Empire of the Sun (Band)

I am all over these space cadets from Australia. One of my favorite movies as well (unrelated).

Why Kid Cudi is a Star.

Inspiration Series: Michael Hutchence

Friday Nights @ Duane Park in Tribeca

Last Friday, an old friend was in town and we were scheduled to meet up. I was very excited to see her, but then the destination came through via text: We are going to Santos Party House. Needless to say, I was not excited about the destination. So much so, I opted out of the evening altogether. But then the second text came through… How about Burlesque in Tribeca?

Upon arrival, I quickly realized that I had just stumbled upon my favorite NY nightlife experience to date. I don’t write reviews of much, but this place was inspiring. The environment was simply amazing. Having spent the last few weeks trying to work a little bit of substance into my life, I was blown away by Duane Park on this Friday night. It was just what I needed. It was like I had just walked into the 1930s. The dim, totally vintage lighting, with a killer chandelier hanging over the middle of the restaurant. A small, foot-tall stage, lit from the floor by bulbs that may as well have been 50 years old. The stage was just big enough for a single performer, complete with the vintage mic, and flanked by a jazz trio of a piano, stand up bass, and trumpet/singer.

Each performer was of the highest caliber. Hot as shit. Not too gimmicky, paying full respect to the art form. No annoying drag queen hosts adding unnecessary comic relief.   No shoddy sound system typically reserved for indie rock bands.  It was stripped down, pure and simple.  I left craving more. Someone has nailed this experience so well, they deserve an award. So check your calendar. Is it Friday? Then call me . Let’s go.

Duane Park Restaurant and Lounge
http://www.duaneparknyc.com/ > Source of Images

138 Words on Bouncing Back

There’s so much that I love about people. Sure we are riddled with flaws and do ridiculous, regrettable things (everything from drunk texting to genocide) but I think the overwhelming majority of us mean well. Regardless of how stone cold the crazy guy on the subway may look, he still hopes for a little warmth in the form of love, friendship or a laugh. But one of the human characteristics that fascinates me most is our ability to bounce back when we’ve been knocked down. It’s instinctual – a survival mechanism and clearly effective. We instinctually seek and latch on to opportunities. A few slip through cracks, but most seem to be compelled to make things happen and do. Some may say it’s society’s pressure to conform, but I’m guessing it was the same when we were cavemen.

Maxwell

S.4.<3'n

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“John Dillinger on Weekends”

Johnny Depp as John Dillinger.

Has anyone noticed how cool Johnny Depp looks as John Dillinger?  Not that it is all that hard for him to look cool. Clothing from this era actually reminds me a lot of what you see from the brands I am feeling most these days.   And I have noticed he wears some  amazing vintage sunglasses throughout the film – and I have only seen the trailer!   In the trailer, you see him wearing 3-piece suits as he robs banks, and you see a few shots of him more casual.  The casual look is total perfection.   So I am on a mission… aspiring to achieve a new look I am calling “John Dillinger on Weekends”.

My Big List of Things to Do

As another birthday approaches, I got to thinking… I need more stuff to do. Here is the list I plan to slowly, or perhaps quickly mark off. If you see something you can help with, let me know. Especially the part about the Hollywood starlet

• Ride a vintage motorcycle on a winding road through a forest
• Land 360 kickflips (respect your elders) on a semi-regular basis
• Hang on a sailboat in the Mediterranean
• Start a marketing agency using solely the creativity and brain power of aspiring rappers
• Build a bicycle
• Style a photoshoot
• Mentor a young kid
• Mentor an older kid
• Take a day trip with a vintage Porsche
• Live in 400 square feet
• Spend 6 months out of a year in Europe
• Work at a Starbucks
• Open a retail store
• Work as a bartender for a night (or longer)
• Wear a suit and tie everyday for a month to see if I am treated differently
• Take a vacation by myself
• Very seriously launch my own line of footwear
• Read the autobiography of Malcolm X
• Visit Paris
• Own a simple McIntosh home audio set-up
• Dig into my Dad’s extensive vinyl collection
• Take painting and drawing more seriously
• Lose weight and keep it off
• Meet Richard Branson
• Meet Desmond Tutu
• See Duran Duran in concert
• Work at my Mom’s shoe store on a busy Saturday
• Be a motivational speaker
• Appear in the credits of a movie
• Appear in the Thank You section of a CD jacket
• Own an art gallery in Dallas
• Visit Marfa, Texas
• Storm out of a meeting
• Meet Mike Tyson
• Meet Johnny Depp
• Take a long road trip with Jon Ball
• Invest in a tattoo parlor and hair salon (but not have a tattoo or hair)
• Design a home
• Serve as an apprentice to a cobbler
• Own or spend time in a vintage wooden motorboat
• Take a trip with my Mom
• Tell a deserving Hollywood Agent to F*ck Off
• Be quoted for something non-marketing related
• Guest- or regularly contribute to a magazine
• Get a real estate license
• Determine the monetary value of my upbringing and do whatever possible to repay that to my Mom
• Manage a musician
• Own a really nice camera
• Direct a music video
• Travel, travel, travel
• Do my best to ensure that the Wells family does not benefit from generational wealth of the pocket, but only of the mind
• Makeout with a Hollywood starlet (or just flirt)
• Raise wonderful children
• Adjust my work to where it can all be done on a hand-held device
• Inspire/Motivate young people
• Employ an assistant, then give them the keys to the castle
• Get an attitude
• Find more time to relax
• Sit in on the recording of a rock album
• Buy and sell vintage cars
• Chase down a tornado, then get out of the way
• Inspire as much happiness in others as humanly possible
• Complete this list