What to look forward to in September...

The 10th

John Waters talks about the inspiration for his new book Role Models at COCO66 in Greenpoint. Buying the book from local bookstore WORD is your ticket in!

The 11th

Behind the scenes at fashion designer Prabal Gurung's Spring runway show.

Gurung heralds from the Lower East Side and has designed for the likes of our first lady!

The 19th

With a name inspired by both the Olson twins and the twins from The Shining, The Shining Twins play Glasslands (community art and music space) in Williamsburg. Riot grrrl music perfect to run away to.

Black Velvet ( in tribute to James Brown!) at Tip Top Bar and Grill

"My first cape was sewn together from three sequined evening gowns from the Salvation Army"- Black Velvet

Black Velvet is a showstopper that goes beyond mere imitation. He tears it all out from a deep place, his performance fierce and impassioned, the crowd a frenzy of shaking hips and stamping feet. This is why they call it soul, you just got to feel it.

Tip Top Bar and Grill in Bed Stuy, a neighborhood joint where the vibe is friendly and the $15 all you can eat soul buffet plentiful- chicken and ribs, corn bread, macaroni and cheese, a mana of comfort food. The low ceilings are dotted with christmas lights and the bar is lined with beer bottles stoppered with white napkins.

Bad-ass bartender, Lala, her name like a pair of notes, tells us it is Tip Top tradition to top your bottle this way to keep out the metal taste of the cap. Junior the door man tells us that when he opened up the bar with a trio of his siblings in the 60's, the place was called "Brothers".