New York Chinese Cultural Center – Lunar New Year celebrations at Brookfield Place
February 2nd, 2020 by Mr. C
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A Lunar New Year celebration to welcome in the Year of the Rat was held on Saturday February 1st at Brookfield Place in the Winter Garden in collaboration with the New York Chinese Cultural Center (NYCCC) and Arts Brookfield. NYCCC is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving Chinese culture, heritage, tradition, and pride for the local and global communities of the Chinese at large. I’ve covered and been to a few Lunar New Year events held by NYCCC. Their performance is a dynamic and wonderful, radiant way to welcome in the new year! This year was no different as the program was a potpourri of tradition with a touch of modern featuring a Lion Dance parade, Chinese ethnic dances including a Xinjiang Folk Dance, Sichuan Face-Changing opera, Kung Fu, a Ribbon Dance, Chinese Fan Dance, and a Mongolian Bowl Dance as well as a 4 person band playing traditional Chinese music! Students from the school performed a piece called, ‘Welcoming the Year of The Rat’ as well as a set called ‘Singing for Spring celebration’. The colorful and vibrant performances was a spectacular way to usher in the new year with dance & music! I have to say, I haven’t been to the Winter Garden – World Financial Center/WTC area in quite a long time and I’m happy to report that the space is more than well managed! Renovations and amenities have made the whole area a joy to spend the day at! More importantly Arts Brookfield has brought in a sense of community with the cultural events they are curating in the Brookfield Place space.
To find out more about the New York Chinese Cultural Center and the classes they offer click here.
To keep up to date about events going on at Brookfield Place and Arts Brookfield, click here.
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Geoffrey Sant and the Ambassador of China in NYC
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HR + MAAFA + Rebelmatic + The 1865 played The KINGSLAND
December 10th, 2019 by chocko
Last Saturday at The Kingland in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, H.R. of the legendary Bad Brains played a set that got the kids in the crowd and older hardcore heads losing their minds to songs from his reggae and rasta solo albums and a couple Bad Brains songs thrown in for good measure. HR and Human Rights had skateboarder supreme Chuck Treece on bass guitar filling in on short notice and seemed to be learning some of the songs on the fly. HR and his band sounded excellent with many highlights in the set but my favorite moment was hearing the heavy on the reggae version of the Bad Brains “Re-Ignition” which was instantly recognized by the crowd from it’s first couple of notes. The occasion was MAAFA’s Flora’s Birthday Fest and other bands on the bill included Flora’s band MAAFA who are incredible and a band you definitely have to see live. They are a mix of hardcore punk vocals, political lyrics for the most part coupled with beats, rhythms and sounds you wouldn’t normally hear at a punk show. Flora is front and center for that band and she is one ferocious mama on the microphone. Rebelmatic also played that night and never disappoint…always killing it and giving it their all on stage. These Rebels Without a Pause have so many influences ranging from hip hop, soul, and hardcore punk so always make sure you have your dancing shoes on because these guys know how to move the crowd. Rebelmatic will be dropping a new album in early 2020 so be on the lookout for that and definitely support one of the best NYC bands out there right now. We strolled in late so we missed sets by Foxtails (from CT) and Universe Ignore Her but U.I.H. play around the NYC area so I’ll be there for their next show for sure. We caught the tail end of The 1865 set featuring Honeychild Coleman on vocals and baritone guitar. The band also features Flora Lucini and filling in on guitar was Anthony Solis of MAAFA. The MVP award of the evening hands down goes to The 1865’s drummer Jason “Biz” Lucas who played in three bands that night…The 1865, Rebelmatic and MAAFA. Nobody Beats The Biz! Check out photos and videos below.
Tags: bad brains, band, brooklyn, greenpoint, hardcore punk, HR and Human Rights, maafa, punk, punk rock, rebelmatic, the 1865, The Kingsland
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Tales from Chiller Theatre: Spooky Spring Show 2019
October 25th, 2019 by chocko
Hey goons, hunchbacks and sasquatch looking mofos! It’s Chiller Theatre time in Dirty Jersey..a Spooktackular Halloween weekend event of grand proportions of all things horror, sci-fi (shout out to Forrest J. Ackerman!) and everything else in between. It’s the ultimate toy, model and film expo that if you pass up, you’ll wanna kick yourself repeatedly in the cojones. Jump out of your dusty coffins, put down those pumpkin spice lattes, grab your jack o’ lanterns and head out to Parsippany, New Jersey and party with all the gangstas of gore, unshowered werewolf horror collectors and bring your ghoul friend. Bring extra shekels because the price of admission has increased due to rising costs! General admission is now $35 at the door. Be there October 25-27. Rest In Peace to Zacherle and all the past guests that are no longer with us. Check out some photos below for a look back at our visit to Chiller Theatre Spring 2019.
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Tags: chiller theatre, collectibles, expo, movies, new jersey
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Kim Shattuck of The Muffs (1963-2019)
October 5th, 2019 by chocko
Kim Shattuck of The Muffs (The Pandoras, The Beards, The Coolies) passed away recently at the ago of 56 after a 2 year batttle with ALS. Shattuck was an amazing force on stage and her sweet, pop punk tunes were catchy and the live Muffs shows were so much fun. My favorite memories of Kim Shattuck will always be the crazy shows at Maxwell’s in Hoboken, New Jersey. Every time The Muffs came to town, you best believe I had to represent…it was totally worth circling the crowded streets for parking. The camaradrie with her bandmates Ronnie Barnett and Roy McDonald was always fun to watch and Shattuck’s energy and songs always got the crowd pushing, shoving and dancing by the end of the set. The following videos are from their shows at Maxwell’s including Paul Collins and Kim signing a song which The Muffs covered in 2000 “Rock N Roll Girl” which is lots of fun to watch. There’s also a video from 2009 and videos from 2013, days before Maxwell’s shut down. The Muffs have a new album coming out in October titled “No Holiday” which has 18 career-spanning tracks on it. Rest in Peace, Kim Shattuck.
Tags: kim shattuck, maxwells, punk, the muffs
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Beyond The Streets NYC 2019
September 13th, 2019 by chocko
A museum of all things related to graffiti and street art is a must-see exhibition in Williamsburg, Brooklyn at 25 Kent Ave. BEYOND THE STREETS takes over two floors of a massive building and features the art of 150+ artists including Lady Pink, Futura 2000, TATS CRU, Swoon, Invader, Shepard Fairey and Ron English. There is also a great collection of photographs to see by Martha Cooper, Henry Chalfant and Glen E. Friedman. Drop what you’re doing and get your tickets now. $25 gets you in and a valid student ID gets you 50% off the ticket price at the door. Stop by now through September 29. For hours and more details, check out their website http://www.beyondthestreets.com Check out some photos below from our recent visit to graffiti heaven in NYC.
Tags: beyond the streets, brooklyn, graffiti, museum, new york city, nyc, street art
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The 2019 Crotona Park Jams
August 30th, 2019 by chocko
Last night, capped off the last Crotona Park Jam of the season featuring a stellar lineup of DJs…DJ Lady Love, DJ Hollywood, DJ Cash Money, DJ Scratch and DJ Kid Capri. JDL and Grand Master Caz performed on stage together. Chocko was just driving up to the park but caught the last moments of the show with Cash Money closing out the show. Check out photos from early August on a perfect day in The Boogie Down Bronx.
Big up to Friends of Crotona Park and GMC Entertainment for making the shows happen. A lot of work happens behind the scene to make a show FREE. Hopefully, we’ll have more of these park shows in the future. Peace to Grand Master Caz who always does a great job of hosting and keeping the crowd entertained. Long live the culture of hip hop. To quote Caz, “Hip Hop Didn’t Invent Anything. Hip Hop Reinvented Everything.”
Tags: 2019, cold crush brothers, crotona park, crotona park jams, dj hollywood, grand master caz, hip hop, mix master ice, old school, rahiem, the bronx, utfo
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G-FEST: Godzilla + Kaiju Fans Unite!
July 10th, 2019 by chocko
G-FEST, the 26th annual gathering of the kaiju community is happening in Rosemont, Illinois from Friday July 12 to Sunday July 14 featuring special guests, a huge dealer room, artist alley and round the clock programming. This year’s guests of honor include Akira Takarada (actor), Shusuke Kaneko (director and screenwriter), Peggy Neal (actress), Yoshikazu Ishii, (director and assistant special effects director) and Takuji Yamada (award-winning diorama modeler). If you’re in town on Thursday July 11, you don’t want to miss the double double feature at the Pickwick Theatre in Park Ridge, IL with Godzilla’s Revenge, Ghidorah The Three-Headed Monster, The X From Outer Space and Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All Out Attack. Check out some photos of monsters and guests and video clips from last year’s G-FEST XXV.
Tags: 2019, cosplay, g-fan, G-FEST, godzilla, kaiju, Keizo Murase, Kenpachiro Satsuma, Megumi Odaka, model kits
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Yuen Woo-Ping Awarded Lifetime Achievement Award at NYAFF 2019
July 9th, 2019 by chocko
Last week, the New York Asian Film Festival was in full swing featuring an award ceremony for the legendary Hong Kong action choreographer and director Yuen Woo-Ping. Yuen directed Jackie Chan in his first two movies, Snake In The Eagle’s Shadow and Drunken Master. Yuen went on to make a ton of movies starring kung fu heavyweights such as Sammo Hung, Donnie Yen, Yuen Biao, Jet Li and Michelle Yeoh. Many years later, American audiences would know him for his work in the Matrix movies, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Kill Bill. Back in the day when Mr. C and I collected kung fu VHS tapes on our trips to NYC, if Yuen Woo-Ping’s name was mentioned somewhere on the box, we knew that the action scenes were going to be off the hook with jaw dropping choreography! Yuen was awarded The Star Asia Lifetime Achievement Award at the Walter Reade Theater in Lincoln Center. Yuen graciously accepted the award and said a few words which you can see in a video below.
The award ceremony was followed by a screening of Master Z: The Ip Man Legacy. The movie is an excellent spinoff to the Ip Man series which features Max Zhang back in the role of Master Z. After his defeat to Ip Man, Master Z looks to live a quiet life running a small grocery store and taking care of his son. Drug dealing gangsters put an end to the peaceful life for Master Z and sure enough, it’s back to kicking and punching in the Hong Kong streets. I wasn’t aware of the stellar cast in the movie but there is Tony Jaa who plays the mysterious Sadi the warrior, David Bautista as a restaurant owner and Michelle Yeoh as the leader of an organized crime gang. The action in the movie is some of the best in recent years especially a sequence above the streets and among the neon signs. I highly recommend the film to fans of the genre and you best believe I’ll be seeing it again soon and hopefully in a movie theater packed with kung fu movie fans. Yuen Woo-Ping came back after the movie for a Q&A moderated by Samuel Jamier of NYAFF.
If you are interested in seeing more of what the 18th Annual New York Asian Film Festival (June 28 – July 14) has to offer then check out http://filmlinc.org or http://nyaff.org for more information.
Tags: 2019, cinema, kung fu, lincoln center, movies, new york asian film festival, new york city, nyaff 2019, yuen woo-ping
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Back To The NYHC Roots at A7
June 13th, 2019 by chocko
Last Sunday The New York Hardcore Chronicles and NYHC Comics put together a Matinee show at A7 which is now Niagara (112 Avenue A) in The Lower East Side in New York City. This edition of “The Back To The NYHC Roots Music Series” featured the bands Antidote, Murderer’s Row, Ache, End Of Hope and Crippled Earn performing in the space which is known as the birthplace of New York Hardcore. Antidote headlined the show with a lineup that featured Drew Stone on lead vocals, Tristan D’Graves on bass, Matt Gray on drums and founding Antidote guitarist Robb Nunzio! Anybody catch their entrance music? It was the funky Main Theme from the famous Bruce Lee movie “Enter The Dragon” which foreshadowed all the punching and kicking to come later in the pit. Most of Antidote’s set list was comprised of songs off the classic 1983 “Thou Shalt Not Kill” 7-inch which is a classic New York Hardcore slab of wax. Other tunes such as the fist-pounding set opener “Conspiracy Of None” came from the 2012 Antidote album “No Peace In Our Time” which features Drew Stone who formed a NY hardcore band in the early 80’s called The High & The Mighty. Interestingly enough, a High & The Mighty song which was later rerecorded by Antidote, “Time Is Right, Ready To Fight” was performed in the set. The crowd was in for a treat because, lurking in the shadows, well actually sitting patiently on the back window sill, was original Antidote singer Louie Rivera who jumped on stage towards the end of the set for a double dose of OG Antidote with “Real Deal” and “Foreign Job-Lot” which went right into Drew back on the mic for “Rise Above” by Black Flag. The show ended with a combo Minor Threat punch to the jaw with “filler” and “I Don’t Wanna Hear It” with some help from some friends including Josh of Urban Waste. Looks like Drew got clocked by a fist of fury at the end of the set. Protect Ya Neck!
I’ll admit to being lame and missing the first three bands but I did catch Murderer’s Row from Troy, New York. The last time they played New York City, CBGB was still open and after more than a decade, all is forgiven. They put on a killer set of hard rock n roll tunes inspired by punk rock and booze. Murderer’s Row lead guitarist Sick Nick was missing in action but the band played on to a crowd digging their songs about “boozing, brawling, working class pride and patriotism.” Their Cock Sparrer cover of “Watch Your Back” got the crowd fist pumping and stomping. Check out some videos of Murderer’s Row and Antidote playing Niagara below!
Back To The NYHC Roots series continues at Niagara (112 Ave A) on Sunday , July 14, 2019 (2PM) with Darkside NYC, The Last Stand, Combust, The Ice Cold Killers, Dead Crew and Necrotic Society. Then get ready for Sunday, August 4, 2019 (2PM) at Niagara with Leeway, Gilligan’s Revenge (Reunion), Enrage, Beyond and Born Sinner. Both shows have DJ Sid Da Kid spinning tunes at the bar and both shows are FREE! Come on down to the legendary A7…trust me, they don’t make shows like these anymore. Come support the bands and see you in da pit!
Tags: a7, antidote nyhc, hardcore punk, live music, lower east side, murderers row, new york city, niagara, nyc, nyhc, punk, punk rock, punk show
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Godzilla Invades Kinokuniya USA
May 31st, 2019 by chocko
Godzilla: King of the Monsters is now playing at a theater near you and to celebrate, Kinokuniya Books is selling exclusive Godzilla merchandise. The following cities are participating in the kaiju pop-up shops: Chicago, Carrollton, Austin, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Edgewater, New Jersey. When we got to the New Jersey store, the pickings were slim but we were told to keep checking back for more merch in the next couple of weeks. Below are some photos of the products at the Edgewater store, which included art books, stickers, figures, flip flops, pins, postcards, and pens. The only other place where you can find this stuff is the official Godzilla store in Japan. Be sure to check your local participating Kinokuniya for availability because supplies are limited.
While in the are of Kinokuniya in Edgewater, fill your belly with some delicious Japanese food at the Mitsuwa Marketplace. Also check out the store Little Japan next door to the book store for more toys and Godzilla merchandise like the mini Godzilla figures you can purchase with tokens from a vending machine, large Bandai figures and a Godzilla bank which features great sound effects and a tiny version of the King Of The Monsters that pops up and takes your change. A great deal for $20!
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Tags: edgewater, godzilla, kaiju, king of the mosters, kinokuniya, merchandise, new jersey, toys
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Chiller Theatre Halloween 2018
April 25th, 2019 by chocko
Hey misfits, cretins and crustaceans! It’s Spring again and with rain showers and buckets of blood, comes Chiller Theatre time once again..a Spooktacular gathering of all things horror, sci-fi (shout out to Forrest J. Ackerman!). It is the one toy, model and film expo you don’t want to miss and it only happens twice a year so get kraken. Mark your calendars for the weekend of April 26-28 and get over to Parsippany, New Jersey for some spooky collectible shopping, celebrity autographs and photo ops. Once again, Chiller Theatre has a great list of ghoulish guests including Linda Blair (The Exorcist), Shi Kosugi (Enter The Ninja), Tony Danza (Who’s The Boss) , Cheryl Ladd (Charlie’s Angels), and Jason Priestley (Beverly Hills 90210). I’m excited to see Carole and Paula of The Magic Garden in their first convention appearance anywhere. Here’s a look back at our visit to Chiller Theatre Halloween 2018. Hope to see you there!
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Tags: chiiler theatre, expo, halloween 2018, horror, horror convention, new jersey, nj, sci-fi
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A Blast From The Past: Puke Island at Tompkins Square Park 2013
March 29th, 2019 by chocko
It’s Flashback Friday and Chocko dug even deeper into the dark abyss and found some crustified photos and videos of a punk rock show that happened at Tompkins Square Park in the Lower East Side NYC almost 6 years ago! Puke Island (that is not a typo!) was masterminded by Chris of the metal/punk band ICONICIDE and his evil henchmen. There’s a little more about them in the previous post but they are releasing a new album soon and if you can reach down deep into your linty pockets…click on their gofundme to assist with what is sure to be an awesome, heavy, balls to the walls punk album. Be sure to check out the videos below and check out the Iconicide side-project, an underground hip hop group DABUMRUSHKREW busting out a stanky Geto Boys cover of “Mind Playing Tricks On Me.” The other bands were killing it so be sure to support and see them play live, buy their records and merch or check ’em out online – The Minor Cuts, Damn Broads, The Graveyard School and Cojoba!
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Tags: cojoba, dabumrushkrew, damn broads, iconicide, new york city, nyc, puke island, show, the graveyard school, the minor cuts, tompkins square park
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