Buff or Bluff?

Los Angeles' MoCA, under the direction of Jeffrey Deitch (the first and only art dealer/gallery owner at the helm of a major U.S. museum) is at work on the first major survey of the history of graffiti and street art in the United States. The retrospective, titled Art in the Streets, will take place in April 2011 and will span from the 1970s to the present. It will feature over 100 artists (including Basquiat, Space Invader, Banksy, and Mister Cartoon), 25 of whom will have installations and murals on the premises. Deitch commissioned Italian street artist Blu to paint one such mural on the wall of MOCA’s Geffen Contemporary. The work, which depicted a series of wooden caskets draped in dollar bills (a replacement for the American flags that cover the coffins of those soldiers killed in combat), was buffed and whitewashed by the museum yesterday morning - less than 24 hours after its completion.

Was Blu's anti-war/death statement simply too controversial for the museum? One hell of a boring street art exhibit that would make, and so atypical of J. Deitch - what of his work with Kehinde Wiley, Dash Snow, Ryan McGinness, Keith Haring, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Julian Schnabel? Or did the mural perhaps offend the museum's veteran neighbors? The wall faces a Veterans Administration building and is within sight of a war memorial, but a VA representative said that they had placed no complaint to MoCA.

Just speculatin', but the reason for the paint-and-strip seems fairly obvious to me - Blu must have another amazing stop-motion vid up his sleeve, one that will serve as a commentary on the ephemerality of graffiti as an aesthetic genre and political movement. Why else would the museum erase a work they themselves commissioned? Pretty fresh when considering the many incarnations of the Deitch-helmed Bowery mural project, one of the best modern examples of the interaction between street art and fine art, not to mention the recent Underbelly Project. And what could serve as a more thematically perfect piece for the retrospective? Heard it here first, folks! If I'm wrong, well ... shit. That sucks.

My boyfriend is on Twitter

http://twitter.com/davidchang

'Bout time. His first link - the"jailhouse Julia Child"'s recipe for Ghetto Tamales:

Literary dominoes

This is like a childhood fantasy come to life. And this is why real-live bookstores should never, ever go out of business - the staff of Bookman's Entertainment Exchange, an Arizona-based used-bookstore chain, put this together in 14 (off-work) hours. So rad.

via GalleyCat

Dynamic duo

During last night's Comedy Central telethon concert to benefit autism education, Tracy Morgan and Chris Rock dared cover Simon and Garfunkel. Paul Simon came onstage to school them, and the result? An autotuned version of "Scarborough Fair," Chris Rock in a turtleneck, a bewigged Morgan, and ... Paul Simon rapping? Just watch.

via ArtsBeat

Further Falliteration

Free Fela!
St. Ann's Warehouse presents the music of Fela Kuti, the originator of the Afrobeat genre, on Monday, October 4th on Pier 1 in Brooklyn Bridge Park. If you haven't seen the Broadway show, this is your chance to check out the incredible talent of Sahr Ngaujah and the band. If you snag a seat, you won't be able to stay in it.

Free Fall Fests

If you're in New York this weekend, here are a few ways to enjoy the start of the season, in especially glorious and unseasonable weather ... fo' free.

The Dumbo Arts Festival is a massive, all-weekend-long gathering of 150+ studios, 35+ galleries, arts organizations, music, performance art, dance, film, theater, etc.

On Saturday, experience Oktoberfest in Greenpoint, complete with free pretzels and sausages.

The bi-annual St. Mark's Church Block Party is Saturday as well - check out vendors offering vintage clothes, antiques, and snacks from neighborhood standbys like Veselka.

Sunday, head to Brooklyn Heights for the 36th annual Atlantic Antic Street Festival for ten blocks of food, festivities and fun ... you just might catch the Beastie Boys. Plus free admission to the Transit Museum and Brooklyn Historical Society.

Rather stick to the city on Sunday? Celebrate all things apple on Orchard St (ha) between Broome and Grand at NYC Apple Day.

Happy fall - fingers crossed for some foliage!

Wyclef for President

Despite criticism of his foundation, Yele Haiti, in the months following the earthquake that devastated his homeland, Wyclef Jean has announced his decision to run in the next Haitian presidential election. The question of how adequately prepared he is for this role is up for debate. In his favor, Wyclef was appointed Haiti's ambassador-at-large in 2007 and since then, has done his part to promote awareness of the dire situation plauging the country. He plans to promote dual citizenship and voting rights for Haitians that have left the country.
At worst, this election may give Haiti a much-needed push back into mainstream media, whose coverage of Haitian issues has slowed significantly following the natural disaster, and bridge the gap between the country's expatriates and its citizens. At best, Wyclef's popularity with Haiti's youth (who are utterly disillusioned by their politicians) will allow him to practice what he preaches.

Politician or musician, I'll always have love for Wyclef. Catch his live public announcement on Larry King this Thursday at 9pm.

BLU my mind

My brother just introduced me to the work of the young Italian street artist who calls himself BLU, a man whose graffiti-driven animation calls to mind both Burton and Brazilian surrealism, while existing in a realm all his own. His latest work, "BIG BANG BOOM," is what he calls "an unscientific point of view on the beginning and evolution of life ... and how it could probably end." The piece is a collaboration between BLU and local artists in Argentina and Uruguay, where it was filmed. It is a breathtaking tour-de-force that truly blows his contemporaries out of the water. Guy is on his game - I can't wait to see what else is in store.

BIG BANG BIG BOOM - the new wall-painted animation by BLU from blu on Vimeo.

Howlin' for you

The most popular poem of its time and defining voice of a generation, which sparked a widely-publicized obscenity trial ... sure sounds like the stuff of a feature film, doesn't it? With an all-star (albeit perhaps too good-looking) cast featuring James Franco as Ginsberg, Jon Hamm as his trial lawyer, Jeff Daniels, Mary-Louise Parker, and more, Howl (the movie) has all the ingredients for a hit biopic. First Harvey Milk, now Allen Ginsberg - looks like Franco's in on the fact that straight actors in gay roles are pretty much Oscar bait.

Is it possible to do cinematic justice to Ginsberg's immortal words? Let's just hope Hollywood doesn't screw this one up - and hey, at least the poster's pretty.

How Macgyver boozes

This is the coolest trick I've seen in a long time: how to open a wine bottle with your shoe. The demo is en francais (in honor of tomorrow's Bastille Day), but you don't really need to understand what monsieur is saying in order to get it. Watch, learn, then impress your friends over a bottle of Bordeaux while celebrating La Fête Nationale with cigarettes, Breton stripes, Brie and baguette.

Watch the tutorial here.

Pool parties at the Waterfront

The moment we have all been waiting for (or maybe it's just me?) is finally here. The Jelly NYC Pool Party lineup for Summer 2010, this year at the Williamsburg Waterfront thanks to Señor Schumer, is as follows:

July 11: Deerhoof + Xiu Xiu performing Joy Division's Unknown Pleasures; Why?; Fang Island; Pictureplane

July 18: Murder City Devils; Obits; Jeff the Brotherhood; Silverghost

July 25: Cap 'N Jazz (Only NYC Reunion Show); Lightning Bolt; No Age; The Death Set

August 1 (at Brooklyn Bowl): Pool Parties present FREE BLOCK PARTY, lineup TBA

August 8: Cut Copy; Memory Tapes, Restless People, Glasser

August 15: !!!; Lee Fields and the Expressions; The Strange Boys; Future Islands

August 22: Chromeo; SECRET SPECIAL GUEST!; The Suzan; Telephoned

August 29: SECRET SPECIAL GUESTS!; Delorean; Dominique Young Unique

Damn, August looks hot. Thanks to BrooklynVegan for staying on top of it.

Ain't over 'til it's Ober

We interrupt your regularly scheduled programming for the following important announcement:
Today is the last day of my first big-kid job. I will be leaving the land of typewriters, cigarette smoke, shouts of "Heavens to Betsy!," boozy midday birthday celebrations, printed emails, and other ancient oddities that have filled my past year with tall tales. I will also be leaving shelves of first-edition Fitzgeralds, scrawled Salinger contracts, a truly lovely boss, and one of the most unique existing relics of the literary world. I'm switching teams: from agency to publishing house, foreign rights to editorial, from tiny independent to massive corporation. I'm sad to go, but excited to begin. Why should you care? Because for the time being, it's going to put a fairly significant hindrance on my blog-tivity. I started this site in January of 2009; yesterday marked my 420th post. I have gotten wonderful feedback, kind words and the support of many friends, and it has been a truly enjoyable experience.
I don't believe that all good things must come to an end. This is a blog about the power of positive thinking (as much as it has become a place for me to share music, events, restaurant reviews and whatever the hell else I feel like), which is something that needs water to grow, and support to carry on. So this isn't the end of the Good Newspaper, but it is the close of a chapter - from a daily column to a guest editing spot, if you will. I'll still be posting, albeit much less regularly. I'm going to try my best to keep up-to-date on good news in the world and share it here, without the self-imposed pressure of the daily grind.
If I can ask something of you all, it's that you keep smiling, throw some salt over your shoulder, and go forth into the great unknown - there's lots of good stuff out there just waiting to be discovered.

Hot town, summer in the city

Considering a staycation this holiday weekend? Here's a rundown of reasons not to leave the city, so long as you can brave the heat.

FRIDAY, JULY 2
Pay-what-you-wish to see High Places & Toro y Moi, playing Whitney Live @ the Whitney Museum at 7pm. From there, dance the night away to a DJ set by Flashing Lights ft. The Martin Brothers at 88 Palace.

SATURDAY, JULY 3
Head to Long Island City for the P.S. 1 Warm Up season opener with Delorean, Janka Nabay and more.
The Hester Street Fair and Santos Party House team up for an Independence Day cookout, with ribs from Malbon Bros., grilled corn on the cob, kimchee dogs, lobster rolls, and more from the fair's regular vendors.
The Brooklyn Museum's Target First Saturday event celebrates their new exhibit, "Andy Warhol: The Last Decade," and screens Mary Harron's I Shot Andy Warhol. What's more American than free art, live music, a dance party and a cash bar?

SUNDAY, JULY 4
If you don't have a rooftop BBQ, watch other people stuff face at the famous Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island. If you'd rather not witness mass vomiting, spend the day on a different island: head to Water Taxi Beach at Governor's Island and sway in the sun to the tunes of She & Him (get there early to catch Roseanne Cash's set at 2pm).
Sunday night, TimeOutNY tells you where to watch the fireworks and what to do after. If you just want to rage 'til 3am on a Monday morning, hit up the outdoor TeknoColor Dream party, featuring a crazy lineup of techno DJs in a secret location to be revealed upon RSVPing. If you're straight-up crazy, head back to Governor's Island and get your head pounded by Benny Benassi's beats on Monday.

Happy Independence Day - don't forget the sunscreen!

Aural report

Wacky Wednesday is here, and with it a mishmash of music to get you through those last few days before the blissfully long weekend. The best part? It don't cost a thing.

Music festivals are part of the glory of summer, and missing out, whether due to low funds, being cooped up in office buildings or sheer lack of proximity to Scotland, hardly feels festive. Just because you weren't there doesn't mean you can't still experience the magic: NME provided a free album of the acts they were most excited to catch at Glastonbury, and Flavorwire dedicated their latest mixtape to last week's Northside Festival, featuring ten bands to watch.

For its Revival Recordings project, Levi's Pioneer Sessions called in modern artists to cover timeless tracks, resulting in 13 incredible collaborations. Personal favorites include Passion Pit's Billy Corgan-approved cover of the Smashing Pumpkins' "Tonight, Tonight" and The Shins taking on the 1979 Squeeze hit, "Goodbye Girl."

The Roots' 9th studio album, How I Got Over, is one of their most cohesive yet genre-bending efforts. With guest appearances from Joanna Newsom, John Legend, Monsters of Folk and more, their fusion of funk, soul, jazz and hip-hop is daring, insightful and forward-thinking.

Turn on, tune in, drop out.

Warm up, cool down

At temperatures heat up (The National Weather Service declared a heat advisory for NYC after temps reached the 90s on Monday) city officials have deemed it necessary to open New York's cooling centers. Find the nearest one to you here, or do the old-school thing and jump into one of the 54 Parks outdoor pools, open today until Labor Day.

The only thing hotter than this week's highs is the P.S.1 Warm Up lineup. The Warm Up kicks off with the sounds of Delorean, and continues through August with acts such as Air France, Ratatat, DJ/rupture, Animal Collective, James Murphy, ?uestlove, Treasure Fingers, and more. Starting July 3, on Saturdays from noon to 9pm, visitors can rock out within the confines of an architectural installation created by the winner of the annual Young Architects Program, and check out the stunning experimental exhibition space.

Your ex-boyfriend's mug shot

Everyone knows you don't forget your first love, that the initial rush is tattooed in your memory for better or worse. What if the general public could see your first boyfriend or girlfriend the way you see them, colored by heartbreak or softened with nostalgia?
As part of her mid-career survey, A Day Like Any Other, Brazilian conceptual artist Rivane Neuenschwander has hired a forensic sketch artist on the third floor of the New Museum. Visitors can sit with the artist, who will listen to descriptions of their first love and create portraits that will hang on the walls of the gallery. You can sign up with the sketch artist by emailing firstlove@newmuseum.org. A word of advice: might be better to fly solo on this one.

Eat that up, it's good for you

It is a crazy end to a crazy week, one in which I've had to remind myself more than a few times to breathe, to close my eyes, and do things that are beneficial to my own sanity.

Planning vacations (even ones you don't end up taking) is good for you.
Blogging is good for you.
Laughing is good for you.
Single-servings of wine are good for you.
Hugging is good for you.
Music is good for you:


Don't forget to smile, my friends.

Breakfast of champions

Five minutes at my computer today, just for you guys, so my half-ass post comes courtesy of the folks at UrbanDaddy. Their e-lert just informed me that tequila den-of-sin-and-wonders, Los Feliz, will now be serving brunch, which will include a black truffle-pico de gallo omelet and a beautiful disaster: spiked Frozen Mexican coffee (also known as a tequila milkshake). See you on the floor.

A sea of CDs

Artist Bruce Munro collected 600,000 unwanted CDs from the public for his temporary CDSea installation in Warminster's Long Knoll Field. The scaly rainbow of discs, bisected by a public footpath, was inspired by Munro's meditation on light and water during his days living in Sydney, Australia. People from all over the UK and abroad donated to the cause, the first of a number of self-funded art installations using recycled materials planned for Long Knoll Field. This stunning exercise in collaboration is the gift that gives back to the community: for the next two months, anyone who visits the space can experience what it's like to walk on water.

Dinner and a movie

There are a few things that Baltimore has over New York: hardly any lines for a plethora of free/cheap good concerts, a more hilarious breed of hipster, John Waters, and Old Bay seasoning, to name a few. Now, something I never thought New York would legally allow us to enjoy is crossing over North. Gone are the days of paper-bagged 40s and purse popcorn, because the blissful trio that is food, booze and a movie screening will soon be possible (sans-smuggle) at Williamsburg's indieScreen (of course it's in the 'burg, and of course that's what it's called). Opening Thursday for the Northside Film Festival and built by the guy who curates the Brooklyn Film Festival, it will have a single screen playing a rotation of classics, as well as new indie films. Each seat features a personal fold-out desk for ease of chowing down on the restaurant's international fare, and although drinks will only be allowed from the bar into the theater on special occasions, well ... there's always Baltimore.

Play me, New York

Today, over 1,000 artists bring free music to the streets of all five boroughs for Make Music New York, which the New Yorker has called "an eleven-hour escapade of musical creativity." As part of the project, catch my dad playing Brazilian percussion with Maracatu in Fort Greene Park at 6pm.

Also part of MMNY: 60 pianos are set up around the city for free public use from now until July 5 (after which they will be donated to local schools and community groups) as part of an artistic venture called Play Me, I'm Yours. So go ahead, play something - or just listen.

Brazilian baby boogie

After Tuesday's win in which Brazil (the only nation to qualify for every World Cup) seized the lead in the so-called Group of Death, the country's fans (hey Dad!) are flying high. And despite issues with Morumbi Stadium, Sao Paulo is still set to play host to the 2014 World Cup. This ridiculously talented baby is dancing samba to celebrate with the exuberance and flamboyance that define Brazil's virtuosity.

Grand Central gig

Rumor has it Band of Horses will be playing a secret free show tomorrow night. The venue? Grand Central Station! Not exactly the most music-friendly of venues in theory, but if you get there early enough (it's first come, first served and the concert starts at 6:30), I'm sure BoH won't disappoint.

Island in the sun

I know it's only midweek, but I know I'm not the only one looking ahead to the weekend. If yours isn't already jam-packed, I've some outer-borough and off-island Saturday events to share that just might strike your fancy.

If it's live music you're after, catch the ferry to Governor's Island to sway to sunny tunes from The Morning Benders with Freelance Whales and The Wild Nothing at 8pm. Free.

Get to Governor's early to get your buzz on by sampling beers from over 100 breweries at the 4th Annual NYC Brewfest from 3:30-8pm. Win tickets here, pay $55 for general admission (unlimited sampling), or just $25 for Music Lovers Tickets (includes water taxi transportation).

For the weird and wonderful, the Coney Island Mermaid Parade is a can't-miss summer tradition. Wave your freak flag high (registration to march in the parade ends tomorrow at midnight), or just watch - it's free.

Until then, happy humpday!

D.I.Y. Damien Hirst

Thanks to iArtist London, for under a hundred bones you can recreate Damien Hirst's crystallized skull in the comfort of your own home. The company's boxed sets allow aspiring artists to make their own copies of works by Hirst, Banksy and more. Arts and crafts just got a whole lot cooler.
This post is courtesy of my dear Dana who wrote about the kits for Refinery29 today!

Summer school

NY Mag published a list of seventeen summer classes, ranging from burlesque dancing to herb gardening. If you're bored with your day job or are in the market for some new dinner-table conversation, check out the options here. I'd like to add one more to the list: the JCC's cooking classes, some of which are being taught by my very talented friend Galee Kalikow (she's only 19!). Get your learn on, New York.

TWSS

Before Michael Scott, it appears Alfred Hitchcock was the king of sexual innuendo and double entendre. The first known recording of a "That's what she said" quip (the old-school version apparently being "as the girl said to the soldier") came during a sound test for Hitchcock's 1929 film, Blackmail. With a surname like that, no wonder he can crack a pervy joke.

Word nerd

Remember flipping through SAT flashcards? I can still see harbinger written in scary red letters ("a sign of bad things to come"). I tried "word of the day" for a while ... it didn't stick.

Working in publishing, it's easy to fall into the trap of dialectic snobbery, but this list of 2010's most frequently looked-up words on NYTimes.com schooled me good. Minus maybe eight or so, every one of these entries is a new addition to my vocabulary.

I will be spending my weekend seeking out ways to use profligacy in a sentence. I suggest you do the same.

Wedding bells

One of my co-workers got engaged last night, so today has been filled with girly giggles and warm & fuzzies. A warning to my male readers: you might want to skip today's post (if I'm not mistaken, the marriage thing doesn't inspire swoons for those equipped with boy-parts).
So, to satiate your romantic side (spring is in the air, after all), here are two very sweet wedding-related pieces.

An engaged couple was gathering photos in preparation for their upcoming wedding when they noticed something in one of the bride-to-be's childhood snapshots: they were both at Disneyland on the same day, twenty years ago! The photo shows a man in the background pushing a stroller with a toddler inside. That man was the bridegroom's father, and the boy in the stroller was none other than little baby groom-to-be. Cue "aww" sound here:
And now for something completely different: a wacky, wacky man proposed to his woman in Madison Square Park on Monday, and he didn't hold anything back. I can't decide whether this is completely mortifying or totally adorable.

Museum on the moon

Did NASA plant a top-secret, teeny-tiny art museum on the moon 40 years ago? The PBS series History Detectives investigates the case in its season eight premiere episode, airing June 21. A miniature ceramic chip embedded with sketches by artists such as Andy Warhol, Claes Oldenburg and Robert Rauschenberg (pictured) may have been stowed away on the Apollo 12 vehicle launched in November of 1969. The artist who dreamed up the project, Forrest "Frosty" Myers, had a dream "to get six great artists together and make a tiny little museum that would be on the moon." Far out!

And speaking of art museums ... the 32nd Annual Museum Mile Festival is tonight from 6-9pm. This mile-long, traffic-free block party grants free entrance to nine of America's finest museums, all along Fifth Ave.

Retro renegade

If it's feeling like one of those Mondays to anyone else but me, I have something to share that should blast the doldrums from your desk (provided you have a set of headphones). My brother recently returned from a semester in Barcelona, and has just finished his second half-hour demo tape that, sibling obligation completely aside, I think is pretty freaking rad. The jumped-up jams mix old and new school (think Jay-Z and Johnny Cash) and blend the badass with the downright bizarre.

Download here, check out more of his beats, mash-ups and photos here, and if you want to hire this young gun for the summer, he's available for everything from Photoshop tutorials to poolboy duties.

Say cheese

Happy National Cheese day! Go to Zabar's for some free samples and cooking and pairing tips from Beemster Graskaas gourmet cheese reps (the UWS store will be rolling out the world's largest wheel of this Dutch springtime specialty). Seasonal dairy - what could be better?

Quilting bees

These rare, solitary Turkish bees use flower petals to build their nests, resulting in colorful quilt-like cocoons that are like teeny little works of art.
How very Martha of them!

Lazerproof

Redheaded synth-pop princess Elly Jackson of La Roux has teamed up with Major Lazer (comprised of dancehall DJ duo Switch and Diplo) for a free mixtape called Lazerproof. The name is a combo of Major Lazer and La Roux's single, "Bullet Proof." With Jamaican-inspired blends and dubplates, and a star-studded guest list that includes the likes of Drake, Gucci Mane, and Amanda Blank, it's no surprise that Diplo has done it again. The Floridian mixmaster is a true musical savant - not that Jackson isn't utterly breathtaking on her own, but he knows what to exactly how much space to give to allow her unusual, breathy pout to shine. Lazerproof does for La Roux what Top Ranking did for Santigold, and what Piracy Funds Terrorism, Vol. 1 did for M.I.A.

Speaking of M.I.A., whose latest effort feels show-offy and ultimately unoriginal - maybe she needs some help from ex-flame Diplo once again. Not to say girlfriend deserved that nasty blast of a NY Times mag article, but it does feel like she's lost a bit of her je ne sais quoi.

Cop Lazerproof fo' free at the Mad Decent site.

Your summer calendar is here

This is going to be a short post, both because there's enough in one link to last you more than a few procrastinatory hours, and because this blessedly abbreviated week means more work in less time. Without further ado, I present Vanity Fair's infamous all-access guide to all things summer in NY - the 2010 edition.

Also, I kind of love this Summer Goals blog. Working on my own - so far I've got: a tan, a positive balance in my bank account, and a functioning liver. What are yours?

To go away on a summer's day

Vampire Weekend's video for the third single off their new album takes a Holiday from their preppy Ivy-Leaguer image in favor of some badass New Romantic flava.

Vampire Weekend - New Music - More Music Videos

Pretty sure VW got their sexy composer inspiration from last year's Halloween costume:
Happy Memorial Day Weekend to all - I'll be back & blogging Tuesday!

Beat the heat

Memorial Day weekend is approaching, which means summer is finally officially upon us! If you're staying local for the holiday, there are plenty of ways to celebrate the season. Here's a few:

Water Taxi Beach's Memorial Day Party, 11am-11pm: from 4-6, nab clams, shrimp and oysters for 80 cents apiece, and slurp $6 pints of Sixpoint and Gaffel plus $9-12 cocktails all day long.

What better way to celebrate Fleet Week than by doing it on a boat? Join Wayne Kramer and political rap group The Coup on the 31st for their Rocks off Concert Cruise show.

Speaking of boats, the Intrepid's free Summer Movie Series begins Friday with a Flight Deck screening of Top Gun.

Relish your hot dog, and the fact that you're not stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic.

Grilling is for those with tricked-out rooftops or suburban backyards. Do it up city-style and celebrate the opening weekend of BKLYN Yard with PARKED: eats from NYC's best food trucks. I have a feeling Van Leeuwen's is going to rake it in.

Sip a summer seasonal, slather on the SPF, and blast some songs of summer:
Admiral Radley - I Heart California
She & Him - In the Sun
Dom - Living in America
Quadron - Pressure
Math & Physics Club - Jimmy Had a Polaroid
Sleigh Bells - Tell 'Em

More of my warm-weather playlist to come. Happy holidays!

Single in the city

Time Out NY's infamous "Date these Singles" section is the stuff of urban dating legend. Everyone claims to know someone who knows someone who had their picture snapped by the mag, then met the gal/guy of his/her dreams because of it. It's one of those secret "single in the city" dreams - you don't want to admit you hope they'll approach you, but, well ... why not get a little extra internet boost, right? It's not like going on JDate (not that there's anything wrong with that).
Now, I really do know one of those people! My good friend Haley* was recently snapped while on a date at a beer garden in Queens - a perfect pickup spot, according to TONY. She's beautiful, smart, fun, and she knows her way around the kitchen of Otto. Men of New York, have at her! Click through to #4 ... she's a winner.
*please don't murder me

Summerfests

I know I already gushed about all the amazing concert series in NY this summer, but there are a couple more I can't not share with you.

The Northside Festival (four days of music, film and art in Williamsburg, June 24-27) is slowly but surely releasing a pretty bomb lineup: Au Revoir Simone, Memory Tapes, Dom, Liars, Forest Fire, Lissy Trullie, and many more. Four-day festival badges are just $50, which gets you access to every Northside event as well as a bunch of drink specials and food discounts at local establishments. Super-cheap tickets to individual concerts are available as well.

If it's a one day hip-hop extravaganza you're looking for, Rock the Bells (Governor's Island, August 28) is already starting to blow every other lineup out of the water. Rumor has it Lauryn Hill may appear as a special guest (although girl is fickle as they come), but even more exciting is the theme of the show, which is artists performing four classic albums in their entirety. That means Slick Rick will do The Great Adventures of Slick Rick, Krs-One will perform Criminal Minded, Rakim will perform Paid in Full, and Wu-Tang will headline with Enter the 36 Chambers. In addition to the four full album performances, special guests include Wiz Khalifa, Clipse, Immortal Technique, Jedi Mind Tricks, and more, plus surprises that may well include a Guru tribute. Keep checking the site for ticket info, which should be posted soon.

NY pride

LCD Soundsystem ended each of their NY shows this weekend with a version of "New York, I Love You But You're Bringing Me Down," that incorporated this fall's NY anthem, "Empire State of Mind." I thought nothing could make me want to hear that Jay-Z jam again, but LCD really did us proud. Aw.

Can't scalp this

Finally Paterson does something right: the governor recently reenacted a law from the 1920s that prohibits scalpers from reselling tickets for more than $2 above face value. And even better, the law prohibits primary sellers such as Ticketmaster from tacking on extra service and delivery fees. Rock on, Gov. P!

And to celebrate, free tunes for all - this is SPIN's Bonnaroo Mixtape 2010, featuring tracks from Phoenix, Kings of Leon, Mumford and Sons, The National, and more.

Absolut Brooklyn

Chances are, you haven't thought about Absolut vodka's marketing campaign since you used to tear out those magazine ads and paste them on your preteen bedroom wall next to pictures of Johnny Depp and the guy who played Roger in Rent. Or ... maybe that's just me. Either way, they're getting hip to the groove once again with the launch of Absolut Brooklyn, and this time, it's a Spike Lee joint. The BK-raised director (whose childhood address is depicted on the bottle's label) helped conceive a flavor that tastes just like the borough - "a fresh and distinct character of ripe apples with a slight hint of ginger." Actually, that sounds pretty on the money. If they can manage to legalize drinking this on stoops, they might really have something here.

Oh yeah, and Absolut is donating $50,000 from the proceeds of the limited-edition bottle to Habitat for Humanity's project to build affordable, green homes in Bed-Stuy. Drink the right thing.

Inhale books instead

German publisher Hamburger Automatenverlag (say that five times fast) is recycling old cigarette vending machines to disperse literature to the masses. Books, graphic novels, poetry collections and travel guides by local Hamburg authors will cost a mere 4 euro - both cheaper and better for you than a pack of smokes. Knowledge over nicotine, man.

Morning affirmations

If all gals started their mornings the same way Jessica does, maybe low self-confidence would be less of a problem among America's female youth. "I like my hair, I like my haircuts" ... you go, girl!

Reminds me a little of that scene from Cool Runnings:

Go ahead, take a look in the mirror and tell yourself how much you rock.

Banksy in the Big Apple

Did anyone really think Banksy would embark on a cross-country promotional tour without hitting up the street art capital of the continent? So far, pieces have been spotted in TriBeCa and Dumbo. If there's anyone who hasn't seen his new flick, Exit Through the Gift Shop, well, what are you waiting for?
Photos courtesy of ANIMAL

Outdoor concert season

It's the most wonderful time of the year - the time when free outdoor concert series start announcing their summer lineups.

Central Park SummerStage is off the hook in 2010: highlights include Dan Deacon, Jimmy Cliff, St. Vincent, The xx, Public Enemy, Pharoahe Monch, and Doug E. Fresh. There's also a pretty rad benefit lineup (yes, that means these tickets cost money) including John Butler Trio & State Radio, The Flaming Lips (sold out), The Black Keys & The Morning Benders (sold out), Hot Chip, Hercules and Love Affair & Holy Ghost.
If you didn't snatch up Keys tickets fast enough (muahaha), word on the street is that they'll be playing a secret show this Saturday night - downtown location yet to be announced.

And let's not forget our favorite outer borough - Celebrate Brooklyn at the Prospect Park Bandshell is hosting The Roots, Talib Kweli, Sonic Youth, Metric, and many more. If you're not broke, tickets to benefit shows by Rufus Wainwright and The Dead Weather (Jack White's newest musical venture) are still available.

Stay tuned for the Jelly NYC Pool Parties list, which Chuck Schumer recently confirmed will be back again with eight sure-to-be-sicknasty shows. Schumer reportedly "can't wait to ride [his] bike this summer to the East River Park to rock out at these concerts once again." Me too, Chuck. Me too.

Get hired for $6

Remember that possibly-urban-legend about the guy who got into Harvard by answering their essay question about the scariest thing you've ever done by scrawling "Fuck Harvard" across the application page? This is sort-of-not-really like that, only cooler:
Copywriter Alec Brownstein bought Google ad words for top advertising creative directors' names for the low price of $6. When they Googled their own names, they got a message from Brownstein asking for a job. The results are pretty freaking amazing.

Food for thought

I'm proud and pleased as punch to welcome my good friend Jamie to the blogosphere! Who better to take nutrition/fitness/foodie advice from than this smart, savvy and svelte soon-to-be dietitian? Her motto: "duh, just eat it (and work out tomorrow)." Now that's a policy I can get behind.

Some more of my favorite recipe/food-related sites:

Smitten Kitchen
Not Eating Out in New York
101 Cookbooks
Tartelette
Cupcake Project
Serious Eats
Wined & Dined

Bon appetit!

Definitely not a book

If this was a Bad News blog, I would tell you about Tyra Banks' new YA book deal (it's called Modelland, and it sounds like what happens when stupid meets crazy). But since this is the Good Newspaper, I'll tell you about a new project coming out June 15, from the wacked-out mind of an author I have an intense love-hate relationship with.

Chuck Klosterman (also known as the bestselling author of Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs, not to mention a fair few more pop culture critiques and snobby-yet-true music commentaries that all grace my bookshelves) has written something that is "definitely not a book." Nor is it an essay, or an article. The Random House-published collection, called HYPERtheticals: 50 Questions for Insane Conversation, is essentially a deck of cards made up of hypothetical questions designed to do what Chuck does best: provoke. Klosterman calls it "just something weird for weird people." Unfortunately, if you're like me, it will be very difficult to avoid paying money to be disparaged by him. That's the Chuck Klosterman we all love to hate.

But we do love you, B

Just when you thought she'd reached the pinnacle of music video hotness (Single Ladies, clearly), Queen B hits us with this jam, ensuring that hubby Hova won't be leaving any time soon. Why Don't You Love Me might just be her best look yet.

"Why Don't You Love Me" - Beyoncé from Beyoncé on Vimeo.

Golden Saturday night

Nothing says Mother's Day like Betty White hosting SNL, with musical guest Jay-Z thrown in for the kids. The onetime Golden Girl has experienced a recent resurgence of popularity, sure to skyrocket tomorrow night when she and Hov appear in a few sketches together. "I'm very excited about meeting him, and I bragged to all my friends who think I'm over the hill," she joked. "Well, I did a sketch with Jay-Z."
Check out the promo video below, as well as a special Betty White SNL drinking game from the folks at Flavorwire.

10 years of Siren Fest

The free Coney Island concert extravaganza known as Siren Festival is in its tenth year running, and in the history of the event, no band has ever played Siren twice. There was a conscious decision made at the festival's conception that if they made it to ten years, the show would re-host some of its best performers. This year on Saturday, July 17, the time has finally come. Matt & Kim, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Surfer Blood are just a few of the festival's veterans who will be coming back for round two. Keep checking the site for more acts TBA.

¡Feliz Cinco de Mayo!

We have the victory of the Mexican militia over the French army at the 1862 Battle of Puebla to thank for the glorious festivities that take place every May 5th. Guacamole, margaritas, mariachi music ... all good things.
Here are a few ways to celebrate:

• Learn how to make some Dos Caminos-style guac. And while you're at it, a rice, bean and corn salad (I used black beans and a lime, cumin, cayenne and cilantro dressing) and some Berry Rosé

• Sangria to wash it down.$3 Dos Equis drafts and margaritas, $2 quesadillas and burritos at the South St Seaport's Water Taxi Beach & Beer Garden opening party, 4-10 pm.

• Grab a margarita-flavored cupcake from the CupcakeStop truck.

• Celebrate Cinco and Bike Month with the Time's Up ride, complete with breaks for pinatas, dancing, and burritos.

• Free margaritas, chips and salsa from 6-7 at West 3rd Common when you become a fan on Facebook.

• Check out the opening night of Diablo Royale Este, a massive Mexican saloon in the East Village.

• Listen to live mariachi, sample "the hottest drink on Earth" (or stick to $5 tequila shots), and enjoy a $30 sharing menu at Mercadito .

• Free margaritas and live music at Ofrenda in the West Village for anyone eating dinner between 7 and 9. Free jalapeño margs for the first 25 people who ask at 9pm. Oh yeah, and a 4-hour happy hour starting at 3, with $5 chorizo nachos and $5 margaritas.

• Blast a little Gloria Estefan, and some Ricky Martin for good measure. You know you want to.

Say yea

I think I've told you how much I lurve Yeasayer before, but have I mentioned that my friend Katie just got us tickets to their sold-out show at Webster Hall tonight? A Baltimore-born, New York-based duo that melds Middle-Eastern, psychedelic indie rock influences, bringing to mind the Talking Heads meet, say, a gospel choir ... what more could you ask for? A free download, perhaps?

The opening band ain't half bad either (in fact, they rock pretty hard). Check out Sleigh Bells' "Ring Ring":

Snuggle with this

Think there's nothing nerdier/more genius than a Snuggie? Guess again. THE KEEP MY ARMS WARM WHEN I READ IN BED THING is the perfect solution for the bookworm who hates cold arms in bed and has never heard of gloves or, say, longsleeved shirts. How could you not love something from a company called Happiness in bed ... that isn't a sex toy? This is the only thing that could make me think about returning to cold weather without a frown.

We're going to Kentucky

This Saturday is the Kentucky Derby (and also the first of May, which means spring fever has officially set in!). Just because we're not in the South doesn't mean putting a damper on the festivities. It's about the mint juleps, not the horses, anyway, right? But if you actually do care to watch the races, TimeOutNY has a list of venues hosting parties. If you're more interested in wearing a big hat and getting day-drunk, check out AlwaysHungryNY's picks for the best juleps this side of the Mason-Dixon line (I've always wanted to say that).

Sun daze

Even though it still feels like winter is taking its sweet time thawing down, this Saturday is supposed to be almost NINETY degrees! Here's a few tracks I'm listening to in the hopes of hastening the arrival of warm weather. Click to cop 'em.

Free Energy - Free Energy
Let's Go Surfing - The Drums
Bejan - Tanlines
Take it Easy - Surfer Blood
Giant - Vampire Weekend
Weed Party- Band of Horses
Daydreaming - Kid Sister

Poetry is power

Tonight at 8 at the Bowery Poetry Club (one of my favorite spots in New York), an organization called Poets for Ayiti is giving a reading from their chapbook, From the Crowns of Your Heads. The inspiring Kathy Engel will read, alongside a bevy of other talented poets. Proceeds from event donations and book sales will raise funds for the rebuilding of Bibliotheque du Soliel, the Port-au-Prince library destroyed during the January 12 earthquake in Haiti. Donations of $20 or more get you a free copy of the limited edition chapbook. If you can't make it tonight but still want to help, fill out this form to make a gift and receive a beautiful collection of poetry in return.

The path to peace

Last night I had the pleasure and privilege of seeing an inspiring documentary at the Tribeca Film Festival, thanks to my friend Adam. Budrus tells the story of a village in the West Bank that was in danger of losing 300 acres of land and 3,000 of the olive trees that are both crucial to the town's economy and representative of their history. In 2003, the Israeli government decided to build a separation barrier that went well past the Green Line, cutting through several Palestinian villages in order to insure the protection of the Israeli people. Budrus was one such village, whose residents successfully challenged the barrier destined to expropriate their land by using tactics not often associated with the Israeli-Palestinian problem. Their path of nonviolent resistance was aided by rival parties Fatah and Hamas, as well as the citizens and journalists from around the world who arrived in busloads to help. Footage of Palestinian villagers standing side by side with Israeli peace activists, facing down bulldozers and suffering at the hands of IDF soldiers, provides a poignant glance into a side of the story we rarely see. It is a hopeful one, a vision that speaks to the power of individuals coming together to fight for change in one of the most conflicted territories in the world.

Visit justvision.org, the filmmakers' non-profit organization, to learn more about what global audiences can do to help the nonviolent movement.

Red rum

Three words: secret. rum. bar.
When today's UrbanDaddy informed me that such a spot is about to open in my very own neighborhood, how could I resist sharing? From the folks that brought us Death & Co. and Mayahuel comes Cienfuegos, a Cuban-style social club on Sixth and A, behind the Cuban coffee shop Carteles and up the back stairs. Check out the drink menu, and the even more breathtaking slideshow. I cannot wait to get my Havana Nights on. Ay, Cuba!

A flea descends on the LES

Manhattan is the holier-than-thou borough, there's no doubt about it. Which is why Manhattanites cringe/make up excuses whenever we find out about something Brooklyn has that our neck of the woods doesn't, then give in and slink onto the L train to experience whatever bar/restaurant/hipster-haven we're lacking. Good news, fellow snobs - our trek is over! This Saturday at 10am, downtown gets its own version of the Brooklyn Flea, in the most funky of all funktowns, the Lower East Side. Okay, so the Hester Street Fair has a LOT to live up to, but the marriage of food, crafts, and vintage gear is sorta hard to f*ck up, especially when such vendors as Sigmund Pretzel Shop, Luke's Lobster, Wanderlust Vintage, and Mile End are involved. See you there!

Stay green

Today is the 40th anniversary of the world's first Earth Day, making it an ideal time to take a moment to pay our respects to the environment and think about how we can make a difference. Let's do our best to do away with this notion of eco-consumerism, a movement that has done for the environment what Hallmark has done for emotional communication. Let's buy less and donate more, because giving barely-worn clothes to a homeless shelter helps more and feels better than purchasing a hemp-woven dress. Let's recognize that the Green Movement is about systemic change, and that it starts on the individual level. Forty years ago, there was no Environmental Protection Agency, no Clean Air, Endangered Species, or Safe Drinking Water Acts - legislative actions that have prevented millions of premature deaths from air pollution, made rivers cleaner, and saved countless animal species from extinction. We now know the environment needs protecting, but the question of policy reform still remains. The environment still rarely serves as a defining issue in political campaigns, and is rarely ranked as a top issue among Americans. Public concern about climate change is declining. Let's try to vote green, to think green, and to continue to give thanks to a planet that will only keep on giving as long as we do our best to protect it.

Houston gets Fairey-fied

Image courtesy of Wooster Collective

The wall space on the corner of Bowery and Houston which famously sported a Keith Haring mural (and was more recently replaced by the work of Brazilian artist-twins Os Gemeos) is undergoing yet another transformation. Shepard Fairey (he of the OBEY line and the now-infamous Obama HOPE poster) has created a promotional piece for his upcoming show at Deitch Projects called May Day. This will be the gallery's last show before closing, so Jeffery Deitch can take over L.A.'s Museum of Contemporary Art. The mural also happens to be directly across the street from the Landmark Sunshine Cinema, currently screening Banksy's "Exit Through the Gift Shop," which features Fairey. You've got six months to ogle this piece, just blocks away from the spot where Fairey once tagged walls - back when street art was, you know, illegal.

Might as well jump

Nothing feels quite as good as throwing caution to the wind and simply taking a leap of faith, whether it be off a cliff or into a pool. After shooting commissioned portraits for such publications as Life and the Saturday Evening Post, famous 20th-century portrait photographer Philippe Halsman would tell his sitters to spring into midair as he snapped a photo for his personal portfolio. These jubilant shots, then published as Philippe Halsman's Jump Book in 1959, featured artists, celebrities, and politicians up in the air. Vintage photos from his Jumpology series are currently on view in the exhibition Philippe Halsman: Jump at the Laurence Miller Gallery until May 28.

Got Minxed

My friend Liat treated me to a truly awesome birthday present: the Minx manicure, seen on Rihanna, Beyonce, Lady Gaga, and more. How could I resist blogging this? Just to bring it down a notch, here's a pic of mine (all silver with one chrome houndstooth) with my typewriter in the background.

Crank that

Here's what I'm bumping on re-re-repeat all month:

Yeasayer, Rome


The Black Keys, Tighten Up (produced by DJ Danger Mouse)

David Byrne & Fatboy Slim (ft Sia), Never So Big - I could not be more obsessed with this ridiculous project

Aloe Blacc, I Need a Dollar


Happy listening!

It was all a blur

This video records every painting that was hanging in the MoMA as of April 10, 2010. Not trippy/fantastical enough for you? Try muting it and streaming LCD Soundsystem's new album, This is Happening (coming out May 18) at the same time.

DeNiro's brainchild, back for round 9

Tickets to the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival went on sale for American Express cardholders yesterday; downtown residents can snap up the remainders on Sunday, and as for the rest of you plebians, well, you'll just have to cross your fingers and wait until Monday. I'm hoping to score seats at one or more of the following: Gainsbourg, Je T'aime ... Moi Non Plus (a biopic of French singer Serge Gainsbourg, starring Laetitia Casta as mistress Brigette Bardot), Sons of Perdition (a documentary about breaking free of a polygamist cult), William Vincent (starring the ever-talented and swoon-worthy James Franco), and Heartbreaker (a French romantic comedy about the business of breaking hearts, starring Johnny Depp's baby mama, Vanessa Paradis). Those of you cursed to live somewhere other than New York need not despair: starting April 21, 15 of the festival's films will be available on demand, in the comfort of your own home.