I just finished Luke Cage Noir (2010), part of the Marvel Comics "Noir" series, re-visioning various superheroes as trenchcoat-clad detectives, gangsters, and devious molls from the 1930s. Luke Cage is nearly a perfect choice, since he is a street-smart, hard-edged detective, who also happens to have bullet-proof skin. I found myself comparing the graphic novel…
Category: New York
Yehoodi Celebrates 12 Years Supporting Lindy Hop with Swing Party, Dance Contest October 21
It’s hard to believe that 12 years ago in a garage in Queens, a scrappy Manu Smith and a scruffy Frank Dellario thought, "There has to be a better way to disseminate Larry’s List!" And thus, Yehoodi.com was born. In the twelve years that followed there have been all kinds of changes in the Lindy…
Diana Jensen’s Found Photo Paintings at the DUMBO Art Festival
This Saturday I stopped by the DUMBO Arts Festival, to see the recent work of my friend Diana Jensen. Her newest work is entitled “Blue Screen Series” and here's how she describes it: These paintings reference photos I found on the wall of a Miami pizzeria—shots of the workers after hours. The vivid ultramarine blue…
“Swift Solos” Show Celebrates the Work of Legendary B-boy Ken Swift
oLive Dance Theatre's SWIFT SOLOS from Hip-Hop Theater Festival on Vimeo. This year's Hip Hop Theater Festival features a show I'm very excited to see: "Swift Solos." "Swift Solos" is a series of vignettes based on the dance legacy of legendary b-boy Ken Swift. From his early years as an up-and-coming dancer, to joining Rock…
Awesome “Back to School” Sign in Brooklyn
I love this "Back to School" painted sign on my local grocery store in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn. Cool things about this sign: "School" is in quotes Girl in full muslim garb on right Sorta scary white kid in the middle Asian kid in the back who almost has no face Blonde girl with one orange…
“I Charleston New York”: Frenchies bring Charleston Mania to Manhattan
As I mentioned about a month ago, I participated in the "I Charleston New York" flash mob in Times Square along with a bunch of other local lindy hoppers. Organized by those wacky dancers from Montpellier, the Swingjammerz, "I Charleston…" is a video project where they go from city to city around the world, spreading…
Global Kids is Hiring a Technical / Program Assistant
My organization Global Kids is looking to round out our awesome team of digital media experts and educators with a Technical / Program Assistant. If you have LEET web skills, a passion for digital media, and a heart for urban teens, we could use you! Global Kids is a great place to work with a…
Adventures in Lindy Hop: Dancing with Zac Posen at Saks
Tammy, who runs You Should Be Dancing Studios, invited me and a friend to participate in a cool promotional event at Saks Fifth Avenue department store last night. The gig was a dance party as part of "Fashion's Night Out," a series of parties going on all over the city as part of Fashion Week….
Wanted: Computer Mice for At-risk Teen Programs in NYC
Do you have an extra computer mouse you aren't using? My nonprofit Global Kids could use any working USB, two-button mice for our digital media programs with at-risk teens. Starting in a couple of weeks, I'm running a science, culture and technology project in Brooklyn, and realize that our laptops don't have computer mice. For…
The Brooklyn Public Library is Awesome
I'm embarassed to say that yesterday afternoon, after 15 years in New York City, was only the second time that I've been to a NY public library. I was planning on doing some research for the "I Dig Brazil" program which begins in a few weeks, hoping to find out information about the local culture,…