TAGG, You're It!...

If you're a gay man who enjoys $120 tank tops, then TAGG is awesome. For everyone else, not so much. But they did throw a fun party with free booze, and tunes spun by a talented up and comer, someone I may have mentioned once or twice before- one DJ BennyK... aka Punky... aka Ben... aka the baddest bitch in NYC. I know the boys hate fruitflies being in the bars and clubs, and I don't necessarily blame then. Believe me, being the only girl in a room full of horny queens it's not my scene. My scene generally involves vagabonding , and really nerdy activities like playing Scrabble or watching a documentary.  I'm simply amidst the hedonistic debauchery to support my boy. And if DJ BennyK can make this girl dance her nerdy ass off,  then the asses belonging to all you cool NYC club kids will be blown to high heaven. Pun intended. So for all the gay boys in NYC, if you see us amongst you, don't be bitchy queens to your devoted fruitflies. Be nice. Say hi. Blow fog in my mouth. I'm dorky, but I've never met a gay boy who didn't love me. And to the old drunk dude who is from Utah, but who is not Mormon, who was once married with kids, but who now dreams of owning a gay oriented retail store with naked boys dancing in the window, and who inexplicably tried to make out with me- get yourself together, man! Then, once you do, come on over and say hi. I won't hold your indiscretions against you because I have a soft spot for train wrecks. We've all been there. I always say, if you haven't had a nervous breakdown, you haven't lived.

DJ BennyK continues to make a name for himself in NYC, spinning at so many hotspots that my blog posts can't keep up. Here he is bringing down the house at Bar 13, a multi-tiered club that draws an eclectic crowd of friendly and open-minded characters. Go and visit Paul, the precious bartender, who will carry you merrily into the wee hours. Be sure to compliment him for being so majestic, and thank him by throwing your almighty dollars his way. He deserves it. Congrats to Nathan Kelly and Chris Ryan for hiring a badass DJ, for throwing a badass party, and for generously treating me to free drinks all night. A special thanks to Paola, Ann, and Chris for a hilariously dramatic experience in the loo straight out of a Lynch film, to sweet Jason who knew in his heart that I was neither a lesbian nor white and who came to chat with me to apparently prove it to the rest of the bar, to Karma LiLoLa for being bold, beautiful, and the spiciest girl of them all, to Jon for sporting the coolest t-shirt of the night, to Roland for simply being his amazing self, to DJ Robertox for his mouth to mouth fog antics, and of course to the incomparable DJ BennyK for making me forget all about the rooftop smores and for keeping me on the dance floor. When a girl looks up and realizes she is dancing aside a zombie and a drag queen, gratitude for this beloved city is further instilled into her heart. Enjoy my little vid:

Check out DJ BennyK's latest podcast:

DJ BennyK PodOmatic

"Thru the rhythm of darkened times/ Painted black by knowledge crimes/ And repetitions pointless mime/ Instilling values the sick define/ That keeps the fabric that keeps you blind/ And ties your hands and cloaks your mind/ But on my stilts, I'm above the slime/ Come on up if you can make the climb, but who am I?/ Who am I? Who am I?" --13th Floor Elevators, Thru the Rhythm

 

Spring Awakening...

Just a short jaunt from my apartment is the Conservatory Garden, a place of such beauty that you just want to sit and stare. Immediately upon entering the black iron Vanderbilt Gate (which was made in Paris in 1894), you are greeted by an exuberance of crabapple trees bursting in pink and white hues. They line the main Italian-style garden, and lead up to a fountain erupting with gusto and an incredible pergola covered in wisteria. The pathways behind the rows of  crabapple trees lead to two other gardens, one English-style, one French-style, featuring lovely fountains and beds upon beds of gorgeous flowers. I was especially enamored with the tulips.

A great environmental film (or films I should say) that does not involve Al Gore, is Godfrey Reggio's Qatsi Trilogy. The first is the 1983 cult flick Koyaanisqatsi, which is a Hopi Indian word meaning "life out of balance."  Five years later came Powaqqatsi, Hopi for "parasitic way of life" or "life in transition." The final film, Naqoyqatsi, Hopi for "life as war," was not released until 2002. There is something here for everyone. Whether you are a stoner, a philosopher, an environmentalist, a spiritualist, a poet, or simply a cinephile, your socks will be rocked off by the imagery.  All of the films explore the relationship between technology and the environment, with each film depicting different cultures. And this is done without dialogue or narration, only through visuals and music. The film is scored by Philip Glass, one of those composers people tend to either love or hate. I think he's brilliant and this score is mind-bendingly beautiful. If you're in the mood for an epic journey, give it a go.

"So Spring is in her belly/ It's sprouted in her soul/ And no one had to tell us/ We did just know/ And know life seems a little more, somehow/ Meaningful/ And I looked at her like I always do and I see/ Beautiful" --John Butler Trio, Spring

Best. Neighbors. Ever!...

FDNY Engine 91 in Spanish Harlem

When Ben and Roland step out of their apartment, this is what they see. How cool is that? This is my local fire station as well, since I live a block over. It's unfortunate that I didn't manage to capture any of the cute firefighters of Engine 91 when I took this pic, several of whom are often leaning against the firehouse walls in James Dean like poses when I walk by, causing me to rubberneck and trip over myself, and then to hurriedly get inside Ben and Roland's so that I can peer at them less conspicuously through the blinds. Is that creepy? I'm just fascinated by those that run towards the fire. If my admiration happens to come in the form of stalking, so be it. It may also come in the form of baked goods come Christmas time. Engine 91 has a furry feline friend and a spotted canine friend as well. The Dalmation, ubiquitous fire dog, looks as noble and as dedicated as one would expect. The orange cat, who is obviously the king of that castle, or thinks he is, inexplicably enjoys lounging directly in front of the firetruck's massive tires, much to my anxiety. My joke to the boys is that one day I'm just going to run and jump on the firetruck when it's pulling out of the garage. Can you get arrested for that?

I found 9/11 oral histories from Lieutenant Bruce Medjuck, Firefighter Edward Sheehey, Firefighter Timothy Hoppey of Engine 91 here:

New York Times 9/11 Oral Histories

Firefighter Timothy Hoppey of Engine 91 is the author of several children's books, including the award-winning Tito the Firefighter, Jungle Scout, and Baseball on Mars. His most recent book is:

The first FDNY Engine 91 in 1913:

I found some awesome videos featuring Engine 91 produed by eHarlemTV, but unfortunately I am unable to upload them here. If you are interested, they are available to view on YouTube.

"As he stared past the fire/ His hunger to leave well it gnawed his poor heart alive/ Her skin smelled like black cherry, blossom perfume/ The sail boats they all sailed by/ And a river she cried"--Ryan Adams, Ashes & Fire