Join us Saturday, January 30, at 6 PM to celebrate our latest exhibition, Visionary Streetscapes: Works from Pure Vision Arts. All works in this show are available for sale.
Cash bar. RSVP on our Facebook page!
Archive
Ascenzi Square: Sons of Williamsburgh: The Family History of a Neighborhood Landmark
September 10, 2015 – January 10, 2016
Opening Reception: September 13, 2015, 3 – 6 PM (light refreshments)
Steps from The City Reliquary sits Ascenzi Square, an unassuming wedge of green space at the intersection of North 4th Street, Metropolitan Avenue, and Roebling Street. This site is often passed over in the daily chaos of the city. Few people use the sidewalk around the space, which is often blocked from view by a car service lineup and ambulances from EMS Station 35. Yet it is a living tribute to the patriotism and sacrifice of four sons of Williamsburgh: the Ascenzi brothers who fought in World War I. Of the four, only two came home.
The City Reliquary will chronicle the Ascenzi family and Ascenzi Square through photographs and artifacts loaned by Marion Ascenzi Duckworth Smith, daughter to one of the surviving Ascenzi brothers, Charles. In illustrating the history of the memorial and the family it honors, the exhibit aims to illuminate an obscure part of Williamsburgh history. Curated by Marion Ascenzi Duckworth Smith, a native of Williamsburgh. She now lives in the Lent-Riker-Smith Homestead, the oldest inhabited dwelling in New York City.
Exhibition Images:
The front room of the Reliquary will display “Tower Records” during this time. The closing reception for the current Community Collections display, “Joseph Kopitz’s Souvenir Buildings“, will also occur on Sept. 13.
City Stitchers Knitting Night, Part 2!!
When: January 11, 6:30 PM
Where: The City Reliquary, 370 Metropolitan Ave.
Cost: FREE!!
Whether you are a master fiber artist, or curious about picking up some needles for the first time, we’d love for you to join us at the City Reliquary for our friendly monthly knitting/crochet circle. Bring whatever is on your needles, or come with an open mind and we can show you the basics. We’ll have some ideas/supplies for an NYC-themed project, but would love to see yours too! (Note: This isn’t a formal class, but a meeting with good company to share our knowledge with each other.)
RSVP to the Facebook event!!
The Invention of Christmas in New York: Images from Alex Palmer’s “The Santa Claus Man”
The Invention of Christmas in New York: Images from The Santa Claus Man
On view Dec. 5, 2015 – Jan. 3, 2016
This display in the front room of The City Reliquary features vintage holiday images from Alex Palmer’s The Santa Claus Man. Described as Miracle on 34th Street meets The Wolf of Wall Street, Palmer’s true-crime adventure reveals the secret history of children’s letters to Santa. Before the charismatic John Duval Gluck, Jr. came along, letters from New York City children to Santa Claus were destroyed, often unopened, by the U.S. Post Office Department. Gluck saw an opportunity and created the Santa Claus Association. The effort delighted the public — until Gotham’s crusading charity commissioner discovered some dark secrets in Santa’s workshop.
Alex Palmer is the great-grandnephew of John Duval Gluck, Jr. and has written for Slate, Vulture, Smithsonian Magazine, and New York Daily News, among other outlets. He is the author of Weird-o-Pedia and Literary Miscellany.
A Visit from Santa!
On Monday, Dec. 21 from 3-6 PM, The City Reliquary will receive a visit from Santa Claus himself! Children can visit Santa and give him their Christmas letters.While kids are saying hi to Santa, parents can enjoy our current front-room display, “The Invention of Christmas in New York: Images from Alex Palmer’s The Santa Claus Man.” This show tells the fascinating story of the Christmas con-man behind the first “letters to Santa” program.
Cookies, hot cider and other seasonal refreshments available!
RSVP via Facebook!
Community Collections: The Elephant Collection of Agnes Kelly
Now On View: The Elephant Collection of Agnes Kelly (Oct. 8 – Nov. 29)
This collection from Dycker Heights resident Agnes Kelly features dozens of elephant figurines. In some cases, the form of this majestic animals is amusingly incorporated into everyday functional objects such as salt-&-pepper shakers, ashtrays, and flower vases. There’s even a tiny elephant liquor bottle included in this display of elegant elephants!
World Series Game 4 Halloween Screening and Costume Party!!!
Saturday, Oct. 31, 7 PM – midnight
The Mets are in the World Series! No matter what team you support, it’s time to celebrate New York. This year our Halloween party includes a screening of Game 4 and COSTUME CONTEST!
All costumes welcome, but we REALLY wanna see some creative takes on the Mets—bust out your deGrom wig! We’d love to see Rally Raccoon or Mr. and Mrs. Met! The last Mets World Series win was in ’86, so an intensely 80s-style costume might bring some luck. All crazy spins on the Amazins will be met with love! Prizes for Most Creative, Best Last-Minute, and Best Couple’s Costume. Ballpark snacks and beverages available for purchase!
Game 4 could be the final game in the series, so join us for this (potentially) history-making event!!
Admission is free, but donations for the museum are much appreciated! While you’re here, check out our AMAZING display of objects from Shea Stadium!
Let’s Go Mets!!!!
Located at 370 Metropolitan Avenue in Williamsburgh, Brooklyn, The City Reliquary Museum & Civic Organization is a certified 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization committed to serving the people of New York City—natives, newcomers, and passersby. Originally established as a window display in 2002 at the corner of Grand and Havemeyer Streets, it moved into its present location in 2006. The Reliquary is committed to planning and hosting public events that provide neighbors and visitors with a place to meet, exchange ideas, and celebrate the diversity of our community.
Museum Hours: Thursday through Sunday, 12pm – 6pm. Admission: $5/ $4 for students and educators. For general information, please visit the Museum’s website www.cityreliquary.org, call 718-R-U-CIVIC, or email [email protected]
Community Collections: The Souvenir Building of Joe Kopitz
Now On View: The Souvenir Building Collection of Joe Kopitz (June 1 – Sept. 30)
Joe Kopitz has been building his small sovereignty of city real estate for 30 years. The Empire State building, the Chrysler building, the Woolworth building, the Williamsburgh Savings Bank building, the Pan Am building, and Grand Central Terminal are just a few of the iconic buildings that number among his vast holdings. Only here will you see the St. Louis Gateway Arch, the Washington D.C. skyline, and the Pentagon mere inches apart! Lucy the Elephant makes an appearance too, all the way from Margate City, NJ. How many places can you recognize in this mini metropolis?
Joe is the President of the Souvenir Building Collectors Society – the official organization of collectors formed in 1994. It currently has members from all over the globe. According to their website, a souvenir building is the 3-D miniature version of an actual building, monument, statue, bridge, dam, etc. They can be made of pot metal, ceramic, wood, cast iron, plastic, pewter, marble – almost anything. They make our hearts beat faster when we find them.
Havemeyer Sugar Sweets Festival 2015
Sunday, October 4th | 11:00am – 4pm
Brooklyn’s biggest bake sale is back! Join us for a family-friendly day of sweets, treats, music, entertainment, and more sweets at The City Reliquary, a non-profit museum and civic organization that has served Williamsburgh and the greater Brooklyn community for 10 years.
THE CIVIC BAKE SALE
A sweet-tooth smorgasbord featuring donated treats donated from everyone, from generous home chefs, to top-tier pros, to landmark New York bakeries. 100% of the proceeds from the bake sale will support the City Reliquary.
To Donate Treats:
Please bring donations to The City Reliquary, 370 Metropolitan Ave, on Oct 3 from 12pm–6pm or Oct 4th from 10:30am–2pm.
All donors get 3 tickets for The Amazing Baking Raffle!
We can pick up and/or package bake sale items!
Questions? Please e-mail Jeff
We deeply appreciate your generosity.
BLUE RIBBON BAKING COMPETITION: NYC’s Best (Home) Baker
New York is packed with amazing bakers who concoct devastatingly delicious treats in absurdly minuscule kitchens. Whether you make tarts, grunts, cookies or candies, we salute you! On October 4th, we’ll crown the BEST HOME BAKER IN THE 5 BOROUGHS! Winner gets a blue ribbon, a baking-related gift, and of course, bragging rights. Amazing prizes for second- and third-place bakers too! Be sure to bring your A-game, because our panel of All-Star Judges represent some of the biggest names in NYC baking!
To Enter:
Bring entries to 370 Metropolitan Ave on Oct 3rd from 12pm–6pm or Oct 4th from 10:30–12:30pm. Judging occurs about 1pm.
Set aside 6 samples for the judges. The rest will go to the Civic Bake Sale, which benefits the Reliquary.
Anything homemade and delicious (and legal) goes!
All-Star Judges
Jordan Slocum – Baked
Harry Rosenblum – Brooklyn Kitchen
Fany Gerson – Dough
Anna Gordon – Good Batch
Agatha Kulaga – Ovenly
Leslie Feinberg & Brooke Siem – Prohibition Bakery
Daytoine Shaw – ReConnect Bakery
Questions? Please email Jeff.
FAMILY-FRIENDLY FUN
Breakfast for Toddlers (and their Big Folks) with The Big Littles – starts at 10:30am
The Lego Lady
Face Painting
Baking Dress Up
Story Time
…and more!
ADULT FUN
Sweet Happy Hour with live DJ set – 3pm
Special deals on treats!
…and more!
Outdoor Cartoon Carnival #35: Fun in the Sun
Saturday, August 29 | 7:30pm
Let’s extend summer with some ancient animated filmic fun at the next Cartoon Carnival.
We’ll have over a dozen 16mm (no digital!) cartoons from the 1920s to the 1940s, straight from the Stathes Archives to The City Reliquary’s *outdoor* silver screen…all for your enjoyment! Come on out and bring your friends to see how our cartoon counterparts of yesteryear enjoyed their fun in the sun—all while we enjoy a few evening hours in The City Reliquary’s beautiful Williamsburg backyard.
Tickets: $10 at the door
Light refreshments available for purchase from The City Reliquary.
Doors at 7:30pm; show starts soon thereafter. Arrive on time for good seats!
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Tommy Stathes is a “Cartoon Cryptozoologist” with a rare film print collection comprised of over 1,500 shorts. Tommy’s long term goal has been to acquire and preserve as many early animated films as possible and reintroduce them to the public.
For more information about his activities, check out tommyjose.com and brayanimation.weebly.com/