Summer Sunday in Brooklyn

My Sunday afternoon was a summertime whirlwind of little cultural happenings in Brooklyn. I began the day with a jaunt to Fort Greene, to find the Brooklyn Urban Arts Market, sponsored and advertised by BAM. After my initial confusion as to where exactly this market was located, I eventually found my way there, on Myrtle Ave. between Grand and Emerson (exactly as the website says, only I hadn't thought to record the address... ), behind the Pratt campus. One reason I think I was so confused? This little market was very small scale. Okay, quality not quantity, but I had expected something a little larger. It was a cute little fair with local and independent vendors and artisans, featuring a lot of local clothing and jewelry. My favorite item was the t-shirt with over-sized lips silkscreened on the the front and "Besos not Bombs" silkscreened on the back. However, I ultimately decided that the market only merited a quick perusal.

Finding my friend afterwards, we decided to experience another event we'd heard rumor of: the Fort Greene Sunday flea market. Now this was impressive. Below is the what/when/where info of the market, taken from the website, http://brownstoner.com/brooklynflea/:

Brooklyn Flea takes place every Sunday from 10am to 5pm—rain or shine—at Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, on Lafayette Ave. between Clermont and Vanderbilt Ave. The Flea features 200 vendors of vintage furniture, clothing, collectibles and antiques as well as new jewelry, art and crafts by local artisans, plus delicious food.

Apparently the flea market just started happening a few months ago, in April. A write-up in the NY Daily News describes the very large-scale nature of the event and reports that 70% of the vendors hail from Brooklyn. The NY Times also has a write-up of the burgeoning flea market in April, "Scavengers on the Urban Savannah," describing how many vendors have left their traditional jobs for this kind of lifestyle, and how the day was a financial success for them. Yet I also found write-ups in both the Daily News and the Brooklyn Paper that detail how the flea market has heightened neighborhood tensions between the established communities and the influx of "hipsters," Pratt students and other more recent transplants to the neighborhood. Mike McLaughlin of the Brooklyn Paper wrote an article last month, "Flea market meeting gets heated," in which he calls the flea market "one of the biggest weekend hits since Sunday brunch itself" and describes how its large-scale nature has altered the vibe of the community, in ways not everyone likes. One reason for the dispute is that it takes place on Sunday and interferes with church attendance, while others simply are angered that it was an intrusion into the community; but as we know, development and changes of communities is the nature of NYC, for better or for worse. I have to say in this case, I think that it is for the better: the flea market had such a festive, friendly vibe to it, and was full of a diverse array of people, vendors and shoppers alike. My only purchase there: a $2 pair of earrings that I honestly think of as a steal.

And then the next event: after strolling around the Brooklyn Flea for about an hour, my friend and I decided to make it to the very last McCarren Pool party. This one was co-sponsored by Jelly NYC and Brooklyn for Barack. The party opened its doors at 2; we arrived a little past 4 pm to an enormously long line. Warned by friends in the area of the long line, my friend and I decided to wait anyway; it appeared to be moving quickly, and it was the very last event of this nature (and my friend had never been to any of the pool parties prior to this!) Sure enough, the line did move rapidly; and we convinced our other wary friends to join us in line. The pool was the most crowded I have ever seen it.

This meant less free space (and less free stuff), but we scored several free Topshop tanktops and enjoyed ourselves strolling, chatting, and hanging for a few hours. We didn't stay for the Yo La Tengo performance, as the last opening band (I'm not sure of its name) had a particularly grating sound -- but overall it was a great last time at the pool party! And a great Sunday out and about in Brooklyn.

Weekend: Notable Upcoming Activities

Without many specific, concrete plans this weekend, and knowing that there is a plethora of exciting activity going on, I thought, why not blog about it? So, to promote these events and remind myself/keep track of what is going on, here goes my little compilation:

Thursday - Myopenbar.com, Drambuie Presents: Cinema 16
-- GBH presents Cheeky Bastard, LA Riots and more
Friday - Opening Reception, Week-Long Exhibit at Leo Kesting Gallery.
Saturday - Fort Greene Park Summer Literary Festival
Sunday - LAST FREE McCarren Pool Party, Featuring Yo La Tengo, sponsored by Jelly NYC.
-- FREE Brooklyn Urban Arts Market, curated/sponsored by B.A.M.

Thursday features a free screening of short films by Czech surrealist Jan Švankmajer, sponsored by Drambuie and Myopenbar, at Starr Space (108 Starr Street at Knickerbocker, Bushwick)

Thursday also is the regular party at Hiro Ballroom, this week featuring LA Riots, Dave Nada, Streetlab and Wallpaper.

Friday marks the opening reception at Leo Kesting Gallery. Below is a snippet from their e-mail:

As August wraps up the summer season Leo Kesting presents the Estonia Performance Group NON GRATA from the Grace Exhibition Space gallery in East williamsburg, Bushwick. The Performance and exhibition of NON GRATA's photographs and catalogs will be presented at our Meat Packing District gallery on August 21st until the end of the month. A live performance from the group will be presented on the opening night Friday August 22 at 8:00pm

Leo Kesting Gallery is located at 812 Washington St at the corner of Gansevoort in Manhattan's Meat Packing District. A, C, E, or L train to 8th Ave and 14th Street or 1,2,3 train to 14th Street. Gallery hours are Tuesday to Sunday from 11am until 7pm.

And a flyer for the event:

Saturday boasts a free literary festival in Fort Greene Park (DeKalb Ave & S Portland Ave), beginning at 3 pm, featuring Amiri Baraka. I found this event on Flavorpill.

Sunday marks the last free McCarren Pool Party. Doors are at 2. The headliner is Yo La Tengo, and the openers are as follows: DJ Syd B(Les Savy Fav), DJ David Cross(not in Les Savy Fav), Titus Andronicus, and Ebony Bones.

Sunday also features the BAM Brooklyn Urban Arts Market. Here is the info from the website: Aug 24, 12—8pm
Myrtle Avenue between Grand and Emerson
Music by Soul Summit Music

This summer, party and shop at the Brooklyn Urban Arts Market, a fusion of the dynamic energy of Afro-Punk and BAM with Myrtle Avenue Revitalization Project's Community initiatives. The market will feature live music, visual art performances, food from Myrtle Avenue restaurants, and 50 local, DIY vendors selling fashion, art, and accessories.

DJ collective Soul Summit Music, known for their extremely popular neighborhood performances in Fort Greene Park, will be spinning all day long, providing the soundtrack to the market’s dynamism.

Directions
2 blocks from Clinton/Washington and Classon Ave G trains (along Lafayette Ave) and 5 blocks from Clinton/Washington C train stop (along Washington Ave)

Hope you/I go out and experience/enjoy some, if not all, of these events, and all the many others going on!

Free Music in Williamsburg!

I went to the McCarren Pool party yesterday for the free Aesop Rock show. Arriving a little after 2:00 pm, I found my friend with another friend of his, towards the front of a very long line for the pool party. Why such a long line? Yes, there was a large, eager crowd for the show and the general pool party experience, but I think mostly the long line could be chalked up to the doors not opening immediately and a slow security checkpoint (which, yay!, unlike for the paid shows, didn't care if we brought in our own food or drinks).

Upon entering, the three of us immediately snatched up our free copies of Spin magazine, of which there were many strategically scattered throughout the pool for product promotion. The party, sponsored by Jelly NYC, featured a slew of free product promotions and events, including beach balls and artsy stickers and such from Le Sports Sac and a photo booth and items from Topshop.

(Above: the LeSports Sac tent, featuring artistic give-aways and displaying artsy LeSports paraphernalia.)
(Above: me with free LeSports Sac beachballs...)

(Above: the line for the Topshop booths. It seemed to stay at least this long the entire time.)

I have to say, in terms of the event set-up, I am much more impressed with the free Jelly NYC shows than the shows that cost $$. The free shows also feature the slip n' slide to be enjoyed by party/pool-goers of all ages and dodgeball (sponsored by Saucony -- which also gave away squirt guns to the crowd - throughly enjoyed and used), which the other shows do not. For awhile, we wandered through the crowd, people-watching the variety of hipsters and children running around/meandering/lounging, and obtaining our share of free things. We decided to find a place to settle for awhile, and after scoring free (with purchase of drinks) towels from Fuze, the three of us moseyed towards the front of the stage area, behind where a crowd was gathered to watch the opening bands, Chin Chin and Panther.

(Above, a crowd gathers to watch Chin Chin perform.)

Not being familiar with either of the opening bands, I have to say I was more impressed with Chin Chin, with their violin (viola?) onstage and their general sound than with Panther, although they each had their share of an enthusiastic audience. We decided to leave at 6:00 pm, although Aesop Rock had not come on yet, feeling like we had already had a thorough dose of the McCarren Pool party. Carrying my LeSports beachball with me like a dork, I continued with my festive weekend dose of the neighborhood. Regarding the pool parties: though Jelly recommends getting there early to ensure admittance, the pool is expansive enough that I tend to think a later arrival is preferable, should the headlining band be your main (or at least a central) objective. In retrospect, I wish we had stuck around for Aesop Rock, but 6 hours of the McCarren pool party experience strikes me as a little much. Secondly, the last free Jelly show (ever!) at McCarren Pool is next Sunday: Yo La Tengo. FYI.

I had dinner at Peter's, a newer diner on Bedford Avenue, not because the venue or ambiance particularly struck me, but because they had an outdoor garden in the back. My dinner, three vegetable "sides" (mac & cheese, sweet potatoes, and spinach), was mediocre but hit the spot, especially the sweet potatoes portion of the meal. Apparently, this Peter's is a homage to an old butcher shop in the area, and gets middling reviews: Peter's (freewilliamsburg.com guide).

Eventually, I found myself at Zebulon, which features free music shows beginning at 9 pm every night. Well, they decided not to start until 10 last night. (Possibly the opening band didn't show? The calendar seems to confirm this, as there was no band called Unicornicopia which played, so I may never know if their sound lives up to their name!) The avant-garde show featured a group called Unbroken, comprised of a drummer, a saxophonist and a bassist. At times the songs sounded more like conceptual noise and at others they produced a a jazzy, jam-band style groove. A review of the band on All About Jazz gives a favorable analysis of their sound and compares the saxophonist to John Coltrane. If avant-garde jazz appeals to you, it may be worth checking out; or at least come to a free show at Zebulon! This is one of the venues that will feature free shows long after summertime has passed... which I still am not ready to admit may be ending soon...

This Week In Music, Featuring Radiohead

This past week has been a whirlwind of music shows for me. Calling me a music junkie or a concert-going addict may not be too far off. "That's what summer's for," say my roommates. My conclusion: outdoor music shows and festivals are definitely an essential highlight of the summer.

So, the week started off with seeing The National headlining at Central Park Summerstage on Monday, with Plants and Animals and Yeasayer opening for them. The ironic part about my attendance of this show was that my friend and I sat outside of the Summerstage venue itself for the first two opening acts and opted instead to sit on my picnic blanket on the bare hill to the side. There we sat sharing a bottle of wine and mellowly enjoying the music and each other's company before deciding to make our way into the heart of the show and the crowd.

Yeasayer was in fact the highlight for me musically with its soaring vocals and sweeping sounds. I appreciated hearing them while relaxing with my (plastic) glass of wine in hand and sitting next to my friend, away from the energized crowd. After polishing off the wine, we were buoyed and ready to stand and immerse ourselves in a sea of people and sound. The National put on a strong show, with a range of both mellow and rocking tunes. To cap off the show, my friend and I had made it towards the front of the stage, where for most of the set, we were standing by the VIP section and remarkably near the actress Julia Stiles. (And in cool NYC style, she was left generally undisturbed by the crowd.)

Next show: the McCarren Park Pool Party on Thursday, with The Black Keys headlining, opened by Tapes 'n Tapes. This show did not strike me as quite so spectacular. I am not so familiar with Tapes 'n Tapes and was not so impressed, either. The Black Keys, whose album I enjoy, had a good sound live, but neither the sound nor the performance especially stood out.



I was forcibly reminded how derivative the Black Keys' sound is, though I still enjoy their kind of acoustic fusion and "blues-rock" sound. Further disappointed by the scarcity of food and amenities at McCarren Pool, where there is no re-entry, my friend and I mutually agreed to leave early.

And the clincher, headlining performance of the week: Radiohead at the All Points West Festival at Liberty State Park. The entire experience was memorable. The venue, a gorgeous sprawling lawn with three stages, food courts and "beer gardens," reminded me strongly of the Pitchfork Festival in Chicago. While my friend and I spent the first few hours there yesterday scoping out different bands (Animal Collective and Sia), and alternating our time in various lines (all just a tad excruciatingly slow), we settled down to a prime spot for the opening of Radiohead.



Radiohead's performance was nothing short of extraordinary. Thom Yorke was in top form. The sound and the lighting were incredible; they could not have been more perfectly arranged or aligned. Adding further to the beauty of their stage setup and lighting was the panoramic view of the NYC skyline surrounding the show. The overall experience was breathtaking. Radiohead played songs from both later and earlier albums, alternating between frenetic songs with intense, fluorescent lighting and very lo-fi songs with muted lighting and video projections. The band seemed to cast a spell on the crowd; we were mesmerized, entranced by the energy of the music. Thom Yorke told the audience, "We love you too," at one point, in response to the cheering of the crowd. And they showed their love to us, too, prolonging and heightening the show and the magic with two encore sets for us.

And that is the kind of magic I live for.