Gabba Gabba We Accept You: NYC Events
This month marks the arrival of “Gabba Gabba We Accept You: The Wondrous Tale of Joey Ramone,” a children’s book written by Lowbrow editor Jay Ruttenberg and illustrated by contributor Lucinda Schreiber. The book is being published by Drag City (the incredible publisher of the Lowbrow Reader’s book anthology). It’s in stores next month, and you can order it today through the usual web portals. If you’re interested in ordering the book online, considering purchasing it straight from Drag City; it’s cheaper than other web retailers, and even comes with free shipping!
For those of you in New York, there are some fun publication events scheduled for the next few weeks. All of them are free and friendly to adults and kids alike.
On Monday, June 9, Chelsea’s amazing 192 Books is hosting an event in Clement Clarke Moore Park (a.k.a. Seal Park) next door to the bookstore. The author and illustrator will read the book to the kids and then Yonatan Gat will play some acoustic Ramones songs. If you happen to have exceptional taste, Yonatan is one of your favorite musicians anywhere. Maybe you first knew his music through the wild Tel Aviv punk band Monotonix, then through his scorching solo records, and then through the outstanding electric powwow band Medicine Singers. The event is at 5pm. (If it rains, it will be inside 192 Books.)
On Thursday, June 26, Codex Books is hosting a “Gabba Gabba We Accept You” gathering. Codex is another gorgeous Manhattan bookstore; just being inside, you get smarter by osmosis. Codex is located at 1 Bleecker Street just off the Bowery—right across the street from CBGB and Joey Ramone Place. The event starts at 7:30.
On Saturday, June 28, the super cool Kew and Willow, in Queens, the Ramones’ home turf, hosts a kids-oriented event. Jay will read the book, and Lucinda will run an art workshop for kids—our city’s future Ramones.
“Gabba Gabba We Accept You” is the first children’s book from both the author and illustrator; both are incredibly proud of it. The book tells the story of rock music’s ultimate underdog sweetheart and also, in a way, of punk rock itself. Punk can seem weird associated with kids. But at its core, punk is a celebration of idiosyncrasy and acceptance; it’s among the best places to learn the joys of doing what you want to do, instead of what you think other people want you to do. Hopefully, the book relays this sentiment. Buy a copy to read to your 6-to-12-year-old child; then buy a second copy to read to your 79-to-98-year-old grandparent. And if you happen to be in or around New York, come to one of the events in Manhattan or Queens!
