Brian Alfred is an artist based in Brooklyn. His work rooted in his time has a strong personal insight. Compelling.

Till feb 20 at Haunch of Venison Gallery.

1230 Avenue of the Americas
Between 48th and 49th Street
20th Floor
New York, NY 10020

T +1 212 259 0000

ICP where you always will find a good photo exhibition paired with The Point, a non-profit organization dedicated to youth development and the cultural and economic revitalization of the South Bronx, to create a photo center that brings accomplished artists and photography students.

You can buy photos by the students.  Each print is an edition of 25. 50% of the proceeds from the sale of this image benefits ICP at the Point and the other 50% going to the young artist. Prints are made on demand. Here is Embrace of Angelica Castro : $200.

THE POINT CDC
940 Garrison Avenue
Bronx, NY 10474
P: (718) 542-4139

“Thank you all for coming. I  just remind you that there will be a Q&A after the film. Please stick around“ To me, this sentence is so NYC. NYC has so many events where artists are invited to talk about their work. That is specially true for the movie business. Film Forum, the space for independent cinema, is a reference for the NYC’s film culture. Therefore, it welcomes filmmakers, writers and actors. In 2009, Joan Didion, Matt Tyrnauer, director of Valentino, André Leon Taley, Vogue’s editor at large, Frederik Wiseman, So Yong Kim and many others stopped by and Milos Forman was there on January 5th. You can download  the podcasts of all these talks. 2010 celebrates the fortieth anniversary of the film Forum. MoMA’s Department of Film invited Karen Cooper, director of the theater since 1972, to curate an exhibition of nonfiction films that premiered at Film Forum. They all give a peculiar prospective to their topic, I would recommend The war room directed by D. A. Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus. Enjoy !

209 West Houston Street
New York, NY 10014, United States
(212) 627-2035

JD Salinger died a few days ago. If by any chance you haven’t yet read Catcher in the Rye, it’s probably the time to do it. It fits perfectly the mood and the soul of people who love New York. The pace of the writing reminds the energy of the city and the story takes place in it. The NY Times had the great idea to publish a map in order to follow Holden Caufield’s walks around Manhattan. RB

Il buco means litteraly a hole in other words a little place. If you want to have a true fine but rustic  Italian cooking experience, you have to come here. The freshness is amazing. Ignacio Mattos, the cook, loves green markets, it’s where he hangs out the most. Il Buco is not only about food. It’s also about the place. Its warmth thanks to the wooden tables, the dishes and cutlery reminds the unique way Italians welcome friends, family and strangers.  Prices are reasonnable. RB

Mozzarella di Bufala con Pomodoro e Basilico $ 14.

Malfatti di Ricotta ai Funghi $ 20.
ricotta dumplings, hedgehog mushrooms, mint, parmesan

47 Bond Street (between Lafayette & Bowery)
New York, NY 10012. 
Tel : 212.533.1932

Amongst the peculiarity of NYC, there is the birth of graffiti i.e the birth of a new culture in the 70’s. In 1974, the iconoclast Norman Mailer wrote an essay about this art pairing Jon Naar’s stunning photography. The Faith of Graffiti became a milestone. Yesterday, Jon Naar presented a slideshow of his pictures followed by a discussion. Check the book. It’s an amazing plunge in a culture that was not considered as such. Graffiti artist were for a long time seen as thugs….

Patti Smith is one of the main figure of the NYC scene since the late 60’s. She spent the early ’70s painting, writing, and performing when she was a member of the St. Mark’s Poetry Project. Her music belongs now to history. Since yesterday, she  has a book out, Just Kids. Her first book of prose, where she tells, for the first time, what was her experience of beeing in NYC with her best friend the photographer Robert Mappletorpe, hanging out at Chelsea Hotel. The book is about two kids committed to create, fueled by their mutual dreams and drives and who made and respected the pact to take care of each. Therefore, Just kids is also a NYC anthem. RB

Just Kids, From Brooklyn to the Chelsea Hotel, a life of art and friendship/Harper Collins

Inna Raykhman is a 38 manager at a financial software company who lives in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Though, she was born in Ukraine. When Samantha met her she was wearing a Diesel coat, and what a coat ! a Jbrand jeans, Chloe glasses, Uggs boots, a BCBG scarf and gloves which she doesn’t remember where or who by the gloves are !
Her favorites

Cheap store: Tokyo7 in East Village
Expensive store: Opening ceremony, Bedford cheese (cheese shop in williamsburg), Conran
Restaurants: right now, its Supper in alphabet city, Nyonya – Malaysian- in China Town- and Omen – Japanese in Soho.
Nightlife place: Monkeytown in Williamsburg.
Secret place: the city, it’s streets, Central Park, quiet corners of Brooklyn, old Brooklyn, like Vinegar hill, that has an old American mansion, surrounded by power plants, decrepit houses and old barracks.
I LOVE NYC because it’s a smaller model of the world.  You can find anything, anytime, anywhere within the 5 boroughs.  The city is a living breezing organism, that becomes an important character in your life, and some days you get along famously, and some days there is a strong mutual dislike.

Samantha Adam©Samantha Adam

Tonight the soul funky poet number 1, Gil Scott Heron, will perform at SOB’s. Today is Martin Luther King Day for which Gil Scott Heron fought for.

Scott Heron is a political activist for the civil rights since ever. This comitment lead him to write words and music. Actually beautiful art. He wrote deep thoughts wrapped on music that would make you dance or cry. He is now a broken man. It feels that he has to fight to keep on living as if his sense of life has been weakened, as if his beliefs were knocked. Tall and skinny he looks like a leaf. Sometimes, on stage, it’s really sad to watch him but each time there is a moment where the magic takes over and the experience starts to be intense. I would definitely suggest to go and  see him tonight. He has two shows at 7.30 and 9.30pm. Know, he is always super late. RB

I’m new here, his new record just came out. The first in 13 years !

204 Varick St.
New York, NY 10014