Brooklyn, I'm Trying

8-10 january 2016

Liz Norment — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 01:38:37 +0000

things i plan to do this weekend… that will make me feel blindly optimistic about my new year’s resolutions.

no matter what you’ve resolved to accomplish this year, choose your own adventure below and feel damn good about doing it.

FRIDAY

my resolution is…to learn new recipes.

Couples Dinner Class, Brooklyn Kitchen, Williamsbug

you know what they say- the couple that cooks together, eats together. learn something new in the process and lick each others’ fingers while you do it. or whatever it is that you couples are doing to keep things exciting. $200 for two, but trust me- you won’t regret it. let’s get cookin’.

…to eat more nachos, with beers and friends.

Free Nacho Fridays, The Diamond, Greenpoint.

or for the cheaper and equally collaborative food experience, head to free nacho first fridays at the diamond, sponsored by el jefe’s nachoria! 730-11pm, 4 varieties every friday- which means that’s just enough hands to eat all of them at once with your significant other. or, yourself at super-human speed. 43 franklin st, 730-11pm.

…to sleep less.

LOST #brooklyn warehouse party, secret location- but let’s be honest, it’s in bushwick.

WELL, i have just the thing. how about a 12-hour party that leaves absolutely everything up to the imagination until you commit to the $15 ticket, and even then, all you’ll get is a location? i’m in- the novelty of this only increases the less information you receive and the more cryptic the graphic and less convenient the hours. you agree?? ah, i knew you would! $15 on resident advisor, $25 at the door- see you there suckers.

SATURDAY

…to re-watch the (modern) classics.

Quentin Tarantino Brunch Series, Nitehawk Cinemas, Williamsburg.

welcome to nitehawk’s january brunch series, this month featuring all tarantino films. pulp fiction starts at 11am so get there early, in your jammies or your party clothes from the night before. and relive the night you had or didn’t have with john + uma.

nitehawk cinema, 136 metropolitan ave.

…to travel more.

The Rise and Fall of Vertical Travel, long island city

get some inspiration here from our good friends at atlas obscura, the leader of all things weird and discoverable in the world, they bring an exhibit on vertical travel appropriately to the US’s only elevator museum- right here in LIC. $18 will get you in to see what’s up… and then down. 1-2.30 pm

43-39 21st Street, Suite 206

even if it’s cold, do yourself a favor and traverse the great bridge of pulaski to get there- the view is unmatched.

…to learn a new skill AND to work on my rhythm.

Free Salsa Lessons, Dance Fever Studios, two locations!

take a break from your weekly youtube salsa dance lessons (i’m not the only one who does that, right?) and head to dance fever studios for this free salsa event! get your hands on a stranger that doesn’t start with swiping right. lesson starts at 8pm, come single or with a buddy, plus your dancing shoes. Dance Fever studios, 159 20th Street.

let’s boogie.

…to see more live music.

Stephane Wrembel at Bistro Fada, Williamsburg.

you know what i love about new york? if you’re reading this, you could probably think of a few things- but, i love that you can see a grammy-nominated artist for free nearly any night of the week. this week’s selection- Stephane Wrembel, the frenchman and spanish-guitar aficionado and woody allen muse who wrote the original scores for vicky christina barcelona and midnight in paris- and will absolutely charm you with his haunting sound, poignant stories, and damn impressive bandmates. 530 driggs ave, 9pm, free.

…to dance until the weehours, as often as humanly possible.

The Bunker’s 13th Anniversary Party, Good Room, Greenpoint.

burn the midnight oil at GOOD ROOM- my favorite fucking place to do bad things. 98 meserole ave, 10-5am, $15. get this shit started.

SUNDAY

…to spend less, save more, and purge all this shit that i have.

get rid of all those unwanted christmas gifts and leftover fruit cakes at the stop n swap in bay ridge- 11-2pm.

…to learn to defend myself from rogue tinder dates and volatile park bums.

we’ve all had those moments where we’re not sure if the person walking behind us is following us, if that scratching on the fire escape is actually one long single fingernail connected to a long bony monster, or if that tinder date is about to say one thing too far and needs to be (physically) put in his place. free women’s self defense class- 4-7pm. no excuses.

…to find ways to keep lou reed’s spirit alive in my heart and ears.

tribute to lou reed, you need this- so go. get next week started off on the right foot. manhattan inn, 632 manhattan ave- $12- With Invisible Familiars / Cassandra Jenkins & Sam Owens- RSVP

reason to cross the river this weekend

…to see more art, especially in my own wonderful city.

Frank Stella Exhibit, the New Whitney Museum, Chelsea.

what is it about conceptual art that inevitably leaves you feeling inspired? frank stella’s poignant, disciplined paintings force the viewer to recognize the process of creating art, from inspiration to completion. and just might leave you with a warm little glimmer of inspiration in spite of this polar vortex we’re dealing with. http://whitney.org/Exhibitions/FrankStella on view until feb 7th at the new whitney, occupying it’s largest floor.

…to feel better about partying by adding a pretense of educational benefit.

Dance Party at the Museum of Natural History, Upper West Side.

maybe it’s my affinity for From The Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, but nothing is better than an after-hours museum party in a space dome. nothing. get your ass there. and if you get to that point in the night where you swear the t-rex is moving, just take a deep breath and go with it. 9pm, 5 W 81st St.

$25 advance, $30 at the door- tickets, here.

…to stop relying on my go-to restaurants and check out all the great new spots.

where to eat this weekend– the Naked Dog, Greenpoint.

i can’t say enough about this place- fantastic cocktails, diverse wine list, homemade pasta, fresh fish, sides good enough to stand alone. unpretentious atmosphere and service that leaves little room to complain. GO. 47 java st.

…to be efficient and mischevious in equal parts. to be cleaner, to feel dirtier. to behold my inner child and my inner closet alcoholic at the same time. this is the answer to all of those things.

where to drink this weekend– Greenpoint’s Laundromat Pinball Speakeasy?

i don’t think i need to say anything else, other than bring quarters. lots of them. the door at the back of the sunshine laundromat, 860 manhattan ave. anyfuckingtime.

now lay in your beds and go to sleep, loyal little readers.

13-15 november 2015.

Liz Norment — Fri, 13 Nov 2015 19:08:04 +0000

FRIDAY
Friday the 13th Tattoos, multiple locations but i like Abuela’s in Bushwick
holiday season is coming up and that means it’s a great time to show up at home with some fresh, spontaneous ink to let sneak out from under your sleeve and make your parents gasp as you reach out to grab the gravy boat. head to Abuela’s for their friday the 13th tattoo special- they pick the tattoo at random, you pick the place and fork over $13 and a $7 dollar tip and leave feeling like a badass who made a bad decision. (i really don’t think there is anything wrong with that.) noon-11.55pm, 608 myrtle ave, $20 and your best judgement. get inked.

La Paella del Otono, my house in greenpoint. or your house in your ‘hood.
it’s my birthday guys. and it’s also finally starting to feel like fall so that means- well, a whole bunch of things, but especially that it’s paella-making time. celebrating the seasons should start by sharing spanish cuisine with your nearest and dearest. host a paella party, using my tried-and-true guide to paella party hosting here. don’t be intimidated- just keep your glass full of rioja and have a damn good toast prepared, and your guests won’t be able to tell the sofrito from the socarrat.

FIXED 11th Anniversary Party, Good Room.
paella is a huge culinary undertaking, especially when there are a lot of hungry people involved, and it’s your birthday so you would also like to impress people and boost your own self-confidence. it’s almost literally a recipe for disaster… SO. salvage the night. plan a killer after-party like this one, at the good room- my favorite place to do bad things. (are you sick of that yet? yeah? i don’t care.) 8pm to 5am, $10. be bad.

Holographic Chameleon opening party and DJ set- description below under the word “saturday”.

SATURDAY
Sumo Dinner Party at Brooklyn Kitchen
saturday night looks like this- large serious japanese guys fighting in tiny padded diapers at this secret spot above the meat hook and just under the BQE while you and your friends sample traditional japanese cuisine and enjoy sapporo and take sake shots every time the gong sounds. i can’t think of an event that is so much further than anything i could dream up (other than maybe the one below). besides, there’s no way you can even consider counting calories when faced with the highly-respected cultural tradition where you benefit from being as large as possible. Brooklyn Kitchen, 100 Frost St. 6pm, $35. i think i just heard the gong sound.

Holographic Chameleon, Immersive Gallery, Williamsburg
this is one of those this-shit-would-only-happen-in-brooklyn events that i absolutely love. even reading the description transports me down a rabbit hole into an imaginative visual of every psychedelic dream i’ve had, what i’ve seen lithely slide across the lens of a microscope in science class, and intricate fuzzy posters i completed as a child. so i can only imagine what it’s actually like. a 600-sq foot warehouse in williamsburg will be transformed into a multi-sensory experience of light, video, sound, art, and god knows what else as the artists have attempted to represent the transformation of light into antimatter as it enters a blackhole. NOTICE: you will probably disappear. or become antimatter. i have no idea, but i know i’m in. and out. all at the same time. Immersive Gallery, 132 bedford ave, free. opening friday 11/13 (but it seems you’re quite busy on friday), and open to the public saturday 2-6pm. immerse yourself.

Holiday Night Bazaar and Brunch Market, Gottscheer Hall, Ridgewood, Queens
for those of us who are still grieving over the loss of our beloved night bazaar (read: everyone.), queens comes to the rescue! check out this holiday night bazaar saturday night and sunday brunch market to get your fix of artisanal goods, art, food, drink, music, and surprises you always took for granted every friday and saturday night in greenpoint. pick up some things to bring home to your family over the holidays, or to bring me for my birthday. i like everything. (you’re a day late but i won’t protest. promise.) 657 fairview avenue, saturday 5-11pm, sunday 11am-5pm, free. how bazaar.

Allen Stone at the Apollo Theater, Harlem.
i’ve never met (yes, met.) a red head with more soul. check out allen stone’s sound here and then by tickets to see him at the historic apollo theater saturday night. 253 W 125th st, get some soul.

SUNDAY 11/15
The Hustle: Writers on Writing at Word Books, Greenpoint
if you weren’t completely charmed by “goodbye to all that”, then you didn’t read it. regardless i love the gift that is hearing writers talk about writing. because we’re all the same and we’re all different and we’re all inspiring and we’re all whole. go to this and fill your soul and forget about all the weekend’s transgressions. 2pm, free, at word book shop. 126 franklin st. word up.

Gala Gala Hey, The Drink, Greenpoint
ah, cider- something that spain and vegans have been doing for a long ass time but has recently been gaining traction among the micro brewing scene. the Gala Gala Hey festival closes out NYC cider week featuring over 70 different cideriess, apple pie, apple bobbing, apple bopping (use your imagination here), live music, and square dancing. sounds like fall in the heartland to me baby- let’s drown our hangovers in delightfully bitter, crisp cider and dunk our heads obnoxiously in a mini tub together. sunday, 3pm, 228 manhattan ave. free. bob on in.

Get Women Cycling: how to winterize your bike.
it’s coming guys. the winter. and every year it steals from us our waistlines as we walk around like human sleeping bags for survival, it claims our spontaneity for going out when we planned to stay in because it’s just not worth it to brave the weather, it claims the outdoor seating at five leaves (after a few months of subzero temperatures). it claims our roof decks. it makes us think twice (but not three times) about our smoking habits. it chips away at our souls. take a stand. DO NOT LET IT TAKE OUR FREEDOM. go to this event, learn how to winterize your bikes, and yourselves, ladies. and keep fucking riding.

Reasons to cross the river this weekend:
Holiday Train Show opens at Grand Central, Midtown.
i will never not find this charming and fascinating, nor will i ever tire of the historic secrets and captivating grandiosity of grand central station. check it out, maybe sunday, when all you’re capable of doing is watch a tiny toy train zoom past tiny plastic people waving and wearing tiny christmas sweaters. toot toot.
Allen Stone at the Apollo Theater, Harlem.
i’ve never met (yes, met.) a red head with more soul. check out allen stone’s sound here and then by tickets to see him at the historic apollo theater saturday night. 253 W 125th st, get some soul.
Starry Night at the MOMA, Midtown
special viewing party friday afternoon! with me, the birthday girl. let’s get lost in the enigmatic swirling and tangible grief as we linger in front of this historic pillar of modern art. besides, all the other stars we see in this city are celebrities. get gazin’.

what’s your sign at the grand national blurb