Toxic land isn’t funny. G train shuttle buses aren’t funny. Old Polish men drunk in McGolrick park first thing in the morning aren’t funny (except when they’re hilarious).
BUT! Eugene Mirman and Todd Barry are definitely funny. Tonight they’re appearing at What’s So Funny About Greenpoint?, a comedy show benefitting the Greenpoint Business Alliance. The event takes place at the Polinaise Terrace tonight and promises to be a great time, and hopefully raise some funds to help make the neighborhood even radder.
$20 gets you in for an hour of hors d’oevres, two drinks, Mirman and Barry along with Bobby Tisdale, Heather Lawless and more, as well as an after-show dance party. Plus, hopefully lots of inside jokes about Greenpoint.
The junkies in Williamsburg will have to wait longer, or maybe clean up their act and get a job. Okay, the job part might be crazy, it is Williamsburg.
The NYPD announced today they have shut down the drug-ring which investigators claim ran the North Williamsburg heroin game. After a four month long sting officers arrested seven alleged dealers who had sold heroin to undercover narcotics agents over 20 times throughout the investigation.
According to the police, these guys were devoted. They stood on the corner of Jackson Street and Kingsland Avenue near the Cooper Park housing projects, so much that investigators say they showed up on a Google Earth photo of the intersection. On a more disturbing note, these guys didn’t seem to care they were selling smack within 1000 ft. of a preschool. Authorities went on to explain that the ring allegedly had a clever method of peddling dope. From MSNBC:
The suspects, who range in age from 18 to 32, were seen on surveillance cameras hiding heroin by stuffing it in a magnetic lock-box behind a metal sign on a storefront…The heroin sold was packaged in glassine envelopes and was stamped with different logos including “Fed Ex,” “KFC,” “Powerful Impact,” and the “Monster” energy drink logo.
Criminals beware, the NYPD is on a roll. In addition to busting these drug dealers, authorities also charged several employees at the surrounding bodegas with possession and sale of untaxed cigarettes.
Brooklyn’s Mon Khmer recently released their dreamy Birthplace, an EP which fuses a multitude of influences from jazz, to classical, to country, and they’ve become the soundtrack to many a night in my cold apartment– lights dimmed, hot tea in hand.
The title track and first single, “Birthplace” builds off of a tribal beat indigenous of the Khasi people in Hammarsing’s hometown in Northeast India, and the song is said to best capture the band’s aesthetic with its intricate guitar work and Hammar’s atmospheric voice.
They’ve shared the stage with many of our favorite acts (including Bear In Heaven, Micachu & The Shapes, Beach Fossils, Tony Castles, and Deradoorian) and are adding another to their roster with a place on the bill of Hooray For Earth’s third installment of their Piano’s residency on Wednesday, November 17th. And we wouldn’t be FREEwilliamsburg if we didn’t have a pair of tickets to giveaway.
So check out the interview with two parts of Mon Khmer after the jump to get to know them a little better. You’ll be interested to know a drummer can be a driving force, and what it’s like to have The Smiths call you brilliant. And don’t forget to comment for your chance to win! Besides, if nothing else, Mon Khmer’s website sure is pretty.
The Work Book Project has a video up of loved/hated Brooklyn icon and street artist, Dickchicken. We contacted the reprobate to see if he’d answer a few questions. Interview after the jump.
We love New York City for a number of reasons. Mostly because we’ve figured out our prewalk to every possible place we may be going, but also for the gems the city has to offer. Sure, The Cloisters and Socrates Sculpture Park are pretty rad… but we’re talking about truly hidden below ground. Now we can all enjoy the long abandoned and beautiful City Hall Station, all we need is a little extra time on the 6 Train.
If you ride the 6 train to the end of the line and get off at the Brooklyn Bridge stop, you’re missing out on something incredible. As the train loops around to go back uptown, it passes through an abandoned and beautifully preserved City Hall station from 1904. [...]
The station is still not open to the public, but there’s a trick you can use to see it for yourself. Until recently the MTA would to force passengers to get off before the train made the loop, but now passengers are allowed to stay on. So the next time you reach the end of the line, keep going.
I kind of expected this to just be a showcase of Cee-Lo’s favorite party spots in New York. Go to the club. Hot girls. Drink Remy Martin. Hot girls. Drive around in a limo. Hot girls. Really taking to heart the lyrics “Friday’s cool/But there’s something about Saturday night/You can’t say what you won’t do/Cuz you know that you just might.”
But, there is actually a narrative here. Hearkening back to the days of Hype Williams. I could have easily been OK with this video having 10-minute long breaks for dialogue and serious acting. As it stands, though, still a pretty solid clip.
In strange news Grub Street is reporting that Relish is slated to re-open as a Mexican Beer Garden by the owners of La Esquina. Not quite sure how that will work in the winter, or if the old skool diner decor will be fitting for a Beer Garden, but we do love La Esquina and are excited for the prospect of additional tasty Mexican food in the hood.
Sam Mickens brought his new performance piece titled “Kayfabe: Game of Death” to Death by Audio last Saturday and Sunday. Below is a recording of Saturday’s premiere.
In the frustrating yet delightful new comedy, Morning Glory, the most important relationships are underdeveloped, romantic relationships aren’t developed at all, intelligence is treated as an irritating quirk, every storyline is wrapped up in a dialogue-free montage during the movie’s final moments, and Rachel McAdams is absolutely charming. She’s Becky Fuller, a clumsy, perky go-getter who’s just landed a job as Executive Producer for the lowest-rated and most ridiculed morning show on national television, “Daybreak.” The show can’t even manage the fluff, let alone any significant news, and has just hired a new co-anchor (Harrison Ford) for the perpetually unsatisfied and cynical Colleen (Diane Keaton). Rachel McAdams has 102 minutes to improve the show’s reputation, her own love life, and the attitude of her idol, Mike Pomeroy, Harrison Ford’s attempt at an alcoholic, loathsome Dan Rather. Don’t worry, I won’t let you know whether or not she succeeds. (more…)
You guys have all figured out that I may have a bit of a girl crush on Williamsburg-by-Copenhagen’s Oh Land by now. This little love affair started when we booked her to play our Northside Festival showcase, after which we played NYC Taper’s recordings over and over. But now, with an EP floating around, props from folks like Missoni, Nylon, Perez Hilton, Vogue, and so on… we wish we could raise our fists and cry “firsties!!”… but that would be a touch tasteless.
Anyway, Oh land is amazing and will be playing at Mercury Lounge on Monday (11/15) and not only will we be there, but we have a pair of tickets to give to one lucky reader. All you’ve gotta do is tell us which Oh Land song is your favorite in the comments!
Toxic land isn’t funny. G train shuttle buses aren’t funny. Old Polish men drunk in McGolrick park first thing in the morning aren’t funny (except when they’re hilarious).
