When it comes to Valentine’s Day, I’m firmly in Tim’s camp: it’s for suckers. Of course, I have a lot more to cry about than he does. Instead of doing that, I went to Fat Albert’s, the most wonderful department store in all of Bushwick, and shopped for all of you people. If you’re not familiar, Fat Albert’s is a giant, anything goes discount warehouse right by the Flushing Ave. J and M stop, described by a Yelp reviewer (the only Yelp reviewer, actually) as a  place that “looks pretty beat up and does need an extreme makeover, but you can’t beat the prices.” Sounds like the perfect place to find a Valentine’s Day present! (more…)

Scarf by Marjin Bennett, bag by Aki Kano.

Diana Kane, the Park Slope boutique for all things soft, silky, unusual and handmade, is hosting two trunk shows this weekend featuring Brooklyn designers. Park Slope’s Megan Noonan makes handmade knits under the handle Marijn Bennett, while handbag designer Aki Kano  hails from Prospect Heights. If that’s not reason enough to pop by, the store is offering 15 percent off storewide — but it balloons, swells, gianticizes to a full 20 percent off if you mention Brokelyn at the register. (Never a bad thing to mention at registers because people who work them need to know about us too.) But we digress: Diana Kane is at 229 Fifth Ave. at President Street, open tomorrow from 11 to 8.