offManhattan

What: Tabla Rasa Gallery fundraiser for Haitian disaster relief

Where: Sunset Park, Brooklyn

When: Saturday, January 23, 1-4:30p.m.

Why: Before the earthquake in Haiti becomes old news and its state of emergency status lessens, along with reporting from the ground, take this opportunity to give—perhaps a second or third time—in exchange for some striking local artwork.

Searching for a broader way to lend a hand to the devastated Haitian population, and feeling “helpless beyond words,” Tabla Rasa directors Joseph and Audrey Anastasi reached out to Brooklyn’s thriving art community for creative donations.

The responses are still pouring in, and over 100 works (including “Ayiti cheri” pictured) are expected at Saturday’s event.

Cost: The event is free and open to the public. Anyone writing a $75 check directly to one of the designated charities, be it Doctors Without Borders or Oxfam, can select an artwork 11″ x 14″ or smaller. Those giving $150 can select from any of the donated pieces. 100% of the donations will go to the cause.

How to get there: Take the yellow line’s southbound R Train to 45^th St., walk to 48^th St., turn right and walk down to #224. (Table Rasa, 224 48 St., Brooklyn, 917.880.8337, for more information about the event, visit www.TablaRasaGallery.com)

What: “Hollywood In the Heights” Film Premiere/Centennial Celebration on behalf of Brooklyn Heights Association

Where: St Francis College, Founder’s Hall, Brooklyn

When: Wednesday, January 20th, 7p.m.

Why: Before Brooklyn Heights became known as a second hand fashion destination and the home of the annual, well attended Brooklyn Book Festival, its historic streets lined with row houses, mansions, and brownstones were the backdrop for legendary movies that put the neighborhood on the map.

Heavens to Betsy, are you one lucky guy or gal. Yes you. The winner of this week’s contest giveaway is in for a real treat—or 50. The fellows at Baked in Red Hook, Brooklyn are giving away a $25 gift card, good for just about anything. (Except the secret recipes, of course.) Have your pick of caramel apple cakes, peanut butter crispy bars, pumpkin chocolate chip loafs, the Oprah-beloved brownie bar, that sweet and salty cake. . . Well you get the picture. Congrats, sticky fingers.

1) Follow us on Twitter and tweet this message (if you already follow us, just tweet!):

“Enter to win a $25 gift card to Baked shop. Just follow @offManhattan and retweet! http://bit.ly/CupCakes”

OR

2) Sign up for our email list. (If you’re already a subscriber, you are automatically entered for a chance to win the giveaway.)

You can do both to be entered twice, and tweet once a day to be entered multiple times and increase your chance of winning. Deadline is January 18th at 11:59pm EST – a winner will be chosen at random and announced the next day. Good luck!

Matthew Wexler, a chef at Good Commons in Vermont, hits the streets of New York City and beyond to discover the places and people that make him feel Good. This is the first in a four-part “Do Good” series about interesting volunteer opportunities throughout the outer boroughs.

What: Adopt a Food Program

Where: Soup kitchens and food pantries throughout the five boroughs

When: 6-month commitment during 2010

Why: To help the approximately 1.3 million New Yorkers who rely on emergency food. To the average passer-by, there is nothing unique about the door at 2241 Church Avenue in Flatbush—except for the 50 people lined up outside of it on this cold December morning. They represent an alarming number of city residents having difficulty affording food. The 2nd floor food pantry, operated by CAMBA, sees upwards of 2,400 visitors a month. I have arrived to bag a few groceries and find out more about CAMBA’s participation in the newly launched Adopt a Food Program.

What: 3rd Ward’s New Lost City/New Years Eve Party

Where: Two former factories in East Williamsburg, Brooklyn

When: Dec 31st, 9:00 p.m.—7:00 a.m.

Why: Across two buildings and five themed spaces, not too far from the frigid Times Square ball drop celebration, an end-of-the-decade party awaits like you’ve never experienced. Brooklyn locals and outer-borough bashers will pop champagne and shake away the last hours of 2009 with the help of 13 DJ’s and more than a dozen artists. 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1. . .

Let’s say you’ve got one of those rare, laissez-faire afternoons and there are no snowstorms in sight. You’re determined to spend the time off the couch, away from the computer, and go somewhere other than Morningside Heights or Washington Square Park.

In the New Year, hit the reset button on your sense of adventure. Head over yonder to that artsy gentrified borough you hear a lot about but never actually experienced first hand. Ergo, for you college cats out there, we’re parlaying an old safe routine into a new shiny one. In the second of three installments, here are five affordable and easily accessible hot spots for shopping in Brooklyn.

(Say it again with us now, off the couch, away from the computer.)

Between entertaining out-of-towners and amassing a collection of white elephant castoffs, you’ll be needing an eleventh-hour escape. And Brooklyn’s Red Hook neighborhood provides exactly that, a few hours of relief from the crush of New Year’s crowds and demands. Before bundling up for the trip, try to eschew any ill reputes regarding this port of call (that it’s stodgy, sketchy, and rampant with abandoned dockyards).

It’s become our favorite quick getaway for local artisan crafts, inexpensive eats, and an unparalleled view of the Statue of Liberty a mere twenty minutes from Manhattan. Read on for our top things to do in Red Hook.

What: NY Creates Sixth Annual Craft Fair at BHS

Where: Brooklyn Historical Society, Ground Floor

When: Dec. 11-16th, weekdays 11:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m.; weekends 10:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.

Why: If you’re in the mood to do a little one-for-me-and-one-for-you holiday shopping while enjoying free admission to one of New York City’s great cultural hidden gems, make time for this event. Back at the Brooklyn Historical Society for the third year, New York Creates organizer Ted Berger (and former executive director of the New York Foundation for the Arts) said, “One of the reasons we do it here [BHS] is because we think people need to see this important cultural resource. Architecturally, it’s a beautiful building and it has wonderful exhibits. This event is an opportunity to shop, support a broad spectrum of artists in the city, and see an extraordinary place.”