Steamy and sensual, a masala of disparate peoples, faiths, and tongues facing the Arabian Sea, Mumbai (still called Bombay by many of its residents) sprawls in languid grandeur like a vine-covered statue of Lakshmi in repose. At once chaotic and laid-back, the city dons the role of its most famous monument as the Gateway of […]
Mumbai’s da Bom, bay-bay! Read More
Cross-cultural hilarity from the Bollywood film Singh is King (featuring outtakes with director “Ala-Wishous Simmons“:
From the AV Room: “Chicken and Waffles Fit For a King” Read More
Since Flickr is blocked here in the United Arab Emirates (among other sites such as X-Tube), I’ve decided to post another of my “road movies.” This time, watch as I approach the Pyramids at Giza, literally right across the street from a joint Pizza Hut/KFC, via an elevated expressway from Downtown Cairo. No camels were
From the AV Room: Trekking to the Pyramids Read More
The name of Istanbul comes from the Greek for “in or to the city.” Throughout most of its history, Turkey’s largest city and the former capital of the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman empires has been The One and Only City (how ya like them apples, Noo Yawk?). And with over 12 million people within city
A City By Any Other Name Read More
Who would expect hundreds of yellow-haired Vikings to be bouncing energetically to “Bonita Applebum” and not missing a word of Aretha’s “Think” on a random late-summer’s eve? Sure as hell wasn’t me; seeing a rack of blonde “single ladies” bouncing their Nordic booties on-beat (y’all read right) left me verklempt. I have to give it
Hip-Hop in the ‘Holm Read More
Notting Hill Carnival, London’s largest celebration, started 45 years ago among the city’s burgeoning Afro-Caribbean community. Peaking at 2 million attendees, the party gets started on the last Sunday of August with parades and truck-sized sound systems scattered throughout the Notting Hill neighborhood and centered on Portobello Road (of flea market and Bedknobs and Broomsticks
While I catch up from a hellified week of handling personal business before the trip and the move, I thought I’d share this inspiring clip of a 13-year-old violin virtuoso that I encountered last week earning a lot of change on the street in Philadelphia:
From the AV Room: Philly Prodigy Read More
I don’t know when the hell National Geographic’s world music cable channel, Nat Geo Music, started airing, but from the moment I caught a glimpse this weekend, I’ve been addicted. So long CrackNewsNetwork! Flyest Lyrics: Flyest Video: Flyest Collaboration:
Global Juke Joint: Nat Geo Music Read More
Los Viajes del Viento: An aching, cinematic love letter to the traditional music, diverse ethnic origins, and breathtaking landscapes of the Colombian Caribbean.
From the AV Room: An Accordion and a Curse Read More
