Morning Pickleball and Scratch-Made Pie on One Gowanus Walk
Start the day on an indoor court, then walk over for a slice of from-scratch pie under a tin ceiling.
📍 Courts to Counter in Gowanus
🏓 Start on the Courts at PKLYN
Gowanus wakes up early on 4th Street. PKLYN opens its five indoor pickleball courts at 7:00 AM every day, and drop-in play runs from 25 dollars for two hours, long enough for a proper morning session. Under 23-foot ceilings, a dedicated dink court and a stretching zone handle the warm-up, and members can grab a private shower before heading out. Classes start at 40 dollars for 60 minutes for anyone still learning the scoring.
🥧 Then a Slice at Four & Twenty Blackbirds
A short walk away on 3rd Avenue, Four & Twenty Blackbirds bakes every pie from scratch. Original wood floors and a tin ceiling give the room a retro feel, and the counter pairs traditional slices with unconventional seasonal flavors alongside coffee or tea. Doors open at 8:00 AM on weekdays, 9:00 AM on Saturday, and 10:00 AM on Sunday. Whole pies come boxed and unsliced at 10 inches, enough for eight to 10 people.
☕ Make It a Weekly Ritual
The pairing works on repeat. Book a 7:00 AM court on a weekday, play the full two-hour drop-in, and the pie counter has been open for an hour by the time the paddles go down. On weekends, slide the game later and walk in for a slice right as the doors open. Whole pies cost 45 dollars, an easy split for a group that just shared a court.
