Ducks in a row at Malcolm X Park

Ducks in a row at Malcolm X Park, a photo by la_maladroite on Flickr.

Girl Gangs: Born in Flames

from a l'allure garconniere:

 

(source leraje)

born in flames

 <3 Director Lizzie Borden, who also did Working Girls- the sex worker exposé not the glass ceiling Rom Com with "head for business and bod for sin" Melanie Griffith. *Caution* mild trigger warning but worth the bicycle gang scene:

Duke Riley Tattoos

(c) Duke Riley 

Adorable squirrel hobo tattoo!! Love the acorn/oak motif too.

DIY Henry Rollins

Make your own Henry Rollins! From artist Brandon Bird, check out his site for more awesome activities and pop culture paintings and illustrations:

Brandon Bird: An Activity to Color

Art Freaks

Let me preface with: Where my art nerds at??? I need to get more motivated to do art, see art, and reignite my creative processes, help me! Doodle time or drawing war date? Museum madness to make the rounds on exhibits' last show days? Want to collaborate on a project? I'm down for all of the above and more!  

Here's Olaf Breuning's Art Freaks. I came across this exhibit that's currently installed at the Palais de Tokyo in Paris- one of my all time favorite contemporary galleries in the world! I wish I could see this, but unfortunately it's not in my agenda to make it to Paris by September. I'm a sucker for installations, portraiture, nudity, and blatant homages to earlier artists. As there's no such thing as new art, we might as well be flamboyant in our hat-tipping.

Take a look at the video (sorry could not find English subtitles, but you'll get the gist): 

This exhibit combines all four enticing elements! Huge banners hang down, depicting naked bodies painted in the manner of celebrated artists from times past. Often grotesque, mostly humorous- a reoccurring theme in this Swiss artist's body of work. By combining the grandiose past of High Art (outsiders and historically avant garde artists) with the tongue in cheek process of body painting, Breuning admires his predecessors and mocks their celebrity en même temps. This exhibit is an awesome contrast to the overwhelming, near-debilitating mass of French museums and galleries in the nation's capital, where most people masochistically perform grand Bataan Death Marches through each wing of the Louvre til brain death.

The building of the Palais de Tokyo itself is worth seeing. A massive, open, abstracted neo-classical space divided into wings around a central courtyard, one houses the Palais de Tokyo as a contemporary exhibition hall, within the other resides the Museum of Modern Art of the City of Paris for 20th C. exhibits. The two huge structures are conjoined by a vast colonnade entrance and dressed in relief sculpture throughout, all built for the 1937 World Expo- the very same in which the Spanish pavilion displayed Picasso's Guernica in protest of the Spanish Civil War, but also in direct confrontation with the nearby German and Soviet pavilions in full fascist iconography.

You can also see art for free via graffiti that now adorns the exterior sculptures, keep it classy Paris!   

(c) Brian Kyle

DC: Inaugural Zinefest this Saturday!

I took a bloggie break, needed more outdoors and real life interactions with this beautiful but oppressively hot summer we're having. But I'm back! Expect periodic updates and such, however I'm realizing the time consuming nature of the internets, and like to find a healthy balance.

That being said, if you're craving non-electronic, real live human interactions, and should probably get the fuck away from a computer for a couple hours, please come out this Saturday to the DC Zinefest!!!

(c) DC Zinefest

I've never done a zine, but I know people that do. And 10 out of 10 agree that it's awesome, cathartic, expressive, enforces DIY culture, and creates community. I'm all for that, and I enjoy reading them!

So come by St. Stephen's Church from 11AM-5PM and pick up some zines, talk with the writers and artists, take a zine-making, art, or bike maintenance workshop and share some skills.

Best of all, it's totally FREE!

Also- word is there will be delicious vegan treats for purchase by the talented and adorable Shannon from the DC CLITFest crew!
One word: VEGANCHOCOLATEDONUTS.

Peep the workshops available!

Check out the full list of zines and distros tabling!

Skin Art

Tattoo artist Liam Sparkes' puffin is amazing! I have a special place in my heart for puffins, but I also love his medieval linear shading style. He works in the UK, but you can check out more tattoos and designs on his flickr, all very depraved and beautiful:

puffin, a photo by lyam on Flickr

 I got my puffin by the lovely and mega-talented Tina in February:

La vie s'enfuit (c) magicienne vegetalienne

Happy Bike to Work Day!

On the front lines from 6am til break down at the Freedom Plaza. Even Mister Mayor showed up! Let's hope Gray puts OUR money where his mouth is and reallocates funds to alternative transportation. I also had my first fall in over a year. Had to be on Bike to Work Day. In front of the entire WABA staff. Totally worth it, great to see so many bike people in one place, even the bike cops on 'roids!

Wear helmets, be safe, take care of one another.

And use hand signals because people that drive cars tend to not pay attention unless you are waving around in their direction or have something shiny or blinky.

bike cozy, bruised knees, dirty bird (c) magicienne vegetalienne

Now, sleep forever.

Why I'm Vegan: Excessively Fun Vegan Recipe Blogs

I just came across The Vegan Stoner blog (and hopefully soon-to-be cookbook!) which is comprised of delicious, ridiculously easy and fast recipes, minimalist ingredients to cook healthy on the cheap. And it's illustrated! It's accompanied with idiot/inebriated-proof directions, making it accessible to young folk, old folk, and those with a grade F- in culinary skills.

It kind of reminds me of my childhood cookbook that got me into cooking and feeding myself in the first place (after I made the recipes veg-friendly): Kids Cooking: A Very Slightly Messy Manual. It even came with measuring spoons and had a veggie dog treat recipe! Aw nostalgia.

All the lazy veg*ns, parents, excusatarians, and omni's alike out there, check out one of my favorite recipes below and the rest of the munchies at The Vegan Stoner Blog: 

(c) The Vegan Stoner

Here's an interview with the creators of The Vegan Stoner at Disarray Magazine

For All My Bitches

Ceci n'est pas une salope  (c) magicienne végétalienne

Street Harassment Haiku:

No chance in a bar.
Nor on the bus. Who are you??
Respect me, Fuck off!

If you are a witness, be an ally. If you are a victim, be brave. If you are safe, speak up. This war on women has got to end.

CLITFest DC is sponsoring a Self Defense Workshop this Saturday, check out the Defend Yourself website for more info on that and other upcoming classes!

UPDATE:
Eve Ensler (Vagina Monologues) on Huffington Post today: She's OVER it.

Insightful and cathartic sites on Street Harassment, violence against women, and smashing patriarchy:
(And feel free to suggest more in Comments!)

Bitch Media
Bust MagazineDC Abortion Fund
Consent is Sexy Campaign
DC Trans Coalition
Feministe 
Feministing
Feminist Teacher
For the Birds Collective
Fully Engaged Feminism
Gender Across Borders
Guerrilla Girls
Gulabi Gang 
HIPS
Hollaback DC! 
Hollaback! International
Jezebel 
Men Can Stop Rape
My Strength
Philly's Pissed
Right Rides 
SlutWalk Toronto 
Stop Street Harassment
The Consensual Project
The Curvature
The F Word
Tiger Beatdown
WEAVE 
Visions In Feminism Collective
Yes Means Yes!

DC: Give a Hand to Girls Rock! DC

Girls Rock! is an international movement to empower young girls with self-confidence and new skills in an inclusive, creative space. I only wish I had a Girls Rock camp near me growing up!! 

The DC chapter is starting to organize for their fourth camp this summer! Do you have any instruments to donate? What's a skill you can share? Can you sponsor camp scholarships or help fundraise? Want to be roadie? Who doesn't want to be a counselor and guide the girls through their week at camp and the camper band showcase??? You don't necessarily have to be a musician or female-bodied to volunteer, they need a multitude of resources and assistance. Get involved with Girls Rock! DC here.

They are also moving equipment storage spaces, come lend a hand THIS Saturday! More info on that and future events on the GR!DC Events Calendar. 

Girls Rock! DC Band Camp Showcase

DC: Get Off Your Ass Weekend

There's tons of awesome events and activities this weekend, so don't stay in bed all day or you will have regrets! Here's just a few of my favorites:

Alexis Rockman: A Fable for Tomorrow
This weekend is the last chance for the Alexis Rockman exhibit at The American Art Museum. This is by far one of my favorite contemporary artists and a DO NOT MISS!

Alexis Rockman blends fantasy and dark humor with scientific discovery and conservation, depicting a visual story with a very polished, classical style of painting to create often macabre biological futures within these photo realistic works. All on gigantic, physically imposing canvases and boards.

Biosphere: Hydrographer's Canyon

Take an hour and see this exhibit before May 8th!  

American Art Museum
8th and F Streets, N.W.
11:30am-7pm
FREE!

Friday May 6

Black Cat

1811 14th St NW

Think of England: A Modern Ladies Happy Hour
Red Room
7-9pm
FREE!



Hume, Dope Body, Ed Schrader's Music Beat, and Matt Northrup
La Molienda 
3568 14th St NW
8pm-11pm
$7


Saturday May 7

Mt. Pleasant Farmer's Market-
The first Farmer's Market of the season!
Lamont Park
@ Lamont and Mt. Pleasant Sts
9am-1pm
FREE Bike Clinic and music



Punk Rock Flea Market II: Spring Cleaning and Skill Sharing Edition- A flea market, with music, and now skill shares! Attend the Knitting and Hooking skill share with the Warm + Fuzzies and yours truly!
St. Stephens Church
1525 Newton Street NW
12:30pm-5pm
$3




European Union Annual Open House-
Have a worldly experience without the TSA hassle! DC embassies are open to the public for tours, meet and greets, art, films, free food and drinks. Learn about all that each embassy and their country has to offer.
City-wide event. Check the brochure for participating embassies and their locations.
10am-4pm
FREE!


Sunday May 8

Mother's Day
Do something nice for your mom! No matter what, you came from her uterus (or were raised as if you were!) And it hurt. Say sorry, and say thank you! Flowers, brunch, well wishes, an engaging phone call, shopping, crafts, doesn't have to be a huge production, but take a moment to be appreciative. Too often the ability to take a step bake and actively appreciate a loved one goes undone all year. Also- good thoughts and hugs to those who have a hard time on this day. I'm going to reflect on the recent passing of my grandmother, who raised three sons in the 60s (unholy hell!) and helped with three grand kids. She was a gentle, loving, compassionate, and inspirational woman. The only time she ever used foul language was about Republicans, who can't love that?  




Bike Maintenance Workshop- A free workshop led by an experienced cyclist and former bike messenger to get your bicycle geared up (get it??) for this season's rides. She'll discuss basic maintenance and cleaning and point you in the right direction if you have more in depth questions. Not for bike overhauls or replacing parts. Bring your bike and a few old tees or rags to Malcolm X Park and listen to the drum circle while you re-lube and tune up.


Please bring old t-shirts or rags, toothbrushes or other such brushes that you don't mind getting trashed. Buckets are helpful too!

Malcolm X Park (upper park near drum circle)
3pm-6pm

Memento Mori: Osama bin Laden

He's dead. He's finally fucking dead. We started 2+ wars, murdered numberless civilians, thousands of American and Allied soldiers, the Mid East is more unstable than ever, we created contracts for mercenaries and corporations to reap all the profits with no oversight, used up more of our oil just to secure their oil, bankrupted the USA, and burned bridges with former allies. And we are still fighting. And this whole time they wanted us to think he was rotting in a cave somewhere? He was in a fortified compound 50 km from Islamabad, Pakistan. 

While I have to admit I'm initially relieved he's gone, an undeniable knee-jerk-reaction type of blood lust post 9/11, I have a hard time justifying murder of anything or anyone, let alone the countless killed and the survivors of wars in the name of defeating terrorism or assassinating one horrible terrorist in Pakistan? What about the conflicted soldiers fighting unjust wars in the name of patriotism, and the families they left behind? Was it worth it? Will it be worth it in the long term? 

It leaves me with more questions than relief or any sense of justice. Just because he's dead and buried at sea doesn't mean IT is over. Though this has created relief for many within the US, and given closure to the families and victims of the 9/11 attacks, we will not magically pull out of foreign occupations. Our troops will still be in harm's way. We cannot undo the trauma to their people going from regimes to military imperialism. How many more people have to die? Is execution without trial the democratic, ethical response? How will this help in the long term goal of peace- if that's even a goal of our elected officials and their military branches at this point? Will this trigger far worse retaliation or will this finally heal our country? Can Americans finally stop being xenophobic and anti Islamic? Can we get our troops home before retaliation happens instead of rebuilding? Can we all admit that invading two countries and having a military operation in a third was not about revenge, it's been about resources and who controls them. Will they justify new excuses to avoid the independent rule and economic autonomy of these countries? I hope that all those that celebrated his execution with machismo-American posturing sober up and reflect on what it is to celebrate the death of thine enemy and think of the continued suffering of innocents at our hands abroad. I plea for peace.


Read on:
Tim Wise: Killing One Monster, Unleashing Another: Reflections on Revenge and Revelry
Truth Dig: On Osama Bin Laden’s Death

Huffington Post: Cenk Uyngur- Bin Laden Dead -- War Was Not the Answer

Huffington Post: Osama's Legacy- American Drift 

Grist: Now that we’ve killed Osama bin Laden, let’s kill oil

The Guardian: Osama bin Laden is dead – but not al-Qaida or its cause 

Colorlines: The Ability to Kill Osama Bin Laden Does Not Make America Great
 
TED Talks: 9/11 mothers of victim and terrorist heal through friendship

The Interdependence Project: On Killing Our Enemy 

Partial Objects: Osama bin Laden is dead. Now what?

Memento Mori: Michael Scott

The Office will never be the same. Not going to lie, I did shed some tears last night during the final episode starring Steve Carrell as the incomprehensible and endearing Michael Scott. I bid you adieu with a That's What She Said montage video:

Memento Mori: B+W Lamont (2006)

Lamont, a photo by la_maladroite on Flickr. 

Why I'm Vegan: Industrial Animal Agriculture Hates/Heats the Planet

We should all be able to recognize by now that Industrial Animal Agriculture (CAFO systems aka Big Ag) is the LARGEST contributor to climate change and environmental pollution. These city-sized manure factories dump billions of tons of solid, liquid, and gaseous waste that degrade our environment, create antibiotic resistant diseases that contaminate other farms and in turn the public, and there are always evident workers' rights and animal welfare violations in such industrialized systems. Not to mention how unsustainable it is to filter all our natural resources through that dirty, inefficient system (water, feed crops, fuel, antibiotics, land, etc.) U.S. taxpayers foot the bill for environmental clean up, CDC costs, animal rescue, and ridiculous health care bills to name a few, totaling to billions of dollars lost each year. See below for additional information if you need any more convincing.

Great news though! Plate to Planet is new project from Farm Sanctuary! It will feature media and educational tools on the intersections between factory farming, how it affects the planet, and in turn human health.They produced a great video narrated by Jason Schwartzman, please watch it and check out their new site:




To find out more on why Big Ag hates the environment, check these out:
United Nations 2006 Report: Livestock's Long Shadow
Farm Sanctuary
Pew Commission on Industrial Farm Animal Production 
The Pew Campaign on Human Health and Industrial Farming
Sustainable Table 
Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future
Farm Forward
Food and Water Watch 
Price of Meat
EarthSave 
Sierra Club 
CAFO: The Book
World Watch Institute: Livestock and Climate Change
Mother Nature Network: 25% of US Meat Contaminated
Nebraska Center for Rural Health Research: Report on CAFO's Potential Implications for Public and Environmental Health
American Public Health Association's 2003 Proposed Moratorium on CAFOs
UNESCO Report: Energy Flow, Environment and Ethical Implications for Meat Production Down on the Factory

And because environmental conservation and public health are just two pieces of a huge messy puzzle, here is just one case exemplifying the issue of food (in)justice. The U.S. government would rather spend money buying out food subsidies that make America's children sick and keep private corporations rich. The Catharine Ferguson Academy--a public school for pregnant teens in Detroit with a garden and daycare--is being defunded and shut down. A thorough piece on this obscene act at Grist and coverage from Rachel Maddow.

DC: Tuesday To Do's

Go eat at Everlasting Life Cafe! Tuesday is Shepherd's Pie and Eggplant Parm, and as always, the best Mac in town! One of those I Can't Believe It's Vegan kinda meals.

While you're doing that, listen to these lovelies! There's a show from 7-10pm:

The Two Funerals

Hot Mess

Foozle

The Fordists

Everlasting Life Cafe

2829 Georgia Ave. NW

Washington, DC

7:00pm - 10:00pm

 Facebook Event Page

A little taste of the hometown heroines Hot Mess:

DC: Magical Perfect Sunday

image cred: Jennifer Parks

Prelude to summa summa summatime:

Woke up early for a Sunday and found a new cat friend on the block that tried to make our house his new house, named him Bob, an ado male tabby that loves our front porch. I will try to get a picture if he comes a calling again. 

A lazy brunch at Sticky Fingers. French Toast hell yes! The grits, not so much.

Bike ride on Beach Drive in Rock Creek Park, almost 10 miles round trip! Portions of Beach Dr. are closed to cars on the weekends, so take advantage of only having to dodge pedestrians, strollers, and other cyclists. And it's one of the best (and free) things to do in DC!

Dinner consisted of ginger-soy marinated tofu with beets, orange chunks, over romaine and spinach. I can't wait until the 2011 Mt. Pleasant Farmer's Market season begins and I can score better food!

Ginger-Soy Marinade:
2T fresh grated or powdered ginger
2T soy sauce
equal parts rice/balsamic vinegar and olive oil
toasted sesame oil (sparingly)
spoonful of Dijon mustard
squirt of agave nectar
oregano, black pepper, onion powder, garlic powder to taste

Directions:
Whisk all ingredients together. Taste. Add flavors as needed. Submerge food of choice in marinade and refrigerate for minimum 20 minutes. Enjoy!

DC: Last Chance for the Crochet Coral Reef Exhibit

Go see the Community Coral Reef at the Smithsonian Natural History Museum! Last chance to view this amazing community craft collaboration is Sunday, April 24th. You can even peep my name on the contributor plaque, I submitted a few crochet coral pieces last year along with the Warm and Fuzzies! 

The Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef Project intersects a traditionally feminine craft with mathematics and conservationism, exhibiting globally to demonstrate the impact climate change has on our oceans. Founded by two kiwi sisters, here's Margaret Wertheim giving an amazing TED talk on their conservation/art work and the geometry behind it.   

photo cred: goshdarnknit

Why I'm Vegan: Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary

I'm going to volunteer at the Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary today! Be jealous. Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary takes in rescued farmed animals from throughout the east coast, all of them survivors from cases of abuse, neglect, or abandonment. These animals, which are the unwanted remains of the Ag Industry, are retired and allowed to finally thrive in true natural elements: pair bond, dust bathe, be in social groups, be outside, feel grass and mud, receive proper vet care and nutrition, express their personalities, not fear for their lives or be subject to physical and psychological trauma. For having received the worst of human nature, all the residents at PSAS are pretty social and not afraid of humans, a testament to forgiveness and peace that I don't even have as much capacity for. Check out these guys!

oh hai!