"Brooklyn Spirits": A Very Special Book Launch

Last night at Powerhouse Arena in Dumbo, Brooklyn

Peter Thomas Fornatale and Chris Wertz

Signing copies of 'Brooklyn Spirits'

Chris Wertz, Max Kelly and Peter Thomas Fornatale 

Photographer Max Kelly with his super proud mama.

This being Friday, perhaps you may allow me to slip from neighborhood blogger into the role of very proud mother just this once.

Last night, I attended a very special book launch for "Brooklyn Spirits: Craft Distilling and Cocktails from the World's Hippest Borough" at PowerHouse Arena in Dumbo. Special, because all the photographs in this book were taken by my son Max Kelly.

Co-authored by Peter Thomas Fornatale and Chris Wertz and published by Powerhouse Books, 'Brooklyn Spirits' highlights many of the borough's new craft distilleries like Breukelen Distilling, Greenhook Ginsmiths and Noble Experiment and the producers behind these Brooklyn start-ups.
Photographs  for 'Brooklyn Spirits' were taken on location at the distilleries and in some of the most popular watering holes in Brooklyn.  Most of the 95 cocktail recipes contributed by the authors, distillers and borough bartenders have been beautifully photographed.

The New York Times writes about "Brooklyn Spirits"

"Lavishly photographed, the book chronicles the experiences of a dozen start-up whiskey and liqueur makers in the borough, including Breukelen Distilling, Van Brunt Stillhouse, Cacao Prieto, Greenhook Ginsmiths and Uncouth Vermouth. Threaded throughout are stories about the bars that use the spirits and the cocktails they create, like the Crown Heights Negroni and the Gravesend Smash. It includes several recipes and an excellent index of the cocktails."

I wonder what Grandpa Kelly would think of all this. Back in the days, he owned the White Shutter Inn at 98 Wyckoff Avenue in Bushwick. Though he probably didn't serve fancy spirits and drinks like those photographed by his grandson Max, I know that he would have been as proud of him as I am.

The book is available at Powerhouse Arena here and from Amazon here.

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More Than 2,200 Films From 111 Countries Submitted To The 2011 Brooklyn Film Festival

Proving that the popularity of the Brooklyn Film Festival is growing every year, the organizers have received over 2,200 film submissions, 120 of which will be presented in June both at the Brooklyn Heights Cinema and at IndieScreen in Williamsburg. Mark your calendars and make sure to get your festival passes early here.

BROOKLYN FILM FESTIVAL

ANNOUNCES 2011 Edition: Plot

Received over 2,200 films from 111 countries

The Brooklyn Film Festival (BFF- formerly known as Brooklyn International Film Festival) is proud to announce its 2011 annual festival themed Plot. The festival has received over 2,200 films from 111 countries. 1,200 are US productions. The competitive event will run from June 3rd through June 12th at indieScreen, a brand new venue in Williamsburg, and the Brooklyn Heights Cinemas. The festival will present 120 film

premieres and each film will be shown twice. The full festival lineup will be announced in May 2011.

Opening night film presentation will be staged on June 3rd at Brooklyn Heights Cinema (8pm). Party at The powerHouse Arena in Dumbo will follow (10pm-1am). From Saturday, June 4th through Sunday, June 12th, programming will run at both indieScreen and Brooklyn Heights Cinemas. Several networking events will run at various Brooklyn hot spots.

Festival executive director, Marco Ursino, said of the 2011 edition, “With Plot, the festival

intends to take a snapshot at the most controversial issues of our times while analyzing the

evolution of plotting both in real life and in story telling. The focus will be on the political and cultural behavior of individuals, groups, regions, and countries. The issues will range from corporate takeovers to wars, from abusive relationships to the role of government in modern society".

This year’s festival film trailer will be directed and produced by the winners of the 2010 festival (with the film The Minutemen): Corey Wascinski and Nicholas Weissman.

On June 4th, BFF will present the 7th annual kidsfilmfest. kidsfilmfest will also be staged at

various museums in Manhattan and Long Island.

The festival was established in 1998 as the first international competitive film festival

in New York. BFF’s primary goal is to connect filmmakers to distribution companies and expose them to the media. Many films that have premiered at BFF in past years went on to be released theatrically and/or are available at video stores near you.

BFF will award the winners with prizes totaling over $50,000 in film services, products, and cash.

For more info about the festival please visit www.brooklynfilmfestival.org.

For more info about kidsfilmfest, visit www.kidsfilmfest.org or contact Lisa King at 646-234-5080 or lisa@wbff.org.

For info about the main venue, check www.indieScreen.com.

To get tickets, click here.

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Get Ready For The Fourth Annual Brooklyn Blog Fest

Whether you are a blogger or not, the place to be on May 7th is at the 4th Brooklyn Blogfest. I'll be there and so will many of my friends. Hope to see you, too!

Save the Date:

Brooklyn Blogfest 2009
May 7th at 7 p.m.
powerHouse Arena in Dumbo

Find out why Brooklyn is the bloggiest place in America at the Fourth Annual BrooklynBlogfest on May 7, 2009 at powerHouse Arena in DUMBO.

Brooklyn Blogfest 2009 is an exciting, idea-filled event for bloggers, blog readers and the blog curious curious where you will find: Insight. Advice. Inspiration. Resources. Here's your chance meet your favorite bloggers; learn about blogging; be inspired to blog.

"Where better to take the pulse of this rapidly growing community of writers, thinkers and observers than the Brooklyn Blogfest?" ~ Sewell Chan, The New York Times

This year's event will take place on May 7, 2009 at 7 p.m. at the powerHouse Arena in DUMBO.

In addition to a panel, which will address WHY WE BLOG, this year Brooklyn Blogfest introduces BLOGS-OF-A-FEATHER, small-group sessions, where you can hear from prominent bloggers and meet bloggers who share your interests.

Once again, there will be a VIDEO TRIBUTE TO BROOKLYN'S PHOTO BLOGGERS.

Whether you live to blog, blog to live or are just curious about this thing called blogging, you won't want to miss Brooklyn Blogfest 2009, the best Blogfest yet.

To find out about sponsorship opportunities for Brooklyn Blogfest, contact Louise Crawford
e:louise_crawford@yahoo.com, c: 718-288-4290).

The Details:

Fourth Annual Brooklyn Blogfest
May 7, 2009
Doors open at 7 p.m.
powerHouse Arena
37 Main Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201
Admission: $10

Brooklyn Blogfest After-Party
Galapagos Art Space
16 Main Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201
(right across the street from powerHouse Arena)

Cash bar and refreshments

Brooklyn Blogfest 2009

Insight. Advice. Inspiration. Resources.

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