Subway Musicians

One of the things we love about New York is that it's one of the few places in the world where you can hear music wafting up from grates below your feet. Here's a sampling of what's going on underground.

Beatboxing flute player Greg Pattillo and Cello player Eric Stephenson at Union Square subway station


A taste of Mexico on the train


The Elianto Quintet, Times Square Station

How To Make It In America

The newest addition to the HBO family is the series How to Make it in America - a portrait of struggling Brooklynites trying to make a name for themselves in the competitive New York fashion world. The show was created by first time writer Ian Edelman and stars Bryan Greenberg, Victor Rasuk and the always entertaining Luis Guzman. Shot in and around NYC, one really gets a feel for the city that never sleeps. The dialogue is smart and fun, and the characters are engaging. That said, it all seems a bit stylized at times... lots of hipsters, lots of hipness. It would be nice to see a little more grit and soul. New York is packed full of immigrants who came here with nothing more than the hope of making a better life for themselves and their families. They certainly have had to figure out how to "make it in America", and it would be interesting (and compelling) to see some of those stories get woven in as well.

Black Art Comes Back to Harlem

1st Annual Harlem Fine Art Show, Feb 20 & 21

An exciting, interactive exposition showcasing contemporary works created by Afro-American artists in a variety of mediums. Displaying the best pieces by globally celebrated and emerging talents, the show will illustrate the compelling nature of Black art, as well as the tremendous contributions Afro-American artists are making to the world’s cultural landscape.

Historic Harlem's 369th Armory

2366 Fifth Ave (btwn 142nd and 143rd sts)

NY, NY 10037

TICKETS AVAILABLE ONLINE AT
TICKET ANNEX
AND ALL TICKET ANNEX OUTLETS
BY PHONE CALL (866) 388-4-TIX (866)-388-4849)

www.harlemfineartsshow.com

This inaugural film festival in the East Village celebrates independent cinema from Ukraine and other post-Soviet bloc countries. The festival is a new voice in the New York cinema community that features films and filmmakers emerging from the memory of the Iron Curtain. Opening night guests include Jonas Mekas, founder of Anthology Film Archives, who will present his autobiographical filmReminiscences of a Journey to Lithuania, and Annette Michelson, Prof. Emeritus of NYU Cinema Studies. The four-day, 6-session event will include feature documentaries, shorts and animations with presentations by filmmakers and guest speakers. All films are in English or contain English subtitles.

Feb 25 to 28, 2010 (opening night reception)

Screenings: Thurs 7pm, Fri 7pm, Sat 5pm & 8pm, Sun 2pm & 5pm

$10 admission ($8 advance purchase), $24 festival pass

Tickets: www.kinofestNYC.com or www.ukrainianmuseum.org

The Ukrainian Museum

222 East 6th Street (bet. 2nd and 3rd Aves.), New York, NY 10003, 212-228-0110

Subway: 6 to Astor Pl., R to 8th St.

The Ukrainian Museum's film series and programs are funded in part by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs.

One Love

Art and Music get it on and make ‘One Love’ at a monthly installation curated by Kilford The Music Painter. The installation launches Monday 15th Feb at http://www.thesocial.com

“One Love brings together Art & Music like never before, it’s the only place where great musicians come to have their live music painted, its going to be rocking”.

Only 150 max capacity with £5 tickets available on the door. Every penny from One Love goes to The Sam Buxton Sunflower Healing Trust (http://www.cancertherapies.org.uk)

CONFIRMED ACTS

John & Jehn (on at 10)
http://www.myspace.com/johnjehn
http://www.facebook.com/pages/John-Jehn/8434179087?ref=ts

Speak & The Spells (on at 9)
http://www.myspace.com/speakandthespells

Siskin (on at 8)
http://www.myspace.com/siskinmusic
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Siskin/8786368059

Kilford talks about the Acts on his blog http://www.therealmusicpainter.blogspot.com/

Hands on a Hard Body

Hands on A Hard Body - Review

by M.Tomycz

Hands on a Hard Body is a documentary from the 80's about a contest in Texas where locals compete for a pick-up truck by seeing who can keep their hand on it the longest. Seem easy? It's not. This promotional event turns into a grueling journey of sweat, tears, hope and determination. People drop from sheer exhaustion. Families and friends rally around. Church groups show up and sing praises (this is Texas, after all).


The contestants themselves are a fascinating bunch. A young man, just out of the Marines. Kerri Parker, who bicycles six miles to work every day because she can't afford a car. A couple who talks about being down on their luck and you can't help but notice they are missing a mouthful of teeth. Another couple who claim they've been "praying for a truck" and this contest is God's answer to their prayers. Although this film has it's share of comedic moments, it is also quite moving. One can't help but get emotionally invested in these folks and find a renewed respect for the human spirit.




Sadly, the contest was marked by tragedy a few years ago. A young contestant named Ricky Vega walked away from the truck during the competition, headed into a K-mart, grabbed a shotgun and killed himself. The contest was discontinued out of respect for the loss to his family.


I begrudgingly watched this film years ago with an old friend (i didn't think a film about a Texas truck competition would be all that compelling - i was wrong) and ended up loving it. It's hard to find these days, but if you can, give it a look. The trailer is posted below, although it really doesn't do it justice. Rumor is that Robert Altman is making it into a movie. We also hear that a musical theater version is in the works. Wow. If that happens, rest assured we'll be there with (cow) bells on.

Beat Procrastination in 2010

If you find yourself getting stuck in the vicious cycle of "i'll get to it later", you might want to try and implement this little trick. It's called the ten-minute rule, and from what we've heard, it seems to work.

10 Minute Rule'Acknowledge, "I don't feel like doing that," but do it for 10 minutes anyway. That gets you over the hard work of initiation. After being involved in the activity for 10 minutes, then decide whether to continue. Once you're involved, it's easier to stay with a task. Succeeding at a task does not require that you like doing it.' - Gina Trapani