Ezra, the new (or soon to be new) owner of the Community Bookstore wrote in with news: “and we don’t mean the arrival of Jonathan Franzen’s Freedom, Suzanne Collins’ Mockingjay or Wolf Hall in paperback (though they have perked things up considerably in a month to which, usually, the adjective torpid barely does justice). No, we’re referring to the return of the mystery swap, a bookstore institution whose abrupt disappearance several months ago left Slope sleuths scratching their heads…
Yearly Archives: 2010
OTBKB Music: Linda Pitmon Times Two
The best drummer playing around town these days? For my money that honor goes to Linda Pitmon of Steve Wynn and The Miracle 3 and The Baseball Project. Linda’s originally from Minnesota and a long time Upper West Sider, although I have seen her play and attend shows here in Park Slope. You can see her in action with The Baseball Project playing Steve Wynn’s signature song Tell Me When It’s Over posted here at Now I’ve Heard Everything.
But if you want to see Linda hit the skins live, she’s playing with The Pretty Babies, an all-female Blondie cover band at Le Poisson Rouge tonight. I’m not a big fans of tribute bands, but I’ve seen The Pretty Babies before and I can recommend them. They’re not only musically quite good, they are just flat out a lot of fun, and Tammy Faye Starlite does a great job as front woman/lead vocalist as well. You’ll find more details here at Now I’ve Heard Everything.
–Eliot Wagner
No Words Daily Pix: Photograph by Hugh Crawford
Bklyn Bloggage: home & design
RFP Issued for Tobacco Warehouse in Dumbo:McBrooklyn
Annie’s porch: CasaCara
Hello Kitty house: Reclaimed Home
Dining table ding ding ding: Limestone Adventures
Napkin origami: Swiss Miss
Good bones: Apartment Therapy
Best of offices: Design*Sponge
An anthropologist’s take on homemaking: NY Times
Nested doors at Moxie Spot: McBrooklyn
Tom Martinez: How Many Muslims Do You Know?
Since 2003, Rev. Tom Martinez has served at Brooklyn’s All Souls Bethlehem Church. He is an active participant and organizer of the annual Children of Abraham Peace Walk.
A reporter interviewing me on Staten Island in front of a building whose ownership is disputed (the Catholic Church sold it to a local Muslim community then reneged on the sale) asked me if I had anything else to say to the people who oppose the mosque. I don’t remember exactly what I said. Of course a month later I thought of the perfect thing to say:
“Well, yes, there is one last thing I’d like to add. I encourage everyone who’s opposed to the creation of new mosques or community centers to ask yourself, ‘How many Muslims do I know?’ If the answer is zero, then I’d encourage you to make an effort to actually get to know someone who’s part of a local Muslim community. Tell them you’ve decided not to pass judgment until you meet and speak with someone from their community. You might be surprised by how warmly you will be received and the impact the experience will have on your perceptions.”
I was at another press conference just yesterday, this one was just a few blocks away from my church here in Brooklyn. My friend Mo Razvi, the Executive Director of a local Pakistani organization called COPO had asked me to stop by.
Mo was thrust into the limelight in wake of 9/11. Family members whose loved ones were picked up for questioning came to him for legal assistance. At the time he was a trusted businessman on Coney Island Avenue, one of the most demographically diverse neighborhoods in the continental US and home to a large community of Pakistani-Americans.
In addition to serving as a liaison between ordinary citizens and various law enforcement agencies (he proved so helpful in these matters he was eventually asked to complete a training course offered by the FBI), he also documented over 800 hate crimes carried out against Muslims in his neighborhood and throughout Brooklyn.
Continue reading Tom Martinez: How Many Muslims Do You Know?
No Words Daily Pix: Photograph by Hugh Crawford
Vox Pop Closed Down by the IRS For Good
Vox Pop Cafe, the iconic Cortelyou Road cafe, bookstore and performance space was once again closed down by the IRS and it looks like this closure is permanent.
Liena, who writes the Ditmas Park Blog had this to say about what seems to be Vox Pop’s final closure: “After the latest seizure by the marshalls this morning, Debi Ryan says she has had enough. And before any of you snarky commenters put fingers to the keyboard, I just wanted to say that I have never seen anyone work harder at making Vox Pop work for our community – to be the space to meet, talk, learn, listen – over coffee or not. The neighborhood simply is not the same without it. What will become of it, time will show. Right now though – leave a kind note for them.”
For the past year or more the cafe has been closed numerous times by the IRS for non-payment of back taxes. There were many “Save Vox Pop” town hall meetings and benefit shows and the cafe, under the leadership of its new manager, Debi Ryan, was able to revive again and again after these setbacks. The IRS leans were a result of the previous ownership (and financial mismanagement) of Vox Pop by Sander Hicks, who is no longer an owner of the cafe (note: you can also read about Hicks in a New York Observer article by Alexander Zaitchik. In 2009, the cafe was transformed into a “for-profit collective” with shares owned by various community members.
In 2004, Sander Hicks and his then-wife Holley Anderson started the cafe with seed money from the sale of Holley’s family farm. In fact, the children’s loft section in the cafe (which looks a little like a barn) is actually from that farm. The original conception was a cafe/bookstore/performance space/community center and self-publishing mecca (called Publish Yourself) that would morph into a national franchise of political cafes.
Vox Pop was the first cafe of its kind on Corteylou Road and it quickly became a community destination with its decidedly progressive politics, free trade coffee and vegan menu. Since opening, The Farm on Adderly, Sycamore, Purple Yam and other neighborhood spots have opened and Corteylou Road now has a growing mix of ethnic businesses, basic service shops run by longtime shopkeepers and new shops catering to the gentrifying neighborhood.
It can’t have been easy for Hicks to walk away from his unique creation. It was no doubt the best thing for him and for the cafe. In Ryan, he found the perfect successor to keep his vision alive. It was a peaceful transition of power with a board made up of long-time Vox Poppers including Sander’s ex-wife, Holley.
Continue reading my interview with Debi Ryan from March 30th, 2009.
September 11th Memorial Poetry Reading
The Brooklyn Arts Council announces a reading of poems about September 11th written by local poets to be held on Thursday, September 9, 2010 from 7 – 8:30pm at P.S. Bookshop in Dumbo, Brooklyn (76 Front St.).
Continue reading September 11th Memorial Poetry Reading
OTBKB Music: Ted Leo’s Broadway Parody, Amy Speace’s Guitar for Sale and John Hiatt’s Perfectly Good Guitar
A few days ago, I noted that Ted Leo had, in a long rambling post, announced that he’s worked on a musical film project of some sort. To make a long story as short as possible, Ted’s post was a head fake. What Ted has done is produce an extremely funny music video which parodies “half-assed musicals which cheapen [the] music and embarrass everyone involved” (perhaps this one). See Ted’s video (which includes a prominent Park Sloper) here at Now I’ve Heard Everything.
I got an email from singer-songwriter Amy Speace earlier this week and she’s selling a pretty special guitar (a Taylor GS Western Red Cedar/Indian Rosewood with Taylor’s Expression II pickup system installed). Maybe you’re interested; if so the details are here. If not, you can see the video of John Hiatt’s Perfectly Good Guitar here.
–Eliot Wagner
Bklyn Bloggage: food & wine
Wicky Wacky Chocolate Cake: A Cake Bakes in Brooklyn
Dinner at Luna Rossa: Eat It: Brooklyn Food Blog
Alice Waters’ Gazpacho: Serious Eats
Perfect Pesto: Bushwick BK
Yummus is chic and delicious: Bushwick BK
Fornino (Park Slope): Brooklyn Exposed
Upper West Side Two Boots: NY Times
No Words Daily Pix: Photograph by Hugh Crawford
Video Forum’s Joe & Steve Need a Kick Start
Joe and Steve who work at Video Forum on Park Slope’s Seventh Avenue are in a band called Blind Giant. They’ve been writing music together for 5 years now and are ready to record their debut album. But they need your help. And that’s where Kickstarter comes in.
Kickstarter is an interesting new way to fund creative ideas and ambitious endeavors. It is based on the notion that a good idea, communicated well, can spread fast and wide; that a large group of people can be a tremendous source of money and encouragement.
It’s an all-or-nothing funding method where projects must be fully-funded or no money changes hands. Read more and find out about Joe and Steve’s project. They’re a couple of terrific guys who work very hard and make Video Forum one of the last great remaining video rental shops.
Continue reading Video Forum’s Joe & Steve Need a Kick Start
Going to Manhattan at Night: Don’t Take the Brooklyn Bridge
The Brooklyn Eagle reports that as part of a $508 million repair project, all Manhattan-bound lanes of the Brooklyn Bridge will be closed at night beginning August 23, —from 11PM until 6AM in the morning—continuing until 2014. 2014? Is that a misprint. That’s an awfully long time.
To make matters worse: there will also be 24 weekends when the Manhattan-bound lanes will be closed all weekend.
The New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) warns motorists to “avoid the need to enter Manhattan on closure weekends.”
For pedestrians and bikers there’s good news: the center walkway will remain open.
The lanes to Manhattan closure will run from 11 p.m. until 6 a.m. Monday through Friday. Weekend closures begin at midnight and end at 7 a.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m. Sunday — except for those weekends when the Manhattan-bound lanes will be closed both day and night.
Continue reading Going to Manhattan at Night: Don’t Take the Brooklyn Bridge
Poet John Ashbery to be Honored at Brooklyn Book Fest
The office of the Brooklyn Borough President has announced that John Ashbery, the Pulitzer Prize winning poet, will receive the annual Brooklyn Book Festival “BoBi” Award on Saturday, 9/11 and appear on Sunday 9/12 in conversation with author Paul Auster
Each year, the Brooklyn Book Festival “BoBi” award is given to an important author. Previous BoBi recipients are Edwidge Danticat (2009), Walter Mosley (2008), and Paul Auster (2007). Ashbery will also participate in this year’s festival program, in an on-stage conversation with Paul Auster, Sunday, September 12.
The fifth annual Brooklyn Book Festival will take place on Sunday, September 12, with an all-star literary lineup, including Salman Rushdie, Naomi Klein, Colson Whitehead, Mary Gaitskill, Paul Auster, Rosanne Cash, Paul Krugman, Sarah Silverman, Gary Shteyngart, Francine Prose, Dennis Lehane, Pete Hamill, Jennifer Egan, John Ashbery, Russell Banks, Michael Connelly, John Hodgman, Kristen Schaal, Per Petterson, Sam Lipsyte, Sloane Crosley, Sandra Rodriguez, Paul Harding, Maaza Mengiste, Amy Goodman, Marlon James, Jean Valentine (New York State Poet Laureate), Elizabeth Nunez and many, many more, as well as Children’s and Young Adult Lit stars like Rebecca Stead, Sara Shepard, Jacqueline Woodson, Jon Scieszka, Jenny Han, Mac Barnett, Tad Hills, Chris Raschka, Michael Rex, Matthew Reinhart and Francisco X. Stork. Continue reading Poet John Ashbery to be Honored at Brooklyn Book Fest
Bklyn Bloggage: neighborhoods
Councilman Lew Fidler’s $60,000+ side job: Sheepshead Bites
61st Precinct offering free etching: Gerritsen Beach
Strange neighbors: NY Shitty
Band most likely to start a cult: Free Williamsburg
Myrtle-Wyckoff hub gets bus upgrade: Bushwick BK
A bumper crop of Brooklyn peaches: Pardon Me for Asking
Slope needs doggie daycare?: Effed in Park Slope
Jacobs vs. Adolphe for Assembly: Ditmas Park Blog
A plaza for Kensington?: Kensington Prospect
Andy Levin’s Coney Island: NY Times
No Words Daily Pix: Photograph by Hugh Crawford
One Year Later Brooklyn Still Loves Michael Jackson
As he did last year, filmmaker Spike Lee is organizing a gathering to honor Michael Jackson’s 52nd birthday in Prospect Park. The second-annual “Brooklyn Loves Michael Jackson” celebration will take place on Sunday August, 29th from noon until 5PM in the Nethermead (no, not Neverland). DJ Spinna will be spinning the star’s hits. Just enter at 16th Street and Prospect Park Southwest and follow the music.
OTBKB Music: The Gin Blossoms, Rosanne Cash, Ted Leo and 50 Fictional Bands
It’s the dog days of August with so many people away that you can actually park in Park Slope. Things look they might be a little quiet this week too. But four years ago this week, things weren’t so quiet as The Gin Blossoms (who have a new record, No Chocolate Cake, coming out at the end of September) played The Apple Store down in Soho, where they performed their hit from the early 90s, Hey Jealousy. See the video here at Now I’ve Heard Everything.
Rosanne Cash, currently on tour to promote her just issued book, Composed has already lined up her next music project; Ted Leo worked on a musical film project of some sort which will be announced today and Paste Magazine has posted a list (complete with videos!) of the 50 Best Fictional Bands. You’ll find details for all that here at Now I’ve Heard Everything.
–Eliot Wagner
Saturday Night in the Slope/Gowanus
On Saturday night Hepcat and I decided to head out for an evening of music and food on the shores of the Gowanus. We were curious about the bands Asobi Seksu and Golden Triangle that were playing outdoors on President Street and we knew that vendors from the Greenpoint Food Market would selling be their home-made specialties at this event organized by Mean Red Productions.
Our evening walk in the Gowanus area was lovely. We passed the Trash Pony Bar on Fourth Avenue, which is Root Hill Cafe’s evening bar and music venture, and caught a little bit of music by Matthew Brookshire from Chapel Hill, NC.
Walking across Carroll Street is always a treat. We passed Monte’s Venetian Room, a now-defunct neighborhood Italian eatery, that I went to with my dad years and years ago. As we neared Bond Street we could hear the throbbing guitars and high pitched vocals of Yuki Chikudate, Asobi Seksu’s singer. When we got to the entrance at 8:40 we realized that the show was set to end at 9PM (duh we should have looked at the poster that was on the blog) but we paid the steep admission fee ($15) anyway just to see what it was like.
Bed Bugs at the Pavilion Movie Theater?
My sister, who is just back from Welfleet, heard from a reliable source today that there may be bed bugs at the Pavilion. With my Google finger I see that there’s been much reporting on this since I went away in July.
Well, it’s news to me even if it’s been reported on Gothamist and Brownstoner. I found this today on the Bed Bug Registry. It was posted on August 21, 2010.
“I tried to escape the heat two times this week. I went to the Pavilion Movie Theater. On both occasions, hours later, I had bed bug bites on my legs. I think that theater must be infested!”
No Words Daily Pix: Photograph by Hugh Crawford
Tom Martinez, Witness: Newkirk Station
Construction work at the Newkirk station on the B & Q lines. I was captivated by all the lines, including the thousands of feint lines stemming from the process of smoothing over the concrete with a broom. I wondered though what the construction worker would think when he saw my camera but went ahead anyway (of course). As the train pulled up he shouted over the noise something about me emailing him the photo!
The Sunday List: August 22
I scour the city’s cultural listings to find interesting movies, music, theater and art for the readers of OTBKB to do and see. This weekend’s treats include Battle Week a variety of interesting events including a 10-mile race on Sunday, commemorating the first battle of the Revolutionary War, Emotional Sloppy Loose Limbed Cinema at BAM , a film series curated by Benny and Josh Safdie at BAM and Non-native NY, a group show of art by artists from outside the US and more so keep reading…
Smartmom Moves On
The first in a three-part series about the end of a six-year run as Brooklyn’s official smart mom.
Current Weather in Park Slope
Brought to you from the Feldman Family weather tower in Park Slope.
No Words Daily Pix: Photograph by Hugh Crawford
Dreamy Pop with Textured Guitar and Food Vendors Outdoors
Tonight on the Gowanus: an evening of sleepy sonic somethings, and delicious finger-licking treats. It happens at 383 President Street across the street from the former BKLYN Yard (Gowanus)
. Doors open at 6PM. The event costs $18 at the door.
What to expect? Dreamy pop with textured guitar effects and sweet vocals, the two musicians of Asobi Seksu easily hypnotize.
Golden Triangle open with their “loud and spooky, reverb-drenched distorto girl group pop, mixing male/female vocals with gnarly surf guitar jangle,” says someone named Ken.
Greenpoint Food Market vendors will be there, selling their home-made specialties. Read on for more details about the delicious sounding food…
Continue reading Dreamy Pop with Textured Guitar and Food Vendors Outdoors
On Missing Gary Shteyngart’s Reading at Bookcourt
Brooklyn Beat missed Gary Shteyngart reading at BookCourt. He blamed the mishap on circumstances, waning memory, and much eagerness about the reading. But that didn’t stop him from writing about the experience and the new book which is called Super Sad True Love Story, which is garnering amazing reviews.
Continue reading On Missing Gary Shteyngart’s Reading at Bookcourt
Rededication of JFK statue at Grand Army Plaza
On Tuesday, August 24th at 11am the bust of JFK at Grand Army Plaza will be rededicated and the public is invited to join local pols at the event.
Artist Neil Estern’s original bust of President John F. Kennedy was unveiled at Grand Army Plaza on May 31, 1965. It remained in place until 2002 when the Department of Parks & Recreation and the Prospect Park Alliance began a major restoration of the Plaza. The installation of a new, granite pedestal for the monument offered Mr. Estern an opportunity to resculpt his bust of the 35th President. The new, larger and more detailed sculpture was recast in bronze at the Beacon Fine Art Foundry in Beacon, NY…
Continue reading Rededication of JFK statue at Grand Army Plaza
Tom Martinez, Witness:Great Egret in Jamaica Bay
I was out at Jamaica Bay and saw this beautiful Great Egret in flight. I mainly shoot birds because I love nature (that didn’t sound right) and it’s good practice as they’re challenging to capture. But I don’t consider myself a “birder” and hence I’m not all that skilled at identifying what I see. Had to look this one up to identify it. Learned that one of the identifying features is the way they fly with their necks in a “S” curve.