Carolina Chocolate Drops

As a Southern girl I really love the sounds, instruments and soul of folk music. I mean this in the broadest of terms--zydeco, tejano, rockabilly, bluegrass and outlaw country--peppered the airways and public spaces of my youth. When I heard the 3-piece string band Carolina Chocolate Drops I fell in love with their musical arrangements and the brave way they're interpreting a traditional genre. Check out their cover of "Hit Em Up Style" below and Dom Flemons' lesson on how to play bones! NPR interview here!

How to Play Bones w/ Dom Flemons

Soul Food

The NYTimes published a great interactive feature about combat meals served to soldiers from over 50 countries in Afghanistan. A totally fascinating viewpoint on the comforts of food, home, and military culture on the ground. Soldiers from different countries trade meals; the French ration of cassoulet, deer pâté and nougat, used to be worth three American rations. I especially love all the different matchboxes included in each combat ration. Check out 14 dining packets from varying countries here!

Sprouting a Community Garden: ATL

Sprouting a Community Garden in ATL -- love the idea of documenting the rollout of a community garden from start to finish! Thanks CityFarmer!

Healthy Bodegas

What would NYC be without our cornerstores, delis, and bodegas! GrowNYC, the organization behind the city's greenmarkets, has started a welcome new initiative with the DoH and Red Jacket Orchards to deliver farm-fresh, locally grown produce to Bed Stuy bodegas! Ive loved the influx of green carts across the city and in my neighborhood and this new program is another great step in the right direction. Healthy Bodegas has the potential to transform the "food desert" of neighborhoods like ours by offering healthy food options AND convenience. Now I can grab beers, snacks, seasonal vegetables AND vanilla dutches at my corner spot. Thanks Kat!!

Healthy Bodegas Initiative from CENYC on Vimeo.

Arcade Fire: The Wilderness Dowtown

The Wilderness Downtown. Honestly the most amazing and beautiful thing I've seen using our current technology. Thanks Arcade Fire for being f*cking awesome.

Papa Issue :: Bold and Spicy

As a Houstonian, Ive always been lucky enough to have access to one of the best contemporary Latin American collections in the United States (see Mari Carmen Ramirez, curator for the Museum of Fine Arts Houston) and even saw Inverted Utopias in '04, the landmark exhibition of up-and-coming Latin American artists like Jesus Rafael Soto and Carlos Cruz-Diez. Thanks to the beauty of the interwebs, we can roam through the mini-galleries of Papa Issue, a collection of works by Latino artists from around the diaspora working across different mediums. Architecture, music, illustration, conceptual art, and interiors seek to inspire people to create. Thanks TSA!

North Korea + Funkytown

North Korean People's Army Funky Get Down Juche Party

I know President Carter is currently in North Korea on a humanitarian mission to free American teacher Ajalon Gones while Kim Jong-Il is gallavanting across China. But this video is pretty amazing.

HNH BBQ @ Trophy Bar

We're back at trophy bar for our monthly residency tonite and not only are we celebrating the one-and-only Dennis Ngo's birthday but we're also debuting our first fall special -- Four-Meat Texas Chili!! Sweet Tea Cocktails for $5 and Brisket in the Backyard. Sebastian, Don and EPak on the wheels spinning new wave!!

Happy Birthday MJ

A year later and I still get emotional about MJ's passing. This Sunday, Spike Lee and DJ Spinna are doing it again with the Michael Jackson birthday tribute. Come through Prospect Park and help us sing it "ma ma se, ma ma sa, ma ma coo sa!" Check out the clip below of from last year...Rest in Power MJ!

Sissy Bounce @ PS1

Long Island City's PS1 Warm-Up series has been a summer institution. Young architects get the whole run of the front courtyard to design into an adult playland for NYC party people and DJs and obscure art bands get to play a museum (not necessarily a museum crowd.) This coming Saturday, the Queen of New Orleans bounce, Big Freedia and her sidekick DJ Rusty Lazer bring a little bit of the Third Coast to the East Coast. They recently tore it down at a party with Ninjasonik in BK but I got put onto the subgenre, "sissy bounce" from a recent NYTimes article. The sound is familiar from growing up hearing underground beats in Houston but this bubbling culture is gender-bending, female-centric, fast, and LIVE! I might brave the crowds this weekend to check it out! Read more from the Times article below.

If “gay rapper” is an oxymoron where you come from, how to get your head around the notion of a gay rapper performing in a sports bar? What in most cities might seem plausible only as some sort of Sacha Baron Cohen-style provocation is just another weeknight in the cultural Galapagos that is New Orleans. Sometime after midnight on the sweltering Thursday before Memorial Day, the giant plasma-screen TVs at the Sports Vue bar (which “proudly airs all major Pay Per View events from the world of Boxing and Ultimate Fighting”) were all switched off, and the bar’s backroom turned into a low-lit, low-ceilinged dance club, where more than 300 people awaited a return engagement by Big Freedia, who by day runs an interior-decoration business and who is, to fans of the New Orleans variant of hip-hop music known as “bounce,” a superstar.

At 1 a.m., though, Freedia (pronounced “FREE-da”) was still a mile or so away, fulfilling a paid celebrity-hosting gig at Club Fabulous. The fabulousness of Club Fabulous, on this night at least, seemed a function mainly of its Mardi Gras-themed décor, conceived and executed by Freedia herself. Otherwise the crowd was sparse, largely straight and listless. Freedia looked weary as she leaned back against the bar with her dyed, diagonally cut bangs over one eye, holding a cordless microphone. (Freedia, who is about 6 foot 2 and very powerful-looking and dresses in a fashionable but recognizably masculine style, is genetically a man; but neither she nor anyone who knows her uses masculine pronouns to refer to her.) When “Rock Around the Clock,” one of her signature songs, came on the sound system, a few women walked over to Freedia and stood with their backs to her, but the atmosphere wasn’t quite electric enough for them to really start dancing, and the men just continued playing pool. After a while, Freedia’s D.J. and de facto manager, who goes by the name Rusty Lazer — a whippetlike 39-year-old white man with a salt-and-pepper beard — let Freedia know that it was time to move on to the next show.

NY State of Mind

I cant stop thinking about this amazing spread in Elle's September issue. Thanks Sai!! For full spread check here.

Timeless in the Park

The lovely folks from Mochilla are taking over Saint Nicholas Park tomorrow night for a screening and jam fest with Bobbito, Jazzy Jay and Lean Rock! J. Rocc is flying in to do a "Timeless" Video Mix. In case you missed out, Timeless was an unforgettable orchestral concert series that brought together composers like Mulatu of Ethiopia, Arthur Verocai and J. Dilla (RIP) with a 15-piece orchestra interpreting their classic work during the Spring of 2009. This is a really unique way to experience the shows and enjoy the end of summer! Buy the boxed set here!

Growing Power Food Conference

I first came across Will Allen and Growing Power in a 2009 article about urban farming in the NYTimes Sunday Magazine. A former basketball player and marketing guy for P&G, Allen found his passion in urban agriculture early on and his organization, Growing Power, has been a leader in the urban farming movement. Not only have they been able to cultivate sustainable growing practices on the farm, but have been able to successfully integrate the surrounding community into the larger movement of local food. Local schools in Milwaukee buy produce from Growing Power and theyve been able to roll out their business model to other locations including school and community farms in Detroit, Chicago, and other urban centers across the country.

Growing Power will be hosting their first ever Urban Agriculture conference this September 10th-12th in Milwaukee. Besides a keynote address from Allen himself, one of my heroes, Grace Lee Boggs, will also be speaking (via video conference) from her home in Detroit. Tracks for the conference range from aquaculture to social justice + food, and renewable energy. Anyone else down to join me for a weekend in the midwest?

RIP Abbey Lincoln

Jazz Vocalist, actress, revolutionary. You'll be missed Abbey Lincoln! Check the video of her and Max Roach below, from We Insist! Freedom Now.

Abbey Lincoln and Max Roach

Oil + Water: Fashion or Fail?

American fashion photographer, Steven Meisel turns his lens towards the tragedy in the Gulf of Mexico with his most recent spread for Italian Vogue. The fashion editorial features models dipped in black crude and sprawled across rocky coastline dressed in plummage and leather. There's been a lot of debate on whether the spread is in bad taste or not but we applaud his courage in fanning the outrage and keeping the debate in headlines about offshore drilling and America's addiction to oil. A great reminder that the whole world is watching the BP oil spill that is STILL spilling into the Gulf. -Thanks Rukhs!

A Journey Round My Skull

My new favorite blog, A Journey Round My Skull, collects illustration and graphic design inspiration in a variety of printed matter. Posting imagery from around the world, a recent post shows the work from Czech illustrator Bohumil Stepan for The Green Mare. I love the simple but playful collage. I could spend days checking out the amazing collection of matchbox art, illustrated books, and packaging.

A couple of other awesome collections:
Besuboru Bromides: vintage B+W japanese baseball cards
Paul Landacre: intricate and lush nature-inspired woodblock prints
Tiger Mountain: Chinese Opera Masks on Cigarette cards

NYC Premiere: Downtown Calling

FINALLY!! This Wednesday my good friend Ben Velez's film, Downtown Calling, is making its NYC hometown debut. Chronicling the underground art, music and culture scene of New York during the late 70's and narrated by Deborah Harry, this film is an important document of the people and creative energy that birthed an undeniable NYC youth culture. The icons of Punk, Hip Hop, DJ and Downtown culture continue to influence the way we see and think about the world around us today! Buy tickets here and support the film at the NY International Latino Film Festival!

Report from TAIPEI: BOYZ & GIRL

Boyz & Girl are an indie rock fourtet made of twenty-something teachers Jon Du, Guo Guo, Sonoko, and Ban Ban (who fronts the band with a captivating bowl haircut and cartoon demeanor). Their self-titled LP's haphazard production method (in a makeshift studio in Banqiao, assisted by a New York pal) matches its "stream-of-consciousness" mentality. Released locally by White Wabbit Records (who also distributes Broken Social Scene and Beach House), BOYZ & GIRL is noisy, unhurried and nostalgic.

Most songs were recorded live, and some make you feel like you’re in a Wong Kar-Wai movie. Others have that Sonic Youth swagger. Boyz & Girl recently toured China for the first time. Taiwanese artists tend not to suffer the stigma of their mainland counterparts —we aren’t compelled to search for political meaning in their creative expression. In fact, the spectrum of Taiwanese rock n roll runs from indie rockers to pop stars like A-Mei and this guy. Boyz & Girl’s homecoming album release party will be at Underworld on July 31st. Thank you Jon Du!

Report from TAIPEI: MARK LEE PING-BIN

Seasoned cinematographer Mark Lee Ping-Bin is finally gaining more recognition with a new book, Poet of Light and Shadow, and documentary, Let the Wind Carry Me. Linked often with director Hou Hsiao-Hsien (who calls him, affectionately, A-Bing) and overshadowed by fellow DP Christopher Doyle, Lee has steadily established himself as a technical master of "glamorous realism." He avoids HD whenever possible, and his shots are fluid and heart-breakingly gorgeous. See In the Mood for Love, Millennium Mambo, The Vertical Ray of the Sun (credited as Pin Bing Lee on imdb.com). The book reprints his fine art photography, poems and interviews.

On set, Hou likens his right-hand man to a soldier. Lee runs on self-deprivation: no bathroom breaks or family visits (his teenage son in Los Angeles struggles to understand his absenteeism). His mother, however, figures prominently in the documentary: in Taiwanese fashion, a true mama's boy! His favorite movie is Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

"I Heart" Black Spade

Black Spade is one of my favorite people and an immensely multi-talented artist/producer/emcee. Check out this beautiful B+W video he created for his mixtape with Union LA, Build and Destroy. Its an amazing tribute to motown era style and sound. Download the mixtape here!

Rest in Power RAMMΣLLZΣΣ

Its with great sadness that we say goodbye to one of the most influential philosophers, visual artists and MCs of his generation, Rammellzee. He was a prolific artist who's visual style influenced graffiti writers around the world and his flow influenced everyone from the Beastie Boys to Cypress Hill. His collaged sculptures and large scale paintings always reminded me of how infinite the universe is and the power of combining the mundane into something profound and beautiful.

Lauryn Hill on NPR

Rare interview with Lauryn Hill on NPR. The text has the whole jam and the audio is a short snippet, more about her influence and lasting enigma rather than her actual interview. Check it out here.

Rest in Power MJ

On the one-year anniversary of Michael Jackson's death, lets revisit DJ Jazzy Jeff's amazing tribute compilation, "He's the King, Im the DJ"! Collaborating with UNDRCRWN, the artwork features a great portrait of the King of Pop and Jazzy Jeff. Download it here.

Black Coffee - South African Design

Jacques van der Watt and Daniça Lep, the duo behind South African fashion label Black Coffee, are creating some of the most interesting and forward-thinking silhouettes. Using a mix of jersey and wool-blends for their Winter 2010 collection, the label put together an amazing installation/pop-up store at Arts on Main, a Johannesburg cultural compound located in the heart of the city. Avant-goth librarian describes the unique draping and playful use of print and layering. Check out some pics of the installation below, plus a video for their elegant concept dress which can be worn countless ways.

Florent: Queen of the Meat Market at NYFFF

This week marks the opening of the 4th annual New York Food Film Festival. On Thursday, for one night only, join Florent Morellet to taste a selection of original menu items from Restaurant Florent and watch the World Premiere of David Sigal's "FLORENT: Queen of the Meat Market", a heartwarming film about the man behind the legendary restaurant. In June of 2008 cherished New York restaurant Florent closed its doors forever, marking the end of an era. Florent Morellet, the openly HIV-positive restaurateur turned his namesake diner in the Meatpacking District into a hotbed of activism and a community that welcomed one and all. These are the extraordinary stories and times of Florent, the staff, patrons, and celebrities who made up an extensive family. With appearances by Julianne Moore, Isaac Mizrahi, and Christo and Jean-Claude. This feature-length documentary chronicles the ups and downs of the French bistro's 23 glorious years. All proceeds for this special night go to the Food Bank of New York City! Get Tickets Here!

Bedknobs & Broomsticks

In the spirit of the classic Little Golden Books for children, Little Brown Mushroom Books is releasing a series of photographic storybooks for grown-ups. LBM is the self-published books from photographer Alex Soth and friends. Their first grown-up storybook, Bedknobs & Broomsticks, features photographs and story by Australian photographer Trent Parke and design by Hans Seeger. With his fierce photographic style, Parke takes readers along a magic bed of free association from Down Under. Priced at $18 and limited to a numbered edition of 1000. Treguna, Makoidees, Trecorum, Sadis Dee! Click here for more info or to buy the book!

24-Hour Party People @ The Whitney

My excuse for not doing as much museuming as i'd like is usually some line about the crowds on the weekends and my inability to check out those grand institutions on the week days. No more blah-blah-blahing from me! For the closing days of the Whitney Biennial (which I still havent seen) they'll be open around the clock, 24 hours a day. Starting Wednesday at 12am, artist Michael Asher's proposal for the Whitney goes live and the museum will be open continuously until Friday, May 28th. Who wouldnt want to run around a museum at 2am?! Check out more details here.

GRAFFITI ROCK

So this is a little epic flashback from the past - Kool Moe Dee, Run DMC, Special K, New York City Breakers with some serious moves from Vince Gallo as Vince the Prince and Debi Mazar. It aired on WPIX as a hip hop response to Soul Train and American Bandstand but sadly, it only lived for 1 episode. Since that first and last episode, the world has been deprived of what would have been an important piece of pop culture history.

Quadron, Buster Keaton Video

I am totally obsessed with Quadron and after seeing them at the TasteNYC Loft party last week, I cant seem to get enough. They're part of the awesome Boom Clap Bachelors collective, spinning out fresh soulful grooves out of Denmark. Check out their new video for "Buster Keaton," track one from their debut self-titled album. Its full of awesome hand lettering and spring pop colors.

Small Is Beautiful

I have a special place in my heart for all things diorama. The magic of transforming garage-sale throwaways --shoe boxes, fishtanks, cardboard-- into a spectacular miniature world is always exciting and wondrous. I cant wait to see the amazing works unveiled at tomorrow's show!

*************
Small Is Beautiful

An exhibition of dioramas curated by Theme magazine and Scion, featuring work by

Jeremy Mora
Lori Nix
Tracey Snelling
Dan Funderburgh
Ji Lee

& wall vignettes by
Josh Cochran

Wednesday, May 12
6 – 9PM
Murphy and Dine Gallery
520 West 27th Street, Ground Floor (10th/11th)

RSVP to receive the premiere volume of Theme's "Pocket" Book series featuring Wooster Collective's ephemera collection. Theme Pocket Books are produced in limited runs and are all individually numbered.

Music by DJ Monchan

Beer by PBR and Whiskey by Old Grand Dad
Wine and Snacks Served