Sept. 23–29, 2016 including KINGS COURIER & FLATBUSH LIFE FREE SERVING BENSONHURST, BRIGHTON BEACH, CONEY ISLAND, GERRITSEN BEACH, KINGS HIGHWAY, MANHATTAN BEACH, MIDWOOD, & SHEEPSHEAD BAY BURN NOTICE Offi ce worker spots fl ames that FDNY missed, ‘saves’ building. See page 14. Photo by Paul Martinka A CNG Publication Vol. 71 No. 39 UPDATED EVERY DAY AT BROOKLYNDAILY.COM INSIDE NNN%9IFFBCPE;8@CP%:FD GL9C@J?<;9P:E>(D<KIFK<:?:<EK<IEFIK?('K?=CFFI9IFFBCPE#EP(()'( Introducing Miss Black Americana: Singer and guitarist Queen Esther will debut at the Brooklyn Americana Music Festival, hoping to introduce festival-goers to the black Southern influences of coun- try music — a sound she dubs “Black Americana.” Photo by Stefano Giovannini Fest for the rest! Flatbush Junction carnival a peaceful J’ouvert alternative BY ALEXANDRA SIMON Call it a J’ouv-over. For Queen & country Flatbush business lead- ers held a street fair on Hil- Black Americana artist gets down to her roots By Alexandra Simon Esther. “I want them to understand that I’m But music industry commercialization “It’ll be great to hear every artist and he’s taking country back to its roots. not an anomaly — and while that requires divorced the styles of music, and black hear them live,” said Esther. “As a musi- This weekend’s Brooklyn a larger history lesson than I’m capable of music lost much of its “twang” during cian you get no chance to hear new artists, lel Place at the Flatbush SAmericana Music Festival will cel- doing in a song, I want people to be moved the Great Migration, when many African- which is why I’m thrilled to be running ebrate the sounds of folk, country, and and get inspired to keep listening.” Americans moved to northern states, said around this festival.” early blues for a hootenanny good time. In the early 20th century, said Esther, Esther — but she retained that original Brooklyn Americana Music Festival, And when one self-described “black the elements that became country, rock, sound from growing up in Georgia. Sept. 23–25 at various locations and times, Americana” artist plays the festival’s and blues were all mixed up together, and “I think me being from the South, with a www.bkamf.com. opening night on Sept. 23, she hopes to black and white musicians played the same lot of twang in my background — I do tra- Jalopy Theatre [315 Columbia St. Junction to showcase the re-introduce country fans — who are pre- type of tunes. ditional things in country,” said Esther. “I between Woodhull Street and Hamilton dominantly white — to the music’s origin “Once upon a time when there was no held on to that twang, and I never let go.” Avenue in Red Hook, (718) 395–3214, www. among black artists such as herself. music industry — down South, there were Esther will debut some new songs on jalopy.biz]. Sept. 23 at 8 pm. $30. “I don’t know what people are thinking socials, picnics, church, juke joints, and the festival’s opening night, as well as Brooklyn Bridge Park Pier 6 [Atlantic of when they see me, but I’m true to myself everyone played in everyone’s band,” said tunes from her latest album “On the Other Avenue at Furman Street in Brooklyn and I’m singing songs that are reflective of Esther. “There is a certain twang inherent Side.” And she is looking forward to hear- Heights, www.bkamf.com]. Sept. 24, 2–8 who I am and where I’m from,” said Queen in black music.” ing new bands as much as playing herself. pm. Free. best of Caribbean culture on Sept. 15 — a response to Your entertainment recent calls to end the vio- guide Page 43 lence-marred J’ouvert cel- ebration , where four people were shot this year despite Police Blotter ..........................8 increased police presence Letters ....................................32 at the pre-dawn Labor Day It’s Only My Opinion ...........34 party. A Britisher’s View ...............34 Organizers created last Thursday’s fair, called “Af- Not For Nuthin’ ....................34 ter the Fete,” to focus on the Rhymes With Crazy ............33 positive, one said. Sports .....................................49 “With all the negative noise coming out of Carni- val — especially J’ouvert — we just thought it was im- portant to identify the eco- nomic and cultural aspect of the Caribbean people away from that noise,” said HOW TO REACH US Kenneth Mbonu, director of Flatbush Junction Busi- Mail: ness Improvement District. Courier Life “We wanted to give the com- Publications, Inc., munity here a small dose of 1 Metrotech Center North the impact of Carnival, and 10th Floor, Brooklyn, reflect the positivity of Ca- ribbean experience and cul- N.Y. 11201 ture.” General Phone: Some festival-goers (718) 260-2500 weren’t aware the party was News Fax: a reaction to anti-J’ouvert (718) 260-2592 sentiments — but they were none-the-less happy to set News E-Mail: the record straight on the [email protected] controversial gathering Display Ad Phone: that precedes the pre-West (718) 260-8302 Indian American Day Car- FAIR FUN: (Top) Juanoi Parkenson and Cecil Thompson of Fisherman’s Cove restaurant grill chicken for fes- Display Ad E-Mail: nival. tival-goers. (Left) Rose Cine came to the all-day party with Haitian fl ag in hand. (Right) Jesse Picard, Ameilia “I’m really glad they did [email protected] Williams, Sarah Medina, and Tatiana Valentin show off their face art. Photos by Georgine Benvenuto this, because J’ouvert is a Display Ad Fax: part of Caribbean culture, (718) 260-2579 and to hear that some people sic, and dancing, as well as Cine, a rep for humanitar- a success that the business Classified Phone: want to take it away is up- some New York street-fair ian group Phoenix Rising improvement district in- (718) 260-2555 setting,” said Amelia Wil- staples such as face-painting for Haiti. “They were really tends to make it an annual Classified Fax: liams, who happened upon booths. But the traditional powerful and played with so gathering, Mbonu said. (718) 260-2549 the seven-hour party and tunes really rose above the much energy. They brought “We wanted to showcase liked it so much she stayed rest, another attendee said. people together, and it was the powerful impact of Ca- Classified E-Mail: all day. “What really stuck in nice that everyone of all ribbean culture — its intent [email protected] The festival featured Ca- my mind at the end was the ages were so into it.” is to make it every year,” he ribbean food, steel pan mu- steel pan band,” said Rose After the Fete was such said. :FLI@<IC@=<GL9C@:8K@FEJ FEC@E<8K1 98PE<NJB@E>J:FLI@<I98PI@;><:FLI@<ID@CCD8I@E<:FLI@<I9IFFBCPE>I8G?@: ><E<I8C@E=FID8K@FE.(/ )-'Æ),'':C8JJ@=@<;@E=FID8K@FE.(/ )-'Æ),,, GL9C@J?<I1:c`]]fi[Cljk\iM%G%F=8;M<IK@J@E>1IXcg_;ËFef]i`f:C8JJ@=@<;;@I<:KFI18dXe[XKXic\p D<D9<I1 <;@KFI1M`eZ\;`D`Z\c`;<GLKP<;@KFI1DXoAX\^\i8JJ@>ED<EK<;@KFI1:flike\p;feX_l\8IKJ<;@KFI19`ccIfle[p I<GFIK<IJ1Alc`Xee\:lYX#;\ee`jCpeZ_#8c\oXe[iXJ`dfe<;@KFI@8C8JJ@JK8EKJ1J_XmXeX8Yilqqf#AfXeeX;\c9lfef 8IK;@I<:KFI1C\X_D`kZ_8JJ@JK8EKC8PFLKD8E8><I1Pmfee\=Xic\pN<9;<J@>E<I1JpcmXeD`^[Xc :<F1C\j>ff[jk\`e GIF;L:K@FE8IK@JKJ18ik_li8ilkplefm#>Xi[p:_Xic\j#<Xic=\ii\i#Af_eEXgfc`#:fee`\Jlcj\ek`#A\XeNXcj_ This newspaper is not responsible for typographical errors in ads beyond the cost of the space occupied by the error. All rights reserved. Copyright © 2016 by Courier Life Publications, GI<J@;<EKGL9C@J?<I1 Inc., a sub sidiary of News Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc. The content of this newspaper is protected by Federal copyright law. This newspaper, its advertisements, articles and photographs may not be reproduced, either in whole or part, without permission in writing from the publisher except brief portions for purposes of review or commentary A\ee`]\i>ff[jk\`e consistent with the law. Postmaster, send address changes to Courier Life Publications, Inc., One MetroTech North, 10th Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201. 2 COURIER LIFE, SEPT. 23–29, 2016 MBRBG CELEBRITY SIGHTINGS! FILM, SPORTS STARS IN BROOKLYN HI-YA! ‘Karate Kid’ Ralph Macchio at Bklyn Hospital’s Founders Ball BY LAUREN GILL Wax on, scrubs off! “Karate Kid” star Ralph Macchio swept doctors and donors off their feet at Brooklyn Hospital Center’s 28th annual Founders Ball at Barclays Center last Tuesday night. But for some attendees, the biggest kick came not from meeting the winner of the 1984 All Valley Karate Championship, but see- ing their colleagues out of their regular hospital garb and in gowns and tuxes. GET HIM A BODY BAG, YEAH!: SPACE DRAM: Movie star Bill Murray serves up shots at his son’s Greenpoint bar on Sept. 18. “It was great to see ev- “The Karate Kid” legend Ralph Photo by Jason Speakman erybody in a different set- Macchio showed his support for ting than you see them in the Brooklyn Hospital Center by everyday,” said Natasha attending its annual Founders Fievre, an obstetrician and Ball last Tuesday night. gynecologist at the infir- mary. Photo by Jordan Rathkopf The life alcoholic Seven-hundred revel- ers attended this year’s Deborah Niderhoffer. extravaganza — many of Showing no fear or mercy Bill Murray pours drinks at son’s Greenpoint bar whom, like Mr. Miyagi, alongside Macchio at the know more about fighting shindig were Vincent Pi- BY RUTH BROWN the counter while pouring arrived. And the scene was for lives than fighting for azza of “Boardwalk Empire” Can I have one more of out shots for guests at the no less wild inside, as in- points.