FREE SHOW @ PITKIN PLAZA 10-10-2009!!!!

AWESOME FREE SHOW 2NIGHT @ CAFE 9!!!!

Tape Reels For Eyes Presents: Open Star Clusters; w/ Bahh Black Box; Florida=Death ; Color Guard •

THIS SATURDAY>FREE!!!

Fixed the typo..

LIGHTNING BOLT TOMORROW!!!

TEMPLE PLAZA
2-10PM

rain or shine!!

this saturday!!! FREE!

Zark or myself are DJ'ng too.. i think

NEW!!!!!

with direct link to re-new haven!!!!

This will be awesome!

Show @ Bar 2night!!

jack rose
&
Bill Nace

and holy crap.. It's FREE!!!

Ideats In the Streets

The Ideat Village festival is kicking off real nice. go here for more info.

See, Click, Critique????

photos courtesy of ancient history (above an below) top courtesy of the Watchdog

I was surprised to find an online critique basically giving praise to a graffiti art campaign in which said "artist" chose to use "buff marks" for fill ins for skull characters i will now dub "BuffSkulz". The praise (and decent photo documentation) seemed to be coming from one of the site's creators and administrators, a man who shall remain anonymous but i will refer to as "the Watchdog" in my attempt to recreate the story i see unfolding in our very own home city.
The Watchdog dreamt up a website to monitor issues around town and repair them. One of the main issues to be monitored, triangulated, and in some cases policed (as well as just being buffed) was graffiti. The Watchdog took much of this to a personal level, he sought out the writers himself, and when he got in over his head he brought in the law. The writers didn't like this and the anti got upped and it turns out that the buffers sucked at their job and started to make a bigger mess and spend alot of the city's money, and the police could only be bothered so much because we live in a city with an increasing crime and murder rate. The watcher began to take pictures to document said crimes; and somehow.... he began to embrace an artform he once felt compelled to "rat out" the creators of. A commentary emerged from the confused minds and from other artists alike who were trying to grasp this new revolutionary form of street art..... and now you can watch as this drama unfolds.

proposition 8 protest

valley kitten photos

gtv3

valley kitten

I can't make it. I'll be working! But i bet its gonna be a tough one.

GraffiNaven

New Haven, although be it a small town, Has attracted and spawned many graffiti writers. Silencer was the first person to really turn me onto graffiti but now I know alot of the "Kings" and originators of style in this town. I've heard some awesome stories as well as those of a scene defeated and lost to the fears of being arrested. I think its also hard for some to draw the line (no pun intended) between their professional art careers, and private lives, and bombing or hitting illegal spots.
SketOne once told me that the cops started watching the Acme wall so he had to rethink bombing and piecing. From what i gather it was one of these old school writers uncles that had given permission to use the 9th square (parking lot next to cafe 9) wall to paint, bringing in kids from all over CT and most likely from out of state as well. Sket also told me that another writer had been caught at a spot known only as the "funkyard" and that they had siezed his blackbooks and computer as well as any pictures and other "evidence" he had in his house. I'm sure it was hard for everyone involved to make the call but Graff had to go underground in the 90's so writers could survive.
There were still a number of old murals and relics around town but it seems that new businesses (as is the case with Ctown painting over the FX Crew Mural!) as well as the younger generation of "writers" have all but wiped these works out. At this point theres probably only three or four spots that Remain intact along with a few hints of what used to be along the trainlines and scattered through various industrial areas. Its sad to think that it will all be lost.
Now many young kids start out tagging but become lost and just rep gangs. While painting a chill spot under the highway recently a group of probably 12 year olds, give or take came through with dollar cans "repping G.M.C." asking to paint over what i was still working on and a friend had just finished. its becoming territorial, its going to get like the munies in sf where "crews" just tag in broad daylight and intimidate with their numbers. I think its all because what was once embraced and community oriented is becoming commercialized and the outlaw nature is being glorified as it is in modern day "Rap music".
Some say Graffiti died, Hip Hop died, Peace died. I think its peoples wills that are dying, instead of viewing expression as just that its being judged on economic and social terms. and theres now a negative conotation towards the words graffiti, writer, tagger, etc. I've always believed that if society judges people by classes or in a certain light then thats what it gets in return- another generation saying "Fuck it! whats anyone ever done for me?" What i've seen while being out alone in the depths of the urban environment is the waste tossed out, old buildings being left to decay, people living in shantys and youth running lost in the streets.... and graffiti is responsible for none of this, its more of its own social commentary. heres some more pictures from a recent legal wall provided by Demo TSB BLT

Record Store Day!!!

GTV3

If you haven't heard yet...LISTEN UP!
This race will be bananas. The Scorchers yearly anything can happen event, well, it is happening soon. We're breaking the bank to bring you awesome prizes and ensure a great time for all. Check out the scorchers sites for details and for sponsorship info.Anyone on a bike is welcome to compete, but be well aware that this will not be an easy ride by any means.
there will be trick competitions, an after party, plenty of crash space for out of towners, and other assorted antics, guests, and surprises to be unveiled come Saturday May 16th.
see you there.

Gotham Studios

Rose, one of Re:New Haven's cofounders, is holding an open art show that she organized with her new collective Sloots Productions. there will be some artists and some bands later on here are the fliers>>


You don't want to miss this one!

parade day with the new haven scorchers and friends!

this guy is not a scorcher

it smelled like burning poop, i think that the high bathroom usage was responsible...

what a good excuse to dress up the pup!

Kanye Nuge brought the green silly string

first official barf spotting

is drew trying to look more wasted???

We spent alot of time on this corner

Pandalicia digging for the leprechaun's hidden treasure

I have no idea who this girl is but she was definitely digging on everyone who is irish and that is everyone on this day...i could elaborate both with words and pictures but this should be sufficient for now.

give justin the hot new tricks and he does them like he invented them

Alan

Spaghetti Jennette and Not So Shoreline Drew

Look who finally showed up!

Sisterly Love?

Another good day!

I had a pleasant day. i woke up to the sun, and although it was 8:30 and i probably slept about 4 or 5 hours i decided that getting up before noon would be nice. i did some chores and ran some errands. i noticed the last of the old fashioned priority mail stickers at the post office while finally mailing in my ulock the key busted off in, funny how these things catch your eye. on the way out a new friend who frequents my job bumped into me and we chatted- i love making new friends through the coffee scene. i rode up north frontage(i think) towards downtown. stopped in at Alternate Universe to get my fix of trade paperbacks ( i would venture to say this is almost as expensive as being a lush used to be). rode over to Bineke to practice some tricks now that one of my new wheels is built up( thanks Justin from Amity Bikes!)... boy am i rusty. I tired quickly and gave into my hankering for Elaine's Healthy Choice, possibly the best vegan joint in new haven, where i talked with Richard who passed on some naturalistic advice for me to give my pops on keeping down his cholesterol. I ate my meal when i got home after narrowly avoiding a couple cars.. for my mind was clouded, and i'm a bit of a lucky disaster in traffic. the meal was good although I cannot say that i was as impressed by Slumdog Millionaire which i thought i'd give a chance for an afternoon movie break(maybe just not the right timing). oh well, gonna relax some more before i head to work. oh, since i wont be able to make it please check this out and feel free to let us all know how it is-

Date:	Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Time:	6:00pm - 9:00pm
Location:	Kofee on Audubon
Street:	104 Audubon Street
City/Town:	New Haven, CT

It was a good day....

Overall I'd have to say it was a good day in the elm city. I slept until around 2 o'clock. headed down to the SBC lot to meet up with the New Haven Scorchers, who had swept it out of the coating of winter sland and were mid game of bike polo, swapped up bikes and tried out some old tricks. We all rode over to Rudy's for ZARK's record convention which had an awesome turn out with three bands and many tables of records to peruse, had frites for my first meal of the day (unless you count french roast as a meal).... I realized that i had also had frites after work the night before, technically it was twice in the same day, i also realized i was hanging out with alot of the same people and that i enjoyed this part of living here. I love the comradare, it cheers me up to remember why i bust my ass and deal with the b.s. of living in CT. I'll be glad when spring comes- even moreso when summer hits, the students go home and the streets are ours. Its in the air.

Friday the 13th Barista Jam @ Blue State

Bikes To Rwanda’s aim is to provide cargo bicycles to co-operative coffee farmers in Rwanda.

Your goal is to make amazing coffee for the people of New Haven!

Great Cause + You = Barista Jam!

Get together with the other people who make (& love) coffee in the elm city for a great cause.
Get your hands on the La Marzocco GB5 and the Mazzer Robur E, electronic dosing grinder.
Get your hands on FREE BEER, FREE COFFEE & FREE FOOD!

The first ever Elm City Barista Jam and Latte Art Throwdown with invitations to ALL New Haven coffee professionals (+1 guest). Friday March 13th, 9 pm at 84 Wall Street with free food, coffee and beer. Hosted by Blue State Coffee.

Q&A

• Donations are suggested. Proceeds will go to Bikes to Rwanda.
• Latte Art Throwdown. 1 espresso, two pours. Famous judges. Yes, there is a prize.
• Beer will be of good quality. If you would like something else (other than coffee) to drink, feel free to bring it.
  
• Space is limited, please bring only 1 guest.

Inquiries:

Benjamin Wilkinson
Blue State Coffee
203 764 2632
elmcitybarista@gmail.com

Where in the world is Dj.UB?

Homie went to Cali I bet he's gettin' hyphy right about now, or at least clownin'
*just got an update-homes made it to sandiego and is definitely keepin it hyphy! one less good dj in new haven :(

Geronimo v. Obama

From Bloomberg:

Yale University and a student society known as the Order of Skull & Bones were sued along with the U.S. government by the family of 19th century Apache Indian warrior Geronimo over his remains.

Descendants of Geronimo, who died in a prison at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, 100 years ago yesterday, filed suit in federal court in Washington, seeking the return of his remains from Fort Sill, Yale and “wherever else they may be found.”

In 1918 or 1919, a group of Yale University students including Skull & Bones member Prescott Bush, father of former U.S. President George H.W. Bush and grandfather of former President George W. Bush, may have opened the tomb in Fort Sill, removed Geronimo’s skull, some bones and related burial items and took them to Yale’s campus in New Haven, Connecticut, according to the complaint.

“To ensure that all existing remains of Geronimo and funerary objects are recovered by Geronimo’s lineal descendants, the Order of Skull & Bones at Yale University must account for any such articles that are or have been in their possession,” the descendants said in the court filing yesterday.

justin keena's awesome Coffee Cat pictures

Justin Keena from Boston's Open Cycles crew got some great pictures of the race that I'm psyched to see up on flickr. check em out here!

be careful!

I'm not sure who's bad this was. or if the rider was ok. i just saw a beat up huffy i thought to be clipped.....then i noticed the blood on the drop bars. Be Careful- riders and drivers!

Coffee Cat=overall sucess, ice sculptures ...not so much.

courtesy of caroline treadwell


Thanks for making it out to the race and to our sponsors for the support. BNH Bill even came in 4th and gave us plenty of props and YODA DJed and flagged in racers....so nick and I dropped the ball on some locations. I've said it more than once, i'm burnt out and Nick was born slow. I'll post flicks when i see em pop up.
as for the ice sculptures i was semi excited to see around town and worried about taking away participants from our event...*maybe the warmest weekend all winter is not a great time to spend city money on ice art.
*thanks for commenting and correcting, the ice sculptures were donated; I would have enjoyed it if they were postponed until the temperature dropped again :/