:: WHIZ-BANG GANG FROM UPTOWN ::

The mercury's been bouncing around 80 and summertime is well on its way. Now this'll be my first summer in New York and I'm getting pretty excited. I've always imagined summer in NY to be as epic as an old Bruce Springsteen song. I think "Lost in the Flood" will be the soundtrack for this post. Right click on the song to download it, if you don't already have it.

The ragamuffin gunner is returnin' home like a hungry runaway
The humidity is still in hibernation so it's the best time to go skate. Especially when you got visitors in town.

Some storefront incarnation of Maria, she's puttin' on me the stare
McCarren Park in Williamsburg is thick with folks on a nice day. It's like NY's version of Dolores Park, if that gives any SF kids a point of reference. They sell margaritas to-go in styrofoam cups around the corner from McCarren and Francis says oral goes down there on really hot days.

Races Sundays in Jersey in a Chevy stock super eight

The hit-and-run plead sanctuary, 'neath a holy stone they hide

Sticker smiles sweet as Gunner breathes deep, his ankles caked in mud
There's a serious kickball league that play in the park on Sundays.

Just junk all across the horizon, a real highwayman's farewell
We're out. Without seeing any oral.

He walks through town all alone--"He must be from the fort," he hears the high school girls say
Stoops and fire escapes are indispensable in the summertime.

Nuns run bald through Vatican halls, pregnant, pleadin' immaculate conception
When it's too hot to be inside.

They're breakin' beams and crosses with a spastic's reelin' perfection
I wonder if ten dollars was a whole lot more when this fire escape was constructed.

And now the whiz-bang gang from uptown, they're shootin' up the street
Veggie Castle is an old White Castle way out in Flatbush. The Jamaicans took it over and now serve the most delicious array of vegan Caribbean cuisine. But they preserved the old White Castle decor. It's quite a dining experience.

That pure American brother, dull-eyed and empty-faced
Memorial Day. BBQs on behalf of fallen soliders.

He rides 'er low on the hip, on the side he's got "Bound for Glory" in red, white and blue flash paint
Fun & games in a concrete backyard.

Eighth Avenue sailors in satin shirts whisper in the air
Single dutch.

And there's nothin' left but some blood where the body fell, that is, nothin' left that you could sell
This is remarkably glamorous.

Hey man, did you see that, those poor cats are sure messed up
Indy hosted the BBQ.

And I said, "Hey kid, you think that's oil? Man, that ain't oil, that's blood"
Longhairs from 538 Johnson.

And everybody's wrecked on Main Street from drinking unholy blood
Side-pipe and mammary glands.

He leans on the hood telling racing stories, the kids call him Jimmy the Saint
For the dolphins.

Everything stops, you hear five quick shots, the cops come up for air
Chalk art.

I wonder what the dude was sayin', or was he just lost in the flood?
Open fire hydrants are summertime in NY.

And Bronx's best apostle stands with his hand on his own hardware
Just get a big ol' monkey wrench and let 'er rip.

Well, that blaze-and-noise boy, he's gunnin' that bitch loaded to blastin' point
He rides head first into a hurricane and disappears into a point
Ghetto slip'n'slide.

I wonder what he was thinking when he hit that storm, or was he just lost in the flood?
Fucking trooper.

And somebody said, "Hey man, did you see that? His body hit the street with such a beautiful thud"
And summer's just begun.

:: IF YOUR FISTS ARE EMPTY, YOU DON'T MEAN BUSINESS ::

(Team Robespierre and the Deathset performing at Glasslands in Brooklyn, more photos here)

Last Friday was a show at Glasslands put on by Bikes In The Kitchen. It was a pretty great line-up, with Pterodactyl, Team Robespierre, Best Fwends, and the Deathset. The show was a sweaty good time (very sweaty, perspiration was condensing on the metal roof and occasionally dripping down on the crowd), until a random tragedy hit right at the start of Deathset's set. Some girls thought it would be funny to throw water balloons down on the crowd from the balcony. And it was funny. Until one of them, for whatever possible reason, decided to start throwing them past the band at the back of the stage where all of the amps/speakers/cables/sound equipment was. Well her aim was true and she planted one right in the middle of the keyboard of Johnny's open laptop. Deathset uses pre-recorded samples (a la Japanther style) in their set, and these were being played on Johnny's Macbook. Needless to say this brought their set to a erratic halt. Johnny figured out what had happened, got his ipod as a backup, and got the show rolling again after a brief delay. Pretty impressive showmanship for someone who just had his laptop bombed. The guilty party, realizing what had happened, and that people knew where the balloon came from, ditched her ammo and ran off. Strangely enough she decided to hang around outside the show till it was over, allowing Johnny to confront her and snag her car keys so she couldn't bolt. Eventually the cops came to deal with the issue and everyone went home. Still sucks pretty hard for Johnny.

(update) Apparently the laptop was just the beginning. The water balloons also took out Deathset's guitar amp, mixer, and two speaker bins. Lovely.

:: FIRST THE DISHES, THEN THE REVOLUTION ::

Once upon a time in Brooklyn, there was an art collective called Toyshop. Sadly I cannot link to their website because the previous hosting company refuses to release the domain and deleted the site. Anyway, this collective was founded by the street artist Swoon, and pulled off many ambitious pubic occurrences in their day (the "Pirates of the Staten Island Ferry" has gone on to be an annual event I am told). Eventually, inspired by visits to squats in Berlin and Amsterdam, members of Toyshop decided to import the collective dinners they had found in these squats to Brooklyn. The dinners in Europe had not only fed hungry punks and artists, but also provided an amazing community base for otherwise scattered people. Eventually Toyshop morphed into what is now known as Grub.

Grub is a bi-weekly dinner, prepared by volunteers, and consisting of dumpstered food from the streets of NYC. A donation jar rests at the end of the serving table, but no one is ever turned away. It is hosted by the space Rubulad near the Brooklyn Navy Yards, and twice a month welcomes scores of people from various different slices of life around NYC.

Why am I writing about this, you may ask? As a lead up to this video, made by Grub co-founder Jeff Stark. It is a fun little look at the meal, mainly from the ceiling in time-lapse. If you live in NYC, you should stop by. Meet some new people, and eat some food so good you can't believe someone was going to throw it away. Click here for more info.

:: IT'S ALMOST LIKE WE'RE TOUCHING ::

(photos from the Creme de la Creme party at Hotel QT in Manhattan)

So while all this Bicycle Film Festing was going on, I took a break to drop by a party thrown by an old college acquaintance of mine, (R)Oxy Cottontail. I hear she throws good parties, and have been to a few (last one I can recall my date ended up grabbing some drunk-Paris-Hilton-ass, but alas her security boys had my number when I tried to Kodak the moment). This one was at Hotel QT, which boasts a pool, sauna, and steam room. Sounded like a pretty sweet deal to me. (Side note: when people have sex next to you in the steam room, they are not always subtle about it) It was fun, and I even took some photos before I left.

:: SOMETIMES LIFE'S OKAY ::

(images from the Bicycle Film Festival 2007 in NYC: bikes at the Chicken Hut; Black Label on the Williamsburg Bridge; Black Label at Union Square; Pirates of the bicycle parade; the bicycle parade takes over 7th Ave; scooter cops in hot pursuit as awlays; no-handed on the penny farthing + NYPD entourage; Ines Brunn performs; BMX high jump competition; track stand competition; winner of the track stand event = Eric on the penny farthing; foot down competition; Jason of King Kog in the foot down competition; watching films; friends and founder of the Bicycle Film Festival at the art show closing party; more photos here)

The Bicycle Film Festival wrapped up in NYC for another year. It was a lot of fun, even with a bit of rain keeping the bike events soggy and short during the street party on Saturday. It was also a bit of a bummer that someone got drunk, picked a fight, and then defaced artwork at the art show. But I guess some people can't be left without their parent's supervision for very long. Regardless, between a great opening party with Dan Deacon and Parts & Labor, a bike-centric art show, fun bike events, and of course the films, it was pretty much all you could have wanted. If you live in another city where the festival has yet to visit, don't miss it.

:: JOYRIDE in NYC ::

The Bicycle Film Festival celebrates its 7th anniversary in New York City.

:: FIXED AIN'T THE ONLY GEAR IN TOWN ::

(images from the first few days of the Bicycle Film Festival: Dan Deacon; crowd goes crazy; Ines Brunn performs on her track bike; tall bikes + bmx; members of the Black Label Bicycle Club ride toward Washington Square Park. All photos by Tod Seelie, more photos here)

The Bicycle Film Festival has been happening. Where have you been? Lots more this weekend. Don't miss.

:: YOUNG AMERICANS ::

(silkscreen poster by Josh MacPhee)

On view now at one of the best galleries in Brooklyn for street/political art, Ad Hoc Art, is a show featuring the work of Billy Mode, Chris Stain, and Josh MacPhee. Each artist takes a very different approach to their political messages. Josh toys with clean, colorful graphics and large simple statements (see image above). Chris uses the rough hewn descriptive quality of stencils to depict scenes from an urban upbringing in Baltimore. And Billy utilizes various mediums while depicting the disenfranchised in various states of survival. Together these artists create a visually powerful impression of the general maladies facing concerned individuals in today's social and political environment.

The show is up till June 3rd at 49 Bogart St. in Brooklyn, right off the Morgan stop on the L train. Ad Hoc Art is open Wednesday through Sunday, 1PM til 8PM, and by appointment. Contact the gallery for an appointment: 718.366.2466, info@adhocart.org.

:::

Josh MacPhee: Author. Artist. Activist. Josh has displayed his socially conscious prints and stencils in numerous neighborhoods and galleries across the country. He is the founding force behind the People's History Poster Project. His work speaks up for people everywhere.

Chris Stain: Father. Husband. Artist. Chris' stencil work draws inspiration from his working class upbringing in Baltimore, Md.

Billy Mode: Father. Husband. Artist. DJ. Ghetto Superstar. Bill's work combines the essence of drawing, collage, stencils, and graffiti to convey the message of the often overlooked individuals of society.

:::

:: WHERE HAVE
YOU BEEN?
::

A good friend of mine, Jeff Stark, hosts a monthly series on travel stories. He invites three different people to talk about their experiences and show photos. It might sound like revisiting your Uncle's slide-show-from-hell, but it's quiet the opposite. Past presentations have included clowns in Africa, riding tall bikes through Thailand, exploring underground mazes in Minneapolis, removing unexploded bombs in Laos, and my own story of being kidnapped in Brazil. It's a pretty damn interesting way to spend your night, and great inspiration to plan your next trip. This month's series is happening this Wednesday at the radical bookstore Bluestockings. Details below. More info, photos, and podcasts from some of the talks are available on the Where Have You Been? website.

:::

Where Have You Been?

Stories about travel and far-away places. New Yorkers go all over the world but the city has a way of swallowing their homecomings. Orbit the earth and your friends just ask if you missed the pizza.

This homespun live talk show offers a chance for travelers to tell stories, to bring the world home and share it with the rest of us -- travelers as well as those of us who don't get out much.

Tonight features interviews with three intrepids: Ethnobotanist Nat Bletter on researching the psychoactive properties of chocolate in Peru, Amy Elizabeth on sustainable tourism in Tibet, and Todd Chandler on a grueling cross-country Greyhound cruise. Interviews by Jeff Stark. Gorgeous slideshows tightly edited and mercifully short.

Bluestockings Bookstore
172 Allen Street, Manhattan
7-8:30p; $5 suggested donation

:::

:: LIVE YER LIFE,
RIDE YER BIKE
::

Welcome to Fecal Face in NYC.

Okay enough with the formalities, let's get to business. The Bicycle Film Festival is going into it's seventh year, and is an international event in over a dozen cities worldwide. Lucky for us, it is taking place this week in NYC as part of Bike Month. To kick off the festivities, they are throwing a good ol' rock show in tandem (ha) with the obligatory afterparty danceparty. A nice mix of music, with Mates Of State (they canceled, Dan Deacon is taking their place!), Parts & Labor, and Team Robespierre performing outdoors next to the East River. The after party features Gang Gang Dance along with the killer DJs of the Black Label Bicycle Club.

With the arrival (finally) of some warm weather, what better time to get out and cruise on two wheels. Other events (besides the obvious three days of films), include an art exhibition, bike parade, and street party (trackstands, skids/sprints, bunnyhop competitions, etc). Check out the website for a list of the films (the big shows tend to sell out early) and events. Details for the rock show/dance party and exhibition opening below:

:::

\\\ Wednesday, May 16::
BIKES ROCK OPENING NIGHT
7PM-10PM - FREE
Stuyvesant Cove, East River at 23rd St.
[UPDATE:] Venue moved to Studio B in Greenpoint, Brooklyn due to impending crappy weather!

RAIN LOCATION + AFTERPARTY: Studio B, located at 259 Banker Street in Brooklyn!

The Seventh Annual Bicycle Film Festival kicks off its 16-city tour with a solar-powered BIKES ROCK SHOW at Solar One. Festivities include music by Mates of State, Parts & Labor and Team Robespierre. All the way from China, bicycle trick rider Ines Brun performs between sets. Valet bike parking provided by Transportation Alternatives and hosted by Kryptonite.
Presented by Death and Taxes Magazine and King Cog, in partnership with Solar One.

BIKES ROCK OPENING NIGHT AFTER-DANCE-PARTY
Studio B
259 Banker St. (between Calyer St. and Franklin)
10pm-4am FREE

Ditch Productions present:
Mike Likes Bikes: Machine Integrated Kinetic Expressions
performances by: NJ Turnpike and Eystek

Headliners: GANG GANG DANCE
Dirty Finger (Black Label Bike Club) / James Stacher (Black Label Bike Club) / Brian Degraw (Gang Gang Dance)

\\\ Thursday, May 17::
JOY RIDE - An Art Show Inspired by the Bicycle
Curated by Brendt Barbur / Hosted by Fountainhead Films
OPENING PARTY on MAY 17: 6pm-12am
Regular Gallery Hours: 12pm-7pm (May 17-21)
33 West 17th St. near 5th Ave.

Participating Artists:
Swoon / Phil Frost / Amy Franceschini / ESPO / Michel Gondry / Steve MacDonald / David Namaiki / Shepard Fairey / DAZE / Kareem Black / Peter Sutherland / Julia Chiang / Ryuta Nakajima / Massan / Brian Vernor / Benny Zenga / Fast Eddie Williams / Cheryl Dunn / Takuya Sakamoto / Madsaki / Erik Zo / Ko Masuda / Gina Marie Scardino / Erin Nicole Brown / Taliah Lempert / Amy Bolger / Steve Crandall / Tod Seelie / Daniel Leeb / Goods / Joseph Becker / Conrad Carlson / Erik Foss / Greg Ugalde / Yohei Hanazawa / Loren Purcel / Natascha Unkart / Ellis Gallagher AKA © Ellis G. / Jason Chaste / Dr. JPL / Ryan Doyle (BLBC) / Wolfgang Paperchase / Chris McNally / Mike Martin / Bradley Baker and Patty Bowman / Andrew McClintock / David Mashburn

After Party:
HOME SWEET HOME
131 Chrystie Street (Between Delancey and Broome)

:::

:: The Big Fecal Apple ::

Sometime very soon you'll be seeing some more NYC up on Fecal Face. We'll be the guys asleep in Times Square with their hands down their pants. It'll be kinda sad but uplifting as well. Spare a dime, Mister?