Brooklyn Bambini: A gift of fine art that becomes an heirloom, and a symbol of the moment a family was born.

The first ever Rattled Expo takes place tomorrow at the Warsaw in (where else?) Greepoint. What is it? It’s a unique event for young, urban families; according to Rattled co-founder Tara Arjona, Rattled’s targeted market is people who “… love locally-made, and handmade goods. They’re not into mainstream products and services.”

Products for sale will include handcrafted bronze and silver baby figurines made by Williamsburg sculptor Brian Sullivan. He’s been making the pieces for more than two decades and co-owns Brooklyn Bambini with his wife, Kelley Shields.

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North Brooklyn is “studio central,” with tons of new studios surfacing and a growing number of recordings coming out of the area. “It’s what Hell’s Kitchen used to be,” says Paul Gold of Salt Mastering on Greenpoint Avenue. Hardly surprising perhaps, since great music is being made and performed locally by talented indie bands and singer songwriters that want to record close to home. “I can basically master a record and walk a few blocks and see a band I just worked with. If I walk into a bar and talk to the bartender who happens to be in a band, I may end up scoring a gig,” says mastering engineer Heba Kadry, of Timeless Mastering.

Increasingly, international musicians are either coming to record or relying on local studios to mix and master. Bands are drawn to the luxury of large spaces that are innovatively designed, achieving a cross between a living room with vintage instruments and a hospital operating room. There are still, of course, the more garage-type spaces and places that musicians can rent by the hour.

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Most people will work to provide a living for themselves while only a small number will provide themselves the living they want to do through the work they choose.

Without question a smaller populace within the populous, those who follow their heart’s call are nonetheless a critically important segment of any community. It requires a particular quality of energy—a blend of vision, courage, tenacity, ingenuity and near boundless energy—to produce something people want, that the producer of said something additionally wants to provide. For the past 30 years this quality of energy, the magic of creativity to be succinct, has literally transformed the Williamsburg/Greenpoint area. This article profiles a few local creatives making beautiful hats and shoes that many of us want to own.

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By Michele Richinick

Years ago, denim was secondary when putting together an outfit. But now, many people buy their jeans first and plan the rest of their wardrobe accordingly. Jeans have become a staple article of clothing because they are both acceptable and casual attire.

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By Kelley Shields

What is driving the rash of men-centric retail environments in this area, such as barber shops/shaving parlors and higher-end apparel boutiques like Barber & Supply, HW Carter & Sons, Cadet, Robinson Brooklyn, Genuine Motorworks and By Robert James? Could it have something to do with the “recovering” economy?

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