Lit for tat! The very best in literary tattoos

By Meredith Deliso

This just inked: the ultimate in literary fandom.

“The Word Made Flesh” features photographs of tattoos from bookworms across the globe who have permanently expressed their devotion to the written word.

Friends Eva Talmadge and Justin Taylor noticed a rise in these literary tattoos, from highbrow pieces inspired by James Joyce’s “Ulysses” to the covers of the “Twilight” books. They sent out a call for submissions, and the tattoos came pouring in.

The resulting anthology has more than 150 color photographs of literary tattoos, ranging from lines of verse, quotations from authors, illustrations of scenes depicted in novels and poems, and even a flaming typewriter. 

“We tried to present the crème of the crop,” said Taylor, a Bushwick-based author who, as far as these things go, is tattoo-less. “We wanted a lot of diversity and to be as all-encompassing as we possibly could. You’ll find some high literary stuff in there — Pynchon, T.S. Eliot, ‘Moby Dick’ — as well as J.K. Rowling and Stephen King.”

Talmadge, a Williamsburg-based literary agent, brings the ink cred. She has multiple tattoos on her arms, with her newest — two rectangles, representative of a window and a door, that are inspired by a poem by Daniil Kharms — done to help promote the book.

“I have so many tattoos, I figured, what’s one more?” said Talmadge.

In addition to Talmadge, there are Bryan Waterman’s portrait of Walt Whitman; William Clifford’s seven tattoos, the most from one person featured in the book; Cristina Moracho’s Albert Camus tattoo; and Stephanie Anderson (right), a manager at Greenpoint bookstore Word, who has nine literary tattoos, including “Words, words, words,” from “Ulysses.”

“There is nothing I don’t like about books, except maybe how heavy they are when I move,” said Anderson.

The authors celebrate the release of their new book at Word on Oct. 28 — and it’s not too late to get in on the inky fun. The authors’ website, tattoolit.com, is an online extension of the book, where they’ll continue to post submissions from across the globe. 

“If you’re staring down at your arm and wishing you had sent that Bukowski tattoo, it’s really not too late,” said Taylor.

Release of “The Word Made Flesh” at Word [126 Franklin St. at Milton Street in Greenpoint, (718) 383-0096]; Oct. 28 at 7:30 pm. Free. For info, visit www.wordbrooklyn.com. To submit your own tattoo, visit tattoolit.com.

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CMJ Day 5

CMJ may be all about the music, but tonight, comedy's where it's at.

Union Hall hosts "Heart of Darkness: A Night of Forgiveness and Salvation," featuring a few of our favorite comedians, including Greg Barris, Reggie Watts, Kurt Braunohler, Dave Hill, and Kristen Schaal. 

Half of those on the bill played the festival in Manhattan earlier that week for twice as much, just another perk of living in Brooklyn. To that same effect though, be sure to get there early.

"Heart of Darkness" at Union Hall [702 Union St. at Fifth Avenue in Park Slope, (718) 638-4400], Oct. 23 at 8 pm. Tickets $10 in advance, $12 at the door.

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The Weekend: 10.22-10.23

Friday, Oct. 22

Borough-wide: Check out our picks for day four of the CMJ music marathon.

Cobble Hill: Baroque gets fixed in "Amor and Psyche," a pastaccio opera featuring music by Handel, Dowland and more.

Saturday, Oct. 23

Cobble Hill: Warm up with some soup during the Smith Street Soup Festival.

Park Slope: "Reefer Madness" opens at the Gallery Players. It's sure to be a hit. Also Sunday.

Sunday, Oct. 24

Prospect Heights: Check out the Brooklyn Museum's latest exhibit, the feminist art show "Seductive Subversion," which our reviewer says gives the supposed King of Pop, Andy Warhol, "a swift kick in the groin through an eclectic mix of works that are both provocative and humorous."

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CMJ Day 4

We're all over the place tonight. Here are our picks for how to spend day four of CMJ:

Catch the haunting tunes of Angus and Julia Stone at The Bell House, Sean Lennon's band The Ghost of a Saber Toothed Tiger at Union Hall, or a 16-act marathon (of course) at Spike Hill Tavern in Williamsburg.

Spike Hill Tavern [184 Bedford Ave. at N. Seventh Street in Williamsburg, (718) 218-9737)], all day; The Bell House [149 Seventh St. between Second and Third avenues in Gowanus, (718) 643-6510], 7:30 pm; Union Hall [702 Union St. at Fifth Avenue in Park Slope, (718) 638-4400], 8 pm.

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A play for all seasons

By Adam Warner

What do you get when you combine an ancient Greek myth, a pioneering theater ensemble, two experimental musicians, and a Hollywood movie star? Nothing less than an intoxicating, multimedia play fit for the gods.

Actress Julia Stiles, best known for her recurring role in the “Bourne” trilogy, trades the movies for the stage to join her longtime associates at Ridge Theater for “Persephone,” opening Oct. 26 at the BAM Harvey. 

For those who’ve forgotten their Greek mythology, the piece tells the story of Persephone (Stiles), a daughter of Zeus who is stolen by Hades. Though rescued by her mother Demeter, she is forced to remain in the Underworld for six months every year because she had consumed six pomegranate seeds while in Hades’s control.

The Ridge Theater’s adaptation of the myth is based around music, with vocalist Mimi Goese and composer Ben Neill bringing 19th-century compositions, contemporary rock, and electronica together for a mystical, emotional and psychedelic interpretation. 

“The word collaborative is really the key,” said Goese, who also plays Demeter. “It’s like we’re so aligned that we finish each other’s sentences.”

For the production, Goese and Neill bring our technologically prone pop and rock back to a more authentic place — which to them means the Romantic period. One way Neill does this through the “mutantrumpet,” his own invention that is inspired by 19th-century innovations. The gadget-infused horn can be played acoustically, but also acts as a remote control, triggering electronic sounds, such as the French horn and trombone.

“It’s a sort of Jules Verne approach to the myth,” said Neill. “We’re using stuff this company might have used back in 1895, but with contemporary materials. It was a very revolutionary time, and we want to capture that.” 

The piece also seeks to grasp the Romantic period’s intense interest in the wilderness, using paintings and colors from the period to emphasize this naturalist intrigue.

“The numerous elements have merged to produce an environment that feels very lush,” said Goese. “It’s like a six-foot long, claw-foot bath tub with flower petals and salt bubbles.”

“Persephone” at BAM Harvey [651 Fulton St. at Rockwell Place in Fort Greene, (718) 636-4100], Oct. 26-30 at 7:30 pm. Tickets $25-$70. For info, visit www.bam.org.

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CMJ Day 3

It's the back-to-back edition.

At the Music Hall of Williamsburg, Brooklyn Vegan throws a showcase, headlined by fuzzed-out cuties The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, who just wrapped their second album, so expect some tunes from that. Also on the bill are The Blow, Screaming Females, Suuns and Young Man.

Right next door, Public Assembly is hosting New Shapes, a showcase thrown by Neon Gold and Chess Club. And there's a lot of music going on - 20 bands, to be exact.

In the front room, brought to you by Neon Gold, check out The Good Natured, Savoir Adore, Body Language, Samuel, Spark, Emil and Friends, Brahms, Fenech Soler, Sound of Arrows, Penguin Prison, and The Knocks.

In the back, the Chess Club Roomm,, Santah, Alex Winston, Keepaway, Ava Luna, Oberhofer, Devin Therriault, 1,2,3, Grouplove, and The Postelles.

So even while bands set up at one stage, you won't be without a live act somewhere on these three stages.


Music Hall of Williamsburg [66 N. Sixth St. between Kent and Wythe avenues in Williamsburg, (718) 486-5400]; Public Assembly [70 N. Sixth St. between Kent and Wythe avenues in Williamsburg, (718) 384-4586].

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Soup's on!

By Kristen V. Brown

That little nip in the air means it’s time for the Smith Street Soup Festival. 

On Saturday, Oct. 23, Brooklynites will have the chance to taste over 20 different soups from local purveyors, on a stroll along Brooklyn’s beloved restaurant row between Atlantic Avenue and Carroll Street. 

The festival will feature tastings from Seersucker, Verde, Lunetta, Bar Tabac and 17 others — and one $5 ticket gets you samples of all of them.

The best broths will be awarded gold, silver and bronze soup ladles, in each of three categories: consommé, veloute (pureed) and peasant-style. The winners will be determined by a cast of “celebrity” judges and the public.

Bette Stoltz, the director of the South Brooklyn Local Development Corporation, which is sponsoring the event, said she was inspired by similar soup festivals that take place in the French countryside. 

“Why not do it here? It’s the season for soup and its something that everybody likes, but for some reason it doesn’t get the respect it deserves,” said Stoltz. “This is just making soup the star of show.”

Over at Verde, owner Cono Moreno said he and his chef Dino Castri are considering some sort of lentil or minestrone. 

“This is a very cool idea,” said Moreno. “The time for soup is in October.”

Tickets are $5 per individual or $10 per family unit, and will benefit both the South Brooklyn LDC and the HS for International Studies’ Culinary Arts Program.

Get it while it’s hot. 

Smith Street Soup Festival [between Atlantic Avenue and Carroll Street, (718) 852-0328], Oct. 23 (rain date, Oct. 24).

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