Archive for March, 2010

• Atlantic City and History’s Angels

  Wednesday, March 31st, 2010

  Coming to Atlantic City today can be a heady experience, one with a fantastic kind of sensory overload, where all of the sights and sounds come to entertain the eye and the mind. It’s a place where dreams are made realized, or where anxieties can be put to rest for a time. It’s about fun, and there are attractions here that can appeal to visitors of all ages. It’s not just about the casinos, and in truth, it never was. The city might run on the income earned here, but there are plenty of other reasons for coming.

  The boardwalk is one of these that immediately comes to mind, and guests can step outside their dream hotel and set foot in a very iconic place. This is the boardwalk of teenage romantic dreams, with ice cream and salt water taffy, and speaks of the history of Atlantic City. There is an incredible history here, one that extends beyond the boardwalk, and past the stories of gangsters from another golden age. This was the site of the 1964 Democratic National Convention , famous not only for giving the go ahead of Johnson, but for a rather remarkable and troubling testimony.

  In a remarkable speech given by Fannie Lou Hamer , the country woke up to some of the depth and severity of discrimination, and it opened up the doors for so many changes in Civil Rights in the US. This was one of the highest tides in the history of the movement, and tensions were high all over. Her own story not only highlighted the need for radical change, it also put the issue of voting rights squarely in the center of history’s stage. She also pointed out some of the deep rifts that were still in existence, and gave power to the notion that it was impossible to wait any longer.

• Chicken Art in DC

  Saturday, March 27th, 2010

  Washington, DC is one of the main centers of power in the world. Politics, finance, and technology grow and thrive here, occasionally cross-fertilizing each other, and its scope reaches around the globe. It is also a place for tourists, with excellent hotels , and a host of attractions that the whole family can enjoy. It is also one of the main centers of art, with extremely creative people interrogating multiple realities through various media, like painting, video, and the chicken.

  Until Koen Van Mechelen came along, the chicken was fairly unrepresented in the art world. There were extraordinary instances, of course, but his recent exhibition at Connor Contemporary put the chicken back into the center of things, where it belongs. It seems a little absurd, perhaps, or probably, but after a little while with the material, it starts to make perfect sense. There is a delightful sense of humor about everything, but the heart of it is really very earnest, and also very convincing.

  This exhibition, part of his ongoing Cosmopolitan Chicken Project, stems from the artist’s own experience as a child, raising chickens in Belgium. He was inspired nearly a decade ago by the developments in biodiversity, and that law of nature that tells organisms to grow or die. Things move and evolve through diversity, mixing it up on a cosmic level, and he noticed that chickens had not been subject to a lot of mixing.

  In fact, the research suggests the opposite, that the chicken has been inbred for centuries, and has come to reflect the cultures that raise them. So he decided to cross a Belgian with a French chicken, and then to cross this with one from the US, and so on, until they began to resemble the wild Himalayan chicken. This project, then, is a chance to see the results of his findings, but it’s much more than a science project.

  Through the various media that the artist deftly manipulates, the viewer can observe live and stuffed chickens, life in a chicken coop, and ample opportunity to reflect on life on the planet right now. Looking at the chicken as a metaphor for who we are, and also seeing who we might be when we see the constructed borders as the imaginary lines that they are.

• LA Profile: Ezra Buzzington

  Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010

  It takes a bit of stamina to brave the kinds of forces that might come against you in Hollywood, and that doesn’t mean earthquakes and mudslides, but a totally different animal altogether. It might be a cow disguised as the worst agent in the world, and it might be a cow disguised as a true friend who really has your best interests at heart. Really. It’s part of a dream to check into one of the best hotels los angeles has to offer and get discovered while checking out the city for the first time, and although it’s certainly a long shot, but stranger things have happened.

  And one of the strangest things to ever happen, thankfully, is Ezra Buzzington , who happened to Los Angeles long enough ago that he’s part of a scene here. The scene he’s part of, incidentally, is the one that he makes up wherever he goes. This character actor has style, and has a remarkable charm that seems to suggest a world-weariness that’s combined with an unstoppable heart, and all of this is a rather impressive combination for all sorts of roles. One might not be able to place it right away, but when you hear his credentials, it makes sense.

  Camp and horror certainly come to mind with Buzzington , who took his name from his Grandfather, who himself was a mighty presence in Vaudeville. Ezra, the present version, hails from Muncie, and moved to Los Angeles via New York, Chicago, and Seattle, all excellent theatre towns. And although his credits include film, he’s got a very substantial resume for theatre. It would figure, as one of the regular’s at Hollywood’s excellent Theatre of NOTE, as well as experience with plenty of other companies, including Tim Robbin’s Actor’s Gang. It’s really very necessary to note that Ezra is very young, and much younger than he appears, and that’s all part of a very elaborate plot, that might be revealed in the next film or play.

• NY Aqua

  Wednesday, March 17th, 2010

  There’s no better city in the world than the one with its very own mermaid parade. Out of the thousands of reasons to love New York, this has got to be in the top one hundred, because it is an idea that should make sense to an awful lot of people, but not too, too many. Still, this will be one good reason for New York’s hotel ‘s to get full, and it’s a good thing, too. There are many mysteries in this city, with something interesting to offer for every facet of human consciousness, and this would include its very depths, and even some of its widths.

  For anyone looking to discover why it’s such an exciting place to live, it’s definitely recommended to try check it out during the Mermaid Parade . This one opens up the summer at Coney Island, and also offers a slice of naturalism to an otherwise dull pie, and one that is hard to come by without losing a few hours, and wondering what exactly did happen. At the end of the day, we’re all a little bit shorter, and the most inspired among us find themselves taking pen to paper, and getting it ll down for awhile.

  It doesn’t matter that there are too many choices for things to do, and too many ways to honor the aquatic heritage in New York. Aside from the NY Aquarium , there are few real chances ever taken in order to compete with the senses of possibility. New York has it all figured out once again, and it’s not keeping quiet. Sometimes we wonder if the laughing is with us, and sometimes we think they have fallen into a frenzy of their own making. All of these are worthwhile. When there are enough people interested in the way spring moves to summer, that’s when things start up with zest here, but Coney Island will have already opened.

• Bobsledding on San Francisco’s Lombard Street

  Thursday, March 11th, 2010

  Perhaps I still have Olympic fever, but I am starting to believe Lombard Street should be the next training ground for Olympic bobsledding teams. Look at the crazy zigs and zags the street has. Who else in their right mind would tackle it but the bobsled teams? What a great way to increase tourism by having an international bobsled race down Lombard. All of the best california hotels would be packed full. I can hear the Swiss ringing their cow bells already as their team starts the initial push. Bet they could push some serious Gs going down that hill!

  Located in the exclusive Russian Hill district, Lombard is lined with some seriously expensive real estate, mostly Victorian beauties. Everyone says it is best to start at the bottom and walk up but you had better be in shape to master that many stairs. While trekking up what’s known as America’s most crooked street, be sure to stop and smell the flowers. On the crest, at the Hyde Street Cable Car line, expansive vistas open to include Ghirardelli Square, Fisherman’s Wharf , the Bay Bridge and Telegraph Hill.

  Oh yes, mentioning the Wharf made me want to scarf down some delicious San Francisco treats. Why not go from a crooked street to The Slanted Door, widely praised for its fresh Vietnamese cuisine. Yum. Better than dining on Alcatraz. Let’s get back to Lombard. The street runs east and west. East will take you up Telegraph Hill where you will see Coit Tower and west runs through the Marina toward the Golden Gate Bridge. I just can’t get the treats out of my mind. One of the best restaurants in the Russian Hill area is Frascati, a tri-level Mediterranean style bistro. Always busy, you’re guaranteed a fun night dining there.

  So it’s doubtful there will ever be any bobsled teams training on Lombard, but it offers a good challenge for people like me and you.

• Achieving Your Personal Best

  Monday, March 1st, 2010

  It is a common goal among people of all races that they want to do and be their best, so that when they reach the end of their lives they will have no regrets about how they lived and they will know that the gave life their all. Unfortunately it is easy to get caught up in daily life and allow the mundane tasks of day-to-day life take over. Even with the best intentions of being the best parent, spouse, or employee it is easy to let that goal fall to the wayside when the small and routine tasks come calling but we feel we have bigger, better things to do.
  One of the first things that we teach our children is that if they are responsible and earn our trust in the small things, they will eventually be trusted with more. It is an easy lesson to teach but not quite so easy to learn or remember. The same principle applies in the work place. Even if you have gained your employers trust with faithfulness and strong leadership skills , it is important to maintain the trust and follow through now matter how menial the task may seem.
  Take advantage of new opportunities. You never know when you might get the chance of a lifetime. It could lead to a new position or a new career. If you have a dream of reaching a certain goal, take the steps to get you there. Many companies offer corporate team building programs that can help you make connections and advance to the next level.
  Life is short and we never know when our time will be up. If we always do our best, follow through on our commitments, and take advantage of every opportunity then we will be ready for whenever that time comes.