Oh, my good iPod was in there.

Enough time has passed since Christmas that you can ditch all that crap you immediately broke with your clumsy, nog-drunk hands. As you well know by now, e-waste doesn’t go in with your regular trash, unless you love the tangy taste of chemicals in your water. Instead, take them to one of the e-waste recycling events in Brooklyn in this weekend: one is at McCarren Park (Bedford Ave. at North 12 St.) on Saturday and another at Prospect Park (Prospect Park West at 3rd St.) on Sunday, both from 10am-4pm. The list of accepted items is below, which includes most things (not your fridge). 

The following working and non-working equipment is accepted:

• Computers (laptops & desktops, servers, mainframes)

• Monitors

• Printers, scanners, fax-machines, copiers

• Network devices (routers, hubs, modems, etc.)

• Peripherals (keyboards, mice, cables, cords, chargers, etc.)

• Tablets and E-readers

• Components (hard drives, CD-ROMs, circuit boards, power supplies, etc.)

• TVs, VCRs, DVRs, & DVD Players

• Digital Converter Boxes, Cable/Satellite Receivers

• Portable music players

• Audio-visual equipment

• Video-games

• Cell phones, pagers, PDAs

• Telecommunication (phones, answering machines, etc.)

They do not accept home appliances such as microwaves, refrigerators, or air conditioners.

Already looking forward to the summer.

McCarren just became the first of the five Brooklyn park set to receive free wifi, thanks to tech ninjas who installed the routers quietly over the weekend. While Brooklynites all sat around, none the wiser, stealing wireless from the downstairs neighbor as usual, I donned my sturdiest flannel, braved the cold wind and set out to test drive the new signal before others discovered it and starting hogging my bandwidth. Sure, they installed it just in time for the part of the year when the parks won’t exactly be crowded all day, and the service is only free for a bit before you have to pay [Updated below]. But does it work well enough to make it worth lugging your laptop and travel coffee mug down to the park? 

Loading Pages: Far superior to my home wireless or any I’ve used in Brooklyn cafes or restaurants, the wireless can be found under “attwifi” and showed five bars of connectivity, which it delivered. It worked quickly to load pages and refresh feeds on my mobile device (iPhone) and computer (Macbook… why does Apple own my life?). Brokelyn, Facebook, and Google load and reload rapidly.

Twitter: It’s fantastically fast. Just don’t show your excitement through excessive caps Tweets, because we will un-follow you. The shame!

Netflix: Streaming a movie or TV episodes on Netflix is lightning quick on this network. One second I was perusing the less-than-appealing options, the next I was happily watching Meet Joe Black. I didn’t even see the loading circle I’ve become so well-acquainted with in past months!

Be warned: If it’s even remotely sunny, there will be glare on your laptop. Glare guard it up or just squint; for free wifi, it’s worth it. If it wasn’t soon to be unacceptably cold outside, I’d relocate my work station to a McCarren bench (freelance outdoor chic, I’ll call it). I’m hopeful that wind, rain and snow storms won’t knock out the service as we venture further into the deep freeze of winter.

UPDATE 10/12: A spokesperson for AT&T says the service will in fact be free for the length of your time in one of the parks: “The wifi is free for however long they want,” spokesperson Flavia Draganus said. “At the parks AT&T have chosen (including these) users (with any provider) have free wi-fi throughout their time at the park.”

Screenshot from McCarren.

Follow Meredith: @MereOfTheOlsons.

This version has its own veritable parade of puppets and your favorite characters from under the sea (Sebastian, anyone?). To sweeten the deal, it’s right in McCarren Park, and it’s free. Take one of the last summer chances to enjoy free outdoor theater by grabbing a blanket and a (concealed) beverage, and getting your unmannered self down to McCarren to support a company that gets it.

Performances take place at the corner of Bedford Avenue & Lorimer Street.

OK kids, it’s the last full month of summer, so seize the season! Missing out on some of these great free events — like Thursday’s showing of An American Tail at Brooklyn Bridge Park or Wednesday’s Clueless in McCarren Park — would be way harsh, Tai. If you’re feeling more indoorsy, grab your needles and thread for tonight’s Craft Night at Etsy Labs featuring The Long Thread, and then take your creation to the Built in Brooklyn Craft Fair at Launchpad. Get in line early on Thursday and join the crush trying to get in to the House of Vans show to see headliners Man Man. You can feel like dying is fine with Ra Ra Riot at Prospect Park on Friday, take a trip to Bushwick for the not-to-be-missed summer garden debauchery that is Roberta’s Tiki Disco. And wrap up your week (safety first) with Babeland’s brunch workshop: Hand Job How-Tos, complete with free pastries! But wash your hands, please.

Our city’s mid-summer fever finally broke and dropped the temps down to a relatively frigid 80 degrees today: what a perfect week to reenergize yourself to take advantage of all the great free stuff going on in Brooklyn this summer! The list of choices this week is as impressive as it is varied: You’ve got movies — Top Gun tonight at Coney Island, Ferris Bueller in McCarren and Animal House at Square Root Cafe on Wednesday — and plenty of stellar comedy, including They Might Be Giants show at the Williamsburg Waterfront on Friday featuring Eugene Mirman, Kristen Schaal, Patton Oswalt and Todd Barry. That same day, you can head over to the House of Vans concert series to see Fucked Up and Screaming Females OR Dr. John at Prospect Park. And then on Saturday for the kids of all ages: Red Hook Pirate Fest! So much to do every day, and of course, it’s all free! Do you know of an event we should list? E-mail free[at]brokelyn[dot]com today!

Street artist Skewville's "Last Exit to Skewville," on display during Northside. Photo via Jaime Rojo.

It’s my favorite time of year again: Not only is summer bursting from every cracked hydrant and aromatic taco truck, but the L Magazine’s Northside Festival is here, which means I can stop hauling ass to Prospect Park and effortlessly lure all of my friends to Williamsburg, Greenpoint and Bushwick for a glorious four days of burgeoning culture. Badges for the fest would have run you $60-$200 (and are sold out anyway), and tickets to the bigger shows have their own big price tags. But there’s plenty to do that’s doesn’t involve opening your wallet. Check out Brokelyn’s guide to free Northside, plus some bonus tips to the festival’s associated deals and freebies to help you soak up loads of film, music, art and north Brooklyn pride, without breaking the bank.

Pete’s Candy Store and Spike Hill seem to monopolize the complimentary concerts this week, but Matchless, the Woods, the Gutter and Trophy Bar all get in on the action. All free shows are 21+ unless otherwise noted.

THURSDAY – June 16
Pete’s Candy Store hosts Minerva Lions, You Won’t, Big Tree, and Noisycrane. Show starts at 8pm, Doors TBD.

Spike Hill, ReThink Pop Music presents an epic lineup:
Jack & the Jaywalkers 12:45am
The Ruby Spirit 12am
The Aviation Orange 11:15pm
The Yes Way 10:30pm
Me You Us Them 9:45pm
Appomattox 9pm
The Courtesy Tier 8:15pm
Lucius 7:30pm
The Wicked Tomorrow 6:45pm
Sweet Wood Soul 6pm
Doors are at 5:30pm.

FRIDAY – June 17
Head to the Fowler Arts Collective (67 West Street, #216, in Greenpoint) for a reception celebrating the launch of Northside Open Studios, taking place from 7-11pm. Fowler’s 18 artist studios will be open for visitors the entire weekend: On Saturday and Sunday from 12-6pm.

After the reception, catch Anni Rossi’s sweet-n-melancholic viola tunes at Pete’s Candy Store at 11pm, as well as Boy Without God, Jo Schornikow (of The Shivers), and Twi the Humble Feather. Show starts at 8pm, Doors TBD.

SATURDAY – June 18 (the best day for freeness)
At Bar Matchless, gorge on delicious brunch from 12-4pm while The Battering Room presents: Diehard, Mussels, Marie Stella, Beat Radio, I’m Turning Into, with DJ sets by Jinners (Wonder Twins).

Twosyllable records and I Guess I’m Floating present another afternoon show at The Woods: Arches 7pm, Holiday Shores 6pm, Beige 5pm, Secret Mountains 4pm, Celestial Shore 3pm. Doors at 2pm.

Saturday evening at Pete’s Candy Store, see Beau Jennings, Gabriel Phillips Miller, Lacrymosa, Bel Air. Doors at 5:30pm.

Northside’s own L Magazine hosts two “Bands You Need to Hear“ showcases on Saturday. Catch part 1 at Spike Hill, with Mainland, Slowdance, Luke Rathborne, Grand Rapids, and Radical Dads. Doors at 1:30pm.
Part 2 starts at 8:30 in The Back Room at The Gutter: see Your Youth, Gross Relations, The Hairs (solo), and Beat Radio.

SUNDAY – June 19
For your last day of Northside (have you been drinking enough water?!), head to Spike Hill for one last Sunday funday afternoon show presented by Paper Trail & Paper Garden Records: See Emanuel & the Fear, Big Tree, Clouder, Whale Belly, Project Jenny Project Jan, Infernal Devices, Friend Factory, and with DJ sets by BRAHMS. Doors at noon.

On Sunday night you can dance it all away with a DJ set by Slashedo from 5-10pm at Trophy Bar; or scoop up one last free show at Pete’s Candy Store: Bridges and Powerlines go on at 10:30, with openers Onward Chariots and Joe Fox & the Fourth Floor Band. Show starts at 8:30, doors TBD.

BADGE-HOLDER BENEFITS
Badge pickup began in Williamsburg at noon today, but did you know your badge is also a discount card? Our personal favorite badge-holder benefits:

Sip on a complimentary iced coffee from Urban Rustic (with any purchase over $5) or down a half-gallon (?!) of free beer at Goodbye Blue Monday.

The festival has partnered with Brooklyn Flea, meaning that all badge holders will receive an “Eat Free at the Flea” voucher. Tickets can be redeemed at Smorgasburg, the new-and-awesome artisanal foodie greenmarket taking place on Saturday at the Williamsburg BK Flea. For the full list of sweet Northside deals, click here.

MAKE THE BEST OF YOUR FEST
Find out more about the etiquette of swiping free swag, networking at a music festival and how to scavenge the internet for deals at the bottom of this guide, and scan for more free events in our summer calendar. Use Brokelyn’s own outdoor concert cheat sheet to find out how to still hear Beruit’s sold-out Friday show and Guided by Voices (Saturday, pricey but arguably worth it) from the outskirts of McCarren Park.

To purchase last-minute tickets to any films ($10), panels ($10-12), or shows ($5-35), click here.

When you can't get in, where should you stand? Andrew Bird picture by Flickr's Scott Lynch.

You’ve just seen Animal Collective at the Prospect Park Bandshell on a gorgeous summer night, your special lady with you as the warm air settles on you and thousands of other fans. When you get back home ready for amorous adventures, your cat attacks you because his food dish has been empty for a week, since you dropped 70 bucks for those Animal Collective tickets instead of buying cat food. Your cat has a point.

Any idiot could recommend that you hang around outside the fence during outdoor shows, but I’m an idiot with acoustic science, and acoustic science tells us there are plenty of other places to catch your favorite jams when even pocket lint seems like a luxury. I used a simple formula to pinpoint the best beyond-the-fence free listening spots in McCarren, Prospect and East River Parks — and it’s not always the closest spot that offers the best sound.

THE FORMULA
When trying to catch ticketed shows at outdoor venues, the most important aspect is actually being able to hear the music. Using the formula for decibel reduction over distance, we can determine if you’ll be able to hear the music clearly when standing far away.

The first part of the formula is as follows: 20 x log(far distance in meters/near distance in meters). Don’t worry about figuring out what “log” is; any spacephone calculator should have a log function. After you’ve determined the decibel drop, just subtract it from the decibel level of what you’re listening to. In this case, a loud rock concert has a noise level of 115 decibels, so subtract your total from 115. Your starting decibel level will vary of course. If you’re the kind of person who likes to stand directly in front of the amps, you should start around 120 or 130 decibels. If you’re the kind of person planning to hear the darndest things your grandkids will be saying, keep in mind that prolonged exposure to noise levels above 95 decibels can cause hearing loss.

The three caveats I’ll give you before we get to the specific places to sit are as follows:

1. This is a very rough science because I am not a sound man at any of the venues and don’t know how they set their levels.
2. Other factors like walls and buildings and the wind dampen noise, but distance is still the primary factor.
3. I did my homework here, but I also failed the New York State Physics Regents. If I understood gravity any less I’d probably float away.

PROSPECT PARK paid shows

Click for interactive map and photos. Graphic by Meghan Doherty.

The Decemberists w/Best Coast: June 14, 7pm

Animal Collective: July 12, 6:30pm

Sufjan Stevens: Aug. 2, 7pm

Cut Copy w/Foster the People: Aug. 11, 6:30pm

Prospect Park is your best bet for free music all summer, seeing as how there’s so much space to take advantage of. Still, some places to sit are better than others, so here are four:

1. Directly to the left of the stage, there’s a barbecue spot. Bring your meat or weird vegan stuff early though, because a spot this nice is sure to get snapped up quickly, possibly even by people who don’t give a damn about indie rock. And at only 57 meters away, you can hear the show come in at a clear 80 decibels.

2. Situate yourself at center stage and walk back a bit. Nestled in between the bike path and the baseball fields is this stump. It doesn’t look like much, but stumps are nature’s chairs. Mark Twain said that. As long as you don’t mind the fact that ants enjoy listening to Colin Meloy as much as you do, you’ll be just fine. You’ll also be able to hear clearly as long as you don’t talk too loud, since the music will be reaching you at 74 decibels.

3. Breaking up the monotony of the pine trees all around the Bandshell, this pink tree, stage left (your right, from center stage) will allow you to ensconce yourself in romance as well as music. The pink petals falling all around you will distract you from the fact that you’re sitting in wet grass while all the people with disposable income 40 meters from you are sitting in chairs. Probably massage chairs. Still, you can’t do much better than 75 decibels for free.

4. Trek just a bit farther from the pink tree if it’s a bit too precious for you, to yet another barbecue spot. It’s set back to the right of center stage and near the bike path, so bring some venison or bear meat and pretend you’re in the Alaskan wilderness as you surround yourself with pine trees while Cut Copy drifts in at 72 decibels.

EAST RIVER PARK paid shows

Click for interactive map and photos. Graphic by Meghan Doherty.

Kid Cudi: July 7, 5:00pm

Death Cab for Cutie: Aug. 2, 5:30pm

Sonic Youth: Aug. 12, 5:30pm

It’s slim pickings at East River State Park, but you don’t have to stand in the street to listen. Two spots in particular could be better for listening than the venue itself.

1. It’s far from the stage, yeah, but oh that view! And oh that weird bench! The N. 5 Street pier is probably the best thing we’ll get out of those eyesore condos popping up like genital warts on the Williamsburg waterfront, so you may as well use it to your advantage. And you can fish off it! Keep it down though, because the music will be floating in at the barest conversation level of 64 decibels.

2. It’s easy to miss behind the hideous construction surrounding it, but N. 10 Street boasts the soccer-friendly Bushwick Inlet Park. It’s open late enough to hang out in during the shows and on the off chance no one is playing soccer during a show, you should have the Astroturf all to yourself. If there is a game, take it in while sitting along the fence and listening to Sonic Youth’s loud guitars dissipate to 70 decibels by the time they hit your ears.

MCCARREN PARK paid show

Click for interactive map and photos. Graphic by Meghan Doherty.

Beirut/Sharon Van Etten: June 17, 5pm

Guided By Voices/Wavves/Surfer Blood/The Babies: June 18, 3:00pm

We enter the realm of speculation for the new McCarren Park shows during this weekend’s Northside Festival. All the world knows about them at this point is that the amphitheater is supposed to go up on the asphalt softball fields on N. 13th Street between Berry Street and Bedford Avenue. Outside of that, the sound quality and experience are shrouded in mystery. What isn’t a mystery is what you should do with the money you save by not paying to see the shows: buy an enormous margarita from the Turkey’s Nest and bring it to one of these two spots:

1. You don’t need me to tell you that there’s an enormous park for you to hang out in and try to hear the show. Or at least I hope you don’t. Still, I like this tree, which is conveniently located near N. 13 Street and Bedford Avenue. The music should hit at a pleasant 75 decibels, so just relax and take it all in.

2. Right next to the softball fields are a few tables. If by some lucky break no one else is sitting at them, have at it, although you won’t get a huge difference in sound quality as compared to that tree that I like. Still, you’ll be able to hear “No Hope Kids” at 79 decibels, which should be good enough.

You don’t need to follow my advice to the letter though. Hell, I hope you don’t so that I can have my newfound spots to myself. Now that you’re armed with a decibel dissipation equation, you can find your own spots and finally use the power of science for your own twisted ends!

Turn on, log in, lay out. Prospect Park photo by Flickr's AnnieGreenSprings

Charge up your batteries, fiddle with your dimmer settings and get that iced coffee to go: First DUMBO brought free wifi to the streets, now the major parks in Brooklyn are slated to get free wifi by the end of the summer. WNYC reported yesterday that Prospect, McCarren, Fort Greene, Brooklyn Bridge and Herbert Von King parks will be hooked up with wifi thanks to AT&T by the end of summer. It’ll last at least five years, the length of AT&T’s agreement. It’s not clear when you’ll be able to log on — nor is it clear if the signal can handle 500 people trying to FoodSpot their margarita picnic brunches in McCarren — but the wifi has already been turned on in some Manhattan and Bronx parks.

According to WNYC, the rest of the parks covered include:

Bronx: Joyce Kilmer Park, Bronx River Park and Devoe Park

Manhattan: Battery Park, Thomas Jefferson Park, Central Park (multiple locations), the High Line, Holcombe Rucker Park, Marcus Garvey Park and Tompkins Square Park

Queens: Astoria Park, Flushing Meadows Corona Park and MacDonald Park

Staten Island: Clove Lake Park and South Beach

Outdoor blogging? Live Skyping your buddies from outdoor Ghostbusters? A chance to get a leg up on those iPad-toting smug San Franciscans ? Sign us up!

Mayor Bloomberg heralded the news: “Just imagine the possibilities. More New Yorkers will now be able to take their office outdoors. They’ll be able to upload photos during outdoor concerts or as their kids are playing in the parks.”

Bloomy, we’re not sure you know what you’re getting into. Now, how about some free public outlets too?