Sexy, shadowy shot of moped ruling Bushwick by Lilly Frances.

It was the summer of 2009 in Minneapolis. A friend told me he and his roommate just bought something cool. In his backyard, he showed me this bright blue machine that was too large to be a bicycle, too small to be a motorcycle. At the time, I only had a foggy notion of what a moped was. A week later, I was obsessed.

Two-wheeled motorized vehicles have long been associated with freedom, spiritual journeying and rebellion. (See: Zen And The Art Of Motorcycle Maintenance, Easy Rider, The Wild One, thousands of rock songs written about motorcycles.)  With a moped, I’d found a way for meek nerds to experience their own version of that exhilaration. Mopeds are faster than bikes, almost as ch­eap, and you can show up places not covered in back sweat. You don’t even have to have tattoos and do meth! This article is for those who are too cheap and impatient for the train and too fat and lazy and sweaty for a bicycle. My people, I present you with MOPED 101. (more…)

A rapt crowd packs The Loom in September.

Go do something Sunday that combines two of the average young Brooklynite’s favorite things: Drinking beer and feeling smart. Presentation Party Night is a monthly free lecture series featuring six presentations on a wide range of topics. You can even sign up to do your own presentation for the future (any level of public speaking ability is accepted, so don’t be shy). A limited supply of free beer is provided, for a small suggested donation of course; snacks are provided potluck style, and BYOB is encouraged. This month’s topics include oil fracking, healthcare reform and The Spice Girls. Visit the website for photos and videos of past presentations.

Presentation Party Night, Sunday, 7-11pm, 815B Seneca Ave., under the sign that says “Karate.” (Feel free to argue about whether this is actually in Brooklyn or Queens).

How much does it cost to make this? Sketch by Brad Pearson.

Pearl Paint is widely held as the artist’s go-to retailer for supplies at decent prices, but that store is in Manhattan, and we are not. I wanted to find the best art supply stores here in our very own borough, so I decided to do a cost comparison of the items I use most myself, from five local shops. The products were Koh-I-Noor Rapidograph technical pens (individual), Prismacolor markers (individual), Higgins India ink (1 oz.), and the cheapest, crappiest pencils and brushes each store carried.  (more…)

Mad as hell; gonna watch some movies.

When looking for movies that speak to the 99 percent you’ve got the obvious Oliver Stone’s Wall Street. But that film’s a bit blunt force (also it’s …meh). Or there’s Michael Moore’s Capitalism: A True Love Story, which is specific to our current sociopolitical plight. But for films to really get your proletariat blood boiling, I’ve compiled a list of more conventional entertainment for the masses that contain a Trojan horse of social consciousness, like how you wrap your dogs’ pills in cheese so they’ll take them. If you want to feel like you’re being politically active while remaining in the comfort of your own home, hit up your friend in the 1 percent with a digital projector and pick from the list. After that, you’ll understand why you might not be surprised to see Rowdy Roddy Piper or George Bailey at Zuccotti Park. (more…)