WEATHER REPORT
from
BROOKLYN
of
August
The last weekend of August my neighborhood shows off its finest. It begins the week before Labor Day, which is always the first Monday of September, and ends with the West Indian Day Parade down Eastern Parkway on Labor Day itself. It’s the Caribbean Carnival, complete with costumes, floats, steel bands, huge trucks with giant speakers blasting soca and reggae and scantily clad women madly dancing, food, drink, politicians, including the mayor, etc. Oh, I almost forgot the participants and the million + spectators.
This week people are out every night checking out the “Mas Camps” where the costumes are displayed. It’s a party on almost every block in Flatbush. You chose which camp to join, buy your costume from them and travel with or on their float. As the week progresses, the customers hang out later and later, the music gets louder and louder, until finally it’s “J'Ouvert”, the parade before the parade. J'Ouvert starts at midnight Monday, with the costumes and makeup put on, the party begins.
Thousands of people, dressed as spirits and animals and insects, with masks, glitter, and very little clothing, revel in the streets winding their way toward the official parade site, dancing and drinking until they slowly reach Eastern Parkway, where the “real” parade starts at noon.
If you haven't been to this parade, it's not like any other
the music is loud, the dancing infectious, the costumes sparkley
it's a total blast and don't forget the
FOOD
FISH and FESTIVAL, JERK CHICKEN, ACKEE and SALTFISH, DUMPLINGS, ESCOVITCH FISH, CALLALOO, OXTAIL, ROTI, PATTIES and CURRIED GOAT
it's all home cooked and amazing
Since it's impossible to drive out, or drive into this neighborhood, and impossible to sleep, it's a given that you either leave town on Friday, or join in.
I'm getting out of DODGE
and
shuffling off to BUFFALO, to visit friends and celebrate our birthdays, and the end of a long
hot summer
to keep the whiff of SEA and FARM in the air.....
of
August
The last weekend of August my neighborhood shows off its finest. It begins the week before Labor Day, which is always the first Monday of September, and ends with the West Indian Day Parade down Eastern Parkway on Labor Day itself. It’s the Caribbean Carnival, complete with costumes, floats, steel bands, huge trucks with giant speakers blasting soca and reggae and scantily clad women madly dancing, food, drink, politicians, including the mayor, etc. Oh, I almost forgot the participants and the million + spectators.
This week people are out every night checking out the “Mas Camps” where the costumes are displayed. It’s a party on almost every block in Flatbush. You chose which camp to join, buy your costume from them and travel with or on their float. As the week progresses, the customers hang out later and later, the music gets louder and louder, until finally it’s “J'Ouvert”, the parade before the parade. J'Ouvert starts at midnight Monday, with the costumes and makeup put on, the party begins.
Thousands of people, dressed as spirits and animals and insects, with masks, glitter, and very little clothing, revel in the streets winding their way toward the official parade site, dancing and drinking until they slowly reach Eastern Parkway, where the “real” parade starts at noon.
If you haven't been to this parade, it's not like any other
the music is loud, the dancing infectious, the costumes sparkley
it's a total blast and don't forget the
FOOD
FISH and FESTIVAL, JERK CHICKEN, ACKEE and SALTFISH, DUMPLINGS, ESCOVITCH FISH, CALLALOO, OXTAIL, ROTI, PATTIES and CURRIED GOAT
it's all home cooked and amazing
Since it's impossible to drive out, or drive into this neighborhood, and impossible to sleep, it's a given that you either leave town on Friday, or join in.
I'm getting out of DODGE
and
shuffling off to BUFFALO, to visit friends and celebrate our birthdays, and the end of a long
hot summer
to keep the whiff of SEA and FARM in the air.....
MUSSELS with Tomatoes and Garlic
Melt a whole lot of butter in a large stainless steel pot
add 2-4 large shallots chopped
2-3 large garlic cloves minced
saute until soft
add sprigs of fresh thyme, basil, oregano...whatever you like
add lots of chopped fresh tomatoes
all kinds......
purple cherokee, sungolds, jerseys,yellow brandywine, amish paste, juliets, raves
toss in some Vya dry vermouth or some white wine
let simmer until the tomatoes are soft
while it's cooking down
rinse and debeard the mussels and throw in (approx 1 pound per person)
(add water if the mixture gets too thick)
cook until the mussels open, about 5 minutes
serve with hot french bread
see you in
September
when
you can see my work at Proteus Gowanus
the WATER Show
Opening Sunday September 15th 6-9 pm
+
Tugboat Cafe: Just MOI
Weather Report from...
September 14th- mid October
opening TBD
2-3 large garlic cloves minced
saute until soft
add sprigs of fresh thyme, basil, oregano...whatever you like
add lots of chopped fresh tomatoes
all kinds......
purple cherokee, sungolds, jerseys,yellow brandywine, amish paste, juliets, raves
toss in some Vya dry vermouth or some white wine
let simmer until the tomatoes are soft
while it's cooking down
rinse and debeard the mussels and throw in (approx 1 pound per person)
(add water if the mixture gets too thick)
cook until the mussels open, about 5 minutes
serve with hot french bread
see you in
September
when
you can see my work at Proteus Gowanus
the WATER Show
Opening Sunday September 15th 6-9 pm
+
Tugboat Cafe: Just MOI
Weather Report from...
September 14th- mid October
opening TBD
 |
| Yoga City Illustration |
and a very happy birthday to
OLIVIA! KATHLEEN! JOHN! FELICIA! MARK! GREG! BILL! NANCY! RICH! STREICKER!
NAZMIN!
OLIVIA! KATHLEEN! JOHN! FELICIA! MARK! GREG! BILL! NANCY! RICH! STREICKER!
NAZMIN!
