Brokelyn

The Brooklyn Free Store, via NYT

Maybe it’s the refreshing fall air or the persistent blech economic news, but folks in Brooklyn are acting mighty generous to each other this weekend with all these free shwag events. That’s especially true in Bed-Stuy, where two celebrations of freeness are planned Saturday: the grand opening of the Brooklyn Free Store, Bed-Stuy’s capitalism-shunning free-for-all; and the Swap + Meet, a “clothing swap social” at the Macon Branch of the library. Hey, looks like it’s finally time to take that trip to The Stuy you’ve been thinking about! Read the rest of this entry »

Show off that shag at Coney Island Beard & Mustache Competition [Kinetic Carnival]
Bed-Stuy gentrification in one handy map [L Magazine]
Robicelli’s cupcakes for your Rosh Hashana [Ditmas Park Blog]
Polarizing publishing prodigy Tao Lin at Book Court tonight [Melville House]
Free Videogum Back to School comedy show at Bell House [Videogum]
Bed bugs: bad for business, good for lawyers and pest control companies [NYT]
DOH strikes again: Ozzie’s on Fifth Ave. closed [Brownstoner]
BK man survives 625-volt shock after falling on third rail of subway [Daily News]

Ms. Dahlia's pastries & cakes

It’s the original stomping ground of Jay-Z, Chris Rock, Lil’ Kim and that old ear-biter, Mike Tyson. It’s the showcase for epic wall art, gorgeous brownstones and some old-school, no-frills block parties. It’s Bed-Stuy. And in recent years, this chunk of Brooklyn has birthed a crop of seriously clutch (and cheap) spots to dine, drink and shop… on top of all the incredible, long-standing neighborhood staples. We know the secret’s been out for a while, but here are 10 deals we love in Bed-Stuy. Read the rest of this entry »

In case you don't find this beaut for your trip, you've got a few options. Photo from NewYorkShitty.

This week, our roving car-service eye honed in on Bedford-Stuyvesant. The rates here are pretty steady for the different companies, aside from some JFK-bound spikes and dips. Also, unlike car services in some of Brooklyn’s other parts, Bed-Stuy’s companies seem particularly averse to pets and car seats.

We gave the hypothetical starting point of Classon Ave. and Lafayette Ave. and asked for quotes to the following three destinations: 1) Bedford Ave. and N. 12^th St. in Williamsburg, 2) Surf Av.e and W. 8^th St. in Coney Island and 3) JFK Airport. Read the rest of this entry »

Our standard clothing-swap photo, by Jenene Chesbrough. It has no connection to this event.

Kioka, organizer of the Brooklyn Clothing Exchange, writes in to tell us about a clothing swap in Bed-Stuy this weekend. The details:

Saturday March 13, noon – 4 p.m. at Brooklyn Public Library, Macon Branch
361 Lewis Ave. at Macon Street, Stuyvesant Heights, Brooklyn, 718-573-5606
A to Utica
B15 to Macon or B25, B26 to Lewis

Bring at least one bag of clean clothing. For other rules, see the Brooklyn Clothing Exchange’s MySpace page.

Photo courtesy of Bed-Stuy Blog.

Over the break, the Bed-Stuy blog posted about a designer-discount store on Marcus Garvey between Decatur and Fulton that sounds worth checking out—if you can get there when it’s open. The shop, which opened on Black Friday 2008, is called CloseOut Kings, and according to Bed-Stuy blog, it “feels like an urban chic or European boutique store” and is “stuffed with recognized name brand treasures, if you’re willing to take a few minutes to sort and sift.” BSB saw some Ralph Lauren ladies’ sweaters, Michael Kors sheets and other goodies. But beware: “One tip to note is their business hours aren’t consistent,” the blog warns. “If you can catch them while they’re open, this may be your next go-to shop for brand names at discount prices.” Has anyone else checked this place out? Read the whole story here.

King Fish, photo by Eric Reichbaum.

Everyone in New York seems to like hidden secrets, even if they aren’t all that secret. This is because New Yorkers are full of shit. I’m no different. My current find is a fried fish sandwich at a certain fresh fish store in Bed-Stuy. The sandwich is a “secret” because it’s sold at the kind of place that looks like nothing more than a fish market (it is a fish market, but the shop’s awning and the neon window light clearly say “Fried Fish” in bold lettering). The grub itself is tasty enough, but the real hook here is the price: $3, American. That’s right, dear reader, $3—hardly enough for some Boar’s Head bodega cold-cuts—gets you one fresh sandwich at King Fish Market. And the place isn’t alone in the little-known North Brooklyn fried fish triangle. Read the rest of this entry »

The Buggin' Out shopping guide.

Love this! Our friends at Racked tipped us off to a fun story on hip-hop clothier Mark Ecko’s Complex.com, which marks the 20th anniversary of Spike Lee’s Bed-Stuy classic with a shopping guide to the movie’s characters: Mookie (Spike himself), Radio “Love/Hate” Rahim (Bill Nunn), Buggin’ Out (Giancaro Esposito), Mister Señor Love Daddy (Samuel L. Jackson) and Clifton (John Savage). Who gets our vote? Tough call: Mookie’s Dodgers shirt will always be a Brooklyn classic, and Clifton can ride that sporty cyclist look anywhere in BK, but Buggin’ (left) gets the edge for his smartly sculpted dreads and mad-scientist specs. See the full story here.

[via Racked]