OVERFLOW::blog

Spring 2010 issue is out!

2010-04-02T13:01:00.003-04:00

OVERFLOW's Spring issue is out in stores across South Brooklyn. Find a copy at your corner coffee shop, or check out the online edition.

Let us know what you think too: comments@overflowmagazine.com

"The Destruction of Brooklyn's Soul Day"

2010-03-12T10:15:00.005-05:00

Yesterday Brooklyn either won or lost a battle. The Atlantic Yards Project finally broke ground with a ceremonious ribbon cutting amidst a storm of confetti and furious protestors sporting picket signs and satirical masks that might as well have been torches and pitchforks. Despite the alleged benefits of the Atlantic Yards Project, including jobs and subsidized housing, the war continues to rage over the extensive plans to build skyscrapers, apartments, and not to mention the stadium for the Nets in the middle of downtown Brooklyn. Angry Brooklynites even supposedly stooped to the military tactics of terrorism when the judge who approved the Atlantic Yards Project received an envelope of "suspicious white powder." So tell us, then, where do you stand--with the capitalist soul-crushing developers or the anthrax-wielding hearts and souls of Brooklyn?

Love Your Body & Your Wallet.

2010-03-08T12:55:00.004-05:00

The high costs of yoga classes are no longer an excuse to wimp out on the stretches and body contortions that make your muscles cringe. This weekend Dharma Yoga Brooklyn opened, a pay-what-you-wish yoga center in Park Slope. Although it may seem like a stretch (no pun intended) to expect to run a business solely on donations, the owners Lily Cushman and her partner have high hopes. Classes start tomorrow, so this is your chance to get in touch with mind and body. You'll feel like that seven-year-old who effortlessly does the splits in every possible direction while you watch enviously, mourning the loss of your youthful muscle elasticity. Namaste, Brooklynites!

The Gowanus Canal Gets Superfund Status!

2010-03-03T11:24:00.004-05:00

The Gowanus Canal has finally induced nausea at an international level. The EPA has declared the Gowanus Canal to be on par with the nation's most toxic waste sites, officially granting it Superfund status. Bloomberg and the canal's colonies of mutant races are bummed out, but the EPA insists that they will provide the best results. We foresee a clear and bright future for the canal, one in which children catch crawdads instead of syphilis.

The Rotterdam Film Festival in Brooklyn

2010-02-28T11:17:00.006-05:00

Big news for you lovers of the silver screen--the Rotterdam Film Festival has decided to branch out and share the wealth with Brooklyn. This will be the debut of the festival in the United States and a chance for new audiences to have access to the competitors for the VPRO Tiger Awards Competition. The festival is from March 3-9 at BAMcinematek and includes an array of films from around the world.

E-mail Brooklyn Based with "Rotterdam @ BAM" in the subject line, you could win a pair of free tickets to the film you most want to see!

[Sh]it's Coming Down!

2010-02-24T12:40:00.004-05:00

With another wintery-mix weekend heading our way, I could understand the need for long-johns, hot chocolate, rock salt, and a vow to not leave the house for 72 hours.

BUT you would be MISSING OUT!

Take a bundled stroll over to the Dumbo Art Center and thank Brokelyn for an affordable three day show of affordable pop-art. I think a little hair frizz matched with some galoshes is worth some possibly valuable (in a few years) but absolutely necessary art for your bare walls. Think of it as a future investment in more insulation dividing you from the cold (and at least you didn't buy it from Urban Outfitters)!

Putting the O Back in H2O

2010-02-23T23:02:00.005-05:00

Maybe you've noticed something different about the Gowanus Canal, namely a huge pipe running between the 3rd Street Bridge and the Carroll Street Bridge. Well, they're not there to pump any gunk out, they're there to pump oxygen in. The New York City Department of Environmental Protection has installed the pipes to maintain oxygen levels while the Flushing Tunnel is closed down for maintenance. At least they're not just letting it all go to shit.

Park Slop Turns Twitter Local

2010-02-01T09:20:00.004-05:00

Once again, Park Slopers are putting Twitter to good use, implementing a new service called BusesAroundMe. Following in suit to the ParkingAroundMe service, tweeters can notify their neighbors as to when the next B67 bus will arrive, making for fewer impatient and generally pissy commuters.

This may not be as epic an application of Twitter as, say, bringing a massive earthquake to the Chinese government's attention, but there's something to said for using a globalizing means of social networking to benefit the local community. Sometimes it's the little things that count, like reading celebrity's tweets inside rather than while freezing your butt off at the bus stop.

Eminent Domain Strikes Again

2010-01-27T10:00:00.002-05:00

Brooklynites are up in arms over the Atlantic Yard's Project, Bruce Ratner's commercial and residential development project in Prospect Heights that is using eminent domain to force out community members. But this community isn't leaving without a fight. Earlier this month councilwoman Letitia James spoke at Freddy's Bar, one of the businesses facing its end at the hands of the Atlantic Yards Project, on behalf of the community.

The real tragedy is in the closing of the Pacific Dean Family Homeless Shelter, which will result in forcing homeless families to freeze in the streets.

Today, homeless advocates and anyone else who wants to join in the vigilante fun for that matter are staging a citizen's arrest of Bruce Ratner on alleged indictments of bribery. These people aren't just standing up for their community, they're standing up for those members who need the most support. Kudos to that.

Gowanus A-Go-Go

2010-01-25T10:00:00.004-05:00

The Gowanus Canal Conservancy wants to clean shit up and they need your money to do it. Do your part and have fun doing it tonight at the Bell House for the Gowanus-A-Go-Go benefit concert. Feel good about supporting a local cause and without having to wade knee-deep in syphilis water with a pool skimmer. All proceeds will go to the man with the plan, the Gowanus Canal Conservancy, a nonprofit environmental organization that actually intends to do something about this mess.

Pushy Pâté Gets a New Location

2010-01-22T16:06:00.007-05:00

The Brooklyn Paper has discovered what they deem to be the new Brooklyn front in the Vietnam (sandwich) war. Your favorite Vietnamese sandwich place on Seventh Avenue has closed and so the battle between Hanco's and Henry's has become a bit of a moot point.

However we would like to hear more about Henry Huynh's new joint Home. The cuisine is still Vietnamese but...please, I beg The Brooklyn Paper to tell us more about the pâté! Once you get over the fact that you're basically eating what looks like un-canned dog food, there is nothing more delicious than some baguette and pâté. I shall visit soon to taste the wonders of Huynh's new (perhaps hijacked but improved) sandwiches now on Fifth Avenue.

Welcome to the Nabe, Brooklyn Homebrew.

2010-01-21T15:38:00.004-05:00

In case you didn't take me seriously when I suggested you start to brew your own beer, you should reconsider this growing trend because Brooklyn Homebrew has officially opened in Gowanus. Danielle Cefaro and Benjamin Stutz now have a real store as opposed to their dining room in a Sunset Park apartment, and more space means more yeast, hops, and malts.

If you're still wary, remember--it's 2010, which means that you can learn to do anything on youtube, including how to brew beer in your 600-square-foot apartment. Your girlfriend may object, but she'll eventually get used to steamy windows and what smells like a Kellogg's factory for a few hours every month. So what's stopping you? Head on over to Brooklyn Homebrew and get your hops on.

If You're Too Lazy To Read Yourself...

2010-01-19T12:38:00.006-05:00

(Actual Hipster Reading in Natural Habitat)

Have someone read to you! Vacations are a distant memory and if you're like me, the large pleasure reading list you lovingly compiled for the Winter holidays still remains almost entirely...unread, unopened...perhaps (if you were diligent), leafed-through.

Never fear! There are many Brooklyn-hip readings for all to attend in the next few days:

Tomorrow, January 20 (two thousand and ten...for those of you still having trouble acknowledging the new decade) Katharine Weber will be reading from her new novel True Confections. Hop on down to Rocky Sullivan's in Red Hook for you Brooklyners who love a sugary mixture of history with your fiction.

Personally however, I tend toward the rather obscure, poetic, and shameful in its tendency to be made pompous, pretentious, or graduate degree required within months of hitting the shelves. (Perhaps this is why I'm embarrassed to read the beloved, recently burned Jonathan Safran Foer on the L train.) If you're proud in your genuine love of the literary, Tin House magazine will present a line-up of its own authors at The Old Stone House on Thursday, January 21. This Brooklyn Reading Works sponsored event will include poets Matthea Harvey and Brenda Shaughnessy as well as essayist and fiction writer Elissa Schappell.

Now you can knowingly have a tête-à-tête and rave about the newest, New-York-Times-Book-Review-approved, post-grad fodder that's in circulation. Sit back, relax...you don't even have to strain your eyes.

Winter 2010 Issue, now in cyberspace

2010-01-08T13:10:00.003-05:00

Golly gee, we're in the tubes!

Our Winter 2010 issue is now available online. OVERFLOW prides itself on being a free print magazine (which is why we wait about a month before we put the thing online), but we get emails from displaced or wannabe Brooklyn folks who want to get their hands on us. Well, we can't afford to mail copies across the globe, so this is the next best thing.

Flashback and... Déjà Vu?

2009-12-17T12:48:00.004-05:00

Yesterday, our friends at Gothamist were nice enough to alert the public to a day in history. Forty-nine years ago yesterday two planes struck each other head-on in mid-air and crashed to the ground in Park Slope. The tragedy had so much of an impact that its memory remains vivid for those who witnessed it that day and those who still live in Park Slope. Although Gothamist serves the community well in reminding us of our history, OVERFLOW also covered the event more extensively in our Spring '09 issue. Please visit for more information and a good healthy dose of local history and community love!

A Taste of the Rockies

2009-12-16T12:04:00.004-05:00

For you poor, uninformed east-coasters, we have this thing called "powder" in Colorado that makes snowboarding akin to flying down a giant swirl of whipped cream if that were physically possible. Here, so I've heard (because why would I ever bother to find out for myself), you have ice.

Lucky for you, you can have the whole mountain experience this weekend without ever having to hit the slopes. Monkey Town is hosting the real ski-lodge experience right here in Brooklyn, so you don't even have to fake a broken leg for an excuse to stay out of the snow. This six-course dinner includes all the game and steamy hot cocktails you would expect to find at a luxury resort in Vail, and even some ski films to make you feel like you're out there doing the real thing. And, to top it all off, you could win ski passes and free lodging at two Vermont lodges! You know, if you're willing to brave those icy slopes.

Secret Science and the not-so-secret OVERFLOW EXTRAVAGANZA!

2009-12-10T14:43:00.007-05:00

Okay, silhouette of a hot chick swirling--but in which direction? Focus on the spinning foot aaaaand there she goes--switched directions. Now she's just going back and forth. Wait...what's going on?

Well, that's exactly what visual neuroscientist Ben Backus explained to a crowd of drunk nerds this Tuesday during this month's meeting of the Secret Science Club. Yep, every month the Secret Science Club meets at the Bell House to drink booze and learn shit, like how squids don't have blind spots in their eyeballs or how the Pulfrich Effect was discovered by a guy with one eye.

So if you're one of us nerds who hasn't gotten enough of powerpoint presentations and lectures, you're in luck--the Secret Science club is holding another event next Tuesday! This time climatologist James Hansen will teach you why all those people who don't believe in global warming need to take step 1 and admit they're in denial.

But first, because you can never have enough South Brooklyn fun, come celebrate the release of OVERFLOW's fourth issue tonight at Littlefield!! We promise visual AND audio stimulation, not to mention alcohol and a free (as always) copy of our new issue! See you there!

Looking to Live Cheap this Holiday Season?

2009-12-09T11:28:00.003-05:00

Not in the mood to spend lots of dough on gifts this year? (I mean, is anybody ever really looking for that...)

Check out Brokelyn's guide to how to spend less this Holiday season. They have some great $25 and under gift ideas, including herbal slippers to keep warm and a spiral notebook made for the sole purpose of storing your endless supply of online passwords. (What a great idea, and only $13!)

And if you're looking to save not only on gifts, but on the tree as well, check out Brokelyn's latest post about where to get the cheapest tree.

And don't worry, us Jews haven't been forgotten about. For cheap Chanukah ideas, there's yet another post.

And last but not least, don't forget to celebrate with OVERFLOW tomorrow night!

[Sh]it's Goin' Down THURSDAY!

2009-12-08T13:10:00.004-05:00

If you're a random smattering of any of these categories, chances are that you'll enjoy a Thursday night with OVERFLOW. Shame on you if you haven't yet heard of our big bash! But it's alright, we're here to keep you updated (TimeOut seems to know what's up):

Come to Littlefield in Gowanus to see Bear Hands, Ribbons, and Peephole play in celebration of our new Winter issue! It's a perfect place to take that hot-young-thing you'll be picking up tomorrow at the BK Meatup for a second night out...

Don't be shy... take your plaid-ladden, bearded, iphoned selves out for a night!

Tickets $8 through Littlefield

Union Hall Bocce Bailout 2009!

2009-12-07T09:12:00.004-05:00

For those of you unaware of Union Hall's brilliant marriage between bar and bocce, it's about time you acquainted yourself with this novel concept. Okay, so maybe alcohol has always been what makes most games fun. But who would've thought to take a beloved backyard pastime and stick it in an establishment dedicated to good times and getting drunk? Union Hall is like the non-lame version of a bowling alley.

So put down those darts and cue sticks, and get ready to bocce! On December 30th, Union Hall is holding an elimination bocce ball tournament. Grab a partner and sign yourselves up for a chance to win $300!

Ready to put the "He" back in Hebrew?

2009-12-06T13:46:00.004-05:00

Have you been waiting to get your yarmulkes bouncing and your tzitzit swaying?

Well then, your time has come! "Good For The Jews," an organization started by Rob Tannenbaum and David Fagin, is having its annual tour, stopping at the HighLine Ballroom in Park Slope this Monday, Dec. 7th at 8:00 p.m.

The event will feature, "Jewish music for people who hate Jewish music." The acts will include: the band DeLeon and comedians Morgan Murphy, Seth Herzog and Rachel Sklar.

Want two free tickets? Our friends at "Fucked In Park Slope" are offering two free tickets to the person who can come up with the most creative answer to this question:

Which sexy assed Jew, living or dead, would you most like to get it on with and why?

Send in your answers ASAP to win free tickets to the best Jew event of the year.

Art Opening at Bergen Street Comics

2009-12-03T16:27:00.002-05:00

Bergen Street Comics is thrilled to present a solo exhibit of original works by Brooklyn-based artist Katie Sparaco. The store will host an opening reception for the artist on December 12th from 7pm to close.

The show will spotlight Sparaco’s recent abstract paintings, which use oil paints on large canvases, as well as smaller gouache paintings, a format that reflects Katie’s background and interest in illustration.

Katie’s formal education focused on classical art — drawing, sculpting and painting from the figure, which provided the foundation of how she works today. Her influences span a wide spectrum, from famed abstract expressionist artist Willem de Kooning to celebrated comic book artist Dave McKean.

“To me, the connection between comic book art and what is considered fine art is not so far fetched,” said Katie. “Perhaps it is my illustration background, but I feel that all art is about storytelling in one way or another. Bergen Street Comics is such a unique store, and exactly the kind of place to show that there should be no line between 'comics' and 'art'.”

“We’re especially pleased to present Katie Sparaco’s first ever opening,” said Amy Adams, co-owner of Bergen Street Comics. “We are so impressed with her skill as an artist and the beauty of her pieces; her paintings are striking, evocative and worthy of a larger audience. This event will allow us to introduce our regular customers to an exciting new artist from our neighborhood, while also encouraging people who love art, but who might not typically think to visit a comic book shop, the opportunity to discover comics.”

About the Artist:

Katie Sparaco grew up in Huntington, NY, and received a BFA in Illustration from Rhode Island School of Design in 2000. She moved to Park Slope, Brooklyn, in 2006.

Katie’s work always begins with something real — actual objects, drawn overlapping in space. She has developed a personal iconography throughout her work, all of which represent specific experiences and people in her life.

View her work here!

About Bergen Street Comics:

Bergen Street Comics opened in March 2009. Bergen Street Comics has hosted a variety of events since opening in March of this year, including book signings, readings, workshops, release parties, and live music. This is their first fine art exhibit.

For more information about the event or to arrange interviews with Katie Sparaco or Tom & Amy Adams.

The Holiday Craft Market at the Brooklyn Lyceum!

2009-12-02T12:30:00.002-05:00

Oh, the holidays--the season of giving, family togetherness, and heart attack-inducing stress levels. Children are demanding toys more technologically advanced than my macbook, and wives are expecting diamonds to make up for last year's surprise paper shredder.

But have no fear! The Brooklyn Lyceum has the solution to all your gift-giving dilemmas. So sit back and procrastinate, because on December 19-20 you can head on over to the Holiday Craft Market and find gifts that are truly sui-generis, from the bottom of your heart and the heart of Brooklyn, too.

From 11 a.m.-7 p.m., you can browse the stands of 60+ local crafty vendors until you've stocked up on stocking stuffers and presents for the whole of your extended family. Admission is free, so you'll have even more cash to spend on the people you love, or maybe a little extra to buy yourself one of Mogador's falafels.

[Sh]it's going down!

2009-12-01T12:16:00.004-05:00

Looking for Free Drinks?

Hot Singles?

Cheesy Holiday Pictures?

A Free Massage?

(just say yes, trust me.)

The BK Holiday Meatup has arrived. Yes, you heard that right. And the theme? Naughty Office Party. Why not spruce up the holiday season with one night of drunken mingling?

The event is at The Bell House December 9th, and tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. Comedy will be provided by Sara Schaefer, free scotch and soda will be provided for an hour, and the Asiadog truck will be parked outside.

So bring your scratchiest Christmas sweater, your fellow single South-Brooklyners, and get ready for a night that will most likely end in regret.

Buy Brooklyn! Support the 3rd Annual Snowflake Celebration!

2009-11-30T13:26:00.005-05:00

I wanted to bring a wonderful, "this-is-why-we-love-local" event to your attention.

Check out the web site, Buy in Brooklyn to get the skinny on the Third Annual Snowflake Celebration, taking place on December 3rd and 10th in Park Slope.

The loooong list of participating businesses will be offering deals, raffles, extended hours, free elves, and pet reindeer (disclaimer, I made those last two up,) for your holiday-shopping pleasure.

So please avoid channeling this guy, and remember to support Brooklyn's local businesses on the 3rd and the 10th!

Some Slope [Mis]haps

2009-11-30T11:43:00.005-05:00

We would like to send out a message of solidarity to the people of Park Slope. It's been a rough Thanksgiving weekend for our fellow Slopers and it seems some of the unfortunate events will continue into the week...

It seems that the internet has taken a vacation of it's own. It left the Slope high, dry, and email-free this weekend and is still on the fritz. Time Warner Cable is "experiencing some outages" currently...and an immense amount of ill will. Stay strong Time Warner patrons and start looking into WiFi!

Not only does Park Slope need to grieve over the loss of the world wide web, but it also needs to watch out for the theft of their computers! A rash of burglaries broke out over the weekend. These plunderers are out for your ipods, computers, and televisions. So, during this holiday season make sure to keep those technological gadgets locked up (and unplugged if leaving town)!

With Thanksgiving out of the way, surely everyone has bloated bellies, overstocked refrigerators, and... plentiful piles of recycling! Our friends over at Fucked in Park Slope noticed the recycling inundation most prominently as The Food Coop struck again, inciting communal exasperation. Since Park Slope's Food Coop recycles certain plastics that the City of New York does not, things got a little out of hand this last Sunday as Slopers dashed to dump their Thanksgiving refuse! There are other times to deposit your No. 1-4 plastics, Go Greeners!

...but we think everyone should stick to their yoga breathing exercises, continue the spirit of Thanksgiving, and keep calm and carry on...

Team Colorado takes South Brooklyn.

2009-11-27T13:29:00.010-05:00

Team Colorado embraced the competition this Wednesday during The Great Gowanus Pilgrimage Pre-Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt, and it's time to give some much-deserved props to the 303 in the 718.

We ravaged each and every bodega on 5th Ave to find plantains and gefilte fish. We searched high and low for Park Slope's Famous Pink House and Maggie Gyllenhaal. We were tea-bagged at the Tea Lounge. We repped Team Colorado on the bathroom walls at the High Dive (left), and serenaded the bartender at Bar Reis. All while trying to navigate South Brooklyn on smart phones after a few too many free shots.

And although we may not have convinced a vest-clad Food Coop employee to come back to the Bell House with us for bonus points, and maybe we didn't make it all the way to Ikea or even Carroll Gardens for that matter, we did have our moment of pride and glory. That's right--for an extra 25 whole points we fished up some of that toxic syphilis sludge we call Gowanus Canal water.

And although we may have received more disgusted and horrified looks than praise and glory, we were proud of our cunning and innovation. In the last ten minutes before the end of the hunt, we threw together pieces of found garbage and created our very own canal water trapping device.

So maybe we didn't win, or even come close, but we braved pollution and disease alike. We explored unknown territory and even learned a few things about South Brooklyn. And most importantly, we had a hell of a good time.

[Sh]it's going down! Turkey Style.

2009-11-25T15:55:00.004-05:00

Come on over to The Bell House this evening for various "Pre-Thanksgiving" activities. (Alcohol will be a key part of the events, needless to say.) The activities include a happy hour with $1 off all drinks at $4 pints, a scavenger hunt, and an after party.

Teams consist of 2-4 people, and if anything, the free shots provided along the way are extra incentive.

Contact scavengerhunt@thebellhouseny.com to register your team!

DON YOUR DANCIN' SHOES!

2009-11-25T15:31:00.004-05:00

PUT ON YOUR CAPS LOCKS! OVERFLOW's Super Secret Party is a secret no more! Mark your calenders ladies and gentlemen because December 10th is the release of our brilliant Winter issue and we want to treat you all to a little party!

Meet us at the new Gowanus venue Littlefield to have some drinks (the more the better, right?), pickup our new issue, and dance your socks off with our eclectic electric line-up.

Party starts at 8pm and stay on to see our local acts:

Ribbons
Peephole
and...Bear Hands!

The Art of Taxidermy.

2009-11-24T12:15:00.001-05:00

The results are in from the Carnivorous Nights Taxidermist Contest, and the deserving winners of this roadkill-cum-furry friend contest have been announced!

Every year the Secret Science Club brings Pet Semetary to life at the Bell House for a night morbid fun. This year, Ryan Matthew took the grand prize for his petrified wrassling kitties.

And how could be forget Takeshi Yamada, 2006 Grand Champion of Taxidermy and this year's recipient of the Most Twisted Prize? Yamada is also the artist behind Coney Island Library's exhibit "Museum of World Wonders: Cabinet of Curiosities," displaying such fascinating and disturbing dead things as a bunny with a tail and a two-headed baby made from Yamada's own skin.

P.S. WATCH THE VIDEO! I guarantee you will find a special place in your heart for this lovable freak, or some-sing like that.

A Coffee [Mis]hap

2009-11-23T13:28:00.003-05:00

When opening a coffee shop make sure you know who your competition is. Our friends at the New York Times dug up a little tiff between two such cafes in Crown Heights. A battle between the old guard and the new kids on the block is never an easy win to call. Breukelen Coffee House (peddlers of Stumptown coffee) and the Pulp and the Bean escalated their rivalry on the internet.

I find that a multitude of coffee houses never hurt any neighborhood. And feuds never really hurt when trying to get your name out there, negativity breading that buzz that draws everyone in. So, go visit these purveyors of the bean and let us know what you think!

[Sh]it's going down

2009-11-20T11:40:00.003-05:00

For only fifteen bucks this Sunday at 4:00 p.m., you can head to The Bell House and each as much chili as you want. (Tempting, right?)

As part of the fifth annual Chili Take Down, cooks from across Brooklyn will be entering their variations of Chili--some of which actually include bacon, tofu and curry--in the contest this Sunday to win the reign of best Chili Chef in Brooklyn.

In order to enter, contact Matt Timms here. (Or just show up and eat your heart out.)

Because you deserve to be proud of that Thanksgiving dinner.

2009-11-19T13:33:00.001-05:00

As Thanksgiving approaches, it seems only appropriate to start talking food. And not just food, but gluttonous amounts of tradition and family togetherness graciously offered in honor of the very birth of our country. Which means it better be effing good, and it damn well better outdo every Thanksgiving dinner your guests have ever experienced, even Grandma's famous home-cooked feast.

That's why we're going to start with the basics: deboning the turkey. Brooklyn Kitchen is offering a class this Sunday to teach you how to most humanely mutilate that 20-pound bird to fully avoid any possibility of Grandad choking on a turkey bone.

And what's a better way to really wow the fam than with a truly traditional meal straight out of the 17th century? Before diving into the bird for yourself, experience that historicism at the Old Stone House in Park Slope as Sarah Lohman cooks up a real Thanksgiving dinner, plum pudding and all.

For those of you facing a sudden onslaught of uninvited guests of guests, remember to review Brokelyn's guide to cheap organic turkeys to alleviate the stress of feeding that army you call family.

[Sh]it's REALLY Goin' Down!

2009-11-18T15:47:00.004-05:00

Hop on over to Southpaw tonight to see friends of Overflow Peephole debut a new line up! Spend those eight dollars and hear the future sound of Overflow's Super Secret Extravaganza (all details undisclosed at present moment...but REALLY...you WON'T want to miss it!)...shhh!

If you're feeling a little Green Friendly, help support rooftop farming this Friday. It's the way of the urban future and Ben Flanner is leading the way with a little fundraiser at Starr Space in Bushwick. Help bring the future Brooklyn Grange Farms to the borough's southern reaches!

If you decide it's a No-Go for your Starr Space attendance, have two nights of fun at Pete's Candy Store on Friday and Saturday! It may be a slight schlep. It IS in foreign territory but life's too short to spurn the North forever:

Friday will bring Pete's Big Poetry Series to its penultimate close with Nate Pritts, Leigh Stein, Karin Randolph, and much loved NYU professor and acclaimed poet Matthew Rohrer.

Saturday will be an Overflow Holy Day of Obligation as one of our beloved editors Sam Carter will play at 11pm with his group The Peter Pinguid Society! It's their Triumphant Return so come out and have a drink with us!

The daily mis[haps]

2009-11-17T13:45:00.004-05:00

Who would have thought that twitter and texting would actually come in handy when it comes to finding a parking spot in New York? Only the Blog Knows Brooklyn investigated a new parking experiment going into effect in the Park Slope area.

Roadify.com has started a social experiment called "Parking Around Me" in which drivers in Park Slope can notify other drivers when a spot opens or is taken.

According to the organization, Park Slope's parking is so stressful that the average driver takes 27 minutes to find a spot and 67% of traffic i

s caused by drivers looking for a space to squeeze into.

The catch? Every time you give a spot, you get a point, that in turn you can use to get a spot at a later date. But hey, it might be worth it to send a quick text to the company so that you can save 27 minutes next time you're in a rush.

(Above image was a picture taken from the Gowanus Lounge, documenting the lack of open parking spots in South Brooklyn.)

Boxer/Rabbi?

2009-11-16T14:08:00.001-05:00

Yuri Foreman, professional Israeli middleweight boxer, was the chosen one in Saturday's boxing match against Daniel Santos. He now holds the title as the World Boxing Association's 154-pound champion.

And he's taking rabbinical classes at the IYYUN Institute in Gowanus. Yes, Yuri Foreman is going to be the rabbi with the meanest left-hook around. He will literally beat the Old Testament into the mutilated pulp that used to be your head until you're begging your plastic surgeon to forgo the rhinoplasty and instead permanently attach a kippah to your scalp.

Well, as a man of religion, maybe he'll be a little nicer than that. But he's still going to be the most badass rabbi Brooklyn has ever seen.

Attention Bookworms!

2009-11-16T14:06:00.005-05:00

Happy [Independent] Bookstore Week! From book readings to interactive publishing and writing classes, New York's independent booksellers are hosting events all week for those of you who still enjoy the delicious smell of mildewed pages, don't have a Kindle, and don't intend on getting one.

Check out poet Matthea Harvey read her new children's book (for kids and adults!) in Park Slope tomorrow at Community Bookstore or see Jonathan Safran Foer read on Thursday at the Old First Reformed Church! It's a week for paper! It's a week for words! Check out the many other events happening this week and once all is done, snuggle down into your bed and crack a book open!

It's That Time Again: Park Slope 100

2009-11-15T16:50:00.004-05:00

Every year, Only The Bl og Knows Brooklyn puts together the "Park Slope 100" and this year's list is creeping up on us. The list, for "famous and not famous alike" ranges anywhere from spiritual leaders to restaurant owners.

According to Only The Blog, the list consists of "100 stories, 100 ways of looking at the world, 100 inspiring people, places and things in and around Park Slope. It can be a person, a place, a thing, even an event. Let me know who, what and where was notable and powerful and 2009. One tip: I especially like people who direct their energies outward towards the better good of others in some way. Suggest yourself, your spouse, your relative, your friend."

So if you've got anyone, anything, or any place in mind, send your suggestions to: louise_crawford@yahoo.com

(And to catch a glance at last year's most noted, click here.)

the daily [mis]haps

2009-11-13T13:45:00.003-05:00

Looking for some scandal in your life on par with seducing a young virgin to win a bet made with a companion harboring her own mischievous ill-intent?

Save the date for the second BK Meatup event of the year--the Naughty Holiday Office Party on December 9th. It's well worth the wait, and it promises enough depravity to last you until New Years--even for the most tireless lechers out there.

If you want to have some real fun, get your hands on some of Brooklyn sinners' new inebriating liquid of choice. But keep in mind that age-old maxim: Don't drink the punch.

For those of you who are more the voyeur-types, this version of Dangerous Liaisons might inspire some lustful foul play of your own.

Save the World!

2009-11-12T12:20:00.003-05:00

It seems like newly re-elected Mayor Bloomberg thinks he can to do a better job cleaning up the Gowanus Canal than Superfund. Promising $150 million, Bloomberg might just want to get that nasty bit of clean-up swiftly out of the way so real-estate can keep rollin' out dolla's. Superfund tends gets to be a little extensive in its cleanup...and who wants that?! Get the full story at The ArchitectsNewspaper.

Perhaps Broolynites should have gotten Americans UK to clean up the Gowanus! They saved rock n' roll...why not a little city water? They've got the outfits to prove it and you can see them tomorrow Nov. 12! See these comic book rockers at the Royale and perhaps convince them to do a little sewage clean-up...

Park Slope Armory: Will It Actually Open?

2009-11-11T11:43:00.002-05:00

Park Slopers have their doubts about whether or not the Park Slope Armory, now renovated, will actually open. The only thing we're still waiting on is for the city to turn it over to the YMCA so they can open it as a recreation center for children. The renovation (a jaw-dropping $16 million) was completed in 2007, and the city is still waiting for it to open.

According to the Brooklyn Paper, the turnaround has yet to happen because the Department of Education initially pledged money and didn't follow through, and Department of Homeless Services should have been put in charge of recreation services.

Comic Book Club

2009-11-10T11:46:00.004-05:00

OVERFLOW is a fan of the comic book, the funny, the graphic novel. This evolving form is far from underground these days, and if you're a fan you no longer have to hide in the closet with a mini mag light in shame.

Our friends Bergen Street Comics are launching a new series: the Abrams ComicArts Book Club on Thursday November 12th. The book they are discussing is "Understanding Comics" by Scott McCloud.

There's a deep discount if you buy the book at their shop, and refreshments will be served, although we hear it's also BYOB.

You can RSVP here: http://www.meetup.com/ComicArtsBookClub/

Sickies & Brooklynites Alike: Celebrate Healthcare!

2009-11-10T08:50:00.005-05:00

FIPS wants to know: do YOU have healthcare? Beacause now you can! We are one step closer to providing our country with access to healthcare! What a relief, because personally I was about to move to Sweden.

Ok, so of course there are going to be some kinks to work out, and maybe for a while it will be the new equal rights--no one will deny that everyone should have them (except for a few southern fanatics who still hang confederate flags from their cotton gins or whatever) but it will be more of an ideology than a reality. But let's look at the bright side: we've surpassed that first hurdle, people! Tell all the sickies you know, drink a toast or in their cases one tablespoon of thermaflu before bed, and celebrate your right to take your kids to the doctor!

Park Slope Heli Moms don't care about their kids afterall...

2009-11-10T08:23:00.003-05:00

Turns out that all those Park Slope Parents who spend their lives discussing whether their two-year-old speaks three languages and if they have wheat allergies are actually grossly negligent and don't care if their children might be horrible disfigured.

Maclaren strollers, popular with well-to-do moms from Park Slope to the Upper West Side, (any baby who's any baby has a Maclaren, seems to the general feeling,) have issued a recall on all strollers sold after 1999. Turns out these overpriced, Cadillacs of stroller-dom are actually quite dangerous to the little fingers of any tot who rides in them. As many as 12 young ones have had fingers amputated in the elbow joints of these chic, child-transportation devices.

Playing the violin or cello could lock Junior into a place at Harvard or Yale, so any Mummy out there that doesn't take this seriously will be affecting her child's ability to excel in life. You don't want to be BAD MOTHER, do you?

Those affected should visit www.maclaren.us/recall or call 877-688-2326 to claim the special covers.

Have A Chuckle!

2009-11-09T10:59:00.005-05:00

I'm starting to become jealous. I really want in on this relationship with THE FOOD COOP. I may just want the t-shirt...we agree with Fucked In Park Slope: BRILLIANT! Okay...YES, I am willing to have a slightly dysfunctional connection with the Park Slope Food Coop. just to wear the "Suspended at the Coop" t-shirt.

If you don't want to work for your food, mark your calenders because watching the International Kosher Latke Eating Contest on Dec 13 has to be worth a good giggle...not to mention those delicious potato treats ----------------------->

And a reminder for friends of Vox Pop (1022 Cortelyou Rd): "Think Globally, Laugh Locally" will be Nov. 21 at 9pm! Free! Delicious Treats! and LAUGHS!

[Sh]it's going down

2009-11-07T17:26:00.002-05:00

If you're looking for something a little bit risque to do this saturday night, check out Wasabassco's 5th annual Burlesque show at The Bell House. Entry is $12 and the show starts at 10:00 p.m. Check it out if you're interested in 3+ hours of strip tease, music and comedy and even belly dancing.

And if you're not too hungover and looking for something a bit more calm on Sunday...

This Sunday, 11/8 at 11:00 a.m. the people at Gotham Sidewalks will be hosting their first annual Baseball Bike Tour around Park Slope. The tour will begin in front of the Brooklyn Bicycles shop in Park Slope, and the whole tour will take around three hours.

the daily [mis]haps

2009-11-06T14:57:00.001-05:00

Brooklynites are known for being the crafty type, but now the DIY fad has extended beyond handmade jewelry, silkscreened t-shirts, and hand-knit scarves. Brooklynites have entered the world of home brewing, taking on the challenges of sufficiently sterilizing buckets and funnels and bottles, measuring accurate amounts of yeast and malt and hops, and adding their own personal touch without making something either toxic or just plain disgusting.

I can attest to this process, because there are currently 50 bottles of beer in my living room along with another whole bucket embarking on the fermentation process. We've only had one explosion thus far, leaving chunks of fallow-colored sludge stuck to our walls and ceiling, but that's just part of the enterprise.

And we have the couple at Brooklyn Homebrew in Sunset Park to thank for their lovely assistance, grinding and providing materials and warm reassurances. And if I haven't convinced you to head over to their store to begin your own home brewery, just think of how rewarding it will be to finally drink all that beer you so worked so hard to make. And the simple fact that you'll be drinking lots of beer.

A daily [mis]hap

2009-11-05T12:56:00.003-05:00

I always think it's funny that we place monetary value in green paper and silver coins. Why can't I write on a white piece of 8 1/2 x 11 I O U? Alas, 'tis not the way the world works but sometimes those coins can be more valuable than I might think...

A Brooklyn Woman Finds Counterfeit Penny Made of GOLD!

Lesson: Pay attention to your change. However, I think the Brooklyn area is most likely tapped out of specious specie!

"Remember, remember the 5th of November!"

2009-11-04T11:25:00.004-05:00

Only the Bell House would have a celebration for the anniversary of the day over four centuries ago that English Parliament DIDN'T get blown up.

This Thursday, November 5th at the Bell House at 8:00 p.m. you can actually celebrate the 404th anniversary (yes, 404th) that the English Parliament didn't get blown up.

Otherwise knows as Guy Fawkes Day in England, the party is free and will be complete with British DJs, V for Vendetta, and special "British" drinks.

(A fake British accent isn't required, but highly suggested.)

More Waiting for 14th Street Armory

2009-11-03T15:49:00.004-05:00

The marathon has past; Daylight Savings is over. The cold air on your morning run around the park is becoming less tolerable by the day.

But for some, salvation from chilly jogs seemed right on the horizon. The Park Slope Armory, a new indoor track and sports facility to be managed by the YMCA, was set to open last Spring. That date was pushed back to September 1. That date was then pushed to December 1.

Now, it's been pushed back to 2010. Bummer. For details, there's some excellent reportage in today's Brooklyn Paper.

Indivia: latin for envy

2009-11-03T09:57:00.006-05:00

I enjoy the luxury of having, what I feel, is a relatively comfortable place to live in Brooklyn, New York. Nice location (Union Street, Park Slope,) good light, charming kitchen, etc. Really nothing too huge to complain about, (except sort of an awkward lay out and a bedroom with no windows...) but I regress!

Coming across this Red Hook renovation in one of my favorite design blogs Apartment Therapy, made me want to burn down my apartment building in disgust. Honestly! The injustice of real estate in New York is enough to make me punch through walls. In this context, that would be ironic because it would make my already inferior apartment that much more plebeian.

For the full story and picture spread, check out New York Magazine's article on the before and after of this warehouse turned Shangrila. Just maybe make sure you're in a contented mood first.

Happy Election Day!

2009-11-03T09:18:00.003-05:00

Today's the big day--time to decide Brooklyn's political fate. It goes beyond Democrats vs. Republicans. It's your chance to compare and contrast and choose who's right for the job, who will get shit done, who will dazzle us.

Still can't decide who to vote for your 39th District City Council representative? Read these mini-interviews from Cobble Hill Blog--5 Questions from each candidate--and make yourself a helpful little pros-and-cons list. It can't get any easier. But, if you're on the edge and Joe Nardiello might be your man, just remember he's toeing a fine line between creative and prankster. As for us, we'd like to give a shout-out to Brad Lander, who will make a cameo appearance in our upcoming December issue.

There's also the big Bloomberg vs. Thompson decision to be made. Mayor Bloomberg may have been looking good according to polls--up by 15% as of October 30th--but his fellow politicians think otherwise. I may have just wikipedia-ed him, but some people have strong opinions. So, what's it going to be? Mike Bloomberg, or Mike Bloomberg? (Note the change in intonation in my brain as I write this).

Just Like Grandma's...?

2009-11-02T14:55:00.004-05:00

I don't know about anyone else but for me, Connect Four traditionally evokes an afternoon at Grandma's: cigarette smoke, mounds of M&Ms, a game of Old Maid and the old stand by, Connect Four. The Bell House isn't quite Grandma's house (You can't even smoke there...) but it's sponsoring a Connect Four tournament tomorrow (10/3)...?! I'm not sure how I feel about this...

How could a simple childhood game become THE WORLD'S BIGGEST CONNECT FOUR CHAMPIONSHIP: ROUND ONE? Hyperbole and all caps... AND this means that there is going to be a round two! Actually there will be four rounds and the champion will be crowned on November 24... this seems like serious stuff!

Perhaps there is more strategy to Connect Four than I can realize but I really would love it if someone checked this out! (If you're not in for serious stuff, there are FREE "Connect Four" vodka drinks from 7-8pm...who knows what kind of fun trouble you could get into there.)

Let us know how The Bell House provides for all your childhood gaming needs. Will they serve Nesquik on a tray next to a bologna sandwich and dill pickle while you ponder your next opponent-crushing move?

Andy Newman Completes His "Own" Marathon

2009-11-01T14:08:00.005-05:00

In honor of today's marathon, journalist Andy Newman strolled around his Park Slope neighborhood 75.4 times. The 26.2 mile journey took him a mere 17+ hours to complete (luckily, he had his dog to keep him company part of the time.)

Newman was quoted saying that he chose his version of the marathon because he wanted a glimpse of the everyday life in the neighborhood he lives.

Newman is a quirky journalist and blogger who has worked for medias such as the Jersey Journal, Hoboken Reporter and the New York Times.

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-31T10:17:00.000-04:00

"This is Halloween...This is Halloween"--yes, that song from The Nightmare Before Christmas has been looped in my brainpan ever since the first pumpkin went on sale--and now the day has finally come.

And that means it's a holiday, and I deserve a full day off to adequately apply the dozens of layers of eye make-up for my Cleopatra costume (my efforts will be mask-status.) And you, my fellow Overflow enthusiasts, despite your loyal devotion to our fabulously informative blog, should be away from your computers. Go feed children candy and then scare them. Or go have a fright for yourself and see if the Atlantic Avenue Tunnel really is haunted... Oh, would you look at that. Even on your day off we deliver. I guess we're just that good.

the daily [mis]haps

2009-10-29T13:11:00.002-04:00

I've already had enough of Halloween...the crazed debauchery that will ensue and I'll get sucked in once again, but for now I'm looking beyond the polyester medieval-slut costumes. I have other things on my mind like that 25 cent balance on my metro card. This handy calculator will take away all your woes and ...rest your brain cells...decimals are too difficult.

To recover FROM Halloween head on down to the Brooklyn Lyceum to see Galway Kinnell read his poetry this Sunday. Really, DON'T miss it ...because he's kind of a dream-boat (see below)!

Steer clear of eggs and toilet paper and remember, you can party hard because you're gaining an extra hour of sleep November 1! Daylight savings ends!

the daily [mis]haps

2009-10-28T15:35:00.000-04:00

If you're a frotteur who's into bondage, dirty talk, and full-frontal male nudity, then by all means head over to the Vortex Theater in Manhattan for this haunted house experience, if you can call it that.

If you're like me, then you associate haunted houses with good-natured tricks--glowy-eyed skulls that cackle, pun-tastic plastic tombstones, bowls of cold spaghetti "brains"--halloween fun that ends with treats, not the feeling of being violated after your first near-rape experience, then you should keep it local and check out the Halloween Haunted Walk & Carnival at Prospect Park, where you'll encounter classic spooks like zombies and witches (both good AND bad). Or hit up the the Howloween Pup Parade in Park Slope. Because what could be more non-threatening than doggies in costumes?

The daily mis[haps]

2009-10-27T13:27:00.004-04:00

Get ready to celebrate Halloween in Park Slope, because OUR parade is better than YOUR parade. (In terms of having a good time of course, as opposed to seeing who can drink the most or get the most disorderly conduct tickets.)

Park Slope's annual parade will complete its twenty-third birthday this year and will be more eccentric and outdone than ever.

According to the Brooklyn paper, this year's parade will be, "like the Crown Heights West Indian Day Parade and Coney Island's Mermaid Parade rolled into one--only without the fire marshal-sized crowds or bare breasts."

Who could resist that?

the daily [mis]haps

2009-10-26T11:30:00.006-04:00

Happy Birthday, Brooklyn Eagle! We're suckers for local history...or could you not tell?

Over-blogged and for good reason, I'm leaning toward the "Soviet-style re-education camp" perspective but I might be blacklisted before I can get that $2.97 organic spinach...blast!

Let's see if we can make this the next swine flu and REALLY get people worried about...THE MUMPS!

THE MUMPS VIRUS ------->

The Best of South Brooklyn

2009-10-25T11:50:00.006-04:00

The Village Voice just came out with its Best of NYC list for 2009. For your convenience, I've picked out a few of South Brooklyn's very best list-toppers:

1) Best Movers for Less: Park Slope Movers are the best guys to call to avoid back injuries and hernias.

2) Best Comics Outpost: Rocketship in Cobble Hill, for the nerdiest of nerds in South Brooklyn.

3) Best Bakery: At Red Hook's very own Baked, you can satisfy your sweet-tooth and your munchies.

4) And, finally, the Best Place to Get Loaded With Hooligans and Cops: Farrell's, the place where debauchery ensues and policemen partake.

[Sh]it's going down

2009-10-24T01:15:00.008-04:00

Check it out, "Think Globally. Laugh Locally," an event where Brooklyn comedians perform for local "Brooklyners."

Location: Vox Pop (1022 Cortelyou Road).

When: Saturday Nov 21, 2009 at 9pm.

Price: Free!

Vox Pop serves coffee, tea, beer, wine and edible calories.

It's local, so come check it out!

the daily [mis]haps

2009-10-23T16:58:00.004-04:00

It's time for some music (all the time)! It's been a long week, so feel free to click the youtube links below and dance (with yourself) around your apartment...with or without clothing...

CMJ update! Get some backstage background from our beloved New York Times.

PLUG! Go see indie's new little lords Cymbals Eat Guitars tomorrow (10/24) before they blast off to Europe and play with the likes of Wilco and The Flaming Lips

Maybe that's too much noise...

Shopping therapy and zen retail may help. Head over to Thrifty Couture in Red Hook and breathe in the used leather for three counts and then slowly exhale your week's miseries.

the daily [mis]haps

2009-10-22T10:30:00.002-04:00

There was a time before repairmen, before the giant silver platter we call mass-production served us our every whim for the low low price of a five minute walk to the convenience store. Well, it's time to put those opposable thumbs to good use at The Fixer's Collective. Have a broken anything? Evil wire-breathing umbrella?Whip out those tools every Thursday at Proteus Gowanus and rediscover what it means to be self-reliant.

Maybe too hands-on and not enough indie-glam to satisfy your needs? Check out the Brooklyn Indie Market in Carroll Gardens, where this saturday you can witness the steampunk fashion show.

If you have yet to take advantage of the musicopia of indie bands inundating New York as part of the CMJ Music Festival, then you owe it to your indie-deprived ears to hit up the FREE show tonight at the Bell House hosted by the Gothamist and Brooklyn Based.

The daily [mis]haps

2009-10-21T11:40:00.002-04:00

Watch those purses and pockets (and eyeglasses apparently) because this past week several intriguing duos have been robbing shops throughout Park Slope.

1. The first occurred in a shoe store, in which two women teamed up to steal an employee's purse.

2. The second, a tax return service. (The clearly unintelligent perp stole a smartphone and was followed by police until he finally caught on and turned it off.)

3. As for the third, who would think to hold up at Eyeglass store? Three men held up Cohen's Fashion Optical, announcing a stickup and stealing seventy pairs of eyeglasses.

the daily [mis]haps

2009-10-20T13:22:00.006-04:00

Bag that Brownstone! Rents plummet in Brooklyn...and everywhere else, but we do it better on this side of the East River: parks and music and bikes...

...Cheesecake, maybe not.

At least there will always be the neighborhood bar! Unless you're counting on 230 Fifth Ave...we know it wasn't the rent that did Playa and Cabana Bar in.

The makings of a horror flick or Lifetime movie...

2009-10-20T09:10:00.004-04:00

Starting in November of 2009 two very clever gentlemen will cash in on Park Slope's unswerving devotion to nostalgia. Milkmen Matt Marone and Frank Acosta began delivering milk to the well-heeled, Leave it to Beaver fans of Manhattan earlier this year and are expanding their business to Brownstone Brooklyn. At 4.99 a quart their customers certainly seem to be looking for something more than a daily dose of calcium. Sure it's nice to think of the return of the friendly Milkman, but what other changes might we see come to Park Slope?

Will housewives go from this to this?

Will fathers go from this back to this?

Kids will start calling their elders Mister and Ma'am. People will say Golly! and Jee Whillakers!

Divorce rates will plummet, women will stop working and stay home, kids will bounce balls, Utopoia!!!

....or we'll just be able to get some really expensive milk delivered to our door.

If you're interested in getting the skinny on home-delivered skim, check out the Daily News article on these two fine gentlemen. I, myself, am lactose intolerant.

the daily [mis]haps

2009-10-19T11:20:00.000-04:00

The Democratic National Committee is opening up the floor for citizens like this Cobble Hill resident to argue why we should pass the healthcare reform ASAP. If hearing it directly from a melanoma patient doesn't get the point across, I'm not sure what will. But if you think you can make the winning argument, have a go at your 30-seconds of fame and enter the contest!

saturday TCB'n

2009-10-17T13:21:00.001-04:00

on set at OVERFLOW photo shoot, jeff brown and jon melamed

the daily [mis]haps

2009-10-16T12:34:00.004-04:00

For those bookworms out there, the Cobble Hill Association is hosting a free book swap tomorrow at the Long Island College Hospital Sitting Park.

If you're not convinced, this ex-con proves how the literary world can change your life. So if you're on the road to criminal pursuits, read Henry Morales' memoir and learn how to obtain peace rather than a jail sentence.

Take it from Mikey. Everyone needs to read a little more. So if you're still wondering where else to grab a good read, head out to the Brooklyn Flea and dig through those tables upon tables of books.

Bike and Barf?

2009-10-15T14:53:00.007-04:00

Sometimes I wish I had a bike. Then I think about all the times bikes have almost run over me, all those close-call collisions when the delivery boys rapidly ring their bike bells at me. (One time a stationary bike attacked me on 13th street. Someone had the cojones to leave their wheels in the middle of the sidewalk.) Perhaps I should pay more attention...

My mixed feelings on biking in New York (boroughs and all) apply to THIS little adventure ride as well. Due to go down this Sunday starting in Prospect Park, this bike tour sounds partly delicious, partly cramp-inducing...possibly vomitous. Check it out and let us know!

You Can't Have This House

2009-10-15T14:05:00.002-04:00

Who would have thought that a bright pink house could get so much press.

The infamous Bubble Gum Brownstone, which was recently up for sale, is now off the market. Otherwise known as the pink house of Garfield Place, owner Bernie Henry (at an impressive 92 years old) who originally painted the house has decided to take it off the market due to legal issues over ownership with his grandson.

Henry worries that purchasers will strip the place of its unique color. At $2.295 million, who could blame him?

the daily [mis]haps

2009-10-15T13:00:00.001-04:00

First of all, I just have one thing to say:

North Brooklyn vs. South Brooklyn

And now that that's been established, a further tribute to the hotness that is South Brooklyn:

Adrien Grenier is not only a resident of South Brooklyn, but he's also so hot that we stalk him all the way from his eczema ointment shopping spree at the Park Slope Food Co-op to Paris.

In other news, The Brooklyn Start! Heart Walk in Prospect Park raised money to save lives this past weekend.

So, if you're looking for somewhere to chill tonight with the attractive and compassionate humanitarians of South Brooklyn, Langhorne Slim is playing a show at the Bell House.

Two-wheels are better than none

2009-10-15T09:22:00.000-04:00

Brooklyn Bicycles, our favorite new bike shop in the hood, is running two new weekly programs that are free and open to all.

Wednesday Nights: Around 7PM, neighbors shove off from the shop for a ride around Prospect Park. They welcome all bike types and skill levels.
Thursday Nights: Evening flat fix workshops. You've been stranded before--don't let it happen again.

This shop is a real boon to the neighborhood--I've been missing a decent neighborhood shop for some time [cause those guys suck]--and these guys are the balm for my itch.

Editorial: David Yassky is Dunzo (Thank Christ)

2009-10-15T07:35:00.006-04:00

David Yassky should have studied Robert Moses a bit more carefully. Had he done so, the Brooklyn Councilman’s political career wouldn’t be in its final death throes. While it’s clear he’s borrowed freely from the Book of Moses over the last few years, Yassky just can’t seem to get the equation to amassing power right.

Lord knows he’s tried. And failed. Neither his controversial bid for Congress in 2006 nor his shot at city comptroller this year were successful, though he was willing to do just about anything to win both.

Part of the problem has been Yassky’s puzzling political identity. Tom Robbins of the Village Voice has outlined the history of zigzags, flip-flops and U-turns that have to come to define Yassky’s time in elected office.

While Robbins sticks to the reporting and rarely editorializes he manages to suggest a fairly obvious conclusion. It’s difficult for Yassky to successfully run for higher office as a good government type and a champion of reform when he’s: carpetbagged a predominately black congressional district and ran as the only white candidate in an open house seat; been accused of diverting discretionary funds from the city budget to a phony non-profit in exchange for political favors; cozied up to party bosses whose influence he’s formerly opposed, and; sold out his constituents to big developers time and time again.

Of course, Yassky’s greatest gaffe came when he voted to extend term limits last year. The ensuing shit-storm would deal a mortal blow to two of Yassky’s perceived strengths, his integrity and his idealism, and effectively sink his chances at citywide office.

In all of these instances Yassky’s brazen political calculations proved to be gross miscalculations. Looking back it’s apparent that Yassky was not as conniving and not as smart as Robert Moses, nor does Yassky possess the raw political instinct that is fundamental to climbing the ladder of power.

As a result, come January, Yassky will most likely be scratching at the door of some of the bigger corporate law firms in Lower Manhattan and Midtown. Hopefully by then a few of those firms will have lifted their hiring freezes.

the daily [mis]haps

2009-10-14T13:43:00.008-04:00

The Guns of Brooklyn:

three shot outside Prospect Park
Skater Cozmik dead

Her So Called Life [politely] Disapproves:

Claire Danes needs to hit up OVERFLOW

Hasidic Harrassment:
Orthodox Jews of Brooklyn seek justice outside rabbinical courts after rise in child sex abuse

The Beverage Manager

2009-10-14T12:13:00.002-04:00

by james subudhi

We sat next to each other in our silence through two beers. I read. She drank and stared into the space between conversations. We gave periodic glances, our eyes swinging down like pendulums, at the blackberries in our laps, as if to give each other the sign that we were wanted, connected, not alone. We were alone.

She was at the bar to drink good beer and to prove to herself and her husband that she still had the looks to be hit on by a younger man. I sat at the bar to read and hit on women. We were a perfect match.

I suggested the Spatan to break the silence.

We dissolved each other’s insecurities in a warm solution of commonality, self-affirmation, flirting and intellectual indulgence.

I gave her a younger age. She gave me her hand to hold gently. I offered to play her a song. She gave me her business card.

Our conversation danced and tip toed on the thin silver back of the ring with a diamond on the other side facing her palm.

She was either too drunk to notice that I knew or wanted me to know to have a sense of security to fall back on in case our feet slipped it off her finger, her nail the edge of her comfort.

The ring turned up. The glass emptied. She told me she had to get up early in the morning. Somewhere in the distance a pumpkin carriage began to rot.

A Higher Class of Halloween

2009-10-14T09:57:00.007-04:00

In the event that you are really sick of struggling your way through bunch of slutty kittens and angels on your way to a warm, flat keg and bowl of stale candy corn this Halloween, look no further than The Halloween Eve Masquerarde, hosted by Michael Arenella & His Dreamland Orchestra at the ultra chic speakeasy, The Green Building in Carroll Gardens.
Perhaps this might be the one party that I can wear my vintage 20's flapper dress without it being covered in beer, someone else's vomit or a combination of both? Here's hoping!

Event Details:
The Green Building
405 Union Street
Friday Oct. 30th, 2009

9:00pm

These Guys Actually Know How To Party

2009-10-13T22:10:00.005-04:00

Bergen Street Comics knows how to throw down. Last month they broke out the Pabst and celebrated the newest comic book release by South Brooklyn's very own sci-fi/rock 'n' roll/superheroes, AMERICANS UK. The event was free and open to the public, yet somehow I received a complimentary invitation. I'm glad I showed up. Before receding into one of those phase three alcoholic fogs (I had been playing badminton earlier that afternoon in Prospect Park) I recalled having had a splendid time among familiar strangers.

This is all a fairly long-winded and self-indulgent way of saying that Bergen Street Comics has a couple of more killer events coming up. Quite frankly you'd be a fool to miss them:

Wednesday, October 14, 6:00pm - 9:00pm Release Party for the Act-i-vate Primer!

Bergen Street Comics is proud to celebrate the long awaited release of Act-i-vate’s very first print anthology, The Act-i-vate Primer! The book features 16 exclusive, never-before-seen stories by the acclaimed creators of “The Muppet Show Comic Book,” “Freddie & Me,” “The Salon,” “Fahrenheit 451,” “The Alcoholic,” “Scarlett Takes Manhattan,” “Nicolai Dante” and many more! Enjoy the refreshments, pick up your very own copy of the Primer and have it signed by your favorite comics creators! After-party at 4th Avenue Pub!

October 17, 7:00pm - 9:00pm High Moon, Box 13 and comiXology!
On Saturday, October 17^th, Bergen Street Comics and comiXology are proud to co-host the Brooklyn launch party for critically acclaimed creators, David Gallaher and Steve Ellis. Join us as we celebrate the launch of the print version of their online Zuda Comic “High Moon,” as well as “Box 13,” created by Gallaher, Ellis and Scott O. Brown. “Box 13” is a 13-part, a neo-noir thriller, and serialized digital comic, launching exclusively through comiXology and available on October 13.

We Wuz Wobbed

2009-10-13T09:53:00.006-04:00

Last night, we participated in a battle of the wits at Public Assembly against the venerable Greenpoint Gazette. The whole shebang was orgaznied by the good folks at Vol. 1 Brooklyn.

It was a pitched battle, tightly fought. OVERFLOW was up going into the first break. At the second, we were down by 3/4 of a point. In the end, the judges settled the win via essay. We were each asked to write why our respective neighborhoods deserved victory. The judges went with GG's reasoning.

We think it had something to do with the fact that four out of four judges were from North Brooklyn.

But, in any event, the whole thing was fun, and were happy so many of our fans from South Brooklyn came out to check us out. We're looking forward to the rematch.

Unleash your Inner Nerd at The Secret Science Club!

2009-10-13T09:41:00.005-04:00

Ever wonder what two black holes spinning next to each other sound like? Well, now you can stop wondering! Tonight, the Bell House in Gowanus is hosting another installment of the Secret Science Club. This week features Astrophysicist Janna Levin discussing gravitational waves and the amazing symphonies in space that these waves create. All that awesome science-y speak and I get to hang out at the Bell House? I'm there!

The “Secret Science Club” meets Tuesday, October 13 at 8 pm @ the Bell House, 149 7th St. (between 2nd and 3rd avenues) in Gowanus, Brooklyn, p: 718.643.6510 Subway: F to 4th Ave; R to 9th St; F or G to Smith/9th

More information can be found here:
http://secretscienceclub.blogspot.com/

the daily [mis]haps

2009-10-12T14:16:00.002-04:00

Note to Mayor Bloomberg: withholding party invites is not the way to make friends with the community.
http://foundinbrooklyn.blogspot.com/2009/10/bloomberg-comes-to-gowanus-and-locks.html

F Train = Fail
http://cobblehillblog.com/archives/2951

If the city’s going to pay its drug lords, it should at least get some of the good stuff in return.
http://gothamist.com/2009/10/11/to_settle_lawsuits_city_paid_out_to.php

Object Lesson likes OVERFLOW!

2009-10-11T22:27:00.005-04:00

Our good friend, Gabrielle Begue, over at Object Lesson has given OVERFLOW some love in her venerated blog. We suggest that you check it out at http://object-lesson.com. Ms. Begue features smartly written posts on the pleasures that quirky and unique objects can bring to our lives. Ms. Begue has worked on and written for OVERFLOW in the past and we hope that we can welcome her back to our pages very soon!

Thanks Ms. Begue!

Get tipsy with the spirit of Whitman at Henry Public

2009-10-11T22:05:00.004-04:00

A new bar fashioned to resemble an historic Brooklyn saloon has opened in Cobble Hill, on Henry Street between Atlantic and Pacific. Brought to you by the same team that gave us Brooklyn Social, Henry Public has been put together to give old Brooklyn new life, supposedly channeling great thinkers "that shaped Brooklyn's history." To get a first-hand look at the just-opened space, check out this link to a slideshow on New York magazine's Web site. If they really do serve egg creams, I'm there like a shot.

http://newyork.grubstreet.com/2009/10/henry_public.html

Some Interesting News

2009-10-11T21:33:00.004-04:00

1. "Are Park Slope moms undersexed?"

-for some reason, I just thought this was kind of funny:

2. "World's Fastest Nudist"

-pretty much says it all:

3. "More on the Gowanus Canal Cleanup"

Capitol Ideas

2009-10-10T18:18:00.005-04:00

All our love goes out to South Brooklyners who are trekking south to DC for the National Equality March tomorrow.

If you are in the area and didn't know about it, you may just want to show up.

We hear Lady Ga Ga will be there. After all, she loves the gays.

WTF is South Brooklyn?

2009-10-10T16:57:00.008-04:00

OVERFLOW is explicitly a magazine for South Brooklyn. That phrase, South Brooklyn, is all over our pages--we throw it around like gelt in December.

I would say the most common question we get is "South Brooklyn, what the fuck?" After all, geographically, significant portions of Brooklyn are further south than Prospect Park.

Well, as you may have noticed if you've taken a look at our publication, we get awfully excited over local lore and history--maybe overly obsessed with uncovering the truth behind that shiny brownstone facade.

When we were first daydreaming about OVERFLOW, one of the first questions we had was just how to describe this little corner of our great borough. Folks in real estate seem ever excited to carve up the nabe into mini-markets to help out-of-towners wrap their heads around the networks of streets and services. Hence mutant hoods like "BoCoCa" pop up in our vocabularies.

We decided to take a longer term view, and go with the traditional name for the first major neighborhood that served the City of Breuklyn--namely that collection of shops and dwellings to the south of "downtown," which we imagine was comprised of a few two-story buildings, an apple cart, and about a thousand town-drunks. This was truly among the first neighborhoods in the whole-tri-state-region, and we think its name, South Brooklyn, should remain on the tip of our collective tongue for some time to come.

For more on the history, see to this useful wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Brooklyn

And check out this bitchin' map from 1766.

Tonight, OVERFLOW courts their Mad Valentine

2009-10-10T16:17:00.005-04:00

It's Saturday afternoon, you're probably just waking up from your post-brunch buzz nap, looking outside, and wondering to yourself, "How shall I spend my Saturday evening?"

If you're up for a trip to Tribeca, OVERFLOW whole-heartedly endorses a show by the inimitable Gowanus glam-rock/power-pop outfit Bryan Scary and the Shredding Tears.

They blew our minds at the OVERFLOW release show back in March, and they're returning with a whole new set to promote their new Mad Valentines EP, released tonight, but already receiving ridiculously good reviews.

BSST shows are uniformly fun, high-energy romps of psychedelic mayhem. And, I hear there's an extra special surprise tonight for the audience at this EP release. . . . . . .

The show's at 92Y Tribeca tonight, Sat 10-10 @ 9PM.

Deetz: http://www.92y.org/

Deluxa <3 Overflow

2009-10-10T12:20:00.006-04:00

A little local love from our boutiquey friends in Carroll Gardens, Deluxa, who rave about Robert Dupree's Recession Special vintage suit spread in the Fall 2009 issue:

I was supremely delighted when I was reading my copy on the train on my way to the Manhattan Vintage Clothing Show and got to the article "Recession Special" by Robert Dupree. I think his piece on dressing in supremely dapper duds from vintage stores in the area was ingenious, and creates some rather stunning looks.

Full text: http://deluxanyc.blogspot.com/

9th Street Bridge

2009-10-09T19:48:00.001-04:00

I'd never seen this before, glad I got caught.

We're so smart, and we want to show off

2009-10-09T14:45:00.001-04:00

We were invited by our dear friends Vol. 1 Brooklyn to square off in a competition--a battle of wits--with our frenemies, the Greenpoint Gazette. It's panel trivia, North vs. South Brooklyn. Since North Brooklyn is basically where intellectuals go to get wasted and screw underage college girls, and South Brooklyn residents are more likely to use their library cards for more than cutting lines, I think we have it in the bag.

In any event, come by and cheer us on [yes there are cheering sections], drink some beer, and in general have a good time.

It's taking place next Monday, October 12th, at Public Assembly in the not-so neutral territory of Williamsburg. C'est la vie--good thing the G train runs past Smith/9th now.

Oh and it's for a good cause--your $2.00 donation to the pot will be won by us, and promptly turned over to Books Through Bars.

Deetz: http://vol1brooklyn.com/2009/10/02/battleofthenewyorknerds/

ISSUE THREE IS OUT

2009-10-09T14:41:00.001-04:00

Issue three hit the streets in early September, and now we're psyched to launch the online version. CHECK IT OUT.

We have a blog

2009-10-09T13:55:00.000-04:00

At OVERFLOW, we privilege the printed word. But we decided to do what everyone was doing in 2002--namely starting a blog and praying that people will care enough to read it.

So, this is the new OVERFLOW magazine blog. Neat stuff will go here that is timely and relevant to the world--especially so for people who live in South Brooklyn.