“Thanks for Explaining Me“, a show featuring works from the estate of Jack Smith is currently up at Gladstone Gallery until this Thursday…don’t miss it!

On Jack Smith, by curator Neville Wakefield:

“More than almost any artist of the last century Jack Smith understood that within the prevailing cultures of success, art’s greatest role may have been to provide provision for public failure. To this end his actors and accomplices, props and lighting, drugs and desires were invariably wrong: wrong before the performance had started – before even the lights had gone down. The marathon of tourettic revisions, false starts and delays signaled to the world the impossibility of creating anything of value in a rectilinear lagoon where even the dedicated and willing were dragged to the bottom-feeding level of landlords and lobsters. Yet out of these impossible conditions was born the stuff of exquisite beauty, radical politics, lurid, caustic, pornographic and often hilarious evocations of the sexual and social strata in which we find ourselves. Much of this endures even in conditions Smith would have most likely have loathed. But the fact that the same frictions that heated and formed his work continue to frustrate curators as well as inflame and inspire artists – including those who have agreed to continue the spirit and legacy with works created for this show – is, I hope, testament to the enduring power and influence of Jack Smith’s extraordinary art.”

more jack: flaming creatures on ubuweb

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This nine piece band, including former Hercules and Love Affair members, burnt the house down.  Granted it was a small house, but I am expecting to see this group at The Bandshell next summer, burning the masses down… to the ground.

BEAM ME UP!!!

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It felt as though it would never come, but the days are getting longer, the daffodils and tulips are blooming all around New York City, there is so much pollen in the air you can feel it pelting your skin… because it’s Spring!!!

If you are like most of us, this means a change in your morning routine as well.  When you order that large coffee with soy and two Splendas, you insert the word “iced” before it.  Sadly, most coffee joints just pour steaming hot drip coffee over a tall cup of ice.  I think, hot coffee + ice = cool diluted coffee, NOT iced coffee.

Now there are a few joints that do it right (If you know any NYC coffee houses that cold brew iced coffee, please post a comment).  But, you know what they say… “If you want something done right, do it yourself”.

Here is how to cold brew the most delicious iced coffee:

1.  Add a quarter cup of your favorite grind into a standard Bodum 8-cup French press.

2.  Place the press in your refrigerator overnight.

3.  Good morning!!!!

4.  Fill your favorite reusable on-the-go drink container with ice.

5.  Pour delicious cold brewed coffee over the ice.

6.  Add non-dairy creamer, soy, or better yet, almond milk and sweetener as desired.

7.  You are out the door with the best iced coffee you have ever had.

Yield = 2 iced coffees.

Easy, breezy, coffee gurl.

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Erin Considine’s work combines plant dyes, repurposed metals, organic fair-trade fibers, and it’s always gorgeous! Erin was recently featured on Of a Kind and here is her website.

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Bike Rides

Mermaid Parade

Crest Fest

Barge Music

FREE NYC Public Art Exhibitions

Celebrate Brooklyn

Brooklyn Brewery

Summer Streets

Summer Stage

Brooklyn Northside Festival

Williamsburg Waterfront Shows

Governors Island

River to River Festival

Bryant Park Film Festival

Summer on the Hudson

Midsummer Night Swing

NYC Restaurant Week

Jones Beach Summer Concerts

New York City Swimming Pools

New York City Street Fairs & Festivals

Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks

Shakespeare in the Park

Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Dia Beacon

Storm King

Comment below with suggestions and CHECK BACK FOR MORE UPDATES!!!

BOBBY BIRDMAN

Bobby Birdman is musician Rob Kieswetter’s stage name.  He is also, coincidentally,  a member of YACHT’s backing band, The Straight Gaze.  Being the first of the offerings, Bobby Birdman went on at 8:30 to a crowd of only 50 or so people.  However, he performed as though it was a packed house.  This performance was full of sincere energy.  The audience definitely noticed.  I would describe his sound as something like Owen Pallet meets Yeasayer.  Synthy rhythms backed by live percussion beats and soaring vocals.  I thoroughly enjoyed his set.  I bought his CD Nüsker Mü and his super cute tote at the merch table.

LIGHT ASYLUM

Light Asylum came on next.  Shannon Funchess, the voice of Light Asylum, brought some Grace Jones, femme top fierceness.  Their electronic gospel melodramatic pop sound + light show = an aesthetically pleasing dancefest.

YACHT

Whenever Yacht officially opens their cult to new members, I am going to join.  Being well versed in cults myself, I know a good one when I see one.  Yacht is everything I want to be; handsome, talented, genius, and engaging.  I was sold when singer, Claire L. Evans, climbed down into the crowd and started placing her palm on on people’s foreheads and “healing” them.  Give me some queer Pentecostal church realness and I am yours!  Really and truly love these kids.

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Despite his affection for fur, which I sincerely hope he will outgrow, Johnny Weir is a special child.  I have been watching Be Good Johnny Weir on Logo and must say that I am enthralled!   I feel an affinity to him.  I relate to his uncertainty regarding his place in society, and applaud his drive, honesty and realness.  The internal struggle to be yourself in such a competitive world when you are so different from most everyone else, is one many of us can relate to.  Not to mention the intense pressure of his specific situation.  To be so young, and yet so certain about who you are, and stand up for it is worthy of praise.  Johnny Weir is my new queer mascot.   Not in an exploitative way but, in a proud way.  I respect this man.  BE GOOD Johnny Weir!

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HUNX AND HIS PUNX are playing Glasslands this Saturday the 23rd.  Touring their second full length album, Too Young To Be in Love, which was just released on March 29th.  I saw these crazy kids for the first time last fall at Cake Shop.  Imagine John Waters created a pop band… this is what it would look AND sound like.  HUNX outrageous aesthestic, ridiculous lyrics, super queer sexual charge, complete irreverence, and power pop 60′s girl group punk rock n’ roll sound all add up to something special and delicious.  I get a toothache just thinking about it!

This review from HUNX’s 4/20/11 show at Cake Shop is from Brooklyn Vegan:

“Davila 666 might have been the headliner, but it was Hunx‘s show Wednesday night at Cake Shop. Their set had the biggest, most amped-up crowd in the sweaty space, with plenty of dancing and shoving around. It started out with a bit of coy deception: a shirtless, fake Hunx (pencil thin mustache, biker hat and mop of black hair) in leopard print tights took the stage first, before introducing the real thing: Seth Bogart, wearing a similar costume–pink leggings and a biker jacket. Despite touring on Too Young To Be in Love, it was the songs from 2010′s Gay Singles that were the real party-starters: “Good Kisser,” “You Don’t Like Rock & Roll” and others.”

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I love this hair!  First, it takes a master to create this shape on this texture of hair.  Second, it takes a strong woman to carry this style.  Both together, it’s purrrrfect.

Thank you to The Sartorialist.

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Serving true beauty realness.  The sunlight helps, but this minimalist beauty gets it.  The structure of this cut is astounding.  I do hope that is faux fur.

Thank you to The Sartorialist.

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