Here's the thing about the new film "Hidden Figures." It's a bald-faced, liberal-agenda, Hollywood-ized, fictionalized, feel-good fly-over of a complicated and painful era in our nation's history. It has some of the most ham-fisted lines ever like, "Here we are, three Negro women in 1961 chasing a white police officer down the road…." And yet,…
Max Pitruzzella Accused of Sexual Assault by 5 Women
NOTE: Originally posted to website Yehoodi.com on January 19, 2017 Ruth Evelyn, a Boston-based lindy dancer and instructor, posted to her Facebook wall a couple of days ago a very disturbing account of sexual assault by French lindy hopper Max Angelo Hurtado Pitruzella. You can read all of her harrowing account here (WARNING: description of sexual assault.) The incident…
Maison Bleue: Yummy New Bistro and Creperie in Berkeley!
My brother-in-law Fadh and his partner have just opened Maison Bleue, a new French bistro / creperie in downtown Berkeley that I am super excited about. Located just a couple of blocks from the Downtown Berkeley BART station on Kittredge, Maison Bleue looks like a nice addition to the neighborhood. They specialize in both savory…
Rob C’s Definitive Guide to Identifying Street Dances During a Cypher / Battle
From my boy (and dope Chicago Footwork dancer) Rob C. A GUIDE TO IDENTIFYING STREET DANCE FOR NON-DANCERS DURING A CYPHER/BATTLE If that dancer in the battle has been spinning on any appendage for over a minute irregardless of what is happening in the song: B-Boying/B-Girling If that dancer is flapping their arms repeatedly…
A Message from Michael and Jaya: Decorate Time and Space with Art
Photo Credit: Bobby Bonsey photography Page one of the program for the Lindy Focus 2016 swing festival is a welcome letter from the organizers Michael and Jaya to the participants. Most people I'm sure skipped right through it to get to the schedule and other logistical information. That would be a mistake. I was reading it on the…
Lindy Focus 2016 : Chick Webb, 20s Charleston, Almond Croissants and All the Feels
Me and my Lindy Focus "Wife" Jodie This is my third year in a row going to the Lindy Focus swing music and dance festival in Asheville, North Carolina. (Blog posts from 2014 and 2015.) It's always an incredible, inspiring experience, and a great way to close out the year. Here are some of my personal highlights from Lindy…
My 2016 in Pictures
It's been a strange year for a lot of people including myself, with a lot of drama and ups and downs. That said, I have a lot to be thankful for in 2016. Here's a pictorial recap of some of my favorite moments in the year. Dancing Dancing was a huge part of 2016, which…
Hip-Hop Santa Crashes a Lindy Hop Routine (video)
It's so annoying when you are doing a lindy hop routine and hip-hop Santa decides to crash your performance. At Cat's Corner SF, featuring dance classes and live music for dancing every Wednesday in San Francisco.
Reindeer Ride 2016: Holiday Night Bike through San Francisco!
For year's I've been wanting to go on a holiday lights bike ride around San Francisco, to see all the beautiful decorations. This year I got the gumption to organize a "Reindeer Ride" with some friends a couple of weeks ago. Here's how it went. To prepare, I decorated my bicycle and helmet. It was easy to…
Louis C.K: “Dancing is the Worst Career Choice”
OMG, dying.