Need a tree? I know a guy.

I’ve been watching a lot of The West Wing, so here go a lot of facts all at once: There are 5.2 million trees in New York City. They remove 2,202 tons of pollution a year. New York City’s most common street trees are the London planetree and the Norway maple. At 133.8 feet, the “Alley Pond Giant,” a tulip tree located in Alley Pond Park, Queens is one of New York City’s tallest trees. At 144 inches, the American hornbeam, located in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park is one of New York City’s widest trees.

You’d be a damn fool to deny that trees play an integral role in cleaning the air, reducing energy costs and making the city look way less like the concrete shithole it already is. So fortunately for us, the ecologically disenfranchised citizens of NYC, New York Restoration Project and MillionTreesNYC are hosting a Community Tree Giveaway on May 12. Get there early (trees will be given away on a first-come, first-served basis) and help make NYC become somewhat more natural again.

Giveaway takes place at the Brooklyn Bridge Park at Pier 6, from 10pm -12pm; a second one will be held from 12pm – 2pm, at BuildOn at Grand Street Campus, 850 Grand St.

Yes, Jimmy, even you can be a TV star.

If you’re not jumping on the fan-wagon for HBO’s Girls, had enough of the nostalgia-hype surrounding Mad Men, or are overwhelmed by the unrelenting slew of characters suddenly showing up and obfuscating the plot of Game of Thrones until your mind cave is left fully in the dark, stop your whining because no one cares about your opinion. However, if you’ve suddenly found yourself inspired to write your own television series in order to finally put all the others to shame, then take a gander at this: Amazon Studios, a seemingly non-evil subsidiary of Amazon.com, is on the prowl for original television scripts for comedy series and children’s series. In their words, “We’re looking for great scripts to turn into great entertainment. Will your story be the next big hit?”

Maybe you have what it takes? Maybe you don’t. At the very least, let the sweet smell of a $55,000 buy-out for your television series and a bunch of other incentives act as your guiding force. Amazon is looking to buy one show a month to debut on its streaming service. (more…)

It’s hard to believe that Brooklyn hasn’t always been the blogging, handmade, farm-to-table, indie-band-loving, summer-outdoor-movie-watching fairytale land that it is today. Fact is Kings County had the highest proportion of slaveholders and slaves in the North, thus ranking Brooklyn high on the moral hypocrisy scale. Yet despite the borough’s unconscionable participation in the institution of slavery, Brooklyn was also home to some of America’s most influential abolitionists.

Drawing upon historical documents from the Brooklyn Historical Society and Weeksville Heritage Center, the Irondale Ensemble is presenting “Color Between the Lines,” a musical that explores our great borough’s ideologically compromised past through a range of both real and fictional characters who fought tirelessly to end slavery. According to Irondale their musical is “the borough’s first public history project to explore the abolitionist movement in Brooklyn.”  (more…)

[Etan Marciano (who brought you an organ-donor tour of Brooklyn, tips on selling your hair online) has just launched his new multimedia writing project, The Hyp Replacement, which is well worth your time to check out!-Tim]

Are you tired of reading the same old blog posts? Do you find yourself aimlessly clicking through Wikipedia articles? Just how many times can you scroll through your Facebook feed? Sounds like your suffering from UORF: Useless Online Reading Fatigue! According to leading Internet researchers, one in four adults between the ages of 18 and 85 experiences symptoms related to UORF including mindless link clicking, repetitive scrolling and futile word skimming. If you are seeking relief, look no further. Launched on Jan. 1 and available at absolutely no charge, The Hyp Replacement is a self-published online-based serialized story. It’s the literary jolt you need to get through your day! Appearing in short, easily digestible chapters and combining compelling prose with state-of-the-art social media, The Hyp Replacement follows the daily lives of four characters who share a Brooklyn brownstone. Through Twitter feeds, Tumblr posts, YouTube videos or classic 3rd person narrative, each day’s chapter guarantees thrill from start to finish. So start reading today and never suffer from UORF again! (more…)

This is the twelfth in our series on the venues featured in the second Brooklyn Beer Book. This week the spotlight is on the Brooklyn Ice House, where the friendly Red Hook waterfront vibe is in full effect.

BROOKLYN ICE HOUSE
318 Van Brunt St. between Pioneer & King, Red Hook

What is it: This Red Hook staple is a neon-lit beacon of hope on an otherwise “where the f am I?” stretch of Van Brunt Street.

Why we love it: It’s the answer to the question people are always asking: “what there is to do in Red Hook? Plus, cheap beer, pulled pork and a spacious backyard to chill out. (more…)

The London Souls, Monday at Brooklyn Bowl

It’s that time of the week again. That’s right, you guessed it: cheap music in Brooklyn time. Power up your Monday with a set by The London Souls at the Brooklyn Bowl. Ease your way through the week with Ayumi Ishito at Coco 66 and Druthers at Bruar Falls. Conclude the almost end of your work week with some feral DJ action at Zebulon. You know the deal, nothing more than $5. (more…)

The Kickdrums, free at BK Bowl tonight

This week’s mantra is, “as always, all shows are $5 or less.”  From The Kickdrums tonight to Hallelujah on Thursday, you can say it again as you welcome in the first days of March: “as always, all shows are $5 or less.” And just in case you didn’t hear me over the prattling post-Oscar, Omigod-did-you-see-her-dress commentary likely taking place right beside your desk, “as always, all shows are $5 or less.” (more…)

Viuex Farka Toure, Monday at Zebulon

This week’s diverse line up spans the luscious musical landscape, from the mountains of blues to the valleys of punk. So whip out your Metrocard or rev up your bicicletta and find the Brooklyn venue nearest you. Just remember: where love fails, cheap music forever triumphs. As always, all shows are $5 or less. (more…)

I chicken heart you.

Did you know that the annual day of love and tasteless chocolates also shares its calendar space with National Donor Day? Since 1998, the day calls upon kind-hearted individuals to register as donors for the more than 100,000 people currently awaiting transplants (If you’re feeling lovingly altruistic, fill out your donor cards). And what better way to strengthen your registered organs than with organ-based meals? A rational line of thinking, perhaps not, but logic aside, you can indulge your inner Andrew Zimmern today with some (tasty?) edible offals offered by an international line up of Brooklyn restaurants. You might be hesitant (no judgement) but at such low prices what do you really have to lose (except your appetite)? (more…)

Super Bowl food coma got you down? Hit up some of this week’s free shows to snap you out of your high-caloric stupor. Whether you’re in the mood for jazz, acid funk or music by an electro-string quartet, your winter-worn body will thank you for pro-actively getting off your ass. As always, all shows are $5 or less. (more…)