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

All Steak No Sizzle: New Lt. Gov sworn in rare ceremony

Okay now, I haven't chimed in on the little matter of our state government being totally hijacked by intemperate state senators, since it demonstrates that 62 2 elected officials can take away the rights of citizens and government which makes me furious and the baby jesus cry. But, now that something seems to be happening after 30 plus days of stalemate, chime I do.

Not because the Governor enacted the controversial step of appointing Richard Ravitch Lieutenant Governor, to give the state a new second in command, which Gov Patterson was, back when previous Gov Spitzer still had a social life, and to help get the State Senate going again. And not because of the threat that the other politicians may sue the governor, and not because the new Lieutenant Governor is a career politician who has worked in gov since 1959.

My soap box song comes from the fact the new Lt. Gov got sworn in at Peter Lugar's Steakhouse here in Brooklyn.


The reason being is that whole suing thing I mentioned, Gov Patterson's people wanted to get Ravitch sworn in before lawsuits blocked the appointment and made it impossible.

Quoth the new Lt. Gov.:

‘This is my favorite restaurant, and I wouldn’t take the oath of office anywhere else.’

image editing by bklynborn©

Ms. Spiera — whose father, Sol Forman, bought the historic restaurant in 1950, and whose family owns the two Peter Luger restaurants, in Brooklyn and in Great Neck, on Long Island — added: “It seemed to be a fait accompli. I don’t know what the legalities are. I only know from steak.”

Something about all this seems perfectly normal and surreal, like our state government.

How appropriate.

Details in the Times: http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/09/ravitch-was-sworn-in-at-brooklyn-steakhouse/

Photo Wed: 7/08/09 : Janelle Monae the future now

The AfroPunk festival at BAM continued through this past Monday and featured a terrific example of what the next big thing looks like in the form of Janelle Monae. I've been hearing about Janelle for more than a year and I may have seen her a stage in the last 6 months, but what I saw on Monday was an unforgettable "I saw her when" moment.


The set was short about a half hour, in front of a crowd seasoned with neon teen skate rockers, artists of all kinds, counter-culture holds outs and Hip-Hop grandparents. The audience, hyped on Janelle for hours leading up to the show erupted when she appeared and kept high and deep energy levels for her throughout.


Her band of three was as fast and furious and rock star appropriately over the top as Janelle was, black ties and all. Janelle as you'll see in the pics, has a specific style that accentuates her moves whether shes posed for shock, or poised to bare her soul, or even suddenly paint a picture, while singing, which she did.

Of the band's style I especially dug the Prince Valiant do on the bass player. The songs went from high powered herky-jerky rock funk pop numbers that I recognize but whose titles escaped me, to a very sweet rendition of Smile, dedicated to Michael Jackson.


Moving The Crowd: two guys were motivated to these heights, climbing a nearby
trailer and becoming impromptu backup dancers, by Janelle Monae's performance.

The descriptions I heard, in the many post performance conversations were heavy with references to André3000 and Annie Lennox. I could add to that Grace Jones, Gwen Stefani and Marvin Gaye. But I think while it may be hard to aptly condense her windup-metropolis-robot-slash-moshpit-rage-meets-pop-syncopated-movements and the jasmine-velvet-whispers-broken-by-primal-screaming-and-funk-grunts of her voice into an easy description; I think you'll agree when you see her that we owe it to her to condense all that she is and will be into two descriptive words; Janelle Monae.


And since this is Photo Wednesday, here are some more views from Afro Punk 09
(Don't for get the Afro Punk Block Party is this sunday in Clinton Hill)


lemme guess; radiohead.

Fourth of July 2009 NYC style

WhoooHahh! Fourth of July Weekend!!!




Weather BEAUTIFUL!! Friends everywhere, and I saw art; Smack Mellon, Culture; Favela Rising @ Bam Cinemas, Fireworks (boo Macy's, y'mean ya couldn't stick one barge of fireworks in the East River, really?!?) found that Pratt Campus is indeed temporarily closed (even to alumni) and saw more BMXers Skaters, AfroPunk rockers, plus the subsequent teenaged girls who love them, than you could grind a board to.

What I missed: 1st Sat @ Bklyn Museum, The Nathan's Coney Island Hotdog eating contest, the Park Delicatessen Skate Jam,The Int'l African Street Fair.

Here's some more pics, hope your weekend continues greatly, I have a roasted corn and Corona to finish at a bar near you (Brooklyn). Peace!!





















(photos by B'klynBorn©2009)