Walt Whitman was beat, man

Allen Ginsberg and Walt Whitman have more in common than impressive beards.

This month, academics will explore the esteemed poet’s influence on the Beat Generation in such areas as sexual identity, power and politics, media, technology and art, notions of time and space, and poetic form and style.

The influence of Brooklyn’s favorite son can even be seen in such non-poetic products such as the TV show “M*A*S*H,” organizers say.

“We hope to break new ground in addressing Whitman’s presence in the works of Beat writers and the reception of Whitman’s poetry by the Beats,” said Scott Weiss, co-chairman of the conference and a professor of Communication Arts at St. Francis College in Brooklyn Heights.

“Our panelists will explore, in depth, how the legacy of the Beats, their perspectives of their era and artistic innovations can be traced to Whitman’s influence on American literary culture.”

In addition to the conference, a walking tour will bring you through Whitman’s Brooklyn, as he knew it living here more than 100 years ago. You dig?

Whitman & Beats Conference at St. Francis College [180 Remsen St. between Clinton and Court streets in Brooklyn Heights, (718) 489-5200], March 27 at noon. The walking tour is March 28, also at noon. For info, visit www.stfranciscollege.edu.

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Manhattan's loss, Brooklyn's gain

Word comes that Lower East Side staple Gus's Pickles is has officially crossed the bridge to Brooklyn.

If you're looking to check them out in their new location, don't look for the famous moniker.

Says a notice on the former Orchard Street location:

We moved to Brooklyn
Ess-a-Pickle
1470 39th Street
Brooklyn, NY 11218
917-701-4000
212-334-3616
We will start selling the horseradish March 21 Sunday

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Rock and roll photography

For those mourning the closing of the Brooklyn Museum's "Who Shot Rock" exhibition, there's another show in town where you can get your rock fix.

Occupying the former Bloomberg Brooklyn campaign headquarters on Atlantic Avenue in Boerum Hill, de Castellane Gallery launched with a bang earlier this month with the opening night of "The Rowland Scherman Project," featuring the photographer's iconic work from the 1960s of such artists as The Beatles, Andy Warhol and Janis Joplin.

A collaboration between Scherman, printmaker Bob Korn and conservation framers Dave and Meri Hartford, the project set about preserving and exhibiting the historic images taken by Scherman, who won a Grammy for shooting Bob Dylan's "Greatest Hits" album cover.

The show's only up until at least April 12, so don't miss out on this rare opportunity.

The gallery is located at 525 Atlantic Ave. between Third and Fourth avenues. For info, call (347) 599-2017.

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Humdrum 'Repo Men'

"Repo Men"

Two stars

By Thomas Tracy

If you’re still on the fence about affordable health care, “Repo Men” may not be the best place to start researching the subject.

It was a bit appropriate to watch a film about privatized medicine running wild on Sunday as President Obama’s health care reform package passed Congress, even though audience members weren’t found comparing the obvious parallels as they left the theater.

That’s because the message somehow got completely snowed under in this overly bloody, poorly constructed and often humdrum flash-in-the-pan sci-fi action flick.

Giving up any chance of being nominated for an Oscar in 2011, actors Jude Law (“Sherlock Holmes”) and Forest Whitaker (“Vantage Point”) take on the roles of Remy and Jake, two brainless army buddies who become repo men for The Union, the largest supplier of artificial organs in the country.

You see, in this stylized future of glitz, glamour and excess, one doesn’t have to be put on a long waiting list to get a lifesaving liver or kidney.

Instead, you can buy artificial versions of these organs, or any other body part, on credit.

Of course, once you’re delinquent on your payments, thugs like Remy and Jake will break into your house late at night and rip those hard-bought organs right out, sometimes killing you in the process.

With the country hitting yet another economic downturn, the organ repo business is booming for Jake and Remy.

But, in pure formulaic fashion, Remy’s world implodes when he’s injured and his boss (Liev Schreiber, playing the perfect used car salesman) gives him -- shocker! -- an artificial heart with 19 percent interest.

With no way to pay for the new organ, Remy ends up on the run from Jake and the other Repo men who -- pardon the pun -- are trying to steal his heart.

What follows is a “pity poor Remy” party as he falls in love with another overdue organ recipient (Alice Braga) and learns just how bad his former victims had it.

At regular intervals, Director Miquel Sapochnik tries once again to hit you over the head with his “beware privatized medicine” message, but he often misses.

His lesson keeps slipping and falling under all the blood left on the floor, the walls and everywhere else.

"Repo Men." Starring Jude Law and Forest Whitaker. Directed by Miquel Sapochnik. Running time: 111 minutes. Rated R for strong bloody violence, grisly images, language and some sexuality/nudity.

Playing in Brooklyn downtown at UA Court Street Stadium 12, UA Sheepshead Bay 14, and Linden Boulevard Multiplex Cinemas in East New York.

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Buckle up, the Cyclone is back!

It must be spring; on March 28, Coney Island's famous Cyclone is back for another season of twists, turns and thrills.

Can't cough up the six bucks? The first 100 people in line will ride the roller coaster for free, so get there before the noon festivities begin.

And like every year, Borough President Marty Markowitz will crack the ceremonious bottle of egg cream to kick things off, and the Hungry March Band will provide the tunes.

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The Weekend: 3.19-3.21 and beyond

Spring is here! Here's a look what's going on in a neighborhood near you to get you out and about.

All weekend long:

Food: Dine in Brooklyn is still going strong. Find out what restaurants are participating near you here.

Window shopping: Shop and take in art in Clinton Hill through "Imprint," featuring prints on display in storefronts on Myrtle Avenue storefronts between Vanderbilt and Hall.

Saturday, March 20

Art: Due to the torrential downpour last week, Smack Mellon's open studios was postponed until today. Spend the day in DUMBO taking in new works. From noon-6 pm. Located at 92 Plymouth St.

Sunday, March 21

Brunch: Enjoy a homemade meal and and vintage jazz at Bruncha Libre, a brunch/dance party at the Brooklyn Urban Sanctuary in Prospect Heights thrown by Gemini & Scorpio. The adorable Moonlighters will serenade you while you eat. Tickets $5 at the door/$15 food. From 1-5 pm. RSVP for location.

Beefsteak: Rather indulge in meat? The Brooklyn Beefsteak is back at the Bell House in Gowanus, this time with more meat. Tickets $45. Two seatings at 2 and 6 pm. Located at 149 7th St.

Tribute: Mourning the loss of Cory Haim? The Knitting Factory hosts a tribute to the '80s teen heartthrob, as Brooklyn-based comedy group The Raspberry Brothers celebrate his film work. At 7 pm. Tickets $5. Located at 361 Metropolitan Ave.

Tuesday, March 23

Opera: The highlight of BAM's opera festival, "The Fairy Queen," starts tonight with a gala and dinner. It's a pretty pricey affair (individual tickets for full event access are available at $1,200 or $2,500, with a select number of non-dinner tickets available for $300), so you might want to try your luck at attending Wednesday's performance. Your wallet will thank you.

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Snoop Dogg at Brooklyn Bowl

It'll be a Dogg's day in Brooklyn.

On April 19, Snoop Dogg will perform at Brooklyn Bowl in Williamsburg.

As Brooklyn Vegan points out, the venue is a bit small for the star (the last time he performed in Brooklyn, in July 2008, was at the significantly larger KeySpan Park stadium in Coney Island).

That means tickets will probably go pretty fast. If you want to get your hands on some, they go on sale tomorrow at noon and are $50.

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