Local Gifting

/

Yes, the Union Square market is great for holiday shopping. This year, though, you can enjoy some similar gift-buying opportunities right here in the hood! Even better, and less crowded. Plus, support local artisans!
1. PEP Gallery:
Is it better to give or receive?
This holiday season PEP is transforming itself into the hippest, trendiest, most original boutique in Brooklyn. With ARTMART, PEP will be offering limited editions, multiples, and wearable art from some of our favorite artists. With tons of great pieces and prices starting at ten dollars you can do both! Runs Dec. 1-22, holiday reception Dec. 16.
2. Artisans Holiday Fair at Habana Outpost:
The Society for Clinton Hill is co-sponsoring a Holiday Arts and Crafts Fair with Habana Outpost at South Portland and Fulton Streets In Ft. Greene, Brooklyn.
Artisans will be displaying their works for sale from noon to 8 PM, Saturdays and Sundays,
December 1&2, 8&9, 15&16, and 22&23.
Come and meet and view the fare at the Fair while drinking hot chocolate! You'll find knit hats, scarves, jewelry, ceramics, and unusual gift items for everyone.
3. Still Hip Holiday Craft Fair:

picture-32.png

4. Brooklyn-Based Sampler:
Nicole Davis, who occasionally contributes here as Clintoncentric, is offering this unique gift sampler via Brooklyn Based, her e-newsletter of all things cool in the BK.)

Imagine a friend gave you a box filled with delicious-smelling skinnyskinny soap, ingenious holders for soft-boiled eggs called Egg Pants, gorgeous handmade jewelry by wabisabi brooklyn, a striking holiday letterpress card by Jezebel, retro buttons and magnets from Kate Black, and a cool card holder made from the sails of sail boats by Reiter8.

Nice friend right?

Now imagine that you also got at least 6 (6!) of the following in this box:

A beautiful tote bag with avalove’s hand-lithographed designs
a candy-colored diamond acrylic ring from by:AMT
copper and sterling jewelry by Joanne Tracy
a silkscreened notepad and collaged card by Fisk and Fern
a book of fabulous artwork by Robert Mars
a silkscreened onesie
a colorful kid’s skirt made by Fofolle
handmade cards that double as portraiture prints by Desira Pesta
keychains (made either by RePlayGround, 31 Corn Lane, or This is Swigg)
crocheted goods, like an Ezra’s Cousin scarflette or Alicia Kachmar’s adorable mitten ornaments
a fantastic denim clutch, bag or cuff by Wanett Clyde
pretty letterpress postcards by Erin Fae
a wire and gemstone ring from Kimmchi
hand-drawn accessories by Tilly Bloom

No you can’t pick which of those six items you get. But you know for sure you’re getting 11 awesome things… And don’t you like to be surprised? How fantastic is this friend of yours?

Now here’s the kicker: all of these items are made or designed here in Brooklyn, by artists, designers and crafters who hail from Bed-Stuy, Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, Ditmas Park, East New York, Fort Greene, Greenpoint, Kensington, Park Slope, Prospect Heights, Sunset Park, Williamsburg, and Windsor Terrace, and whose work is available at fabulous boutiques like Spring in Dumbo, Rare Device in Park Slope, the Brooklyn Indie Market, or online at that one-stop-shop for handmade goods, Etsy.

This box is so Brooklyn, it’s even wrapped in Brooklyn maps and lined with The Brooklyn Paper (there’s also a map of the future Brooklyn Greenway and a Zagat’s guide to BK restos inside).

Here’s the other kicker: It’s $20 (plus shipping), an incredible value for one-of-a-kind work made by your gifted neighbors, curated by Brooklyn Based, and sold by The Sampler, a San Francisco company whose founder Marie Kare came up with this brilliant idea of mailing boxes filled with the wares of indie businesses to spread the word about their work. This month they began a series of Samplers called City Samplers, packed with goods native to one place. It launched with their hometown, and Brooklyn Based happened to call at the right moment and propose a box filled with goodies made by Brooklynites.

Fort Greene contributors include:
25 totes from avalove ( www.avalove.etsy.com)
25 prints and cards by Desira Pesta ( www.desirapesta.com)
100 eggpants by Liz Kinnmark (www.designglut.com)

picture-4.png

(more posts to come regarding gifting)

Tree Shopping in the Hill

/

It's nearly December, and that means tree shopping! I'm hoping to highlight the places to buy a tree again this year, with more detail than last year. For starters, the tree guy on Clinton and Lafayette (in front of Cadman Memorial Church) will be setting up on Thursday, Dec. 6. I always end up buying from him - always convenient and friendly.

Turkey Feedback?

/

Did anyone stand in line for a Jive Turkey last week?  I was tempted to order the Jive / Greene Grape dinner and wine deal, but you could only get a dinner for a large amount of people (and I was only hosting 4).  When I called to simply order a turkey, they told me I had to wait on line for one.  This explains the long lines there every year on Thanksgiving. I'm kind of bummed that I wasn't able to try one.  Anyone have a fried turkey?

Thanksgiving Pairing Wine Tastings @ Olivino

/

Friday 6:30-8:30:Scott of Barterhouse wines (and former Olivino employee we adore) will be tasting us on some magnificent wines perfect for the upcoming holiday. We will be sampling a totally lovely Pinot Blanc from Canada, a smooth berried Cote du Provence, A spicy Uruguayan Tannat, and a Cote du Rhone blanc that resembles the revered baby Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc.

Saturday 5:00- 7:30 Elizabeth from Michael Skurnick will be introducing us to this year's Beaujolais Nouveau!  Just in time and a perfect wine for Thanksgiving dinner.  Elizabeth will also be uncorking a sophisticated Gruner Veltliner, a flavorful Riesling Kabinett, and an Australian Cabernet Sauvignon.

We look forward to seeing you!

Olivino Wines 905 Fulton Street btwn Clinton Avenue & Vanderbilt (718)857-7952

More Thanksgiving Fare

/

(Was out of town yesterday -- sorry!) The Greene Grape and Jive Turkey are teaming up to offer a complete Thanksgiving package, delivered to your door! They're hosting a free tasting this Thursday:

Click, Uncork and Gobble!

The Greene Grape and Jive Turkey are excited to host their Third Annual Thanksgiving tasting on Thursday, November 15th from 5 to 7pm at The Greene Grape at 765 Fulton Street between South Oxford and South Portland and at The Greene Grape Downtown, 55 Liberty at Nassau in the Financial District of Manhattan. We’ll be pouring six American wines recommended to go with Thanksgiving dinner and serving a Jive Turkey with all the fixings. The event is FREE and is a great way to try before you buy! For more information, please visit www.greenegrape.com.

The Greene Grape and Jive Turkey are also proud to continue a New York Thanksgiving tradition by offering a full Thanksgiving meal – a deep-fried Jive Turkey and all the fixings – plus a Six Pack of American wines specially selected by The Greene Grape to complement the Thanksgiving meal. The total package is $249.95 plus tax and includes delivery any day the week of Thanksgiving – November 19-22. Quantities are limited and orders must be placed by Friday, November 16. This offer created an absolute frenzy last year – it’s never too soon to sign up! For more information or to order, please visit www.thejiveturkey.com or call (718) 797-1688.

The Greene Grape features offers from individual producers with integrity, skill and pride. For more information, please contact Amy Bennett at amy@greenegrape.com, by calling (917) 412-5901.

Jive Turkey features deep-fried turkey that has been called “a tender, juicy bird so perfectly cooked, with skin so crisp and tasty, you might never roast again.” For more information, please contact Aricka Westbrooks at westbrooksa@aol.com or (718) 797-1688.

RePop: First Friday and HALLOWEEN BASH, Nov. 2

/

repop.jpg First of all we'd like to thank all of the new folks who have popped into the shop recently and have submitted requests for merchandise! We are working hard at locating the perfect items for you and appreciate that you have chosen RePOP as one of your sources for fine vintage offerings! Find attached in this e-mail a list of new arrivals coming into the shop this week!

Second, Please be our guest this Nov. 2 for a wonderful group show of photography by Lucia Cousins & Elizabeth Lambert in conjunction with our 2nd Annual Halloweenie Extravanganza!

A HALLOWEENIE EXTRAVAGANZA: PHOTOGRAPHY by LUCIA COUSINS & ELIZABETH LAMBERT

RePOP is proud to present their first photography exhibition featuring the electrifying work of two Brooklyn based photographers, Elizabeth Lambert and Lucia Cousins. Inspired by the ebb and flow of New York as well as the unique and haunting, these artists capture the beautiful fleeting remnants of a metropolis, examining closely the seen but often misunderstood spaces within the whole that pass us by in our hustle and bustle from one place to the next. By-gone grafitti, advertisements, surreal images, doll babies with soul, subway tunnels and sensual silhouettes are all represented in this glorious body of work soaring above the obvious to analyze the bits and parts of what makes an urban jungle tick.

And back due to popular demand in conjunction with November 2 First Friday, RePOP will be hosting their 2nd annual Ghoulish Halloweenie Extravaganza. The festivities begin around 7:30 pm and carry on to the wee hours both within the shop and our private back room. The event will be catered by the scrumptious talents of Urban Palate* and costumes are required with a grand prize awarded to the best! All attendees are encouraged to bring an offering of their favorite poison to contribute on this evening of art, dance and merriment.

New merchandise arrivals this week include: tall 1930's black and white dental cabinet, companion hygenist lowboy (both perfect for bathroom or art and jewel accessories) Danish Modern TV Credenza, Danish Rocking Chair (amaaazing!) Swedish Bookcases, Walnut High Chests & Credenzas, Milo Baughman & Hollywood Regency Berger Style Sectionals, Mid-century duck decoys and lures, African American Sculpture, Gilded Hollywood Regency lighting, 1970's ball room plats, vintage pocket knifes, Columbian pony hair wallets and necklaces, Baughman Flat Bar Chair and other comfy and wonderful seating, complete dish sets by Metlox, new jewels and accessories by the fabulous Miss Ellie and tons more!!! As always all guests enjoy 10% off in house merchandise on First Friday so come on down and get something lovely.

*Urban Palate is a Clinton Hill catering team, and I hear they're great! Halloween menu will include:

Mini Croque Monsieur Saffron Risotto Balls Sicilian Meat Balls Organic Seasonal Vegetable Crudite Served with Bagna Cauda & Yogurt Herb Sauce Mini Red Velvet Vampire Cupcakes Chocolate Orange Pumpkin Cupcakes

I have a really great costume planned, so you'd better bring your A game...

Great PUPkin: MOVED TO SUNDAY

/

Hello PUPS, Due to a forecast for rain and thunderstorms tomorrow, we will be moving the 9th Annual Great PUPkin Dog Costume Contest to this Sunday, October 28. The registration time will still be 11:30 am at the top of the hill. Judging will start at noon. PUPS asks for a suggested donation of $5.00 per dog.

Sorry to have to move the event, but it does give you one extra day to work on your dog's costume! I hope you will be able to join us on Sunday, and if you would, please spread the word about us moving the contest. I am not sure, but I think the Fort Greene Park Conservancy may also be moving their Halloween Festival to Sunday (try checking their website later today).

Sunday looks to be sunny and warm, so I'll see you on Sunday with dogs in costume!