Howdy! Since it’s summer and I’ve got summer-brain, I think it’s time for another ridiculous rant. In particular, a favorite one that’s been brewing for a bit. About clothing. Specifically, T-Shirts.
So I seens a dude in a John’s Coffee Shop shirt the other day and gave him a strong nod and a “sweet shirt, bro”. Because, hell yeah! Gotta represent for the home team.
Keeping it a buck, I’ve never understood brand name clothing. Like, why would I want to pay someone to advertise their clothing? I get that in this day and age everything is a brand and having a big ugly logo and paying way too much money is some social signifier and all, but geez. Does it seem like we are devaluing ourselves by advertising for a buncha rich European bozos?
And nothing against devaluing oneself. But if I’m gonna do that and offer up free advertising, it’s gonna happen in two ways: First, with band t-shirts. I go to a live show, I buy the merch, support the band, & signal to other people how rad I am. And second? Those local restaurant t-shirts. Which is pretty much the exact same thing except you can transcend the threshold of musical judginess. Not everyone likes Brujeria, ya know?
So represent for John’s, or ummm… wait, what other restaurants in our neighborhood have Merch? OR!! Here’s actually a good place to start: Representing Tudor City. Here’s the link to the official Tudor City Store. I have no relation to that Tudor City page but they got some good stuff there. I’ve had my eye on the bowling shirt for some reason.
Maybe one day I’ll get some Tudor City View merch. You can bet it will be weird. But in the meantime, rep for the locals. Or at least wear stuff that doesn’t have some oversaturated apparel company logo on it.
CIVICALLYS
No scheduled events in the park this week. Go make your own! Better yet, grab a neighbor you sorta know from your respective building and catch up on one of the benches overlooking the East River in the 41st Street cul-de-sac.
I saw a few people picking up trash around the neighborhood. Whoever you are, well done!! You rock.
The UN General Assembly is a month away. If you still have an old address on your driver’s license, now is a great time to get that updated so you can get by security easily that week.
TO DO
The free Bryant Park movie tonight is King Creole. All ze info is here.
Before he was a moderately-decent actor, Common was a fantastic hip-hop emcee. On Friday the 28th, he’s playing the Prospect Park bandshell in a tribute to the justice legacy of Harry Belafonte. It’s free but you gotta register.
Harry Styles is playing Madison Square Garden this week. Also, Hairy Styles would be a decent name for a ZZ Top cover band. #RIP to the King Frank Beard.
Smorgasburg at the Oculus is on Friday, August 28th. Roll down in skinny jeans and pretend you lived in Williamsburg in 2011!
The US Open starts on Sunday the 30th. I looked up ground passes for the first few days and lowest price was $343. Time for a watch party at a local bar?
WHAT’S IN THE NORTH PARK LIBRARY RIGHT NOW?
RESTAURANT OF THE WEEK
Tudor Cafe!! How can you not love this spot? It’s small, it’s in the neighborhood, the muffins are ridiculously delicious and the coffee is moderately priced.
I conducted an interview here a few weeks back and it was perfect, both the interview and just getting to spend some time in there. I gotta do that more often.
-TCV