Union Pool is located on 484 Union Avenue, Brooklyn, at the corner of Union & Meeker.  It lies in the shadow of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway.  It also lies in the Williamsburg area of Brooklyn, just one stop on the L away from Music Hall in Williamsburg and Sound Fix Records.

The main front area of Union Pool is a large bar with booths as well (the venue had originally been a pool supply store, thus the name).  At the other end is an outdoor patio area, which one must walk through, in order to get to the stage floor area.  To the right, within the bar, are the bathrooms.  To the right in the patio area, is the entrance to the stage floor area, after one passes through yet another foyer, and makes a left.  The small stage floor area has a non-tap bar on the house-right, and a set of stairs to the house-left.  The stage itself is a few feet off the ground, with an lip, curtains, and surrounding lights that seem more suited to vaudeville (though nowhere near that size).

Other than country nights on Monday, the shows at Union Pool are mostly indie-rock.  The acts aren’t that major, more in line with small Bowery area venues like Cake Shop and Piano’s, though do seem to draw more from Brooklyn.  However, the ticket prices aren’t that much, and neither are the beers – plus it’s still a cut above such DIY Brooklyn locales as Market Hotel or Death By Audio.  Like the small Bowery venues, it’s not a must-see, but if a band you want to see happens to be playing there, it’s a great place to catch them.

Capacity: 74 (stage floor area)

21+

Address:

484 Union Avenue (Corner of Union & Meeker)

By Subway:

L or G to Lorimer Avenue – walk two blocks north on east side of Union

QRO Coverage:

-Mugison, with Trophy Scars and Bellman Barker - Mugison photos, Trophy Scars photos, Bellman Barker photos

-Emily Haines & James Shaw (of Metric) - live review, photos

-The Jealous Girlfriends and Sam Champion, May 20th, 2008 – live review, The Jealous Girlfriends photos, Sam Champion photos

-Hey Willpower!, Men and omg MICHELLE!, March 6th, 2008 – Hey Willpower! photos, Men photos, omg MICHELLE! photos

Emily Haines & James Shaw (of Metric) - "Fantasies" (new song), Brooklyn, NY, 9/7/08
Emily Haines & James Shaw (of Metric) - "Live It Out", Brooklyn, NY, 9/7/08

Click here for the venue's website 

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