Happy Wu Year!

Thats me and actor Bobby Digital in old played out 2008. 2009 is the new BLACK!

Don't forget the Wu-Tang Clang is coming January 14th. The whole crew. Could you imagine if they rocked even half their group and solo singles. This concert may take all week! Tickets are on sale at Royal Treatment Records on Main Street between Chans and Burro in the historic Springfield hood and all ticketmaster locations including nicotine in the riotous five points district, also historic.

Local all stars making big moves opening this show include my man triclops i on the twin 1200s, willie ev, rob roy, and everybodys favorite retail manager and beat mechanic, tough junkie.

2008 can't stop 2009 or me or us. Have fun. Be safe. Happy Wu Year. Get your tickets soon, its not at the arena.



Um, also the burrito will be open until its regular hour of 10pm tonight. Not 10:01! Not 10:10! haha. Just kidding. You'll want to get to the club or the fireworks anyway. Seriously. I also got this salty email about some weird sounding bar in Springfield? Posted verbatim.

FUCK
2008!
2 FREE KEGS
DJ TRICLOPS I
NYE 8pm-2am
SHANTYTOWN
22 W. 6th St.
904-798-8222
ALL FRIENDS AND COOL PEOPLE WELCOME.
LETS START 2009 CORRECT!!!

BIGGEST ART OPPORTUNITY EVER!

I don't like juried shows that much. Jury schmurry, not my style. If you have ever seen my art you'd know why. Ha. BTW, Moms we sold our piece! Somewhere in Riverdale there is a very confused garage. I digress. However, I can understand being selective about an Obama Presidential Inauguration Art Show. Shepard Fairey and Spike Lee are on the jury dog. sooo

Top 5 things I love about this show:

5. You can still submit art for consideration!
4. The guidelines ask that the subject tackle the top 3 issues we face today! Healthcare Reform, Workers Rights, and the GREEN ECONOMY!
3. Its only up for 3 days. That is how a show can really go.
2. So many people are going to the inauguration and Fairey is arguably the most famous and influential artist living. Its a tsunami of awesome.
1. Los Angeles based artist, Tina Rodas' (Hi Tree!) HUGE Sequoia from the bg is heading to DC! YAY Hi Tree!

SAVE THE DATE. January 7th. Largest Art Walk EVER!

Image and full story from the outer box.

There will be a TON of updates before the January 7th art walk. Check back hourly.

In the mean time, watch the video at this page and plot out the map. You can see the street level even.

The Burrito Gallery will open today at 5pm. Open to midnight. What?

Image from EU article some time ago. I'm not sure if 74 Sound is out tonight. I will check. The burrito opens at 5pm either way and never charges a cover. Ok, almost never. No cover tonight. No way. Hope everyone had a Merry and will have a happy. Make it happy.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS! HUG YOUR FAMILY! BIG NEWS BREAKING!

Best thing about facebook? So far this holiday card from Noli, by a mile.



or friends or aerospoke or banditobandana or whatevs

image Bike Jax (i know duh), where there is also an awesome youtube of jingle bells. Worth checking out even though you probably think you have heard enough xmas jams. There are some good ones out there. New ones over at JaxScene too today.

So, the word on the street is that the large tree in the bg gallery, a huge sequoia tree and part of Tina Rodas' Hi Tree installation is heading to DC for an installation with something to do with the biggest artist alive at the biggest celebration in American history right now (debatable, I'm sure, but I like my tv loud, my beer cold and my hyperbole, hyperbolic). That would be the coolest thing to be associated with art and the bg since the apple sponsored currents from aiga jax/recharge. Curated by Doug at Primal Screen. Click the 2008 reel. Wow. I digress. I still think the tree may be bigger! I'll report back on the journey of the very large huggable sequoia. Hi Tree will be up through the February art walk.

Happy Holidays and wishing you only great things under your tree for the whole New Year even!

Happy Holidays from The Urban Core!

It seems like a crude way to say Merry Christmas, the picture above. But we all know an Eddie. And we all know he means it. I earnestly wish everyone who reads this blog a Merry Christmas and/or whatever holiday they celebrate. One love.

There is a song below. Think of that as your gift. Times are tough dog. As my dog Mark George says.

Photo TomP, JaxScene
The funraiser was a lot of fun. Big thanks to the artists, Bold City, the friends and family of Zombie, Burro, Royal, all the vendors like legendary arturo which I first saw at anomoly, where I was today!, the pillow case couple, , the can't make a profits, bike people, attendeez, mom, anyone I am missing, etc. And thanks to the bands at the after show. Philly, NYC, Duval, Chan's parking security, and I think twisted martini was in the house or something. I can't stay up that late.

More Coverage and pics at Jack's

To practice any art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow. So do it. - Kurt Vonnegut

We'll make it. Hang in there.

from the friend I never met over at ECEU

And so long and thanks to mixwit

Main Street Retail EXPOSED!

Via bike anyway. And who parked at Chan's? Tell your story here:

Photo from Jack via JaxScene. I am so looking forward to another year of looking back from JaxScene. Thanks guys!

1. click play on song below
2. right click here and chose (open in new window). Mac users dance around.
3. Catch the show but know that you must be present to win.

More on the event over at bike jax.

	Ladyhawke - Dusk Till Dawn (Pablo Decoder remix)
	Found at skreemr.com

All Florida Polo Holiday Classique (tm)

Ok its Bike Polo. How civilized. The games begin tomorrow at 1pm. I'm supporting all DUVAL teams. I'm excited for the guys. They have friends coming in from all over the country(side) and the bags look amazing. The one shown above is sold and is on the streets of Chicago. I love that one. Check out some of the new ones at Burro. Finally a Mark George sack you can show your mom. This show is going to be fantastic. So is this one tonight in the five points (its a riot! (tm)). Speaking of Moms my mom and I worked on a bike piece with an unamed co-conspirator (coward). Art, it brings the family together.


The bike frame part of the show is going to be funky and the vinyl shop (royal treatment) just expanded. Awesome new Jimmy Pines crates in. I still see some of my classics on the shelf. If you'd like to know more about me its all right there in the crates. Anyway. Vinyl for your special someone is meaningful. Merry Christmas and whatnot.

So here are the directions if you have never been to the BBB. If you aren't biking, Don't come on empty. Not because its a bad neighborhood to run out of gas but because the gas stations, especially the shells, SUCK. I'd be embarassed to tell my mom I owned the shell on union or the shell on 8th. Tighten up. Reminds me. Blue lights were back on the bridge. Thank you Mr. Mayor and everyone who emailed me his email. KEEP THEM SHINING.

Oh, yeah, directions. So approach from Laura and take 5th (Chans) or 6th (Shanty) towards the orange cones of Main cut in the sandy alley and follow the crack of the mallet or the beat of the 74soundsystem. I'd just park on the street, but whatever. At press time you can't get to it from Main which is just a temporary set back as it were. Unless they do it twice like Hendricks.

Here is what it looks like all googley. Though its not accessible from Main. Check out Chans. When asked if they wanted to be a part of the show they claimed no english. That is Main Street. Authentic.



View Larger Map

what the heck. I will throw in a jam to get your weekend started!

	Amy Winehouse featuring Jay-Z - Rehab (Remix) [Featuring Jay-Z]
	Found at skreemr.com

this post was brought to you by the word mom and treatment italics

CALL TO ARTISTS!

If there can't be construction going on in the basement, I'm glad that there is awesome shows. I've been totally impressed with the library art gumbo lately. Gray and Mark and the crew and all of the artists and volunteers make that one happening place each art walk. Especially the curators and designers who are doing the showz. Huge props.

I found this great artportunity (tm) through EYES WIDE AWAKE, which I found at The Outer Box, who had just posted when I clicked onto JaxScene.

The deck show will be a good follow up to the BBB Christmas with the Specials. (Specials not playing!). This thing starts at 1pm and there will be bike polo and bands and goodwill. And comraderie, and art bikes. And raffles brand potatoe chips.

Try the buffet, I'll be here all week! Buy Local this Holiday!

	The Specials - Concrete Jungle
	Found at skreemr.com

MORTON’S CELEBRATES 30TH BIRTHDAY WITH FREE MINI-BURGERS

I've been enjoying the Southbank a lot lately. I am working on an event with friends in 2009 on the Southbank riverwalk so I've been impressed by our dense sklyline and amenities over there. Its a city. Everything is well done from the river grid out to the interstate and beyond. Go Southbank. And Happy Birthday Morton's. Thanks for the burger.

Reporting from the Southbank…

In celebration of its 30th birthday, Morton’s The Steakhouse will offer FREE mini-burgers in their bar on Sunday, Dec. 21. Since July, guests have been able to indulge in the Morton’s $19.78 Prime Sirloin Burger every Sunday, with five dollars of each hamburger and French fries entrée going to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Morton’s The Steakhouse is located at 1510 Riverplace Blvd. in downtown Jacksonville. Dinner is served from 5:30 p.m. until 11 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 5 p.m. until 10 p.m. on Sundays. For information and reservations, please call 904-399-3933. You are also invited to visit www.mortons.com to make online reservations or to view the full Morton’s menu.

A River Runs Through It

ABOUT THE PHOTOGRAPHER:

Bill Yates has been photographing since he was given his first camera, a Kodak Brownie, at the age of ten. Bill graduated from the University of South Florida with a B.A. in Art and Photography and received his Master of Fine Arts degree in photography from Rhode Island School of Design in 1975. He studied with Harry Callahan, Aaron Siskind and Garry Winogrand, among other master fine art photographers. His work was juried into the 1975 Artists' Biennial Exhibition at the New Orleans Museum of Art. Bill's photographs from the Biennial were selected to be a part of the first cultural exchange to China following President Nixon's historic visit there in 1972. Bill has had a one man show at the Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., and has exhibited in museums and galleries as well as group shows throughout the United States. His photographs are represented in numerous corporate and private collections. Bill was curatorial consultant of photography to the Corcoran, and director of the University Gallery of New Mexico State University.

If you are not in the festive spirit yet, there is still time!


2008 Gingerbread House Extravaganza

November 29 through December 23
at Old St. Andrews
317 A. Philip Randolph Blvd.

This event will put you in the Christmas spirit!

Don’t miss a local holiday favorite, the South Jacksonville Rotary Gingerbread Extravaganza at Jacksonville Historical Society’s Old St. Andrews. With a grand opening on Saturday November 29, it’s also open in December every Wednesday through Saturday with bonus days of December 21, 22, 23. Daily hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Requested donation is $5 for adults and $3 for children. Old St. Andrews is located at 317 A. Philip Randolph Boulevard, across from the arena.

Next door to Old St. Andrews and the Extravaganza, tour the Historical Society’s Victorian Merrill House, a walk through life in Jacksonville 100 years ago. This award-winning museum house is “dressed” for the holidays and ready to showcase the city’s turn-of-the-century history. Museum house days and hours are identical to the Gingerbread Extravaganza.

Victorian Merrill House Tours and History Shop add to the Holiday Atmosphere

And don’t forget, the best holiday history shop in town is found at Old St. Andrew’s Gingerbread Extravaganza. It’s at the entrance to the event, so shopping is available even if you don’t have time to tour the Gingerbread Exhibit. New for 2008 are holiday ornaments featuring the Treaty Oak and the famous Andrew Jackson Statue (arriving Dec. 15). Available now are San Marco Square and the 1919 Train Station ornaments. Dozens of exciting local history books await your review, along with the celebrated orange sipper, gorgeous historic photos, and old fashioned, but highly affordable toys for children.

TURN ON THE BLUE LIGHTS!

So we have a rare big futbol americano game Thursday against division rival,um, Indianapolis. Even though the jag-u-wires are rolling and el gato sales have been stronger than hot cup of Martin's coffee (over 750 MILLION served), there are few indications that our city gives more than a shrug.

Our skyline is pretty awesome, especially in the winter because lights are still on in the office towers and our fabulous bridge lights are shining.

OR THEY WERE!

For weeks now the Main Street Bridge classy, jazzy, fuzzy purple blue lights have been off. This should be our beacon of urban cool. Show me the fuzz! The Hart dots and Acosta neon look great but...

With blimps and copters hovering over our fair city and vanity shots o'plenty we need to turn the signature blue lights on our signature blue bridge back on and leave them on. People who pay the big bucks to dine on the river deserve to see them just as much as the people who ride their bikes down the river to their crappy janitorial jobs. And lets not forget all of the guests in our riverfront hotels. TURN ON YOUR BLUE LIGHTS JAX!

I would list the mayor's email here but I cannot find it on the city website. Even the staff is listed but no emails listed. That is wack. You should be able to email your freaking mayor. TIGHTEN UP!

The city council has phone numbers and emails available.

Head Downtown! Santa is back!

More info here!

TGI FRIDAY YO! or Do something GOOD! or Go Carver!

Its the end of the month and they have just over one day. They have made it about half way.

Here is something you can do:

Brian Bordanick is crazy and has four days. He's raised $107,000 and needs $93,000 more.

He thinks he can make public education work in New Orleans. He wants to build an athletic field and program for his kids. �He's 23, from New York and came here with Teach for American.

He found out that if he can raise $200,000, the NFL would match it. �And the students of Carver will have their field.

Brian Bordanick is crazy.

What about you?

Are you crazy enough to believe in Brian?

To believe in his kids?

To believe that public education can work in New Orleans?

Then read his story below.

Do what you can and/or pass it along

Thank you.



rescent Currents
Carver AD hoping dream comes true
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Lynne Jensen
With four days to raise about $100,000, Bryan Bordainick fuels his idea for a Field of Dreams sports center in the 9th Ward. Bordainick, 23, is with Teach for America -- a New Yorker who is helping the city survive Katrina. Like so many other volunteers, he is serving beyond a promise he made.

When George Washington Carver High School's athletic director left his post in November, Bordainick added the job to teaching duties at the school, a campus of FEMA trailers on Higgins Boulevard. "When I took over, I was the youngest AD in the state's history," he said Monday.

In order for Carver's football team, coached by Shyrone Carey, 26, to play last fall for the first time since Katrina, "we had to move the old mangled bleachers off the field," Bordainick said. "We sold them for scrap metal for $500," he said. "You've got to make the most out of a situation."

The team lost every game, Bordainick said, but people were saying "It's awesome to see the Rams out there again." Bordainick believes that "some victories come without a score," and that brings me back to the Field of Dreams. When the novice athletic director recently learned that Carver met criteria to apply for an NFL Grassroots matching grant of $200,000, he set out to raise the same amount with only weeks remaining before Monday's deadline.

Bordainick, Carey and fellow dreamers, including teachers Dave Cash and Colleston Morgan, imagine a synthetic-turf football field and Olympic-size running track at Carver that can be used by the entire New Orleans community. The Recovery School District is supporting the dream with $100,000 and another $6,000 was contributed by private donors. "We're getting there," Bordainick said.

Since the Field of Dreams would be on a New Orleans Recreation Department site, "you would hope" that the city would come up with some money, Bordainick said. But people are telling him that the holiday season is a bad time to raise money, not to mention the economic recession. "Most people I talk to think I'm insane," Bordainick said. "But why not? Everything about it is positive all around."

For information, visit www.9thwardfieldofdreams.com on the Web. To contact Bordainick, e-mail him at brian.bordainick(at)gmail.com

Daryn Dodson
The Idea Village
638 Camp Street
www.ideavillage.org

"Innovation through talent and collaboration"

I'm rooting for Carver!

Local News:

If you know Byron King. He is doing really well. And is at St. Lukes for days and then Brooks. Yes they filmed it and yes he promises to post it on globatron. How Byron. I am a big fan of names and thinking how someone's name is usually right on. Byron's doctor is Dr. New. I thought that was pretty cool. So go visit Byron. Just ask for his room at information. Have a great fun and safeweekend.

What City is This?

(CITY NAME) has the fifth highest crime rate in the country and unfortunately the (CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT) is becoming notorious for its failings.

On any given day, the department has an absentee rate of 30 percent. Morale is in the cellar. The current chief has taken a leave of absence, and from the outside, it's not clear who is running things.

Make your guess, and then click here. Very interesting concept no? I wonder if this would work in Duval? Not that we have anything to investigate or anything.

$37,000 for the SMALL ONES! or LONG OVERDUE GLOBATRON POST!

image: Vallario (who also showed at 9th and Liberty, still the best show I've ever been involved with, and I have been involved with a couple. I digress)

I do a lot of posting of the urban folk broke movement (see the last 80 or so posts) that I just sort of named. Categorizing art is stupid, but you don't come here to learn. I know. This, the thing is they are/is ahhh... fun and accessible and I think a strong movement that, ummm, was probably born decades ago and will last for a few more. It now includes things like custom bikes and luggage, and art, and beer and you know local cultural dna fragments. Mostly outta Riverdale or Springfield. I love the urbanfolkbroke style, like me, its pbr and friend fueled and robust and usually involves bikes or boards. Unless you just moved here or live under an internet roque you know that we have an emerging scene of jaxcrafted goods. Right? Anthropolically relevant hand made stuff and all.


I'm sorry about the rambling and bad sentence structure lately, I'm writing while I listening and watching the amazing Art Basel Coverage from GLOBATRON. It is AWESOME! CLICK NOW! Too often I forget to remind you guys about GLobatron because I'm kissing Tom and Joeys butt. Figuratively speaking!

Globatron is another level. I'd say it is much more academic (or an academic corner of) than the typical jax scene (not the site the macro scene). But not standoffish though at one time I think that might have been debated. Its hard to write about art people! No matter. There is a reason that they make 31 flavors. I just think of the Globatron content as like a really smart mexican vanilla. I have no idea what I am talking about so GO TO THE SITE. I recently went to a surprise party for founder, Byron King, and thought to myself, everyone here is MFA or out of NYC or some other huge art market.

Anyway, I will do better to remind you of the goodies at Globatron and hope you will take the pride that I do that this kind of interview and observation is being served out of Duval.

Merry Buy Holiday Local Fun Have Christmas Repeat

Check site for this show!

AND DON'T FOrGET TO HONK WHEN PASSING BURRO BAGS! But if you are on Main Street (the only way you can see it) don't try to actually go there. Use the entrance from the alley behind Chans (5th) or next to Shanty (6th). Approaching from Laura in both cases. Dang. You sort of have to want it.

JAM ON IT.

photo from jaxscene, always fresh. If you know more than 3 people in this picture you are tuned in. If you know all of them, you are dangerous.

Here is a fun thing to do. First click the play button below:

	mc chris & Queen - Blastic Attack (Version 1 Clean)
	Found at skreemr.com

Then. Right click this. Then chose open in new window. Enjoy your low rent video courtesy of the urban core cut and paste social network, skreemr, and jaxscene photo all starz. Read more in the next post. Also DON'T FORGET TO HONK WHEN YOU DRIVE BY CHANZ and the BBB (Bags, Beats, Bikes). They HAVE NO ENTRANCE FROM MAIN ST. NOW. IT WILL BE A MIRACLE IF YOU CAN EVEN GET TO THEM!

These guys love it when you honk. Yesterday they had 16 customers and made $40! Yeah. Its like that. So the least you can do is honk.

THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING! or HONK IF YOU LOVE AMERICA!

How about a hot cup o' hyperbole this morning?

I hand craft each subject to provoke and then its the content's job to not disappoint. Here I have no problem. How about run on sentences you ask? Sure.

The BBB, aka Buyers Market Lodge (I named it that based on the market conditions that made it possible, no one likes it, I can't understand why, but I digress), home to Zombie Bikes, Burro Bags, and the Royal Treatment Disco Supply (and snack cakes), has been keeping Main Street buzzing with a young (if in spirit), active, inspired, and engaged consumer.

That consumer has no money. Sometimes no job. But who does these days? As the nation and the world starts to take a hard look at what is important material things become less important and precious things become more meaningful. While we used to be filling landfills with last years crap in a disturbing whirlwind of careless brown clouds (over China), the trend now (and they all start in the urban core) is to acquire things that are not just dear to us, but anthropologically relevant, socially and environmentally responsible. Things like records. Things like banana seats. Things like bags that can, in a year, replace cubic feet of landfill space.

So these things are born, reborn (natch) in Springfield on a torn up piece of a neglected pawnlined ghetto, next to an underrated Chinese restaurant, on a strip of Main Street that seems to be a concern in passing and online but weirdly ignored in real life. Green collar jobs are springing up like little plants creeping up through the concrete. People are potlucking. Kids are hugging instead of fighting. Girls are riding.

Soon, there will be national exposure for the green, urban, DIY growth in the city's most diverse and promising historic neighborhood. I don't want to give it away because I don't have permission or the needed details. But be proud of those kids that are recycling vinyl (both billboards and beastie boys) and support the locals, like Joey points out in a great post today.

As for the show above. This is no light weight art show. This is the show of the year (more hyperbole, I know):

Artists:
Mark George
Big Dunn
John O'Brian
Clay Dorian
Crystal Floyd
Bert No Shirt
Adam Pondozzi
Jared Scheurer
John Arvin
Chad Landenberger
Lauren Chester
Tom Pennington
Joe Gaskins
Richard Reichstadter
Danilo Quilaton
Tony Rodrigues

I will come back and link all of these guys and girls when I can.

Also, when you drive by the BBB (or Chans) lay on the horn and let the good people know you support them! You can also support the business listed as sponsors. That would be sweet.

NONE OF THE ABOVE LOVE would be possible without our benevolent landlord SRG HOMES!

So many things to do tonight!

I'm worried. I got this message from a friend who knows all about has beens. The subject was, blog:

It was a good run while it lasted. When's your retirement party?

Hey! I still post a lot and facebook and tweeter (ha) and I have a new cam phone blog too. Plus I am doing this at lunch instead of eating. Jeez people.

Well I do feel compelled today because there is a tremendous amount of stuff happening this weekend. Get out the house!

photo snagged at my own risk (notice RATM mickey in background!) from jaxscene.

1. RLand Show in St. Augustine
2. Five Points First Friday Christmas Riot!
3. Jason Wright solo show at Bogda! Actually this is Saturday but it is a must for the gifting seasons.
4.
5.

I know there is more so keep checking here and here and here and sometimes here.