Elite Event at Brooklyn Glass

What an interesting event!!! Glass making… hmmmm. To my surprise, it turned out to be a very interesting process to see. The two guys there were showing us the process of how to make a plate and vase. It’s not a quick process. It consists of a lot of dipping an iron rod into a heated furnace and cooling the iron rod off with cold water, blowing on the opposite end of the rod to expand the glass, cutting, and shaping. This process would continue until you reached your final design.
I also found out while there, they also have glass making classes in addition to being featured in an upcoming magazine.
Thanks Peter for mixing it up. I really enjoyed this event.

Better late than never. What a great way to combine fun and learning in one event! I was so curious about the glass blowing process and was pleasantly surprised that it’s done right in the best borough — Brooklyn. My +1 and I had such an amazing time. I never knew glass blowing was such an art, allowing the sculptors to use heat among other tools to create shapes and colors. Totally mind-​blowing experience! I will admit that I got nervous given the amount of heat I can’t imagine the degrees that is necessary to make it all happen and the demonstrators/​staffers’ safety, but they were pros. I couldn’t believe they even offered classes for ordinary folks like myself. The pieces created by the students, which were on display, were pretty cool.
I really appreciated the invitation to walk into their «home.» The two gentlemen were so friendly and eager to share their passion for their work. I have a newfound appreciation for glass pieces.
The catered food was another thumbs-​up. I definitely need to visit Avlee Greek Kitchen soon.
As always, Peter D. thank you for another memorable experience. Wow!

So cool to see something new! It was crazy to learn about the glass blowing process, the techniques, and realize how long it really took for a finished product to be completed. The 2 gentlemen who provided the demos were great with answering our questions and the snacks provided were yummy. It would have been nice to have more space to see more of the demo, but still we had a great time learning!

Glass blowing is AWESOME!!! When you can work with molten lava and make it into beautiful artwork is just superior talent and skill!!! I had a great seeing these guys work. I just wish they had on handless mics so everyone could here what they were saying but other then that I had a great time!!!
The food was ok I enoyed the tastey bites that was there. However, I need to go to the restaurant to make a full anaylsis. But I WAS pleased what we had at the event, it just showed me I know Avlee is probably really awesome in there own location:)
Another great event

Lots of gas being passed because of this event.
It wasn’t the Greek food, I swear. Another Unilocaler worked for a gas distributor and worked a deal with one of the employees. Two businesses benefiting from a Unilocal event. Unilocal: Capitalism at its best!
The Brooklyn glass event was a fun and unique event, which showed me life isn’t all about drinking. That you could do things sober. And it blows. Glass blowing that is.
We got to see some awesome glass work crafted before our eyes.
The food from, Avlee Greek Kitchen, to snack on.
Peter D told a group of girls and myself to head to a room over to the right for a tour and a demonstration on how neon lights work. He joked that there was a killer on the loose and to be careful. He gave us the wrong directions. We ended up going through some random rooms which led to a dark stairwell. I informed the girls it would be a smart idea if we all split up and went our separate ways while the killer was on the loose. They thought Peter probably meant a left when he said right. I suppose their idea was better.
In the end it was a fun gathering of friends, to witness and learn about the art of glass blowing. Cool times. Thank you Brooklyn Glass for hosting us and to Peter D for setting up a unique event.

This event at Brooklyn Glass has solidified in my mind that glass blowing is hard work and amazing art! It was mindblowing to watch them create plates and glasses and bowls in front of our eyes! I love these out-​of-​the-​ordinary elite events — special thanks to Peter D. for his creative partnering with an awesome Brooklyn business!

Brooklyn Glass was awesome! Alan and Esteban were both very knowledgeable, and very friendly. I learned a great deal about glass-​making and it has given me a new found appreciation of the art of making glassware. I was amazed at how adept they were at handling the molten glass, and using the various tools to help that glass take shape. I was especially surprised by the use of simple tools such as the newspaper to help shape, or the beeswax to help keep the tongs clean and not stick to the glass. Overall, great experience and I would love to come and take a class (or three) on how to make glass myself! Thanks for the great experience guys (and gals)!

I have so much appreciation for glassblowing now! It’s such a pain to do every little detail and keep the glass at the ideal heat. It really made me wonder how all the glass items we use on a normal basis are made. Also, I found myself seriously wincing while I watched Esteban work with no gloves at all! … And all I was doing was standing around and noshing on some yummy Greek food :)
Speaking of that Greek food, Avlee was really tasty! I was happy to find that it’s actually not far from where I live so I totally am going to go eat there soon!
Thank you Brooklyn Glass, Avlee, and Peter D! (Oh hey that rhymes!)

Usually we attendees are the hottest stuff in the room at Brooklyn Elite events but this time we had some competition from the 2800 degree bath of molten glass that the kind folks at Brooklyn Glass would dip into to show us how they make some of the wares. Knowing how glass is melted, handled, blown and cooled is very insightful and gives you a new appreciation for your uh… tobacco smoking accessories.
I would definitely like to come back for some neon tube making classes as I’ve always wanted a pair of glowing boobs on my living room wall.

Another fun Elite event! It was nice to change it up and do something completely different from the usual bar/​restaurant. Although I shed a tear for no booze, it was still a great time. I enjoyed watching and listening to the guys up front as they made vases and plates, and checking out the neon sign making class in the back. Who knew this place was tucked into Gowanus not too far from Whole Foods! Thanks to Peter D for putting it together, and for filling in as server when the Greek Kitchen people bailed.

What a great Wednesday evening in Gowanus! Peter D is always throwing outstanding parties to get the Unilocaler’s together. THank you Brooklyn Glass for showing us how you make beautiful pieces of art from glass, as well as the instructor for the neon workshop. I sampled everything from Avlee (except the eggplant) and it was all so tasty and i wanted more! I really enjoyed the feta spice dip and the beet salad, oh and the baklava was fantastic! Thanks for feeding us Avlee! Will definitely stop by your restaurant in Carroll gardens for Greek cuisine.
The Brooklyn Glass guys were all so nice and laid back. Thank you!

Peter D knows how to throw quite the party. A bit far from where I live, but totally worth the distance. Brooklyn Glass was awesome, the guys doing the demos were great. The greek food via Alvee was delicious and thanks
for the beverages and swag.
Watching the demostrations while they made different glass items was cool… I mean I’ve seen in on TV and it was cool, but this was in person and thus concluded to me wanted to be able to make cool glass objects. The neon lights portion was pretty awesome too… I now know how they bend glass.

Thanks to Brooklyn Glass, Peter D., and Avlee Greek Kitchen for the fun Gowanus evening. Although I couldn’t actually hear much of the glass-​blowing presentations in the front, the neon workshop in the back was awesome. I met a few BK Glass instructors and they have me pretty convinced that I need to design and build a neon sign for my apartment. The food was really, really good. I think I still have garlic breath, but it was worth it. The tyropita and feta/​garlic/​cucumber dip were delicious.
Really, the only downside to the event was that I have John Mayer’s «Neon» song stuck in my head.

Food and art does go hand in hand, especially as exemplified in this wonderful elite event at Brooklyn Glass. As always, Unilocal events never disappoint. It is always a pleasure attending these events.
I wanted to give my utmost gratitude to: 1) Peter for always planning these awesome events, 2) staff at Brooklyn Glass for teaching us about glass blowing & neon sign making, 3) Greek Kitchen for their delicious appetizers (pita w/​hummus, tzatziki and tirokafteri spread, prune rolls w/​walnut, pita chipz, tiropita, spanakopita, baklava), and 4) staff from
for informing us about their new online ordering website that makes it easy for anyone to order food, wine, and liquor.
And, a big thanks to David for such an enlightening and very engaging discussion about neon sign making, which is another element of art that I have never witnessed. It was such an eye opener, and I wholeheartedly enjoyed your demonstrations.
After this event, I am looking forward to dining in at Greek Kitchen, and enrolling my sister & I at Brooklyn Glass for an introductory neon sign making class.

When I told my friends that I was going to a glass blowing event, some said «Cool!», some sneered «Hipster!» — Either way, I’d been looking forward to it since the molten hot invite landed in my inbox…
I didn’t know what to expect, but was blown away (too much?) watching the experts turn glowing globs of glass into absolutely beautiful pieces. I have no idea how long it would take to hone such skill and talent, but I am so grateful for the opportunity to watch their mastery at work and share my awestruck comments with fellow Elite.
I want to give a huge shout out to
and Alvee as well! That was the best baklava I have had in a long time, not too soggy from the honey, light and crunchy on the inside, packed with cinnamon… I had almost given up on baklava, so thank you Alvee for bringin me back!

Thank you Brooklyn Elite Team for yet another fun night of glowing and blowing glass at Brooklyn Glass!
Glass blowing is what seemed to only be a dying art that one would see at the Renaissance Faire, but here, it is a revisited art form, with classes to stimulate your creativity.
Glass blowing is a lot about steady hands, patience, and more patience, to complete the artwork you’re striving for. The demonstrations were fascinating; I think all us Unilocalers looked like a deer caught in headlights after a while just looking at the warm glow of the glass melting! So awesome!
David, part owner of the place, gave a demonstration about the wonderful world of neon signs as an actual 5 week class was going on; students hard at work, and so focused! David explained the capability of different gases emitting different colors, as well as colored tubes to give the correct feel that one would want in a sign. The workshop was a best kept secret, for my +1 and I only knew about it by talking to one of the workers there. I wish there was a sign or something to let more people know.
The food… oh the food! What a wonderful spread! The baklava was the showstopper to my stomach!
Thank you for the fun!

When you read an invite to a Unilocal event and it says «you must sign a waiver» and «no alcohol will be available due to safety reasons,» you better believe you’re in for an adventurous event to say the least.
This was my 2^nd Elite event, and it was sooo completely different than the first. First, the neighborhood of Gowanus. You don’t expect much to be found in Gowanus. But it had many surprises. This is one of them. As you walk in, you can’t help but notice many neon lights, and large furnaces. …and then the warmth hits you as you walk a few feet away from the entry.
The amazing staff at Brooklyn Glass welcomed us into their home, showing us what they are most proud of: 1) glassblowing and 2) how they make neon lights. Both were very cool. Some may consider both arts somewhat dated, but they are far from it. And both can be forms of beauty and modern décor. Decanter? Vase? Maybe a lamp? …As for neon, Brooklyn Glass has orders from all over the world, including Balthazar in London, and Odeon here in the city. The technology may date back to the early 1900s, but many aspects of neon lighting have evolved quite a bit. The ever-​so-​talented David of Brooklyn Glass gave us some great neon demos — including a filling demo involving charging up the glass tubes with argon, or xenon gas and then lighting them — all of which I am truly thankful for.
It was truly an experience complemented by the great foods of Avlee Greek Kitchen, and various drinks from
. My favorites were the spanakopitas — spinach and cheese wrappy in phyllo — and the Fig Rolls — Greek figs stuffed with feta and wrapped in cured pork. Big thanks to the vendors, to Brooklyn Glass, and to Peter D for organizing hosting such a cool event.

Awesome activity! Thanks Peter D. for organizing and inviting us to experience the magic in glass blowing! The talent at Brooklyn Glass was amazing and definitely very interactive, intelligent which made the experience a great one. Big shout out to Brooklyn Glass for being such awesome hosts and teaching us some new stuff about the art of glass blowing and lighting!
A little information about glass:
Glass is sand melted at 2000 degrees over night in a specialized clay furnace, when the liquid sand cools down we get liquid glass. We then mix different metal oxides to change the colors and use a metal stainless steel pipe to pull batches of liquid glass out of the furnace.
Each time the stainless steel pipe is dipped in the furnace it picks up more glass, the pipe conducts the heat and acts as a straw. When air is blown into it, it creates a space inside the glass and expands it.
A second furnace is used to reheat the glass to ensure it can continue to be molded. This furnace oven is kept at 2300 to 2400 degrees. This process is repeated until they glass molder creates the perfect piece. Once the glass piece is crafted, they add the final product into a oven at lower temperatures to ensure the glass cools down at slow rates and it doesn’t crack due to quick cooling.
A big surprise about Brooklyn glass is that they also make neon signs. This was probably the most cool thing to see!
They buy tubes from Italy that are coated in colors and they collect neon gas inside. Later with electricity, they display a glow.
While a lightbulb is in a vacuum to prevent the film string from burning, it uses the infrared to produce light and heat. Neon is also packed under low pressure and once lit can be used to light up rooms. It’s about the same efficiency of that of a fluorescent light but it is more effective when dimmed.
Interesting historical note: The first neon signs were made in the 20s and there are some that can still be lit today from that decade. No one is completely sure how long they will last. They definitely pass the test of time! TVs used to use neon lighting before we moved to LED.
Neon gas can even mimic incandescent light, all it would miss is infra red (heat). Basically a normal lightbulb gets the light from lighting up the infrared. If you add color to the glass, then you can make the light change.
Most of the the glass bought here for neon lighting is made in Italy. American glass used to only make blue as they dedicated to laboratory glass. Some interesting glass bought there contains low quantities of uranium making the glass glow when put under a black light. The uranium in some glass is mildly less than in an italian ceramic tile.
When creating words in a neon sign, the glass is bent in reverse to help with reading the words.
When adding the neon gas to a glass tube, you need to add mercury as well. You first need to suck out the air, from atmosphere pressure to about 4 torr and then to –5 torr. This is how you ionize the gas.
Krypton (white) and Argon (purple) are other color gasses and neither produces heat. There has been no study performed on how using I heated lighting would affect the human race as we tend to like the heating emitted from our lightbulbs. That is something interesting to ponder about!