Musings on Dance, Food, Geek Stuff
The year 2001 was height of the neo-swing era in New York City. There were bars and clubs everywhere offering live swing music and dancing. Young lindy hoppers like me would cruise around the city, going from venue to venue, drunk on this music and this dance that was all around us. There were a…
I have a confession to make: I do a lot of social media surfing in bed. Particularly right before falling asleep and when waking up. For the past couple of weeks I’ve practiced restraining myself from social media surfing when in bed. I’m embarrassed to say that it’s been pretty hard. Just lying there at…
Several months ago, I started going by “Riki” instead of “Rik.” It began almost subconsciously as I was meeting new people at the skating rink. I didn’t know why I was suddenly introducing myself as “Riki” but I just went with it. Slowly I started expanding this practice, and now in informal settings, it’s just…
I based this recipe on a Food Network coconut ice cream recipe. I modified it to have even more coconut flavor with the addition of macapuno (young coconut strands). I added in the ginger flavor in two ways — with fresh ginger steeped in the custard and then candied ginger for that hit of spice….
My friend Albert Boulanger brought this awesome factoid to my attention: to compete with the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem in the 1939, the Golden Gate Ballroom also featured roller-skating. Can you imagine getting to lindy hop AND rollerskate in the same lavish ballroom? Sigh. SOURCE: The Birth of Bebop, By Scott DeVeaux ยท 1997
I can’t get enough of this group of hoofers recreating “Moses Supposes” the incredible Gene Kelly and Donald O’Conner dance number from Singin in the Rain. Seeing all these diverse folks bringing their joy and heart to this classic just makes me so freaking happy. CREDITS Directed by Caleb Teicher Original Choreography by Gene Kelly…
This might be the most woo post ever. But lately I’ve been thinking about the kind of energy I share with those around me. We talk about people who “light up a room” when they walk into it. And others who “kill the vibe” with their presence. What does that mean? I am slowly starting…
It was five years ago today that I was last at the legendary Herrang Dance Camp in Sweden, along with 1,000 other crazy lindy hoppers from all over the galaxy. On a lark, I entered the solo jazz dance contest, knowing that I would get spanked by the many, many incredible dancers who were there….
I recently shared to my feed this incredible breakdown of an Oscar Peterson piano solo. Which led to this response from my friend Jeremy Cooper: There are heroes that inspire me and always make me want to sit down and simply practice more. But then there are giants who tower so high above the landscape…
I have an odd memory of visiting Disneyland as a kid where a family asked me if I was a Mouseketeer. I didn’t even know there was an Asian Mouseketeer at the time. Apparently Curtis Wong was on the late 1970s revival of The Mickey Mouse Club. I have to admit, upon comparing photos, there…