Welcome to The Brooklyn Brief, your new Monday roundup of the latest news, happenings, tidbits and everything you need to know to start your week in the better borough.

If there’s a can’t-miss event before Friday, you’ll find it here. And if it’s interesting or important to your life in Brooklyn, we’ll have that too.

In the news

• Legendary punk and metal venue Saint Vitus in Greenpoint is officially closing for good after a having been temporarily shut down in February over permitting violations. The announcement was shared on their Instagram account, where they also teased that more will be announced.
• Beaches in Brooklyn and Queens remain closed to swimming Monday due to life-threatening rip currents brought on by Hurricane Ernesto. “We want people to be out and we want them to be enjoying our facilities, but we want them to do it safely,” NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue said in a statement.
• Paul S. Randazzo Sr. of Sheepshead Bay’s Randazzo’s Clam Bar passed away on August 12 at the age of 66. His family-run business is famous for their fried clams and best-in-class red sauce. New York Times’ outgoing restaurant critic Pete Wells gave them a shoutout in our 2022 interview with him.
• Beloved Bensonhurst Italian eatery Ortobello will rebuild after a fire tore through the establishment in April. Andrea Cerasuoli’s father opened the restaurant in 1974. There’s a GoFundMe set up to help offset the cost of repair.
• Brooklyn Org and Groundswell unveiled a new mural at the Atlantic Terminal Mall on Thursday titled “Show Brooklyn Some Love,” reports the Brooklyn Eagle. The 500 square-foot mural was completed with the help of over 40 volunteers.
• Brooklyn Bridge Parents compiled a list of fall afterschool programs for kids all across the borough.
• A new grant will help provide STEAM education to 180 elementary school girls in Brooklyn, BK Reader reports. Full STEAM Forward is a nonprofit dedicated to promoting equity in science education for girls of color. They were awarded a $15,000 grant from the Cleveland H. Dodge Foundation.

ICYMI

• 15 French spots to check out in Brooklyn now
  A snapshot of Brooklyn’s French culinary scene.
• Filmmaker Ridley Scott on ‘Alien,’ AI, the afterlife and why most horror films fail
  The brusque English filmmaker goes off about his favorite topics.
• 4 local sustainable swimwear brands to check out before your next beach trip
  How to have a sustainable summer in swimwear, from 3D printed fits to hand-knit beach wear.
• It’s official: Brooklyn’s ‘Greenest Block’ is in Crown Heights
  Lincoln Place between New York and Nostrand Avenues was declared the borough’s ‘Greenest Block’ by the BBG.

What to do this week

Monday, August 19

Reductress Presents: Haha…WOW!
7:30 p.m.
Join the editors of Reductress and their favorite comics in a show at Union Hall that will make you say, “haha…wow!!” Hosted by Freddie Shanel and Julie Lim with special guests Kylie Brakeman, Amanda Gordon, Jessie Lee, Conor Janda and Rima Parikh. 702 Union Street. Tickets are $18.98.

Childish Gambino at Barclays Center
8 p.m.
Donald Glover brings Childish Gambino’s “The New World Tour” to the Barclays Center on Monday night. Willow opens for the eclectic and multi-faceted entertainer. 620 Atlantic Avenue. Tickets start at $93.60.

Tuesday, August 20

Jersey Shore BlueClaws at Brooklyn Cyclones
7 p.m.
Watch the Brooklyn Cyclones’ home game against the Jersey Shore BlueClaws on Tuesday night. Plus, at Tuesday and Wednesday night home games, you can get dinner and a show for just $25. You will receive a field box ticket and their meal deal, which includes a choice of hamburger, hot dog or chicken tenders, chips, fountain soft drink or 12-ounce beer. A Kosher option is available for $28.

Wednesday, August 21

Written in Brooklyn Storytelling Series at the Wythe Hotel
7 p.m.
The “Written in Brooklyn Storytelling Series: Simply the Best” promises a night of original storytelling told straight from the heart. Hosted at the Wythe Hotel, you can sit back, relax and immerse yourself in true stories from Jonathan Bender, Tiffany May, Julianne Cross, Emily Antoniades, and Erin Michele Davis. 80 Wythe Avenue. Tickets are $28.52.

Thursday, August 22

‘Good One’ opens at the Alamo Drafthouse Brooklyn
Various times
“Good One” is a Brooklyn-set film that was a breakout success at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. India Donaldson’s piercing debut drama opens at the Alamo Drafthouse Brooklyn on Thursday and stars newcomer Lily Collias as 17-year-old Sam, forced to play mediator and peacemaker while on a three-day backpacking trip in the Catskills with her father (James Le Gros) and his oldest friend (Danny McCarthy), whose gently contentious back-and-forth threatens to reach a boiling point as their trek goes along. 445 Albee Square West. Tickets are $20.88.

The post The Brooklyn Brief: Beach closures and the end of an era for a punk-metal club appeared first on Brooklyn Magazine.

You can thank nature for the terrifying creature in Ridley Scott’s horror classic, “Alien.”

“The evolution of the beast comes from parasites inside of trees. They bore their way into beetle grub and the grub grows into a version of the beetle,” says the director.

Scott calls the alien a “beast” and fans devotingly refer to it as the xenomorph. You know, that long-headed, acid-spitting, exoskeleton-having, nightmare fuel that’s terrified (and, at times, bored) audiences for 45 years.

The xenomorph is back on the screens this Friday with director Fede Álvarez’s “Alien: Romulus.” The sequel takes place between Scott’s “Alien” and James Cameron’s “Aliens,” and this time around, Álvarez takes the series back to its horror roots.

“’Alien’ is our world in the future, that’s what it tries to be,” says Álvarez. “’Alien’ is not ‘Star Wars.’ It’s supposed to be us a few years from now trying to colonize space.”

The story picks up 20 years after the original “Alien.”

While scavenging the far flung edges of a derelict space station, a group of young colonizers come face to face with the most terrifying life form in the universe. It is all genetically designed to scare the pants off audiences.

Brooklyn Magazine spoke with Ridley Scott about handing directing duties to Álvarez. He also tells us about creating the “beast,” his decades-long concern with AI and his thoughts on God.

The interview was edited and condensed for length and clarity.

Ridley Scott in 2015 (Photo by Bill Ingalls)

You directed the first “Alien” movie 45 years ago. How did you get involved in the project?
The screenplay by Dan O’Bannon and Ronald Shusett was unusual and different but it was pretty good. I was coming from a comic strip generation so when I read the script and got it instantly. I said, “I’ll do it.” I was the fifth choice as a director. Originally, they had given it to Robert Altman, which is like, “What? What the fuck is this? Are you kidding?”

The biggest challenge was how we designed the beast. Most horror films fail because of terrible monsters. Some are so bad that they become amusing. They become cult films. A cult film is a good way of saying “It’s a pretty bad movie, but I kind of like it with a beer.”

Discovering the beast’s designer H.R. Giger almost by accident, I flew to see him. He lived in Switzerland but he didn’t want to make the beast. He was afraid of flying. Finally, we convinced him to come by train and by boat to England. He stayed in England for 10 months. He was a sweetheart. Only once in a long time can something like that happen. I haven’t seen such a good beast since. It’s kind of a beautiful beast.

For me, the creepiest moment in any “Alien” movie is in the first one when the alien reaches out in the dark. It’s the most human the xenomorph feels. Will you talk about casting Bolaji Badejo in the original Alien suit?
Bolaji was from Nigeria and he was in Soho in England at lunch at a pub. By the bar, this guy is standing two feet above anyone else’s head. He was 6’10 and very thin, so I sent somebody over to him with a card to tell him we were making a movie. “If you’re interested, give us a call.” And he first of all thought it was a joke. So he then called me, came to the office, and from that moment on he became the alien. There are no digital components of it. They didn’t exist. It’s a guy in a rubber suit. That was tricky. That’s why we showed it very infrequently and the most detailed thing was the head, which was made by a guy called Carlo Rambaldi.

How did you create the way the alien moves?
Bolaji did this very slow, poetic thing for me and I then over-cranked it as well. It was constantly over-cranked at different speeds. So nothing was normal speed ever. It was that basic, that simple. I think there’s a real invention of making a creature like that feel real. First of all, you show as little as possible. I think that’s why “Alien” was the scariest of them all because the alien was so fresh and different.

All three of the “Alien” movies you directed and “Blade Runner” are extremely interested in AI. What’s your main concern with it?
We were slightly ahead of the game about AI on Blade Runner. If you offload so much information into a product called a replicant, he goes beyond AI, he’s beyond human. He’s more human than human, if you like. At what moment when you pack in massive information do you pass the line that might give him that magic word: emotion? And by the time you install the components that all add up to emotion, you might have passed that point not realize it. When you pass that point, having done it, then you’re in real trouble.

How should we use AI?
You’ve got to look at it as a tool. [Scott holds up an iPhone.] This bloody thing is both an incredible thing and also a nightmare because too many youngsters have it. They shouldn’t have it yet. This thing makes you feel smarter than you actually are.

There’s no question that AI’s going to raise a lot of questions and therefore I think we’ve got to lay down some ground rules, but I don’t know how you do ground rules. Once the button is pushed how do you stop it? It’s hard. I don’t think you can control it.

How hands-on were you as a producer of “Alien: Romulus”?
Not much. I read it, I have opinions. I’m listened to or not. I came in when Fede finally put it together. I usually like to know who the cast is and the choice of Cailee Spaeny is really great. He caught lightning in a bottle.

I loved “Napoleon.” Critics and audiences didn’t seem to like it as much.
We did pretty good. There’s only one critic that really matters to me after all these years. The only critic really ought to be yourself. When you’re writing an article, you will finally proofread it and you’ll approve it. That should be the movie. I’m not saying I know everything, but I’m pretty experienced between many, many literally hundreds of commercials and movies.

What does the “Alien” series have left to say after 45 years?
There lies the challenge, and yet, “Star Trek” went on for 40, 50 years. Never say never.

“Prometheus” and “Alien: Covenant” are about the origins of life. Do you believe in God?
Oh, the old, eternal question. If you look up at the universe at night, it’s entirely ridiculous to think we’re the only ones. Why are we the selected few? Of course, there are many forms of life out there, there has to be.

The jury’s out on God for me. I hope it wasn’t just an invention to control what happens on Earth. And right now we’re not seeing a religion exactly control anything. Everything is out of control, isn’t it? Absolutely out of fucking control. But people fervently believe in their various denominations and all I can do is step away from that. I don’t comment on that.

So you do believe in aliens?
In terms of actual physical aliens, aliens could be bigger than this room. I don’t think people comprehend the possibility of the physical shape. There could be aliens and landscapes with the same conditions as this wonderful planet that we’re killing. Then, in fact, it might induce a similar form of humanoid that kind of looks like us. I think they know there’s water on the moon as well. You’ve got deep frozen water. Are microbes inside the water alive? That would be an alien.

Do you ever want to continue your stories from “Prometheus” and “Alien: Covenant”?
Never say never. Right now, I know what I’m doing next, and I’m always thinking like two or three films ahead. Something always comes up and I take it seriously because content is your lifeblood as a filmmaker.

The post Filmmaker Ridley Scott on ‘Alien,’ AI, the afterlife and why most horror films fail appeared first on Brooklyn Magazine.

Bounce, rock, skate, roll and … body-check your way through the weekend: Gotham Roller Derby’s 20th anniversary borough showdown gets underway this weekend. And if you’re more of a lover than a fighter, you can strap wheels on your heels for Taylor Swift-themed roller disco. Not a Swiftie? There’s also a country-music roller hoedown at Xanadu, Brooklyn’s newest rink, this weekend.

Maybe you’d prefer to be outdoors Coney Island’s annual sand sculpture competition is back this weekend. And if you want an early taste of spooky season, head over to Green-Wood Cemetery for a late-night screening of “Look Into My Eyes,” a documentary about New York psychics.

The Brooklyn Rum Festival returns on Saturday with over 70 different samplings of the ole demon water for you to try. Also on Saturday, The Rockaway Film Festival kicks off with an eclectic mix of screenings and events, and the Afro Carnival weaves together Afro-Caribbean traditions with a family-friendly event at Industry City.

The cast of Broadway’s “The Notebook” comes to The Ripped Bodice on Sunday morning for a panel and Q&A about their show. Plus, you can prep for the week at the Tompkins Avenue Open Streets Vendor Market.

New York Public Schools resume classes on September 5 so enjoy the summer while you still can!

Friday, August 16

House Fest on Governors Island
Friday through Sunday
Hop on a ferry: Gov­er­nors Island Arts will bring togeth­er more than two dozen cul­tur­al part­ners for a week­end-long cre­ative cel­e­bra­tion in and around the his­toric for­mer mil­i­tary hous­es of Nolan Park and Colonels Row on the Island, fea­tur­ing free dance and music per­for­mances, out­door instal­la­tions, inter­ac­tive work­shops, open stu­dios, pan­el dis­cus­sions and more. While you’re there, check out FAD Market’s pop-up to get your fix of fashion, art, and design from more than 40 makers, designers, artists and small businesses.

Alamo Drafthouse reopens 
Various times
After a few months of renovations, the bigger and better Alamo Drafthouse Downtown Brooklyn is fully reopened with a major upgrade and expansion. Guests can now enjoy all-new recliner seats, five new auditoriums, upgraded projection and additional restrooms. 445 Albee Square West.

The final weekend for Restaurant Week
Going on now through Sunday, August 18
This is your last chance to take advantage of Restaurant Week deals. Brooklyn has 57 restaurants that have been participating in month-long grub fest, but now you only have through August 18 to enjoy them. There are options at different price points, including many restaurants offering two-course lunches and three-course dinners. For example, Nami Nori in Williamsburg is offering a two-course lunch special from noon to 2:30 p.m. for $30 from Monday to Friday. See more options near you linked above.

‘Changing the Face of Democracy: Shirley Chisholm at 100’
Going on now through July 20, 2025
With Brooklyn legend Shirley Chisholm back in the news, we want to re-up The Museum of the City of New York’s exhibit “Changing the Face of Democracy: Shirley Chisholm at 100.” As the first major museum presentation dedicated to Brooklyn’s Shirley Chisholm, it delves into the life and legacy of the trailblazing legislator, the first Black woman elected to Congress whose contributions to our nation’s public policy endure today. She represented New York’s 12th congressional district in Bedford–Stuyvesant, and she served for seven terms from 1969 to 1983. The exhibit is presented in collaboration with the Shirley Chisholm Project on Brooklyn Women’s Activism at Brooklyn College. 1220 Fifth Ave at 103rd Street in Manhattan.

Cinema, Restored at BAM
Runs Friday through Thursday, August 22
The Brooklyn Academy of Music celebrates the best recent restorations of classic works of cinema — from Terrence Malick’s Texas farmland to Edward Yang’s modern Taipei and beyond — this series brings some of the greatest films ever made to the massive screen at the Harvey, BAM’s recently restored movie palace. The festival opens with the premiere of a new restoration of “The Spook Who Sat by the Door,” Ivan Dixon’s legendary and long-unavailable masterwork of American cinema. 651 Fulton Street. Tickets are $20.

The Final Myrtle Avenue Summer Nights
5 to 8 p.m.
Myrtle Avenue Summer Nights wraps up their monthly soirée series on Friday night. Join local business owners and artisans along the avenue for free activities for kids and adults. Myrtle Avenue Plaza is your hub for most events including crafts, games, caricature drawing, tarot card reading, wine tastings, raffles, and a DJ playing your favorite hits from every decade. Myrtle Plaza and along Myrtle Avenue. Free.

The Roast of Williamsburg
6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Some of the city’s best comics (featured on Comedy Central, Late Night, and more) will gather to roast everyone’s favorite (or favorite-to-hate) Brooklyn neighborhood. “From Bedford to Bushwick, no dog walker or yoga studio is safe,” organizers promise, so get your tix and take your licks. Cafe Balearica. 44 Berry Street. $23.18

Boobie Trap Sketch Presents: Period
7 p.m.
Travel through time with Boobie Trap via their variety show of menstrual-themed, uh, period-piece sketches. Head over to the Brooklyn Comedy Collective on Friday night for a bloody good time. 167 Graham Avenue. Tickets are $13.70.

Dreamland Roller Disco: Taylor Swift
7 to 10 p.m.
Lola Star’s Dreamland Roller Disco continues their summer series as part of the Lakeside Roller Dance Night Series. This week’s theme is Taylor Swift, so gather your Swifites, and dress as Taylor from your favorite era for this immersive retro roller skating experience. 171 East Drive. Tickets are $28.45.

‘Look Into My Eyes’ screening at Green-Wood Cemetery
Doors open at 7:45 p.m., movie begins at 9 p.m.
On Friday night, Rooftop Films and Green-Wood Cemetery present A24’s “Look Into My Eyes,” a documentary about a group of New York City psychics who conduct deeply intimate readings for their clients, revealing a kaleidoscope of loneliness, connection and healing. Stick around after the movie for Q&A with filmmaker Lana Wilson and the doc’s featured psychics, followed by an afterparty, sponsored by Ketel One Family Made Vodka. 500 25th Street. Tickets are $20.05.

Country Skate: Roll on with DJ’s Moonshine & Prison Rodeo
8 p.m.
Roll over to Xanadu on Friday night for a Boot Scootin’ Boogie with DJ’s Moonshine and Prison Rodeo. Two-step and line skating is encouraged while the DJ’s spin country gold. 262 Starr Street. Tickets are $28.84.

Saturday, August 17

BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Presents: CURLFEST and Lila Iké
Various times
CURLFEST is coming to BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! on Saturday from noon to 7 p.m. for a jam-packed day of celebrations for beauty, culture, and togetherness. This is your space to commune, make memories, meet new friends and leave refilled with the magic of our collective community along with a stack of beauty goodies to have your curls, kinks, and beards shining all summer long. Lena Horne Bandshell. 141 Prospect Park W. Tickets begin at $51.50. And that’s not all BRIC has in store on Saturday. They’re hosting a pop-up event at The Lawn at Brower Park from 5 to 10 p.m. featuring a screening of the movie “Bob Marley: One Love” and performances by Lila Iké, Laila!, and DJ Sweet V. Mark’s Avenue and Park Place between Brooklyn Avenue. and Kingston Avenue. Free.

Rockaway Film Festival 2024
Saturday through Sunday, August 25
The Rockaway Film Festival is a moving-image celebration that brings affordable, inclusive, and enriching cinema and cultural programs to the Rockaway peninsula. Highlights include Zia Anger’s “My First Film,” featuring a Q&A with star Odessa Young and a post-screening DJ set by Andrew Vanwyngarden of MGMT. Screenings and events will be held at Averne Cinema and other local sites. 72-02 Gouverneur Avenue. While some events are free, you can buy a festival pass offering unlimited access to all events for $75.

32nd Annual Coney Island Sand Sculpting Competition
10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Get ready to hit the beach on Saturday to show off your sandy skills at the 32nd Annual Coney Island Sand Sculpting Competition. This free event is open to all ages in the following categories: Solo Artist, Adult group, and Family group. Winners in each category can win up to $500. Riegelmann Boardwalk at West 12th Street

Wyckoff Museum’s Farmhouse Family Day
11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Family and friends are invited to show off your artistic side and capture the summer sun in paper stained at Wyckoff Museum’s Farmhouse Family Day on Saturday. Stick around to check out their historic farmhouse, visit the farm stand, drop off food scraps for compost, and enjoy colonial-era toys and games. 5816 Clarendon Road. Free.

Brooklyn Rum Festival
12 to 5 p.m.
The Brooklyn Rum Festival is back for a third pour. This year it’s bringing 75 rum distilleries from around the world and serving complimentary cocktails in your festival tasting cup. There’ll be food vendors and music, and if you buy a VIP ticket, you’ll receive a souvenir glass and a premium cigar. 230 Bogart Street. Tickets begin at $68.

Afro Carnival 2024
2 to 10 p.m.
Afro Carnival weaves together Afro-Caribbean traditions with the aim of unifying people of the diaspora through music and culture. Patrons from all walks of life are welcome to come to Industry City for music, food, and cultural expression from around the world. The DJ line-up includes DJ Tunez, Maleek Berry, and Denise Belfon. Plus, ticket holders are invited to the festival’s one-hour open bar sponsored by Hennessy with complimentary small bites from Brooklyn Suya. 220 36th Street Courtyard 1/2. Tickets are $17.85.

Gotham Roller Derby
5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Gotham Roller Derby is celebrating its 20th year with a season of hard-hitting games featuring the league’s four home teams: the Manhattan Mayhem, the Queens of Pain, the Brooklyn Bombshells and the Bronx Gridlock. The derby takes place just one Saturday night each month (August 17, September 21 and October 19) at Lefrak Center at Lakeside Prospect Park, so roll on over this weekend. Manhattan plays the Bronx at 5:30 p.m. and Brooklyn takes on Queens at 7:30. 171 East Drive. Tickets start at $40.

Cocktail Magique
8 p.m.
An evening of circus, cocktails and burlesque awaits you at Company XIV on Saturday. Cocktail Magique is a mixological adventure where every guest receives petite cocktails and small bites while burlesque stars pour cocktails from the speakeasy bar. Thematically evocative of 19th-century Paris, the Magique show is inspired by the Belle Époque, where you’ll experience acts on stage, in the audience, and even overhead. 17 Wyckoff Avenue. Ticket prices vary.

Sunday, August 18

Broadway’s ‘The Notebook’ cast at The Ripped Bodice
10 a.m.
Cast members from “The Notebook: The Musical” will participate in a panel at The Ripped Bodice romance bookstore on Sunday morning to discuss the musical. Moderated by Katherine Zofrea, guests include Maryann Plunkett (Older Allie), Jordan Tyson (Younger Allie), Andréa Burns (Mother/Nurse Lori) and Dorcas Leung (Georgie/Others). 218 5th Avenue. Tickets are $15.

Tompkins Avenue Open Streets Vendor Market
12 to 6 p.m., every Sunday through October 6
The Tompkins Avenue Open Streets Vendor Market is run by vendors, for vendors. Their outdoor market in Bed-Stuy maximizes exposure and profits for creators, so everything you buy has a bigger impact on their bottom line. On Sundays, they will host a mix of food, retail and makers selling goods you won’t find anywhere else. Tompkins Avenue between Gates and Monroe Avenues.

Lady Bunny’s Birthday Tea Dance
4 p.m.
The bitch is back in Brooklyn for her birthday … and she’s doing an early show because she’s old as hell. Come out to see New York icon Lady Bunny play her favorite disco tracks at this classic Tea Dance. And for a taste of Bunny’s humor, check out our conversation. Grab your gays, gals and theys, and hit the dance floor at C’mon Everybody. 21+. 325 Franklin Avenue. Tickets are $17.

The post Weekend Guide: A roller disco, a roller derby and the Brooklyn Rum Fest appeared first on Brooklyn Magazine.

Like an out-of-tune Telecaster, the live music ecosystem could use some calibration.

Efforts to slash deceptive and monopolistic practices of ticket sellers and venues alike have already been set in motion by lawmakers and local music advocates — there’s a law demanding fee disclosure on ticket sales, a proposed bill to boost streaming royalties for artists and a public outcry against merch cuts.

But still, artists are struggling to capitalize on their craft.

Enter Rogue Music Festival. From August 9 to 11, the three day 21-band extravaganza will enforce a generous payment model and artist-first ethos to address various inequities plaguing the music industry right here in Brooklyn.

In its second year, the queer, female musician-run concert event, founded by Roni Corcos, Natalie Field and Amy Klein, is trying to set a precedent for local venues: ditch exorbitant room fees and adopt high-percentage splits on ticket sales in favor of independent artists playing the bill.

“Music in and of itself is so valuable and should be more highly compensated in spaces that are able to host it,” says Field, who works as the show booker at Cassette (formerly Sundown) in Ridgewood.

Rogue Music Festival founders (from left): Corcos, Field and Klein (Photo by Kian Gannon)

Demystifying ticket buying
Each day, the festival will take place at a different Brooklyn nightlife staple – Baby’s All Right on day one, 3 Dollar Bill, on the second day, then Starr Bar – hand-selected by Corcos, Field and Klein based on good vibes, great sound, and a willingness to adopt Rogue’s financial model, with 70 percent of every ticket sold going directly to the bands, and the rest being used to pay the crew, vendors and the venues.

“Money exists in the music industry, it’s just not fairly distributed,” says Corcos, whose band Roni will play on the third day.

“People do not come to a live festival because it’s ‘Rogue Music Festival’ – they come because of the bands that play there,” Corcos continues. “It’s just correct that we compensate these bands for the majority of the money from the ticket.”

“It’s really hard for artists to actually make a profit, let alone a living,” says Sandile Mhlaba, a queer Brooklyn-based alt-rocker also playing on the third day of Rogue Fest. “There’s definitely room for more models that prioritize paying the artists while being transparent to the fans about how much of their ticket actually goes to the artists. I think it could catch on.”

Rogue’s high-percentage ticket split also works to demystify ticket buying for show-goers and fans.

“People know where their money is going,” says Corcos, adding that this shared awareness helped stoke positive energy among last year’s 800 ticket buyers. “Everybody was chill.”

And yet, according to both Corcos and Field, some Brooklyn clubs weren’t down for the 70/30 split.

Depending on how well-attended a show is, steep room fees can eat up the majority of ticket sales, leaving bands to split a meager payout, or worse.

“Sometimes we get nothing,” says Corcos, an outcome that kept her from playing particular venues across the borough, and, eventually, starting Rogue Fest.

“I definitely had experiences, unfortunately, where the overhead in a place was so high that we almost owed them money for playing,” says Shilpa Ray, a legendary New York rocker and Rogue Fest headliner. “Things like that happen all the time. There are a few venues around here that you’d have to sell out in order to see anything, which is really tough.”

James Wilson of Paisley Fields, a queer country outfit playing day two of Rogue Fest, says these low paydays often pose a Catch-22.

“You’re missing out on an opportunity if you say no to something, so usually I just suck it up and lose money and play the event,” they say. “Hopefully it’s worth the connections I make in building a fan base; hopefully I sell enough merch to cover my costs.”

Wilson jokes that they are basically a truck driving T-shirt salesman, “and then once in a while I get to play music.”

Slut Magic at last year’s Rogue Music Fest (Photo by Kian Gannon)

A novel approach
“Room fees can be gouge-y for sure,” says Alex Gleeson, who has been booking shows at Baby’s All Right since 2019. “But the cost of running a venue in New York is kind of mind blowing, especially a space in a prime real estate area like the gloriously gentrified Williamsburg.”

Gleeson explains that there is no handbook for deciding venues’ payout dynamics; it can change venue to venue, even show to show, and is highly dependent on certain factors like location, room capacity, and the expected age of attendees (this can dictate how many security guards are needed per show).

To Gleeson, Rogue Fest’s financial model and mission statement, which he says aligns with Baby’s ethos around hiring and supporting artists, represent “a really novel approach” to ticket-buying and artist compensation. Yet, he is doubtful that it can be adopted at a major scale.

“There would be serious pushback at certain venues and by certain promoters,” he says. “Certain people benefit from the murkiness [of ticket buying] on an operational level.”

Diverse lineup, diverse sound
Rogue Fest’s founders are using grassroots tactics to tackle what they can, while putting on an accessible and engaging festival experience.

This includes tapping into local sponsors like Variety Coffee and Haven Boxing, as well as assembling a diverse lineup of both prominent acts (Shilpa Ray; Screaming Females’ Marissa Paternoster’s solo project Noun; Cassie Ramone of Vivian Girls) and up-and-coming artists actively devoted to Brooklyn’s live music scene.

“It’s important for us to have a representation of queer and femme communities as well as people of color,” Corcos says, adding that around 85 percent of this year’s lineup identify as LGBTQIA+, while over half the artists are BIPOC, and the vast majority of bands are femme-identifying, whether they are trans, cis, or nonbinary.

“The music industry is so male dominated, so I think anything that seeks to break that up is really important,” Field adds.

Rogue Fest’s lineup also runs the gamut in terms of genre, with acts rooted in hip-hop (Sammus), country (Paisley Fields), “trash rock” (Balaclava), indie-pop (Debbie Dopamine), and ambient (OHYUNG). There’s even a “silkpunk” band called p.h.0. that plays metal with traditional Chinese instruments.

By hosting a wide array of bands with a similar commitment to the local music scene, the Rogue Fest founders hope to garner authentic connections among the artists that they can use when booking future shows with multi-band bills.
For Ray, networking is essential to growing as an artist. “They definitely put a bunch of bands together that I’m like, ‘Oh, I really like this person’s music, but I’ve never met them before.’”

Last year, Rogue Fest was able to pay bands a minimum of $250. But this year, with 19 fewer bands (the founders agreed that hosting 13 acts per day across three different venues was too chaotic) and ticket prices up from $20 to $30 per day, Corcos, Field and Klein are hoping they can pay artists even more.

“Hopefully we can work up to a place where we’re consistently paying bands major festival prices,” says Field, “and we can show that a small Brooklyn DIY fest is capable of paying musicians what we think they’re worth.”

MegaGoneFree at last year’s Rogue Music Fest (Photo by Kian Gannon)

The post Rogue Music Festival returns for a second year, promising to pay artists what they deserve appeared first on Brooklyn Magazine.

Good job, you made it to the weekend.

If you’re still in town, then you may need a reprieve from the smell … or, if you’re really unlucky, the influx of creepy weirdos? Your Weekend Guide has everything you need to make summer in the city a little better.

Friday brings another brat-themed event, bratpop, at 9 Bob Note for you to soak up some brat green on the dance floor one last time. If you don’t want to break a sweat, head over to one of the many Brooklyn Olympics viewing parties before the games wrap up on Sunday.

The 19th Annual Jazz Age Lawn Party promises an old-timey throwback on Governor’s Island on Saturday and Sunday. Also on Saturday, Bideawee makes finding your new furry friend very easy with a streamlined adoption process at their mobile adoption event in Albee Square.

The extremely unique Bluefin Tuna Cutting Show takes place on Sunday for their 6th year. You’ll be able to watch bluefin tuna become a Japanese delicacy right in front of you, prepared by Master Sushi Chef Kuni.

And we couldn’t help but add a Monday event to the Guide: Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott comes to Barclays Center with her Afrofuturism hip-hip show.

Have a great weekend and get ur freak on.

Friday, August 9

Final Weekend of Olympics Viewing Parties
Friday through Sunday, August 11 at various times

• Bk Backyard is the sportiest place in Williamsburg you can watch the Olympics. Catch soccer, rugby, archery and everything in between at your leisure for the next two weeks. If you happen to be watching a match from Monday to Thursday, you’ll receive 50 percent off drinks at the bar from 5 to 7 p.m. 86 N 11th Street.
• The Hull Sports Bar at Seamore’s will show every Olympic event. Visit 5 times between now and August 11 and you’ll receive a Seamore’s x Two Robbers Olympic t-shirt and a free round of drinks on your next visit! 66 Water Street.
• Or head over to Japan Village in Sunset Park where Sake’s Bar on the 1st Floor and Red Shrine on the 2nd floor will show the games. 934 3rd Avenue.
• More places to watch the Games are listed in our roundup here.

Free Improv Drop-In Classes at The Second City
Continues Friday through Sunday
Second City New York is offering a week of free improv drop-in classes. These 90-minute sessions, typically valued at $35 each, are designed to provide a fun and non-committal introduction to the world of improvised comedy. With up to 10 classes available and a capacity of 16 students per class, there are plenty of opportunities for people to jump in and experience the fun of improv. To explore the class schedule and register to participate, click here. 64 N 9th Street.

Elements Music & Arts Festival
Friday through Sunday
Elements Music & Arts Festival, the premier immersive electronic festival of the Northeast, has its roots in Brooklyn, and this year many local vendors, artists and more will make the trip to Long Pond, Pennsylvania for the annual gathering. Elements is an arena of exploration, where music, community, art, camping, and adventure coalesce in perfect unison. Lineup highlights include Chris Lake b2b Cloonee, Excision, Illenium, and Kaskade (Redux Sunset Set). You will find venue and ticketing information linked above.

The 13th annual Greenpoint Film Festival
Continues Friday through Sunday
Brooklyn’s Greenpoint Film Festival continues with its centerpiece screening, a retrospective of award-winning Spanish filmmaker Alex Lora featuring his 2024 Sundance Grand Jury winner “The Masterpiece, and Unicorns.” GFF will present a documentary double feature on Closing Night with the US Premiere of Kelly Moneymaker’s “Drum Song: The Rhythm of Life” and festival favorite “Miwene,” directed by Keith Heyward, Jennifer Berglund, Gange Anita Yeti Enomenga and Obe Beatriz Nenquimo Nihua. 191 N. 14th Street. Tickets are $15 per movie.

57 Brooklyn eateries participate in Restaurant Week
Going on now through Sunday, August 18
Restaurant Week is back for the summer and Brooklyn has 57 participating restaurants. It’s actually a month-long grub fest, so you have from now through August 18 to enjoy the “week.” There are options at different price points, including many restaurants offering two-course lunches and three-course dinners. For example, Nami Nori in Williamsburg is offering a two-course lunch special from 12 to 2:30 p.m. for $30 from Monday to Friday. See more options near you linked above.

Rogue Music Festival
Friday through Sunday, various times and locations
The DIY queer, female musician-run concert series returns for its second year at participating nightlife staples (Baby’s All Right, 3 Dollar Bill, then Starr Bar) with a diverse lineup and innovative artist payment structure. Click here for showtimes and more.

Ben Böhmer at Superior Ingredients Rooftop
4 to 10 p.m.
German producer Ben Böhmer — hot off a collab with indie pop dream Lykke Li and a new album announcement — will be playing two shows in one day on Friday. He’ll be performing on the rooftop of Superior Ingredients in Brooklyn by day and taking to Manhattan’s Musica NYC club that night. Take a Summer Friday and see Böhmer live afternoon. 74 Wythe Avenue. Tickets are $32.45.

Shabbat Supper Club w/ Old Jewish Men
6 p.m.
Influencers Old Jewish Men will be swinging by Gertie’s on Friday night for the restaurant’s lovely Shabbat Supper Club. Gertie After Dark’s Shabbat Supper Club is a Friday evening dinner party series combining traditional Shabbat dinners with the format of classic Midwestern Supper Clubs. In the spirit of bringing people together over a meal, their supper club will play host to cuisines and guests of all denominations and heritage. The menu for this week’s hosts is inspired by grumpy Lower East Side fish mongers, with a pinch of tarragon. 357 Grand Street. $75 per ticket.

Juvenile’s Back that Azz Up 25th Anniversary Tour
Doors at 6 p.m., show at 8
June 11 marked the 25th anniversary of the release of Juvenile’s seminal “Back That Azz Up,” and to celebrate the occasion, he’s embarked on a massive North American tour. This Friday that tour lands at Brooklyn Bowl with Mannie Fresh and the 400 Degreez Band. 61 Wythe Avenue. $90.45.

PBR New York Maverick Days
7:45 p.m., Friday and Saturday
Professional Bull Riders will bring bull riding to Barclays Center for the first time when the inaugural homestand for the New York Mavericks comes to Brooklyn on August 9 and 10. The New York Mavericks join the PBR Teams league as it expands from eight to 10 teams competing in five-on-five bull riding games in the 12-event 2024 PBR Camping World Team Series season. Yeehaw! 620 Atlantic Avenue. Tickets start at $56.20.

GNDRFCK at House of Yes’s Onyx Room
10 p.m. to 4 a.m.
Meet your queer summer crush on the dance floor of GNDRFCK MXR, brought to you by MESH & BearXFifi. This flirty, queer, gender-bending dance party is hosted at The Onyx Room, House of Yes’s speakeasy, and features spicy draglesque, pole dancers, rope artists and flash tattoos. 8 Wyckoff Avenue. Tickets start at $30.

bratpop at 9 Bob Note
10 p.m. to 4 a.m.
Get ready for bratpop, the ultimate dance party inspired by the legendary Brat Fest and Brat Bash! They’re bringing you a mix of rebellious energy and pop perfection, spotlighting all things pop with a focus on Charli xcx. Brat Summer isn’t over until it’s ritualistically sacrificed at the Democratic Convention later this month, so get your brat in while you still can. 260 Meserole Street. Early bird tickets are $15 and they go up to $25 the day of show.

Saturday, August 10

The 19th Annual Jazz Age Lawn Party
Saturday and Sunday
Take a trip back in time this weekend: The Jazz Age Lawn Party, now celebrating its 19th year, is the world’s original and most authentic Prohibition-era-inspired gathering. Jazz Age Lawn Party attracts thousands of time travelers to Governor’s Island each year, who come together to discover the music and zeitgeist of the 1920s. Founded and hosted by Michael Arenella & His Dreamland Orchestra, it offers an interactive opportunity to relive one of the most colorful and formative epochs in American history. See the different pricing tiers on their website.

Free Movies at Stuart Cinema & Cafe
Saturday and Sunday
Independent theater and community center, Stuart Cinema & Cafe will host free movies on Saturday and Sunday, courtesy of Pluto TV.  They will offer several free showings of “Deadpool & Wolverine” on both days. Tickets for the free movie weekend can be found here. 79 West Street.

FAD Market: Summer Pop-up
11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday
This summer, FAD Market curates a monthly pop-up at Dumbo’s Empire Stores from June to August. Discover over 30 talented makers, artisans and small business owners who live and create in the borough and beyond. Check out a curated selection of Dumbo’s best goods including handmade jewelry, apparel, body and skincare, tableware and artisanal packaged food. 55 Water Street.

Bideawee Mobile Adoption
11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Downtown Brooklyn Partnership is partnering with Bideawee to bring adorable, adoptable pups to Albee Square in the heart of Downtown Brooklyn. Bideawee has been finding loving homes for rescued animals since 1903. Come visit their mobile adoption van and meet your new best friend. There will be free treats for your feline or canine companions (while supplies last). If you come to the neighborhood to shop, eat, and stroll may find a new best friend through Bideawee’s mobile adoption van on Saturday. Albee Square W & Fulton Street, 11201.

Yes Chef Food Fest
Saturday and Sunday, noon to 10 p.m.
In what’s being billed as “a foodie’s dream festival,” New York’s top restaurants will all be in Williamsburg for this two-day inaugural event. Your ticket comes with access to food vendors you’d otherwise wait hours in line for (see full lineup below) and a bevy of FREE items, including surprise flavors and custom menu items. Participating restaurants include Taqueria Ramirez, Mimi Cheng’s, Mama’s Too, Gotham Burger, Soothr, Arthur & Sons, Milano Market and more. BK Backyard Bar, 86 N 11th Street. Tickets are going fast. Remaining slots start at $45.

‘Jack & the Beanstalk’ puppet show
The final shows are on Saturday and Sunday from 12:30 and 2:30 p.m.
Park Slope’s Puppetworks was founded in 1980, and this weekend you can see their summer performance of “Jack & the Beanstalk” featuring an original song score and a “live” Giant. The show is suggested for ages 2 and up and lasts 55 minutes. Registration is suggested as walk-in admission is not guaranteed. Email them here. 338 Sixth Avenue (at 4th Street). Tickets are $10 for children and $11 for adults.

Hindu Lamp Ceremony
3 to 7:30 p.m.
The 12th annual Hindu Lamp Ceremony happens at Brooklyn Bridge Park on Saturday. Dance artist and educator Aeilushi Mistry will perform the traditional Hindu Aarti ceremony at Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Pebble Beach. Free.

Celebrate World Steelpan Day
3 to 8 p.m.
Experience the sounds and tastes of Caribbean culture on World Steelpan Day. Attendees will have the opportunity to listen and dance to the sounds of steel pan bands in competition. The Carlos Lezama Archives and Caribbean Cultural Center (CLACC-C) will host performances, workshops and activities in partnership with Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy at Pier 1 Harbor View Lawn. Map to Pier 1. Free.

Red Bull BC One Cypher New York
4 p.m.
The world’s premier one-on-one breaking competition, Red Bull BC One, returns to New York at Brooklyn’s new rollerskating venue Xanadu on Saturday. The event will host the best breakers in New York battling it out to crown a new city champion. The top two b-boys and b-girls will advance to the regional cypher on the road to the National Cypher in Los Angeles later this year.

Lana Del Rave
10 p.m. to 4 a.m.
It’s time to celebrate our collective Summertime Sadness with the ultimate party for Brooklyn Babies and West Coast dreamers. Expect the full spectrum of Lana from “Video Games” straight through to “Born to Die” with every remixed deep cut in between. Real Lanatics will wear Blue jeans, floral crowns and heart-shaped rave glasses. 270 Meserole Street. Tickets are $20.

Sunday, August 11

Bluefin Tuna Cutting Show
3 to 8 p.m.
The 6th annual Bluefin Tuna Cutting Show is on Sunday afternoon. Bluefin tuna is one of the most highly prized fish used in Japanese raw fish dishes, and it’s not every day you can watch an expert sushi chef slicing up a 300+ pound bluefin right in front of your eyes. But on Sunday you can! Master Sushi Chef Kuni will demonstrate knife skills that only a select few possess. The giant tuna will be separated into sections of differing grades and prepared into delicious sushi/sashimi dishes. Tickets include unlimited drinks (sake, beer, soft drinks) and authentic Japanese dishes. 250 Varet Street. Tickets are $170.

Fuzed Festival
4 to 11:30 p.m.
Experience Afro-Caribbean vibes on Sunday at the Fuzed Festival in Industry City. This isn’t just a party, it’s a full-on festival celebrating everything the organizers love about African and Caribbean culture. Come have some jerk chicken and jollof rice while sipping on enough Don Julio then hit the dance floor. 220 36th Street. Tickets are $33.85.

WBLS 50th Anniversary: Jon B and Funk Flex
5 p.m.
WBLS has been holding it down as the center of soul and R&B in New York City for decades. For their 50th anniversary throwback jam in Coney Island, they’ve assembled a collection of R&B stars from the late ‘80s and ‘90s, hosted by the legendary radio DJ Funk Flex. Jon B headlines the concert with Vivian Green, Meli’sa Morgan, Horace Brown, and Jeff Redd. 3052 West 21 Street. Free.

Monday, August 12

Missy Elliott’s Out of This World Experience
7 p.m.
Missy Elliott invites you to Get Ur Freak On at Barclays Center on Monday night. Elliott’s Out of This World Experience brings the Afrofuturist hip-hop legend to Brooklyn with Ciara and Busta Rhymes and special guest Timbaland. The Experience boasts a giant, 3-D stage with eye-popping visuals. You shouldn’t miss it! 620 Atlantic Avenue. Tickets start at $93.

The post Weekend Guide: The Jazz Age Lawn Party, Lana Del Rave and Missy Elliott appeared first on Brooklyn Magazine.

Brooklyn-based artist Tomokazu Matsuyama is standing in the first of five airy chambers in his 8,000 square-foot studio high above Greenpoint, contemplating three monumental paintings that depict fashionable figures in lavish apartments. At first, the works’ clean yet whimsical lines evoke manga. In reality, though, these paintings collage fashionable imagery Matsuyama has copied from magazines, art history and more. The three works he’s standing before will head to Paris soon for a show Fondation Louis Vuitton is hosting around Pop Artist Tom Wesselman.

“My interest is to define cultural identity,” Matsuyama says, contemplating the paintings’ vibrant, varied iconography. It’s only getting more fluid, more complex.” His excitement regarding globalization feels like an antidote to the cynicism of our times. He likens his process to “hip hop DJs cutting, pasting and making hip hop, or house musicians making EDM on computers.”

Matsuyama in his studio (Photo by Elianel Clinton)

Buzzing around him are 28 assistants, coordinators and other staff members at work on canvases and computers alike, keeping Matsuyama’s many projects moving. In addition to fine art exhibitions, Matsuyama also creates public artworks and participates in brand collaborations. He currently has a show titled “Mythologiques” on view in Venice, adjacent to but not part of the the world’s premier art biennial, through November. He has sculptures and murals from Luxembourg to Los Angeles, has designed sets for J-Pop act Yuzu, and recently ended a year-long turf war on Manhattan’s storied Bowery Mural Wall. After decades at work, his market is taking off, too.

All this for an artist who taught himself how to paint, whose childhood (and childhood identity) were split between Southern California and his birthplace in Gifu, Japan. Matsuyama moved to New York in 2002 at 25 to study graphic design at Pratt Institute after an injury ended his semi-professional snowboarding career. He parlayed his bachelor’s in economics into art.

“You can be creative, but you have a steady job,” Matsuyama says of graphic design, which has taught him how to approach images like a science. “The way it’s creative thinking and problem solving really allowed me to be very creative, and has been a big impact.”

Matsuyama lived in Bushwick while at Pratt, but moved to Greenpoint, where he taught himself how to paint, after getting robbed one too many times. Steeped in the remix culture of the 1990s, he started sampling imagery from magazines, museums, and the streets into maximalist compositions that mimic the way we use pop culture and social media to build identities today.

Early on, he showed his work in local cafes, and started painting murals in a style evoking Takashi Murakami’s “superflat” movement in its meticulousness, which has since become ubiquitous in public art. Then, in the 2010s, street art exploded. Matsuyama’s bold but delicate style stood apart from the work of his famous friends like KAWS, in part, due to his upbringing.

‘Serenity Exhale Protection’ (Courtesy of Tomokazu Matsuyama)

While Matsuyama has said that he felt like an American kid growing up, the artist retained his Japanese sensibilities as a young New Yorker, in an era before iPhones. “Going to the newsstand was just as exciting as going to the MoMA or the Met, because you got to understand cutting edge, up-to-date culture,” he says, positioned in front of “Serenity Exhale Protection,” one of the three works bound for Paris, holding a folder stuffed with printouts of the painting’s references.

Matsuyama was shocked to see celebrity’ homes in Elle Decor. “I come from Japan, where the country is still very reserved,” he says. Welcoming photographers behind closed doors seemed awfully intimate. “The celebrities are getting bare naked,” he thought. “I was very taken away.”

Matsuyama pulls a copy of an Architectural Digest spread from his folder. Its regal red couch, chair, and table match the furnishings in “Serenity Exhale Protection.” He’s cooled down the digs by painting the walls, instead, with a baby blue floral pattern by textile designer William Morris. Elsewhere, he’s turned the temperature up a notch, by substituting the staid painting behind the couch in the original photograph with late Renaissance painter Artemisia Gentilleschi’s “Judith Beheading Holofernes’,” a violent feminist artwork about class struggle that resonates with his experiences as a minority. Figs and other fruits lying about reference 17th century Dutch painters — and, tucked below, there’s a playful feline in the Japanese “drunken cat” style.

Doing away with hierarchies of high and low culture, Matsuyama comingles a crumpled Starburst rapper and an empty can of Colt 45 with triumphs of art and design in “Silence Wind Flower Believe,” another work in the Paris trio. Most of his figures are taken from fashion spreads. He dresses them in timeless garments enlivened by ornate, often historic, patterns.

‘Safety Retrospective’ (courtesy of Tomokazu Matsuyama)

In “Safety Retrospective,” the third work in the series, a girl crouches defiantly on a couch in a baroque living room, hanging out with two other friends. The edgy scene features a turntable, an ashtray with a smoldering cigarette in it, and a blaze in the fireplace — which actually resembles the Romantic painter J.M.W. Turner’s painting “The Burning of the Houses of Lords and Commons, 16th October, 1834.” And, in a nod to the Paris retrospective where this particular artwork is heading, Matsuyama has replaced the Wesselman painting pictured in the original interior with a flag by the political, provocative artist David Hammons.

Matsuyama’s studio can only produce 30 paintings like these a year, so he’s intentional with his time. Gallery and museum shows are nice, but they can be elitist. While cutting his teeth as a public artist, Matsuyama learned to value direct dialogue with real people — community members and smaller collectors.

“You become part of art history, every artist wants that,” Matsuyama said of museum shows. “But we also have to make sure that you have a dialogue with the community that you live with.”

Still, Matsuyama’s most impressive public artwork of late is one of the few he’s done illegally. Goldman Global Arts first had him paint the Bowery Mural Wall in 2019. Goldman typically asks a few lucky artists to paint their wall each year. It’s the ultimate feather in a street artist’s cap.

In 2022, Goldman invited LA-based artist David Flores to paint the wall. Some of NYC’s more combative graffiti writers made it clear they didn’t like the out-of-towner’s style by repeatedly bombing his mural. The situation got so out of hand that Goldman relinquished control of the wall for about a year — until Matsuyama got involved last fall. He designed 33 tiled portraits depicting notable New Yorkers into a work titled “From the streets of New York to shows in Paris and Venice: The art of Tomokazu Matsuyama,” then had it printed on vinyl for an easy installation, which his team carried out in under two days — unsanctioned. At first, Goldman Global Arts was apprehensive, but when they saw that civilians and graffiti writers alike enjoyed Matsuyama’s addition, they made his artwork official. The piece is still riding today.

Meanwhile, of Matsuyama’s 24 global solo shows so far, “Mythologiques” — organized by Turkey’s Contemporary Istanbul Foundation following his participation in 2022’s Istanbul Biennale — might be his most mesmerizing yet. Five larger-than-life paintings encircle viewers, including an intricate interior, a jungle exterior, a car traversing a psychedelic landscape, and a salon painting with dense rows of replica artworks in it. A checkered starburst radiates from the floor, enhancing the hypnotic effect: As humanity grows more interconnected and complicated, people must learn to see each other as humans above all else.

And where else could such a movement, and such a show — staged in Italy and hosted by Turkey, with a Swiss curator and a Japanese-American artist — take shape, but in Brooklyn?

The post Remix artist: Meet street artist-turned-gallery superstar Tomokazu Matsuyama appeared first on Brooklyn Magazine.

Eisa Davis and Lin-Manuel Miranda (Photo by Jimmy Fontaine)

In the 1979 cult classic “The Warriors,” members of a street gang from Coney Island are framed for the murder of a rival gang member the Bronx and must travel 30 miles across the city to get back to their Brooklyn stronghold.

At the time, the studio hated it. Critics panned it. Crowds were warmer to it, though, and gradually “The Warriors” became a cult staple, widely regarded as a New York masterpiece.

Now it’s getting the “Hamilton” treatment.

Lin-Manuel Miranda and his longtime screenwriter and actress friend Eisa Davis have announced that they’ve recorded a concept album based on the Walter Hill film that Atlantic Records will release on October 18. Brooklyn-born rapper Nas executive produced the 26-song effort that “features a star-studded cast of voices set to be revealed in the coming weeks,” according to a statement.

“We’ve spent the past three years musicalizing the Warriors’ journey home, from the South Bronx to Coney Island,” Miranda and Davis said in a statement. “Along the way we’ve gotten to work with a lot of our favorite artists, and we’ll be announcing their roles on the album in the weeks ahead. We can’t wait to share these songs with you on October 18th.”

It’s an edgy endeavor for the Manhattanite Miranda, who besides “Hamilton” and his other acclaimed musical “In the Heights” has in recent years composed the soundtrack for multiple Disney blockbusters and acted in films such as “Mary Poppins Returns.” Davis has written and acted in multiple plays and screenplays, including “Bulrusher,” which was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in drama in 2007.

There are no plans as of now to turn this project into a stage musical, but the rumors are still swirling.

Sol Yurick, a Bronx native, published the novel that the film was based on in 1965. “The Warriors” was based on the “Anabasis,” a series of stories by the Ancient Greek soldier Xenophon. Filmmaker Walter Hill was tapped by Paramount to lead the movie adaptation in a collaboration that quickly became tense.

“I didn’t want to make something about race — I wanted to make it about class,” Hill told Brooklyn Magazine in an interview earlier this year. “[Murdered gang leader] Cyrus’ big speech is about the dispossessed who were facing income inequality, which is also a big issue these days. That’s the underlying theory of who these kids were and the film accepted their values.”

Brooklyn Magazine will be hosting a free screening of “The Warriors” on the beach in Coney Island on Thursday, August 8, in partnership with Paramount+. Click here for more details and to RSVP and secure free popcorn. Showtime is at sunset, but there will be a DJ and free beach chairs (while supplies last) starting at 6 p.m.

The post Lin-Manuel Miranda and Eisa Davis wrote a concept album about ‘The Warriors’ appeared first on Brooklyn Magazine.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the first release on Fania Records, a musical, cultural touchstone frequently referred to as “the Motown of Latin music.” The description is apt not only in the widespread popularity of their releases, but also in the byzantine twists and turns the organization has taken through the years, a saga every bit as complex as their Detroit counterpart’s. History, as the axiom goes, is written by the victors, and after the dust has settled on the past 75 years of New York City’s rich Latin music legacy, it is Fania that sits alone atop the mountain of treasure gathered from the numerous labels it subsumed, along with the bounty of its own sizable output.

I had a front row seat to this story when I was hired in the mid-’00s to help sort through and prioritize reissues from the vast back catalog, but more on that later. First, a brief history of how we got here and how a tiny two-man operation became the monolith it is today.

In 1964 the dominant Latin label in New York City was unquestionably Alegre Records, by then a decade in business but beginning to falter as its owner’s health failed and the chips it had placed on the popularity of the dance craze known as the Pachanga lost their luster when a new sound began emerging from the largely Puerto Rican barrios in Brooklyn, the Bronx and East Harlem. Johnny Pacheco, a Dominican-born flutist who’d attended Brooklyn Tech High School, was a star on Alegre, but saw the writing on the wall and broke from his label, teaming up with another Brooklynite named Jerry Masucci. A lawyer and a former cop, Masucci had briefly lived in Havana, where he acquired a taste for Latin music and, as the story goes, frequented a cafeteria called Fanía, itself named after an old Cuban song by the same name. Taking the name and planting their own flag, the Dominican and the Italian-American formed what would become, ironically, the unquestioned source for Nuyorican music for decades to come.

Helped by a savvy sense of showmanship and street-level awareness, not to mention a roster of grade-A talent (including household names — at least, if your household was in the aforementioned barrios — like Willie Colón, Héctor Lavoe and Celia Cruz), Fania more than held its own among other labels that ventured into the burgeoning market, including such powerhouses as Tico, WS Latino and Cotique, by some accounts commanding nearly 80 percent of Latin music sales. And when the opportunity presented itself, Fania was quick to assist label owners in financial difficulty by purchasing control of their catalogs, as it did in 1975 when it acquired its predecessors Tico and Alegre.

Fania All-Stars. From left: Ray Barretto, Louie Ramirez, Cheo Feliciano, Johnny Pacheco

By the early ’80s, Fania was sitting atop an enormous catalog, but one that was precariously balanced on shaky personal relationships, murky business decisions and an eroding market. Masucci, who had long since bought out his partner, moved to Buenos Aires and the label essentially became dormant. When Masucci died in 1997, the label’s assets entered probate, where they remained under dispute for five years (Pacheco passed away in 2021). The modern era of Fania Records began in 2005, when, over a period of years, several investment groups bought and sold the catalog, each trying to crack the code of how to squeeze profit from their new asset in a rapidly changing musical landscape.

It was here that I entered the picture, as a consultant helping pick through the assorted catalogs to find likely candidates for reissue (tasked with the daunting job of tackling Tito Puente’s legacy, I produced the compilation “El Rey: A Man and His Music” and the reissue of “Vaya Puente“). The quantity of artifacts and never-seen ephemera that was uncovered was truly astounding — not a day seemed to go by in which those of us involved weren’t marveling over carefully saved paystubs for recording sessions, handwritten labels on master tapes, or outtakes from vintage photo sessions.

In its search for a younger generation of listeners, the new incarnation of Fania has now moved beyond the simple reissue and compilation work I was involved with, and entered into a much broader range of endeavors, including apparel, events and contemporary remixes of their music. As the label’s director of marketing said in a 2014 interview, “Our focus is, ‘How do we build a relationship with the consumer and monetize that?’… Does that come from a download, a stream, a T-shirt, a party, a skateboard? We don’t care.”

While that pragmatic attitude struck some observers as mercenary, stirring debate among fans as to the best way to honor the label’s legacy, there is no question that the music — the root of it all, lest we forget — has never lost its power to stir souls and move feet, holding its own alongside the rise of modern trends in merengue, bachata and reggaeton, among others. To return to the Motown analogy, there will always be an audience for classic soul and R&B, and so it is with the Latin classics of Fania.

A Fania press photo (Courtesy Fania Records)

To that end, below are 10 classic albums from Fania’s original heyday. With the caveat that there are obviously many worthy candidates that could be listed, please take these suggestions as merely a starting point to launch your own journey.

‘Gypsy Woman,’ Joe Bataan
1967
Filipino Harlemite Joe Bataan was one of the first artists on Fania, and a sureshot trend-setter, later recording pioneering tracks in rap and disco. This early album is a perfect blend of Latin soul like “Gypsy Woman” (an impassioned take-off on the Impressions’ hit) and hard descargas (the very appropriately named “Fuego”).

‘El Exigente,” Orchestra Harlow
1967
An oft-noted irony of Fania Records, long associated with the Puerto Rican sound of New York City, is that some of its biggest contributors were non-Boriqueños, like Brooklynite Larry Harlow. El Judio Maravilloso (as he was known) was steeped in the sound from birth however, his father a mambo-nik and bandleader himself, and this early album sees Harlow going lysergic on the Latin soul sound of the day (the scorching “Freak Off”) as well as edging towards the nascent salsa sound with the help of future star vocalist Ismael Miranda (“Rhumba Me Llaman”).

‘Hard Hands,’ Ray Barretto
1968
“Hard Hands” lands at the start of a remarkable run of Barretto albums nearly a decade long that demonstrate the popular sound of the day changing on a granular level, song-to-song, from boogaloo and Latin soul trends into the rootsier, culturally deeper style that became known as salsa. Every song on “Hard Hands” hits, but standouts included “Love Beads,” “New York Soul,” and “Mi Ritmo Te Llama.”

‘Live at the Cheetah,’ Fania All-Stars
1971
One concept Johnny Pacheco brought over from his days at Alegre was the “All-Star” band. Over the years the Fania All-Stars grew to be a globally touring production but this exuberant early date at Manhattan hotspot the Cheetah is where it started, often considered to be ground zero for the incipient salsa movement. The night was filmed and later edited into Leon Gast’s landmark documentary “Our Latin Thing.”

‘The Big Break,’ Willie Colón
1971
You could pick almost any Willie Colón record from the mid-’60s through the late-’70s and come away with a winner, but this 1971 release is a great place to start, with its controversial cover (the original design, a wanted poster featuring the words “Wanted By FBI” was withdrawn when the Bureau took a less than amused view of it) and great songs like “Abuelita” and “Ghana’ E.”

‘Apollo Sound 5,’ Roberto Roena y su Apollo Sound
1973
Percussionist Roberto Roena was a secret ingredient in many of the label’s recordings, and had a string of great albums himself. “Que Se Sepa,” the lead-off cut here, is an anthem that is as popular in breakdance circles as with salsa dancers.

‘Celia & Johnny,’ Celia Cruz and Johnny Pacheco
1974
The so-called Queen of Salsa was already a well-established star when she began recording for Fania with this album, but rocketed to a new level with this wildly popular collaboration with Pacheco. The album’s one-two opening punch of “Quimbara” and “Toro Mata” has few equals as a guaranteed party-starter.

‘Latin-Soul-Rock,’ Fania All-Stars
1974
Only two short years after the Cheetah show, the Fania All-Stars sold out Yankee Stadium, a clear indication of the label’s skyrocketing success. Meant to be a live recording, the album was supplemented with extra cuts recorded elsewhere after fans stormed the field and the concert was cut short. In another demonstration of their widening appeal, they included hotshot outside musicians like Billy Cobham and Manu Dibango, and performed a much funkier set than usual, with cuts like “Smoke” and Dibango’s “Soul Makossa” alongside salsa ragers like “Mama Guela.”

‘La Voz,’ Héctor Lavoe
1975
Few figures were more beloved to the New York City Puerto Rican diaspora than Héctor Lavoe, whose growth from a shy teenager from Ponce to suave heartthrob was documented over the run of albums he recorded for Fania, initially as a guest vocalist and songwriter, and then on his own popular solo efforts. “La Voz,” elucidating the pun of his stage name, is essential for hits “El Todopoderoso” and the Latin American solidarity anthem “Mi Gente.”

‘Siembra,’ Willie Colón and Rubén Blades
1978
A true conceptual masterpiece from the mind of Panamanian singer/songwriter Rubén Blades, Siembra is one of the best-selling salsa albums of all time and a goldmine of influential hits. Marrying Blades’s richly detailed lyrics with Colón’s intricate arrangements — the disco-inflected “Plástico” and the Bertolt Brecht-inspired “Pedro Navaja” are two examples — the album stands up today as a high point in Fania’s bountiful catalog.

The Queen of Salsa, Celia Cruz in concert (Courtesy Fania Records)

The post Latin Kings: A brief history of Fania Records appeared first on Brooklyn Magazine.

Politicians have co-opted Brat Summer. So before it’s completely uncool (too late?), you have time to enjoy a brat rave at the Brooklyn Monarch on Friday night. Or throw back to the summer of ’99 and enjoy a weekend of movies that are turning 25 this year at both Nitehawk locations.

Saturday sees the return of the Brooklyn Beach Sports Festival to Coney Island with competitive and non-competitive sports alike. The Brooklyn Navy Yard hosts the Brooklyn Summer Beer Wine and Spirits Fest for day-into-evening drinking, and the Brooklyn Comedy Collective parodies HBO’s “Succession” with their show Ludicrously Capacious Comedy on Saturday night.

Sidetalk hosts Gorilla Fest on Sunday with headliners Ghostface Killah and Coney Island’s own Gorilla Nems. And you can close the weekend out with some laughs at the Hot Gossip Comedy Show at Union Hall. Special guests will include SNL’s Michael Longfellow and ex-Daily Show correspondent Jaboukie Young-White.

Can’t wait for tomorrow to start your weekend? Head to Coney Island Beach tonight, August 1, for our free screening of “Love & Basketball,” plus special pre-film activities brought to you by the Brooklyn Nets and NY Liberty in partnership with The Lay Out. Get there early to enjoy a pre-film painting experience and basketball games on the beach at 6 p.m., followed by the movie at sunset. RSVP here for free popcorn.

P.S. Labor Day is exactly one month away. Wear your whites before it’s too late.

Friday, August 2

57 Brooklyn eateries participate in Restaurant Week
Going on now through Sunday, August 18
Restaurant Week is back for the summer and Brooklyn has 57 participating restaurants. It’s actually a month-long grub fest, so you have from now through August 18 to enjoy the “week.” There are options at different price points, including many restaurants offering two-course lunches and three-course dinners. For example, Nami Nori in Williamsburg is offering a two-course lunch special from 12 to 2:30 p.m. for $30 from Monday to Friday. See more options near you linked above.

Aquatheater
See their website for showtimes
The Aquatheater is an interactive show at the New York Aquarium on the Riegelmann Boardwalk in Coney Island. Their revamp introduces new music, script, and the aquarium’s California Sea Lions. “Sea Lion Celebration: Sea Lions in the Big City” asks the age-old question whether California sea lions have what it takes to be considered “New Yorkers.” More information is available at the aquarium website linked above and you can see upcoming daily schedules here. 602 Surf Avenue.

Olympics Viewing Parties in Brooklyn
Friday through Sunday, August 11 at various times

• Bk Backyard is the sportiest place in Williamsburg you can watch the Olympics. Catch soccer, rugby, archery and everything in between at your leisure for the next two weeks. If you happen to be watching a match from Monday to Thursday, you’ll receive 50 percent off drinks at the bar from 5 to 7 p.m. 86 N 11th Street.
• The Hull Sports Bar at Seamore’s will show every Olympic event. Visit 5 times between now and August 11 and you’ll receive a Seamore’s x Two Robbers Olympic t-shirt and a free round of drinks on your next visit! 66 Water Street.
• Or head over to Japan Village in Sunset Park where Sake’s Bar on the 1st Floor and Red Shrine on the 2nd floor will show the games. 934 3rd Avenue.
• More places to watch the Games are listed in our roundup here.

Movies for the Class of ‘99 at Nitehawk
Various dates throughout August
Congratulations to The Class of ‘99! It’s been 25 years since you graduated, and received what turned out to be one of the most iconic years in cinema of all time. Nikehawk invites you to look back on the films from 1999 that became instant classics (“Fight Club”), others that have brought immense joy over the years (“The Mummy”) and a few that are only recently receiving the love they deserve. The series runs the entire month at Nitehawk Williamsburg and Prospect Park.

Pink Water Presents: Sunset Sessions
6 p.m. to 12 a.m.
We can’t get enough rooftops and the rooftop bar rooftop ART Williamsburg hosts an insane rooftop party every Friday night. With a rotating lineup of the city’s most talented DJs, Sunset Sessions let you celebrate the weekend poolside with a cocktail in hand. Drinks aren’t free but entry is. Get there early because the line is massive every Friday night. 96 Wythe Avenue.

Dirty Circus Variety Show
6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Created and curated by House of Yes Co-Founder Anya Sapozhnikova, the Dirty Circus Variety Show will unfold in three acts. “A variety show dedicated to the raw and the raunchy,” this is not for the faint of heart. Expect aerial acrobatics, absurdity, and circus shenanigans. 21+. 2 Wyckoff Ave. Tickets are $46.

Celebrate Brooklyn! Presents: Meshell Ndegeocello
7 p.m.
Grammy-winning multi-instrumentalist, singer and songwriter Meshell Ndegeocello will unveil her new album “No More Water: The Gospel of James Baldwin.” Let yourself be ignited by the passion and legacy of Baldwin’s storytelling and activism. And prepare to be moved by the night’s opener Talibah Safiya, a Memphis-born soul artist whose captivating lyrics and minimal instrumentation evoke powerful and undeniable emotions. The Lena Horn Bandshell, 141 Prospect Park West. Free.

‘Fun & Slutty’ with Jonathan Van Ness
7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday
Emmy-nominated television personality, two-time New York Times best-selling author, comedian, podcaster, celebrity hairstylist and founder of JVN Hair, Jonathan Van Ness is fresh off of two successful worldwide comedy tours. Catch his wild and unfiltered comedy here in your own back yard. The Bell House, 149 7th Street. $50.90.

Friday Night Fireworks at Coney Island
Every Friday at 9:30 p.m. through August 30
Didn’t get enough fireworks last month? You’re in luck because Coney Island has them every Friday for the rest of the summer. Kick off your weekend with Luna Park’s dazzling and free fireworks show. For the best views, stand on the Boardwalk between West 10th Street and West 23rd Street. Free.

Chlomosexual Presents “brat rave”
10 p.m. to 4 a.m.
Calling all brats: Chlomosexual is back this month with the Charli xcx inspired “brat rave” at The Brooklyn Monarch. The party is brat meets Berlin techno club but in a 30k square foot Brooklyn warehouse. See you on the dance floor. 23 Meadow Street. Tickets are $30.

Saturday, August 3

FitnessWalk: Prospect Park
8:30 to 10:30 a.m.
FitnessWalk was born in Italy in 2018 and combines sports walking with fitness exercises and music. Through the use of wireless headphones, participants follow the instructions of a professional personal trainer who guides the sports walk and its various exercises. Join the fun in Prospect Park on Saturday morning. Ocean Avenue & Parkside Avenue, 11226. Registration is $28.

Brooklyn Beach Sports Festival
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Why lounge on the beach when you can sport on the beach? NYC Parks is partnering with the National Calisthenics Awards to host competitive and non-competitive activities alike on Saturday. Think calisthenics displays, tug o’ war, cornhole, meditative stretching, Jenga and more. Kick off your flip-flops and come play at Coney Island. West 10th Street Boardwalk Entrance. Registration is required on-site.

Performance and Workshop with Mark Morris Dance Group
11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Mark Morris Dance Group returns to Brooklyn Park Bridge for a special, outdoor performance and an all-ages family-friendly workshop at Pier 1 Harbor View Lawn. The workshop begins at 2 p.m., where all ages and abilities are invited to dance with the company, followed by a performance at 3 p.m. The repertoire will include “Water,” “Words”and the world premiere of a new work “Hello Stranger” — a trio set to four songs by the Carter Family and created specifically for this outdoor event. Words will be performed with live music by a pianist, who will also be providing musical interludes between pieces. 80 Furman Street. Free.

Smorgasburg Williamsburg becomes the Peanut Explorers Market
11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The National Peanut Board and Jon Kung, a well-known Chinese American chef, have collaborated to transform Smorgasburg Williamsburg into the Peanut Explorers Market this Saturday. In a collaboration with the beloved New York food festival Smorgasburg and its most popular vendors, 10 peanut-centric, global dishes will be available during the limited-time Peanut Explorers Market. Chef Jon is on a mission to show people how easy and fun it can be to try new foods, especially with familiar flavors like peanuts at the center. 90 Kent Avenue.

‘Veselka’ screening and Q&A
11:45 a.m.
New York City’s beloved Ukrainian restaurant Veselka is best known for its borscht and varenyky, but it has become a beacon of hope for Ukraine. Come for a rare screening of the documentary “Veselka: The Rainbow on the Corner at the Center of the World,” a thoughtful exploration and celebration of family and community, followed by a Q&A with writer/director Michael Fiore and film subjects Jason Birchard and Tom Birchard (second- and third-generation Veselka owners) and employee Vitalii Desiatnychenko. Nitehawk Williamsburg, 136 Metropolitan Avenue. $19.75

‘Jack & the Beanstalk’ puppet show
Saturdays and Sundays through August 11 from 12:30 and 2:30 p.m.
Park Slope’s Puppetworks was founded in 1980, and this weekend, you can see their summer performance of “Jack & the Beanstalk” featuring an original song score and a “live” Giant. The show is suggested for ages 2 and up and lasts 55 minutes. Registration is suggested as walk-in admission is not guaranteed. Email them here. 338 Sixth Avenue (at 4th Street). Tickets are $10 for children and $11 for adults.

Brooklyn Summer Beer Wine and Spirits Fest
Session 1 at 1 p.m. and Session 2 at 6 p.m.
Enjoy an afternoon or evening at the Brooklyn Navy Yard Back Lot with your favorite local brew or exotic wine. Guests can enjoy beer, wine, and spirit samples for the session paired with live entertainment, food, and games. Your ticket comes with a souvenir sample glass that allows you to sample any alcohol offered. 141 Flushing Avenue. Tickets start at $19.

Ludicrously Capacious Comedy
8:30 p.m.
Ludicrously Capacious Comedy is a mix of standup, blind corporate ambition, and hilarious competition in a spoof of HBO’s “Succession” at the Brooklyn Comedy Collective. At LudCap Comedy, standup comics compete for the highly coveted and lucrative position of Chief Joke Officer. Whether or not you’re a fan of the hit show, come watch standup comedians perform their sets and ascend the corporate ladder. 167 Graham Avenue. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 the day of the show.

Sunday, August 4

Tompkins Avenue Open Streets Vendor Market
12 to 6 p.m., every Sunday through October 6
The Tompkins Avenue Open Streets Vendor Market is run by vendors, for vendors. Their outdoor market in Bed-Stuy maximizes exposure and profits for creators, so everything you buy has a bigger impact on their bottom line. On Sundays, they will host a mix of food, retail, and makers selling goods you won’t find anywhere else. Tompkins Avenue between Gates and Monroe Avenues.

Azure Day Party at the Arlo Williamsburg Rooftop
3 to 10 p.m.
Come dance the summer away at Azure Day Party, every Sunday through September. Kick-off of the party at ART Williamsburg, for a cocktail in their lounge with top DJs spinning the night away. You can also enjoy rooftop views by the poolside. 96 Wythe Avenue. Tickets are $75.

Gorilla Fest hosted by Sidetalk
5 to 9 p.m.
Coney Island’s own Gorilla Nems is known for his viral videos (“Don’t Ever Disrespect Me!”), iconic catchphrase (“Bing Bong!”) and is an accomplished underground rapper. For the Gorilla Fest in Coney Island, he’s assembled an impressive cast of characters, including the legendary Wu-Tang Clan MC Ghostface Killah, DJ Drewski, Statik Selektah, Scram Jones and Tony Touch. 3052 W 21st Street. Free.

‘Obvious Child’
7 p.m.
Rooftop Films is hosting a screening of the A24 comedy “Obvious Child” — “the most award-winning abortion-themed rom-com ever made,”: starring Jenny Slate — to celebrate the film’s 10-year anniversary. It’s free, but RSVPs are encouraged. Industry City Courtyard 5/6. 51 35th Street Brooklyn.

Hot Gossip Comedy Show
7:30 p.m.
Comedian and local gossip Jonathan van Halem pauses his perpetual gab-sesh to discuss audience-generated gossip as well as host an evening of stand-up comedy at Union Hall. This month’s show features Michael Longfellow (SNL), Molly Kearney (SNL), Sabrina Wu (“Joyride”), Jaboukie Young-White (“Big Mouth”) and Langston MacDiarmid. 702 Union Street. Tickets are $12.

The post Weekend Guide: Ghostface Killah, Meshell Ndegeocello, a brat rave and the movies of ’99 appeared first on Brooklyn Magazine.

On opening night at Desert 5 Spot, I’m standing at the bar waiting for my “Dropkick Me, Jesus” cocktail when I decide to compliment the tall blonde woman to my left on her cowboy hat.

“I like your hat,” I say.

“Oh, this?” she says, grimacing.

“This,” she tells me, is her backup hat — she accidentally left her real ($900) hat at her cabin. The hat she’s currently wearing is so cheap that she would let someone burn a cigarette on it, she explains.

Luckily, my faux pax doesn’t stop her from chatting with me about growing up “in the sticks,” and the immediate sense of community she felt when walking in the doors of Desert 5 Spot. As she talks, a custom cowboy boot disco ball spins above us, washing every surface in rainbow bubbled light, and several couples move back and forth to the music, many of them wearing hats whose value I am not equipped to gauge. It’s clear that I’m the odd one out — this new Williamsburg country bar is brimming with diehard country fans.

Two-steppin’ (Photo by Hannah Berman)

Country is back, baby
Everyone I meet at Desert 5 Spot agrees: country music is having a moment in New York City right now. The honky tonkers name-drop existing country bars, like Dolly’s, Skinny Dennis, and Jalopy Tavern; they point to popular line dancing series like Honky Tonkin’ in Queens and Stud Country. They all use the word “resurgence” to describe what’s happening.

“I’ve lived all over the place, but I really identify with the country and Americana,” two-step dancer and teacher Sara Lott says. “I think people are very nostalgic for the country western scene in general, because it represents the beginning of America, and people are resonating with that.”

This is exactly the ethos that the Ten Five Hospitality partners wanted to capitalize on with Desert 5 Spot. Ten Five’s founders Dan Daley, Sebastian Puga and Kim Walker met eight years ago while working for Ian Schrager; together, they opened the first Desert 5 Spot location in LA in December 2021.

“Truthfully, we’ve always wanted to do a country bar,” Daley says, emphasizing that creating a “design-centric and experiential, but not pretentious” concept was at the heart of Ten Five Hospitality’s goals.

“Oftentimes, Los Angeles sort of guards its quote-unquote nightlife,” Daley says. “There’s a certain degree of pretentiousness. [But] coming out of Covid, there was this zeitgeist of wanting to feel and establish human connection, and to not experience each other or the world through the medium of a screen or a phone.”

Puga adds, “We wanted to create a very unique space where country and rock ‘n’ roll music provided a soundtrack [for dancing], and there really was nothing like it in L.A. And there really isn’t anything like it in New York.”

Betsy the mechanical bull (Photo by Hannah Berman)

In Dolly we trust
Their new Brooklyn space was selected after touring 25 different buildings; Daley says they chose it for its “great juju and great bones.” It’s totally different from the Desert 5 Spot in L.A., but he emphasizes that it still has “the same soul.”

That soul is, in a word, Americana. It lines every wall: Desert 5 Spot is decorated all over with depictions of horses, cacti and cowboys. A false wall greets you when you enter the front door. To its right, a mechanical bull with red eyes named Betsy bucks frustratedly; to the left, a door marks the entrance to the “saloon.” Inside, a long bar stretches down one wall, while large, comfortable couches line the other. On the back wall, there’s a small stage and a DJ booth. And to the side of the stage, hidden away from the action, is Dolly’s Corner: an all-pink VIP area decorated exclusively with Dolly Parton memorabilia.

“In Dolly we trust,” says Puga. Daley repeats it — ”In Dolly we trust” — like a mantra.

Then they laugh, and Daley explains. “Dolly Parton is an iconic country music figure — really, an iconic pop culture figure,” he says. “She’s the rare artist that’s transcended her specific industry and persona to become this immortal figure in America. We love her. We love everything that she stands for — her talent, her brashness, her je ne sais quoi. And so we wanted to pay homage.”

The Dolly wall (Photo by Hannah Berman)

ISO a two-step partner
Back on the outskirts of the dance floor, I start talking to country fan Ryan Ray, who is originally from Kentucky. Ray had been living in London until her move to New York a couple of weeks ago. She tells me she chose New York because of its blossoming country scene (she also refers to it as “the resurgence”). Country music is important to her — “It’s, like, my soul,” she explains — and she came to Desert 5 Spot in search of something very specific to kickstart her life in Brooklyn.

“I’m just here looking for two-step partners,” Ray says, grinning.

It only takes a couple of tracks for her to find one. Soon, she’s swaying in the arms of a man in a pink-and-orange striped shirt with cuffed sleeves. As they spin around and around, she gives me a thumbs-up behind his back.

Desert 5 Spot is located at 94 Wythe Ave and open Wednesday 5 p.m. to 1 a.m., Thursday and Friday 5 p.m. – 2 a.m., Saturday 4 p.m. – 2 a.m., and Sunday 2 p.m. tto midnight.

The post Desert 5 Spot, LA’s favorite country bar, arrives in Williamsburg appeared first on Brooklyn Magazine.