Freestyle Dance Set to the Beat of Life at Union Sq. Theater

GROOVALOO is a dance theater performance currently being held at the Union Square Theater at 100 E 17th street. But that simply signifies where it is, what Groovaloo means is an entirely different matter. In essence it is a dance troupe, a hodgepodge of dancers from different backgrounds, both in their personalities and technical styles.

The performance of Groovaloo tracks the lives of the performers, letting the audience see into the hearts and minds of these dancers, most often revolving around how they found the stage. These stories display the courage to pursue a creative lifestyle, even if their families said it was a foolish choice.

A prime example is co-creator Bradley “Shooz” Rapier’s story. He was in medical school when he won first place in a talent competition in Canada, and had to make a choice, doctor or dancer. Another prevalent character, Al Star, played by Caity Lotz in the performance this past Sunday, is a former ballet dancer that couldn’t break free of routine and improvise. Her character in the show is someone who loves dance but is scared of not knowing what to do.

Often a sense of personal empowerment could be felt through the dancer's exotic and precise movements. The Groovaloos threaded intricate seat pieces with other dance numbers that appeared improvised. While the more structured sections have the voiceover stories, it is often in the dancer’s freestyle moments that why they chose a life of dance is most apparent.

In 1999 the Groovaloos were created by dancer/choreographer, Rapier, and with the help of director/co-creator, Danny Cistone, this show based on their lives was born. At first a loose collection of freestyle dancers, the Grooveloos vast accomplishments in all aspects of dancing and acting have pushed the troupe to the forefront of freestyle dance. Charlie “Vzion” Schmidt, who delivered the spoken-word portions in the show, has danced with Michael Jackson, Usher, and as an Ipod dancer. Teresa “Rag Doll” Espinosa has choreographed for Missy Eliot, Rihanna, and Miley Cyrus. These are just a few examples of the troupe’s impressive body of work.

Another persistent theme in the show revolves around the older dancer, Steven “Boogieman” Stanton who dances across the stage with a cane for most of the performance. Stanton was a innocent bystander shot in the back at a nightclub shootout. He was told he might never walk again. Stanton struggles to reclaim movement, and his ultimate victory over adversity bookends the performance.

As a theater performance about dance, Groovaloo was spectacular. Every number, and there were 29 of them, was perfectly executed. From an assembly line of metal-face robots pulling one dancer into the world of routines, to two dancers looking through a mock mirror and portraying each other with near perfection. The performer’s natural skill pulsates in every set piece in the show, and the mashup beats and mixes are all fitting and well integrated.

How much a viewer enjoys Groovaloo really depends on one’s expectations before walking through the door. If you love the b-boy culture, freestyle dance, and hip hop, then this show is a must see. It contains moments of genius at every turn, and never feels repetitive for the entirety of the show. However, if you walk in expecting a complicated story with twisting drama, you may be disappointed. Every story the characters told are of reality, these are the stories of the performers lives. When they are shown through dance with a voice-over spoken narrative they can feel one-dimensional. What the stories do excellently however is allow the performers to put their lives on display with the movements of their bodies, and the audience can feel the sincerity behind each story of progression, acceptance, and courage.

Groovaloo is playing regularly through Jan. 3rd. Tickets can be purchased here. The troupe will also be performing as a special guest on FOX’s So You Think You Can Dance on Dec 16th.

What NIN Front Man Trent Reznor has to say to the Struggling Musician

I tend to listen to a guy like Trent Reznor. You-the-reader may or may not be fond of his band Nine Inch Nails, but you’ve got to give credit to his mastery of the new digital music market.

A post on his personal forum lays out details for breaking into a market that may seem dead or dying to corporate music execs, but if an artist can understand what fans of music want they can still obtain a rewarding and profitable experience from The Biz.

Reznor gets right to the point addressing what the elephant record labels won’t talk about, musicians can no longer make money selling just their album.

The artist and distribution method in question was the Beastie Boys and the relatively new and innovative TopSpin Media. Of course, the Beastie Boys have the advantage of being firmly established with millions of fans and record sales already under their belt. But the message he has is, “give your music away as high-quality DRM-free MP3s [and] collect people's email info in exchange.” To make money, Reznor suggests creating custom hand-crafted premium packages, similar to what both Radiohead and NIN did, with In Rainbows, and Ghosts I-IV, respectively (this is relevant to any independent artist, not just musicians, but cartoonists, writers, etc. as well.)

The music industry is in flux and there is no shortage of theories on what to do about it. Reznor's opinions are clearly on adapting to the market not fighting it. His take on the current market and where creativity should be focused is to, “offer a variety of premium packages for sale and make them limited editions/scarce goods. Base the price and amount available on what you think you can sell. Make the packages special.” Once you’ve established a fan base through building online connections, Reznor believes that it will be easy to reach those who will want to hear about concert dates, new records (which are free) and deluxe vinyls and art.

A distribution platform like TopSpin is viable, but there are others like it. And, for the tech savvy, building a website with everything mentioned above can be done for nearly free with enough time and dedication.

Reznor’s admission that “music is free” whether musicians like it or not, is painfully accurate. It is however, infinitely better to have a curious music fan visit your band's website, download your latest album, and feel like the artist just wants fans to have it. Especially when the alternative is to have that same person download the album off a torrent site, (especially with the likelihood of said person purchasing the album at a big-box record store being essentially nil), and then maybe or maybe not ever buying the album online or otherwise. With such an impersonal approach, the listener is probably not likely to keep track of the artist’s gigs, or even remember the band two weeks later.

I agree with Reznor here, that society has become too accustomed to free media, and the up-and-coming artist is severely disadvantaged. But Reznor is explaining how to play the game. It might be unorthodox, but it also just might work.

[Read the forum thread here]

Art Can Help People

An international art exhibit and competition, known as Canstruction, is now on display in the Financial District.

Using only cans of food and bottled drinks, —to later be donated to City Harvest— design firms from around the city built structures now on view at the Winter Garden in the World Financial Center.

All the food used to make the skillfully crafted sculptures will be given to the soup kitchens and food pantries of City Harvest, a non-profit organization trying to alleviate the stresses of New York’s needy.

The exhibit had three winning creations: Best in Show won by Arianna Braun Architects which crafted “Feed the Bank,” Best Use of Label went to Ted Moudis Associates, who designed the Beatles-inspired “We Get By With A Little Help From Our Friends,” and Best Structural Integrity awarded to Platt Byard Dovell White Architects and the gravity defying “A Fungus to Feed Us.” Of course the real prize is that the food will go to help the less fortunate.

Canstruction is a foundation run by the Society for Design Administration (SDA). The SDA claims over 10 million pounds of food have been donated to local food banks through Canstruction. Later this year and into 2010, Canstruction events are being held all over the country, including the founding cities of Denver and Austin in the following weeks. The event has grown to include over 130 competitions in the '09-'10 circuit.

You can view the free exhibit until Nov. 23rd, from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. The public is invited to donate cans of food at the event.

Decapitations Run Wild On the City's Billboards

A graffiti artist known as "the Decapitator" with a penchant for replacing ordinary poster images with a beheaded replacement has begun a reign of terror on New York City streets.

The anonymous artist has a flickr pool displaying the multitude of decapitations.

The latest victim, Shakira on the Rolling Stone cover poster, has been vandalized around the city and even on the actual magazine cover in newsstands.
The decapitator plasters on a perfectly detailed image on top of the advertisements. The replacement often creates a disturbing image including blood splatter on the surroundings and putting the lone headless victim in a group of others cheering and smiling.

I would give this graffiti artist some credit for making waves in the mainstream media, (there was an article in Wired about the artist's work in London) but the decapitator's portrayal lacks the subtlety of say Banksy, obey, or Neck Face. While these new pieces may give the other talented, socially motivated, graffiti artists in the city a run, the decapitator seems to be more of a one-trick-pony along the lines of the splasher, the lame “artist” who threw buckets of paint on other graffiti artist’s work.

Words and Pictures (a webcomic), makes a fair point as well, while the decapitator had been hard at work in London tagging many clothing and movie posters, the headless characters have predominantly been female models. There have been exceptions, including Daft Punk, the UFC fighter Shamrock, or a chicken, but overall there is a certain misogynistic feel to the work. (Although there is no physical proof that it is even a male perpetrator.)

I’m certainly all for the culture-jamming movement, and guerrilla subvertising can sometimes show the absurdity of a media saturated world. But to convey a message, often one just needs satire and humor, not necessarily violence. Still, it’s a better outlet than having another Jack the Ripper roam the streets.

First TV Show About a Twitter Feed Is Happening Now

The magnificently funny Twitter feed, “shitmydadsays” is being made into a television comedy.

Maxim.com editor Justin Halpern, 29, started the Twitter account after moving back in with parents. He had already landed a book deal with Harper Collins for the rampant success of foul-mouthed witticisms by his 72-year-old father, when he got the TV deal with CBS.

The show is getting serious treatment, being produced by Will & Grace creators, David Kohan and Max Mutchnick, and will be written by Halpern and Patrick Schumacker.
Unfortunately, the show will not be called Shit My Dad Says.

Shitmydadsays is the second newsfeed style Internet property to land a TV deal. TextsFromLastNight, which has exploded in popularity, having exposure on Facebook, Twitter and its own independent website, also has a TV deal in progress. Fox is developing TFLN.

Drink Corona? You Must Know Where the Party is

An online study by market researching firm Mindset Media found some interesting correlations between the beer you choose to drink and the personality traits that go along with it.

Mindset described their psychographic findings to Adage.com, and the results fit within many of the established advertising methods these beer companies use, but some were less clear.

A prime example of how beer can be marketed to very susceptible parts of the human psyche, i.e. the ego, is seen clearly in how Michelob Ultra drinkers see themselves. According to the survey, Michelob Ultra drinkers:

“Think highly of themselves and can be a little bit conceited. They care what other people think about them and want to appear perfect. They also tend to be take-charge types with strong opinions, and can even be confrontational. Michelob Ultra drinkers are 43% more likely than the average person to consider sustainability a priority, and 34% more likely to buy life insurance.”

Interestingly enough, that is spot on with their current TV ad. In the video, two young, sexy, corporate exec-types are working hard, then are quickly out running excitedly through the city, and moments later sipping Michelob Ultras at a chic Manhattan rooftop bar surrounded by other beautiful people sipping their energy drink, oh I mean beer. (You can see the ad here)

Mindset Media questioned about 2,500 people through online surveys on their favorite beer and many personality-describing questions relating to how to market to these individuals.

The director behind the survey, John Durant, said that, “he doesn’t just like beer, [he] loves it.” Personally, he drinks Stella Artois, and that means, “I’m a little bit immodest,” he said, “but it also means I’m very open minded, and like to experience new things.”

Craft beer drinkers were found to be social liberals. They separated craft beer from Blue Moon drinkers even though many don’t realize the orange flavored sorority favorite is part of the Coors Brewing Co. but instead that it is an independent brew. Regardless, patrons of both had relatively similar standpoints on most issues. Those that enjoy Blue Moon, and craft beers in general, lean socially liberal and according to the survey if you drink Blue Moon you are “105% more likely to drive hybrid cars, 77% more likely to own Mac laptops, 65% more likely to purchase five pairs or more of sneakers every year, and 32% more likely to not be registered voters.”

Values of beer drinkers and their choice of drink is a tricky business, there is certainly some stigma associated with drinking certain brands of beer, same as there would be for different brands of clothing. Some interesting correlations made in the study included the data that Budweiser is the choice for the practical, sensible, minded. Bud drinkers “are 42% more likely to drive a truck, [and] 68% more likely to choose a credit card with flexible payments.” Coors Light is a tried and true choice, and a drinker is probably more likely to get in a bar fight, and be less creative.

Corona, expectedly, attracts extroverts and people going out to bars a lot. Dos Equis was an interesting case. The Dos Equis ads featuring “The Most Interesting Man In the World” haven’t been around too long, and his catch phrase, “I don’t always drink beer, but when I do, I prefer Dos Equis,” matched up perfectly with those who most often drink the double ex.

Of course, an analysis like this does tend toward a chicken vs. egg argument. Has Dos Equis always been the beer of choice for connoisseurs of life, or was that image solely created by Dos Equis? The same of course could be said for Michelob Ultra, and to lesser degrees all beer, although none limit themselves in a market slice as these two.

The full study data will be released shortly on Mindset media’s website.

Eli Escobar Interview

Adem Cengiz: You've been in the DJ scene in NYC for a while now, gaining popularity and getting in with the right people. Who has helped you with your success the most?

Eli Escobar: I would say first and foremost being a NYC club kid... By the time I was ready to play out at clubs I already knew a lot of promoters and DJ's so it was a bit easier to get work than say if I had come from out of town and was starting from scratch. Also, by now a lot of people know Bobbito Garcia was very instrumental in helping me during my early days... putting me on the radio and getting me club gigs. I definitely will always feel indebted to him for all his help.

AC: You've got your hands in a lot of mixtapes and albums, which is a great thing to see, and you¹re a skillful producer. Do you enjoy working the studio more now, or is the live DJ set still your passion?

EE: I think I have an equal love for both. And for me, they go hand in hand. The more exposure I get for my production, the less Top 40 gigs I have to do!

AC: How has the international DJ scene been? Is it more fun to be traveling around, bringing your vibe to the hotspots of the world, or do you like being in one place for a while?

EE: Well I do love being home in New York, but unfortunately night life here is not what it once was. So in terms of playing out, I'm far more excited to go to Toronto or Moscow or Helsinki than I am to play here. It's also great to meet people all over the world and see what's happening in their respective club scenes.

AC: Have you always been, and always will be, a NY DJ?

EE: I suppose so. People say they can hear it in my music and in my DJing. There's definitely an old school NY style of playing that I think I still subscribe to. Light on the scratching... more about pacing and well rounded sets.

AC: Your blog OutsideBroadcast, has it been really useful for your career?

EE: Sure. When I started it, I put it up so I could share some records with friends of mine. Suddenly I was getting readers from all over the world and before I knew it, traveling all over the world as well! I was still a bit of an internet novice at that point and was completely unprepared for the response it got.

AC: And do you feel like its essential for a DJ to have an online voice in the industry today?

EE: Seems to be that way, huh? I go to record stores every week and buy new vinyl and cds but I know most people don't. Most DJs included. If a song doesn't get blogged, it seems most people don't know it exsists. I think it's different overseas where people tend to get music off of Beatport and Juno.

AC: Or is the popularity and knowledge of a DJ still determined by word of mouth?

EE: There's always a word of mouth thing when it comes to DJ's. We are a tight group and tend to put each other up on new music we're feeling.

AC: What mixes are you working on right now? With who?

EE: I'm making a mix with my friend Amanda Blank... We did a lot of music that didn't end up on her album. And more since the album came out, so we're putting it out for free so people can hear what we've done. I'm also putting out a mix CD of a bunch of my best disco edits. The cd will come with a bonus disc of unmixed songs.

AC: What has been your favorite collaboration recently?

EE: I did a remix for Phoenix, and they are so good! They didn't put it out but nevertheless it was fun to break apart their song and have a go with it.

AC: The DJ'ing world, and the music world in general, has lost a lot of heroes recently. I read that you were close with DJ AM. How influential was he in your early career?

EE: I met Adam on myspace about 5 years ago. He messaged me saying how much he liked my work and we became close almost instantly. He was a guy who would not shy away from playing anything in a club. Took a lot of risks. I always respected that and I think a lot of DJ's are better off for having followed his example.

AC: Do you feel like there is a vacuum of leadership in the DJ and mixtape realm of music?

EE: I don't really know... My biggest influences are old Chicago radio DJ's from the 80's so I think you're asking the wrong person! When I was young and starting out, I looked up to a few guys in particular, I'm sure it's that way now for the young kids. But there are so many different styles of DJing, music and different scenes. So I don't really know... Haha

AC: Who are the up and coming musicians/DJ's/producers that you would most like to work with?

EE: As a producer I'd like to work with some old singers like Alison Moyett or Boy George! That would be the dream...But as a remixer I always hope to get jobs remixing whoever's making great music at the moment.

AC: How often are you on East Village Radio? Do they have a pretty receptive audience for your music?

EE: I have a weekly show with Stretch Armstrong called the Delancey Music Service. We're on Monday nights at 10pm. The reception has been great. Online radio is exciting ‘cause you get listeners from all over the world.

Find A Gig Near You

Having trouble treading through the tumultuous landscape of New York’s music scene? (Or any major city with throngs of young musicians playing shows weekly for that matter.) GigLocator, a new concert aggregator, is trying to build a community of concert lovers around their easily navigable sea of local concerts.

There are a few other sites that do what GigLocator is attempting, but none have created so seamless and intelligent an interface. The very new website (still in beta), was designed by 18-year-old James Proud, who won a web entrepreneur competition (Tomorrow’s Web) with the concept.

Packed with features that make organizing favorite bands and genres simple, once signed up with the website you can keep track of concerts attended, see who else went the same concerts as you –and eventually– view and upload pictures and videos of the shows.

The site draws upon major concert databases from the large ticket distributors (ticketmaster, livenation etc.) as well as independent venue listings and lesser-known artists that might otherwise be more difficult to find.

One part of the smart feature set is the site’s concert recommendation engine. Drawing upon your favorite bands listed in linked Last.fm and Pandora accounts, GigLocator will then suggest other artist’s shows in your area that would match your taste. This integration is made more useful by the fact that these sites do not offer concert-locating systems nearly as robust as this one.

Such a service is a welcome addition to the available concert searching options. Other concert aggregation options in New York are typically genre- or venue-based, and while magazines like Timeout and NYMag list many concerts, listings are not usually comprehensive and are more like suggestions for the most popular shows available.

The company plans on reaching profitability by tapping into one of the last remaining areas of income in the music scene (concerts are the primary money-maker for lesser-known, or unsigned artists). By charging a small commission on the ticket seller for linking to them through GigLocator, the price of tickets for patrons is not increased, making the site useful without being a burden.

Reni Lane Interview

Reni Lane, rising pop singer and keyboardist for the LA-based band, The Like, has just come off a week’s worth of shows for CMJ ’09 and touring with Arctic Monkeys. She took some time out of her busy touring schedule for an interview dealing with life on the road, her new projects, and her yearly homage to Bowie.

Adem Cengiz: You're entering into the realm of new wave female pop stardom, getting on MTV’s First Ladies of Rock. I know no one wants to here that they’re pop, but your star is certainly rising, is the popularity helping your music?

Reni Lane: I have no problem with the word pop, I mean, The Beatles were pop. To me "pop" means having singable, melodic lines. Who doesn't like a great melody line they can chant to? Thus I am totally fine with the popularity being labeled a "pop" artist brings. However, I think what I have to offer as a pop artist is a bit different because of my lyrical content and alternative production.

AC: On tour with The Like and Arctic Monkeys sounds like a good line up. How is it playing keyboard with The Like?

RL: Playing keys with The Like on the Arctic Monkeys tour was a lot like summer camp. We met and started spending all our time together, so we became really fast friends and shared amazing experiences almost immediately, because they are amazing girls! On the first night I rehearsed with Tennessee and Z, the hills in Los Angeles were on fire, and after rehearsal we were drawn to the light of the fire like moths to the flame. We drove onto the highest hill we could find and then sat in silence looking out over what looked like Mordor. It was a crazily intimate moment between three people who just met and it says a lot about their character and personalities. I love them so much!

AC: Their style of play is certainly a little different since you and Laena came on board. Have the studio sessions leaned towards collaboration or is there a little conflict?

RL: There has not yet been any studio sessions together since their record was pretty much already done by the time Laena and I joined. When playing live with the girls I approach the parts same as I would my own: with an open mind, with willingness to modify my role in creating the sound, and by always striving for excellence! So I do mix it up a little and do my own thing regarding the exact notes I play, but it's all in the vein of what's come before to respect the record they've made - which is already amazing and fun and easy to get into.

AC: Are you still managing to remain a New Yorker while being on tour? I know touring can sometimes be consuming, what have you been doing in your off time?

RL: I always make sure to reserve some quiet alone time for myself while touring to keep centered and not get too caught up in any tour drama (not that there was much to begin with). Usually to do this I would read or watch documentaries and old movies. I watched "Les Parapluies de Cherbourg," "The Lovers," and read a lot of Choygam Trungpa during this tour. It kept me inspired and fresh and reminds you that your whole world isn't stuck on a bus. I think this helps with my performance every night. As far as remaining a New Yorker, a few episodes of "Mad Men" (thank you Z) and "Gossip Girl" was all the New York City I needed.

AC: Have you pulled the rest of the girls into the New York music scene? Or is SoCal the better spot to be this time of year?

RL: I don't necessarily think SoCal or NYC are better than the other, but are better for different things. In this case I think the mix of locations suits us. I'd like to imagine with the girls being based in Los Angeles and me being from New York that I add a bit of toughness and mystery into their sunny, sexy, and feminine Los Angeles looks - like who is that crazy orange-headed chick? Where did she come from? That's why the band is so unique - because each of us has our own star-powered personality and look that stands out.

AC: Are you thinking about taking a run at Britain with Arctic Monkeys in the future?

RL: Well, that would have to be totally up to the Arctic Monkeys! In the very least we had an amazing time and got along really really well and I'm happy to have been a part of it.

AC: If you could tour with any band other than these two, who would it be?

RL: I would love to tour with other really rocking bands like The Walkman or Kings of Leon. Although I'm labeled as a pop artist I think nothing beats the energy and excitement of a live rock show and I'm always tailoring my live experience towards that.

AC: I watched your "10 Random Things About Reni Lane" video. Did you come up with the concept, or how much was the director’s input? Either way the videos are great; short, snappy and funny.

RL: Why thank you so much! My dear friend and director Joe Turner Lin came up with the idea with the help of my other great friend and composer David Poe. Then, armed with a long long list of random things about me that I rattled off, Joe thought up hilarious scenes and together we picked the 10 that would best inform people about the many sides of Reni Lane. It was a collaboration but Joe definitely spearheaded the whole thing and worked the hardest to make it a reality.

AC: The trombone is pretty badass instrument to learn, especially when added with your other talents. I mean singing, guitar, keyboard, impressive. Have you always been a multi-instrument girl, or have there been some recent pick-ups?

RL: I've always loved picking up new instruments and this pretty much has never stopped. Guitar and then just before that singing, were the most recent additions. But as they say, 'jack of all trades, master of none,' so my goal is not to learn everything but to master what I already know. I still have a lot of work to do on becoming a better piano player even though it's the first thing I picked up.

AC: And wow, throwing shows in your dorm room at Columbia, how did the University like that?

RL: I'm sure Public Safety wasn't too happy when I started throwing live shows and listening parties in my dorm room for college musicians to share their music. I remember at the first party I threw freshman year - a sexy Santa Claus themed ditty - that the cops showed up before the party even started! But as long as it was all over before "quiet" hours everything was OK, and I was really good about respecting the neighbors and noise levels. Plus, all my neighbors ended up coming to the performances anyway, or the party would move into someone else's room once things started winding down.

AC: Since you’re a different version of David Bowie every year for Halloween, does that mean that for your show at Rouge Tomate the audience is going to get to see it, or will you dress up afterward?

RL: How I dress up for Rouge Tomate on Halloween is a safely guarded top-secret government operation. Under oath from President Obama I cannot comment on it to any extent!

AC: Is it difficult not to go back to the Ziggy Stardust every time? And have you ever been Jareth from Labyrinth?

RL: The David Bowie personalities I've already done are Aladdin Sane and The Thin White Duke. So I still have a long way to go, but I didn't even think of Jareth from Labyrinth until you mentioned it - thank you for that! It's definitely now added to the list.

AC: Thank you for the interview, and good luck with the music career.

Interview conducted and edited by Adem Cengiz.

Don't Get on the Governator's Bad Side

Governor Arnold Schwarzernegger recently sent a veto notice to the state congress with a rather odd message if read in a certain way.

The Message was in response to a bill proposed by state Congressman Tom Ammiano who recently shouted, "Kiss my gay ass" to the Governor at a democratic dinner party. The Governor's press secretary, Aaron McLear said it was a, "weird coincidence."

OK Governor, intentional or not, it was a clever rebuttal. But maybe you should play nice with your congress until California isn't drowning in debt.

[Via SFGate]

Tribeca Film Festival Brings New York's Hottest Cinema Night to the Middle East

For the first time, the Tribeca Film Festival is hosting an event in Doha, Qatar from Oct. 29 to Nov. 1.

Qatar and the Emirates are becoming a hotbed of finance for the film industry as the region expand its interest in the filmmaking business. Not only has the UAE become a prime area for producers and backers of Hollywood and art house projects, but Qatari directors are also getting attention on an international scale due to the influx of funding.

Three years ago, the daughter of Sheikh Emir Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Sheikha Al Mayassa Bint Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, was an intern for TFF in New York (she is also the Chair of the Qatar Museums Authority). While gaining knowledge of the American film industry, Mayassa told the head director of TFF, Amanda Palmer, about starting a high caliber film festival in her homeland. The groundwork was set, and slowly the festival was put together. Setting up the festival was a challenge and over 1500 volunteers had to be recruited.

To open the festival, the first screening of Amelia in the Middle East will be shown. The film is a biopic on the famed female pilot, Amelia Earhart. Directed by Indian filmmaker, Mira Nair, it will premier at the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha. Many local and regional filmmakers will be given opportunities to showcase their work on an international scale. Some first-time filmmakers, as young as 16, are producing 1-minute films to be shown around the city. The making of the shorts can be seen here.

The festival’s technologically advanced LED red carpet will spectacularly light up as the likes of TFF founders Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal, and Hollywood alum Ben Kingsley and Danny Boyle, stroll across it. The magic carpet was designed to change colors as patrons of the festival walk across it.

More than 30 films from all over the world are slated for viewing. The Doha TFF will have the freshly released films, A Serious Man by the Coen Brother’s, and Coco Before Channel by Anne Fontaine. New documentaries directed by Spike Lee and Oliver Stone will also be shown. Kobe Doin Work by Lee is internationally premiering and South of the Border is having its first Middle East showing.

Some independent films by lesser known directors will also have their international debut nights, Road Movie by Indian director Dev Benegal, and Sin Nombre a film about Mexican immigrants crossing into the US by Cary Fukanaga

There will certainly be considerable focus on films from the region. Which a have been getting much more international attention as of late. And the world Premiere of Assila by Iraqi-Hungarian Director Thamer Al Zedi, which is an animated film about an abandoned foal facing death, rescued by villagers and

As homage to the mystique of Middle Eastern storytelling, The 1969 classic The Mummy, restored by Martin Scorsese, will receive a special showing at the end of the festival.

Josh Madden Interview

Brother of the Madden twins in Good Charlotte, Josh Madden has
completely defined his own path in the rock-influenced art world. A
designer at heart, and overall good guy, Josh has become a force in the
influential underground design and DJ worlds of New York.

AC: Has music always been a part of your life?

JM: Yes, growing up my mom was always singing, she has an incredible voice.
I will always remember my father sitting at the piano singing and
playing Animals tunes and Stevie Wonder. I started piano lessons at a
young age and my brothers bought me my first acoustic guitar when we
were teenagers. I was slated to sing the National Anthem and my "Class
Song" at my high school graduation, until I failed a class...
whah-whuhh. I'm glad I didn't, that might have been the pinnacle of my
music life, haha. I'm nothing special as a musician, but I'm a great
song writer and an intuitive producer.
P.S. I graduated from summer school holding down two jobs and put myself
though college...slayed it.

AC: When was your first DJ'ing gig? If you can remember.

JM: My first gig was at the invitation of my friend Sarah Lewitinn
(Ultragrrrl), I played a set with James Iha (one of the nicest guys on
the planet). I remember we all used CDJ's. Sarah is fun to watch DJ and
to DJ with... someone get her on the phone, bring her out of retirement.
She needs to throw a party again.

AC: Have you created, or considered putting together, an album or
collaborating on one?

JM: I'm working on remixes, a hand full of different songs I like from new
artists with a rad producer named David Patillo. This guy is so
proficient with every instrument he touches and I dream up these
arrangements, we work well together. We've done a bunch under the name
TRUE BLUE, they're going up on-line a little at a time here.

I did a fun little project with Buffalo Bill called CODE NAME PILOT. If
you google it the tracks come up in different places. That was a couple
of years ago.

I also executive produced a record with the help of my big brother and
Junior Sanchez, Greatest_Remixes. That was fun, I worked on the art direction and stuff.

AC: Did you know that turntables were going to be your instrument of
choice early on or was it an evolution?

JM: No.

AC: For all your success in the DJ scene, and it can be an exciting and
lucrative one once you've become established, you strike me as more of a
designer/artist than as a DJ, would you say that's true?

JM: Yes. Well, I think styling, design, DJing, all of that depends so much on
reading people, knowing and satisfying their taste. Maybe showing them
something new, mixing in something they've loved for years... but in the
end it all depends on knowing them.

AC: What bands have you been touring with recently?

JM: Touring with? Well I spend a lot of time with bands. You know the band
Gallows? I love those guys! They are so rad. I wanna go out with my
friends Freelance Whales... I told them I'd sell merch for them. I get
to see Reni Lane a lot, I've probably seen her a dozen times. Edward
Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, I've probably seen them more than most
people... I'm fortunate, I travel and I see bands play when I'm out of
town or in town, wherever I go... I mean, people play music every night.

AC: You're something of a celebrity DJ, frequently DJ'ing Hollywood parties
and major brand functions. Would you prefer to do more shows just for
the music?

JM: I have people hit me up all day long, saying "What do you have that's new? I need new music..." All day long...people do this because I see bands several nights a week. I go with a group of friends of mine, all the time, we see bands all the time, I mean ALL THE TIME! I go see DJ's, I go to other cities, I find out where a DJ, who's remixes I like, is playing and I will post up until I see that person play. Have you ever been to Coco66 in Greenpoint? I saw Bear In Heaven there the other night at like 1:30 in the morning... they are so rad!
I wish I could play whatever set I was feeling on any given night and play the new stuff I found that week and that people would be stoked, but I know that's not the case. People want to hear stuff they know because they want to sing along and you know, that's cool, I don't blame them.
Oh, the events thing, I actually like those parties because people are more likely to walk up and ask "Who's this?" and then write it down. I'm not even shy about it, I like those parties, people come there to have fun, it's less stressful than the politics of clubland, so a lot of times people wild out way more than the club. I've seen some crazy things at those parties... I got stories.

AC: How long has DMCA Collective been in business?

JM: Lemme see... almost 6 years, I think...

AC: What's your involvement in the company?

JM: I came up with the name, the original brand identity that was used for
the first 2 years and did some early design.
I'm kind of a background person these days. The brand aesthetic is lead
more by a friend, Tal Cooperman, who is young, energetic, part of an
exciting growing art scene in LA and I just consult when I'm asked. I
had a company years ago, grew it into a monster sized thing and then
grew on from it. These days I like the strategy part of things. I
believe in everyone at DCMA and Agenda, out there in LA and I just jump
in when I'm called upon.

AC: Has clothing design for a company like DMCA always been something you
wanted to do?

JM: I wanted to work for Chiat/Day in 1995... I mean, I was a teenager, but
that was where it was at back then.
I want to work on the creative side in developing sensible marketing
strategies that do not leave the consumer alienated and resentful,
rather fulfill a need. I want to encourage better product design and
development execution by doing whatever I can to encourage creativity in
popular culture.

AC: What plans do you have for the future of the company?

JM: I will probably come back into a more active role in DCMA in 2010, but
as I said, Tal and the twins are leaders. I am silent, more in business
strategy.
I am currently working on design projects with Aerial 7 Headphones and
Moods of Norway.
There are a few other things lining up that are starting to make 2010
look like the biggest year of my life...

AC: And are you considering branching off on your own with a label?

JM: A record label? No. Steve Aoki has that covered. I'd like to see some of
the majors rehabilitated... that system is going through some changes.
Maybe one day I'll be involved in helping the process through that
medium again. I did a year at a major label. It was fun, but I didn't
really have enough say to make anything huge happen. I genuinely love
artists, I love the process and I love being part of making a good thing
available to people... That said, I know I am always better off keeping
my efforts and opinions focused on things that have invited me in...

AC: How long have you been living in NY?

JM: Almost 6 years.

AC: And why the East Village? I know that I feel it's the most live
neighborhood in the city, but what was its draw for you?

JM: The East Village is the best place for a guy like me. I see people that
live here (I won't say any names because they deserve their privacy) but
they are people that to me have made a mark on culture, popular culture,
the culture of this city... and they live and dwell here almost
anonymously. I want both sides of that. I want to go out and have some
kind of positive effect somehow and then I want to come back here and
see my buddy Aaron at his coffee shop (Ost) and congratulate him on how
well his small business is doing... you get what I'm saying, this is a
neighborhood where being a working class person is not odd. I will
always be a working class person and I'll always love neighborhoods like
this or Mount Pleasant, where I lived in D.C. I will always apply that
ethic to everything I do and feel comfortable in places that breed this
in myself and others.
I love and respect New York and the people that I live among here. I am
grateful for the opportunities I've been given and I plan to keep
exploring, always doing the best job I can, sharing the inspirations I
find and facilitating fun and excitement with others.

P.S. Follow me on Twitter--- www.twitter.com/joshmadden

Cupcakes for the Elite

In an event that’s too hilarious/sad to be made up, Red Velvet at 174 Rivington St. will be the first exclusive cupcake lounge.

Except it isn’t just a cupcake store, it will be the first (and by god it better be the last) cupcake dispensary with doormen. The uber-lounge will feature a pretentious, Eldridge-style door policy, so you better not be overweight and in sweats if you expect to get in.

For those peons among us who ignore the kind of bar that has laser engraved access cards saying “Guest of Matt Levine,” the Eldridge is a year old restaurant where the only way to get in is to be famous or a dear friend of the owner. Guests can’t even bring their friends, according to the owner himself.

Two employees of Levine’s Eldridge, Jason Lawrence and Cole Bernard have opened the new space, drawing influence and products from around the city. The unique alcoholic cupcakes are by Baked by Melissa, and cocktails are crafted by mixologist Charlotte Voisey.

The owners also hope to adopt the Eldridge’s in-club status but not at the expense of locals. In an interview with Eater.com the pair said, “I want to share the space and the experience with as many people as we can. The space will dictate. There will be times when it will be a little more difficult to get in.”

Perhaps cupcakes paired with cocktails was the inevitable conclusion of the cupcake popularity explosion, however this may be just a precursor to the cupcake's totally logical conclusion.

Lobster Direct From Maine to East Village

Luke's Lobster
Cuisine: Seafood
Price Range: Inexpensive

East Village
93 E. 7th Street
(between 1st and 2nd Avenue)
New York, NY

(212) 387-8487

There are only a few places in this country that command an almost dream-like state. Maine on a foggy morning, with the sun cresting out of the Atlantic, the foothills and lakes undisturbed by man lying before you, is surely one of them.

If lucky enough to find yourself in the serene towns and forests of the northern state, there is truly only one thing to do that will define the experience, and that is grab a 2 lb. lobster, (smaller means younger, which means better) a cracker, and feast.


Unfortunately not everyone has the chance to venture so far for a meal, so it is with delight that I bring news of a newly opened Maine-inspired lobster restaurant in New York. Luke’s Lobster just opened at 93 E. 7th street, straddled by the two Caracas store fronts, and it’s serving up the freshest lobster, crab, and shrimp rolls delivered straight from Maine fishing harbors. Luke Holden, the proprietor of this modest seafood eatery, gets his meat directly from his father, owner of the Portland Shellfish, Inc.
Luke’s is dishing out 4 oz. lobster rolls for $14, 2 oz. rolls for $8, and shrimp and crab rolls for $7 and $8, respectively. Another childhood favorite, empress crab claw, is on the menu for a dollar a piece.


Holden, only 25, started this business as side project to his day job as a financier. After finding some backing, and having the unique position of being able to call upon family to deliver recently caught Maine shellfish, the lobster shack was born.


Promising the freshest seafood possible, and at a price lower than most other restaurants selling lobster rolls, Luke’s may become a staple of those looking for a little piece of Maine in the Big Apple.

Hours:
Sunday thru Wednesday: 11 am - Midnight
Thursday: 11 am - 1 am
Friday and Saturday: 11 am - 2 am

Japanese Sea-style Barbeque Finds a Home in New York

Robataya
Cuisine: Japanese
Price Range: Inexpensive

East Village
231 E. 9th Street
(between Stuyvesant St & 2nd Ave)
New York, NY 10003
(212) 979-9674
www.robataya-ny.com

Robataya, a Japanese barbeque restaurant, just opened in the East Village at 231 E. 9th Street, on Monday. The stylish eatery is touting the new and trendy Robata (short for Robatayaki) grilling method. A cooking style born in Japan on the open charcoal pit, Robata chefs share a passion for simple yet robust flavors, much like those appreciated by the American barbeque aficionado.


Similar to the increasingly popular Korean BBQ restaurants appearing all over New York, cooking Robata barbeque is done in large communal cooking areas, usually in front of the diners. However the theme, one could say, is simplicity of flavors and ingredients. Where Korean BBQ restaurants often slathers on spices and sauces to most of the cooked meats, Robataya will hold to the Japanese tradition of letting the ingredients speak for themselves. While still offering a variety of choices, the ingredients will typically be cooked with only teriyaki or imported Noto Japanese sea salt.


Some traditional Japanese restaurants in New York (Megu for example) have adopted this style into their repertoire of cooking methods, however Robataya is the most recent and most focused attempt of importing the style thus far. The owners are currently importing choice menu items daily from Japan and other areas, including foreign delicacies like, enoki and eryngi mushrooms, Australian Kobe beef, stingray fin, and premier smelt.


The minds behind Robataya have truly tried to capture the essence of the cooking style in the décor. Using a carved wooden table to enwrap the grills and cookware really brings a patron into the experience of crafting these dishes. The chefs also personally deliver the cooked meat right to your plate via the oar-like paddle. The tool is derived from the cooking style’s heritage as a fisherman’s impromptu beach restaurant.


Robataya plans to serve Japanese beer, sake, and shochu, but no liquor license yet, so it’s still BYOB for now. Hours of operation; 6:00pm-10:45pm Sun.-Thurs. and 6:00pm-11:45pm Fri.-Sat.
Full Menu
and Photos via NYMag

Local Farmers Gaining Popularity With the Government

The NY Times Diner’s Journal picked up on the US Department of Agriculture dolling out almost $65 million in new provisions to help get locally produced food into the hands of wanting consumers and large institutions alike.


Government support of locally produced food is a critical step in sustainability, so it’s a step in the right direction to see action specifically geared towards getting local food into schools, (one of the initiatives many provisions) which is a huge market. Of course there are numerous hurdles in changing the food delivery system in such a vast and regulated market such as school lunch programs.


The USDA’s new campaign, called “Know your Farmer, Know Your Food,” is not just a bundle of money but the promise “to break down structural barriers that have inhibited local food systems from thriving.”


While Big Farm should not regulate the local food market, which in recent years has managed to set up successful farmers markets in countless cities across the US, the idea of having the government jump on the sustainable farming bandwagon is always a welcome one.


Laid out in the release are the announcements that “$3.4 million in funding for collaborative outreach and assistance programs to socially disadvantaged and underserved farmers.” The money is supposed to help crop producers employ direct marketing.
One way in which farmers can directly market to people with a passion for local, organic food that is catching on in city’s like New York and elsewhere, is Community Supported Agriculture.

This method of distributing fresh produce requires an initial investment where you buy into the harvest of a farm for a set price at the beginning of the season, and each week the participants take home equally weighed out bounties. While this concept is growing in popularity the most effective way to get the freshest local produce is still at a farmer’s market where they regulate the maximum distance from which the food can come from.


There is certainly a trend among Americans towards sustainable, organic produce. Consumers are now more conscious of where their food is coming from and the wasteful processes that may have brought it to them. Hopefully the USDA will take further steps to help balance the kinds of food that end up on peoples plates, starting with the school system isn’t a bad approach.

Brew Born at Sea

New British brewing company, Brewdog, known for its rather original brewing processes, is now shipping their latest creation, Atlantic IPA. A beer totally fermented on the high seas.


This unique ale has quite a story to it, to say the least. Apparently one of the brewery’s founders has a buddy with a massive fishing troller, so he loaded up 8 barrels of an original 1856 IPA recipe and set out into the North Atlantic fishing waters. For two months the barrels, strapped to the posts of the ship’s deck rocked through the stormy waters. Some tumultuous white squalls washed the deck with 60 foot waves, and one barrel was lost at sea.

The high-gravity, extra-hoppy, India (or should I say Atlantic) Pale Ale is ready for its limited edition debut. Only 960 bottles were made, so if you’re interested, act fast. If I was a pirate this would be my beer of choice, it just represents reckless endeavors for originality and flair and I respect their will to really recreate the essence of IPA style. One born out of necessity for the long seafaring travel between Britain and its colonies.

Garment Factory Floor Clippings, Find New Life

New clothing brand Looptworks launched its first limited edition clothing line today. However, this collection is unlike no other; every scrap of clothe, every button, every zipper, is 100% pre-consumer (never worn) excess.


The eco-friendly company was founded in Portland, Oregon as a designer brand fixed around their self-described philosophy of “upcycling.” A new concept they describe as gathering the unused excesses from other garment makers and creating limited edition runs of clothes made with exactly zero new materials.


According to their website, “every week, the average textile factory produces 60,000 pounds of pre-consumer waste.” Looptworks is an effort to clean up this mess and capitalize on the opportunity. By using otherwise trashed, quality fabrics to design limited runs they have shortened the design cycle to weeks instead of months. Because of this method, every article produced is inching closer to the last.

Looptworks has added a personal touch numbering each product from a single source in succession so that just how many garments would have gone to waste from a single find can be seen.


Founding partners Gary Peck, Scott Hamlin and Jim Stutts, have experience working at apparel companies like, Nike, adidas, and Royal Robbins, and have brought these influences to Looptworks.


The current line-up of 17 stlyes has an urban flare, including graphic tees with sustainability mottos. Future styles are of course impossible to determine, as the company is totally reliant on what they can find in the heaps of excess from textile factories in Malaysia, India, and elsewhere.


Initially the clothes will only be available at Looptworks.com, but the company plans to move products into specialty retailers in the near future.

Track Review: "Pursuit of Happiness" Kid Cudi, Feat. MGMT and Ratatat

“Pursuit of Happiness,” the third single off Man on The Moon: The End of Day is the newest track from rapper and indie cohort Kid Cudi.


Kid Cudi’s Midwestern down-and-out nature shows through in one of his more eclectic and relaxing tracks.


“Crush A Bit; Little Bit; Roll It Up; Take A Hit.” The first line pulses with a slow and entrancing delivery setting the tone for this song. From this point Kid Cudi takes us on a spiraling journey through a daydream, hazy from a cloud of smoke. The chorus by MGMT “I’m On The Pursuit Of Happiness And I Know/ Everything That Shines Ain’t Always Gonna Be Gold,” takes over and flows into the theme of the song with a purpose. This one song, appearing later in the album, cools you down, as it should.


The aptly titled “Pursuit of Happiness” is an anthem to blunt smoke, binge drinking and the search for a good time. While the theme may not be groundbreaking, any fan of Kid Cudi or trip-hop will enjoy the comforting melodies.


Kid Cudi certainly knows the right people to put together a synth-pop song that’s an easily singable foot-tapping track. The combination of Ratatat’s production with brain-melting synth’s in hand, and MGMT laying down a chorus hitting on a melody both haunting and beautiful, the finished product is begging to be played while lying back enjoying some choice greenery.


Man on the Moon: The End Of Day by Kid Cudi, releases on Sept. 15, via G.O.O.D./Universal Motown.

New Food Label Makes Junk Food Look Healthy

There is now a fairly established trend in the current recession: a lot more people are dining at home, and thus shopping at supermarkets more often. So any help to make choosing our own food healthier for our bodies and wallets is appreciated.

However, the organization doing the research and setting the guidelines probably shouldn’t be funded by the companies making the food.


A new health program called Smart Choices, an independent organization funded by some of the largest processed food companies in world, is putting its stamp of approval on products that meet a conspicuous set of guidelines. The labels which have started appearing on the shelves of supermarkets are being heavily criticized as misleading consumers.


The New York Times reported that Smart Choices may be misleading consumers into viewing processed foods as equally healthy to fresh or natural food sources. The seal can still be obtained if an otherwise nutrition-less food has added ingredients like fiber or vitamins. Another critic said this practice could mislead consumers into thinking these foods are healthier than they really are. Smart Choices does not require the use of any whole grains in a product to get the “check” on the front of the box as long as a few choice ingredients are added during the food’s assembly.

Froot Loops cereal’s approval was particularly ragged on in the article. At 14 grams per serving, the Kellog's staple has a higher sugar content than some cookies (43% of the total weight of the cereal is sugar).


In the article, The NY Times interviewed chairman of the nutrition department of the Harvard School of Public Health, Walter C. Willett. “These are horrible choices,” Mr. Willett said, and “It’s a blatant failure of this system and it makes it, I’m afraid, not credible.”


Smart Choices President, Dr. Eileen T. Kennedy, says that all the food that gets “checked” lives up to the dietary standards determined by the Food and Drug Administration. This of course includes Froot Loops, which are, after all, healthier than doughnuts.


“The checkmark means the food item is a ‘better for you’ product, as opposed to having an x on it saying ‘Don’t eat this,’ ” Dr. Kennedy said. “Consumers are smart enough to deduce that if it doesn’t have the checkmark, by implication it’s not a ‘better for you’ product. They want to have a choice. They don’t want to be told ‘You must do this.’ ”


The ten companies that have signed on to the new program for a fee of $100,000 are Kellogg’s, Kraft Foods, ConAgra Foods, Unilever, General Mills, PepsiCo and Tyson Foods.


So dear consumer, don’t be fooled. Reese’s Puffs, no matter how much it looks like cereal and tastes like candy, will never be good for you.

Urban Oasis for the Beach Minded

Soho
Saturdays
31 Crosby Street
(near Grand Street)
New York, NY 10013

Saturdays, an aptly named Swiss Army Knife of locations, is a café/surfshop/garden-lounge at 31 Crosby Street. Set up railroad-apartment style, the progression of coolness is evident as the storefront flows back into a garden sanctuary.


Part-owner Josh Rosen, a former professional snowboarder, turned fashion wholesaler, turned restaurateur, acquired the space just over a month ago. While it’s certainly a work in progress the coffee’s brewing and Saturdays is open for business.


A surfer in his free time, Rosen has always had an interest in coffee and so opening a café seemed natural. “Essentially the neighborhood needs coffee,” said Rosen. The laidback vibe of Crosby Street is what drew him to this spot, “It’s the fact that there isn’t a lot of stuff,” he said. “We have high fashion, amazing galleries, a few nice restaurants, so it’s an amazing place.” It’s the lack of big brand name stores that lets Crosby Street stand out even as it is surrounded by retail-oriented Soho.


The theme of Saturdays is definitely surfing, which is obvious upon seeing beautiful customized surfboards displayed in the shop. Rosen plans to sell them, along with all the necessary accoutrements that belong in a surf shop.


One of the draws of this location is a bit of a hidden gem, go through the clean, modest coffee shop, through what will be a fully stocked surf shop, and you’ll end up in the garden. In what Rosen describes as a combination of urban and modern design themes, “There will be a ton of different green elements,” he said, “to create a really sharp looking garden. It’s going to be smart, the lines are nice, it will definitely feel welcoming.”


Rosen designed this space for surfers, but he wants it, “not to be so traditional and Southern California,” he said. But rather, “make it a little more thoughtful for the New York customer.” He wants to see New York embrace surfing in a way it hasn’t done so, his desire is for a presentation “that’s sleek,” he said, “a space where people can come and take a Taschen book off the wall, and chat about waves.”

Greenwich Village is Turning Taste Buds Green

There are a lot of restaurants in New York touting organic, locally grown food. There aren’t so many restaurants that have their very own farm supplying them.

Blue Hill
75 Washington Place
at 6th Avenue
New York, NY 10011
(212)539-1776
www.bluehillfarm.com

 

Blue Hill is just such a restaurant. What would seem like just another organic eatery in Greenwich Village is something more. The restaurant owners are refurbishing the Blue Hill Farm to supply their restaurant with personally chosen ingredients, (rustic ingredients are already chosen form several farms throughout the New England region.) While the family farm is still in early stages of production, it already supplies the several restaurants under the Blue Hill name with grass-fed meats, vegetables and fresh milk.

Birdbath
145 Seventh Avenue South
at Charles Street
New York, NY 10014
(646)722-6565

Birdbath Bakery
233 First Avenue
New York, NY
(646)722-6565
www.buildagreenbakery.com

 

Another rather grand green technology experiment is going on in the village. Birdbath operates two bakeries in the east and west village and both locations are experiments in total sustainability. The shops feature such green building highlights as wind power, walls made of baked wheat, cups made of corn, and shelves made from recycled paper, they even used milk-based paint. Basically every possible aspect of the stores are making an attempt to further sustainability, they even offer a 25% discount if you arrive on a bike or skateboard! The cookies and cupcakes are all made from organic food, and the store design is a testament to the human capacity for creativity within limited construction means.

Savoy
70 Prince Street
at Crosby Street
New York, NY 10012
(212)219-8570
www.savoynyc.com

 

A local favorite, Savoy is a restaurant where having the most exquisite organic locally grown food is the paramount concern and owner/chef Peter Hoffman makes sure that’s the case. He has harvested relationships with countless food producers in the New York area and near by states to hand pick precisely where his food comes from. He says that going to a food producer and getting to know the grounds of creation really helps him learn how the way a food is produced affects the way it tastes.
These examples are by no means the only restaurants in the city that are experimenting with new and exciting innovations in sustainable cooking, but not so environmentally conscious restaurateurs could learn a few things from the sterling examples set by them.

Fashion and Food Blogger Imitates the Avocado

The fashion and food blogger Luxirare has quite a mysterious treat for us.


An artistic rendition of an avocado salad, this dish is stunning in its presentation.
The dish has allusions to an avocado sushi roll and the ingredients are also based in the Asian realm of spices.


Luxirare displayed her talents manipulating a soft fruit to bend to her will and inventiveness. The guide to making this dish (available on the blog), while certainly hands on, can be completed by anyone with the time and patience.


The base ingredients Luxirare recommends are two avocados, and one or two crab legs, depending on how many people are being served. The other ingredients for the salad are, lime, garlic, cilantro, crab leg meat, sprouts, dried cranberries, and red onion. The outer spice mixture is made of, red peppercorn, dried edamame, wasabe, sesame seeds, black sesame seeds, and sunflower seeds.


The final product, to a glancing eye, might seem like a slightly odd looking avocado, but beneath the seed and spice covered exterior is a carved up avocado stuffed with a vegetable-and-crab-filled delicacy.

“I played with the actual shape and textured skin of the avocado,” Luxirare said, “and brought that into consideration when I was making this avocado salad.”


She certainly did.

Eat-Pisode: Classic Thai with Style

Eat-pisode
Cuisine:Taiwanese

Lower East Side
123 Ludlow Street
New York, NY 10002
(212)677-7624 / (212) 677-7625

www.eat-pisode.com

Eat-pisode, a Thai restaurant located at 123 Ludlow Street, right in the heart of the L.E.S., blends a healthy portion of urban chic with traditional fare done right.


The spot is small enough to feel like you’re special just for knowing about it. Go on a Saturday night though, and it will be throbbing with dressed-up diners sipping wine at candlelit tables, being classy before another jaunt into the Lower East Side.


Perfect for a date or small group, Eat-pisode has an intimate air to it. If you plan on drinking, the restaurant is BYOB, just remember corking fee is per bottle so I’d go with a bottle of red over Red Stripe.


As you’re dining, the vibe of Ludlow Street flows in through the open entrance. It’s easy to people watch if you can take your eyes off the interior. Eat-pisode’s modern décor is subtle and charming. Sculpted walls, and small boxes of light inlaid amongst hanging paintings of rustic Thailand made me long for the Mekong River and a little fishing.


Eat-pisode offers up sizable, satisfying portions of spicy Thai favorites including, Pad Kee Mao, a variety of curries, and Pad Kha Pow with an amazing basil chili sauce. Their presentation can certainly be unique, as well. They served me some elongated spring rolls in a pint glass with a generous helping of perfectly sweet plum sauce garnished with carrot strings.


Mr. Pannawat Akkarajirapan, a waiter at Eat-pisode who has worked in six Thai restaurants said, “[Eat-pisode] is more authentic, and the best one I have been at.” A hideout in plain sight, Eat-pisode will become a regular spot for anyone enthusiastic about delectable, and affordable, Thai dining.

Mars Bar is having one of its periodic rises in popularity. A bar typically known for the local barflies who show up early to drink deep into the night has been playing host to celebrities looking for some city cred.

Drew Barrymore recently had a photo shoot for Nylon inside the grungy dive. Some rather odd photo outtakes appeared on the Internet, where regulars are sitting stoically in the background to be cut out of pictures entirely with blank-white backgrounds. One regular commented on the event saying, "I was there for the Barrymore shoot and the weird thing is they used white backdrops for the photos. If they wanted to block out all the graffiti, why go in there in the first place?”[EVGrieve] Like the last vestige of an ancient East Village, the sordid side of this city is easily blocked out with the razor edge of gentrification.

Last week, another entry in the 2nd Avenue bar’s long history, Penn Badgley from the TV show Gossip Girl, was interviewed by the New York Times writer David Itzkoff. Funny, Itzkoff chose John Varvatos and Other Music for the series of stops on the downtown tour, any other parodies of their former selves to exploit on the trip? Even young Badgley can see the irony, saying of the former CBGB, “At least they didn’t turn it into a bank.”

Mars Bar in a response of sorts has recently declared the East Village dead on the blood-red paint-splattered wall, written between twin images of prototypical yuppies, an investment banker and sweater-draped prep student.

Announcing the East Village dead now is really just pointless. Yes, the neighborhood is not the East Village of times gone by, but that’s probably a good thing. Pedestrians can walk around at night, in a miniskirt even, with little more than an occasional catcall. Uniformity will protect the masses as it sterilizes them. I say progress.

Images via [NYTimes] and [EVGrieve]