Whassup: Death of a Season Edition

via forgotten-ny.com

Folks, hear that? That creaking noise? That's August tipping over into its second half. Soon summer Fridays will cease, youngsters will trade their baseballs for the pigskin, and Coney Island's pastiest knees will retreat like albino turtles behind long, big-boy pants. Take your knees out for one last spin with Whassup: Death of a Season Edition:

* Friday, Aug. 19 - Sunday, Aug. 28: Brooklyn Battles, Old Stone House (and beyond): Back in the day, a "battle" in Brooklyn meant sick rhymes and deadly snaps. But, baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack in the day, the Brooklyn Battle involved a lot more musket balls, British people, and British people getting shot with musket balls. Battle Week celebrates the 235th Anniversary of the first major scuffle between the nascent United States and our dirty, colonist overlords. Park Slope's own Old Stone House hosts a bevy of events. Various times, FREE.

* Friday, Aug. 19: Swede-fest, Ikea: I know most of you already have plans for celebrating Kraftskiva this year, but just in case you waited 'til the last minute and your Swedish cousins will be out of town: Ikea in Red Hook has you covered. Phew! Not another Kraftskiva alone! Don't wanna have another Kraftskiva "accident." So, yeah, the Swedish emporium of plastic and particle board marks the Swedish holiday Kraftskiva with an all-you-can-schmorg crayfish buffet. 4pm-11pm (three sittings), $9.99.

* Saturday, Aug. 20: Rooftop's End Credits, Old American Can Factory: The Rooftop Films series drops the metaphoric, outdoor curtain on its summer run of flicks with a spread of animations and shorts. Each film meditates upon the theme of closure. Topping the marquee is Diary, a film by war journalist Tim Hetherington, killed by a rocket this spring. Even a FIPS blogger can't summon up the snark to make fun of that. 8pm Doors, $10.

* Monday, Aug. 22: Punderdome 3000, Southpaw: Southpaw's feast of wordplay returns. Come clap your votes at this audience-judged pun competition. Bring a date -- it's one time you can guarantee you'll make her groan. (Had to.) 7:30pm Doors, $5.

* Tuesday, Aug. 23: Gelf Magazine Presents: The Non-motivational Speaker Series, Tea Lounge: We're all familiar with the Food Truck Rally debate. Some local business owners love' em, and others hate 'em. The Non-Motivational Speaker Series will be hosting a panel to pit these two sides against each other. Joining the discussion will be David Weber, head of the NYC Food Trucks Association and owner of the Rickshaw Dumpling cart and Rickshaw Dumpling bar; adjunct professor of urban planning at NYU and principal at public policy firm HR&A Advisors Kate Collignon; and Irene LoRe, head of the 5th Avenue Business Improvement District and owner of Aunt Suzie's. 7:30PM, FREE.

* Happening Now: Grocery Prizes: Of all the contortions bands must put themselves through these days to promote their music, perhaps the harshest is the need to be cute. Well, Brooklyn trio Breaking Laces gets all "awwww" (or "ewww," depending on your druthers) on us with an ain't-that-sweet food-and-romance contest. Pen a witty "shopping for two" grocery list, and you just might secure a $50 gift card from iGourmet.com. And, then, listen to some of their music. You know, maybe
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