Williamsburg is Dead

One Hammer and One Art, Please

I finally got around to checking out the Crest Hardware Art Show, which for those of you who don't know, is an art exhibit scattered around the store's aisles featuring painting, sculpture and photography. The art all contains a kind of rough-hewn, industrial aesthetic, appropriate considering the setting of the show.

The fun of the show is how random it is; you'll be reaching down for some electrical tape, and all of a sudden notice a painting right in front of you. Sure, it's kind of weird to have your art appreciatin' interrupted by a woman grabbing a bag of fertilizer, but overall it's a really fun experience. Gothamist did this great interview with owner Joe Franquinha last week, and what I love is his commitment to the neighborhood he grew up in, changes and all.

Crest Hardware Art Show, through July 11th, at Crest True Value Hardware, 558 Metropolitan Ave

My Weekend Report, Featuring Kittens

So apparently the City Reliquary is trying to find home for two kittens, one of which climbed its way into the window display Friday night. I'd say it was definitely Cute Overload worthy, if only I had a better camera on me. Aside from staring at kittens, I also checked out the "Crooked Smiles, Steady Voices and a Trunk Full of Cash" show at Cinders Gallery (which was excellent) and the Renegade Craft Fair at McCarren Park Pool. Luckily I grabbed my awesome Yeti shadow puppet from Owly Shadow Puppets before the downpour, which I assumed shut down operations for the rest of Saturday.

Scary Good Gallery Openings: Friday the 13th

'Tis a good weekend for art; not only is the Affordable Art Fair in town, but there are a slew of fantastic art openings all over Williamsburg.

Crooked Smiles, Steady Voices, and a Trunk Full of Cash (above), group show, June 13th-July 13th, at Cinders Gallery, 103 Havermayer St, opening reception June 13th 7pm-10pm

Quote:  Set in a fantastical used car lot that gives "used" a whole new meaning, this installation explores American car culture, suburban sprawl, rising gas prices, consumerism, and the role of the salesperson in our society. A wooden and paper mache car is in the lot for sale "as is", flags and undies hang over head while car dealership ads blast from the TV. Portraits of proud Americans standing by their cars and photos of this country's vast landscape mix with drawings of cowboys and paintings of cars whose owners have found new uses for them such as planters and homes.

Poets of the Paste, group show, June 13th-July 13th, at Ad Hoc Art, 49 Bogart St, opening reception June 13th 7pm-10pm

Quote: Poets of the Paste unites four figurative artists known for their striking images that comment on nature, contemporary society and the everyday lives we live. These artists transform public spaces to moments of private reflection with an emphasis on careful craftsmanship. ELBOW-TOE, Armsrock, Gaia, and Imminent Disaster have left their marks on the urban landscapes, generously giving their talent to the public, to time and to the elements. Now they bring their skills together at Ad Hoc Art; through drawings, stencils, paintings and block prints incorporated onto various media.

Renegade, Not Starring Lorenzo Lamas

Attention crafty, quirky Brooklynites: Prepare for an event straight out of your Etsy-filled dreams. The Renegade Craft Fair returns to Williamsburg this weekend with more than 200 vendors selling all kinds of screen-printed goodness. Handmade posters, stationery, clothing, kids' stuff and much, much more is available from vendors from all across the country. I've been in the past and I've found it a perfect place to pick up cool, one-of-a-kind gifts. Let's just hope this weekend is under 90 degrees.

Renegade Craft Fair, at the McCarren Park Pool, Sat-Sun 11am-7pm

James Kalm's love letter to Williamsburg from this month's Brooklyn Rail provides a detailed history of the art scene in our humble 'hood.  He says that the Burg is alive and vibrant and probably will be for a long time to come... here's hoping! 

Rooftop Films

Tonight O'Death kicks off the Rooftop Films' presentation of "Making the Mission," a program of eight short films including "Glory at Sea!", which they describe as:

"... a film about a group of people in post-Katrina New Orleans who build an elaborate make-shift raft that will sink at sea so they can join their lost loved ones. Working on a shoe-string budget, director Benh Zeitlin knew that in order to make this movie, he’d have to actually build an elaborate make-shift raft and sink it at sea. Zeitlin and Court 13 Pictures banded together a cast and crew willing to risk their very lives not simply for this film, but for what this film represented—that spirit of camaraderie and community in which the journey itself provides an irrational and necessary hope."

Afterwards, get tanked at the open-bar afterparty at Matchless. Huzzah for booze/music/film!

O'Death at 8:30pm, films at 9pm on the lawn of the Automotive High School at 50 Bedford Ave, afterparty from 11:30pm-1am at Matchless at 557 Manhattan Ave

Rich 25 year-old Internet Mogul To Open Donut Shop of the Future

Zach Klein, co-founder of College Humor and Vimeo (which is an awesome site btw), is opening a donut shop or something in Williamsburg. Um, first of all, who eats donuts anymore? Second of all, who eats donuts anymore? Hopefully it will at least have Wi-Fi. [Eater]

Look Ma, I's On the TV!

I did a segment for A Walk Around the Blog about the state of the Williamsburg art scene, which originally aired on the Brooklyn Review news magazine. I talked to two really cool and informative people, artist William Powhida and Jack the Pelican owner Don Carroll, who examined how gentrification has affected artists and galleries in the neighborhood. Enjoy.

Cut, It, Out

Hello fellow Brooklyn gourmands! Want to, um, beef up your cooking skills? Then check out the great classes at The Brooklyn Kitchen (616 Lorimer St). Usually, it's just a stellar kitchen products store (I bought a roller, grater and small pan here, which were all of exceptional quality), but it also has regular classes, like "Knife Skills" and "Charcuterie."

Tonight, Tom Mylan (butcher for Marlow and Sons, Diner and Bonita) demonstrates how to butcher an entire pig. Check out the class schedule and sign up for classes here.

Sex and Shoyu Ramen

Holy crap, how come I didn't know about this movie (from Monkeytown's website): Tampopo, Japan's tantalizing classic about lust and ramen. I love both lusting after things and eating delicious ramen! Anyway, the movie is showing tonight after the opening party for new food pub Spooning Magazine.

Party starts at 6pm, movie at 8pm at Monkeytown, 58 N 3rd St.