So I've been alluding to some major life changes on the horizon. It's time to come clean: Sometime in early 2011 I'm moving back to the San Francisco Bay Area. It's something I have been pondering for the past year or so. Over there I've got a wonderful (an enormous) extended family that I feel…
International Lindy Hop Championships 2010: Just a Friendly Little Competition with 700+ Swing Dancers
This past weekend (August 20-22), was the International Lindy Hop Championships (ILHC), held in Washington DC. A relatively new event, only in its third year, ILHC has emerged as one of the few "must go" events in the lindy hopper's calendar. This year's ILHC continued to raise the bar for swing events with world-class competitions,…
Best and Worst Episodes of “Legion of Extraordinary Dancers” Season One
Here's my list of the ten episodes of "season one" of the Legion of Extraordinary Dancers, grouped in order from best to worst. My own criteria include how bad ass the dancing is, whether the plot distracts or adds, the cinematography, and overall coolness of the concept. YMMV. Rik's Best to Worst Episodes of Legion…
3D Interactive Mini-site about Jazz Age Lawn Party on Governors Island
Martin Leclos has created this wonderful 3d interactive mini-site focused on the Jazz Age Lawn Party thrown by Michael Arenella and friends on Governor's Island during the summer. I love seeing my friends zoom in and out, watching them dance, and hearing their voices on the site. So well done! Thanks for creating this, Martin!…
Harlem Nightlife Map from the 1930s Harlem Renaissance
New York lindy hopper Mike Thibault posted on his blog a scan of this amazing illustrated nightlife map of Harlem during the height of the Harlem Renaissance in the 1930s. So many cool details, including colloquial expressions ('what's da numbah"), mores about alcohol and drug use (marijuana cigarettes 2 for $.25), popular dances ("snakehips," lindy…
I love my Chemex coffee maker
After getting two of the best cups of coffee ever from both my friend Paul and from Sightglass Coffee in San Francisco made from a Chemex coffee maker, I resolved to get one for myself for my birthday. Going against the increasing technification of the coffee process,the Chemex boils down coffee brewing to its essence:…
Music Video “I Wish” by Matt Palmer features PMT Dancers
I enjoyed this music video "I Wish" by R&B artist Matt Palmer. It features several dancers I know from PMT Dance Studios: Pavan Thimmaiah (choreographer), Matt Lopez, Alan Watson, and Antonio Boss. Great dancing and cool choreo that nicely accentuates the music and the emotion. The song is pretty damn catchy, and Matt Palmer has…
Showing of Documentary about Muslim Youth in America on August 25 in NYC
I'm excited to be helping organize this screening of a documentary film directed and produced by my friend Nina Froriep next Wednesday. It's going to be a special night, so I hope many folks can come! Here's the official announcement: Global Kids and Clockwise Productions cordially invites you to a showing of the film “Abraham’s Children,”…
“Step Up 3D”: Silly Plot, Amazing Hip-hop Dance on the Big Screen
A couple friends and I just saw "Step Up 3D," the latest installment of the successful hip-hop dance movie series. Directed by John Chu, the film bears absolutely no relationship to "Step Up" (2007), which I somewhat begrudgingly enjoyed. Knowing that this was going to be a cheesy plot that was largely an excuse for…
Yehoodi Video Talk Show #612: Ninjammers, Hot Shots, Bad Mullet Dancing and More!
Yes, it's another episode in the somewhat erratically released Yehoodi Video Talk Show, starring yours truly and my buddy Spuds. For those that don't know, Spuds and I do a regular audio podcast talking about what's happening in the world of lindy hop / swing dancing. And every few months or so, we get together…