NADU Secret South Indian Street Food Pop Up

Posted on by Douglas Turner

Last Thursday we hosted a semi-secret soft-launch pop up!  Nadu is the creation of our friends Nalini Periasamy, and Josh Sachs.  Featuring the ‘real-deal’ South Indian street food which, of course, everyone was raving about.

It was a packed event of friends and neighbors enjoying Nal’s traditional cooking which was paired with two signature cocktails especially for the event. The Chai White Russian, and the Tamarind Whiskey Sour were winners, judging by the excitement of the crowd that just kept growing!

*Thanks to Tara Kuzma for working wonders with her iPhone:

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Nicholas Mevoli Memorial Friday December 6th

Posted on by Douglas Turner

For those who were unable to attend the Florida services for Nicholas Mevoli, there will be a NYC based memorial and gathering honoring Nic/Nick/Nicholas’ Life & Memory

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Friday December 6th 2013

4PM Catholic Mass (In Memorial for Nicholas)

Our Lady of Consolation Church 184 Metropolitan Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11211

Post Church Gathering and Memorial

6PM until ??

The West, 379 Union Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11211

(The Event is posted on Facebook, by the official “Nicholas Mevoli Friends & Family Memorial Page”)

At The West, we will have a microphone set up and we invite you to bring/share stories, poems, songs, instruments to honor Nic’s memory.  One of Nic’s favorite things was a meal shared amongst friends.  We invite you to bring a Dish to share with others, and we will feast potluck style in Nic’s honor.  Some light fare will be provided, “cash” bar for drinks.

If you would like to drop off food prior to church services or contribute financially to food ordering please private message us for details. Additionally we are gathering a play list for the memorial as well as photos. Please let us know if you have songs that you’d like to request or suggest and any photos for the slide show.

During his many visits for competitions at the Blue Hole he assisted at the local St. Peters and St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Clarencetown, Long Island Bahamas, shuttling elderly and school children as well as helped in rebuilding their church roof damaged in a hurricane. There is a newly created charity fund, in his name and remembrance, in which all monies will go directly to that church to help rebuild the physical building and also assist the local families in Clarencetown.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations for Nicholas charity. All donations will go direct, dollar for dollar, to St. Peter’s and St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Clarencetown, Long Island Bahamas.

For: “Nicholas Mevoli Memorial”

c/o: Most Holy Name of Jesus Church, 5800 15th Ave. S. Gulfport, FL 33707.

(Checks Payable to Most Holy Name of Jesus Church)

PROCEEDS for the film starring NICHOLAS MEVOLI (EXIST) go to his family and the charity fund of their choosing.

Click here: Exist on VIMEO 

 

 

Pumpkin Pie with Slice Removed

Giving Thanks and Our Holiday Hours

Posted on by Douglas Turner

The West would like to wish all of our friends and patrons a very Happy Thanksgiving.  Taking the opportunity to say thanks for helping The West become so much more than a coffee shop slash bar.

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We are thankful that we’re turning out to be so many things for so many people.  We are so much more than a place to get your work done, we’re a communal ground.  We are so much more than a place to perform, we’re a nurturing ground.  We are more than a place to have your reading, launch party, community event—we are a Salon for new ideas.  We are truly grateful that we can be much more than an establishment that just sells and serves some thing. Thank You.

 Holiday Hours

Thanksgiving: Open 8am Close 2pm

Friday, November 29th: Open 8am Close 2am

Visit us on one of our many streams—@TheWestBK

Exercise Your Demons—BLANKSNYC Halloween Party Recap

Posted on by Douglas Turner

BLANKSNYC does it again!  That was what one would call a party.

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The place was packed on Saturday, November 2nd for BLANKS annual Halloween costume mayhem party.  This year’s theme was “Exercise Your Demons.”  Judging by our emptied booze cabinet, we’re pretty sure all souls were cleansed.  BLANKSNYC is a collective of creatives, and their parties are themed around music, costumery, and visual projections.  Thanks to all who came out and boogied!

Big thanks to all of the performers and DJS:

Shirley House, DJ 50 percent, FUXCS, Onesie as Smashing Pumpkins, Interstella, Jana Skankmajer, Oxygentester

Check out the official photo gallery: BLANKSNYC Exercise Your Demons

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Lucky Funeral Poetry Tour Kickoff Fri Oct 18th 8p

Posted on by Douglas Turner

lft_westJD Scott is at it again.  And the literary movement in North Brooklyn is alive!  Join Lucky Funeral Poetry for their kickoff event happening here at The West!  The Lucky Funeral poetry tour is heading down the East Coast, bringing lyrical fashion and mysticism to a city near you. Headliners Nicole Steinberg and JD Scott will be on tour from October 18–31 and they will be joined on various dates by poets Niina Pollari, Marisa Crawford, Ian Davisson, and others to be announced.  Follow the Lucky Funeral tumblr for tour deets and updeets!

 

KICKOFF READING and Un/Official Launch Party for Nicole Steinberg’s GETTING LUCKY & JD Scott’s FUNERALS & THRONES @ The West ! !

 

 

“Boys Don’t Lie: A History of Shoes” Book Launch Tues October 15th

Posted on by Douglas Turner
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The West is pleased to host a book launch party for the recently released Boys Don’t Lie—A History of SHOES, by Mary E. Donnelly with Moira McCormick, and forward by Steve Simels.  BDL from Pure Pop Press is the long-awaited critical biography of the reclusive power-pop master craftsmen.

Donnelly has penned a detailed biography of the DIY power pop band Shoes, from their fantasy beginnings to their triumphant return, 2012’s Ignition.

We hope you’ll join us on Tuesday October 15th at 7 O’clock for a talk with the author, and book signing!

Ever since their storied beginning—recording the 1977 masterpiece Black Vinyl Shoes in a garage in the religious enclave of Zion, Illinois—Shoes have been legendary in DIY and pop circles. Their most recent release, 2012’s Ignition, was greeted with tremendous critical acclaim.

Caught between cosmopolitan respect and provincial indifference, the members of Shoes are ordinary and extraordinary at the same time. Here, for the first time, they tell their story as they experienced it: three men in a small but determined boat, buffeted by the waves of historical change that have swept the music industry for the last forty years. Those changes are explored in a broader history of the music industry: the technological and commercial upheavals that have affected both the major labels and the independents.

Mary E. Donnelly is a college professor and music blogger living in upstate New York. Co-author credit
goes to longtime music journalist Moira McCormick (Rolling Stone, Billboard, Chicago Sun-Times); the
foreword was penned by veteran rock scribe Steve Simels (Stereo Review).

Boys Don’t Lie on Facebook

 

FARMIGO Farmers Market at The West Every Wednesday

Posted on by Douglas Turner
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 *UPDATE:  10/28/2013. Farmigo has informed us that due to a lack of volunteer organizers on their side, that  The West as a pick-up location is no longer.

Such sad news.  Farmigo is a fantastic idea… we hope that they sort things out, find some new folks, and come back to The West some day.

If you’re a member, you can contact them with any questions.

Here at The West we are always interested in finding new ways to serve our community best.  That’s why we are excited to introduce FARMIGO. Farmigo is the next step in CSA.  With Farmigo though, you get to order online what you’d like, and at the designated time come pick up your locally farmed goods.  Battenkill Dairy, a variety of fruits, vegetables, and goods, like heirloom tomatoes and free roaming eggs.  It’s an online farmers market!

FIRST DELIVERY is Wednesday OCT 2nd

6p-8p at THE WEST

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CBGB Festival—Saturday October 12th at 5pm w/ Morning Fuzz

Posted on by Douglas Turner

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The event is a five day festival happening throughout NYC.  Featuring musicians and films from around the globe, we’re pretty sure this event is going to be a pretty big deal!

OUR LINEUP:

5pm: Morning Fuzz will play an acoustic bare-bones version of their indie-rock hits!

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Morning Fuzz is a rock quartet formed in 2009 in New York by front man, vocal/guitarist, Frank Fussa and childhood friend, bassist, Christopher Johanidesz.

“This is fun, bouncy guitar pop, happily shading in the intersections of the Venn diagram where mainstream pop and alternative music meet.” Read the whole review here.