Over the weekend I stopped by the inaugural Brooklyn Flea. My visit was two-fold. First, I love flea markets and the prospect of strolling (as cold as it was) and browsing all morning was too good to miss. Secondly, I have been working with my friends at Three Birds Bakery on the branding and packaging of their Granola and wanted to see how it all came together. And I must say, it came together nicely and the ladies even SOLD OUT! Which, I might add, is not a surprise because their granola is absolutely delicious and freshly made. They have two kinds - one with fruit and one without - both are excellent.

Anyway as far as the flea market itself, there has been a lot of blogging and commenting on how “non-flea markety” it is (sometimes I get so sick of blogs and people complaining on them — like I am doing right now- um- anyway…) . For the record, I thought that the flea was perfectly lovely. It was spacious with a good number of vendors selling a nice variety of things. I thought there were plenty of vintage/antiques to satisfy my traditional flea market cravings and while I’m personally more into the “old” stuff, I really did enjoy seeing what people were crafting and making. I’ve got my eye on a bag from the Etsy table (different fabric than this link) and may just have to go back next week to pick it up. And to all the “haters,” don’t fret, I am sure the laws of supply and demand will, over time, adjust the offerings at the flea market to suit the shoppers. But isn’t it just sort of nice to see an event organized by a small community business/entity (brownstoner) bringing together other individuals and small business of the community.

In summary - go check out the flea this weekend and keep an eye out for that granola!

I recently got this bit o’news from Goes Cube. I was planning on going to the show anyway (gotta go get me a copy of the new EP!) But maybe you all will want to join in the fun.

GOES CUBE KICKS OFF WINTER TOUR WITH BAM NEXT FEST SHOW AT BROOKLYN’S MAGNETIC FIELD ON FRIDAY 2/22

This is NYC’s FIRST of TWO opportunities to purchase Goes Cube’s tour-only EP. Titled “Not What We Thought,” EP is limited edition, hand-numbered; already receiving advanced accolades from press.

For nearly all of March (and the end of February), Goes Cube will cover 15 states (including DC, which technically isn’t a state), and play nearly every single night for a month. This is the third time in a year Goes Cube is on the road for a significant tour.

The odyssey (also their chosen brand of mini-van) is getting an early start thanks to their kick-off show happening 9pm Friday, 2/22, at Magnetic Field (97 Atlantic Ave, at Henry St, in Brooklyn). The show is part of the Brooklyn Next Festival.

A year ago, Goes Cube was touring in support of their top-selling EP, “Beckon The Dagger God.” That EP is now sold out, but that’s no cause for concern: Goes Cube will have their limited-edition EP “Not What We Thought” for sale. In fact, this tour is the only opportunity for people to get their hands on it – and this show is the first of two opportunities for NYC (the last being their highly anticipated homecoming show at Union Pool on 3/28). Featuring all new and unreleased songs (with the exception of the lead track, which was premiered by Stereogum in late January), the EP is limited-edition, and hand-numbered by the band.

Press was given an advanced listen to the EP, and the reviews have been spectacular:

- Stereogum said “We’ve never heard them get this massive.”

- EarFarm said “Goes Cube has offered a road map for the future of heavy music right here in Song 56, on all of ‘Not What We Thought.’ Deadly.”

- The Culture Of Me called it a “fucking masterpiece” and said that Goes Cube “has exerted every possible ounce of themselves into ‘Not What We Thought’ and what’s come out as product is astonishing.”

- Tuddd’s Muddd said “Goes Cube has counted to infinity. Twice.”

Those who like their rock music loud and without pretension are advised to mark their calendars (schedule here: www.goescube.com/shows.html) so they can pick up their copy of “Not What We Thought” and experience Goes Cube’s live set, which has been described by the press as “brutal” “punishing” “destructive” “painfully loud” and “purely visceral.”

Goes Cube is:
Kenny Appell - drums
Matthew Frey - bass guitar, backing vocals
David Obuchowski - guitar, vocals

www.goescube.com
www.myspace.com/goescube

Frauke is going on a tour, and then coming back home to see all your smiling faces. The band is excited to play the Mercury Lounge for the first time and would be pleased as punch if you joined them. Plus, they are playing with the Jones Street Boys (9pm) which is always an extra special treat.

Frauke @ The Mercury Lounge
217 E. Houston St. (corner of Ave. A & Houston)
8pm
$8

http://www.mercuryloungenyc.com/
http://www.fraukehatesyou.com/
http://www.thejonesstreetboys.com/

Stoop sale today (saturday the 13th) at 121 2nd place between court and smith. 10-2. Lots of books, dvds, a bit o’ furniture…

Dont forget about the FREE concert tomorrow in Park Slope (Sackett and 4th ave)
Click here for more info on the Brooklynbretta Music Festival (with Frauke, Man in Gray, The Exeter Popes, Twice as Bright and more…)

Word on the street (and by that I mean a comment to my previous BrooklynBretta Music Fest post) is that Man in Gray have been added to the bill (going on at 7:00). Looking forward to seeing you all there!

An outdoor music fest in the neighborhood! With music and music and music and scooters and more music. The Brooklynbretta Music Festival is an annual event started in 2006 by White Shoe Records, a Brooklyn-based independent music collective, and Brooklynbretta, New York City’s beloved scooter shop. Here are the details.

Time/Location:
644 Sackett between 4th and 5th ave
From noon to nine.

Line-up
1:00 Modern Major Generals
2:00 The Brian Wilson Shock Treatment
3:00 El Jezel
4:00 The City and Horses
5:00 Breakup Breakdown
6:00 Frauke
7:00 Twice As Bright
8:00 The Exeter Popes

plus there will be a special pre-show performance at the start of the fest (noon) by a band called The Snails.

Getting there:
Directions from Manhattan by Scooter
The easiest way to get here is to take the Manhattan Bridge to Brooklyn. As you exit the Manhattan Bridge you will be on Flatbush Ave. Keep going straight. When you get to 3rd Ave turn right on to Third Avenue. Go about 13 blocks on Third Ave and turn left onto Sackett St. We are located on the right side of the street about two-thirds of the way down the block. Click here for directions from other areas.

By Subway
We are located just around the corner from the Union St. stop in Brooklyn on the R train. When you exit the subway, go across the street towards the Hess gas station. Sackett St is on the far side of the gas station. Turn left and we are about one-third of the way down the block on the left side. Click here for alternative subway directions.

This week is a very busy week for the bands we love to love. Here is a quick recap!

Thursday August 23rd - Frauke plays Asbury Lanes, Asbury Park New Jersey.
Seriously a bowling alley - with live bands and BOWLING!

Friday August 24th - Goes Cube Plays The Bowery Ballroom unleashing a torrent of rock on the lower east side. This is a must see! A MUST SEE! In other Goes Cube news: Check out their new website, or read their latest interview, or download one of the new tunes (#46).

Saturday August 25th - NYC bloggers put on the After the Jump Festival. All day, all night baby! Lots of bands, free show during the day. OMG - will I sleep at all this week?

FREE Day Show Schedule:

2:00 (MetroMix.com Main Stage) The Teenage Prayers
2:30 (CONCERT.TV Side Stage) Jukebox The Ghost
3:00 (MetroMix.com Main Stage) Locksley
3:30 (CONCERT.TV Side Stage) Bling Kong
4:00 (MetroMix.com Main Stage) Golem
4:30 (CONCERT.TV Side Stage) Goes Cube
5:00 (MetroMix.com Main Stage) Ra Ra Riot
5:30 (CONCERT.TV Side Stage) Apache Beat
6:00 (MetroMix.com Main Stage) Spectrum

10:00 The Virgins
11:00 Soulico
Midnight Free Blood
1:00 Riot In Belgium
–
Finger on the Pulse (DJ set)
David Bruno

Come down to Lido Bar tonight for more 70s and 80s yacht rock that you ever thought you could get in one sitting. Because we know and you know that we know, and specifically Mr. Duncan knows, that you really want to sing along to Christopher cross, and sway with the sweet sounds of air supply this evening. A smooth sax solo and some not so subtle synth is on the menu tonight along with the drinks by Nick and Buck Hunt by well, the Buck Hunt Machine.

Andrew and I went for a drive down to see Lucy the Elephant (in Margate, NJ just south of Atlantic City) this past weekend. We decided to shoot just a bit farther south and also pay wildwood NJ a visit.

Here is a picture of Lucy. I think this is probably circa 1920-1930s but I’m not sure. I really wish the Coney Island Elephant “Elephantine Colossus” had survived so I could visit that one also. It was 3times the size of Lucy and served as a hotel. Little tid-bit for you - the Coney Island Elephant hotel became associated with prostitution and gave rise to the phrase “seeing the elephant.” Seriously tho, I love this stuff. If I ever win the lottery and Andrew lets me, I’d very much like to build myself an elephant house. Wonder if the original plans from Colossus exist?

Here is Lucy today.

Lucy today.

On our way down to Wildwood we stopped for hot dogs and blizzards. The back of the DQ had a couple of old Dennis the Menace (?) signs.

Being late arrivals to the shore and without reservations we grabbed the only room we could find. It was a dump, but a charming “i’m surprised they don’t rent this place by the hour” sort of dump. That said, there are tons of amazingly cute 1950s motels down in Wildwood and Wildwood crest. Just need to make a reservation.

la boardwalk

Jersey Junkyard ride.

Moby Dick ride

All alone at the teacups.

I’d like to get a sign like this for OrangeYouGlad. I’m not joking.

Yes, that is cheese fries pizza.

The least appealing cheeseburger illustration I think I’ve ever seen.

This lady kicked my ass at the water gun game. I wanted that pink ukulele.

After hours putt-putt.

Just about every one of these iron-ons will make the best tshirt ever.

I just saw on Brownstoner that Rocky Sullivan’s has moved to Red Hook. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that Liam will start giving Irish language lessons at this location as well as hosting Trivia Night. Ah…one more reason to love my neighborhood…

hey hip cats, need something to do tonight? Check out the Hot Rocks Party at the Delancey.
Performances by:
FRAUKE (8pm)
AMERICANS UK (9pm)
THE ART OF SHOOTING (10pm)
GOLD STREETS (11pm)

oh, and Pop Tarts Suck Toasted recently named Frauke band of the week, nice review including download of their latest song Canadian Girlfriend.

Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy’s Movies With A View series:

Thursday, July 5
The Princess Bride
A classic fairy tale for all ages with swordplay, giants, and romance.
1987, 98 minutes, PG
Directed by Rob Reiner
Short: Super Powers directed by Jeremy Kipp Walker
DJ: Soulstatic (aka Dan Martino), founder of Brooklyn Radio, kicks the series off with classic summer jams.

Thursday, July 12
The Day The Earth Stood Still
A cult classic! Quintessential fifties sci-fi shot in black and white with a stirring score and a message of peace.
1951, 92 minutes, G
Directed by Robert Wise
Short: Piece By Piece by Sachi Schuricht, Emma Thatcher, Isaiah Allekotte and Grace Rathbone-Webber
DJ: Tim “Love” Lee, founder of Tummy Touch Records, teams up with DJ Robyn to bring you spacey, sci-fi sounds.

Thursday, July 19
Muppets Take Manhattan
The Muppets strike out for Broadway in this full-length musical comedy.
1984, 94 minutes, G
Directed by Frank Oz
Short: A Costumed Notion by Denny Mui
DJ: Soulstatic plays kid’s themes and music inspired by Jim Henson.

Thursday, July 26
Being John Malkovich
Step through the portal for an off-the-wall-trip into the brain of movie star John Malkovich.
1999, 112 minutes, R
Directed by Spike Jonze
Short: fuzzy by John Bollinger and Charity MacDonald
DJ: Snackmaster and C’mish of Turntable Lab spin music inspired by the film and its director.

Thursday, August 2
Hair
Small town boy meets the hippies of Central Park before shipping out to Vietnam.
1979, 121 minutes, PG
Directed by Milos Forman
Short: Unlocked by Daryl Wein
DJ: Cosmo Baker of The Rub plays tunes from the summer of love.

Thursday, August 9
All About Eve
Bette Davis and Anne Baxter in a classic story of ambition and betrayal.
1950, 138 minutes, NR
Directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Short: When Satire Goes Bad by Rebecca Kaplan
DJ: Soulstatic brings the sound of classic jazz divas.

Thursday, August 16
The Natural
An unknown batter takes a losing team to the top of the league in this magical sports fantasy.
1984, 134 minutes, PG
Directed by Barry Levinson
Short: A Nick In Time by Bé Garrett
DJ: DJ Conquerrah, host of Brooklyn Radio’s Wake The Town & Tell The People, cranks out baseball and swing tunes.

Thursday, August 23
West Side Story
The Sharks and the Jets replay “Romeo and Juliet” in 1950’s NYC. Gorgeous score and choreography.
1961, 152 minutes, NR
Directed by Jerome Robbins & Robert Wise
Short: Slip Of The Tongue by Karen Lum
DJ: Doug Gomez and DJ Drilla aka Drrtyhaze bring their collection of Latin boogie down to the bridge

The World’s Largest Wargaming table, an installation by Timothy Hutchings, is now on display at the i-20 gallery. (June 27 – August 11, 2007)

From the i-20 website:

Timothy Hutchings has created The World’s Largest Wargaming Table, an installation stretching throughout the gallery that comments on history and technology, abstraction and site, while pondering the subject of war and hobbies. Hutchings’s installation is a functional super-sized war game table (400 square feet), made of MDF, wood and carved styrofoam, that complies with mapping criteria and can be used by serious game players: a working surface for soldier figurines governed by battle rules.

We went and checked it out last night and this thing is really impressive. Both Andrew (the old ball and chain) and I were commenting on our excitement over art work that creates an environment (especially an imaginary one.) To see such a large area of a what is ultimately a miniaturized space is really exciting. And, while it is very detailed in it’s landscape, from the texture of the rocky outcroppings to the slopping of the hills or the incline of the volcano, it is ultimately a blank canvas for the game play and the interaction of the players - and who knows what will happen there; Triumph, victory, defeat, sacrifices to octopus gods, strategic maneuvers, followed by superior strategic out-maneuvers…