Off to New York for a few days. When I went up last month, I scheduled a whirlwind daytrip and ran into a bunch of frustrations: such-and-such gallery was installing, so-and-so's gallery wasn't in fact opening until Thursday, summer hours, and so on. Why didn't anyone tell me that the MoMA is closed on Tuesdays? This time around, I'm swearing I'll get some work done.
So I have at least a good dozen ideas for things to write here, and some shows to discuss (and some shows to discuss that are now closed), but I'm much shorter on time than I thought I'd be at this point into the summer. This is good thing, as I was half worried that my freelance career might come to an end when I starved to death for lack of work.
I might post some things if I get any writing done on the bus ride awesome stealth jet trip up there. Otherwise, you should look around for writing this week in the City Paper, Express, and Onion.
Here's a note: I think I don't like Brooklyn, or rather the parts of Williamsburg I've had the good fortune to visit and stay in when I've been up there. If it's on a grid, I can't tell. There doesn't seem to be any way to get from north burrough to south, and some of the young hip kid activities that take place in McLaren Park are hopelessly, appalling, unforgivably twee.
On the other hand, it's not a far jog from there to this place, which might be my favorite restaurant.
Posted by Kriston at July 9, 2007 11:18 AMDon't hold Williamsburg against us. It's a vile place that burned itself out four years ago. If you have a free evening, I'd be happy to show you a good time in the Slope.
Posted by: A White Bear at July 9, 2007 1:07 PM"unforgivably twee"? How Sebastion Flyte of you to say so!
Everything that is charming is contrived in this way but at least what is overstated is a smug sort of sweetness. I think that's forgivable. I admire people who make an effort to enjoy that, actually. What is worse in my book is when a
community intentially substitutes a disdainful sort of ugliness for substance.
Maybe it is a matter of taste.
i think you've just had the misfortune of visiting mccarren park only on weekends, maybe? geoffrey and i have lovely walks there on weekday mornings, far before the fey, the twee and the painfully hip are even awake. i understand the initial aversion (though i do not hold as much disdain for the fey/twee/hip as others might?), but greenpoint and williamsburg are, in fact, full of charm and not as inaccessible as you might at first think.
Posted by: valerie at July 10, 2007 9:31 AMAs someone who has lived almost all of the past 7 years in either DC or Williamsburg (I've been back and forth twice), Brooklyn grows on you like a fungus. There's lots of stuff in Manhattan, but it's becoming a terribly boring place to live. I've been back in the district for six weeks now and I'm experiencing some serious Brooklyn withdrawal.
But you are correct about transit in Brooklyn. You can take the G to 4th Ave and walk up to Park Slope, or, if you want to experience the new refuge of the tragically hip, take the B61 South to Red Hook. There's also this (http://www.bwac.org/) and Steve's Key Lime Pies (and a bunch of other stuff).
As for WBurg, I enjoyed the free McCarren Park Pool Parties, Mugs (which has an excellent tap selection) on N10 and Bedford, Sparky's on N5. But explore other neighborhoods. Brooklyn alone is larger than DC. I wouldn't write it off because of WBurg.
Posted by: BF at July 10, 2007 12:39 PMDid I misspell the name of the park I'm slagging on? That's just not right.
Posted by: Kriston at July 10, 2007 3:55 PMBrooklyn just seems pleasant in relation to Manhattan, possibly because there are fewer tourists. But Williamsburg is really just some sort of post-grad dumping ground, like a "Sarah Lawrence-college-Levittown." Anyhow, welcome (back). We should have a drink, if scheduling permits.
Posted by: Laure at July 12, 2007 10:24 AMYeah, let's! You should come to Fort Reno tonight.
Posted by: Kriston at July 12, 2007 12:41 PMThat restaurant is terrible.
Posted by: Kevin at July 12, 2007 12:53 PMYou love it, Kevin, and you love me.
Posted by: Kriston at July 12, 2007 2:39 PMYou're half right.
Posted by: Kevin at July 12, 2007 3:04 PMoops, sorry- I am a luddite and haven't figured out that one should check the comments field for a reply to one's comment. I hope you had fun- next time you are in town, drop a line.
Posted by: laure at July 14, 2007 10:08 PM