There is nothing more exhilarating than those few seconds after the ball thumps onto the shiny lane. Frozen mid-pose, you watch as it makes the long journey from your contorted hand to the pins. Pow! Whether you’re still in need of a classy, fun, and inexpensive idea for Valentine’s Day or the gang just wants to go out somewhere new, throw on your retro bowling shirt and head to The Gutter, a place the “Dude” (and Obama) would totally approve of.
While Bedford Avenue is bustling, the walk to the borough’s hottest bowling alley is not. You’ll pass abandoned warehouses, industrial factories, loading docks, and windowless walls. And you’ll arrive, finally, at a nondescript building under a Coca-Cola sign that simply says “Bowl.”
Manhattan has a serious shortage of bowling lanes, and the few out there are frankly too trendy and expensive, even for this island; $10 a drink on top of the $6 shoe rental and $9 bowling rate is a lousy deal, especially when you know one drink won’t cut it. But a quick trip on the L train to the first stop in Brooklyn will brighten the mood and put bills back in your wallet.
The vibe inside is part retro, part industrial with a mix of flea-market lamps, old-school furniture, and exposed brick. If you’re looking for high-tech digital scorekeeping machines, you won’t find them here. Gutter uses those big consoles you remember from when you were a kid, which work well and add to the retro flair. The eight lanes are polished and pretty, and one game is only $6 before 8pm, or $7 after 8pm. Shoe rentals are $3. If you’re a night owl, you can bowl two-for-one Monday through Thursday after 1am. Before or after you bowl, have a drink at Gutter’s bar, a roomy spot in the front of the building with pool tables and big windows for watching your friends flub an easy strike. All 12 beers on tap are from local brews, and happy hour specials are Monday through Friday until 8pm and after 1am.
You won’t find more than a bag of chips at the bowling alley, but Fornino Pizza (187 Bedford Ave., Brooklyn, 718.384.6004) is a local favorite and will deliver to The Gutter all night. A popular choice for its coal and wood oven baked gourmet-style pizza, the Margherita, Spinach, and Al Roker are big hits; one large eight slice pizza is $20.
How to get there: Take the L train to Bedford Avenue (at North 7th Street). Walk north on Bedford Avenue seven blocks to N. 14th. Turn left and walk one block to Berry Street. Gutter is on the left between Berry and Wythe. To arrange a private party, email gutterbar@yahoo.com. (200 North 14th Street, Williamsburg, 718.387.3585, thegutterbrooklyn.com)
Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
Josh Laskin is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. When he is not at work or on the road, you can find him in the mountains snowboarding, climbing, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and eating bagel bites.
Annie is a travel writer, environmentalist, and surfer based in Venice, CA. She heads up our West Coast team, keeps our grammatical errors in check, and makes sure our California writers always have a plan for their next adventure. Follow Annie’s travels @annelisemcb.
Carly Pifer is a freelance writer who has been known to follow whims inspired by romantic movie scenes or colorful street style shots to India, Japan, Tunisia and Argentina. After stints living in Seoul, Boston, Paris and Los Angeles, writing and searching for something intangible, she landed somewhat steadily in Brooklyn and has begun to find inspiration in her more immediate surroundings. 
Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram