By W. 125th and St. Nicholas
I’ve always been obsessed with these old side-of-building advertisements from another era. Time to start documenting as many of them as I can, when I manage to come across them.
Hot off the pavement
As the city is still deeply mired in the brutal ugliness that is Winter, I can’t help but look back at my photos of Summer and yearn for the return of the sun and heat. Summer in NYC isn’t for the faint of heart; thick, humid and blindingly bright, it’s brought more than a few people to unfathomable heat-induced rage. I, however, live for it. You can chalk it up to the fact that I was born smack in the middle of Summer or the fact that Island blood courses through my veins, whatever. All I know is that I love my city and I love it more when the only thing worth doing is flopping down in Central Park for a catnap in the barely there breeze.
Being Hispanic, and from the Bronx, my memories of the season have always been heavily colored by my father’s favorite pastime, Stickball. A street game born of poverty and ingenuity, it evolved into something that drew the entire community together. My father and his friends still play despite being official “Old-timers” of the sport. Guess they’re probably missing Summer as much as I am right now.
Broomsticks to Bats - yet another Cinderella story
It's a 'hood thang
Does it get more old school than this?
Cherry, Mango, Coco! Ahh, sounds of summer. I will still run for it.
My dad. ❤
“Dance like nobody’s watching.”
The date? Sunday, August 17, 2008.
The time? Precisely 5:28pm.
The location? Union Sq., once again, and the consciousness of innocent passerby.
I won’t lie and say that, at approximately 5:10pm, my heart wasn’t thumping like I’d just run a marathon. It was nervous excitement, adrenalin pumping through me in anticipation of dancing my pants off, to my own music, amid a sea of virtual strangers. It was finally time for the second ever NYC Silent Rave aka “Silent Rave Strikes Back”. For those of you not in the know, a “silent rave/silent disco” is a public event, held at a random time, in which all attendees choose their own music that’s blissfully fed to them via headphones. Ipods/discmans (yes, some still use them)/mp3 players/etc. required; playlist optional! And due to the fact that there’s no actual music playing out loud, the rave is “silent” to members of the general public. Silent raves have been popular over in Europe for years and, thanks to exchange student Jonnie Wesson, they’re catching on here like the proverbial STDs your mother warned you about. I say, “bring it on!”
The one thing me and my friend, Melanie, noticed was that the square wasn’t nearly as crowded as it had been for the first rave. That’s right, we were there for that one as well. It made us worry as we were there, not only to dance, but also to try and take some killer photos. But then we saw Jonnie getting interviewed and all was right with the world! We blatantly borrowed from his “quality, not quantity” school of thought and, when the countdown started, we joined in with fellow ravers who’d mysteriously crawled out of the woodwork. Turns out many were merely undercover until start time! Suddenly there was a dancing mustard, the “free hugs” folks, hula hoopers, a robot, some kid in an impossibly large sombrero, a…you get the idea, right? IT WAS A RAVE! And, naturally, all manner of insanity was welcome.
I don’t think I can explain what one of these things is truly like though those of you who’ve ever raved will have a pretty good idea! It’s an event that one has to experience personally, from start to finish, for them to understand what it’s like to somehow bond with hundreds of strangers over the simple love of having fun. My playlist consisted of everything from Nelly Furtado and Rooney to VNV Nation and Marilyn Manson. Me and Melanie shared a headset as we gyrated to M.I.A. while a few couples slowdanced, metalheads headbanged, Kandikids twirled, conga lines marched and a sense of community was everywhere you turned. We worshipped the Raveapple, a pineapple with glowsticks punched into it, yet again! Don’t ask us why; it just seemed like the thing to do so, if you show up at the next rave, be sure to pay our mascot proper homage. 🙂
The Silent Rave can be summed up as follows: “Dance in the streets, not in your room.” Go out and celebrate everything a true rave stands for (PeaceLoveUnityRespect/P.L.U.R) and do it in a way that NO ONE can ignore.
The date? Friday, October 17th, 2008
The time? Precisely 6:27pm.
The Location? Union Sq.
Silent Rave 3. Let’s do this.
All photos here, request permission for use.
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