rock on
On 08.23.10, In Rants, By Riley
On 06.28.10, In Reviews, By Riley
I just got back from a run, my third since getting to the Bronx. Damn it’s hot out. It’s late June, 92 degrees, and humidity’s high, not to mention all the concrete and pavement soaking up the sun. After ten minutes outside my t-shirt was soaked. In the last half-mile my form had gone to shit: my feet were scuffling, my knees bent inward. Like any good long run during the summer, I had a punishing stomach cramp. Unfortunately for me, this wasn’t a long run per se. Based on my appearance this afternoon, nobody would believe that I was a decorated track and cross-country athlete.
While the Bronx isn’t host to the expansive variety of running terrain that Ithaca offered, I still find that there are plenty of places to get miles in. Van Cortland Park, famous for it’s cross-country trails is thirty blocks away. I haven’t made my way up there yet, but I’ve come across some awesome places to run within minutes of my apartment.
The entrance to the New York Botanical Gardens is less than a half-mile from my doorstep. Admission to the Gardens is $12, but luckily (for me at least), Fordham students and runners gain free admission. The place is beautiful – there are tons of running trails, wide paths free of cars (but plenty of golf carts), and water fountains galore.
not-a-mirage
Pedestrians and paying visitors can check out the greenhouse, conservatory, arboretums and rhododendron gardens. I, on the other hand, strictly stay on the trails – I don’t want to abuse the privilege of my free entry. The Gardens are truly an oasis considering the urbanity and chaos in the surrounding neighborhoods. This is on the short list of places in New York City where you can spot wildlife (pigeons and rats not included).
The Botanical Gardens as well as the Bronx Zoo, are a part of a large set of land called Bronx Park. The name is cliché, but the paths there are enjoyable. It came into existence in the 1880s when there was a movement to create public parks. (The angst due to lack of backyards had finally boiled over!) Bronx Park is a huge area of preserved land along the Bronx River. The paths are windy, and pass under bridges: The Bronx Parkway runs more-or-less parallel to the Bronx River.
troll haven
Here, runners don’t have to stop for traffic and we can escape the streets for a few miles, and the canopy above provides welcome shade in the summer – and probably a shield from the rain. The downside is that it’s littered and there are no clean-up efforts in sight: On my run I saw cigarette butts, food wrappers, some dumped trash, even a pay-phone in the river below one of the bridges. Bronx Park is also a venue for lecherous activity: Bottle caps, condom wrappers, questionable individuals sitting on benches. The pungent smell of vinegar is pervasive here and I don’t know why. Regardless, the escape from honking taxis, curiously loud Civics and exhaust fumes is worth the perils of running in the park.
I wiped sweat from my brow along a path. Looking ahead I saw piles of clothing, sneakers and gold chains on the ground. Down a slope I saw a handful of Bronx youth swimming in the River. It was a hot day, and any respite from the humidity would have been welcome. I just couldn’t bear to watch these kids swim in such murky water. Not after seeing that rusted pay-phone upstream. Besides, this is where the ducks, flamingos and turtles at the Zoo swim.
lock jaw
I saw a sprinkler at Fordham University’s main traffic entrance. I slowed down and let it splash my face. I nearly made a wrong turn due to heat delirium, but finally made it home, to take off my shoes and slouch in front of my air-conditioner, ice-water in hand.
But I don’t come here to babble about personal endeavors or whine about the heat. I come here to provoke thought, respond to culture and to bring phone pics to life. If you really want to read about personal fitness, please check out Tim Shea’s Dairyland Memoirs on NotDrugs.com. His tribulations regarding re-fitness are something to laugh at, even if he doesn’t want you to. Enjoy.
On 05.18.10, In Findings, By Sarah
This is one of those things too. When we became adults (not sure when that happened, but I’m pretty sure it did) its hard for fantasy-land to cross into the real world. But once something is recognized by a legitimate credible source it usually becomes all the more real. A lot of people don’t like Tim Burton: he freaks them out, not really considered an art form, whatever it may be- a lot of people consider it just down right weird (which it can be.) Preference is preference. I happen to love me some Tim Burton.
Now, I won’t lie to you. Even blogging relationships involve truth at all times. When I was a child I was pretty much afraid of EVERYTHING. Halloween, rubber masks, and Tim Burton’s A Nightmare Before Christmas. I mean come on. I watched that movie years later after having gotten over my fears and seeing it through a new mind…..that shit is SCARY. No wonder I was afraid of it. There is a lot of twisted life going on in that movie……..But now A Nightmare… is beautiful to look at. The movie has groundbreaking technology and imagination, and changed animation ideas and possibilities. For those of you who have overlooked Tim Burton (if you have?), maybe you shouldn’t.
When something like this comes around I cannot ignore it even if my childhood nightmares linger. The MoMA, the Museum of Modern Art in Manhattan, has a Tim Burton exhibit. And its running until April! This gives us all enough time to get ourselves there. The last time I was at the MoMA I stumbled upon the Dali exhibit, which was really amazing, and a whole bunch of modern architecture and interior design. It was strange seeing it in a museum but it definitely drew a crowd. Here’s the information- do whatchu gotta do. There is nothing quite like a demented imagination.
The story begins with my roommate. She spent a night in New York City celebrating her mother’s birthday this past Friday night. After an evening of dinner and a show, she stayed with her sister and her sister’s girlfriend. If her sister Molly was not feeling so ill she might have joined in on this adventure of Santa con, but instead she stayed home while Sam started to get dressed early on Saturday morning. Surprised by Sam getting dressed unusually early after a night of late night drinking. But when she emerged, Sam was dressed as Santa.
Santa con (refresh and get a new picture every time!) started in San Francisco with as an anti-commercial form of “guerrilla street theater” mixed with “pranksterism.” (Wikipedia, here.) Since its beginning in 1994, originally called “Santarchy”, it has since spawned different events and adventures in different forms all over the world. The one that Sam participated in was all throughout New York City. There were meeting points in each borough to start a massive Santa pub crawl. It was reported that 5,000 (or more?!) Santas took place.
As soon as I heard about this, I had to share it with you.
...ahhh its love at first sight!
Recently I have discovered how I can define my favorite bands. I mean it can be as simple as the fact that I like them best out of all the music that’s out there, but if you put some time into how it is personally definitive to you, you can have some fun. I’ve realized that my favorite bands are comprised of musicians that have gotten me to look and listen to music in an entirely new way. New ways that I could never have imagined without these minds. And I know we call it a top five, but right now I am stuck with just four. One of which is the Velvet Underground.
I’ve never discovered a band from an era that I thought I knew so well so late in the game. The Velvet Undeground is responsible for a lot of musical genres, movements, experimentation and adventures. People call them the first punk band. Their earlier records feature John Cale’s electric Viola droning in and out in sync with the guitars. They can appeal to everyone if you keep your mind open enough and give them a chance. I knew about them forever because they always ranked in the “…greatest of all time” lists. But I think it came at a later point when I was mentally ready for it. It was then that I realized how Lou Reed’s lyrics are like poetry.
The Velvets are not a mainstream band- and well, they are underground. Which sometimes makes their, I can’t find a better word here, memorabilia very hard to find and usually more expensive than you ever expect it to be. When I just saw this, I was excited at the thought of learning more about a band that only really loving fans seem to know anything about. But when I saw the price at $300, I was disappointed.
Of course coming from the New York Times Magazine, the Style Magazine nonetheless, it chronicles alternate record covers, ticket stubs, lyric notes, film stills and letters. It is a big book I hope to get my hands on soon. I have also recently discovered a love for cultural histories of New York City- and if you didn’t know, the Velvet Underground are a big contributor to that.
–Now, I read the biography of Andy Warhol and a lot of people associate this band with him. And I would like to set readers straight that he did fund and design their first imfamous record cover. He is also why Nico was included in the first place. She was a commodity (one of Warhol’s earliest muses)- she had to sing solo, or along with Reed, and be featured in the record of Warhol was not going to fund anything. This is how she won her American fame. She was already a popular German singer-songwriter.
Even though their music can be depressing, I truly, really love this band because the Velvets are the ultimate poets of the 60s. It is euphoric. Maybe that is due to Lou Reeds addiction to heroin, but I like to look beyond that. I recommend going for The Velvet Underground, the self titled record. Or even Loaded which is a lot of people’s favorites, including mine. Once you understand those, you can get the full effect of The Velvet Underground & Nico. One of the most musically layered and complicated records that exists. I now understand why it always made those “….greatest of all time” lists.
Do something new this break. New to your brain. Try out the velvets. I hope they don’t disappoint you. (Also, let me know how it goes.)
On 09.08.09, In Findings, By Sarah
this may or may not turn into a FOUND section.
one can only hope.
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