Viewing NYC Articles by Alexandra Hudson

[WATCH] Meet Vong Pak, a Traditional Korean Drum Performer Busking in the Subway

2019-07-27T11:00:00-04:00

"Healing Society - that is the Korean drummer’s philosophy," says Vong Pak, a local musician, drum teacher and performer. Pak has played the Korean drum for more than 25 years and believes in performing to share Korean identity and culture with the world.

I bring… not just my drumming skills, but also the history of Korea, so they understand the beauty of something different.

This short documentary, directed and produced by NYC-based production company Notable Features, is one of 10 episodes from the Rhythm in Motion series about the City's subway musicians.

Vong Pak's music is available to download on iTunes.

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Special Guest [Usher]ed in Last Night for Surprise Performance at Brooklyn Bowl

2016-06-03T08:31:39-04:00

Imagine going to Brooklyn Bowl on a Thursday night, expecting to enjoy some good DJing by Questlove. Instead you casually stumble upon an Usher concert. Well, if you were at Brooklyn Bowl on June 2nd, then that is exactly what happened.

Needless to say, the crowd went wild.

The only thing people knew what to expect at Brooklyn Bowl last night was that Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson, drummer for The Roots, was DJ'ing and that there would be a "special guest."

The air in Brooklyn Bowl was oozing positive vibes throughout the entire performance. Amidst the flashing blue and purple lights, Usher fans attempted to push and shove their way to the front of the stage. Not that it mattered. The acoustics in the building were so good, you could hear Usher's leggero tenor from the back as if he was standing next to you.

"The show was everything we expected," Detrick Lowman, the stage manager for The Roots, said. "Quest said there would be a special guest and he never let's his audience down." When asked how long they had been planning the show with Usher, Lowman laughed. "I can't tell you that," he said.

Throughout the night, fans were treated to throwbacks such as "Caught up," "Confessions," and "OMG." Most of The Roots members, including Black Thought, were present as well. The music was mixed and mashed to appropriately match Brooklyn's flare.

At the end of the show, Questlove and Usher surprised the crowd by doing a rendition of Usher's critically acclaimed song, "Yeah!"

DJ Questlove presents Bowl Train at Brooklyn Bowl every Thursday at 11:30pm.

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Brooklyn's 90sFest Was a Smash(Mouth) Hit

2015-09-16T08:15:02-04:00

From boy bands and Britney to flannels and Converse sneakers, nothing beats the pop culture rage that swept us into this new millennium like the 90s did. It was a time where TV shows like Boy Meets World and Hey Arnold! had charm and MTV actually played music.

This past Saturday, Brooklyn played host to the 90s Fest, a music festival sponsored by more than twenty companies, most notably Nickelodeon. Held at 50 Kent Ave in Williamsburg, the festival began at 1 p.m. and continued well into the night. With Two Boots Pizza to munch on and Bud Light to sip on, the nostalgia was euphoric and completely skyrocketed when the music started. This year’s lineup featured memorable Grammy winners and nominees from the 90s.

Alongside the musical entertainment in attendance were comedian Pauly Shore who hosted the entire event, and Instagram celebrities Aleen Kuperman and Elliot Tebele. Kuperman is the founder of the popular account Betches while Elliot Tebele is the founder of FuckJerry.

This is life before the f*cking internet

-- Pauly Shore, 90s Fest Host

Here are some of the 90s bands and musicians that showed up.

The Bayside Tigers got things started with covers of all the favs including Lit’s "My Own Worst Enemy" and Hootie’s "Only Wanna Be with You." Good old Blind Melon, Tonic, and Smash Mouth brought the alternative rock to the stage, while Coolio, Naughty by Nature, and Salt-N-Pepa took us back in time and made us feel like we were re-witnessing the birth of hip hop culture.

Tonic, an American Rock band formed in 1993 by Emerson Hart and Jeff Russo, rocked the house. Throughout their career they collected two Grammy nominations. They are best known for their alternative rock and post grunge style. Their single “If you could only see” reached No. 11 on the Billboard Airplay Hot 100.

Coolio, also known as Artis Leon Ivey Jr, is an American rapper and musician and is best known for his Grammy winning single “Gangsta’s Paradise” which he won for Best Rap Solo Performance in 1996. His genres include West Coast hip hop, Gangsta rap, and G-funk.

Lisa Loeb is a contemporary folk/rock artist who launched her career with her single “Stay (I missed you)” in 1994. When the song hit number one on the charts, Loeb became the first artist to top the Hot 100 without signing to any record label. Her 1997 album, Firecracker was also nominated for a Grammy.

Blind Melon is an American Rock band formed in 1990 in Los Angeles, California. Best remembered for their 1993 single “No Rain,” Blind Melon enjoyed critical success for their neo-psychedelic take on alternative rock. Shannon Hoon was the lead vocalist until his death from a cocaine overdose in 1995.

Naughty by Nature, the Grammy award winning hip hop group from East Orange, New Jersey had their first nomination back in 1991 for their hit "O.P.P." from their self-titled track. In 1996 they won for Best Rap Album for Poverty in Paradise.

The rain which had held off for most of the day finally arrived early in the evening. Party-goers were forced to trade in their flannels for rain ponchos, but that didn’t stop them from enjoying the ongoing festivities. Luckily the quick shower dissipated into a light on-and-off drizzle.

We grew up in the best decade ever. We had a unique voice. We knew culture.

-- Random concert-goer

Smash Mouth is an American Rock Band from San Jose, California. The group was formed in 1994 by Steve Harwell who was formerly in a rap group called Freedom of Speech. They are best known for their ska punk style of music which is best seen in their first major single, "Walkin on the sun." Their second album Astro Lounge was released in 1999 and had a change of direction – featuring more of a pop sound. The album received critical acclaim and was lead by the hit single “Allstar” which peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100.

When asked which genre they identify with, Smash Mouth answered, “There’s big stock in ska punk but we are definitely a pop band.” On his official Instagram account, Steve Harwell commented “I used to be a respectable man until my life was ruined by the 2001 hit, “Shrek.” The band elaborated on this comment stating, “Every kid grew up on Shrek: whether that song [Allstar] is hip or not it’s hip to them.”

Salt-N-Pepa is an American hip hop trio from Queens, New York. The group was formed in 1985 by Cheryl James, Sandra Danton, and Latoya Hanson, who was replaced by Deidra Roper in 1986. In 1994, Salt-N-Pepa collected three Video Music Awards; Best Electronic Dance, Best Choreography, and Best R&B Video.

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Those Are Some Good Shucking Oysters

2015-09-10T09:40:01-04:00

Forget the pearls – we want the oysters! Today marks the first day of New York Oyster Week (NYOW).

Every year, Oyster Week raises awareness of the extraordinary role of the oyster in the history, culture, cuisine, economy, and ecology of New York – Eataly Alti Cibi.

This year, NYOW will be featuring eighteen different restaurants including Oceana, Essex Restaurant, and Claudio’s. You can reserve a table at one of these restaurants through Open Table. NYOW is also partnering with Uber to provide new users a free ride.

Locally found all along the East Coast, these cool critters make both a delicious and ocean-friendly seafood choice. Oysters are self-sustaining organisms that can actually improve local water quality. Oyster farming also has a relatively low impact on the environment. NYOW will celebrate the bivalve’s role in the cuisine, culture, ecology, and economy of New York until Sunday, September 27th.

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Sick Tintype Bro! Brooklyn Photographer Features Local Skaters for Her Latest Exhibition

2015-07-31T15:54:14-04:00

Brooklyn based photographer and art conservator Melissa Cacciola specializes in tintype portraits -- made by creating a direct positive on a thin sheet of metal coated with a dark lacquer or enamel and used as the support for the photographic emulsion.

Her latest exhibition, "Flip It and Reverse It," focuses on New York City skaters and can be viewed at Three Squares Studio in Chelsea until September 5th.

I liked the idea that skateboarding, which evolved from surfing, has influenced so many areas of American culture—clothing and music and photography

Cacciola explained that each of her subjects had to sit, motionless, for about ten seconds, while resting their heads against a hidden brace. The photographer chose to only photograph male skaters for this particular series but is planning an all-female 'cast' for her next tintype project.

Check out more from Skateboarders on Tintype here.

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Local Graffiti Legend STASH Began His Work on the Subway System

2015-07-24T09:58:08-04:00

Local graffiti legend STASH revolutionized subway graffiti during the 80s with his powerful and expressive designs and shapes. By the time the 90s rolled around he was collaborating with Nike and A Bathing Ape. Now he is seen as the progressive artist and innovator who was widely responsible for the cultural acceptance of graffiti.

Hypebeast, one of the premiere online destinations for editorially driven commerce and news has collaborated with Compound, a creative studio located in the Bronx to produce Compound Conversations, a personal video interview series with some of today’s most influential people. In this installment, Stash discusses how he started his graffiti career and how the City influenced his work.

When I think of the word 'graffiti', I tend to think to think of New York City Subway graffiti. I was fortunate enough to live here and watch it progress and grow, and participate. Where it has gone is phenomenal...

You can watch more of Hypebeast's Compound Conversations here.

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Brooklyn's Industry City Distillery Will Revolutionize Your Cocktails

2015-07-22T16:37:05-04:00

Industry City Distillery puts all of its competitors to shame with its newest addition of spirits and vodka. The Brooklyn-based experimental distillery pursues the creation of better craft spirits through science.

ICD's newest addition and claim to fame is their use of Technical Reserve, a 191.2% proof (95.6% ABV) neutral spirit designed for making bitters, tinctures, infusions, and craft spirits. As the highest proof spirit made in the U.S., Technical Reserve makes a hell of a strong drink.

The distillery's signature vodka, dubbed the Industry Standard is distilled from sugar beets with hints of florals, fruits, vanilla, and spice.

Distilled from sugar beets on equipment we designed and built by hand right here in Brooklyn, NY, Industry Standard boasts a flavor profile as unique as the process we use to make it. The nose hints at subtle fruits, with layered complexity beneath. On tasting, light florals open up into a warm, smooth flavor and rich texture, and finish with delicious fruit notes, hints of vanilla, and a touch of spice.

Check out ICD's blog, Vodka Science on tumblr, or buy Industry Standard Vodka online.

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City Health Commissioner Says "NO FUN" Until Heat Wave Passes

2015-07-21T09:53:24-04:00

Who would've thought fun would be advised against during the summer? Health Commissioner Dr. Mary Bassett has stated that "city residents should stay in air-conditioned spaces as much as possible, and keep hydrated with pure, healthful water" -- that means no ice cold beers or piña coladas, no fun in the sun. What are we to do?

Stay hydrated! Alcohol and caffeine are both dehydrating diuretics.
Take lukewarm showers, not cold ones. A cold shower can shock an overheated body.
Watch out for the sun! Use a sunscreen with SPF between 30 and 50, even on cloudy days. Wear clothes that protect from sun exposure.
Avoid arduous activity -- go for a run during the early evenings when it's cooler!

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FUNPOV Seeks to Create Real-Life Movies on the City Streets Using a Hidden Camera

2015-07-08T14:38:27-04:00

American novelist and poet Jack Kerouac once said, "The world you see is just a movie in your mind." This is the mantra that FUNPOV sticks too.

FUNPOV is a series of short movies, starring random people on the street. The short movies were filmed from the real-life and point-of view of the creator. A man of mystery, you never actually see the guy filming, as all of the films are shot from his point-of view. You do, however, hear his humorous voice and see his hands (most likely) high fiving someone when they least expect it! You might even catch a glimpse of his shadow riding a bike along a busy street.

These movies follow real episodes in my life, with one constant purpose: interact with strangers on the street, asking them to connect with me, and smile in this moment.

FUNPOV aims to create two movies per month. You can support the making of these short films by donating $1 per movie. The goal is to use the movies to reflect our fast-changing culture, and to discuss ideas and topics for the future.

Where you've come from is probably not more important then where you are going. So tell the story of your future, and then get there.
— FUNPOV (@FUNPOV) June 22, 2015

Follow FUNPOV on YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter.

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Rapper Works Out of Soho Apple Store Every Day for 4 Months to Record New Album

2015-07-07T10:46:47-04:00

New York-based rapper Prince Harvey used Apple's Soho Store display computers five days a week for four straight months, so he could record a full length album. Talk about dedication.

Harvey explained that he was forced to drastic measures such as these after one of his computers broke down and the other was stolen.

I realized I needed to step everything up to, like, maximum intensity—as far as motivation and desire [to complete the album] goes.

The Apple Store in Soho is an artists's hub; home to the podcast series Meet the Filmmaker and [Meet the Musician](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/meet-the-musician/id578199958?mt=2%29.&ls=1&at=11l7j9&ct=viewingnyc&app=itunes Apple has also hosted concerts there in the past including Maroon 5 and Linkin Park in 2008.

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