Brooklyn, I'm Trying

An Alternative Weekend Guide | How and Where to Take a Stand

Liz Norment — Sat, 06 Jun 2020 18:09:27 +0000

As I’ve been trying to pivot to provide you with some sense of normalcy to bring us all together as we are forced to be apart, there is no sense of normalcy anymore. There is the need to feel this, to act, to show support, to come together to form a new reality and to force this country to change the social fabric that we have been accepting for way too long.

Decide what you feel led to do. Find the best way to memorialize, to speak out and to show your city and country that this is unacceptable. But make sure you do something and feel something. This might be the most historic time we live through- so let’s actively live in it.

Here are the ways you should get involved this weekend and for the foreseeable future, until we create a future we want to live in.

Check your neighborhood for protests.

First, make sure you’re prepared.

With this 8pm curfew, cops are aggressively arresting peaceful protestors who are “violating curfew” forcing hundreds to spend the night in cramped jail cells nightly, confiscating their phones and belongings (forcing many to have their bikes inevitably stolen) and completely dismissing the threat of COVID-19. Know your rights and be prepared by reading this first. And then, let your voice be heard.

Neighborhood Protest Resources

Bushwick – @assemblywomandavila. At Maria Hernandez Park

Greenpoint – @greenpointers for info on vigil’s at McCarren Park and where to head from there.

Williamsburg – @yeswilliamsburg nightly marches leaving from McCarren.

Jamaica, Queens – at Council Member Adrienne Adam’s Office

For everything else, follow @justiceforgeorgenyc

Or use this full map of Protests for George Floyd, worldwide.

Do some research and then donate to help support the cause that speaks to you.

Support and Donate to SATC Campaign for NAACP Foundation

Black Lives Matter Prints by local artist Eva Woolridge, all proceeds go to Bail Out Funds

Make Calls for George – 612.324.4499

Donate to Breonna Taylor‘s family’s GoFundMe here.

And sign Breonna’s petition here.

Support the 15 Percent Pledge – @15percentpledge to help black-owned businesses survive

Look through this very thorough list of Racial Justice Organizations and Resources

Sign Petitions here.

Make the Call – Follow these to make calls for change.

Donate to the cause that speaks to you – blacklivesmatters/donate

Black Women’s Blueprint – Support equality and opportunity for every black woman – @blackwomensblueprint

And see so many more resources HERE and HERE.

Take a Look at your Life

What are the resources we can use to support black-owned businesses?

What are the books we can read to help us understand racism?

Who are the activists and groups that we can follow to help change our influences and thus our conversations? Follow @mspackyetti @nowhitesaviors @soulsummitmusic @yourrightscamp @btfacollective @changethenypd

What small and big changes can we make in our lives, in our social circles, and in our everyday interactions?

Let’s listen to some of our favorite local partners on how they are speaking up and reacting to help us understand how to help. Our friends at House of Yes, The Infatuation, Nowadays, and Archestratus. Make sure that the resources we rely on are doing more to help us all move forward.

I promise to use my voice to help promote and elevate black-owned businesses and voices, and not to let this conversation end until there is change; actual change. I pledge to be a resource to help promote and protect this movement. Here is a reflective piece I wrote about our understandings of cities during times of distress and necessary unrest in an effort to capture this confusion and compassion, in so many words. And here is a list of my favorite black-owned Brooklyn businesses that (I hope) will help you show support.

Brooklyn, let’s all try harder, together.

The Weekend Guide | 19-22 January 2017

Liz Norment — Thu, 19 Jan 2017 22:58:19 +0000

footing and so we will march, together, in perfect unison and harmonious cacophony that will erupt into one unified voice and one irrepressible movement. in DC and throughout the country, in the footsteps and hearts and words and minds of so many woman and men and people who want more. better. different. real.

i’ve been asking myself, what good is a vehicle for your words if you can’t speak your mind? because one must not aim not to offend but hope to move and to mobilize. to incite honor and belief. and if you’d prefer me to be quiet then i suppose you wouldn’t be here now would you, you little weasel.

stay with me, eh? i’ve listed all the best ways to get involved this weekend, or i suppose, to have a healthy debate. or whatever. just get involved and believe in a better world every time you open your eyes in the morning. let’s discover just how strong we are by being together and moving together. your ~~election weekend~~ empowerment weekend guide awaits, brooklyn.

and i solemnly swear, at least, to never let you down.

THURSDAY

Trump, Keep Out: A Benefit for Planned Parenthood, Broken Land, Greenpoint.

for the glass ceiling that wasn’t broken, we find ourselves coming together, in a land that we realize now was more broken than we imagined. and although our hearts may still be aching, our spirits are lifting and our voices are rising to be heard. so let’s raise our glasses full of spirits and our voices full of hope to help mend this land, Thursday night at Brokenland. you know, that really great fucking bar on franklin st, in greenpoint. sure they’re usually known for their frozen drinks, but thursday’s event aims to warm our hearts and ignite a fire under our asses that we won’t let burn out, especially for the next four years. Trump, Keep Out is part of an ongoing series of benefitsfor planned parenthood, where they gracious owner and bartenders will sacrifice what is always quite a profitable night in this drunk town and give 100% of the proceeds to this vitally importantcause. and we all know that is reason enough for you to choose to go seek inebriation, retaliation, communication, and perhaps a new partner in fornication (come on, the best way to love your body is to let it get a little lovin‘) at such a locale on thursday night. they have provided some audacious incentives. prizes will be auctioned off from glasserie, shag sex shop, dandelion wine, beacons closet, and plenty of other neighborhood haunts where you choose that make your body feel wild and free and worthy. the charming elizabeth weitzen of shag playhouse and members of her oh-so-charming burlesque company will be making sure you don’t stop believing in the cause all night. there will be a dj dance party by LYLAS spinning all your favorite hip-hop, r&b, and 80s and 90s dance tunes to make sure those hips keep moving all night. oh and the drink specials won’t hurt. the event is free so come thirsty. 105 franklin st at broken land, where they can fix anything.

Chroma Key, part of the Exponential Festival at the Brick Theater in Williamsburg.

it kills me when i overhear someone bragging about the shows they binged watched over the weekend. this is new york, home of some of the best talent and most ground-breaking artwork and about-to-be-famous-oh-wait-now-they-are musicians, and you’ve spent 9 hours on a series that you’re “still trying to get in to”?? how about some real entertainment? i mean of the dreamscape variety. of the live exploding humans variety. of the time travel and noir mystery and magical-realism variety, all meticulously woven together into a story that will leave feeling like you dove into a dali painting and somehow you belonged more in that world than this. oh i have your attention? now kindly direct it over to exponential festival’s standout performance, chroma key. by Title:Point productions, this play is a wildly complex adventure through the psyche, packed thick with humor and mystery. it’s playing until jan. 28th, so do not wait until next weekend. it will be sold out. all info and tickets here. shows are at 575 metropolitan ave at the brick theater

Snatch Back! at the Gemini & Scorpio Loft, Gowanus.

there is some good that has come of the absolutel dire state of our country. we have been moved to fight, together. and to stand up and against so many of the things that “political correctness” has forced us to politely silence for so so many generations. with this has come about a sexual revolution for women, where we feel encouraged to speak out against locker room talk and chauvenist attitudes and to be able to say and demonstrate that pussy grabs back. oh go on and wince. this event is an evening of irreverent performances, sexy solidarity and kinky outrage to raise funds for the Lady Parts Justice League. (link) 7pm-midnight, $25, all info here. 255 douglass st. at the Gemini + Scorpio Loft.

FRIDAY

Nasty Women and Bad Hombres: A Fundraiser for Planned Parenthood at Freddy’s, Gowanus.

our friends at Freddy’s are hosting a night especially for all you nasty women and bad hombres out there. to celebrate our bodies and to use our bodies for movement and for good (and maybe a little bit of bad too.) they’ll be hosting bands, performances, raffles and drink specials on inauguration night, with all proceeds going to Planned Parenthood. go. dance. drink. fight. (but not each other. only love each other.) 8pm-midnight, event is free. all info here, 627 5th ave.

Blog Haus Dance Party at Brooklyn Bowl, Williamsburg.

watch this video and tell me you don’t want to go to brooklyn bowl friday night.

come onnnn, i don’t know why you insist on still lying to me… you know that was dope as fuck. just like their sound. mixing lcd soundsystem, daft punk, mgmt, ratatat, chromeo, fools gold, and basically everyone you’re always up to get down to. rsvp here for guaranteed $5 admission all night, just tell them you’re on the GBH list or the brooklyn, i’m trying list. then text me and let me know if that last one worked. 61 wythe ave, 11pm-3am. all other info here. see you there homies.

Thanks Obama: A Dance Party Fundraiser at The Call Box, Greenpoint.

things ’bout to get real dirty so dance yrself clean with DJ Rameslam and DJ Basslines at greenpoint’s laser-filled dance club. President Obama deserves a real send-off, brooklyn style. shake yo hips while raising money for Doctors Without Borders, because, well… bye bye obama care too. all info here. $5 at the door, 9pm-4am 2 lombardy st at the call box.

Anti-Inauguration Get Down at Hanson Dry, Clinton Hill.

2016 was a year has been one of loss and letdowns, and election day feels like the last straw that broke the camel’s back or whatever. so let’s drink and dance it all away as Trump is inaugurated, but more importantly, commemorate those we lost who kept the dream alive and decide to uphold that spirit into 2017, together. prince, bowie, and george michael tunes will be pumping all night and all proceeds go to the ACLU and Planned Parenthood. the event is free so come thirsty and tip heavy. all info here.. 2-4pm, 925 fulton st. at hanson dry.

SATURDAY

Women’s March on NYC, First Ave in Manhattan.

if you aren’t going down to DC, show your solidarity along with so many women and men in so many cities around the country. this is historic and monumental and real and impactful. let’s take steps together and raise our voices and be heart, because this shit that is going on is unacceptable. i have nothing clever to say. let’s just fucking do this. over 42,000 women have already rsvp’d to this event, so go with your sisters. all info is here. 1045-5pm, meet at dag Dag Hammarskjold Plaza, 833 First Ave.

You Had to Be There, Baby’s All Right, Williamsburg.

a phone-free party. yeah it’s a phone-free party. you chekc your phones at the door, into a special pouch, and can only use in a phone-designated area, which means not on the dance floor. which means not documenting the evening. which means not trying to capture the perfect snap of those crazy lights and the dj’s silhouette. which means not being half there and half in 9 different conversations. and not wondering if you’re having a good enough time when everyone else is here with them and doing that all over instagram. it’s what father john misty has been not-so-delicately preaching and what we all need to make an effort to change. just be in the moment. feel the music. dance your ass off. free until 11pm, rsvp here, after that $10. 10pm-4am, 146 broadway.

well now don’t they just look like a warm and soupy little hug.

$1 Dumplings at Carma Asian Tapas in the West Village.

it’s the year of the rooster, folks. which means luck, romance, personality, and… cock.

oh don’t even act like that was inappropriate. go back to reading tiger beat or whatever. anyway, it’s the chinese new year and that means a few things but namely DOLLAR DUMPLINGS at carma asian tapas in the west village. flavors you can mix and match include crab soup, chicken basil, pork cabbage and foie-gras soup, also Shanghainese pork shumai, scallion pancakes and pan-fried pork bao get into the holla for a dolla action.11am-10pm, 38 carmine st.

SUNDAY

Brooklyn Soup Takedown, Brooklyn Bazaar, Greenpoint.

it’s a soup takedownnnnnnnnnn! this is the soup takedownnnnnnnnnn. all day we doin soup TAKEDOWNNNNNN. takin you down to SOUP TOWNNNNNNN. TAKIN IT DOWNNNNNNNN TOWNNNNNNN. with sooooooooooouuuuuuuuuuuppppppppppps. all info here. $20, lotta soups. nothing more to say.

IUD Soundsystem Planned Parenthood Fundraiser at Baby’s All Right, Williamsburg.

we need to be able to laugh a little about all of this, because if not we will all be in misery for the next for years. planned parenthood losing its funding is really really fucking serious. lcd soundsystem is really really the best fucking band of our time. to show our support for the former let’s use the latter and dance ourslves clean to IUD soundsystem sunday night, music for and by nasty women and raising money for planned parenthood. the bar will donate a % of their monies and also proceeds from a big indie-label raffle featuring all kids of dope prizes. all info here, party is free, 6pm, at baby’s all right, 146 broadway.

Stephane Wrembel plays Barbes in Park Slope.

because what do we all need after a long and intense weekend of demonstrating, protesting, organizing, believing, and deciding that our drink dollars went to very noble causes and thus doubling them without blinking an eye? well, we need spanish guitar playing in a dark and cozy room by a frenchman who isn’t short on anecdotes or charm. (you know where this is going.) stephane wrembel plays live in the coziest of backrooms at barbes in park slope. his set usually starts around 830ish. bring cash for the pot but entry is free. there are some details here, but just trust me and go. i can’t wait to see you. 376 9th st.

and then let’s see what the hell we’re going to do for the next four years. call me, we can haev a fireside chat. or radiator-side chat. or whatever. my phone number is permanently inthe footer of my emails (can’t seem to change it) so, just sign up.

i’m waiting bye the phone.

<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.