Good Old War, Good Old Time

Yesterday was a perfect day. I can't help but sit back after days like this and think, yeah, work may get on my nerves and I'm no millionaire, but when you can enjoy the free time you do have with friends and family, then that's what it's all about. Sorry for getting all sappy ... i just can't help myself :) So Keri came to my apartment around 1, and it was great because she hadn't been over since the winter. We chatted for a while and then walked down to Lindsey's, got snacks at the deli, juice box wine at the liquor store and headed to The Great Lawn to meet Roe. The 4 of us sat on a blanket, on a seriously beautiful day and talked for hours. Fun afternoon.




Around 8:30, me, Rob, Nicole, Lins and her bro Luke went down to Webster Hall to see Good Old War. I've anxiously waited to see them again for about a year. Last spring me and my friend Dan went to a Straight Light Run concert, and a fun trio of folk rockers from Philly opened for them. This fun trio of folk rockers, was Good Old War and a beautiful musical following was formed. My sister Kerry met us there with her friend Phil and his friend Chris, who is in a new wave band called TVTV. They're also playing Webster Hall in a few weeks. As we walked in we were greeted with the raw vocals of Audra Mae, who really looks like my friend Rachel from highschool! I ran into Audra in the bathroom and told her this more than once, lol, a few $3 PBR cans and I like to be friends with everyone! We were all blown away by the next band, Yukon Blonde, with hair all over the place they rocked the house down, in a classic southern rock way. Ironically enough, they are not even from the south, but way up north in Vancouver! They were incredible. They closed their set with all musicians from the 3 bands up on stage jamming together, a great thing to see.

Before Good Old War went on stage, I strolled over to the merch table to buy their latest album, and couldn't help but introduce myself to one of the band members, Daniel Schwartz, their unbelievable guitarist. He was super nice, even told me he liked my dress -- yeah, yeah I know, this isn't Almost Famous, but it was still neat! It's so cool when you actually meet and somewhat talk to members of a band that you listen to every morning on your commute, its a little surreal. They finally took the stage, and their performance exceeded anything I even remembered from last year. A nice mix of music from both albums & even a little accordion before getting off the stage to sing with everyone in the audience. Their sound is perfect for the summer, fun folk rock tunes that you want to sing out loud and dance around to. If that was the mandatory behavior of the evening, I think I passed with flying colors. All three of them are phenominal muscians. Daniel, not only plays acoustic guitar, but an electric guitar he has on a stand all tuned and ready for him to rip into during Weak Man, while his acoustic is still strapped to his body. I think my favorite song is either Looking for Shelter or Window, and I was happy to hear them both.



Right before we left, once again I couldn't resist the urge to say Hi to Keith Goodwin from the band, and snag a picture with my sister. It was a Kodak moment. One of the best/fun shows I've been to recently.




http://www.myspace.com/goodoldwar


After the concert I went with Rob to his cousin's apartment uptown, a dream apartment on the first floor with a patio and backyard, only few New York renters ever see. A nice place to unwind after an action packed day. I only hope that there are more weekends like this as the summer goes on. And even though I barely had enough strength to go food shopping today, it was well worth it.

Life Underground

The subway never ceases to amaze me. I was coming home from a concert last week at the Canal Room, so I got on the A train and took it to 14th and 8th to catch the L. I don't think I had ever been in that particular stretch of subway station, so as I walked the long and winding path to the L train, my eyes couldn't help but explore. A girl with pink hair over here, a woman eating a falafel over there and wait ... what's this ... a little bronze statue of a man with a money bag for a head?



As it turns out, there were many little statues all over the subway station; a bronze couple taking a stroll, more money bag heads, I was fascinated. I've been wondering about these little guys all weekend, so I decided to google "bronze statues at 14th and 8th," and lo and behold, they are part of a permanent art exhibit at that station called, "Life Underground," by Tom Otterness. They were commissioned by the MTA and were installed around 2000.



The pieces all follow similiar themes of corruption and an obession with money. Social commentary abounds, with one bronze police officer looking over the faceless body of a homeless truant. This piece in particular really exemplifies life underground for many people ...



Otterness also mananged to tie in functional aspects of the subway system with little statues of workers sweeping and holding oversized tools.



These pudgy little statues were a suprise to see in the subway as I was strolling along my way ... no matter where you are, there is always a form of expression where you least expect it.

http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/artwork_show?21

Take a look, it's in a book ...

I really love to read. I think I always have. It probably explains why there was a summer in jr. high, when I read every single Danielle Steel novel I could get my hands on. While I don't read Danielle Steel anymore, I can't remember a time in the last few years when I haven't been in the middle of a book. Commuting definitely plays a roll in that, the train makes for a perfect read - except for when you're crying during The Kite Runner. It's comforting to me when someone takes out a book on the subway, kind of like you have a common bond. Even just plain old curling-up-on-the-couch-with-a-book is always great and lately reading before bed has crept into my nightly routine. There's a trick for insomniacs, try reading a few pages before bed and your eyelids will be drooping and your head nodding in no time!

I'll let you in on a secret, I have this fantasy of one day living in a great brownstown with my very own library, the kind that's built into the wall, and smells like old paper, maybe there'll even be one of those sliding ladders like in Beauty and The Beast ... Now, as much as I enjoy buying books to have, going to the public library is also a treat. Soon after I moved into my apartment, I realized there was a library on 96th and Lex. And, as it turns out in a crazy twist of fate, my dad told me that his mom, Jessie, used to go to that library as a kid! What are the odds. I never had a chance to meet her, but she is the woman behind my middle name, and I think it's so cool that we have this little connection.

96th Street's library is really small and the selection is missing some greats, but I've still managed good finds. The Color Purple by Alice Walker and Look at the Birdie by Kurt Vonnegut made my first round and now I'm reading The Wild Things by Dave Eggers. This novel is based on the screenplay he and Spike Jonze wrote for Where the Wild Things Are, which was based on the illustrated book of the same name. I haven't seen the movie yet, but after reading this book I'd like to. Dave Eggers is an incredible writer. (If anyone is looking for a great piece of non-fiction, please read A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius.)



I think what I love about reading, is getting lost in the book. The fact that this form of expression, which has no visuals except for what you create in your mind, can move you to tears or drudge up all kinds of emotions, speaks to the power of words. I am 24 years old and thoroughly enjoying a book about a boy named Max who runs away from home to be The King of an island of friendly monsters.

I'm glad I took this out of the library, but I think the next slew of books I get my hands on will be for keeps. I'd like to borrow a few words from Mr. Reading Rainbow himself as I finish, by reminding you all - there's nothing like a good book ... "but you don't have to take my word for it."

June is Busting Out All Over!

So me and Lins were on the same wave length (when are we not?) when we both decided to let the world know that June is here! For anyone whose ever seen the musical Carousel, "June ..." is a great little diddy, about the wonders of, you guessed it, June! And here we are :) I've been praying for this time of year for some months now. We had a brutal winter, and while the spring had its great days, it didn't want to commit and and stay warm. This Memorial Day weekend was really perfect, gorgeous weather all 3 days. Me and Roe traveled back to Long Island for a bbq at Nick's, complete with great food, a trusty keg and good old beer pong. Oh, & Lindsey introduced us to a great game, finger buster; get a few friends around a solo cup filled with beer, place all fingers on said up, show off those counting skills and you embark on a remarkable past time. I couldn't help from calling it ass buster, but either way it was fun.



A bunch of the old gang got together, both Copozzi twins and Ang, and like Chris said, Dave driving us home, felt like high school. Fun night. On Sunday, me and my sister went to the beach. Normally, its a 15 minute drive to Long Beach depending where you stop. After running into Dave and his jet ski on Merrick Road, it ended up taking us 2 hours to get to the beach. Mind you, every possible exit to the south shore was blocked off bc of that damned air show ... so I took a different route and called Marybeth for directions to Robert Moses, taking the back streets. Once we arrived to the beach the headache of traffic quickly faded. We had a relaxing few hours on the completely packed beach, and even got some color. For those that know me well, that means Ker got tan and I got red :P Our drive home was where the real traffic debacle awaited us. After getting over the bridge I saw that Ocean Parkway was open and cars were gliding right by. Thinking the airshow was over, I got on the parkway and drove over a half hour towards Jones Beach only TO BE TOLD TO TURN AROUND by state troopers! So me and a few hundred other cars U-turned around and drove all the way back to Robert Moses, over the bridge and onto another route. Now, all of this could have been avoided, had they put a lovely little sign that said, NO THROUGH TRAFFIC - IF YOU REALLY WANT TO GO HOME, DON'T GO THIS WAY! Oy, situations like these make me so grateful that I no longer have to drive and the MTA schleps me to and fro while I snooze or read.


Kerry letting the insanity of traffic get to her - quite entertaining!

Once we were home, me and Kerry took a bike ride, ate some Chinese food and called it a day. On Monday, Keri had a bbq and her grill-tastic boyfriend Paul whipped us up some phenomenal burgers. Bacon and cheese mixed into the actual burger meat. Genius. He also made some great corn on the cob with this spicy mayo sauce. It was good to be home, always special to see Amanda and Dee and of course Keri & the Ilasi clan. I didn't get to see my brother Matt's band P.O.O.P play at Spencer's bbq down the block, but I'll catch the next show. Oh speaking of shows, this weekend really kicked off with a tremendous performance at Local 269 on East Houston by The Asterisk. Rob, Paul, Ben & Brad, wonderful show, as always. A night filled with live music & friends, is always a great night. And fun to see Dan, even though I'm super jealous he's going to Hawaii soon!

The Asterisk*

In keeping with this music thread here, before Rob's show, me and Lindsey ate at Moby's vegan/organic cafe on Rivington St, Teany's - really tasty, and for the non vegans, they have a really cool chicken salad sandwich and lentil chili. yum!


As I'm sitting here writing this, Nicole's fan is peacefully blowing air my way, and I know I'll have to get an A.C. soon, and that's the greatest news! Good night and happy June!