“I’m Good, I’m Gone” – Lykke Li
“Courtship Dating” – Crystal Castles
“Paris is Burning” – Ladyhawke
“I Lust U” – Neon Neon (featuring Cate Le Bon)
Perhaps the most interesting collaborative project of the year comes from Super Furry Animals front man Gruff Rhys and electronic producer/musician Boom Bip. Together, these two form the dynamic duo, Neon Neon. Their debut album, Stainless Steel, released earlier in the year is a concept album, and is based on the life of John De Lorean (the engineer/playboy of the De Lorean Motor Company). In fact, the album title is a pun for the De Lorean DMC-12, which features a body made of stainless steel. The album also features guest appearances from familiar faces like Fab Moretti of The Strokes, Spank Rock, and Har Mar Superstar, as well as vintage sythesizers like the Casio SK-5, Korg MiniKorg 700, and Roland SH-101 to create the mid eighties synth-pop sound. When Welsh singer Cate Le Bon lends her sexy vocals to the track "I Lust U," one feels immediately transported back to the age of excess.
“Blind” – Hercules & Love Affair (featuring Antony Hegarty)
“Shut Up and Let Me Go” – The Ting Tings
www.myspace.com/thelongblondes
“Cassius” – Foals
“Lights & Music” - Cut Copy
“L.E.S. Artistes” – Santogold
“I Will Possess Your Heart" – Death Cab for Cutie
“If You Wanna Be A Star” – Walter Meego
“Fire” – The Whip
“Skeleton Tiger” – Tame Impala
The idea for this trip began last April when my roommate/landlord/good friend Dale Stein (a frequent world traveler) suggested I go visit our mutual friend Dana Brüller in Berlin with him in August. Of course, after the financial centrifuge I'd put myself through for the better part of the decade, I protested. I simply did not have the kind of money to drop on airfare (especially with summer European rates), even though we had a free place to stay. Dale insisted that it would be a great experience, and all but begged me to tag along. I held my ground. As attractive as it sounded (especially with how much I loved my European study-abroad ten years earlier), and as much as I really wanted to do it, I knew it just wasn't feasible......until Dale made a suggestion I hadn't thought about. He suggested that he'd pay for both tickets and I could just pay him back an extra hundred bucks a month in rent until I paid it off. This was a fantastic idea. I finally agreed and began to get excited...especially because my other good friend, Elizabeth Dicks, had moved there two summers ago and had come back on occasion and told me how amazing it is.
As we flew over Berlin, I noticed that the trees were a bit less green. It looked as though they may have had a drier summer than usual. The Berlin-Tegel airport was similar to Stockholm in its efficiency and minimalism. Before we knew it, we were on a bus to the Central Train Station (Berlin Hauptbahnhof). There, I bought a 10€ T-Mobile phone card and called Elizabeth (by the way, all pay phones are hot pink T-Mobile phones). Elizabeth arrived within 20 minutes or so, and helped us navigate our way on the S-Bahn and U-Bahn to Kreuzberg (a borough full of history itself, as well as the area we were staying) with a stop-off at the famous Alexanderplatz to see the Fernsehturm Berlin (TV Tower). Finally, we made our way to the Kottbusser Tor U-Bahn stop in Kreuzberg with only a couple blocks walk to Dana's dorm on Adalbertstraße. It was surreal. I'd made it nearly 5000 miles from home (the furthest I've been...even a few hundred miles further than Honolulu in the opposite direction).
The next week was a whirlwind of sight-seeing, shopping (mostly in the touristy Mitte area and hipster Prenzlauer Berg),
and going out... Berlin itself is a city unlike other European
cities... It was virtually destroyed by the Allied Forces as they
closed in on Berlin in the mid '40s, proceeded by a division down the
middle of the city dividing East (Communist Russia) and the West
(Britain, France, and America), and has only been unified for the past
19 years (most all of the wall is now gone with no border or markers as
a way for Berliners to mover forward from the past). There is a
definitive difference between the aesthetics of East and West. West
Berlin is a bit cleaner and more traditionally "European," whereas East
Berlin is a bit more spread out, less ornate, and a bit poorer. To put
in comparison to fellow Atlantans, it would be the difference between
the "niceness" of Buckhead and Midtown versus the "grittiness" of
Cabbagetown and Old Fourth Ward (only amplified on a bigger and grander
scale). Most of the typical European architecture in Berlin was
destroyed, badly damaged, or rebuilt (in some cases rebuilt with a more
modern feel). Berlin feels like a gigantic, spread out Brooklyn with
attitudes to match. It was actually kind of hard to believe I was in
Europe except for the language barrier. The weather was a welcome
change for me. It remained mostly sunny for the better part of the
week with highs in the low to mid '70s with lows in the mid to upper
'50s. It rained (drizzled) only two days, so it was a bit cooler on
those days. Even though the mascot for Berlin is a bear, I honestly
think it should've been a yellow jacket. There is a definite
infestation....worse than flies. However, they aren't as aggressive as
they are persistent around food. Most Berliners brush them away like
flies, unfettered by the potential anger from the bees.
The best part about our stay is that it was Dana's last week in Berlin for the summer program she was attending (a study of Jewish culture in Berlin - which is sadly lacking in Berlin's religious landscape to this day). We were able to meet a lot of her fellow students the night we got there for their last night on the town, as well as their Shabbat dinner the next evening. It was a great group of students of various ages, backgrounds, and countries. It reminded me quite a bit of my study-abroad at Oxford ten years ago. Dana's roommates Marnie and Sheer were excellent hosts, though Marnie moved out a day or two later to her own apartment. Sheer's good friend Valerie came to visit from Israel the day after Dale and I arrived. We immediately clicked with her and did quite a bit of day-time sight-seeing together. In the evenings, we all had wine and dinner at home as Dale was our personal chef and cooked an array of delicious dishes. Later at night, we'd all go out as a group to various nightspots. Sometimes, we'd just grab a beer from a corner market and drink it on the way (oh yeah, you can do that on the street and on the train in Europe). i would be lying if I said it's not expensive for Americans. The conversion rate was about $1.50 = 1
€. However, it's very cheap for Berliners since they're making euros instead of American dollars. A typical beer anywhere costs around 2,50€. Therefore, a good rule of thumb is to almost double any price you see. This is another reason we didn't go to many restaurants, and saved our money for nightlclubs and touristy things. It was refreshing to not be on a time schedule of any sort, as well as come and go at our leisure...the way a vacation should be.
As
the week came to a close, Dana prepared to go to her home city of
Munich, and Dale and I planned to meet her there. The cheapest and
fastest way to travel between the two cities is NOT the train. The train costs about 70
We
arrived in Munich exactly one week after we arrived in Berlin. The two
cities couldn't be more different. Dana lives at the city center on
Kanalstraße a block or so from the Isartor S-Bahn stop and the old
city. Munich is the capitol of the German state of Bavaria,
rich in culture and history. However, like Berlin, it is also a city
of a turbulent past. Munich is clean, touristy, and aesthetically
gorgeous...much like one would imagine it to be. Most of the surviving
architecture can be attributed to Ludwig I
(1825 - 1848) who had a penchant for late 18th century neoclassic
architecture, though there is much left from medieval and renaissance
periods as well. It is also common to see traditional Bavarian dress
in the touristy spots (dirndl and lederhosen). Oktoberfest draws a massive crowd every year. However, on the flipside of the historical beauty lies an ugly recent past. The National Socialist German Workers' Party
began as a small, radical right-wing political group in Munich to whom
no one paid much attention, and quickly increased momentum throughout
the '20s until they gained the majority in the German parliament and
President Paul von Hindenburg appointed Hitler as Chancellor in 1933.
Shortly after, The Reichstag Fire Decree
was passed which "amended" the German constitution by suspending civil
liberties for "national security" during this time of "crisis." The
rest is history. The Nazis quickly established headquarters and
offices in many historic buildings and landmarks throughout Munich as a
way of defining the past, present, and future of Germany. As a result,
many landmarks have a dual history. Munich also marred by the 1972 Olympics,
where Israeli competitors were held hostage and later killed by
Palestinian terrorists. Today, Munich is economically booming with
opulent (hedging on obscene) displays of wealth (especially on Maximilianstraße). Englischer Garten
(a large park near the city center) is one of the world's largest
public parks and contains a nudist area (we saw one man in particular
who permanently scarred us). It also contains a beautiful Biergarten
at the Chinesischer Turm (Chinese Pagoda). The weather in Munich is a
bit warmer than Berlin and so are the people. All in all, it was
fantastic to be able to experience the two cities.
To see personal pics of my trip, visit www.myspace.com/chuckjones or www.facebook.com/
Below is a guide to sights, shops, and bar/nightclubs in both Berlin and Munich...
BERLIN
Sights (all hyperlinked for historical reference):
World Clock
Friedrichstraße
(Mitte) - A nightlife and cabaret district in the 1920s that was
destroyed in WWII and later transformed into the main shopping
thoroughfare in Berlin today (much like the 5th/Madison/Lexington
shopping district of Manhattan).
Straße des 17 Juni - Commemorates the 1953 East Berliners' Upsrising against Communism.
Nightlife:
Weltempfänger (Mitte-Tiergarten-Wedding) We went here the first night in Berlin for Dana's program's '90s party. It's a small, cool dance space underneath the main bar/restaurant.
C.C.C.P. (Mitte) These are the only letters outside the door of the club in Mitte (translated to the U.S.S.R. - communist themed). This was the second place we went on the night our arrival (Thursday). I LOVED IT. The DJ played an outstanding blend of '60s, '80s, and current indie. I was very impressed by some of the tracks...especially "Shakin' All Over" by The Guess Who. Unfortunately, Dale was so jet-lagged, he slept right next to the DJ booth (what a compliment to the DJ!). I met a German girl named Sarah who kept trying to wake him up. Thank you Elizabeth for bringing me here!
Monarch - (Skalitzer Straße 134, at Kottbusser Tor, 10999 Berlin-Kreuzberg) We went here the next night (Friday). The original plan was to go to Bang-Bang, but Dana deemed it a bit too hipster and too pretentious. We wanted something a little more laid-back. We found it. Dana brought us to this great space located upstairs from the Turkish Center literally across the street from the Kottbusser U-Bahn stop. The door leading to the stairwell is only marked with Turkish Center-related information. We discovered Friday night is the best night to go as the DJs play an eclectic set of music (mostly laid-back Britpop...though, he did throw in "Turn it Up" by Robots in Disguise to spice it up).
Bang-Bang (Mitte) - I actually didn't get a chance to attend their infamous Friday nights, but I'm sure there are hipsters galore dancing to the latest indietronicelektroneuerave sound. When checking out the Myspace page (click the name), I discovered they actually play a lot of Mod. I'll have to go next time around.
Luzia (Kreuzberg) - This was our most common hangout throughout the trip. It was only blocks away, and very cool. By day, it is a cafe, and by night it's a lounge/bar with a small dance space and DJ booth. Most of the furnishings are antique (including the light fixtures). It maintains a very casual and trendy atmosphere. Most of the music is more of a downtempo kind of feel. It's a nice relaxing place to have a drink.
Roses (Oranienstraße 187, 10999 Berlin-Kreuzberg) - A whole-in-the-wall kitschy gay bar in the heart of Kreuzberg. The bartender is a little firecracker. She'd love you one minute, then turn on a dime the next minute. I felt like I was dealing with someone who had Multiple Personality Disorder. However, it was highly entertaining, and uber-tacky. I loved it.
Barbie Deinhoff's (Kreuzberg) - Another kitschy gay/indie bar with FANTASTIC music. The DJ on this particular night (Tuesday) played lots of '80s and electro (including some obscurities I'd never heard outside my iPod. GREAT!). There are lots of dolls as wall decorations. It's a hot pink theme. For Atlantans, it reminds me a lot of Mary's, only smaller. Elizabeth met her first Berliner boyfriend there (well, he was British, but lived in Berlin). I highly recommend it.
Berghain / Panorama Bar
(click the name for Wikipedia history or go to www.berghain.de for
info). Located in Friedrichshain over the river from Kreuzberg, this
place is insane. I really don't know where to begin... Wow. Um, so,
yeah... Sheer and Dana told us after dinner that we should go to bed
and get up around 2am, get ready, and get to Berghain by 4am because it
would be peak time. WHAT? I honestly didn't believe it. I couldn't
sleep, so Dale and I stayed up chatting and drinking with one of Dana's
program managers, Hannah. Well, we woke them up and were on our way.
The building is a renovated power-plant. It looks a bit spooky and
intimidating walking up to it because there's nothing else around it.
Inside is a multi-level superclub concept. It's seedy. It has dark
areas for casual sex. It has multiple bars. By 6am, the main
dancefloor was pounding with an electro-heavy techno combination and
PACKED full of people. Upstairs in the Panorama Bar are the huge,
semi-Paladian style windows and the music was a bit more
house-inspired. ANYTHING goes at this club, which is probably why it
draws all walks of life. It was truly an experience, but I think I was
a bit too exhausted to fully experience it. By 9am or so, we were on
our way to the popular Sunday Flohmarkt (see below). Needless to say,
we slept most of that Sunday. For Atlantans, if you remember
Backstreet (1976 - 2004 R.I.P.), it is a similar concept (only bigger
and more over-the-top).
NBI (New Berliner Intiative) Club
(Prenzlauer Berg) - Didn't get a chance to attend (which is sad because
I was at the Eberswalder Straße U-Bahn stop twice and it's right next
to it), but this is an indie club that hosts the infamous Berlin Hilton indie gay nights, as well as other notable events like DISKOMAT. Also visit: www.myspace.com/nbiclub.
Shopping:
Garage (Division of Kleidermarkt - Ahornstraße 2, 10787 Berlin-Schöneberg) Located in the West Berlin neighborhood of Schöneberg (which has an interesting history itself... Marlene Dietrich was born there, David Bowie and Iggy Pop resided there for a time, and it was the center of gay culture in the '20s before the Nazi's shut it down in the '30s), Garage is one of the largest thrift stores in Berlin with tons of cool finds. They usually have special deals where you can buy 1 Kg. for 13€.
Colours (Division of Kleidermarkt - Bergmannstraße 102, 10961 Berlin-Kreuzberg) A sister store to Garage in an area of Kreuzberg that very much reminds me of St. Mark's Place in the East Village, NYC. The same sorts of deals apply here as they do Garage.
Kastanienallee (Prenzlauer Berg) - THE hipster street of Berlin. Kastanienallee is lined with tons of independent designer boutiques, as well as cafes and restaurants. The fashion-forward kids are everywhere. GREAT people-watching.
Who Killed Bambi? (Prenzlauer Berg) - One of my favorite boutiques. Fantastic bags and t-shirts! It deserves its own mention!
COS (the location at Neue Sh
önhauser Straße 20, 10176 Berlin-Mitte) - Definitely a guilty pleasure store. COS is the upper-end line of H&M with stores throughout Britain, Belgium, Denmark, The Netherlands, and Germany. In other words, it's like the Banana Republic of H&M (only MUCH more fashion-forward than Banana Republic). Elizabeth introduced us to this store, and God bless her! Even though, it's pretty much mid-line for Germany, it's pricey for Americans with weak dollar against the euro. Dale bought an amazing 3/4 coat that fits him like a glove. Kudos!
Flohmarkt am Mauerpark
(Flea Market at Mauer Park - Prenzlauer Berg) - Sunday mornings never
felt so good....except for the Sunday morning we went. We came
directly from Berghain (as I noticed a few others did as well). I was
sleepy. I was cranky. It was a bit cold and drizzly. However, there
are TONS of great finds. Dana found a cute blue dress from H&M for
only a few euro. I wish I were a bit more awake. I would've taken
advantage of the awesome deals.
Sankt Oberholz (Mitte) - A GREAT coffee shop at Rosenthaler Platz in Mitte. Elizabeth brought us here, and it's her favorite. There's great music, free wifi, outdoor seating to view the bustling Rosenthaler Platz.
BERLIN ONLINE NIGHTLIFE / SHOPPING GUIDES:
[030] - All-inclusive nightlife listings guide (online and paper-based).
ein000 - Comprehensive online and paper-based listing of all Berlin boutiques by city neighborhood.
MUNICH
Sights:
Marienplatz (with New City Hall and Glockenspiel, as well as Mariensäule).
Nazi Tour (Dana gave us our own personal Nazi walking tour... However, there are professional ones offered: http://www.newmunichtours.com/thirdreich.htm
Englischer Garten (with Biergarten at the Chinesischer Turm - see the last paragraph before the listings for hypernlinks).
Nightlife (most are in Isarvorstadt):
Die Bank - Sleek bar with a blended crowd. Good music. I heard a house-y remix of "Bonafied Lovin'" by Chromeo that I hadn't heard before. It's a bit more mainstream than I would've liked, but still a cool spot for a drink.
X-Cess Bar (Kolosseumstaße 6, at Jahnstraße, 80469 Munich) - It has a wall of boobies! Seriously! It's a very small indie dive bar. Wasn't there for very long, but enjoyed the vibe.
Die Registratur - This place is a great indie dance club. It has a fairly large dancefloor and bar area. It has a separate smoking room open to the outside. You get to pick a little trinket at the door to take home with you. How cute. I think Boys Noize plays there this Friday.
BAU - This is definitely Munich's version of The Eagle in Atlanta. However, there were more younger gay guys who weren't quite a "bear-ish" as I expected. The downstairs where the bathrooms are is virtually pitch-black. Proceed with caution. Yikes.
BAR JEANS (Blumenstraße 15, 80331 Munich) - Supposed to be Munich's oldest gay bar. It's across the street from Die Registratur (above). We went there for a drink after we got stamped and waited for the crowd to pick up at Die Registratur. It's a small bar with a quaint crowd. We were enthralled with the gay porn playing at the bar.
Kleidermarkt See Garage and Colours above. The only difference is that it's twice the size and carries traditional Bavarian dress for men and women.
There are tons of tourist shops in the Old City, as well as international brand names. For the "Rodeo Drive" of Munich, you have to stroll down Maximilianstr
"Ahhh... New York... Aren't ya gonna miss it?"
Carrie Bradshaw ushered these very words to the infamous "Mr. Big" in the episode "I Heart NY" from Season 4 of Sex and the City (2001). It couldn't be truer. My love affair with this town spans twenty years now and began when I moved to New Jersey at the age of 13 in January 1988. My stepfather had just married my mother and he was transferred to New York from Atlanta. I wasn't a big fan of Jersey, but I relished the weekends when we'd go into the city. Even the first glimpse of the massive skyline with the prominent World Trade Center would give me chills (I sketched it over and over again...I still have one of the sketches to this day). Of course, these trips would include the more touristy things like Times Square, Rockefeller Center, The Empire State Building, St. Patrick's Cathedral, Grand Central Station, etc., etc., etc. I can even remember going to Central Park on a gorgeous Spring day (complete with a sky full of kites) in May of '88 or '89 (I can't remember which), and glimpsing a cute gay couple holding hands. I remember thinking that I'd have a cute boyfriend someday... Little did I know what a challenging enterprise that would be. Unfortunately, my dislike for Jersey outweighed my love for NYC (since I dealt with Jersey on a daily basis), so I moved back to Atlanta to live with my Dad a year and a half later in July 1989. I would only return to visit my mom for a short Christmas visit later that same year. I wouldn't return again for twelve whole years (in the interim, my mom and stepdad moved to other cities).
My next visit wasn't until Labor Day, 2001. At the time, I was 26, and I was going to visit a guy I dated for some seven or so months before he completed grad school at UGA. Of course, by then, I was an avid watcher of Sex and the City, so I had a completely romantized view of New York. We did some touristy things, and some not-so-touristy things. Three places I enjoyed were XL Lounge (a sleek lounge in Chelsea for the boys, which I'm not sure exists anymore). XL had an ultramodern public latrine in the middle of the bathroom with this divider wall with trickling water fall, but you could see the other person on the other side, which was a bit intimidating. They had hot, shirtless bartenders, and I think I saw the SATC girls on a later episode at the same place. Samantha was checking out the latrine and complimenting "the goods” while saying something to the effect of it being “like a diabetic in a candy store.” I also remember a great place for Sunday brunch called Artepasta (I think it was hedging on Greenwich Village and Chelsea). I just remember they had all-you-can-drink mimosas for $10! A great place for shopping at the time was Century 21, which was downtown directly across from the WTC. I remember stepping outside and looking up and asking Jason (the guy I dated) if we could be tourists and go to the top because I never had the chance to do it as a kid. He said no, so I thought there would plenty of other chances. It wasn't like they were going anywhere. I remember my bag being ransacked at the Newark airport by security when I was leaving a few days later. It was a bit scary because I'd never been through it before. I had extreme anxiety on the flight home, which was bizarre because I love to fly. One week later, as I sat in my tiny cube at Wolf Camera corporate, I watched the nightmare unfold with the north tower on CNN.com. I immediately rushed to the break room to find out was going on. I watched in pure horror as the airliner struck the south tower. A sickening feeling of disbelief ensued as I realized at that moment we were under attack. As the towers fell, it was like I living in an alternate universe. I can't even describe it. All those people… Those symbols of New York (and America, really) that I'd sketched so often as a child....gone.
My next visit came almost exactly five years later in 2006. The 9/11 tragedies became even more real when I saw the downtown skyline with the absent towers. My September '06 trip and my July '07 trip were much more relaxed and exploratory. It was time to do some off-roading. My BFF Christina (who moved there in '05) gave me the inside scoop, and I've become more and more familiar with different neighborhoods throughout the city. Over the past six years, I've had quite a few friends migrate to New York...many of which never came back. As Atlanta becomes smaller and smaller to me (while simultaneously growing bigger and bigger to others), my annoyances with Atlanta have peaked, and I've decided to make the move myself. My goal date is June 1, 2009.
Looking for fun places to go on your next visit to New York? Here are some gems in both Williamsburg and Lower Manhattan I’ve discovered over my past two visits. They are written from an Atlanta perspective, since I haven’t really a basis for comparison. I’ve hyperlinked most places to their respective Myspace pages or web sites where applicable. Enjoy!
WILLIAMSBURG, BROOKLYN:
Metropolitan (GAY)
559 Lorimer St almost at Metropolitan Ave (there's an L stop right across the street)
It's like a Mary's in Williamsburg. However, there's not really a dance space, but it has a bigger outdoor patio. It's more of a hangout. I guess it could be dancey sometimes, but I've never been on a dancey night (I've only been twice, and I think it was during the week). It's a bit strange how much it reminds me of Mary’s. Still, a fun place!
Union Pool (or, affectionately called "U.P.")
484 Union Ave. at Meeker St.
A great blend of The Earl, MJQ, Lenny's and The Local... Great bar area, great outdoor patio, great live music area, and great dance space. It's the best Williamsburg hangout.
594 Union Ave. at Richardson St.
Cool hangout. Much like The Local. Nice little dance space in the back! Very much like UP, though not quite as many ultra-hipsters. More laid back.
212 Berry St. at N. 3rd St.
This place is very much like The Local (albeit a bit more crowded on Friday nights). The have ten billion different kinds of beer (like, bizarre ones you've never heard of). It's fun. I went there on 4th of July after seeing Japanther and Pterodactyl play at 29 Wythe.
221 N. 9th St., between Roebling St. and Driggs Ave.
We went on a Sunday night. Pretty cool place. Every time you order a beer, you get a free pizza! YESSSS.
70 N. 6th St., between Wythe and Kent Ave's...a few blocks from Bedford Ave.
Live music / indie bar / art space. I wanted to see The Presets there back in '06, but it was the day I left. Still, a great place
285 Bedford Ave., between Grand and S.1st St's
Dance club on Beford Ave. I ran into my friend Carrie White from Atlanta a few years back, and she said she spins there on Sunday nights... However, who knows if she still does... Worth a peek.
29 Wythe
29 Wythe at N. 14th
Cool little live music warehouse-type space. Reminded me of lots of spaces in Cabbagetown. They had a great 4th of July party, and only blocks from full view of the East River fireworks.
388 Union Ave, near Metropolitan Ave
Cool little hangout spot to have a few beers, as well as play some '80s arcade games!
McCaren Park Pool
Lorimer St. between Driggs Ave. and Baynard St. (technically Greenpoint)
From June to August, all the hipsters from Williamsburg, Greenpoint, Park Slope, etc. gather in droves for the Free Sunday “pool” parties. It's literally a HUGE, old drained community pool where everyone goes to watch summer shows. Check here for the free Sunday Pool Parties schedule: http://thepoolparties.com/. Otherwise, shows during the week cost $$$.
PLACES TO EAT:
338 Bedford Ave., between S. 2nd and S. 3rd St's
AWESOME Mexican food. I ate their twice. I mean, you can't find good Mexican in New York, but this is as good as it gets!
Fabiane's Cafe & Pastry
42 N. 5th St at Bedford Ave
SOOOO GOOD! Open Air during summer. Good for coffee and people watching. Try their mushroom quiche... FANTASTIC. Though, don't expect the traditional French fluffy quiche... Since Fabiane's is a fusion of Brazil and France, the quiche is more on the runny side...kind of like a casserole. SOOO GOOD.
Phoebe's Cafe
323 Graham Ave., between Lorimer and Leonard St's
Great little indie coffee house / brunch spot. I had the banana walnut waffles. They were quite tasty.
225 Wythe Ave at N. 3rd
Ever wonder if there's a place like Ria's or Radial is in New York? THIS IS IT. I went there just before I had to go to LaGuardia... YUM. I could’ve stayed MUCH longer.
Sunac Natural Food
440 Union Ave near Metropolitan Ave, between Devoe and Keap
24 HOUR NATURAL FOODS AND DELI!!!! It's great to get hoagies in the middle of the night!!
SHOPPING:
88 N. 11th St., between Berry and Wythe Ave's
THE thrift store to shop in Williamsburg. Some things are pricey...others are shockingly not. I found a quite a few things there.
FOR ALL THINGS WILLIAMSBURG, VISIT: www.freewilliamsburg.com or www.thelmagazine.com
MORE GOING OUT/PARTY SUGGESTIONS FOR BOTH BROOKLYN AND MANHATTAN (sign up for this email updates):
OPEN BAR NIGHTS:
www.myopenbar.com (sign up! a great resource for fun things!)
LOWER MANHATTAN:
Thursdays:
Cheeky Bastard at Hiro Ballroom
371 W. 16th St. (Chelsea)
The creme de la creme of indie dance nights in NYC. :ots of Paper magazine, Useless magazine, and V magazine folks.
Happy Ending (GAY indie dance night, weee!)
302 Broome St (LES)
It's kind of a ghostown before Midnight, but after that, LOTS OF CUTE INDIE GAY BOYS DANCING IT UP!!! If I wasn’t so hungover from 4th of July the night before, I would’ve had a blast.
Fridays:
40 Ave. C at 3rd St. (East Village)
MY MOST FUN NIGHT BY FAR! DJ Jess (who's cute as hell, but alas...straight), plays an '80s new wave-heavy night at this whole-in-the-wall East Village bar... The crowd was good! It has changed locations from Rififi since I've been there, but the music is awesome.
152 Orchard St, between Stanton and Rivington (LES)
An indie rock "scene" night. Pretty much all the NYC fashionista-hipster-scenesters gather here on Fridays. Hint: know the bands that are playing before the actual dance party gets started. A door guy may ask you who you're here to see, and just name one of the bands. This is how they keep the frat boys and sorority girls out...
Saturdays:
Crashin' In at Stanton Public
17 Stanton St. between Bowery St. and Chrystie St. (LES)
Lio Cerezo (DJ Oil) who used to live here in Atlanta and spin the Britpop Video Nights at Mary's with Dennis Millay every Monday hosts this night. It's a great party. It used to be located at Galapagos in Williamsburg. You should go!
Sundays:
Sway (the sign outside still reads McGovern's Tavern)
305 Spring St, between Hudson and Greenwich - a little up the street from Don Hill's where infamous MisShapes party used to be.
It has become increasingly hard to get into Sway on Sundays...more and more people have found out about it. As a matter of fact, Chloe Sevigny has been spotted there a few times over the past two years. However, it's dance-o-mania here. Good crowd as well.
PLACES TO EAT (Brunch and Latenight):
Clinton Street Baking Co. & Restaurant
4 Clinton St., between E. Houston and Stanton (LES)
SOOOO EFFING GOOD!!!!! Southern-styled. The best food EVER. You should go.
Punjabi Grocery & Deli
114 E. 1st St., between 1st Ave. and Ave. A (LES)
Open 24 hrs!!!! Hits the spot after a long night boozing and dancing. It’s Indian take-out. Fast, and better than going to Taco Cabana or Majestic at 4am if you know what I’m sayin’..
SHOPPING:
4 St. Mark's Place, Ste. 4, between 2nd and 3rd Ave's (East Village)
A seminal punk-rock boutique. It's kind of like an L5P or E. Atl. boutique, but they have some great stuff you can't find here in Atlanta, so I really liked it. Their skinny jeans fit like a glove.
The Scottish singer/songwriter/producer/remixer is truly a jack-of-all-trades. He scored a nominal hit last year with “Acceptable in the ‘80s,” poking fun at the fashion and pop culture of the period. The video is a parody of many early ‘80s new wave videos, which were often dreamlike and nonsensical (since video was a new medium for music at the time, it allowed for much more creative freedom). The 24-year-old is also known for his producing talents [Róisín Murphy, Kylie Minogue, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, and the highly entertaining “Michael Jackson” by The Mitchell Brothers (you should YouTube the video immediately!)]. He lends his clever remixing abilities to tracks by The Ting Tings, CSS, and Jamiroquai. Keep on the lookout for Mr. Harris this year.
The synth-pop musical duo from The Windy City met back in 1999 and shared similar musical aesthetics. The band takes its name from vocalist Justin Sconza (who is HOT as Hell, by the way), when he asked his counterpart (instrumentalist Colin Yarck) to call him “Walter,” which was short for his new alter ego, Walter Meego. The group’s musical style has been described of elements of dance, funk, and post-punk, and they’ve been compared to the likes of New Order, Daft Punk, and Radiohead. Their upcoming full-length, Voyager, showcases a wide range of ability, and features the track, “Wanna Be a Star.” Walter Meego is probably some of the most intelligent electropop goodness in the past six years. Keep them on your radar.
Perhaps my favorite new musical act of the year thus far would undoubtedly be MGMT. The artsy bohemian duo from Brooklyn has produced some of the most innovative sounds I’ve heard this decade yet. Combining elements of garage rock, glam (think Bowie-esque and T.Rex crooning vocals), and a bit of ‘80s synths, and you’ll have a magical combination of rock that transcends time. They’ve already produced a string of catchy singles from the recently released Oracular Spectacular including the mesmerizing “Time to Pretend,” the soulful “Electric Feel,” and the synth-driven “Kids.” I know it’s only April, but I’m almost ready to hand the Best Album of the Year Award to MGMT. Check them out.
Last year, Klaxons were touted as the band to watch by NME, as the cheeky Brit mag proclaimed them the purveyors of the new rave movement. This year, NME has crowned a new band as their lovelies du jour. Foals hail from Oxford, England (which is more than just a University. Oxford is a cool little city…like a miniature London, if you will. I have an undying love for it that hasn’t faded since I studied there for a term ten years ago). Foals provide a clever combination of math rock and dance-punk that creates a captivating sound. Their debut album, Anitdotes, was just released a few weeks ago in the UK, and has already shot to number three. The album’s US release is slated for today. The band caught my attention with their single, “Mathletics” a few months back, and it hasn’t left my “most played” iPod list yet!
Black Kids have enjoyed a whirlwind of success in just six short months. Back in August, they performed for Athens Popfest (Athens, GA), and the festival catapulted them to online fame, as indie music bloggers talked about them non-stop. As a result, they received coverage in The Guardian, Vice, NME, and The Village Voice. They also released an EP titled, The Wizard of Ahhhs that same month, which earned them a stellar review from Pitchfork Media (and contained an outstanding single called “Hurricane Jane”). Since then, they’ve signed a deal with Quest Management (Björk, Arcade Fire), and have received exposure in The New York Times and USA Today. Rolling Stone named them one of the ten best new bands of 2008. Their first official single since signing with Almost Gold Recording was released yesterday and is a newly recorded version of “I’m not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance with You.” Look for their debut full-length (TBA) to drop in July.
With the F/W 08 shows officially complete (as well as fashion prodigy Christian Siriano crowned as Project Runway’s latest prince), I can now take the opportunity to reflect on the current state of women’s fashion. As I surmised, tops would continue to get larger and more ornate (Edwardian influences with fuller sleeves, larger shoulders, and frills and ties galore). The waistline has (finally) climbed back to…well…the waist. Yes! No more butt-crack (at least for a good ten to fifteen years)! Large width high-waisted belts continue to be an accessory of choice to slim the female silhouette. Trousers range from the form-fitted “skinny” look (which is most prevalent), to high-waisted full-cut (semi-palazzo) styles, to full looks which slightly taper toward the ankle. Pleats have also begun their cyclical revolution featuring high-waisted styles, complimenting the larger Edwardian tops quite nicely. Hair has remained with little change throughout the decade… Retro looks from the 20th century still prevail (with ‘60s and ‘70s styles dominating). The resurgence of bangs over the past few years continues. Below are some great examples of women’s trends in separates for the following year:
First of all, I hope everyone had a great new year. Hopefully, I'll expand the blog in some way during 2008. I'm still in the beta phase, and getting used to having a blog in general. Once I become dedicated, and utilize all the blog's capabilities (as well as my own), I may even create a "real" blog with a better host (wider readership and fewer restrictions).
Now, for the fashion…
As we move into the closing years of the first decade of this new and strange technologically driven millennium, fads and fashions are moving at a pace quicker than ever before, with retro looks being recycled with fewer years between the preceding craze.
Therefore, a good rule of thumb is to never fall victim to an over-the-top, at-the-moment fad (unless you're one of the few who can pull it off and not look foolish when looking back at pictures from this era)… Otherwise, you'll wear it for a few months before it goes back to the vault for another ten years, only to reemerge with slight variations and modifications.
Looking at men's fashion over the past eight years, it is important to note that there has been a shift in the men's silhouette, which mirrors a similar phenomenon in women's trends. The fitted top and full (if not wide-legged) bottom half, which dominated most of the nineties, as well as the earlier part of this decade, has completely reversed itself (as it happened with the seventies/eighties transition period). It is becoming more and more common to find a fitted bottom half with a fuller top half. Color still dominates ready-to-wear men's looks (mostly inspired by the eighties revival earlier in the decade, as well as the neon colors of underground dance culture), though muted colors and earth tones have begun to reemerge over the past few months, and have been shown in both S/S and F/W collections over the past year.
As the winter marches on, the trends of the season for men continue to have a definitive mod look. Inspiration from early sixties mod/late seventies mod revival (as well as early new wave) are more than evident. Slim-fit trousers and denim are most common; with designer denim going into decline as inexpensive mass-market brands offer up-to-the moment skinny looks in flattering styles. Turtlenecks have reemerged this season, as well as plaid patterns (flannel, madras, etc.). The reintroduction of military trends last season remains popular (particularly in shoes). A movement towards oxfords, desert boots, tasseled loafers, wingtips, etc., begins to overtake casual sneakers for the first time in six years or so. Hair moves away from over-styled, straight, flat-ironed looks to more natural waves, curls and free flowing mop-top styles. Below are some great looks as examples. Have fun, and happy winter!
*The below images are credited to one of my online fashion Bibles, The Sartorialist.
