Oil and Obama do mix, says Brooklyn artist David Macaluso who has been recycling the greasy substance for metaphorical portraits since 2005; attend the opening reception tomorrow to view his Oil Prez exhibition Barack Obama: Made in Motor Oil. [tilliesofbrooklyn.com]
The Fishtank Ensemble, a banjolele, musical saw-playing, gypsy-jazz and Klezmer influenced band of four from California, will perform at BAMcafé this Saturday. [nycgo]
If you are a bride-to-be, do not miss the Wedding Crashers event at the Bell House in Brooklyn tomorrow. [Brooklyn Based]
The Flea resumes this weekend with over 100 small business owners who will vend antiques, wares and vintage of all kinds inside the former Wiliamsburgh Savings Bank; be sure to enter the bank vault for delicious Flea foodie staples. [BrooklynFlea]
Vice President Joe Biden expounds on his daily Amtrak rides, and why America needs trains. [Huffingtonpost]
3rd Ward’s Second Sunday Film Screening returns this weekend with a musical twist and live performances by The Contrails and Brooklyn-based Akwarian Sea Rebel; get ready for some blow-your-mind video mash-ups, great brewskis, and did we mention the free admission? [3rdward]
The Williamsburg acrobatic dance troupe STREB will put on a free 40-minute gravity defying performance, involving extreme action moves that will inspire you to stick to your New Year’s workout resolutions, at least for the weekend anyway. [Streb]
Klaus Biesenbach has been tapped as the new director of P.S. 1 Contemporary Art Center in Long Island City Queens. [NYMag]
Photo: Courtesy of Tillie’s of Brooklyn
Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
Josh Laskin is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. When he is not at work or on the road, you can find him in the mountains snowboarding, climbing, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and eating bagel bites.
Annie is a travel writer, environmentalist, and surfer based in Venice, CA. She heads up our West Coast team, keeps our grammatical errors in check, and makes sure our California writers always have a plan for their next adventure. Follow Annie’s travels @annelisemcb.
Carly Pifer is a freelance writer who has been known to follow whims inspired by romantic movie scenes or colorful street style shots to India, Japan, Tunisia and Argentina. After stints living in Seoul, Boston, Paris and Los Angeles, writing and searching for something intangible, she landed somewhat steadily in Brooklyn and has begun to find inspiration in her more immediate surroundings. 
Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram