A Brooklyn Beat: Tea Lounge, Little Miss Sunshine, Half Nelson

As Crafty so subtly pointed out, it's kind of a slow weekend for events in the neighborhood. After a summer packed with free music and spanking new restaurant openings (Sapodilla? Nicky's? Bueller?), we're in a bit of a lull here. I guess everyone's just back from fabulous trips to white-sand beaches or, if you're me, rearranging their supply drawer at work. So maybe it's a good time to check out the opening of the Court Street location of Park Slope's much-loved (or is loathed?) Tea Lounge, across the street from Cobble Hill Cinema, and then pop across the street to check out Little Miss Sunshine or Half Nelson. I did see LMS last weekend, and though the bulk of the audience burst into applause at the end, I thought it was so-so--a passable feel-good family flick dressed up in hipster clothing. If it weren't for the freak show kiddie pageant at the end, it would be a total wash. Haven't seen Half Nelson yet, but I've heard good things. My only concern is that Ryan Gosling is so hot, he'll probably have half of New York's teachers reaching for the crack pipe after their first pop quiz. Fortunately, we have Google to help protect our impressionable minds with images from his "Young Hercules" days.