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Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Pomme de Mon Coeur
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Business/Location: |
Pomme de Terre |
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Address: |
1301 Newkirk Ave |
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City: |
Brooklyn |
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State: |
NY |
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Zip Code: |
11230 |
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Phone: |
718-284-0005 |
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Website: |
http://www.pdtny.com/ |
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Pomme de Terre
An ominous/enlightening signpost of things to come on the borderline Midwood border, the Potato (Francophones, holler) is a traditionally French, unexpected den of gentility; another up-and-coming bastion of food, drink and merriment by "middlebrow mogul" Jim Mamary (of Patois, Pacifico, Sweetwater, Gowanus Yacht Club) and Ditmas dignitary (denizen?) Gary Jonas (of Sycamore and The Farm on Adderley). The establishment paints a pretty picture towards the bottom of Victorian Flatbush, particularly in the waning hours of day. However: the food I found a bit bland, though I recognize I am the only one who isn't heaping mountains of praise upon the dainty establishment. Or, to be fair: the appetizers were delectable (grilled sardines, escarole salad)! The desserts sublime (tasty tart thing)! But the entrees totally bored me (pan-seared skate, pork loin), as I am the highest of highborn critics. I should have given more credence to the whole everyone-else-is-eating-steak-frites thing and followed suit. Whatever. I'm American. I do what I want.
Also on this Radar: The Farm on Adderley, Gowanus Yacht Club, Pacifico, Patois, Sycamore |
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Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Le Break-Dancing
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Business/Location: |
French Institute Alliance Francaise |
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Address: |
22 E 60th St |
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City: |
New York |
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State: |
NY |
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Zip Code: |
10022 |
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Phone: |
212-355-6100 |
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Website: |
http://www.fiaf.org/ |
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French Institute Alliance Francaise
In France, the suburbs are not the house-with-picket-fence idylls that they are in North America. Instead, they are locales of social marginalization. While many want to ignore these troubled areas, French photographer Denis Darzacq did just the opposite--he went and confronted the kids who lived there directly, getting to know them personally and documenting them honestly. In the photo series The Fall, on view at the gallery of the Alliance Francaise, Darzacq gives these teens from the outskirts of Paris a chance to be represented, and said representation is visually striking. Caught in midair, these figures of break-dance culture are seen in incredibly acrobatic positions of suspension just above the asphalt. Darzacq used real dancers from the streets--and to match the realism of his subjects, he went old school in technique too. Though it tends to elicit disbelief, there is no digital enhancement or manipulation of the images. Yup, these shots are taken with a manual camera (remember that old-timey objet?) and are completely undoctored. Vive le realisme (and incredibly high shutter speed). Only on display till November 20th!
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