4 Privet Drive

Have been home at 4 Privet Drive for three days now, and oh, how joyous. No more magic trains or large campuses to navigate, only how to get from my bed to the TV, from the TV to the bathroom, and from the bathroom to my car (incidentally, I suck at driving now). Wednesday night, went to Dublin House for what, in retrospect, can be seen as a Holmdel High School reunion. Some faces I had not seen since hs graduation, crazy. Have done some running, watched Inglourious Basterds and The Hangover, and saw Sherlock Holmes yesterday, which was legit. Nothing too exciting otherwise, shipping off to dat other coast on Tuesday, for 10 days of...SD/LA/VEGAS...what's up?

done (and done)

Just left 9 & 3/4 for winter break. Not going to lie, so happy to be home and out of the city (though I'm going to miss Melvin, Maple, and Sweats more and more each day I don't see their beautiful shining faces; I will see Rufus in a week in San Diago). Finals are done, everything is done. Last night I got to hang with Robin Hood, Maple, Sweats, Gonzo and his girl, A-Krat, and P-Bear. At Heights and 1020, we did some drinking. Merry Christmas to all, see ya on the other coast!

Fanfarlo!

A couple of things: Haven't blogged in a while, but that doesn't mean I haven't been doing anything! Wednesday night was my mom's Christmas party at the Grand Hyatt above Grand Central Terminal. Super nice hotel, Gonzo and I worked the "door" for the first two hours of the four-and-a-half hour open bar fiesta, then we took advantage. Before the party started, we also met a soon-to-be Real Housewife of New York, who has been a friend of my mom's for many years. Not telling who! Dance,dance, dance. P-Bear came to drink and dance a little, too, then we had "a" night.

One Forty Seven [Point] Five

Get to 999 at 930, plug in my pod, have a beer. Horchata, Robin Hood, and EoH meet me a little while later for shots of Jamieson, Ketel One, and beers. Rufus meets us an hour later. Craig's DJing is sick -- every song that plays is what I want to hear. Craig's brother drives me and Craig downtown in his beamer, where unsuccessfully we try to hook up with Craig's nephew outside a club on 21st. Wait five minutes, then get dropped off at subMercer (147 1/2 Mercer St.), a cool spot two stories below the Mercer Hotel in Soho (even a story below Mercer Kitchen). Get there around one...

Hans Breder: INMIXING

Head down to the lower east side with Craig and Coltrane around 730, to the White Box (329 Broome St.), for an opening reception to see a comprehensive survey of early to recent media works by the seminal pioneer of Intermedia art, Hans Breder. Old guy born in Germany, his work has been featured in three Whitney Biennials (1987, 1989, 1991). The title of the show references the Lacanian term of "inmixing," described by Herman Rapaport as the "extradimensionality that is made possible by introducing a lack, break, knot, or fold that is the mark of the subject: its signifer." The shit is crazy, see picture above. Have some wine, mingle for a little, meet the old bastard, and we is out!

Even the Brilliant...

At twenty-six, Leo Tolstoy, one of the most renowned writers of 19th century Russia (and the world)  wrote scathingly,

"I am ugly, awkward, untidy and socially uncouth. I am irritable and tiresome to others; immodest, intolerant and shy as a child. In other words, a boor...I am excessive, vacillating, unstable, stupidly vain and aggressive, like all weaklings. I am not courageous. I am so lazy that idleness has become an ineradicable habit with me. Yet there is one thing I love more than virtue: fame. I am so ambitious, and this craving in me has had so little satisfaction, that if I had to choose between fame and virtue, I am afraid I would very often opt for the former."

Birthday Sex

You say you want passion
I think you found it
Get ready for action
Don't be astounded
We switchin' positions
You feel surrounded
Just tell me where you want
your gift, BOY

HAPPY 22nd, RUFUS!

Biz Markie

Have you ever met a girl that you tried to date
But a year to make love she wanted you to wait
Let me tell ya a story of my situation
I was talkin' to this girl from the U.S. nation
The way that I met her was on tour at a concert
She had long hair and a short miniskirt
I just got onstage drippin', pourin' with sweat
I was walkin' through the crowd and guess who I met
I whispered in her ear, "Come to the picture booth
So I can ask you some questions to see if your hundred proof"
I asked her her name, she said blah-blah-blah
She had 9/10 pants and a very big bra
I took a couple of flicks and she was enthused
I said, "How do you like the show?"
she said, "I was very amused"
I started throwin' bass, she started throwin' back mid-range
But when I sprung the question, she acted kind of strange
Then when I asked, "Do ya have a man?" she tried to pretend
She said, "No I don't, I only have a friend"
Come on, I'm not even goin' for it
This is what I'm goin' sing

Allen Ginsberg, Tribute to the Wise

Lately, as I did this past summer in Portland, I've been combing through Allen Ginsberg's The Book of Martyrdom and Artifice. On May 14, 1943, Allen Ginsberg was accepted at Columbia College in New York City. Sixty-six years later, his erratic and accomplished Columbia career still resonates with, teaches, and impresses me. Nearly three-hundred pages of The Book of Martyrdom and Artifice, a work compiled of poems and journal entries from the earlier part of his life (1937-1952), is dedicated to his time spent at Columbia College. Who he met, what he did, classes he skipped, professors he adored and respected - the journal as a form of writing, in some ways, accurately captures what it meant to be a "Beat": Spontaneity, dreams, insanity, rhythm, flow, restlessness, desire.

Thanksgiving

So this year was not the best Thanksgiving. My grandmother, Tauba A. Lampell, passed away this past Wednesday, early in the morning, at the age of 88. From Poland she arrived in Mexio City at the age of five, and lived there for more than half her life, before moving to La Jolla with my grandfather. She spoke five languages (Yiddish, Polish, Spanish, French, and English), devoured the arts with an insatiable appetite, was kind and self-less, and loved her children, grand-children, family and friends with the utmost tenderness and care. Although the past few years had not been so kind to her, and while the some 3000 miles between New York and San Diego left our relationship disconnected in some ways, I will miss her. Now that both of my grandparents on the West coast have passed, it is the end of a dynasty; my grandmother was the glue for our family, from New Jersey to California, Mexico City to South America (now Bangladesh).
I don't want to ramble on or get sappy, but I just wanted to say a few things. And while visiting the beautiful San Diego coast was not under the best circumstances, I got to see a lot of my family that I haven't seen in years, and for this I am thankful. My cousins from Mexico, cousins from San Diego, my aunt, my uncle from Bangladesh - people who knew my grandmother who came from all over the world to pay their respects, a testament to her character.
This Thanksgiving, I am truly thankful for my family and my friends.
R.I.P.

"I roll out of bed, I want to look good. I go to the deli, I want to look good."

I guess it's hard to blog so frequently when every night leaves you feeling like death every (next) day. When can one find the time? Usually Sunday nights, but we'll get to why that did not happen. I will try to recap Thursday/Friday/Saturday/Sunday nights in this post, but the likeliness of capturing all that I want to is slim.

Howl!

No one, that's stupid. Before I forget, I'd like to give a special shout-out to MELVIN'S innovative new blog, "Monster of the Day," which can be found right hurr. A work of art, phosure. Yesterday, yesterday, yesterday, where have you gone? Yesterday was Tuesday -- it's important to record days and dates -- and what a FUN day it was!

*Guest Blog: Melvin's Night in Boston*

Melvin here. Our humble narrator and I have agreed that my night in Boston on Friday was one that necessitated a lengthy guest blog post. Let's waste no time and jump right in.

This weekend I drove up to Boston with friends Jojo and Skippy Peanut Butter for Jojo's 21st Birthday. Although Jojo's birthday fell on a Thursday, it was decided that Friday was the night to "go hard". It started early Friday afternoon when we rode bikes to the liquor store to pick up a sixer of Hoegarden. S.P.B insisted that we buy more, however Jojo and I had the foresight that this was going to be a long night chock full of heavy drinking.

Surprise!

Last night: 10pm, surprise party in Shogun for M.D., see some old faces I haven't seen in a while. Drinks, slideshows, cake - it is a merry occasion. And the birthday boy was surprised! always good news. Drink drinks in Shogun until 11:30, then head to EC real quick to meet Rich Boy Tell 'Em. Drop off some treats, have a beer, and I'm off! to PDA, to meet back up with the birthday boy and his crew.

Recipe For Disaster

Go to the new Whole Foods on 97th & Columbus with Rufus yesterday afternoon, to buy the essentials: chocolate milk, tangerine juice, gluten-free brownie mix, eggs, butter, and beer. Come back to 9 & 3/4, put on our chef hats, and get to work. Speaking of recipes, check this out: Nosher NYC! Rufus makes for an excellent sous chef, I must admit. He is a great help. Dick stops by to say hi, as Rufus and I chomp down on our take-"in" from Thai Market. STICKY RICE!

Milarepa, the Yogi

“Though you youngsters of the new generation dwell in towns infested with deceitful fate, the link of truth still remains—When you remain in solitude, do not think of the amusements in town…You should turn your mind inwardly, and then you’ll find your way…The wealth I found is the inexhaustible Holy Property…The companion I found is the bliss of perpetual Voidness…Here in the place of Yolmo Tag Pug Senge Dzon, the tigress howling with a pathetic trembling voice reminds me that piteous cubs are playing lively…Like a madman I have no pretension and no hope..I am telling you the honest truth…These are the crazy words of mine… O h you innumerable motherlike beings, by the force of imaginary destiny you see a myriad visions and experience endless emotions…I smile…To a Yogi, everything is fine and splendid!.....In the goodly quiet of this Self-Benefitting sky Enclosure, the timely sounds I hear are all my fellows’ sounds…At such a pleasant place, in solitude, I, Milarepa, happily remain, meditating upon the void-illuminating mind—The more Ups and Downs the more Joy I feel—The greater the fear, the greater the happiness I feel…”

Stillness Is the Move

"Stillness Is the Move" (Solange Cover)

Edit: So apparently the link isn't working, it's been taken down from Pitchfork by Universal Music for whatever reason. I'm going to leave it up, just in case, but I did download it, so if you ask NICELY, I can e-mail it you!

Karaoke Night

Back to the Upper East for the second consecutive night?! Had much work to do, but once I was finished, met P-Bear at Trinity Pub (84th & 2nd) for a couple of beers. We'd both never been before - it was legit. Bartender was supa cool, though it seemed more of an after-dinner "date" joint. Great b-room blends, and a cool giant painting of three old dudes sitting wasted at a bar. One thing leads to another and we literally walk fifty paces to Dorrian's (me first time). This place was ridiculous. It's a Tuesday night at 1 A.M., it's pretty crowded, and it's karaoke night! Order (and consume) many drinks, sing/scream many songs, including one of my all-time favorites, Dead or Alive, by JBJ. There is one guy who is doing things that would normally get you kicked out of any other bar in the city -- but he is good buddies withe bouncer. He takes his pants off while dancing, he throws his empty glass back behind the bar, and he puts his leg up on the table of a young couple not enjoying an awkward date; he does all of these things and people just stare and laugh -- but doesn't get the boot. There are blends around, in the air. I have a great first night at Dorrian's. Taxi back to 9 & 3/4 at 3 A.M.

Carlos!

Wrote most of my Beat paper, but slept really late yesterday, so had a sudden urge to go out and do something. Leave 9 & 3/4 around 1230 A.M., skip across town and check out P-Bear's new crib on the Upper East Side -- it's a cool pad. We have a beer, then he takes me to Kinsale Tavern, a local Irish pub around the corner (94th & 3rd). Have a couple more beers, catch up, discuss walking, talking, and just about everything, weddings! It is good to see him. Cab back at 230 A.M., eat turkey & cheese, watch some Dazed and Confused before bed. Let's hear it for Mondays, wooo!

Home Sweet Home

Friday: Wake up around 2pm, call Robin Hood and ask if he's eaten yet. Meet him outside Butler library and we walk to Kitchenette. My head hurts, I am still slightly drunk (and stoopid). Have one of the best breakfasts in recent memory --> Lumberjack (two blueberry pancakes, two scrambled eggs, and bacon) & a Mimosa. Continue to be drunk. We talk about a late-afternoon activtiy and decide on seeing the new picture, The Men Who Stare At Goats. Though there is little plot, it was highly entertaining (especially in our state).

Non-Stop Party Now

Thursday: take a mid-term, which I probably failed, go for a night run in the park; watch Se7en for the first time, it's a blend, then it's to Horchata and Leila's residence @ 115th & Riverside. Proceed to watch and dance to Shakira's "Shewolf" music video, and many other classics from the late 90s/early 00s, including Beyonce, TLC, Mariah Carey, Fat Joe, Ashanti, Ja Rule, and JLo.

Hit "Symbol" Twice

Arrived at 9 & 3/4 at 11 o'clock last night. The views the West Side Hwy has to offer at night will never cease to amaze me. Speeding up by way of yellow cab, I'm ready to do it, ready to bone, 55th exit - damn, damn, already we home. Blasting JCasablancs out my headphones, splitting NJ and the Trump Towers, I realized I'd never listened to my iPod before in a taxi. Good to see the Hogwarts blends after the long weekend.

This Is the Halloween Track Party, Right?

So I've already slacked on the new blog, but sometimes you get that one-of-a-kind feeling inside you, and there's just no way you can't write. Tonight is one of those nights. It's a few days post-title, but I thought I'd write a little bit about the long weekend I've had, thanks to those in the class of 1968.

F 1 R 0 I 2 D 3 A 0 Y 9

I must admit that starting this blog has already given me a rather fulfilling sensation due to the fact that I kind of want other people to read about the funny and crazy snapshot moments which, together, essentially make up the everyday lives of me and my suite mates (who, incidentally, are my best friends). For the sake of protecting identities, real names will not be used in this blog; however, all things "9 & 3/4" will contain 100% truth.