I hooked-up with my friend Jessica from London on Tuesday and we had a blast. After a couple of cocktails, we shot up to Pier 63 for the 1^st Annual Surfrider Foundation Film Festival. There were some real talented film-makers showcasing unbelievable footage from around the world. If you didn’t make it this year, make it a point to be there next year.

Jessica gave me a copy of Aussie, Xavier Rudd’s Good Spirit, his first live album. You have to check this guy out. There is an irie quality to his presentation that is complemented by a harmonica. Such a wild sound.

My friend Dave is a really talented photographer. We have been traveling between Rockaway and Central New Jersey more often than ever and he is killing it with his camera. He snapped this flick on the Beach 90^th Jetty at far Rockaway. This was a fairly epic Friday session. We left the beach at sundown, hooked-up with Pody [ who just got in from HI ] and got back in the water for a Saturday morning dawn patrol [ more pics to follow ].

The style master Neck Face has collaborated with Baker Skateboards to drop a serious one. I slept on picking-up the last one he did for Mark Gonzalez, [ pictured below ] but I ordered mine this morning after the quick-tip from Tone.

Hats off to WK and his new book, Exterior-Interior: Act 2 [ Klanten, Robert & Hellige, Hendrik, 2005 ]. Take a walk over to his workspace and cop yourself one [ remember the weather is perfect ]. What a great addition to any art collection. You can find his studio at 101 Stanton Street, NYC. While you are in the neighborhood, definitely stop by Cafe Havana [ 229 Elizabeth Street, NYC ] for the grilled corn topped with butter, manchego cheese, paprika & fresh lime juice.

[ Above: Martial Arts, WK style ]

Here are a couple of very similar album covers from 2 very distant eras. I really admire the album cover design of classic jazz. It's very simple and typically incorporates great color. Note the similarities of the two shown above.


[ Left: Art Pepper, Art of Pepper Import - Aladd 1998 ]

[ Right: Jack Johnson, In Between Dreams - Universal 2005 ]

[ it's 4 a.m. i've got the dr. hfuhruhurr ale i've got nothing nothing to lose and so i'm pissing on the third rail ]






I dig the Garfield font as well as the layout and overall design. Well done.

[ George keeping his moth shut in 'The Secret Code' ]


One of my favorite monologues from the Seinfeld series occurs in the episode entitled "The Secret Code."

[ Episode no. 11, pc: 707, season 7, episode 7, Broadcast date: November 9, 1995 ]

George refuses to divulge his bank card PIN number to his fiance Susan. He explained to Jerry that "if you are in some situation where some fast cash will save your life, I'll give it to you."

Enter Kramer - Absolutely Classic:

[ "Ah, all right, yeah... Let's see... Well, we can throw out birthdays immediately. That's too obvious. And no numbers for you. You're a word man. Let's go deeper... What kind of man are you? Well, you're weak, spineless, a man of temptations. But what tempts you? You're a portly fellow. A bit long in the waistband. So what's your pleasure? Is it the salty snacks you crave? No no no no... Yours is a sweet tooth. Oh, you may stray, but you'll always return to your dark master... The cocoa bean! And only the purest syrup nectar can satisfy you. If you could, you'd guzzle it by the gallon... Ovaltine!? Hershey's!? Nestle's Quick!? ]

Do you know the answer?

[ Sick rendering ]

No Picnic [ dir. Phil Hartman, 84mins, 1987 ] is playing every night from now until Wednesday August 31st at the Pioneer Theater [ 155 East 3rd Street, between Avenues A and B - (212) 591-0434 ].



[ Ann D'Agnillo & David Brisbin in Phil Hartman's No Picnic (1987) ]


Go see this film. It is definitely a rare opportunity to see it & you will be supporting my friend James Murray and his dear friend Anne D'Agnillo as seen above. No Picnic will give you a snapshot of the lifestyles & gentrification of the East Village during the late 1980's. Monday or Tuesday will be the best bet as the forecast calls for showers.

Hats off to Marc Ecko for the successful show yesterday on the west side. Mock subway train panels were fabricated out of aluminum and used as canvases for a select few of the kings of the game who were asked to stop by. The permit for the event was rescinded because of the negative effects that graffiti has on communities as argued by City Council Member Peter Vallone and Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Marc nearly gave up. "We're not going to fight City Hall," he said. "We're not going to win. The case was taken to court:
05 Civ. 7335 (JSR)
Ecko Untld.Plaintiff
-v-
Michael R. Bloomberg
Mayor of the City of New York

The facts were assessed and after a 20 minute deliberation, Justice Jed S. Rakoff delivered his verdict. This was clearly a first amendment violation and the exhibit was given the thumbs-up. Way to be. Check out Lady Pink doing her thing in the image above.

[ photo courtesy of Michael Ragan, Cranberry Productions ]

Today I have a special dedication to the individual who posted the first comment on good times. This flick captures the work of one of the heaviest hitting all-city street stompers in New York City. Big Tone seen here making some noise and never excluding the exclamation point! Yeah kid, do it!