"4th & Jackson" Grassroots Weekend

The disconnect between the plate and the pasture is so immense, we consume, without knowing where our food came from.There is a great book named the "Celestine Prophecy". In this book, spiritual groups plant and maintain their own gardens. They chew slowly and enjoy every bite. This is very much missing this connection to our food in urban areas.

In response to this disconnect, we have created our own container garden.
We are growing the following:
zucchini
Peppers
Tomato's
Lettuce
Thai Basil
Tarragon
Pansies








We have also re-potted just about every plant in 4th & Jackson. We are looking for a way to better sustain ourselves though this economic downturn. Every little bit helps.

ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION IN COMMUNITY GARDEN

More than ever, we are finding the 3rd & Jackson Community Garden less of a sanctuary for gardeners, and more so for beer swilling residents from across the street. In its latest attempt to dispel beer drinkers, the organizing of the 3rd st community gardens have cut the picnic tables into kindling. Sux, big time.

This is a reality check for those who have not looked at the stock market *Clearing throat* -
YOU WILL SAVE MONEY BY PLANTING AND HARVESTING YOUR OWN PRODUCE! PUT DOWN THE BEER AND STOP BLOWING UP THE SPOT FOR YOUR GARDENING NEIGHBORS.
If 5.0 roll up to the community gardens and expel the beer guzzling crowd a few times, it will mar the public gardens image. We can ill afford that, especially at a time when sustainability is paramount on the global "To Do List".

Instead, I would like to focus on what the gardeners are doing. Here we see how easy it is to plant beans. Here we see one of the gardeners has planted 6 rows of beans, all of which should be ready to harvest by mid to late May.

Here is a wonderful article on how beneficial Community Garden are and the role they play in our communities.

The Community Gardens are an underutilized commodity. There are still lots that are unreserved or have not been used for sometime. I think some of these are fallow because Hobokenites don't know about them yet.

Took a Dive off of Fall Creek Drive!

I wrote this song when I visited Ithaca, NY.
I met some wonderful people, and saw first hand the differences between us hurried New Yorkers and the sedate chilled-outness of our northern friends.

Click here to hear "Art School Girl".

Art School Girl
Hey Art School girl, Where ya been,
the shows been over for an hour and Ten
All the cars have pulled away
I've got Five drink tickets, and its last call
And I wanna Rock with you!

Art School Girl, you live on a Farm
Blah Blah Blah, your favorite song
Theres an after-party goin on.
You know the town, so we're following yall

Thick black lines across a canvas
the parties live, and it's right next to campus
the more you talk, the more you prove yourself a shrew
Then 5.0 rolled up

The party moved to Arcadia hills,
Art School girl fell asleep at the wheel
took a dive off of Fall Creek Drive
It's kinda sad, and I'm fixing to grieve.

But that night on the lake,
with the moon on your face
looking on a gorges view

That life would be lovely
Yes, life would be lovely up here
That life would be lovely
Yes, life would be lovely up here

Ithaca Redux

Ithaca is Gorges

I met up with Steve, Ben, Peter, & Jake from Daylow on Friday. The departure time was moved from 4:45 to 3:30, so I had to get a move on.

Steve, Ben, & I drove in one car. Poor Steve had pink eye, so every so often during the 5-hour trip, the smell of Purell would permeate the air. We loaded up on wet naps (you know, just in case Steve touched anything) and arrived @ Castaways in Ithaca early.

Daylow was slated to open up for Rising Sun and The Gunpoets, a hip-hop band from Ithaca. Man, were the hip-hoppers out in force. Daylow went on @ 11:00pm, and ripped it.

Reflections on Ithaca:

Gullys and Gorges. Granola and grins. Lots of good vibes from the people. There is something to be said of a hip-hop show that was well attended by dancing hippies. The sight of many non-Africans with dreadlocks in the audience was a sure sign of a tolerant city. Rising Sun & The Gun Poets worked the audience for a full hour, and it still seemed like they could have continued without pause or breath. The audience, composed of local rockers & hip-hoppers was out in force, waving their hands, and dancing (some with oxygen tanks in tow!)

The Gun Poets CD was produced by local producer J-San, himself a local hero. It was at his house that we started our foray into Ithaca social culture. J's neighbor was a wonderful bundle of energy, who knew all to well that the success and longevity of a large party was nearly impossible without keeping those party goers in the backyard quiet as church mice. he repeatedly implored all in earshot to quiet down with extra long "SSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH's". I even echoed him to see if we could start a trend. To no avail. 5.0 Rolled up 2-deep, and began the hustle of visiting party after party to address noise complaints.

Party Number 2.

Ben and I were left to our own after the show. The other band members of Daylow took off on their 5.5 hour trip back to NJ. The shut down of the first party led to an invitation for the party to reform @ our hosts house.

Ben and I made bee-lines towards our sleeping accommodations. 2 couches in the main living room were provided for R&R. Soon after our arrival, a WII tournament had commenced in our bedroom. moving tot he kitchen, our host was busily preparing cheese quesadillas & Cheese tortellini. I had some girl talking my ear off about crystals and energy harnessing. My main focus for the evening was clear: try to drop some flow, with Ithaca's best of the best.

No use. Too tired. Fell asleep.

Waking up @ noon, our host provided us with driving directions out of town that would have us pass some of Ithaca's famed waterfalls. I was floored by the curves of Ithaca, drunk on the views from the descending twits in the road, and encouraged to visit again for a longer period of time. I passed what I think was the Cornell campus. It looked like Hogwart's school of Wizardry as we whizzed by the collection of stately buildings.

It was great spending time with Ben, An Alabama transplant from 11 years ago. I did learn something very important: Do not ask a truck stop counter person to remake your tuna sandwich without brushing up on your diplomacy skills.

Possible Daylow Excursion to Ithaca, NY

I still need to make a hand-out for tonights "Urban Jungle" event in NYC.
I am going to put something together as soon as I am done coordinating next weeks work schedule.
I have taken off tomorrow, so there is no need to worry about getting out of the club late.

I am going to responsibly rock out tonight. I still have to drive home!

Tomorrow I hope to be going to Ithaca NY for a musical excursion.

I have never been up there, but I hear it's "Gorges" I will be riding with the guys from Daylow.
If everything works out, I will enjoy the scenery change.

To much asphalt makes a man bitter.

2:30 Saturday April 12th.

11:30 I started the process of quickly cleaning the space (my apt) in order to accommodate visitors. I planned for 1 hour, and I just started mopping @12:30. Furthermore, I realize the "Random Roland Shit" I have already condensed (which took months) needs further consolidation.

I am coming to terms with my being a clutter bug, but "we do what we gots" in order to have things presentable. I was debating having a "Fortoul Presents: After party" here. I was prepared to have the walls prepped and hang the art for a weekend. This would have involved about 12 hours worth of work. The work would include spackling, repainting, positioning, setting up the space, alerting the right people, yadda yadda yadda.

“Urban Jungle: Making Waves, Tagging Bridges”
Group Art Show. Curated by Roland Ramos.
Presented by Antagonist Art Movement.

Niagara Bar will play host to a one night art show comprised mainly of Hudson County based artists. The group show, aptly named “Urban Jungle” is hosted by The Antagonist Movement and will take place April 17^th from 8pm till 2am in the downstairs section of Niagara Bar 112 Ave A, New York, NY 10009.

Combining street themes, contemporary art & music “Urban Jungle” bridges them all, with a twist. All participating artists reside in Hudson County, NJ; the thin strip of land due west of NYC. Highlighting this geographical distinction places emphasis on the burgeoning community of artist that exists on the periphery of the sacrosanct New York art scene.

Graffiti influences much of the displayed art. Artist’s WASE , SCET, and Hyphen-One bring credibility to the emergence of a contemporary art movement based on graffiti art applied to traditional canvas. Photographers Emily Anne Epstein, Camilo Godoy, Robert David, & Roxana Marroquin bring a documentation perspective to street art, capturing the “Flavor” of the streets. The cast of participating Hudson County artists include Amy Bauer, Caridad Rivera, Isaac Fortoul, Gordon Fraser, & Felix Gosse.

Participating artists: Amy Bauer, Caridad Rivera, Isaac Fortoul, Gordon Fraser, Felix Gosse, Emily Anne Epstein, Camilo Godoy, Robert David, Roxana Marroquin, WASE , SCET, and Hyphen-One

Musical Guests:
9pm: The Hippy Nuts (www.thehippynuts.com)
10pm: Ramelan (www.ramelanmusic.com)
11pm: Hyphen-One & Daylow (www.daylow.net)

Roland Ramos & "Fortoul Presents" The Sum of all Parts" April13th, 2008

"Instrument" by Bill Rood

Jersey City poet, Bill Rood, has a lot to write about.
The poem below talks to the reality of being a musician.
Please take a moment and read this poem.
How does it speak to you?


"Instrument"

Sign on street says, singers, songwriters, drummers, guitarists apply.

Band needs you if you've got groove, rhythm, and talent in supply.

Audition anytime. Bring your own equipment, but first drop us a line.

Bring your own equipment?

Poet ponders being your own equipment.

See, luckily I brought my brain today, didn't leave it behind

songwriter, I can rhyme a little if you've got the time

but you'll have to excuse me, I meant to pack the rhythym

and I'm hoping someone here has some with 'em

you know there’s so much to a poem so many parts to a song

I find now and then I forget to bring all the pieces along

I'm using what little I got on my mind

but if I can, just this time

borrow a little

a beat or two

one two, one two, one two two one

can the drummer spare some?

And not to worry I have the irony

like sun glasses for the blinding hypocrisy

it's all around in this day and age

packed deep within me in a ball of rage

metaphor, well, what little I could carry you see right here

and the simile is like something that works like a mirror

My tools of the trade are a little bit beaten, slightly frayed

many come second hand, some of them I made

took up space in a brain or two

got reborn, grew up, and changed a point of view.

Tools from friends and strangers, dropping words on the mike

or victims of my eves dropping, sounds from the streets and the like

there is little that's truly just mine

but please can you provide the music just this one time?

tonight I have just me, a few words, and a little rhyme.

Biggie Smalls is the Illest.

The sound of Hand drums outside my window comforted me.
Accompanied by squeaking brakes and revving engines, there was a sense of balance and comfort I have not known in a while.
Perhaps it is the fact that I currently have all the windows open.
I prefer it.
As much as I enjoy the elements, I usually choose to sleep in a car when camping.

Biggie hates all Rollerblades, skates, & skateboards.
This deep seeded beef with small wheeled objects is baffling to me.
Did Biggie have a run in with some wheeled bandits as a pup before he came to live with me?

Oh Biggie,
he has such a distrust f new people. I have seen him instill fear in friends.
He is as Jah made him. All except that he is fixed.
Imagine how aggressive he might be if he was not neutered!

All in all, those who know him, love him.

Biggie Smalls is the Illest.

April 13th: Fortoul Presents "The Sum of all Parts" @ The Monroe Center in Hoboken

This is exciting!!!! Very Very Exciting!

The Monroe center is only 3 blocks from my residence in Hoboken, making a great opportunity to impress the administration and possibly arrange for another bigger, better, event.

The Sound provided for the evening will be hosted by Lions Den Sound. DJ Sucio Smash will be spinning sound for the evening. There are only 5 hours to really enjoy this massively visceral experience. There are amazingly clever shirts for sale as well as beautiful art.

The art/design/fashion company Fortoul Presents will have a special exhibition for the Monroe Center’s “Open Studio Day” Sunday, April 13, 2008 from12pm until 5pm.

The show, aptly titled “The Sum of all Parts”, combines Art, Music & Film. The featured artists include: Isaac Fortoul, Heather Gargon, & Bobby Castaneda. The event was organized by Roland Ramos, in the interest of bringing quality art to Hoboken.

Fortoul Presents is headed by two Union City natives. Brothers, Isaac & Gabriel have called Phoenix, AZ, their home for the past 6 years and were instrumental in developing the art scene. The Fortoul brothers have returned to their Jersey roots and are looking forward to duplicating their success. With affiliates in Tokyo and New York, Fortoul Presents are destined for great things. (www.FortoulPresents.com)