Things In My Neighborhood - MoneyGram Whitecastle

Remember Rounders with Matt Damon and Ed Norton? There's something very watchable about that movie in an understated way; nothing particularly original but there's a slow, observing eye about it. It almost feels 80s in a way, 80s in a Curly Sue New York kind of way. One thing that is in that movie that you don't see often is characters using check cashing services or money transfer services. In fact, you never really see that at all but they are all over the place. It seems to be part of the fabric of urban life in many areas of Brooklyn.

Nowadays banks take care of more services just because there are more people who have checking accounts, but sometimes I see a pretty sizable line at my nearest MoneyGram location about three blocks away from me. It's under the radar (and cloaked behind some construction) and the process feels under the radar too; the idea of transferring straight cash has a real old school appeal. If time equals money, and there's no other avenue to get physical cash, then taking a fee to give a needed lifeline sounds like a plan. At this point for the summer they are running a promotion where on a 50 dollar send, you pony up 5 bucks. You can check out details here.

Anywho, to my real point, which was next to the MoneyGram, say you are receiving this said 50 bucks. What do you do with it? I know exactly what you do with it on Willoughby. You walk right next door to the downright nasty Whitecastle, and you stuff yourself with sliders and those chicken ring things. It's a one two punch: moolah at MoneyGram, then poobah at Whitecastle. For the win.

And now, a word from our monsters:

Contraband Cinema at BAM: I Will Crush You, I Will Krush Groove 7/8

Two films (not Miracle at St. Anna) will be playing next week as part of BAM's current Contraband Cinema series that are toward the top of my favorites in respective categories. It just so happens, these two films are playing on July 8th. The series examines a wide range of films that are politically charged in different ways: personal, imagined, proposed, social. I'm just surprised a few more well known films such as Harlan County USA wouldn't be on here. Anywho, BAM does it again and I'm glad I'm about a 10 minute walk from it.

Sound and Fury, an extraordinary documentary about a deaf family and their internal debate about cochlear implants and deaf culture, is on the early bill on the 8th. It's heartbreaking and the frustration of the father is so incredible to witness because it comes from pureness of heart.

And for the main event of the evening, Rocky IV. Before you laugh, consider that it is the most pleasurable of the 6 films in the series (not the best, just the most touch-yourself one) and the undercurrent of 80s propaganda along with other mainstream films such as Superman IV and any Chuck Norris movie makes it an excessive and really interesting movie. It's not that it should be given a gold star for merit, but it also comes from a pure purpose it seems, even if it's subconscious. That and Sylvester Stallone slurring through an epic speech in English to a Russian audience that realistically doesn't understand him is hilarious. Those crazy Russians, just in time for all that hobknobbery about spies.

In other news, I enjoyed the new Karate Kid (I own the original on VHS).

I would give you the training montage to Rocky IV. It's insanely awesome. However, I'll just give you a scene from Gorky Park.

Mermaid Parade in Coney Island 2010: Hot Rods and Perverts Galore

I had a Nathan's that came to 4.36 because of tax in Luna Park. Are you kidding?

I also went on the Wonder Wheel for the first time.

Wonder Wheel Operator: Did she tell you to go on the swinging cart?

Me: Stationary, stationary!

Girlfriend Who Totally Does Rollercoasters: NOoooo we have to go on the swinging one.

Wonder Wheel Operator: Hey man, listen to her, I've been listening to my wife for the last 37 years, best thing I ever did.

Me: Okay okay (apparently I speak in single word repeats)

I'm so not a rollercoaster/heights person. I had to clench so hard to prevent The Browning Version on that swinging pendulum of death and it was just a ferris wheel.

Coney Island is something of a shit show all the time. The train ride out there is one of my favorite parts actually; you get to see a little bit of Brooklyn life along the way, and what emphasizes that is I don't travel that far out often so the ride becomes a little more special and more observational than usual.

The last time I went to the Mermaid Parade it was probably 6 years ago. This year, it's bigger than ever, but I have a few things to nitpick. First, it's a very disorganized sort of hodge podge of a parade. Second, you end up getting trapped very easily on one side or the other, or even worse, trapped in one section of the boardwalk and you think you can get out but you hit a dead end.

But I digress. There are many colorful mermaids, and even more perverts, and a smattering of families, so it's your basic Mardi Gras for 12+ set. We got to take some pictures next to a few guest stars on To Catch a Predator who were spouting off some of the cheesiest lines I've ever heard at the mermaids. "Show us your fins" is a stupid saying dude.

Anywho, after backtracking a couple of stops to lovely Sheepshead Bay (I say godDAMN there's a Chinese buffet) and pigging out on Rendazzo's, we were in for the day and out for the night.

Here are some pictures we took in the same attitude since we couldn't get close enough.

Summer Streets on Vanderbilt in Prospect Heights, Another Reason To Have A Pint

"It's the event of the season" I hear on the Dog the Bounty Hunter commercial as I type this. Wait we're back to Intervention.

While not the event of the season, and would go great if it went beyond June (but I'll take any excuse to do up Prospect Heights considering all the shit that will go down there over the next 5 years), Summer Streets on Vanderbilt Avenue (that's what the site says, maybe next year they'll pimp out the name a little more) is something I'd like to take part in, maybe the 27th. Don't mind the slightly awkward blog. Prospect Heights is good for it.

Basically you've got a strip of an underrated street that is open for the kids and adults and best of all, Soda Bar is up for some pints of the Vos all up in it. Now, Soda Bar can be inconsistent in the evenings but one thing's for sure, the backyard and sunny front part of the bar are always welcoming for afternoon refreshments.

This summer event will happen on June 20 and the 27th as mentioned previously.

The following has a nice cover by Face to Face too:

Alex and Simon from Real Housewives in BellTel Lofts to Eat, Drink And Be Hopeful

There are a couple things to note about this. First, the postcard has a slightly different time on the front versus the back, just sayin'. Nobody's fault, not a big deal certainly.

The most affable pair in the Real Housewives of NY, the McCord and van Kempen duo will be hosting this lovely event tomorrow June 8 from 6-10pm with quite a handful of samples from about 17 establishments just on the card alone (including Cake Bliss which is apparently a big deal and one Fizzy Lizzy, which I did grow to love at the IFC Center). The event is sponsored by the American Cancer Society, and apparently has existed in the past three years (I'm sure the 100 dollar late admission fee or 125 dollar VIP ticket fee will go to cancer research, but don't quote my silly little blog on that).

It brings me back to my original questions. Not to knock the event; it sounds lovely. Belltel always could use a little press and snazz among the competing buildings in the area. However, sizeable events like this one was never presenting to the building just as a heads up. It's nice to get a little notice if I was going to, you know, play ping pong or something. I remember the last time this happened, and the roof got trashed (although I'm sure Alex, the most composed of ze Housewives of NY, won't go cray cray) and you had about a gazillion complaints and total murder-as-a-crime-of-passion roid rage from the residents.

Second, where is this VIP area? I can think of some places the shindig could be held: roof, 2nd floor business suite, sales office, or lounge in the basement, unfinished garage (which would be hilarious). With the need for two spaces possibly, I wonder how they pull it off (or is the VIP just another name for "come slightly early").

Third, I can see a lot of nice people who don't know the area totally walking toward the BellTel through the Fulton Mall and some crazy dark alleys and being like "oh shit".

You can check out the full list of food and drink at the event website and also still get a ticket if you're interested (of the four people who read this I'm guessing zero).

Eli "Paperboy" Reed @ Mercury Lounge 6.3.10

Photo from Boston.com.

It's time to dust off the Stax t-shirt. I went to see Eli "Paperboy" Reed (he got his nickname from an old hat of his) at the Mercury Lounge a few blocks away from the office on the early show bill at around 7:30. While not a sold out show, it was pretty packed for an early Thursday and I grabbed a couple of Circus Boy pints while waiting around for the show to begin. My girlfriend and I chatted with some of the AOL Music crew and EMI (Reed is currently on Capitol Records) and I was fairly excited seeing as how I hadn't had the pleasure of seeing an oldies throwback artist since my stretch of Pipettes shows or Camera Obscura (ok so maybe those weren't that long ago).

There are a lot of old school showman things about Reed (from Boston area) and his band the True Loves. Keyboard man doubling as MC, smiling drummer, muscular horn section, smooth bass player (sunglasses were the bonus), and Reed himself with a rockabilly haircut and suit-donning. Having a backing band like the True Loves makes you a contender because there are so many pieces that fit. The sound levels were all in check although they could have bumped up the saxaphones and other instruments as needed, but everyone was heard. Tight drumming and wild, shimmering guitar (he broke strings by the end, so you know he's not playin' around). Toward the end he took off his jacket, and the obvious pockets of sweat all over his purple shirt on this hot evening always makes a great statement. They are here to work us over with classic soul music. Does he hit you in the gut with every song? No. But hitting high points 4 or 5 times during the show is part of what soul is about; it's about a commanding presence instilling the righteousness of a higher being in ya. It's kind of like a really intense, goosebumps-inducing version of rinse and repeat.

There are many other things that I enjoyed about the show. The music, while people would say it's a derivative of classic soul that has been done better, is good but in a live setting it can be electric. It's the kind of music you really should experience live because the set up is so tried and true (which is part of why I love punk so much as well). Again, the fullness of the band shines and it's just so sweaty and not pristine and just pops so well. It's an old formula that still works beautifully no matter how much acts have evolved.

Reed's smiling, crooning, and screaming push the pace and makes the music something to root for. He's kind of like the young, boy-ish looking kid who could belt out tunes with his band on the corner on a hot summer day and would draw a crowd. That's the kind of heartfelt nature that you see on stage.

It's interesting that there is such strict devotion to his source music and influences, and there's a very pure feeling in the music even if it doesn't reach the top of the mountain with every tune. When they were on fire though and getting into call-and-response and shaking everything down, it was really a joy to watch and re-affirms that it's all about the live aspect to music, the sound coming from everywhere, the visual sweat, and little nuances that won't necessarily be found in a recording. I actually wouldn't have minded seeing a couple more covers to connect the audience even more and bridging the musical generations. However, I do understand that it's not about a revival, but about moving forward with a particular genre and making it new.

If you're interested Eli Paperboy Reed & The True Loves will be at The Bell House in Gowanus later this month on Saturday June 19.

Anywho, you can find his MySpace page filled with bio information and also a music video for "Come and Get It" from his new album of the same name which comes out in the US August 10 (already out in the UK, you know, where they understood soul probably as well as we did).


COME AND GET IT (Official Music Video)

Eli Paperboy Reed & The True Loves | MySpace Music Videos

Homeless + Movies On Laptop at Joralemon and Court

Walking home from PJ Hanley's on Court we passed by a homeless man with a shopping cart. In this shopping cart were blankets and other personal items, and the man was having a meal while watching a movie on a laptop. It was very interesting and I hope that he's able to upkeep the machine as he goes about his way. Makes you think, some people go through things like computers and TVs like it's whatever but the functional purpose in this context is much more.

Aeropostale - Fulton Mall Is Gettin' Down With The Whiteness

A place for my cargo shorts eh? Have the seeds been planted? Aeropostale was a third rate Hollister growing up, and Hollister is kind of what I hate about tame hang loose fashion for the suburban set. I say leave it all for the South Street Seaport crowd but they've decided to set up shop soon on Fulton and Elm. Brownstoner has the scoop and the photo to prove this most vanilla of neighbors.

I'm not sure what kind of presence it will have; because it's an obvious Old Navy like Abercrombie with all the shitty logos all over the place, could it go urban? I doubt it. Will that matter 5 years from now? Maybe not, because this plus H&M (which I do like to an extent) means we're getting a little more WASPy. I mean, look at the Aeropostale site. Perpetual state of backyard grassy knoll goodness. No grass in the Fulton Mall, and I'm assuming no coke either. I mean, what makes the Fulton Mall great is that some of the stores that you don't find in the usual suburb crapfest exist there and the particular apparel and products you can purchase. That and the fact that the mall is endlessly entertaining with religious yelling, stores that sell jewelry AND DVDs AND 6 pairs of sneakers.

I'm thinkin' late summer for a pedestrian opening and about as lame as this next song: