WORTHY CAUSE // Donate to Transportation Alternatives By December 31 and Your Gift Will Count Double

With the holidays quickly approaching, it's time to start thinking about what gifts you're giving this year. 3rd Ward's got our Handmade Holiday Craft Fair coming up on December 10 (more on that shortly) but we'd also like to point you toward another great gift that'll benefit both someone close to you and NYC as a whole.

NYC non-profit organization Transportation Alternatives is currently in the middle of its end of year fundraising campaign, and a generous local foundation will be matching any donations received by December 31. In addition to supporting a worthy cause, your donation will also get you one of Transportation Alternative's "One Less Car" t-shirts, a perfect gift for anyone who prefers to pedal, stroll or hop on public transit rather than stepping on the gas.

Since 1973 Transportation Alternatives has been advocating for non-automobile transportation in New York City, including bicycling, walking and public transit. One of their latest initiatives has been addressing recent cyclist and pedestrian deaths in which the NYPD has declined to charge or account for the actions of the drivers involved. 3rd Ward's own Mathieu Lefevre was struck and killed by a flatbed truck in October at the corner of Morgan and Meserole. His family and Transportation Alternatives have still received barely any information from the NYPD, despite numerous requests. On Wednesday the organization delivered 2,650 letters to NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly demanding that dangerous drivers be held accountable. They also announced that they are launching an investigation of how the NYPD has been investigating and reporting recent traffic crashes.

Show your support for NYC's cycling community and alternative transportation by giving what you can to help Transportation Alternatives this holiday season.

-- John Ruscher

YOUR DAILY INSIGHT // As Told By: John Coltrane

You can play a shoestring if you're sincere.

TEACHER FEATURE // Grace Bello Interviews Illustrator Yuko Shimizu for The Atlantic

We've highlighted 3rd Ward fiction teacher Grace Bello and her sidesplitting creative writing a few times, including pieces published by McSweeney's and Splitsider and adapted for the stage by Lively Productions. Now we're excited to point you towards her fascinating interview with Japanese artist and illustrator Yuko Shimizu for The Atlantic.

Bello talks with Shimizu, whose work has appeared in the New Yorker, Playboy, Rolling Stone and many other publications,  about everything from the Internet and animation to her favorite illustrators and her habit of listening to WNYC while she works.

Here's Shimizu's take on trends, along with some helpful advice for aspiring artists and illustrators:

What's an art or illustration trend that you wish would go away? 

Whatever is a trend, I wish it would go away. There's always something that's very popular right now, at this moment. And a lot of people go, "Oh my God, there's a goldmine out there!" and they try to do it. And a lot of people's work starts to look the same. And those people might get work at that point, but then the trend goes away, and then the next thing comes along, and you're not in fashion anymore. I feel it's a bit sad to chase the trend -- any trend. Especially for young people who want to be illustrators, I hope they just do their own things and do not chase the trend.

Read the whole interview here.

For more of Bello's recent work we highly recommend her excellent series of interviews with comedy writers Patricia Marx, Merrill Markoe and Margaret Sanger for The Hairpin. For more of Shimizu's work, check out her website or her recent book for Gestalten.

-- John Ruscher

ESSENTIAL EVENT // TEDxBrooklyn Comes To Brooklyn Bowl And Livestream This Friday

This Friday, December 2, the second edition of TEDxBrooklyn comes to Brooklyn Bowl, and, while the in-person event itself is sold out, you can still soak up all of the knowledge, creativity and inspiration from afar.

There will be free live screenings of the entire conference at the Knitting Factory in Williamsburg, 61 Local in Cobble Hill and the Brooklyn Brainery in Carroll Gardens. If you can't make it to any of those places, you'll be able to catch all of the action from anywhere else via a live video stream.

Right now you can peruse the TEDxBrooklyn Program Guide [PDF], which features background information on all of the speakers and presenters, such as host and renowned funnyman Eugene Mirman, Etsy CEO Chad Dickerson, architect and designer Susannah Drake and Creators Project coordinators Julia Kaganskiy and Ciel Hunter.

Take a look at the full schedule after the jump and head to one of the venues mentioned above or to the live stream at TEDxBrooklyn.com on Friday, when things will kick off at 9am.

-- John Ruscher

YOUR DAILY INSIGHT // As Told By: Jack Kerouac

The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn, like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes "Awww!"

EAT UP // Cape Cod's East Dennis Oyster Farm Hobnobs in the Big City

In their domain: John and Stephanie Lowell

Much to our enjoyment, the higher-end NYC food & bar scene has spent the last year embracing the oyster, in some restaurants, serving them exclusively. One of the sudden major players has undoubtedly been East Dennis Oyster Farm in Cape Cod, supplying renowned dining spots Marea, Oceana, and Momofoku. Landscaper-cum-oyster farmers John and Stephanie Lowell are the folks behind the award-winning mollusks. As aspiring connoisseurs of endless oyster consumption, we reached out to the Lowells to find out how this all started--and why their product is officially on par with that hoity counterpart over in Wellfleet. 

When John got an aquaculture grant in 2003, he set up the farm: rows upon rows of enclosed pallets on stilts which get doused with saltwater when the tide comes in. Though in an ocean of oyster farmers, Lowell's were initially a tough sell, but once John got people to actually taste the product, they were sold. Local oyster bars began furiously snapping them up--and shortly thereafter, the Lowell's broke into their target market: New York.

"Our oysters aren't cheap," John says with a bit of a laugh. "There's more of a market for that in New York. People are willing to pay a premium for quality." John and Stephanie--who also works as an accountant--treat their business as a boutique provider. They're mission is sell to the discerning oyster fan, people who will taste the difference between bivalves from Wellfleet, East Dennis, and Prince Edward Island. 

So far, this approach has provided some nice perks to the Lowells; "We get treated pretty well when we go to New York, wined and dined," John says. Though on a larger scale, the success of Dennis Oyster Farm has opened the door for oyster farms from other parts of Cape Cod to be seen as purveyors of a luxury product. And that's all perfectly fine by the Lowells. "We have some rivalry, but it's all in fun," John says. He's glad to see his colleagues succeed and for the increased attention to the food's provenance, which Lowell believes will open diners up to new types of oysters. At the end of the day, East Dennis Oyster Farm is a labor of love--it's about a couple working on a beach with their dog--and as self-professed fans of their product, we'll tell you: All of that shines through in a slurp of briny goodness whether you're at Manhattan's finest or at your local Cape Cod beach shack.

--Layla Schlack

MEMBER PROFILE // Photographer Shirley Rodriguez Finds the Magic Formula

We're fuzzy on the exact statistics, but for every 20 or so photographers tending bar, waiting tables, or even filing tax returns to make ends meet, there's one Shirley Rodriguez--one person who's been showing since her teens and actually makes a living solely off her art. Proud to call her a 3rd Ward member, Rodriguez appeared on the scene with her series "LatiNatural." She shot portraits of 150 Latina women nude or draped in a white sheet with a blank background and zero make-up. Showing at New York galleries at age 18 or 19 is nothing to scoff at, but Rodriguez explains "That's the thing about growing up in New York. When you start showing in galleries, they're here, and people here see them."

A Rodriguez portrait of rapper Asher RothComing off of that success, she co-founded a commercial studio called Somos Arte, which landed jobs for Olay, McDonalds, Simon & Schuster, Vibe magazine--a bit of everything. And then Rodriguez left.

"I wanted to work with more artists," she says. "It will still be a commercial studio, just a different one." While Shooting Range, her new studio in Williamsburg gets off the ground, Rodriguez is working on a series called "The Master's Tools," which will focus on ways that physical labor has disfigured people. 

Rodriguez is one of those archetypal modern artists, finding a way to support herself by retaining a style she believes in. We're rooting for both Shooting Range and "The Master's Tools"--and hoping, just a little, that she'll maybe bottle the secret to success.

--Layla Schlack

YOUR DAILY INSIGHT // As Told By: Albert Camus

We've quoted him before and we'll quote him again, but in the meantime, take this one from writer/philosopher extraordinaire, Albert Camus:

Without culture, and the relative freedom it implies, society, even when perfect, is but a jungle. This is why any authentic creation is a gift to the future.

ILLUMINATING // LuminAID Is Spreading Sustainable Solar Light Across The Globe

 

The folks behind LuminAID reached their fundraising goal of $10,000 just two days after launching their campaign on IndieGoGo. They've now raised more than triple that amount, and the total continues to climb with over two weeks left to go. 

Such enthusiasm and support is no surprise considering what an amazing idea they have. The LuminAID light is a solar-rechargeable waterproof lantern that's lightweight, portable and inflatable, making it useful in almost any situation where light is needed, from a weekend camping trip to disaster-stricken areas or developing communities across the globe. 

These lights will be particularly valuable to the many people around the world who lack regular electricity and are forced to rely on dangerous kerosene-fueled lanterns. That's why, for a pledge of $25, you can purchase your own light while also donating one to LuminAID's worldwide community projects.

After charging in sunlight for four to six hours, a LuminAID light can provide three hours of light on its high setting and six on low. It can also be shipped more efficiently than other light sources, with more than 50 LuminAID lights taking of the space of 8 traditional solar flashlights.

Head over to LuminAID's IndieGoGo page to order your own LuminAID light and help spread safe and sustainable light around the world. For larger pledges you can receive and give even more, from your own LuminAID t-shirt to helping supply an entire orphanage with lights. Check the community map to see places that have been illuminated so far. A LuminAID light has already made it to the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro!

Hit the jump for more photos and a video about the LuminAID light.

-- John Ruscher

FINE WINE // Part 3: Erin Fitzpatrick Takes Wine From The Restaurant To The Airwaves To The Countryside

We're thrilled to return to our ongoing Fine Wine series, which explores local wine culture and its many manifestations. Today we feature Erin Fitzpatrick, co-host of "Unfiltered," a program on the Heritage Radio Network that covers the latest news and developments in the wine industry.

That is by no means the only role that Fitzpatrick plays in the wine world. She is accredited by the American Sommelier Association  and has worked at acclaimed restaurants such as Boston's Radius and Manhattan's Waverly Inn.

She also runs her own consulting company, Esse Consulting, helping launch NYC restaurants such as Bar Carrera and Bobo and serving as a wine consultant for Hong Kong's Lily/Bloom and Manhattan's Fat Radish. Most recently Fitzpatrick has opened Fork & Anchor, a general store in Long Island's North Fork.

Hit the jump now for our full interview.

Fitzpatrick's interest in wine was first piqued while she was in school. "I studied abroad in Paris when I was a junior in college and it wasn't until then that my affection for wine took hold," she says. "I was on a mission to see as much as I could, which often led me to countrysides peppered with vineyards, and I was intrigued." And while most of her work has been based in New York, she has remained connected with Europe, working on marketing relations for emerging French wine regions such as Cahors and Jura.

With everything that New York offers, Fitzpatrick says developing a relationship with wine is primarily a matter of taking advantage of the plentiful opportunities. "The range of event offerings, classes, wine bars to frequent is vast, and like anything else, it simply is a decision to immerse one's self in the dedication to learning about it," she says. "I am constantly reading about wine, tasting, traveling to new vineyards and learning new things; the journey is endless, and that is something I really value in what I do."

It's not necessarily about experiencing as much as possible, but more about savoring and paying close attention to those experiences and developing your own personal tastes. "Taking notes on what wines you've tasted and enjoyed so that you can remember them and experience them again is a good way to discover what wines suit your palate," Fitzpatrick says. "Taking a pause to smell herbs, fruit, and tobacco, for example, and recount the aromas and qualities that surface in the wines you drink will help make you a better taster. Grape varieties have prevailing characteristics regardless of where they are planted in the world and when you familiarise yourself with these characteristics it becomes easier to define the grapes and the style of wine you like."

Fitzpatrick sees the philosophy that has driven her career as one that holds true for anyone pursuing their passion. "Live and breathe it and be open to the opportunities that exist to further expand your knowledge," she says. "Be mindful of the ways in which you can serve others who are interested in your same field and determine your own way of effectively and generously sharing the information. Don't be afraid to form your own opinions. Have a sense of conviction about what you like while keeping an open mind to explore new things and keep current."

With Fork & Anchor, which has been featured in Vogue, Fitzpatrick has followed her passions to their source. "A happy place for me is amidst vineyards and the sea and this part of the country offers both," she says. "The North Fork has inspiring energy and an evolving community of people who are as passionate as we are about supporting the local food system." With business partner Lucy Muellner she is renovating a barn near the store to start a CSA with a network of local farmers. "We have formed wonderful relationships with fantastic growers, dairy and chicken farmers, vineyards and even brewers and it will be a meeting place for locals and visitors on a year-round basis," she says.

Keep up with Fitzpatrick by listening to "Unfiltered" and following her blog, Bohedonist.

-- John Ruscher