Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Friday, June 26, 2009

NYC Going

For some reason NYC has gotten somewhat boring and unexciting. Where have all the cool events gone? Everything seems so far and few. I remember when there were so many good things to attend that you didn't know which to choose. Stuff like this makes me think about what's happening to my city. I wouldn't say they aren't any events but rather they aren't worth me checking out. Seems like the ones I keep seeing or hearing about cater to a more mature audience which is cool but not my cup of tea. I need those art shows, the cool fashion, sneaker stuff, music etc. The summer isn't looking to good in that area at all. NYC where have you gone?

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Monday, June 22, 2009

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

High Line Park



When the first section of the High Line Park opened on June 9th it was big news here in the city of New York. This was the culmination of 10 years of lots of planning, town hall meetings and construction. I remember when I first saw the early renderings on the news and thought what a cool Idea to use elevated train tracks and turn it into a park. It was intriguing from an architectural standpoint and just an all around cool idea.
These old tracks were first used back in 1934 as a way to ease the freight traffic on the ground and also the accidents that were happening at the time. The tracks were then closed as the industrial New York began to die. Fast forward now to 2009 with the rebirth of the High Line park in all its design glory. The landscape architectural firm, Diller Scofidio + Renfro headed by James Corner won the bid in 2004 and the design was ready to be viewed by the public in an exhibition at MOMA in 2005. Section 1 is now open from Gansevoort St. to 20th St. If you're in the area I urge you to check it out it's worth it. Stay tuned for our very own trip pictures.

Images via thehighline

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Review: Mos Def-The Ecstatic


"This is Bedstuy 1982. 9th floor, three tiny rooms one view" (Life In Marvelous Times). Mos is back on his rapping shit. This is not the Black Jack Johnson Mos but rather the earlier Black on Both Sides Mos. Seems like he went in focused and really hungry to work or maybe even prove something to himself and to his fans that he still has it.
First off the beat selection was very well done. The beats immediately take you back to sitting on a stoop in New York in the 90's. There is definably a boom bap feel to the beats on this album and less rock influence unlike his previous album.
When listening to The Ecstatic prepare for a Mos Def who raps and when I say rap I mean rap with the hunger not seen from him in years. The album is a mixture of feel good music with some tracks dealing with some issues affecting today. Some standout tracks are 'Auditorium' featuring the ultimate story teller Slick Rick, 'Quiet Dog,' 'Life In Marvelous Times,' 'No Hay Nada Mas' which translates to 'there is nothing else.' Other notable mentions are 'Pistola' and 'Workers Comp.' The album is a all around solid and easy listening album from Mos. As a fan I'm very pleased with the outcome and I'm sure the rest of the fans will be too.