| The Rubulad space in South Williamsburg might be | | | | shocking. Politics are a part of the blend at Grub, but |
| better known for its raucous all-night extravaganzas, | | | | the argument in favor of creative reuse is really |
| but two Sunday evenings a month, a more low-key, | | | | made through the food on everyone's plates. |
| though no less open-minded gathering takes over. | | | | Another added benefit of dumpster-dived food is |
| Run by folks from a variety of local groups such as | | | | that the organizers are able to serve the masses on |
| the Toyshop collective, Time's Up and the New York | | | | a donation-only basis. With money out of the |
| Freegans, Grub is a community dinner that takes the | | | | equation, social interaction comes to the fore, and |
| "reuse" of the 3Rs of sustainability to heart. Almost | | | | conversations spring up between all sorts who were |
| all the food served at Grub is made from ingredients | | | | strangers before they walked in the door. On the |
| rescued from the dumpsters of grocery stores | | | | nights I've been, attendees included artists, musicians, |
| around the city - food thrown out not because it | | | | activists, journalists, grad students, and some visiting |
| was actually spoiled, but because it was on the date | | | | Europeans who'd heard about the event through the |
| of its pre-determined expiration, or because the | | | | grapevine. Of course, the kaleidoscopic surroundings, |
| shopkeepers simply wanted to make room on the | | | | encrusted with the remnants of Rubulad parties past, |
| shelves. | | | | certainly help to throw everyone off their guard. If, |
| A sad fact of the industrial food system is that it | | | | however, freegan politics are your taste, you can |
| costs grocers and distributors virtually nothing to | | | | learn the ins and outs of dumpster-diving through |
| throw out perfectly good products to make way for | | | | their periodic trash tours, that range through |
| the new. Their loss is Grub's gain, as it allows them to | | | | neighborhoods throughout the city. |
| churn out a tasty multi-course vegetarian/vegan meal | | | | Grub is the first and third sundays of every month, |
| (usually including desert) for up to 40 people. While | | | | at Rubulad, 338 Flushing, at Classon, Brooklyn. Doors |
| food sourced from the trash might be a little too | | | | open at 6:30, food's at 7:00, though you're invited to |
| local for some people's tastes, the quality-and | | | | show up earlier if you have food or cooking skills to |
| volume-of what's thrown out is more than a little | | | | contribute. |