Cool Nabe Stuff This Friday, 6/1

First Friday @ RePop: FIRST FRIDAY JUNE 1ST: Hook-Ups & Meanderings by Ellie Balk

Join us this Friday, June 1st at RePOP 95% Recycled for Hook-ups & Meanderings featuring fine art by Ellie Balk.

The series of work on exhibition is an expression of both tension and beauty, and the balance of the space that lives between the extremes. Urban, raw nature, tone, color, line, expression, documentation, fantasy....these things find harmony on found objects and canvases.

Complimentary wine reception is from 7:30pm - 11pm so come on down the the Navy Yard, mingle with the art and get your vintage groove on!

Instead of our usual 10% promotion, this First Friday we will be donating 10% of all proceeds to a very dear 8 year old Huskie named Otto. Recently, Otto moved to Pennsylvania with his mommie, Amy, and a few days ago collapsed while on a walk in the park. Otto is suffering from paralysis in all four of his legs and in need of surgery to remedy the situation. This surprising attack on Otto's otherwise healthy nervous system has been quite frightening for both Otto and Amy. Please send them your utmost positive thoughts and help us to help them have a successful breakthrough surgery.

Pink Elephant Projects

Pink Elephant Projects (PEP) is excited to present Women et Homme, a new photographic body of work by Evan Schwartz. This is Mr. Schwartz's first show of new work in two years and the follow-up to his critically acclaimed body of work, Reclaiming Puberty.

In his new work, Women et Homme, Schwartz turns his camera outward in his search for truth in identity. The idea of self is layered in personal and societal constructions of gender. The women in Schwartz's photographs have found expressions of their individual selves within these outward constructions of gender to define their personal experiences.

Schwartz writes, "from dinners within the confines of this small Midtown garden apartment to events in restaurants and excursions to their favorite tavern, the seemingly average lifestyle of these women is what most interests me. What the general public fails to recognize is that a cross-dresser does not necessarily dress for entertainment or shock value: they dress to live as another gender for a series of moments. These women's stories are littered with wives and partners, children and professions. Some come from supportive backgrounds and some remain secretive. One can only honestly document what they understand; this series is the continuation of my responsibility as an artist: the pursuit of truth."

The photographs capture the women in all their vibrancy. The intimacy of a shared laugh in the company of friends, the gesture of applying lipstick or fixing an earring - all distinctively personal, feminine gestures captured by Schwartz in an engaging immediacy is Women et Homme.

Evan Schwartz was born in Lake Forest, IL in 1982. After a brief stay in Israel, Mr. Schwartz attended Pratt Institute where he received a BFA in photography. While still a student, Schwartz was given his first solo show, Reclaiming Puberty, at Schroeder Romero in Williamsburg in 2005. It was for this work that he received a review in the New York Times by Holland Cotter who, "look[ed] forward to more intense and startling work in the future," from Mr. Schwartz. "Reclaiming Puberty" traveled to Italy earlier this year to be included in "Other Families" curated by Peter Weiermair. Works by Mr. Schwartz can also be seen in L.A. Ruocco's Xero and in the permanent collection of Yeshiva University. Evan currently lives and works in Brooklyn, New York.

Crossdressers International (CDI) is a nonprofit, non-sexual group based in New York City whose focus is primarily on closeted male-to-female cross-dressers, offering a safe, informative, and welcoming means for CDs to overcome their fears of being discovered and to happily and constructively express their transgendered selves. Our experience suggests that a CD's female side is born inside each individual, and therefore cannot be denied. For those who want to escape the closet, CDI can help.

The Chocolate Bar

I Googled the mysterious Chocolate Bar and did a walkby:

A peek inside:

How has this place remained on the DL for so long? Any readers hang out there?

Brooklyn Industries HQ in Clinton Hill?

Thanks to Bed-Stuy Blog for finding this article in the NY Times about cool small chain store Brooklyn Industries moving their manufacturing to Wallabout across from the Navy Yard.  I recently tracked them down and paid them a visit. BKI's new headquarters are at 43 Hall Street.  I've definitely been inside before, for last year's SONYA stroll.

The still largely raw space inside hosts almost all of the company's functions - all clothing design, shipping, marketing.  The employees I spoke with love being in the area, surrounded by so many local artists and cool happenings.

BKI's owners, contemporary artists who met upstate, started the company by making heavy-duty messenger bags using recycled materials.  They've expanded to produce a full line of men's and women's clothing, and have begun hosting art installments and parties in their South Williamsburg storefront.

BKI's latest mission is contribution to the community, helping support Brooklyn artists and using sustainable materials in new stores.  They're also employing Pratt students to help construct stores and build out the new Wallabout office space.  They'll also be distributing a new free quarterly publication, Brooklyn Industries Journal, focused on Brooklynites.  The first issue features photo shoots done in Wallabout and Coney Island, as well as profiles of real Brooklyn families.  The magazines will be distributed in stores, at special events and at neighborhood salons.

I caught a glimpse of the fall 07 collection, which is being touted as "more mature." I loved it.

As for the rumored Myrtle Ave. store, the answer is "not yet."  The owners don't feel there's quite enough foot traffic on Myrtle yet to support a shop.  But they hope to in a year or so, and are considering a "lifestyle store" for our neighborhood.

PEP Reception

Hope you didn't miss Friday night on Washington Ave in Wallabout. The weather was awesome, and the street was packed with patrons for RePop's First Friday and Pink Elephant Projects' Opening Reception at 64 Washington. The "Shadows" show at RePop is my favorite yet, and the two events worked wonderfully together. I was only able to stop in for a few minutes on my way to a grad school party, but I'm glad I did.

The Brooklyn Paper also did a recent story on PEP's new space.

(PEP's Joe Weiner and Tricia Wimmer)

Washington in Wallabout is poised to be THE summer hangout...

In Conjunction with First Friday: PEP at 64 Washington

Pink Elephant Projects (PEP) is proud to present "Denial and Acceptance," a new body of work by Charles Lutz. This will be PEP's first show in its new home at 64 Washington Avenue in Wallabout Brooklyn.

To this day, Andy Warhol's work continues to capture record prices in the contemporary art market as well as inspire generations of artists. In "Denial and Acceptance," Charles Lutz creates a collection of Warhol's most iconic works, including the Flower paintings, Self Portraits, and Brillo Boxes. In time with the Christie's sale of a Warhol green Car Crash from the disaster series, Lutz will also create a disaster canvas. These flawlessly executed works with their saturated colors and glossy surfaces have been presented to the Andy Warhol Art Authentication Board for review. Issues of authorship and validation are raised in Mr. Lutz's new work: faithfully produced to factory standards, Lutz's original works now bear the Warhol Foundation stamp - the stamp of denial. Lutz pushes his project further by creating a replica of the stamp himself to mark each one of his works, taking on the function of authenticator himself and imposing the role of validation - acceptance or denial - on his audience.

Charles Lutz was born in Greensburg, PA, in 1982. Upon completing his BFA at Pratt Institute in 2004, Lutz was employed as a painter by Jeff Koons. In 2005, Lutz was commissioned by Yoko Devereaux to create a line of limited edition, luxury suitcases. Since then he has exhibited his work in many shows, most notably the infamous Terminal 5 show at JFK. He currently lives and works in Brooklyn, NY.

ALSO at 64 Washington this weekend:

on saturday may 5th from 3-10pm there will be an open studio at 66 washington ave featuring the fine art of Hannah Mishin (hannahmishin.com) and Gary F. Cullen (garyfrancisxaviercullen.com)

First Fridays at RePop: May 4

Recently featured in Best of NY 2007 for Best Vintage / Thrift Shop, please join RePOP 95% Recycled at 68 Washington Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11205 this Friday May 4th, 2007 for our spring art event featuring fine artist and photographer, Dominic Albo.

Dominic features works of context and depth through the use of collage, transfers, oil, acrylic and epoxy on canvas, wood and paper. His art focuses on shadows. The taut, textured canvas embraces the shadow to present a luminous and ephemeral subject. In his wood pieces the solidity of the wood evokes a different reaction. It tells a story of permanence and allows the shadow to take root.

Complimentary wine reception is from 7:30 - 11pm so come on down to the Navy Yard, mingle with fine art and get your vintage groove on!

All vintage furnishings, collectibles and decoratives in shop on First Friday are 10% off.

"Shadows' will be on exhibition at RePOP from May 4 - 30.

G train to Clinton/Washington Ave. RePOP is located between Park and Flushing just 5 blocks North.

email: info@repopny.com phone: 1-718-260-8032 web: http://www.repopny.com 

Kosher Cafe

Anyone ever eaten here?

I'm intrigued by the fact that it's a restaurant in a trailer!

Friday Photo

(Flushing Ave, looking south)

Meetings & Events in the Hood

Mark your calendars, and attend if you can: 1.   88th Precinct Meeting with Police Commissioner Ray Kelly

Tues., 4/17/07, 7:30 pm, St. Luke's Church, Washington Ave. between DeKalb/Willoughby

Everyone welcome.  Your opportunity to raise questions about crime, safety, etc.

2.  Rally against demolition of historic buildings for contractor parking

Wed., 4/18/07, 8:00 am, Flatbush/Atlantic Ave.

Everyone invited.  Show the powers that be that demolition should be prevented until the law suits are settled.

3.  Town Hall Meeting with Councilperson, Letitia James

Wed., 4/18,07, 7:30 pm, St. Luke's Church, Washington Ave. between DeKalb/Willoughby

Learn about the 16 story building proposed for Washington Avenue behind Kum  Kau Restaurant.  This building would extend from Washington to Hall.  The proposed building is out of scale for this 3-4 story brownstone block and not compatible with the proposed Wallabout Historic District or the proposed zoning change.

4.  Huge side-walk sale on Clinton Avenue between Myrtle and Greene Ave., Sat., 4/21/07.

5.  Society for Clinton Hill House Tour Tickets:  available at the Farmer's Market, Tillie's, Outpost, Pillow Café, Sister's Hardware, YU Interiors, Choice. $20 advance sale.

5.  Brooklyn Friends of Chamber Music Recital

Sun., 4/22/07, 3 pm, Lafayette Presbyterian Church, Lafayette/So.Oxford St., $15 at the door.  Information and advanced tickets: 718-855-3053

First Fridays at RePop: April 6

In celebration of their recent article in Best of NY Magazine 2007please join RePOP at their next First Friday event featuring the Bejewelled Beauties Collection offered by John and Ellie Mathias. John and Ellie will be showcasing their artisan jewelry, decorative arts, ephemera and gilded paintings. Be prepared for a wonderful assortment of fantastic people and belly dancing performed by none other than the fabulous artist herself: Miss Ellie.

Complimentary wine reception is 7:30 - 11pm, so pull on your favorite digs, come on down to the Navy Yard, mingle with the art and get your vintage groove on! All furniture, decoratives and collectibles in shop on First Friday are 10% off.

Show runs until the last day of April. New show goes up May 4! Join us!

Brooklyn's Other Museum of Brooklyn

Back in August, I came across this strange building on Steuben. All that blue is a bunch of words made with tape (props for creativity and resourcefulness). It's called Brooklyn's Other Museum of Brooklyn. The website lists this house as the museum's headquarters, so it sent me on a bit of a wild goose chase.

I finally visited the museum a few months ago, but never got around to posting about it.  Here's what I wrote:

Spent any time in northern Clinton Hill/Wallabout?  Then you may have seen a plethora of political rants spelled out in blue painter's tape at various locales. Beginning with a small section of the brick wall in front of the Navy Yard's Admiral's Row, the taped words now cover two entire townhouses on Steuben Street, admonishing the Mayor and government.

The building is labeled "Brooklyn's Other Museum of Brooklyn," and the rants focus on promoting preservation of Admiral’s Row.  Inside, a rickety set of stairs leads to owner Scott Witter, who waits in a chilly second-floor space for visitors.

An ancient bomb hangs overhead not far from the second floor museum entrance, and the sight of it finally makes sense of the museum’s name – B.O.M.B.

As it turns out, B.O.M.B. is dedicated to Witter’s efforts and publicity in preserving Admiral’s Row.  The space is filled to the brim with binders full of copied letters written to local and national politicians (No, Laura Bush did not write back), photos and documents. Beautiful renderings of homes on Admiral row from their glory days line the walls in the back room, as does an impressive illustration of the olden days at Wallabout Market.

Witter is a man passionate about his surroundings.  He even did a day of jail time for his original protest graffiti, in the old-school medium of spray paint. Having spent the last 40 years of his life as a Clinton Hill resident, Witter is a true historian.  Need information on what’s gone on here in the last several years?  He’s your man. He’s also on a committee that aims to turn Wallabout into a historic landmarked district.

One of the most fascinating aspects of his collection is his archive of The Hill, a local quarterly paper that I can never seem to find aside from the waiting room of the Brooklyn Veterinary Hospital. Scattered across a pool table at B.O.M.B. are several issues from the 1980s, many of them detailing the same issues Clinton Hill faces today.

Oddly enough, there’s not a single item in the “museum” from the Brooklyn Navy Yard or Admiral’s Row.  One would hope that Witter had obtained some intriguing artifacts to promote his cause, but instead the museum is more of a collection of “old stuff” – a cluttered table full of statues, ashtrays and broken china, broken chairs, mannequins and the like.

Witter owns several buildings in the area, including 111 Hall Street (a white house with strange windows), which is listed incorrectly as the museum’s headquarters on its website. Turns out he plans to keep the museum moving around while he renovates his properties. Seems like he’s good at keeping people on their toes.

Brooklyn Restaurant Week: March 19-30

It's that time of year again -- the perfect excuse to check out some of the many awesome restaurants in the area. Go back to your favorite place, or try something new. The price is $21.12 per person (not including drinks, tax and tip) Here's a list of all the establishments participating in our area:L = lunch D = dinner Chez Lola (D) 387 Myrtle Avenue 718-858-1484

Chez Oskar (D) 211 DeKalb Avenue 718-852-6250

Five Spot (D) 459 Myrtle Avenue 718-852-0202

iCi (L/D) 246 Dekalb Avenue 718-789-2778

June Restaurant (D) 229 Dekalb Avenue 718-222-1510

Junior's Restaurant (D) 386 Flatbush Avenue Extension 718-852-5257

Le Grand - Dakar Restaurant (L/D) 285 Grand Avenue 718-398-8900

Los Pollitos III (L/D) 499 Myrtle Avenue 718-636-6125

Loulou Restaurant (D) 222 DeKalb Avenue 718-246-0633

Luz Restaurant (D) 177 Vanderbilt Avenue 718-246-4000

Madiba Restaurant (L/D) 195 Dekalb Avenue 718-855-9190

Maggie Brown Restaurant (D) 455 Myrtle Avenue 718-643-7001

Mojito Cuban Cuisine (L/D) 82 Washington Avenue 718-797-3100

Mullanes (D) 71 Lafayette Avenue 718-797-7606

Olea Mediterranean Taverna (D) 171 Lafayette Avenue 718-643-7003

Scopello Ristorante Bar (D) 63 Lafayette Avenue 718-852-1100

Soule Restaurant (D) 920 Fulton Street 718-399-7200

Thomas Beisl (L) 25 Lafayette Avenue 718-222-5800

Veliis 773 Fulton Street 718-596-9070

...and 2 for $21.12 at:

RICE (2 for 1 L/D) 166 Dekalb Avenue 718-858-2700

The Smoke Joint (2 for 1 L/D) 87 South Elliot Place 718-797-1011

(The full list of participating Brooklyn restaurants is here.)

Hidden Treasures at Lockaway

Friends of mine in BK Hts are moving, and enlisted my help in driving them to a storage place to purchase boxes. They told me there was a box place in Ft. Greene, so I pocked them up at the G train and drove up to Carlton and Flushing to visit Lockaway Storage. This is what it looks like on a sunny day (aka sketchy), so you can imagine what it looked like after dark:

We had to head around back to get inside, and were greeted by a tranquil fountain by the door! Inside, things got even better. The place is gorgeous inside, done up like an antique post office. It was inviting and cozy (you know, the opposite of the REAL post offices in the neighborhood). If they served beer or food, it might be a nice date place.

And, you can even have your fortune told inside (not sure if this machine is in working order):

How weird is it that all this stuff is tucked inside a shady-looking storage facility?

Congrats (again!) to RePop

NY Magazine's Best Of 2007 issue hits stands today. Flip to the Best Thrift Store listing and you'll see none other than Clinton Hill's (OK, Wallabout's) RePop. I've been a champion of the store since it first opened, and I am so proud of them for receiving the props they deserve. It's great to be in such a vibrant community.

First Fridays at RePop: March 2

FIRST FRIDAY MARCH 2: The Fine Art of April Dinsmore and Richard Casciatio

Please join us this coming First Friday, March 2, 2007 featuring the fine paintings of husband and wife duo April Dinsmore and Richard Casciato. April and Richie begin our husband and wife series with an ecclectic mix of stunning Brooklyn landscapes and haunting, surrealist scenes. Complimentary wine reception is at 7:30 PM so come on down to the Navy Yard, mingle with the art and get your vintage groove on! All items in shop on First Friday's are 10% off.

RePop 95% Recycled was ecently established in the summer of 2006, RePop specializes in vintage installation. All items in the gallery are collected by hand according to the impulsive tastes of the curators Russell Boyle and Carl Grauer. Displays and merchandise are subject to shift weekly.

All items are available for sale or rental with special rates offered to those in the trade.

DATE: March 2nd, 2007 TIME: 7: 30 PM LOCATION: RePOP

(Hope to see you guys there.  I'll be attending as long as I can finish this wretched research paper on Karl Marx.)

DON't FORGET...

Also tonight, The first First Friday at RePop! Info here.

First Fridays at RePop

Winter is finally here, and that means a negative desire to leave the neighborhood on frigid evenings. Thankfully, RePop will be coming to the rescue with the debut of their First Friday parties! First Fridays will be a mix of art, drinks and best of all, discounts. Here are the details from owners Russell and Carl: "The time is nigh to kick the winter doldrums in the ass! In an effort to move good feelings along RePOP will begin hosting art crawls the First Friday of each month. Fellow neighbors are invited to experience the first exhibition, "Royal Prey" on Feb. 2nd featuring the fine art of established artist Vivian Liddell and mixed media works by Def Jam and Playboy designer Jorden Haley. Complimentary wine reception is at 7:30 PM and all are encouraged to come on down to the Navy Yard, mingle with the art and get your vintage groove on! All items in shop on First Friday's are 10% off. Purchase not necessary to party, but if you wish to party beyond 10 PM please contribute to the bar. For a sneak preview of the work being showcased enjoy Vivian and Jorden."

PS- Thanks to all who voted for RePop in Apartment Therapy's Best Thrift Store contest! RePop was the winner!!!

WALLABOUT WEEK: NAVY YARD

The northern end of Wallabout is where the Brooklyn Navy Yard lies. Doesn't the Navy Yard seem extremely mysterious? Steiner Studios is there now (and any time now, the amenities of the area will need to catch up to meet the needs of studio employees -- I'm sure the Hasidic-diner-in-a-trailor on Flushing won't be enough). The studios seem pretty cool, but aside from The Producers, has anything been filmed there? I wish there'd be more action there. The studio website details plans for a screening room and catering services. Wouldn't it be cool to have events open to the neighborhood there?

And speaking of open, it annoys me that a regular pedestrian can't just walk into the Navy Yard. It would be great if the area was open for small shops and such. There are artists working there, and they occasionally open their spaces during the annual SONYA stroll. It would be wonderful to revitalize the entire area.

A controversial aspect of the Navy Yard's future lies with Officer's Row, a collection of crumbling buildings that once housed high-ranking navy offcials and their families. There has been discussion of demolishing these homes to make room for a "big box" grocery store, and some have deemed the homes structurally unsound for revitalization/renovation.

Brooklyn bloggers and historians Corie Trancho-Robie and her husband, Alexis, have started their own Officer's Row project with the aim to document and preserve its history. Read about their project here, and some history of Officer's Row here.

The Fort Greene Association is also pushing for the preservation of the area. Read about their efforts here.

(I think we should do an entire week on the Navy Yard! Too much for one post.)

WALLABOUT WEEK: MEETING TONIGHT

A reminder to attend tonight's Historic Walllabout Association meeting, TONIGHT:The HWA's general meeting is from 6:30-8:30 PM at the Benjamin Banneker Academy, 71 Clinton Avenue.

PLEASE attend and report back!

ALSO TONIGHT:

Society for Clinton Hill

GENERAL MEETING

Thursday, October 19, 2006, 7:30 p.m. sharp

St. Luke's Church Sanctuary

Washington Avenue (between Dekalb/Willoughby)

(sorry- i have class tonight! please lend a helping hand!)

WALLABOUT WEEK: INTRIGUING ART SPACE

I've noticed this intriguing art gallery-esque space on Washington between Park and Flushing several months ago. I haven't been past it in awhile, but it certainly looks like an awesome space. Hopefully it'll be open to the public sooner than later.