“The Hundred Story House” is a collaborative public artwork by film producer Julia Marchesi and public artist Leon Reid IV. It is a miniature Brooklyn brownstone whose windows open upon shelves of books (about 100 of them), which can be borrowed by the community. Situated in the Cobble Hill Park on Clinton Street, the House is a tiny lending library open to all and operating on the honor system — take-a-book, leave-a-book. This is an effort to celebrate the BOOK as a physical object, and the pleasure of holding it in your hand. Or better yet, placing it in someone else’s.

To fund this project, Ms. Marchesi and Mr. Reid have turned to the arts funding website Kickstarter, where they will gratefully accept any donations.

NY Post: “Bored to Death” creator Jonathan Ames racked up a $1,600 bar tab by throwing a boozy wake for his canceled HBO show Wednesday. “Welcome to the premiere — I mean, the funeral,” Ames told one of many well-wishers who packed Boerum Hill’s Brooklyn Inn after he tweeted followers to come “at 10pm & i’ll buy you a drink!” The turnout surprised Ames. “I was not expecting this. I’m gonna lose a lot of money,” he joked, adding, “Everyone gets one drink. Don’t abuse the privilege.” The writer earlier treated the show’s crew to brews at nearby 61 Local. Borough President Marty Markowitz called during the Brooklyn Inn bash to say he wanted pictures for his newsletter. A flack said Markowitz and his wife were “huge fans” and “very disappointed and angry” the show was scrapped. Ames ambled out at 1:30 a.m. in search of an ATM: Like many Brooklyn hotspots, the Inn is cash-only. Stars John Hodgman and Heather Burns were on the scene. Ted Danson, Jason Schwartzman and Zach Galifianakis were in LA.

Curbed: Jon Sherman, founder and head designer of the wallpaper firm Flavor Paper,packed up and moved himself and his business to the commercial hinterlands of Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, he must have known the new place would have to make a splash. The new industrial-looking building, designed by Jeff Kovel of Skylab Architecture, is kitted out on the interior with some of Flavor Paper’s most striking designs. The roof garden is bordered by bright purple paneling, the master bedroom of Sherman’s personal penthouse is done up in faux fur, and the skylit living room features a deeply textured modern fireplace. Quite a showplace for Flavor Paper’s products, enough to keep clients like Lenny Kravitz and Frank Gehry coming across the river.

NY Post: They had been living in Cobble Hill and needed more space.

“We had looked at about five places, and then we went to get dinner [at a neighborhood Thai restaurant on Court Street owned by a friend]. And our friend’s like, ‘You guys look bushed,’” recalls De Marrais. “He told us, ‘I’m moving out of my apartment; you should go check it out. Here’s the keys. Go check it out now.’”

They did, and it was love at first sight. “We were walking around like, ‘Are you kidding me?’ This place is amazing, and we would dance around this place the first few years we lived here.”

Brooklyn Ink: Food for Occupiers in Zuccotti Park is being cooked in Boerum Hill and East New York, shipped to Lower Manhattan in donated vans and, occasionally, yellow taxi cabs.

The amount of food required to meet demand has reached a peak since the protests began in mid-September, Chef Eric Smith said. The voluntary kitchen staff, constantly shuttling food in from Brooklyn, is now preparing three meals a day for nearly 2,000 people.

Sean Dolan, chief cook at the protest, says one problem organizers face is an inability to “discriminate” between protestors and freeloaders.

“Rich people can come looking like homeless men, protestors can come in suits,” he explained. “We have to serve everyone.”

 

This week’s episode of Bored to Death has many twists and turns but it will probably go down in history as coining the phrase “baby cocaine”.

One of the episode’s main plotlines begins when Ray (Zach Galifianakis) visits Cobble Hill Park with his son Spencer.

Watch the episode? Comment below!

Our prodigal daughter Ryoko is coming back to NY from her travels in Europe. She is only here from the middle of Dec to the beginning of Jan, so if you are looking to finish something, add, or get something new,check with us quick, she is sure to book up quickly.

Record Collecting for Girls: Unleashing Your Inner Music Nerd, One Album at a Time

Smith’s book gives some solid advice to young female music fans just discovering music beyond Miley Cyrus.  Ironically, Smith warns her audience to steer clear of dating fans of… The Smiths saying, “Seriously. Think about your mindset when you listen to The Smiths. Do you not put them on when you’re depressed and self-indulgent? When you feel the world has done you wrong? When you feel unloved and sulky? I absolutely indulge in The Smiths now and then, when circumstances demand it. However, a totally-in-love superfan? No, I don’t want to date that. It’s just not my cup of tea. We can still be friends though. Possibly.”

Last week’s episode of Bored to Death featured “faux” Jonathan, played by Jason Schwartzman, spinning on a wheel while having knives thrown at him during a book signing at (where else?) Book Court.  Here’s a video of the REAL Ames doing a similar stunt last year.

So, how you likin’ this season so far?

The Kin

The Brooklyn Bugle rounds up bands featured in its performance series who are playing shows this week at the annual CMJ Music Marathon.

Check out performances by The Kin, MyNameisJohnMichael and more here.

Also playing CMJ is We Are Augustines.  See their Brooklyn Bugle Sessions performance after the jump.

NY Times: Amy Finkel lives in an apartment in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn, that does not allow pets. But she does have a groundhog (Chompers), an armadillo (Fleischesser) and a boar (Angel). They are all, however, dead and stuffed — and in the case of the boar, it is just the head.

“I do think I have a tendency to anthropomorphize,” Ms. Finkel said. “But I’m not sure they’re really pets.”

For the last four years, Ms. Finkel, who is 35 and teaches documentary video at Parsons The New School for Design, has been studying what animal lovers do with the bodies of their deceased dependents. She has a passing interest in burial and cremation. But her passion runs to the more unusual extremes of pet remembrance, things like mummification and cloning. Ms. Finkel is currently working on a documentary on the subject, called “Furever,” that is sponsored by the New York Foundation for the Arts.

 

Brooklyn Bugle: Visitors packed into the Urban Folk Art Gallery on Friday night to feast their eyes on a visual banquet served up by creative talents from the eateries and bars along Brooklyn’s Restaurant Row (aka Smith Street) at the opening party for the “Guest Check” collective exhibition.

“I think it’s great that businesses on this street came together to support the people who serve the community,” said attendee Betsy Wise. A sales associate at the nearby Soula shoe store, Wise stopped by to congratulate her friend Danielle Onesto, one of the 11 artists featured in the show.

 

Watching? At Book Court? Comment away!

Nothing was decided until today, but as of tonight a decision has been reached. @SimonvanKempen & I are leaving #RHONY, sadly but amicably.

van Kempen adds:

I am sad too but I don’t think this is the last you’ll see of us.

CHB photo by Sarah Portlock

Cobble Hillbilly Alex McCord claims that she and husband Simon van Kempen are not off The Real Housewives of New York City.  Reports earlier today claimed that McCord, Kelly Bensimon and Jill Zarin had been axed for the show’s fifth season.

Late this afternoon McCord tweeted:

Speaking for myself only, there is no decision yet whether I’m in or out of #RHONY -Nothing’s finalized, though I’d like to do another year.

She adds via Facebook:

I can confirm that I have not been ‘fired’ by BRAVO for next season’s Real Housewives of New York City. There are many rumors swirling around. Here’s the truth – Simon & I are still under consideration for season 5 & we’ll know one way or another very soon. I have to laugh at all the purported ‘insiders’ giving ‘off the record’ quotes. Some of the things I’ve read are frankly just absurd. Check back here or on Twitter & I’ll let you know the truth when I know something definitive.

As for Zarin and Bensimon, neither have commented as of late Thursday afternoon.  Reports say that the three women were told of Bravo’s decision this morning.

NEW YORK, Aug. 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Alex McCord, who is best known as one of the stars of “The Real Housewives of New York City” is thrilled to announce the launch of Aluxe™ Home, a joint venture between Alex McCord & Simon van Kempen and Vivian & Joseph Douek along with Nile Textile Industries SAE of Cairo, Egypt.
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110816/NY52845LOGO )
Aluxe™ Home has taken a showroom at the New York City’s prestigious textile building at 295 Fifth Avenue, and will be open for wholesale customers in time for the market week starting September 19th, 2011. Aluxe™ Home will launch initially with 18 different lines of bathroom towels as well as 24 different bedding selections, all of which are manufactured in Egypt and are made of 100% Egyptian Cotton.
Says Alex McCord, “Simon, Vivian, Joseph & I are thrilled with the launch of Aluxe™ Home, which is the culmination of many months of meetings between all the partners. This new venture was cemented when we visited and inspected the factory last month to ensure that we were happy with its quality, professionalism and working standards for its employees.”
Vivian Douek is the Chief Executive Officer and Alex McCord is the President. Simon van Kempen will use his 27 years of international luxury hotel experience when Aluxe™ Home launches its Hotel Collection in fall 2012 and Joseph Douek will act as non Executive Chairman.
In addition Aluxe™ Home will act as the exclusive US representative for Nile Textile Industries SAE and continue its expansion into other US based branding & licensing deals, Nile Textiles currently produces the Calvin Klein bath towel line under license.
Aluxe™ Home can be found on Twitter @AluxeHome and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/AluxeHome
Company Address
Aluxe™ Home Corp.
295 5th Avenue
Suite 1701
New York, NY 10016
Website: http://www.AluxeHome.com

Brooklyn Bugle: “At the time I was doing it, we were inventing all these styles that they’re using now,” said artist Kenneth Durant (aka SLAVE), who was part of the infamous Fab 5 crew that covered entire subway trains with graffiti in the 1970s. “I get a lot of respect from these newer guys because I was doing it for real on the trains,” Durant noted.

Past and present collide in Durant’s untitled painting on display in the exhibition. His tag or graffiti signature looms large on the canvas, with just a glimpse of a train car in the background. Painted when Durant first returned to New York City in 2009 after a 30-year absence from the scene, it is actually a reproduction of a SLAVE graffiti piece from 1977, when “bombing” No. 5 subway trains with his work was a regular habit.

Brooklyn Downtown Star: Among Suerte’s art are cartoons, comics and paintings reflecting everything from “sneakers hanging off light poles” to the view from the Brooklyn Promenade. His images can be seen hanging around Brooklyn Tattoo, giving the shop a classic urban feel.

He also illustrates for local businesses and has done work for all of the Rock Band video games, he said.

Urban images are “a constant backdrop of my life,” Suerte said. “It’s my history, it’s where I am now.”

Stories like this make me feel better for never buying a crib for either of our sons http://mobile.nytimes.com/article?a=817110&f=19

Where did the “chums”, Francois and Johan sleep as babies?  Simon says:

Initially between us & then in the middle of their own king size bed until they were ready for a twin RT (cont) http://tl.gd/boog6l

What do you think? Is this a good idea? Do babies really need a crib?

Brooklyn Tattoo owner/artist/ Cobble Hillbilly4life Adam Suerte’s custom painted piano for the Sing for Hope charity has made it to Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Pier 1.  The Brooklyn Bridge Park folks just posted this on Facebook:

Sing For Hope, a New York City-based non-profit, will place 88 pianos in parks and public spaces throughout the five boroughs, and Brooklyn Bridge Park will receive this one on Saturday (6/18)! Designed by Cobble Hill-based artist Adam Suerte, this beautiful piano will be free to play from June 18 through July 2 on Pier 1.

Brooklyn Paper photo

This one has us scratching our heads — is it a total hoax or documentation that some folks love to mess with the emotions of a 2 year old?

The Brooklyn Paper reports this week that the owners of a lost teddy bear have received a “response” from its alleged “bearnappers.”

Last month Susannah Bortner posted a sign in Cobble Hill Park that her toddler Donovan had lost “Mr. Bear”, who was wrapped in a blue blanket, somewhere around P.S. 29.

The paper reports that a response and a modified poster, featuring an image of the bear wearing a blindfold (very disturbing and much too reminiscent of real terrorist acts to be funny) were left this week:

Brooklyn Paper: “We have the blanket. Nothing will happen to it if we get $10,000 of gluten-free cupcakes delivered to this park.”

Lest Bortner not be able to ID the “kidnappers,” the ransom note went on: “I’ll be dressed as a pregnant woman with a baby in a stroller. My accomplice will be wearing a T-shirt, baseball cap, cargo shorts and mandrals. We’ll be obsessing over our toddler.”

Then it added this horrifying warning: “Come alone or this blanket (and bear) goes into the washer. No gentle cycle!”

The last three words were underlined.

Update: “To be a part of it, you’ll need to pick up a free immersion card at By Brooklyn or Brooklyn Tattoo/Urban Folk Art Gallery starting at noon on June 18. There will only be 500 in circulation, so appoint a responsible friend to pick up yours if you can’t get to Smith St. early. (They go fast!)” There’s a list of participating stores giving discounts here.

van Kempen Blog: Also of course make sure you watch me on Watch What Happens Live tonight. Kelly Bensimon & Cindy Barshop are Andy Cohen’s guests and I get to close the show with my first live performance of “I Am Real”

Also earlier today, due to the many requests I’ve had on Twitter, we launched the “I Am Real (Thug In A Club Mix)”. The original version is a better reflection of my voice but I hope you all watch & listen live as I sing for Andy tonight and judge for yourselves.

We’ll be live Tweeting during RHONYC etc tonight. Follow and discuss with us using hashtag #rhonycchb.

Gothamist: I actually wanted to talk to you about that because we have a huge Brooklyn readership. You’re in Cobble Hill? Or Carroll Gardens? We are in, according to the Cobble Hill blog, we’re in Cobble Hill. We’re in that sort of no-man’s land, if you like. We’re on Butler Street between Smith and Court streets. Some people say that Cobble Hill ends at Court. It seems that the border -Carroll Gardens starts at Degraw, but between Degraw and Wyckoff west of Smith Street is classified as Cobble Hill, and then Wyckoff to Atlantic between Court Street and Smith Street…I can’t even keep track. Cobble Hill blog calls it the DMZ, it can be Cobble Hill, it can be Boerum Hill. Or, we live in BoCoCa.

Note to Gothamist – this is the post Simon’s referring to, how’s about a link?