Volume I. Issue 1
Cover Art by Jaime Sunwoo
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TABLE OF CONTENTS FASHION 22 Do’s & Don’ts
BLAST FROM THE PAST 23 Halloween 07’ Collage
ART/EXHIBITS s
T
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Outlook on the Lower East Side: Clayton Patterson
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Satsumatic
8
Getting to the Point (Georges Seurat: The Drawings)
24 The Greenwich Village Parade
10 Featured: Zoe Burke 13 Making a Home:
Japanese Contemporary Artists in New York To See is to Know (BODIES...The
16 Exhibition)
THEATER 14 A Classic Challenge (Pygmalion) 15 Double Review (The Phantom of the Opera, Aida)
FOOD Restaurant Spotlight: Manna
17 Kitchen
IN THE LIFE OF or
MUSIC 26
Concert Review: Say Anything
18 Where I Live: Coney Island
27
Album Reviews
33 Subway Stories: Just Another
28
Featured: Weechos
One
COMICS 30
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Rajani
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A R T
GALLERIES
OUTLOOK ON THE LOWER EAST SIDE: CLAYTON PATTERSON by Victoria Kam
There are some things that seem to easily withstand the test of time. The distinct neighborhood of the Lower East Side in Manhattan is one of them. The Lower East Side has battled with dark episodes in its history such as riots and excessive drug abuse that have since died down. The Lower East Side is a patchwork of many memorable locations with vibrant history and deep meaning. Clayton Patterson’s photography of the Lower East Side preserves and captures these ideas best. The day-to-day lives of the drug addicts, prostitutes, homeless and punk rockers that have resided in the Lower East Side for the last twenty years are displayed vividly in his collection. Patterson’s photography invokes an aura of hostility that corresponds to the struggles and problems within the community. Whenever he sees a person who represents destituteness or pain he makes sure to capture the lifestyle of that person in his images. Patterson’s work demonstrates the insecurity of some of Manhattan’s toughest times. Untitled (I know where you live) [1990] shows two homeless people under a bus stop that 4
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UPPER LEFT: Clayton Patterson, Untitled (drag queen- Mr. Fashion), C-print, 1987/2007. Courtesy of the artist. UPPER RIGHT: Clayton Patterson, Untitled (Micheal Wilson), C-print 1990/2007. Courtesy of the artist. BOTTOM: Clayton Patterson, Untitled (Cochise), C-print, 1992/2007. Courtesy of the artist.
was twenty years ago and how it developed into the diverse and vibrant neighborhood it is today. Clayton Patterson, Untitled (we know where you live), Cprint, 1990/2007. Courtesy of the artist.
has an advertisement from New York Newsday claiming “We Know Where You Live.” This piece creates an ironic link between the subject and the background. The piece Untitled (Cochise) [1992/2007] is just as vivid when it comes to describing everyday life in the Lower East Side. Patterson acknowledges those people
who most others will neglect, giving an up-close and personal view of the neighborhood. He depicts a place that is not pure or utopian in order to remind us that there are issues and problems in the world that need to be resolved. Through his photography, Patterson paints an image of how life in the Lower East Side ISSUE 1 2007
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A R T
GALLERIES
SATSUMATIC
by Rio Nosé
From October 18 to the 27th, HPGRP Gallery New York and Denen Shuzo proudly presented an exhibit featuring three native Satsuma illustrators: Satoshi Ohtera, Chinatsu, and Shoichiro Takei. They used their artistic skills in computer media, fashion,
and picture book drawing to compose artwork inspired by the natural beauty and cultural history of Satsuma. This exhibit presented a new art movement -”Satsumatic.” Japan is composed of many different regions, each having different ideas
that form a unique regional identity. Satsuma, now known as Kagoshima Prefecture, is located on the southernmost tip of mainland Japan. The Satsuma movement was an important time period during which the people of this region adopted new cultural elements. Christianity, for example, was introduced into Japan by Saint Francisco Xavier in the 1600’s. Also, the feudal system was destroyed and Satsuma accepted Western culture due to political and social changes at the end of the Edo period, the time when the Meiji Restoration of 1868 took place. Because of these changes, imperial Japan became very powerful and many new, talented artists emerged.
SATOSHI OHTERA
His theme was “the fusion of plants observed in the garden with a SciFi sense.” Ohtera evinced both nature and technology in his computer graphic illustrations. I think that Ohtera successfully demonstrated the complex relationship between nature and technology; the idea that since so many people use technological instruments, they are becoming part of nature as we know it. In one of his pieces, there is a large robot standing in the middle of a forest with branches and leaves sticking out of his body. When 6
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you look closely, you can see that there are people standing inside, looking out of the window. I think that this piece is very clever. Humans are beginning to overuse technology; it is now part of everyday life.
1 Shoichiro Takei, HPGRP Gallery 2 Satoshi Ohtera, HPGRP Gallery 3 Chinatsu, HPGRP Gallery 4 Chinatsu, HPGRP Gallery 5 Chinatsu, HPGRP Gallery
CHINATSU
Chinatsu only used four colors; black, to represent the dark side of Kagoshima; red, to represent passion and the feminine; blue, to represent the sea and the masculine; and white, to connect the world. Her theme centered around showing the “boldness of a beauty and an emphasis on tradition while living in the new age of Satsuma culture”. I have seen her artwork before, as it is used in different kinds of fashion media. Chinatsu’s artwork was my personal favorite, because it looked very simple and yet showed a deep understanding of Satsuma cuture. Also, the boldness of her illustrations seemed very powerful.
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people dancing, with the large and glittering night sky hovering over them. The sky seems a little melancholy, but the two people dancing at the bottom of the sky appear very merry. This was an excellent exhibit to visit in order to learn about the Satsuma movement and its impact on the culture of the region and the country of Japan as a whole. The three artists successfully interpreted the culture and behavior of the people of Satsuma.
ture books for little children. The drawings and stories he composed for the Satsuma exhibit display the love of Satsuma’s people for their natural surroundings.
SHOICHIRO TAKEI
Takei was like any other boy when he was a child; he enjoyed drawing small illustrations and comics. His hobby as a child became a profession, and he began making illustrated pic4
3
On the wall of the exhibit stretched one of his picture books. This was a story about a little dog who falls in love with a stuffed animal dog, and goes on a journey to save her from a hectic festival. Takei’s largest piece was my favorite; he drew two
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A R T
EXHIBITS
GETTING TO THE POINT by Amanda Hayley Sonnenschein
The Museum of Modern Art’s current exhibit, “Georges Seurat: The Drawings,” is a show worth exploring. Georges Seurat, (1859-1951), is most popularly known for his neo-impressionistic style of pointillism, an art form which requires both intense attention to detail and incredible patience to execute. It involves the application of miniscule points of color and light to create a pixilated perspective of the scene being depicted. The exhibit at the MOMA, however, features Seurat’s drawings and sketchbooks, and provides a unique window into the journey of this painter and his transformation from conformist to revolutionary rebel. this show, the drawings on view capture the rudimentary output of a young artist. Demonstrating good form, these pictures mark Seurat’s early experimentation with an array of media ranging from crayon to colored pencil. Although the works often yield a sketchy quality, they hold to correct and realistic proportions. In this same space one can easily detect the artist’s initial foray into impressionism. He captures nudes with a realistic rendition but has them emerge 8
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from a sea of graphite darkness. These pieces are simple yet captivating for their focus on shadow and movement. Seurat experimented with conté crayon, charcoal, black chalk, and graphite on paper. He played with the results of uneven hand pressure and he was just beginning to discover how he could utilize the materials together and separately to varying effects.
The pieces exhibited in the second room of this show are rather dark and gloomy, with an emphasis or on their faces. A rather intriguing work is that of the artist’s mother. Produced from 1882-1883, the portrait is drawn with conté crayon on paper. What is so captivating about this piece is that it is deceptively simple. The mother’s face is light around the nose, cheeks, (continued on page 36)
your
Georges Seurat, At the Concert Européen, conté crayon and gouache on paper, 1886–88. Courtesy of The Museum of Modern Art, New York.
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A R T
featured
Zoe Burke
done much for bands that aren’t really close personal friends of mine Earlier this year I was supposed to make something for The Casualties. They are probably the biggest punk band in the world right now, and I was going to do a t-shirt graphic for them cause the guitarist’s girlfriend found me somehow, saying how she really liked my stuff and I thought it was great because they’re the biggest punk band in the world but they never got back to me because they’re basically all alcoholics, haha.
Zoe Burke, Fast Food Die Young, pen
Zoe Burke, Casualties Flyer, pen
LGM: Where do you see yourself in ten years? Are you planning to pursue an art career? ZB: Well I mean, that’s what I think I do best, so yeah, probably. I don’t really know what kind of art, but I work in pen and ink.
Photograph by Benny Lam
Interviewed by Jaime Sunwoo
LGM: What art are you taking Guardia right
LaG Mag: What kind of artwork do you do? Zoe Burke: Basically I do band art. I like having a voice in my community My friends keep asking me to do art for their bands and they pay me, so why not? LGM: Music seems to inspire you. Are there any ZB: In I Am Me, I wrote down lyrics from CRASS, an anarchist punk band from the early 80’s who really inspire me. I’ve had people tell me that they like my artwork because it brings back an old school sense. I don’t 10
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Zoe Burke, I Am Me, mixed media
really agree with that, because I put a lot of crazy stuff in my artwork like band aids, and little hearts where they shouldn’t be around dirty looking kids who are drinking and getting messed up and I think that adds a little personal touch to the old school things people say I do. LGM: Do you have any interesting experiences with bands you did art for? ZB:
I
haven’t
really
classes in Lanow?
ZB: Right now I’m just doing advanced print because they don’t offer pen and ink classes. They offer illustration but I hear that’s a pretty BS class. LGM: A lot of artists try to incorporate their political opinions in their artwork. How do you feel about that? ZB: Well you know, the thing about punks is that they all get into being so political. I think I just make fun of that a little bit. In Fast Food Die Young, I’m just like, hey, I love fast food and I don’t care if it makes me fat. Photograph by Benny Lam
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A R T
EXHIBITS
The Japan Society presents Making a Home: Japanese Contemporary Artists in New York by Harlie Brindak
I don’t care, if they say there are huge corporations destroying the world. I like to be funny in my art. LGM: You try to make fun of punk stereotypes. Do people ever judge you? ZB: People can stereotype if they want but it’s their choice. If they want to stereotype me, I’m going to stereotype them. My art is just about being stupid and completely enforcing the stereotype cause it’s funny. People actually think that people are like this and it’s not really true. I don’t know, I think it’s kind of ironic.
Zoe Burke, Post Stickers, mixed media
Zoe Burke, Rich->Punx, pen/ marker
For all you art lovers out there who are looking for something a little different from the well-known museums such as the MoMA, Whitney, Met, or Guggenheim, you must check out one of the lesser-known galleries located at the Japan Society on 333 East 47th a unique collection of art from contemporary Japanese artists that call New York home, including Yoko Ono, Ushio Shinohara, Kunie Sugiura, Yuken Teruya, and Aya Uekawa. One of my personal favorite artists in the exhibit, Noriko Ambe, uses her meticulous skills to create masterpieces made of hand-cut paper layered on top of each other in order to construct beautiful, amorphic, and 3-dimensional sculptures. Besides the sheer beauty of the work, you can spend hours mesmerized by the level of craftsmanship and detail invested in her pieces. Another artist showing in this gallery is painter Aya Uekawa. Her work is so spectacular that I even mistook her paintings as computer generated art. These are just two of the many artists in this exhibition. Overall, walking through the halls of this gallery was just a wonderful experience. From the modern Japanese architecture of the Japan Society itself to looking at the artwork, you will leave truly invigorated. I highly suggest a visit
Noriko Ambe, Sculpaper 2, cuts on yupo, 2006. Courtesy of the artist.
Aya Uekawa, A Safety Crown, acrylic on wood panel, 2007. Courtesy of the artist.
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THEATER
THEATER
A CLASSIC CHALLENGE
DOUBLE REVIEW by Valerie Wang
Review by Amanda Hayley Sonnenschein
The art of drama has had a long and venerable history dating back to the Greeks. Over the centuries, it has evolved and given rise to many permutations. It is unfortunate that in our pop culture there is no great demand to view many of the classic examples of dramatic literature. Broadway willingly bankrolls musicals of movies, Disney cartoons, and special effects extravaganzas, but as for the classics, revivals are relegated to limited engagements, and usually only if they can be headlined by a famous movie star. It is within this context that the Roundabout Theatre presented Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw at the American Airlines Theater.
Courtesy of tecfa.unige.ch
Courtesy of roundabouttheatre.org
Pygmalion is probably best known as the play that was adapted into My Fair Lady. The Roundabout Theatre version, which opened on Octoactress Claire Danes in her Broadway debut as Liza Doolittle and actor Jefferson Mays as Henry Higgins. The production is directed by David Grindley. The curtain rises on a crowd of Londoners waiting out a torrential downpour under a majestic awning. There are a number of scenarios occurring simultaneously. This should have been an exciting montage of different walks of life and language being 14
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observed and recorded by the linguistic expert Henry Higgins. However, the scene, though visually arresting, was presented statically. There was no ings. The actors stood on an equal plane declaiming their situations straight to the audience with little thought to verisimilitude or dramatic focus. We should have made note of Mr. Higgins making note of others. Instead, he was hidden behind a column, his pen and pad surreptitiously discreet. Similarly, Liza burst onto the scene in shadow and confusion. Without the crowd’s recognition and obligatory applause for the movie star, her entrance might not have
The opening scene was indicative of the balance of the production. The sets, designed by Jonathan Fensom, were beautifully rendered interiors rotated into play on a turntable. The angles were interesting but the usable space was limited. The cramped feeling was only enhanced by the actors’ lack of physicality. Mr. Mays was somewhat more adept at utilizing the space, but his petulant stomping and childish posing came across as an actor’s arbitrary blocking choices instead of a director’s thematic visualization. (continued on page 34)
The Phantom of the Opera is a musical about an ashamed, hideous man who sets his eye on Christine, a young dancer with a great voice. He uses her as a vessel for his music and forces the opera to let her sing the lead role in their productions, contributing to her rise to fame. The phantom’s dilemma is that he is in love with Christine, who already has another love interest. The theater company is constantly trying to come up with ways to destroy the phantom. As for the rest, you’ll have to see it for yourself! There is a reason why The Phantom of the Opera is the longest running show on Broadway. The majority of the cast is very talented in both acting and singing. The elaborate costumes and eye-catching sets added to the musical’s brilliance. The lake on the way to the phantom’s lair is particularly impressive. A thick smoke is released onto the stage to create an eerie effect, covering what would be the surface of the lake. Then, elaborate candles rise out of the stage. This set is exceptionally memorable. The orchestra is also breathtaking and dramatic. The music and score contribute to the enchantment of the show.
Courtesy of welcomebooks.com
Set in Ancient Egypt, Aida is a classic story about forbidden lovers. Aida is the Ethiopian slave of Amneris, a powerful Egyptian princess. Aida and Amneris are both deeply in love with Radames, a mighty general who commands the Egyptian army when it goes to war with Ethiopia. Radames loves Aida and hopes to win the war, making him able to free and wed her. This opera is breathtaking. The score for Aida can be called an example of Italian Romanticism with an exotic twist. The voices of the actors are brilliant and rich and the choreography is beautiful. The scenery is complex, absolutely stunning and at times even surprising, with real horses galloping onto the stage! Aida is performed at the Metropolitan Opera in Lincoln Center and on weekdays tickets sell for as low as $15. You will not regret going to see this!
(continued on page 35)
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TO SEE IS Manna Kitchen TO KNOW RESTAURANT SPOTLIGHT:
by Ariana King
by Katrina Cortes
Walking through a museum of dead bodies may make some people queasy, but not me. Kept open by popular demand in spite of the controversy, “BODIES… The Exhibition” is a museum that shows the visitor how the human body looks and how it works.
entire room dedicated to showing how smoking, alcohol consumption, cancer, and strokes affect the lungs, liver, larynx, and brain. The presentation of the bodies is excellent. Every room starts off with a body and a general description. Everything is narrowed down as you continue on through the room. Each body part is shown with information next to it, allowing the visitor to learn in-depth about all the body parts.
for all, providing everyone with an opportunity to see real human bodies and how they function. Courtesy of Bodies...The Exhibition
The most fascinating part about the museum is that the bodies are of actual human beings who have been preserved through special methods. Though the various body parts are kept in glass cases, the bodies themselves are not; but don’t worry, they don’t smell. The exhibition allows one to learn about the human body with incredible visuals, creating the opportunity for an examination of the body from many different perspectives. Some parts of the body- certain muscles rather than whole arms or legs- are exposed in order to show others, like veins or bones. The exhibition also has bodies that have been cut in half in order to illustrate the body’s symmetry, or the relationship between the body’s major organs. There is also a body that has been divided into four sections in order to illustrate the distribution of fat in different body segments. The exhibition also shows the effects of various diseases on the human body. There is an 16 ISSUE 1 2007
In addition, on the walls, there are small fun facts and blown up projections that show how blood vessels, veins, and other parts of the body work. One may argue that this exhibition is unethical because it uses bodies from China that have been unclaimed. In China, if a body is unclaimed, it is donated to science. The knowledge that the deceased had no choice in the matter of having their body donated to science disturbs many people. There may even be relatives of the deceased still searching for them. Nevertheless, this exhibition provides an educational Courtesy of Bodies...The Exhibition e x p e r i e n c e
viewed for the Lag Mag had to be Korean because too large an amount of people have never consumed it. Sure, you’ve had Chinese and Japanese before, but Korean cuisine is totally different. Manna Kitchen is on 18th street between Park and Broadway, by Union Square. It’s actually really small and
closed on Sundays, but it’s a fairly cool place and the food is rather tasty. I’ve been there a few times already so I’ve grew a special admiration for the restaurant , but I will be as harsh as necessary.
Taste: Often, the people who enjoy Korean food like Bulgogi, which is basically barbecued beef with a really delicious sweet sauce. They have the dish here, but I’ve never tried it so I can’t give my opinion. The Korean rice cakes are particularly tasty. They are really chewy and I found that the Spicy Rice Cake appetizer is particularly good. Although it is an appetizer, the portion is really large, and it may be too spicy for everyone to handle, so I suggest ordering a bowl of rice with it, or in the case of a weak ability to eat spicy foods, avoid it completely. On the Noodle Soups section of the menu are Ra-Myun, UDong, and So-Myun, which are basically Ramen, Udon, and Somen, respectively. I’ve tried the Ra-Myun and So-Myun, and found both fairly good. The Ra-Myun
Art by Ariana King
noodles were actually memorable and I found
cooked
are broth choices to suit personal preferences, so I can say there might just be some noodles to suit you. Jap-Chae is
Most students are not awash in money, and all dishes are under $16. Only the beef or other meat dishes are over $10. The prices are usually around $8 per dish, but the
plate of noodles with vegetables and traditionally beef (it can be substituted at Manna Kitchen) but I don’t recommend it from this particular place because, to be honest, I’ve had better elsewhere. Some meal choices come with the traditional sidedishes that Korean food tends to be famous for, including the famous Kimchi. The Asian Pear Salad is also good because I’m not a fan of pears, but I like Asian pears, which taste different from regular ones. The Chicken Teriyaki is pretty good; it was really rich and sweet. The tofu dishes are also not bad and have but not all of the dishes tended to be bland, but have a very home-
kind
of
taste.
Price: $ $ $ $
They have a lunch special from Monday- Friday where you can get a meal and side dishes for a reasonable price.
Environment: The environment is actually nice. It’s a small quaint place that always smells fragrant and is exceptionally warm during the winter. Order a soup and eat when it’s cold outside for maximum comfort. They also have a snack stand.
Overall: The food is good, the prices are good, and the environment is nice. There are quite a few tofu dishes and other vegetarian options. Although there are many great Korean restaurants scattered throughout NYC, Manna Kitchen is certainly a great place to start. ISSUE 1 2007
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Where I Live: by Maria Plotkina The Q train clatters to a halt at the Ocean Parkway stop at the border of Coney Island and Brighton Beach. tice is scaffolding, which hides some of the overgrown train tracks and of the ocean. The name Coney Island has trament parks and the the name of a vibrant and historical neighborhood. People from home, and each region of Coney Island repre-
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Photography by Maria Plotkina
Upon descending the steps from the elevated area that is home to mainly Jewish immigrants and of the former Soviet Union. They do their shopping and eating in nearby Brighton
train tracks known simply as
“Every building has a park or lawn neaby,
es or playing soccer or
held on the stage. Some
nearby.� their grandmothers gossiping on lawn chairs nearby. To the right of Brigh-
the Q train is a relatively small park known as crowning glory is the large, canopied stage
well-known artists like ABBA have also performed there. ing down Brighton Beach
of local teenagers sitISSUE 1 2007
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between even more tall well-kept
green
lawns.
cars and complicated trafexcellent
“Bagle
Store,”
is misspelled in the front window. To the left is a small shopping plaza that contains two pharmacies, stores, a diner, and a pizally, I go there for their rolls; en, spinach, or meatball roll.
High School is a zone school that nevertheless has an excellent photography program and is well-known a newly renovated McDonalds that serves mainly teenagers and senior citizens who have nowhere else to spend their time. very short Sheepshead Bay Sheepshead Bay). There is and to the left looms a have seen the tragic movwill immediately recognize of one of the main characters. Indeed, the movie
a store with friendly owners -
to enter than portrayed in views of the neighborhood and the ocean. There is a small path leading off from
iar area. Here is the heart of fried chicken stores nearby, and instead of spending -
pair shops, the Mark Twain Middle School, and many -
come here and pay only bigger and tastier. In the winter, this area is cold and
nevertheless beloved, Coney Island Creek. Also, on
of diverse people from ing and shoving their way down the street. The wall between the Pizza on the
going strong since 1924. It boasts what might be called the best pizza and the longest lines in Brooklyn.
place contains a very bi-
Island- Stillwell Ave. train and N trains and also happens to be the most energysolar-panel and glass-plat-
been moving in steadily. A relatively long time ago, the neighborhood
spent simply standing there
there are several rem(continued on page 34)
“In the winter, this area is cold and
all of New York City pushing and shoving their way down the street.”
on the corner of Stillwell and Mermaid has good coffee look down Mermaid Avegrocery stores with Mexican are many Hispanic people in this part of the neighbor20
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Fashion
DOS & DON’TS By Rio Nose Photography by Benny Lam
Jeans and black legdoesn’t work--It’s old now, so DON’T DO IT.
BLAST FROM THE PAST:
HALLOWEEN 07’ By Benny Lam
It’s getting it be small, soft ones or big, poofy ones, scarves are a
colored Don’t wear stripes and spots at the same time, look at.
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GREENWICH HALLOWEEN VILLAGE PARADE By Jaime Sunwoo Photography by Harlie Brindak
People of all ages came to participate in the parade and Some displayed
A crowd favorite was a choreographed performance of Michael
their artistic talents
warming,
Halloween
year. The leaves on the trees were yet to brown
in the parade--- look at the size of these skeletons!
-
-
sonal interaction with them. This
made it pleasant to stroll een. The air became started to set. Breathing in crisp air and the wind Sea
Halloween began for wich Village Parade.
monsters, perhaps?
screamed along costhe line between the zombies,
and
drag -
Bacardi
sponsored A clone trooper
catching with bloodin a giant barred cage. The Miss Horrorfest
thinks to himFlying skulls held by face-painted paraders.
self. Hmmm....
wich Village Halloween Parade did not disappoint this
Float in all its ghoulish
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entirety.
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MUSIC
MUSIC
CONCERT REVIEW
ALBUM REVIEWS Spoon
Merge Records
based indie rock band strikes another effort-
by Ren Santiago
titled Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga and intelligence emerging along the way. It
clap generator. Lead singer Daniel managed towards the more relaxing walk-down-the-
after they signed with J Re-
Say Anything is an indie rock band from LA.
think. There was some mishap with their release, and
Menora/Majora and Junior Varsity and one LP, Baseball. Being
they were being sold for and In Defense of the Genre are a bit more “hard-rock” than
available to download all All their songs are fantas-
old emo moods on their songwriter/frontman, Max Bemis. In their song, ‘That In Defense of the Genre, there is a line that
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Are Dead and Some
Recommended tracks: Track 1 “Don’t Make Me a Target”
Shifty Disco B strange combination of the three then considering it’s a three piece band.
with bipolar disorder. It’s cool to know that even
The concert was on Octo-
and the band’s got problems, they’re all together trying to make it happen for them. They signed with ...Is with an addi.
at the door and cameras The Polysonics started off
Knives...Are Dead
The Young -
more tracks than the original totalThe sarcasm is meant for a somewhat
techno vibe. Then Dan (continued on page 35)
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MUSIC
WEECHOS FEATURED
-
rhythmic beat boxing and a raw, distinct voice, rolling over a smooth, extemporized dled crowd, I yearned to see who the mystery rapper from across the hall was. I peeked the seven head bobbing one I had not expected.
and khaki pants. The boy’s hair was neatly combed over to the side, and he and swayed to each word he rapped. Camera phones ing the rare appearance despite the risks of getting to catch the phenomenon. The performance ended in After they settled down, I brief interview with the crew. QUESTION: What do you guys call yourselves?
BEAT BOXERS Jullian Brown Wesley Ramos RAPPER Manny Ortiz Joe Martin Ryan Isles Keef3 Carter Jhonathan Padilla Agron 28 ISSUE 1 Chris 2007
Interviewed by Jaime Sunwoo
ANSWER: The Weechos. Joe Martin is our main rapper. The rest of us beat box. Q: How did you meet? A: We all met randomly from LaGuardia. We became friends with Joe through his rapping. He kept free styl-
ing during lunch and he’d come to different tables. We all ended up collaborating and adding on to the group. Q: Are you all vocal majors? A: Actually, just one of us. We’re all art majors. We have one drama major but he’s actually cool, haha. Q: Inspirations?
A: Slick Rick, Big Daddy Kane, LL Cool J, Kool G Rap, Doug E Fresh, Big C, Blackalicious. Q: Do you guys ever perform onstage? A: We hope to. Q: Weechos? A: Anywhere---4th period lunch, in the senior lounge, in the hallways, we’ll be there. ISSUE 1 2007
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“
by Paul Vergara
”
town 1 train. I was going home after school trying to read , knowing reading the Sparknotes for it later that day. As I stood there listening to my iPod,
in which it always closes. I homeless person. Lo and behold, it was indeed a homeless man. He was most likely somewhere in his he wore his hair in some sort of messy ponytail. He was wearing far too many layers for the weather. He had already bewhat I was listening to. I had a tendency to try to listen to the poor people on the train. Their speeches smidgeon of my attention, else did. Most people were looking at their shoes or the shoes of the person standing in front of them. The rest were trying their hardest to avoid looking at the homeest in the advertisements
Art by Gwendolyn Kehrig-Darton
train car window into the terest in the man’s speech. I tried not to listen too intently as the man spoke of terrible experiences in shelters and hostels and how he had to sleep in Riverside Park the previries and recite them like a so what makes this man different from the rest of the people who beg for gedy clothes and tell a sad
this man deserve the eight 32
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cents I received in change his horrifying experience in collect money from sevinto the 116th Street stato recite a poem I wrote.” “Oh no he didn’t,” in my own mind. Despite my hasty reaction, a little bit of me wanted “Oh no, not again,” his voice over the herd of way on board. The line grasped my attention and the attention of the rest of (continued on page 35)
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33
ing down Ocean Parkway
CONTINUATIONS
once again. Alternatively,
Where I Live: Coney Island
Coney Island train station.
ment park. A little to the right is the Keyspan Park the Brooklyn Cyclones and ablaze with neon lights every evening. Close to it is holds many small concerts. ice cream shops, as well
Mermaid Parade, as well as
weekends especially, the beach is packed with people and the water is packed with garbage. However, if a weekday, away from the ant experience with warm water and great waves. Strolling down the board-
The three tallest rides in the park are: the Cyclone, coaster that is both amaz-
people simply taking walks. After passing the Cyclone,
that offers one of the most
repaint the wall with vari-
and the observation tower, a slow ride excellent for those who wish to take everything in while snapping three rides there are dozens of others, ranging from to kiddy helicopter rides to small rollercoasters that
there is a large wall with a
and random sharks and
-
ery kind of marine animal
of small streets that lead towards the ocean, and ing wooden steps that lead
dolphins to stingrays, and there is always a special demonstration or display
becomes distinctly more
and piles of rocks that stick the right is a relatively new 34
ISSUE 1 2007
Theater Review: A Classic Challenge Perhaps the greatest disappointment came with the lack of chemistry between the two main characters. In this interpretation, Henry Higgins seemed to be a closeted gay or excited by the prospect of creating a believable interesting choice if the character was indeed excited and interested by the act of his creation. Unas played by Ms. Danes,
booths and candy stores
expanse of sand, dotted
of Coney Island will soon be torn down and renovated, the distinct atmosphere of the neighborhood will most likely remain the same. Drop by for a
be able to see Asser Levy park, where we started down the steps from the boardwalk and keep go-
to the end, she showed accomplishments and no ing predicament as a lady with no society to which tress had little command of dialect coach appears in the credits, her accents, both Cockney and the lish, seemed inconsistent. acters fared a lot better. -
and Helen Carey gave a al of Henry’s mother, Mrs. Higgins. Also notable was Jay O. Sanders who exploded onto the set as the irrepressible Doolittle and Classical theatre can be vibrant and relevant to
Subway Stories: Just Another One cited a very simple poem
thinking. He knew that we
before leaving the stage. look at him, trying to ignore that he was even there.
After twenty teasing
He referred to him-
Linder walked on with his smile and sat himself be-
embrace the genres of the thrive with an eclectic array of theatrical history. -
of those homeless people begging for money.
vehicle to accomplish this.
platforms, on street corners, on the train. He was
Theater Review: The Phantom of the Opera
dirty, poor, homeless men that we pay no mind to.
-
wasn’t a work of art; it wasn’t Shakespeare. It was the voice of a real person. The eight cents in change
Hanson, who plays Christine Daae on Monday and
a dollar from the wallet in my bag as he passed by me
voice and she doesn’t ever, I expect the main actress, who plays Christine,
I handed it to him right as
who plays the phantom, has an excellent voice and is a great actor. Marilyn Caskey, who plays Ma-
elevated track. He said a
Despite its minor frailties, The Phantom of the Opera
Concert Review: Say Anything
and he needs to stop both-
a director’s strong vision
the emotional context of their characters with grace
once I heard the clinketyclank of the door between the train cars, I pressed play on my iPod and the
kept walking. The only other person I saw hand him some spare change was a brown-haired Hispanic girl with blonde bangs that were gelled onto her forehead as if they were some kind of cranial armor. He
the right of the stage, bass in hand. Jacob set the beat and Alex kept the rhythm and the crowd was losing it already. The most hyperactive of the fans and right seeing how far ers, Jake and Jeff, who took their skinny pant-clad ly, Max Bemis stood before in which he wished for. He In Defense of the Genre, entitled
The band as tight and Personal space forgotten, I was cramped into the front with three legs between my own, an eland an armpit at my ear. 35 ISSUE 1 2007
They played ‘Skinny, Mean ed we form that sweet little circle called a mosh They played songs off low Cat/Red Cat,’ and a even closed with ‘Alive an inspiring old favorite of before Say Anything came on- sweating like crazy, dancing, moshing and
Their show was amazing; they were hyped and had Say Anything soon left. It was inevitable. As if scripted, half the crowd left, a grand welcome to Halloween. It was a phenomenal night. I didn’t even care that I was soaked in other people’s sweat.
Exhibit Review: Getting to the Point darkness so that it is hard hair, and even her ears are so faded that it makes The grim feel of this portrait lationship with his mother. the opposing wall of this 36
ISSUE 1 2007
shapes and physiognomies of the people and are
doing
and
where -
however, the artist still cannot escape conveying the gloomy, desolate side haps that was the intent. My favorite in this entitled “Plowing.” It was the same time period as “The Artist’s Mother,” and like that piece it was comon on paper. This work, titled, is a love scene set against a placid backcomposition is almost entirely black, yet the shape
ettes placed against a There is clear evidence of the origins of pointillism in this work. The sky, and rendered with the emerglarly appreciated how, by areas of his sheet blank. Drawings,” will be on display at Art