Bryant Park Petanque

Every week Bryant Park attracts New Yorkers to play the traditional French game Petanque.

Master’s Project Blues: Boycotting Eateries near the J-School

During the summer of 2008, three J-School students, Kelly, Alicia, and Cassandra, spent many days (and nights) on the 5th floor editing suites, working on their documentary. During this time, take-out food was the norm. The girls ultimately began to grow sick of several eateries in the area and boycotted them for one reason or another.



View Larger Map

Mini Profile: Life In Sips

Uptown in many aspects is becoming the new downtown. With pose, swanky restaurants opening left and right, people are starting to realize hanging out near their apartments is not a bad idea.

Karl Williams, decided to make his realization into a business. Society is a café in west Harlem which motto is life in sips. With communal benches and local art work on the walls, it is a popular spot for singles and young families.

Karl started the business with personal savings and loans. Since Society's opening it is a bug success for offering a downtown atmosphere uptown. The food has a reputation all by itself. Scrimp and grits is a favorite. The stuffed French toast is the perfect brunch item. The restaurant has the unique element of transforming itself thrognout the day. Starting out with a brunch crowd in the morning and ending with a coffee and laptop corwd in the eveing.

Karl admits this is just the beginning for his uptown investments. He soon plans to open a lounge not too far from Society. He says seeing the neighborhood at Fredrick Douglas and 114th Street slowly transform itself over the years proves that uptown is changing for the better.

Link Round-Up: The Year Of The Shirts!

We’ve seen so many people wearing election shirts. It’s not just “Vote For Obama,” or “Vote for McCain,” it’s become a fashion trend. Many of the urban stores like Jimmy Jazz or Dr. Jay’s are selling these shirts and are even sold out!

In the past couple of days, however, there have been mass text messages and emails being sent out advising our friends and colleagues not to wear the shirts to the polls. The Board of Elections has indicated that a person can be turned away from the polls and asked to return after they change their shirt. It’s part of the electioneering laws. The growing concern is, how many people will actually go home, change their shirt, and return to the polls?

A Huffington Post article addresses this in depth and gives some history on the law. This wasn’t such an issue in the past, but now we find ourselves in an era where politics is actually a hot topic and even a fashion statement.

A lot of people are confused about this. Yahoo Answers has a post as well.

Memorable Moments: Obama Supporters Overseas

I was in Europe earlier this month and it was incredible how many people are keeping up with the U.S elections. My first encounter was in London. I entered Selfridges in search of a new piece of luggage. After swiping my Bank of America debit card, the sales representative realized I lived in the states and asked if I would like for my total to be converted into dollars. I said yes and we continued the transaction. Upon giving me my receipt, he asks, “So who are you voting for? I hope not McCain…” I laughed and he apologized for being so forward. I told him it was ok and we had a brief discussion on the candidates.

A few days after that, I found myself lost in the streets of Rome. I stopped a gentleman to ask for directions and before telling me how to get to my destination he asked where I was from. He immediately inquired who I was voting for. “McCain is no good,” said the man.

The final Obama encounter was in Paris, outside of the Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris. Vendors were selling Barack Obama T’s and pins right next to Moulin Rouge post cards and French paintings. I spoke to one of the vendors and he said it’s one of his best selling souvenirs.