Hey Neighbors -
Happy Halloween! Today is one of my favorite days of the year. I’m sure it has something to do with my mom not buying candy or any sweets growing up, except for the rare occasion she would let me buy sugar cereal. I would eat my entire haul of Halloween candy in one night.
My costume was anything I could cobble together from her college. By college, I fully embraced Pippy Longstockings, which only requires a coat hanger for her braids and face paint. Pippy lasted well into my 30s until my kids got old enough to complain about how embarrassing I was and quelched my Halloween costume spirit. At least for now.
I still love Halloween though, especially the Whoppers.
There are endless cool events today and tomorrow. I listed only a few down below.
Good luck marathon runners!! Also, one of my favorite days of the year.
Don’t forget to share Ward 6 with a friend (s) and I’m 10 supporters away from my goal of 25 new paid supporters. Thank you!!
Have a tip? Story idea? Please email me: [email protected] or ward6_brooklyn.
Post#58: Halloween festivities: early voting ends this weekend; new restaurants opening soon-ish; Cobble Hill Cinemas has a side gig; if you, you will love this festival; private equity in our backyard; mark you calendar (our hometown semi-pro team is in the playoffs!)
Or, just walk around! Drink on a stoop. Enjoy!
VOTE!
Be sure to vote early today (Saturday) and tomorrow (Nov. 1st). By now you know about the ballot initiatives, so do some research ahead of time because, as usual, they are not as straightforward as they appear. For some good resources, check out Ward 6 from a few weeks ago.
I’m not sure if this article applies to NYC, but I’ll be sure to report back from my poll site next week. “Thousands of Observers Are Expected to Descend on Polling Places to Monitor the Vote on Election Day (AP/BK Eagle).”
FOOD, FOOD GLORIOUS FOOD
ICYMI:
Via Roma down by Luana’s on Court St. is the new location for Javier, a “proudly” Mexican restaurant which specializes in barbacoa. Opening TBA.
As I reported a few weeks ago, a gluten-free place is opening in the former Fish Tales location on Court St. Now I can officially report with more authority than neighborhood gossip that it’s Vinny’s Gluten-Free Kitchen. It’s looks like it has a few Chelsea locations and the place is a hot topic online.
COBBLE HILL CINEMA’S SIDE GIG
I only just discovered that our amazing Court St. theater shows “curated classics” in addition to newly released films. What a bonus to get a preview for Boogie Nights (playing 11/10) when I saw You Can See Everything.
Also, you may have caught Feed Me newsletter’s Emily Sundberg’s Monday Scaries, which had it last showing this week. Love that Sundberg picked Cobble Hill Cinemas,, and even cooler that she featured Carroll Gardens’ Travis Hunter’s Halloween Zine “Scare-oll Gardens” in her newsletter.
If you haven’t seen Boogie Nights, all you have to do is check out this cast: Mark Wahlberg, John C. Reilly, Heather Graham, Burt Reynolds, Julianne Moore, William H. Macy, and on and on.
Also, yes, I recommend seeing You Can See Everything. I didn’t know much about Nathan Fielder so I suggest listening to The Daily epi about him before you see it. Brooklyn’s John Carreyrou is the reporter who broke the Theranos story for the Wall Street Journal; here’s what he has to say about the film.
On a personal note, it was odd seeing the 60 Minutes story I worked on featured in the documentary. I helped with some of the reporting because the lead producer, Katy Textor, was sick at the time and tragically died at a young age.
IF YOU LOVE LIVE MUSIC, YOU WILL LOVE THIS FESTIVAL
The thing I love about Jalopy’s annual Folk Festival starting on Friday, November 6th is the diversity of musicians. With three stages at the main venue (157 Montague St, Ann’s Church) and musians performing simultaneously, you get to meander around and sample different American and international styles of folk music. It’s perfect for someone who is folk-curious or who just love live music!
I’m always pleasantly surprised by the range. Writing about music isn't my wheelhouse, but I can attest this is a fantastic way to spend a day (or two).
I asked the folks at Jalopy for some suggestions and cool facts about some of the performers:
I'm New to Folk Music; who do you suggest I see? The Clover Valley Boys, Kiki Cavazos, Justin Robinson
I’d like to bring my kids. Can you suggest any family-friendly performers? Suzi Shelton, The Boxcutter Collective, the Banjo Toss!, Square Dance with Queens County Rat Club
What about non-traditional folk? Lonnie Holley, Judee Sill Tribute, Hannah Lee Thompson & the Bleacher Creatures, Feral Foster
Any celebrity musicians I should see: Louis Cato, Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, Twain
“Sheila Kay Adams (Nov. 8th) is a seventh-generation ballad singer and storyteller from Madison County, NC. This is an unbroken oral tradition, and we are thrilled to have her not only performing, but also teaching a workshop on storytelling and American folk tales.”
“Mohamed Araki is the first Sudanese musician to be nominated for a Grammy for his work with Nigerian Artist, Bombino. This project pays homage to his roots and is a tribute to his father, the renowned Sudanese singer, Abu Araki al-Bakheit.”
Don’t forget about The Banjo Toss in collaboration with the Gowanus Dredgers! On Sunday, Nov. 8th | “...an irreverent nod to the tradition of incorporating competitions into folk festivals.” Instead of a fiddling competition, try chucking a banjo across the Gowanus Canal!
“The special banjo attached to a rope is tossed into the canal, a federally designated Super Fund site. The marked rope pays out, showing how far the banjo traveled. We then haul it back in for the next throw.”
And lastly: Please consider donating to Columbia Street’s Jalopy Theater and Music School.
Special thanks: L Talia Keren-Zvi, Jalopy’s Program Director/Development Officer
Join us at bodycraft on Atlantic Avenue for accessible, invigorating classes and 1:1 private training that makes movement enjoyable and engaging. Movement will never feel like a chore again; you’ll look forward to it.
PRIVATE EQUITY IN OUR BACKYARD
I briefly noted this summer that our Council Member Shanhana Hanif (CG, CSW, CH) introduced legislation “mandating that the department of consumer and worker protection conduct a comprehensive one-time study and publish its findings on the economic effects of private equity firms on small businesses in New York city.”
“In District 39, we are seeing treasured small businesses close and private equity-owned businesses popping up. Protecting our neighborhoods’ small businesses is crucially important to CM Hanif. While we believe that private equity is buying up and/or squeezing out small businesses with competition, we don’t know, so a study is an important first step.”
Locally, I know Blank Steet Coffee and Bond Vet have PE support.
I recently noticed a lot of reporters writing about private equity in the food industry. If you’re interested, here are a few articles, which should encourage more support for Hanif’s legislation.
Ravenous: The Curious Case of the Private-Equity Cookie and Private Equity Scales of Restaurants, Customers Fight Back (NYT).
MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
Today! Halloween: The Cobble Hill Association is teaming up with the Red Hook Art Project for drop-in Halloween art activity for kids in Cobble Hill Park.
Between Liz’s Book Bar and Books are Magic, I could spend every day of the week going to incredible events.
Ongoing through mid-November: “New this fall, enjoy free volleyball clinics, presented in partnership with Big City Volleyball. Youth clinics, for ages 12-16, are offered on Wednesday & Thursday afternoons, and Saturday mornings through late November at Brooklyn Bridge Park. Learn more!
Tuesday, Nov. 3rd 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM | Millennial Skip the Small Talk: “kinda like speed-dating, but without the speed and without the dating.” No work talk at this event, no awkward silences. A host will prompt you and guide the conversation slightly deeper than you’d usually go. Fun! Liz’s Book Bar $
Nov. 6th - 8th Jalopy Folks Fesitval
Saturday, Nov. 7th 2:00 PM Our hometown semi-soccer team made it to the playoffs again! Come support them at the Red Hook Ball Field #5.
Thanks for reading! JLH
