You’re not going to believe your nose!

FREEwilliamsburg recently posted about a bodega selling Obama-scented incense. The store is purported to be at the intersection of S. 2nd and Havemeyer.

We don’t know what it smells like, but we’re betting it’s a scent we can believe in.

Our beloved borough is more than just a place to live, work, and visit – it’s a place to film! Let’s take a look at three movies set and filmed prominently in Brooklyn.

Saturday Night Fever

In SNF, John Travolta’s character Tony wants nothing more than to transcend his home in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn for Manhattan (crazy). His costar Donna Pescow, a native to the borough, adapted to her role by retraining herself to speak in a Brooklyn accent. The Bay Ridge pizza shop, hardware store, and dance studio featured in the movie still exist today, although the disco club 2001 Odyssey, which was also located in Bay Ridge, has since been demolished.

Requiem for a Dream

This gritty film spends much of its time in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, where Sara, a widow, lives alone in her apartment. Although rather depressing throughout much of the movie, Brooklyn is also the stuff of dreams – when Harry is dreaming of seeing his girlfriend Marion on an ethereal boardwalk, he’s picturing her on Coney Island’s Steeplechase Pier!

The Squid and the Whale

Although the titular oceanic battle is depicted in an exhibit at Manhattan’s American Museum of Natural History, The Squid in the Whale is set predominately in Brooklyn. The main family home is located in Park Slope, Brooklyn, and when the Bernard (Jeff Daniels) leaves his wife Joan (Laura Linney), he moves to an apartment on the other side of Prospect Park.

Last weekend saw the first Brooklyn Mutt Show, a (hopefully) annual event that awards dogs of all pedigrees for a variety of fun categories, from “Most like Owner” to “Sloppiest Kisser.” The event took place last weekend at the Brooklyn Lyceum, and raised $2,000 for the Brooklyn Animal Resource Coalition (BARC) Shelter.

Photo via Quirky NYC.

On this Tue of days, we think it’s best to take a time out — and rock out, if possible. Take a look at this YouTube video for Steely Dan’s “Brooklyn (Owes the Charmer Under Me).”

No, we’re not shouting – new New Yorkers might not realize it, but DUMBO is actually an acronym for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge. As the name suggests, DUMBO is right across the river from Manhattan, making it a real estate hotspot growing more coveted by the day.

Accessible via the A, C, and F trains, DUMBO is a daytime mecca for art and design studios and desirable neighborhood for families. The view of the Manhattan skyline isn’t bad either.

Popular attractions include:

Grimaldi’s Pizza. Famous for its smokey, coal-fired pizza, Grimaldi’s a New York institution. Frank Sinatra was a noted fan.

P.S. Bookshop. If you go there hunting for a specific book, you’re in trouble, but this used bookstore is great for browsing and discovering reads you didn’t know you wanted.

Zoë. For some off-Fifth Avenue shopping, it doesn’t get any better than Zoë, which features such brands as Marc by Marc Jacobs, Stella McCartney, and Rag & Bone.

Image via Flickr

We’re famous! And by we, we mean Brooklyn. Brooklyn’s Finest, a cop drama starring Richard Gere, Don Cheadle, Ethan Hawke, and Wesley Snipes, hits theaters tomorrow. Are you going to see it?

Check out the trailer below:

The words “smoke” and “joint” might not automatically connote barbecue in your mind, but all of that will change after your visit our latest Fort Greene find: The Smoke Joint. Located near the Atlantic Avenue mega-stop, this barbecue house is fast and cheap, with a menu full of tantalizing options. You can pick up your grub for takeout, or make a night of it with sit-down service.

The Smoke Joint’s menu is a carnivore’s delight, featuring such choices as beef and pork ribs ($11–$23), sweet and spicy wings ($7.50), and smoked chicken ($4–$14). Alternatively, ladies — and light-eating gents — will love the caesar salad ($5–$9), prepared with just the right amount of dressing and the option to add pork, beef, or chicken. Still not convinced? Nobody can turn down The Smoke Joint’s comfort-food sides, including mac and cheese ($4) and corn on the cob ($2.50).

If you’re looking for booze, you can visit the bourbon-filled Pig Bar adjacent to The Smoke Joint, or order beer or cocktails from the restaurant’s menu. (Let us know how the habanero-infused mango margarita tastes — we were too scared to try it.)

Check out The Smoke Joint at 87 S. Elliot Place in Fort Greene. 718.797.1011.

A while ago, The New York Times printed an article about a young couple torn apart by the East River, billions of Subway stops, and the majority of bustling Manhattan. To put it simply: He lives in Manhattan, she lives in Brooklyn. This article, published in the Times’ Real Estate section, boldly referred to this pairing as a long-distance relationship.

But is it? As the crow flies, her apartment in Sunset Park, Brooklyn is a bit over 14 miles from his home in Hamilton Heights (Harlem), New York. Anywhere else in the country, this would constitute a 15 or 20 minute drive, however New York is not anywhere else in the country. The Subway trek requires 75 grueling minutes, as well as two transfers. And that’s, um, when the trains are running correctly.

Still, the aforementioned city between the aforementioned lovebirds isn’t exactly dead space — if I were a member of this “long-distance” couple, I’d arrange more of our meetings for the following approximate halfway points: the Union Square, the Village, SoHo, or Borough Hall. If only Romeo and Juliet had had it this easy.

If you just moved to the Brooklyn area you may be wondering about some activities or hobbies you can get into. Frankly, I think Brooklyn is one of those great cities where just about anyone can find something that interests them.

If you are young person or young couple into trends, you might enjoy trying new restaurants like Applewood, Al Di LA or Franny’s. These are some of the newer and “hip” restaurants in the community that get praise all the time for the food, atmosphere and social scene.

On the other hand, maybe you are into the bar or the club scene. If so, like most other metropolitan areas Brooklyn offers quite a few options to choose from such as Building on Bond, Clover Club, Floyd, NY or Last Exit, which is a fantastic mix between a comfortable downtown bar and a trendy lounge.

For children, Brooklyn has tons of great cultural activities and performing arts opportunities. Consider the New York Aquarium, Brooklyn Children’s Museum, Prospect Park Zoo, The Brooklyn Botanical Garden, Lefferts Historic House, and of course Coney Island. At this last stop, your family can enjoy games, rides, food, and the popular Coney Island Museum.

Since October 2008, Spacecraft–located on the Southside of Williamsburg—has been Brooklyn’s coolest crafting hub for kids, newbies, and advanced crafters of all ages. This super-cool craft supply store and gift shop features walk-in projects where you pay for the materials and make your own craft in store, daily and weekly workshops, and sign-up courses.

Spacecraft even offers private instruction for things like sewing, knitting, and any other area you’re interested in learning about. In addition to the store, gift shop, and classes, they have an amazing backyard that is used for hosting parties, barbeques and outdoor crafting workshops like tie-dying.

They host many free crafting events that are a great way to get out and meet some fellow Brooklynites while making some one-of-a-kind crafts. For the crafter who appreciates a frosty adult beverage now and again, Craft on Draught is something you must check out. Just bring 10-15 dollars and your old sewing scraps or other projects you’ve been meaning to work on, and they provide beer and a fun environment to socialize and make stuff!

Spacecraft is located at 355 Bedford Ave. in Brooklyn.

Hours are M-F 10-6 & Sat. & Sun. 11-7

spacecraftbrooklyn.com