Rock'n'rolla derby

I have always been highly susseptable to suggestion, especially when it comes packaged in a teen movie. As a kid, I wanted to dance in the streets ala Breakdance 2: Electric Boogaloo, or enjoy a saturday detention like the Breakfast Club. Of course, the reality is never as sunny as John Hughes paints it. Inspired by films like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, I joined an adult cheerleading team and found holding a girl's foot for a couple of hours while she makes pretty shapes less interesting than the montage scene of Bring It On would have you believe. I've taken up tap dancing no less than three time, probably in reaction to veiwing A Chorus Line, and an early episode of 90210 had me down at the Oakleigh ice skating rink at 8.30 on a Saturday morning practising turns with a bunch of six year olds.

So it's no surprise that I am currently osbsessed with Roller Derby, having just watched Drew Barrymore's directual debut Whip It. Now the movie is not bad, some funny dialogue and good performances by Juno's Ellen Page and Kristen Wiig (as well an appearance by the third and equally drawling Wilson brother). But it's really the sport that is the hero, with rough, punk rock chicks answering to punny names and not much else, skating around in customised uniforms that are straight out of the final scenes of Don't Tell Mom the Baysitter's Dead. And the best bit is the roller derby scene really exists, and it's even here in Melbourne!

So far I've missed bouts like I Dream of Derby, Smashdance, Slay Belles and Queens of the Slammed, so I can't wait to check it all out at Chashendo on December 5. You can get tickets and more info here.

There is a very good chance I will spend the better part of this week thinking up my own derby name, any ideas?

Ghosts of New York Past

We first heard this song on the radio in the Greenwich Village apartment we were subletting, and three weeks into the trip, it really gave us some much needed spring in our step, to get back out there onto the streets where dreams are made of. My lovely friend Ali took me past the Marcy projects in Brooklyn, where Jay Z grew up, and it made me think, surely if he can get from there to where he is, I can get from here to NYC?

New York City Bots.

If you're walking down the street in New York City and you see one of these Tweenbots, you should check the destination on its flag and help it on its way. Then you'll be a part of this art project that explores ideas of human connections in a complex and hectic city.

If you're not, you can take a walk over here.

Origami Dressing

While watching some early morning foxtel on Sunday, I chanced upon something awesome on the How To Channel. I can see you snickering at my admission that I sometimes choose to watch overweight, middle aged American women make quilts out of old underpants, but if you look long enough and wish hard enough, between scrapbooking your child's first bowel movement and making a table centre from used aerosol cans, you can find something inspirational and beautiful.

Luckily for you, I've sorted the diamond from the rough (and believe me, they are rough), and came up with this beauty.

Francisco Costa is the design director of Calvin Klein. I wouldn't have classed myself as a massive Calvin Klein fan - usually it makes me think of simple dresses and Marky Mark - but this new origami inspired collection is making me tingle in places I don't really want to talk about in public. They are like moving sculptures and I bet they make you feel like a piece of art.

And in this video he actually demonstrates how they make the amazing pleat dress, and, excuse my ignorance, it actually doesn't look that hard. Detailed and meticulous yes, but really, really difficult, i don't think so. It's got to at least be easier than saving for the real thing.

Check it out here and choose the Francisco Costa video on the right.

Taking a walk in July.

If I could have someone stand beside me where ever I go and whisper thought provoking, relevant, and witty sentences into my ear so I could relay them, Cyrano style, into the world, the person I choose could quite possibly be Miranda July. Her words are simple, and in the beginning they can seem frivolous, floral, even slightly sappy, until they knee you in the groin and show you what they're made of. She wrote a collection of short stories called "No One Belongs Here More Than You", a title that immediately appeals to my ego and wants me make its author a friend on Facebook, but that also contains a stories that are friendly yet fearful, the perfect combination sweet and sour, that make me rethink my normally negative reaction to short stories.

She's also done short films and long films, art films and art shows, and this one here is here is a bit old, but then so am I, so it's no wonder I am a little behind....

The Hallway from The Hallway on Vimeo.

The wackness

I watched The Wackness yesterday, which had made it into the filing cabinet of my mind only because it separated the Olsen twins for five minutes (which is coincidental about four minutes longer than said twin appears in the film). Despite finding whichever twin it was to be as bland as expected, I found the rest of the film to be, well, rather lovely. I love the idea of a quiet, hot New York summer, where everyone is off somewhere else being cool, and the people left have nothing better to do but walk the streets in search of comfort, both figuratively and literally. This summer is the one between high school and college, and as it's set in 94, the time is a lot closer to my own experience of graduation, even if the place is another world away. This is a great New York movie, full of long skyline shots, gritty street views, and endless commentary about Guilanni and Notorious B.I.G. that subtly reminds you of the place and time. And the main character falls in love over a cold beer in central park, which could possibly be the best way to fall in love. I've shied away from posting walk on the wild side here before, as it can sometimes feel tacky or obvious, but as it accompanied the hero of this movie, skateboarding through the park with a walkman, it felt like catching up with a really good friend. And when I watched the video today, without sound on this 94esk computer, it looked really good again. Enjoy!

Hanging out for New York.

Lots of sleep till Brooklyn.

This song comes a little late, but it is dedicated to my flatmate, who, if she had have stayed in bed like the song and everyone else says, might not be in hospital with pneumonia right now.

Today is just a bit strange.

It's getting colder and darker as the day goes on, an ominous presence seems to be sweeping away the Indian summer that this week has enjoyed, ushering in, what? Winter? Sadness? Indifference? Best ward off bad spirits with the Stones.....

Keeping an ear to the ground.

So it seems there is no end to crazy New York souvenirs. When you pick up your authentic New York Garbage Box, why not accessories with a pair of genuine New York dirt earrings?

Thanks to Manita for this gem!

Living for the city.

I'm trying really hard to remember to live and enjoy the 158 days that stand between me and NYC. It's hard, especially when the good NY fairy (I imagine she looks a little like Debbie Harry) sits on your shoulder and whispers "would that $5 be better spent in NYC?" or "is this night out worth one less night out in NYC". But then there are days, like today, when the world just goes a bit tits up, and and all you can do is grin and remember that soon the phone will stop ringing, the only coffee you'll be getting is your own, and all the crazy that is right now driving you nuts, will become a source of great amusement.

So today's one of those days, when I feel like I am, indeed, living for the city.

Stevie knows what I mean.

Check this shit out.

I'm going to try very hard to never utter the phrase only in ny (whoops) but if I did ever say it, which I'm not, but if I did, this would be the time and the place.

Sprinkle brigade

The master of New York music videos.

I just hope New York really is made of cardboard.


Grandmaster Flash & The Furious 5 - New York, NY
Uploaded by iameternal

Looking forward to...

Tram trip out.

The other day I saw a woman eat a block of feta on the tram. She opened the wrapper like it was a snickers and bit into it with no more trepidation than one would when eating an eskimo pie - that is to say with only a slight concern for losing tasty morsels at each bite. I had to get off before she finished, but I will always believe that she ate that whole block. Sometimes, on the number 78, dinner can be a long way off.

Keeping a finger on the pulse.

I'll be putting my best feet forward, keeping my fingers on the pulse, and letting my fingers do the talking with these spanky futuristic robot nails at De Lux Gallery

Alright, alright, alright...

Six degrees of separation, where would we be without you? This information is not about New York, in fact it pertains more accurately to Austin, Texas, but as I read it on nymag.com, I'm going to count it connected to New York. Oh who cares, this is the best news I've had all week (granted it is only Monday morning). Richard Linklater is making a sequel to Dazed & Confused. It will be set in a US college in 1980. Unfortunately, it seems to none of the original cast or characters will be reprising their roles. Which is so sad, because of course the beauty of Wooderson is that it doesn't matter that he gets older, everyone else stays the same age.

Feeling Monday....

As I i don't seem to have sound on this Commodore 64esk machine, I can't actually use this groovy tune to get me out of my monday morning funk. Life's like that sometimes.

Downtown 09

Although the NYC film I saw last night, Downtown 81, was about Jean Michel Basquiat and other influential artistic and musical pioneers, and had a jamming soundtrack featuring early scratching, hip hop, reggae, new wave and just enough Debbie Harry to have me dreaming about being blonde, I can't get this song out of my head.

So Downtown 64 it is then....

Hello NYC

I am consistently amazed that, in the few days of being a ticket holding future NYC tourist, the amount of people who are putting up their hand and shaking it all about, offering to help in anyway they can. People to know, places to go, the numbers, the letters, where to get the best tacos - everyone is sharing their secrets, telling their tales and forwarding their friends with no other reason than to show me a good time. Maybe it’s because this city is the city of so many of our collective dreams, and we all understand just how important it is to experience this place.

This morning, the lovely friend Nadia hooked me up with the undoubtedly equally lovely Nat, a Melbournian who has recently relocated to NYC. Not only has he offered to show me around, he’s also kindly let me post a few of the pics from his blog goodbyemelbournehellonewyork
This is pretty much what I think of when I think of a NY street.

The drinks at Tim Robbin's bar (yes he from the bed of Susan Sarandon), called Back Room allude to the bar's former existence as a speakeasy.

And from what I hear, the people you find on the streets of NYC are just as friendly and helpful. Except the ones who want to mug you. They're not so nice.

Like you mean it...

Finally, Moby knows what I like.

It's like these guys crawled into the attic of my imagination and riffled through my dress up box of dreams, and found, under my grammy and Pulitzer, my secret diary entry titled, My Favourite Holiday.
Now I just have to convince the others that matching tracksuits will be our key to the city....

Today's New York tune

If you are, indeed, a New York City Cop, please believe that I don't think you're not too smart. There is a very good chance I will need your help, or at least want to take a photo with you. So no hard feelings?

I found this guy's website a couple of years ago, and of course I did consider paying $50 US for some guy to pick up some trash, and post it to me, just for a taste (or should I say smell?) of New York. Now I'm going, I don't have to. I am perfectly capable of picking up my own trash now, thank you very much, and much to the horror of my traveling partners, I probably will. But if you want I'll bring you some back!
http://www.nycgarbage.com/home.html

Start spreading the news....

Drop the ball, stop that cab, and hold the mustard. After years of talking about it, pining about it, framing stolen pictures of it, my I heart New York t-shirt is going home, and it's taking me with it.

I'm too exited to go into details, so let's all pretend we're drunk at the end of your questionable uncle's 45th birthday. Everybody sing: