PLANET CHOCKO – art/music/movies/beyond

(BREAK!)

The spirit of the urban collective once known as 5 Pointz (more than just graffiti) came back earlier today in another form. A block party celebrating the culture of 5 Pointz held around the perimeter of The Skyline Auto Group on Vernon Blvd and 45th ave in Long Island City was alive and well! DJs,bboys-bgirls,a car show,aerosol art battles, & just maxin-relaxin and getting the hustle on to support the LIC YMCA was the name of the game! The Long Island City YMCA and co-sponsors of the event – the creatives behind 5 Pointz most notably Meres-One, Marie Cecile Flageul, & Gianna Cerbone-Teoli were the ones to thank for this gathering to celebrate the importance of the YMCA and to bring back the spirit & karma of the 5 Pointz collective. The LIC-Y & 5 Pointz Creates wanted to award 3 legendary individuals with their excellence in sharing & teaching their skills to the community at large. Congratulations and a big thank you to Graffiti legend Lady Pink, Legendary Hip Hop producer/DJ/Artist – Marley Marl, & Master of the Arts – Danny Simmons! Unfortunately Lady Pink & Danny Simmons couldn’t make it to the event because of prior obligations but Marley Marl was live & direct to show his appreciation & offered his voice on WBLS to spread the cause!

Thanks to the battle art painters – Meres One, Lexi Bella, Carlos Game, James Rocco, & Topaz. The dancers: Dynamic Rockers & DJ Gabriel Dredel. Also a big shoutout to those that drove their gorgeous cars to the event like the Lambos, Ferraris, Aston Martins, the 1925 Fords, the classic Mercedes & Porsches, the classic 500 Fiats, and of course those Ducati Motorcycles!

Before the main event at the block party, I gathered with some friends to take a peek into the Long Island City Food & Flea market on 46th Ave by the river – a hop, skip, & a trip away from Gantry Plaza State Park! After a bit of eye-candy, a thai iced tea, & some grilled skewered meats, we ventured into the sights at Gantry Plaza before the humpty dumpty shuffle into the block party. Enjoy the photo journal!

(Marley Marl being honored)

(Marley Marl’s speech at the award ceremony)

(Meres and Gianna – 5 Pointz creates with a speech about the event & programs)

(Before the jamz commenced, we ventured into the Long Island City Flea)

(Quiet before the LIC flea storm!)

(Some of us got recruited to play the Ultimate Battle)

(Table tennis anyone?)

(Thai eats at Khao)

(Seafood balls,Beef Balls, & Squid Yakitori)

(Gantry Plaza State Park just a few blocks away)

(View of the Manhattan skyline)

(Distant view of the Queensboro 59th St Bridge)

(YMCA block party on Vernon Boulevard at The Skyline Auto Group)

(Dance Dance Dance!)

(Puerto Rico HOooooo!)

(Uh Uh Uh!)

(Before the Art Battle)

(During the Art Battle)

(Lexi Bella touch ups on her portrait of Lady Pink)

(Meres-One with the finishing touches)

(Topaz)

(Carlos Game)

(At the car show inside the garage – Mustang)

(Classic Mercedes & Porsches)

(Ferraris)

(1925 Fords)

(1925 Ford tow truck!)

(Aston Martin)

(Volvo)

(Not part of the car show, but Mad Max badass for a mobile home – parked a block away from the party)

(We stepped away to the John Brown Smokehouse around the corner at 10-43 44th Dr, Long Island City, NY 11101)

(Chalkboard Menu)

(Smoked pecan wings/Smoked Sausage/Cole Slaw)

(Beef Brisket Burnt Ends on white bread)

(Shiro’s mural art in the dining area outside in the back of John Brown’s Smokehouse)

(Back to the Block party – YMCA spokesperson)

(L to R: Ricky,Director of Rubble Kings: Shan Nichols,Marley Marl)

(Shan Nichols/Director of Rubble Kings)

(Marley Marl chatting with Marie Cecile Flageul)

(Inside the garage of Skyline Auto Group)

(For the gearheads)

(Talk about a wall ornament for speedracers)

(Our favorite Taxi Cab company/depot – 55 Stan Operating Corporation from DRIVERS WANTED documentary)
(across the street from the block party on Vernon Boulevard)