Saturday, October 24, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
American Fashion: Sailors
New York City is surrounded by water. Can any of our current Urban Naturalists pull off a sailor inspired look? Here's a great picture to ignite some fashion inspiration.
BA
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Victrola: Nick Cave and Warren Ellis
The little lady picked-up a copy of Nick Cave and Warren Ellis' new collection of the duos soundtrack work, White Lunar. Largely instrumental (there is one Cave sung tune), it's been soundtracking every minute of my commute. It's especially appropriate as New York City slowly transitions to fall and winter. Haunting. Beautiful. Dark. I really can't do this double disc justice. Seriously, just buy it. Look at those guys on the cover. Buy it.
White Lunar "What Must Be Done"
KJ
Monday, October 12, 2009
Small Trades: Irving Penn, Paris
In the 1950's, while working for Vogue Magazine in Paris, Irving Penn, on his own time, would invite various trades people up the six flights of stairs to his studio to be photographed in their work duds. The Getty Museum is showcasing Penn's 'Small Trades' collection until Jan. 2010.
The picture above is called 'Dave' and is not part of Penn's Paris work. In 1967 he showed up in San Francisco looking to capture some of the locals on film. The Hell's Angels kindly obliged.
NY Times slide show on Irving Penn's 'Small Trades'
DR
Friday, October 02, 2009
Photographer Jake Dobkin
A Broken Crow Mural Near Jefferson Ave
"The heart of the New York streetart scene seems to be shifting East, from the Morgan Street stop on the L to the Jefferson stop-- right around the intersection of Flushing and Wykoff. Of course, that's a long way to go just to see a few pieces. I'm worried that in a few years, there won't be any good graf in easily accessible neighborhoods, and most people will just know the pieces from photographs they see on Flickr. Not that there's anything wrong with streetart photography, but it's a shame to miss seeing the pieces in person."
Blue Jake: A New York City Photoblog by Jake Dobkin
DR
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Cosplay FTW
We at the Urban Naturalist make a solemn promise to you the reader: we will never be your calendar. We will never inform you of upcoming events in and around the city for you to plan to attend. We are a web log. We promise to tell you about things we've done and events which have already happened. If we do ever advertise a future happening, we will be of two minds about it. Besides, were you really planning to go to the Anime Fest at the Javits Center?
The Javits Convention Center is hard to get to, make no mistake. The way to the Hudson from Midtown is by any route inconvenient, made considerably more so by weekend subway service changes and Saturday tourist traffic. A block away from the building a knot of kids dressed all in black appear, arm in arm, carrying swords and spears. Afro Samurai approaches Entry A at 38th Street, his red headband constricting his enormous afro.
Friends of The Urban Naturalist at The Japan Society provided a day pass at the Welcome Gate, a ticket normally costing forty five dollars. The Urban Naturalist, worn from his trek across town and underneath the Port Authority, found sustenance at a Nuts 4 Nuts kiosk, buying a three-dollar bag of candied peanuts and a four-dollar bottle of water.
Teens in elaborate costumes of their favorite anime character traveled often in pairs or trios carrying Free Hugs signs. The custom was to give or receive a hug or a kiss, then pose for pictures. Is it simply a way of connecting, these hugs? Do these kids spend so much time living alone online, playing at World of Warcraft or Second Life, that the advertised hugs are a way to experience human contact? Or is it deeper? I identify with this character. I want to and can be for today and maybe tomorrow, this character and you recognize this want in me and will hug me for me and my likes. Or is the Urban Naturalist being a terrible snob? Who is he to snicker?
An area for manga artists who will for a fee draw you a picture and sign it. A cordoned area for the New York Jedi to beat the hell out of each other with light sabers. Aisles of costume dealers, foam and wood swords and knives. Aisles of manga and video. The end of the hall was darkened for the gaming championships. A stage where two played FIFA Soccer against each other, the game displayed on an enormous screen, each player having his own commentator.
A crush of cosplay kidz at every turn erupted into a spontaneous parade beginning at the end of the five hundred aisle. Chanting in unison "Yaoi! Yaoi! Yaoi!" They weaved through the hall in an ever-lengthening line, exultant at full throat.
Reni, a cosplay idol had her own booth.
There is opportunity for drama, however, even on the most magical day. A woman in a hand-sewn plastic outfit and green hair buried her face in her husband's chest. "You know that woman who went off on you before? That fat piece of shit? I know her. She's a piece of shit! And she cheats on her husband just like my mom. Know how I know? She goes in the same chatroom my mom goes to and I see the things she says. Fat bitch, she's a piece of shit! Shit..." Her husband stroked her back, his hand squeaking on the plastic. "Shh," he said, "it's okay. It's okay, it doesn't matter..."
It was time to go. Three hours on the convention floor had left The Urban Naturalist dazed and out of sorts. He fell in with a group of cosplayers heading east who'd learned there was a Wendy's within walking distance.
The Javits Convention Center is hard to get to, make no mistake. The way to the Hudson from Midtown is by any route inconvenient, made considerably more so by weekend subway service changes and Saturday tourist traffic. A block away from the building a knot of kids dressed all in black appear, arm in arm, carrying swords and spears. Afro Samurai approaches Entry A at 38th Street, his red headband constricting his enormous afro.
Friends of The Urban Naturalist at The Japan Society provided a day pass at the Welcome Gate, a ticket normally costing forty five dollars. The Urban Naturalist, worn from his trek across town and underneath the Port Authority, found sustenance at a Nuts 4 Nuts kiosk, buying a three-dollar bag of candied peanuts and a four-dollar bottle of water.
Teens in elaborate costumes of their favorite anime character traveled often in pairs or trios carrying Free Hugs signs. The custom was to give or receive a hug or a kiss, then pose for pictures. Is it simply a way of connecting, these hugs? Do these kids spend so much time living alone online, playing at World of Warcraft or Second Life, that the advertised hugs are a way to experience human contact? Or is it deeper? I identify with this character. I want to and can be for today and maybe tomorrow, this character and you recognize this want in me and will hug me for me and my likes. Or is the Urban Naturalist being a terrible snob? Who is he to snicker?
An area for manga artists who will for a fee draw you a picture and sign it. A cordoned area for the New York Jedi to beat the hell out of each other with light sabers. Aisles of costume dealers, foam and wood swords and knives. Aisles of manga and video. The end of the hall was darkened for the gaming championships. A stage where two played FIFA Soccer against each other, the game displayed on an enormous screen, each player having his own commentator.
A crush of cosplay kidz at every turn erupted into a spontaneous parade beginning at the end of the five hundred aisle. Chanting in unison "Yaoi! Yaoi! Yaoi!" They weaved through the hall in an ever-lengthening line, exultant at full throat.
Reni, a cosplay idol had her own booth.
There is opportunity for drama, however, even on the most magical day. A woman in a hand-sewn plastic outfit and green hair buried her face in her husband's chest. "You know that woman who went off on you before? That fat piece of shit? I know her. She's a piece of shit! And she cheats on her husband just like my mom. Know how I know? She goes in the same chatroom my mom goes to and I see the things she says. Fat bitch, she's a piece of shit! Shit..." Her husband stroked her back, his hand squeaking on the plastic. "Shh," he said, "it's okay. It's okay, it doesn't matter..."
It was time to go. Three hours on the convention floor had left The Urban Naturalist dazed and out of sorts. He fell in with a group of cosplayers heading east who'd learned there was a Wendy's within walking distance.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Discoverist: Anglo Saxon Gold
Apparently four days ago, an amateur metal detectorist living off of his disability checks, discovered the largest ever hoard of Anglo-Saxon gold in a farm field. The Guardian has a nice piece on the discovery and a brief historical 'brush-up' on the Anglo-Saxons for those interested.
The find made the adventurers at the Urban Naturalist a little excited and a little jealous. Honestly, in the US do we even have this as a possibility? Medieval gold, really, those Europeans get to have all the fun. Or do they? We do have lost Golden Cities. Undiscovered Fountains of Youth. Hidden pirate treasures. Maybe this Metal Detectorist thing would be worth getting into, even in this young land of America. Here's a small list of New York City and Northeast resources for aspiring gold hoard discoverers.
Empire State Metal Detector Association
Metal Detector Distributors
Upstate Metal Detectors and Treasure Hunting
Lost Treasures in New York
Lost Treasure Online
KJ
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