Take a little walk to edge of Park Slope down on 5th Ave between St. Marks and Warren to Lizzie King’s Parlor, a name with an origin story that seems ripe for a Nick Cave murder ballad. It comes from Elizabeth Lloyd King who lived around the corner in the late 1800s and is famous for having shot her estranged husband three times in the head. Inside is decorated with antique mirrors and a couple of fireplace mantles for a post prohibition 1930s vibe. By one of these mantels is displayed a copy of the New York Times article detailing King’s murder of Charles Goodrich.
The signature cocktails are spot on. Their names, such as Illicit Tryst, Womanhunt, and Love Letters, are more callouts to the nefarious Lizzie King. Ingredients are sourced from local (like, down the block local) vendors and as is expected of a Brooklyn gastropub, their entrees are quite tasty, though not as playfully named as the drinks. However, it is difficult to not say fava beans in a sinister Hannibal Lecter voice.
The owners take equal care in the curation of their musical acts. All performers are vetted, and this cultivates a vibe above the “here is some proficient jazz to try and talk over”—a move too many trendy bistros/venues lean on. I was excited to hear the vibrant and Django Reinhardt inspired Brooklyn Caravan whose gypsy stylings complete the ‘30s era feel of Lizzie King’s Parlor. On another night I witnessed the badass Beccs and her soul-stirring to soul-crushing singing and songwriting that harkens back to Fiona Apple in her heyday. There are, of course, the more traditional singers and pickers like Matt Wiffen a formidable student of the American songbook who comes to us by way of England and would be right at home in any honky-tonk across the nation.
One somewhat regular in rotation and infinitely noteworthy musician is Chris Q. Murphy. A one-time punk rocker who is now an illimitable folkster able to weave a tale or make tangible in song your abstract emotions acutely enough to rival Townes Van Zandt and all other Americana forebears. You can even catch him playing at LKP Oct. 29th, and I recommend you do.
All of this is to say that Lizzie King’s Parlor is worthy of your night out to pay tribute to local crime lore, sip drinks in eternal celebration of prohibition’s end, and to hear some damn fine songs by some carefully picked and damn fine singers while you do so.
Lizzie King’s Parlor October Lineup:
Tue 10/1 Augustin Grasso & Special Sauce agustingrasso.com/music
Wed 10/2 The Ben Kogan Band benkogan.bandcamp.com
Thur 10/3 Anna May annamaymusic.com
Tue 10/8 Will Armstrong willarmstrong.bandcamp.com
Wed 10/9 Lesedi Ntsane www.lesedintsane.com
Tue 10/15 Audrej Jusufbegovic www.instagram.com/andrejjusufbegovic
Thur 10/17 7th Boro www.7thboro.com
Fri 10/18 Taylor Watson www.taylormusica.org
Tue 10/22 Beccs (mentioned in this article) http://www.beccsmusic.com/
Thur 10/24 Brooklyn Caravan (mentioned in this article) https://www.brooklyncaravan.com/
Tue 10/29 Chris Q. Murphy & The Coolest Ranch (mentioned in this article) http://www.chrisqmurphy.com/
Wed 10/30 Elana Brody
https://www.mattwiffen.com/ (Mentioned in this article.)
