Reuse. Rehabilitate. Restore. Architectural salvage and repurposed pieces for the home.
Badass Brooklyn Animal Rescue pulls dogs from kill shelters in the rural South and brings them up here. Why? Because the shelters down there are even worse than here.
Badass is having a huge adoption event this Saturday, July 14th from 11am-2pm at NYC Pet in Williamsburg (475 Driggs). Please come to show some love. If you can’t give a pup a forever home, nothing is stopping you from volunteering, donating or fostering, now is it?
The season is upon us! Outdoor concerts, performances and movies.
Celebrate Brooklyn is already in full swing but take note that the best reminder of Brooklyn’s 1970’s embarrassing roots is showing this Saturday, July 14th. Saturday Night Fever is playing at Prospect Park! Long before Jersey had The Situation, Brooklyn had Tony Manero.
The Coney Island Seaside Concerts appeal to my 1980’s nostalgia much better than any other (free) concert venue. Do you know the line up yet? Are you ready for this?
Squeeze. But don’t go. I don’t want it to be too crowded. I need my dancing space. If you insist on going, that show is July 20th with The Romantics.
Sorry, let’s backtrack a bit. The Coney concerts start off this Thursday on July 12th with a tribute to Donna Summer. Gloria Gaynor, The Village People, The Trammps and Rose Royce! But that’s the night that rock defeats disco in my world.
August brings us Joan Jett AND The Blackhearts for more 80’s and Gladys Knight and The Commodores for you 70’s fans.
Get your funk on with Bootsy Collins and S.O.S. Band on July 16th at Wingate MLK concert venue. Public Enemy plays with Salt and Pepper (Ok, Salt-n-Pepa) on July 30th.
Full calendars:
Day 2 of my friend plugs! Who doesn’t like sex and drugs and rock n roll? Well, not really drugs. But who doesn’t like gossiping about sex and drugs and rock n roll? A-ha! My friend Judy McGuire, a sex-n-love advice columnist who has interviewed some pretty important rock stars in her time (like Joe Strummer), wrote an entire book on the subject.
The book launch party takes place this Thursday, July 12th at Powerhouse Arena in Dumbo. It’s sure to be a blast and if my opinion is not enough to convince you, refreshments will be served.
Very Good Indeed.
Summer is here. Me? I hate the heat. I hide indoors during the day in the lovely air conditioning and come out at night like a vampire. That’s why I love Rooftop Films. It’s gotta be dark to project the movie so I don’t have to worry about that annoying hot yellow thing in the sky.
Rooftop Films is coming at ya in all five boroughs. What’s in store?
Manhattan’s Tompkin’s Square Park has “Taxi Driver” this Thursday, June 28th.
“Ghostbusters” is coming up on July 2nd in Coney Island, Brooklyn.
Celebrate July 4th in Queens with a selection of “American Experience” short films at Socrates Sculpture Park.
The Bronx Terminal Market has more child friendly films (not that I didn’t see Taxi Driver as a kid) starting with “Rango” on July 10th.
Last but never least is Staten Island with baseball themed films at Richmond County Bank Ballpark. “The Natural” is showing on July 26th.
And that, my friends, is just a small sampling of the summer films showing around the city. Check out this easy Rooftop Films schedule for more.
Grounded in the city this summer? Don’t let your time go to waste. New experiences await you at every turn in this great city of ours. Here’s a small list of some courses you can take whilst cursing your friends on the beach.
iPhoneography. No need to schlep a big, heavy camera when you can take great pictures with your iPhone. It’s just as good as a point and shoot, anyway. Learn the art and technique of iPhone photography at Photo Manhattan in Union Square.
City Tech hasn’t let us down this summer with their offering of real estate, renewable energy and DIY courses. Hurry up, because some classes have already started.
3rd Ward has Welding for Furniture and Intro to Woodworking to name a couple.
What’s that? You would rather be a beach bum? Well, at least you can do it the right way. Learn to surf in the Rockaways! Then you can come help me work on my house afterward and I’ll teach you some DIY tricks. Deal?
Awaken your inner Fred Astaire. Learn to tap dance at the American Tap Dance Foundation in The Village. Yes, there are beginner classes for adults and yes, I specifically looked this up because I want to do it myself.
Valley of the Creepy Dolls
Oy. How did I collect so much stuff? I can’t even see half the crap in my basement. Fuggedaboutit! So, here are some photos of a few more things I found. Hope to see you at the stoop sale on Saturday. We’ll schmooze. You can meet my dogs. Maybe take some stuff off my hands so I don’t have to schlep it back into the house? Oh wait…it might rain. Maybe the sale will take place IN my house and not on the stoop. Whatev. It’s rain or shine!
What home is complete without a creepy clown painting? You know you want him!
Black velvet painting. Very classy. Unfortunately, she has a rip. Yours for 5 bucks.
There are hinges and pulls and knobs and old tools. Guy things. Ya know.
Since I’ll be graduating from reinventing small items to entire houses, the Reclaimed Home Etsy shop is getting phased out. You won’t see me at fleas or crafts fairs either, not that you have in a long while.
So, listen up. I’m having a “Movin’ On Up” Etsy sale. Everything is 40% off. If you’re local and want to rummage through my handmade merch and vintage goodies, I may prefer that to packing hundreds of boxes filled with $5.00 items. Load a box of goodies and get it for a steal.
For other vendors, there are also crafting and upcycling supplies, packing materials and event supplies like a usable but broken tent and some tables, etc.
The original plan was to have a big stoop sale at the end of June. I’ll probably still do that but I thought a smaller, invite-only thing would be a nice lazy start. Say, next weekendish? Drop me a line or leave a comment and I’ll see if I can open house for a few people at one go.
Photo by Scott Dudelson
Not all of the local outdoor venues have released their concert line ups yet, but here are a few good ones.
The legendary Jimmy Cliff opens Celebrate Brooklyn on June 5th. The concert is free to the public (donations accepted) or you can get fancy schmancy and buy a $325 ticket to the dinner and gala.
Cake, Jane’s Addiction and Sublime will be among the bands headlining the Williamsburg Park Concert Series.
Playing Jones Beach on June 8th and 10th is….are you ready for this?…Neil Diamond! Other blasts from the pasts at the venue over the summer include The Beach Boys, Ringo Starr, Stevie Nicks, The Deftones, Loverboy and gosh, so much more.
Some of the performances at Central Park Summer Stage include Alabama Shakes, comedy from The Daily Show crew and The Klezmatics.
The Drums headline the Four Knots Festival on July 14th.
Some Friday nights when we come home, we see a jazz session through the parlor windows of a beautiful Macon Street brownstone. I always say to my husband “We have to become friends with THOSE people!” Thanks to a frieneighbor who forwarded this NY Times article, I now know that we don’t have to be invited over to 107 Macon on jazz nights. We just have to show up with 20 bucks and we’re in!
Hostess Debbie serves up a fish fry along with the music and welcomes people up to the open mic every week.
Something else I didn’t know. 107 Macon is also the Sankofaaban B&B. You learn something new every day.
It’s April. Time to start wondering about the summer concerts. Not too much has been announced yet, but here are a few events worth seeing.
Jimmy Cliff
June 5, Celebrate Brooklyn, Prospect Park
Neil Diamond
June 8th and June 10th, Jones Beach
Norah Jones
July 3rd, Summer Stage, Central Park
Refused and Off
July 18, Williamsburg Park
Sustainable Flatbush is teaming up with The Cookbook Project to bring us: Healthy Eating on a Budget. The FREE vegetarian meal will be served up along with chats about food composting and environmental issues.
They are looking for donations of reusable soup bowls for the church’s food program, so bring some along if you have any to spare.
Saturday, January 28th, 12-2pm
Flatbush Reformed Church: 890 Flatbush Ave, Bklyn
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The Regal Vegan, the company that makes that fabulous Faux Gras, is holding a cooking class also on Saturday. Recipes include a Roasted Winter Vegetable Salad, Hot Kale Caesar Salad, Russian Root Salad (aka Vinigret) and Celery Root and Apple Remoulade with Dill Caper dressing. Info on registration and stuff here.
AT: Jivamukti Yoga in Union Square
The class starts at 3pm, so guess what? You can make both events!
Three day weekend, y’all. Remember that Monday is not just another day off, but it is the “National Day of Service“. Watch the video below and check out the Martin Luther King Jr. government website to see how you can take part. Do as I say!
There are also many events going on around the city this weekend, from tours of Bed Stuy to dance performances. Enjoy!
The Wildlife Conservation Society is teaming up with the Coney Island Polar Bear Club for a fundraising event that takes place on the Circle Line.
Although there is no swimming involved, participants need not keep their pants on. The longer they can withstand the cold in their bathing suits, the more money that is raised for the animals.
The event takes place February 25th. Participation is free. Too comfy in your warm clothes? Price is 20 bucks for spectators or you can sponsor someone by cost per minute.
We did our annual New Year’s Day romp at Coney Island with the Polar Bear Club. It was a record turnout this year, probably because the temperature was in the 50’s. It’s also getting more and more crowded with younger folks every year.
When I first started photographing the Polar Bear Club and Ice Bears (now Ice Breakers) my parents still lived across the street from the beach. Back then, it was just a few old Russians and some lovable eccentrics. Now, it’s EVERYBODY into the water!
These are the few shots I got before my camera got wet and stopped working. It would have been a great day minus the camera emergency. Happy New Year!
Here’s a list of ten, count ’em, ten things to do in NYC over the holidays. A couple from my very own childhood.
1. Dyker Heights Lights. Yeah, I wrote about it yesterday.
2. Walk down (or up) 5th Avenue. Sounds pretty lame, but my mom took me every year when I was a kid. We started at the park and headed down to Macy’s (ok, not 5th). We saw the tree and stopped for hot chocolate. Do the shop windows even still have moving decorations? I haven’t been since I was a kid. Too touristy.
3. Chinese and a movie on Christmas day. It’s how we Jews roll.
4. Support your local markets. Forget the department stores and buy handmade. Great list of holiday crafts shows at Markets of New York. Oh, don’t forget to visit the most important one…the one I’m doing!
5. Go for a swim. New Year’s Day, as always….with the Polar Bears.
6. A John Waters Christmas at BB King. Don’t know anything about it, but if it’s John Waters, its’ got to be…interesting.
7. Enjoy beer and latkes at the 92Y in Tribeca. December 22. $18 in advance. $22 at the door.
8. Kwanzaa celebration at the Musuem of Natural History on December 31. Song, dance, spoken word.
9. Take a holiday tour of the Louis Armstrong House in Corona, Queens.
10. Couldn’t miss The Bronx! Attend the holiday train show at The NY Botanical Gardens.
Yeah, I missed Staten Island. So, sue me.