Umbrella Funeral

Poor Canadians in Brooklyn, they bypassed the beautiful spring weather and got here just in time for a winter backtrack and monsoon weather. Ah well, like I mentioned they are not very high maintenance so apparently Paul walked around with one of the broken umbrellas pictured below all day yesterday. They are only here for a couple of more days so keep your fingers crossed that they won't need to adopt broken umbrellas again any time soon!

Busted umbrellas in Brooklyn and Manhattan Monday, March 29, 2010.

Photos taken by Paul Galipeau on his Nokia cell phone. Visit his website, Le Champion Du Monde.

Opening Day: Coney Island

I have some Canadians staying with me in Brooklyn. They are the opposite of high-maintenance, very laid back and nice to have in the living room. After long days of studying and mini-meltdowns I get to come home and hear about their days and talk about mine. I don't ever want them to leave.
Yesterday, they went to Coney Island. It was opening day.

All photos (and thoughts) by Paul Galipeau. Check out his website.


Paul's Daughter...I wonder what her name is and also who is the mama?


Wonder Wheel. I think they closed early. There were a bunch of people coming out with Easter baskets when we got there though.


The beach.


Topless guy running.


Shoot the Freak: live human targets.

(Shout outs to Meaghan, Kastoory and Reanna.)

Hangover Daze

This is the perfect song to that cold Saturday morning to combat that headache, cottonmouth and general stupor. Especially after the night I had where my mind was blown by making a new friend, and finally seeing an old one. And by the morning's burst of surprise productivity. Playing hard must always be balanced with an extra measure of hard work.

Throwback

How you know you're getting older...

Lately, my friends and I have been compiling a list of how to tell you are getting older. Feeling ancient in our mid-to-late twenties we've observed the passing of the calendar mostly with comments about how we can't party like we used to, and (my personal favorite) hangover arthiritis. But I've been noticing a another side to aging, and it has nothing to do with liver spots.

I've really only noticed this in the context of television shows. Freaks and Geeks was something I always wanted to watch all the way through, so I did. **SPOILER ALERT** In the final episode the main character goes to follow the Grateful Dead around the country instead of a prestigious summer at a top university with other leaders and CEO's and such, and I was so disappointed in her I felt like my mother (before therapy). Even two years ago I would have thought it was awesome, but this time I thought it was lame.



Last night, on America's Next Top Model, one of the contestants admitted to wasting $25,000 tuition for school to be on the show. This time I was with a group of people and we were all horrified. Admittedly this time there was a hefty price tag included, and we naturally assumed that she didn't throw away her own money, but her parents hard-earned dough (although she was a pageant girl and if it was from pageant-winnings, we would feel much better about it). Still, people need to take huge risks to succeed, and they need to fail horribly to do so, learn from missed opportunities, why does it feel like we understand that better when we're younger?



While stuck in jury duty hell yesterday, I found this great article of successful people and their earlier pitfalls. My favorite part was when Warren Buffett got rejected from Harvard Business School and was terrified of how his parents would react, but was met with "unconditional love" from his father. Reminded me to try and start feeling excited for people who do something completely insane but completely liberating. It's all part of growing up.

-Kastoory

Choose Your Own Religion

This group at
University of Texas giving out porn in exchange for Bibles, seems to be the typical: recovering Catholic sort. Rebelling hardcore against a faith they didn't choose. I get the rationalization there is a lot of violence in the Old Texts, but is it smut?

I have had the luxury to choose my own religion, literally. As a child who made a leap to faith even after my mom
handed me "The God Delusion" and told me religion was child abuse. Dad gave me a small mazeltov. My sister is a practicing Tibetan Buddhist and the other is a Pagan holiday Christian. I am still informing my faith, but I'd say I am a spiritually seeking Jew who's into yoga.

What it always comes down to, is let people choose. Condemning porn is just as bad as condemning religion, which is what this "atheist group" is doing. Not as rebellious as they thought.


-MIss A

Story Pirates Part 2

So the Story Pirates event was yesterday, and the founder was gracious enough to speak with me about his organization and allow for me to cover the event. The comedians were funny as is to be expected, Jon Stewart and Todd Barry worked the crowd. While Kristen Schaal and Jack McBrayer played in skits for the afterdark special (not for kids), and John Oliver MC'ed.





There was a balloon raffle (where yours truly won an awesome book about the transformative powers of karaoke), and an open bar with a classy food spread, so the Story Pirates know how to throw a fundraiser. Proceeds go to public schools underfunded in arts programs, a very serious problem with the recent threat of budget cuts.

The joy of theater is definitely something the Story Pirates express in every skit and sketch. Since Pomp is doing a longer print feature on the social business aspect of what they do with much more information... for now, all we can say is that a lot of cynics had their hearts melted yesterday, it didn't look comfortable but they sure looked touched. Do yourself a favor and let your heart get melted here (better than a facemelt... swear).

International Obscura Day

Live near the Atlantic Ave subway tunnels in Brooklyn but never been inside? What about the musical ringing rocks in Montana and Philadelphia? Haven't you wanted to delve into the curious and strange places to visit all around the world? Well thanks to Atlas Obscura (winner of SXSW best new website awayrd!) there is a day dedicated to going and seeing all the strange and wondrous places around the world.
Find out details here: Pomp editors and Pomp team members will be splitting their time between Atlantic Ave Subway and the Vanderbilt Museum in Long Island. *Important note: MUST RSVP for Atlantic Ave tour.
Obscura Day info here.

-Kastoory

Sunny Afternoon

Ahhhh it's so nice out! This is ridiculous and much-needed, and if you know me at all you know that I can talk about the weather, pretty much forever. It ebbs and flows like my moods, like the times. And I love when it matches my inner landscape perfectly.
I'll curl up in the sunshine and listen to this song over and over, you are welcome to do the same.

Leprechaun Shit

Our wily pals at Skinny Bitch Jesus Meeting caught a wee Leprechaun! The fact that it's late on St. Paddy's and you're probs already hammered (I hope) should make this even better. I am so ready for some gold shit!



-Royal

St. Patricks Day Past and Present

My very First St. Patrick's Day celebration was when I was 15 years old. I was a senior in a high school in Long Island, a mere 45 minute train ride away from the insanity that is the St. Patrick's day parade. It was a beautiful day outside so after first period, most of us decided to make the day a senior skip day.
Following along with the people I was friends with (but never really friends with), we brought booze from some gas station in Farmingdale, and got on a train with brown paper bags that we swigged out of, giggling and looking out the window at the passing scenery. Some vague plans were made, but basically we wanted out of the suburbs, into the heart of the city and that was that.
In Manhattan everything gets hazy, I remember joining the parade, asking people for directions. Everyone amazed me, people cursed, looked different, laughed and drank together and seemed so diverse and complete.
We dance on the street, jump turnstiles, end up on the train back home as the sun slips down. The school is having float decorations for some football game, and then I'm fully back in the place where living is drudgery but life is some crazy dream, it is visions of people with green in their hair, eyes, clothes, face, even if they are from a million different places all over the world.

Dick Towel Black

In an omnipresent media world populated by such travesties as the Gosselins and Donna Simpson whose dream is to weigh 1,000 pounds, it seems all you need for success is a good, gimicky marketing campaign. Depressing. Yet, when marketing savvy meets maniacal talent, the results can be brilliantly life-affirming. The Gang from "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia" has proven consistently that with some brains (and a lot of booze) the American art of selling oneself can result in raging awesomeness. Check out Kool Keith reppin' DickTowelBlack in the most amazing music video since Justin Beiber (still don't know who this is) became a Trending Topic.

Kool Keith "Dick Towel" - watch more funny videos

Now if only I was so savvy.

-Royal

Smart or Stupid

Or neither, Diesel has been making a splash lately with their creative ad campaign, which substitutes the word stupid for innovative. Example:



I guess I look at these ads and I'm not sure what I'm supposed to think, this kind of brand ambiguity has been more prevalent lately as brands try to change themselves to be what they assume the consumer wants. But I always learned in high school that assuming, makes an Ass out of U and Me, so what about what the consumer actually wants? Is there a way, anymore to find out what that is? And how?

Pomp Goes SXSW

We so wish we could party at SXSW, but we're sending surrogates! Check out Friendly Fire Showcase (featuring our Survival Issue with cover star Andrew WK) and their great events throughout the week. Don't drink less than we would--which is a lot.



Friday 3/19 - FRIENDLY FIRE & FRIENDS SXSW SHOWCASE
at Lambert's (402 West 2nd Street @ Guadalupe - less than a five minute walk from 6th St!)
free giveaways of Pomp & Circumstance magazine!

1am - SLOW CLUB (Moshi Moshi)
12am - OH NO ONO
11pm - A SUNNY DAY IN GLASGOW (Mis Ojos Discos)
10pm - ELK CITY
9pm - THE WHITSUNDAYS
8pm - TAPE DECK MOUNTAIN (Lefse)

Oh No Ono, Elk City, and the Whitsundays have some other shows throughout the course of the week to which you are all invited as well:

WEDNESDAY 3/17:
2:55pm - Oh No Ono @ Terrorbird day party, Red 7 (611 East 7th St.)

THURSDAY 3/18:
3:30pm - Oh No Ono @ Billions day party, Mohawk (912 Red River St.)
6pm - Oh No Ono @ Homeslice Pizza "Music by the Slice" party (1415 South Congress)

FRIDAY 3/19:
12:15pm - The Whitsundays @ Everlasting Records party, Design Within Reach (200 West 2nd St.)
2pm - Oh No Ono @ Mess With Texas, Waterloo Park (403 East 15th St.)
5pm - Oh No Ono @ Danish day party, The Music Gym (815 East 6th St.)

SATURDAY 3/20:
4pm - Elk City @ Redhouse Pizza "Music for Listeners" party (1917 Manor Rd.)
5pm - Oh No Ono @ Filter/Dickes day party, Lustre Pearl (97 Rainey St.)

Story Pirates

So I have been hearing about these Story Pirates. A group of comedians and performers who make sketch comedy pieces and re-enactments of stories that children write. On their website they write that:

"Story Pirates is a nationally respected arts and creative writing organization founded in 2003 to celebrate the words and ideas of young people, to promote literacy as a vital part of early childhood education, and to preserve the spark of youthful creativity often lost in the transition to adulthood."

I thought that part was so interesting, because I remember always wanting to be a writer or something, and it was only because I loved stories. As a little girl I would always be making up stories and telling stories (unchecked, this can sometimes lead to a chronic lying problem... which has been resolved, I assure you). And more than that I loved hearing other peoples stories, just the way they told them was enchanting to me. More than anything, I loved how the telling was like a ritual. I would have to ask for the story pleadingly but not too desperately. The teller would argue and make up excuses but eventually sit on the end of my bed and fill my head with nonsense and faraway places.



Everyone has a story to tell, and I love that this Story Pirate organization is bringing that mantra to kids, because you forget the stories you used to tell as kids when you get older, and you wish you could remember. And what better way to remember than an event with John Oliver hosting and featuring Jon Stewart acting out these stories so we can all be transported.

March 21st, get tickets here.

-Kastoory

Hesta Prynn Timewarp

It was a major time warp Saturday night at Webster Hall. Girls decked out in spandex, lace, and puffy dresses stumbled around in droves from the Awesome 80s Prom being held on the main floor, while downstairs in the Studio, music fans were treated to a free set by Hesta Prynn that sounded, well, 80s. I found myself uncontrollably wishing my girlfriend had crimped her hair before she met me at the show. Oh well.

Prynn, a member of white girl rap trio Northern State, is less about the rhymes these days and more about distorted bass lines, dance-y guitar riffs, and driving rhythms. This isn’t music that you can exactly sink your teeth (or your brain) into, but songs like “Coming Up” and first single, “Can We Go Wrong” showcased Prynn and her merry band of hipsters ability to turn out effective and ultimately enjoyable Franz Ferdinand-esque dance pop, while “Seven Sisters” saw her successfully slipping back into her old rhyming ways. The set was short, weirdly so it seemed, but as a result the energy remained at full tilt and the hardcore fans were left pleading for more.

Prynn is not much of a singer, nor does she really seem to care. Her mission is to make people dance and judging by the ubiquitous smile embedded on her face and the reaction of the large crowd (free or not, it’s hard get people out these days), mission accomplished. Either that or one of those prom kids spiked the punch bowl. Prynn is taking her act to Austin for a series of SXSW shows and if she struts and shouts the way she did Saturday night, she stands to be very successful there.

-Charlie Duerr

Rabbit or Duck? Apparently, Rabbit

Yes, I watch How I Met Your Mother. I got hooked about two years ago when I had nothing to watch and a sudden expanse of free time. The characters are solid, Neil Patrick Harris is funny and they choose great music for scenes, (my favorite: Mother of Pearl by Roxy Music playing when Ted realizes he loves his bestie). So when last week they had their debate, of rabbit or duck and which is better... I had to agree with the general consensus of duck. I'd rather eat duck, hang out with ducks, watch ducks, and so on.



But apparently, in New York, right now, all the rage is rabbits. What is interesting is that the call for rabbits has more to do with the call for conscientious eating, heralded by Michael Pollan and Food, Inc. There have been growing trends to eating and shopping local, and learning the ins and outs of label reading. So... why rabbits?

Well, according to this NYT article (about the rabbit killing class in Bushwick - sorry I missed it), rabbits are easy to raise in small spaces, easy to kill, but also historically known as the crisis-war-time meat.

So where do you stand on the issue? Do you hate seeing cute wittle bunny wabbits being killed? Or are you ready for some rabbit stew?

Farming & Breeding Fresh Rabbits for NYC Restaurants *food curated* from SkeeterNYC on Vimeo.

-Kastoory

Indian Stoner Classic

Facebook has become such an interesting amalgam of everything random people think about through out the day, posted on walls, as updates, fed to us as news that we need to (choose to?) know about. And every now and then, I press play on one of the countless youtube videos posted and every now and then one of them is worth my precious, go-on-Facebook-all-day time.
This is definitely one of them.