Event: Holiday shopping gets a backbeat this Sunday, as kids music legend John Carlin (pictured, center with his band) headlines a Hanukkah gift fair in Brooklyn Heights. Comment.

Beautiful noise

By Zeke Faux

Richard Gin

Music: If you hear a cacophony of chirps, beeps, buzzes and screetches this weekend, don’t worry; it’s not space invaders. With video … Comment.

Where to GO: Editors’ Picks

Mary turns 70

Saturday, December 6: Funny, but the tanker Mary Whalen doesn’t look a day over 50! But today, the old gal — who is moored at Pier 11 in Red Hook — will celebrate her 70th with an all-day party featuring cake, music, tours of the boat and even speeches from former crew members.

11 am–5 pm. Pier 11 (Pioneer and Conover streets in Red Hook). For info, visit www.portsidemarywhalen.eventbrite.com. Free.

Many authors

Sunday, December 7: It’s dueling authors at dueling temples. At the Garfield Temple, Moustafa Bayoumi discusses his book, “How Does It Feel to Be a Problem: Being Young and Arab in America.” At Union Temple, Steven Greenhouse (pictured) will talk about the economic collapse. Aren’t they related?

11 am. Congregation Beth Elohim [274 Garfield Pl., at Eighth Avenue in Park Slope, (718) 768-3814]. Union Temple [17 Eastern Parkway at Grand Army Plaza in Park Slope, (718) 638-7600]. Free.

Putting on the foil

Monday, December 8: Everyone loves Paul Newman. But loving “Cool Hand Luke” or “Butch Cassidy” is easy. We love Paul Newman for what remains the greatest sports movie ever, “Slap Shot.” This forgotten classic is simply a must-see — if only for the Hanson Brothers lining their gloves with aluminum foil and for that great ’70s soundtrack.

9:15 pm. BAM Rose Cinemas [30 Lafayette Ave. between Ashland Place and St. Felix Street in Fort Greene, (718) 636-4100]. $11.

Hodging your bets

Wednesday, December 10: John Hodgman, the pride of Park Slope and the “resident expert” on “The Daily Show,” will perform (this ain’t no ordinary reading) from his new book, “More Information than You Require,” that classic volume of completely fake history.

7:30 pm. Barnes and Noble [267 Seventh Ave., at Sixth Street in Park Slope, (718) 832-9066].

Good buy Brooklyn

Thursday, December 11: Just like last year, only bigger and better — restaurants, shops and other businesses will offer discounts and stay open late all over Park Slope tonight in the second annual “Snowflake Celebration.” If you have a Thomas the Tank Engine fan, head for Little Things toy store. If you just like sake, Moim is giving away shots. Is Brooklyn great or what?

Until 10 pm. For info, visit www.buyinbrooklyn.com.

View the full nightlife and events calendars.

Death by chocolate

By Evan Gardner

Books: Gourmet Brooklynites with a sweet tooth are getting ringside seats to a saccharine smackdown as two competing cookbooks battle for a place on their shelves, their pantries and, more important, their (cream-filled) hearts. Comment.

Aim high! Author takes flight with jet pack

By Dan Avery

Books: Jetpacks are cool. Jetpacks are fast. Jetpacks may not exist. But that didn’t stop one Windsor Terrace author from writing a fun book about them. Comment.

Ultimate brownie showdown

By Evan Gardner

Books: There are lots of recipes for lots of cakes, pies and cookies — but the true benchmark of a baker is his brownies. So while Jacques Torres and the guys from Baked offer two different visions for a sweeter world (see GO Brooklyn’s cover story), those visions collide in a chocolate-, butter- and flour-drenched battleground. Pick your own winner from the two recipes below. Comment.

Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2008

Toys evolve

By Gersh Kuntzman

Peter Goldberg

Shopping: Most people don’t want to take the Christ out of Christmas. But one former Brooklynite wants God to share some space in the toy chest. Comment.

Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2008

Breaking chews! Bar Tano/Bar Toto empire expands in Slope

By Gersh Kuntzman

Dining: The owners of Bar Toto and Bar Tano — the sleek, Euro-modern bar-cafes — are expanding their mini-empire to include an all-day cafe in the Eighth Avenue storefront just vacated by the failed Pumpkins Organic Market, The Brooklyn Paper has learned. Comments (6).

Massage sent

By Gersh Kuntzman

Spa: We work our interns pretty damn hard over here and we certainly don’t pay them in anything except matchless experience — so we were pleased when we heard that Susan Stratton of Sage Spa in Park Slope was offering free massages to “deserving individuals in special need of some personal pampering and care.” Comments (2).

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