Brokelyn

The City Reliquary. Photo by Eric Bartholomew.

There are many reasons to visit The City Reliquary: 1) It’s a tiny Williamsburg museum crammed full of forgotten and unseen treasures from NYC’s past, and 2) The 370 Metropolitan Ave. attraction could soon become a relic itself. The museum’s president, Dave Herman, has announced that the Reliquary needs $10,000 by the end of March to keep the doors open. What we’d lose if the money isn’t raised? Two cozy, cluttered, jewel-box-like rooms, filled with everything from early burlesque memorabilia to New Yorkers’ private unicorn figurine collections to geological samples from the bosom of Mother BK herself.

Admission’s free, but there is a donation box, which we’re sure the place would like to see full right now. You also can help out through the Reliquary’s Kickstarter page, at a couple of Knitting Factory benefits and by buying the museum’s $30 membership card, which also will get you discounts at other Williamsburg establishments.

While we’re on the topic of great, off-the-beaten-path gems, the Reliquary is just one of many Brooklyn cultural must-sees on a slightly smaller scale than giants like the Brooklyn Museum, Botanic Garden and BAM. Here’s what else is around the borough. Read the rest of this entry »

The Williamsburg Art & Historical Center.

It’s only Monday, but we wanted to tell you about a Brooklyn-wide gallery hop that Marty Markowitz has put together for this weekend. Five free buses will be doing loops around our artiest neighborhoods (Bay Ridge? OK cool), every hour on the hour from 1 to 6, on Saturday or Sunday, depending upon which area you’re browsing. Bring your wallet, if there’s anything in it, because docents will be stationed at the galleries and along the bus rides dispensing art-buying advice. See below for pickup spots, and make your reservations now—they want people to RSVP to this thing in advance or you might have to hoof it. Register by phone at 718-802-3530 or email smart@visitbrooklyn.org. You have to give your name, phone number or email, and specify which hub and time you want. You can only make reservations for two people at a time.  Read the rest of this entry »