Ali Shaheed of A Tribe Called Quest

Season two of How to Make It in America is about to kick off next month and what better way to celebrate than by drinking free Hendrick’s Gin and/or Hudson Whiskey:

Dream big or go home. That’s what the cast of HBO’s hit show How to Make It in America will be doing in its second season, which kicks off Sunday, 10/2 at 10:30pm.

And what better way to celebrate the new season than an epic, weeklong salute to those downtown kids who never take a night off.

It’s called Late Night Happy Hour. And for five consecutive nights, beginning Monday, September 26th, HBO has invited fans to come party like Ben, Cam and Kappo at ten of New York’s hippest, most exclusive bars and restaurants.

Select events will feature NYC native DJ Concerned, artist/photographer Kareem Black and DJ Ali Shaheed, from legendary hip-hop group A Tribe Called Quest. Hendrick’s Gin and Hudson Whiskey have signed on to co-sponsor the whole week, providing six specialty cocktails developed in honor of the show’s characters.

There will be free Hendrick’s Gin and Hudson Whiskey for an hour each night and Ali Shaheed of A Tribe Called Quest is DJing tonite!

RSVP here on Facebook, here on Recco, or by email.

Check out the full schedule after the jump.

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In an open letter to Open Space Alliance, a Williamsburg Waterfront resident is reporting blatant drug abuse outside last weekend’s Widespread Panic show. Despite her attempt at calling police attention to the “hundreds of people” gathering around nitrous oxide balloon sellers, the “lawless drug nightmare” continued unabated.

Although no arrests were made, police found three empty nitrous oxide containers and are allegedly investigating. According to The Brooklyn Paper, while this was the first instance of nitrous oxide abuse officers discovered at the Waterfront series, residents have complained of similar incidents outside Brooklyn Bowl six months ago.

Need visuals? Watch part one of the concerned resident’s nine-part “post-concert drug orgy mob nightmare” video series below:

Luckily, locals will get a small reprieve from all that merrymakin’ after Fleet Foxes and The Walkmen close out the 2011 Waterfront series this Saturday, September 24.

The Reverend Vince Anderson and his Love Choir have become an institution, holding mass every Monday night at Union Pool. Self-described as “dirty gospel,” the Rev. gives a soulful, optimistic and uplifting performance every week. This past Monday, to celebrate his birthday and toast his relationship with Union Pool, Vince teamed up with SixPoint Brewery to create his own beer. Here is the making of SixPoint Instant Pentecostal Apostle.

The making of the Instant Pentecostal Apostle (a SixPoint IPA Beer) from Cassflix on Vimeo.

The Times won’t let you embed it since they don’t understand the internet….. but here it is.

And marching, and chanting, and actually making some pretty goddamn good points about the economy. Check out the information on the Adbusters/Anonymous Occupy Wall Street Protest, watch their livestream, buy them pizza, or read the interviews with the protesters over at the Awl.

The Vehicle of Dreams. Photo by Oriana Leckert.

Because the one above was just chilling out on Marcy and Hope last night.

Can someone let the owner of this vehicle know that I would like to marry them please? Thanks.

Photo by Oriana Leckert of Brooklyn Spaces.

Talkin’ pizza blogs, Hawaiian history, drunk haircuts, Queens rappers. On the heels of their new release Relax, Das Racist present this new thing called Chillin Island, which is the same name as their weekly show on East Village Radio (2pm-4pm). As if you needed further proof that these guys are DIY rap and having fun doing it.

We’ve already been infinitely impressed this summer by Smorgasburg, the Brooklyn Flea‘s weekly event bringing a bazaar of delicious food to the Williamsburg Waterfront. Now – perfectly timed but not affiliated with the NYC Craft Beer Week - the Flea (along with the DUMBO Improvement District) is putting on this food- and beer-centric event, Under the Archway.

From 12-9 today, head down to DUMBO, to the Archway under the Manhattan Bridge to enjoy food from Mile End Chinese Food, Rachel’s Pies and more. More importantly, though, wash this food down with delicious craft beer on tap from Stoudts and Sixpoint.

According to the Flea’s site, “We’re going to activate this unique public space and help knit together the neighborhood by getting residents and workers out for a fun Friday hang.” If you’re in the area for lunch, food starts at noon. For the after work crowd, the beer will start flowing at 3, and the whole event will keep going until 9 pm.

This Sunday, September 18 at the Williamsburg Waterfront, sample local fare and complimentary booze at Taste Williamsburg Greenpoint. Tickets range from $35 to $150, with all proceeds benefitting the building of the Northside Town Hall Community and Cultural Center. The center will provide cultural exhibitions, a community meeting space and a permanent home for Neighbors Allied for Good Growth and The People’s Firehouse, Inc. to continue to serve, organize, and advocate for the community.

From 1pm to 5pm, “taste” offerings by: 1OR8, Amber, An Nhau, Aurora Restaurant, Baci & Abbracci, Betto, Brooklyn Brewery, Brooklyn Brine Co., Cafe Colette, Calyer, Caracas Arepa Bar, The Counting Room, Crown Victoria, Cubana Social, DOC Wine Bar, Dressler & DuMont, Eat, Fat Goose, Fette Sau, Fornino, Growing Chefs & Eagle Street Rooftop Farms, GuS – Grown-up Soda, The Halcyon Gourmet, Juliette, Le Barricou, Lighthouse, Lodge & Urban Rustic, Lokal Bistro, Loreley Restaurant & Biergarten, Maison Premiere, Masten Lake, McClure’s Pickles, Mesa Coyoacan, Miranda Restaurant, Mymoon Restaurant, Bar & Lounge, Nita Nita, Nitehawk Cinema, Oslo Coffee Roasters, Plan Tea, Rabbithole Restaurant, Rosarito Fish Shack, Spike Hill, Taco Chulo, Teddy’s Bar & Grill, Trix, Two Door Tavern, Valdiano, Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream, Walter Foods and more.

Then from 5pm to 6pm, complete your mini-food tour with cocktails, craft brews and New York State wines with the Taste Happy Hour.

Live music will be provided all day by Friend Factory, Pati Yang, Hungry Marching Band, Mule Bone, People’s Champs, Chico Mann, Roosevelt Dime and DJ Jesse Mann.