With the West Indian Day Parade in just a couple of days, it’s easy for my mind to linger on all things Caribbean. It’s such a great feeling to be able to go just a few blocks away and have such a mass of people from all over the West Indies, all the fantastic roti, all the great sorrel, all the ginger beer, all the maubi, all the music, all the colors, all the dancing and, of course, all the women in their tiny outfits jumping up to soca booming out of the flat bed mounted speakers in their bands.

What I didn’t know is that Japan also has it’s own fete! This one, called the Asakusa Samba Carnival, has a bit more of a twist… 99% of the participants are Japanese!! (Could you imagine if in New York they held the same thing will all the music, dancing, etc… except that 99% of the people were white?) Anyway, this is just another reason to go back to Japan. I simply would have to see this to believe it. Until then, these photos on Flickr and a video on CNN will have to do.

I have to remember to get over there next year!

(Photo by Olly Denton)

Well, the week for taking photos for What’s the Hook has come and gone. Currently, I’ve got 20  photos submitted, but I’ll get 4 more submitted before the deadline. Then it’s just waiting to see if any get picked. I hope they do!

I gotta remember to keep checking their Flickr group to see what the organizers are up to.

I’m finally back on a motorcycle as of Sunday and although the weather is terrible, I’m super excited. The Triumph Bonneville Black is the motorcycle I’ve always dreamed of. (I mean the engine is black for goodness sake!)

I have to remember to get out and ride as much as possible… between painting, taking photos, gaming, traveling, and, of course, working.

Last Saturday, after a morning of taking photos in Red Hook, I had to run into the city to buy a helmet before Motorsports closed at 5. By 4:20, I was in a car service car cruising through the Battery Tunnel. It seemed like I was going to make it, but then traffic stopped.

There were a ton of cops and all the tourists I assume were there to see Ground Zero were looking up into the sky instead of down at The Lack. When it seemed like we had come to the end of the traffic jam, there was a cop there forcing everyone going north on the West Side Highway to turn around!

I was pissed, it was 4:40 by now and there was no way I was making it all the way up to 46th street by 5. So, I got out and began walking to a different shop. When I rounded the corner to wade through the tourists past Century 21, I saw it.

It was a smoky blaze and it turns out that a couple firefighters died fighting it.

I should remember… I dunno… that bad shit happens, I guess.

All you need to know about this place is: Korean style steak and eggs with kimchi rice. OH MY DAMN, it was delicious.

Seems like some GQ reviewer liked the place, too:

The Good Fork’s Pacific oysters, lightly coated in cornmeal, were cooked just long enough to become warm and creamy, and they came with a salad of beets, fennel, grapefruit segments, tomatoes, and reduced grapefruit juice. When my friends finally arrived, I ordered more. You’re unlikely to have a more memorable fried-oyster plate in your life.

I need to remember to eat there as much as possible.

(Photo by uberfrau)

Another day, another shot for What’s the Hook. I should remember to get down there again this week.

In the words of the organizers, the What’s the Hook project is:

a community based photography project designed to document one week in the life of Red Hook, Brooklyn, one of New York City’s most unique and rapidly changing neighborhoods.

Just one of over 100 photographers who joined an open enrollment call, I’ve submitted my first photo to the project. It’s called “Overrun” and although it doesn’t show “life” necessarily, I think it’s a good first entry.

I’m interested in how this project will turn out, since it somewhat parallels my efforts to supplement bad memory by trying to capture a moment in history. Could be cool… we’ll have to wait and see, I guess.

Anyway, I need to remember to get out there and take more photos!

The first tornado in 118 years tore through a bit of Brooklyn yesterday. It passed about 3 avenue blocks away from my house according to this map. After all the storms the past weeks, I didn’t even bother to pull out my camera.

I should remember to not underestimate New York weather.

(Photo by b c bennett… no relation)

Update: More photos of the carnage at Gridskipper

Hmm… Another painting. I need to remember to keep trying.

Last night my woman took me to see A Camp at Union Hall. Union Hall’s music space is teeny-tiny making the show very intimate. I had never heard any A Camp music, but I’ve been a big Cardigans fan since Gran Turismo. So I was hoping for some great tunes and Nina delivered with a collection of light in sound, but heavy in message tunes that’s got me looking to pick up an album from them.

I should try to remember to catch a full-blown Cardigans show some time.

Update: Better photos here from the annoying guy right in front of us who wouldn’t stop taking pictures.