I’ve spent years living in North Brooklyn but I really didn’t know anything about it until I was able to see how it was portrayed by 2 Broke Girls, a hackneyed, LA-filmed sitcom created by the “brain” behind Sex and the City and the “brain” behind Whitney. This column will keep track of all the knowledge dropped and questions answered, like: Why do hipsters wear knit hats? Because of Coldplay…of course (seriously, this was one of the first jokes of the series).

This week I learned…

Williamsburg Has Rich, Jewish Doctors Now

The absence of love was in the air last night in the 2 Broke Girl’s Williamsburg as neither broke gal had a date for Valentine’s Day. Same goes for the rest of the show’s racist cast of ancillary characters. As a result of the sadness, the best of the four stereotypes, the black ancillary character, had a heart attack (Get it!?!?!?! Heart!?!?!? Valentine’s Day!?!?!?!?!).

Because everyone on this show is broke or a girl or both, the black ancillary character, who is played by the ever awesome Garret Morris, needs the broke girls to help him get a private room. The formerly rich, currently blond broke girl admits to knowing the family who owns the wing of the hospital in which they currently resided—classic rich girl.

Enter Dr. Shecter, a Jewish stereotype in his own right, albeit a positive one. Dr. Jewberg saves the day and wins the formerly rich, currently blond broke girl’s heart. As a gift, she brings him a t-shirt that says “Williamsburg” (you know, all those Williamsburg t-shirts that they sell everywhere because everyone only wears them, always) because that’s where she lives. Big reveal: Dr. Jewenstein also lives in Williamsburg, as he wanted to “piss off his father” (just like Isaac and Abraham, amiright?). The two rich kids, chuckle at the wild and crazy thought of a wealthy, non-Hasidic Jewish Doctor living in the post-apocalyptic wasteland that is contemporary Williamsburg. If only there was a luxury condo for him to reside. One day, Dr. Jewowitz, one day.

[What I learned from last week's episode]

You may have thought that the season’s biggest commercials all aired during the Super Bowl, but Mexican food chain Chipotle saved its best for last night’s Grammy Awards. The commercial, which actually debuted on YouTube in late August but hadn’t aired on television until last night, features a farmer raising pigs that get plumped up with pills and shipped off on big trucks, until he has an epiphany and tears down the walls holding the animals. The ad consists of stop motion animation and presents the story in a single, two and a half minute long shot. Willie Nelson’s cover of Coldplay’s “The Scientist” plays throughout. (The spot aired right after Coldplay’s performance.)

The ad, officially called “Back to the Start” has over four million views on YouTube. “The film and the soundtrack were commissioned by Chipotle to emphasize the importance of developing a sustainable food system,” Chipotle’s website states. The response from viewers has been mixed, however. While the chain has publicly promoted sustainable and humane farming practices, it is was once owned in part by McDonald’s, which no doubt is guilty of participating in the factory farming system that the clip eschews.

If you really like the ad, check out the fascinating “making of” below.

As intense as the ad is, apparently more people who watched the Grammys are just wondering who Bon Iver and Paul McCartney are.

Update: Several commenters were quick to point out that Chipotle and McDonald’s parted ways in 2006. Nevertheless, it’s surprising that a food chain once connected to McDonald’s would attempt such a significant re-branding by coming out as anti-factory farming.

Instrumental ‘post-rockers’ This Will Destroy You were in town to play a couple of shows. We caught them at 285 Kent in Brooklyn. Watch a 3 song edit below.

Brooklyn Indie favorites Life Size Maps played 285 Kent. Watch a video edit of “Weird Luck” from Saturday’s performance below.

flickr

Looking for an early-morning Valentine’s Day date that’s sure to impress leave an impression on your special someone? The sewage plant located on the beautiful famously disgusting Newtown Creek is offering special tours for the holiday.

Yes, you read that correctly. The Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant – which is the city’s largest wastewater facility and processes 1.3 million gallons each day – is opening its doors on Tuesday for a special tour of its “digester eggs” (ew that name).  Monthly tours are available from its 2-year-old visitor center, but Tuesday’s tour will be an added date and will end in a Hershey’s kiss for each attendee (seriously).

Like the fancy restaurant where your date is expecting is expecting to go, the plant requires reservations. Email events@dep.nyc.gov. The tour begins at 10 a.m.

New video for “Amber” from the London duo; Emily Jacobs and Tom Evans, aka Labyrinth Ear.

Labyrinth Ear – Amber from oof video on Vimeo.

I’ve spent years living in North Brooklyn but I really didn’t know anything about it until I was able to see how it was portrayed by 2 Broke Girls, a hackneyed, LA-filmed sitcom created by the “brain” behind Sex and the City and the “brain” behind Whitney. This column will keep track of all the knowledge dropped and questions answered, like: Why do hipsters wear knit hats? Because of Coldplay…of course (seriously, this was one of the first jokes of the series).

This week I learned…

Don’t Ever Ride the Subway, Ever

On television, the New York Subway system seems ever destined to be seen as a wasteland. A place worthy of a Hades comparison for more reasons than just that it’s also underground. 2 Broke Girls would lead its viewer to believe that the subways, regardless of the train, are filthy havens for the worst stereotypes of the types of New Yorkers who have been priced out of Manhattan and much of Western Brooklyn for at least ten years/never really existed in the first place—you know, men whose wardrobes resemble something between a pile of oily rags and Grizabella from Cats.

On 2 Broke Girls last night the subway shuffles our broke gals from wealthy, model-filled Manhattan to the drek of contemporary Williamsburg (well, a contemporary WB where The Edge is still just a punchline for a music joke and not also a gentrification one). The two try to share a sentimental moment in the wake of saving an overdosing model’s life, only to be interrupted by a stranger groping Kat Dennings cupcakes (and by cupcakes, I mean, her butt, not her actual cupcakes—this episode was lacking in cupcake porn). Our gals, and the audience, laugh it off because sexual assault is hilarious just as long as the offended party shoots a real zinger at the would be rapist. The Kat Dennings broke girl zinged that fella hard so let’s all just call it even. I don’t know about you but I’m more ready than ever for my sardine-esque, rush hour L-train commute.

[What I learned from last week's episode]