And that is all.

(via sheer!)

Posted by Elizabeth Brady at 03:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

One of our favorite tunes from one of 2009's best records. The video features a John Oliver cameo. [via]

Posted by freewilliamsburg at 01:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Das Racist, of "Combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell" fame, bring you the grossest Thanksgiving ever-- a complete Turkey Day spread made up of bodega food, with the help of chef Ian Knauer. Cooked in a microwave, no less...

Via Death + Taxes:

Posted by Nicole Wasilewicz at 01:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Posted by freewilliamsburg at 10:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Major Lazer is back with another outrageous music video for their super catchy track "Keep it Going Louder," courtesy again of Eric Wareheim (from Adult Swim's "Tim and Eric Show"). The clip shares a lot in common with "Pon De Floor," their previous video foray into hallucinogenic rump shaking, Diplo quasi-dancing and Skerrit Bwoy contorting his face while flying through various stages of raunch.

I think it's safe to say this is the party anthem of Thanksgiving '09, ideally to be projected onto the nearest white wall in your Aunt Suzie's living room. Kids these days.

Posted by Elizabeth Brady at 04:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Ha ha ha. This is the best thing I've seen all day. And I'm not even a Jimmy Fallon fan.

Posted by freewilliamsburg at 03:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Dijital Fix, the electronics store located in the back of Bedford's Mini Mall, was robbed early Saturday morning by crooks who kicked in their back window and got away with two MacBooks and an iPod Touch. Eagle scouts -- they ask that we keep an eye out for any Craigslist listings that might fit the part.

Doug from Dijital Fix writes:

We wanted to let you guys know if you wanna do a little snippet on it, that our store was robbed sometime in the wee hours of this morning(3 or 4am) The back window was kicked in and a bunch of merchandise, 3 macbooks, some ipods and all the cash was taken. We would like to get the word out there so if anyone see's any Macbooks or itouch's for sale on craigslist that look suspicious they can contact us and everything. There were 2 silver macbook pro's and one black one. and a 16 gig itouch. So i mean if you need any more information just let me know and i can supply you with it. The police have been notified and prints are being dusted for and whatnot. Hopefully you can help us out and keep local people aware. Thanks guys.

No fun. We hope this snippet helps get the word out and the MacBooks are found...they're probably very scared right now.

Posted by Brian Ries at 04:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Posted by freewilliamsburg at 02:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)

North 1st and River street

Posted by Clarissa Roudabush at 12:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

You, too, can get your groove back...

Flyer by Behold The Destroyer

Posted by Nicole Wasilewicz at 06:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Tonight, indie-pop rockers The Bloodsugars will celebrate their album, “I Can’t Go On, I’ll Go On” release at The Studio at Webster Hall with Savoir Adore and Project Jenny Project Jan.

Melding inspiration from garage, new wave and pop rock, The Bloodsugars shine above their contemporaries by keeping their inspiration just that: inspiration and don’t attempt to revive (or knock off) the iconic sound of any one genre. The Bloodsugars are an elating gem that stand out in both their recordings and their earnest live performances. On record and live, The Bloodsugars confidently and comfortably hold their own in the indie scene as a tight ensemble fantastically arranged and self aware.

Lead singer Jason Rabinowitz discusses with Free Williamsburg The Bloodsugars’ album, the sentimentality he hopes his listeners will take away from his music, and how his personal connection to the album exceeds more than just its musical content.

Interview after the jump:

1. What is the track that is your personal favorite off your new album? What do you think will be a fan favorite?

My favorite track right now is, “Happiness.” I just love the way it came out, and the sentiment feels true to me. I would hope the fans gravitate to that one as well, although I know a lot of folks are digging the single, “Light At The End Of The Tunnel."

2. When you first described the album, you described it as, “a modern prom playlist.” What do you mean by dubbing your album that?

It's so funny, this quote has followed us everywhere. In fact, Matt Katz (keyboardist) and I were doing a call in interview and he said that. When he said it I thought to myself, "Hmm... Ok…" and let it go at that.

Then it made it into our press release. Ultimately I think he meant that it has that vibe where everything feels both hugely complicated and beautifully simple all at once. Like the way you look back at certain times in your life and think how silly you were, but how it all felt so real. That push and pull of emotion, that certain songs can capture. And you can get drunk, fight, make up, make out, and dance to it, of course.

3. While your songs have narrative lyrics, the lyrical content is also kind of vague leaving lots of room for interpretation. How do you feel to think that people are adapting your personal stories and songs to fit their mood and respective lives? Is it comforting that people relate to your music or is a turn off to have people skew your personal stories?

Man, it's so constantly amazing to me how everyone's experience of any given song is so unique. I love that everyone comes to music from their own place and can find meaning in it. Most of the writing that I really admire leaves room for interpretation. Even someone like Stephen Merritt, who's songs are so immediately relatable and seemingly direct I think people filter their meanings through their own experience.

I remember being 13 and just broken up with one of my first girlfriends and listening to Teaser And The Firecat and freakin’ BAWLING! "How can I tell you that I love you/When I can't think of right words to say" Ridiculous! But I think that's what it's about!

4. Is your album in fact named after a Samuel Beckett quote? Does that quote carry any personal meaning to you independent of your album title?

No, actually I can truthfully say I did think of it all on my lonesome -- although apparently it came to Samuel Beckett years before. It was very true to what we were experiencing this last year. The idea of this record--and thereby the title -- was sort of immortalizing a favorite coping mechanism.

And to risk restating an age old truism, “Life is freakin’ short.” There is always an ebb and flow to the good time. A major way I and the dudes in this band cope with the inevitable darkness life brings is to shake it off and get down. It works for us. It can be over in the blink of an eye so tonight we rock out.

5. Was it hard to name the album? Were there other working album titles?

For me, naming anything is not an easy task. The name we settled on, “I Can't Go On I'll Go On” was inspired by the year leading up to recording the record in which an immediate family member of mine was going through cancer treatment. It was by far the most difficult year of my life and it had major impact on the band.

There were many times when I hit a wall so big I had never seen anything like it and you wonder how you can go on but there's no choice. You have to and you do. We are so insanely resilient. So it followed, “I can't go on… (sigh) I'll go on…” Hey, that's got a nice ring to it..

It was in the end the only title we could all live with and was also real for all of us.

--Janice Chou

Posted by freewilliamsburg at 01:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

If the advent of cold weather has you depressed, then good news: BangOn! is hosting a wild beach party tonight at Khao Sarn Thai. This means people in bathing suits, DJs playing the best 50s/60s/70s surf/yacht/garage rock and apparently a “tiny crowd surfer.” among other sweaty spectacles.

There will also be drink specials, and as lovers of Khao Sarn (a.k.a. the best Thai joint in the neighborhood) know, this place has killer cocktails with ridiculous names like the “Sex in Willyburg” and the “South 2nd.” We plan on being there and sipping them in our bikinis all night. That’s right class – if you show up in costume the entry fee is only $3.

11 pm, Bedford at South 2nd Street.

Posted by Elizabeth Brady at 08:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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 (2)

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 (6)

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 (1)

One more version after the jump. Via The Awl.

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:

Tony O'Neill, New York based musician with The Brian Jonestown Massacre (2000). O'Neill is also the author of an autobiographical novel Digging The Vein based on his years as a heroin and crack addict as well as his experiences in the music industry.

Our moderator, Ramen-ista, Lianne Stokes, keeps getting fired from all the right places. Her memoir Laid off: Booze and Dreams in the Office is the broke bitch's handbook on survival.

Posted by Lauren Mooney at 02:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

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 (3)

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 (3)

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)

Seems Small Black became a big deal overnight. And we're not surprised.

This duo's hazy layers have been echoing strong through speakers in Brooklyn these last few weeks. More than just the en vogue sound of what OhMyRockness pegged best as lyrics sung through a "Fisher-Price microphone", these Long Island gone Brooklyn boys bring the noise, in a lovey dovey sort of way.

They killed it at Market Hotel on Saturday night, and will be doing the same TONIGHT at Bell House with Free Energy. No shows are listed until mid-December, so I'd get off your couch, put down the PBR and Ben & Jerry's and head south.

For more things Small Black check out the rest of the interview with Josh Kolenik after the jump, who sings lead on these romancing tech-infused melodies.

Reverb heavy lo-fi has been quite the craze as of late, although there's something about your sound that stands out-- what do you think it is?

I think lots of people have been making reverby lo-fi music for a long long time, just people have decided to pay attention to it a little closer over the past year or so. It seems like a natural response to the pristine production of digital music that has been floating around this decade. But I wouldn’t say that our music is lo-fi. The production style is very complicated and layered. Maybe some of tones we use are a bit cruddy, but when you put them all on top of each other, I think it’s something that is a bit more unique than a 4 track recording

What's up with the term glo-fi and is it a word you use when characterizing your work? Make up a word right now that you can use to describe your songs from now on...

We thought Glo-Fi was hysterical & absurd when we first heard it, but at least it’s moderately unoffensive. And if you want to bring glow sticks to our show, we’re totally into it. As far as a word we use to describe our music, bangers is the one that’s most frequent.

How does it make you feel that somewhere in Brooklyn, someone is probably having sex to your EP as we speak?

Kinda raw & concerned about possible baby names

Did you have any other names floating around for the 12" or was a self-titled always the plan?

We originally were going to call it Baby Bird based on a strange drawing my sister did that we were infatuated with… but as the record developed, it didn’t fit anymore. We do have a song called Baby Bird Pt II that we’ll put out some time in the future and we ever release some of the earlier stuff, we might use it again.

Which track is your favorite to play live?

Bad Lover is the definite #1. We tend to play it last and really jam out the ending. Jeff & Juan really have helped it come alive with their ideas for live arrangements. . It’s so such a gift be able to elaborate on ideas that Ryan & I came up with at home with such incredible musicians.

You played 7 shows during CMJ, I simply attended and am still recovering-- how are you guys feeling?

We actually played 8! Jumped on the Group Tightener/Todd P show @ Monster Island w/ Best Coast, Ducktails & Fluffy Lumbers (some of our favorite bands!) the night of the show and then played at 2 AM. Probably was the best show of the week. Most fun crowd & then an outrageous Dance party till 5 AM on a Wednesday. Though CMJ is really a grind. I was sick the whole week after and watched as much Friday Night Lights as I could get my hands on.

Who's a band we probably don't know about that you currently can't get enough of?

Oh there are so many things I’m loving right now….

Pictureplane – We just did a short tour with Travis and he blew us away. He takes ideas from 90s dance music and makes it so cool & catchy.

Best Coast - Bethany writes unbelievably infectious pop songs and she really kills it live.

Psychobuildings – Our friend Peter makes insane post-world pop jams

Ken Horsehair – I was listening to a tape he gave me the other day and realized I might be the only person in the world who had these songs! He’s my friend from Portland who makes sort of lo-fi randy newman style songs…

If you were to cover a song that was, in some way, a major influence on you, which one would it be?

I always want to do Neil Young covers. Learning his songs was pretty much the reason I got into writing my own. I Believe in You just came on my iTunes shuffle as I answered this, so I think maybe I’m on the right track.

Seems like the EP is playing on repeat for a lot of folks in the 'hood right now, do you ever listen to your own jams?

We listen to our own stuff way too much while we’re recording to scrutinize, analyze & confuse ourselves sometimes to the point where we have no idea whether it’s good or not anymore. Although when its mixed & mastered, it tends to fade out of the playlist.

Tell us more about Uncle Matt.

Uncle Matt is my dad’s brother. He lives on Long Island and he’s one of the most wonderful people I know in the world. Ryan & I did the majority of the record in his attic on weekends over the past year. He’s a surfer & he’s made his own boards for a long long time. When you walk around with him at Long Beach, at least 50% of the people you meet are going to know him. He’s kind of a legend down there. We also did the video for Despicable Dogs with him, which should be out in the next month sometime.

And finally, what is one place we should take a trip on the train out east to Long Island to see (and I mean other than Montauk, etc.)? Any secret good eats locations/venues/bars you would recommend for a weekend escape?

I love to go to West End II at Jones Beach. It’s kind of a hike to the beach, so it tends to be a bit less crowded than the rest of the beach. As far as food, Long Island is all about pizza & delis! The Ferring Deli in Baldwin (where I grew up) has the best chicken cutlet sandwich in the world & they can sure scramble a good egg. Ryan & I are also obsessed with the Albert’s Pizza Square Pie in Copiague. It’s got the perfect amount of sauce on top of the cheese.

Posted by Nicole Wasilewicz at 05:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

via

Posted by freewilliamsburg at 03:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

New York Magazine has a long-overdue cover story on the Brooklyn music scene and the thing is pretty epic. The article discusses the latest wave of a-list indie bands—Animal Collective, Grizzly Bear, Antlers, TV on the Radio—and canonizes the Dirty Projectors as "the most risk-taking" group of the crop:

Bitte Orca, it turns out, is Dirty Projectors' real New York album, an urbane and sophisticated outgrowth of the most fertile new-music environment the city has seen since the CBGB heyday of the seventies. It is no coincidence that it came out within months of beloved albums by two giants of the local scene—Animal Collective's Merriweather Post Pavilion and Grizzly Bear's Veckatimest. These three bands do not sound alike. Animal Collective layers lush, romantic harmonies on top of kooky, heavily sampled orchestrations, a sound that is equal parts madness and impeccable logic. Grizzly Bear has a much more down-to-earth, folky approach, reveling in the pure pleasure of melodies and the ways they can be turned inside out and upside down. But the three bands all embrace many of the same virtues: fearless sincerity, devotion to craft, agnosticism about digital technology (which is to say, they use it but don't fetishize it), profound musical curiosity, ingenuity at using the human voice as an instrument, and an uncanny ability to reproduce their complex material in live performance (in no small part because this is where the money is).

The author was kind enough to include a quote by yours truly:

Meanwhile, a more studious, art-focused scene was coalescing around a Williamsburg band called TV on the Radio, which released its label debut EP Young Liars in 2003. "They had art-punk, gospel, freak folk‚ everything interesting that was going on in Brooklyn," says Robert Lanham, the freewilliamsburg.com blogger, who has lived in the neighborhood since 1996. "TV on the Radio was just a completely different organism."

And later, they deem FREEwilliamsburg one of the "Five Voices That Matter in the Music Blogosphere." Yahoo!

Critics will of course say this article came a tad late, but the real arguments will revolve around their Brooklyn Top 40 list. (We were happy to see it included zero Hold Steady songs—hipster frat rock). Still, it was nice to see New York paying respect to the amazing music scene that has emerged. As I told the reporter, it's the most exciting time to be making (and listening to) music in the city since the late Eighties.

Posted by freewilliamsburg at 11:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

North 3rd and Kent

Posted by Clarissa Roudabush at 10:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

It seems there are a lot of people throwing caution to the wind and quitting their jobs, even with the still tenuous economical situation. My cousin Sam quit her cushy job and is now a full time artist and designer. And her first project involves your ass (hopefully).

Rules and details are here. 100 bucks and bragging rights to show off what your momma gave you? Not bad.

Posted by Jackie Snow at 04:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Jerry Fuchs, the 34-year old drummer for such bands as !!!, The Juan Maclean, and Maserati, died early Sunday morning in a freak fall down an elevator shaft at 338 Berry Street (b/t S4th and S5th). The many reports out there say he and a friend tried to jump out after the freight elevator stopped b/t the 4th and 5th floors while at a party for the Uniform Project's six month anniversary. His buddy made it. Jerry, sadly, did not. His hoodie got caught and he fell.

His friend and roommate, Alex Frankel of Holy Ghost!, writes on his band's blog:

Last night Jerry Fuchs, our friend and our drum hero, passed away. Jerry accidentally fell from a freight elevator in Williamsburg Brooklyn and was not able to survive the intense trauma caused by the fall. Nick and I entered the building about the time the fall occurred. We found him in the elevator shaft. We held him and talked to him and went with him to Bellevue Hospital. Heartbreakingly, the doctors were unable to resuscitate him. He was pronounced dead at 3:33 am.

Gothamist reports the building has had a history of DOB violations, yet the majority have been "dismissed." There have been 8 total complaints, 61 DOB violations, and 24 ECB violations. The most recent, V 040109E9011/296054, was filed on April 1st of this year. Violation type? E, for elevator.

Here's a video of Jerry that's been making the rounds this morning. RIP.

Posted by Brian Ries at 10:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)

My good friend Jables released this mixto go along with these changing autumn days. If you are working on a Saturday night that is full of fun things to do, much like the position I find myself in, this mix will make the pain go away.

Posted by Jackie Snow at 10:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Here are some of the things going on in the 'hood tonight:

Paper Garden Records Party in conjunction w/ 3rd Ward

Sharon Van Etten, Natureboy, and Rey Villalobos at Union Pool

I Can Haz Party at Savalas hosted by Nicky Digital (which guarantees good looking people)

Some disco warehouse party that will feature DFA DJs

AND Lovepump & Todd P present an awesome show at Market Hotel tonight!

If you've got stuff to add to the list, let us all know in the comments... And remember kids, they give out condoms in almost every venue/bar/party in Brooklyn.

Photo Via

Posted by Nicole Wasilewicz at 06:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Steel Phantoms are going on at 2am for a late night secret set at Coco66 in Greenpoint. You should go! Unless you already have tickets for the secret Yeah Yeah Yeahs show...

Posted by Nicole Wasilewicz at 06:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Posted by Nicole Wasilewicz at 06:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Happy Weekend!

Directed by Allison Schulnik

Posted by Nicole Wasilewicz at 06:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It doesn't get much cuter than this. Tonight Matchless will be hosting a fundraiser for the P.S. 31 school in Greenpoint. Money was cut for their chess team, and this evening's efforts are to raise cash for the team to go to the championships.

There will be an auction with awesome prizes from J-Dubb records, Matador Records, Think Coffee, Brooklyn Kitchen, WORD Bookstore, Heartworm Press and many more! Additionally, there will be performances by Dream Diary, My Teenage Stride, the Sleepies and Soft Black.

The fun kicks off at 8pm.

Posted by Elizabeth Brady at 10:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Y'all already know we love Tanlines... But The Fader's description of this video just pulled on this girl's heartstrings (check out the last name, homies). Also, who doesn't love Google Earth and their iPhones!? For realsies, yo!

Posted by Nicole Wasilewicz at 05:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Photo by Jenna Stoltzfus Stamm

We've got another chance for y'all to check out The Swimmers this Saturday at Piano's-- not only will one lucky reader win a pair of tickets to the show, they will also receive a copy of the just released album People Are Soft!

The full album is streaming on the interwebs today, so take a listen (because I haven't been able to stop), and comment on our Facebook page for a chance to win!

Posted by Nicole Wasilewicz at 01:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Just when you thought Halloween was done and gone, this little number shows up.

They're playing at Bruar Falls on Saturday. I hope they dress up.

Posted by Jackie Snow at 01:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Also, this is going down tonight at Public Assembly!

Our friends over at Myopenbar.com say it best:

I don't think any of these guys has a job.

Bikes In The Kitchen presents:

* Cerebral Ballzy
* Radical Outing Crew
* Mr. Star City
* Memberz Only
* Santhya
* Anton Glamb
* Strictly Business

But then again, neither do you, so why wait 'til the weekend to lose your proverbial shit? With additional party thrusts from Teenwolf (Ninjasonik), Roofeeo (The Death Set), Dirtyfinger (Black Label) and BITK's own C.Lo.

Posted by Nicole Wasilewicz at 01:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

These kids are working on a new album and will be playing some of their new jams on 11/20 at Union Hall and 11/21 at Bell House... I have to admit though, I can't really hear the song out of fringe dress envy...

Posted by Nicole Wasilewicz at 12:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Remember when everyone named their band after some kind of wolf? Well, Wolfmother is back with a new album, Cosmic Egg, that dropped late last month to the delight of all those rock howl obsessed.

You can buy the album here, OR you can just comment on our Facebook contest thread and hear the whole deal live because we've got a pair of tickets to their Sunday night show at Terminal 5 with Heartless Bastards.

Here's the spacey throwback video for "New Moon Rising", off the new album, via Pitchfork:

Posted by Nicole Wasilewicz at 12:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

If you haven't heard of Cold Cave, you have no idea what CMJ is, and you've never read a blog in your life. I had the opportunity to see these kids perform a couple times during the music fuckfest and must say they were a bit hit and miss for me. They bored me to death at The Suffolk, but managed to redeem themselves a dozen fold at Market Hotel, where they rocked it even though there were some (typical Todd P location) sound issues -- as in the sound cut out more than once. Looks like I'll have to set my opinion in stone at their upcoming Terminal 5 show with Sonic Youth and Dinosaur Jr. on November 21st (total wtf lineup, huh?).

Either way, Matador is giving away a download of a bonus track off of their doped up dance move debut, Love Comes Close, in celebration of the label re-release. Listen to "Theme From Tomorrowland" here (right click to download). If you decide to buy directly from the label, you also get a copy of the 12" Death Comes Close which includes all three bonus tracks.

Posted by Nicole Wasilewicz at 02:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

North 6th and Wythe

Posted by Clarissa Roudabush at 12:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Boundless NY shot some skate kids rolling down the Williamsburg Bridge and rocking Continental Army Plaza.

We start with a shot from the top of our building, giving you a look at Midtown and the Manhattan Skyline, continuing with our local kids heading toward Boundless down the Williamsburg Bridge.

Posted by Brian Ries at 10:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

I could make a few lame jokes here about this, but I won't. I'll leave that to you. There will be a "Miss G Train" pageant this month at the City Reliquary (370 Metropolitan Ave). To enter, just send a photo of yourself looking hawt and a 200-word essay to missgtrain@cityreliquary.org about why it should be you by Nov. 13th. And in an interesting twist, the pageant is open to "New Yorkers of all ages and genders," so good luck to everyone. We're looking for an embedded beauty queen to report from the inside so please contact us if you're down.

Further reading: An Interview with "Mr and Miss Williamsburg" Pageant Creator

Posted by Brian Ries at 09:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Polls don't close in New York until 9pm. There's still time to voice your opposition to Bloomberg buying his way into a third term. New York voted to keep term limits in place, but Bloomberg doesn't give a damn. This pretty much sums up his arrogance:

Ask Mayor Bloomberg about job creation statistics and you're fine. Ask him about that pesky term limits thing and, apparently, "you're a disgrace."

Bloomberg - who controversially got the City Council to lift the two-term limit so he could try for a third - yesterday went off on a reporter who questioned his rationale for running again.

At a Queens news conference to announce $31.7 million in federal stimulus funds Bloomberg said there has been a change for the better in the city's "psychology."

Describing himself as "very optimistic," he said problems remain, but cited gains in the commercial real estate market and a renewed willingness among citygoers to spend again at stores and restaurants.

But the mayor seemed provoked when a reporter asked if the upturn eliminated the need for a third Bloomberg term. He had argued, in part, that the city needs his management expertise in such rough economic times.

"Why don't you just get serious questions here?" he interrupted New York Observer reporter Azi Paybarah.

Bloomberg closed the news conference, thanked the attendees - and then glared at Paybarah and said quietly, "You're a disgrace."

Posted by freewilliamsburg at 06:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

After being nearly forced out of town by rising rent prices due to area landlords unappeasable appetite for condos, hotels, and faux-flea markets, the Brooklyn Brewery has taken advantage of the tanking real estate market in Williamsburg and signed a 15-year lease at $15 a square foot, "significantly higher than he had been paying but only about half of what landlords sought at the peak of the boom." Aaaand boom goes the dynamite, we'll have Brooklyn Brewery for the foreseeable future.

Posted by Brian Ries at 02:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

In case you missed it, Pitchfork brought us a different cut of the video for San Francisco darlings Girls "Lust for Life" (aka theme song for the summer, gay porn edition) last week. The boys in Girls are apparently dealing with some lineup changes as well...

Check out the video for your daily dose of tits and mushroom tips. Again, not all that office friendly-- but in all honesty, not really that risqué, non?:

Posted by Nicole Wasilewicz at 01:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Starts at 7pm and will be amazingly intimate-- get there early because seating is limited.

Posted by Nicole Wasilewicz at 03:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Apt 404

Posted by Clarissa Roudabush at 02:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)