Brooklyn Hip-Hop Fest 2008.

Brooklyn, NY- Brooklyn Bodega, the producers of the 2008 Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival, announced today that tickets for this year's festivities will be available Monday May 5th. This year's Festival includes a mixture of free, paid, indoor as well as outdoor events. As always Brooklyn Bodega has fought to keep the costs of all BHF events as close to free as possible. However, organizers are asking for a minimum donation of $10 to help support Brooklyn Bodega and the Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival.

Attendees interested in attending multiple events will have the opportunity to purchase various packages that include entrance to ticketed events as well as premiums at free events. All information is available on the newly revamped www.brooklynbodega.com

Festival Finance and Production Director Ebonie Jackson, "We currently have 10 dates on our calendar and the most expensive donation package is $100. The smallest is $10. Our goal is simple. If you can afford to support us we welcome that love with open arms. If you cannot we still want you to attend as much of the Festival as you can. Financial barriers in cultural programming should be as low as possible. However we have to be pragmatic. This is an extremely expensive venture and without the financial support of the people this will simply not work." Even the highest ticket package the Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival is still one of the best deals in summer programming. Similar events such as The Roots Picnic, Paid Dues or Rock The Bells have prices ranging from $50 to $125.

"We are giving you four free film screenings, two all ages outdoor shows in the most beautiful parks in Brooklyn, after parties, free food, free drink, free music, free gear. No matter how you look at it, it is a great deal," added Festival Executive Director Wes Jackson. "I love to see all these great artists playing New York but let's be honest not everyone can afford the prices. Especially brothers and sisters struggling to make ends meet or young families. We think you should be able to see "A" level Hip-Hop talent without breaking your bank."

BHF 2008 ticket donation packages:

SUPPORTER
$10 - premium ticket at Festival Main Date - Empire Fulton Ferry State Park, July 12th
$30 Family packages (4 premium tickets) for July 12th
$70 for a Group packages (10 premium tickets) for July 12th
-Premium tickets will be mailed directly to you and patrons will be given goodie bags while supplies last
-Group and family packages also include a free food and drink


FRIEND $20
One (1) premium ticket for Main Date July 12th
Complimentary food and drink on July 12th
Premium seating at Film Series
Complimentary food and beverage at Film Series
Goodie bag on June 28th and July 12th


BELIEVER $40
Two (2) premium tickets for Main Date July 12th
Complimentary food and drink on July 12th
Premium seating at Film Series
Complimentary food and beverage at Film Series
Goodie bag on June 28th and July 12th
Reduced admission at the July 10th after party at the Masonic Lodge, Brooklyn, NY
Complimentary Brooklyn Beer at the Masonic Lodge, July 10th and Main Day July 12th


CONFIDANTE $60
Two (2) premium tickets for Main Date July 12th
Complimentary food and drink on July 12th
Premium seating at Film Series
Complimentary food and beverage at Film Series
Goodie bag on June 28th and July 12th
Reduced Admission at July 10th after party at the Masonic Lodge, Brooklyn, NY
Complimentary Brooklyn Beer at the Masonic Lodge, July 10th and Main Day July 12th
Reduced admission at July 12th after party


VIP $100
Four (4) premium tickets for Main Date July 12th
Complimentary food and drink on July 12th
Premium seating at Film Series
Complimentary food and beverage at Film Series
Goodie bags on June 28th and July 12th
Reduced admission at July 10th after party at the Masonic Lodge, Brooklyn, NY
Complimentary Brooklyn Beer at the Masonic Lodge, July 10th and Main Day July 12th
Reduced admission at July 12th after party
VIP admittance all events
Business or personal listing in Festival program and on BrooklynBodega.com
And our eternal gratitude

Our main date, July 12th is open to the public but tickets are absolutely necessary. To register www.brooklynbodega.com click Join The Bodega and the process will begin.

Non-Premium tickets are NOT necessary for the Film Series and the Prospect Park dates
The after parties on July 10th and July 12th are ticketed. Tickets will be available via Brooklyn Bodega and the venues' box office.
Tickets will be released Monday May 5th but donations are more than welcome www.brooklynbodega.com/scr

Festival dates:
Saturday, June 28th - Lyricist Lounge, Brooklyn Bodega and Celebrate Brooklyn at Prospect Park - Live performances
Thursday July 10th - Final Film Screening
Thursday July 10th - After Party at The Masonic Lodge. Performers TBA
Friday, July 11th, Pre-Festival Party
Saturday, July 12th, -Main Performance Day at Empire Fulton Ferry State Park
Saturday July 12th, - Official After Party. Talent TBA
Film Series - June 13th, 20th, 27th and July 10th

Brooklyn Bodega
info@brooklynbodega.com

JD's blog tour of New York.

I have been blogging a lot about my friends lately...so to break the monotony, I bring you my version of an interesting Q&A in the latest issue of Theme...

Brief bio, occupation: I am a twenty-something bachelor living in New York City. Currently working as a media buyer and planner for a full service advertising agency in the Financial District. I share an apartment with my sister in the borough of Queens, actually still living in the same neighborhood where we grew up. The best is yet to come.

Length of time in city: For the most part, I grew up in Elmhurst, Queens (QB son!). It was interrupted by my father's tour of duty for the U.S. Army. Therefore, we moved to Seoul, Korea; then Frankfurt, Germany; next was Landstuhl, Germany; landed in Manila, Philippines and brought it full circle back to Elmhurst in NYC.

Eating and Drinking...

Favorite high-end restaurant: SAPA. Not only because I closed it down solely for an HM Crew Sunday brunch...but really because my friend is an apprentice chef there. Just kidding. It's a mixture of pan-Asian cuisine with a French twist. The ambiance is hip, airy and oozing with hipster pretentiousness. However the staff is awesome and the food is succulent.

Best deal restaurant: SEA. Located in Williamsburg, this restaurant was the stand-in for that LA restaurant in the opening scenes of Garden State, where Zach Braff's character was a struggling waiter. It is a Thai restaurant that serves generous portions of tasty food for street meat prices. Their Thai Iced Teas are dope and the wait staff is quick on their feet. It's high end for the 'broke as a joke' crowd.

Best street food: Chicken and rice on 53rd and 6th by the Sheraton Hotel. More often than not, you will find my friends and me waiting in line for Halal food. Definitely will sober you up as you inhale it but make sure you stay away from the red sauce. It goes in red and WILL come out red, if you know what I mean.

Favorite cafe: It's not really a cafe, it's a diner. I love Coffee Shop. Coffee Shop is in Union Square serving as a standard chrome-laden diner. However there is a basement lounge complete with ultra-mod furniture and laid back grooves.

Best bar: Stay NYC. It's my favorite bar. Ever. If I'm not at a birthday party or some club thing...you will find me here. I've been going there for years. The manager knows me, the bartenders know me, the bouncer knows me and my friends by default. Cheap drinks, there is ALWAYS a excellent roster of DJs and well, the female bartenders are pretty cute. It's basically where all of us Queens heads hang out now that we're all grown up and don't chill at Hoffman Park anymore...

Read...

Best store for books and magazines: STRAND on Fulton St. It's not as commercialized as Barnes & Noble or Borders but that's the charm of it. It's the haven for the college set and you'll most likely find yourself lost within the stacks and more than happy to stay lost going through their catalog.

Shop...

Best boutique: Brooklyn Circus in Brooklyn. Street meets upscale by way of the underground. I am a fan of what's going on in urban wear these days and they carry designers you've heard of...some you haven't, but you will definitely leave with a full shopping bag. Runner-up: Brooklyn Industries...their cuts and lines are classic but they use the craziest materials and designs. Workmanship is top-notch.

Favorite are space/gallery/museum: PowerHouse Arena in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The last time I was there was for the STAX 50th. Hip-hop museum, hipster art space, underground bookstore. You just feel inspired. Period.

Favorite outdoor space: The Heliport by the South Street Seaport. During the summer I eat lunch here and watch the helicopters take off and land. It's a great escape from the doldrums of the office. And to think...you have the Brooklyn Bridge as a backdrop. Gorgeous.

Sightsee...

Best touristy thing to do: Take the New York Sightsee bus tour. There are two big companies in NYC that do this double-decker bus thing... But if you must...that tour will cover a lot of ground in on sitting. Definitely a must for first-timers. Or just go eat a hot-dog at Gray's Papaya.

Things only a local does or knows about: Shake Shack in the park on 23rd and Madison, I say no more. Also, only New Yorkers know where the open restaurants are in Chinatown after 2am in the morning.

The must-see thing in your city: Hands down...the Brooklyn Bridge.

Events...

Best events in each season: Okay, we have all four seasons. So during the spring, there is the Easter Parade on 5th. During the summer months we have the Macy's 4th of July fireworks. With the onset of fall we have the Tribeca Film Festival and then with winter there is the Rockefeller tree lighting.

Tips...

How would you spend a day off in your city?: Sleep. But if that's not a viable option, I'd hop onto the subway and ride downtown to Union Square. From there I'd walk down Broadway and window shop, probably making my ways to different sneaker joints I know of. Maybe grab a fresh choco beverage from Max Brenner's and pick up some vinyl records from a sidewalk vendor. The flea market by the Tower Records has a great selection of hats, shirts and accessories from Parsons and FIT students. I would even wander over to Washington Square Park and chill under the trees if it's warm out.

Best websites for local info: itellavision.blogspot.com. In all seriousness, www.nymag.com is a valuable resource for tourists and locals alike.

Okay. Hopfully you enjoyed that read...now, tell me about your town...

Camping 2007.

Place: Mongaup Pond in Upstate New York, somewhere in the Catskills.
Who: A whole caravan of peeps, including Vince, Danica and me.

I'm thankful we survived a weekend free of bears, car breakdowns and sunburns. A quick camping trip was exactly what the doctor ordered. There is something to be said about a man being one with nature...and that is, you appreciate your mattress at home so much more.

And thank Jebus, my red put-put made it back and forth in one piece, hilly offroad driving included. She truly deserves an oil (and transmission) change.

Miami and Toronto...here comes Team WM.

Where'd Mos Def go?

I swear he was in the shot when I took it.

What a show!!! Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Pharoahe Monch, Public Enemy, Rakim, Wu-Tang, Cypress Hill...WTF?!?! It was nuts.

Big ups to Lats for pushing me over the fence to see this show last minute on Friday. Gotta love craigslist.com tickets!

It's already August?

Werd son.

More Hamptons pics.

Pellegrini Vineyards.

The girls.

The boys.

Wine tasting.

Picnic at Pindar Winery.

Pic of my Porsche.

HM Status.

Cooper Beach.

My weekend in the Hamptons.

Deep Thoughts: Me and Lats contemplating the meaning of life...

Better than the driving range!

Courts and Me at Pellegrini Winery.

Didn't get a chance to chill at Stereo with Diddy...but I did get the chance to hit up a few wineries and then the beach for Carla's 29th birthday roadtrip to the Hamptons.

Running NY.

I'm late as it is and Tiffany is waiting for me but I'm off to the BHF ya'll!

The Romance of Magno Rubio.

Magno Rubio, Filipino boy…
Magno Rubio, Filipinoy…

Last night, as a birthday present to my mom, the folks and I attended one of the last showings of “The Romance of Magno Rubio”, and Obie-winning play based on a short story by Filipino writer Carlos Bulosan, author of “America is in the Heart”. I thoroughly enjoyed the entire play, from the acting, to the singing, to the comedy, to set design and even the lighting…it was a great theatrical experience with a side bonus of the cast and director all being of Filipino descent.

Bulosan wrote a simple story about “manongs”, the earliest Filipino migrant workers who worked on the fields of California, Alaska and Hawaii during the 1930s. It was a time where “Postively No Filipinos or Dogs Allowed” signs were displayed and enforced. The way I understood the story, it was about a man, in this case Magno Rubio, who came to America searching for his version of the dream. As in all ethnic stories about this time period in America, these dreams are seemingly realized but ultimately destroyed leading the audience to question the tenacity and strength of the character.

Even though a fictional story, it represents the struggle of the earliest Filipino-Americans who came to the States (or United Snakes of America in the play) in search for a better life. It wasn’t until WWII that Filipinos were viewed in a much more favorable light. No matter how difficult his struggles were, Magno Rubio, persevered and viewed his situation as a glass half full when it was really empty to begin with. A human story where his innocent spirit was left untainted by all the abuse he had to endure for that period of time. We saw the rest of the characters show different signs of weakness throughout the course…because really, how much struggle can a man take?

Although none of them really had a break in the story, we’re left with a feeling of, “shit happens” but you live through it when your choices are limited. It seemed to say in the end…”you’ll survive”.

My parents had mixed feelings about the play because it was in a more abstract style much different that what they are used to watching on a Broadway stage. Also, they could not connect with the characters because they knew that Philippine society at the time also looked down on the manongs who were typically the un-educated poor of the country. They did however enjoy some of the old school Tagalog songs that were part of the play like the classic “Ikaw”…Ikaw ang ligaya sa buhay…

They even had mixed feelings about the dinner we had at Filipino-fusion restaurant Cendrillon, which is a favorite of mine in SoHo. From the prices (“$25 for bistek?!?!) to the different flavors of their favorite dishes (“the lumpia sariwa has curry in it?!?!”) and my dad getting drunk from one vodka martini…it was a surreal night.

My first mobile blog.

Part of the World War II Memorial in DC this past weekend.

The kick-off is near. For all my folks experiencing emptypocketitis, the event is brokeness friendly.

The fun lately.

The dinner at Mojito with some old faces.
Michele's birthday with her NYU Dental classmates. Cheese all around...I was a terribly happy camper that night.

Last weekend.

Friday: Happy hour at Slate for Lats' pre-birthday jam. Lounge and full bar upstairs, while the pool hall and ping-pong tables were downstairs. Suprisingly, selected FIT girls were much more adept at shooting pool than they let on. Us fellas got hustled.

Saturday: Bike show at the Javits. Mike and Vince convinced me that I should invest in a bike. I've crossed over to the dark side and took a first step to look up permits in New York state.

I'll start with the bike show, just hours after our accident.I think this might be a better fit than his actual Harley.
Ruff Ryder.
I don't fit this bike...
This is better...

Hours earlier at Slate...
OOOLD school FIND (Filipinos In Need of Dates) D3 heads. Part of the FOUND crew. Filipinos Overseeing Undergrads Needing Dates. Or Networking and Dialogue-ing. Whatever.
Mr. Miyagi never had a lesson for this.
Feel the love.
After 8 hours at Slate...happy hour at 6 to our own self imposed last call at 4am.
Happy early birthday buddy. Chicago this weekend is gonna be off the chain!

Just an excuse for me to post some random pictures.

....
State of the Union address last night. One thought. Good old Dubya having this much power is scary.