Brooklyn Fashion Week(end)

Brooklyn Fashion Weekend kicks off today in DUMBO.

Brooklyn Fashion Week{end} made its debut in May 2006. The event was created by the non-profit Brooklyn Style Foundation, which was founded as an incubator for emerging design.

This season's theme is CIRCUS COUTURE (um, what is that? I am kind of scared) and will feature the Spring 2008 Collections of 21 emerging designers hand-picked by The BK Style Foundation.

The event is free, but you still need a ticket for admission. Get one here. However the site notes that once the venue reaches capacity, people will be turned away and invited to come back the following day.

Saturday: DUMBO Art Under the Bridge Festival

Sorry there haven't been any recent posts, but I was away on a business trip the whole week in San Diego and I don't think it would have been of much interest to you anyway. Luckily, I got back in time for the DUMBO Art Festival.

There were a lot of great things I didn't get to see yet so I am going to walk around again today and go into the galleries. We had a lot of people with us in a large group, which made it hard to see everything. There was a lot of great performance art, including music and some more "out there" art, which I will try to get a picture of from my friend. The shaving cream cave was very cool and my husband especially liked the blond in the bathtub.

I got some nice new earrings from the sample sales going on in ReBar. They are from a designer named Nicole Gagne of leoworks.com. I got them at 40% off, which was a great find. OK, more to come later today.

Cranberry Street Fair: September 29

From Mr. Fink at BHB:

The Cranberry Street Fair is set for September 29 from 11AM - 3PM on Cranberry Street between Hicks and Columbia Heights. Stop by for food and drink, books for sale, dancing, games, live music, raffle, flea market as well as "treasures." Proceeds of the Fair go to the beautification of the neighborhood.

The Cranberry Street fair coincides with this year's DUMBO Art Under the Bridge Festival, so it will be great weekend to experience South Brooklyn and offer an opportunity to check out what's going on nearby in Brooklyn Heights.

DUMBO Fight Night Next Week

Next Thursday, September 20 is DUMBO Fight Night at St. Ann's Warehouse. It's a fundraiser event to help preserve DUMBO and features entertainment such as dance and boxing, a silent auction, art, food and fun for everyone! Tickets are $50 per/person and there is a $100 family rate. For more information, visit the above link.

The proceeds will go to a maintenance fund to restore the history of DUMBO, including its trademark Belgian block streets. Trust me, these are in desperate need of repair!

DUMBO Block Party - Saturday, September 8

Halcyon is promoting the upcoming DUMBO Block Party on Saturday, September 8 from 1-7 pm @ Pearl Street Triangle right in front of their store.

So what's a block party you ask? It's a FREE family friendly event loaded with activities for kids of all ages - but don't be fooled - this is also a party with DJs and Live bands presented by halcyon and dubspot, and, erm... sanctioned mid-afternoon boozing and dancing on the streets of the city. And all in the cozy confines of the brand new quasi-park that used to be the local illegal dumping area!

BOUNCY CASTLE, ARTS & CRAFTS BY THE BROOKLYN CHILDREN'S MUSEUM AND NYC PARKS DEPT., DINOSAUR EXHIBIT FROM THE MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY, FACE PAINTING, BIKE SAFETY INSPECTION CHECKS, AND A MURAL PAINTING BY JIM AVIGNON.

OUTDOOR BEER LOUNGE BY RE-BAR, BBQ, PIZZA, TACOS & BURRITOS, COFFEE & TREATS.

PLUS A BAZAAR OF BOOTHS SHOWING OFF THE BEST OF DUMBO'S LOCAL OFFERINGS.

Splasher Attempts to Make a Stink in DUMBO

I have been totally intrigued by reports of the infamous Splasher who is destroying graffiti art around the city. When I got home last night around 8, there was a large group of people outside for the Shepard Fairey art exhibit and apparently there were some interesting happenings.

dumbonyc found a report of the scene from woostercollective:

Two young guys entered Shepard Fairey’s opening night party at 81 Front Street in Dumbo with a backpack. Moments later they were seen attempting to light a homemade stink and smoke bomb that was hidden in a coffee can. As they were setting it off, two guys nearby saw what was happening and managed to stop the guys from igniting it before it went off. Seeing the scuffle, the security guys hired for the evening caught one of the two guys (shown above) while the other was able to get away.

I first read about the Splasher in New York Magazine and in a more recent interview with Fairey about his DUMBO art exhibit, he says:

He’s splashed almost every one of my pieces, but sometimes it takes him four months to get to them. Some people are all, ‘What statement are they making?’ Any arguments in favor of this kind of thing are incredibly flimsy, but at least it gets people talking and any dialogue about street art is always good to have.

I really appreciate street art and graffiti, even neckface's weird expressions. I hope this guy gets caught.

Brooklyn Sunset

Brooklyn Sunset
Originally uploaded by Harleys & Thunderstorms

We've been having some gorgeous sunsets lately.

Event: DUMBO Block Party This Weekend

Check out the DUMBO Block Party this Saturday June 2nd from 1pm* to 7pm at 1 Main Street in Dumbo (Main St. between Plymouth and Water Sts). These were really fun last year.

LIVE MUSIC at 2pm for kids by AUDRA ROX and TOXIC MUFFIN
DJ Emilee 1-2
The Dahkter 3:30-4:30
DJ GOV 4:30-5:30
Alex Dirttt 5:30-7

Plus family fun with a bouncey castle, arts & crafts activities brought to you by the Brooklyn Children's Museum, and the FDNY's Mobile Fire Safety House and NYC Parks Department's Play Mobile on hand. (the graphic says 2 but music starts at 1pm)

The above image is of colored chalk on the sidewalk from last year's July 4th Block Party.

Upcoming Events: Uncommon Grounds BK

• Sunday, 5/20: Make your own Bloody Mary, with uncommon garnishes like Lobster-stuffed olives. Runs from 11 am-6pm. Mention my blog and get your first round at half price.
• Thursday, 5/24: Comedy Night next. No cover, click here for more info.

Event Tonight: DUMBO Town Meeting & Mixer

From dumbonyc, check out the event tonight for the DUMBO business and residential communites. It begins tonight at 6:30PM at Powerhouse Arena, which is on the corner of Main St. and Water St.

Round-up: Events This Weekend

• Uncommon Grounds is doing a wine tasting this weekend on both Saturday and Sunday between 6 - 8 p.m. The theme on the wines will be a comparison of Old & New World styles of the same varietal.
• Pigfest kicks off today at Brooklyn Bridge Park @ 1 pm. Read original post for more info.
• Brooklyn Heights House Tour is also this weekend. Read more at Brooklyn Heights Blog.
  

Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition Open Studio Weekend

A press release announced that on Saturday June 9 and Sunday June 10, the Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition (BWAC) will host its Open Studio Weekend with self-guided tours in Red Hook and Carroll Gardens. There will be more than 100 participating artists and opening their studios to the public. The Red Hook/Carroll Gardens Open Studio Weekend (www.BWAC.org) and the Atlantic Avenue Art Walk (www.atlanticavenueartwalk.com) will run simultaneously.

Cinco De Mayo

Fellow blogger dumbonyc has posted a great round-up of Cinco De Mayo activities in DUMBO.

Citysearch has also a page dedicated to local Cinco De Mayo festivities.

I'll be in Central Park for the Revlon/Run Walk, and then back to Brooklyn for a few drinks.

BKLYN Designs

From Brooklyn Daily Eagle: The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce is gearing up for the fifth edition of BKLYN Designs on May 11, 12 and 13 in DUMBO that coincides with NY Design Week citywide.

Zoe DUMBO Store Opening Party

I must admit I love Zoe, but I'm afraid only from afar as I've yet to find something there in my price range or size for that matter.

They are having a DUMBO store opening party (a few months too late, but who am I to complain!) and are offering free champagne and a 15% off coupon here this Sunday, May 6 between 4-6 pm.

So, browse and make your wish list with some bubbly.

Second Annual Brooklyn Blogfest on 5/10

I would totally have gone to this but it's my husband's birthday. Anyone who goes please let me know what it's all about.

WHAT: 2007 Brooklyn Blogfest
WHERE: Old Stone House (3^rd Ave and 4^th Street)
WHEN: Thursday, May 10^th, 8:00 PM

From Dope on the Slope.

Event this Friday 5/4 @ unCOMMon GRounDS

Anyone interested in some FREE music and wine this Friday in Brooklyn?

If so, come to unCOMMon GRounDs in Brooklyn Heights this Friday, May 4 for an open wine bar from 7:30-8:30 before the live music show.

The music will be upbeat, mostly guitar, the kind that can be in the background, or on which you can focus. The artist is John Valeri, a professionally trained Jazz guitar artist who has toured around the globe.

Anyone who RSVPs to rsvp (at) uncommonbrooklyn (dot) com and mentions brooklyn enthusiast will get in for free.

Also, if you are a musician, Chris at unCOMMon GRounDs is offering to play your music during the day at the venue and sell CDs at the counter (he's not interested in commission).

What are you waiting for?

Pigfest!

I came across a press release that was posted in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle about the upcoming Brooklyn Brewery event being held on May 12 in the Empire Fulton-Ferry State Park to benefit the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy.

The festival is scheduled from 1-6 p.m. and will feature beer (no doubt!) from Brooklyn Brewery, in addition to live music and slow-cooked barbecue at the park’s Tobacco Warehouse (corner of Water and Dock streets in DUMBO).

Aptly named Pigfest, the team will be slow-cooking whole hogs, pork shoulder, chicken and delicious BBQ side dishes. Live music will be performed throughout the afternoon by The Cobble Hillbillies.

Tickets are $75 in advance through brooklynbrewery.com or $85 at the door, if available.

unCOMMon GRounDS

I wasn't able to attend last night, but the folks at unCOMMon GRounDS had what sounds like a great comedian that some of you may know from Last Comic Standing, Michele Balan.

Michele Balan was one of the four finalists on NBC’s 2006 “Last Comic Standing,” and she is "The Last Woman Comic." She was also voted one of the “Top 10 Comics” by Backstage Magazine in 2004. Balan is known as a brash, New York Stand-up comedian who has performed on Comedy Central as well as in top comedy clubs, theatres, festivals and on cruises all over the country.

I am a day late in posting, but Chris from Uncommon Grounds said that anyone who RSVPs with the below e-mail and mentions my blog will get the cover waived (thanks Chris!!!).

Unfortunately, I was a day late in posting so to those of you who actually read my blog, I'm sorry. I'm sure Chris will be kind enough to extend the same offer in the near future.

Also, I noticed on their Web site that interested artists can get in touch to potentially showcase their art on the walls of unCOMMon GRounDS (art (at) uncommonbrooklyn (dot) com).

Parsons Design Contest for BK Industries

I am a big fan of Brooklyn Industries and think their clothing is unique. I think it's great that they are very in tune with the local community on so many levels.

I just read that BK Industries will soon begin selling limited edition t-shirts created by Parsons Illustration students and commissioned by Brooklyn Industries. The t-shirts will be sold at the Brooklyn Industries store and via www.brooklynindustries.com