Making houses in paper architecture class last week.
About to begin our history bike tour of Prospect Park with Albert & James.
Our Newest Newsletter
Today in 1692 an alleged witch was hanged, beginning what is now known as the Salem Witch Trials. While you might have spent a day or two on it in middle school, there's a lot of context you probably missed!
Upcoming Classes
This Week Psst, this Sunday is Father's Day! Grab your favorite NYC-based dad a gift certificate good for any class. Change Of The Century: Ornette Coleman's Jazz Revolution - take a deeper look at the ways Ornette Coleman changed jazz, in advance of Thursday's Celebrate Brooklyn concert new Street Art Tour: Meatpacking to Chelsea - an after-work tour of the street art outside the gallery walls The Newtown Creek "Magic Lantern" Show - a virtual tour of the rich history and environmental issues of the Newtown Creek with Mitch Waxman Doomsday Cults - there's always time for the end of the world Umami: A Yummy Tour of Little Tokyo - learn to eat in the neighborhood where New York and Tokyo meet Woolworth Building Lobby Tour - a peek inside one of the city's most iconic skyscrapers Street Art Tour: Lower East Side to Soho - the street art of the Lower East Side
Artsy & Crafty Intro to Jewelry Making: Beaded Earrings - walk away with earrings you made yourself and the knowledge to create them on your own Bookbinding: Coptic Binding - an ancient binding with really beautiful results Crocheted String Bag - put your crochet skills to good use new Classic Charcoal Drawing for Beginners - tips from the Old Masters will have you drawing like a pro Classic Charcoal Drawing - Level 2 - improve your technique Make Your Own Stationery - your thank-you cards will never be the same
Social Science Superfund: A Citizen's Guide - Superfund's a hot buzzword, but what does it all mean and how does it affect you? The Arab Spring, Three Years Later - how the Arab Spring has unfolded, why it did so, and where the region is headed...now with new case study! new Politics for the People: Monarchy! - a look at the oldest embodiment of political power new Modern Evangelicalism - explore the beliefs of Evangelical Christianity and trace their influences everywhere from the halls of power to movie theaters new A History of Royal Scotland - the story of Scotland’s monarchs and their colorful and often bloody role in shaping Scotland and Britain The Egyptian Book of the Dead - a closer look at the myths, magic and monsters that fill this guide to the underworld new
Foodish & Drinkish Homemade Ice Cream - I scream, you scream, we all scream for this class new Wontons & Dumplings! - folds, fillings, and how to cook off your creations Brewshop 101: Homebrewing Essentials at Bitter & Esters - everything you need to know to give your first homebrew a go new An Introduction to Sichuan Cuisine - complex flavors that are easy to recreate at home Umami: A Yummy Tour of Little Tokyo - learn to eat in the neighborhood where New York and Tokyo meet
Music An Intro to Jazz + New York City's Jazz Scene - breaking down the abstractions new PUNK! A History: 1967-1982 - a crash course Is Classical Music in Crisis? - explore the recent history and current state of classical music in America new Contemporary African Music - start exploring the huge variety of sounds across the continent Change Of The Century: Ornette Coleman's Jazz Revolution - take a deeper look into the cultural impact of Ornette Coleman's musical legacy new
Writing & Communicating Getting Published: Nonfiction Book Proposals - agents, proposals, and all the rest Interviewing People - tips and techniques for capturing great stories Get Unstuck: Get Writing, Again - a daylong workshop to up your output American Sign Language - Level 2 - develop storytelling skills and how to communicate more complex ideas and visual descriptions new Writing the Personal Essay - one of the best ways to get your writing into the mainstream media
New York City: History & Walking Tours Grime and Glory: A History of Prospect Park - from its original conception as a rival to Manhattan’s Central Park, through its glory days, decline, and rebirth New York City and the American Revolution - a look at the people and places behind the stories TRASH: New York City's Battle with Garbage - New York City's protracted struggle to contain its solid waste burden, from the 19th century to the present Walking Tour: The Insalubrious Valley - a walk through the industrial heartlands of New York City along the Newtown Creek, with lunch at a historic diner new Great New York City Buildings Few Guide Books Will Ever Mention - what's hiding in the Empire State Building's shadow?
Practical Skills Presentation Skills - tools to finally get over that fear of public speaking Natural Navigation in New York City - using the sun, stars, and streets as a compass The Cream of the Crop: Finding a Winner in the Produce Aisle - practical tips for picking the best Street Tree Care 101: How to Help Your Street Trees Thrive - a crash course in keeping your local street tree happy Introduction to DSLR Photography - how DSLRs work + photography basics 30 Things To Know About Money Before You're 30 - create a solid foundation in your twenties that can pay off richly later on new
Board Game Olympics
The next installment of the Board Game Olympics is July 11 and only a few spots remain. Don't miss your chance to Jenga your way to greatness.
Backyard Potluck & Pie Bake Off!
Come on over to our backyard on Saturday, June 21 for an old-fashioned potluckfeaturing plenty of pie (+ prizes!) and hopefully lots of sunshine. Space for both bakers and eaters is limited, so be sure to grab your spot soon.
Summer Language Classes with Fluent City
The kind folks over at Fluent City are offering all Brainery newsletter subscribers (that's you!) a discount on their language classes this summer. You'll get $45 off group classes with the code BBrainsJune until June 20th. Select your class atfluentcity.com and be sure to hit "apply promo code" to make sure the discount sticks.
Last Minute Mother's Day Gift Ideas
Looking for a last minute Mother's Day gift? Come make dumplings together on Saturday afternoon!
We also offer gift certificates and classes on just about anything, from tree identification walks to stationery.
Brass Himmeli Mobiles at the Brooklyn Craft Company - May 29
Our pals at the Brooklyn Craft Company have a really neat class on brass himmeli mobiles coming up on May 29, and we're excited to help spread the word!
Inspired by a traditional Finnish Christmas ornaments, these brass versions are super modern and stylish, plus you can finish one and take it home in just a few short hours.
Hop on over to the Brooklyn Craft Company's site to register, and be sure to enter the discount code BKBRAINS on the checkout page for 5% of your seat in the himmeli mobile class.
For Your Bookshelf: Culinary Reads from Brainery Teachers
Have you ever taken a class here at the Brainery and wished you could learn even more from your awesome teacher? You're in luck! Some of our amazing teachers have written equally amazing books!
In this episode of "Books By Brainery Teachers" we're focusing on three books in the food realm. We highly recommend each of these books and if you like what you read, you'll love the classes the authors teach.
The Chinese Takeout Cookbook by Diana Kuan
What's it about: In The Chinese Takeout Cookbook, Chinese food blogger and cooking instructor Diana Kuan brings Chinatown to your home with this amazing collection of more than eighty popular Chinese takeout recipes—appetizers, main courses, noodle and rice dishes, and desserts—all easy-to-prepare and MSG-free.
Diana's upcoming classes: Wontons & Dumplings - May 10
Viva la Pizza!: The Art of the Pizza Box by Scott Wiener
What's it about: In Viva la Pizza!, Wiener traces design trends over the past four decades and profiles some of the world’s most prolific box designers and manufacturers. The result is a captivating overview of pizza culture and a new way to look at one of the world’s favorite foods.
We're excited to be co-hosting a talk with Scott at the Brooklyn Historical Society on May 21st. Get your tickets.
Knish: In Search of the Jewish Soul Food by Laura Silver
What's it about: With good humor and a hunger for history, Silver mines knish lore for stories of entrepreneurship, survival, and major deliciousness. The one and only absolutely definitive biography of the knish.
Laura's upcoming classes: Improve Your Knish IQ - May 12
You like dumplings, right?
Of course you do! Then join us on Saturday, May 10 as we host our first-ever weekend dumpling-making classes with the awesome Diana Kuan. Three sessions to choose from! Read more and sign up.
(P.S. Sunday is Mother's Day, just saying.)
Coming up at the Brainery!
Cinco de Mayo isn't Mexico's Independence Day, so what is it really?
Upcoming Classes
Wontons & Dumplings Extravaganza on May 10 We're super excited about our upcoming first-ever weekend dumpling classes with Diana Kuan. You'll learn a variety of folds, fillings, and cooking methods, and there arethree sessions to choose from!
Coming up this week The History of the Gowanus Canal - the lowdown on Brooklyn's most infamous toxic waterway Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down: Writing Reviews for Film - examine the art and craft of writing informative, entertaining reviews on films we love (or hate!) The Brooklyn Waterfront: Past and Present - the development, decline, and rebirth of the Brooklyn waterfront
Almost-full classes Money Laundering 101 - want to know more about how dirty cash gets laundered? Modern Corridor: A Walking Tour of Long Island City's Hunters Point - explore the former "workshop of America" in Long Island City, where residential towers now rise Comic Book Super Science - from radioactive spiders to super soldier serums TRASH: New York City's Battle with Garbage - New York City's protracted struggle to contain its solid waste burden, from the 19th century to the present Fact Checking: Making Sure Nonfiction is Truly Nonfiction - tips and processes to keep your facts factual
Hands-on & crafty Classic Charcoal Drawing for Beginners - tips from the Old Masters will have you drawing like a pro Make Your Own Stationery - your thank-you cards will never be the same The Desert Terrarium - a tiny world, perfect for the harsh conditions of your windowsill Floral Design Project: Head Wreaths - make your own flower crown from scratch The Urban Sketchbook - explore the pleasures of drawing from observation, focusing on scale and proportion, as much as impression, movement and mark-making Floral Design: Spiraled Bouquets - create a full, three-dimensional arrangement, perfect for vases or hand-held bouquets
Skills of all sorts Design Thinking Bootcamp with The Design Gym - the essentials of design thinking, and how to use it in everyday life Money Pride: Financial Planning for the LGBTQ Community - what changing state and federal laws mean for your money Talking to Kids and Teens About Sex: Beyond the Birds and the Bees - real life tips and scenarios to help you become a trusted guide How to Write a Book - explore the art of the idea and take a look at the differences between non-fiction, fiction and memoir Storytelling 101: How to Tell an Amazing Tale - learn the basics to crafting an excellent tale Presentation Skills - tools to finally get over that fear of public speaking American Sign Language - a four-week introduction to a new way of communicating
Social science The Newtown Creek "Magic Lantern" Show - a virtual tour of the rich history and environmental issues which plague the largely unknown NYC waterway A History of Royal Scotland - the story of Scotland’s monarchs and their colorful and often bloody role in shaping Scotland and Britain Great New York City Buildings Few Guide Books Will Ever Mention - what's hiding in the Empire State Building's shadow? MADE IN NYC: The Reinvention of Local Manufacturing - what's being made in NYC today and what you can do to support local manufacturing Punk! A History: 1967-1982 - a crash course Grime and Glory: A History of Prospect Park - from its original conception as a rival to Manhattan’s Central Park, through its glory days, decline, and stunning rebirth
Nature Thirteen Ways of Looking at Mugwort - generally regarded as an unattractive pest, mugwort is also a medicinal plant with a long history of human use Spring Tree Identification - learn a London plane from a linden; new Prospect Heights and Greenpoint sessions added
Foodish Improve Your Knish IQ - a crash course in all things knish Pizza: The Brooklyn Story - in partnership with Scott Wiener and the Brooklyn Historical Society
Adventure Club The Brainery's brand-new excuse to get out and do things in NYC Street Art Photography Workshop - shooting tips, a street art tour + time to practice Explore the Flower District Before Work - an early-morning browse through the city's greenest block Feast at a Food Court in Flushing's Chinatown - a weekend introduction to an outer-borough Chinatown
Brooklyn on Brooklyn: Elizabeth Streb and Jed Walentas at the Brooklyn Historical Society
Wednesday, May 7, 6:30pm Brooklyn Historical Society Reserve tickets - free with code BKBRAINS
Join two Brooklynites who transformed community through art: MacArthur Genius Award-winning choreographer Elizabeth Streb, and Jed Walentas, whose Two Trees Management Company made DUMBO an art mecca. Expect an evening of unvarnished talk about art, real estate, and an ever-changing Brooklyn.
Our friends at the Brooklyn Historical Society are generously offering Brainery fans free admission to this event; just use the code BKBRAINS when signing up.
MSG Presents: The Food of the High Seas
Tuesday, May 20, 8pm Littlefield (622 Degraw Street) Free, RSVP recommended
This month, we're revisiting the topic so awesome Mother Nature snowed it out in January: the food of the high seas!
We'll explore the culinary world of drunken sailors, seventeenth-century pirates, and the modern-day cruise ships that rule the waves. What's so tough about hard tack, and how exactly do you come down with a case of scurvy? We'll also be trumpeting the salty secrets of maritime alcohol: from legendary rum rations of the Royal Navy, to the the mythic history of IPA's.
A very pickled, very cuminy Langsai Salad from Cafe Kashkar and tarragon soda from Brighton Beach.
Reblogged
From our pal Sarah at fourpoundsflour:
The Irwindale City Council has voted unanimously to declare the spicy smell of Sriracha hot sauce production a public nuisance.
I want to take a moment and point out the Irwindale City Council’s history of corruption:
- Irwindale at risk of losing insurance due to allegations of corruption
- Irwindale Four’ Plead Not Guilty To Corruption Charges
- California cities mismanaged funds meant for affordable housing, Times investigation finds
- Sriracha hot sauce complaints began with Irwindale councilman’s son
And many more here.
Ever wondered what that Texas ex-pat who's always griping about missing Tex-Mex is going on about? Are you unclear about what exactly Tex-Mex is? In this one-session class, we'll cover the history of the cuisine, the difference between various regional dishes and styles, and the reason why breakfast tacos have created a cult-like following among residents of the Lone Star State.
Brainery Newsletter: Chocolate, Charcoal, and More New Classes
Today in 1674 a big hunk of modern-day New Jersey was sold to the Quakers, who controlled it as West Jersey for almost thirty years. While the dividing line between East and West Jersey was never fully settled, it was really New York and New Jersey whose borders couldn't get along. For over fifty years the two English colonies played host to the New York-New Jersey Line War; it wasn't settled until King George III stepped in during the 1770's, just in time for the Revolutionary War.
New Classes
Coming Up This Week and Next The Design Gym - Street Research: User Research with No Budget and No Permission - understanding people to design for their needs Paper Marbling - a couple last minute spots are available Tie-Dye Techniques - personalize your wardrobe with this in-depth technique class
Hands On Projects Shibori Tie-Dye - take your tie-dye up a notch Learn to Knit: A Slouchy Hat - even if you've never knit before, you can make a hat (we promise!) Kokedama: Make Your Own Living Moss Balls - bring a bit of greenery indoors An Introduction to Tapestry Weaving - dress the loom, start the weaving, add a pattern or two, and tie it off Floral Design Project: English Garden Baskets - perfect for spring or to brighten up your apartment anytime Classic Charcoal Drawing - Level 2 - aimed at those with some prior experience Lo-fi Printing: Block Carving - your own lo-fi print studio Floral Design Project: Head Wreaths - using a few lovely flowers and some simple techniques, create your very own flower crown
Skills of All Sorts Obamacare and Me in NYC: What the Affordable Care Act Means for Uninsured New Yorkers - last session before the deadline! Storytelling 101: How to Tell an Amazing Tale - learn the basics to crafting an excellent tale Presentation Skills - get over that fear of public speaking ABCs of IRAs - juice up your retirement savings with tax-advantaged Individual Retirement Accounts Poker for Beginners - shed the beginner label in two short weeks Board Game Olympics - from Scattergories to sudden death Jenga
Writing and Publishing Get Unstuck: Get Writing, Again - a daylong workshop to up your output Screenplay Workshop Intensive - workshop, brainstorm, and conquer the formidable but all-important script outline Writing the Villanelle - write poetry, under constraints Fact Checking: Making Sure Nonfiction is Truly Nonfiction - tips and processes to keep your facts factual Write an 800 Word Essay - the best way to get your stories into mainstream media
Foodish + Drinkish Vegetarian Sushi-Making - all the fun of sushi, minus the fish Tex-Mex: Demystified - exploring that magical food mashup from the Lone Star State The History of Scotch Whisky - how scotch became the world's most popular spirit Breakfast. Manly English Breakfast. For Dinner. - the history of the English Breakfast and what it all means
Social Science A History of Royal Scotland - the story of Scotland’s monarchs and their colorful and often bloody role in shaping Scotland and Britain Superfund: A Citizen's Guide - the stories behind the buzzword and how it affects you The Biology of Mental Illness - how much we currently know about the relationship between mental illness and brain activity and the huge amount we still have to learn
New York City! MADE IN NYC: The Reinvention of Local Manufacturing - what's being made in NYC today and what you can do to support local manufacturing New York City and the American Revolution - a look at the people and places behind some of the war's overlooked stories The NYC You've Never Seen - the hidden secrets of our five boroughs Grime and Glory: A History of Prospect Park - from its original conception as a rival to Manhattan’s Central Park, through its glory days, decline, and stunning rebirth Kill Van Kull Walking Tour - explore Staten Island, with lots of historic neighborhoods, old taverns, and tug boats along the way
Music Blue Note at 75: A Cultural History of Blue Note Records - a look back at the jazz label's influenece and legacy Sounding the Planet: Ecomusicology and Advocacy - how music and sound studies can change the way we think about our environment and be used as a tool for advocacy
The Rise of Chocolate: The Heated History of the World's #1 Candy
Visit us at Littlefield on Tuesday, March 25 for Masters of Social Gastronomy, our monthly lectures on all things food.
This month we're tracking the story of chocolate from its roots as an ancient Mesoamerican beverage to its current world-championship status. Burning questions of modern confectionery will be answered, and milk chocolate vs. dark chocolate will be settled once and for all.
What: Chocolate, of course Where: Littlefield, 622 Degraw St, Gowanus When: March 25, doors at 7:30 sharp How: Totally optional RSVP
Save the Date! Pizza History at the Brooklyn Historical Society
We're super excited to be co-hosting a talk with the awesome Scott Wiener, founder ofScott's Pizza Tours. Come on down to the Brooklyn Historical Society on May 21 for a dose of local pizza history. Get your tickets here.
Scholarly yours,
The Brainery
Free Event! The Rise of Chocolate on March 25
This month our Masters of Social Gastronomy lectures tackles the world's most popular candy: chocolate!
We'll track the history of chocolate from its roots as an ancient Mesoamerican beverage to its current world-championship status. You'll learn how a yellow, football-shaped tropical fruit transforms into something Whole Foods can charge you $10 for, and what "Mexican Hot Chocolate" actually has in common with what Montezuma drank.
Peek at Europe's decades-long war about British chocolate and uncover why the whole continent seems to have it out for its American counterpart. Burning questions of modern confectionery will be answered: What's better, milk or dark? Why does Hershey's have its own theme park? Do M&M's actually melt in your hand?
And of course, it wouldn't be spring without a discussion of Easter candy, including everyone's favorite, the Cadbury Mini Egg.
Very Important Details When: Tuesday, March 25, doors at 7:30 sharp Where: Littlefield, 622 Degraw Street, Brooklyn Free, 21+ Totally optional RSVP