Brooklyn's own Reggie Watts: the largest comedy hair you'll ever see

This might sound self-promotional, but I’m doing it for your benefit (too). Here’s the thing: I co-host with Trish Nelson a fun comedy/variety show called A Big Effing Deal on Tuesdays at The Cove (formerly Hugs). And tonight’s show features not only Jessie Cantrell, Mrs. Claus, and the National Ballet, but also Reggie Watts, the reigning king of improv musical comedy looping magic (I mean, c’mon), as well as Brokelyn’s own Anna Jacobson performing one of her many other talents: belly dancing. And it’s all free.

Tonight, Tuesday, March 15th, 8 pm. The Cove, 108 N. 6th St. Williamsburg.

The Roebling Inn. Photo via L Magazine

THE ROEBLING INN

97 Atlantic Ave., between Henry and Hicks, Brooklyn Heights (walk across the street: Cobble Hill).

What it is: A sister bar to Brooklyn Inn, and sharing it’s high points: televisions, dart boards and snacks. There are 16 beers on tap, more than 10 actually drinkable wines, and a full bar. It’s spacious and yet still romantically lit.

Why we love it: Brooklyn Heights has Disneyland prices, but Roebling is unaware. Most beers on tap and wine glasses are $5, and it’s the kind of place you can get a $4 Bud Light and not look ironic or cheap.

Who to bring: This is one bar you can actually bring a group to — you can also rent out the space for parties (and bring in your own food, free of charge!). It’s also a good place to watch sports with an active group but not be spilled on or yelled at. And it’s really best when you don’t feel like waiting 45 minutes for a $13 martini across the street at Henry Public.

What to order: Man, it’s up to what your day has been like, but you get to chose between Kelso, Keegan, Six Point and Ommegang, for starters. And it’s a draw between the veggie curry or the steak $7 Dub Meat Pie.

Roebling Inn Fun Fact: A portrait of the bar’s namesake, Brooklyn Bridge designer John Roebling, watches you from above the bar’s taps.

The French Pharmacy outlined Gwyneth’s favorite beauty products that she stocks up on when in France, or “asks friends to buy when they’re passing through.” My favorite recommendation is Alfalux Baume Levre, but if you don’t live near a Parisian pharmacy, then you have to live in your ignorant chapped life.

Instead, I took some polls from all the ladies in my e-mail contact book, as well as from different trusted BK spas and salons. Here is “The Brokelyn Pharmacy:”

Product Advice:

Cetaphil. ($10-12, found at any drugstore). This won an overwhelming amount of shout-outs. It’s also my personal go-to. It’s an ugly name and medicinal looking packaging, but proven to be a very clean, simple, effective moisturizer or cleanser.

CeraVe Moisturizer. ($12.99, drugstores). Very similar to Cetaphil, but for more sensitive skin. It’s veeeerrry smooth and light. It also soothes rashes. For both Cetaphil and CeraVe, go for the bulk sizes. They’re $3-5 more, and that’s about how many more months they’ll last.

Cocoa Butter scored high. You can get it on the street for $2, or $4 at Duane Reade in fancier packaging. Rub all over once a day for really smooth skin.

Speaking of: Coconut Oil, Food-Grade, from Whole Foods ($10). Slap some on your legs in the summer. You can guess the result.

Baking soda as an exfoliant. Yes. Baking soda. (Uh, $1.50? Anywhere). Mix it with either water or a gentle cleanser until it makes a paste, then use it just like any other exfoliant. Don’t scrub too hard. Your face will be soft and luscious and it’s NOT harsh on your skin like almost every single other exfoliant.

Burt’s Bees ($3-15, anywhere). It’s not a secret, but it’s not a marketing ploy like some of ‘em. It’s all plant-based, and this stuff works. Especially the lip stuff. (oh, but beware of the Lifeguard one — it doesn’t look cute).

Clarisonic had this face brush that was going for $200. Everyone wanted it, only Gwen and friends could afford it. BUT Oil of Olay just came out with one for $29; allegedly it cleans pores 6x better than washing with your finger tips.

Now, there is one item that Gwen included in her GOOP that I actually want to buy. It’s Klorane Dry Shampoo, and it’s on Amazon for $20 (Gwen probably doesn’t know that, shhhh, she’ll have to ask Beyonce to pick her up some on her next tour). I’m always looking for a good way to hide unwashed hair. Baby powder works, and of course that’s cheap, but I’ve been doing that for a long time; I’m tired of smelling like a baby’s butt.

Tips from Professionals:

Use a Skin Brush ($5). “Dry skin brushing is not only great for removing dead skin cells but highly effective for lymph movement aiding in circulation and immune support.” This advice comes from a trusted homeopath. It’s also common sense, duh, get rid of that old skin,  and it has totally rejuvenated my skin this winter.

“Only wash your face with a cleanser twice a day at the most. After the gym, or mid-day, just use soap. The only thing worth really investing money in is a good moisturizer. It’s on your face all day.” Lily, facialist at Element Natural Healing, Cobble Hill.

“Never, never go to bed with make-up on.” Marsha, at Cynergy Spa, Fort Greene. Cynergy also sells and recommends DCL (“affordable and effective,” Marsha says.)

“An anti-aging tip: apply sunscreen as your last step in the morning, and always incorporate Vitamin C in your daily skin care regimen. Vitamin C also stimulates collagen reproduction and lighten and brightens skin for a more even tone.” Holly Graham, esthetician at Slope Suds, Park Slope. FYI: In the winter, the sun is closer to the earth and its rays are even stronger, so don’t think you only need sunscreen when you’re on the beach.

Word on the Street/Try if you Dare:

Hemorrhoid Cream: Good for puffy eyes, and make-up artists say it hydrates your skin and can give you that dewy look. It also helps your make up to blend more naturally.

Good jelly or jam mixed with honey, microwave for 20 seconds. Apply to face and you get a fruit acid peel. That’s what a good hippie facialist will tell you to do if you can’t afford their expensive stuff. Also: avocados and honey. Smooth results. And it isn’t so bad if you accidentally get some in your mouth.

Toothpaste on zits.

No-Doze. A 60-year-old woman with 30-year-old (looking) skin told me her secret is to put a few capsules of No-Doze in water, let it dissolve, and pat on your face every morning. The caffeine rejuvinates your skin and repairs sun damage. I’m going to try it. I’ll get back to you in 30 years. I have no research to back this up. I just know what this woman’s skin looked like, it was amazing, and that’s why I titled this section “try if you dare.” Do you want to avoid wrinkles or not?!

Love,

bh

We're pretty sure Ben Lerman is posing here.

Here are two things we love: comedy and secrets. Or at least the whiff of secrecy that comes from calling something “underground.” Starting tonight, there are some really unique and hilarious acts coming to Public Assembly as part of the BK Underground Comedy Festival. The mini-series, which starts tonight and runs through Wednesday, features Stacy Mayer’s Funeralogues, the puppet artist Nick Jones‘ “Smart Phone,” Dr. Steam Whipple and the Prescriptions (with “deep roots in southern voodoo and eastern confusion”), and the hilarious and talented Ben Lerman*, tinkling away at his ukelele. Tickets are $10 a night, and you can see all of the shows  here.

*Um, just saying… Ben Lerman will also be peforming this Wednesday at the awesome storytelling show at The Sackett Bar called The NutSackett. Just in case you don’t get enough of him Monday night … or want to see me as well.

Underground Comedy Festival at Public Assembly, 70 N. Sixth St. Williamsburg, 11211, (718) 384-4586, Sunday, Monday & Wednesday at 8 p.m.

This is the latest in our series on the venues featured in the Brokelyn Beer Book. Strong Place, Cobble Hill’s late-bloomer of the Beer Book bunch, is open for business (as of July 26). Two dozen tap beers and one savory menu await.

STRONG PLACE
270 Court St. at Kane St., Cobble Hill

What it is: A gastro-pub featuring 24 tap beers, new American fare and a raw bar.
Why we love it: From the chef and owner of Bocca Lupo. If it’s any bit as tasty, atmospheric, and dependable, we’ll soon be hooked. Also, expect an amazing back yard (which should open in September).
Who to bring: Your future in-laws, foodie dates.
What to order: Crispy Duck Leg Confit, Grilled Lamb Burger with Feta, Fried Ipswich Clams Oysters.
Strong Place fun fact: For many years, the space was a bookstore called Shakespeare’s Sister.

Anna selling raffle tickets to our party-goers

In case you missed it, Brokelyn had a huge, awesome party a couple weeks ago to celebrate year number one. It was a blast: raffle prizes, entertainment, free drinks… even some love for our libraries. We hope you were there. But if you couldn’t make it out that night, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle has a nice story on our special evening. There’s a run-down of the festivities and prizes, and a bit on the beginnings and workings of the site you love. The story’s subtitled “Cheap Living Blog Celebrates Year of Thrift,” and we couldn’t be prouder.

One highlight noted by Eagle writer Jess Goodwin was the free cocktail happy hour—a deliciously tart and regretfully? (nah) strong little number. After that hour… well, we’re grateful to the Eagle for recapping the rest, especially all those amazing Raffle prizes, which, Goodwin notes “weren’t kiddie birthday party favors, either.” That’s for sure.

Really, it seems everyone had a good time. Goodwin writes that “The crowd started out thick and stayed that way,” which we love to hear. And Brokelyn contributor Nina Koske sums the night up: “It’s been an amazing turnout,” she tells Goodwin. “We planned for the best, and the best has happened.”

Read the full Eagle story here.

Colin Hearts Kay

How to win the two passes to the 8 p.m. show on Sunday, June 13? E-mail movies@brokelyn.com by Saturday at noon and we’ll randomly pick a winner from the entries. And remember, you have to be an e-mail subscriber to win. Not a subscriber? Sign-up here (takes two seconds).

And in case you can’t catch the movie this weekend, here’s a little peak at who’s behind it and what the film was like to make. I chatted by phone with the Conley brothers—the Emmy-winning director Sebastian and his brother, director of photography, Ben—about the brotherly dynamic, their film and working on the *tiny in Brooklyn.

Where did you grow up? Brooklyn?
Sebastian: We grew up in the Bay Area. I’ve been a New Yorker for 15 years. Brooklyn for the past five. I look back at my time in the Upper West Side and shudder. I could have been here all along!
Ben: I’ve been here for three years. Straight to BK.

When did you start this movie? Was it the script, the location or something else that prompted it?
S: We were both working and (making) web content and web videos, and then the economy tanked. A script kind of came together because we had nothing else to do all day. We picked a simple structure: boy meets girl.

How long was the shoot?
S: About a year. Weekend-warrior style.  We shot as much as we could, and then we ran out of money. So we made a trailer, had a fund-raising party and got back to it when we could.

It’s shot entirely in Brooklyn?
B: Yup. Most of it was shot in Sebastian’s apartment, cause it’s free.
S: We kind of wrote that into the script; that’s how you do things on a microbudget. You use what you got.
B: We shot one beautiful scene on a snowy day on 10th St. between Sixth and Seventh Aves. And as we were filming, a guy opens his door and says “you chose the best block in Brooklyn for this shoot.” He might be right.

Any other public locations?
B: We also used Roots Cafe. And the Dumbo side of the Fulton Ferry Park. Also we shot a scene in Toby’s kitchen. We’d hang out here after long days of shooting.

Speaking of long days, how was it working together?
S: I honestly don’t know how I could have done it without having a brother there. I mean, there were dark times. Grown men in tears. No money. Almost losing lots of footage. Shooting in the apartment that you live in while trying to plan a wedding.

Wait, plan a wedding?
S: We’d be shooting a party scene in the main area while my fiancee planned wedding stuff in the bedroom. She’s amazing, but it took a toll. In one scene we have the walls closing in on Colin—we use some special effects, but we also literally tore out the walls to make this scene happen.

So, did it happen? Are you married?
S: Oh, yes! She still married me. We did it. Very happy.

For your score, you’ve got a bunch of unsigned Brooklyn bands. That is awesome, first of all. And second, why?
S: We knew from the beginning that Colin Hearts Kay was going to be a love letter to Brooklyn, so we wanted music to capture it. They might not all be unsigned anymore!

Are there any secrets to filming on a microbudget in Brooklyn?
B: Well, we really lucked out with technology. Canon just came out with a new camera that has basically…
S: Revolutionized independent film. So now a lot of people have this, but at the time we were the first to use this camera for a feature film. And now it’s just the way to go. And, shooting in Brooklyn helps.
B: It’s true. Everywhere we shot, we just had to ask, and everyone was more than willing for us to do it and to help out.
S: Also, I’m a cartoonist, and some of the sets are in a cartoon world. That saves some location time and money!

*The brothers said their producers wouldn’t let them divulge the exact budget, but the  number’s “real real real real low,” Sebastian says. “Suffice to say that much of the film was financed by Uncle Visa.”

Colin Hearts Kay is premiering on Friday, June 11 at 9 p.m. at Brooklyn Heights Cinema. It is also showing Saturday, June 12th, at 1 p.m. and Sunday, June 13th, 8 p.m., at indieScreen (Williamsburg). For more information on tickets, see BiFF.

The Greenpoint studio, called goodpoint, is in a sunlit, open-air studio—what Foster calls an Ashram. “I’m sure someone would love to turn this space into their own private McMansion,” she says. “But it was built by artists and I’d like to see artists continue to benefit from it.”

Aside from Foster’s guidance—she’s been lauded by first-timers and veteran yogis alike—Goodpoint also provides a slew of holistic services including massage, Reiki, life coaching and alternative medicine. Kids’ yoga and kung-fu programs are in the works, as is an international yogic retreat program called goodtrip. Foster’s even at work on goodskin, a line of Ayurvedic cosmetics. Maybe you’ll be around for that.

The First Annual Brokelyn Charity Ball will be held June 10 from 7 to 11 at at Night Owl in Williamsburg, 160 N. 4th St. at Bedford Ave.

Megafauna from Brooklyn's Catbird Pictures

As Brokelynites, we love free stuff, especially, lately, of the movie and festival variety. And especially, especially, we love taking previously un-free stuff, making it free and giving it to you. Enter the Brooklyn International Film Festival. Really, enter it, with the two all-access passes we’ll be giving away to one lucky Brokelyn subscriber. Win and you’ll have two keys to the kingdom that is BIFF, where you can spend Jun. 4 to 13 jaunting around the borough, watching more than 100 films from 25 countries and keeping your eyes peeled for the next Spike Lee or two.

How to enter: Send us a subtitled 8mm video of yourself singing the theme to Saturday Night Fever while unicycling past Michelle Williams’ house. Or you could just e-mail movies@brokelyn.com by Thurs, Jun. 3 at 7 p.m., and you’ll be entered to be randomly selected for the two passes (much like the random winners we’ll pick from the forthcoming RAFFLE OF THE CENTURY, but even easier). The only requirement is that you be a Brokelyn e-mail subscriber. Not one? Sign up here (but remember, you still have to email us at the above address).

We love this festival because it’s like the Cannes for the can-do set. This year, BIFF is presenting a great selection of Brooklyn-based (16 from ol’ BK) and international films. Some of the Brooklyn highlights include The Prospects, and Colin Hearts Kay, both of which were shot in Park Slope. On the documentary front, there’s the World Premiere of Freddy’s, about the recently closed Prospect Heights landmark, and the U.S. premiere of Our House, which follows a crew of Williamsburg squatters. Here’s the whole lineup of films.

So… subscribe, email us by 7 p.m. on Thursday and BIFF could be your home for the next week.

The Brooklyn International Film Festival runs from June 4 to 13 at indieScreen and Brooklyn Heights Cinema. More ticket info here. 718-388-4306.

Photo by bitchcakesny.

You asked for it, we got it. It’s a store, cooking school and butcher shop all-in-one. It’s The Meat Hook, the newest extension of The Brooklyn Kitchen, helmed by one of Brooklyn’s most renowned foodies, Tom Mylan. And it’s given us (you) a $75 gift card for the RAFFLE OF THE CENTURY. While the actual term “meat-hook” isn’t high on the trendy or appetizing scale, think of it like this: To be called something so graphic and carnivorous-sounding means that it’s a) trendy enough to have such a daring name, 2) good enough to make it an instant success and 3) not joking about this meat.

The Hook uses only trusted farmers and sustainably-raised animals, and their fresh sausages, like the one with garlic, red wine & rosemary and chorico? They’re made fresh every single weekday.

Hooked already? Then you know about all their quality cookware, bulk olive oils, homemade pastas and sauces, vintage cookbooks and tools, and of course, humanely-raised and delicious meat. The $75 can go towards anything in the store or any class (so you can have a reason to buy the aforementioned quality cookware!).

The First Annual Brokelyn Charity Ball will be held June 10 from 7 to 11 at at Night Owl in Williamsburg, 160 N. 4th St. at Bedford Ave.