2013 Bronx Heroes Comic Con
Posted: May 17, 2013 Filed under: Arts, Events, Fairs/Festivals | Tags: Bronx Heroes Comic Con 5, J.M. DeSantis, Justice Woman, Mindy Indy, Moonbase Comics, Ray Felix, The Bronx Socialite, The Dodgeball Teens, Vanessa Verduga Leave a comment »May 4th & 5th was the 5th annual Bronx Heroes Comic Con. If you remember, director Ray Felix was featured on the first edition of The Spotlight. The event featured screenings, talks, and workshops from a variety of comic book artists and authors. There were also tables featuring the likes of Mindy Indy, the Dodgeball Teens, J.M. DeSantis, and Moonbase Comics. I saw the tail end of Vanessa Verduga’s screening/discussion of her webseries Justice Woman, which was super cool.
I can’t claim to know a whole lot about comics of the comic book industry (I read a few Archie comics when I was young if that counts for anything!), but it was really cool to see this sort of subculture at work. It actually got me thinking about learning animation for some of my short stories.
Pelham Bay Park is my Backyard
Posted: May 15, 2013 Filed under: Awesomeness, Outdoors | Tags: pelham-bay-park, picnics, The Bronx, The Bronx Socialite Leave a comment »…actually I’m pretty sure it’s many Bronxites’ backyard. But, I’m just going to pretend that it’s my backyard and I’m just being super courteous by letting others hang out in it. A couple of weeks ago when my allergies were killing me, I had a severe case of cabin fever and just wanted to relax outside. So I gathered up some food in my picnic basket (yes, I own a picnic basket!) and headed to the park. It was awesome.
P.S. I’m super backlogged on posts so expect to be hit with like 10,000 in the next couple of days!
P.P.S. Happy Bronx Week!!!!
New Art Exhibit at the Andrew Freedman House
Posted: May 1, 2013 Filed under: Arts | Tags: Andrew Freedman, Andrew Freedman Home, art in the bronx, Dianne Smith, The Bronx Socialite, West Harlem ArtFund 2 Comments »Another great exhibit debuting at the Andrew Freedman House this week! Check out the details below:
From the West Harlem Art Fund…
BRIMMING ON THE EDGE
May 2nd – May 16th 2013
Andrew Freedman House, 1125 Grand Concourse, nr 167th Street, Bronx, NY 10451
Meet & Greet on May 3rd at 5pm
Featured Artists
L.W. Antonius, Alta Berri, Linda Byrne, Thomas Callahan, Marco Castro, Robin Kang, Suprina Kenney, Jongil
Ma, Tomo Mori, Anca Pedvisocar, Roberto Sandoval, Chris Smith, Dianne Smith, Nancy Steinson
Brimming on the Edge is a group exhibition that marries the disciplines of art, design and technology together.
Produced by The West Harlem Art Fund in partnership with the Andrew Freedman House, Brimming on the
Edge coincides with NYCxDesign, and the Frieze Art Fair located nearby on Randall’s Island. There is a budding
movement revolutionizing the Western world. The public is demanding more customized experiences that reflect
their personal lifestyle and appreciations. Yes, it’s easy to purchase a picture frame or a wine rack from a large
retailer that’s inexpensive and probably made in China. But now, the public wants a unique work that’s made in
the United States for which they can showoff in their home or keep as an heirloom. We wish to show the public
these new possibilities in a number of combinations. Brimming on the Edge is curated by Savona Bailey-McClain,
Executive Director, The West Harlem Art Fund, Lisa Banner and Linda Griggs, Independent Curators.
About the Organizations
The West Harlem Art Fund is uniquely positioned to offer this experience. A fifteen year old public arts
organization, we have produced numerous exhibitions and special events with artists and creative
professionals wishing to share their talent with residents around the city. Public art for the West Harlem Art
Fund has included traditional exhibitions, digital installations, storefront windows and live performances. The
West Harlem Art Fund encourages audiences to not only think outside of the box – but to live outside the box.
Our heritage symbol is the double crocodile from West Africa — Funtunmmireku-Denkyemmirreku which means
unity in diversity.
Mid-Bronx Senior Citizens Council (MBSCC), one of the leading non-profit, community development
organizations in the Bronx has been the owner and operator of the Andrew Freedman since 1984. This
majestic building has been home to a “one stop” social service center which provides a vast array of programs,
resources and referrals for residents of the entire community. It is expanding into a new and exciting
destination for art, culture, learning and creativity.
The Spotlight: Chief 69
Posted: April 30, 2013 Filed under: Music, The Spotlight | Tags: Chief 69, Hiphop, Nelson Seda, The Bronx Socialite, The Spotlight Leave a comment »This month’s Spotlight is on Renaissance man, Nelson “Chief 69 Seda:
I was Born in Brooklyn yes, then moved around from Fl. back to NYC and as a young child moved all over from the Bronx , Harlem , Lower East Side , and then ended up back in the boogie down Bronx. I like to say I don’t just represent one neighborhood of the Bronx but I am from the Fort apache area..I consider myself a beacon of light to all of the greater South Bronx being I am in many ways a product of the environment as a whole.
I practice most of the HIP HOP elements mainly because of my knack to envelop myself truly into things I am drawn to , also in many ways the elements in my eyes at least have no real separation , you see when I do writing or graffiti it is comparable to the dynamic feats of the Dance I do , When I emcee it is the same poetic flow I place into the creation of Burners on a wall or in a blackbook. In many ways being I am in different circles I get to have different ways to stay inspired I realize people who only Emcee or only do Graffiti can easily become bored with HIP HOP because they are mentally so boxed in and don’t have a much broad perspective on what is really beneath the surface.I try to have all my work on a basic level to be straightforward for the most part in addressing social ills and bringing forth substance and clarity to a misrepresented , diluted Culture…I like to think my work is a tool of reminding my audience of what HIP HOP not only was because I don’t live in the past but what HIP HOP truly IS…
My top 3 favorite places in the Bronx in no particular order are…
- MY HOUSE – I like to be home around my work and in my creative space.
- Crotona Park – in the summertime I love to attend the events to hear good music and rock out , meet a child and show them REAL skills It brings me a lot of joy to teach kids and make new friends in the park jams …this has always been a common denominator in many peoples lives who are involved in HIP HOP
- My neighborhood and really all of the Bronx around me because I feel the people have a specific walk , talk and demeanor about them that I find comforting , I feel at home here and when I go downtown or travel out of NYC I miss The Bronx , there is NO PLACE LIKE IT
Well, I have a lot in the works …still working on my Album project “Knowledge of Self” , which had some setbacks due to my crazy agenda , I am also planning on doing a lot more work in the South Bronx along the lines of Community Murals , Youth Programming , Showcases and Performances and creating opportunities for my friends and HIP HOP family around me so we can all prosper and get QUALITY HIP HOP out there.
…BIG UPs go to all my crews , TBB,UZN,FRC,SSB,WOTS,MW…… I would also like to note my inspirations on a last acknowledgment that my work would be Impossible if not for a few KEY individuals below:
- Rock Steady Crew – all members past and present gave me the foresight to what I could manifest.
- James Brown – keeps me FUNKY.
- Bruce Lee – keeps me focused.
- EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM OF USA. – even with its many faults the teachers and students created the person I am today… THANK YOU….
PEACE AND ALL POWER TO THE PEOPLE !!…
Battle of the Boroughs: Bronx Edition
Posted: April 6, 2013 Filed under: Events, Music | Tags: Al-lisha Burns, Battle of the Boroughs 2013, Bill Santen, Blue Meadow, Bronx, Captains of Industry, Corky Has a Band, Emily Angell, Flow Freequan, I am B 13, Liya Marie, marie-claire, Tee Dot Ohh, The Bronx Socialite, The Greene Space, Tyrone Birkett/Emancipation, WNYC, WQXR, Yurby Leave a comment »Last night, WNYC and WQXR sponsored the fourth annual Battle of the Boroughs competition at The Greene Space. To sum it up, Battle of the Boroughs gathers the best of the best from each borough and audience members (and the public) get to vote for who they’d like to represent their borough at the Ultimate Battle in June.
The musicians representing the Bronx were: Blue Meadow, Corky Has a Band, I am B 13, Yurby, Al-Lisha Burns, Bill Santen, Flow Freequan, Captains of Industry, Tee Dot Ohh and Liya Marie, Emily Angell, marie-claire, and Tyrone-Birkett/Emancipation.
The event was hosted by Terrance McKnight and the night’s commentators were
Though I’d love to give you a full review on each and every act (they were all really great. I’m excited to find out the finalists on Monday!), I don’t think you’re in the mood to read some long tome on the internet. Below are the groups that stood out to me the most:
Blue Meadow
Blue Meadow was the first group to perform. They began slowly coming to life as each member began to play his instrument. By coming to life, I mean that they were literally slumped over before and sprang up when one of their band members gestured to them. One of the coolest things I noticed about the band is that all of the members sing. The drummer was actually the first person to begin singing, so that was pretty awesome. They have a smooth, rhythmic rock thing going out, kind of like Maroon 5, but with a little more soulfulness. I could definitely see me buying their music.
Corky Has a Band
While live tweeting the battle, I said, “Corky Has a Band Just Did Unimaginable Things to a Piano Just Now” and I was not lying. Described as hyper-vaudevillian, their music is as surprising as it is carefully orchestrated. The duo incorporates the entire instrument into their performance in a purposeful discordant harmony. And there was a kazoo. Who can play a kazoo and make it work in 2013? Probably only Sergeant Whiskers and Professor Tickles.
I am B 13
He had me when he said, ” This is dedicated to the rappers who rapped about nonsense.” YES. Commentator Helga Davis (love her) said it perfectly after I am B 13′s performance when she said, “I can tell you read.” Educated rap is a beautiful thing. It’s so refreshing to hear multisyllabic words in a rap song. He said ‘pantomime,’ you guys. Plus, there’s just something really endearing about a rapper with braces who says lines like, ” If you got a problem with me, go to a mathematician.”
Captains of Industry
Captains of Industry utilized a recording someone had made on a seemingly ordinary day in Germany. or Austria. The base of their completely improvised performance was a soundtrack of cars honking, dogs barking, and people walking. The drummer used some sort of plastic tubes instead of drum sticks, which was very cool because you could hear the sound echoing through them. It kind of reminded me of Australian dj group, The Avalanches.
Check out some photos of the other musicians:
