As you’ve most likely read in about 10,000 articles over the past five years, the once-overlooked NYC borough of Brooklyn has experienced an artistic renaissance, giving birth to an independent art, music, and literary scene that now rivals Manhattan’s. But here’s something you didn’t know: the newest quirky Brooklyn hotspot is set inside Manhattan’s stuffiest museum.

This summer, the Guggenheim Museum launches It Came from Brooklyn, a new monthly concert series that pays tribute to the accomplishments of the inner-est outer borough, with Brooklyn-based artists, bands and writers performing inside the museum’s famed Frank Lloyd Wright-designed rotunda. The series gets going on August 14 with Brooklyn band the Walkmen (two-fifths of whom now live in Philadelphia), and novelist Colson Whitehead (who is Internet-famous for writing about how he’s so over the Brooklyn writer thing).

So to summarize, two Brooklyn artists who both appear quite often in Brooklyn itself, and who are both at least somewhat tired of Brooklyn, will celebrate Brooklyn’s quirky, independent spirit at Manhattan’s snobbiest museum. And don’t forget the Manhattan-sized price tag: $45 a ticket. Is it just us, or is this the most ironic spin on Brooklyn yet?

Related Stories:
· It Came From Brooklyn [Official Site]
· Buskers in a Dangerous Time: Win The Chance To Play At JFK's Terminal 5 [Jaunted]
· Baltimore's Virgin Mobile Festival Drops Ticket Prices To Free [Jaunted]

[Photo: cultureclashem] ]]> BS 2009-07-14T11:24:18-05:00 40.7831290 -73.959242 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/11/10/44744/112

Playing little brother to international city of the moment Dubai would definitely suck, but tourism officials are keen to make the UAE’s second city Abu Dhabi famous for something other than bizarre morphing skyscrapers. Abu Dhabi is proudly striving to become the cultural capital of the Middle East instead.

And while we scoffed a bit at first, on closer investigation it seems like Abu Dhabi does know something about culture. There’s going to be a Guggenheim Abu Dhabi by 2012, and in keeping with the UAE's penchant for world records, it'll be the world's biggest Guggenheim museum.

They've also got a bunch of national cultural buildings in Abu Dhabi like the National Theater and the main national library. Perhaps we’ll soon be able to skip the skyscrapers of Dubai and spend our layover soaking up the museum culture of Abu Dhabi. Pity the shopping will probably never be as good.

Related Stories:
· Oil’s Well in Abu Dhabi [The Age]
· The Incredible Morphing Skyscraper [Jaunted]

[Photo: Ioan Barbulescu]]]> amandak 2008-11-10T09:00:10-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/10/28/17719/545

Frank Lloyd Wright’s spiraling Guggenheim Museum is one of New York’s most interesting architectural landmarks, but that hasn’t meant much to visitors over the past three years, when the museum’s aging exterior has been shrouded in a thick coat of scaffolding.

The restoration was recently completed, and the Gugg is showing off it’s shiny new façade with a site-specific installation from artist Jenny Holzer, whose work consists of giant text projected onto the side of the museum.

To celebrate even further, the museum is getting rid of the admission fee--for one day only. This Thursday, October 30, the Guggenheim will be open for free from 12pm to 8pm, with free audio tours, too.

Related Stories:
· Guggenheim Highlights Restoration with Oct. 30 Free Day [Newyorkology]
· Museums coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Guggenheim]]]> BS 2008-10-29T09:45:03-05:00 40.7831290 -73.959242 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/