in rememberance pt.2

Another death this week was Christopher Hitchens, an essayist whose work appeared all through out magazines and websites on topics related to politics, religion, and literature. Hitch was a thoughtful writer, and one who loved to pick a fight. He was staunch in his opinions, never backing down, never settling for the "proper" position. I admired his conversational tone, a welcoming voice that encouraged the reader to sit and ponder awhile whatever topic happened to present itself.

Here's a piece from last January, where Hitchens instructs his American audience (he was an Englishman) on the finer points of making tea:
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/fighting_words/2011/01/how_to_make_a_decent_cup_of_tea.html
Tea is a herb (or an herb if you insist) that has been thoroughly dried. In order for it to release its innate qualities, it requires to be infused. And an infusion, by definition, needs the water to be boiling when it hits the tea. Grasp only this, and you hold the root of the matter.

in rememberance

There have been some deaths this past week that have made me reflect on art, beauty, and my life. I'm going to share some thoughts and memories, starting with Cesária Évora. Her fado style songs were my first introduction to Cape Verde, a place I had no idea about growing up in Philadelphia. I am thankful to have been given such a lush and beautiful welcome to Cape Verde.

Descansa En Paz, Cesária


Cesária Évora from Manuel on Vimeo.

Book Fest!

Boston book fest is this weekend! Extra Credit! Culture Vulture! Books!

http://www.bostonbookfest.org/2011_schedule/

Here are some highlights:

Funny Kids' Fiction 12:45pm BPL Rabb Lecture Hall

A versatile artist, Julia Alvarez has written several books for children, including The Secret Footprints and How Tía Lola Came to Visit Stay, as well as a novel for young adults, Before We Were Free. Alvarez is best known for her debut novel, How the García Girls Lost Their Accents, and her second novel, In the Time of the Butterflies. She also writes essays and poetry. Born in New York City, Alvarez was raised in the Dominican Republic. Her newest book is How Tía Lola Ended Up Starting Over.

Graphic Novels: Drawing the Story 2:30pm Trinity Church Sanctuary

Daniel Clowes is a cartoonist and author who has contributed numerous covers to The New Yorker and whose work has appeared in Time, Newsweek, GQ, and many other publications. He created the comic-book series Eightball, which ran for 23 issues and earned the artist a large following and multiple industry awards, including several Eisner, Harvey, and Ignatz awards. The film adaptation of Clowes's graphic novel Ghost World, based on a script by Clowes and director Terry Zwigoff, was released to great acclaim, earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay and winning the Independent Spirit award, among others. He also created the widely acclaimed graphic novel Wilson, which NPR likened to "reading a series of Bazooka Joe comics written by Jean-Paul Sartre." His serialized comic for the New York Times Magazine, titled Mister Wonderful, was recently collected in an expanded hardcover edition. His newest graphic novel is The Death-Ray.

Fiction: Truth and Consequences 2:30pm BPL Rabb Lecture Hall

Ha Jin’s first full-length novel, Waiting, won the National Book Award for Fiction and the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction and was a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Award for fiction. His novel War Trash won the PEN/Faulkner Award and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. He is also the author of The Bridegroom, Under The Red Flag, which won the Flannery O'Connor Award for Short Fiction, and Ocean of Words, which won the PEN/Hemingway Award. He has received three Pushcart Prizes for fiction and a Kenyon Review Prize. Many of Jin's short stories have been included in The Best American Short Stories and Pushcart Prize anthologies, as well as the Norton Introduction to Fiction and Norton Introduction to Literature. His newest novel is Nanjing Requiem, which Publishers Weekly calls "a convincing, harrowing portrait of heroism in the face of brutality." 

Far Out Fiction 4:30pm Trinity Church Sanctuary

Chuck Klosterman is the New York Times bestselling author of six books, including Eating the Dinosaur; Downtown Owl; Chuck Klosterman IV; Killing Yourself to Live; Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs; and Fargo Rock City, which won the ASCAP-Deems Taylor Award. The Wall Street Journal has called his essays "relentlessly thoughtful." Klosterman has written for GQ, Esquire, The New York Times Magazine, Spin, The Washington Post, The Guardian, The Believer, A.V. Club, and ESPN. His latest is The Visible Man, a novel that deals with many of Klosterman's usual concerns: pop culture, the influence of media, voyeurism, and "reality."

Getting Involved w/Arts!

Here is a quick listing of great teen arts programs in Boston. Let me know if I can help you with anything related to applications or additional opportunities.

Theater/Drama
YOUTH UNDERGROUND
2011-12 Auditions Tuesday, September 27 6:30-8:30 Saturday, October 1, 4:00—6:00 
To book your audition: yu@undergroundrailwaytheater.org or 617-576-9278, ext.207

CITY SPOTLIGHTS SPOKEN WORD PROJECT 
October 12-November 16 Wednesdays, 3:30 pm-5 pm 
Dudley Branch Library 65 Warren Street, Roxbury 
Citi Performing Arts Center and Dudley Branch Library are looking for youth ages 11-19 for its fall City Spotlights Spoken Word Project. In this FREE program, participants will develop spoken word, storytelling and performing arts skills while exploring hip hop culture. At the end of the six weeks, participants will present their original work during a poetry slam event at the Library!  No prior experience required. Space is limited and registration is first come, first served. Participants must be able to attend all sessions.  Contact Siobhan Brown at 617-532-1250 or sbrown@citicenter.org with any questions.

City Spotlights Leadership Program
September 27-November 18 Tuesdays and Thursdays, 4 pm-7 pm 
Citi Performing Arts Center is looking for teens ages 14-19 for its fall City Spotlights Leadership Program. Teens will develop leadership, music, and spoken word skills while exploring hip hop culture AND earning a small stipend. At the end of the program, teens will present an entirely original performance tour throughout Boston. 
Applicants may schedule an interview by contacting Ramona Alexander at ralexander@citicenter.org or 617-532-1221. Interviews will take place weekdays from 3-5pm, beginning August 29th.  Previous performing arts experience is not necessary.  Applicants are asked to memorize and present a 2-minute monologue from a scripted play or published poem, sing 16 bars of a song, and bring a resume if possible. 

Visual Art
Teens Art Program: Institute of Contemporary Art
Architecture and Design - Fall 2011  Weds, Nov 2–Dec 14 (except Nov 23), 4–6 pm 
Posters, T-shirts and Sticker Design - Fall 2011  Saturdays, Oct 15 – Nov 5, 10:30 am – 2:30 pm  Learn More DJ School 101  DJ School 101 - Fall 2011  Tuesdays, Nov 22 – Dec 13, 4–6:30 pm 
Fashion Art - Fall 2011  Wednesdays, Sept 28 - Oct 26, 4–6 pm 
Digital Photography  Digital Photograpy - Fall 2011  Tues, Oct 4–Nov 8, 4–6 pm 
Video Game Design - Middle School - Fall 2011  Saturday, Dec 3, 2011, 10:30 am - 2:30 pm 

Museum of Fine Arts
Young Fashion Designers: Design & Sew,
12-16yrs old October 1, 2011, 3:30 pm - 5:30 pm  Ten-Session Workshop: Saturday October 1 - December 10 (No class on November 26)
Course Description: Take an existing pattern or piece of clothing and revise it to express

One-Day Workshop: Figure Drawing
Ages 12-18 October 2, 2011, 10:15 am - 2:15 pm 
Workshop Description: Study the human figure and experiment with different drawing techniques using leads, colored pencils

Teen Photo: The City and Ourselves
14-17yrs old October 14, 2011, 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm 
Ten-Session Workshop: Friday October 14 - December 9 (No class on November 25)
Course Description: Stretch and take new approaches to your own self-portrait

Mass College of Art
Saturday Studios
Art classes for grades 4 through 12 
Sturdays, 9:30 a.m. to noon October 15 – December 10;
No class November 26
Exhibition of student work, December 5-10
Closing reception, December 10, 11:30 a.m. – noon

Literary
Grub Street
Do you like to write poems, lyrics, stories, novels or screenplays? Join Grub Street’s Young Adult Writers Program (YAWP), a FREE creative writing workshop for Boston-area high schoolers.
We offer two sessions of classes each YAWP Saturday: one from 10 AM to Noon, followed by an hour for socializing and lunch (we'll provide snacks, but you are encouraged to bring your own lunch), and another session of classes from 1 PM to 3 PM, followed by an open-mic reading. Each session includes the same classes, and you can participate in both so long as you take different classes. For example, you could take a poetry class in the morning session and a fiction class in the afternoon.
YAWP dates for Fall 2011 (all Saturdays)
September 24th, October 29th, November 19th, December 10th

Teens in Print
Student newspaper!
e-mail application to: ric.kahn.jcs@cityofboston.gov

2011 Long Composition Prompt Contest

Here are your entries to the competition. Students with the closest guess will earn a non-school lunch of their choice.

In literature as in life...

-character trait that helps overcome obstacles
-struggle with honesty
-change of mind
-character that inspires others
-fidelity in a character
-coming of age
-character matuaration
-dual narrative voice [this one will NOT be the question :)]
-foil character
-character that prevents the protagonist from reaching their goals
-emotional journey
-secondary character that affects the main character
-loyality
-perseverance through difficult situations
-struggles with a new environment
-importance of setting
-symbolic object
-friend to the protagonist
-character makes a drastic change
-downfall that leads to success
-struggle with society
-difficult decision
-coping with guilt
-courage in a character
-moral dilema
-struggles with assimilation
-mood of the story
-racial discrimination
-

Hallway TIme Line

Here's a quick look at your work this week. Many teachers (even history!) have commented on the wall, and I am proud of what you did in only one period.

One of the greatest moments in recent football history...

Get ready for an Eagles-Patriots Super Bowl!

Culture Vulture: Andrew Bird

I love to whistle, and have the skills to whistle through my teeth or lips. That makes me an ideal fan for Andrew Bird, a violin/guitar/glockenspiel playing troubadour of song. What made his concert last Friday night so special was the venue: the opulent Tremont Temple (near Park Street). This church boasts a huge organ set-up, massive pipes filling the area behind the stage, and lots of Christmas decorations. It was an honor to photograph, then sit back and let the looped instruments rush over my ears.

melophobe | Andrew Bird Marissa Nadler - Tremont Temple (Boston, MA; Dec. 10, 2010)

Nyatiti by Andrew Bird

Best Music of 2010

In my non-Antigone reading life, I enjoy photographing concerts and writing about music. The end of the year provides a chance to reflect back on the highlights of the past 12 months. I write for a site called melophobe (the fear of music) and we came up with a list. My votes were counted, and I got to write a few paragraphs about my favorites.

Your list?

Overall Best of:
http://www.melophobe.com/articles/top-20-best-albums-of-2010/
20. Phantogram - Eyelid Movies
19. The Black Keys - Brothers
18. Die Antwoord - $O$
17. The Walkmen - Lisbon
16. Beach House - Teen Dream
15. Yeasayer - Odd Blood
14. The Tallest Man on Earth - The Wild Hunt
13. The Roots - How I Got Over
12. Mumford and Sons - Sigh No More
11. Vampire Weekend - Contra
10. Local Natives - Gorilla Manor
09. Janelle Monae - The ArchAndroid
08. Sleigh Bells - Treats
07. Menomena - Mines
06. Big Boi - Sir Luscious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty
05. Sufjan Stevens - The Age of Adz  (Doreian Pick)
04. LCD Soundsystem - This is Happening
03. The Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
02. Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
01. The National - High Violet

Hip Hop:
http://www.melophobe.com/articles/top-10-best-hip-hop-albums-mixtapes-of-2010/
1) Kanye - MBDTF   
2) Big Boi - Sir Lucious Left Foot  
3) The Roots - How I Got Over   
4) Yelawolf - Trunk Muzik   
5) Atmosphere - All My Friends/Blood Makes The Blade Holy   
6) Kid Cudi - Man on the Moon 
7) Shad - TSOL    (Doreian Pick)
8) Reflection Eternal - Revolutions Per Minute    (Doreian Pick)
9) Freddie Gibbs - Str8 Killa, No Filla    
10)  Das Rascist: Sit Down, Man

Doreian Culture Vulture: Shad @ Middle East Downstairs

well, this is a musical Culture Vulture. Shad's been on my play list this year; he's from Canada via Kenya/Rwanda and speaks conscious hip-hop that's very catchy. So, it was time for a babysitter and off to enjoy the show!

Doreian Culture Vulture: Oktoberfest Harvard Square 10/10

With a bright sunny, blue sky kind of Sunday, we headed across the Charles into Cambridge for the 30th annual Oktoberfest. The streets in Harvard Square are closed to traffic so vendors, musicians, and artists set up booths. This year's highlight was the HONK! festival musicians. They are a collective of marching bands, social protest groups, and performance art. Building from a wide variety of street music, the bands encourage audience participation (dancing, singing, banging the drums). In all, a wonderful afternoon.

Horns all raised for a mighty shout!

Elsie was a hit. Check the guy who asked to film her dance moves.

This was one hard core trumpet player!

NYTimes Article on Multitasking/Technology

Here's the article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/07/technology/07brain.html?_r=1


Test whether you are part of the %3 of Super Taskers!
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/06/07/technology/20100607-distraction-filtering-demo.html?ref=technology

Want a job???

Fall City Wide Resource Fair 

Saturday October 2, 2010 11:00am - 3:00pm 

 

Come meet a wide range of programs and organizations to make your school year great! Academics, Sports, jobs, internships, art, anything and everything you may want! All grades and ages should attend Madison Park Technical Vocational High School Lower cafeteria 55 Malcom X Blvd. Roxbury, MA 02119

 

  Got questions? Call Morgan Randall at 617-635-1578 or e-mail mrandall@boston.k12.ma.us. 

Jobs at 826 Boston

826 Boston hires four or five teens each year through the Boston Youth Fund to tutor students in our after-school program as paid employees. 

These teen tutors work 3-4 hours each afternoon helping younger kids (ages 7-12) with homework, reading comprehension, writing, and other projects. Through this program, they also become eligible to win college scholarships from 826 Boston ($1000+) and to be nominated for Posse Foundation's full scholarships to private universities. We encourage them to work on their writing by attending workshops at 826 Boston (at no cost) and by working with our staff.

If you know a teen who is at least 15 years of age and interested in tutoring younger students, please encourage them to apply!

Directions are listed below. 

The application deadline is October 15.

www.bostonyouthzone.com/teenzone/employment/byf/

National Punctuation Day

How did I miss this?

http://www.nationalpunctuationday.com/

Free Movies!

This Twitter link is just for fun, or will come in handy as we start Culture Vulture!




http://twitter.com/BostonFreeFilms

Paradox of Memory

For you who are still mulling over the paradox of remembering and moving on from our past, here is a beautiful blog post about a park in East Boston. Enjoy.

http://elliothaney.squarespace.com/blog/2010/5/29/my-day-serving-east-boston.html

My Day Serving East Boston

05.29.2010

I have done a lot at City Year this year. I have stepped into many roles and have stepped out of my previous comfort zone more times than I can count, but nothing compares to the scope and the results of what my team and I were able to do on Saturday, May 22nd.

To sum up the day quickly, it was fantastic. Completely, totally, unrelentingly fantastic. That is not my highlight however… my highlight took place after the volunteers had left, after my team had left, while I was sitting on a bench in the park that we just transformed. Sitting there, all alone, I had the experience that made my year, and the experience that quite possibly put my entire life into a new perspective.

My site contained a wall with the letters M.A.D. painted onto it, covered by about three decades of wear, decay, and graffiti. We wanted to mural the site, so on the first day of prep we went out to survey the area. An East Boston local came over and basically warned us not to mess with M.A.D.; it was a memorial to Michael Anthony D’avella, who was murdered years before. We decided right there that we had to leave it… or did we? We would make it better, we would redo it! So we set out scraping and priming. Multiple people came over, worried that we were erasing a hero from their history, but we assured all of them that it would be fine, that we were going to do it justice.

So it went on, three weeks of prep, over 150 man hours of work, then it was the big day, Serve-a-thon 2010. The mural came to life. Michael’s full name, previously just ambiguous initials to an outsider, finally came to life. Shane Quigley, the mural’s designer, beautifully weaved the name into the river along the Boston skyline, rendering most onlookers speechless. We had many community members come out and observe and compliment, but none like one man, after everyone else had left.

He was an East Boston native, born and raised. He walked into the park as I was sitting there, and his jaw just dropped. It was like in a comic book; it literally dropped and he just stood there, staring all around. He turned to me and said “This couldn’t be more beautiful…” He started walking around just taking it all in, then he walked towards the court. He stopped suddenly, turned to me and started walking back. As he got closer, I could see tears on his face. The man was a childhood friend of Michael Anthony D’Avella. He was crying to me, a complete stranger, thanking me for making the M.A.D. memory live on so beautifully. He choked through numerous ‘thank yous’ but then he couldn’t speak anymore… he shook my hand, and he walked out of the park, taken over by emotions and his memories that we helped to preserve. With the man gone, I sat there, put my hands behind my head, and I felt the power of what had just taken place. Whether it was the emotion of what I just experienced, or realizing the weeks of work had actually finally paid off, or maybe it was realizing that my year was coming to an end, whatever it was, it was beautiful, and I savor the memory of how I felt right then. I never want to forget that moment.

This shows what an incredible thing that we at City Year Boston did this past weekend. I can guarantee that stories like this happened all throughout the city, and that they are happening right now. What we accomplished on Saturday is nothing short of breathtaking, and the sentiments that he made to me were echoed by the smiles and laughter of the families that came out to the park, enjoying an area that was long neglected and misused.

East Boston will remember us, and they thank us. As well do I. I want to personally thank everyone that came out with so much for their time, their effort, and their commitment to making beautiful positive change.

This is City Year, this is what we do.

hmmmm. Why I choose not to live in Southborough

Silly Bandz a no-no at Finn

by susan on May 19, 2010

Last night WBZ-TV ran a piece on the latest fad in kid accessories: Silly Bandz. Those of you with young ones know that Silly Bandz are brightly-colored rubber bracelets in the shape of things like animals. A private school in Milton recently banned the bracelets because they’ve become such a distraction for students. Turns out, they’re a distraction in our town, too.

While she didn’t call out Silly Bandz by name, Finn principal Mary Ryan sent a note home to parents last week asking them to not send their kids to school with “jelly bracelets,” saying they’re causing similar issues as trading cards.

“The bracelets are distracting, they are being traded, and children are having conflicts because of them,” Ryan wrote in the letter. “I ask that these be kept as special bracelets to be worn outside of school.”

Oh the fashion fads of the young. We had jelly bracelets in my day too, but the only way to wear them was layered over your Swatch. What about you?

Drink!

Just because

a student with musical shoes had me looking at videos. Here's what I found...