open a little over a year. Talia remembers moving in when the new developments were still on paper. Vanessa has spent years hoping the empty lot in front of Evalyn’s becomes a park or new housing, “huge for all local businesses.” Paul is excited about more life on the streets and the possibility of a Gowanus business improvement district, plus a small but mighty upgrade: “there will be trash cans on the street, which would be a huge win.” He also made a point of thanking the groups who have done the long, unglamorous work, including the Gowanus Canal Conservancy, Arts Gowanus, the Gowanus Canal Community Advisory Group, Voice of Gowanus, Gowanus Mutual Aid and the GCCDC.

Street art in Gowanus: a parade of painted rats along gray siding above a sidewalk cellar door painted with a punk skull with heart eyes, a bottle and the words Soul and Cheers
Punk rats and a painted cellar door. Gowanus still has its soul, and it signs its work. Photo: Jason Mezydlo

What struck me is how much they agree on what should stay. Uri hopes Gowanus “manages to preserve the independent, creative spirit that makes it such a special place.” Talia wants small businesses and artists to keep thriving. And Miguel put it best, in a line I keep coming back to: “A neighborhood should grow without losing its soul.”

Gowanus is still making things: red glass candles rolling down the line at a neighborhood factory. Video: Jason Mezydlo

When clients ask me about Gowanus, they usually start with the new buildings, the amenities, the views of the canal. Those are real draws. But what you’re really moving into is this web of neighbors, the bakery that sends you to the café, the restaurant that weathered the pandemic with the bar across the street, the gallery that wants to sell you your very first painting. That’s the part no floor plan can show you, and it’s the reason I keep coming back.

More Places the Neighbors Love

Nearly every answer ended with a shout-out, so here’s the list for your next walk.

Thank you to Uri, Talia, Matthew, Paul and Mary, Miguel and Vanessa for opening your doors and sharing your stories. This is the Gowanus I love, and I can’t wait to see what you all do next.

Thinking About Gowanus?

If a day like this sounds like home, I’d love to show you around. I know these blocks well, from the new rentals along the canal to the brownstone streets of Park Slope, Carroll Gardens and Boerum Hill around them, and I can help you find a place within walking distance of your new favorite bakery. Reach out anytime, and we’ll take the walk together.

Reach out to me at 347.286.5797, jason@gordonrealtypartners.com, or JasonMezydlo.com, and follow along on Instagram at @JasonMezydlo for homes, neighborhoods and design ideas.

Sources

  1. NYC DOT to reopen the Carroll Street Bridge over the Gowanus Canal, NYC Department of Transportation, June 2026
  2. Carroll Street Bridge Designation Report, NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission
  3. Café Mars, Michelin Guide
Show all 11 sourcesShow fewer
  1. Vegan, Gluten-Free Bakery Sixteen Mill Now Open in Brooklyn, VegOut
  2. Field of Play, fieldofplaybk.com
  3. Still Life, stilllifecafe.com
  4. Sixteen Mill Bakeshop, sixteenmill.com
  5. Café Mars, cafemarsbk.com
  6. Surfish Bistro, surfishbistro.com
  7. Evalyn’s Tap House, evalynstaphouse.com
  8. Neighbor interviews, Uri Meidan, Talia Tutak, Matthew Logsdon, Paul and Mary of Café Mars, Miguel Aguilar and Vanessa Collazos, in conversation with Jason Mezydlo (October and November 2026)

About Jason Mezydlo

Jason Mezydlo, Managing Sales Partner at Gordon Realty Partners in New York City

Jason Mezydlo is Managing Sales Partner at Gordon Realty Partners and has worked in New York City real estate since 2012. A graduate of the Harrington College of Design with a BFA in interior design, he brings a designer’s eye to every search, helping clients see what a space can become before they sign. Jason began his career in commercial leasing, guiding small business owners through site selection, lease negotiation and space planning, before moving into Manhattan’s luxury rental market and home sales across Manhattan and Brooklyn. A longtime Brooklyn resident, he pairs market expertise with a deep love for the city’s history, art and architecture.

347.286.5797 · jason@gordonrealtypartners.com · JasonMezydlo.com · @JasonMezydlo
Gordon Realty Partners · 622 3rd Avenue, New York, NY · NYS Licensed Real Estate Salesperson

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