Brooklyn’s newest axe-throwing
bar swings into Industry City
BY KEVIN DUGGAN
The J’Ouvert parade has been canceled
for the second year, and the West
Indian American Day Carnival will happen
in a smaller version with a virtual
component, due to renewed concerns
about the spread of COVID-19, organizers
behind the two major Caribbean-
American celebrations said Monday.
“As keepers of this beautiful culture
we were hoping to host our event this
year, but the cons had overweighed the
pros,” said J’Ouvert City International
President Yvette Rennie. “We looked at
the bigger picture of the health, of the
safety of our people… and we have chosen
to cancel again this year.”
J’Ouvert usually happens in the
early morning hours of Labor Day and
signals the start of Carnival, which unfolds
in a burst of color and steel band
music on Eastern Parkway every year.
COURIER L 26 IFE, SEPTEMBER 3-9, 2021
BROOKLYN
BULLSEYE: Axe-throwers get ready for aim. Stumpy’s Hatchet House
The festival was held virtually in
2020, but this year, J’Ouvert City International
will instead host workshops
to help young people “succeed in life,”
along with tours visiting local cultural
heritage sites, like an African burial
ground at Bedford and Church avenues
in central Brooklyn, according to the
group’s leader.
The West Indian American Day Carnival
will happen in a hybrid form without
the grand parade from Sept. 2-5, with
smaller events behind the Brooklyn Museum
and remote happenings online, according
to that event’s organizer.
“I know we’re all disheartened by
this, but unfortunately, our parade on
Eastern Parkway is canceled,” said West
Indian American Day Carnival Association
Chairperson Michelle Gibbs at the
press conference. “But that doesn’t say
that carnival is not going to continue.”
BY BEN BRACHFELD
Brooklynites will have
yet another place to bury the
hatchet next month, with a
new axe-throwing spot set to
open in Industry City in September.
Stumpy’s Hatchet House
is set to open for business on
Sept. 2 in Building 7 of the
sprawling waterfront industrial
complex on 34th Street,
featuring 14 socially distant
“throwing pits,” where participants
can toss their hatchets
into a wooden target.
Parties of 1-4 people can
book an hourlong hurling session
at the “frequently sanitized”
event space for $35 per
person, while parties of 5 or
more have the option to dish
out $60 per head for 2 hours of
revelry. Only those 21 years of
age or older can participate.
There will, of course, be
ample booze on tap for players,
and the location will also
sell pizza, snacks, and soft
drinks.
Besides axe-chucking, attendees
will also be able to
watch sports or play “giant
games” at the facility. A private
party room will be available
to book as well.
Brooklyn’s fi rst axe-throwing
emporium, Kick Axe,
opened in Gowanus in 2017,
and the activity has become
popular throughout the borough
in the intervening years.
Since then, new arrivals have
included Bury the Hatchet in
Greenpoint, Hatchets & Hops
in Williamsburg, and Mad
Axe in Bushwick.
Stumpy’s, one of the fi rst
major axe-throwing businesses
in the country, has grown to include
29 locations plus its corporate
headquarters.
The industry has concurrently
swelled in value, with
IbisWorld estimating the
overall market value at $163
million.
Hatchet job!
West Indian parade and
J’ouvert canceled again
J’Ouvert in 2019. File photo by Paul Martinka
The dual portraits of Barack and Michelle Obama (details shown) will be on display until
Oct. 24. Kehinde Wiley and Amy Sherald
Yes, you can!
Obama portraits come to BKMuseum
BY SUSAN DE VRIES
Brooklyn Museum kicked off a
two-month stay of the offi cial portraits
of the nation’s former president
and fi rst lady on Aug. 27.
Kehinde Wiley’s portrait of President
Obama and Amy Sherald’s portrait
of the former First Lady Michelle
Obama will be on exhibit from
Aug. 27 to Oct. 24, 2021.
For ticket prices and availability
visit the exhibition page at www.
brooklynmuseum.org/exhibitions/
obama_portraits
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