A: Artez’n

Artez’n is a fun gallery/store/studio on Atlantic Avenue between Nevins and Bond. It’s the perfect place to go when you need a creative Brooklyn gift–you’ll find everything from t-shirts silk screened with sketches of Coney Island mermaids to beer glasses imprinted with the Grand Army Plaza Arch. Almost all of the pieces are made by artists in Brooklyn, and for such unique items, the prices are very reasonable. For Christmas I bought my mom an “eau de Brooklyn” soap set, and I’ve got my eye on a tote bag printed with a Brooklyn map.

There’s also a nice selection of locally made prints, paintings, and sculptures. Instead of reusing that poster leftover from college, support a local artist and decorate with something original. At Artez’n, it won’t even cost you that much more.

And if you’re creative yourself, Artez’n might sell your work on consignment. Fill out an application and see.

Artez’n is located at 444 Atlantic Avenue and is open 7 days a week from 11am-7pm.

Museums On Us

This month Bank of America users get free entry into over 95 museums.  If you live in New York, check out the Brooklyn Botanic Garden (hurry and you can still make prime cherry blossom viewing time), MoMA, the Whitney, and the Brooklyn Museum (be sure to visit the newly opened Sackler Center for Feminist Art, which I review here) at no cost just by flashing your Bank of America ATM card. You can even bring along one guest for free.

The Bank of America promotion’s website  lists many more participating museums in New York, New England, and California. I wish museums at some interior states had been included as well, but otherwise it’s a great deal. Enjoy!

More Than Just Books

One day I dropped by the main branch of the Brooklyn Public Library, planning to guiltily return the book I had failed to read before hanging out in Prospect Park. I never made it into the sunshine, though—just as I was about to leave, a voice from the loudspeaker announced that Michael Cunningham, author of the Hours, was giving a free reading from his new book.

Of course libraries are great for books, but the reading that day, an intimate talk where empty seats abounded, reminded me that they’re also an amazing and underutilized resource for other forms of entertainment. The thrifty New Yorker will find high quality art exhibits, music, movies, classes, and writing workshops all for a grand total of zero dollars.

Neckface’s Urban Wink

The F train travels above ground for 2 stops in Brooklyn, and so, every morning on my commute into Manhattan, I try to make the most of these four precious minutes of light. During the rest of the ride I distract myself from the impending doom of cubicle life with music or podcasts, but here the city does that job itself. There’s a subway exit that goes directly from the subterranean Canal stop into my office building, which means that, especially in winter, this can be my only contact with New York City in the daytime.

Demystifying Galleries

In New York City, museums, galleries, murals, subway mosaics, and even intricate tags on mailboxes are everywhere. Where does an art lover start? Museums are great, but they can be surprisingly expensive. The Metropolitan Museum of Art now rings in at $20 a visit (though note that this is a “recommended” donation—whatever you can give is appropriate), and once you’re there, there’s often an obligation to stay for a long time to get your money’s worth.

Galleries are different. They’re small enough that you can drop in for twenty minutes on your lunch break or to warm up while waiting to meet a friend, they’re all over, and they’re filled with innovative and exciting work. You might just stumble across the next big art thing. Gallery openings are an opportunity to talk to the artists and to meet people. Not to mention the free wine.

So why aren’t we visiting them more?