Mr. Beller’s Neighborhood: Storytelling NYC Style July 3, 2009

Mr. Beller’s Neighborhood began publishing in the Spring of 2000 and has so far published over a thousand pieces of original writing. In 2002 it was nominated for a Webby Award in the Print and Zine category. That same year, a collection of selected pieces from the site appeared in book form,
Before and After: Stories from New York. Another anthology is in the works.

The site combines a magazine with a map. It uses the external, familiar landscape of New York City as a way of organizing the wildly internal, often unfamiliar emotional landscapes of the city dweller. Visit Mr. Beller’s Neighborhood.

For a funny tale by Rick Rofihe of anderbo.com, click here.

Safer Sex in the City Fundraiser June 21, 2009

My good friend Jessica is working passionately on this fundraiser and speaks emotionally about the way that ASCNYC has helped turned lives around. If you can’t attend, please consider donating an auction item for this very worthy cause.

On June 25, join celebrity host NYC drag legend Flotilla DeBarge,Vivid Girl Savanna Samson, dance-pop singer Reina, superstar DJ, Vic Latino, and many more special guests for the summer’s sexiest fundraiser, promoting safer sex in the age of AIDS. Pamela Anderson, Joy Behar, Margaret Cho, Linda Eder, Ellie Krieger, Robert LaFosse, & Gloria Ruben have joined forces with ASC as part of this year’s benefit committee. The star-studded event will be from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Duvet, 45 Wests 21st Street, New York City. For more info, click here.

NYC’s Museum of Sex will showcase a curated sampler of the museum’s renowned collection on human sexuality. Fun-filled, uninhibited presentations will spotlight ASC’s innovative safer-sex education and HIV risk reduction programs.  Guests can bid on fabulous silent auction items.

For sponsorship, silent-auction donations, or tickets, contact Brooke Brailey at 212-645-0875, x303 or brooke@ascnyc.org.

AIDS Service Center NYC (ASC) is a community based non-profit at the forefront of the fight against HIV/AIDS and the effort to ensure that all New Yorkers have access to HIV prevention, services, and treatment. For more information about AIDS Service Center NYC visit www.ascnyc.org.

General Tickets: $100
VIP Tickets: $250
“Buy-A-Bed”: $2,500 (6 VIPs, Champagne Lounge & Exclusive Celebrity Experience

Click here for ticket info!

Finder’s Flea: Brooklyn Weekend Flea Markets June 18, 2009

Here are two new favorite flea markets that happen in Brooklyn each weekend:

The Brooklyn Bridge Flea is every Sunday, 11am-6pm.

The Fort Greene Flea is every Saturday, 10am-5pm (this one is really the bomb!)

For more info, click here.

Dub Poetry on Initiative Radio

“Initiative Radio” has taken its’ first steps into the world of music video production with the creation of “Complex” by Dub Poet ANTON. “Complex” became a listener favorite when it was played during our three-part radio special about the Mahatma Gandhi.

ABOUT DUB POETRY

Dub Poetry finds its’ roots in the dance halls of Jamaica, West Indies where poets would chant their rhymes over the B side dub versions of records. Dub Poetry is quite possibly the final frontier in the music world where artists make poignant social statements, devoid of commercial affectation. The original Dub Poet is Jamaican Oku Onuora who was born Orlando Wong.

Dub Poet ANTON is originally from Trinidad and Tobago where he has also practiced the art form Rapso. Similar to Dub Poetry in message, Rapso poets chant over Calypso based rhythms, whereas Dub Poetry has Reggae rhythms at the core. Learn more here or watch video below:

DJ Gregory: Walking the PGA tour one step at a time June 16, 2009

Whether you play golf or not, here’s a story of unbeatable inspiration:

http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/video/video?id=3696478

Gem Junkie June 1, 2009

I love beads and have ever since I wandered into a Santa Fe bead store run by a woman named Gloria of unknowable age with a glorious head of laquered white hair and a bad attitude. While I have collected them through my life (my favorites are from Prague), I’ve never gone so far as to string them. I just like to look at them, run my fingers through glassy piles. Although lately, with my haute couture embellishments class, I’m learning how to apply beads to garments, a task I took to with unforeseen and surprising love and tenderness.

Well, I’ve landed on a wonderful etsy beading store, Gem Junkie, which has “gemstones and jewelry supplies for all your beading needs.” Just think, I don’t have to put up with Gloria’s bad attitude or trek to Czechoslovakia. And with the supplies available as well, I may even string a few together. Discover Gem Junkie here.

What about Moose? May 30, 2009

 

Moose!

I don’t live in Chicago, but I have a dog there. I sponsor “Moose” at Chicago Canine Rescue and every month I send $35 to provide him with food and toys. He’s been in this wonderful rescue shelter for about 4 months, maybe longer, and for the life of me I can’t understand why he hasn’t been fostered or adopted. Sure, he gets really excited when someone new shows up—wouldn’t you? But just because a dog gets excited in a new situation, that doesn’t mean he’s like that 24/7. My own retriever, who is beside himself  when company visits, can barely muster a yawn for me, his boring old mom. If I did live in Chicago, I would certainly adopt Moose (living in Chicago is a requirement for the shelter). You may not live there either, but, like me, you can sponsor a pet. Visit Moose here.  Learn more about Chicago Canine Rescue here.

Something About What Happens When We Talk (Lucinda Williams) May 29, 2009

Alan Ginsberg Reads “Howl” May 24, 2009

Melbourne crafter/author Pip Lincolne: Meet Me at Mike’s May 23, 2009

Australian crafter and author Pip Lincolne has a great little shop in Melbourne and the blog and web site to prove it. It’s all called “Meet Me at Mike’s,” even the book. If Athena lived in Melbourne, she’d definitely want a friend like Pip. See more.