Whassup: No Government Edition

via therooster.com

Be honest: do you miss the government? Do you miss it yet? Well, you might, if you die from bad chicken because the FDA is currently non-operational. But I know the requisite mood about all of this is cynicism toward the whole institution, so let's just focus on how we all hate politicians by having fun their non-funding faces. Drink un-inspected beer! Eat bad chicken! Dance beside the not-being-cleaned Gowanus Superfund! Do it! Welcome to Whassup: No Government Edition:

* ONGOING: Non-Government Rescue, Skylark: Well, actually, one of the more shitty results of the government shutdown is that millions of new mothers and children will stop receiving food assistance through WIC (the Women, Infants and Children nutrition program). Your friendly neighborhood Skylark Bar is accepting donations of food items to help out -- they'll send the goods to the Bronx-based Children's Rescue Fund. It's as good excuse as any to go have a beer. Donations accepted during business hours: Monday-Sunday, 12pm-4am.

* Thursday, Oct. 10: Fogelnest Files, Bell House: Pop culture-obsessed podcast "The Fogelnest Files" records live, with guests Julie Klausner, of the "How Was Your Week" podcast, and the best dry-delivery-meets-guitar-shredding comedy around, from Dave Hill. And absolutely no promises, but the last Dave Hill show in Park Slope, Friday's "Meet Me in the Bathroom" at Union Hall, featured a certain red-headed comedy saint as surprise guest. That will almost certainly not happen this time. But what? Do you want to risk missing out if it does? 9pm, $15. 

* Friday, Oct. 11: Thrilling Adventure Hour, Bell House: Always a great part of the Brooklyn Book Festival, here's another example of an old-time radio drama. Ham-fisted names! Hushed drama! Sound effects! Cliffhangers! You-with-a-beer-in-your-hand! It's all there. Come twirl your villainous mustache in delight. 9:30pm, $30.

* Saturday, Oct. 12: Oysters and Cask Beer, Bierkraft: Do it. Do this: slide all the oysters down your gullet, whilst chasing them with mug upon mug of cask beer. Suds come from local NY and NJ breweries, as well as several gravity casks of German beer. And you know what they say about oysters -- all I'm saying is, be careful about who you walk home with, because you will definitely fuck. It goes from noon until supplies run out (not the fucking, the oyster and beer). 

* Saturday, Oct. 12: Dig Deeper: Barbara Lynn, Littlefield: The Dig Deeper folks bring us Barbara Lynn this time around, the Texas soul singer behind 1962's "You'll lose a good thing." These shows are always a great reminder of the great musicianship and talent of those bygone bands and singers. It's also a reminder of a simpler time, when all we had to fear was global nuclear holocaust. Anyway, the music is good. 9pm, $15-$20.

* Monday, Oct. 14: Mario-Off, Union Hall: The skint presents "Our Princess Is in Another Castle!", stealing bracketed competitions back from those jocks in the NCAA so that nerds can enjoy their geometrical perfection, as it should be. Contestants, including yourself should you so desire, will match thumbs in "Punch Out," "Mortal Kombat" and more. Prizes and drinks go to the wizardiest of the pinball wizards. 8pm, FREE. 

* Thursday, Oct. 17: Buzzards Read, Soda Bar: This rogues gallery of local writers has moved their reading series from the sadly departed Jackie's Fifth Amendment to Soda Bar. So come hear that Brooklyn yawp while bellying up to a different bar. 8pm-11pm, FREE.

* COMING UP: Sunday, Oct. 27: Basset Meetup, Prospect Park: Y'all should know by now the love that FiPS has for basset hounds. They are our mascot, ourspirit animal, and they designed the website. Come show your hound off to the world at the 3rd Annual Basset Hound Meetup. Many a butt shall be sniffed. And the dogs will have a good time, too. 11:30AM-2:30pm, FREE.