This footage is from August 31st 2004, the day of record arrests in NYC. Bush was in town for the RNC and many people took to the streets in protest of his agenda. Over the week that the republicans were in town, 1800 citizens were arrested, many falsely. I narrowly escaped arrest while getting this footage. This shit never made the news! Enjoy and pass it on.

You can read more here.

-Katharine

note: I used a sample of the song "Pussy Cat Meow" by Dee Lite at the close.

My friend Jackie got me in on this sweetest of gigs. I got to help Kembra, of The Vouptuous Horror of Karen Black, with her fashion shoot for Paper Magazine. I got to paint props and dress models; all the while I was allowed to shoot snipits of video for my vlog. It was the biggest honor to just be in the presence of the punk rock goddess.

Thanks Kembra. You rule!

I wasn't able to stay to meet Debra Harry, but the pictures are cool. The issue this shoot is from is on stands now. So hurry out and get one, it's awesome!

When I first met Jackie we bonded over our common love Karen Black. We discovered that we have matching plastic apples that have a bat with breasts painted on them. Kembra threw them into the audience on New Year's Eve 1989 at CBGB's. It's funny how things come full circle. I have seen Karen Black perform more than any other local band. They put on the best punk show ever seen. Check it out if you get the chance. It will shock you for sure. Jackie used to be a dancer with the band. She got to perform with them again this past Saturday on their float at the Art parade.


-Katharine


The pictures are not on the Paper Magazine site, but here is an interesting letter I found in the politics section while checking for them:

David Rabin, owner of Lotus and New York Nightlife Association honcho has send out an email headlined: VOTE AGAINST "EVIL" AND GET YOUR STAFF TO VOTE TOO. Here it is along with comments from Robert Bookman, the association's lawyer.


THESE PRIMARIES ARE DECIDED BY SMALL MARGINS OF VOTES!!!!

"Evil" Moskowitz has already made her hostility to the hospitality industry clear...she hasn't dismissed the notion of earlier closing times and she was the one who tried to get bilboquet to lose their outdoor tables b/c ron perelman wanted them gone...

she would be terrible for nightlife and that will spin back to restaurants...this is a WAKE UP CALL

this PRIMARY IS CRUCIAL...GET YOUR STAFF OUT TO VOTE...vote for SCOTT STRINGER FOR MANHATTAN BOROUGH PRESIDENT...

(margarita lopez has been a vocal supporter of nightlife but has slipped out of contention)

also also also...the latest polls show Anthony Weiner as coming up in the democratic mayoral race...whereas Gifford Miller has publicly spoken recently re the importance of nightlife, so has Anthony and he seems to have a chance to force a run-off...Ferrer has yet to acknowledge that we exist...

VOTE TUESDAY...I DON'T CARE IF IT'S FASHION WEEK...GET YOUR BUTT TO THE POLLS AND GET YOUR STAFF THERE TOO...PLEASE...

David Rabin

original

I wasn't able to get to this right away, but I think we can all use a reminder. Things have not been resolved, and this lady is still waiting for answers. She's taken her protest on the road and is due to arrive in Washington by September 24th, the day of the United For Peace and Justice rally. Are you gonna be there?

-Katharine

Part 2 in my t-shirt series. I added the punk fav "We Are The Ones" by the Avengers to enchance your DIY excitement. Enjoy.

-Katharine

Yesterday Mark Ecko threw a street party, on 22nd Street, in which artists tagged mock subway cars. The party was almost stopped by the Mayor who tried to ban the event because he said it would encorage people to deface public property. But Mark appealed the ban and won. Chalk up another victory for the first amendment.

Here are a couple of clips from the event. See if you can figure out my favorite piece. I added a bit of Slick Rick to enhance the visuals. Enjoy.

-Katharine

I got an interview yesterday with Scott from CBGB. He has been working everyday for months trying to save the club. He'll fill you in on all the details regarding the current situation.

Go to http://savecbgb.org for more info.
...and come out to show your support.

-Katharine

It's easy to make a statement. So speak up and get active!

This is a piece that I made about a year ago for our cable access show. It's one of 5. I edited it on i-movie which was a little bit glitchy.

-Katharine

Just a sample for you of tomorrow night's show. Since so many of you like Freedom Fighta so much, I picked a bit with her in it. You can catch the complete 28 mins online tomorrow night at mnn.org. Click on the tv set that says ch. 67. It will be streaming live at 11pm. This was the 4th dance/rant show we've done. I think it's getting closer to our vision. You should come next time we shoot if you're in town.

-Katharine

La Shawn reads her poem about the sufferings of the working class. View it here.
-Katharine

The story straight from Camp Cindy Crawford Texas to Camp Cindy NYC. Shot in Union Square during the 7:30 vigil held across the country for Cindy fallen son.

-Katharine

Nette figured it all out... How the government will get us all by shutting down the internet and technology and send all us computer junkies into a chaotic frenzy.

-Katharine

Legendary punk rock mecca CBGB's is facing eviction* after 31 years of hosting the greatest music NYC has ever seen. But owner Hilly Kristal is not giving up without a fight. The battle to save CB's is on. Get involved by checking out savecbgb.org. Many people have already been writing to the city to get CB's declared a historic landmark. Everyday more and more people come from around the world, wearing their Ramones t-shirt, just to look around. It's where punk was born. And it's one of the last vestiges of the old East Village. New York City even used CB's in their ad to bid for the 2012 Olympics.

You can go to cbgb.com and watch live cybercasts of shows every night for free, and decide for yourself whether or not the place lives up to its reputation. Or better yet, go there to see a show and have a drink.

I went to CB's 313 Gallery for Sunday Night FEVA a couple of weeks ago and in the hour and a half I was there I got to see: a maniacal puppet planning to take over the world with a circus peanut second in command and an army of Pez; two naked old men who wanted to read poetry (one of them, I was told, had elephantiasis of the nuts); three artists painting away; a fire eater; a burlesque act; a poet; and a punk band.

Last Wednesday was the opening for the new art show, which features photos from the club starting in the 70's all the way up to today. It coincides with the new photography book about CBGB. The place was packed and I spotted Deborah Harry in the crowd.

There's expectations for some big names to play there next month, in support of the struggle to save CBGB's . Keep a look out and get your tickets early.

*Check out the Village Voice article for full details.

-Katharine

I met this veteran making a political statement against the Orwellian messages repeated over the loud speakers at train and bus stations everywhere. He says that the cops get a kick out of his methods. Right on! See the video here.

-Katharine