Decoy - the 2012 Brooklyn Film Festival

I don’t know anyone who doesn’t love a great movie. A couple of hours set aside to laugh, cry, scream and basically live in someone else’s brain-space for a while. Of course wading through the romantic-comedy, teen-thriller, plotless explosion-fest film quagmire can be more than daunting. Enter the highly-respected, upstart Brooklyn Film Festival – June 1 – 10, 2012. Centered on promoting the art of independent filmmaking and raising awareness of Brooklyn as a US cinematic hub, BFF is an internationally competitive film festival giving voice to unsung cinematic gems from across the globe.

The 2012 BFF theme is “Decoy” and the BFF website expands on the theme explaining that “Decoy” is “…a study on symbolism and metaphors. It is also our personal invitation to read between the lines while questioning the motives behind.” Events this year will include several networking events, the 9th annual KidsFilmFest and an awards ceremony. Check out the incredible line-up of short, documentary, experimental, animated and feature-length films:

Join the Brooklyn Film Festival June 1 – 10, 2012 for 10 days of filmmaking art, innovation and activity. Showings at the Brooklyn Heights Cinema and indieScreen. Check out the BFF website for more deets.

Welcome in the Year of the Dragon in Manhattan

It’s a shame you can only welcome in the New Year once, but wait! Join the throngs of people boisterously welcoming in the Chinese New Year. 2012 brings the Year of the Dragon and the crowds will gather in Sarah D. Roosevelt Park in Manhattan to welcome it properly.

The celebration will begin with a traditional fireworks detonation to scare off evil spirits. Then enjoy a colorful parade through Chinatown, complete with traditional dance troupes bringing to life a dozen lions, dragons and unicorns. Take in cultural performances by Asian-American performers and visit local organizations booths for a chance to win traditional Chinese New Year items.

For a loud and rowdy feast for the eyes head to Sarah D. Roosevelt Park in Manhattan and escape the norm. Located just four and a half miles away from the Best Western Arena Hotel, it’s the perfect choice in Brooklyn accommodations. Take advantage of the free parking and a hearty breakfast to keep you warm while experiencing the festivities.

What: Chinese New Year Celebration
When: January, 23; 11:00 A.M. – 3:00 P.M.
Where: Sarah D. Roosevelt Park

Looking to shake it up on New Years in the most unusual fashion? Best Western Arena Hotel places you near fantastic New Years Eve Festivities. With the last days of 2011 ticking away, take these bold celebrations into consideration if you want to welcome 2012 with ample energy.

Galapagos Art Space
Where: 16 Main Street, DUMBO
When: Dec 31^st, Doors open at 8 P.M., live show at 10 P.M., Dancing from midnight on
Admission: $150 includes show and open bar till 1 A.M.
Galapagos Art Space embraces cabaret with a “Paris in 1920’s” theme party.

The Knitting Factory
Where: 361 Metropolitan Avenue
When: Dec 31^st, Doors open at 9:30 P.M., show begins at 10:30 P.M.
Admission: $25 - $100
The Knitting Factory boasts the “Murray Hill’s Annual NYE Extravaganza”, the well-known drag king comedian hosts a variety show to welcome in the New Year.

Southpaw
Where: 125 Fifth Avenue
When: Dec 31^st, Doors open at 9 P.M., party ends at 4 A.M.
Admission: $40, 21 and up.
Sweat it out with “The Rub New Year’s”, an unstoppable all night dance party done “Brooklyn style” with affordable drinks and anything goes attitude.

These 3 parties are all less than 3.5 miles from our abundantly appointed Brooklyn accommodations. After bringing in the New Year with zeal, recover at our luxury boutique hotel in the Crown Heights/Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn. You’ll be surrounded by modern conveniences in our comfortable rooms that will make the New Years day just as great as New Years Eve.

True to Brooklyn’s eclectic spirit we are excited to showcase the return of DUMBO Arts Festival.   This is one of the largest Brooklyn events, including 500 artists in 100 studios.   With artists from all disciplines, this festival promises to provide not only a feast for the eyes but one for the soul.  Enjoy masterful photos, original paintings or be moved by a performance.  At the DUMBO Arts Festival in Brooklyn, you can let the marching bands or drum circles speak to you or if dance is more your style, there will be dance performances as well. 

DUMBO, an acronym for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass, is returning for its 15^th year.  It showcases the arts, variety and the spirit that makes Brooklyn unique. 

With the events so spread out and varied, it’s nice to know you aren’t far from the action. We're happy to provide the finest Brooklyn accommodation just minutes from the DUMBO Arts Festival.

What:                   DUMBO Arts Festival
When:                  September 23^rd-25^th
Where:                DUMBO neighborhood, Brooklyn
Website:             http://dumboartsfestival.com/

Transport yourself back through time as Battle Week celebrates the 235^th Anniversary of the Battle of Brooklyn.  This week long event commemorates the first and longest battle of the revolutionary war.  It was fought on the doorsteps of many recognized landmarks of the area, including the Old Stone House in Brooklyn.  The Old Stone House played an important role in history, after surviving The Battle of Brooklyn it now serves as a museum commemorating the revolution.

The week is packed with educational, as well as, entertaining events, including a live concert with music from the era.  The festivities are kicked off with a reading of the Declaration of Independence on August 19^th.  You’ll have to reserve seats for the canoe tour to get an up close understanding of the infamous escape route for American Soldiers during the war.   Learn all about maritime history and camp life with The Great Escape from General John Glover’s Marblehead Regiment reenactment.  The week comes to a close with a battle re-enactment inside the main gate at the Green-Wood Cemetery, followed by a parade to the top of Battle Hill and memorial ceremony. 

Immerse yourself in our nation’s history.

What: Battle Week
When: August 18^th- August 28^th
Where: Historical locations across Brooklyn
Website: http://theoldstonehouse.org/calendar/battle-week-the-235th-anniversary-of-the-battle-of-brooklyn/

We’re just a week away from the Opening Night Gala of the annual Celebrate Brooklyn! summer concert series, hosted June 10, 2011 at the Prospect Park Bandshell. There are still passes available to this fabulous night of fine cuisine, music and entertainment, so act fast to secure your spot.

The Celebrate Brooklyn! Opening Night Gala kicks off one of the longest-running and most attended free concert series in New York. This exciting night begins with cocktails and dinner in the Gala tent, followed by a ceremony honoring the night’s special guests and a rousing performance by folk rock icon Andrew Bird. The fun continues at the after-party, where unusual Brooklyn-based performance art group CHERYL will turn out an unforgettable dance party.

The Opening Night Gala will be hosted June 10, 2010 starting with the cocktail reception at 5:30 at the Prospect Park Bandshell. Individual tickets are priced at $325-$1000 and are tax-deductible. Learn more.

Don’t have the cash? Not to worry! Some of the most exciting events during Celebrate Brooklyn! are absolutely free! From June 10 to August 6, the series will hold 24 free concerts at the Bandshell. The incredible entertainment roster includes the likes of Salsa legend Larry Harlow, Los Lobos, Ra Ra Riot, Dr. John, and a joyous dance-and-sing-along by the cast of West Side Story.

See the full concert line-up here.

Celebrate Brooklyn! concerts are held most Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights at the Prospect Park Bandshell. Gates open one hour before the listed show time, and seating is first-come, first-served.

After a fantastic night of music, return to a relaxing stay at the new Best Western PLUS Arena Hotel in downtown Brooklyn. Exclusive rates starting as low as $119. Check it out!

Experience an authentic slice of Brooklyn at the 124^th Annual Feast of our Lady of Mount Carmel and the Giglio.  This exciting 12-day cooperative Brooklyn festival celebrates the cultural and religious heritage of Williamsburg, Brooklyn’s proud Italian community. Since 1954, the Giglio has been hosted by the Shrine Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, making the entire festival a unique blend of religious, secular and traditional cooperation.

Don’t worry – it’s not as daunting as it seems. While there is a strong spiritual component for many of the attendees, for many others the Giglio is all about strengthening the bonds of the community and simply having a good time.

There are a number important rituals and events over the 12 days, but two attract the most attention. By far the most spectacular is the Giglio itself, a 10x10 base, 5-story tower hoisted on the shoulders of over a hundred men and carried through the streets of Williamsburg. This procession is known as “dancing the Giglio”. The Brooklyn event is the oldest Giglio in the United States and is an unforgettable spectacle for all who come out to see it.

Equally important is the culminating event, the Feast of our Lady of Mount Carmel on July 16. At the feast, member of the community and all comers mix and mingle, feast on traditional Italian specialties and view the grandeur of the Giglio tower in its resting place at the Shrine Church.

The 2011 Giglio and Feast of our Lady of Mount Carmel in Brooklyn will be hosted July 6 – 17 in the neighborhood of Williamsburg. For more information, visit the website.

Shrine Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
275 N 8^th Street
Brooklyn, NY 11211

Celebrate our nation’s soldiers and share a fun morning with honored Brooklyn veterans at the Brooklyn Memorial Day Parade. Commencing its 144^th march in 2011, the Brooklyn Memorial Day Parade is the oldest continuously running Memorial Day parade in the country. All are welcome to join the festivities on May 30, 2011 in the Fort Hamilton neighborhood.

Whether you are marching as a veteran, coming in support of one, or just want to see the show, the Brooklyn Memorial Day Parade is always a lively and emotional affair. Marching participants include every veterans’ association in Brooklyn, the Military Order of the Purple Heart, active duty soldiers on leave from Iraq and Afghanistan, boy and girl scouts, several Brooklyn high school bands, the NYPD auxiliary band and more. At the parade’s end in John Paul Jones Park, there is a ceremony including a wreath laying, flag raising, the playing of taps and a 21-gun salute.

Celebrate our nation’s brave defenders at the 144^th annual Brooklyn Memorial Day Parade.

What: Brooklyn Memorial Day Parade
When: May 30, 2011; Parade at 11:00 a.m.
Where: 89^th St. & 3^rd Ave. to John Paul Jones Park
Website: http://www.brooklynmemorialdayparade.com/

This June, movie buffs and true cinemaniacs will head in for the highly anticipated Brooklyn Film Festival. This competitive festival gives Brooklyn a front row seat to the latest and greatest in independent film. In just ten short days, the Brooklyn Film Festival will premier over 100 films, all of them competing for top honors (and over $50,000 in awards).

This year’s theme: “Plot”. The Brooklyn Film Festival goes deep into the art of storytelling, both fiction and non-fiction.  Festival organizers expect a mix of controversial themes, everything from corporate takeovers to wars, as well as the more poignant, personal works for which the indie festival circuit is known. The full festival lineup will be announced this May.

The Brooklyn Film Festival joins a stable of successful New York City film festivals put on by the Brooklyn Film Society, including the Williamsburg Film Festival and the Brooklyn Independent Film Festival. That is to say, they know what they’re doing!

2011 Brooklyn Film Festival
Dates: June 3-12, 2011
Tickets: $10 per screening (discount passes available)
Website: http://www.brooklynfilmfestival.org/

Sakura Matsuri 2011, the Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival at Brooklyn Botanic Garden, is fast approaching, and not a minute too soon. As Brooklyn escapes the grips of one of the heaviest winters on record, our thoughts naturally turn to spring. Nowhere in Brooklyn is the bounty of spring more apparent than the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.

From April 2 – May 1, the BBG’s stunning grove of cherry blossom trees “springs” into full bloom, announcing the changing of the seasons for all to see. Then, at month’s end, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden throws an official celebration in Sakura Matsuri. Held this year from April 30 – May 1, 2011, this traditional Japanese cherry blossom festival presents an engaging array of entertainments.

Things to see and do at the Brooklyn Cherry Blossom Festival include: Japanese music and dance, authentic taiko drumming, tea ceremonies, ikebana flower arranging, presentations on the art of manga, Japanese DJs and workshops.  Both beautiful and lively, Sakura Matsuri is one of the favorite events at Brooklyn Botanic Garden.

Cherry blossoms bloom at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden from April 2 – May 1, and the festival is held April 30 – May 1, 2011. Admission is regularly $10, free all day on Tuesdays, and $15 during the festival. Learn more.

Don’t forget: the Brooklyn Botanic Garden is located less than a mile from the new Best Western PLUS Arena – Brooklyn Hotel. It’s the ideal stay near the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and anywhere you want to be in Brooklyn.