Views of a born and bred Brooklynite. (umbrooklynborn@gmail.com) This blog satisfies my need to hear and air feelings of B'klyn from the people whose life experience were born here. Hopefully it'll balance to some of the revisionist historical musings I've seen as if Bklyn barely existed before the 90's. Brooklyn as Tabula Rasa. If we can all live as best possible while appreciating the past and neighbors we've inherited that would be great too.
What a year this has been so far, just yesterday the Great Spirit of Gil Scott-Heron passed across us all, and without gettin in too deep, that event reinforces how much of a year of transitions and lasting world altering change this has been already. There have been similar shifts in my personal life and I've noticed some changes in the local bloggy world, which I'll be getting into in future posts but yes, even without a discernible fictions rapture, it seems there is much realigning in our lives this year.
Thats a big lead in, but in times of uncertainty celebration of life and tradition is always good, and a great example of that is the annual and ongoing event Dance Africa at the Brooklyn Academy of Music this Memorial Day weekend.
Dance Africa has stood for over 30 years as a kick-off to Summer events in Brooklyn and throughout the city and it also the place for Great Culture, Great Food, Great Sounds all downtown in Brooklyn of course. After the damp grey May we've had it's time to get this Summer going!
Tomorrow's the big day, the party in the park (Prospect not Fort Greene) in memory of Michael Jackson. Expect to see Spike Lee and Boro Prez Marty, and hear DJ Spinna, more details from Gothamist, who I appreciate for doing the heavy blog lifting.
Remember it's 12-5pm, rain or shine, Nethermead lawn of the Park.
This past weekend started with the threat of messy storms and ended (for me at least) with a purifying rain dance.
The weekend was just getting going Friday when I can across this young brother, I don't know the specific why he was at this bus stop near Classon Av, but he was playing a soulful brand of bluesy sound all of a sudden.
Like to hear it, here it go! (warning there will be a loud burp, not me, but my apologies)
After last Friday's controversial debate which resulted in the Michael Jackson/Spike Lee Block Party being moved from Fort Greene to Prospect Park I decided Saturday to refresh my memory of the area and see if it was as far from a grocery store, deli, bodega, restaurant and or cafe as I remember. It is.
As you can see from the pix, it's a lovely plot of land, but expect a walk to get to the back of the bus park, Nethermead.
My travels through the park brought me close enough to the heart of Flatbush, to be lured by nostalgia. I lived a lot of years in Flatbush and yet somehow it doesn't make it's way into my blog as much as it's in my heart.
I'm reminded every time i pass this way how much of a shopping/commercial center this part of the borough is, on pare with Fulton Street(Downtown and Bed-Stuy), Pitkin Av, in the way retail centers used to be arranged but not totally unified, the way a strip mall would be. It's also impressive to see the amount of people and business that are still out here, from Sears, to Staples, Rainbow shops these are the businesses local residents rely on for their shopping needs. One aside, it never made sense to drive through this part of Flatbush, and as you can see, it still doesn't.
And then I decided to look for food, and I really was looking for some Jerk Chicken, or Veggie Roti, but my fave Jerk spot has gone (was on Flatbush between Clarkson and Lenox Rd) morphed into a vegetarian restaurant called "Zen" (but no Palet). So I trekked on seeking Caribbean culinary flare and wound up here:
Why? Because I haven't had a slice here in at least a decade and if memory serves this is the first place I was introduced to pizza. I used to live (everywhere in Brooklyn) and among many addresses I lived just off Cortelyou Road with my Mom, as a child. We'd take the bus from Crown Heights, and wait forever for the B23 (which used to start it's run right in front of the pizzeria) to come take us down to East 3rd and Cortelyou. I remember one particularly long wait led my mom to go in and the rest was history, or at least the subject of a longer post, which I'll write later.
So I stopped. And thought to myself,"how many years have these guys been here?" And in answer to my query there was the sign adorning the top of the joint, signaling it's 40 year anniversary. So I went in. The place is changed, but then when I lived here there were still solid vestiges of the 40s and 50s visible in this part of Flatbush. For example a theater on the slender side of Cortelyou at Flatbush Avenue had been there since vauville, it was closed when I was a kid but still very prominent in it's antiquey details. The Albemarle was still there and it's where I saw the Empire Strikes Back (I came out of that screening so despondent at Luke's predicament that my mom consoled me with the very first McDonald's "Happy Meal". It worked. When the Albermarle closed in the 80's it became this church: Not to be confused with the long dormant Loews Kings Theater (below), one of the few things I truly agree with the Boro Prez on, (that the theater should be preserved and reused as such.
These are a few examples of why it's so amazing that Antonios' Pizza is still going. Up until the 70's this area was a mix of Italian, Irish and African-Americans with trace amounts of Middle Easter and Hispanic pops, now if I don't hear a Caribbean accent I feel almost certain I'm listening to a new-comer.
Anyway as I'll detail later, I had a little convo with the workers there, before gobbling down my slice with sausages (not how I used to but times change) and taking off again.
Eventually I was surrounded by residences and block parties: and I was so far from the city side of Brooklyn that it only made sense to head for the sea. I was especially curious if I'd see any effect from the then Hurricane Bill on the shore.
I headed aimlessly on to Midwood, another place I've spent a chunk of life-time and all I got was the remembrance that Midwood streets (in addition to being well served by the city, thanks to an influential constituency) are really wide. Insanely wide. It most have been part of the planning when these tracts of land were made, to create boulevard style lanes, but damn, you could build new blocks in the center of these streets. Ocean Parkway isn't much different, but at least it calls it self a parkway:
On the way, I had to stop in Brighton Beach. After all if I shows love to my Caribbean Gangsters (not really) how can I neglect my Russian Mobsters (really not really). I strolled down the ave and this is what I saw:
Russian Signage! The next time the "English as official Language" choir starts up, demanding all Spanish language signs come down, I'd like to see them pitch their shtick out here in "Little Odessa". If Boris doesn't have to write signs in English, why should Juan have to? Gawking ate signs gave way to staring at rows of pastries which I ate and ate
Btw this placed just opened: and they were having beer specials (shout out to my comrades!)
Finally I reached the ocean (not really) and at Coney Island there was...Dancing! I'd totally forgotten about the long running Coney Island Dancers' Boardwalk Dance Party.
It's free, fun and every Saturday during the summer. The Coney Island Dancers (who dance in many places actually) have a myspace page with event info, you can also join the Organic (dance) Movement, another group dedicated to social dancing, here.
Saturday ended with nightfall at Coney, no Hurricane in sight, but I did spot a Cyclone. Followed by a frigid Q train home.
Sunday Three words. Soul Summit, baptismal.
I got confirmation earlier that yesterday would be the last Soul Summit of the year and peoples and nature proved yet again that Fort Greene Park can handle a party.
As hearts, hours and rhythm pulsed on, all things were joined by a trickle of rain that became a downpour. Each boost of rain intensity was answered by joyous shouts and enraptured words from the crowd. Then the music stopped, and the party..? See for yourself.
And that was my weekend. Only a few summer weekends left, don't miss them.
What an amazing weekend! Hope yours was amazing too, here's what I caught and what I missed:
Spread love is the BrooklynBushwick 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!
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
We've one full month of summer left to go and about to begin, so I offer you a *4Boro Party Edition of weekendOneliners (*S.I. hollar at ya boy!)
Friday July 31st Lower East Side Le Poisson Rouge - 158 Bleecker St. & Sullivan St. Door:($?) "DJ Moma" Bringing his eclectic brand of flavor to the FREEDOM Dancefloor 2nite! DJ Cosi & Herbert Holler will rock tonight for your dancing & listening pleasure as well...3 DJs, two turntables, one mic. The way it's always been at Freedom. *Hosted by: Tony S.,Miguel,Marc Smooth, Stone Jackson,Erik, C-Black,Grae Ent.
Saturday August 1st
Queens (L.I.C.) P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center PS1 August 1 Summer WarmUp: Chez Damier, House of House, Kai Alce, and Stars Like Fleas (as usual Dancing will be in the courtyard, food and beer on sale, and exhibits in the galleries) Time: 2:00 PM to 9:00 PM 22-25 Jackson Ave at the intersection of 46th Ave Long Island City, NY 11101 (718) 784-2084 www.ps1.org
Harlem - Cabana de Capoeira - Enjoy sabor & libations from around the world from the fabulous GARDEN up to the scenic ROOFTOP of a historic brownstone. Come celebrate Abada Capoeira New York! The students of Edna Lima are fund-raising for their annual Batizado in HIGH STYLE on a BUDGET. $20 for lavish dinner, dessert & drinks all night. 78 W. 120th St. (b/w Lenox & 5th Ave) LIMITED ACCESS. rsvp.mundo@gmail.com
Sunday August 2nd
East Village Sin Sin - 85 2nd Avenue (cnr. of 5th St.) Sunday morning August 2nd @ 4am - 10am REDness presents Aftermath-Afterhours w/DJs Simon Heyliger & Cleveland Another night of bad behavior and deabauchery kids....wear your shades. http://www.theREDness.com
Last night at Sputnik in the hazy space where Clinton Hill and Bedford-Stuyvesant intermingle, DJ Spinna and Keistar Productions turned an intended Motown party into a straight Michael Jackson Tribute. As the pics show, people turned out, got of the wall and just enjoyed themselves.
As if song titled puns weren't enough, the party was hot, REALLY hot (these photos were not altered and the camera was wiped dry several times and still the heat of the crowd created the atmospheric effects you see in the pics.) Check the slide show for more, and RIP MJ.
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