May 2009
May 31, 2009- By Fredrick
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BKLN: I don't live here anymore (in three parts)
- By Fredrick
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It was bittersweet, just as I had anticipated. Leaving Brooklyn was the toughest move I have ever made - and I've moved a lot. It's not that I wasn't ready to leave, it had more to do with the sacrifices that came with leaving behind a city that contains the whole world. I wont be several blocks from top notch music venues anymore, I cant casually walk to Academy Records and pick up great vinyl for $4 - $12. I don't have the Lower East Side at my disposal, and all those amazing restaurants, yeah, gone.
It helped a lot, easing out of New York City, that I was surrounded by all the people I love most. Besides Miranda and Dan Gordon (who I lived with), I got to spend the weekend with my best friends Elijah and Alexandra. On top of that, Casper & the Cookies were staying at my place and I got to spend a lot of time with Jason, Kay, Jim and the frenchman Pierre. Sunday night we went to see the band play the NYC Popfest at the Cake Shop (videos forthcoming), and Monday morning we began the trial of moving.
The Cookies rolled out of town before anyone woke up, and shortly after that I found myself walking to Greenpoint to pick up the Uhaul. I've never driven anything bigger than Jason's van before, so when I got behind the wheel of this truck my throat basically closed up with fear. This continued well into Jersey when the overwhelming rage over the ill labeled roads and the fact that I spent several hours lost outweighed my fear of driving a behemoth truck (plus I was getting kinda good at it). Loading everything into the truck was a true hassle, and it's times like that that make living on the 6th floor the worst. Luckily we had tons of help and by 12-ish we were on the road. Unfortunately that road led to Jersey.
We did eventually make it. Alex, Jon, and Eli helped us unload everything and I brought the truck back the next morning. Most of this isn't documented because its just not fun to watch. This is my favorite video since the Exit 2008 series. So many lovely people, so many lovely moments. Stay tuned through the credits for a reading of a classic Hamdy Bey piece. Also, if it goes by too fast for you, go pick up Casper & the Cookies' new album, Modern Silence. It's out now, and it's so good.
Music by The Impossible Shapes and Arizona.
May 25, 2009
Eleventh Century Birthday
- By Fredrick
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We were seated at the royal table in the Black and White section, and for those of you who don't know how it works there, the crowd is split into six sections, each of which have knight to represent them. From what I hear, the winner of the tournament and therefore hero of the show is determined by the support from the knight's sections, which would explain why our's won. Not only did we have a row full of grown-ass men and women heckling the other knights (especially the blue one, who was a dead-ringer for my lousy ex-roommate), but whenever our beloved Black & White knight would do anything we'd be up in arms, shouting till our voices failed. Even the table behind us, which was a birthday party for a little girl, joined in. After we laid into the Red knight for his longing glances at the Green Knight, the girls would chime in by yelling "Red knight, you STINK!".
I had a hard time cutting this video, there were so many cool things to include, but I think we got most of the highlights here. I'm going to categorize this as history, I hope no one objects.
Music by Iron & Wine.
May 9, 2009
GCT POKIPSE
- By Fredrick
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Okay, so here it is, as promised. Not my favorite film, but I think it accurately portraits the surreal feeling of this particular train ride. The Metro North tracks follow the Hudson river upstate, this trip takes about 2 hours (as opposed to the bus which takes an hour and a half and drops you off right in New Paltz, which is my destination after all). Along the way you pass through some of the most beautiful scenery, and some of the most decaying urban wastelands.
Along the way you can see an old Civil War Armory stationed on a small island in the river, a giant fortress sits across the river from the Garrison stop. There are husks of old factories, and even functioning ones that look as if they'll collapse at any moment. Still, the beauty balances out the eyesores, and I find it to be a much more interesting ride than the bus.
Quick fact; At one point the ceiling of Grand Central Terminal was so obscured by black soot that it had to undergo a full restoration and cleaning. Though it was assumed that the black residue was from the old smoke-emitting trains, it turned out to be tar from all of the people smoking in the concourse over the years. Disgusting! There's a small spot on the ceiling where the soot remains as a reminder of how bad it had gotten, but I can never seem to find it.
Music by The Notwist. (Though I guess Youtube is telling you these sorts of things nowadays...)
May 7, 2009
City Celebration
- By Fredrick
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Okay, okay. I'm sorry. I haven't updated in almost a month. Today I will work on a new video, promise. I have a few shoots I could work on; how about a nice train ride set to The Notwist? Seems like a logical choice.
