(718) 260–2500 Brooklyn Paper’s essential guide to the Borough of Kings May 31–June 6, 2019
FILM
Ready to roll
It’s a new spin on an old sport!
You can catch a glimpse into the breakneck
world of New York City’s premier roller derby
league next week, when a thrilling documentary
about the sport’s biggest star makes its bigscreen
debut at St. Francis College on June 3, as
part of the Art of Brooklyn Film Festival.
“When Suzy Hotrod walks into a roller derby
convention, they treat her like a rock star,” said
Kensington resident Leon Chase, who directed
the doc. “She’s currently the single most famous
roller derby player in the world.”
Chase’s movie “Suzy Hotrod: Roller Derby
Star,” follows Jean Schwarzwalder — the last
remaining original member of the 2003-founded
Gotham Girls Roller Derby league, who plays
under the high-octane moniker Suzy Hotrod —
as she jams her way around city rinks in three
league games.
Roller derby is a competitive sport that involves
two teams of skate-equipped female athletes
cruising around roller rinks, racing — and
smashing into each other — as players designated
“jammers” seek to outpace their counterpart
on the other squad.
Created by skating enthusiasts in the 1930s,
derby devolved over the ensuing decades into
something more akin to professional wrestling,
with over-the-top characters and theatrical stunts.
The sport has seen a revival in recent years, with
leagues like Gotham Girls and derby stars like
Suzy Hotrod drawing young audiences to the
spectacle, according to Chase.
“It’s enormous,” said Chase. “We’re talking
about hundreds and hundreds of leagues all
around the world. It’s doing very well.”
In his sports documentary, the Kings County
filmmaker tried to capture the experience of a
first-time derby fan. His camera work during
the film’s first match is frantic and fast paced,
and demonstrates the mayhem of a derby match.
But as the film progresses, Chase’s shots focus
on the veteran derby star and he utilizes slow
motion techniques to capture the athletic grace
that lies beneath the havoc.
“When you slow it down, it’s a dance, it’s
a ballet, it’s a crazy interplay of stuff,” said
Chase. “When you slow it all down, you see
this elaborate drama playing out between every
single player.”
Art of Brooklyn Film Festival celebrates Kings
County’s cinema-scape, and this year features a
whopping 56 films made by Brooklyn filmmakers,
set in Brooklyn, or focused on borough characters,
history, or themes, screening at theaters
across the borough from June 1 to June 9.
“Suzy Hotrod” at St. Francis College (180
Remsen St. between Clinton and Court
Streets in Brooklyn Heights, www.theartofbrooklyn.
org). June 3 at 9 p.m. $15.
— Colin Mixson
BOOKS
Word’s picks:
“The New Me,” by
Halle Butler
The creep of economic
precarity and labor insecurity
into the millennial generation
of the upper middle
class, the notable absence of
men in the lives of women,
and a potent strain of social
hostility combine to make
“The New Me,” the novel you must read to understand
many young professional women. Butler
does not pretty anything up: not the ambivalence
about b------- jobs, the professional
striving, the materialist hunger for lifestyle and
unearned satisfaction, or the clinging depression
and noxious hope that drive this novel’s action.
It is a book full of private shame made public
and almost-guilty admissions, perfect for readers
of Ottessa Moshfegh or Alissa Nutting. Our
heroine — and she is mine — is even named
Millie — the millennial. Just perfect.
Jeff Waxman, Word 126 Franklin St. at Milton
Street in Greenpoint, (718) 383–0096, www.
wordbookstores.com .
Community
Bookstore’s pick:
“Exhalation,” by Ted
Chiang
The second story collection
from the master behind
“Stories Of Your Life” (which
was adapted into the film “Arrival”),
is just as mind-blowing
as the first. Chiang continues
to carry off his impeccable synthesis of
high literary style and intensely informed speculative
fiction. Think an elegant mix of Borges
and Phillip K. Dick.
— Samuel Partal, Community Bookstore 43
Seventh Ave. between Carroll Street and Garfield
Place in Park Slope, (718) 783–3075, www.
commu nityb ookst ore.net .
Greenlight Bookstore’s
pick: “A Devil Comes
to Town,” by Paolo
Maurensig
“A Devil Comes to Town”
is an intriguing novella that alludes
to multiple literary and
artistic traditions, from dark
fairy tales and Gothic fiction
to Goethe’s “Faust” and even
horror movies like “The Exorcist.” It is tense,
paranoiac, and well-crafted in its short length.
— Geo Ong, Greenlight Bookstore 686 Fulton
St. between S. Elliott Place and S. Portland
Avenue in Fort Greene, (718) 246–0200, www.
greenlightbookstore.com .
Getting high
Four new rooftop spots for you to visit this summer
By Bill Roundy
Brooklyn Paper
These new spots are up and coming!
Three new rooftop spaces have
opened in Williamsburg in the last
few weeks, so those who want to spend
the summer looking over the city and enjoying
a fresh breeze have a bunch of new
options. We explored the three Brooklyn
spots —and one across the river!
Garden party
The Brooklyn Beer Garden, a graffitifilled
outdoor spot that opened in an empty
lot in Bushwick last summer, has gone
upscale — with an annex on the fourth
floor of the swank William Vale hotel in
Williamsburg. The relaxed green space,
previously used for weddings and private
parties, is now filled with artsy murals,
local beers, and furniture built from shipping
pallets and cinder blocks.
“We’re looking to bring that local artist’s
vibe to the William Vale,” said Gabriele
Maurello, who created the Beer
Garden with his partner Tyagi Schwartz.
The Bushwick native spotted the underused
space on William Vale’s fourth floor
and pitched the beer garden to the hotel’s
management.
The space is now filled with street art,
painted on mobile, seven-foot-long murals.
Each artist also created a smaller piece
of art, which is on display — and for sale
— by the bar.
“We’re a beer garden, and an outdoor
gallery with pieces that people can buy,”
said Maurello.
The bar offers a selection of $8–$10
beers, all of them brewed in Brooklyn,
along with $12–$14 glasses of wine from
Redhook Winery, and one mixed drink
made with mead from the All-Wise Meadery
downstairs. There is also a limited selection
of snacks, including hot dogs and
fries, though more food will be added
throughout the summer, according to a
bartender.
Maurello also has plans for acoustic
bands and art projects in the space, but
nothing will go too late — after all, he
noted, hotel guests will be trying to sleep
nearby.
Brooklyn Beer Garden at William Vale
(111 N. 12th St., fourth floor, www.thebrooklynbeergarden.
com). Open Thu–Fri;
4–10 p.m.; Sat–Sun, 2–10 p.m.
Beer pressure
Williamsburg’s Pod Hotel has reinvented
its vowel-free rooftop cocktail bar RFTP
into a chill, solar-powered beer bar. You
can access the fourth-floor Clinton Hall
Rooftop Beer Garden through a dedicated
entrance, to the left of the ground floor
Clinton Hall beer hall. That stairway leads
you past a series of street-art style murals,
before emerging onto a rooftop space lined
with plants and filled with communal picnic
tables, with space for 125 people.
Beneath a canopy of solar panels, the
bar pours local craft beers — including
Clinton Hall’s own high-octane Gigawatt
India Pale Ale, along with a handful of
cocktails, and two frozen drinks, one of
which will always be frosé, said the bartender.
The kitchen turns out light, summery
bites, including three kinds of lobster
roll, hot dogs, and a watermelon-and-feta
salad, among other dishes.
And, just like the beer hall below, there
are board games and Jenga sets to keep
you busy between bites.
Clinton Hall Rooftop Beer Garden (247
Metropolitan Ave., fourth floor, at N. Third
Street in Williamsburg, www.clintonhallny.
com). Open Thu–Fri, 4 p.m.–10 p.m.; Sat,
11 a.m.–10 p.m.; Sun, 11 a.m.–9 p.m.
Summer sights
The Hoxton hotel, a relative newcomer
to the Williamsburg scene, has just opened
its seasonal rooftop restaurant. Summerly
offers stunning views of the waterfront
and the distant isle of Manhattan, along
with a seafood menu that includes lobster
rolls, clam pizza, and fried calamari,
along with $16 cocktails, and a broad selection
of wines. On the hotel’s second
floor, a more casual spot called Backyard
features pitchers of beer, small bites, and
a pair of ping-pong tables.
Summerly and Backyard at the Hoxton
(97 Wythe Ave. at N. 10th Street in Williamsburg,
www.thehoxton.com). Mon–
Thu, 4–11:30 p.m., Fri, 2–11:30 p.m., Sat–
Sun, noon–11:30 p.m.
Crown height
Each of the above rooftops offers a view
of the Manhattan skyline — but what if
you want to look at glorious Kings County?
Then your best bet is to cross the Manhattan
Bridge, turn left onto the Bowery,
and then ascend to rooftop bar the Crown.
The 21st-floor space offers two terraces —
one looking out over the Brooklyn Bridge
and the Dumbo waterfront, and the other
with a view of Manhattan skyscrapers.
And if it start to rain you can retreat to
the bar inside, which has floor-to-ceiling
windows.
You’ll know that you are in Manhattan
by the $18 cocktails, but you can also get a
great burger for just $12, along with music
from a dee-jay every Sunday afternoon.
The Crown 50 Bowery between Canal
and Bayard streets in Manhattan. (646)
630–8057, www.crownnyc.com. Open
Sun–Wed; noon–midnight; Thu–Sat;
noon–2 a.m.
Weekend Reads
Tragic touch
Outdoor ‘Romeo and Juliet’
comes to Carroll Park
By Aidan Graham
Brooklyn Paper
See the star-crossed lovers under
the stars!
A new production of “Romeo
and Juliet” will bring Shakespeare’s
tale of romance and violent delights
to Carroll Park for three weeks, starting
on June 12. The outdoor show from
Smith Street Stage will take the story
of an epic struggle between the great
houses of 16th-century Italy and show
its connection to current events, said
the show’s director.
“It’s set in a Verona that is much like
our government today. If you look at
the recent government shutdown, for
example, it didn’t take long for people
to be in dire straits. People were worried
about buying food and rationing
medicine, but the politicians who created
the shutdown are going to be fine,”
said Shaun Bennet Fauntleroy. “That’s
THEATER
the Verona we have now. People in the
story are not happy with the Capulets
and Montagues, because their feud was
wrecking the economy.”
Fauntleroy, a longtime member of
the Smith Street company, said she was
drawn to the story because of its strong
female protagonist.
“It’s one of the few plays by Shakespeare
that is led by a woman. It really
is Juliet’s show. She’s such a wonderful
character. She says what’s on her
mind, and she’s very straightforward,”
said Fauntleroy. “In some small ways,
we’re trying to highlight Juliet’s beautiful
uniqueness, and how her love with
Romeo is so different.”
The director cast actress Katie Willmorth
in that leading role, because of
her temperamental similarity to the
character.
“Katie is very similar to Juliet in that
she’s both very cerebral and warm,” she
said. “And, she really digs into the language
of the character. There are people
who like to take apart clocks to see
how they work, and Katie is like that
with language. If you combine that with
her warmth and kindness, she makes
for the perfect Juliet.”
Willmorth will star across from
Noah Anderson as Romeo in the
15-person, modern-dress production.
This is the 10th anniversary of
Smith Street Stage’s seasonal productions
in Carroll Park, which have been
a midsummer night’s dream for the
company, said Fauntleroy.
“The park is a great venue, and it’s
great because the original Shakespeare
plays were performed in the open air,”
she said. “We feel like the shows should
be accessible to everyone. So, to be able
to do these shows for free, and be able to
pay the actors, is really like a dream.”
“Romeo and Juliet” in Carroll
Park (Carroll Street between
Smith and Court streets in Carroll
Gardens, www.smithstreetstage.
org). June 12–30; Thu–Sun at 7:30
p.m. Free.
Classic stage: Smith Street Stage will celebrate its 10th year in Carroll Park with the tragic tale of romance
and violence “Romeo & Juliet.”
Chris Montgomery
/www.the-brooklynbeergarden.com
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/www.wordbookstores.com
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/www.commu
/www.commu
/www.greenlightbookstore.com
/www.greenlightbookstore.com
/www.the-brooklynbeergarden.com
/www.the-brooklynbeergarden.com
/www.theartof-brooklyn.org
/www.clintonhallny
/www.thehoxton.com
/www.crownnyc.com
/www.smithstreetstage
/wordbookstores.com
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/greenlightbookstore.com
/www.clintonhallny
/www.thehoxton.com)
/www.crownnyc.com
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