Neighborhood Beat

From Brooklyn Independent Television's Neighborhood Beat show.


Producer: Kecia Élan
BRIC Arts Media.

got me some wood

So, this flat showcase display has been sans-glass since we opened the store in October. Mollie had given up long ago grousing to me about finishing it - that is how slacky I've been about this particular task.

Some wild hair must have crawled up my ass yesterday because I walked around the corner to Coffey Street and finally ordered some plate glass from Buddy at B.C. Glass.



I also got a new top for the old Sodafine showcase that Erin Weckerle sold us. I had accidentally shattered it last week... I didn't mind because it was scratched up pretty badly. (not pictured here)

But this new showcase (with no glass) had been sitting around being used as a "table". Also it has these unsupported spindly log-like fence posts for legs... super crappy.

When we were initially building out the store, I decided to use "found" components from Lowes. We briefly floated the idea of sourcing reclaimed wood for some High Concept sustainable blah blah "green" blah eco-conscious blah.

But then I asked myself "What is sustainable?"

Does sustainable mean that trucking some former warehouse/barn/farm-house lumber in from upstate or Michigan or the South somehow magically makes us ethical and conscious... or just plain sanctimonious and pretentious.

I eventually concluded that sourcing whatever I could find at Lowes (via their highly-optimized supply chain) and muscling tons of it over to Red Hook on my handy convertible handcart/dolly was the easiest, cheapest method. It was also sort of interesting to see what could be created from such generic, average materials.

Anyway, this piece-o-crap fence-post legged showcase thing. FINALLY got some glass in it today and I rediscovered some backyard logs and twigs that Kim had used for our Desolate Winterland Christmas window display.



so I super-crappified the legs with somewhat structural triangulation in a rough cobby frontier-style that would look perfectly at home in a Baja California clapboard shack. My "concept" here is "How would a lazy, crazy drunken Indian with no skills or sense of pride build this?"

I'm sorry... I think it's spelled "Injun".

I suppose I'll oil this up tomorrow and line it with velvet.

This bad boy opens up on heavy duty drawer slides. Hopefully no one leans on it in full-open position or it might topple right over like the Flintstone's car fully loaded with Brontosaurus ribs.


I hate when that happens.

And on the other side of the store: Another log for the new children's clothing section, made to appear as if it is lashed together with rope. My concept for this display is "WHAT THE F*CK?!!?"





Now Mollie has gotta jam some stuff inside of all this new showcase real estate.

bitchen stuff.

golden hour in The Hook

Events!! What's New!!

It's that time of year again... when the temperature drops, the leaves change, and you gear up for a good old fashioned feast. But before you gather 'round the turkey to lay down a verse of Kumbaya, think of all the preparatory yoga you could be doing to make a little extra room (not to mention it's very therapeutic, increases flexibility, stamina, and grace)!



What a coincidence that you're thinking about yoga now... The incredibly talented Felecia Maria (doing the one-handed hand stand up there) will be hosting a class here at Everbrite Mercantile (351 Van Brunt street | Brooklyn, NY) on Wednesday November 17th from 7:30-8:30pm! Just when you thought it couldn't get any more awesome, there's no set fee--the class is by donation only!

It would be in your best interest to wear the most comfortable clothing, but if you can pull off a warrior pose in platforms and skinny jeans, that's just talent... and if you don't know what a warrior pose is, that's all the more reason for you to be here. The class is open level--beginners, amateurs, experts, come one, come all! Remember to bring a yoga mat or something equivalent because doing yoga directly on a hardwood floor for an hour might not be the most comfortable experience.



In case you were wondering (and if you weren't, you probably are now), Felecia has studied yoga since 2001 and received her certification in 2008 from Laughing Lotus Yoga Center in NYC. Before that she earned her BFA from the University of Montana in Dance and Choreography. She believes that yoga is a fantastic physical practice and a wonderful form of exercise, and has also found a spiritual outlet though the practice.

bk day

store:



not store:

asphalt lot watermelon

So, a couple days ago we went to the neighborhood Farmers Market, which is also an actual farm, and they sell stuff they grew on site plus stuff from other local farms (Hudson Valley and/or Jersey I believe.)

They piled up their soil right on top of an asphalt lot to avoid contact with any potential existing contamination in the dirt below.

It's a freekin' farm. Right across the street from Ikea.



 - andfriend

351 van brunt street

Cor! what's that now?

Beneath the cool shade of a tree (that has found within itself the kindness and decency to provide such an amenity) somewhere along a pleasant and charming street in a sweet, but just shy of dandy, neighborhood in Brooklyn borough...



...there is a swath of glass and a wooden door.

Starting in the Fall (of this year: two-thousand-ten, yes) it will be the home of Everbrite Mercantile Company.

In that store will you will find an array of sundries and curiosities that will tickle your imagination, fill your heart with yearning, and hopefully precipitate a flurry of impulse-driven consumerism that would put a "Real" Housewife to shame.

Or sit a while and chat with Mollie Dash, whiling away the afternoon discussing the fascinating minutiae of the Brooklyn indie fashion/style/design scene whilst enjoying a cup of espresso, the both of you attempting your best ironic impression of those upper class Ladies Who Lunch.

Anyway. A store comin' at ya, in real bricks and mortar and wood.

I'll drink to that.

- andfriend

free? heck yes

Free what? Free hand delivery to all Brooklyn addresses, that's what.

What's the catch? Well you gotta buy something... and it's for BROOKLYN ADDRESSES ONLY. Other than that - no catch.

When checking out in the Shopping Cart, you'll see this Special Courier / Hand Delivery option appear when you select NYC as your destination like so:

Make sure to give a valid phone number and/or email address during checkout so we can contact you to set up a good time to drop off your package.

Why am I doing this? Because I feel like it, that's why.

Plus I love Brooklyn, baby.

  - andfriend

to simplify the process, here is this hotlink for Brooklyn NY folks: http://www.ebmerc.com/brooklyn

new designer: kwilti

Julie Floersch is one of the great Brooklyn designers we found selling her work at a holiday market this past season. A super-talented and skilled quilter, Julie makes her intricate patchwork creations accessible through her Kwilti line of accessories. We now have in the shop her Pyramid and Pouf earrings and awesome-est potholders made from worn denim scraps. I also have a lovely collection of pillow covers that have yet to be photographed. So go check em out.

Holiday delivery to Manhattan and Brooklyn

Holiday Hand Delivery has been activated.

Starting right now through midnight December 23, any orders to Brooklyn and Manhhattan addresses have the option to be hand delivered (which is recommended if you want it by Christmas) for a flat rate of $10.

Any size order... 10 dollars.

The 'Hand Delivery' checkbox option will appear in your cart after selecting NYC as your city/locale (as pictured below)


  - andfriend

t minus 2 hours

Our final "hump" day at the Brooklyn Flea Gifted Holiday Market.

2 hours to go. A very good day.

In about a week and a half, I'll be enabling a $10-flat-rate local (Brooklyn and Manhattan) hand delivery option for those shoppers looking for last minute gifts in the days leading up to Christmas.

  - "and friend"

the 258 pop-up

hey kids!

we'll be selling the ebmerc goods in our little corner of bed-stuy this sunday, in front of 258 cafe on malcom x. along with the merch will be accessories from other neighborhood designers and live jazz with the frank schaub group.

come say hi and have a cup of francine's delish coffee or chai. (that's her in the blue sweater) yeah, we've got stuff in bed-stuy.

november 1, 12-5ish p.m.
twofiftyeight cafe
199 malcolm x boulevard
@ putnam

A/C train to Utica Ave. Exit towards Malcolm X Blvd. and walk straight up till you hit it.


View Larger Map

do-over

so we're back on for the flea, this sunday the 16th. I used to never look at weather forecasts, and did just fine on my own. I think I'll go back to that method. (it didn't rain yesterday after all)

at least we're prepared, and can relax this week. the plastic mesh came today!

here's some more eye candy for you.


copper, brass and steel wire rings from andrew clark of brooklyn.


all-natural herbal soaps from family-owned master soap makers valobra, of genova, italy. cool packaging too.


pewter and glass moose shot glass from goody grams of japan. we have a rabbit version too.


nambu cast iron birds-foot bookends from northern japan.

also...EVERYTHING in the molliedash collection will be discounted 20%, 30% or 50% off!

I sincerely hope everything goes smoothly for this weekend. fingers crossed.

sneak peek #6

as you might know the site is supposed to launch today. and as things go, we're not quite ready- but very close. so I'll share with you another sneak peek. this one is by way of, um...Brooklyn! another talented designer and extreme ecoist from our fair borough is Daniel Baxter of Kreepy Doll Factory. I had such fun picking out the dolls we'll be selling. While photographing them I felt like I was shooting portraits, the dolls are so full of personality. They really are stunning in their detail and craftsmanship. made of 100% repurposed materials- they even were shipped in a re-used boxed, lovingly styled and given new life.