Atlantic Antic(s)

Today, Shawn, Anne, Eric, and I headed to the Atlantic Antic, a Brooklyn street fair that features live music and local food, artists, and organizations. Unlike San Gennaro, this festival offered a diverse selection of cuisine and vendors. Obviously, we pretty much walked the entire 10 blocks spanning the festival, dodging strollers, dawdlers, and children, in order to check out every single good cart and tent. (Pictures after the jump.)

Between the four of us, we sampled quite a variety; mozzarepas, potato pancakes, satay, samosas, curry chicken, soul food (fried chicken, collard greens, seasoned rice, mac and cheese), carrot cake, and pecan, sweet potato, and key lime pie. I know. I know. You're jealous and disgusted all at once. Besides the food, there were tons of great tents with handmade clothing, jewelry, and other crafts. My favorite vendor displayed antique furniture; dress forms, metal decorative robots (yeah I can't even explain how cool they were), beautiful lamps. It was the kind of stuff you always imagine owning in your idea of a perfect life, in which you have the money and time to buy all vintage pieces.

There were many kids-related booths, some featuring children's books and clothing and others holding activities like face painting. (At one booth, there was a 5-year-old painting another kid's face so unless she was a prodigy, let's hope that one was on the house.) Politics was also a running theme. Below, you'll see a picture of a sign at a food vendor that managed to incorporate Obama/Biden. While I was buying an Obama button at a table, this guy comes lumbering over with his kid on his shoulders, shouting, "Where are all the McCain shirts?" The laid-back older black guy behind the table was all, "Um this is Brooklyn, man." But the dad kept shouting about how Obama is the most liberal person in politics or some shit. Which, I mean, is a really good thing so I was uncomfortable. And so was the kid, I'm guessing. And if he wasn't, he will be in 15 years because he is BEING RAISED IN BROOKLYN, a liberal-loving borough of diversity.

Interestingly (but not surprisingly), the crowd got whiter and more pregnant as you walked from Atlantic to Smith St. and Boerum Hill. And the soul food vendors were all concentrated at the Atlantic end. Segregation at a street fair and that guy was worried about McCain t-shirts. The large crowds got a little annoying by the time we had backtracked to the beginning (in our frantic search for the soul food tents), but the area is adorable and makes the trip to this festival worthwhile. (You guys can go next year...?) Overpriced t-shirts and handbags aside, who is too cheap for an overpriced personal-sized pecan pie? NO ONE. Not even me. Check out pictures below and try to find Shawn in a Where's Waldo type of way. Also featured: vintage buses and a portable brick oven.