Gone But Not Forgotten (1st in a series)

There was a time in NYC where if you walked down the dark streets of the Lower East Side on a Friday or Saturday night you had to be on your toes. You could walk for a little bit and not see an open store and thus no real light. During the 90s this was a recipe to become the next victim of the night. However it was during this time that I ran the streets from Ave. A down to Chinatown. I would close down an old staple restaurant in the LES called Mekka (RIP) and then walk down to a little hole in the wall spot at the end of Orchard St. called Good World. This was a place for the true lover of Hip Hop and Soul music overall. My boys Shan Boogie and Torbitt (drummer for Chin Chin) would get together every Friday night and tear this spot down!

I've had so many good nights there man. The way I would go is just walk down Orchard past Max Fish, crossing Delancy St. walking by small chinese internet "cafe's" until you see the USPS mail trucks and hear some music. That's how you know your in the right place. There was this ill muscle marine forces black dude on the door checking IDs. Once I got inside I would walk pass the bar and say what's up to my man Marcus (member of Antibalas now) and hit the back where Shan and Torbit were rocking. Once my bag was down the dancing didn't stop until Marcus would let out this famous yell "If you are not working here or f*%king someone working here time to go!".

Man I would go to Good World every Friday to hear joints like Aretha Franklin's Rocksteady, Poor Righteous Teachers' Easy Star and Michael Jackson's Baby Be Mine. In fact I would have to ask Torbit sometimes if I missed Baby Be Mine if I got there later than normal. I remember one time this cat tried to buy me a drink because I was going so hard to the Doobie Brothers' song Long Train Running. He was just happy to see me loving that song so much.

Well years have passed and the LES is no longer the same. The weekends are packed with limos and filled with folks from New Jersey with gel in their hair and their bottle service business. Orchard St. is now filled with little boutiques and crepe spots. I was in Chinatown about a month ago for dinner at a cool Italian restaurant. I noticed when I got there the old mail trucks were still on the scene and thought I'd go around the corner and visit an old friend. I saw a demolished building undergoing construction and felt a lump in my throat. The sounds of racing rats ran me away as if to say "get out of here New York Native, this aint for you any more!". Another piece of NY is gone.

The picture you see above is all that's left.

Bon Voyage

Bar 41 is where it all happens

Brit's get moody if they don't get their drinks flowing quickly

aahhh yes, very refreshing

The camera person tries to take candid pictures of the Hyena without being noticed but then it's too late....

the Hyena makes his move

Gemma appears to be upset because she has no one to blame her chocolate breaks on anymore....now the whole M&M pack is yours!!

the book comes out and the hands come to life

yummm, sliders

a more, better look at what the hands create

the 3 amigas (they look all quiet but they are actually the loudest of the entire group..hehe)

Oye, Señor Bobbay "Fuse" Green, come here...

lemme tell ju a lil secret

mira the screw face, he no like no body

and to think this was during the middle of the day lunch and we're acting like we're in a club chillin!!!

Yes, Von I will have another one please!!!!

more people going to town on the drinks

Mahdi and Just talking

Big O doggs in the house

I wonder why Fuse has that smile on his face

ahhh and the truth is about to be revealed

We knew it, he is a very busy man doing work for all the other major brands and now branching out from denim into doing home settings.......we knew it all along Jamel

Guilty, guilty and more guilty... just look at him. he has nothing to say for himself

I really have no clue what these 2 were discussing but I think it has something to do with an animal or something....

Mahdi checking out to see what goes on

the true meaning of liquid lunch...and you know what follows next

MG SALUTE!!!

and even Carol had a shot!!! Wow I feel special!!!

Just chillin with Tanesse

People came through to show love!!

holding up the universal sign for his name..La La Lamonticus OHreallious

sunglasses indoors..hmmm how much did she drink???

Many thanks to all the people who showed up at my going away luncheon and a special thanks to our very own "little Miss Sunshine" Jen Sosa for taking these wonderful shots as always!! I know I am a bit late with this one but I have to say I really had a great time and seeing how many people showed up to say goodbye definitely marked a special place for me. To leave the Roc as I did was not just leaving a job but leaving a great group of people. Looking forward to our paths crossing in the near future!!!