The Brooklyn Clubs Where People Actually Dance
Lauren Van Der Laan on raving as spiritual necessity and the Brooklyn dancefloors worth shutting your mouth for.
Lauren Van Der Laan sees the dancefloor as a spiritual necessity — not a preference, a need — and she’s organized her life around that.
She’s a creative director by day and a DJ with Moving Company, the collective that throws pop-up parties at Joe’s Pizza, on the Brooklyn Bridge — basically anywhere that feels unexpected and deeply New York.
“Nightlife builds community and encourages genuine human connection,” she says. The kind you can’t get from an algorithm, or standing on the dancefloor yapping instead of, you know, dancing.
For Co-Sign Vol. 006, Lauren shares her favorite spots in Brooklyn to go when you want to move your body.
THE CO-SIGNS
Vol. 006: Lauren Van Der Laan
Where to go in Brooklyn when you actually want to dance, according to Lauren.
Greenroom, 195 Morgan Avenue, Bushwick
One of the best sound systems in New York, hidden away in a former plant nursery. No phones allowed, this dancefloor is for dancing.
Gabriela, 90 Wythe Avenue, Williamsburg
Started by New York’s main man, Eli Escobar. Such a fun room, he always brings in real selectors for a good evening of dancing.
Nowadays, 56-06 Cooper Avenue, Ridgewood
Some of the best parties in New York happen here. It’s sweaty, it’s sexy, it goes all day and night.
Signal, 175 Morgan Avenue, Bushwick
Excellent curation for the real music heads. The club feels intimate, yet large enough to get lost in the crowd. The lineups here are always stacked with amazing DJs, and people are here to dance.
Public Records, 233 Butler Street, Gowanus
A beautiful soundroom, a second room that doubles as a dining room, and a high-end cocktail bar with vinyl DJ sets. You can have an entire journey in one night without ever even leaving the club.
Nightmoves, 295 Grand Street, Williamsburg
The door is notoriously hard for a reason. Started by LCD Soundsystem’s James Murphy, this place has kept its integrity. With mostly vinyl DJ sets, natural wines, and a vintage feeling light up dancefloor, you just can’t go wrong.
Basement, 52-19 Flushing Avenue, Ridgewood
This might be one of the best clubs in the world. Where queer nightlife thrives in NYC.
Refuge, 366 Ten Eyck Street, Bushwick
A sound system that is an audiophile’s dream and a ‘floating’ floor that prevents aching knees after long hours of dancing.
H0L0, 10-90 Wyckoff Ave, Ridgewood
Great curation, with their indoor/outdoor/restaurant leaving lots of room for fun and play.
333stag, 333 Stag Street, Bushwick
Great for if you’re out late. Ehm, I mean early... ;)
Jupiter Disco, 1237 Flushing Avenue, Bushwick
You never know what you’re gonna get at this wacky little club. Fantastic for a goofy night out.
Knockdown Center, 52-19 Flushing Avenue, Ridgewood
A diverse lineup of bookings and always enough space to dance. Good for big groups. The day parties in the Ruins during the summer are amazing.
Elsewhere, 599 Johnson Avenue #1, Bushwick
A NYC classic. Three rooms with different DJs (and the rooftop in the summer!), there’s something for everyone there. Great for exploring with big groups, as you’ll all end up on your own journeys.
Mansions, 46-63 Metropolitan Avenue, Ridgewood
A little carpeted dance floor where music leans more towards the electronic and the alternative. Great for drinks and dancing.
Click for Lauren’s Google Map of NYC →
THE CITY INTERVIEW
How did you end up in NYC, and what made you stay?
I moved here for college and never left. The energy in the city is palpable. As they say, the city never sleeps, and you can always find something to do. New York City is the meeting point of culture, art, and fashion. It’s a city that pushes you to continuously grow, and I’m constantly amazed at what I learn every day.
How has living in NYC shaped your sense of self, your creative practice, or your worldview?
The ability to be free and be whoever you want to be. You can show up exactly as you are; there is space for everyone. Beyond that, the melting pot of cultures has always been inspiring to me. I have friends from all different walks of life and it’s so cool to learn about their cultures and beliefs. As someone from a multicultural background who grew up in a largely homogenous country, New York has inspired me to stand firm in my duality, to continue pushing past the norm, and embrace my complexities.
On your best days, what does living here feel like?
Exhilarating. It’s a run-in with friends on the street. It’s leaving your house at 10 a.m. for an errand and ending up back home the next day at 6 a.m. It’s riding over the Williamsburg Bridge and staring at the skyscrapers. It’s a sweet, sticky summer day.
What’s one thing people consistently misunderstand or get wrong about NYC?
New York gets a bad rep for being lonely and difficult to navigate. Although that can ring true at times, that doesn’t mean you have to do it alone. A lot of New Yorkers don’t have family nearby, so we rely on our friends and our neighbors to help us out in a pinch. People offer small kindnesses all the time. The sense of community runs deep in this city, so even though you may be lonely, you’ll never be truly alone.
Describe the soul of NYC in three words.
Electrifying. Playful. Resilient.
CO-SIGN WORLDWIDE
The sexiest hotel you’ve ever stayed at:
The Standard Miami.
The most beautiful place you’ve ever visited:
I honestly find a lot of beauty in the mundane things, but the most beautiful place I’ve ever been has to be Colombia. The flora and fauna are so diverse, the people are so warm, and the food is amazing. I still have so much to see, but I’ll never tire of being there.
Overrated destination:
Los Angeles, sorry not sorry.
A place you’ve gatekept — until now:
I gatekeep the best parts of Amsterdam for those closest to me, but De Engelbewaarder on the Kloveniersburgwal on a Sunday is just one of the most amazing experiences. They have a live jazz band inside a pub in a canal house. You can just go and watch the music with a drink, or alternatively, their dinner menu is fantastic, and they have an array of board games as well.
Underrated destination:
Toronto. Fabulous food scene, great vintage shopping, and some very cool and lovely people.
A destination, hotel, or experience still on your bucket list:
So basic but, Japan! I’ve been dying to go.
The greatest city in the world right now:
New York, always and forever.