Are we not the coolest borough?

Writing Scoop du Jour day after day, I am just amazed at how much goes on here.

And it’s not just BAM, although that bold institution does provide us with so much worthwhile culture. Just this week: Mark Morris Dance Group, a Jean-Luc Godard Film Festival at BAMCinematek, and Too Cool for Shul, alternative Jewish music at the BAMCafe every weekend in April.

And then there’s that mysterious and wonderful converted bathhouse on Fourth Avenue: The Brooklyn Lyceum. Starting Thursday April 21th, they are presenting the Brooklyn Underground Film Festival, which features 100 films from 12 countries. 

But there are also smaller venues like Barbes on Ninth Street near Sixth Avenue. This tiny place features unbelievably interesting programming every night of the week in jazz, international music, films, literature and more. It may be the most visionary and ambitious venue in Brooklyn and it’s right here in Park Slope.

I could go on: Basquiat at BMA, films and readings at the Grand Army Plaza branch of the Brooklyn Public Library just about every night of the week, a big Brooklyn gallery happening this weekend (more info to come), the UniverSoul Circus in Prospect Park, and Hugh Crawford’s free portrait sittings at Fou Le Chakra the LAST SUNDAY AFTERNOON OF EVERY MONTH (next one April 24th, see Scoop and/or  Grab-Bag for details). And don’t forget: poet Michele Somerville and novelist Pamela Katz at Brooklyn Reading Works on Thursday April 28th at Fou Le Chakra.

And more: the cherry trees are getting ready to bloom at the Botanic Gardens, and the Mermaid Parade is just around the corner.

So much to do, so little time. Brooklyn is tunring out to be a great place to be.

-Louise G. Crawford