This week at Show and Tell we had a particularly funny item shared with the crowd. One guest brought in an illustrated book of poetry that her brother wrote in grade school. The title, Poetry that won’t make u fall asleep!!!!!!, shows exactly how her brother felt about poetry and the assignment.
The book of poetry was written completely in haikus. Here are some excerpts from the book:
Spring has officially sprung in Williamsburg. Like the saying goes, April showers bring May flowers. Due to the pending threat of rain, our craft night had to be held inside for this month. The rain didn’t get anyone’s spirits down though. Both new and returning visitors stopped by to make paper flowers and celebrating the coming of spring with the Reliquary.
In the second edition of From the Vault, we will be looking at the 1939 World’s Fair, which was held in Flushing Meadows, Queens. As the above picture indicates, our basement is a dark cave full of many mysterious things. Like Disney’s Vault or your grandmother’s attic, you never know what surprises will be found or brought out next. While rummaging around in near-darkness, I came across a box marked “1939 World’s Fair.” It was tucked behind a two-person bicycle and some tripods. While the City Reliquary does have some objects on display currently from this World’s Fair, our space just doesn’t allow for everything in our collection to make it into the display cases. Thanks to this blog, the cool stuff that can’t make it there is still making it’s way to you!
This artifact was given out as a souvenir from the Fair. Complete with lines on the back to add an address, you could ship this packet of photos back to family members who were unable to make the trip with you to New York.
Last Friday, the City Reliquary’s new exhibition, The Slice Harvester, opened. Featuring a reading by the Harvester himself as well as having copies of his zine available. Throughout the night we went through 25 pizzas and opened up our back yard for the first time this year. Now if only the warm weather would come back so we could have more outdoor events!
Friday night, we held our annual fundraiser, which was this year called “Booze and Schmooze.”
February 17th was the monthly Show and Tell night at the City Reliquary. We had an amazing crowd that night. They were ready to listen, applaud, ask questions, and share some items from their personal collections.
One featured piece came from Arthur, the guest of one of the Reliquary’s fabulous volunteers. Perhaps inspired by the host’s policy of “you always have something on you with an interesting story,” Arthur shared his belt with the audience. While in the southwest, Arthur had taken one of his favorite belts with him. The belt was hand tooled leather and, unfortunately for Arthur it had been made for someone other than himself, bearing the name “Debbie” across the back. In his travels, he came across a man who makes hand-tooled leather belts. The man said to him “let me make you a belt.” However, Andy never received this belt before he left the area.
A little disheartened, he left the area assuming that he would never receive a belt with his own name inscribed into its surface. However, some time later he received a package in the mail. Inside the package was just such a belt, which also included snare drums flanking the sides of his name. Unfortunately, this package also included something else with Arthur’s name on it, a hefty and unexpected bill. 
Later in the night a Show and Tell newcomer shared something from his time in New Orleans with the crowd. The guest had been the assistant to a prominent celebrity photographer in Louisiana. After working with the photographer for some time, he had been told that the man was bankrupt and that he would soon be out of a job. As a severance gift, the guest received this Día de los Muertos, or Mexican Day of the Dead, statue. The figurine features a skeleton standing up and posing for a crouching figure with a camera. The guest was given this gift on his last day of work, as the photographer was about to work on a set with musician Kid Rock. As with most rock stars, Kid Rock entered the studio with his entourage, which included: a man with a fanny pack whose job was to supply cigars and a woman named Stormy, whose job it was to look good. While working, the guest had set down his skeletons haphazardly. Before he knew it, Stormy had sat on his new gift from his boss. Thankfully, the gift remained virtually in tact, if a bit wobbly.
Last night, due to some technical difficulties, we were unable to watch The St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. Instead, the options were Some Like It Hot, the classic mushy Marilyn Monroe movie, or Sinbad, which involves swords.
In the midst of this perilous decision making process, visitors walked in who, fortunately, had four DVDs with them. Also, fortunately for the City Reliquary, all of these movies promised themes of love and violence, which were also in our original decision of film, The St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. After it was put to a vote, it was finally decided that we would watch Delirium, a 1950s film about a woman who becomes a beatnik and goes on a murder-spree.
After some adjustments with the screen and projector, the movie begun and the audience became like an episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000. Many jeers were had at the movie’s expense and a good time was had by all.
With that, the City Reliquary would like to wish you a Happy belated Valentine’s Day.
Last night, around forty people showed up for “Hearts and Crafts,” our monthly thematic crafting event. During the night, visitors crafted voodoo dolls for their un-loved-ones and Valentines for their special someone.
In addition to sharing our craft supplies, we also shared our love of nutella in both typed form as well as with baked goods.
Overall, the night went well and everyone left with smiles and Valentine’s Day crafts.
Thank you to all who showed up! We look forward to seeing you at our next craft night in March.
Hello Civic Boosters and Busters! We have not one, not two, not four, but three upcoming fun events at and with the City Reliquary. We thought to ourselves – this is such a short month, lets make the most of it!
Hearts and Crafts at The City Reliquary
Thursday, February 10th, 7-10pm
Free! Donations always appreciated
The next session of Arts and Crafts, titled ‘Hearts and Crafts’ will take place Thursday, February 10th, starting at 7pm and ending at 10pm and will be hosted by our Resident craftster, Anna Grant. It’s free, tea and nutella cookies will be provided (heart shaped of course). We be crafting handmade valentines, for those in love, and voodoo dolls, for those who have fallen out of love and are spiteful and stabby.
St. Valentine’s Day Massacre
Monday, February 14th, Doors open at 7pm, Film runs from 7:30-9:30
Free Popcorn and Brooklyn Brewery Beer available with donation
The City Reliquary will be open late valentine’s day for a special screening of The St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. Chicago, Gangsters, Al Capone. Nothing screams romance than Roger Cormen’s 1967 cult classic.
THurd THursday’s Show and Tell at the City Reliquary
THursday, February 17th, 7-10pm
Door and signup at 7pm, Open-Mic begins at 8.
Brooklyn Brewery beer available for cheap donation
$5 donation greatly appreciated
Hosted by Paul Lukas
You know how it goes. Same deal as last time (check the blog post about it for a refresher). You can either:
(a) bring an object of personal significance and be prepared to talk about it for up to three minutes
(b) just be part of the audience (because you can’t have show-and-tell unless there are people on hand to be shown and told).
and finally . . .
BOOZE AND SCHMOOZE With the City Reliquary
A Warming Winter Benefit, featuring Libations & Dissertations
Friday, February 25th, 2011, 7-11pm
At the Brooklyn Kitchen
WILLIAMSBURGH – The cold, dreary winter months in NYC are upon us. There’s only one real way to break out of the slush and snow. According to the City Reliquary Museum and Civic Organization –it’s with cocktail and conversation! Nothing else warms the mind and blood like Boozin’ and Schmoozin’ with the City Reliquary!
$100 Happier Hour tickets at the door enable patrons to enjoy an extra hour, from 7-8, of small talk and nice pours;
$75 for Happy Hour tickets from 8-11pm. 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. Advance tickets available on Brown Paper Tickets here: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/155768.
As always, thank you for your support and we look forward to seeing your smiling faces at the events because what is a museum without people?
It’s coming up on that time of the month again, as Open Mic Show-and-Tell, hosted by Paul Lukas, returns to the City Reliquary on Feb. 17th.
Open mic show-and-tell is exactly what it sounds like: Anyone can bring an interesting object and talk about it for up to three minutes. No theme, no agenda — interesting stuff and the stories behind them are their own reward.
Objects that were featured last time included a quarter with a hole drilled in it, a pair of jeans purchased in Egypt (this was before the demonstrations started), and a kitchen device designed to prick little holes into pork skin. We look forward to seeing even better treasures — and hearing even better stories — this time around.
You can either (a) bring an object of personal significance and be prepared to talk about it, or (b) just be part of the audience (because you can’t have show-and-tell unless there are people on hand to be shown and told). Either way, it’s a good time.
Doors open at 7pm, showing/telling commences at 8pm
$5 suggested donation; beer available for sale.
Hope to see you there!
