One the love you're with — at Bike Festish Day

By Aaron Short 

Peddling paramours will demonstrate their devotion to two-wheeled transportation at Bicycle Fetish Day in Williamsburg this Saturday.

But rest assured, the only leather present will be vintage Brooks bicycle seats and the only chains will be locking up two-wheelers to a bike racks on Havemeyer Street.

Instead, the street will be teeming with fixies, BMXers, vintage roadsters, handmade velodrome-ready racers, and shiny custom machines that are the pride of the Puerto Rican Bicycle Club.

Organizer Lacey Tauber promises that the all-day affair, now in its seventh year, will have something for everyone — unless you drive a car.

“I really enjoy the fact that it’s a space for different cycling communities to come together,” said Tauber. “But it’s all about fun, not about all the tough issues.”

Yes, there will be advocacy literature on hand, but there’ll also be a killer grill manned by City Reliquary, BMX tricks by Grime Cycles, and lots and lots of bike swag.

Now that’s something that will keep your wheels spinning.

Bicycle Fetish Day (Havemeyer Street at Meteropolitan Avenue in Williamsburg), May 28, noon-6pm. Free. For info, www.cityreliquary.org. 

Read more...

Just call it Booze Aid!

By Aaron Short

Spirits are rising — to save the City Reliquary!

Brooklyn’s most revered mixologists will show off the borough’s smoothest spirits in a tasty taste test on Friday at The Brooklyn Kitchen.

The booze-and-schmoose fundraiser will benefit the City Reliquary, Williamsburg’s most beloved micro-museum and curator of do-it-yourself craft culture.

The Reliquary’s Matt Levy says it’s the perfect time to try all those Brooklyn-made cocktails you’ve been reading about, such as Kings County Distilling’s whiskey and Breuckelen Distilling’s gin — which Levy likes straight up.

“Brooklyn Distilling makes a mighty fine gin and I like all the cocktails being served — I’m an equal opportunity drinker,” said Levy, adding that there will be “no baptisms” allowed.

Thirsty guests can sample mixed drinks at five cocktail tables, including a wine station with Red Hook Wines and a beer station with — what else? — Brooklyn Brewery showing off its top shelf stuff.

Make sure you try Sother Teague’s “Jack Rose,” an applejack sidecar she developed at Rye, and a dark rum daquiri that Joel Lee Kulp developed at The Richardson.

And to ensure that people don’t pass out on the floor, there will be salty, alcohol-absorbing treats from The Meat Hook, Saltie, The Commodore, Roebling Tea Room, Momofuku Baker, and coffee from Oslo.

So get into the spirit! — just make sure to call a cab home first.

Booze and Schmooze with the City Reliquary at The Brooklyn Kitchen [100 Frost St. at Meeker Avenue in Williamsburg, (718) 389-2982], Feb. 25. 7-11 pm. $75-$100. For tickets, http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/155768.

Read more...

You - yes you! - could be 'Miss G Train'

The City Reliquary is looking for the
next
first "Miss G Train."

The pageant coincides fittingly with the museum's current exhibition of the old “Miss Subways” contests.

Why the G train? Well, the museum is located near the Metropolitan Avenue stop on the line. And, at only four cars and the only line to not go into Manhattan, the train is much charmed and maligned, and the City Reliquary embraces the unsung histories and quirky collections of New York.

Heeding the call to compete? The pageant will be open to New Yorkers of all ages and genders (calling all Mr. G Trains too, then).

To vie for your chance to rep the G, submit a photograph of yourself, along with a 200-word essay about the G train and why you wish to be its ambassador, to missgtrain@cityreliquary.org by Nov. 16.

Indeed open to all, on Nov. 19, all participants will have the chance to participate in the pageant, to be held at the City Reliquary (370 Metropolitan Ave.), from 8 to 10 p.m., complete with sashes and celebrity judges.

Brooklynites, start working on those essays now. We wouldn't want someone from Manhattan to win, would we?

Read more...