Stairway to Stardom
Apparently, back in the 80’s there was a cable-access talent show called “Stairway to Stardom” that really tapped the deep vein of awkwardness running through Brooklyn during those cocaine and glitter fueled days. I am proud to say that this sort of thing continues to this day on Brooklyn cable-access station BCAT, and we can only hope and pray that someone is putting it all on videotape right now.
Before you view the below video, here’s a backgrounder and the page on Buzzfeed that called my attention to this cultural masterpiece.
5 Minutes in Brooklyn: The Garden Pier in Red Hook
Today, Lupe relaxed at the end of the Garden Pier, in Red Hook. The pier is just across the small inlet of water that separates the pier from Fairway Supermarket, right next to the The Waterfront Museum. Enjoy the view.
5 Minutes in Brooklyn: DiFara’s Pizza
Went to Difara’s in Midwood, Brooklyn for lunch today. Best pizza in the world! Dom makes them by hand, one by one, all by himself. I have never seen any of his kids so much as touch the dough. In his day, he wasn’t an artisan, he was a pizza-maker. A true original.
Newcleus - Jam On It
VOTING DAY IN NEW YORK!!!!!!!! LET”S GOOOOOOOOO OOOOOO OOOOO OOOO OOO!
Louis Theroux and the Black Supremacists (BBC)
Louis Theroux, intrepid reporter from the BBC, takes a long, plaintive stare at Black Power in Harlem in the early 2000’s (right around when Amadou Diallo was shot and killed by NYC police). Rev. Al Sharpton comes off looking rather good in this piece, especially when juxtaposed with those who think Louis XVI was actually an African.
There are many more interesting Theroux docs to watch over here.
Judy Collins & Leonard Cohen - That’s No Way to Say Goodbye
Jonathan Schwartz played a cover of this song this past weekend on WNYC. I had never heard it before and it’s beautiful. This video is from Wolfgang’s Vault.
Little River Band - Lady
While looking online for a video of Little River Band’s classic ballad, “Lady”, I accidentally stumbled across a nerd love, so dark and depraved, that no Trekkie dare speak its name in public: a sentimental dedication to 40 years of the beloved Enterprise.
Thanks “captjon1″ for posting!
Franny’s is Cupping it Up with Counter Culture Coffee This Month
Meet John Moore, NYC sales rep for Counter Culture Coffee. I met him this morning at a coffee tasting session organized by his company and hosted by Franny’s Restaurant, here in Brooklyn.
Franny’s will be hosting coffee tastings every Friday this month at 10am, so just show up and surrender yourself to an excellent education in the complex art of coffee cupping. Counter Culture uses your comments, in addition to the opinions of those attending simultaneous cuppings throughout the east coast, to complete the feedback loop with coffee growers in developing Africa and their roaster here in the U.S. It also doesn’t hurt to let Franny herself know exactly what you think about coffee she may very well purchase.