NYC

Drove to Seattle after an amazing session with Ryan Guldemond and Warne Livesey. Literally left the studio after midnight, packed and then hit the road to fly out of Sea-Tac. Parked at my homey Phil Er Up’s place and he was kind enough to take us to the airport early Wednesday am. Exhausted, it may have been the first flight I have ever slept on.

Wednesday. Hit the Big Apple and took a train into Bushwick which was my old stomping ground. The homey Al Rodger hooked up his spot there and we stayed with his friend/all around amazing dood Luba. Had a beer with Luba, hit the bodega grabbed a few more brews with brown bags and took the L train into the LES. Smashed some Japanese food at Takahachi, some sake, some Kirin and then grabbed a couple more Brooklyn lagers in their lovely brown paper carrying cases and were off to the Nuyorican. Place hasn’t changed since when I first stepped in back in 1998 for a battle that Prevail entered and Pumpkin Head ended up winning. I age myself but fuck you for bringing age into the equation – JERK! Hahaha. I ended up battling, performing and entering slams there when I lived in NYC and it was amazing to see the place hasn’t changed. Cat named Gaston hosted with a live band and there were some nice performances. Grabbed one more Brooknam sans paper bag because I was drunk enough not to care and gangster enough to keep it on the low. Beautiful New York night.

Thursday. Woke up early with the bang bang head. Stupid move because this was going to be our biggest day as I had booked a gig and it was our friend Julie’s wedding, which was the entire reason for our trip. Did a little voiceover gig in the east village and made my way up to Central Park. NYC was breaking records for heat during the time we were there and the weather couldn’t have been better. Wedding was immaculate. Just in from 79th E in a little crook off of the lake right beside a small spring where you could hear the water running during the ceremony. I took some shots of the champagne that the groom had put inside the little creek to keep it cool. Really beautiful considering that no one at the wedding was from NYC besides the JP and the photographer. There was a 4.5 hour layover from the wedding to the reception so back to Bushwick.

We made it back to the block to catch a nap before the reception, all good. Laid down with Luba’s cat Benny and heard a commotion. Looked down from our window and there was a massive brawl in the middle of the street. People honking, doods on cel phones, chains, some ill street shit talking and a couple good tilts. No one got hurt, just a couple of good little gangsters figuring their shit out. Ahhh, Bushwick Brooklyn I still love you. Napperoni, back up and out DT by City Hall to hit the reception.

Wicked ass reception!!! Stunning speeches, magnificent food plus an open bar, go time – round two ding ding. We had until 11:30 to drink as much as possible and the 31 gathered for the wedding did little to disappoint. Good little dance party to boot and we had ourselves one hell of a wedding. Off to Greenwich Village for the after party with those that could still walk.

Dave Scatchard (former Vancouver Canuck) was a good friend of the groom (Jason) and thought that a limo would be a good idea to get us to the village. It was a good idea until Dan started dropping yoga poses in that shit and doing front flips. Shit was hilarious. We lit up a spot after deciding that Terra Blues wasn’t ready for us and continued the party there. Ordered a hookah and heard amazing stories from one of the nicest doods to lace up skates in Dave Scatchard. Good to hear some insight on the concussion debate and role of the enforcer from a guy who played 600 plus in the show. He also has an amazing wife that was also super down to earth and grounded. What a night.

Friday. Did some tour guide stuff and rolled up to Times Square to try and get cheap tix to a show named “The Book Of Mormon.” No dice on the cheap or on the tickets. Lines were crazy so we decided on getting tix to see Clooney’s new film “The Ides Of March.” Lunch in Soho, blah blah blah, bottle of Jack Daniels, my dill pickle popcorn salt and back up to hit the AMC 25 in Times Square. Really good flick, Ryan Gosling is on fire right now and the story is brilliantly crafted. Nominations for this film guaranteed, I’m thinking Clooney gets a nom for directing and the writer wins for the screenplay. Film Criticrios is the new name bitches. We headed back to the village for a comedy show, got destroyed by a female comic, laughed our asses off and headed back to Bushwick. The L train stopped running for the weekend so we had to walk an additional 8 blocks and I was hoping to not run into our fun hearted block gangsterino’s. All good, neighborhood was the shit and New Yorkers are amongst the best people on the planet.

Saturday. Occupy Wall Street. Wasn’t going to hit NYC and not be a part of this or at least go down to show support. It’s real. I was very inspired by people from all walks of life sacrificing time and potential charges against them for the greater good of us all. As a person carrying a great deal of debt and vulnerable to fraudulent banking practices, I appreciate the knowledge and stand with the movement. It’s coming to Vancouver on the 15th but I will be out on tour, if you’re around hit the art gallery and support the 99%. Big shout to the homey Syd Woodward doing an amazing job of coverage for us all. I missed him down there that day but I have been watching all of his videos. Wicked.

There was a free show in Bud Stuy called Restoration Rocks that featured Mos Def with the Brooklyn Philharmonic, Pharoahe Monch and Homeboy Sandman. Wicked vibe as everything was green friendly, positive enforcement of an amazing Brooklyn neighborhood and good, healthy food. Sound was shit but the show was wicked. Paharoahe has long since been one of my favorite MC’s and he was gnarly.

Hit up GoBo for dins with Luba later on, dope little vegetarian spot that I once saw Erykah Badu and M-1 at. Don’t know why I just dropped that fact there, like that gives credence to a vegetarian spot but fuck it, I’m a name dropper (see Dave Scatchard above for further proof). Gelato on a stick, off of Bleeker after for dessert? Yes please and that shit was amazing. Coffee gelato on a stick dipped in white chocolate with milk chocolate sprinkles and nuts in my mouth. I said it, nuts in my mouth. You’re nuts if you think there is anything gay about that deliciousness. Up to Luba’s club in Midtown and that was pretty much a wrap for that night except for losing the keys to the apt and fucking around trying to get home for 3 hours… that was fun. Lost Luke’s keys in Paris and now this? I’m officially a loser.

Sunday. Lolita, Tribeca, ChinaTown and caught a little bit of football to check in on how my fantasy squad was doing. Squad held me down as did the city that showered sun and awesomeness on us for our entire stay.

Great little trip to NYC and reminded me why I have such an affinity for the place. Met amazing people everywhere, on the train, at the wedding, in the park, on the streets… everywhere. What’s a city without good people? Shit. New York City re-affirms to me the bravado of the New York state of mind and it’s civic pride even though the Yankees lost. Always thankful for the time I have spent in that city and the lessons that I have learned there which I carry with me to this day.

Bushwickrios