Motherfuckin' Gourd Season Edition

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This weekend brings the Autumnal equinox, which means the official end of summer. You can mark this occasion in one of two ways: a) wait for death, b) carve the living fuck out of some gourds. We, here at FiPS heartily recommend the latter: Live loud, as vegetation dies. Welcome to Whassup: Motherfuckin' Gourd Season Edition:

* Friday, Sept. 20: Whiskey Reunion, Bryant Park (Manhattan): Yep, that's right, a rare Manhattan event graces (defiles) the pages of FiPS Whassup. But, for a good reason: beloved Slope-area country band, Alex Battles & the Whiskey Rebellion, has been on hiatus (or broken up? hard to say). But they're getting the band back together, as the Bryant Park Square Dance arrives to look extremely out of place in Manhattan. Come snag an urban cowboy. You won't need a partner or any knowledge of moves, as those details will be handled for you. 5:30pm-9pm.

* Saturday, Sept. 21: Gowanus Volunteers, Degraw and Nevins: The Gowanus Canal Conservancy, a group nobly committed to de-shitifying our beloved Superfund site, will host volunteers as they help build new rain gardens. And those "they" could be "you" if you care to offer up your sweat and tears (very few tears, I promise) to the goddesses of ecology. Sign up to volunteer by writing to volunteer@gowanuscanalconservancy.org. 11am-3pm, FREE.

* Sunday, Sept. 22: BK Book Festival, Borough Hall: Brooklyn's embarrassment of literary riches blows itself in festivally pride at this annual carnival for word fuckers. You'll hear talk of "post-feminist" publishing, urban ghosts, and all the thrilling, correctly pronounced large words you can handle. Your brain boner may not go down for a good week. 10am-6pm, FREE.  

* Sunday, Sept. 22: BK Bluegrass Bash, Bell House: If you don't get enough of the bearded, sensitive Brooklyn set at the Book Festival, well thank god there's this. It's the second annual Bluegrass Bash here in Brooklyn, and given the overall popularity of Americana around these parts, I'd say it'll be the second of many. Come join the community: all you need is at least one thigh to slap. Depending on how drunk everyone gets, it need not even be your own. 3pm-7pm, $25-$160.bebe

* UNTIL Wednesday, Sept. 25: Bell House Giveaway: The Bell House just turned five, which is weird, because it still seems like a really new place. Anyway, to celebrate, they will be raffling off two tickets to an old favorite: Hot Tub with Kurt and Kristen on Sat., Sept. 28. The show features the sadly LA-fled Kirsten Schaal and Kurt Braunohler, along with Eugene Mirman, and others. Because, of course, it's a big comedy show in Park Slope, obviously Eugene Mirman will be there. Sign up for the giveaway here. 

* Wednesday, Sept. 25: 'How I Learned' in Brooklyn!, Union Hall: Due to the unhappy ending of the LES's Happy Ending Lounge, Park Slope gets some happy news: Blaise Allysen Kearsley's wonderful storytelling series "How I Learned" is moving to Union Hall! In the show's first edition at its new, permanent home, writers and performers will tell how they learned "The Language of Love" -- so get set for five stories about high school French class! (kidding) Performers include Rob Sheffield, author of "Love is a Mixtape," Isaac Butler, host of "The Liar Show," and, as always, the charming Kearsley MCing. 8pm, $10.

* ONGOING: Closing Sale, Odd Twin: What could be more Brooklyn than a fashionable second-hand shop that serves free booze during events? Probably quick store turnover due to the ridiculous rents here. That might be a more Brooklyn thing. So, it's perhaps not as surprising as it might be that cool, little North Slope spot Odd Twin will be shuttering in about a week. But, as they alerted Brokelyn, the shopowners will be unloading their cool crap on you at 30-50% discounts. Come get yourself the perfect hat to complete your hipster-doofus ensemble.