review from Anne: BROOKLYN: Special Issue: Abandonment IV (#89)

BROOKLYN --Special Issue: Abandonment IV (#89)

24 pages, 5.5 x 8.5 $10 for a 4 issue subscription
(PAYMENT IN CASH! Fred adds: US currency please!)
Fred Argoff
Penthouse L
1170 Ocean Parkway
Brooklyn NY 11230

You know it, you love it: “The name of this zine is BROOKLYN and that's also what the zine is about, Fred's beloved borough of Brooklyn."

If you're new to all this, you should know that BROOKLYN is a long-standing awesome series that's a fun read even if you're never been to Brooklyn and maybe never will. It's all about Brooklyn (no surprise there), but it's always a combination of history, photography, and other Brooklyn related things, including Brooklyn-related zazzle.com stamps. This time, it's Zippy the Pinhead who apparently announced in an issue that he was born in ... you guessed it ... Brooklyn! (I wouldn't have gotten the reference without Fred's note cluing me into the fact!). I've been reading for a while now and I really enjoy it; I'd recommend a subscription to get the full effect & a full dose of BROOKLYN.

This issue is mostly photography based, as are many of the special issues. There's a lot of Brooklyn history here, along with some pictures of artist Miru Kim -- I'll let you get the issue to get the reference, though! If you like history, architecture, Brooklyn, urban spaces, etc. you'll want to check out this issue, even though the lexicon, one of my favorite things about this series (i.e. You haven't subscribed yet? Wat the hell? You crazy, or wat?), isn't included in this special issue. 

Always, always a fun read worth your time. So, whaddya waitin' for? Read some Brooklyn already!

BROOKLYN #84 and #83

review from Anne: BROOKLYN #84 and #83

24 pages, 5.5 x 8.5 $10 for a 4 issue subscription
(PAYMENT IN CASH! Fred adds: US currency please!)
Fred Argoff
Penthouse L
1170 Ocean Parkway
Brooklyn NY 11230

More Brooklyn reviews! Say it with me, people: “The name of this zine is BROOKLYN and that's also what the zine is about, Fred's beloved borough of Brooklyn."

You should all know by now that I'm a long-term BROOKLYN fan at this point. I love that these always appear in my mailbox and I'm always curious as to what Fred will use for stamps -- usually Brooklyn-related zazzle.com stamps. Here's the thing: Brooklyn is always a combination of history, photography, and other Brooklyn related things, and it's a long-standing awesome series that's a fun read even if you're not a NY resident.

#84 contains pictures of a block party (okay, more than a few), the ever-popular Brooklyn Lexicon & Pronunciation Guide (#68, in fact), gargoyles in Brooklyn (yes, really!), a book review (about a book about Brooklyn!) and a Brooklyn version of  classic fable. (Plus some other surprises!)

#85 has a neat caveat: it's a whole issue of two-page spreads, which leads to fun, quick reading. Photos of subways, of architecture, Brooklyn nursery rhymes, another Brooklyn Lexicon & Pronunciation Guide, street art, random boulders (yup, you read that right), and some pictures of the Brooklyn Superhero Supply (well, it's the front for the amazing 826NYC, which is worth your time to Google and support.)

Always, always a fun read worth your time. So, whaddya waitin' for? Read some Brooklyn already!

BROOKLYN #81

review from Anne: BROOKLYN #81

24 pages, 5.5 x 8.5 $10 for a 4 issue subscription
(PAYMENT IN CASH!)
Fred Argoff
Penthouse L
1170 Ocean Parkway
Brooklyn NY 11230

More Brooklyn reviews! Say it with me, people: “The name of this zine is BROOKLYN and that's also what the zine is about, Fred's beloved borough of Brooklyn." History, photography, you name it and it’s in here…provided it’s got something to do with Fred’s favorite borough.  One of the things I particularly like about BROOKLYN is that the issues are always packed with photos, history (things that long-term residents know; every issue has kind of a small-neighborhood feel to it, which is a great advantage), and fabulous little Brooklyn tidbits. It's one of those reads that if you don't live there, it's kind of amazing -- like a little bit of armchair travel. If you do live there, I imagine it's like this whole other world discovering these bits of history and photos of houses and neighborhoods and such.

This issue is no exception. Fred's put together a special theme issue (and that theme is doors). The ever-hilarious "Brooklyn Lexicon and Pronounciation Guide" in each issue is a treat to read, and #81 includes such gems as "ommina" and "ongana." There's also a quick tour of Vinegar Hill in this issue, to incorporate a little history as well.

Always a fun read worth your time. So, whaddya waitin' for? Read some Brooklyn already!

BROOKLYN #75

More Brooklyn reviews! Say it with me, people: “The name of this zine is BROOKLYN and that's also what the zine is about, Fred's beloved borough of Brooklyn." History, photography, you name it and it’s in here…provided it’s got something to do with Fred’s favorite borough.

#75 is a "special issue" -- to mark the 75th issue, Fred sorted through his "collection of zine stuff" that was planned for (but didn't make it into) earlier issues and put together kind of a "hodgepodge" with all the usual suspects (and of course all about Brooklyn): photographs, the Lexicon & Pronounciation Guide (including "ida know" and "yizzl" -- don't know these? Get yourself some BROOKLYN already!), the Brooklyn version of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, a neighborhood tour -- all in all, always an interesting read!

PS: The cover is very funny and probably not something you want to read at your desk at work: it's six middle fingers held high and proud by four people...and one primate.

BROOKLYN #75
24 pages, 5.5 x 8.5 $10 for a 4 issue subscription
(PAYMENT IN CASH!)
Fred Argoff
Penthouse L
1170 Ocean Parkway
Brooklyn NY 11230