Hustler of Culture

weekend remembered.

in the company of a few good people

there are military personnel in my family. several still active. others retired. i am american by naturalization; not by birthright. however, on memorial day, i will take a moment to remember the ultimate sacrifice some soldiers pay for this country's freedom. i'm not taking advantage of any holiday sales. i did however, enjoy a fine barbeque last night, courtesy of sona and marz. i will remember to enjoy this life a little more in honor of those who are no longer with us. peace.

Swindle Magazine Launch Party (06/11/04)

Gamers Night Groove (05/30/04)

Media Contacts:
Job Stauffer [646.281.0456] -> job@newyork-tokyo.com
Taeko Baba [212.966.3430] -> btaeko@newyork-tokyo.com

GNG MAY is on SUNDAY, 30th -> 8pm - 12am
NEW YORK-TOKYO PRESENTS
Gamers Nite Groove MAY
Sprite Based Euphoria + Latest from E3

Sunday, May 30th, 8PM-> 0AM
TRIBECA GRAND HOTEL, NYC
ADMISSION FREE / 21 & OVER
HTTP://GAME.NEWYORK-TOKYO.COM

GNG May: Attention gamers! Put down your controllers-at least temporarily-because Gamers Nite Groove is back once again to provide New York City with its only free gaming/music experience. GNG is a monthly event dedicated showcasing the newest and hottest video game titles, as well as incorporating cutting edge music and art.

This month, SNK is offering up the sprite based quarter-popping arcade favorites: Metal Slug 3 and King of Fighters 2000/2001 for the ultimate action this side of the second dimension. The sprites don't end there; get a hands-on run through Mastiff's latest release, La Pucelle: Tactics. Bandai is also giving you the opportunity to sample exciting new games before they hit the shelves with Ribbit King and the anime-wrestler brawler, Galactic Wrestling; while Sony is showcasing the highly anticipated sequel to their cel-shaded stealth raccoon hit, Sly 2: Band of Thieves. Still not enough action for you? Then why not take Capcom's latest hit Onimusha 3 out for a demon-slashing spin through the streets of Paris. And last but not least, coming hot off the heels of the world's biggest video game trade show, E3, GNG is providing you with the latest previews only previously available to privileged press.

Arcade enthusiasts fed up with tiny controllers will also want to check out Pelican's Real Arcade Universal on display for an authentic button-mashing experience.

And if this isn't enticing enough, need we mention there's free stuff? Yes, tons of E3 goodies, including t-shirts (no need to do the laundry), caps (or shower), and stickers (stick responsibly).

Finally, the night will keep you moving with the Game Boy influenced beats from Bit Shifter, as well as live DJ performances by Prozac and Jesse Mann. And while you're bustin' a move, be sure to check out the pixel-laden artwork of the one and only EBOY.

Don't miss this opportunity to try out new games, groove to the hottest new beats, and catch a glimpse at some amazing artwork-all for free! Hope to see you this Sunday May 30th at the Tribeca Grand Hotel.

Tribeca Grand Hotel
2 Avenue of the Americas
(3 blocks south of Canal St.), NYC
Subway: A, C, E to Canal St.

About NEW YORK-TOKYO(NYT)
With its mission to provide exposure of techno-cool, eye-popping production from Japan to the general public in the U.S., NEWYORK-TOKYO is a media communications company that is uniquely positioned to tap into the vibe between New York and Tokyo, media capitals of the world. Best known for Anime Festival and Music Festival, NEWYORK-TOKYO is currently holding two monthly events : GNG (Gamers Nite Groove) and MDS (Monthly Director Series) and two annual Festivals : Tokyo Robotics and eNerGy (a new energetic Festival for Next Generation held @ WiFi ready park in NYC) http://www.newyork-tokyo.com

welcome to the concrete jungle.

it's spring. people are packing. we're talking about our homes. buy vs. rent. interest rates. ludicrous rents. our wonderful neighborhoods. new gardens. new lives. i thought i'd offer you a few links i recently kinja’d (they are all new york city-centric):

apartment therapy - funny how sometimes you sit there and dream up a blog you wish existed and then months later you find it! interior designer, life coach and handy man, maxwell gillingham-ryan collates all that's newsworthy for apartment living. as a regular on hgtv's mission: organization, you're getting a free peak at what maxwell thinks is valuable information. i agree.

curbed - LES netizen, lockhart steele's new project has launched. everybody put your hands together for curbed, a blog dedicated to new york domains and the lives that fill them. turning boring real estate reports into cranky banter, curbed's downright delightful to read. r.i.p. below 14th, lockhart's diary of delicious downtown eateries, bars and places where the cool kids play.

radcribs - are you sitting on a goldmine? did you overpay? radcribs answers all these questions and more in a language everyone can understand. whether you're a real estate guru or a first time home buyer, this is a site where too much information is a good thing. according to a property report i ran on the building i live in, i discovered that it was built in 1889. huh, that's weird. i thought it was built in 1902. looks like i'm going to be digging up some more information from this site. free info is always rad!

the art of speed.

look mom i'm in a movie! okay. so not like a feature length or anything. and not for more than two seconds (no for real, i was too busy playing), but the nike documentary, the shortest race, i participated in this past winter is available for your viewing pleasure. and while you're at the website, please check out the other speed-inspired video clips by 15 very talented artists. enjoy.

get real...estate.

very few obsessions have followed me into adulthood. one passion that continues to entertain me is real estate. i can remember every home i've ever lived in. each one symbolizing a period of growth.

my parent's house is a 1500 square foot brick rambler nestled in a forest in arlington, virginia. it has three bedrooms and two full bathrooms. seven people lived in the house for nearly two decades. surprisingly, growing up, it never felt small. my parents kept the house simply decorated with asian artifacts and modern danish and asian furniture. the basement was finished and we spent most of our time lounging in the downstairs kitchen and living room. my mom has three kitchens. an upstairs kitchen, a downstairs kitchen and an outdoor cooking shed with a commercial vulcan oven. my parents entertained a lot allowing company to overflow outdoors into our sizeable japanese inspired gardens. returning home these days, the house feels much smaller. i'm shocked we were able to balance seven lives in our cozy house. three decades of ownership have passed and now my parents are ready to retire somewhere seasonally warm. i'll dearly miss this house. it fostered the foundation for who i am today.

goooaaaal get them!

as much as i enjoy takashi murakami's acid-induced playful art, i have to put my foot down on this one. modern art? jessica simpson needs new home decor? who the hell would pay $400 for a soccer ball? if you owned this would you ever kick it?

murakami is messing with you. combining high art and low culture, he produces collections for both the select and mass market. remember the murakami-louis vuitton collaboration? you could own a limited edition purse for $5,000. or for $1,500,000 you could own mr. pointy, the art piece displayed at rockefeller plaza last fall. don't be a sucker. you can own an original murakami for much less. his factory-made murakami stickers sell for $3.95. the same factory that constructed mr. pointy produces the stickers. murakami, marketing genius is infiltrating popular art and culture. andy warhol would be proud.

burn your dosh here or use your change here. but shouldn't you be saving for this or this?

magical mystery tour.

i've just returned from a week in los angeles. three years into new york city living, everyone wants to know, which city do i prefer? easy enough. i answer honestly, both cities have a lot to offer, one is not superior to the other. i dream of sun kissed tans, 24 hour delivery, healthy living, nightly festivities and no commutes. neither los angeles or new york offer all. i take the good and try to contribute back in a positive manner. this is more relevant to me than ever. walking away from e3, it's clear we are fighting the big fight -- starting a game studio in manhattan. the odds are against us. but we push onward, maybe foolishly, unwilling just yet to pack west. industry friends are rooting for us. no pressure. breathe and believe.

spending time with family grounds me. no need to shower. the fridge is full of farmer's market strawberries. the cokes are cold, waiting for my thirst. i miss my la-based family. they are mentors, educators and historians. i can thank uncle mike, a 30+ year music veteran for showing me that i can earn a living doing what i am passionate about. i can thank lori for showing me that living a clean life (mental and physical) is the only way to go. and i can thank uncle edward and aunt sharon for taking us under their wing, welcoming our friends while graciously extending their family. my brother is busy. he is the next generation uncle mike. tommy mottola just picked up a managing gig with a band my brother's been working with. i am very proud of him. but i wish he'd take more time to enjoy our socal family. time spent with my teacher-family is priceless.

Ali G. Tapings (05/27/04 & 06/04/04)

COOL ALI G COMEDY SHOW SCREENINGS - ALL NEW ALI G. SHOWS

THURSDAY, MAY 27TH 2004 and FRIDAY, JUNE 4th, 2004 -- YOU AND YOUR FRIENDS ARE INVITED TO FREE SCREENINGS OF THE NEW HBO ALI G. SHOWS!

The British comedy show "Ali G.", is a hit on HBO and is coming back for a second season. SEE THE SHOWS BEFORE THE FINAL CUT. If you haven't seen/heard of the show, Ali G. (played by Sacha Baron Cohen), is a comedy phenomenon in Britain and now the US who specializes in bizarre interviews with major public figures, educators,artists, etc. while he is in character as a ridiculous homeboy-wannabe. The new shows are hysterical and he has a huge following in Britain,Europe and Australia. He has a big following in the US now. Come Check out the wacky German Fashion Journalist and Borak in further wild adventures in the US OF A.

"Authorities as disparate as the cheery mainstream entertainment magazine Heat and the inky, ultra-indie rock weekly Melody Maker concur that there's no one funnier on telly than Ali G." The Guardian of London

THESE ARE SPECIAL AUDIENCE SCREENERS:
You would be watching the show with your guest in the plush HBO SCREENING ROOM on 6th Avenue and 42nd. You will be watching the show on a movie size screen at the HBO SCREENING ROOM.

If you are interested in being the among the lucky few to see this hilarious new season of Ali G just follow the instructions below. We are having TWO BRAND NEW episodes next SHOW 1 - THURSDAY, MAY 27th (SHOW 1 & 2) and SHOW 2 - FRIDAY, JUNE 4th (SHOW 3 & 4).

WE Would need you to arrive at the HBO SCREENING ROOM between 6:15PM and 6:30PM on May 27, and June 4th , 2004. The show would run until 10PM each screening night.

If you want to attend, please email us asap at freetv@XXXXX.com with the following information in both the subject line and the body of your email:

1. ALI G.
2. your full name
3. your phone number(s)
4. which show(s) you can attend (Show 1 or Show 2 or ANY SHOW)
(PLEASE NOTE IF YOU ARE FLEXIBLE ABOUT WHICH SHOW YOU CAN ATTEND YOU ARE MORE LIKELY TO GET TICKETS)
5. the total number of guests who will be attending (maximum of 2 tickets per request - you can request more tickets under another name and email address)
6. Whether you are British or American. (important for our screening records) example: ALI G./ John Doe/(212) 555-1212/both/2 tickets

You will be receiving an email or phone confirmation with the full details if tickets are available. You will receive that confirmation no later than Monday evening (May 24, for the show on the 27 and Tuesday, June 1st for the June 4th show).

Since the audience is such an integral part of our television show, please understand that if you accept the tickets, we need you to show up. If you rsvp and don't show up we will be forced to remove you from future mailings about free shows.

RSVP soon since the tickets are limited.

freetv@XXXXX.com

Note: You will be filmed for reference but none of the shots will be used.- we are simply getting your feedback on the show and the episodes you watch.

good night coxsone dodd.

daddy u-roy and coxsone dodd

clement "sir coxsone" dodd, jamaican music pioneer passed last week. he died of a heart attack in kingston, jamaica only four days after the city honored him with a street named after his legendary recording studio, studio one. mr. dodd is celebrated for his contribution to reggae music and for pushing the sound system. he was 72 years old.

i had an incredible opportunity to meet mr. dodd in the fall of 2002. it is a memory i will cherish. good night, sir coxsone. thank you for the good vibes.

dunny show (05/17/04 - 07/17/04)

Hang the DJ: Day 14 (05/25/04 - 07/10/04)

HANG THE DJ: DAY14 / UNIFORM, DJ Art Canvas Launch

We invite you to 'HANG THE DJ', an evening to celebrate the launch of UniForm art canvases taken from their DJ:SBR range, at Grand Central bar, Great Eastern Street, London EC2, on Tuesday 25th May, 6pm-12pm.---

Each of these special Day14 framed canvases is designed by UniForm and available in 100x100cm and 60x60cm sizes in a limited edition of 20.

Come and join us for a drink and view a selection of the canvases. (Free drink to those who bring a printout of this invite - but please arrive early to avoid disappointment!)

DJ session c/o The Sunshine Supermen

RSVP essential by sending an email to studio@uniform.uk.com

The exhibition runs from Tues 25th May until Sat 1Oth July. Open all day Mon-Sat.

For more information, or a full press release, please email studio@uniform.uk.com

CHRISTOPHER BETTIG (05/21/04 - 06/20/04)

four x four presents:

CHRISTOPHER BETTIG
He's a Mountain of a Man

May 21 - June 20, 2004

Opening Reception:
Friday, May 21, 2004, 6-10 p.m.
four x four gallery and Otto Design Group present new works by CHRISTOPHER BETTIG in his solo show, HE'S A MOUNTAIN OF A MAN. The show will run from May 21 - June 20, 2004, please join us for the opening reception on Friday, May 21st from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at 7922 W. 3rd Street in Los Angeles.

This show is a collection of paintings and handsewn drawings based Christopher's interpretation of mountain landscapes and forest life.

BACKGROUND
Christopher Bettig has had his work featured in SPIN MAGAZINE, QUEST JAPAN, MUDDLE, LOOK-LOOK MAGAZINE, VIVIDHUES, LOS ANGELES MAGAZINE, BACKJUMPS, the Thames & Hudson book STENCIL GRAFFITI by Tristan Manco, and in an upcoming book by Soft Skull Press entitled, STENCIL PIRATES by Josh Macphee.

He has had two solo exhibitions: DESTROY ALL THESE MONSTERS ARE REAL at Biola University in 2002, and THESE ARE SOME OF THE PEOPLE I HAVE NEVER MET at FOUR X FOUR Gallery in 2003. He has been included in group exhibitions at : ARTAZART in Paris, ROCKET GALLERY in Tokyo, KUNSTRAUM KRUEZBERG in Berlin, DEITCH PROJECTS in New York City, WETLANDS ARENA in New York City, THE NIKE BLU HOUSE in Los Angeles, FOUR X FOUR in Los Angeles, GHETTOGLOSS in Los Angeles, SPACE 1026 in Philadelphia, 222 GALLERY in Philadelphia, CELLSPACE in San Francisco, MIMI BARR in San Francisco, PUNCH GALLERY in San Francisco, EIGHTHREEIGHT in San Diego, ROME 455 AD in San Diego, AEROSOL WARFARE in Houston, THE MARYLAND ART PLACE in Baltimore, SYNAPSE GALLERY in Baltimore, THE WALTERS ART MUSEUM in Baltimore, amongst others.

2004 includes a 2 man show at the Selective HearingGallery in San Diego in early spring, the Independent Arts Festival in Sint - Niklaas, Belgium and several pieces on display at MASS MOCA as part of the Interventionists : Art In The Social Sphere exhibit this summer. There are two scheduled solo shows for 2004; one at FOUR X FOUR Gallery and one at GHETTOGLOSS Gallery, both in Los Angeles.

Chris is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art and currently designs and constructs interiors for URBAN OUTFITTERS full time as well as freelancing for the OTTO DESIGN GROUP where he curates exhibits for the FOUR X FOUR GALLERY in Los Angeles. He is 27 years old, and works and lives in Los Angeles.

For more information about Christopher Bettig please visit www.455ad.com

real mad hectic.

it's been real mad hectic since our return from gdc. evan left me with raina who gave me another present. a super cool translucent pink plastic gba filled with exactly what you'd expect from anything bought in chinatown...radioactive-colored gummy nintendo characters! i know raina's eventually going to run out of neat things to hand over. then again, i hope not! evan sent me pictures from his visit. nerds never looked cooler.

the same day evan left, jee arrived! always fair game, she rolled down to the LES with us to see my friends' band, ladyjane perform. someone kept burping bacon. someone else kept firing off sbv’s. are foul bodily functions a new hipster characteristic? peeps need to grow up or have better hygiene. needless to say, we were stoked to support danny and milind in their musical endeavors. they're actually quite good at being a band. i watch mtv's making the band 2 and i never see them fight the way they do on tv. apparently, being a musician is tres cool. danny painted his phone number on his t-shirt. i heard he got a couple of crank calls.

TAL R "Last Drawing Before Mars" (05/08/04 - 06/19/04)

TAL R
"Last Drawing Before Mars"

LFL Gallery
530 W. 24th Street
New York, NY 10011

Tel: +1 212 989 7700
Fax: +1 212 989 7720

info@lflgallery.com

http://www.lflgallery.com

Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 11-6

Open Monday May 10th, 1-6

Exhibition dates: May 8 to June 19, 2004

Opening reception: May 8, 2004 from 6-9pm

Cindy Sherman (05/08/04 - 06/26/04)

8 May – 26 June, 2004
Opening Friday 7 May, 6 – 8 PM
Metro Pictures (519 W 24th St, 212.206.7100)

Cindy Sherman’s most recent series of clown images feature riotous makeup, flamboyant costumes and digitally produced backgrounds of synthetic colors and patterns. Behind the sheer visual lushness and latent humor/horror of the portraits, lies Sherman’s interest in revealing the underlying pathos of the hysterically happy or intensely nasty clown image; the sadness of the character behind the greasepaint.

Sherman has been working on the clowns for the last eighteen months. The first five images were shown in her survey exhibition at the Serpentine Gallery, London, last summer. In the most recent pictures, Sherman combines several clown characters in single photographs, digitally manipulating the scale of the figures and the spatial background.

One of the most admired and influential aritst of her generation, Sherman’s work has been collected and exhibited by major museums throughout the world since 1980. Numeros monographs have been published on her work including the most recent by the Museum of Modern Art, New York, “The Complete Untitled Film Stills.” Cindy Sherman lives and works in New York City.

MORE INFO HERE.

autograf (05/05/04)

a positive print.

every once in awhile, i see a photograph that belongs to someone else that i wish was mine. pictures capture an event, most likely forgotten if the photo wasn't there to remind us that yes, i did that or i was there. photographs can validate our own histories. when asked to prove it, photos are the easy solution.

what i really enjoy today, is looking at adolescent mementos of friends who weren't a part of my own childhood. it cracks me up that bem rocked the same semi-permed hair with bangs in junior high and high school that i did. and she grew up in vancouver (almost as far away as possible in north america from my own upbringing in the DC suburbs). pictures from other people's past are educational and entertaining. dude, you have a mullet or a fro! haha, look at your bell bottoms. or better yet, hello, brace face!

my family is obsessed with taking photographs. i figure, it's part genetic and part, we lost our country and much of our recorded history because of it so let's make plenty of new memories. my paternal grandfather was obsessed with taking photographs in 1930's viet nam. he could afford to. so my mom and her siblings are all snap happy too.

two photographs with their own place in my history:

ong ngoai and his beloved peugeot, silvio rocks harder

so if you're around long enough, we'll have plenty of photographic memories to laugh at in years to come. in the meantime, why don't you entertain me with a picture of your junior self.