Photo: Laura Peruchi
Greetings from coastal Maine, where I just spent a lovely Fourth of July weekend/remote work week scarfing down vulgar amounts of shellfish and taking in the local color (which unfortunately involved way too many “Let’s Go Brandon” t-shirts for my taste). Here’s hoping you all got your fill of BBQ and red, white & blue over the holiday weekend as well, even if those of us who, ya know, care about having a functioning democracy might have had a hard time drumming up the enthusiasm of years past for this particular holiday. For her part, my boyfriend’s dog, Kira, spent the entirety of Monday night hiding under the porch from the cacophony of fireworks that seemed to be coming from every direction, and I could sort of relate to the urge.
Highlights of the weekend included a long, therapeutic swim in the tidal bay near my family’s place, followed by a leisurely float in one of these glorious things, and a major Stranger Things binge watch. We also got into The Old Man, a CIA thriller on FX starring Jeff Bridges, John Lithgow, Alia Shawkat, among others. I’ll be sad to leave tomorrow, but all in all feel rested and refreshed and excited to get back home to take part in all of the fun stuff coming down the pike in Brooklyn this month, which is the best way to close out a trip.
This weekend looks relatively mild, and there’s lots to do, starting with the Brooklyn Comedy Collective’s weekend-long Fun and Dumb Improv Festival, which starts today and features 300 performers from all over the world. Tomorrow, you can learn all about the history of distilling spirits locally through a special trolley tour of Green-Wood Cemetery followed by a visit to Fort Hamilton Distillery in Industry City, or maybe you’d prefer an afternoon waterfront bike ride led by the Gowanus Dredgers. Nearby, the Atelier Canal on Third Avenue is hosting an open house from 1-5pm to celebrate its Life Aquatic Summer Salon, a pop-up gallery exhibition featuring the work of dozens of local artists inspired by life at or on the water. And on Saturday evening, St. Ann’s Warehouse is hosting Fandango at the Wall, a free concert headlined by the Arturo O’Farrill Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra, which the New Yorker dubbed “one of the best jazz orchestras in existence.” Alternatively, Rooftop Films will be screening a selection of non-fiction films entitled Docs on the Edge on the Brooklyn Army Terminal Pier starting at 8pm.
On Sunday, you might consider heading to the Brooklyn Museum to check out the new exhibition dedicated to the work of visionary artist and designer Virgil Abloh, who died tragically last year at age 41 after a battle with cancer. Perhaps you’re game for a trip to the Upper East Side to join in a massive Bastille Day celebration and block party on Madison Avenue sponsored by the French Institute Alliance Francais, or to Williamsburg for the incredible spectacle that is the annual Feast of Giglio thrown by Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Monday night I’ll be catching up on missed shifts at the Park Slope Food Coop, so I’ll miss both Manhattanhenge and The Moth Story Slam at the Bell House, but it serves me right for being such a delinquent. Perhaps on Wednesday evening, I’ll get my act together enough to catch the outdoor screening of Amelie scheduled in Parklife’s spacious outdoor space, but we’ll see.
On the eating front, I’m pretty keen to sign up for one of these Saturday prix fixe suppers in the back garden at Red Hook’s Hyssop, and maybe I’ll even spring for one of the Farm Dinners taking place on the roof of Brooklyn Grange on July 20 or August 10 before they sell out. And I’ve recently had some really memorable meals at Otis in Bushwick, Cafe Spaghetti in Carroll Gardens, and Bay Ridge institution Tanoreen, as well as an out-of-this-world roast beef sandwich from Prospect Butcher Co. that my friend brought to a park picnic to much fanfare.
That’s all I got this week, but I’d love to hear about any exciting adventures you all have lined up for this summer weekend that’s so close you can almost taste it. As always, please drop us a line anytime at tips@brooklynbased.com and let us know what cool stuff you’re getting into, and enjoy the fun and sun!