It’s marathon weekend ya’ll. That means you gotta get your ass outta bed to catch the life-changing event of the season. Every borough in New York City will be on its feet cheering the runners on. You will laugh and cry and have an excuse to drink a beer on the street!
Even though I have never run a marathon (and probably never will), I grew up cheering my parents on. From 5k’s to marathons to triathlons, I have been on the sidelines through it all. If I learned anything in my youth as their #1 fan, I learned how to support the team. The runners who are having the best run of their life deserve as much hype as the runner who feels like the race will never end. Your participation as an observer is so important to keep morale high.
There are some key components to enjoying the marathon on the sidelines. You need a good spot so you can see the runners doing their thing - especially if you have a loved one running. A sign or confetti cannon doesn’t hurt either. They will be looking for you! You need to be cozy. No one wants to be cold while you’re standing around! And most importantly, you need to know where to get some food to eat and something hot to drink. I am here to give you a few places along the course in Brooklyn to stop while you are watching the magic happen.
Starting at the tippy top of Greenpoint is Ash Box Cafe. You can enjoy some delicious onigiri and poke with a cup of green tea as the runners speed by. This spot is great if you want a lowkey area to watch the race!
Moving our way through Williamsburg is Fini Pizza. This year they are hosting an event with ON Running. If you are looking for an amazing slice and lots of people this will be your spot. There might even be some free swag and a DJ.
Another favorite haunt in Williamsburg is Marlow and Sons. This cafe is part of the Diner family and has an amazing breakfast sandwich and espresso. I really appreciate that they have a cup small enough to fit an iced cappuccino perfectly. The small things are really what make places special.
Moving down the borough, Bittersweet in Fort Greene is my next recommendation. Being close to the park brings the crowd which is always fun. This place has great pastry and bread. You just have to get up early enough to get there before they sell out. On marathon day, that shouldn’t be a problem!
Just down the street in downtown Brooklyn is one of my favorite Middle Eastern spots that is worth going a few blocks off the marathon’s route to get. It is called Bedouin Tent. This is the place to go when the coffee and scone aren’t cutting it anymore. Everything is good, but make sure you get the spinach pie!
Continuing all the way to Sunset Park is Zona Sur Bar Bistro. Even though the name doesn’t scream breakfast, it has some amazing traditional breakfasts like avocado toast and pancakes as well as a few specialties, like my personal fave, huevos rancheros.
I hope you all stay fed and warm throughout your marathon-watching adventures. All those runners that have been training for months are counting on you to get them through this day! We have a responsibility as fans to cheer our hearts out. It will truly make you believe you can run it too.
Until next week!
Lily