I'm really digging the new RidetheCity.com website, a service that debuted in 2008 to help bike commuters find the best route from A to B in the city. Let's face it: it's a jungle out there for New York City bikers. We need all the help we can get. The new site integrates elevation data…
Category: Travel
Conscience Unconference explores intersection of social media and human rights
This Saturday, December 5, I will be participating in the "Conscience Unconference" at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington DC. This looks to be a very interesting gathering of museum professionals, activists, educators and academics to discuss "problems, practicalities, and opportunities of using social media to further the missions of 'institutions of conscience' —…
Finding balance with the Brooklyn Quakers at the Powell House Retreat Center
I just got back from the Powell House retreat center in upstate New York, joining 40-some Quakers from the Brooklyn Friends Meeting. It was a relaxing and spiritually recharging weekend among some very deep souls. I'm fairly new to Brooklyn Meeting, having only started attending a couple of years ago. So going on a weekend…
Quaking and Swinging: Teaching Quakers how to social dance
This weekend I am up in Old Chatham, New York at the Powell House retreat center for the annual retreat of my spiritual community, the Friends Meeting of Brooklyn. Tonight I taught a small group of Quakers the basics of social dance both as a fun activity and to deepen their understanding about the concept…
Apl.de.ap of Black-eyed Peas wants to “Take You to the Philippines” (video)
I got that news that Philippines-born member of the Black-eyed Peas Apl.de.ap recently launched a new music video / tourism spot called "Take Me to the Philippines" on MTV Asia. It's a catchy little number and a slickly produced music video, created by LA-based We Are Royale, with support from the Philippine Department of Tourism. …
Dreaming of Dutch Living
As I write this, I’m eating brunch in an outdoor café on the corner of Oosterpark in the southeastern part of Amsterdam, imagining (again) what it might be like to live here. Tall blonde girls walk past me every couple of minutes, each one cuter than the last. A waiter serves me a perfect cup…
Helping bring a new life into the world
Tomorrow night I'm off to Europe to help some dear friends of mine have a child. To be exact, if all goes as planned, I am going to be the biological father of their child. It's one of the most important things I've ever done in my life. I've been friends with the couple for…
Top Notch team routine from ILHC: Swinging to Dave Brubeck’s “Take Five”! (video)
Here's a final video from the 2009 International Lindy Hop Championships that I wanted to share. This is by the Swedish team "Top Notch." Although this only got fifth place, I thought it was artistic, inventive, entertaining and very difficult. They used the space well, had a variety of formations, and showed tremendous musicality….
California Rolls “Love Me or Leave Me” routine at ILHC and why it rocked (video)
At 3am Sunday night / Monday morning, the 2nd annual International Lindy Hop Championships came to a rousing close in Washington DC. It was an incredible weekend of lindy hop competition, social dancing, live music, workshops, and socializing with dancers from around the US and all over the world. One of my fondest memories from…
Evita & Mike dance to “Singin in the Rain” (video)
Last night at ILHC, Evita Arce and Mike Jaeger performed an incredibly beautiful routine to “Singin in the Rain” in the Cabaret Division. I was filming it from the back, and I still get verklempt watching it, trying to hold my hand steady. Others I talked to felt the same. This is why I go…