The warmest day since October

Hope you had or have a chance to enjoy today's beautiful warmth and sunshine.

These folks did.

Photo Wednesday 05/012/10 : Double Duty Dad Edition

Occasionally a little agenda less posting is in order. I snapped this in D.U.M.B.o (or is it Brooklyn Heights, meh too much reorganizing of the nabes) and I think it's a fun pic. I wonder what Mom was doing with her free time?

Missed it Mondays: Wknd of 8/16-8/17 Bushwick Edition

What an amazing weekend! Hope yours was amazing too, here's what I caught and what I missed:

Spread love is the Brooklyn Bushwick Way?!?

So I don't get out to Bushwick a lot. Fact is the first time I hit up the hood there it was 1989, and it's not fave of mine, but maybe I need to change that opinion, cause with all things and peoples being squeezed out everywheres else, Bushwick is providing a welcome to a wide range of happ'nings...

So it was Saturday night and first I went down. The "Rock the Block" massive music festival jumped off in D.U.M.B.o. I attended, and it was a lot of venues and a lot of parties/performances, good stuff, but rather than nesting under the Bridges (where in between partying I managed to stumble into a wedding uninvited at Power House Books, and then into a music video shoot (also unvited, but I was welcomed in both cases) instead I got live out in Bushwick. All day, from various sources, in various counties in and out of NYC I was hearing about "The Rooftop Party". Considering how many rooftop parties are going down on the average day in just about every part of summer NYC, that's some serious hype.

Finally I strolled down a sketchy part of Flushing Av, and frankly, though I'm a lover of all things Brooklyn, what part of Flushing Av isn't sketchy. The particular stretch I walked was industrial, post apocalyptic, pre-bubble condo all at once.(redundant?)
And then I saw a fringe of silhouetted shapes pulsating along a distant rooftop like a giant flowerbox of backlit dandelions. A few minutes, ten dollars and 80,000 steps later I was here:

Great views:








(barely visible, cops in the background shutting it down...)

Non-stop parting, until it was stopped, thanks NYPD! Your true blue instincts were right, I was having too much fun!

Before I strolled to the rooftop party and after I left Rock the Block" I decided to peer into the speakeasy-esque spot that straddles the board of BedStuy and Bushwick, a place that seems to have no name, and floats much the same over several underground NY eras.

I won't say where, I won't say how (perhaps you already know) but if you're industrious and can spot the lone doorman (who also needs to spot you to show you the way in) than you too can indulge your late 80's lower east side fantasy party/performance venue jones.

Once in I was surrounded by kids (20ish from the looks) for whom Hipster is an aspiration instead of a diss...



There were barely functioning facilities and something that passed for a stage.

A Dj played to through a slightly overblown sound system that had the useful effect of forcing conversations to be held cheek to cheek.
Here's a last look, maybe you'll spot your interns, an upcoming designer or just your lecherous older brother....




Things I missed this weekend: Chico Mann, DJ Ian Friday and Brand Nubian @ Littlefield (really sorry I missed that!) the Brooklyn Flea, another round at der Schwarze Kölner biergarten, and the sunday night movie at Habana Outpost.

BTW I've heard a rumor that the Soul Summit will be back for a day at Fort Greene Park next week. If anyone can confirm I'd appreciate it!

Weekend One-Liners 8/14-8/16 Another Party Edition

Friday Night August 14th

Long Island City:
Roof Party NY Ravel Hotel
8-08 Queens Plaza South 7pm - 2am

Saturday August 15th

ROCK THE BLOCK BK" -Brooklyn's Urban Arts Festival
Saturday 12pm to Sunday 4:00am
147 Front St. Betwn Jay St. & Pearl
Literally a ton of events, performers, DJs, among several venues, check the website:
(Among them the group HEAvy, DJ Scratch & DJ Spinna...)
For tickets & more info:
http://www.rocktheblockbk.com

Gowanus:
The Old American Can Factory, Courtyard
232 3rd Street, bet. 3rd and 4th Avenue 11pm - 4am
AFROKINETIC+Chris Annibell present

CARMINA SOUL feat. GE-OLOGY
DJ CHRIS ANNIBELL, AMON on percussion
+ EDWARD JAHN on visuals
@ The Old American Can Factory

Celebrating Afrokinetic Photographer
Amanda Adams-Louis's Birthday!!!

Sunday August 16th

Weekend One-Liners 8/8-8/9

Saturday August8th

Crown Heights

PARK DELICATESSEN SKATE SHOP AND GARDENING SUPPLY
Park Delicatessen`s BIGGEST skate jam of the summer is finally here!!

ALL NEW RAMPS!!,LIVE MUSIC!!,GIVEAWAYS!!,NO CORPORATE SPONSORS!!,NO E DRINK GIRLS!!
Music starts at noon - 533 Park Place
Between Washington And Classon Ave.
2, 3, 4, 5 to Franklin Ave.
S to Park Place
Feel free to call (them) at the shop with any Questions!!!! 718-789-8889

Clinton Hill

Brooklyn Bayou Brunch in Fort Greene/Clinton Hill
Saturday, August 8th from 10 am until 1 pm

Council Member James will graciously act as your server during brunch from 10am – 1pm on Saturday August 8th at Autour Du Monde restaurant, located at 860 Fulton Street near Clinton Avenue in Brooklyn – She will assist the chefs and act as waitress for the many food lovers who attend this affordable weekly event, which also features live jazz music. Entrees served include the following: Beignets and Coffee; Bananas Foster Waffles; Shrimp Po-Boys; French Quarter Chicken; and Brooklyn Bayou Breakfast.

You are invited to come share this extraordinary New Orleans experience with her and the community at Autour Du Monde restaurant in Fort Greene/Clinton Hill to host a New Orleans style Brooklyn Bayou Brunch this Saturday.

Where: Autour Du Monde restaurant, 860 Fulton Street (corner of Clinton Avenue – C train to Clinton-Washington exit & B25 & B26 buses along Fulton Street)

For more information contact: Claire Wood at (917) 209-7466, and/or Amyre Loomis at (718) 260-9191

Fort Greene

DER SCHWARZE KöLNER Dale Hall, an Englishman who spent 17 years in Germany, moved to the United States six years ago. He and Randi Lockemann, left, imported German furniture. On Aug. 8, the two are opening a beer hall in Fort Greene, where they live. Sausages, communal tables and 18 German brews on tap are all you need to know. The name, Mr. Hall said, refers both to Cologne’s famous sooty cathedral (schwarze means black) and to Mr. Hall’s Afro-Jamaican heritage: 710 Fulton Street (South Oxford Street ), Fort Greene, Brooklyn, (347) 841-4495. (from the NY Times)

Prospect Park
Celebrate Brooklyn & Lyricist Lounge Present
Big Daddy Kane
performing live with his band
Connie Price And The Keystones

Hosted and special performance by
The #1 Beat Boxer In The World: Rahzel feat. DJ JS-1

Exclusive Brooklyn Tribute video mix by VJ Ralph Mcdaniels!
Screening of BDK: The Big Daddy Kane Story

Also Performances by

Blitz The Ambassador
Emilio Rojas
Retro Kidz

@ Prospect Park Bandshell
(9 St. & Prosect Park West)

Show @ 7 PM Sharp! It's FREE!!!

Sunday August9th

D.U.M.B.o.
Brooklyn Flea 11am - 6pm Under the Brooklyn Bridge(actually)

Fort Greene
Habana Outpost is having their movie night sunday starting sunset and featuring Star Wars!

Weekend One-Liners 7/10-7/12

Friday, July 10, 2009 7:30 p.m. (this one I'm late on, I know...)
Celebrate Brooklyn! Presents Los Amigos Invisibles & Aterciopelados
A featured performance as part of the Latin Alternative Music Conference (LAMC), this double bill brings together two great South American acts.
http://www.prospectpark.org/calendar/event/141658

Saturday July 11th

Saturday, July 11th at 2pm
Yes there is more than one Flea in Brooklyn and Councilmember James will be there!
"Smoothie Making Event at the Franklin/Sterling Flea Market
Council Member Letitia James and Carleen Haughton, owner of Bristen’s Eatery located at 751 Franklin Avenue, will be serving up fresh smoothies to the community on Franklin Avenue and Sterling Place (next to 751 Franklin Avenue)"

ALL DAY Saturday
Every year on July 11th (7/11 get it?) 7-Eleven celebrates their birthday by giving away Free Slurpees!!! And today on their 82nd birthday they will give away 7.11 ounce slurpees at over 6,000 locations. Store locator: http://www.7-eleven.com/StoreLocator/tabid/214/Default.aspx

Sat. July 11 - 11:45 AM
Brewed in Brooklyn Tour ($45:holy crap!) includes: A private tour+A slice of pizza+Stories of brewing+Tastings of traditional German beer and Brookyn beer with gourmet small plates at Huckleberry Bar.
http://www.urbanoyster.com/brewed-in-brooklyn-tour.html

Sat. July 11, 4:00 PM
A Very Special Show with They Might Be Giants
Featuring Readings of Keats Stories by Claudia Marshall of WFUV
http://www.tmbg.com/index1.html

Sat. July 11, 6:00 PM
Narrows Knockout! Staten Island Yankess vs. Brooklyn Cyclones!!
"Be one of the first 2,500 fans and you'll get a free PEPSI visor! And don't forget to stay for a post-game fireworks show!"
http://www.coneyislandfunguide.com/Events/Brooklyn-Cyclones-vs-SI-Yankees_7_11_2009-1802.htm

Danny Simmons Corridor Gallery
“Portraits of Obama” will be up through July 25 at Corridor Gallery, 334 Grand Avenue, open Thursday through Saturday from 1 to 6 p.m.
http://fort-greene.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/09/new-ways-to-see-the-president/

Sunday July 12th

"Brooklyn Bridge Flea takes place directly under the world's most beautiful bridge...vendors of vintage furniture, clothing, collectibles and antiques, as well as new jewelry, art and crafts by local artisans, plus delicious food...open from 11am to 6pm every Sunday."
http://www.brownstoner.com/brooklynflea/

Sunday July 12th 1-8pm
Afro-Punk Block Party: Clinton Ave between Myrtle and Willoughby
FREE! "The 2nd Annual Afro-Punk Block Party, Live Music, DJs and D.I.Y. Fashion, food and craft vendors...underground and local artists, performances by John Forte, Joya Bravo, Maiysha Shinobi Ninja"
http://www.afropunk.com/page/afropunk-2009

Photo Wed: 4/22/09 : Down by the Docks

When I was about 16 or 17 I found D.U.M.B.o.

It had no name then. Vinegar Hill was essentially still lost to time, yet to be recovered.

Of course there were no state parks, no grass actually except for the sculpted hills surrounding the BQE, no condos of course, not even the art studios that last longer in memory than they did in reality had been brought into existence yet.

With the exception of a few fellow Puerto Ricans I saw in the windows of a squat apartment building on the corner of Front Street, there were essentially no residences. It was no where. Basically if someone asked me that first day where I had been I would have said,"the waterfront, down by the docks".

On my soon to be stolen bike, I bumped slowly over cobblestones, tracing the path of phantom trolley cars along actual tracks, trying so hard to get my tires to fit into their grooves.

At night, down by the docks in brooklyn, I'm reminded of that unrefined place.

PhotoWed: 4/15/09 - a Bridge too...

we're all travelers


Brooklyn Born is in transition on this photo/wednesday

Fall Foliage Fotos Series #2

here's a festive Friday fall frame. This one from the park in D.U.M.B.o


Happy Friday

PhotoWed - 10/22/08 - Recent B'klyn happ'nings

I'm behind on blogs and photos. Here's a bunch of stuff I've noticed in the last month...

Fall foliage colors D.u.m.b.o.

The Petcher's(aka Ward) Bakery (Prospect Heights) is almost gone
Fulton Street (Bedstuy to Clinton Hill) is getting new sidewalks (finally)
Under the Manhattan Bridge (D.u.m.b.o.) has become a skinnydipping hottie spot

The Albee Square Mall (Downtown) is a memory
Grand Army Plaza is going Extreme Makeover
A very preggers M.I.A. performed in this space at the Diesel XXX party.
Ft. Green Park is getting color
(and the Sailor's Monument is still on lock down)

More photos to come...