Posted Jul. 13, 2007,

Bar of the Week (Don't Forget Edition): Abilene

By Alexis Swerdloff

New York City bars are famously deep, narrow and dark. At the shallow and wide Carroll Gardens bar Abilene, however, almost every seat is a window seat, and an orange glow from the street is filtered through the half-open blinds and reflected onto bar patrons, creating a Edward Hopper-style sense of urban isolation that probably hasn't existed since the 1940s. But on this particular Saturday night, in lieu of saucy dames and mysterious men in felt hats, there were groups of cool-enough-for-school Brooklynites huddled over games of Connect Four at the white wood tables, as well as others drinking cheap beer at the Formica-topped bar (the cheapest, Gennesee Cream Ale, will only set you back $2.50) and lounging in the cushion-heavy chill-out area in the back. Abilene actually takes up almost half of its Court Street block. But not unlike owner Leah Allen's other bar Lolita, which inconspicuously straddles the Lower East Side/Chinatown border on Broome Street, Abilene is coy and unobtrusive, with only a simple Stella Artois sign indicating its presence. We don't know about you, but we think it's sexy when our bars play hard to get. 442 Court St., Brooklyn, (718) 522-6900.

Posted Jul. 12, 2007,

Golden Shower With David Cross

By Carol Lee

Hey, it's Thursday. Go see David Cross, Todd Barry, Jon Benjamin and their wacky and kinky friends sprinkle their golden comedy at Union Hall. The best home-grown comedy show Tinkle is back and it's for a good cause. You'll be laughing and helping the Katrina victims at the same time.

Posted Jun. 18, 2007,

Bunny Rabbit Sighting at the Botanical Gardens!

By Shanon Kelley

This Saturday I rode the ol' bike over to the Botanical Gardens to see the June roses. I spent a delightful afternoon sitting in the Cherrytree Esplanade, reading a book and napping in the shade. The really exciting moment, however, came as I was leaving. I cut through some grass and stumbled upon a bunny rabbit... in Brooklyn!

Am I a giant dork? Why yes, yes I am.