Glasslands Gallery

Glasslands Gallery
289 Kent Ave
(between 1st St & Grand St)
Brooklyn, NY 11211

The Glasslands is a raw industrial space that transforms according to what art shows and fashion shows they are holding. A great idea in theory, but on both occasions I've been here, it turns into a Tragedy of the Commons: too many people enjoying too small of a space. Don't get me started on the line for the bar and the bathroom.

I was here for their monthly Soul Clap and Dance-Off - otherwise known as Soul Train for White People party. The party was cool in theory, but kind of disappointing. I was expecting some epic Don Cornelius meets American Apparel dance-off, where contestants would individually display their dancing prowess. However, it ended up more a dancing orgy, with contestants (in heats of ten) flailing their arms wildly in a vain attempt to get noticed by the judges. Predictably, the judges chose the finalists based on their tragic sense of style (i.e. how hot they looked) or their ability to grind like Elaine from Seinfeld.

As for the music, Jonathan Toubin is a maestro, effortlessly spinning his waxy 45s into a melange of addictive soul and garage rock. The New York Night Train has a weekly Wednesday night at Motor City Bar in the LES, and a Thursday residency in March at the Ace Hotel, which are probably better venues to check out some music that has long been under appreciated.

P.S. If you want to know what the Mistral feels like, try walking to this venue from the Bedford Ave. L stop on a cold, windy night.