So look, your corner bodega might not have every variety of artisanal potato chip, and it might not have the latest issue of n+1 on the magazine rack, but damn it you love it anyway. You love its cats, its infinite shelves of Goya products, and you love its dirt-cheap forties. Well, stop taking your bodega for granted and tell us why it's the best bodega in the city: write a short description (100-400 words), take a photo (optional, and camera phones are fine) and send it to bodega@thelmagazine.com.

Entries will be judged by our distinguished editorial team of Bodega connoisseurs/the office cat.

(My wife tells the story of being at the Blessing of the Animals in 2001, less than a month after 9/11, when they blessed all kinds of rescue dogs who'd been working at the WTC site. The church was packed and there wasn't a dry eye in the place.)

And here's a video that I watch occasionally when I'm particularly homesick. It's Stompin' Tom Connors (the Canadian Johnny Cash/Woody Guthrie) singing "The Hockey Song." (Go Leafs go!)

Since tonight's movie is the awesomely 80s high school musical Fame, it is imperative that you dress appropriately. The best 80s costume — emphasis on the legwarmers and leotards — as adjudged by a panel of experts (Savit?) will receive a $100 gift certificate to the Bubble Lounge, and a free pair of Roos (80s sneakers, natch).

And then... that's it. Stick around after, we'll be the ones at Turkey's Nest, sitting silently in the corner, wondering where the summer went.

Of course, the idea of a big old party that might attract as many as 10,000 people didn't sit so well with residents near Fort Greene Park, so a kerfuffle was raised, and now the party has been moved to Prospect Park. The event will still be free at 5pm on August 29 and feature music by DJ Spinna, but it will be held in Nethermead, which presents obvious marketing fodder for comparisons between Neverland (Jackson's amusement park ranch) and Nethermead. Like, for instance, "Remember the man from Neverland at Nethermead," and "Brooklyn's own Neverland at Nethermead." Spike Lee promises: "All over the world, people are going to be celebrating his birthday. But he's going to hear Brooklyn; Brooklyn is going to be in the house. Deep."

Before each session, rowers and paddlers are given an introduction, and are required to wear lifejackets and sign waivers. It's all free (and totally safe, really), and offers a breathtaking new way of looking at New York City. Click here for more information, and then head down to Dumbo Cove on August 22 (11-3pm) and August 29 (2-6pm).

(photo by Nadia Chaudhury)

Program notes after the jump...

Confession: I haven't seen Evil Dead II yet. (Yet.) But Ben Sutton has. His program notes follow, after the Jump! Jump!

Reality Bites being a movie very close to my heart, it was really rewarding to see several thousand people being as into it as they were; the whole experience, really — people inside and outside the chainlink, sneaking in or not sneaking in food and drink — was pretty exciting and made The L Magazine's collective heart grow three sizes with pride. You can check out photos on our Facebook page, or, if you're lazy, wait for Andrea to post a slideshow right on this here blog; if you took any pictures yourself, let us know with a comment, an email or a Tweet.

See you next week...

Anyway! Tonight, four marvy readers will duke it out for publication in the L's Summer Fiction Issue, a highly coveted Giant Novelty Check, a smaller, equally coveted Actual Check, and assorted other schwag, in front of a panel of discerning literati, drunken L Mag staffers powering through their Summerscreen hangovers, and you, presumably taking fullest advantage of, yes, the $1 cans of Pabst Blue Ribbon.

Come join us at the Slipper Room at 7pm, won't you?

After the jump, some program notes on tonight's film, Reality Bites. (Pictured. Jesus, look how young.)

Literary Upstart, the L's short fiction competition, reaches its fevered conclusion on Thursday night, at the Slipper Room, when our three semifinal winners and one wild card read their stories for our witty, withering panel of judges, who will award one of them an enormous novelty check and publication in this month's Summer Fiction Issue. Listen while drinking dollar beers — what kind of beer will be on sale for a dollar is to be announced to be announced in a last-minute attention-getting shocker. Watch this space (or just show up)!