Re-Joyce! Bloomsday is here

By Meredith Deliso

Grab your massive copy of “Ulysses” — June 16 is upon us.

Fans will know the date for its significance in the James Joyce masterpiece, as the book follows that day’s events in the life of Leopold Bloom. And for more than 50 years, they’ve used that date to celebrate the book and the man with readings in Dublin and aboard.

For parties stateside, look no further than the Brooklyn Lyceum in Park Slope, which is hosing its own Bloomsday celebration tonight. Hosted by Joycean scholar Emmet Mc Gowan, the evening will feature a recitation of excerpts from the 265,000-word novel, as well as food and, of course, drink.

 In a bit of cheeky irony, the evening is dedicated to the New York Society for the Suppression of Vice, which in 1920 objected to the book’s “lewd” content (a masturbation scene) and took action to keep it out of the United States. The group, thankfully, failed.

Bloomsday at the Brooklyn Lyceum [227 Fourth Ave. at President Street in Park Slope, (718) 857-4816], June 16 at 8 pm. Free. For info, visit www.brooklynlyceum.com.

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Flea season is in full swing

By Meredith Deliso

Spring’s in full swing, and so are flea markets, shopping parties and expansions in this week’s Market Watch.

Spring Craft Market

More than 60 craftspeople will descend on the Brooklyn Lyceum in Park Slope on April 30 and May 1 for its annual Spring Craft Market. There’ll also be music, food and drink to also entertain, but don’t waste this opportunity to score a gift for the mother in your life, as Mother’s Day is fast approaching on May 8.

Spring Craft Market at the Brooklyn Lyceum [227 Fourth Ave. at President Street in Park Slope, (718) 857-4816], April 30 and May 1 from 11 am-7 pm. Free admission. For info, visit www.lyceummarkets.com.

Just for the girls

For the shopping set, here’s a Cinco de Mayo event you can get on board with. Shopping party planner Jovi, The Brooklyn Social brings its popular “Girls Night Out” event to Capri in Bay Ridge on May 5, when you can find dozens of clothes and accessories vendors, as well as nutrition products and fitness professionals, to help you look your best this spring. You can also enjoy a margarita at the open bar, tapas from Hom Boutique and Cafe, and the chance to win prizes.

“Girls Night Out” at Capri [437 88th St. near Fifth Avenue in Bay Ridge, (718) 748-1002], May 5 from 6-10 pm. Tickets $30.

Fulton Flea

The Fulton Flea is back for another spring and summer season. Running every Sunday starting May 8, the Brooklyn Plaza Fulton Flea will be home to a variety of artisan goods, products, and and food from local residents and businesses in Fort Greene.

Brooklyn Plaza Fulton Flea [650 Fulton St. between Fort Greene Place and S. Elliott Place in Fort Greene, (917) 364-5648], Sundays starting May 8 from 11 am-6:30 pm. For info, visit www.fultonflea.com.

Steve Alan expands

The old Jodi Arnold space next to Steven Alan on Atlantic Avenue has a new tenant — Steven Alan. Racked reports that the designer is essentially doubling in size in Boerum Hill as it takes advantage of the vacant space next store, which became open when designer Jodi Arnold closed in December, to have his and hers store. Each space, the original at 349 Atlantic Ave., the other at 347 Atlantic Ave., won’t be accessible from the other, but in case you’re shopping for both sexes, they’re still only right next door to each other. The new space is expected to open this week.

Steven Alan [347 and 349 Atlantic Ave. near Hoyt Street in Boerum Hill, (718) 852-3257].

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Bugging out

By Meredith Deliso

A man who turns into a spider. Aerial acts above the audiences’ heads. Zip lines running from one end of the theater to the other.

No, this isn’t “Spider-Man,” but a new aerial show from the Williamsburg-based Grounded Aerial, running at the Brooklyn Lyceum from now to 29.

“Beyond that, zilch, there’s just no correlation,” said Karen Fuhrman, creator of the aerial show “Insectinside.” “And no one ever got hurt with Grounded Aerial.”

“Insectinside” is five years in the making, an aerial play featuring dancers from “Pilobolus,” “Cirque Du Soleil,” “The Metropolitan Opera,” and “De La Guarda” that take on the forms of praying mantises, spiders, luna moths, and ants to tell the story of one man’s descent into insanity.

“It’s about a confused, schizophrenic man, and his world in his head is reenacted on stage,” said Fuhrman.

The psychical acts are sure to make viewers “ooh” and “ahh” — especially with stilt-walkers and a silk artist who falls 25 feet — but Fuhran hopes the story is equally engaging.

“It’s not spectacle for spectacle’s sake — it’s a play in the air,” said the artist. “The story is ultimately about awareness, on an individual and community level.”

“Insectinside” at the Brooklyn Lyceum [227 Fourth Ave. at President Street in Park Slope, (718) 857-4816], now through April 29 at 8 pm. Tickets $15 in advance, $18 at the door. For info, visit www.brooklynlyceum.com.

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An event for the dogs

By Michelle Manetti

Meet the mutts, meet the mutts.

For the second year in a row, the Brooklyn Lyceum is hosting its version of the slightly more famous Westminster and American Kennel Club shows — but you won’t find any stuck-up pooches here.

“We focus on having fun and being silly,” said Regan Fishman, who is organizing the March 26-27 event.

“The Mutt Show,” celebrates the unique qualities of dogs, that can’t be learned or mimicked, like “Best Beard,” “Best Ears,” and “Softest Coat.”

But the biggest paw-pumping category will be the “Snook-a-like” contest, where contestants will compete to see which bad-to-the-bone pup looks most like Nicole “Snookie” Polizzi from “Jersey Shore” (owners are encouraged to dress-up as well.)

“Sure, you can see a dog do a trick,” said Fishman. “But where else are you going to see them dressed as ‘Jersey Shore’ characters?”

Participants will be competing for a variety of prizes including ribbons, medals and grab bags filled of treats.

And even if there’s no seriousness to the categories, the event is more than just some satire.

“We have so many passionate pet owners here in Brooklyn,” said Fishman. “A lot of them adopt or rescue, so here is place to encourage more of that."

“The Mutt Show,” at the Brooklyn Lyceum [227 Fourth Ave. near President Street in Park Slope, (718) 857-4816], March 26-27, 11 am-7 pm. Free for viewers. For info, visit www.brooklynmuttshow.com.

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The clock is ticking

By Meredith Deliso

One of Arthur Miller’s lesser-known plays is finally getting its due.

Beginning on March 3, Brave New World Repertory Theatre presents a full-scale production of “The American Clock” at the Brooklyn Lyceum in Park Slope. And the Great Depression-era epic couldn’t be more timely.

“It’s very satisfying to be able to do this play during what we hope will be the end of the Great Recession, because I don’t think it ever really had its moment in Arthur Miller’s lifetime,” said Artistic Director Claire Beckman. “He hoped this would be a warning to people, that the clock is ticking on the American dream, and the play needs to be heard.”

The play is based on Studs Terkel’s oral history of the period, “Hard Times,” but is also heavily mirrored after Miller’s own childhood. Like Miller’s family, the fictional Baums moved from Manhattan to Brooklyn after losing their fortune. There’s Rose and Moe Baum, based off of Miller’s own parents and portrayed by Beckman and Stuart Zagnit; and Joe Salgo as the young Lee Baum — Miller himself.

“It’s a real window into his experiences and the hardships that shaped him as a writer,” said director Cynthia Babak. “He’s documenting what he sees as right and wrong.”

In addition to the Baum family, the play’s 53 characters — here portrayed by a large ensemble of nearly 20 — include train-riding hobos and high-riding Wall Street brokers brought low as the play retells the story of the economic crisis, with period songs including “On The Sunny Side of the Street.”

 “Those old vaudeville songs add the levity that is needed,” said Beckman. “You’re not just siting there watching a lot of really dark and tragic narrative about the Depression, which nobody could stand for two hours.”

“The American Clock” at the Brooklyn Lyceum [227 Fourth Ave. near President Street in Park Slope, (718) 857-4816], March 3-13, Thursdays-Saturdays at 8 pm, Saturdays at 3 pm and Sundays at 7 pm. Tickets $18. For info, visit www.bravenewworldrep.org.

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Your holiday shopping guide

By Meredith Deliso

Sure, Etsy’s good for finding unique crafts this holiday season, but nothing beats shopping in person when you have a friend who always seems to have everything. Luckily, there’s plenty of craft markets in the coming weeks, as well as pop-up shops, that will have you checking off everyone on your shopping list.

Brooklyn Artisans Trunk Show

You can find great baklava at Sam’s Bakery, and now, on Nov. 30, great gifts, too. The Brooklyn Artisans Trunk Show sets up show at the Bay Ridge bakery, featuring a select number of local artists, craftmakers and Etsy-types selling their wares. That includes Groundsel’s clever carriers, from a wristlet made from a man’s suit (left), to an iPhone case made from a vintage tie; Owllamode’s vintage poppy headpieces; and Very Sage’s cozy, crocheted ear flap hat. And who knows what else you’ll dig up at this trunk show.

Brooklyn Artisans Trunk Show at Sam’s Bakery [275 94th St. between Ridge Boulevard and Third Avenue in Bay Ridge, (347) 560-6657], Nov. 30, 10 am-5 pm. 

Handmade Holiday Craft Fair

The only rule about 3rd Ward’s annual craft fair on Dec. 4 is that all items must be handmade — hence the name. The result is carefully crafted, detailed pieces made with love, that you’re sure to fall in love with, too. While you peruse clothing, jewelry, accessories, housewares, and prints, enjoy live music, or even take a workshop in DIY printmaking, flocking and sewing. And maybe next year, you’ll be sitting behind a booth. Or at the very least, making your own gifts.

Handmade Holiday Craft Fair at 3rd Ward (195 Morgan Ave. between Meadow and Stagg streets in Bushwick, no phone), Dec. 4, noon-6 pm. For info, visit www.3rdward.com.

Brooklyn Flea ‘Gifted’

If the selection at Brooklyn Flea isn’t cutting it for you anymore, check out the holiday edition. From Dec. 15-23, the Flea features more than 100 vendors on three floors at Skylight One Hanson in Fort Greene for three floors of cute, cool and classy presents this holiday season. That means fancy foodstuffs, electric typewriters, Parisian soaps, Victorian picture frames, antique gumball machines, bicycle paintings (right), and even more distinct finds – all at your fingertips.

Gifted at Skylight One Hanson [1 Hanson Pl. at Ashland Place in Fort Greene, (718) 230-0400], Dec. 15-23, 11 am-7 pm. For info, visit www.brooklynflea.com/gifted.

   

Brooklyn Craft Central Holiday Market

This market is so big, it needs two venues to contain it. On Dec. 18 and 19, Brooklyn Craft Central’s holiday market will take over the Textile Arts Center and Littlefield with more than 70 handmade craft vendors, including Kate Hill Cantrill, who creates living botanical wall art; plushPlay’s stunning needle felted figures; and Jenny Herbert’s people pillows. And the venues are only four blocks apart, so you can cruise both easily.

Brooklyn Craft Central Holiday Market at the Textile Arts Center [505 Carroll St. between Third and Fourth avenues in Gowanus (718) 369-0222] and Littlefield [622 Degraw St. between Third and Fourth avenues in Gowanus, (718) 855-3388], Dec. 18, from 11 am-5 pm; and Dec. 19, 11 am-6 pm. For info, visit bkcraftcentral.com.

Brooklyn Lyceum Holiday Craft Marketplace

While you’re in the area, pop into the Brooklyn Lyceum, which is also hosting its holiday market on Dec. 18 and 19. Thanks to Windows of Agate’s handmade children’s toys, Purty Bird’s cute decorative birds, and Adornments NYC’s classic jewelry pieces, you can find something for the whole family. 

Holiday Craft Marketplace at the Brooklyn Lyceum [227 Fourth Ave. at Union Street in Park Slope, (718) 857-4816], Dec. 18 and 19, 11 am-7 pm. For info, visit lyceummarkets.com.

Greenpoint’s Pop-Ups

Get your holiday shopping done in Greenpoint this season at two special pop-up destinations. First, there’s Holiday Bizaar, a gallery, shop, event space and studio hybrid that’s open now through Dec. 24. In addition to shopping for vintagey clothes and jewelry, you can take in art presentations, film screenings and more. There’s a similar vibe a few blocks away at Moves, a pop-up store that features up-and-coming designers and artists such as Study NYC, Fabric Horse, RHLS and King Gurvy, as well as lectures on clothing manufacturing and live music acts. So, hey, even if you’re not in the mood to shop, you’re always welcome to stop by both.

Holiday Bizaar (82 Oak St. between West and Franklin streets in Greenpoint, no phone), Wednesday through Sunday, 1-8 pm through Dec. 24. For info, visit www.holidaybizaar.com; Moves (214 Franklin St. between Huron and Green streets in Greenpoint, no phone), Thursday through Sunday, noon-8 pm now through Dec. 19. For info, visit movesbrooklyn.wordpress.com.

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Theater group rears its 'Ugly' head

By Meredith Deliso

This micro-season is anything but small.

Starting tonight, the Brooklyn Lyceum will be overtaken with theater, music and parties, courtesy of UglyRhino.

The nascent theater company launches this month at the Park Slope venue, kicking off with Harold Pinter’s “Celebration” (pictured) and Eugene Ionesco’s “Rhinoceros.”

“These plays are the heart of a larger artistic celebration, using live music, parties and visual art to enhance the theatrical experience,” said Nicole Rosner, the new artistic director of the Brooklyn Lyceum. “We wanted to put on theater in a different way, especially in Brooklyn, because we were sick of going to places where there wasn’t a vibe, that you got in, saw the show, and left.”

To that end, the two-week micro-season will feature productions of the two classic absurdist plays, as well as music performances from over a dozen bands, Friday night parties featuring the Happy House DJs, regulars at the Bell House, and Blondebomb and Friends, and free food from Oaxaca Taco, Mama Rosa and Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs. 

“We just reached out to the community,” said Rosner. “There’s a lot of cool things going on here.”

And now, for the next two weeks, there’s even more.

UglyRhino: A Micro-Season at the Brooklyn Lyceum [227 Fourth Ave. at President Street in Park Slope, (718) 857-4816], Nov. 9-21, Tuesdays-Saturdays at 7:30 pm and Sundays at 5 pm. Tickets $15 in advance, $18 at the door, $5 for second-night admission. For info, visit www.uglyrhinonyc.com.

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This King Con lives up to its name

By Thomas Tracy

Call it King Con: The Revenge.

The plucky independent comic, animation and illustration convention that playfully thumbs its nose at those Hollywood-heavy superhero trade shows in San Diego and Manhattan is back and bigger than ever starting today. 

But take note: All you guys who like going to conventions dressed up as Star Wars stormtroopers — go patrol somewhere else.

That said, Fourth Avenue’s beloved Brooklyn Lyceum between Union and President streets will be transformed into a multi-paneled Mecca for comic book artists and writers, graphic novelists and the fans who love them, explained Regan Jaye Fishman, the convention’s self-titled “humble directrix” and driving force behind the four fanboy-filled days of panel discussions, kids events and comic networking.

“Brooklyn has so many amazingly talented authors and artists, but all year long they’re flying to places like San Diego for these huge cons, only to be lost in pools of super megastars and people dressed as Jedi Knights,” Fishman said. “Our guests have made something they love and believe in and we wanted to create a place where people can come and actually see what’s so amazing about their work.”

So you won’t hear Robert Downey Jr. talk about “Iron Man 3,” but you will get a chance to chat up Marvel comic book legend Chris Claremont, the Park Slope resident responsible for making the X-Men the iconic mutant misfits everyone adores.

Dean Haspiel

Nearly all of the artists coming to the showcase are either born or based in the borough, including author Jonathan Ames, who put last year’s King Con on the map when he brought his “Bored to Death” entourage to promote his HBO series. This time around, he’ll be with Dean Haspiel (at right) — Ames’s living, breathing inspiration for Ray Heuston, the neurotic “Bored to Death” comic book artist played by Zach Galifianakis.

And if drinking and comics are your thing, line up to meet Bill Roundy, whose bi-weekly “Bar Scrawl” cartoon in The Brooklyn Paper have redefined the pub review.

But Roundy’s inspiration doesn’t solely come from Brooklyn’s many tap rooms and whisky bars. He’s also put together a “Monstrous Manual,” a cartoonish homage to TSR’s Dungeons & Dragons “Monster Manual,” and has a series a gay romance comics — all of which will be found at the convention.

“[King Con] draws people from all different aspects of the comic book world and they all live right here in Brooklyn,” Roundy said. “It’s an interesting mix.”

King Con II at the Brooklyn Lyceum [227 Fourth Ave. between President and Union streets in Park Slope, (718) 857-4816], Nov. 4-5, 5 pm; and Nov. 6-7, 11 am–7 pm. Adults $7 a day ($10 for the weekend). For information, visit www.kingconbrooklyn.com.

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Take the fall

By Meredith Deliso

Fall into the season with a timely market, a new boutique, and updates to a borough favorite:

Lyceum Fall Marketplace

Dubbed the “Beer and Whiskey Marketplace,” this shopping extravaganza isn’t just about booze. On Oct. 9-10, the Brooklyn Lyceum will feature artisans, crafts and crafters that hail from some of the cities that represented the Beer and Whiskey League during the late 1800s (it’s a baseball thing). Some of the vendors include nature-inspired lines like children’s clothes maker Bugsella and jeweler Hecho en Brooklyn, with food from Luke’s Lobster and Bakesalery. Let us not forget the gin and beer tastings. To get into the theme, a batting cage will be set up, so you can practice your swing (preferably before the tastings).

Lyceum Fall Marketplace at the Brooklyn Lyceum [227 Fourth Ave. near Union Street in Park Slope, (718) 857-4816], Oct. 9–10, 11 am-7 pm. For info, visit www.lyceummarkets.com.

Life:Curated

If you like Urban Outfitters, you’ll love Life:Curated. This newly opened Williamsburg boutique specializes in men’s and women’s fashions, as well as homegoods and furniture — all well-made, high-end items with character. Labels include Left Coast, West Feren and Creep by Hiroshi Awai, jewelry from byNatalia and Elizabeth Knight, and hand-crafted pillows and throws from Suki Cheema. And the store is as stylish as the pieces it carries.

Life:Curated [186 Grand St. between Bedford and Driggs avenues in Williamsburg, (347) 689-9143]. Closed Mondays.

Brooklyn Flea

Now that it’s officially fall, the Brooklyn Flea has added some seasonal vendors. On Saturdays at its Fort Greene location, you can find the Poorfarm Farm, bringing down pumpkins and maple syrup from Vermont. Closer to home, egg cream extraordinaire Brooklyn Farmacy has set up shop, as has Thirstea Café and Urban Moonshine, selling its artisanal bitters. So if you’re looking to throw your own Oktoberfest party, you’re all set.

Brooklyn Flea (176 Lafayette Ave. between Clermont and Vanderbilt avenues in Fort Greene, no phone), Saturdays through Nov. 20, 10 am-5 pm. For info, visit www.brooklynflea.com.

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Buy it at the Lyceum next weekend!

Eric Richmond has long envisioned the Brooklyn Lyceum as a Medieval town square. While the former bath house on Fourth Avenue in Park Slope is often used as a venue for theater and dance, the owner’s vision comes true next month.

On May 1 and 2, the venue hosts its spring food and craft market, with clothing, clocks, art, gifts, jams, chocolates, cheeses, craft beer and loads more filling two floors of the space.

With markets every weekend in Brooklyn, the Lyceum’s offers something different from the pack.

“All the merchandise is handmade,” said Deborah Klein, who promoted the event. “Our intent is to highlight the full expansive array of fantastic, artisanal goods available all throughout the Northeast and get them into the homes, shops, mouths and consciousness of all interested individuals who will cross our stoop.”

The market will be like shopping at Etsy in person, with more than 100 crafty vendors filling two floors of the Lyceum. Keep an eye out for comic book-themed clocks from Can’t Afford Em Crafts, FlipMaja’s individualized yoga mat bags and Windows of Agate’s plush toys (pictured).

On the food end, munch on Taza’s chocolatey goodness and bacon marmalade (that’s a real thing!).

The spring event will also feature food, silkscreening and textile workshops — so you can return home with your own crafty creations (bacon jelly, anyone?).

The Spring Food and Craft Market at the Brooklyn Lyceum Brooklyn Lyceum [227 Fourth Ave. at President Street in Park Slope, (718) 857-4816], May 1 and 2, 11 am-7 pm. Free admission. For info, visit www.bkcraftcentral.com.

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Pedigree, Shmedigree

Best beard? Photo: bukisa.com

Every dog really can have his day soon, thanks to the Brooklyn Mutt Show.

On March 13 and 14, the Brooklyn Lyceum will host the mixed breed bonanza. Wondering where your lovable mutt might fit in? Here are the categories:

Sloppiest Kisser

Most Indistinct - What’s it made of???

Most Nutritionally Advantaged (Fattest)

Looks Most Like Owner

Looks Most Like Anything Other than a Dog

Best LAP DOG OVER 70lbsLongest Hair

Softest Coat

Best Tail

Least Useful Pet Trick

Most Useful Pet trick

Best Beard

Cutest Puppy 6 months and younger

Best handmade doggie t-shirt contest

Senior Stud (8 years and older)

Canine Best Costume Cavalcade

Registration is still open, so sign up here. Those are two legs are also invited, with tickets available here.

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Check: Brooklyn makes all the right moves

By Meredith Deliso

Brooklyn is channeling its inner geek.

One week after the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament took over the Brooklyn Marriott, another sport that takes skill with brains comes to the Brooklyn Lyceum.

From February 27-28, the Park Slope bathhouse-turned-venue will host the inaugural Brooklyn Chess Tournament, an all-ages affair that looks to trump up the borough’s place on the chess map.

Indeed, from the dominance of Edward R. Murrow High School in chess circles to the legacy of Bobby Fischer, chess and Brooklyn are somewhat synonymous. All that’s missing is a tournament, and Eric Richmond, program director of the Brooklyn Lyceum, thought it was high time the borough had its own.

“Each and every time I go to other cities or to Manhattan and see a special event I ask myself ‘Why not Brooklyn?’ said Richmond. “Whether it is the Brooklyn Chess Champ or our bi-annual markets, things are happening all over the borough that don’t need to be acknowledged by Manhattan to be valid or successful. Brooklyn carries its own weight, has its own fun and is making way for a slew of fantastic events of all kinds, some steeped in history and some emerging for the very first time.”

Helping to kick things off is a Brooklyn chess champion – Maurice Ashley, the first African-American chess International Grandmaster and, as a resident of Park Slope, a neighbor of the venue. He is helping co-produce the tournament and will provide commentary, as well as challenge 12 players to a round of 12 games at one time.

Saturday, February 27, will be devoted to nurturing young chess players in the Scholastic division (grade school, middle school, and high school levels). Membership in the U.S. Chess Federation is mandatory for high school competitors. Sunday, February 28, will be open competition (membership to the USCF is also required to compete and can, if necessary, be procured at the event). This day will also see chess players vying for over $2,000 in prize monies, awarded to first, second and third place.

For non-competitors, there is no admission fee, and tournament games will be simulcast on a large screen, with commentary provided by Ashley, so you don’t miss a single move. People are also welcome to play their own games amongst themselves.

For competitors, registration is $25 for the Scholastic division (Saturday) and $40 for open (Sunday), and is open until the day of, as long as there is still space available. The tournament is Swiss style, and you must bring your own chess sets, boards and clocks.

The tournament runs 11 am-7 pm February 27 and 28 at the Brooklyn Lyceum (227 Fourth Avenue). For more information, call 718-857-4819.

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Park Slope, muse

A scene from "Alone."

Filmmakers near and far have found their muse: Park Slope.

Neighborhood native Jason Cusato drew on the area for his latest film, "The Apostles of Park Slope,"which is premiering this weekend at the Brooklyn Lyceum.

Based off real-life experience, "Apostles" tells the story of a group of friends who try to cheer up a pal after he loses his mother, among them a priest who is trying to bring back congregants to St. Thomas Aquinas. True to its name, the film is based in Park Slope, shot at the church, located on Fourth Avenue and Ninth Street, as well as Two Toms on Third Avenue, where the idea for the movie originated after a raucous night out there.

The film runs at the Brooklyn Lyceum (227 Fourth Ave.) January 9-16. Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door.

Working in short-form, using a hand-held camera, Daniel Johnson has a knack for rolling up on a place, dropping his bags and cranking out scripts after soaking in the local color. The Brit did just that in Park Slope recently, shooting the short film "Alone," filmed at the Gorilla Coffee shop on Fifth Avenue.

Shooting in the neighborhood was an inspiration to the filmmaker, who has since flown back to London and is working on post-production.

“There are 200 writers here,” he told the Courier. “You could feel dwarfed by it. But I actually find it inspiring. Everyone is creative and really positive. It helps.”

Apparently so.

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Clowning around with Will Shaw

Will Shaw presents his award-winning blend of physical comedy, verbal wit and amazing skills at the Brooklyn Lyceum December 5 with shows at noon and 2p.m.

Audiences of all ages will be treated to astounding displays of juggling, hat tricks, music, balance tricks, sight gags, cowboy rope spinning, boomerangs, spinning tops, audience participation and offbeat but sophisticated clowning steeped in the traditions of the great comedians from the silent film era to the present.

The Brooklyn Lyceum is at 227 4th Avenue. For more, call 718-857-4816. The show runs 50 minutes; tickets are $10 each or $30 for four.

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On the market

In addition to the usual suspects, markets are popping up all over Brooklyn this winter, in time for the holiday shopping season (and it's even easier to stay on top of them, thanks to blogs like this one).

Here's a look at some temporary newcomers coming up, and some new favorites:

SCORE! Pop-up Swap
Saturday, November 21
3rd Ward (195 Morgan Ave.)
1 to 7 p.m, donations accepted up until 5 p.m
$3 entry
RSVP

For this East Williamsburg fair, the only time you may have to open your wallet is for the $3 admission. A massive swap exchange, you can exchange your goods for those of others, and in the process find gifts for your family and friends. It's all about sustainability, and charity, as all remaining goods will be donated, and proceeds from the door and sales of the Score! / Hasselhoff totebags support City Harvest. Swap categories include clothing and accessories, music, art supplies, books, DVDs and media, housewares and miscellany.

The (Makers) Market
Sundays
(OA) Can Factory (3rd Street at 3rd Avenue)
11 a.m.-6 p.m.
Free admission

Thirty vendors bring you jewerly, clothes, art, soaps and even violins every Sunday at this Gowanus market, which has a focus on art and design. Not to mention sweets from Nunu.

The 2009 Handmade Holiday Craft Fair
Saturday, December 12
3rd Ward (195 Morgan Ave.)
Noon to 9 p.m.
Free admission

The Williamsburg space will host another market, this one featuring goods & treats from over 50 local artisans, craft mavens & culinary masters, with wares including everything from LED Hula hoops and dog costumes, to custom cut clothes and jewelry, furniture and vintage ware, cookies and chocolates, wrapping paper, pillows & body soaps, custom electronics and more. There will also be live music, treats, drinks and workshops.

Lyceum Holiday Market
Saturday, December 19, and Sunday, December 20
Brooklyn Lyceum (Fourth Avenue at President Street)
11 a.m.-7 p.m.
Free admission

Vendors offer handcrafted merchandise to fit any budget, size and taste. Whether for Chanukah, Christmas or Kwanzaa you can find it all at the Park Slope venue's second annual holiday market.

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Mighty King Con comes to Brooklyn

By Joe Maniscalco

Captain America is dead. Batman too. And the traditional axiom of “truth, justice and the American way” has never been more amorphous in the world of comic books than it is right now.

“Comic book readers are super-literate and they are treating comic characters as multi-dimensional as they are,” Regan Jaye Fishman says. “You can’t sell super-duper white bread morality anymore.”

Fishman is one of the chief organizers of “King Con” - the two-day comic and animation convention set to invade the Brooklyn Lyceum November 7 and 8.

The event will feature some of the borough’s most high-powered comic book writers and artists, as well as a plethora of vendors, exhibitors, panelists - and, yes even aerialists.

The Lyceum, located at 227 Fourth Avenue in lower Park Slope, is that big -- The Dresden Dolls, Yo La Tengo and Fiona Apple have all played here.

“Brooklyn has been yearning for this for such a long time,” Fishman says. “Brooklyn has so much independent comic book talent based here - it seems really silly not to tap into that.”

Dean Haspiel, founding member of Gowanus’ DeepSix Studios and creator of the webcomix collective known as ACT-I-VATE, will be among the King Con’s long list of comic book literati on hand to discuss the state of superheroes and lots more.

“Wether it’s an alien from another world or a kid bitten by a radioactive spider, the duality of living through the day being extraordinary will always be an interesting story to tell,” Haspial says. While Spidey and the rest of the gang are still immensely popular, Fishman points out that mature comic book readers dealing with the realities of today’s world can no longer indulge in the fantasy of “one good guy who’s going to make everything okay.”

“We’ve moved far away from the standard superhero,” Fishman says. Today’s comic book heros are likely to be just as troubled as you are - maybe even more so.

Think Harvey Pekar of “American Splendor” fame. Haspiel calls “Billy Dogma” - one of his most popular creations - “the last romantic anti-hero” confronting the id, ego and high romance.

“It’s more honest for a superhero to lose than to win,” Haspiel says. “When Barrack Obama became president he was not the solution. He was handed the bag with the idea that he’s looking back at us to help make changes. It’s not the one person - it’s the many.”

The King Con is expected to be so big that organizers are talking about holding off-site programming up and down 4th Avenue where the Brooklyn Lyceum is located. Along with Haspiel, other Brooklyn comic book creators expected to attend the King Con include Brian Wood, Molly Crabapple, Matt Manning, Bob Greenberger and the aforementioned Harvey Pekar with his Pekar Project.

“The lack of a Brooklyn based comic convention always surprised me,” writer, artist, and convention co-organizer Mike Zagari says. “Now with King Con Brooklyn’s flourishing and emerging writers and artists finally have an event to call their own.”

The King Con grew out of the ‘09 Zine Fest held at the Lyceum earlier this year.“I had no idea when I presented the idea how overwhelming the response was going to be,” Fishman says. “Indeed the response has been powerful, and the event promises to be a landmark event, not only in the history of the building but in Brooklyn as well.”

Lyceum owner Eric Richmond calls the King Con the “natural next step.” “The Zine Fest brought in so many comic artists and writers, it was clear they needed a showcase of their own and that the Brooklyn Lyceum was an ideal location.”

There might even be some capes in the crowd.

“We’ve still got out sacred cows - 50- to 75-year-old characters that still have the ideology of the uber-mench dressed up in spandex dealing with the drama of the world,” Haspiel says. “I do think it’s important to have that.”

The King Con runs from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. both November 7 and 8. Single day tickets are $7. Weekend tickets are $10. Single day tickets for children under 12 are $5. Weekend tickets for kids are $7. The Brooklyn Lyceum can also be reached at 718-857-4816.

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Starting next month, the Brooklyn Lyceum will feel a little idealistic.

That's because from October 9 through November 22, The Nerve Tank will perform “bauhaus the bauhaus” at the Park Slope venue.

The ensemble theater work reflects on the utopian ideals of the Bauhaus movement, which is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year.

The title of the show, “bauhaus the bauhaus,” is written in lower case as a reference to the typography of Herbert Bayer, who sought the elimination of capital letters in Bauhaus designs.

The piece follows several researchers searching for the essence of Utopia, who try to make sense of what the Bauhaus movement was and how it relates to contemporary society.

Among its characters are such historical figures as the German architect Walter Gropius, Andy Warhol, Henry Ford and Tom Wolfe. The production is a compilation of dialogue scenes, some with direct audience address, and sequences of precise physical movement. There will be interaction between video and live performers. Often two or more things will happen at the same time.

Part of the visual concept is to use aspects of the Brooklyn Lyceum that evoke aspects of the Bauhaus philosophy. Technical components (lighting, sound) will be visible to the audience and actor-manipulated whenever possible. The ensemble will use the raw upstairs space of the Brooklyn Lyceum and project video on available surfaces that simulate Bauhaus designs. Deconstructed Bauhaus costumes will be used, as well as Andy Warhol wigs and lab coats.

Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 7 p.m. The Brooklyn Lyceum is at 227 Fourth Avenue. Tickets are $18; students and artists, $15. For more, call 800-838-3006.

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War doesn't work - music does

The Citizens

By Meredith Deliso

On October 2, the World March for Peace and Nonviolence kicks off in New Zealand, but you don’t have to be in the Southern Hemisphere to celebrate.

That night, the Brooklyn Lyceum in Park Slope is hosting its own kick-off party for the World March, a call for the dismantling of nuclear weapons and for an end to all forms of war and violence, complete with music, art and a live feed of the international festivities.

When Mark Lesseraux heard about the march, which begins fittingly on Ghandi’s birthday and ends January 2, 2010, in Argentina, he knew he needed to do something.

“One of my thoughts was, how could we assist with music,” said Lesseraux, of Park Slope. “I always feel like music is really helpful in bringing people together.”

So, reaching out to friends and friends of friends, Lesseraux recruited the bill’s diverse local acts, which includes funk rockers Earthdriver, the neo-soul act Imani Uzuri, salsa singer Choco Orta, drum and bass outfit Red Baraat, Mahina Movement, and Lesseraux’s own band, alternative rock group The Citizens, most of whom, like the march, have a political and social conscious.

“Everybody kind of agreed that we want to live in a world where not only physical violence gets phased out, things like bombs and war, but also the violence that ends up creating war – economic violence, religious violence, sexual violence,” said Lesseraux, who will have a song he wrote, “We Want Peace on Earth,” included on a Sony Records CD compilation for the World March.

Thousands of people have endorsed the march, including Noam Chomsky, Lou Reed, Art Garfunkel, and Jimmy Carter, which will pass through six continents and 90 countries over the course of three months. The night of the kick-off, the Lyceum party will feature live hook-ups from around the globe, as well as art and photos.

“My hope is that not only will our show be a kick off for the march, but that the march will be a kick off for a whole new way of being in the world, where nonviolence is not an old aesthetic idea. Not that Ghandi wasn’t great, but for 2009, people are looking for something that fits with the times,” said Lesseraux. “Practically speaking, war doesn’t work anymore. We need to stop it.”

The World March kick off party is October 2 at the Brooklyn Lyceum (227 Fourth Avenue). Doors open at 7 p.m., with the show at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10 online, $15 at the door. For more information, call 718-857-4816.

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Blind Ear: as 'loopy' as they want to be

By Meredith Deliso

The moment Cristina Spinei stepped inside the Brooklyn Lyceum, she knew the Park Slope venue was perfect.

“I loved the acoustics, which are great there,” said the composer, one of the founders of the improvisational music ensemble Blind Ear. “Once you step in there, the lighting and background – it’s so suited for Blind Ear."

The venue is everything for an instrumental performance, especially when it breaks the mold like this one. On September 18, the collective brings their innovative, improvisational show to the Lyceum, with eight musicians and five composers making unpredictable music together.

When Spinei and Jakub Ciupinski graduated from Juilliard last spring, they wanted to start a group. The idea of a concert based totally on loops came up, and thus Blind Ear was born.

Based on an ever-evolving software program from Ciupinski, during their concerts, composers transform into DJs as musicians play streaming feeds of newly composed music (rather than looking at stands of sheet music, their eyes are glued to laptops) for a night of improv and looped music with much more in common with the pop, rather than classical, music field.

For the Brooklyn show, five composers – including the two Blind Ear co-founders and fellow Juilliard graduates Ray Lustig and Adam Schoenberg – and eight musicians, ranging from flutists to strings to percussionists – will perform, as well as dancers, also in improvisation, using every corner of the Brooklyn space.

In the past having only held concerts at the Gershwin Hotel in Manhattan, this is the first time Blind Ear is coming to Brooklyn. They are looking to reach out even more, lecturing at colleges to demonstrate to students some of the more unconventional options available, as well as farm for musicians to join the Blind Ear group.

“They have to have patience with our process and be able to improvise,” says Spinei of their musicians. “I think the musicians that know us well and believe in what we’re doing, they make Blind Ear.”

Music enthusiasts as far away as Brazil have also expressed interest in having Blind Ear perform, as a documentary they made at the Lyceum this summer has made the rounds of the blogosphere, even featured for a week on YouTube. So catch don’t miss out when this unpredictable, energetic show is only a subway ride away, and get up close to the action.

“We encourage everyone to come up and watch what the composers are doing with the computer,” says Spinei. “Few audience members are brave enough to stand behind the musicians and watch. We always need that first person to step up.”

Blind Ear comes to the Brooklyn Lyceum (227 Fourth Ave. at President Street) September 18 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door. For more information, go to www.brooklynlyceum.com or call 718-857-4816.

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The people's press: NYC Zine Fest coming

By Joe Maniscalco

You can’t wrap your fingers around a megabyte or fold up a Kindle in your back pocket.

Zinesters – those free-spirited and free-thinking do-it-yourselfers with whirring basement printing presses – have never lost their love for the printed word, and they’re not about to now.

On June 27 and 28, the Brooklyn Lyceum will host the first-ever NYC Zine Fest. Over 70 purveyors of the “handmade” press are expected to assemble for the free two-day event.

Susan Thomas, a librarian and one of the festival organizers, felt that it was time zinesters had a place to meet, share ideas and learn about other zines.

“Zines are doing really well,” Thomas says. “It’s because they are like art objects; they’re really handmade. People sort of cherish them as these collectible object that can’t be replicated on the Internet.”

But zinesters aren’t a bunch of stubborn Luddites huddling under low-watt light bulbs clutching dog-eared copies of “American Splendor.”

They’re just as apt to have a Kindle and a favorite blog as anyone else is.

“Some people love them both,” Thomas says. “The more you have those things the more you want to turn away from that and grab a zine.”

Most zines have a limited lifespan, and some say their ephemeral nature is part of their overall appeal.

But Ayun Halliday has been publishing “East Village Inky” for 10 years now.

“They’re a labor of love,” the successful author says. “It started out to be my only outlet and turned into being the purest outlet.”

Jessica Max Stein is another Brooklyn zinester who has long-running successes, among her many provocative titles like “Mad Love” and “The Long Walk Back to Myself.”

“I feel so much more free in the writing of the zine,” she says. “You don’t have to worry about the gatekeepers.”

While not exclusive to the borough, Zine Fest organizers admit that the great majority of participants just happen to be from Brooklyn.

Zines themselves go back at least decades, from the sexually-obsessed comic books of R. Crumb to the punk-inspired tomes of “Search & Destroy” and “Sniffing Glue.”

“You name it, there is a zine for it,” Thomas says.

Stein’s latest title is called “The ‘Rainbow’ Connection” and revolves around the life of Muppet Show puppeteer Richard Hunt. Hunt was the voice of Beeker, Statler, Janice and other Muppet characters before he died of AIDS in 1992.

“You see things in zines that you wouldn’t see anywhere else,” Stein says. “Zines are so democratic. You don’t even have to be a writer. If you want to do it, you do it.”

The NYC Zine Fest ‘09 runs from noon to 7 p.m. both days at the Brooklyn Lyceum (227 Fourth Avenue) and is free.

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