The Hot July Moon Saw Everything

In case you were wondering, we survived the sneak attack storm that blacked out millions of people in our region a little over a week ago. It was only a few days ago that Mr. Natty Boh was also restored although his blinking eye has been suspiciously missing for weeks now. In observance of this, I've decided to patch out my own right eye--pirate style of course--until his eye returns. Did I mention I'm 30?

With the onslaught on summer comes a beefed up calendar of events throughout the city. I've been diligently documenting all the outdoor movies (Little Italy's just started this past Friday), concerts, festivals, and farmer's markets that I hope to go to (Young the Giant for free at Power Plant? Um, yes please!).

This past Thursday, Robbe and I went with our newly engaged friends Timmy and Dana to First Thursdays, a free outdoor concert sponsored by WTMD 89.7 in Mt. Vernon. Featured band? Scars on 45 (they're English and I don't get their name either). Basically, it's three hours of picnic-ing with a bunch of sweaty strangers against the backdrop of residential brownstones, local vendors, and neighborhood hipsters. It was great, truly. We brought our own supply of booze and sandwiches and leftover Fourth of July cherry and raspberry pie, handmade by Robbe's grandma by the way. Yes, yes it was a thousand degrees outside and yes, yes it did sprinkle on us a bit, but yes, yes we stayed until the end when the band closed out their set with Rihanna's "We Found Love" cover. It was my first event after moving to the city where I felt and witnessed a sense of community. Drunken community? Probably. But it was still community. This is where I live now. These are my people. And it got me excited about the rest of the summer, my generously marked up calendar, and the prospect of experiencing more events like this one that could lead to absurd fun.

Afterwards, we headed to Midtown BBQ for a quick beer which was a block away from the concert. I instantly thumbsed-up the place once I saw a large karaoke banner hugging its brick when we arrived. The sign actually said: "Full contact karaoke" which simultaneously culminated delight and confusion. We had seen an advertisement that a band called PB & Jamz was performing. All four of us had cast our judgments on what this band would sound like--white wannabe rappers? O.A.R. meets Sublime? Folks, PB & Jamz became my favorite new local band that night. The five-piece came right out covering Toxic by Britney Spears. Did I mention there was a clarinet (shout out to my middle school band instrument! 2nd clarinet where you at!) They went on to play Juicy (Biggie Smalls--babe-uh babe-uhhhh); Ignition (R. Kelly), remix no less!; I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Whitney! RIP); Hard Knock Life (Jay-Z); and You Know I'm No Good (Amy Winehouse, ar to the eye to the pee). We left before they got to play Single Ladies which means they missed out on me performing the 3 seconds of dance moves I know from Beyonce's video (their loss). 

Next month the band plays at Joe Squared (Dear Pizza, I love you) so my plan is to brush up on my Biggie and Jay-Z and come ready to party with my new best friends (they have no idea who I am). Who's with me?

Kimi Redd