Posted by Nicole Wasilewicz at 07:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

via Gothamist

Narcotics investigators seized more than $800,000 and 61 pounds of cocaine worth nearly $1 million in a Williamsburg apartment yesterday. The drugs were hidden under the seat of a portable sauna, and officials say -- wait, portable sauna?! Is that really a thing? Turns out yes, it is! It's also one of the last places anyone would want to "chill" while ripping rails, so the suspects probably figured nobody would ever think to look in there for cocaine. Oh well. The big stash was found in an apartment above defunct Laila Lounge on North Seventh Street.

Posted by freewilliamsburg at 04:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Without further ado:

Congrats to Elizabeth Kuchta, who is our new Queen, and Shane “Thorgy” Thor and Marleah Martin, who were runners-up! We hope you rule firm but fair.

Recaps: Flavorwire; NYTimes

Posted by Brian Ries at 03:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Evidently, Spain has discovered Williamsburg:

MC CARREN POOL FACTORY is an new alternative pop-rock band formed in Hervás, Cáceres (SPAIN) in 2008. The band is formed by J.Montero (guitar&vocals) from “Experimento Prismático” and C.Del Arco(amateur songwriter). It..s group"s nickname comes from the New York summertime concert space and playground Mc Carren park pool in Brooklyn (N.Y). In november 2008,They recorded their first single “Sunday afternoon at Mc Carren Pool” at Estudios Metropolis (Vigo,Spain) where members of staff are supporting part of this project. In march 2009, they finished its first EP that includes new songs like “Crane Day” which inspired the group"s logo or "Jack the Ripper Song".

Posted by freewilliamsburg at 01:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Myopenbar and Drambuie Present: Cinema 16
Drambuie Cocktails, free with RSVP / 7:30pm
at Galapagos

During the silent film, live music enhanced the moving picture and brought communities together through a visceral, interactive audio-visual experience. Today, the film experience has been reduced to the tiny screens of our laptops and iPods, oftentimes experienced alone. Cinema 16 offers a revival of community, recreating the experience of the silent film era. Curator and artist Molly Surno programs obscure vintage films and pairs them with contemporary New York musicians. Bands are commissioned to compose a musical score in order to modernize the 1920’s tradition of live music accompanying films.

Cinema 16 initially began in 1947 as a New York based avant-garde film society. Inspired by Maya Deren’s Greenwich Village exhibition of experimental films, Amos Vogel and his wife Marcia decided to create a community based on this type of filmmaking. Now over four decades later Molly Surno brings the spirit of experimental and underground cinema back to New York.

Posted by freewilliamsburg at 11:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Who knew you were living near such a ski resort?

Narcotics investigators seized more than $800,000 and 18 kilos of cocaine from the second-floor apartment above the former site of the Laila Lounge on N. Seventh Street between Wythe and Berry streets, according to the office of the city’s special narcotics prosecutor.

They hid the majority of the goods in a sauna. In a f'n sauna!

Posted by Brian Ries at 10:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Bedford and North 1st

Posted by Clarissa Roudabush at 10:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Directed by the dude who brought us Hipster Job, Thomas De Napoli, Guy Fantastico's "Nom De Guerre" was shot in our 'hood- well, Greenpoint.

Posted by Nicole Wasilewicz at 03:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Max Silvestri and Gabe Delahaye are two funny people who hold court every week at Cameo (93 North 6th Street) for their show Big Terrific, which features an ever-rotating circle of other funny people, right here in sunny Williamsburg!

They are now making funny videos for a new show about gadgets and bus reviews from the top of the Empire State Building Tavern on the Green some studio on Details.com. Here is their first: Gabe and Max's 100 Seconds #1!!!

Update: I originally and incorrectly said it was Max and Gabe Liedman, but it is in fact Gabe Delahaye. We can only blame Max here for associating with too many Gabe's. He writes: "while I do host Big Terrific with the hilarious Gabe Liedman, occasional contributor to Videogum, the Gabe & Max videos are made with Delahaye, editor of Videogum and occasional performer on Big Terrific. Confusing, right???" Double Indeed! (Comment correction of the correction noted!)

Posted by Brian Ries at 01:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Updated w/ a comment from Sen. Schumer...

Could our beloved Jelly Waterfront Pool Parties actually really for realsies dry up? Gosh, we sure hope not, but that's the word from Jelly's mouth today. From an email we just received:

The future of the Pool Parties at the East River State Park could be in jeopardy. After a very successful 2009 season with 8 weeks of free performances including Grizzly Bear, Girl Talk, The Black Lips, Dirty Projectors, Deerhunter, Dan Deacon, No Age, Mission of Burma, Beach House, and Simian Mobile Disco, news came from the New York State Parks Department and the Open Space Alliance that the East River State Park may not be available to JELLY for the 2010 season. This will ultimately put an end to the flourishing free summer series.

U.S. Senator Charles Schumer, a Brooklyn native, is now leading the fight to save the JELLY Pool Parties. The Senator took the stage at the last Pool Party in August 2009 and pledged that the free concert series would return to the waterfront in 2010. Senator Schumer and his staff have been campaigning for the Pool Parties to remain at the East River State Park, speaking to other state and city officials to ensure JELLY's free summer series will be back for a 5th year.

So what can YOU do to keep the pool parties alive? Call or email your Senator! Chuckie hung out at the parties last summer, you might have seen him. He gave a speech before Grizzly Bear promising to pass health care with a call to keep the parties coming. Let's hope he lives up to his word. Here's Jelly's:

JELLY is reaching out to the community to call Senator Charles Schumer at (212) 486-4430, or via email phil@schumer.senate.gov to show their support and express any concerns on behalf of this tremendous free community program. The Senator will relay the public opinion to the NYS Parks Department and the Open Space Alliance.

H20 Shows.

The New York Times has a quote from Schumer who says he'll do everything he can to keep them around.

“I happened to pass by the Jelly concerts when I was riding my bike through Williamsburg and was amazed at the thousands of people who lined the streets to come to the concerts,” the senator said on Wednesday. “People from every part of the country who had made their way to Brooklyn, enjoying music and one another’s company – it’s the best of New York. When I heard that the concerts might be canceled, I couldn’t understand why, given that this is exactly what our parks are supposed to be for, and I am going to do everything I can to see that they continue.”

Posted by Brian Ries at 02:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

One more version after the jump. Via The Awl.

Continue reading "New Girls Video: "Substance"" »

Posted by freewilliamsburg at 02:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Come join Pomp & Circumstance, a Brooklyn based arts and culture magazine, as they celebrate their next issue launch with a Post-Apocalypse Survival Party tomorrow - November 19th @ www.littlefieldnyc.com. The event will feature a panel of media stars who have changed their lives to succeed and survive. Live performance by Elk City will follow. Beats by DJ Jinners. Sponsored by Mercy, Harper Perennial, Sneak Attack Media, Green Truck and Lucid Absinthe.

**That's right, Absinthe Open Bar!!!**
7-9 pm guest list only. RSVP to pomponline@gmail.com
9pm-midnight open

Panelists include:

Andrew W.K. released his first full-length album in 2001 - the controversial, I Get Wet - Andrew was quickly recognized as a powerful musical performer, and exhilarating, positive role-model for a new generation. In 2008, Andrew and his friends opened a downtown Manhattan music venue and nightclub, Santos Party House. In 2009, Andrew began his own record label, SKYSCRAPER MUSIC MAKER, and began hosting his own TV show on Cartoon Network, "DESTROY BUILD DESTROY".

Matt McCarthy is a stand up comedian hailed by the NY Times as "a Belushi-like mad man.” He's also the redbearded ubiquitous Fios Guy.

CLICK THROUGH FOR MORE DEETS:

Continue reading "Pomp's Post-Apocalypse Survival Party" »

Posted by Lauren Mooney at 02:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The plushie spokesperson warns us that some may see Death Bear and feel "intimidated by his stature," but we still find the pervy fish WAY more creepy. From our mailbag:

We all have someone or something we would rather just forget. Things fall apart. Love hurts. Dreams die. But when you summon Death Bear to your door, you can rest assured that help has come. At first you may be intimidated by his stature and color (7 feet tall with a hard, black bear head, black jumpsuit, and black boots), but absorbing the memories of others is a dark art, and Death Bear must present himself appropriately for this solemn duty. Death Bear will take things from you that trigger painful memories and stow them away in his cave where they will remain forever allowing you to move on with your life. Give him an ex's clothes, old photos, mementos, letters, etc. Death Bear is
here to assist you in your time of tragedy, heartbreak, and loss. Let Death Bear help you, and absorb your pain into his cave.

*Death Bear is a member of Club Animals, a pop-performance art group in New York City founded in 2008. We are best known for the Free Bouncy Rides, Candy Crack Delivery Service, and Bunny Butterfly Kisses.

Saturday, November 21st, 2009
and Sunday, November 22nd, 2009
Serving all Brooklyn only
Text 347-742-2293 for an appointment
Free
http://clubanimalsnyc.blogspot.com

Posted by freewilliamsburg at 10:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

On Thursday night, Williamsburg's own City Reliquary will reset the course of history as the museum crowns one of its 18 semi-finalists with the worldly title of Miss G Train 2009!

It's been a long, lonely summer, as humanity crawled back to a point of sustainability following the disaster that was the Miss Williamsburg pageant. Just one year ago, faux-pageants watchers of this fine city were so deeply scarred after its accusations of vote rigging and insider dealings that some said they'd never go to another fake pageant established for publicity reasons again!

But perhaps the Gods of the Reliquary have found in their wits humanity's one chance to redeem last year's eternal sin and rightfully bestow the crown, the people's crown, atop the glistening head of our new queen.

But who will she be? Let's take a look-sie at our favorite contestants! Last names have been removed, but you know where to find them. Feel free to handicap in the comments. Just to play, I'm guessing it'll be either Erica, Jessica, or "Thorgy."

Anastasia F. - She's a blogger with a tumblr blog and will be playing the tambourine!
Jessica D. - According to Wikipedia, she "jokes about vaginas and other sexual or dark topics" and plays a rape whistle. She also sent them a photo of herself nearly naked covered only by money. (link nsfw!)
Marleah M. - Marleah is a Gowanus resident who comes to Greenpoint for haircuts.
Colleen S.- Colleen is a young journalism student who starts her poem with, "Hi Brooklyn, or anyone listening." America's listening don't you worry.
Elizabeth K.- Here we have a television producer who "almost never smell(s) like urine and would never, ever let a homeless person ride me." Oh oh!
Anne S. - Anne's a fashion blogger and "community reporter for The New York Times’ Fort Greene-Clinton Hill blog" and is our new Twitter friend.
Monica W. - Monica plans to use the G train as a nuclear disaster contingency escape plan one day.
Natasha L. - She still uses the word "phat." Never let them tell you that's not cool, Natasha.
Erica S. - Hey, she's a free williamsburg friendly! She added more poetry to her submission though...
Rebecca K H. - Rebecca quotes Nietzsche!
Stacey B. - Stacey is funny because she wrote “G Skreeeeeechhhh!!!"
Shane T. a.k.a. “Thorgy” - "Thorgy" has a pretty good shot at winning this thing because he's been on Rupaul’s Drag Race, Season 2 and might be a potential fameball in the making. He notes he'd like to show his face "everywhere."

There are more. Perhaps our future queen is hiding in the rough. But good luck to all you lovelies. We wish you the best, and rest easy knowing the winners and losers have a standing interview offer waiting right here once you're finished.

Posted by Brian Ries at 09:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)

You can grab it here. Here's an acoustic version of the single [via Gorilla vs Bear]. We can't wait to hear the whole record.

Posted by freewilliamsburg at 02:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

We've been loving Nneka's debut new single "Uncomfortable Truth." She's playing tonight at Highline with The Roots and we've got a pair of tickets to giveaway. Comment on our Facebook page for a chance to win! We'll announce the winner at 4pm.

Posted by freewilliamsburg at 12:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Attention photo aficionados: K&K is a new photography gallery located at 109 Broadway (between Bedford and Berry). They are hosting an opening reception this Friday from 7-10 pm featuring their first group show.

Check it out, yay for thriving art!

Posted by Elizabeth Brady at 12:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Posted by freewilliamsburg at 10:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOAT, who dropped their Setting The Paces LP on October 27th, are a band that you either know, or you don't. Whenever I drop a mention of these Real Estate-gone-Hot Hot Heat sexing it with Adam Green tunes (yeah, I said it), I either get an excited affirmation or Scooby Doo ears. Anyway, they're awesome, so check out the show tonight.

Doors @ 8pm- If anyone has more info on when they go on, please drop your knowledge in the comments.

Also, they remind me a bit of a little local band we've been loving...

Posted by Nicole Wasilewicz at 06:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Posted by Clarissa Roudabush at 07:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

We are getting crazy loose! As most of you know we had to change our name due to some legal BS, come celebrate the first party to benefit Candy Rain Magazine! Doors at 9:30. $5 but free if you show your dick at the door before 1:30. Coverdude Contest at 2!

Candy Rain Cuddle Puddle

171 Lombardy St
Brooklyn, NY

Doors at 9:30. Coverdude Contest at 2, Ladies Circus right after. Plus Great Tiger, Womb Ripper, Guts For Garters, Plush and Harmony, Free Danger, Rev McFly and DJ Dirty Finger!

Come get bananas! Dudes show your dicks to get in for free before 1:30. Plus a porny raffle! Support your favorite pornographers!

Check out ligerbeat.blogspot.com for more details!

Posted by Nicole Wasilewicz at 04:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

We've heard back from a few of you wonderful readers who've entered into the City Reliquary's Miss G Train pageant, and offered us a view from the inside. Our first, Erica Sackin, who's going casual, was kind enough to send along her poem. Here it is!

How many nights have I spent at your mercy, G train? How many hours have I craned my neck, hoping to see that warm green light crack your tunnel's abyss? Each breeze I imagine to be the whoosh of your approach, every rodent's scurry is transformed by masochistic hope into the 625 volts of electricity that will bring you to my feet. As the hour grows late, and others succumb to the lure of livery cabs above, my faith cannot help but grow stronger. For I know, somewhere in the distance, your warm plastic seats are hurling themselves towards me, screeching with a determination to envelop me in their embrace.

Erica, we're pulling for you! For the rest of you glorious G trainers, today's the last day to enter. Email a poem/essay to missgtrain@cityreliquary.org with a sexy photo and maybe you'll be picked!

Posted by Brian Ries at 04:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Thanks Perez!

Posted by Nicole Wasilewicz at 01:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

Directed by Abby Portner, sister of Animal Collective's Dave "Avey Tare" Portner

Posted by Nicole Wasilewicz at 01:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

From our homies at Roberta's:

Brooklyn Grange is throwing the fundraiser from hell. There will be food, there will be booze, there will be music, and there might even be strippers. Come dance, play and kill for a good cause.

Music from Team Robespierre, Anamanaguchi, and Wild Yaks

**$10 Admission
**Food by Roberta’s
**Shot and Beer Specials
...and it’s all to raise funds for Brooklyn Grange, our 1-acre rooftop farm

Starr space, 110 Starr St, Brooklyn, Doors at 8pm

Posted by Nicole Wasilewicz at 10:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

In the credit-less SXT 300 Brooklyn: Williamsburg, The New Style Frontier course offered at the Fashion Institute of Technology, privileged young fashionites pay $55 to "experience the cultural vitality of the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, often referred to as the new SoHo." Fancy that!

Led by Trina Morris, a fashion publicist for Style Root PR, the seminar starts with a brief intro at FIT, followed by an exciting ride - by Subway! - to Brooklyn (subway costs not included, haha you pay now). Once here, our young explorers take in the sights, visit shops, and take notes of any "future fashion and lifestyle trends" they spot.

Here's the course description:

"Experience the cultural vitality of the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, often referred to as the new SoHo. Browse through vintage clothing and housewares that will inspire future fashion and lifestyle trends. Discover up-and-coming artists in Brooklyn's diverse galleries. Sample a great selection of restaurants, coffee houses, and family-run bakeries. Williamsburg exhibits the traditional alongside the ultra-modern, even as it changes rapidly, making it a trend hot spot. After a brief introduction at FIT, attendees travel to Brooklyn by subway."

Here's how it probably went (reenactment compliments of @asilentflute):

"OK, so this is beacon's closet. As you can see, lot's of dirt balls and europeans on vacation. Let's all try and find some dirty shoes, GO!"

Now here's the bad news for all future Williamsburg Fashion Explorers…this one-time seminar already happened on October 24th, so we won't be able to send along a mole.

FIT-ers, please keep us posted the next time you call come out to Brooklyn - by Subway - so we can tag along and throw peanuts.

(photo by tigercoin)

Posted by Brian Ries at 03:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Our friends over at Dave's Kitchen have been keeping us up to date on our local greenmarket news. It's still in McCarren park, but in a new location:

This Saturday, November 14, there will be a winter squash pie contest at the McCarren Park Greenmarket. The best pie wins its baker a bag of goodies from the market booths, but the real winners of the contest will be the market customers, who get to taste each pie and vote for their favorite....

Remember that the market has recently moved, and can now be found at Union between Driggs & N 12th.

From market manager Lauren, here’s some of what else you’ll find at the market this weekend:

Red Jacket has apple butter and delicious ciders. Hot cider will be available at the market.

Osczepinski has a wide variety of winter squash. Once you’ve been inspired by the masterful pies at the cookoff you can pick up some squash and make your own.

Healthways has great potatoes. Perfect for your winter soups and stews.

Arcadian pastures has whole rabbits and chickens.

Dipaola is accepting orders for Thanksgiving. Turkeys (in a range of sizes) can be pre-ordered and picked up at the market.

Posted by freewilliamsburg at 02:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I can appreciate the 19th Century fashion craze—woolen trousers, ties, newsboy caps, cotton undershirts—but this is taking things too far:

This flamboyance is part of a curious new movement called Tweed Rides, informal gatherings of spiffily dressed ladies and gents cycling leisurely through town and disdaining finish lines. Tweed Rides began in London earlier this year and have spread this fall to Boston, San Francisco and Chicago. As the directions for this weekend’s Tweed Ride in Washington, D.C., put it: “Leave the fleece, Lycra and outer shell at home. This ride is for the dandy.”

Posted by freewilliamsburg at 01:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

The uber-crowded LES beer hall and pretzel stop Loreley will be opening a beer garden (do i call it biergarten?) at the abandoned gas station at 64 Frost Street. They're waiting on their certificate of occupancy, and will soon be stuffing peeps stuck b/t the BQE and McCarren Park with sausages and drowning them in with booze.

(photo by Will Femia c/o Eater)

Posted by Brian Ries at 12:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Liquid Marijuana? Of course this begs the question, where do we get some?

In what the police called an unusual drug arrest, a Brooklyn man was charged on Wednesday with selling liquid marijuana.

“It has not been seen around here before,” said Capt. Gerard Dowling of the Manhattan South narcotics division, referring to a dark green mixture of alcohol and marijuana.

The police said they seized eight Mason jars of the substance on Wednesday from the home of the man, Anthony Briordy, 32. They said they also seized cocaine and prescription painkillers, including OxyContin.

An undercover officer began purchasing the liquid and other drugs from Mr. Briordy about two months ago, the police said. Mr. Briordy was said to have told the officer that the liquid was often mixed with fruit punch.

The police said that throughout the investigation, Mr. Briordy told the officer that he made the mixture at home and that a four-ounce dose of it was stronger than one marijuana cigarette.

The liquid was classified as a controlled substance, the police said, after laboratory tests determined that it was an extremely potent form of marijuana.

Posted by freewilliamsburg at 10:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (7)

North 6th and Wythe

Posted by Clarissa Roudabush at 04:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

We've got a pair of tickets to giveaway for this FADER party, which will feature:

DJ Rupture, Matt Shadetek, Jahdan Blakkamore, Maluca, and Sonido Martines. It's gonna be really dope and heavy into to the reggae, drum ' n bass, and island riddims.

Just head over to our twitter account and retweet this to enter:

RT to win 2 tix to @thefader's One Step Beyond party on 11/13 @atANMH from @freedubya http://bit.ly/1PnGby #freewilliamsburg

Good luck!

Posted by Brian Ries at 02:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I think that's the first time I've officially typed out the numbers 2-0-1-0 side by side and it just really freaked me out. So here's a jam from the future, y'all.

One of the best things about New York is that everyone's a somebody, we're all artists-actors, writers, and musicians all at the same time. But then there are those that make it look so damn easy (while looking especially hot doing so)! Lucky for you, we think of making things easier for our readers as well. Here is the exclusive premiere (*also available for download*) of Jihae’s “My Love” off of her upcoming LP, Fire Burning Rain, due out in July of 2010. Seriously, I just want to sing that to the tune of "In the year 2000..."

Posted by Nicole Wasilewicz at 08:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)