Who shot rock and roll.

I finally made it to this exhibit at The Brooklyn Museum of Art. It was the second to last day, and the place was packed. It was about as crowded as I've ever seen any exhibit, but I'm still glad I went. There were the expected iconic photographs of Dylan, Cash, Turner, and shots used for album covers like Led Zeppelin's Houses of the Holy and U2's Joshua Tree. But I think the best photos at the exhibit were the unassuming, everyday-looking shots. There was a great shot of Jay-Z and Puff Daddy texting on their phones. And also a candid Polaroid of Madonna. It was a good reminder of how visually oriented rock and roll is. My only gripe with the exhibit is playing jazz tunes in the background of the slideshow. A little strange hearing "The Girl From Ipanema" while looking at photos of Crosby, Stills & Nash and James Taylor.

CSA at the Prince George.

This year, Carol and I signed up for our first CSA produce distribution. We decided to finally try it out, swayed by the opportunity to support a local farm (Norwich Farms) and load up on fresh produce. What attracted us to the CSA at the Prince George is that the distribution is run out of a supportive housing complex for low-income individuals run by the nonprofit, Common Ground. And membership is income-based, meaning higher income individuals subsidize the price of lower income members, so all people have access to high-quality, organic produce. Pretty awesome. We also saw it as an opportunity to try out winter veggies that we rarely eat, like turnips, parsnips, beets, and cabbage. Guess we'll be eating a lot of stews this winter.

Philly mosaic.

One of the things I really like about Philly is the mural arts program, which is responsible for dozens of elaborate murals sprawled on the sides of buildings. It creates a unique vibe for the city. But yesterday, I was back in Philly for a work meeting, and I discovered a new love: mosaic. This building - just a few blocks south of the Liberty Bell - was covered on the front and the left sides. Amazing.

Solo dance.

I've seen this guy several times, always at the same spot - the east drive in Central Park just past Wollman Rink. He dances in the same motion, always facing the curb. He's clearly in his own universe. Carol and I first started noticing him when we used to run the lower loop. Today we saw him again. I wonder what he's listening to. Good to see some familiar sights in the new year.

Buy Buy Baby.

Anyone who's had a baby in New York City has been here. It's owned by the same company as Bed Bath & Beyond. Guess what's their favorite letter in the alphabet. Carol is now 21 weeks pregnant. I made my first trip to the store last weekend. It's crazy how many different kinds of strollers there are. It's really insane. It's like buying a car - so many makes to choose from and countless options to consider. And all this for a cart that you push a baby in. This week I finally started feeling baby kick from the outside of Carol's belly. Sometimes I can't believe that there's another human being on the other side of that belly.

Neglect.

I've been neglecting this blog. But I started a new blog about music that's a little more topical. Check it out: vivamixtape.blogspot.com

3sixteen.

I was in the Lower Eastside today and decided to check out a friend's store on a whim. It's called 3sixteen and their showroom and office are on Orchard Street. I was impressed with the presentation and the quality of the clothes. It's pretty inspiring to see how far 3sixteen has come along, starting out just as a tee-shirt shop a few years ago. Now they design great denim jeans (unfortunately out of my price range) and they also have footwear and cut and sew. Check them out!