Williamsburg is Dead

Camera Phone Diaries: UnFancy Food Show and McCarren Park Pool Party

I was busy moving into my new apartment all weekend, but I did take a break Sunday to check out the UnFancy Food Show and The Hold Steady at the first McCarren Park Pool Party.

The scene at East River Bar was nuts; it was hot and muggy as all holy balls and the swarm of hungry foodies didn't make it any cooler. Somehow, the pork rillettes made me feel better. Then I started seeing friends of mine and started drinking some Blue Moon and all was right in the world. The final touch was ice cream from Van Leeuwen, a creamgasm of deliciousness that you can find at the corner of Greene and Prince streets in Soho or in a gourmet ice cream truck near you.

Then it was off to the McCarren Park Pool. Same as last year: Dodgeball. Different: Instead of Brooklyn Lager, they are serving Sixpoint, Hoegaarden and Bud Light (?). Craig Finn of The Hold Steady was awesome, captivating the crowd with his spastic dancing and non-threatening spectacles.

Last post o' the day, as I have to finish moving. Lorimer stop, here I come!

No, this bunny wasn't on the menu.

Sunday Busy Sunday

Attention music nerds! Do words like "B-side" and "Import" get you all hot and bothered? Then check out the Brooklyn Record Riot. For $3, you will have access to CDs, vinyl and DVDs from more than 40 dealers. Local shops like Permanent Records and Earwax will be there, plus dealers from all over the East Coast and even Canada. Nine DJs, kielbasa and beer add to the fun.

Sunday June 29, at Warsaw, 261 Driggs Ave,  11am-8pm, $3 re gular admission, $20 early admission (9-11am)

Also this weekend, the Unfancy Food Show, where Williamsburg gourmands can try everything from local honey, pickles, cheese and chocolate to beer from Sixpoint and wood-fired pizza. The event is a response to the gigantic Fancy Food Show at the Javits Center, and it takes place at the decidedly unfancy East River Bar (97 S 6th Street). June 29, 12-6pm, $5 suggested donation.

Last but not least, the first McCarren Pool Party starts at 2pm on Sunday, featuring those all-American indie rockers The Hold Steady. If you can make it to all three events in one day, then you sir or madam, are one of Williamsburg's true heroes.

Gallery Openings: Saturday, June 28th

Zeitgeist-Zeitgeist everything is so precious, group show, at Secret Project Robot, 210 Kent Ave, June 28-July 24, opening reception Sat June 28, 6-10pm

Preview: A group installation which questions the artists preworking state and the resulting awareness of their surroundings. It spotlights their ability to make something some consider trite, or worth passing over, without lamentation, important. Providing the usually passed moment or object with a depiction more piousone without the socialized predication. Developed by Cori Barton with works by Stephen Thornhill, Ryan Kitson, Jay Kaplan, Karl Larocca, and Douglas Paulson.

Suits, Jeremy Leichman, at 3rd Ward, 195 Morgan Ave, June 28-July 20, opening reception June 28, 7-10pm

Preview: This sculptural exhibition explores Leichman's fascination with contemporary corporate costume and culture. Leichman reconstructs the "corporate machine" with sculpture, lights and motors, from the perspective of an unfamiliar civilization. Through this exhibition, Leichman faces his own insecurities with choosing a career in the arts and looks with dread at one potential consequence of failure: being swallowed by the corporate beast. This makes for a provocative exhibition of errors, misinterpretations and humor.

West Coast Williamsburg in Bitter Fight Over Gentrification

For those of you who have never been to Los Angeles, the Silverlake/Echo Park area is the Williamsburg of the city. Traditionally Hispanic neighborhoods have been overtaken by young hipsters and, yes, condos. The New York Times even did an architecture porn story on the Silverlake Spanish-Modern home of David Bernardi, a senior vice president at a production company.

But what really caught my attention was this story about Echo Park's neighborhood council meeting in today's LA Times. Rarely do you see the racial divide in a neighborhood argued with such frankness and anger. The council is basically split along racial lines, white and Hispanic, and even though both sides share the same liberal political views, there is quite a nasty fight going on:

In the span of three hours Tuesday night, the 21 men and women who form the Greater Echo Park Elysian Neighborhood Council found the time to accuse one another, loudly and publicly, of "whining" and "bullying," of racism and reverse racism, of violating the separation of church and state, and of cultural insensitivity.

Council President Jose Sigala was in dire need of a gavel, banging his pen on the table with increasing urgency while trying to shout down his out-of-order colleagues: "Mr. Cebada! Stick to the agenda!" "Mrs. Mendoza! There are children in the audience -- including your own!"

The audience at the school auditorium was no more civilized. One woman called a councilman an unprintable epithet. Sigala pleaded with another woman to wait to speak until a public comment period. "Rules?" she replied, incredulously. Sigala intimated that if she kept it up, she might have to be removed. She was 80 years old.

Gentrification divides Echo Park community in Los Angeles [LA Times]

Are We Not Men? We Are Devo!

Devo - Whip It from julienp on Vimeo.

Just a friendly reminder that Devo is playing the McCarren Park Pool tonight. If you are like me, you probably didn't shell out the $52 to see them, but that doesn't mean you can't linger in the park and listen from afar.

Are Williamsburg People Just Really Tiny?

Change the clothing and these hobbits would look like your average Williamsburg resident. Actually, you probably don't even really have to change the outfits.

So yesterday I'm riding the L train when I realize that there are three other people sitting on my section of the seat. Normally three is the max per section, but apparently when riding to Williamsburg the subway riders are so skinny you can fit an extra person with plenty of room leftover.

This started me thinking that people in Williamsburg are just tinier than people in other parts in the city. I'm about 5' 10" and have fairly slight build, and I feel right at home in the 'Burg. I remember being in a bar in the Upper East Side and realizing that everyone was taller and wider than me. All the dudes were at least 6' tall and obviously spent their time at the gym instead of watching Joy Division documentaries. Even the girls seemed extremely tall. I felt like Merry or Pippin in the land of the Ents.

Maybe I'm just imagining things; I mean 5' 10" is technically the average male height in the United States. Still, when I'm walking down the street in our beloved neighborhood, I can't shake the feeling that I am living in some kind of modern Shire, full of tiny people scurrying around with their pint-sized guitars and waist 28 jeans.

No 'Cue at Studio BBQ

Oh, the confusion!

Last night I ventured to Studio B for the Studio BBQ, only to be told they were out of food. I wasn't the only one disappointed; the long line of people outside soon dispersed, and there was nothing for me to do but go up Franklin Avenue to Brooklyn Label.*

Still curious about the rooftop, I returned to Studio B afterwards for a few drinks. It basically has the feel of the Delancey's rooftop in the Lower East Side. A young, very Williamsburg-looking crowd packed the palm-filled rooftop bar sipping $6 Coronas, whilst soul was spun by the DJ. It was, much like the larger club space downstairs, a bit of a scene; a good place to go if you have a large group o' partiers looking for a good time.

Dancing in the cluurb.

*This was the first time I had been to Brooklyn Label since head chef Cody Utzman left, and the food was pretty good, although it's hard to tell the state of a restaurant from its cobb salad.  I'll have to return for brunch to make a more thorough assessment.

Why I Love the Internets ...

Because of sites like 20x200, run by gallery owner Jen Bekman. Limited editions of 200 8.5" x 11" prints, like this one from Dutch photographer Bert Teunissen, sell for $20; it's a fantastic way to bring art to the financially challenged. I recommend becoming a member, because these prints go fast (the above work is down to only 18 prints remaining as I type this) and members get notified whenever something new is released.

 

Top Chef Season 5: Williamsburg

Reality shows love Brooklyn. First it was the Real World (which turned out not to be in Williamsburg), now it's Top Chef (which might be). Or so the rumor goes (you know how the internet is). Anyway, I foresee a PBR challenge, new way too tight uniforms and a Quickfire competition involving a scale and lots of tiny baggies. [Eater]

Studio BBQ

If you've been waiting to check out Studio B's new rooftop space, this is the time. Tonight, Studio BBQ will be featuring grub from chefs who have worked at Marlow & Sons, Craftsteak and more, for only $4 per plate! DJs will be spinning, drink specials will be consumed and yours truly will be chillaxin' under the stars.