May 2013
3 posts
Events are all around!
Follow http://nycwhatspoppin.tumblr.com for hip-hop, arts, and activist events in NYC. Nice!
Brooklyn, the Remix: A Hip-Hop Tour - Interactive... →
talibkweli:
Brooklyn Stand Up!
New York is changing, but Brooklyn’s always been NICE. Take a literary tour, courtesy of NY Times.
Purple drink
West Indians call it sorrel. Mexicans calling jamaica. West Africans call it bissap. The cultural diversity of NYC ensures that I’ll always be able to find my favorite juice. Nice.
April 2013
7 posts
When you want to catch the bus but must cross the street to get to the bus stop before it does, and the cars just keep coming. You wave to the bus driver, he nods. When the cars finally stop, you cross the street and jog up to the bus, whose driver is generously waiting for you. Nice.
Accentuate the positive
There was one disappointing thing that happened today. Not even bad, but disappointing and it has me feeling slightly sad all day. Then I started to count all the nice things that also happened today.
- The sun was shining and I walked through my first favorite Brooklyn neighborhood, Fort Greene.
- I pet cats and said hi to my former students in the park
- I got lunch at an old fav place....
August 2011
6 posts
Lincoln Center Out of Doors
Free Bhangra show where the audience is advised to only dance in the cordoned off side sections of the venue. When the band gets in full swing and the dancing crowd spills out into the aisles, security looks the other way. Nice.
No strings attached
Once I went to get dinner at the local Crown Fried (nice) and realized I was slightly short the cost of my order. A man came up and eagerly offered to not just spot me the missing change, but pay for my entire meal. He asked if I wanted anything else, even. Needless to say, I was skeptical. But then, before my meal was even boxed and bagged, he was out the door and gone. Just a guy feeling nice.
And the heat wave breaks
Even amidst thunder storms and grey skys, the music is beautiful and I can find my way home from Prospect Park through mist and puddles. Nice.
Drop-off Pick-up Laundrey
They fold it all so perfectly! Nice.
July 2011
31 posts
Neighborhood pride
Block parties, block associations, community blogs, community board meetings. Nice.
WatchWhen “post no bills” construction becomes public art. Nice.
Lincoln Towncars
Hail them. You can negotiate. Nice.
Stay dry
I got off the train in Union Square and it was raining. Hard. The last three times I’ve been caught in the rain without an umbrella, I’ve bought a new one. This evening I had 3 umbrellas to my name, all at home. The men selling new ones, conveniently located right outside the subway station, listed their lowest price at 5 dollars. I had two bucks. I started to walk away but a vendor...
DUMBO
powerHouse books has more photography books and hip-hop books and cool art installations than you could ever hope to find in one place. They let you hang out and read forever. Nice.
Public Transportation
On a hot summer day, riding downtown on a bus with air conditioning. Nice.
Endless Possibility
$2.25 will take you anywhere. Nice.
nycwhatspoppin.blogspot.com
Free music. Free art. Free dance. Free films. Free food. Free mini golf. Free Panels. Free drinks. Free museums. Free wifi. Nice x 10.
Fulton Mall Sneaker Stores
So many choices! Nice.
Earrings
When I told the man who sells earrings on Parkside Ave goodbye and that I was moving, he gave me two free pairs. Nice.
"Hello"
Say ‘hi’ to an elderly person sitting on their stoop. I bet you they’ll say ‘hi’ back to you too. Nice.
Outdoor Arena at Von King/ Tompkins Park
Shows are always filled with eclectic crowds. This is the most comfortable outdoor venue I’ve found, and no matter where you sit, you can always see. Nice.
Red Light Green Light
When I first moved to Brooklyn, I attempted to find the button you press on a cross walk sign so that the light will change and let you walk. They have that in Massachusetts. I was having trouble finding it. The woman waiting next to me kindly explained that I probably won’t find that in NYC. Thanks for the heads up. Nice.
Green Space
Walking the hills of Fort Greene Park. Sunday Drum Circles in Prospect Park. Painting nails on Eastern Parkway benches. Nice.
MTA
My first summer in the city, I got a free single ride card from Bank of America and it came in a hard plastic case. I also got a map of Fort Greene and the lower Manhattan subway map. 3 summers later, I still have both. I have lost Metro Cards, but never these. Nice.
Taqueria.
I order take out from Taqueria de los Muertos on a weekly basis. Often times Antonio delivers. Once, I didn’t have cash, but I told him I’d give it the next time, and I did. He remembers me now. When I moved apartments, I made sure to stay within the delivery radius of my favorite restaurant. When I opened to door for the first pick up at my new apartment, Antonio was surprised to see...
I kinda like it.
My gym gives out free candy. My dentist gives out free Kool Aid. Nice - ish.
Cross the street? Why yes I will.
Once I got a free bottle of soda from work (nice). I was walking home with it and waited on the side of Flatbush Ave for the cars to pass so I could cross the street. One car stopped before reaching any light, and a man called out from the window, “Look at you with that whole bottle of Coca-Cola! Go ahead and cross!” Who knew?
Nice.
Samaritans
One day I saw Talib Kweli at an art show (nice) and chatted it up with his kids. We all took pictures. Back on the subway, I was busy looking at the photos on my camera and quickly rushed off the train when I realized it was my stop. The doors closed. My phone stayed sitting on the bench of the subway car. The train left the station. 2 hours later, my mother im-ed me because someone had called her...
Bissap
Jollof’s in Clinton Hill sells the best Bissap Juice. You might call it Sorrel. I told them I wanted more than a glass. I wanted to take it home. They washed out an empty 3 liter water jug and filled it with the juice. It was delicious as always. And lasted forever. Nice.
Arrival
When I came to NYC, I got a job offer within the first hour and an apartment in the first 24. Nice.
The Why
Friends have left this city, or been unhappy in it, because they felt it was too cold, or too hot, or too full, or too empty, too real or too fake. I think it is beautiful. I love it. I want to show you the things I cherish.
