Today and tomorrow at BAM — one of the great movies about swinging London in the 1960’s made in the 1960’s. You won’t want to miss: Vanessa Redgrave, Veruschka, Jane Birkin and MORE. at BAM…

Blow-Up (1966) 110min

Mon, June 12 & Tue, June 13 at 4:30, 9:15pm

With David Hemmings, Vanessa Redgrave, Veruschka, Jane Birkin, and Sarah Miles
"The key movie of the 1960s" (Time Out New York), Blow-Up caused a
sensation with its nudity and portrayal of Swinging London. A modish
photographer discovers what may or may not be a murder in one of his
photographs and tries to solve the mystery himself. Though Blow-Up is a
raucous time capsule of 1960s British culture, its examination of
subjectivity and the power of perception seems even more relevant and
complex now than when it was first released. Presented in a new print
(courtesy of Warner Brothers) for its 40th anniversary! In English.

“Blow-Up is the movie of the year. It is to Antonioni what Lola Montès
was to Ophuls, Ugetsu to Mizoguchi, Contempt to Godard, French Cancan
to Renoir, Limelight to Chaplin, Rear Window to Hitchcock, 8 ½ to
Fellini—a statement of the artist, not on life but on art itself as the
consuming passion of an artist’s life.”—Andrew Sarris

Continue reading THE GREAT ANTONIONI AT BAM →

Brownstoner’s new blog, Brooklyn Record, had this to report about the concert series this summer at McCarren Park in Williamsburg. If I were gonna be here on August 24th I would be so there for the Neko Case and Martha Wainwright show. But we’ll be off in California. July 30th is Of Montreal – that should be a winner, too. And of course two Yeah Yeah Yeah shows with Sonic Young. Awe-some.

The concert schedule for Greenpoint’s McCarren Pool has been announced, and it’s a solid lineup of crowd-pleasing indie rock:

7/29 – Bloc Party, Secret Machines, Mew
7/30 – Of Montreal
8/11 – Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Sonic Youth, Blood on the Wall
8/12 – Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Sonic Youth, Awesome Color
8/13 – Deerhoof
8/17 – Iron & Wine
8/24 – Neko Case, Joanna Newsom, Martha Wainwright

The Of Montreal and Deerhoof shows are both free. Paying $32.50 for the Iron & Wine show
seems excessive, but then again, these are Clear Channel events.
There’s been a fair bit of controversy surrounding the future of
McCarren Pool, and these concerts in particular.
It’ll be interesting to see what happens after this summer; the
concerts’ success, or failure, will undoubtedly have a lot to do with
it.

Continue reading "Concerts in the Pool"

This story from the Daily News about soccer fans watching the big game at Los Pollitos on Fifth Avenue on Sunday. I was in there after the game on Sunday and fans were still screaming and clapping.

There were chickens to roast, salsa to make and customers to serve inside Los Pollitos restaurant on Fifth Ave. in Brooklyn.

But for Miguel Tufino, the most important thing was the Mexican soccer team playing its opening game of the World Cup against Iran.

"I was working, but I was watching, too, of course," said Tufino, 23.

Cheers echoed in taquerias and Mexican restaurants across the city as Mexico shook off a slow start to beat Iran 3-1.

"I hope they keep it going," said Tufino, an immigrant from Puebla, Mexico. "We are all behind them."

For Mexicans, the day was just about soccer, pure and simple.

Things were a bit more complicated for Iranians in the city, several dozen of whom gathered in Manhattan to munch on kebabs and watch the game.

They despise the authoritarian Islamic regime in Tehran, but they insist they still support their underdog team 100%.

"Politics don’t matter in soccer," said Reza Khalili. "I’m an Iranian, these guys on the team are Iranian, so I support them."

Iran has made headlines for its nuclear program, its president’s anti-Israel rants and strict Islamic laws that bar women from even watching soccer games with men.

But controversies and politics were set aside for the day as Iranian expatriates concentrated on the basics – enjoying each other and rooting for their team.

"I miss the feeling of being among all my family and other Iranians,"

The V-Spot
156 5th ave
Brooklyn, NY 11217

Love the name. Has anyone tried the new vegan place on Fifth Avenue below Union. The menu looks good: they call it Italian, South American and American. Looked to me like mock meat dishes. For brunch, try their tofu scramble eggs. Attractive place. Dying to hear from anyone who has eaten there. I have a hunch it’s good: if you like tempeh and I DO.

The Amazing True Adventures of Buckbean Bushytail

written and directed by Greg Paul
with music by Lisa Dove

featuring:
John Egan
Kelli Rae Powell
Hawken Paul
Linc O’Brien
Lisa Dove

Sunday, June 11 at 2pm and 4pm
Neighborhood Playspace at Christ Church
Clinton & Kane Streets (Christ Church), Brooklyn, NY

Tickets $5

Join Buckbean on an adventure filled with pirates, silliness, and song as he sets out out on a perilous quest to save his home. Bring your whole family to see this delightful (and slightly subversive) table top toy-theatre musical production.

Made possible by support from New York State Council of the Arts

www.juggernaut-theatre.org

MEMORIAL BIKE RIDE TO DOT HEADQUARTERS
On the One-Year Anniversary of Elizabeth Padilla’s Death

What: A memorial for Elizabeth Padilla followed by a group ride to DOT Commissioner Iris Weinshall’s office in Manhattan to call for stronger bike safety measures.

Where: In front of 79 Fifth Avenue, at the corner of Prospect Place, Park Slope, Brooklyn.

When: Friday, June 9th, 8:00 am

Who: Members of family, Park Slope Neighbors, Transportation Alternatives, Park Slope Civic Council, Visual Resistance, Councilmembers David Yassky and Bill DeBlasio and Community Board 6 and neighborhood cyclists.

BROOKLYN, NY (June 9, 2006) – On June 9, 2005, 28-year-old pro bono lawyer and Park Slope resident, Elizabeth Kasulis Padilla was hit by a truck and killed on the corner of Fifth Avenue and Prospect Place while riding her bicycle to her new job at the Brooklyn Bar Association.

One year later, Park Slope Neighbors, Transportation Alternatives, the Park Slope Civic Council and Visual Resistance, along with elected officials, local bike commuters and members of Elizabeth’s family will gather to honor her and to announce bicycle safety improvements that the Department of Transportation has agreed to make on Fifth Avenue between Carroll and Dean Streets.

After the brief memorial, cyclists will conduct a group ride to DOT headquarters in Manhattan at 40 Worth Street. There, Commissioner Iris Weinshall will be presented with flowers and a letter calling for stronger street design standards to encourage bicycle commuting by better protecting New York City’s cyclists.

* * * * *
Elizabeth Padilla worked as a pro bono lawyer and legal services coordinator with the Brooklyn Bar Association and was a tireless volunteer with a number of organizations. After graduating from Cornell, Ms. Padilla spurned a six-figure starting salary with a Silicon Valley law firm to do poverty law. She worked at the Family Center in New York, providing pro bono legal services to indigent persons suffering from terminal illnesses, primarily people living with HIV-AIDS. She volunteered for Human Rights Watch, taught English as a second language to immigrant high school students, and worked in a soup kitchen run by New York Cares. A cyclist, swimmer and marathoner, as well as a personal trainer, Ms. Padilla was a member of the Achilles Club, an organization that enables people with all sorts of disabilities to participate in mainstream athletics.

http://www.thepadilla.com/LizkP/Lizindex.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/29/AR2005062902889.html
http://www.naparstek.com/2005/06/brooklyn-neighborhood-cyclist-killed.php
http://visualresistance.org/wordpress/ghostbikes/memorials/elizabeth-padilla

Set the Stage for Summer!

Come to a special fundraiser for our outdoor theater, film and music series in JJ Byrne Park. Meet Piper Theater at OSH artistic director John McEneny, sample featured wines from Hayman & Hill and canapes from our neighboring 5th Avenue restaurateurs — all to live music from Buzz Universe.

6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. $40. Reservations: 718-768-3915, or oldstonehouse@verizon.net.

The Old Stone House is located on Fifth Avenue between 3rd and 4th Streets.

What’s in a name?

I like her name: Gertler. For personal reasons. And that’s a good enough reason to promote this singer whose name is like my maiden name without the H.

Ghertler/Gertler

GRETA GERTLER & the EXTROVERTS. The australian songwriter plays delicious piano-based pop music. She is up to about anything; she is known to incoporate string quartets, jazz musicians and power popsters. With her new band, she reconciles it all with a Balkan Rhythm section (Matt Moran – drums and Ron Caswell – tuba (both of Slavic Soul Party) Michael Gomez – guitar; Pete Galub on guitar and herself on piano and vocals.

PLG Arts Presents Free Performances for Children of All Ages in Prospect Park: Daydream A Short Version of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Saturdays & Sundays in July at 11a.m.
Daydream
PLG Arts
Prospect Park’s Imagination Playground (Ocean Avenue between Lincoln & Parkside.)
Saturdays & Sundays in July at 11a.m.

July 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16

All Performances Free – activities for children precede performances

Visit: www.PLGArts.org or call 646-221-5608 for more information

The Play
Direction: Rohana Elias-Reyes
Production Design: Shevon Gant
With: Sean Elias-Reyes, Laura Frenzer, Lynda Kennedy, Tim Moore, Siobhan O’Neill, Gwynne Watkins

A short version of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Daydream is adapted for children of all ages, from pre-school on up. When a group of construction workers come to rehearse a play in the Imagination Playground in Prospect Park – they stumble into a battle between the King and Queen of the Fairies. Magic, puppets, hard hats & safety vests – what more could any New York kid want?
PLG Arts

PLG Arts promotes the arts, supports local artists, and builds community through celebrating the vibrant collective creativity of Prospect Lefferts Gardens and surrounding Brooklyn neighborhoods.

Prospect Park Alliance

In partnership with the City of New York and the community, the Prospect Park Alliance restores, develops, and operates Prospect Park for the enjoyment of all by caring for the natural environment, preserving historic design, and serving the public through facilities and programs.

Directions

Imagination Playground in Prospect Park. Enter the Park from Ocean Avenue between Lincoln and Parkside. Turn left and follow the signs.
Subway: S or Q to Prospect Park station (Lincoln Road exit) or Q to Parkside station.
For more information on Daydream contact Rohana Elias-Reyes 646-221-5608
For more information on Prospect Park events and programs, call the Park Hotline

at (718) 965-8999 or visit www.prospectpark.org