All posts by admin

20 Years Later Blacks & Jews Come Together in Crown Heights

The one-woman play Fires in the Mirror, used oral history to tell the story of the Crown Heights riots and the racial tensions it unveiled.

I can’t believe it’s been nearly 20 years since the Crown Heights Riots, a three-day riot in August 1991 in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn. The community, which contains a mix of West Indians, African Americans and Jews had longtime simmering tensions. The riots began on August 19, 1991 after the child of Guyanese immigrants was accidentally killed by automobile that was part of a motorcade of a Hasidic rabbi.

During the riots an Orthodox Jew was killed. The riot unleashed tensions between the neighborhood’s black and Jewish communities. The riots influenced the 1993 mayoral race and led to the defeat of David Dinkins, who was viewed by many as having had a weak response to the riots…

Continue reading 20 Years Later Blacks & Jews Come Together in Crown Heights

Tuesday Night: Dancing Under the Stars in Washington Park

I have friends who have been going to Dancing Under the Stars every Tuesday night in Washington Park in Park Slope and are just loving it. Every week this summer this event, sponsored by the Park Slope Business Incentive District, features a different band and a different style of music. So far, there’s been jazz, pop, and folk dancing. This week a Latin band will be providing the music and there should be some great dancing rhythms. Continue reading Tuesday Night: Dancing Under the Stars in Washington Park

OTBKB Music: Advance Planning and a Givewaway

For those of you who need to figure out what you are doing well before it happens, my August Advance Planning Music Calendar is now available over at Now I’ve Heard Everything.  Don’t forget that Aretha Franklin is coming to Brooklyn twice next week!

For those of you who’d like something for nothing, Now I’ve Heard Everything is holding a Giveaway.  Win tickets to see Eli Paperboy Reed and The True Loves at Le Poisson Rouge, the new CD from Eli and an American Express Gift Card.  You can read my review of Eli and the band when they visited The Bell House in June here, and then enter the Giveaway here.

–Eliot Wagner

Tonight: Mad Men at Sheep Station

Yes, it’s true. If you do not have cable at home (or specifically lack AMC) the nice people at Sheep Station welcome you to watch Mad Men tonight at 10PM in their back room. Here are the details from an OTBKB reader. And yes, I’ve called Sheep Station:

Like most Brooklynites, I don’t have cable, and like many Brooklynites I enjoy watching Mad Men. In trying to find a bar that was showing the premier last week, I kept hitting dead ends… Until the friendly folks at Sheep Station agreed last minute to show it for me and a few friends on the projection screen in their awesome back room. They’ve agreed quite enthusiastically to continue showing it every week, and I figured it was worth spreading the news to other Don Draper fans in the area. There have been questions posted on many a Brooklyn blog looking for this info which is why I’m sending it your way.

Mad Men is at 10pm on Sundays, and Sheep Station is at 4th Ave. & Douglass St. In Park Slope.

OTBKB Music: Celebrate Brooklyn’s Rock Weekend; Li’l Mo Plays Two Boots

Celebrate Brooklyn hosts a rock weekend tonight and tomorrow.  Tonight’s show is of the softer variety with The Swell Season and The Low Anthem (gates open at 6:30pm and the show starts ay 7:30pm).  Tomorrow the festival goes loud with a triple bill of Sonic Youth, Grass Widow and Talk Normal (gates open early at 6pm and the show starts at 7pm).

After tonight’s show at Celebrate Brooklyn, why not head over to Two Boots on 2nd Street  and catch Li’l Mo and The Monicats?  You’ll get to see country, rockabilly, blues, 60s pop and whatever else she and they may play.  And I’ll add that not only are Li’l Mo and The Monicats terrific musically, they are just plain fun to watch.  More details for this show are over at Now I’ve Heard Everything.

–Eliot Wagner

OTBKB Music: The Boss Makes An Appearance; The Wailin’ Jennys and Amy Speace Tonight

A few days after Alejandro Escovedo played The Bowery Electric in New York City last week, he played The Stone Pony in Asbury Park.  And as you might have suspected, Bruce Springsteen showed up at that show and joined Alejandro on a few songs.  You can find  a video of Always A Friend from that night here at Now I’ve Heard Everything.

Tonight, The Wailin’ Jennys show up at Madison Square Park.  Their  sound is described as including folk, classical and pop and the focus of the group is on their harmonies.  Later in the evening check out singer-songwriter Amy Speace at The Living Room.  Amy’s in town with a trio featuring two guitars and an accordion.  Full details are over at Now I’ve Heard Everything.

–Eliot Wagner

OTBKB Music: Kathleen Edwards and Sister Sparrow Photos

Last week was a great week for live music and I was able to capture two of the shows I saw photographically to share with you.  On Thursday, Kathleen Edwards and her band played on a Rockin’ the River cruise.  You’ll find lots of pictures from that show here at Now I’ve Heard Everything.  Kathleen still remembers playing the Celebrate Brooklyn Canada Day show back in 2002 fondly and would love playing Celebrate Brooklyn again.

The wonderfully brassy, both in terms of instrumentation (the band has four horns) and personality (of lead singer Arleigh Kincheloe) Sister Sparrow and The Dirty Birds packed them into the new Rockwood Music Hall Stage 2 on Saturday night and had the whole place up and dancing. You can see pictures of the band here at Now I’ve Heard Everything.

–Eliot Wagner

Watching Mad Men in Park Slope, Times Square, Block Island

Season 4 of Mad Men premieres tonight and I think I’m going to miss it unless I can find a bar that’s showing it on Block Island.

If you’re in Park Slope (and you don’t have cable) you can watch the latest adventures of Don Draper, Roger Sterling, Pete Campbell, Peggy Olson and all the rest at Bar 4 (444 Seventh Avenue in Park Slope), where they’re having a Mad Men viewing party. There are other ways to get your fix on Mad Men tonight…

Continue reading Watching Mad Men in Park Slope, Times Square, Block Island

The Saturday List: The Book of Liz, Celebrate Bklyn, reRun Gastropub

Today is SATURDAY and it’s hot. Whatcha wanna do today? I spend hours each week scouring the listings to find great stuff for you to do. Below you will find info about a new movie theater in Dumbo and find out about Celebrate Brooklyn’s “DIY world’s fair.” Whatever you do, remember to drink water and stay cool…

Continue reading The Saturday List: The Book of Liz, Celebrate Bklyn, reRun Gastropub

Verizon Cell Phone Tower Ontop of Park Slope Church

it seems that the Greenwood Baptist Church, on Sixth Street and Seventh Avenue in Park Slope, has discovered an interesting, new source of revenue. They’re letting Verizon install a cell phone antennas on their roof.

Why not?

The money will pay for the upkeep of the church, Verizon cell phone users get better service. Sounds like a win win. Unless you believe that those towers are a health risk…

Continue reading Verizon Cell Phone Tower Ontop of Park Slope Church

The Friday List: Audrey the Trainwreck, The Big Lebowski, Nocturnes

Today is Friday and you’re probably beginning to plan your weekend. That’s why I spend hours scouring the listings to find great stuff for you to do. This weekend check out the new movie theater in Dumbo and Celebrate Brooklyn’s “DIY world’s fair.” Lots to do, there is truly lots to do this weekend…

Continue reading The Friday List: Audrey the Trainwreck, The Big Lebowski, Nocturnes

OTBKB Music: Friday Night Double Feature

Tonight there’s a double feature of two very good but very different musical acts, Charlie Faye and Second Dan.

Charlie Faye is up first.  She released one of my favorite records of 2009, Wilson St.  Originally from New York, Charlie moved to Austin three years ago.  Charlie’s music consists of rock, blues, country and folk blended into each other and she has a rich, melodious voice.

Second Dan is up second (kind of fitting based on their name, I guess).  I originally discovered them through a bit of serendipity.   I was at a party a few months ago and after a while, the guy I was talking to told me that he not only was a photographer and a blogger, but he played in a band as well.  As you have no doubt figured out by now, that band was Second DanMore details are over at Now I’ve Heard Everything.

Tomorrow there’s another great show coming up: that nine piece R&B/Soul/Rock band, Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds.  Check Now I’ve Heard Everything on Saturday for the details.

–Eliot Wagner