So I guess it’s true. Relish is closed.

A reader who was there after Sunday’s Pool Party writes:

“I was there last night after attending the waterfront party on N. 8th and the waitress very sadly informed us that it was their last night open.  One of the waiters noticed me taking pictures of the place and came outside to ask me to email him the pictures I took for memory’s sake.  Everyone was noticeably upset and determined to have a good “last” night.

While a commenter speculates on the new owners:

“I have it on pretty good authority that offers have been made to buy out the lease by the owners of Waffle House chain (a fast-food chain popular elsewhere)

Pretty good authority is good enough to get my excitement wagon churning. According to Waffle House’s online store locator, the nearest restaurant is in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania – about an a 1.5 hour drive. Could this be the waffle chain’s attempt at smothering some of our sweet Brooklyn brunch money syrup all over their checkered faces? Maybe!

Here’s a little known fact: this can all be blamed on Thomas Jefferson. According to Wikipedia, he brought a waffle iron over from France, “and waffle frolics or parties became popular in the late eighteenth century.” Reeeeeal great job, Thomas Jefferson. I would’ve been fine getting by on pancakes but whatever.

And waffle parties? Brace for that new trend, it’s coming in 2011. In the meantime, here’s “Waffle House” by Travis Porter (ft. Waka Flocka):

We’ve been hearing rumors that Relish, the great little diner (+yard) on North 3rd and Wythe, closed over the weekend. A friend of mine was at the bar when an all-hands staff meeting was called. When the bartender returned, he asked, as if he had just lost his job, “Anybody want some shots?”.

The L Magazine notes the restaurant is closed today for a photo shoot.

Gothamist found a Facebook profile of an employee who writes, “RIP Relish…All I know is Sandy told them yesterday (Sunday) he was closing today (Monday). That’s a lot of my friends who are great workers and people who need jobs. Sucks.”

So, is this the end? What have you heard? Employees! Shine some light on this matter, will ya! Write in, we’ll keep it anonymous if it’s a sticky issue.

We called last night for comment and left a voicemail, but have yet to hear back.

Overheard in a Berlin Cafe: “Any advice for somebody wanting to start a record label?” the young man said.

“It’s a nightmare, but we’re all gonna die, and you might as well do something you love,” answered Grant C. Dull, founder of ZZK Records, the premier record label in Buenos Aires, Argentina, which specializes in “cumbia digital.” And this Thursday, July 22nd, Buenos Aires’ best DJs and their drum-toting live band will be taking over Brooklyn Bowl.

In 2008, Grant C. Dull, whose DJ name is “El G,” founded Zizek, shortened to ZZK Records, after four years of building and running cultural events website What’s Up Buenos Aires.  El G has played at festivals such as Coachella, Roskilde & Summer Stage in Central Park.  The ZZK cumbia digital sound has influenced DJs and artists like Bersas Discos & Tormenta Tropical in San Francisco and DJ/Rupture and Diplo in the East.  The sound has ignited a resurgence in cumbia music for a new generation of Latinos, hipsters, and world-music audiophiles alike, with leading label ZZK receiving a wide range of media attention from big names like The NY Times, CNN, The Fader, Mad Decent, Discobelle, and Generation Bass.

Cumbia is colored like Colombian sunsets. Cumbia sounds like Caribbean coconuts falling to the ground. Cumbia feels like the sweat underneath a Panama hat…. It’s African. It’s New World. It’s tribal, it’s digital. And now it’s coming to Brooklyn.

(more…)

This rabbit, perhaps technically called a “hare,” was jamming out at a pop-up rave in McCarren Park on Sunday. It’s wearing a handkerchief! Forget dogs and cats, hares are in.

And it’s almost as jugtarded as last year’s infomercial. Needless to say, the excitement is building this year given the release of the hit single Miracles. As an added bonus, The Insane Clown Posse is going to explain how magnets work. See you there.

Matt and Kim – Siren 2010 – Lessons Learned/Yea Yeah from Big Ass Lens on Vimeo.

Big Ass Lens explains the gonzo nature of the video:

The decision to go gonzo with our coverage this year was not without it’s problems. Barely half way through the crowd, we were accosted by an older fellow who looked a bit out of place among the sea of Wayfarer sporting hipsters, who wanted us to move so badly that things got physical. The Big Ass Lens crew had to regulate and fisticuffs nearly erupted, but camera and crew came out unscathed as we threw more bows and pushed ahead. Having settled into a prime spot, it soon became apparent that there would be no way remain unharmed in the bonkers dance party that was occurring in all directions around us. Even after moving, it was still hella rough to keep a steady frame, but we ended up going wide on a lot of the shots to give you a sense of the madness that broke loose during some of Matt and Kim’s more animated tracks.

Watch it here.

Raekwan’s on now, but here’s the rest of Saturday’s schedule:

5:15 The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion

6:15 Wolf Parade

7:25 Panda Bear

8:30 LCD Soundsystem

And Sunday:

1:00   Allá

1:45   Cass McCombs

2:30   Girls

3:20   Beach House

4:15   Lightning Bolt

5:15   St. Vincent

6:15   Major Lazer

7:25   Big Boi

8:30   Pavement

SATURDAY

88 and Sunny has probably already brought half the ‘burg down to Coney Island for Siren Fest to see Surfer Blood and Harlem and many others. And that’s not a bad choice to be sure. But here are a few others in case you don’t feel like putting a stickpin in your peppermint tie and looking like you have nowhere to go but coneyisland.

JellyNYC is hosting ROCK YARD, the new addendum to the POOL PARTIES, and three local faves Thee Oh Sees, The Beets, and X-Ray Eyeballs will be trying to put the DIY spirit back into the summer scene. Wythe b/t S. 2nd and S. 3rd, doors at 2pm.

In case you miss Thee Oh Sees there they will be playing again tonight with Golden Triangle as part of the BedStuy Bikini Bash at Tip Top Bar, 432 Franklin Ave. 10PM-4AM, $10 and a bikini get you in.

[h/t bkvegan]

Or in case you don’t mind spending a few dollars or dealing with the G shuttle (oh wait you’ve got a bike, right?) then at least the $15 for the PS1 Warmup comes with entrance to the museum.

So when RATATAT and Air France have melted your brain, you can check out that Greater New York exhibition you’ve been meaning to see.

PS1, 2-9pm

If this is more your steez, Celebrate Brooklyn @ the Prospect Park Bandshell today will be a celebration of African music, food, and culture, headlined by the incredible Konono No1 from Congo and Senegalese staple Omar Pene & Super Diamono.

HIGHLY RECOMMMENDED

Oh & big props to Governor’s Island for moving the free Dr. Dog show scheduled for today to a less-busy August 15, but they are still hosting the annual Jazz Age Dance Party featuring 1920s garb and the Dreamland Orchestra. And as a cherry on top of that sundae, they are giving away 750 free kites starting at noon.

–

SUNDAY

For most around here, Sundays mean Pool Parties, and today Murder City Devils and Obits headline. We’ll probably see you there. Doors @ 2pm as always, kids.

OR you could take a stroll down Smith St. for the Bastille Day Celebration hosted by Bar Tabac and featuring French food and music all day. I mean, have you ever played Petanque before?

Man I need to get my hands on some French Wii games.

Later in the evening, MOMA is hosting its weekly Summergarden Jazz Concert series, this time featuring veterans Trio 3. Doors @ 7pm, seating on first-come first-serve basis.

The woman who bodyslammed her dog on the street at North 7th and Driggs after proclaiming to be the “Queen of Brooklyn” has been charged with pot possession and animal tourture. No word as to if the dog survived the ordeal.