The Old-New Servant Problem And (Maybe) Its Solution!

 Djuna Barnes (American, 1892–1982), Sketch of a woman with hat, looking right, for "The Terrorists," New York Morning Telegraph Sunday Magazine, September 30, 1917. Ink on paper, 12 3/4 x 8 1/2 in. (32.4 x 21.6 cm). Djuna Barnes Papers, Special Collections, University of Maryland Libraries

Ah-ha!  Caught you!  You just read this headline and were rightly horrified. But this subject matter makes sense to you, Park Sloper, living as you unfortunately do among the ever-expanding universe of millionaire brownstoners in BK, and their apparently endless need for nannies and maids.

Well relax, FIPster, ‘cause this headline didn’t come from our pens, but from gifted and edgy reporter Djuna Barnes, who in 1913 wrote an article for the Brooklyn Daily Eagle about the lives of our borough's nannies way back when. The piece is about the bullshit that “the girls” (as they were called by the head of their employment agency) endured in Brooklyn households at the time, which totally proves that domestic employers were demanding assholes way back then, too!

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Brooklyn Museum To Feature Local Artists In New Exhibition

Kristof Wickman (American, b. 1981). Self-Portrait, 2010. Neoprene ball, cast silicone. 35 x 35 x 35 in. (88.9 x 88.9 x 88.9 cm). © the artist; courtesy of the artist

Today marks the start of the BK Museum's Raw/Cooked exhibit, which will feature five solo exhibitions from emerging inner-borough artists. First up is Bushwick artist Kristof Wickman, whose piece shown to the left reminds me that I should feel OK about hugging my own medicine ball while weeping during the final scene in Ghost (I don't have a cat, OK?).

Each exhibit will run for ten weeks. 

Must See: The Jim Henson's Fantastic World Exhibit

Photo by John E. Barrett. Mahna Mahna and back-up singers © The Muppets Studio, LLC.

OK OK, I know this isn't Park Slope news, or even Gowanus news for that matter, but I have to tell you guys that I went to the Jim Henson exhibit at The Museum of The Moving Image a few weekends back, and you should all go too. It's great for both kids and adults. And I hate to get all Steel Magnolias on you guys, but Jim Henson was a magical man and I shed a few nostalgic tears while walking through it (but then a video projected the opening theme to Fraggle Rock and I stopped crying and started DANCING). 

The exhibit is going on through January 16th and admission is free on Fridays from 4PM-8PM!

Mahna Mahna.