To Life - Le Chaim! Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas!

Welcome to Greenwich Village

Walking and Biking in NYC is Dangerous!

I've always had this fear of getting hit by a car in New York City. That's because the cabs drive like crazy. The bikers are even more mad. And the bus driver really don't give a sh*t if they run someone over or not.

That's why I always check both ways when I cross the street. And for good reason too judging from these Manhattan stats for pedestrian and biker deaths in the past year. (Check out Crashstats.org to find out the most dangerous intersections. It's freaky. And what ever you do, stay away from E 33rd St & Park Ave Southbound!)

Pedestrian Crashes
Rank Intersection Crashes
1 E 33rd St & Park Ave Southbound (156)
2 Essex St & Delancey St (86)
3 7th Ave & W 34th St (85)
4 8th Ave & W 42nd St (77)
5 3rd Ave & E 14th St (66)
6 Broadway & Union sq W (66)
7 9th Ave & W 23rd St (66)
8 W 42nd St & Avenue of the Americas (66)
9 7th Ave & W 145th St (66)
10 W 14th St & Avenue of the Americas (65)

Bicycle Crashes
Rank Intersection Crashes
1 Bowery & W Houston St 29
2 Broadway & Union sq w 29
3 Essex St & Delancey St 24
4 E 23rd St & Park Ave Southbound 24
5 W 23rd St & Avenue of the Americas 24
6 5th Ave & W 34th St 24
7 W 96th St & Broadway Southbound 24
8 1st Ave & E Houston St 22
9 E 125th St & Lexington Ave 21
10 Broadway & W Houston St 20

Bound to Lose - Documentary About The Holy Modal Rounders

I've said it a thousand times before to anyone who would listen when I was in college in Boston, and too many times to count since I moved to New York City in 1996: Iowa City, Iowa, the place where I grew up, is an oasis of culture and creativity that produces some amazing talent.

That's Iowa Pride for you!

But it was true when I lived there. I don't know what it's like so much anymore, but over the years it has certainly fostered some interesting characters.

Perhaps because of the Iowa Summer Writing Festival (where my mom works). Perhaps because of the University of Iowa. Perhaps because it is a liberal mecca, surrounded by lots of red, which creates an interesting dynamic. Or maybe because it's a place where the women are strong, the men are good looking, and all the children are above average.

One such character/talent is Jesse Fisher. He's the younger brother of one of my friends from elementary school and high school named Matt Fisher (also such a character from my experience). Like lots of us who ventured out beyond the fields, Jesse moved to NYC to go to NYU film school. I haven't kept up with Jesse enough over the years, but he continues to put out interesting work and be involved in compelling projects. I have one of his CD's from his band called Muscular Christians which is absolutely hilarious and quite good I think. (They are playing in NYC Wednesday night).

And right now, the documentary film he (and some friends) made after they graduated is showing at the Anthology Film Archives in New York City. It's called Bound to Lose, a film about The Holy Modal Rounders relationship over the past 40 years.

I'm going to see the film and Jesse's band perform after the show on Wednesday. Judging from the clip below, it looks hysterical and the NYTimes gave it a nice write up this weekend.

Way to go Jesse! I look forward to seeing your work and seeing you perform.



The New York Times covered it this weekend here.

Village Voice here.

Bound to Lose Web site here.

I want to try this one day (after they perfect it of course)