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August 31, 2007
This is a pretty interesting clip from a documentary on hip hop called Beat This. In 1984 New York graffiti artist Brim talked about the Vandal Squad, Mayor Koch and New York's finest having a problem with things they can't control. Beat This was directed by Dick Fontaine and includes footage of Afrika Bambaataa, DJ Kool Herc (and his original dance parties), The Cold Crush Brothers, Jazzy Jay and many more.... [continue]
| August 28, 2007
Last night Feist took the Letterman stage with a few of her friends. Nicole Atkins, A.C. Newman, Broken Social Scene's Kevin Drew and members of Brooklyn bands The National and Grizzly Bear were her backup singers, taking a page from the Bright Eyes guide to stage wear and donning all white. Watch it below... Later most of the crew made it over to Pianos for rock n' roll trivia (some helping to host) -- not... [continue]
August 27, 2007
Comprised of breakdancers from various troupes, The New York City Breakers were the rivals of The Rock Steady Crew. Many became familiar with these breakers (Kid Nice, Mr. Wave, Action, Lil Lep, Glide Master, Icey Ice, Powerful Pexster and Flip Rock) during a legendary battle scene in Beat Street (watch here) where they went move for move with their aforementioned adversaries. They even performed for President Reagan at an event in New York, which you... [continue]
August 24, 2007
Making fun of hipsters isn't even ironically cool anymore, but this video of The Hipster Olympics somehow still manages to be funny. The hipsters go through a series of challenges including picking out ironic thrift store t-shirts (obvs), photographing themselves for their MySpace profiles, and tossing out albums by artists who have sold out by becoming popular (Of Montreal, Caribou, The Beatles and the sarcastic selection of Bruce Willis). Find out who wins the silver... [continue]
August 23, 2007
This past Saturday anyone with a music playing device was invited to The World Financial Center Plaza by the North Cove Yacht Harbor. Potential participants were told to be there by 4pm, to wear a red, blue, yellow, or green t-shirt, to bring a watch with a second hand and a camera if possible, and to download an mp3 from their site. Sound familiar? It was the fourth Mp3 Experiment organized by Improv Everywhere. Ah,... [continue]
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August 22, 2007
On June 6th of '06, 400 filmmakers and photographers staked out their location on Broadway for one hour (5 to 6pm) to became a part of a collaborative documentary about NYC. With the largest film permit in city history and 262 blocks covered, each camera focused in on a different experience. Robert Liano, the film's writer/producer/director, stated: “I couldn’t be more proud...to have the opportunity to work along side 400 of New York City’s most... [continue]
August 19, 2007
If Public Law 19 takes effect on its scheduled date of September 20, the number of New York City pedicabs will soon be capped at 325. Half of the pedicab drivers will lose their jobs, pedicabs will be banned from bridges and bike lanes, and small electric-assist motors will also be banned. The lottery to determine who in the industry will survive and who will be shut down is scheduled for this month. Earlier... [continue]
August 17, 2007
Last night (a little less than a month after the release of his latest album Emerald City) we met up with John Vanderslice, who has been playing a unique brand of blog shows for a while now. The world wide (web) tour consists of filming, in collaboration with different blogs, his songs in different cities. For his New York stop, we took him up to the roof of the Hotel Chelsea where he performed one... [continue]
August 16, 2007
In June of 1972 (just months after his divorce) Elvis Presley performed a 3-day run at Madison Square Garden. These shows were the first full concerts he put on in NYC, and the first since he appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1956. Excitement was in the air, and Bob Dylan, David Bowie, Art Garfunkel, all of Led Zepplin and half of The Beatles (John Lennon and George Harrison) were in the audience. Another... [continue]
August 15, 2007
Following a Craigslist post from last week, a Bob Dylan video was shot yesterday in Williamsburg. Dylan wasn't there, but a look-a-like was on hand along with a ton of faux-hippies. The posting called for: - Men and women in their 20s-40s who are fans of Bob Dylan. Prefer people who embody the style of the 1960s, 70s or 80s (i.e. hippies, disco dancers, punks), but we are open to anyone who is a fan... [continue]
August 14, 2007
This morning the video mentioned in this Metro piece was up on YouTube. Now it's missing and all that's left is a message reading it "has been removed by the user." The video was posted by Coney Island developer Thor Equities’ and portrayed a clearly scripted and favorably edited scene from the Mermaid Parade. The clip, which opens and closes with the Mermaid Parade logo, features costumed revelers professing their love of Coney Island and... [continue]
August 13, 2007
Earlier this year the National Park Service ended Circle Line's contract to run their ferry service between lower Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island (Hornblower will take over in October). Below you can check out some old footage of what their 3-hour boat tour had in store back in the day (with old-timey commercials played over the footage). Circle Line was introduced to New York on June 15th, 1945 when Frank Barry,... [continue]
August 9, 2007
A reader sent us this video of a Soho property owner trying to clean up after yesterday morning's drenching rains. Yeah, that upgrade to the city's sewage system is a good idea.... [continue]
August 7, 2007
The below clip shows the FDNY fighting the 1931 Lower Manhattan Factory building fire, the 1930 Furniture store fire - East Side, and the 1932 Scrap Rubber Fire - Bronx. At this point the department was motorized, having come a long way since organized fire fighting began in 1648. In the 1600s the department collected fines for dirty chimneys which in turn provided funds for buckets, hooks and ladders. It wasn't until 1731, that fire... [continue]
August 6, 2007
The summer of 1977 was host to a serial killer, a day-long blackout and a crime rate around 75% higher than today's. The NY Sun reports that "politicians, police officers, and reporters are gathering together to remember that time and celebrate." John Jay College of Criminal Justice's Eugene O'Donnell is the one holding the press conference today which will focus on the anniversary of the capture of David Berkowitz, aka the " Son of Sam."... [continue]
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August 3, 2007
No, not the movie. The real Sid Vicious and Nancy Spungen stopped by Manhattan Cable Network (whose studio was down the block from the Hotel Chelsea) on September 18th, 1978 for a live call-in show. Less than a month later Nancy was found dead, followed by Sid the following February. Watch Part One here, Part Two is below... The others in the video are Cynthia Ross (bassist for B-Girls) and Stiv Bators (of Dead Boys).... [continue]
August 2, 2007
To help you roll(erskate) into the weekend (just one more day!) here's a video that involves music, the Muppets and a Brooklyn disco orchestra called Escort. A mash-up that The Voice says would have Jim Henson doing the Hustle in his grave. All the A-listers are there: Statler & Waldorf, Rolf, Animal, Pigs in Space, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear and more. Check it out, it's pretty bad (which in disco means "cool")... Far out! Check... [continue]