FUND RAISER SING-ALONG FOR LEGAL ASSISTANCE FOR IMMIGRANT CHILDREN THIS WEEKEND

Sing-along Fundraiser for KIND and RAICES

Saturday, June 30th, 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

To raise money for legal assistance for immigrant children, KIND (Kids in Need of Defense) and RAICES (Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services) will host a family sing-along at Hootenanny Art House.

Special guest Tony Soll, music teacher at Brooklyn Friends, will lead the sing-along. 

The event will be on Saturday, June 30th, from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
 
The suggested donation is $20 per family; any amount above that is welcome. Donate in advance here (if possible or at the door, if necessary.

If at least $2500 is raised, a donor will match $1000, along with a corporate match of $1500. You are welcome to donate even if you can't make it to the event in person.

KIND trains lawyers to represent immigrant children at no cost in connection with their proceedings. They fight for kids to have fair, appropriate treatment while in the immigration system and work to give children the social services necessary to address the traumas associated with these situations.

RAICES provide free and low cost legal services to immigrant children and is focused on reunification via a bond fund. Even with the news today that the policy of separating families will be reversed, organizations like KIND and RAICES will still need significant funding to assist families torn apart.

Location
Hootenanny Art House
426-428 15th Street
between Prospect Park West and 8th Avenue
Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn 

CELEBRATE TEN YEARS OF HOOTENANNY ART HOUSE

Hootenanny Art House 10th Anniversary Celebration

with Pete Sinjin and Friends
Sunday, September 24th,11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Hootenanny Art House is celebrating the ten-year anniversary of its opening in September 2007. "Hootenanny is a community family gathering place with music, art, yoga and dance classes for kids and the folks who love them."

Join founders Pete Sinjin and Kira Smith at The Bell House for music with singer/songwriter/music teacher Pete Sinjin and friends, along with dancing, art, a cake, and special surprises.

The sing-along is open to all ages. The price of a ticket is $15; children under age 1 are admitted free.

Doors will be opened at 10:30 a.m.

If you bring a stroller with you, park it outside of The Bell House (or leave it in your car) so that there's enough space inside to accommodate everyone.

Event details: http://www.thebellhouseny.com/event/1530798
Purchase: https://www.ticketfly.com/purchase/event/1530798

Location
The Bell House
149 7th Street
between 2nd and 3rd avenues
Gowanus, Brooklyn
https://www.facebook.com/thebellhouseny
http://www.thebellhouseny.com

PURCHASE PROTEST ART TO BENEFIT NON-PROFITS

               Hootenanny Pop-up Activist Art Shop and Cocktail Party
                       Sunday, June 4th, 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
 
Hootenanny Art House will host its second Pop-up Activist Art Shop and Cocktail Party. Purchasing activist- and protest-oriented gifts will again raise money for the ACLU and Planned Parenthood.

Gifts are by Meg of Love and Victory, Hootenanny Pete, The Good Riot, reSISTERS, and any other artists who want to be part of this event. Items will include tee-shirts, postcards, linocuts, cocktail glasses, and more.

Children are welcome to attend.

Admission is free.

Location
Hootenanny Art House
426-428 15th Street
between 8th Avenue and Prospect Park West (closer to 8th Avenue)
Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn
(718) 369-0528
http://www.hootenannyarthouse.com
https://www.facebook.com/HootenannyArtHouse

"We feel strongly that it is a crucial time to stand as a community united for peace and justice, committed to welcoming and protecting people of all colors, genders, religions and sexual orientations. We are also strongly committed to protecting the earth for our children and their children’s children." -- Hootenanny Art House

SUPPORT LOCAL INDEPENDENT SMALL BUSINESSES.

MOVEON.ORG'S DIRECTOR OF CAMPAIGNS WILL SPEAK AT THE SMALL BUT MIGHTY ACTIVIST COFFEE HOUR

MoveOn.org Director at the Small But Mighty Activist Coffee Hour

Monday, May 22nd, 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Justin Krebs, Director of Campaigns at MoveOn.org and a Brooklyn resident, will help folks up their digital protest game and address health care and/or the Trump investigation, depending on the latest breaking news.

MoveOn.org is the nation's largest independent progressive grassroots organization, with millions of members who promote a progressive agenda of economic, social, and racial justice while fighting the Trump administration.

Justin is a co-founder of Living Liberally, "dedicated to creating communities around progressive politics. Through social networks and events, [they] promote political engagement, and facilitate collaboration among progressive organizations."

He also co-founded The Tank, "a non-profit arts presenter serving emerging artists engaged in the pursuit of new ideas and forms of expression" in Manhattan.

Small But Mighty Activist Coffee Hour is a time every Monday for neighbors to participate together in political, social, and economic actions. Children's presence is welcome.

Postcards to write on, scripts to follow while making phone calls, and petitions to sign will all be available. Go for ten minutes or go for the whole hour, relax, and connect.

Donations are welcome for coffee and printing. 

Location
Hootenanny Art House
426-428 15th Street
between 8th Avenue and Prospect Park West (closer to 8th Avenue)
Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn
(718) 369-0528
http://www.hootenannyarthouse.com
https://www.facebook.com/HootenannyArtHouse

"We feel strongly that it is a crucial time to stand as a community united for peace and justice, committed to welcoming and protecting people of all colors, genders, religions and sexual orientations. We are also strongly committed to protecting the earth for our children and their children’s children." -- Hootenanny Art House

POLITICAL ACTION AT THE SMALL BUT MIGHTY ACTIVIST COFFEE HOUR

Small but Mighty Activist Coffee Hour
Monday, May 15th, 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Write, talk, and sign at the Small but Mighty Activist Coffee Hour at Hootenanny Art House. Children are welcome to take part in this political action event.

Write to elected representatives and other officials about the current urgent issues; they can determine our future. Postcards will be available. Make phone calls, using the scripts that will be provided as a starting point. Sign petitions. You can participate for a portion of the hour or for the whole hour.

Donations for Hootenanny's expenses for coffee, stamps, and printing will be appreciated.

Location
Hootenanny Art House
426-428 15th Street
between 8th Avenue and Prospect Park West (closer to 8th Avenue)
Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn
(718) 369-0528
http://www.hootenannyarthouse.com
https://www.facebook.com/HootenannyArtHouse

"We feel strongly that it is a crucial time to stand as a community united for peace and justice, committed to welcoming and protecting people of all colors, genders, religions and sexual orientations. We are also strongly committed to protecting the earth for our children and their children’s children." -- Hootenanny Art House

HUMAN RIGHTS LAW PROFESSOR TO SPEAK AT SMALL BUT MIGHTY ACTIVIST COFFEE HOUR IN WINDSOR TERRACE

Small but Mighty Activist Coffee Hour

Monday, May 8th, 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Conor Gearty, the Professor of Human Rights Law at the London School of Economics Department of Law, is visiting Brooklyn. He'll host Small but Mighty Activist Coffee Hour tomorrow, Monday, May 8th, at 3:30 p.m.

Conor has written books on terrorism, civil liberties, and human rights. His most recent book is On Fantasy Island, Britain, Europe, and Human Rights, published just six months ago. He is a European and Irish citizen.

The focus will be on resisting Trump, learning some lessons from history. He will respond to the question

"With Trump-inspired efforts continuing to destroy affordable care and a host of other shocking proposals emerging almost daily, how can the White House's agenda be effectively countered at the local level?"

Activist Coffee Hour is a time for community members to come by and participate. Children are welcome.

Postcards will be available to write as well as scripts for calling and petitions to sign. Depending on the issues at hand, everyone together will decide on the most accessible and valuable ways to participate. This is an evolving experiment.

Donations are welcome for the cost of coffee and printing.

Location
Hootenanny Art House
426-428 15th Street
between 8th Avenue and Prospect Park West (closer to 8th Avenue)
Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn
(718) 369-0528
http://www.hootenannyarthouse.com
https://www.facebook.com/HootenannyArtHouse

 "We feel strongly that it is a crucial time to stand as a community united for peace and justice, committed to welcoming and protecting people of all colors, genders, religions and sexual orientations. We are also strongly committed to protecting the earth for our children and their children’s children." -- Hootenanny Art House

REFLECT ON THE "SMALL BUT MIGHTY ACTIVIST COFFEE HOUR"

Reflections on the Small but Mighty Activist Coffee Hour

Monday, May 1st, 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

With ten Small but Mighty Activist Coffee Hours under its belt, Hootenanny Art House is inviting the community to reflect on the Coffee Hour.

If you've participated in any of the Coffee Hours, you're invited to share your experiences and your thoughts about it and brainstorm on how to move forward. If you haven't participated yet but would like to be part of this, you're also welcome.

At the Coffee Hours, neighbors (adults and children) have joined together for political action: writing postcards, using scripts to make phone calls, and signing petitions about the political, economic, and social issues of today's America.

Tomorrow's meeting, however, is a planning meeting, with no prepared actions. RSVP on the event's Facebook page.

Location

Hootenanny Art House

426-428 15th Street
between 8th Avenue and Prospect Park West (closer to 8th Avenue)
Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn
(718) 369-0528
http://www.hootenannyarthouse.com
https://www.facebook.com/HootenannyArtHouse 

"We feel strongly that it is a crucial time to stand as a community united for peace and justice, committed to welcoming and protecting people of all colors, genders, religions and sexual orientations. We are also strongly committed to protecting the earth for our children and their children’s children." -- Hootenanny Art House

ACTIVIST COFFEE HOUR FOR POLITICAL ACTION

Activist Coffee Hour
Monday, April 3rd, 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

"We feel strongly that it is a crucial time to stand as a community united for peace and justice, committed to welcoming and protecting people of all colors, genders, religions and sexual orientations. We are also strongly committed to protecting the earth for our children and their children’s children." -- Hootenanny Art House

The Activist Coffee Hour at Hootenanny Art House is designed for the community to join together for political action. Children are welcome to attend and take part.

Postcards will be available for writing, scripts for making phone calls, and petitions for signing. You're welcome to participate for a portion or all of the hour.

Donations for Hootenanny's expenses for coffee, stamps, and printing are welcome. 

On Monday, April 10th, and Monday, April 17th, Hootenanny Art House will be closed, so the Activist Coffee Hour won't take place then.

Location
Hootenanny Art House
426-428 15th Street
between 8th Avenue and Prospect Park West (closer to 8th Avenue)
Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn
(718) 369-0528
http://www.hootenannyarthouse.com
https://www.facebook.com/HootenannyArtHouse 

PETE SINJIN, AKA "HOOTENANNY PETE," RELEASES NEW FAMILY ALBUM, "HOUSE OF SONG"

Pete Sinjin, aka "Hootenanny Pete," Releases New Family Album, House of Song

Celebrates Album Release with Performance at Greenwood Park on Saturday, June 20th

“I’m gonna build myself a house of song,
House of song, House of song,
I’m gonna build myself a house of song to live my whole life long

I’m gonna build a table for my friends,
 Long as life for all of them
Neighbors, strangers welcome in to sing the whole night long

Yeah, we’ll raise them roofbeams all night long
All night long, all night ling
Yeah, we’ll raise those roofbeams all night long
with laughter, love and song”

Brooklyn, NY - Pete Sinjin will be releasing his new family album, House of Song, with a celebration featuring a full band performance on Saturday, June 20th, at Greenwood Park in Park Slope.

"Hootenanny Pete" is a beloved Brooklyn treasure, especially to the littlest Brooklynites and their parents. He and his wife Kira opened the Hootenanny Art House in 2007, instilling a love for music in thousands of children in the community. The community they’ve built through song supported the making of House of Song by supporting Pete and Kira’s Kickstarter campaign, which included homemade, hand-delivered chocolate cookies in addition to music. In 13 days, the project made 150% of its goal.

House of Song is a record for families, as opposed to a "kids" record. It’s a record designed to inspire and to motivate, to dance to and sing to. The songs on the album feature a big sound with full instrumentation as well as an emotional range that is wide and diverse.

Pete explains, "The original inspiration for House of Song came about while walking the streets of NYC and recognizing the diversity of its people. From there came the notion of a house that invited and celebrated 'all people, all races, all colors, all faces.' A gathering place where everyone could find themselves singing in harmony and raising the rooftop with the spirit of love and acceptance."

The album starts off with Pete’s solitary voice singing, "I’m gonna build myself a house of song," and he is shortly joined by a banjo; then drums, accordion, and handclaps fall in line to build into a full-on New Orleans-style street parade, and we are all encouraged to join in.

Pete leads the parade through songs with universal themes that encourage hope and creativity, a trip to Coney Island for the "Mermaid Parade," and odes to Pete’s heroes, Pete Seeger on "Poem for Pete" and Lou Gehrig, "Luckiest Man (The Ballad of Lou Gehrig)."

The album ends with a big dance party to "Olly Ollie Oxen Free," using that call from childhood games to encourage everyone to be who you are, cast off your fears, and don’t be ashamed of what you are inside…in other words, come out! Celebrate that person and join the party.

Pete states, "This album invites all of us, big and little, old and young, to find our spirit to grow, to create, to make friends, to celebrate and honor life’s heroes, to honor your own self, whoever that may be, and to take part in making a better world."

House of Song was co-produced by Sinjin and Riley McMahon, and recorded at Riley’s New Warsaw studio in Bushwick.  Sinjin and McMahon were joined by Liam Hurley (Josh Ritter) on drums, Shane Endsley  (Ani Difranco) on trumpets, Jay Foote (Lone Bellow) on bass, and Tony Lauria (Spottiswoode and his Enemies) on accordion.

Join them to celebrate the release of House of Song on Saturday, June 20th.

Pete Sinjin and band Celebrate Release of House of Song

Saturday, June 20th

Greenwood Park Beer Garden

555 7th Ave. (between 19th and 20th streets)

Brooklyn, NY 11215

Doors open at 10:00 a.m.

Show begins at 10:30 a.m.

Tickets $10 in advance, $15 at the door – includes food!

Cash bar will be open, and there will be door prizes and art activities.

Get tickets here: www.petesinjin.com

http://www.hootenannyarthouse.com/houseofsong/

For more information, please contact Patrice Fehlen at September Gurl Music, 718.768.3859 or patrice @ septembergurl.com.

ABOUT PETE SINJIN

These days, Pete Sinjin is best known as "Hootenanny Pete" around the Brooklyn neighborhood where he and his family have operated the Hootenanny Art House since 2007.

Pete has shared his love of music with thousands of kids over more than a decade of teaching classes from California to Brooklyn.

He's played a wide variety of music his whole life, from punk to rockabilly to folk and country, and he's played it all for both adults and kids. You'll hear all these elements make their way into his own music, from Woody Guthrie's folk art stylings, to New Orleans street parade music, to the bass and groove of Kingston, Jamaica.

Pete's also had the great honor of appearing on Sesame Street, and performing in concert with Sesame's own Bob McGrath. He's even led kids through a Cuban-inspired kids song in the Scarlett Johannson film, The Nanny Diaries.

Pete's first family album, Hoots, Hollers and Rooftop Serenades was released to coincide with his Americana-inspired grown-up album Better Angels Radio, in 2010. Mirroring that, House of Song will be followed up closely with Pete's next music entry titled The Heart and the Compass.