You heard it, Block Party

On my walk to school everyday i’ve been seeing this whole block full of empty store fronts. These stores still have the signs of their previous owners. In the windows of all these shops there are art pieces that are put out all day and all night for the community to see. On my walk today I spoke to someone working on the shops and asked what the deal with all these “abandoned” stores were. I was told that someone had bought them all because they planned on building condos. The budget was too high and they did not have enough money to build so instead they let artists put their works of art in the windows. It’s definitely very generous. Anyway they are having a block party friday May 14 in celebration of the storefronts anniversary. Come by and check it out, it’s on the corner of Duffieild st. and Willoughby st. in Downtown Brooklyn.

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-cody

subway tunnels

The last couple of weeks i’ve been taking the D train from school in brooklyn to the lower east side. The first time I saw this I was bugged out. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing, it was really sick. Check it out it takes place in the subway tunnels on the D line, it starts from the DeKalb stop and ends before the bridge. It’s really amazing. The video is taken sideways, so picture it turned 90 degrees.

-cody

How long ago?

-cody

Events soon

Wednesday, May 12th, Thursday, May 13th, and Friday, May 14th at 7:30pm

Documentaries In Bloom:
New Films Presented by Livia Bloom

The Philosopher Kings
Dir. Patrick Shen, 2009, 70 min.
In search of wisdom found in unlikely places, The Philosopher Kings travels the halls of prestigious colleges and universities across America to learn from the staff members who see it all and have been through it all: the janitors. This thought-provoking, feature-length documentary weaves together the untold stories of triumph and tragedy from the members of society who are often disregarded and ignored, and seeks out the kind of wisdom that gets them through the day.

Buy Tickets Now!

Saturday, May 15th, 7:00pm

Lava 1 & 2′s Extravaganza Graf Art Exhibit

For everybody who thought graffiti started in the early 80′s, Lava AKA Straight Man will be at the Maysles Cinema to set the record straight. Lava 1&2 started writing in 1970, when he wasn’t taking care of business as Supreme Commander of the Black Spades in Manhattan or creating the first Hip Hop flyers with Phase 2. The Black Spades went on to become Zulu Nation and Graf blew up in the 80′s but the generation that invented the language and vocabulary didn’t get the props they should have. Lava’s Extravaganza Graf Art Exhibit gives us all a chance to act like we know, with work by artists like Cornbread, Clyde, James Top and Tracy 168.

The evening includes a short multimedia presentation and biographical film on Lava, a group art show and reception with D.J. Chuck City.

Buy Tickets Now!

Sunday, May 16th, 7:30pm

Keeling’s Caribbean Showcase
Curated by Keeling Beckford

Gregory Isaacs: Live at the Rocket
Dir. Dan Crouch, 2003, 40 min.
Gregory Isaacs, the smooth crooner of Lovers’ Rock performs a long list of classics and new hits before a capacity crowd.

Rockers
Dir. Ted Bafaloukos, 1978, 100 min.
Jamaican Patois with English subtitles
In the history of Jamaican cinema Rockers is a close second to The Harder They Come as a crucial depiction of the politics and culture of its time. Legendary session drummer Leroy “Horsemouth” Wallace is the main character in a plot loosely resembling De Sica’s Bicycle Thief. But the story is secondary to the documentation of a political and cultural context in which a new musical form, Steppers, emerged. With the increase in political violence on the island, the Steppers or Rockers beat appeared as a more rapid, militant variation on Reggae. Peter Tosh’s anthem “Stepping Razor” is characterizes the role played by the many of the all star cast (including Big Youth, Jacob Miller and Burning spear) as cultural warriors fighting for recognition, against a racial elite and for basicsurvival.

Buy Tickets Now!

-cody

Real Sirius

Two weeks ago I went to the Sirius Satellite Radio gig which consisted of Talib Kweli, Hi-Tek, Sway, Dj Premier, and many others. It was a real good time. The night consisted of a show by Reflection Eternal, a great set by Premier, and much more towards the end.

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-cody

World’s Biggest Dodgeball Game TONIGHT in NYC!

Samsung is sponsoring a dodgeball event that aims to break the world record for biggest dodgeball game. They hope to have 1500 people there to break the record. I must admit, it’s a pretty cool publicity stunt. I’d go if I didn’t have a presentation for class tonight. Dodgeball was one of the only things I enjoyed in gym class.

When:Wednesday, May 12th 7 p.m. (doors open at 6)
Where:The 69th Regiment Armory (Lexington Avenue between 25th and 26th Street)

Get more information on the event HERE

-Brian

showtime

This past week my sister had an art show. This art show was completely different from the others. It was a very “classy” show compared to the usual laid back type of feel. The show was in the upper east side, 73 st. between park and madison. I enjoyed the show a lot because I got to spend time with Agathe and the rest of the fam for a while. We don’t all get to spend time as much because things are really speedy between her art life and her being 8 months pregnant. The show was followed by a diner, some mad good food. Here are some pictures from the night.

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-cody