the (birthday!) weekend guide | 10-13 november 2016.

Liz Norment — Thu, 10 Nov 2016 23:06:24 +0000

when love is a whisper and hate is a roar it feels hard to know how to speak again, how to move again, how to be again.

no matter what side of the coin you fall on, we’re divided and it hurts and it’s hard to know what to do now. but the important thing is to hold on to this energy. to embrace our anger and concern. to move, to breathe, to demonstrate, together. and we can start in so many ways but the first is within our communities and our cities. get out, get going. don’t hide in your homes within the safety of your opinions. have every one of those conversations and maybe a laugh or two. see the other side or have a healthy debate. understand that there’s more that unites us often than divides us so let’s figure out how to do this together.

as with every week, i’ve found the best options in the city for doing just that. so hold on to me and hold on to each other and let’s feel better and make better and do better, together.

THURSDAY

Live Reading from The King of Greenpoint, TBD Bar, Greenpoint.

to know where you came from and where you’re going… new york is by definition a melting pot. and we are stronger and so much more intelligent because of our smattering of cultures and heritages and beliefs. but this place we have descended upon has a story and a heartbeat too, other than ours. so let’s hear about it and listen to it thursday night, at TBD bar. author geoffrey cobb reads from his book the king of greenpoint (of course not to be confused with the king of the bears of greenpoint). come learn about the life and reign of peter j mcguinness. a night of stories and beer and wine. free. 7-8pm, 224 franklin st. at TBD, where everything has already been decided for you we just know how much you like suspense

Southern Tier benefit for Homeless Pets, at Rosamunde Sausage, Williamsburg.

i have shed quite a few southern tears for homeless pets, even to go as far as to adopt one. which i wish he would remember… but alas. let’s instead concentrate on ingesting some southern tiers thursday night, and maybe a sausage or two at rosamunde in williamsburg. yep it’s a sausage and beer benefit, proceeds going towards in our hands animal rescue. come through and eat well and be merry. and save our furry little friends. more info here, 6-10pm, 285 bedford ave at rosamunde sausages (or did you say hostages?)

Ghostwriter Viewing Party, Videology, Williamsburg.

i want to shake the hand of whomever is in charge of making thinking up the events at videology. no fo real, who’s doing this? because i want to shake your hand. because i’m positive, ghostwriter, that it’s everyone’s favorite 90s series, errr, ~~2nd favorite~~ ~~3rd favorite~~ ~~4th favorite~~ ok one that you remember! ish! and HEY it was actually filmed in fort greene, so come get really really close to where it all started and celebrate this epic cinematographic movement at videology thursday night.308 bedford ave, 7-9pm, $5 at videology

Mortified at Littlefield, Gowanus

mmm. the only thing more therapeautic than talking about your most embarrassing moments is living vicariously through someone elses (you know waht i mean… we were all obsessed with that section of YM magazine…) hear it in real life, the-moth style, thursday night at littlefield. all info and tickets here. doors at 7, shows at 8. tickets, $10. 622 degraw st.

FRIDAY

Rubblebucket at Manhattan Inn, Greenpoint.

spike hill. glass lands. cameo gallery. aviv. manhattan inn. something in that list doesn’t belong, yet. which totally, totally, totally fucking blows. manhattan inn is closing and that means what we are losing one more of the complex and beautiful threads that weave this beautiful tapestry that is the reason and the lifeline of this people we call brooklyn. rubblebucket promises to send them out in style friday night. tickets you should get immediately RIGHT NOW HERE. ill be there. show starts at 630 and your RSVP DOES NOT EQUAL ENTRY. arrive early.

ROOTS Cafe Poetry Series, Park Slope

there is nothing better than the warmth of shared verse among virtual strangers. come to roots cafe’s monthly poetry series and feel enlightened, rejuvenated, inspired… and perhaps a bit more grounded (that was a root pun!) contributors and observers welcome. 8-10pm, 639 fifth ave. seek, here.

Adult Friction, Indie-Alt Dance Party at Over the 8, Williamsburg.

we young people are energized by a few things, but mostly friction on any level. the one that leaves us feeling empowerd and impassioned by a charged political atmosphere, and the one that consists of button downs and heat on a friday night. make friday night be a perfect storm of both, plus [tunes spinning from] LCD soundsystem and basically all the dope artists they’ve inspired. it’s an indie-alt dance party. get in there and let it rub off on you. at over the 8, 594 union ave,

Free Fridays at Subrosa, Meatpacking District in Manhattan.

we live in this city to embrace culture and be embraced by said cultures. notably, on friday nights in basement clubs with sweat and hip movements and live bands and alive hands. and things like that. yep. it’s subrosa friday nights, and they’re free all month and yours for the taking. plus it’s your only reason to cross the river this weekend so cruciamos. party starts when you get there… but basically at 10pm. all info here. 63 gansevoort st.

SATURDAY

so a little thing is happening this weekend that i like to call MY BIRTHDAY.

i wanted to take this perfectly lovely fall weekend to show you how to spend an ideal birthday weekend in new york. with all of your best friends and like maybe your dad or something doing all of my favorite things but not aging a bit, of course. so come along and i dont know, maybe bring a gift that i’d like or something. (seriously, you’re invited.)

Fall Colors Picnic in Central Park

the leaves they are-a-changin and they’ll all be bare and gone before we know it. so let’s embrace that giant piece of nature and magic that the ancient gods of the city placed before us and have a real autumnal picnic in central park. and do those little boats that i love. bring wine and cheese and everything else you want to be there. starts at noon.

Virginia Tech plays Georgia Tech

my team is 7 and 2 folks. it feels like the good old days again and we are all hopeful and passionate. and ready to ramble some wrecks from georgia tech. come join in the spirit of american college football and beer drinking at keg and lantern. kickoff is a 330.

Tapas and Paella at El Born, Greenpoint.

yep. when people have birthdays, especially of the decadian significance, they want to share good foods and great wines with the best people. and maybe pretend a little bit that they are in spain. have all of this and so so much more saturday night at el born. hear me gush about it here more than a piping hot croqueta then come. 8pm. 651 manhattan ave.

OTHER non-birthday festivities include:

Bloody Mary Battle, Villain, Williamsburg.

so you have to really really like bloody mary’s. or need a reason to justify getting really really fucked up friday night other than THAT REALLY OBVIOUS ONE. saturday brings you a round of hangover cures in rather epic and disjointed proportions at the bloody mary battle. some bartenders battle it out to bring you the best mix in the city of this boozy gazpacho. i mean hey it doesn’t sound bad but there is truly only.so.much. tickets, 45-65, are available for purchase here. and there will be food there but it will be extra so you better hope that your bloody mary has a little something in it that even comes close to the two VERY BEST in the neighborhood and probably the whole entire world actually hey let me just save you the trouble k cool BYE. (50 N 3rd st.)

Imagine This: Women’s International Film Fest at the Wythe Hotel, Williamsburg.

the theory of opportunity- it can be created but never, ever destoryed. simply translated and embraced and empowered. so this weekend, it’s a good time to scooop up and empower some of that opportunity that may have been perceived as lost. at they wythe hotel, in the form of “imagine this”, a women’s international film festival focused on celebrating, uplifting, and encouraging creative projects by women. all info is here, fest is saturday and sunday, 11am and 8pm. tickest $10-45. 80 wythe ave.

Renegade Craft Fair, Metropolitan Pavilion, Manhattan.

where crafts are dangerous again! head to the met pavilion to peruse among booths and tables of patiently created and curated goods that are guaranteed to charm the pants right off of you. which of course is fine because there are plenty of hand-crocheted undies to keep you covered. make it til you break it then you buy it. saturday and sunday, 11am-6pm, everything else you need to know is here.125 W. 18th St.

Fall Hall Bar Crawl at Union Hall, Park Slope.

you know what sucks about bar crawls? their over-ambitious tendencies and inevitably sloppy endings and where-the-fuck-did i leave my debit card and overall tendency to bring you to your knees. on a crawl. WELL not this one! a humble yet hopeful 3-bar crawl in park slope brings us thorugh union hall, (others) for a just-tipsy-enough-but-still-standing adventure. tickets and info here, 702 union st. at union hall where you must fall before you crawl.

SUNDAY

Intro to Graffiti Class, Bushwick.

i don’t know if you guys have ever tried your hand at graffiti, but from what i hear it is a hell of a lot harder than it looks. especially at 5am after being at house of yes all night. and for some reason choosing that wavy metal siding as your canvas. anyway, regardless of your circumstances, it never hurts to practice. so that when you get caught red (or blue or purple) handed, you at least have some artwork to show for it. this class in (yep!) bushwick teaches you how and helps you define your own style. $70 gets you in. and apparently, $200 gets you out, so just don’t get caught. bitch. all info here, 1130-1pm, 110 troutman st.

Second Sundays at Pioneer Works, Red Hook.

red hook’s darling pioneer works brings us their monthly series of open studios, live music, and site-specific interventions… plus musical performances, djs, their open-air market and sculpture garden in the backyard and a unique look into the inner workings of this beautiful living gallery and communal artist workspace. 4-10pm, $10 suggested. all info here. 159 pioneer st. at pioneer works- the first of its kind!

<3L.

LOVE trumps hate.

Liz Norment — Thu, 10 Nov 2016 01:33:19 +0000

when love is a whisper and hate is a roar it feels hard to know how to speak again.

we are mad now and hurt. our fabric has been torn apart. our ceiling wasn’t broken and left us broken on the floor and weeping. searching for an exit or an answer. listening for the voice we thought we had.

and now while it’s tempting to seek an exit strategy i also feel that i need an introduction. to a place that i don’t know. to a country that i thought was stronger and bigger. one that is accepting of all people and all races and all genders and one that was actively reaching towards a brighter day and a greater hope for everyone.

but just as fear has prompted this reaction, of isolation and contempt and anger and separation, we must not also hide. let us not seek comfort in the mundane. let us never be pleasantly complacent. let us stop seeking solace in a bubble of perceived acceptance. let our distraction not become our destruction but be a vehicle for change and for unity and for progress.

because our voice is still here. and I hope that when we regain it, our voice will be strong and dignified and unwavering.

Brooklyn, I'm Trying