June 30, 2008
June 25, 2008
What Some City Called “New York” (?!) Is Doing These Days
Now, you all know I love DC. I do, really. …But there’s just things that are allowed and accepted, in NYC that make it infinitely cooler as a city that embraces art, than here. Case in point -
From June 26th, (my father’s birthday, if you see him, tell him happy birthday for me) until October 13th, in the largest art project since the Gates, four “New York City Waterfalls” will transform seemingly (now) mundane parts of Manhattan into beautiful, artificial natural wonders. Sounds cool? It is. It’s the baby of Olafur Eliasson, and is funded by the NY Public Art Fund, the city, and private investors. All in all, it sounds amazing… and it makes me wonder – Why can’t something like this happen in Washington DC? -kk
“New York City Waterfalls” will run between June 26 and Oct. 13 at Pier 35; at the eastern foot of the Brooklyn Bridge; between Piers 4 and 5 near the Brooklyn Heights Promenade; and on the north shore of Governors Island.
June 24, 2008
Pitchfork Studios
Looking for a for a great place for your next creative output? Check out Pitchfork Studios, down in SE, now (finally) available for rental. Perched above the 9th St. SE, (rear) alleyway, and close to the Eastern Market metro, the space is perfect for your studio photography needs. …Wait, what? Am I trying to sell this place to someone? No. Yo, check it out. Pitchfork is Abby Greenawalt’s place, and it’s now going to be available to the public to use. So, if you’re a photographer, and your upstairs bedroom “studio” is starting to creep some of your clients (who don’t know you) out, go here, and check it out. Oh, and check out some of the stuff Abby has been doing lately. -kk
June 23, 2008
Best Kept Secret… Uncorked.
It’s getting closer. The oncoming war between wine bars is ON… and I do take bribes. : )
I’m not sure when it opened its doors, but wow, what a place. About a week ago, by better half and I, (both agreeing that we “needed” wine, after our respective weeks), ventured out to Cork, a new wine bar and restaurant over on 14th Street. And when it was all (4 glasses later) said and done, we both agreed that it’s one of the most impressive restaurants in the city*. (*-Now, when I say this, I’m not comparing Cork to Chef Geoff’s, Brass Beck, 1789, or anything that Jose Andres has touched, but I am saying that it stands alone in a lot of respects, and the personal and private intimacy that it allows you to have, is light years beyond any of the other mentioned spots downtown. I digress…) The service was professional and impeccable, and the food was superb. The entire menu seemed like a well thought out sample of what one should be eating with good wine, and you can tell the owners and managers had a solid knowledge of culinary creativity and expounded upon that notion. Also, like many other wine bars in the city, they offer different sizes of wines if you’re interested in tasting, and (as if it were personally tailored for me) the night we were there, there was a “flight” or 3-glass tasting of rose. Sa-weet! Summer + rose = Happy Kevin. Regardless, try it for yourself. They have a great outdoor seating area, perfect for watching the world go by, as you sip your great wine. Needless to say, we’re going back this weekend. : ) -kk
June 22, 2008
Happy Summer!
Hey world. It’s me, Kevin. Happy Summer. : )
Like clockwork, every June 21, I kick off summer with a nice round of the ultimate summer soundtrack; one of the definitive singer/songwriters of all time, Stevie Wonder. Usually it’s the well worn vinyl version of “Talking Book”, but every once in a while it’s “Innervisions”. Either way, whether it’s either of these, or any greatest hit compilation, do yourself a favor and bring Stevie to a party this summer, and treat those around you to the inspiration that has lent its sonic self to my summers for a long time. There’s NONE better than Stevie Wonder. End of story. Enjoy, and happy official start to summer. -kk
June 20, 2008
What the… ??? Why is this website so Boring?!
Why? Why you ask? Because I’m busy, dammit! I got stuff going on man. : ) Besides the photo stuff, the design stuff, the other stuff, and the pimping of this here site, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy indeed. So, check it out – Here’s a handful of things that I’ve been working on, working with, intrigued by, and keeping busy with. It’s the Friday “Quick Hitters”. Enjoy!
The Washington Kastles – Nats ticket prices got you down? Looking for a sport to watch for the summer that doesn’t include lacrosse balls or long treks to RFK to watch pseudo-Beckhams? Check out our new local WTT team, playing RIGHT downtown. Remember that big old parking lot? The one divided by that little walkway? Well, tons of asphalt later, the western side has been transformed into a top rate centre court for the District, and during the month of July the likes of Kournakova, McEnroe, and Serena will take part in a fiercely competitive version of tennis. It’s a wonderfully creative way to spend an early July evening. (You know I had to get “creative” in there somewhere.)
Dr. Granville Moore’s Gastropub – A large part of me doesn’t want to write this post. That large part is worried that the greatest bar in the District is going to become the new “it” place in DC. Oh well… Here we go… Located on the 1200 block of the revival we like to call ‘H. St. NE’, the place has more history than I care to digress about. Expecially when the WashPost can do it better. But trust me, this place is it. As an added bonus, every once in a while, you get a really great setting for live music, featuring…
Laura Tsaggaris – To me, the premier singer-songwriter in the area. I saw her live last week and while she’s working on the new album, (due in September), (please donate to the cause) you can get a chance to see her new material, every other week or so, at GM’s. Trust me, it’s all well worth it. The girl does a mean live cover of Rhianna’s “Umbrella…ella…ella…ella…eh…eh…eh….” : )
So that’s it. That’s all I have going right now. I’ll leave you with this. The AFI in Silver Spring still has SILVER DOCS | 2008 Festival going on. Check it out, and check out my local, long-lost-and-doesn’t-know-it-yet uncle Ted (Leonsis) and “Kicking It”. Here’s a preview.
June 4, 2008
June 2, 2008
Tune Your Dials
The evolution of art is a constantly changing process unto itself. While art and commerce go hand in hand, the ability to get your artwork and vision to the audience in a new and exciting way is the way artists are moving forward in their field. Enter AM Radio.
For the better part of 10 years, AM Radio has been, and continues to be, an artist collective that puts on shows by painting 7′ x 5′ murals in front of live audiences while their dj spins music. They’ve already put on shows for the likes of Scion, Adidas, Converse and Current TV. In addition to these awe-inspiring pieces, the group as a whole, is a full-service design/marketing/PR juggernaut, with the ability to market your company as big or small as you like. And, as a small, local group, you get a kind of intimate attention to detail that one is usually looking for in presenting a gigantic idea.
In a day and age where more people are more concerned with beating graphic ideas into the heads of consumers, this group of District Creatives are more into the finer, performance part of art, and making your ideas and company stand out, and as they say, “something rare”. -kk
-Manny Blocker | The Tastemakers Society
www.ttsmag.com
