Belleville Lounge Opens in Park Slope

Last night there was a lot of pâté and a burlesque dancer wearing nipple tassels at the grand opening of the Belleville Lounge in Park Slope. In the main dining room, Fancy Magazine played clips from their demented yeti big band film archives, and waiters passed around short rib canapes and French Breakfast radishes on skewers. This all took place in the name of the newish Belleville Lounge, which occupies the corner bistro's back room. Here, in addition to events like open mics and the weekly Sunday night Drag/Tea party, menu items like duck rilettes ($7) will be served. The prices are good: a baguette will a side bowl of rouille will run you $3, and there's an entire tarte flambée menu. For many, Park Slope signifies nothing less than a nightmarish, stroller-gridlocked BabyBjörn Triangle. For others still it's a way of life. Last night, the corner of 5th and 5th in Park Slope became the epicenter of strange, however briefly. Hopefully Belleville Lounge will keep it that way.