Category: New Yorker
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DJ Rich Medina: Jump N’ Funkin’ For Fela Kuti & Teaching At Cornell University
“Fela Kuti is the James Brown of Africa. We have been pushing the idea that Afrobeat is apart of Black history for 13 years”. Rich Medina introduced a whole generation of dancers to Fela Kuti and Afrobeat with his Jump N’ Funk parties. The party has been branded “the first and most consistent DJ-based party…
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The Measure of Michael Anthony Pegues
Michael Anthony Pegues, a fixture of the downtown art scene and true NY icon has finally found a home at FB Gallery to present his vision. “My small story is that as an artist I relied on a lot of things and that one thing was creating something on canvas.” The Measure of an Artist…
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Jamel Schwartz on Having Life Back
“Born and raised in harlem, migrated to the downtown streets of new york to cause myself some trouble and harm for about 12 years..and the past 2 years I decided to cut off everything in life that was killing me. I stopped drinking. I stopped using drugs. I stopped sleeping with random chicks. I stopped…
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Life Lessons From A Tribeca Homeless Man
“When I first became homeless, I use to pray that I die for 6 months…that was back in ’87” Jerry,52, may be homeless but his mind isnt. I met Jerry in Tribeca. Our conversation is inspiring to say the least. The street lights are on a timer. They come on and off every 2 minutes.…
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What is Jem?
After walking by Jem a number of times, I had to satisfy my curiosity. When I walked, I saw aisles and aisles of colorful fabric from the ceiling to the ground. I loved the environment. Jem is not your typical fabric store. Jem is owned and operated by a brother-sister team, Michelle Zahabian, who is 24…
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Kobie Brown “From Fatherless To Fatherhood” (2012 Film)
I along with millions of Americans have grown up “Fatherless”. And today 40% of American children live in a fatherless home raised by single mothers, aunts, grandmothers and other female caregivers. Kobie Brown’s 2012 film From Fatherless To Fatherhood explores the causes, effects and possible solutions to turning the corner on father absence. We met at…
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Maxim Magazine’s Top 5 Best Dinners, #2 Spur Tree’s Oxtail Stew
I was having my usual sorrel & ginger beer at Spur Tree catching up with owner/chef Sean John and I see a Maxim magazine on the bar. The Braised Oxtail is the 2011 #2 Best Dinners in America according to Maxim. And reggae artist Sean Paul wrote the review “When I’m in New York,…
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My Small Story Mix: Detroit To NYC
Detroit Inspired. NYC Executed. The initial stories I filmed in my hometown of Detroit have grown into over 100 NYC stories. This is a mix of clips from 12 stories: Motown to Grotown (a conversation @Detroit hospital is the impetus for http://www.mysmallstory.com) , Schott Free (former LOUD a&R, think Wutang, MoBB Deep), Stacey Mckenzie (Model/Entrepreneur…
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Culture Critic Amy Linden on 28 yrs in Fort Greene, Rafael Saadiq & Obama
“Bitchin about what Brooklyn is now is like bitchin about what Hip-Hop use to be like..aint gonna happen..Paid In Full is not coming back out again.” Amy moved to Fort Greene 28 years ago from the Lower Eastside. We have been friends since the 90’s when I lived in Fort Greene & Clinton Hill. After…
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The Blisslife of Amel Larrieux from Groove Theory & Sweetback
Today’s temperature was uncomfortably hot and humid but I perked up when I bumped into R&B songwriter Amel Larrieux at Broadway and 10th street. She has just returned from a vacation in the Bay area. We walk along 10th street and she shares the excitement about having her daughter in her band which comes out…
MY SMALL STORY: Over 300 Filmed New York Stories 