cityrag

headed out on a highway
looking for adventure in whatever comes our way

goodbye Salvation Army, hello gentrification
the "new boutique loft conversion" that took over our favorite local Salvation Army is underway at 115 Allen St. checking out their official website, we were dumbstruck by the irony of this absurd promotional paragraph... Hey Kids - Come be part of the gentrification of the LES as we edge out the old tenement storefronts in the ethnic capitol of the city!!

"The Lower East Side will always be synonymous in the minds of most New Yorkers, as the very first “ethnic” capitol of the city. As the flood of immigrants from Eastern Europe poured onto the city’s shore, at the turn of the century, they settled on the lower east side of town. The area stretched from Canal Street east and then over to Delancey. The most popular hubs for shopping were Delancey and Orchard Streets. Since most of the immigrants were Jewish, the flavors of the day were Pastrami, Knishes and Pickles and the vehicle of choice was the pushcart. Today, gentrification is everywhere. Wine Bars and snappy boutiques are edging out the old tenement storefronts. There’s no doubt about it, the Lower East Side has become one of the most sought after places to live and real estate has been revitalized in a way no one expected."

and check out Curbed's great coverage

Beautiful (creepy, and compelling)
the new Christina Aguilera billboard to raise voter registration is fan-fucking-tastic! startling, thought provoking, and smack in the middle of Times Square for millions to see. the bold, in-your-face Billboard is hard to miss, adding a fitting backdrop to the TS craziness. it's sponsored by a GREAT organization - Declare Yourself - a movement to raise voter registration.

Hallmark of Safety
more preparation for the RNC... drills going on all over the city and in Times Square today.

follow CityRag's coverage of the Times Square and New York security drills - June 23, July 1, July 16 pt. 1, July 16 pt. 2 and guide to RNC Protests

nothing held back
a Buddy fan, Herself, sent in this lovely and insightful note...
"Buddy has in spades what I find so appealing in dogs, that very speaking, emotional, wide-open kind of face. Dogs hold nothing back, and somehow they tap into a very undefended part of ourselves."

Guide to RNC Protests in New York City
ran into the cool dude who inspired our anti-Bush t-shirt post the other day. he asked if we'd seen any lists of protest events going on in the city during the GOP convention... so CityRag's gathered some helpful resourses and news, and will keep a running post (with weekly updates) with info on anti-Bush, anti-GOP, RNC protests, rallies, demonstrations and marches:

Comprehesive Event Calendars (check frequently, the calendars below are growing daily!):
- Not in Our Name's events calendar
- Counter Convention's calendar of events

Hot off the press:
- Anti-War Group Agrees to NYC Protest Site
Important information:
- Conservatives to Protest Anti-GOP Protest

Check out Greg.org's excellent editorial's on RNC protesting (from Janelle's tip in the Gothamist's comment section)...
- How I Would Protest At The Republican Convention
- How Louis Malle would protest at the Republican Convention

CityRag's exclusive coverage of the pre RNC security drills in New York City - June 23, July 1, July 16 pt. 1, July 16 pt. 2, July 22

Gothamist's pre RNC coverage - July 20 , July 22

steady handed
our first submission to the "Tattoo's are Personal" series shows off the artistic percision and accuracy of tattoo artist Dan Higgens and surgeon Dr. Domingo Nuñez. from our submitter: "Ruth is my mother's name and there's a "t" on the thumb also making it TRUTH. The symbols are my astrological ones... sun and moon in Gemini, Cancer rising.

feeling New York City
nothing like a morning walk on the lower east side. so much to see. so many pics to take...