Revaz thought he had me pegged last night when I asked him, “What do you think I picked?” He said, “You probably put on Fleet Foxes, or London Calling, or The Smiths [expletive]…” I chose Wilco and The Felice Brothers.

Four of my closest friends and I convened in Williamsburg, BK for an [...]]]> Jan 30, 2010

Revaz thought he had me pegged last night when I asked him, “What do you think I picked?” He said, “You probably put on Fleet Foxes, or London Calling, or The Smiths [expletive]…” I chose Wilco and The Felice Brothers.

Four of my closest friends and I convened in Williamsburg, BK for an evening of burgers, hearty stouts and ales, and dancing. The topic of Kanye’s ego factoring into why we do or don’t listen to him came up. Apparently there was also a heated debate about “Top Ten” lists and their legitimacy. These rants were fueled by a little rocket of Red Label stuffed into my camera bag and endless Lincolns exchanged between bartender and consumer. There was South 4th Ave Pub, then Miss Favela, then Lucky Dog (site that provided the photo above), Dumont, Larry Lawrence and finally The Woods. I lost my glasses for an hour but was lucky enough to find them tucked against concrete flooring and the wooden bar. They’ve been through a lot. It all came to an end around 4am when the air pierced my cheeks violently within seconds, the cabs hiked up their prices and getting home was more important than saying goodbye to my friends. Hallelujah for friends that understand.

Am I the type of person who can’t resist from taking a photograph? Can I abstain from shutter-obsession for a brief moment to simply share in the experience unfolding before me? Is there ever going to be a time when I won’t want to take a photograph? I really hope not. Osito (right) [...]]]> Jan 26, 2010

Am I the type of person who can’t resist from taking a photograph? Can I abstain from shutter-obsession for a brief moment to simply share in the experience unfolding before me? Is there ever going to be a time when I won’t want to take a photograph? I really hope not. Osito (right) arrived in town this evening and the G5, for the moment, is now whole. It was difficult to even take this shot because I couldn’t stop from running my yap and grinning, realizing – with the truest sincerity – that this isn’t an event we can always rely on. We’re a traveling troupe of kindred spirits merging sparingly throughout lives and paths simply don’t cross as often as we’d like. Secretly, I think we prefer it that way because it adds to our mystique.

We gathered at Elsa Bar in Alphabet City to bid farewell to Rochelle (right). She’s leaving to South Africa to work on a project called “Hear Me Roar” intended to teach children the fundamentals of storytelling. Rochelle leaves Monday.

Mario (left) arrived around 6:26pmEST from the Bay Area, unpacked, scoped out his new spot [...]]]> Jan 9, 2010

We gathered at Elsa Bar in Alphabet City to bid farewell to Rochelle (right). She’s leaving to South Africa to work on a project called “Hear Me Roar” intended to teach children the fundamentals of storytelling. Rochelle leaves Monday.

Mario (left) arrived around 6:26pmEST from the Bay Area, unpacked, scoped out his new spot and made it to Elsa Bar around 11:15pm. That’s hustling. He left New York City last September uncertain about his future. He’ll be starting his PhD in Sociology in New York City this year.

Our generation tends to bounce around everywhere because opportunity is abound (recent times prove otherwise, but it’s been the former for much of the 2000s). And with this stream of opportunity comes unrestrained movement, traveling and transience. We move to learn, investing energy in what I like to think of as on-the-ground learning. I am devout to this lifestyle, but last night reminded me how often I say goodbye to people I care about. Saying “See ya later”, “Until next time” and “Goodbye” is a common occurrence for me, and I haven’t yet mastered the art of being graceful about it. I hug too much, for one. Sometimes I demand people stay. It’s selfish and immature, but I can’t help. I’m a ballerina throwing dropkicks. One goes for now, and another returns; it’s how my “extended family” rolls.

The G5 Familia In New York City from Alejandro De La Cruz on Vimeo.

I sit, peer through the window to the landscape below me and listen. One track leads to images, and images lead to interactions, and interactions then lead to video cameras and scooters. Thank you to my friends and extended family for making [...]]]>

The G5 Familia In New York City from Alejandro De La Cruz on Vimeo.

I sit, peer through the window to the landscape below me and listen. One track leads to images, and images lead to interactions, and interactions then lead to video cameras and scooters. Thank you to my friends and extended family for making New York City so much fun.

Music [via MGMT: "Weekend Wars."]

A German Shepherd stared at us from a rooftop above the bodega. The streetlights exposed only the slightest movements in the distance. Fireworks sprang from mortar launchers about 500mts away. If there was ever a road I despised walking on late in the evening, it was definitely cobblestone. My ankles can’t take it. The guys [...]]]>

A German Shepherd stared at us from a rooftop above the bodega. The streetlights exposed only the slightest movements in the distance. Fireworks sprang from mortar launchers about 500mts away. If there was ever a road I despised walking on late in the evening, it was definitely cobblestone. My ankles can’t take it. The guys looked towards the yellow sparks and walked. I stayed back; the German Shepherd wouldn’t stop staring at me. Revaz casually threw his arms around the back of his head with his fingers locked. A silhouette can be more beautiful than a sunset. I snapped, checked, smiled and caught up to the crew.

More images here.

Play. Enjoy. Thank Osito for putting this together.

G5 Summit — Mexico Edition [El Oso]

We stormed through highway 57 North with a quartet of beat conductors ransacking their playlists from the backseat of our rental. Noah tossed his best punk and reggae, while Mario rummaged through his hip-hop mix. Revaz entertained us with his 1990′s R&B and I scrolled through whatever it was the highway told me to play: [...]]]>

We stormed through highway 57 North with a quartet of beat conductors ransacking their playlists from the backseat of our rental. Noah tossed his best punk and reggae, while Mario rummaged through his hip-hop mix. Revaz entertained us with his 1990′s R&B and I scrolled through whatever it was the highway told me to play: Iggy Pop with a mix of The Pharcyde nestled in between Prince. Don’t knock it until you rock it. Oso didn’t crash into anything, or slouch onto the steering wheel in utter boredom, so we did our job.

We arrived well into the Semana Santa festivities in Guanajuato, Mexico and with minimal clue as to where we were staying for the evening. Hot dogs, pozoles, enchiladas and giant bags of chips were being sold on every corner of Plaza de La Paz. Children were spinning their tops on the cobblestone, which seemed an extraordinary feat at the time. The Universidad de Guanajuato‘s steps were riddled with onlookers appeased by a chorus of songs. The hills were already taking their toll on my legs, but we pressed on.

The town abruptly ended our journey for a moment when the crowds swarmed large enough to form walls impenetrable to any unrepentant soul. Faithful disciples awaited the body of a mannequin draped in white linen and stained in blood. I looked over towards the other side of the wall and found smiling children holding candles. Their parents reached towards the heavens with their digital cameras to snap pictures of the melee. And just like many Semana Santas I’ve spent in Madrid, the sharp peaks of a dozen or so masks bobbing in the moonlight made me shudder.

The next morning was pleasant in a way a cold shower soothes the skin after an afternoon on the soccer field. 80 degrees of sunlit beauty awaited us outside of our room. The city of Guanajuato is a bounty of color where residents aren’t shy when it comes to the latest splash of blue, pink and orange on their walls. Jesus was only a day from resurrection and the city was festive. I crept away from the crew for a few moments to spy on the city. She was rumbling.

More images here.

Plans for Covadonga were disrupted last night by the fact that the place was closed for the evening. Great planning by yours truly. We’re heading off to Guanajuato today en route to the Huasteca region where we’ll hopefully run into a waterfall or two, and maybe some hot springs. Mmm. Nature. I think we need [...]]]>

Plans for Covadonga were disrupted last night by the fact that the place was closed for the evening. Great planning by yours truly. We’re heading off to Guanajuato today en route to the Huasteca region where we’ll hopefully run into a waterfall or two, and maybe some hot springs. Mmm. Nature. I think we need some granola for the road.

Image [via Citizen192]

There was a serious moment of contemplation before Oso got into to town when I considered warning my neighbors that a bear was within their vicinity. Then I thought, “What do I feed an Oso?” The answer arrived in an email which stated the following: “Also, before I forget, I’m gonna need some tacos al [...]]]>

There was a serious moment of contemplation before Oso got into to town when I considered warning my neighbors that a bear was within their vicinity. Then I thought, “What do I feed an Oso?” The answer arrived in an email which stated the following: “Also, before I forget, I’m gonna need some tacos al pastor (with the juicy piña on the pastor) real bad and real soon.”

I’ve only been able to knock down five tacos al pastor, a gringa de pollo and possibly a combination of nopales, aguacate and Consome before I feel like my innards reach maximum expandability. On the other hand, David believes he can take down 15 tacos al pastor in one sitting, and after yesterday’s ten taco plowing at Califa, I believe him.

The ante was raised this morning when Mario — fellow G5er and taco-lover — exclaimed that he could eat twenty tacos al pastor with the enthusiasm of a piglet suckling on a teet. Too much?

I’m sure there’s a video in the works corresponding to this topic. Stay tuned.

Images [via Citizen192]