MIA like Chuck Norris + ART + SHOPPING + WHATEVER ALES YOU + MUSIC AND MORE

So it HAS been FOREVER (forevah evah and evah evah?) - yes FOREVER since I have posted. BOO HOO. I'm here now so I guess that's all that matters :-) I hope everyone enjoyed their summer. I definitely enjoyed mine ;-). So I'll keep it short today. I have some good stuff for the next few days.

10\13 - 15 10th Annual D.U.M.B.O Art Under The Bridge Festival. Don't miss this exciting event where about 50 or so studios open their doors to the public. Tons of events included as well. Tonight is the opener!

10\7 - 1\28 TROPICALIA: A REVOLUTION IN BRAZILIAN CULTURE Now at the Bronx Museum of the Arts, this exhibit is showcasing avant garde expression of Brazilian art, music, film, architecture and more from the late 1960's

SHOP TILL YOU DROP

10\15 (LAST DAY!!!) Replay Sample Sale 1-7PM @ 72 Greene St between Spring and Broome Up to 80% off - men and women's jeans, jackets, etc.

AND

CALYPSO Christiane Celle 10AM-6PM @ 148 Lafayette St near Howard St, 3rd Fl Up to 80% off - FOR EXAMPLE "Juliet Dunn romantic full skirt with lace orig. $350 now $50!!!!!! Visit CALYPSO Outlet (424 Broome Street today and get an additional 10% off)

10\13 - 23 Triple Five Soul and Subscript 10AM-8PM @ 15 West 24th St near 5th Ave 646-209-4287 50% off

10\20 - 21 BREWTOPIA Basically A LOT of beer (over 300) for $60 a session (see website for schedule). This is pretty self-explanatory and if you don't get it, then you have probably been having your own beerfest.

Through 10\20 EAT LIKE A DIPLOMAT! The United Nations is accepting reservations for lunch at the Greek Food Festival. Just call 212.963.7625. Lunch $25 for all you can eat buffet that changes throughout service. All drinks are extra. PLUS you get a fancy UN badge . . . eh?

ONGOING The BUTTERFLY Conservatory Never seen a butterfly conservatory before? Where have YOU BEEN? Well, for those of you who are not in tune with nature check out a live butterfly conservatory at the American Museum of Natural History.

and now for the MUSIC! Lately I have been listening to a lot of buzz around this British girl - Lily Allen. I decided to check it out and YO, this girl AIGHT! I like it. Let me know what you think. Check out some of her album at http://www.lilyallenmusic.com/. So with that here is the well-received playlist (because it is . . . well-received).

Playlist - 1. Don't Look Back - Telepopmusik 2. Space Rider (DJ Spinna Mix) - Shaun Escoffrey 3. Deep Burnt - Pepe Braddock 4. Busted Trees (Original Mix) - Directions 5. Boom Clickety Clack Clack (Jazzanova Original Mix) - Jazzanova ft Shaun Escoffrey 6. Knock Em Out - Lily Allen (BTW - This song is Hilarious!) 7. Just - Mark Ronson ft. Alex Greenwald 8. Private Parts - J*Davey 9. Possible - VASSY 10. Littlest Things - Lily Allen

Feeling saucy?

Indepent Spirits Expo Wed. Aug 16 (TOMORROW . . . sorry for the short notice) 8-10pm @ Slate (54 W. 21st. bet. 5th and 6th ave - 212.989.0096) $10 charitable donation @ door RSVP here

So what does $10 get you? Well it's you a 2 hour open bar tasting of - Mãe de Ouro, a pot distilled cachaca made with hand cut sugarcane. - Khukri Rum, distilled at the base of the Himalayas and aged in oak for at least 8 months - Orange V, Mandarin and Valencia orange infused vodka (100% organic if that matters while you get completely hammered)

BONUS! . . . well I guess depending on how you feel about it. Anyway I just read about this neighborhood and I have passed by it many times. It's called SoHell (South of Hell's Kitchen - go figure. Don't you love real estate in NYC?). Spending a day in this area with all of the spot listed in this NY Metro article should definitely be a good look if you are looking to have a lazy afternoon. Especially if you are of the epicurious type. There a quite a few internatinal markets in the area as well as the Artisinal Premium Cheese Center (which I just found out about a few months ago at the NY Culinary Festival). I didn't even realize most of this stuff was here and to top it off major developments are planned for this area in the near future. It's almost as if NYC realized that they could actually utilize much of their decrepid space within the past few years (i.e. Hudson River Park, Williamsburg Waterfront, DUMBO, etc.)

DAMN IT'S HOT!

Man - it is just too hot to type one of my amusing little intros . . . LIKE HOW IT IS TOO HOT to live in an APT with no AC - you have to be on crack to do that huh? Answer: NO - you just have to be me. I'm an idiot. I was actually going to buy one yesterday. One of those new portable ACs that you don't have to put in your window. But then I heard that this "heat wave" (FYI this is not a heat wave - it's just a hot summer!) was going to be over. So I didn't buy one. I haven't had one for 2 years so another day in a heat wave isn't going to hurt - right? I was SOOOOO wrong, my apartment is literally a sweat box - yes a sweat box - one of those boxes that sit under the sun that the warden sends prisoners to, to do Bikram Yoga, for punishment.

. . . And it isn't that it is hot, it's HUMID, very humid. The only advantage to all of this humidity is that my locks are as soft as the down comforters at Sheraton hotels (please tell you have had a chance to sleep in a Sheraton bed - hands down one of the most comfortable sleeping experiences ever). Seriously (don't touch my hair, just take my word for it).

Alright so I wrote it anyway - what? Here it is . . . .

Friday (TODAY) Aug 04 - Lincoln Center Out of Doors: Latin Rules 7:30 pm Featuring (or Con) Tiempo Libre (Latin jazz and seductive son), Eddie Palmieri (salsa) and La Perfecta II Location: Damrosch Park, Lincoln Center - southwest corner of the Lincoln Center Plaza, at 62nd Street near Amsterdam Ave

Sun. Aug 06 - Tango Anyone Eternal Tango performs at Hudson River Park - Pier 54 (Entrance @ W 14th St.) FREE dance lessons @ 6:30pm Band goes on @ 7pm

Sun. Aug 06 - BROOKLYN POOL PARTY feat DJ ?uestLove of the ROOTS Mccaren Pool in Williamsburg from 2pm - 8pm This is part of weekly summer series - see other events here P.S. The pool also has a DODGEBALL tourney going on in the summer as well

Wed. Aug 09 & Sat. Aug 12 - Candi Station w\ Stephanie McKay Bowery Ballroom @ 8PM$25 - Ticket info here This is serious (personally my draw is Stephanie McKay - great singer!)

Thurs. Aug 10 - RJD2 w/ Lyrics Born & Alice Smith FREE @ 6pm - (I love summer in NYC!) Hudson RIver Park - Pier 54 (Entrance @ W 14th St.) P.S. - You NEED to be here - Holla atcha boy if you wanna roll!

Thurs. Aug 10 - We B*Girlz: 25th Anniversary Breakin' Event!!!! 5:30pm - 7pm Josie Robertson Plaza @ Lincoln Ctr (Columbus Ave. btwn 62nd & 65th oh and this is free too! More info

Sun. Aug 20th - Blues and BBQ 2pm - 9pm @ Hudson River Park - Pier 54 (Entrance @ W 14th St.) Click here for schedule of performers and restaurants

Interesting Web Links to pass you time - http://thesartorialist.blogspot.com - it's sooo addictive http://www.darfurisdying.com/ - I actually like this game . . . just keep an open mind and read ALL the material on the page - it has a VERY important message. http://noscruf.org - This is just silly. http://www.overheardinnewyork.com - funny stuff http://www.gnotorious.com - free downloadable mash-up album of Gnarls Barkley and Biggie!

I'll try and put some more stuff up later.

Peace and a refrigerated Kit Kat bar(because you can't have one without the other).

what? A.

THE TITLE THAT WASN'T (a.k.a. writer's block)

WTF!!!!! I just spent about 20 minutes writing this fantastically captivating intro for your reading pleasure and this stoopid (yes, the 'oo' tells you the degree of stupidity involved) post editor frigging erased everything out of nowhere, and all I did was press the up arrow - shyte! (sp?) And I'm not going to retype it either - the moment has passed :-(

Anyway here are the goodies -

LMAOICPFF! (A dollar to anyone who figures that out - LOL) 7/19: Improv comedy troupe, The Upright Citizen's Brigade performs live (for free) at Central Park Summerstage

See you at Si*Se by the seashore (I am one clever dude) - 7/20: Check out a FREE concert @ 6pm at Pier 54 by the always entertaining Si*Se (electro-dance\latin grooves) and Radio Mundial (latin rock\funk). Sounds provided by world renowned DJs, Turntables on the Hudson. See info here

After the show is the after party - 7/20: DEGO of 4HERO fame is performing at Cielo (where you are guaranteed a good time) @ 10pm. $10 gets you in - no fuss. See info here

For the Tiger in you - 7/20: 7:00am - 7:00pm Foley Square (Centre St. between Worth and Pearl) Free Free Golf lessons, demos, and contests, in honor of the British Open. Featured, will be a full-size tournament board with real-time scoring. Even if golf isn't your thing, you've got to check this out.

Kayak + Sushi = fun (i think) - ongoing: Go kayaking on the Hudson to a hidden gem called, Mitsua. Mitsua is a small Japanese community, with tons of japanese foods, imports, etc. After your little kayaking adventure you can dine at a sushi restaurant overlooking the Hudson. I don't know if you need me to tell you this, but this WILL give you cool points with whomever you take. In fact you might end up with cool points credit and we all know what we can cash that in for (don't we?). Anyway, these cool points don't come cheap - $140 for 1/$265 for 2. More info here

UPCOMING FILM and MUSIC FESTIVALS:

• NYC Latino film 7/25 - 7/30
• 4th Annual Brazilian Film Festival of NY 8/06 - 8/12
• Newport Jazz Festival (Rhode Island) 8/11- 8/13
• Summer Play Festival thru 7/30

a.one's Playlist

1. Rely on Me (Jay's Bodega Vocal)- PetalPusher
2. I Know What You're Thinking - Roy Davis Jr.
3. Not So Blue - Quantic
4. Tell Me - OMAR
5. Star - 702
6. Dollar Circulate - Steve Spacek
7. Heaven - Mark De Clive-Lowe
8. Johnny Walker - Tiombe Lockhart
9. Love Me Right - Goapele
10. Water Your Garden - Luscious Jackson
11. The Bird That You Can't See - The Apples In Stereo

You miss me?

Hey I know, I have been slacking and it this post is waaaaaaay overdue - my bad. I have just been running around in a little hamster cage that I like to call life (not your problem). Anyway I hope everyone had a wonderful 4th of July weekend. I was going to go to the beach with the girlfriend (a.k.a MySpace Queen), but it looked like it was going to rain so I decided not to trek all the way out to Jones Beach to soak up some rain. So I decided that we should go to this block party down in DUMBO thrown by Halcyon Records. But then I realized that it was outdoors and I really didn't want to get soaked in the rain. So I watched some movies and ate Chinese food - yeah!

I have been trying to keep myself busy however and been doing things here and there. I went to that trailer park exhibit down in Petrosino park (see post from 6\30). It was actually a trailer and 2 other photo and sculpture exhibits sponsored by the Storefront for Art and Architecture on Kenmare and Cleveland. I went during my lunch break at work and then topped it off with a chorizo and cactus taco from La Esquina down the street (I think it rates as one of my top 10 lunch breaks of all time). Check out the pics (sorry no pics of the tacos) - it was actually pretty amazing.

Some of the sculptures and a photo from the exhibit - which incidentally was called "portable"

Pics of the Trailer Park (the first four are of the inside and the last of the outside - duh!)

If you have gone to exhibits let me know what you think. The pictures of the sculptures don't really do them justice and don't show exactly how much detail is in each piece. If you haven't gone what are you waiting for and let me know how you like that chorizo and cactus taco at La Esquina!

LOL - Rakim and I go waaaaay back!

SATURDAY DANCE FEVER + AFRICAN ART + CRUISES, CAKES and more . . .

Dancin' dancin' danciiiiiiiin' - a dancin' machiiiiiiine - 7\1 Sat 7\1 marks PS.1's inaugural dance party for the Warm Up! outdoor dance party season www.ps1.org. The LEGENDARY dance party is celebrating it's 10th anniversary from 3pm tp 9pm. $10 gets into the party and to all the exhibits in the museum. The official FREE afterparty is located at the Water Taxi Beach (seriously). Check out details for the party here . . . good times.

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35th Annual International African Arts Festival - 6\30 - 7\4 This is a HUGE events that takes place every year in the BK. Complete with dance, fashion, music and art (oh yes and FOOD!) this 5-day event will be sure satisfy the artist in you. Friday 6\30 through Tuesday 7\4th. Click here for more details.

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Cruise through life - various dates If you didn't think that NYC had any natural wildlife to offer other than the Bronx Zoo, then you should check out the Audubon Eco Cruise to Harbor Heron Islands, where you can see thousands of herons in an island habitat (and at sunset). $25 ($12 for children under 12) If wildlife is a little too much on the wild side for you (punk asses) then you would probably opt for the Sunset Cruise. No birds here, but there is the sunset and a cash bar (for all you lushes). $20

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Who doesn't like cake (especially when it's free)? - 7\7 FREE cake tasting with other food and refreshments. C'mon! You can't beat that. from 5pm - 8pm @ 40\40 Club (6 W. 25th St and Broadway). Did I mention that I love summer in NYC? More info here

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A real trailer park If you've passed by Petrosino Square on Kenmare St. between Lafayette St. and Cleveland Place, prior to June 17th you probably didn't even notice anything was there. Normally it is just a decrepid little "park" if you want to it that. If you've passed by since then, you may have noticed a non-descript trailer in the park - which I guess makes it a trailer park (???). To alleviate your fears, it doesn't belong to some crazy transient, and it is okay to go up to the trailer. In fact you can go inside. A woman by the name of Kim Holleman has spent the better part of two years redesigning the interior into a fabulous indoor park\garden\oasis. I guarantee they haven't thought of this on "Pimp My Ride". Tues - Fri. noon - 6pm and Sat 11 am - 6pm.

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One of the biggest music festivals in N. America - eh! - 6\29 - 7\09 Just a short flight away (roughly 50 minutes) the Montreal Jazz Festival provides one place to sample a wide array of musicians whose sounds is influenced in whole, or in part by jazz. Not to mention that Montreal is absolutely BEAUTIFUL this time of year. UNFORTUNATELY - I can't make it this year >- but hopefully you can.

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1st Saturdays @ Brooklyn Museum - 7\1 FREE event filled night from 5pm - 11pm. Documentary showcases, live musical performances, exhibitions abound. More info here

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Movies with a view - thru 8\23 Watch independent movies on various rooftops throughout the city (really). Live music played before the movie. Go to www.rooftopfilms.com for more movies and locations

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SOMETHING RANDOM I was riding the train home from work the other day and noticed that this lady sitting in front of me was talking to herself. Not out of the ordinary for NYC right? Well, then I noticed she wasn't talking to herself (and mind you she was speaking a normal conversational volume). She was reading a book. I looked around for the kid that she was reading to. I looked to the left, where there was a bookish lady who had a almost non-descript smirk on her face. I looked to the right and there was an elderly woman who was looking the direction of the ads behind me, but I could tell she wasn't really looking at them. Holy shit man! This grown ass woman was reading out loud to HERSELF. I'm not trying to be mean but that was a first for me in a public space. Do you think I am mean for wanting to just bust out laughing. C'mon that is some funny shit. Oh and it was a self help book.

**Disclaimer - if you have a relative (or if you yourself) are hooked on phonics, i apologize profusely.***

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Notable Website www.assessment.com - check it out. Seriously it's great. Shout out to Y.G. for the site.

Sorry no playlist today.

I'll try to have more events listed for 4th of July (aside from the mundane fireworks ritual).

GOOD music + more . . .

TONIGHT @ 10PM Raymond Fiore www.raymondfiore.com @ R&R (416 W. 14th St. btwn 9th av and washington st. - across from LOTUS) $7 Stick around because the after party is at the Eclectic Ride @ R&R and free for those who stay reduced if you come after . . . so what are you going to do :-) Check out Timeout NY's write up on the ER - http://www.timeout.com/newyork/Details.do?page=1&xyurl=xyl://TONYWebArticles1/559/clubs/freaks_come_out_at_night.xml ********************************** For those of us who don't have a 40" Plasma in our offices, World Cup '06 is now viewable at work!!!! ESPN 360 is free until 7\19. Go to http://www.espn.com and click on the 360 link. That's right I just saw the Black Stars (GHANA) get handed to by Brazil :-( It was a good game though. Can I get a 2010 from anyone? ********************************** SOMETHING RANDOM Okay so I was talking to my girl today and as I was saying goodbye I opted to use the light hearted "see you later alligator", to which she replied "after a while crocodile". Now apparently that's a popular reply - to everyone but me. I need to get out more :-) ******************************** peace a.one

RAYMOND FIORE LIVE !!!

RAYMOND FIORE performs LIVE NEXT TUESDAY 6\27 with the Kill 'Em Dead band, one of the livest bands in NYC!!!! See him on 6\27 @ 10pm @ R&R, the hottest live music venue in NYC, located in the MeatPacking District @ 416 W. 14th St. (btwn 9th av and Washington St. - across from LOTUS). $7 at the door. Raymond has been touring the NYC circuit for close to 4 years, performing in locations such as Joe's Pub, S.O.B's, CODA, Cherry Red, Sin-e, The Cutting Room and COUNTLESS more. He is definitely a crowd favorite and you will see why if you are lucky enough to catch him at a live performance. Named by BMI as one of their Artists of the Year, he is already on his way to making waves in the world of music. The Kill 'Em Dead Band, also the house band for S.O.B's, is one of the most respected bands in NYC right now. They have tearing down the house at S.O.B's backing some of the most well know names in music today. Whenever they are on the bill, you are sure to have a good time. The last time Raymond and the Kill 'em Dead got together a couple of months ago at Sin-e in LES, it was INCREDIBLE - which is an understatement if you happened to make the performance. This time around they are at a bigger and better venue, in R&R. Located in the former venue, RARE, they are garaunteed to bring down the house. If you love live music . . . If you love high energy . . . If you love feeling good, then I'll see you next week at R&R. Oh and then there's the afterparty . . . 11pm . . .right there . . . don't go anywhere, 'cause it's the jumpoff . . . more info to come - of course :-)

First Post and Recap

So this is the first post for my new Cure for Boredom blog. Hopefully the first of many! SO spread the word http://boredomboresme.blogspot.com. I should be posting some new stuff in a few but for those of you who didn't get through the entire last of the Cure for Boredom emails or for those whose email magically appeared in the deleted items folder I have a quick recap for you. Enjoy! TONIGHT!!! Spoken Word Benefit Extravaganza!!!!! 7PM @ M1-5 @ 52 Walker St. $15 w/ flyer http://www.evite.com/pages/invite/viewInvite.jsp?inviteId=ETCFNNNALGJAGRULSLNU&li=iq&src=email

DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY UNDER THE SUMMER SKY (sounds good huh?) - Lincoln Center's MidSummer Night Swing is baaaaack for all you danceaholics out there. Check out this year's line up http://lincolncenter.com/search/results.asp?txtprogOrg=Program_5&cboProgramID=5&session=BD77D1FC-C3BB-4046-ADAA-A3B90E92AE71&version=&ws=&bc=99 I hope you have your dancing shoes on!

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ROUND-TRIP TO PUERTO RICO FROM NYC is now $382 . . . But if you don't got it you can go to CAMARADAS EL BARRIO in Spanish Harlem and get a taste of PR for less $20 dollars AND enjoy some good authentic food and music from PR. Just so you know, you MUST and I mean MUST have the jibaro sandwich. It has got to be the best sandwich EVER! - no joke! And it is only 7 dollars. Anyway if you are feeling really ambitious you can have with a nice ice cold bottle of Chimay for an additional $10 and not the Premiere either, the Grande Reserve - that's that high class beer :-) Thursday night is the night to go, but be warned get there before 9pm as you won't get a table and it gets PACKED (like rush hour subway packed) after 9pm. Check it out - 2241 1st Ave.\115th St. - http://www.camaradaselbarrio.com/. Shout out to Stacey for putting me on to this.

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DANCE DANCE DANCE !!!!! - It's the OFFICIAL launch of the PS.1 Warm-up outdoor party series @ MOMA PS.1 in Long Island City - July 1st is the date and the 10th Anniversary BODY AND SOUL party is the event. If you love to dance or even listen to great music - this is the place to be. Party is from 3pm - 9pm @ $10 - http://www.ps1.org/ps1_site/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=55&Itemid=99

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HUGE!!!! CRICKET EVENT 7\8 - 7\9 - Come out to Floyd Bennet Park in Brooklyn and see the best cricket players from the U.S. face off against the best from the West Indies. http://www.floydbennettcc.com/event.html. Thanks to Ro for the info. And I know I have some cricket fans out there!

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And course . . . The play list

1. N.Y. Shhhh - Busta Rhymes (this is just straight FIRE!)

2. Kick Push - Lupe Fiasco (Another sureshot!)

3. Love Endeavor - Alice Smith

4. California Blue - Raymond Fiore - www.raymondfiore.com

5. Let's Do It Again - Julia Darling

6. Playing House - Kudu www.kudu2u.com

7. Crazy - Gnarls Barkley

8. Number 1 - Pharrell feat. Kanye West

ALSO . . . . I am building a small collection on music videos on YouTube (and if you don't know about youtube.com by now, then well . . . Well I don't know but you should check it out). Take a look. http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=94B032BEB1832EC8

Peace and don't forget to come back! A.