Word of the Day: BROOKIE

I dreamed this word up last night.

brook•ie
Pronunciation: \ˈbru-kē\

Function: noun

1. A person visiting the borough of Brooklyn for the first time
2. A person who has just moved to the borough of Brooklyn

Example: “He thought taking the G train would actually be a quicker way to get to Williamsburg. What a brookie!”

Stoopin’ 2007 Report

2007 (June 16)

Brooklyn — As in past years, the 7th Annual sale’s sellers include old-timers such as our hosts wjcohen & Alison (and daughters Lila & Ruby); Joy & Rob (and dog Piper); and yours truly.

The months leading up to sale were dominated by long-time stooper Stinky’s will-he, won’t-he retirement talk. But like Jordan and Clemens before him, Stinky left that small percentage of a chance open that he might reconsider. And coming down to the wire, prospects looked good for Stink’s return to business. But then, tragically, a death in the family took he & Betsy away for the weekend and absent from the sale. Also missed this year were stoop regulars Sari, Rebecca, and Kristen, but we were lucky to add lovely red_letter_days to the mix.

Stoopin’ Part IV: 2006 report

2006 (June 17)

Brooklyn — As in past years, the 6th Annual sale features our hosts wjcohen & Alison, their cutey-pie daughters Lila & Ruby; as well as lovebirds Stinky & Betsy; newlyweds Joy & Rob; newcomers Kristen and Kevin; and of course Sari & yours truly. Though we all miss Stooper Supreme Rebecca (away in L.A. for the weekend), we trust she’ll join us next year at the new Carroll Park location (where wjcohen and his brood are relocating).

Overall, the sale is a resounding success, with everyone relieved to be rid of their unwanted junk and equally happy to have a couple more dollars in their pockets. I’m particularly pleased to unload a good chunk of my 1980s/90s superhero comics dreck. For 25 cents a book, or 5 for a $1, who can complain? I even sell 25 comics at one shot for a movie’s set dressing! My only true disappointment is not selling my old color TV, which I had held on to from last year’s sale. Pathetic as it sounds, I actually had an emotional attachment to that TV, as it was one of my first “grown-up” items, purchased shortly after I moved into my first post-college apartment. Sure, it’s almost 20 years old, but it still works fine, has all its parts, and I wanted to see it passed on to a worthy viewer. But, alas, it is not to be, and now the TV sits in the Atlantic Avenue Salvation Army Thrift Store…

Some sellers, however, do better than others: Proving the power of “perceived value,” Joy and Kristen price their clothes and sundries in the $5-10 range (instead of the typical $2-4) — and end up as the day’s biggest profiteers. (It may also have something to do with the quality of their merchandise, but I wouldn’t know…)

Brooklynites: Buy my stuff!

Yes, folks, you’ve read about previous years, and now it’s that time again: the 6th Annual Multi-Family Multi-Generational Stoop Sale! You’ve seen the rest, now it’s time for the best:

Saturday, June 17th, 10am – 3pm
165 Baltic Street (corner of Baltic & Henry)

Housewares | Kitchen Supplies | Records, Tapes, & CDs | DVDs & Video Tapes | Books, Comics & Graphic Novels | Posters & Artwork | Men’s & Women’s Clothes | Baby Clothes | Baby Supplies | Baby Toys | Color T.V. | Sporting Equipment | Couch Pillows | Cookies & Lemonade

Last time at this location! Early-birds pay double!

Stoopin’ Part III

MILLENNIAL MADNESS
Being the third and final installment of my history of stoop/yard/garage/street/sidewalk sales, with photos, illustrations, near-disasters, psycho killers, and more

Rocketship Blasts Off

You are cordially invited to the opening reception of Cartoon Brooklyn, to be held at Rocketship, a brand-new comics store in Cobble Hill. The reception is July 29th, from seven ’til ten in the evening. Cartoon Brooklyn is an exhibition featuring the comic art of Jessica Abel, Dean Haspiel, Matt Madden, and Josh Neufeld. Drinks will be served in the Rocketship garden. Rocketship is located at 208 Smith Street, between Butler and Baltic, in Brooklyn. The closest train is the Bergen Street stop on the F or G. For more information, please call proprietors Alex Cox or Mary Gibbons at 718.797.1348.