Labor Day Fun, Part VI: Party down Eastern Parkway

By Damian Harris-Hernandez

Scantily clad revelers and stilt-dancing moco jumbies return to the streets of Brooklyn this weekend for the annual West Indian Carnival Festival.

The Labor Day institution, which will take over Eastern Parkway this Sept. 6, draws over three million spectators and merrymakers to partake in Caribbean music, dancing and tasty fare.

“People from all over the world come to celebrate the culture of the Caribbean region,” said Jean Alexander, of the West Indian American Day Carnival Association, which organizes the parade. “Families reunite on Eastern Parkway. It’s a real nice time.”

Organizers of the jovial procession, the longest in the city, remain unfazed by the city’s call to cut the parade’s length and duration in a cost-saving move. As a result, this year’s starting point is Schenectady Avenue, cutting the parade length by one block, but the bacchanal promises to be bigger and better than ever this year.

“I don’t see it as a setback,” said Alexander of the one-block trim. “We have 40 new groups this year, many of whom are even coming from the Islands.”

Indeed, Idakeda, a Trinidadian cultural dance troupe from Port of Spain, will perform “Kambule,” a play celebrating Canbouley, a Trinidadian carnival that gave rise to Calypso and later soca music.

For the diehard revelers who can’t wait for the real parade to start, J’ouvert begins at 2 am near Grand Army Plaza on Labor Day. In this predawn procession, masqueraders wear wild costumes and douse each other in mud and paint while steel bands pump out live soca music.

Bring your flag and costume, but leave your inhibitions at home.

West Indian American Day Carnival [along Eastern Parkway starting at Schenectady Avenue in Crown Heights to Grand Army Plaza in Prospect Heights, (718) 467-1797], Sept. 6 from 11 am-6 pm, For info, visit www.wiadca.com.

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Labor Day Fun, Part V: Dance party

By Meredith Deliso

Call it Sunday Last.

The final installment of the daytime DJ-driven dance parties, Sunday Best, is this Labor Day weekend.

All summer long, the DJ crew of Doug Singer, Justin Carter and Eamon Harkin has been bringing in special guests from all over the world to get Brooklynites grooving in their flip flops in the often sweltering heat.

A Gowanus Canal-side hot spot for the past four years, the party was forced to find a new home earlier this summer after the BKLYN Yard shut down and they were unable to continue with liquor license. But the crew soon found the courtyard at Brooklyn Fire Proof in Bushwick accommodating (there’s even a disco ball hanging from the trees).

On Sept. 5, the trio will man the decks themselves and party until the sun goes down.

“It’s been a great summer. The people who come to our parties are exceptional, and they’ve made it special week after week after week,” said Carter (pictured on the right with Harkin). “We’re really looking forward to playing the entire day for them.”

That is, until next summer.

Sunday Best at Brooklyn Fire Proof (119 Ingraham St. at Varick Avenue, no phone), Sept. 5 from 3-9 pm. Tickets $8 before 4 pm with RSVP to rsvp@sundaybestnyc.com, $12 otherwise. For info, visit www.sundaybestnyc.com.

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Labor Day Fun, Part IV: Find the love of your life

By Meredith Deliso

It may be too late for that summer romance, but it’s never too late to find love.

Jin Moon (pictured) likes people who are passionate about their interests — and each other — hence her I Heart Nerds Speed Dating events at Union Hall. But these aren’t your stereotypical pocket protector-wearing, suspender sporting, Steve Urkel nerds.

“I think the term ‘nerd’ has taken a modern spin and become a more generic term without the old social stigma attached to it,” said Moon. “It’s now cool to be a nerd. In the era of “Glee,” being a nerd just means being passionate about your hobbies and about life.”

Her next nerd congregation is Sept. 5 at the Park Slope bar in a special Labor Day of Love installment.

“Labor Day represents the beginning of autumn to me,” said Moon. “It’s my favorite season of the year, and I think it’s the perfect season to find love — in preparation for finding a winter snuggle buddy!”

Here’s how it works: During the speed round, the ladies stay in place while the guys rotate seats. Each date lasts the length of a four-minute love song, and there are enough songs playing so that all available singles have a date. The risk of in-person rejection is pretty minimal — after each date, participants write down the tag number of the person they would like to get in touch with. If people pick each other, it is considered a “match,” and they will be e-mailed each other’s e-mail addresses. The rest is up to you.

“It’s the perfect way to get back into the dating scene,” said Moon. “It’s a really amazing crowd of people who participate. They all seem so open and ready to fall in love.”

Pun probably intended.

I Heart Nerds Speed Dating at Union Hall [702 Union St. near Fifth Avenue in Park Slope, (718) 638-4400], Sept. 5 at 7 pm. Tickets $10.

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Labor Day Fun, Part III: Pig out

By Meredith Deliso

Here’s your last chance to pig out before summer’s over.

On Sept. 4, MeanRed Productions throws Snout ’N Stout, a pig roast and sidewalk party in Williamsburg.

The North Carolina-style porcine fest will also sport plenty of cold craft beer, as well as tunes supplied by DJ Cowboy Mark of the Greenpoint store Kill Devil Hill.

The roast will take over a warehouse on N. Third Street — but this barbecue isn’t just about the food, but the atmosphere.

“I’m really looking forward to the laid-back vibe,” said Jenny Gottstein, of MeanRed. “It’s going to be a sweet late summer gathering of awesome people enjoying great music, great food, and cold beers.”

Snout ’N Stout (50 N. Third St., between Berry Street and Wythe Avenue in Williamsburg, no phone), Sept. 4 from 6-10 pm. No cover, but food plate tickets are $15.

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Labor Day Fun, Part II: Rockabilly Festival

By Damian Harris-Hernandez

From flame tattoos to fire eaters, the Coney Island Rockabilly Festival heats up the Boardwalk over this weekend.

More than 20 rockabilly and honky tonk bands, as well as live burlesque theater and sideshow, will take over Cha Cha’s from Sept. 3-6.

That’s right, folks, real freaks, including strongmen and sword swallowers, take the stage between bands during the four-day festival, which, on the last day, features nine smokin’ ladies vying for Miss Pinup Coney Island 2010.

“Coney Island is very old-school New York,” said Sean Kershaw, whose band, The New Jack Ramblers, will perform their hit “Coney Island Cowboy” on Sept. 4. “You can still get the feel of the carnival atmosphere, the hucksters and hustlers, and no amount of corporate dollars or urban planning can duplicate or replace the magic.”

Cha Cha’s owner John Ciarcia knows the formula for a good time: “Music, girls — it’s all nice,” he said.

Rockabilly Festival at Cha Cha’s of Coney Island [1229 Riegelmann Boardwalk at Stillman Avenue, (718) 946-1305], Sept. 3-6. Tickets $8-$15, depending on the night. For info, visit www.myspace.com/cockabillyrecordsnyc.

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