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Crusties are People Too?

Posted on July 11, 2011 by Brian Dubé

Part 2 (see Part 1 here)

I had hoped to learn a little more about Morgan and her background. In a way, one could say I had made her acquaintance. When I approached her lying in the grass on Sunday, greeting her with “Morgan Maginnis,” she jumped and ran as if she had seen the devil incarnate. It took some conversation and persuasion to convince her that I was the man who had photographed her only a few days earlier.

She told me a little about her past – that she was from Los Angeles and that her parents had died from a combination of alcohol and an auto crash. She said that she was a college graduate with two degrees and has a job in demolition. I was told that she had just been featured in Vice Magazine and that this was her big break. Her pet rat had already died.

I told her that I had written part one of a crustie story, that I was featuring her and that I had referred to her as “cuddly and disgusting.” I hoped she was not insulted, but it was my honest reaction to having her arms encircle me from behind while correcting an email address. She was charming, cute and filthy all together.
She and her friends laughed and found it an apt description. One said that they were all disgusting. Perhaps, in her world, cuddly, even with a qualifier, was quite a complement, because she seemed rather pleased, repeating the phrase several times to her friends.

On Sunday, however, things took a turn for the worse. I looked for Morgan to speak to her and glean a few more details of her life. When I found her, she was crying and recounting her day. Trying to get more drugs to supplement her methadone. Food stolen, as well as other incidents common to the homeless. Morgan is clearly angry and frustrated.

A confrontation with a black man spun out of control. She grabbed his bag, throwing it at him as well as away from them. She accused him of being like other blacks who had raped her. The ranting, vulgarity and drama escalated. She was running through the park, screaming and throwing things. Bystanders were running scattershot in fear of being a victim. I was wary myself. Although the acting out was largely drama, Morgan is not incapable of inflicting bodily harm and I learned that she has been arrested numerous times.

Like those who naively believe they can domesticate a wild animal, I left feeling a little foolish, thinking that a relationship approaching normalcy could be had with a drug addicted crust punk. I had descended to the bottom, and I am saddened by what I see there. Drugs are unforgiving, and their allure is a cruel mirage. It’s a world of false promises of peer respect and the charm of nihilism and anarchy.

The future is dim for these individuals, and their lives will likely be quite short. No one wants to invest time in fanning dying embers. They are the trash of contemporary society and the only talk I hear is where to relocate them. They are filthy, disgusting, and violent, so get them away from here. Only the sanctity of human life and the 5th/6th Commandment prevents many from suggesting the simplest solution while asking the rhetorical, Crusties are People Too?

Other Related Posts: Jenn Kabacinski Part 2, Jenn Kabacinski Part 1, Misfits, Stephanie, Police Riot Concert

Posted on July 11, 2011 by Brian Dubé

This entry was posted in Extreme NYC, People, Rebels of NYC, Videos. Bookmark the permalink.
Crusties are People Too, Part 1

Posted on July 8, 2011 by Brian Dubé

Christian Meets Chaucer and Crusties

Let’s create an impossible scenario. Start with a Bible-thumping preacher standing on a small stool, screaming scripture aloud in a park using amplification. The police arrive after a noise complaint by a hostile man with a long white beard and hair – the incarnation of Mr. Natural ala R. Crumb. He also complains that he does not believe the preaching is biblically accurate (not an arrestable offense). The preacher informs the police that there is case law that says preaching with amplification is not illegal and that only volume can be regulated. He looks for the court ruling on his iPhone and will fax it to the police precinct. The police back off.

Another preacher begins, his voice volume greater than that generated by the small amplifier used previously. Simultaneously, a young man is reading loudly from a text, directed at the preacher. I cannot recognize the language – I assume it is a religious text, perhaps in Hebrew and ask him about it. He is an English literature student and is reading the Canterbury Tales in the original Middle English at full volume. It’s a war of words…

A crust punk eating potato chips takes an interest in the Canterbury Tales and stands near the student, following the reading. Another crusty in bright orange hair joins them and eagerly introduces her newly acquired pet rat to the student. Christian meet Chaucer with crusties. It is like a family reunion.

I become too friendly with the crusties, particularly the one with orange hair. I ask if she minds if we take photos. She grants my wish, and my photographer friend Bill and I go into overdrive, shooting away. I learn that the woman’s name is Morgan Maginnis. She is very nice, as is her friend, Hays. I ask her a few questions and I videotape her. They give me their email addresses. I am both warmed and disgusted when she wraps her arms around me from behind and takes my pen to clarify one letter in the email address. She is cute, cuddly and very dirty.

Late that night, I run across Morgan, Hays and a group of their friends several blocks from the park behind a luxury highrise apartment building. They recognize me. I stop, say hello and chat. One has an iPhone and asks me to take group photos of them. I take photos with my own camera and assure them that I will email them photos. I ask them direct questions about sex and drugs. They give me direct answers. Are we becoming friends now?

Crusties have been a big problem in the parks. They have been unruly, troublesome, belligerent, drug addicted, homeless, typically jobless and leave garbage strewn everywhere with a virtual campsite in Washington Square Park. You’re not supposed to like them. But I learn that Crusties are People Too…

Note: In Part 2, we get a little closer to Morgan through text and video.

Related Posts: Jenn Kabacinski Part 2, Jenn Kabacinski Part 1, Misfits, Cosmetics, Crustie, Stephanie, Police Riot Concert

Posted on July 8, 2011 by Brian Dubé

This entry was posted in Extreme NYC, People, Rebels of NYC, Videos. Bookmark the permalink.
Chutzpah, Part 2

Posted on July 6, 2011 by Brian Dubé

(see Part 1 here)

“In New York City, one’s net worth of social currency is based not so much on who you know, but how you can get seated in the most important restaurants.” – Myra Smolev

In this tale of unmitigated nerve, Myra tells of how she got a table at the River Cafe for friends arriving from Milan who had heard that this was the place to eat. However, at the time, typical of popular restaurants, it was IMPOSSIBLE to get a reservation.

But Myra, a New York City born aggressive and successful Jewish woman, succeeds with a little drama, creative thinking and classic Chutzpah 🙂

Related Posts: Just Click Here, Myra’s Isle, Ride to Hell, Eternal Vigilance and Tenacity, Toches ahfen tish!, New Yawk Style, Shalom, Bagels

Posted on July 6, 2011 by Brian Dubé

This entry was posted in Food and Restaurants, Only in New York, Videos. Bookmark the permalink.
Mike Fontana

Posted on July 4, 2011 by Brian Dubé

Part 2 – Surrender to the Music (see Part 1 here)

Immersion took on a new meaning for me when virtual reality technologies were developed and became surrounded by media buzz. The operative phrase became total immersion experience. For something to truly feel real, input to all five senses must reach a level where the user perceives them to be real.

In on our non-virtual world, I believe we have an analogous situation. When we reach sensory overload and the stimuli are positive, we feel euphoria, exhilaration, or pure joy. We lose the ability to intellectualize, analyze and stand outside the experience as observer. You are fully IN the experience.

My first meeting with Mike Fontana was short but exciting. Here was a working artist on St. Marks Place between 2nd and 3rd Avenue, the historical nexus of the East Village. A brief moment standing on his 2nd floor balcony connected me with that past. While there, friends dropped in, seemingly unannounced, reminiscent of my childhood, where making rounds visiting relatives (often unannounced) was de rigueur. I was informed by the friend who made the introduction that Mike hosted regular music jams and every first Wednesday of the month, there was a open megajam.

On Wednesday May 4, 2011, I went to Mike Fontana’s, armed with cameras and camcorder. Mike is disarmingly cordial, convivial and generous. His home is your home. There is an openness rarely found in New York City. He welcomed me to make use of his loft bed which had a windowed opening through a wall, permitting a treehouse view of the living room which was filled with musicians. Many of the photos for part 1 of this story were taken from this aerie.

In short order, the entire apartment was teaming with musicians. This was a full-fledged rock and roll extravaganza, the likes of which I have never seen in a private home:

Mike assured me that the neighbors were not always as pleased as the jam participants. The living room is well outfitted with amplifiers – guitarists only need to bring their axes and plug in. Mike was busy on his drum pads with all the enthusiasm of a boy who just unwrapped his first set at Christmas.

It is easy to get caught up in an urban life filled with agendas and completely lose touch with your own humanity. As I wrote in Duffy , when life’s routines begin to take over, it’s time to recharge your batteries. Grab a surfboard and jump in. Immerse and lose yourself. Take off your armor. Fall in love, head over heels. Find a music jam, sing out and surrender to the music…

Note: You can find Mike Fontana’s website here.

Related Posts: I Got Caught, New York Is Bluegrass Country, Pockets of Joy, The Conductor, Paddy Reilly’s, Park Night

Posted on July 4, 2011 by Brian Dubé

This entry was posted in Art and Sculpture, Music and Concerts, People, Videos. Bookmark the permalink.
Just Click Here

Posted on June 2, 2011 by Brian Dubé

The photos above are stills which link to videos taken at the recent party from my story, Myra’s Isle. Many terrific musicians attended – John Leonard, Ali Abidin, Sage Logan, Joe Rios, Rigel Sarjoo, Lori Behrman, Rene Logeais, Lee Lawless and Gaby Lampkey. The photo link on the left is that of the inimitable Lee Lawless playing Stormy Monday Blues. The photo link on the right is that of Gaby Lampkey playing She Talks to Angels by the Black Crowes.

I have done two stories involving my meeting with Gaby and the incredible connection we shared, unbeknownst to both of us. See On the Road and When Brian Met Sally. I am happy to report that Gaby is no longer on the streets of NYC. Congrats to his new life.

‘Twas a great party with spontaneous groupings of musicians. If you want a taste of what it was like to be there, courtesy of Lee Lawless and Gaby Lampkey, just click here 🙂

Note: I have created a YouTube channel for New York Daily Photo videos. I will add all the video clips associated with stories on this website. I also plan to add more video content to New York Daily Photo in the future. It will be Live From New York 🙂

Related Posts: Ferris Butler Part 2, Ferris Butler Part 1, Gaby Lampkey Part 2, Curse of the Mouth Trumpet, Impossible, The Bathroom Closes in 20 Minutes, Pockets of Joy, Just Like Old Times, Dave, Smile, The Conductor, Sounds of Summer, Spinning, Park Night

Posted on June 2, 2011 by Brian Dubé

This entry was posted in Music and Concerts, People, Videos. Bookmark the permalink.
Myra’s Isle

Posted on June 1, 2011 by Brian Dubé

As regular readers well know, I am a habitué of Washington Square Park, my front and back yard. Here, I have met many remarkable people, some of whom have been featured on the website. It has, for a number of us who live in the neighborhood, become a veritable social club.

However, this environment is certainly not for the average palate, and admittedly, as is often the case in New York City, one must tolerate a spectrum of people – the violent, hostile, drug addicts and dealers, crusties, homeless, and every manner of misfit, social outcast, and criminal known to humankind. Any park regular will by necessity, at least occasionally, encounter, or should I say be accosted by, very unsavory individuals, particularly late at night, which will certainly remove any doubt that werewolves, zombies, or vampires do in fact exist.

Building a social life in such an environment tests one’s ability to maintain a balance, giving all the benefit of the doubt – being polite and respectful yet cautious. It is a harsh educational experience – one of the many courses for those attending New York’s Sidewalk University. The trials and tribulations of being homeless are clearly illuminated – I have learned what this really means on a day to day basis.

Some time ago, I had a conversation about these matters with Myra, a neighborhood resident, who owns an apartment with one of the finest locations I have ever seen in the Village – a four-bedroom corner duplex penthouse that fronts both Fifth Avenue and Washington Square North with a private 1,400 square foot outdoor roof deck and additional terraces in front. You can virtually touch the Washington Square arch from nearly every window and space. At night, the illuminated monument is absolutely stunning.

Myra is well aware of the privileged residence she has. In fact, she expressed her desire to share it more with others. This, in tandem with conversations about taking our park social group indoors from time to time, led Myra to graciously offer her place as venue for a party. The conversation was recently further explored with another local resident, Hellen. Our mutual enthusiasms knew no bounds, and in short order, a three person party planning committee was formed.

A spreadsheet was created to manage the names and RSVPs. As any party planner will attest, managing the number of invitees becomes a big challenge – there is no end to who should rightfully be invited, and soon our party list numbered 47. Individuals of every imaginable background were in attendance with a heavy representation of musicians, important to all those attending. Music is one of the best loved features of the park’s culture.

Initially, the party was to wish a friend farewell who was leaving for the summer – an NYU student who has befriended our group, particularly the musicians (herself a guitarist and singer). Coincidentally, this was also the birthday for Harvey, Hellen’s husband, and a celebration for Steve, who had just started a new job. Remarkably, Sally, with whom I had a chance encounter in 2010, was coming to New York the very same weekend with her family. It was also the first time I had ever actually planned and co-hosted a party, a cause for celebration in its own right. Hellen provided celebratory tags and placed them on dessert cakes for this amazing serendipitous occurrence of five events.

Among the attendees whom I have written about previously were: Sally Darling, Gaby Lampkey, Ferris Butler (see here and here), Susan Goren, and Sage. George Vellonakis, a noted landscape architect responsible for the park redesign, was also aboard. Ferris was accompanied by Beverly Ross, singer-songwriter responsible for the hit song “Lollipop.”

Unbeknownst to us, George brought a friend, Tina Louise, an actress who is best known for her role as the movie star Ginger on the TV series Gilligan’s Island – quite appropriate to round out our own cast of characters. We now had a professor (Steve), Mary, a millionaire and his wife, a movie star (the real Ginger), and even a Tiny Louise. Two members of our party planning group certainly qualified as skipper and mate and did their very best to make our group of 47 castaways in self-exile very happy and comfortable in Myra’s Isle 🙂

Go here for more footage from this party.

Related Posts: Curse of the Mouth Trumpet, Impossible, On the Road, The Bathroom Closes in 20 Minutes, Pockets of Joy, Just Like Old Times, Dave, The Conductor, Sounds of Summer, Park Night

Posted on June 1, 2011 by Brian Dubé

This entry was posted in Music and Concerts, People, Videos. Bookmark the permalink.
Float Master, Part 2

Posted on May 25, 2011 by Brian Dubé

Anything Can Happen (See Part 1 here)

If you want to explore what New York City has to offer, you will have to mingle among the people. Unfortunately, this means all the people, regardless of income, hygiene, scrupulousness, or sanity. Unless you make an extraordinary effort at insulation, you will encounter the broadest range of haves and have-nots imaginable on the streets, in the subways, shops, restaurants, parks, and festivals.

In just the last five years authoring this website, I have encountered: a woman with a rat resting on her shoulder under her matted dreads, a man who pushes the limits of gender and fashion, a woman who eats bugs for a living at the Coney Island Sideshow, Walid Soroor – an Afghani Rock Star, an Alaskan Tlingit Indian musician on the road for 10 years, women who wear rooster feathers as fashion, Jenn – a very gothic woman whose circle of family and friends are subway conductors, Dr. Robert Gurland – a Professorial superstar, Will Galison – an unassuming guitar player who I later learned is legendary with an entire wikipedia entry of credits, Ferris Butler – a man who redefines quirky and is likely the inspiration for the film Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, a m an wearing militaristic regalia with a solitary spike of hair, a tattooed and pierced ex-marine sporting plaid shorts who at one time was pursuing a masters in theology, an Albino Burmese Python slithering on the street, Water Sprites, an Urban Wood Nymph and an older man so grotesquely tattooed and pierced that I could not bring myself to photograph him.

On one occasion, I stopped to talk to a homeless man who was collecting bottles, acknowledging how his task of collection and redemption appeared to be rather exhausting. Angrily, he replied, “Don’t patronize me.” Gotcha. I was guilty as charged. Here, beware of the homeless, who are often educated, intelligent, astute, sometimes insane, and/or angry and frustrated.

A peaceful afternoon in the park or strolling the streets, may or may not be peaceful. If you play chess at the various parks, expect every manner of kibitzing and trash talk. Or, as I once witnessed, someone drawing a gun and firing it at someone previously involved in a drug deal to even the score, with only a momentary break in playing the game – see Chess Monsters here.

If you are going to street perform in New York City, you had better be prepared for every manner of intrusion and disruption, including but not limited to verbal abuse, physical assault, or being upstaged by a lunatic. During the breakdancing show (see Part 1 here), a man from the crowd became very animated by the music and performers. I have no idea why he was wearing a full-length white fur in the middle of April, nor why nearly every article of his wardrobe was white. As he began to dance, the audience egged him on, and with little encouragement, he did his best at an impromptu performance:

Although some may see the display as an effort to upstage, John Rich and his posse looked on in amusement, realizing that this was just another day in New York City, where, Float Master or not, Anything Can Happen 🙂

Related Posts: Ferris Butler Part 1, Professor Gurland Part 1, Gaby Lampkey Part 2, Jenn Kabacinski Part 1, Birds of a Feather Tied Together Part 1, Fashion Forward

Posted on May 25, 2011 by Brian Dubé

This entry was posted in Extreme NYC, Music and Concerts, Street Performing, Videos. Bookmark the permalink.
Float Master, Part 1

Posted on May 24, 2011 by Brian Dubé

No Smoking

I recall the first time someone referred to one of my products as “bad.” Initially insulted, I later was informed that bad meant good. However, I just could not fully accept that a word could mean the same as its opposite. It took some years before I saw and heard enough examples to really get it – intonation and context is critically important to conveying this meaning. To this day, it is used sparingly and only a certain type of good seems to be bad. It was one of my first forays into urban slang in New York City, the capital of urban culture.

I never stop to see anything resembling b-boying, aka breakdancing. Born in the Bronx and Harlem, it has been done to death on the streets of New York for decades, often by those moderately skilled and certainly eclipsed by serious gymnasts or acrobatic performers. However, the group which meets regularly at the Union Square subway station main platform on Saturdays, is something else. I decided to stop and bring myself up to date on the hardest of the hardcore – acrobatic hip-hop dancers working on concrete in the New York City subway system, risking fines.

This group’s leader is “Float Master” John Rich, born in East Harlem where he still lives. He is 46 years old and has been dancing since the age of eight. John has done gigs worldwide and a commercial for Puma. At this time, he prefers working New York City. Although most street performers barely survive or just supplement their incomes, never underestimate what a savvy top street performer can earn in this city – John makes as much as several hundred dollars on a good day and earns a living dancing on the streets, supplemented with occasional party jobs. He is currently attending New York institute of Technology, working towards a bachelor’s degree in computer science.

I was impressed by John’s act, the finale of the show, with his skilled dancing and signature routine – manipulation of a lit cigarette with his mouth. At one point, John inverts the cigarette, completely enveloping it and proceeds to blow smoke in tune with his movements. It is best understood live (John’s routine is at the end of the clip):

The skill level of the various acts was extraordinary. A standard has been set and only a fool with poor skills would enter the fray.

No brand of New York City street activity would be authentic without attitude and John Rich has plenty of that – cool, confident and exuding that smugness that nothing impresses a New Yorker. Certainly not a group of young men defiant enough to risk ticketing or feature a routine with cigarette smoking in the subway system, often with the police watching. Depending on the size of the audience the performance attracts and any other number of variables, the group is often ticketed and shut down, whereupon they take their show elsewhere.

I met John at the end of the show. He was quite personable, excited that I would be featuring him here and quite amused when I told him that I would be calling the story No Smoking. But after reviewing the photos and video, I recalled how this particular show was punctuated by a surprise impromptu visitor. In Part 2, you will meet the bizarre man who apparently thought that he too, was a Float Master…

Related Posts: Tired of Crumbs, Makes Me Stronger

Posted on May 24, 2011 by Brian Dubé

This entry was posted in Music and Concerts, Street Performing, Videos. Bookmark the permalink.
The Curse of Trade

Posted on February 23, 2011 by Brian Dubé

I carry two quotes with me in my wallet from Walden by Thoreau. One is quite well known and often cited – a portion was in fact used in the film Dead Poet Society (see it here). The other, concerning the nature of business, seems so often applicable to my daily life as to lead me to be frequently disturbed:

But I have since learned that trade curses everything it handles; and though you trade in messages from heaven, the whole curse of trade attaches to the business.

I once witnessed an incident at the origami convention held annually at the Fashion Institute of Technology that illustrated this all too well, and I have never forgotten it. I had a passion for origami at one time – as a young boy, I borrowed the World of Origami from the local library. In the small blue collar town I grew up in, origami was virtually unknown, and my folded creatures were as fascinating to others as they were to me. I once gifted a girl a small bag of origami animals. It made quite an impression.

There is a small area for vending at the origami convention. A married couple left their table, leaving their son in charge. While gone, this very young boy handled the sales quite adeptly, perhaps too much so. I sensed he had sold often and had learned his trade well, likely imitating his parents. I saw in him the desire to sell, irrespective of what was really being sold – selling to people who did not really want to buy anything, buy origami items or specific things he was trying to sell. I could sense that whether the things he was saying were true or not was secondary to the sale. Not a mortal sin, but it was just that he looked like a huckster hawking his wares. And so young. What was particularly upsetting was that I saw myself in that boy, and that Thoreau quote reared its ugly head again and immediately came to mind.

That quote is a very strong assertion, one that many, particularly those in business, will bristle at. I have shown it to both business owners and non-owners and I have gotten a variety of reactions. One man, an owner of a prominent New York City architectural firm said, “I don’t agree with that at all.” I was not surprised by his reaction. Architecture is a noble profession, and the prospect that the work could be seriously compromised by commerce is, I am sure, quite distasteful.
I fully understand the sentiment, however, finding something distasteful or disagreeable does not make it untrue, much as the harsh tenets of a particular religious faith do not, in itself, make that faith or its doctrine invalid.

I have been in business or self-employed my entire adult life. I well understand the necessity of commerce and even some sales and marketing. How else to keep the machinery of businesses running to make the goods we actually do need? But as my business has grown, I have become aware how the nature of business shapes my decisions and my daily activities. When I first started and my business was more an adjunct to a hobby, I had the luxury of indulging my whims.

I reflect on this problem often, as I did on the subway recently when a group of Mexican musicians entered my car. Their playing and money collection was extremely routinized, virtually stripping any joy or entertainment from the process. Their playing seemed to be nothing other than a way of legitimizing their collection of money:

But these men need to make a living too, and perhaps music is what they do best. As they moved hurriedly to the next car, only to repeat the process, I was saddened and could not help but think that they too, were doing their best to trade in songs from heaven but at least in some small way, their business of entertaining riders suffered from the curse of trade…

Posted on February 23, 2011 by Brian Dubé

This entry was posted in Street Performing, Videos. Bookmark the permalink.
Curse of the Mouth Trumpet

Posted on September 30, 2010 by Brian Dubé

It was September 25, 2005, and and I had the good fortune to be told about the first annual Bluegrass Reunion in Washington Square Park.

I was astonished to see the “mouth trumpet” technique of Bob Gurland. As an added bonus, I learned that, unbeknownst to me, the woman he began to engage with in a duet was Maria Muldaur. Conveniently, my point and shoot digital camera at the time had video capability. What an opportunity to capture a bit of spontaneous music history! Or so I thought.

I noticed just before they had nearly completed their duet, that I was not recording at all. I immediately enabled the video recording but only got 15 seconds of them together. This was also the total video footage of Bob :

I did get to chat with Bob and complemented him on his unique and amazing skill. He told me he had performed and recorded with a number of music bands, including one of the earliest heavy metal groups, Blue Cheer. His name appears on the credit list for their album Oh! Pleasant Hope.

I am, however, very tenacious, and I never forgot my aborted video. So it was with great pleasure that after 5 years, I saw Bob again at the recent 6th Bluegrass Reunion. Here, I was quite confident. I had much more experience with photo equipment and had several cameras, including a Sony HD camcorder, which I did not bother bringing. The video function of today’s point and shoots is excellent, and I was lazy, sure that I was adequately prepared with my new Canon S90. Or so I thought.

I was very relaxed, shooting Bob in a number of segments, and even introduced myself and got him to do a short video clip alone. However, there appeared to be a peculiar tinting to all the video. No time to research this now, as I was sure it was a screen display issue. It was not. In making this Canon camera very user friendly, some functions are much too easily changed by brushing against a small function wheel. I had accidentally changed the mode from standard to color accent and color swap. In my panicky state, I tried to find the functions settings for video, to no avail. Once I was home, I learned how childishly simple the mode change is. Too late.

So, if you would like to enjoy Bob and his fellow musicians in a variety of lurid skin tones and other color abominations, here is my video montage:

Next time, I am determined to prevail over the Curse of the Mouth Trumpet 🙂

Photo Note: Bob Gurland is on the left with Trip Henderson on harmonica on the right. Both are New York City residents.

Related Posts: Izzy and Art, Bluegrass Reunion

Posted on September 30, 2010 by Brian Dubé

This entry was posted in Music and Concerts, Parks, Street Performing, Videos. Bookmark the permalink.
Impossible

Posted on September 24, 2010 by Brian Dubé

There are people who are so hypercritical, so persnickety, so picky, so cynical, and such perfectionists, that to see them at dinner, whether it be fast food or haute cuisine, will result in a virtual forensic investigation of the dish’s ingredients. Rather than embrace life, they appear to have a disdain for it, because it almost never meets their standards. Their negativity fills the air like a heavy cloud. Laughter itself is carefully meted out, only at worthy moments. I have met such people, and perhaps you have also.

There are people who have a joie de vivre that permeates everything they see and do. For them, life is wonderment, and their love is absolutely infectious. Most who are fortunate enough to be around them are happy to be infected. They befriend everyone, and most welcome the friendship. They are truly alive and easily become the life of the party. Laughter is their signature, and they are perpetually signing life’s events.

I have met such people too, and although some may find their unbridled enthusiasm wearing, better a night spent with the life affirmer than walking on eggshells and having your balloons deflated by the disgruntled life disdainer. Although personalities and people are complex mixtures and do not fit these two boxes so conveniently, those at the polar ends of the spectrum do approach these characterizations rather well.

Constantin is from the Ukraine and is currently performing at Webster Hall in its Saturday night show, Circus. He approached us unexpectedly while sitting in Washington Square Park and asked if he could demonstrate some magic. Fortunately for him, he had just approached a group of life affirmers and had an audience poised for applause. We were hungry to show our love and appreciation.

I have seen a number of professional magicians, but Constantin’s presence and speed was something to behold. A member of our group, JoSsS, is one of the world’s great life affirmers, and you can see him in the video I shot that night (look for the man with the curly white hair). 1 minute and 20 seconds into the video, you will see his ebullient, effusive, effervescent reaction to a particularly amazing trick, where, incredulous at the outcome, he repeats, “Impossible!” over and over, with his charming manner and Argentinian accent. I know he loves that word, and it is so appropriate, because for a life affirmer, a day without love, hugs, and laughter is like a day without critical examination for the life disdainer – impossible 🙂

Posted on September 24, 2010 by Brian Dubé

This entry was posted in Curiosities of NYC, Street Performing, Videos. Bookmark the permalink.
Pockets of Joy

Posted on August 30, 2010 by Brian Dubé

Unless you are a saint, someone who has achieved nirvana, satori, or samadhi, or perhaps one of those individuals who is blessed as an eternal optimist, emotional life is an up and down affair. Life is good, but not always that good.
For those of us mere mortals, it is more reasonable not to expect a life of constant euphoria and bliss, even in New York City, which has so much to offer, but rather, to look for pockets of joy in a less than perfect world.

One of the unique things about New York, which I have never experienced anywhere else, is that no matter what your interests, passions, ethnicity, color, creed, or education, if you look, you can find others of a similar persuasion. Immerse yourself with these people, and you may find one of New York City’s many pockets of joy.

For those who love music, this is an easy task. Head to Washington Square Park, and often you will find numerous groups playing at the same time – make the rounds and sample the goods. The New York Times has recently done two articles on the activities here.

As of late, the park has been invaded by a large group of drummers. Although the experience is rather entrancing to the participant and has added musical variety, it has, however, made the rest of the central plaza difficult for other musicians to play and be heard, such as regulars like Joe Budnick or guitar virtuoso Scott Samuels. Regular street performers add to the din. Hence, splinter groups form on the lawns, on pathways, or tucked away in the folds of foliage. The musical entertainment seeker is well advised to circulate a bit, as I did on Saturday.

A great number of musicians here are professional, some playing in the park for unstructured musical fun, others looking to play or rehearse outdoors on a beautiful day.
Some form spontaneous groupings, some play together regularly, and yet others have established bands and work together professionally outside the park. The latter was the case with a bluegrass group, the Bella Boys, whom I encountered on one of the lawns, away from the central plaza hubbub. These boys were quite bella, and their command of repertoire was astounding to me, as was the familiarity of several members with numerous instruments. At various junctures, the mandolin, banjo, and guitar were passed around like musical chairs. I learned that one of the members was leaving for Europe for four months, so I had fortuitously run into them on their last get together for quite some time.

Later that night, I ran across another grouping (Sage, Peter, Jimmy, and Joe – bottom photo), which included regulars I have known for some time. The singer, Sage, has a masterful, trained, and natural voice, and his occasional forays into the park are always a welcome addition to any group (Sage plays a dozen instruments and has a collection of 100). I had the good sense to record video of these events:

At one point during the bluegrass jam, I noticed the hair on my arms standing up – a clear sign that life was indeed good and that I had found one of the city’s many pockets of joy 🙂

Related Music Posts: Sieve of Darwin, Music Speaks for Itself, Sounds of Summer, Police Riot Concert, Bluegrass Reunion, The Conductor

Posted on August 30, 2010 by Brian Dubé

This entry was posted in Music and Concerts, Only in New York, Parks, Street Performing, Videos. Bookmark the permalink.
Hell. Part 3

Posted on August 18, 2010 by Brian Dubé

(This is the third and final of a three-part series. Find Part 1 here and Part 2 here.)

Music has Charms to soothe a savage Breast and Hell has no fury like a woman scorned.*

We had it all on Saturday – savages, breasts, fury, a scorned woman, music, fury, and a taste of Hell. Just the type of things a jungle lover would expect to find in New York City. And if you are going to enter the jungle smearing blood, you should be prepared for lions and tigers.

There is no way that you can come to this city, set up in Greenwich Village, sing gospel songs, preach sin and damnation, and not expect a confrontation. The neighborhood is extremely liberal and very tolerant, except of being accused of sin and threatened with eternal damnation for their lifestyle.

The model, Abigayle, had been provoked – she had been told that she was wicked and had been warned five times. She climbed on the shoulders of a young man, also body painted, and they approached the Mennonite group. It was fair to say that this couple taunted the crowd of Mennonites and the preacher, who launched into a diatribe regarding nudity, hell, and damnation while brandishing his bible. The man in body paint who had shouldered the model read and mocked parts of their leaflet, Boys and Girls & Fornication:

Whether this confrontation on the part of the model and her supporter was justified was hotly debated. Some were infuriated and saw it as disrespectful and unnecessarily provocative. Others saw it as just desserts or as another circus act to be expected in the Village. At the end, the painted man reconciled with one of the visiting group and shook hands (photo lower right). Perhaps, after all, The road to Hell is paved with good intentions 🙂

*Heaven hath no rage like love to hatred turned, Nor Hell a fury like a woman scorned. -William Congreve from the Mourning Bride, 1697. Music has charms to soothe the savage breast is also from the same work (the word breast is often misquoted as beast.)

Posted on August 18, 2010 by Brian Dubé

This entry was posted in Extreme NYC, fashion, Only in New York, Rebels of NYC, Videos. Bookmark the permalink.
Catch Em If You Can

Posted on May 24, 2010 by Brian Dubé

When you happen upon a hand balancing act on the street and are reminded of the Alexis Brothers* from Cirque du Soleil, you know you are seeing world-class professional talent. I have done many stories on street performers, particularly in Washington Square Park, including a recent one on street acrobats. In the interest of variety of subject and setting, I try to limit posts on a particular topic.

However, watching the duo in the park on Sunday afternoon, shown in today’s photo, it was immediately apparent that this was not your average street show. The display of strength, skill, movement, and presentation was remarkable in this hand balancing act with Rudi Macaggi and Lea McGowan. The audience was transfixed.

Rudi is a third-generation entertainer and acrobat from Milan, Italy, who has traveled the globe, performing on stage since the age of 7. He has worked venues in Las Vegas and Atlantic City and has had national television appearances on Penn and Teller’s Sin City Spectacular and The Tonight show with Jay Leno. In 2006, Rudi won first place in the Crazy Caliber category of the TV show America’s Got Talent.

Rudi’s one-man show has been seen around New York City at clubs such as the Slipper Room and the Box (both in the Lower East Side). The Acromedian does a one and a half-hour show – an amalgam of visual comedy, hand balancing, acrobatics, story telling, and standup, peppered with his famous quip, “I like you.”

His street show featured his hand balancing routine with Lea along with a number of stunts, such as doing a one-armed handstand while dribbling a basketball, as well as his finale of a back somersault landing in a one-armed handstand. Always on the move, catch ’em if you can 🙂

*Note: If you have never seen the hand balancing act of brothers Marco and Paulo Lorador, who performed in Cirque du Soleil’s shows Saltimbanco and Mystère, you can see a video from their act here.

Posted on May 24, 2010 by Brian Dubé

This entry was posted in Extreme NYC, Street Performing, Videos. Bookmark the permalink.

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