Marty Markowitz, our esteemed Borough President, spits some hot fire and reps BK as he “covers” Gza’s “Liquid Swords”. Awesome. Markowitz was announcing the line-up for the Northside Festival this summer in Williamsburg/Greenpoint, which so far, includes Gza (of course), Screaming Females, Of Montreal, ?uestlove, and Eternal Summers, among others. Way more to be announced!

Springtime Gardening/Farming

If you’re looking to plant some seeds out on the fire escape this summer (or if you’re lucky enough to have a yard or a garden!), Hayseed’s Big City Farm Supply has everything you need. A collaboration between Brooklyn Grange, Domestic Construction and Brooklyn Homesteade, this Greenpoint pop-up store is dedicated to urban farming, and will be holding weekend classes and community events as well. They open this Wednesday!

Fred Armisen’s Playlist Live

Fred Armisen will be starting a residency at Greenpoint/Williamsburg watering hole Union Pool for the month of February. He’ll be playing every Sunday night, doing mostly covers and inviting lots of special guests up to share the stage. Tickets are 8 bucks.

Just came from seeing Julianna Barwick at the Manhattan Inn’s Avant Brunch. Wonderful start to 2012. Happy New Years everyone.

Just came from seeing Julianna Barwick at the Manhattan Inn’s Avant Brunch. Wonderful start to 2012. Happy New Years everyone.

Brooklyn Torch

Yikes, this is embarrassing. Somehow, I was unaware that a project is under way to provide North Brooklyn (Williamsburg, Greenpoint, Bushwick and DUMBO) with its own paper currency, otherwise known as a torch. This is actually legal and has a long list of supporters and vendors looking forward to accepting torches (1 torch = 1 dollar). I guess I’m not surprised? There’s still a lot of kinks to be worked out, including what the bills will look like (Kyp Malone’s face on a background of American Apparel models?) but word is they’ll will be circulating by Fall 2012. 

Greenpoint Film Festival

             

Today marks the start of the very first Greenpoint Film Festival! From Thursday to Sunday, head to Broadway Stages to check out films by David Lynch, Jonas Mekas, and lots of local film makers. There’s also panels, live music, Q&As, and plenty of afterparties. Program is here, come out and support local artists!

Vintage Crawl

Brooklyners: the first ever Vintage Store Fall Crawl is happening this Sunday in Williamsburg and Greenpoint. From 12-6, check out the area’s best vintage stores, like Sunday Love, Mystery Train and tons more, and local bars will be offering drink deals to the crawlers. There’s an afterparty at Union Pool to wind down and take in all your awesome finds. Visit their website to download a map for your smartphone that will lead you through the area. If vintage shopping and bar hopping is your idea of a perfect Sunday, this is definitely your kind of event.

Bring To Light in Greenpoint

 

This weekend, NYC’s spontaneous Bring to Light Festival is coming to the Greenpoint waterfront in Brooklyn. The Festival itself “invites emerging and established artists to make site-specific installations of light, sound, performance and projection art, the event creates an immersive spectacle for thousands of visitors to re-imagine public space and civic life.” There will be art installations, film screenings, poetry readings, etc but will probably be the craziest is the premiere of Weston Currie’s The Perception of Moving Targets, an anthology of (dark-ish) short films which will be scored LIVE at each screening by Grouper/Liz Harris. Its free and it starts Saturday night at 6, so make your plans now because seats are limited.

Gotham Greens

NYC’s first hydroponic roof garden, Gotham Greens, founded in 2009 in Greenpoint, has started its first harvest this month! Bok choy, lettuces, basil, arugala and more, will be available at local businesses and farmer’s markets soon! Yay local veggies! Great work guys!