I’ve been talking about this for years but wanted to write down some words expressing my thoughts about why the Super Bowl needs the Beastie Boys to perform for a future halftime show. Every since Janet Jackson popped her 87 year old titty it seems like they have been going for a “safer” performance: Tom Petty, Prince, The Rolling Stones, (oh God) the Black Eye Peas and Madonna. It has gotten so bad that I’d probably enjoy seeing Creed, Nickelback and Pitbull performing together just to see a huge train wreck.
The answer is simple: The Super Bowl needs three MCs and one DJ. The Beastie Boys. Here are some reasons why the B Boys are perfect:
They don’t have titties that can accidentally pop out.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted, they span generations and everyone can enjoy them. Younger people might not be as familiar anymore but I can assure you their parents would love this performance.
The Super Bowl in 2014 is in New York, where they are from.
Their music can easily be mixed and mashed with other artists so you can have a pretty fresh sound—see video above.
What do you think? Would you enjoy a halftime show performance by the Beastie Boys?
After living in Brooklyn for about three months, it’s becoming a weekly routine for me to go over to Atlantic Ave. and hit up the Brooklyn Flea Market. I’m always afraid to bring money to flea markets because I will spend a ton—so much great arts and crafts you won’t find anywhere else.
One of my favorite places at the flea market is W Records by Monkey. These guys take old vinyl records and create some pretty cool things: notebooks, necklaces, bracelets, keychains—see more on their website.
I absolutely love their stuff, and the reason is because of the material. Their product is 100% Brooklyn, from the look and feel and the practicality. When I was there a few weeks ago I was talking to one of the guys about the Beastie Boys song Rock Hard where they resample AC/DC. We were talking about how the Beastie Boys (who are also from Brooklyn) really mastered the art of resampling.
The stuff the guys make at W. Records by Monkey really reminds me of resampling—taking something old and giving it new purpose. If you are in Brooklyn go check out the flea market on Saturday and Sunday 10am-5pm. If not, order their stuff online. I absolutely love the Brooklyn necklace I got (image above).
This photo of my cat Wilson, looking out the window in the undiscovered Brooklyn street is probably fitting of my experience so far. Everything is new. There is so much to see. So much to explore.
It is a bit unreal to think I have lived in New York City for a week already—seems as if I was just lifted up by a tornado and dropped over here. There has been no time to rest, but there’s no rest for the wicked. The last week in Seattle was hectic. My parents, aunt and uncle came to help me move the rest of my stuff. Knowing me, I did not finish packing until the night before I flew out.
The Flight
The flight to New York City itself was probably the most stressful part for me. One reason…the cat. This was the first time I’ve flown with my cat Wilson. He is VERY loud and I was extremely concerned about him handling the flight. I gave him some sedation pills and he was such a good sport. He slept the entire time on the plane, including takeoff. The most difficult part was taking Wilson out of the bag and carrying him through the TSA x-ray, which is a requirement. I was afraid he was going to flip out, scratch my face and take off running. Again, he was such a good sport about it. Big ups to TSA for being so cooperative too. They held the line up while I carried Wilson through the x-ray and made sure I had him in the bag before resuming.
Arrival
We landed in Newark, and to my surprise, everyone in New Jersey sounds like…well, what you think everyone in New Jersey would sound like. After 25 minutes, I arrived to my apartment in Brooklyn Heights and was greeted by my roommate Michael and his girlfriend Gabrielle. Yes, this Gabrielle who I met earlier this year. Wilson and I finally made it home, and here is our view.
What I’ve learned so far:
Shopping at IKEA in Brooklyn SUCKS!
Just because subways run normally during the week does NOT mean it will on the weekend.
When the waitress comes to take your order, you better know what the Hell you want.
People don’t even begin eating dinner until about 9pm here.
As much as I love it here in Brooklyn I definitely miss my friends and family in Seattle. The first week was quite the struggle, just getting adjusted. I am getting used to it and feel like this is where I should be.
I have some bitter/sweet news to share with everyone. It is bitter because of how much I will miss everyone but sweet because of the fresh opportunity and adventure. After living in the Emerald City, a place I’ve called home for the last five years, I have decided to move to Brooklyn, New York.
My desire to move to the Big Apple was not a quick decision, but rather one brewing over the course of many years. In high school, I always talked to my art teacher about dreaming about New York to see Warhol paintings in real life and photography all the urban landscapes. After college I had the hope of going to grad school at The School of Visual Arts or Hunter College in which the opportunities did not pan out. Finally, I went to visit NYC with my college roommate Scott and it blew me away.
It was everything I hoped for and imagined…and more. I absolutely loved the pace there, and the people were so nice. Yes, I said New Yorkers were nice. After a few days in New York I realized, “you can ride the wave of energy or just get totally consumed by it.” I decided I want to choose the latter. There are so many people here—the best in the industry.
Dreamers are here. Hopeless romantics are here. Yeah, creeps are crackheads are here too, but you see where I’m going.
After returning from Europe I had this realization about Seattle. At first it was negative, but then it revealed it’s true self. My desire to move from Seattle is not “to get away from Seattle”, but rather, “to experience the rest of the world.” There is so much in the world I want to see.
My recent visit in September confirmed that I wanted to be in Brooklyn, New York. The place fits me like a glove and I feel like I’m in my element there.
So what’s next? Well, I’m going to sell everything and get rid of all my posessions, then move. The only thing I’m bringin: A bag of clothes, my Mac and my cat. I will continue to work with Xhatch Interactive and am excited about us having our presence in New York.
This is not an easy move for me. Five years of my life, important years, have been here in Seattle, Washington. I was raised in the Northwest, and I will dearly miss all of my friends I have made here, it it is a bit emotional for me to think about leaving everyone. Seattle may not be the city where I was born, but it was indeed the place that defined my identity and took care of me. I will be forever grateful.
The bitter is leaving my dear friends, but the sweet is the potential and opportunity. I am looking forward to people watching on the subway and long walks through the neighborhoods. Everything will be seen through a fresh lens. Let’s not forget I can easily go watch the New York Yankees play next Spring. I see New York as a place I can make a career here, meet new friends, converse with passing strangers, and hopefully meet that special person and fall in love.
There is much work to be done before I leave. No Sleep ‘Till Brooklyn.
P.S. Here’s a clip of Mike Doughty performing “The Idiot Kings”, one of the songs that inspired me to move to New York.
P.P.S. What’s that saying…”If I can move a 23 pound cat to New York, I can make it anywhere”? I think Sinatra said it.
I don’t know what it is, but something about New York City seems to bring out the best in me. It is very cliche to say, but this city is so inspiring. You can either ride the wave of energy or get buried by it. I’m choosing to ride that wave and seizing the opportunity. Today we made our first contract offers to three people at Xhatch, a huge step for Adam and I. As I sat at East River State Park I looked at the Williamsburg Bridge, just thinking about what we have done.
Nothing.
We haven’t done anything. All we have done is set the pieces to do something. Life is about momentum and taking advantage of that. We can take all that energy (positive and negative) and utilize it or get overwhelmed by it.
We have decided to utilize it. We could worry about our budget and if we should take a bank loan or get an investor, but instead we’re going to capitalize and look at it in the most positive way possible.
It’s a very good time to be in New York City and be in the midst of energy and people. My goal here is to spend as much time as I can from designers and get inspired, visit art museums and of course, the Apple Store.
My goal is simple: to utilize as much physical, emotional and spiritual energy on what I love and not let negativity (brought upon myself or others) interfere.
