Given the constant deluge of disheartening headlines this year, we could all use a laugh, couldn’t we? Tara Jepsen, author of the newly released novel, Like a Dog (City Lights Publishers), plans to provide just that in conversation with Beth Lisick at WORD bookstore (126 Franklin St) today (December 5th) at 7pm.
“Even when we’re not living under a kleptocracy like we are now, my gift and what I always want to do is give people a soul-soothing moment,” Tara said. “I just hope to give people a little relief and make them laugh.”
Tara is an LA-based writer, actor, sketch comedian, and rad feminist skateboarder who has appeared on the Emmy-award winning series Transparent. She and Lisick have been collaborating on comedy projects together since 1999, including their original web series Rods and Cones, released by Jill Solloway on Wifey.tv, and their queer cabaret Sister Spit. Tara also, alongside Miriam Klein-Stahl, illustrator of the Rad Women book series, co-founded queer skateboard brand Pave the Way Skateboards. Despite years of writing short stories and comedy, Like a Dog is Tara’s debut novel.
“I thought since I was a little kid that I would be a novelist. When I was on tour with Sister Spit in the 90s I just started farting around and writing stories,” she said. “I’m a total fucking ham and always have been, so this just seemed like the natural evolution of what I’ve been doing.”
Coat of Arms (974 Manhattan Ave) is celebrating 3 Years in Greenpoint with an opening of a weekend-long pop-up with Levi’s!
Originally founded in 2006 on the LES as a “hub for the subcultures of downtown NY” COA relocated its flagship store to Greenpoint in 2014. Owner and local resident Aaron Hansen writes, “It’s been a full 3 years since I fully took over COA Brooklyn & damn has time flown. The evolution of the shop has been crazy to watch and this is shaping up to be our best year EVER. Huge Thank You for all that supported THE VISION!!!!”
Check them out tonight for some cool apparel, accessories, and fun times! Shop and support local!
From 6pm to 8pm-ish shop the new fall Levis Skateboarding collection, meet the skate team & view a curated retrospective photo show.
From 8pm till LATE slide over to Enids (560 Manhattan Ave) for the after party & Dominos hosted by The Goodlife! with free beer from Modelo, food provided by Enids & music by the talented Odalys.
The day will start with an open skate at 4:00pm at Newtown Barge Playground. This is open to girls of all ages & abilities! There will be coaches onsite to assist with all the beginners out there. We’ll then feature our more advanced riders with a contest portion (and prizes!). The day will then continue back at East River Skate Shop, 86 Greenpoint Avenue from 6:00-9:00. There will be live music by a 3 piece all girl skater band, a BBQ & free beer – thanks for PBR! Come out & celebrate with us. See you then! Continue reading →
East River Skate Shop on Greenpoint Avenue (Photo credit: Nicole Disser)
It’s been two months since the East River Skate Shop reopened after the death of its owner, Rich Oates. Thanks to Oates’ good friend, Jad Magaziner, and his sister, Katie Oates, it will remain a living and breathing fixture in Greenpoint and the skating community at large.
Oates opened the shop with a vision to “create a community shop that was focused on family and the skate community,” says Katie, who now manages the operations side of the store. “He wanted it to be a positive environment for both newbies and the established skate community.”Continue reading →
In collaboration with FemmeSkate & Girls Riders Organization (GRO), 
