Archive

Opening Reception – Greetings From The City of New York

Friday Feb 15th
6-9pm, FREE! Donation appreciated.
At the City Reliquary, 370 Metropolitan Avenue
Brooklyn Beer Available for donation

Join us to celebrate the newest exhibit in the back room of the City Reliquary! Starting Friday, February 15th, we are proud to present Greetings From The City of New York, a plethora of picture postcards from the collection of Lon Black, each one reversing the clock to the turn of the 20th century.

The exhibit is curated by Lon Black whose interest in postcards began in his early teens. All the postcards featured in the exhibit are from his personal collection. He started collecting New York City views after moving here 32 years ago. Always looking for the unusual or rare postcard, his focus was acquiring images he had never seen. But in the past several years, he has paid more attention to the words or pictures that people wrote on the images of the undivided back cards.

Selected for this show are New York City postcards with messages that refer to the picture and/or express a sentiment about the City. Some are humorous. Some are evocative. The marriage of the message and picture can animate the postcards with personality. Some can inspire the imagination and elicit an emotional charge. They are nothing less than a ticket to a time traveling experience.

Son of Booze and Schmooze with The City Reliquary

A Kickoff to the New Year / Warming Winter Benefit
January 26 | 7pm – 10pm
The Brooklyn Kitchen (100 Frost Street)
Buy Tickets

NOW WITH MORE BOOZE!!!

You know the drill. January storms its way into our city, leaving our hearts filled with cold gray slush and our minds with endless dreary skies. Well, the City Reliquary is saving its year-end benefit for the start of the New Year with an unbelievable line-up of local libations and friendly foodsters that we can only call SON of BOOZE and SCHMOOZE with the City Reliquary!
Please join us on Friday January 26th, at the Brooklyn Kitchen for an evening of awesome alcohols and delectable edibles. Since the last Booze and Schmooze event (Ahh, February of 2011…) Brooklyn has been beneficent enough to play home to a dozen new distilleries (!!) some of whom will be on hand pouring their tipples for your tasting pleasure.

Local booze providers will include: Kings County Distillery, Industry City Distillery, Greenhook Ginsmiths and NY Distilling Company will all be present to pour samples of their heavenly hard stuff. For those who need their beverages bubbly, beer from three of the five boroughs and three different types of NYC brewing – Micro, Nano & Cellular – will all be represented. Magnificent Micro Brooklyn Brewery will send Master Brewer Jimmy Valm, member of the Worshipful Company of Brewers, who will provide beer unavailable anywhere else in NYC. Alongside BK Brew & scaling a bit smaller, we’ll have fledgling Nano brewery Rockaway brewing Co. of Queens, currently brewing in LIC. Then, yet again, even SMALLER, we’ll have HOME BREWER and native Staten Islander Dave Z, pouring Cellular Brewed beer, one keg at a time.

Food providers include the always-awesome Meat Hook, the gals from Saltie, snacks from Lodge, Coffee from Oslo and more TBD.

$100 at the door, Goody Bags will be provided to all. All proceeds will benefit the City Reliquary Museum and Civic Organization, a non-profit museum in Williamsburgh, Brooklyn.

Buy Tickets

The Santa Claus Association

Opening Reception: Saturday December 1, 6-9pm
Exhibit On View: December 1, 2012 – February 10, 2013

The Santa Claus AssociationCelebrate the holiday season with a new exhibit about The Santa Claus Association, a New York City-based philanthropic group that answered children’s letters to Santa Claus. The show, will appeal to anyone interested in learning about NY’s quirky Christmas history and the story of a real-life Santa Claus.

For decades, letters that kids addressed to Santa Claus went unanswered, ending up in the post office’s Dead Letter Office But in 1913, an eccentric New York publicist and Christmas obsessive named John Duvall Gluck Jr. devised a way to answer these wishes. Thus was launched The Santa Claus Association.

The group’s dozens of volunteers matched each letter to a donor who delivered the child’s Christmas wish — be they toys, treats, warm food, or in one case, an artificial limb. In its first year, the Association brought gifts to 28,000 children and was dubbed a “revolution in methods of distributing charity” by The New York Times. The Association flourished for 14 years and Gluck exulted in his role as the Santa of New York City with frequent press appearances and high-profile parties. But when Gluck’s fundraising practices came under scrutiny in 1928 and a public scandal resulted, the group was forced to close up operations, never to be heard from since.

The show is based on the research and artifacts collected by Gluck’s great grandnephew, Alex Palmer, who first learned about the Santa Claus Association two years ago. Through family members he had met for the first time during his research, Palmer acquired Gluck’s scrapbooks, photos, and the original Santa Claus Association annuals that are on display in the show. He is now at work on a book about the organization.

Among the findings on display are photos of the group and Gluck processing Santa’s mail, as well as original Santa letters from New York City’s children. The exhibit also showcases the celebrities of stage and silent film who worked with the Association— including John Barrymore, Mary Pickford, and Douglas Fairbanks — as well as politicians like New York Mayor Jimmy Walker, New York Governor Al Smith, and President Warren G. Harding.

Alex Palmer is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in the New York Post, Time Out New York, The Brooklyn Eagle, and The Queens Times Ledger. He is the author of the books Weird-o-Pedia and Literary Miscellany [both from Skyhorse Publishing].

A Very Reliquary Holiday Party

December 15
Party: 1 – 5pm
Visit From Santa: 2pm – 4pm
Santa Claus Visits The City Reliquary The City Reliquary Museum, in association with its blockbuster new exhibition – The Santa Claus Association – is throwing a come-one come-all Holiday Party in the middle of our Museum! Timed perfectly to land in the middle of the Holiday Season, we promise to bring Santa Claus himself to his own show, along with a mailbag for local childrens’ letters to get delivered to the North Pole, eggnog, Brooklyn Brewery Beer, Christmas carols and more!

Visit With Santa Claus

From 2 till 4pm, Santa Claus will be making a visit to the City Reliquary! Bring all (good) children to the Reliquary to sit on Santa’s lap so they can tell him what they hope to receive for Christmas. Parents and their little ones can spend time enjoying the Reliquary’s new exhibit, The Santa Claus Association, a loving look at the New York City-based philanthropic group that answered children’s letters to Santa Claus. There will also be a North Pole Express Mailbox, where kids can drop letters to be delivered to Santa Claus just in time for Christmas.

Holiday Sale

During the holiday party, all products in our Gift Shop will be 15% Off! Recently remodeled and restocked, the Shop features unique New York gifts made by New Yorkers for everyone. Tote bags, trinkets, jewelry, notebooks, home furnishings and more gifts to brighten any tree or menorah.

We hope to see you and your family on December 15!

The 3rd Annual Havemeyer Sugar Sweets Festival

SUNDAY! SUNDAY! SUNDAY!
October 21, 10am – 4pm 2012
Havemeyer and Metropolitan

The 3rd Annual Havemeyer Sugar Sweets Festival Eat treats for the City Reliquary! Join us for a delicious bake sale and baking competition. Proceeds from every cookie, cupcake and brownie will support the City Reliquary!

Donate Baked Goods
We are looking for bakers and sweets-makers (you!) to donate their fresh-baked yummies to the Festival. Muffins, cookies, cupcakes, bars, brownies, quick breads, tarts, cakes, pies…any fresh baked treat is welcome! You do not even have to attend the event to sell your goods. All proceeds will go toward the City Reliquary.

Baking Competitions
Are you NYC’s best home baker? Bring it on! Here’s this year’s lineup of competitions and judges:

Most Decadant Vegan
11am | judged by Granola Lab & Electric Blue Oven

Best Fall-Flavored Treat
12pm | judged by Joann Nunez Kim (DeKalb Market) & Jane Lerner (BK Swappers)

Best Sweet Slice
1pm | judged by Millicent Souris (Brooklyn Kitchen)

Best Booze-Infused
2pm | judged by Butter Me Up Brooklyn

Best In Show
3pm | judged by Saltie & The City Reliquary

To enter bring

  • (at least) eight (ample) samples
  • extras for the bake sale

Questions
If you’re interested in baking or if you have any questions, please contact Jeff at jtancil(at)yahoo(dot)com

Sponsors and Judges
Saltie, Oslo Coffee, The Brooklyn Kitchen, Ronnybrook, Butter Me Up Brooklyn, Granola Lab, Momofuko Milk Bar, Pies n Thighs.

Please contact Jeff Tancil at [email protected].

Embee Sunshade Co: An Iconic Legacy, Locally Made Opening Reception

Courtesy Theo Coulombe, Brooklynphoto Studio.

August 4th from 5 – 9pm
The City Reliquary Museum (Metropolitan Ave & Havemeyer St)

Join us to celebrate the opening of our latest exhibit, which celebrates the city’s finest purveyors of umbrellas. In business since 1940, Embee Shades’ products have become part of the iconic landscape of New York City, providing shade over hot dog carts, lifeguard stands, and NYC Parks Department kiosks.

Refreshments will be provided, including beer generously sponsored by another great Williamsburgh factory, the Brooklyn Brewery. Transportation for this exhibit is generously provided by Boxart Inc. Fine Art Services.

Top image courtesy Theo Coulombe, Brooklynphoto Studio.

8th Annual Bicycle Fetish Day 2012

Saturday, May 26th, 2012 from 12noon – 6pm

Havemeyer between Grand and Metropolitan Aves.
Afterparty in the CR Backyard 6 – 10pm.
FREEEEE!

IT’S A BLOCK PARTY FOR YOUR BICYCLE! The 8th Annual Bicycle Fetish Day takes place on Havemeyer Street between Hope and Grand. Biking activities, bike competitions, bike rides, bicycle advocacy groups and artists selling their wares. With a BBQ grill and more, you couldn’t miss this yearly celebration of all things bicycle.

Bring Your Bikes Because We’ve Got Prizes!!!

Contests include: Best Vintage Bike, Best Shiny Bike, Best Family Bike, Best Mutant Bike, Best in Show and much more! Win great bike prizes donated by: Outlier Tailored Performance, Velo Brooklyn Bushwick Bike Shop, Affinity Cycles, and maybe, possibly, hopefully a bicycle or two.

Schedule for Bike Prizes:

Judging starts at 2pm
2:45: best vintage bike
3:15: Best Mutant Bike
3:45: Best Commuter
4:15: Best Handmade
4:45: Best Small Wheel
5:15: Best Ugly Bike
5:45: Best in Show

Cycling, Artists, and informational booths including:
BIKENY, Transportation Alternatives, Times UP!, Taliah Lempert Bicycle Paintings, Outlier Tailored Performance, Neighbors Allied for Good Growth, Coast Cycles, Horse Cycles, Velo Brooklyn Bushwick Bike Shop, Nona Varnado, Vaya Bike Products, AND MORE.

BMX tricks courtesy of POST Bike shop.
Goldsprints courtesy of Affinity Cycles

Performances by: DJ Tinseltown.

AFTERPARTY @ 6PM at the City Reliquary with drinks from Brooklyn Brewery available by donation. Featuring DJ Tinsletown!

See you there!!!!!!!!!!!

BIKE FETISH DAY 2012!!!

The 2nd Annual Havemeyer Sugar Sweets Festival

October 15, 11am – 4pm
Havemeyer and Metropolitan

Eat treats for the City Reliquary! Join us for a delicious bake sale and baking competition. Proceeds from every cookie, cupcake and brownie will support the City Reliquary!

Donate Baked Goods
We are looking for bakers and sweets-makers (you!) to donate their fresh-baked yummies to the Festival. Cookies, cupcakes, bars, brownies, quick breads, tarts, cakes, pies…any fresh baked treat is welcome! You do not even have to attend the event to sell your goods. All proceeds will go toward the City Reliquary.

Dropping Off Baked Goods
Please drop off treats at the City Reliquary (370 Metropolitan Avenue) on Saturday October 15 between 10:30am and 1pm. If you cannot drop off on Saturday, we may be able to pick them up or arrange a Friday drop off: please email [email protected] if you cannot drop off on Saturday or if you have any questions.

Baking Competition
Calling all home bakers! Do you make the city’s best (non-professional) treats? Bring your best baked goods to the Sugar Sweets Festival. A team of professional bakers will judge your treats. We will award great prizes to all winners.

Categories

  • Best Cookie
  • Best Brownie/bar
  • Best Cupcake
  • Most New York

How To Enter

  • Bring at least 5 samples of the treat(s) you wish to enter to the City Reliquary on Saturday, Oct 15th. No treats will be accepted after 1pm.
  • If you cannot bring treats to the Reliquary, please contact [email protected] to see if he can arrange a pick-up.
  • Bring (many!) additional treats to sell at the Festival. All proceeds go to benefit the City Reliquary

More Information
Please contact Jeff Tancil at [email protected].

Crest Fest 2011


On Saturday, July 30th, please join Crest Hardware from 3pm – 7pm in celebrating the closing of the 10th Annual Crest Hardware Art Show. There will be music, drinks and your last chance to view or purchase art.

Afterwards, head over to the Reliquary Museum to see the official presentation and donation of the money to the City Reliquary Museum. There will be cold beer (suggested donation) and hot jams. The fun starts at 7:30 at the Reliquary Museum.

Friday Night Lights: This week, Jungle Fever and the Ian Duerr Quartet

HOT HOT HOT: Spike Lee’s Jungle Fever & LIVE Jazz in the Backyard!

What could be better on a steamy, sultry, summer night than SEXY jazz paired with a provocative film—screened outdoors under the stars!

Tomorrow, Friday July 22, The City Reliquary Museum will host another installment of Friday Night Lights, our backyard music and film series.

There will be GIN COCKTAILS ($5 donation), Brooklyn Lager ($3 donation), and JAZZZZZ…

Doors @ 7:00 PM.

Ian Duerr Quartet @ 8:00 PM (Ian Duerr – guitar, Ian Stapp – bass, Arthur Vint – drums, Alex Berti – trumpet)

Jungle Fever @ 9:30 PM (Spike Lee)

Come if you can…..DOORS AT 7:30 PM.