Memorial Weekend *Free*dom

Memorial Day weekend. If I had a yard myself I would be lying in a lounge chair sipping a refreshing beverage but since I live in an apartment in Brooklyn I'm not.
In honor of all our dead veterans I would like to say BRING OUR TROOPS HOME! Enough have died already (4400in Iraq to be exact).

The world feels like it's spinning off it's axis and I know you are all feeling it too. Wars, Earthqaukes, Oil spills, Floods, Recession (depression?)budget cuts for education, libraries closing down and the list goes on. On the bright side, it is in hard times such as these creative thinking and resourcefulness often flourishes. A prime example of this would be the swap meet at the Yard that F.I.B attended over the weekend.

This was not a flea market, this was a FREE market! And F.I.B hauled home a bunch of high quality merch.

What did I get? Since shopping confessions are all the rage on YouTube, I know you want to know!

I took away:

1. A RCA dvd player. It works and is the newest looking appliance in my house, all slim and black and shiny. Crazy how that is already outdated to someone!
2. Two pairs of Levi's that actually fit
3. A really nice drinking glass
4. An elegant crystal paper weight that is also a magnifiying glass
5. A stunning black and white print silk Liberty of London top

Hard to believe folks gave these things up! But then again I saw people fighting over a pumpkin orange leather jacket from the 70's that sat in my closet for three years untouched(which was found on 3rd Street in Park Slope. Was it yours once?) validating that old cliche about one's trash being anothers treasure.

While at the swap I stepped back and watched and was blown away by the quietness of the crowd. These freegans were FOCUSED!

This idea was brilliant. We have so much STUFF we don't want, when things get put to the curb they just go to the landfill, Knowing and actually seeing that your unwanted goods go to some one who appreciates them is awesome. What remained at the swap meet got donated to charity and all textiles were recycled.

Kudos to the Yard for hosting this fab event.

Sabbra Cadabra * "War Pigs" at The Yard

Here is a short unedited camera video from the "Sabbra Cadabra" show at "The Yard" today.

I was a bit disappointed that the singer wasn't wearing a cape of some sort but I have to say they were pretty damn good. I was narrowly missed by a flying beer can and many water balloons but remained untouched.

I don't care what my girlfriends say, there are PLENTY of single men left in New York!

Sabbra Cadabra Saturday at The Yard

I do believe this may be the first time Metal will be heard loudly around the Gowanus since my neighbor "Frog” moved out of the building about 5 years ago. Frog was a brooklyn boy who would crank the tunes and wax nostalgic about the old days when his hair was long, curly and flowing and he used to hang out at "Lamour’s” in Bay Ridge.

Anyway, if you are wandering around the canal on Saturday afternoon and hear “War Pigs” or “Fairies Wear Boots” tinkling through the breeze it’s not because Frog moved back in. It’s because “The Yard” is having a barbeque and Sabbra Cadabra “The World’s GREATEST Black Sabbath Cover Band” is providing the tunage!

The Rub which is a bunch of DJ's that spin hip hop, disco, funk and other dance oriented music are up the rest of the time.

It's Rock vs. Disco thirty years later in old Brooklyn town....I doubt blood will shed over it this time around though!

The Yard is located at 400 Carroll St. (between Nevins and Bond)
Doors open at 3pm
3 bucks.

BYOB AND your own BBQ!
What an incredible deal!

Music & Short Films at "The Yard" Saturday

The Yard has been having a busy schedule lately...I personally CAN NOT wait until the premier Black Sabbath copy band "Sabbra Caddabra" performs there but here is what is going on Saturday which is also very cool. They will be showing "home movies". "The Yard" is an outdoor venue along the Gowanus Canal. The entrance is right before the Carroll Street Bridge on the Bond Street side.

8:30: Music by La Laque
9:00: Short Films Start

Here is the link for a complete description of what will be going on.

P.S.-Rain Date: Sunday, August 19. Check www.rooftopfilms.com or call
718-417-7362 for updates
Tickets- $8 at the door or online.
Presented in partnership with - IFC.com, New York magazine & Mean Red Productions

Surreal experience on Hoyt Street. Surreal band on Sunday.

OK so I kind of had a bad day today. Lots of personal stuff had me feeling down. Work. Relationships. You name it. It all sucked. So, I take the train home and can't help but notice one of my all time idols of all time, Jim Jarmusch is on the F train, so I play it cool and as the true NYer that I am... ignore him. Through the years I've seen him in bars, at art openings, seeing bands....but, but, (this is a few minutes later) NEVER on Hoyt Street asking me for directions! O.K I'm a star struck girl here, he was looking like JIM JARMUSCH, silver pompadour, baby face & cool 40's shirt...made my day or shall I say my night. He was on his way to that place (Issue Project Room) with the silo on Carroll St. by the canal which as of Sunday will be called "The Yard".

So on Sunday at "The Yard" (formerly "Issue Project Room")a band all the way from France is playing called Babylon Circus along with Wax Poetic.

The Yard is located at 400 Carroll Street between the canal and Bond St.
Gates open at 3pm.

This is what the people at the Yard have to say about what is upcoming:

I wanted to let you know about a new venue we're opening July 1 on the Gowanus. We're calling it the yard, its a beautiful outdoor space on the water where we've planned a film andconcert series series. There is also a silo on the property in which we're curating small music & art shows. The land is destined to become condos in a few years, but before that happens we'd like to make the most of it to create a new music and art destination in the neighborhood.

It all sound great except that bit about "the land is destined to become condos..."

Check it out before it gets plowed down.