Get on the bike, bro

Do something good for once.

Here's more info on the event.

Check out the Cranksgiving Web site.

Meteors, Meteors Everywhere!

Two of my lovely girlfriends came out with me to the Everglades to try and see the leonid meteor shower taking place right over our heads, right now. We drove down 8th Street, a bit past the lights. There wasn't much to see but some stars. We did manage to each catch at least a few glimpses falling meteors. A magical ending to a pretty darn good day.

Books are cool, bro.

The Miami Book Fair International was the happening place to be this week. As witnessed in the photo above, it will make you do very, and I mean very, cool things. The Mystery Writers of America passed out fans with Edgar Allen Pow on them, and what a relief, because our lovely, little cold snap kind of vanished this afternoon.

I kicked off the week last Friday or Saturday with a reading by Barbara Kingsolver. In high school, we read Animal Dreams, which I have reread many times since 12th grade AP english lit. Although I went through an early Kingsolver ready frenzy in college, I never really got into her more recent epic novels. Maybe I was distracted, because they're international hits, and this means everyone else loves them. Anyway, one of her more recent books, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, documents her and her family's year of living off of local produce and their own little plot of heaven in Appalachia. She's not only a brilliant author, Kingsolver is an extremely interesting person and a great reader. When she signed my book, I actually became starstruck and stuttered my way through telling her my favorite book and about a mutual family of friends we share. So neat.

Though there was no Antiquarian Annex this year, the booksellers with the good oldies were situated in a tight little group by the entrance. There were some interesting things to flip through.

Please, someone tell me that they have read this book and that it was wonderful.

This is my friend Hillary. She's wearing a limited edition A Walk in the Woods backpack. Not sure if you know how extremely awesome Bill Bryson's book is, but it is a combination of the funniest and most interesting book ever. If I could date this book, I would.

Headz is a novel for music lovers, and The Jewish Lady, the Black Man and the Road Trip, is for black men and Jewish ladies.

Here are the McSweeney's people. The guy on the left and the chick in the middle were pleasant enough to bargain with me on a book. It looks like it'll take me an hour to read, so I thought it should be more inexpensive. They didn't agree.

These 2 dudes had long hair and tons of style. Yes, these are dudes. A pink french braid? I think this will rule my fashion world for the next few weeks.

Poetry is making a comeback in the 305. You may occasionally catch the Poetry Depot typing away at art walk, tailoring poems to your liking. They also have Five Cent Journal an anthology of local poets. Google it.

I also found some guy who writes road trip/travel guides, American Auto Trails. I want to buy some when I finally make some cash.

The Books and Books, pre-fair teaser, John Irving:

Music and fashion, bro.

Clearly, directly influenced by my last post regarding both Sonic Youth and a top 12, Criterion's newsletter went out yesterday with a link to Sonic Youth's top 12 favorite Criterion Collection films.

*****

Artist Caroline Hwang, whom I've had the pleasure of spending some time with over the years, was recently featured on the Yves Saint Laurent Parisienne blog. As I looked through the beautiful pictures, I quickly noticed that the majority of recent content is about the our magic city, Miami. How majorly awesome that the people of YSL feel that Miami has what it takes to make it big. I always knew we were a cute city, not so fashionable all the time, but this demonstrates progress. We're making strides. We're almost big time!

Books and Books is featured, which gives me a thrill (the Book Fair is this week-go hear some authors and read something on paper for a change), and so is A La Folie, the yummy creperie on Espanola Way.

Welcome to Miami, YSL! We're all sun and fun here. Sun and fun.

He Crazy

I found this on White Lightning.

I can't even begin to explain how this brings me back. It's not like I'm Kim Gordon or anything, but one 0f the highlights of my high school trips to NYC was going to X-Girl and X-Large. X-Girl is/was Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth's line where all the clothes are engineered for miniature, slender or Asian women. X-Large was the Beastie Boys store nearby. A few years ago, I bought my favorite jeans at the X-Girl in LA, but I think it was on the way out and is now closed.

The clothes themselves weren't what was actually cool. It was the whole idea that your favorite musicians made clothes you could afford. You could wear their gear of your idols, and it made you feel closer to being a part of the music they made, the image they portrayed. I loved Sonic Youth when I was in middle school, which was, sadly, before 1994, so the whole visit to the store was a thrill. With time, X-Girl clothes became much more stylish than this. It's sort of a sorry representation of what the era and X-Girl was all about. Anyway, I was excited to see this.

*******

I love Chuck Klosterman. I'm not like in love with him, and I mean, it's not like I've read every single thing he's written. I admit I hit a wall reading Fargo Rock City, but I loved Killing Yourself to Live. I think he's a personality genius.

Flavorpill has a post listing his top 12 albums that'll kick writer's block. Given the inconsistent blogging I've done this year, I feel I may need that inspiration.

Posting this just in case you do too.

******

One last thing:

Precious.

Congrats to my bro and bros.

I was jetsetting 2 weeks back, not for fun in the sun (though I did manage to get some in), but for the weddings of my little brother and one of my oldest and dearest girlfriends.

Jimmy, my brother, married Leah in DC and the following weekend, Stephanie married Flo in Los Angeles. Both weddings were beautiful and most importantly, very, very fun! Whereas I end up dancing to Robin S at gay clubs worldwide, I got to get low to Debbie Deb at 2 weddings, at both ends of the nation. You can take the bros out of Miami, but you can't take the Miami out of the bros.

In DC, it was so amazing to catch up with my family and old friends all at once. I loved having all my aunts and uncles and many of my cousins, Eddie (who flew in from London for 2 days), Liza and Kevin (from New York for 1 day!) all in one place to celebrate. It was so awesome caching up with Steph and Flo's friends, meeting new ones and bringing Miami to LA. I couldn't have seen more people I loved or met more interesting people in one week, short of getting married myself.

I wanted to write some sort of beautiful, sweeping congratulatory toast to the two wonderful couples, but I feel incredibly insecure doing so. I guess I could just say that it's rare to see couples more devoted to each other than these two. Both couples are best friends with their partners, they love and respect each other in all things. I think that no matter what, these bastards love the crap out of each other 'til the end and will be committed to making things work - and that is what marriage is all about.

Even though the journey around the country was exhausting for me, I was honored to attend the celebration of two unions that, I believe, are solid and enduring.

XO

Halloween 2009

Stevie Nicks playing my jukebox

Kim from Housewives was at my house - Tardy for the Party

Lil' JonBenet Ramsey and MC Hammer

A tall glass of water and an alka seltzer for your belly

One hot piece of ass

Roy and Leela

Just a Power Ranger on a rainy day

Diego as a mummy

Poor taste

Alvaro and Jen working the dead surfer/snorkeler look

What's up in Miami right this very second, well maybe in a few seconds, or days...

I keep starting blogs and not finishing them. Right now I'm going to attempt to write something coherent and publish it. Attempt.

So, tonight, there's an art opening called 305//Neon Life for Francesco LoCastro at Kidrobot. It starts at 6 p.m. and Jose El Rey will be the DJ for the event. I guess LoCastro's show is about the 305, as Miami lovers, it might be neat to check out. I don't understand why Kidrobot doesn't have more events like this. I mean, maybe I'm just out of the loop and they do all the time, but isn't it just the perfect nerd or wannabe nerd gathering spot? They always can bring out a crowd. Some new Japanese toy that literally looks like my ass comes out there's a line around the block. I don't understand, but I get it.

Also, tonight at Electric Pickle, there's a rockabilly thing going on. Not 100% sure about this, but I'm going to swing by. I hear karaoke Miami is making people sing at Ecco Lounge on Thursdays. It's the new restaurant/bar that I haven't been to, but which is owned by the Poplife/PS14 folks. Now I must go, because I am a karaoke fanatic. Neck Face is signing books at OHWOW tonight too, 8 p.m., if you're interested.

Friday night, I think there's an opening at Spinello Gallery, called Littlest Sister, at 7 p.m. The roster is long, very long. You're bound to know someone showing.

On Saturday, Justin Long's show at 20/20 is closing. I'm not sure there'll be oysters this time, but there will be Justin, and that's good enough for me.

Also, there's the Sleepless Nights thing on Miami Beach. I know this event started off weak a few years back, but I have high hopes for it this year. Definitely stop by the Bass Art Museum. Christy Gast will be performing at 9 p.m. and I am saying - go, so go. Also, my buddy Carlos told me he made these gigantic Nirvana tee-shirts that'll be on display there too. The whole thing sounds awesome. Swing by the Art Center to say hi to me on your way down Lincoln.

That's it, I'm publishing this shit right now. Whew. I have almost nothing to do all day, and I manage to get nothing at all done. It's fascinating. Have a good weekend, bro.

Happy Halloween, bros.

Click here for the photoshopped animals - not terribly interesting, but the chimp/MJ is disturbing and Jesus cat is funny.

'Tis my favorite holiday once again! I've been planning my "disguise" for almost a year now -- I'm nuts, I know. However, I only began the construction of my costume two days back and am only actually whipping out the glue gun today. Wish me well. If you see me tonight, just know that my costume is interactive, so please feel free to pick a song and see what happens.

As far as events go, I'll probably be keepin' it cheap at the house and then to OHWOW for a bit. Neck Face, the graffiti guy whose name is tagged all over NYC has a show up, and it's free, so yeah. There's a Gen Art event at the Awarehouse, but it costs $20 and I am poor as dirt, so unless someone wants to let me in for free, I won't be doing that. Busy P will be at Poplife tonight, go for a chance to sweat your costume off.

Well, maybe I'll see you later, maybe I won't. Either way, I'm warming up my vocals and wishing you all a happy Halloween!

Another One Bites the Dust - PS14

OK, so tonight is the final party at PS14! I have had so many great, boring and terrible times there that I must say, I'm a bit sad it's over. I wrote a little something on NBC about it, but I thought I'd share some more personal experiences, blog-style.

I remember a time when I was spending like 5 out of 7 days a week sitting by the pool table, hovering out back or dancing a bit. I guess I was really bored with my life in general, but my friends were there, so I had to go! The casual feel made it easy to show up wearing anything at anytime. The same awesome people were always working there, ready with hugs and love.

There's something that's always been very real about PS. It's got a mini-club edge, though not obnoxious or flashy. The atmosphere is also not that of a boring, flavorless bar (think not Titanic). You could catch talented live musicians performing in an intimate setting and still have room to dance, mosh or loiter. Both MIA and Ariel Pink hung out there after their Miami shows, sort of local glam.

Sometimes it was fun to hang out and sometimes it was torture. In traditional So. Fla style, PS was never a stranger to drama. I've gotten into plenty of arguments there, some valid (with nasty people), others from heartbreak (shitty exes) and then there are the ones I excuse to the exuberance of drinking. I've thrown things, pool cues, drinks. I've cried there. Once, after eating a bad burger, I even threw up in the sink. Oh, nostalgia! Mostly though, I chatted with friends and I spent a lot of time hugging. Hugging and dancing, both were staples for me at PS.

The sucky thing is that, like all things in Miami, people lose interest in what works and want to try new things that probably don't work as well. I just wanted to say that Miami won't be the same without you, PS 14. It's been fun.

Lookout Tuesday, bro

What is this? Debbie Deb performing tonight at the Delano? I just over-danced to "When I Hear Music" at two weddings, one in DC the other in LA. She bridges the east coast/west coast divide and will hopefully be heard at many events for years to come.

Weirds and Weirders

Tonight, Night of the Weirds is moving over to the American Legion on 64th St off Biscayne. I wrote up something here. My friend and former roomie Nathan (Stickyrice) mentioned that the Legion is like the new Polish American Club, and I thought, how accurate. Now the Legion just has to start pulling in some national acts like Tortoise or whatever the '09 version of Tortoise might be. I'm not that hip.

I've already written about how much I love this night. I think it makes me happy because it feels like there's an actual underground scene here in Miami. I mean, I'm sure there are groups of friends doing shit that feels underground or whatever, but this is a nebulous group of people, many who've been making music locally for many years, who perform as a community of different looks and sounds. Something cohesive but not consisting of inside jokes and exclusivity. Me likey.

Oh, and what is this? I heard that the ever mighty John Irving will be speaking at the Biltmore Hotel this Friday, merci a Books and Books!!!???

I must attend.

Until I Find You is by far the longest book I've ever read and possibly one of my favorite first 600 out of like 900 pages of any book ever. I tried to finish A Prayer for Owen Meany when I was 11, but I didn't. I had to ask my aunt what happened in the end. I obviously only really enjoyed the bizarre and perverted parts. I had to look up one word for every 200 I read. I got through an impressive 300 or so pages. I mean, I was eleven. Forgive me.