G-RAD.ORG

Recreational Bathing Environments: Question Answered:

cory — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 13:09:22 -0500

The originator of the pale nose-less white woman.

Nagel's artwork strongly influenced much of the illustration and clip art of the late '80s and illustrations of women strongly resembling those seen in Nagel's art can still be seen on Asian-American nail salons and other beauty-oriented businesses.

Scary Dinner: Cured Meats

lydia — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 21:52:49 -0500

There is a trick to the impromptu meal. My Grandmother doesn't want me telling you this (or talking about her at all,) but the secret is multiple kinds of really good mustard. Horseradish helps. With delicious condiments on hand, all you have to do is go to Union and hit up Nantucket for some sourdough, and Martha's for cheese or meat. OR BOTH!!!! if you are decadent, and NEITHER!!! if you are of the vegan ilk. (If vegan, disregard this post entirely, and just spread some avocado on toast to make a near-perfect lunch. My problem is that to make it my actually-perfect lunch you need to smear goat cheese on too...) In any event, the simplicity of good bread and some well-made animal products are hard to beat for picnics/traveling/when swarms of family descend on WMichigan demanding to be fed.

At my Grandma's yesterday we had quite the hors d'oeurves, boasting 3 kinds of thin-sliced pig and 2 cheeses. The capicola was good, but it won't ever be my favorite meat. The texture is oddly loose for me, and the though the flavor is delicious, kind of creeping the heat up on you, I just don't find it as satisfying to suck on. I think that good cured meat must be eaten plain. I like to tear small bits off with my fingers and suck on them. Whatever, its not that wierd. This applies to all your jamon serranos, your prosciuttos, and, I found out yesterday, your nuss schinkens. Nuss schinken, a German version of everyone's favorite cured mammal, is dry-cured with salt, then smoked, and is served in paper-thin slices, a la serrano and prosciutto. The pigs, of course, are not your garden variety swine, and are fed a special acorn/nut diet. I guess everything tastes better when its own food tastes better! The meat is dense and silky, with a great salty/nutty flavor.

The remaining meat, something of the salumi class, was good, but ultimately forgettable in the presence of the German stuff. Cheese-wise I was quite happy with an unaged asiago, that was a departure from anything I've ever had stuck to the top of a Midwestern bagel. Texturally similar to a havarti, but flavorful, I'd like to have a second bite so I could actually tell you what it tasted like. I think the final player was a stilton, but I'm really going to have to start taking notes.

The great part? All these foods, served the next day with butter knives and mustard make lunch! Anything with mustard and bread makes lunch!

Word on the Street: 153

jenn — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 11:57:06 -0500

Hi everybody.

This week isn't nearly as hectic as last week. The events for this weekend mostly feature hardcore Fourth hanging out. You know; grilling, fireworks, friends, lemonade, bottle rockets and the occasional sun burn. But never the less there are cool things to check out in GR so here are some of the best and brightest.

Word on the Street July 2, 2008

WEDNESDAY!
On Wednesday nights from the GRAM has extended hours until 6pm and from 4:30 until 6 you can check out the shows for just $1.97! which is SO cheap!

THURSDAY!
Thursday night celebrate the season with a band from Philadelphia! Show starts at 8pm and features Hezekiah Jones, Chris Bathgate and The Sleep 'Tils the door is $7 and of course the show is all ages!

Thursday night is the last night to check out "my Brother is an only Child" at the UICA. The movie sounds great. Sibling rivalry, love story, communists and the fascists, the 60s and Italy. Yep all the makings of a good night. Showtimes on Thursday include 6pm and 8pm.

THIS WEEKEND!
Don't we all love Audrey Tautou? (the actress form Amelie??) seriously she is SOOOO CUTTEEE! ( I know that has a hint of obnoxiousness to it but I can't help it...she is!) anyhow she is featured in "Priceless" a French flick about a love story with a blue eyed bartender shy gigilo...with subtitles. You can check it out on Saturday, Sunday at 3 and 7 and Tuesday and Wednesday at 7pm.

FRIDAY!
HAPPY FIREWORKS DAY! Celebrate independence!

Almost everyone will be heading out to check out some fireworks this weekend and in Grand Rapids the whole Floyd Mayweather retirement party is accompanying the Downtown fireworks. Which includes a carnaval, and something called starts on the grand, on Saturday there is also a car show and competition, and an ESPN Great lakes Strong Man Competition. The only info I could find about the Floyd Mayweather retirement party was located on a Myspace at www.myspace.com/round13gr
so if you are interested in more deatails check it out!

On Friday as part of the Mayweather throwdown the Woodland Skating Rink is hosting a 70s throwback skating party it begins at 6pm and there are suppose to be "BIG STARS" in attendance. (tickets $20) Later from 9 until 2am at the Intersection there is a Concert at the Intersection hosted by Lil' John performers include Ray Jay, Tank, Trey Sonz, J Holiday Tickets are $25!

SATURDAY!
On Saturday the 5th Skelletones is hosting Rock against hunger 3 a proceeds benefit for compassion international the show is free but they are collecting donations. Bands include Lights at Sea Yourself and the Air Sea foam Green Charles the Ospret Father Time Bomb and Cult of reason Doors at 5pm.

SUNDAY, SUNDAY, SUNDAY!
Sunday at the GRAM check out a film beginning at 1pm called Half Past Autumn; the Life and Works of Gordon Parks afterwards there will be a flute performance on the second floor.

Sunday July 6th more Grand Rapids downtown Mayweather extravaganza includes not only the carnival but there is also a gospel show and sports courts and did I mention all of this downtown carnaval business is free??? It goes until 6pm.

On Sunday the Mayweather party wraps up at Studio 28th with a Green carpet Black and While Party. It begins at 5:30 and seems to include a VIP Cocktail Reception, a movie, a performance by Monica and a bowling after party. Tickets are $20 and reportedly available online at www.celebrationcinema.com.

MONDAY
Monday July 7th the Michigan Meltdown is sure to blow a speaker or two at the DAAC bands include: Shattered badge, Merkit, Brown Shugar, Rational Namials, Punch, Harressar, Xbrainax, Protoculture, Attention Span, to fit in all of those bands the show begins at 5pm and tieckts are $10. That is one HOT night of entertainment. The DAAC is located at 115 South Division and to get up-to-date info about the DAAC visit www.thedaac.org

OPPORTUNITIES.....
Mirf is selling Skelletones. (this breaks my heart.) but (this makes me kinda happy) he is looking for someone that wants to buy the business. SO if you are interested in running a music venue check out the website at www.skelletones.com

GET READY!
The Avenue for the Arts Market is coming up next weekend so put it on your calendar for SATURDAY! Also you can join us on Facebook (as a group) or become friends with us on Myspace.

So the weekend is shorter on community events but huge on family, friends and fireworks. If there is some kind of great event coming up next weekend I WANT to know about it! drop me an email, jschaub@dwellingplacegr.org or check out the blog version on G-rad.org. Thanks for reading all the way to the bottom!

Jenn

Nice!: (NOT ALL) DISCO SUCKS #2: RJ's Latest Arrival

matt — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 07:00:00 -0500

I found this record recently at Encore Recordings in Ann Arbor, Michigan and both sides are pretty great. This particular 12" could be described as Boogie as well as Disco, but since Disco came from many parents and birthed many genre babies I am pretty inclusive in my definition of it. Anyway, this one is a winner.

RJ's Latest Arrival was a band founded in the mid 70's in Detroit that found their greatest success in the mid 80's as a dull R&B band. Early on (and up to their electroish 1984 hit Shackles) they seem to have been a pretty creative and funky crew as is evidenced by Body Snatcher and Listen. These two tracks have great openings that cool off a little (as Disco tracks are known to do) but they really keep a pretty solid groove going the whole time. The drum breaks and interesting organ sounds are spread throughout.

Check out the blog Back and Forth for a little background on the band and Body Snatcher itself.

RJ'S LATEST ARRIVAL- Body Snatcher

RJ's LATEST ARRIVAL- Listen

Answered Prayers: $20

anthony — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 13:40:40 -0500

I just found $20 on the ground right outside a metro stop at the height of rush hour on one of the busiest corners in the city.

What should I do with it?

Beauty Supplies:

beth — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 23:41:25 -0500

Nice!: Soweto Never Sleeps: Classic Female Zulu Jive

matt — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 20:00:00 -0500

I just posted about this record a few days ago, I recently found it on a trip to Dodd's Record Shop. It's great, I'm floored. Soweto Never Sleeps features the music of 4 different groups that created a fusion of African sounds/ language/ concerns and American and British R&B/ Soul/ Rock. All the music here comes from predominantly female South African groups of the 60's and 70's that as the liner notes say "lightened the dark years of the mid-seventies in Soweto and the other Black Townships of South Africa."

While most of the album sounds like it could be straight from Paul Simon's Graceland album (he apparently liked this music A LOT) there are a few songs that are a little funkier, with a little more soul and a bigger beat. I chose to include audio from tracks by The Mahotella Queens [1] and The Mgababa Queens which are musical cousins in way as members of the former group went on to form the later.

The Mahotella Queens- Umculo Kawupheli (1974)

A Mahotella Queens Clip from the BBC Documentary "African Music: The Rock and Roll Years"

The Mahotella Queens Mgoashiyo sound (indestructible beat) and the deep voiced "groaner" Simon "Mahlathini" Nkabinde made them one of the most popular groups in South Africa and many other African nations. The mix of Mahlathini and the sweet female vocals is magic. On one track included on Soweto Never Sleeps, Wozani Mahipi (The Hippies Come to Soweto), they take turns killing it over a straight up African funk track. The Mgababa Queens, however have more of a 60's English beat sound with organ and a little bit of jangle thrown in. Either way, all three tracks are infectious and a welcome addition to my very sparse understanding of African music.

Mahlathini and The Mahotella Queens- Wozani Mahipi (Hippies Come To Soweto)

The Mgababa Queens- Akulaiwa Soweto (Soweto Never Sleeps)

The Mgababa Queens- Sidl'imali Zethu (Our Own Money)

extraVEGANza!: Baby Shower

matth — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 22:50:19 -0500

Fetuses Love Those Vegan Eats!
Since Vegucator Jr. refuses to imbibe anything but the very finest vegan amniotic fluid, he insisted on having his Grand Rapids shower at Restaurant Bloom and his cake catered by The Oven Mitt Bakery.

Doting Grandparents to the Rescue!
Though we were reluctant to spoil him thus at so tender an age, his generous Grandparents decided that it couldn't hurt to indulge him, so long as enough friends and family were there to teach him object lessons in the values of hospitality, fellowship, and community. (Thanks Mom and Dad McCausland!)

Almond Gazpacho With Peeled Grapes and Chives
"E.W.", as we affectionately refer to him, began with a refreshing chilled soup studded with toasted almonds, peeled grapes, and chives and drizzled with a fruity, light-bodied olive oil.

Baked Tofu with Roasted Vegetables and Soy Caramel
Preferring to keep his entree a bit more traditional, he chose a delicate baked tofu with roasted carrots and petite summer squash.

Supine Sextuplets in Baby Blue
And then it was on to a flamboyant finish, with a designer cake and cupcakes skillfully executed in Lavender Lemon by his honorary Aunties Noodles and Curly, a.k.a., The Oven Mitt Bakery (drop them a line and maybe they'll craft a custom vegan fantasy for your special event).

Pastel Teddy Platoon
E.W. requested that we express his heartfelt gratitude for all the lovely gifts, which he plans to put to very good use beginning sometime on or around August 30th. He also asked that we end this post with a sentiment beautifully expressed on his new animal themed baby dish set hand thrown and custom painted by local ceramist and friend Betsy Ratzsch.

God Bless the Animals! Amen.

Dear Mrs. Raccoon: emergency room madness (you know... like motocross or monstertruck or midtown?)

sam — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 23:00:00 -0500

FUCK YOU BIKE PATH
stay safe. stay on the road.

yep finally got hit today. riding on a bike path of course.. because i wanted to take a nice easy boring ride to the cascade library. cruising along coming to an intersection.. ive got the green light to cross and the right of way and heyo traffic is a waitin at the red light to turn on to cascade giving me plenty of room to cross the street.
until im about five feet from the intersection and mrs foerster decides to go ahead and make that right turn on red and let me get intimate with the side of her suv.
but she was nice and more shaken than me i think.
gave me a ride home then to the police station to file a report as i went to the emergency room in fear of a broken femur which turned out to not be broken at all just REALLY swollen and nasty and black and blue and hurty = a bit of time on the crutches (and not on my bike :( ) and a pretty much useless right leg.
bummer.
but hey! i have a fresh prescription of vicodin if anyone wants to buy! (JOKE)
but really yeah i do ha. but not for sale you silly heads. that shit is going in the shredder. FUCK YOU TOO VICODIN.

yay for good timing!
boo for no respect!

oh yeah!
and to add insult to injury,,,
they gave me a tetanus shot at the hospital too!!!! FUCK! owwie :(

and to add compliment to injury...
doctor beth says i have a cute blush. giggle giggle (cute) blush giggle

Nice!: ROCKIN' WITH TOM: Part 2- The Rector Family

matt — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 22:11:07 -0500

Tom and I have similar sensibilities when it comes to music, even if we don't always like the same records. We love stuff that rocks hard (hence Rockin' With Tom) but are equally fascinated by records that most people would rather NOT listen to. This may be a by product of music overload; when you listen to so many records, the unusual sounds stick in your brain the most.

Tom is also my #1 source for local music and has quite a few newspaper articles, interviews and facts to flesh out the scene surrounding records. Sometimes, however, he comes up with something with no story at all. Like this 45 by local gospel group The Rector Family on TMBA (Trans-Michigan Broadcast Association) Records.

These sides definitely don't rock and, if you like your music to sound "good," you may want to just wait for the next post. For me the shrill/ growly vocals, religious lyrics and odd instruments, (glockenspiel, accordion and steel ukelele?) of the Rector Family are mesmerizing. You can just about hear the smile on the face of the little girl singing on both tracks. The deep voiced dude harmonizing with her (and another female voice) on the first side's "I'll Trust In Him" reminds me of Calvin Johnson (K Records owner and musician) and they sound great together. The instruments are played unprofessionally making the recording spontaneous, rough and raw. Both these tracks are slow, shrill and earnestly religious, get psyched.

SIDE 1- THE RECTOR FAMILY- "I'll Trust In Him"

SIDE 2- THE RECTOR FAMILY- "The King and I"