The Ocean Avenue News - oceanavenuenews.comMayor Zohran Mamdani appointed 13 people to the city’s school board Tuesday, cementing his control over the panel that votes.
The post Mayor Zohran Mamdani names 13 school board members, cementing control of NYC schools appeared first on Brooklyn Eagle.
The latest outbreak in the Upper East Side has drawn sharp criticism from City Council Speaker Julie Menin.
The post As NYC probes Legionnaires’ outbreak source, survivors may have ‘difficult’ recovery appeared first on Brooklyn Eagle.
The Home Healthcare Workers of America, its parent union, and other related labor unions improperly received millions in PPP loans.
The post Embattled unions to pay feds $3.85 million over pandemic loans appeared first on Brooklyn Eagle.
Brooklyn will celebrate one of its most beloved hometown stars next month with a day dedicated to the life, music and lasting influence of R&B icon Aaliyah.
BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! is set to present “Aaliyah: One in a Million” on Saturday, Aug. 8, at the Lena Horne Bandshell in Prospect Park, bringing together musicians, filmmakers, DJs, storytellers and fans to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the singer’s passing. The free event will feature live performances of Aaliyah’s biggest hits, original films, personal testimonies and fashion inspired by the late superstar.
Born in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Aaliyah became one of the defining voices of modern R&B, known for her smooth vocals, music production and sense of style. She’s known for her many hits like “Try Again,” “Are You That Somebody?” and “Rock the Boat.” Event organizers said the tribute aims to celebrate not only her musical legacy but also her enduring influence on generations of artists.
Brooklyn-born musician Taja Cheek, who performs under the name L’Rain, will serve as the event’s music director. She will lead an afternoon of performances featuring Res, serpentwithfeet, Halima and Motherboard, each offering their own interpretation of Aaliyah’s catalog alongside a live band.
Adam Shore, a co-presenter of the event, said that by showcasing a variety of artists covering her music, it carries on her legacy.
“These artists carry Aaliyah’s inspiration into their own work in different ways: through their vocal approach, their musical adventurism, or their style and visual aesthetic,” he said. “Each artist carries a piece of her legacy forward in their own voice.”
Beyond performances, the celebration will feature DJs Nyla Simons, Honey Byn and alertoreyes spinning Aaliyah’s music throughout the afternoon. In contrast, music journalist Brittany Spanos will host the event with stories highlighting Aaliyah’s life and career.
The tribute will also include personal reflections from legendary video pioneer Ralph McDaniels, whose “Video Music Box” helped introduce Aaliyah to audiences across New York, along with award-winning writer and filmmaker LaChelle Chrysanne. Original short films created specifically for the event, including work by Maryam Shines, will screen throughout the day.
Fashion will also play a large role in honoring Aaliyah’s influence. Designer Karl Kani, whose clothes became closely associated with the singer’s iconic style, will host a pop-up shop featuring merchandise and giveaways, including three motorcycle jackets made famous by Aaliyah and 20 T-shirts through an onsite raffle. Brooklyn apparel brand Skool Milk will also offer merchandise during the event.
The house band will be led by Tariq Al Sabir and feature musicians with credits alongside Blood Orange, H.E.R. and Jazmine Sullivan.
The event is being presented in partnership with Sounds of Saving, a nonprofit that promotes mental health awareness through music, and is co-presented by Adam Shore. Organizers encourage attendees to RSVP in advance, though registration is not required for entry.
Doors open at 3 p.m. on Aug. 8 at the Lena Horne Bandshell in Prospect Park. To RSVP, click here.
City Council members cry foul as homeowners receive letters demanding they prove NYC residency ahead of city’s new tax.
The post Die-hard New Yorkers blanche at Mamdani’s pied-a-terre j’accuse appeared first on Brooklyn Eagle.
Times Square Arts unveiled “Hot Dog: The Second Serving,” a revamped 65-foot hot dog sculpture by Brooklyn artists Jen Catron and Paul Outlaw, on Wednesday, July 22.
Draped in patriotic bunting and topped with a gold Lady Liberty figure, the larger-than-life sculpture was redesigned to commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary. The hot dog originally appeared in Times Square in 2024 as part of the artists’ “Hot Dog in the City” exhibition.
Following the unveiling, Times Square Arts held “The Most American Pageant Ever!,” hosted by Catron, Outlaw and New York City-based artist Abby Lloyd.
The pageant featured a panel of judges that included Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa, actor and designer Waris Ahluwalia, comedian Lily Marotta and Creative Time Executive Director Jean Cooney.
Performers included Spike Einbinder, Ellery Neon, Kenneth Youngblood, Kiki Ball-Change, Celine Abdallah, Relish the Entertainer, Peter BD, Jordan Coley and Claywoman.
The redesigned sculpture retains many elements from the original installation while introducing new details intended to deepen its examination of patriotism, monumentality, power and national mythology.
“As artists, we always think our job is to be a reflection of the society and culture in which we occupy,” Catron told amNewYork. “We live in a specific time and place, and it’s our responsibility to present our interpretation of that space and make commentary on our shared circumstances.”
Catron and Outlaw frequently create large-scale installations examining spectacle, excess and the construction of national myths. Catron said the exhibition and pageant were intended to both celebrate America and critically examine what makes the country unique.
“The hot dog represents the good, the bad and the ugly of our society, all wrapped up in a pre-packaged, highly marketed, consumable staple that has universal appeal,” Outlaw said.
The artists deliberately chose Times Square, where consumerism, spectacle and American culture are displayed before visitors from around the world.
“Times Square is still the center of the Universe in so many ways. It represents a pinnacle at least part of the human experience and is uniquely American,” said Outlaw.
“And of course, if it’s going to be in Times Square, it has to be the biggest, the best, and the loudest there is,” he added.
That sense of excess extends beyond the sculpture’s size. Each day at noon, the hot dog rises above Duffy Square and releases a burst of confetti, transforming the installation into a spectacle for passersby
“When you set out to make a giant hot dog, it feels only fitting—in the spirit of America—to make it the biggest and loudest you possibly can,” Carton said.
Their work has previously appeared at the Brooklyn Museum, Times Square Arts, the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit and Creative Time.
The free exhibition will remain on display around the clock at Duffy Square through Aug. 8, with the hot dog rising and releasing confetti daily at noon.
Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu combined for 56 points on 20-of-35 shooting on a night New York (16-12) needed every bit of its touch.
The post Liberty beat LA in return from break appeared first on Brooklyn Eagle.
