Num num num

neighborhood stroll

Artistry on the go:

Hometown Love:

Advertisement Failures:

Vintage:

...as in 50's style. At Burger King.

I heart Bushwick

Girasol

My garden project in full effect:

It's as if he walked right off the set...

...and on to the street.

love him, front to back

the O-blah-blah continues

Neighborhood Watch

rawr....

He doesn't slur. He stammers....

Bed-Stuy

Conformed. Reformed. Alter(ed).

Slave

Broken embraces

Dead before the rush

Que 'Che(guevara)re

$0.99 and up!

Fact: every Catholic and non-Catholic loved JPII (Pope John Paul the Second for those of you who weren't down with him). Every pious Latino loves the Virgin Mary. Hot items at my local dollar store, which if i haven't mentioned already is owned by a Chinese family. A Chinese family fluent in Mandarin, Spanish and some remedial English. Only in Bushwick...

Stoop Sale

Warm heart of Africa

Mon Utopie Ideal:

Beating triumphantly in New York. A mesh of art, fashion and music for one night. A couple of connections, a simple "yes" and a lot of effort brought me back to the wonder and amazement that is Africa.

Every drum beat like the heart.

Each garment a part of the soul.

Holy Torah!

There's a fantastic thrift shop off Wyckoff. Figures Aiden would hide this gem from me for as long as he could. I have a penchant for all things Jewish and this shop was chock-full of them. Behold:


From speaking Hebrew, to old memories, to "How to" texts:


I guess it's better than learning it from the holy book?

Union Square

There's always a scene at Union Square, but almost never a stage.
Boom! Summer concerts on Thursdays at US.

Like sardines....

Pupusas!

Probably something that I haven't bother to mention: My parents are from El Salvador. That having been said: I have a soft spot for Latin cuisine, in particular that which is typical of my parents' homeland. When I was living in Washington Heights, I was able to find a Salvadoran restaurant, and now here in Brooklyn, I was fortunate enough to find not one, but two different shops.

This one has come to be my favorite since it's inception and since my discovery:

I have yet to meet the namesake, but I have met her sister and another woman who also runs the place. The first time I went there was with Aiden as we wandered around our neighborhood (which doesn't seem to happen as often as it should) around dinner time. I got excited upon discovering that this once hot dog stand is now a Central American nook.

P.S. I even went "fat kid" and stored the number into my phone in case I get a Salvadoran craving.

for the not so annonymous alcoholic...

Proud and juvenile.

bootilicious

Only at night...

The big toys that the big kids left in the yard tonight

Circa 1992

His get-up was a throw back to the whole Will Smith/Jazzy J thing from the early 90's. Down to the bag.

PS, he had sag, not swag...

Queso en todos lugares!!!

After wandering away from NY, Brooklyn for so long, I forgot how daring and eclectic Bushwick is. This is right here at home.

The Loom

Since the beginning of the year, a building on the corner of Knickerbocker and Flushing has completely transformed. Now known as the Loom, this trendy mini-mall has come to fruition. Upon my return from South Africa, the shops were all open and up until my return from Ohio, I hadn't gone to see it for myself.

A yarn cafe?! not to mention a deli, a yoga place, a vintage furniture/upholstery shop, bike/moped repairs and a place operated by the local Jewish community to celebrate the shabbat together.

Summer chills

... so we went to an all-American bar to watch the international sporting event known as the World Cup. Still strangely in touch with the world.

Never have I ever...

This was perhaps the second time that I have slept in a tent. This was also the first time that I have ever been anywhere near a trailer. Not just campers or RV but the stationary trailers with indoor plumbing and generated electricity.
I had never been in a freshwater river.
I have never seen a spring in person.


I have never eaten raspberries so fresh.
I have never eaten eggs straight out of the chicken (they had a coop and we went there in the morning to pick up eggs for breakfast).
Or for that matter seen them develop.

I never knew what a buckeye was:

I have never been on a ATV, or as they say in these parts, a four-wheeler.

Aiden constantly takes my virginity...

There have been a lot of firsts