Get familiar with Carlitta Durand 'cause she's going to be real big. Soon.
This is off the 'Doug and Patty' EP that came out earlier this year featuring Ms.Durand and this song is so smooth yet bittersweet that you kind of wish this was in the back for your last awkward love moment. Well, not really but you know what I mean. The video was directed by Napoleon Wright III.
As summer winds its way towards the fall, we here at Manifesto want to hip you to a couple of tracks this month that might not have been on your playlist these past months but should have been. One of them actually dropped earlier this year from the premier Wu-Tang songstress herself, Tekitha.
'Ridin' is absolutely PERFECT for those lazy drives under a blazing sun or if you're out on your front step with nothing to do. Or fire escape, whatever. The best thing about this track is that each element blends so well with Tekitha's voice and the song illustrates her capacity to handle any genre. If you're hip, make sure this gets on your playlist for that next August outing.
The 1970's saw the rise of the Blaxploitation genre of film, which fit right in with the rise of a grittier element to all movies then from comedies to crime dramas. One film that has been overlooked for quite some time and may need a revival is Sidney J. Furies' Hit!, which arrived to the screens in 1973. Relegated to the occassional viewing on late night television, this movie has a magnetic appeal all its own.
The infinitely cool Billy Dee Williams stars here as a federal agent who has lost his daughter to heroin usage. Enraged, he makes a bold plan to go after the dealers at the very top of the chain and assembles an unlikely team to accomplish the job. The team also includes Richard Pryor as a demolitions expert. What has to be appreciated here is the fact that you have two prominent Black stars anchoring this film in roles that take them out of the comfort zone you're used to seeing them in. Billy Dee plays an agent who works with a seething rage under a cool exterior. In some moments you find yourself shocked at this; one particular scene he manipulates a prostitute with a drug addiction so smoothly that he goes against his normal casanova role. As for Richard Pryor, you see the beginnings of the dramatic acting few felt he had and that he was able to display in later roles in the decade. The movie is lengthy, and has a few slow moments especially when dealing with the set-up in the French locales, but the deliberate pacing and the collection of perfomances should place Hit! on your movie queue list along with Soderbergh's Traffic and other crime noir fare.
Any place that gets jam packed before 11 PM on a Saturday night usually carries the hallmark of greatness. Policy, a new addition to the U Street Corridor scene fits the bill. The restaurant and lounge has its own separate dance floor upstairs, which saw a steady stream of people from the time our review party arrived until we left. The decor is a mix between uptown opulence with ornate chandeliers and downtown hipster with red leather booths and opaque black walls. As we overheard one person say, 'This place could've been in 'American Psycho' as a set.' Policy does have a funky, trendy feel to it without being too over the top.
That's not to say there weren't drawbacks, however minor they were. One was the overcrowding caused by the opening of the second floor. People spilled into an already crowded aisle next to our booth which made it difficult for servers and patrons alike to move freely. And the DJ that night was in a word, horrible. His reckless, mismatched play threw people off and made us scratch our heads at times. The saving grace was Policy's staff, courteous and efficient even in stressful circumstances. And their menu boasts a selection of small plates by Chef Brian Murphy that go well with an extensive drink menu. All in all, Policy is a nice place to go to experience the trendy side of DC nightlife.
1125 1st Ave (between 61st St & 62nd St) New York, NY10021 (212) 832-1551 www.merchantsny.com/east
Once in a while(if you're like us here at Manifesto)you get the urge to go to a restaurant that has an elegant feel but still retains a mellow vibe once you walk in the door. Merchants has that combination down pat. This is the East Side location; the outdoor seating gives you a pristine view of the 59th Street Bridge. The sister restaurant is right down in Chelsea. The prime appeal of Merchants is the fact that it is one of the few licensed cigar bars left in New York City, located downstairs. And when you walk in, it is as if you've entered a drawing room straight out of 'The Great Gatsby'. The staff are extremely friendly, the menu boasts good fare such as pan roasted monkfish and rack of lamb. They provide a good selection of spirits(on our last visit we enjoyed a nice glass of Macallan 12 year) and on certain nights, you can enjoy live music. If you want a place to slip out of the hustle and bustle of NYC, Merchants East is the way to go.
Tucked away in the middle of the block steps away from McPherson Square lies Lotus Lounge, fast becoming a new hotpsot for the after-work crowd. The club itself is cozy but extremely inviting. The Far Eastern theme works well with its lower level location, and if you get there early enough, you find yourself becoming extremely relaxed. The bartenders are easy to talk to and are all about you having a good time, even hooking you up from time to time with drink specials. The happy hour here is a major draw. Cool and alluring with a lack of pretension, Lotus Lounge is a nice place to lay back among the polished sophistication that is K Street.
Marvin Gaye called this one of the most honest recordings he had ever made. And with each play of this 1972 soundtrack to the blaxploitation movie of the same name, you believe it more and more. The movie plot was essentially about Mr.T(Robert Hooks) who was a jack of all trades in South Central Los Angeles, including being a private eye, being framed in a war between a drug lord, a crooked police captain and two small-time hustlers. The music on this soundtrack is seductive soul that is chock full of honesty and power. Gaye was arguably at his best here, making the album a must have for any music lover. The title track as well as 'T Plays It Cool' are standouts here, but overall it is a good album to put on and mellow out to in those moments when you're not on the go.
Marvin Gaye - T Plays It Cool, 'Trouble Man' Soundtrack(1972)
Miracle Grill 222 Seventh Avenue Brooklyn, NY www.miraclegrillbrooklyn.com 718.369.4541
For those who miss the old Miracle Grill in Greenwich Village, take comfort in the fact that this location is still open and does grand business. The dining area opens out onto the main vein of Park Slope, 7th Avenue and gives you the feeling of being out somewhere in Phoenix, or El Paso for that matter. Their menu boasts both traditional and more innovative dishes, such as Blue Corn Fried Chicken Tacos and Scrambled Eggs Fajitas. On our last visit, we had a chance to sample the Chicken Tortilla Pie and were enamored with the tasty contrast between the red and green chile sauces and the savory chicken all covered in Monterey Jack cheese. The drink selection boasts caipirinhas as well as fresh fruit margaritas and a neat little concoction called 'Blueberry Lemonade'. Miracle Grill also boasts great happy hour specials and is a hotspot for brunches. On your next sojourn through Park Slope, stop in and smell the Southwest.
Orbital Arts 275 Augusta Avenue 416.598.5623 Toronto, Canada www.orbitalarts.ca
Nestled within Kensington Market, a hip neighborhood in Toronto, Canada, Orbital Arts is a unique art gallery that embraces you in the spirit of universal love. From the moment you cross the chalk mural of a mandala outside its doors to all of the dazzling artwork inside, Orbital Arts strives to awaken your consciousness. The owner is extremely warm and you'll find yourself at ease viewing the various pieces from Tibet, India and other locales. Visit Orbital Arts on your next trip and you'll find your spirit better for it.
We know what you're thinking. 'This is a regular pizza joint!' To the unsuspecting, it may be. But this little spot at the corner of W.22nd and 6th Avenue is a wonderful slice of Sicily at a reasonable price. The staff have been here for years, and the food is robust and tasty. A lasagna plate will get you a cut of beef lasagna dripping with sauce the width of a hardbound dictionary. And they even grace your dish with fresh garlic bread. The slices are decent, but the standouts are the full-bodied entrees that have people standing in line outside for twenty minutes at a time at lunch. Try Maffei's for a nice bit of Italian food with no frills but plenty of appeal.
World War II, or 'The Great War' as it has been dubbed by some, has a plethora of stories within those years that it was fought. The story of Private Herman Perry, however, is one that seemed to be lost amidst lost letters and bureaucratic records until now. Now The Hell Will Start is Herman Perry's story, the story of an African American GI who after enduring racism and blatantly instituionalized ill-treatment made a decision and subsequently became the target of the largest manhunt of World War II, fleeing into the savage jungle of Burma and settling in with a fearsome tribe of headhunters known as the Naga.
Brendan I Koerner, a contributor to Wired magazine, brings us a vivid accounting of Herman Perry's story in these pages. He displays a fine gift for fluid but detailed narrative throughout the book. You get drawn into Perry's life and in the process, you share his frustrations and his pain. In addition, you also come away with the knowledge that for better or for worse, Herman Perry's experience caused some major changes in the American military and to a small degree, American society.
Barthelemy Karas(voiced by Daniel Craig) in Renaissance(2006)
Renaissance was released in 2006, buoyed by the instantaneous global success of Daniel Craig after his debut as the new 007 in 'Casino Royale'. The French film has recieved mixed responses such as being pulled early from stateside theaters and being panned for having more flash than substance. What 'Renaissance' should be seen as is a new way to view film noir with fresh perspective.
The scene is set thusly: we find ourselves in Paris in the year 2054. Captain Barthemlemy Karas, a hard-nosed detective is entrusted with finding a top scientist who's disappeared with a highly important secret and in the pursuit begins to unravel a sinister plot bigger than he imagined. Craig is well suited for the role of Karas, and is supported by other notable cast members such as Ian Holm and Jonathan Pryce. The real star of the film is its look. From the first minute, it pulls you in with its mixture of CGI and motion capture based solely on a black and white palette. At times, the characters and scenery flow so much that it can be distracting, but it does lend that extra appeal to the story. One can see the homage paid to such auteurs as Fritz Lang and Ridley Scott in 'Renaissance'. This film, if given a chance, should fall in line with other film noir favorites like 'D.O.A.' and 'The Maltese Falcon'.
Candela Candela 92 Second Avenue (between 5th and 6th Streets) Manhattan, NY 10003 212-529-2563
When you think of the merger between Italian and Cuban cuisine, you wonder how successful it could be. Thankfully, Candela Candela proves to be a good mix. Although in truth it leans more towards Italian cuisine, there is enough Cuban influence...especially when it comes to the drinks. Their mojitos are a choice specialty of the house. A recent outing found a rustic setting not unlike what one would expect in Tuscany. The food was, in a word, sublime with its flavor and presentation. The chicken milanese held its tangy taste with each bite and the whole wheat gnocchi was so good it was almost gone immediately!! The service was superb and there was no inclination to rush people out of the door. All in all, Candela Candela is a nice choice if you want an elegant yet languid dining experience.
You need an uptempo, light and airy addition to your summer soundtrack? We here at Manifesto have got you covered. We've had this song on repeat admittedly since spring but there's no time like the present for you to let your ears be soothed by Sparro's mellow voice and the lush music of 'Black and Gold', the first single from the Austrailian born LA native. Hearing this song kind of makes you want to sit at an outdoor cafe, drink in hand and the sun at your back and revel in the joys of the season. Check it out for yourself.
Sam Sparro 'Black and Gold' live on 'De Sorte Spejdere' (Denmark)
Sometimes, you get the feeling that a metropolis like any other living entity needs to have its own rhythm in order to connect with its inhabitants. A rhythm that can spring forth in any mood or tone. El Michels Affair has managed to capture that idea and express it in an impressive first album release on funk/soul label Truth&Soul Records. The collective essentially stems from the union of Leon Michels and Nick Movshon, two former band mates who paired up creating music with a Tascam 388 eight track machine. The gritty, soulful sound began to take shape with the addition of more members until the group became nine in total. Keep that in mind. They gained notoriety in 2005 with the release of Sounding Out The City. The critical acclaim brought them a deal with Scion and led them to collaborate extensively with none other than the Wu-Tang Clan, who also were nine in number before ODB's untimely passing. Coincidence? Not hardly.
This album is a soulful masterpiece, working with a heavy banter between horns and drums with slight touches of bass that never overpower the flow of the track. "Detroit Twice" is a funk-laden groove that evokes rooftop parties and slow drives in an Eldorado. They surprise with a cover of Issac Hayes' oft-sampled classic, 'Hung Up On My Baby' that lays the bass on thick. 'Musings to Myself' is such an introspective and magnetic track with its trumpet chorus that Ghostface Killah used it as a backdrop for a song on 'The Big Doe Rehab'. For this summer, do yourself a favor and get this album to get a feel for how El Michels Affair demonstrates how a city can have a distinct rhythm.
Itzocan Bistro 1575 Lexington Avenue(corner of 101 St.) New York, NY 10029 (212)423-0255
Amidst the revitalized apartment buildings and the local restaurants that still serve cuchifritos at 1950's styled lunch counters within Spanish Harlem lies a bistro that manages to combine the old and the new in a subdued yet impressive manner. Itzocan Bistro, located on a quiet corner, charms you the moment you walk through its doors with aged oak tables and exposed brick walls. The food is exquisitely prepared to appease the eyes as well as the palate. The goat cheese flan simply melts in your mouth with the first bite.
Another dish of note (pictured above) is the ancho chile rubbed chicken breast. Complementing these wonderful dishes is a wine list that displays choice selections from Spanish and Latin American vineyards. If you're looking for a quiet and sophisticated eatery that will catapult you to another mood, Itzocan Bistro is an inspired choice.
There may be few popular figures who still are ensconced in enigma like Melvin Van Peebles. You'd be hard pressed to find another person who made such an impact on American culture in a brazen and stirring manner, so much so that you couldn't look away. How To Eat Your Watermelon in White Company is a visual testament to Van Peebles' genius.
The documentary's title actually stems from the title of an essay Van Peebles himself, had submitted to a magazine in the late 1960's.
The film is a delightful look at Van Peebles' life, told in his words and the words of friends and loved ones. And what a life it has been; from publishing a book while working as a streetcar conductor to his artistic growth in France to his trailblazing film career. Chock full of anecdotes, bittersweet tales and Van Peebles' own stinging but honest ironic humor throughout, this is one documentary that needs to be in every artists' library.
An excerpt from the DVD courtesy of MVPmovies.com...
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Thursday, August 26, 2010 at 9:34PM 
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