Image provided by Scene: Brooklyn Film Series

The Brooklyn Arts Council presents Scene: Brooklyn, Independent Film and Media Arts, a new film series that celebrates our thriving film community, and features a seminar for filmmakers.  Tonight, May 4th, walk on down to Galapagos Art Space for the short narrative film, Hug, directed by Khary Jones, which recently made its debut at Sundance, as well as L’Eau Life, directed by well-known painter and experimental filmmaker, Jeff Scher— his work is in the permenent collection of MOMA, the Hirschhorn, and the Guggenheim. Pretty classy stuff.  There are only three days left, don’t miss it.  Tickets are only $5.  You can still get a cocktail and not go over your weekly budget.  Amazing.

In the Heads Up Department: McDonald-Bianculli, a flute and guitar duo, present,  BaroQue Across the River, an ensemble that plays in historical settings.  So it’s site-specific music.  Baroque music, not under the stars, but at Zion German Evangelical Church, 125 Henry Street.  The event is Sunday, May 17th at 3:00 p.m.  Tickets, again, cheap.  Ten bucks.  I’d love to go see Waiting for Godot on Broadway with Nathan Lane.  But I can’t.  Instead, I’ll stay in my code, and still be entertained.

Ensemble de Sade

After weeks of cold and rain, it was the first perfect day of spring; Friday, April 17th.  The trees were in bloom. The sidewalks were crowded with people, and the sun was shining.  I met up with my friend JNET and her son, Little Dude, and walked over to the First Presbyterian Church on Henry Street for the 1st Annual New Music Bake Sale.  It was presented by NEWSPEAK and Ensemble de Sade (pictured).  The event was a fundraiser and showcase for music organizations of all kinds.  Each group had a table with baked goods, CD’s, buttons, T-shirts and stickers.

I got myself a cold beer and wandered around the tables.  I met with Alex Rose, founder and publisher of Hotel St. George Press.  I also talked to The Wet Ink Ensemble which boasts Three Generations of Experimental Music, The Cadillac Moon Ensemble, Redlight New Music, Loadband Ensemble, So Percussion, Lukas Ligeti, among many others. Each table was heaped with brownies, chocolate chip cookies, macaroons, mini blueberry tarts and even the perennial never-goes-out-of-style Rice Krispie treats.  Little Dude couldn’t get enough of the sweets, and neither could I.  Everyone at the tables was charming, friendly, convivial— like a modern day Woodstock minus the mud and the rain. Continue Reading →

I moved to Brooklyn Heights in 2000.  At first, I didn’t like it.  At first, I thought no one liked me.  Now ten years later, I have a coterie of friends, neighbors, haunts, and even dogs I really like— especially, Hamilton, the white bulldog.  Here is my list of the top 5 things I love about my neighborhood, and if you feel inspired, add 5 of your own. Continue Reading →