http://www.brickweekly.com/ Brick Weekly News en-us sitehelp@gatewayva.com Thu, 08 May 2008 9:33:00 EST http://www.brickweekly.com/index.php/features/experience_it_big_pansies/ 2008/05/08 “We’re doing what?” asked Mauricio as we headed out of the office. “We’re going to the Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens to see the Million Blooms.” I answered. “Our experience this week is three dudes going to look at flowers?” “Yep!” I said, as we walked out into the warm afternoon sun, “Would you rather still be in your cubicle?” “Not really,” he replied. It was indeed a wonderful day to be outside when we arrived at the Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens. As we passed through the main building to the gardens beyond, Dwayne pulled out a map he’d snagged from the front ticket counter. I looked over his shoulder. “I had no idea that this place was so big.” “Now what?” asked Mauricio. “We look at the flowers.” Dwayne answered. “There’s some.” I pointed, and down a path we went. “Here, rub this one with your fingers and then smell,” Said Dwayne as he bent over a small green leafy bush. “Minty!” We walked up to the iconic greenhouse at the far end of the path and went inside. Exotic plants of every shape and size towered above us. “It looks like Jurassic Park.” Said Mauricio as he looked up at the tall palm trees. He did his best velociraptor impression.  “Over here! Cacti!” Dwayne led us deeper into the greenhouse. “That one looks fuzzy!” I said, “I want to touch it.” “So must everyone else. Look!” Dwayne pointed to a large sign showing the fuzzy cactus, a bleeding finger, tweezers and band-aids. “Hmmm. Good call. Let’s go back outside.” We passed by the fancy orchids and wound our way down to the Asian Valley. We hopped over a bubbling creek near the Tea House and came to a small pond. Fish swam lazily back and forth and a tiny baby turtle floated along the surface. A frog, hidden by the low bushes, croaked loudly and a large swan sat on the water’s edge and took no notice of us. Cardinals and starlings flew above our heads and wrestled in the foliage. The breeze made the branches sway. “It’s really relaxing here,” I said as we wandered across a grassy expanse. “I could totally see coming here with a good book and chilling out on one of those benches for a day.” We rounded a corner, I saw a large, dense bush with small round reddish-purple leaves. “Oh no!” “What is it?” Asked Dwayne. “A red barberry.” I shuddered. “Look at those thorns! This stuff is nasty!” I was forced to recall the two summers in high school that I worked at a nursery. We would spend days taking cuttings of barberries and then wrap our fingers in duct tape to strip the thorns and leaves off the lower stems. Despite our precautions, we always went home with thorns under our fingernails. “The only thing worse was the Cornuta ‘Rotunda’ Holly. Even after all these years, I still remember its name.” We found the children’s garden around the next corner and climbed up the giant tree house. We could see the construction of the new rose gardens in progress across the lake. “It’s almost 5 o’clock,” said Dwayne, “We should start heading back to the front.” “I think this is one of the most relaxing experiences we’ve done so far,” said Mauricio. “This would be a good place to take Mom for Mother’s Day.” added Dwayne. “Is that this weekend?” I replied. “Crap! I guess I’ll be back here sooner than I thought.” WEB | http://www.lewisginter.com Thu, 08 May 2008 8:56:00 EST http://www.brickweekly.com/index.php/features/pick_of_the_week/ 2008/05/08 CD | THIRD Portishead / Mercury Honestly, I take one bleedin’ week off and I’m suddenly hit left and right with great, great stuff that I can’t tell you guys about. Where were you four months ago, Magnum PR? When I had absolutely no material and was reduced to writing about GODDAMN POLITICS? But you know what? All is forgiven. Thanks to you, I have Portishead’s first studio release in 11 years in my grubby little hands. Everyone and their mothers have already run reviews on this disc, so you know it’s solid gold. Ignore Rolling Stone’s 3-and-a-half star rating; they’re just a bunch of irrelevant old farts suffering from ED. This album is pure, pure sex, folks—dirty, filthy sex in a smoky motel room that leaves you feeling guilty afterwards. Grab a smoke and get ready for a helluva ride. CD | MATHS + ENGLISH Dizzee Rascal / Def muddafuggin’ Jux, bitches! Jesus bloody Christ on a shiny pole, it’s been months since I got a decent hip-hop disc in my mailbox. But El-P and Def Jux have come through, with a proper stateside release of Dizzee Rascal’s spectacular sophomore album. For the true hip-hop heads that have been listening to this CD for the past year, give it a second go for the U.S. exclusive bonus tracks. And for those new to the party, all you have to know is that this is the most exciting hip-hop album since Funcrusher Plus revolutionized the underground. DVD | TEETH Mitchell Lichtenstein / Weinstein Company So much potential. So much wasted talent. There’s a lot of grim comedic gold to be mined from the Vagina Dentata myth, but Lichtenstein’s clumsy handling is no better than a middle-schooler who just got to third base. There’s no wit or energy in this film, as it’s dragged down by its own slightly pretentious earnestness. Lichtenstein wants us to know that HE’S MAKING SOME VERY IMPORTANT POINTS, but he’s putting us to sleep in the process. Simply put: this film is a disappointing failure. BOOK | ALL THE SAD YOUNG LITERARY MEN Keith Gessen / Viking Adult It can’t be all flowers and sunshine this week, folks. If Gessen’s name doesn’t sound familiar, do yourself a favor and don’t look it up. All you need to know is that he’s a bit like Dave Eggers—except with half the talent, twice the pomposity, and absolutely no sense of humor. By all means, read the novel if your idea of a good time involves an Ivory Tower elitist prick masturbating wildly into your eye. COMIC | WILLIE & JOE: THE WWII YEARS Bill Mauldin / Todd DePastino / Fantagraphics You know Mauldin’s work, even if you don’t know the name. Every single political cartoonist for the past sixty years has been ceaselessly trying to copy his style, although most of them fail miserably in the process. His soldiers are neither numbers nor heroes; instead, they’re deeply likable and occasionally flawed people. And in-between the lines in this collection is the most vivid account of World War II ever set to pen and print. Highly recommended.  Thu, 01 May 2008 11:09:00 EST http://www.brickweekly.com/index.php/features/experience_it_on_a_mission/ 2008/05/01 CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS FROM THE EVENT! When I found out that Team Brick would be able to participate in the second  Great Richmond Region Adventure, a real-life, problem-solving, code-cracking, city-spanning race, I was very excited. I love this sort of stuff. David Fincher’s “The Game” (1997) is one of my favorite movies. I read “The Da Vinci Code” and all of Dan Brown’s subsequent clones. I do the daily jumble, crossword and sudoku. I idolized Encyclopedia Brown and the Bloodhound Gang as a kid. In preparation for the upcoming event, I even made Mauricio and Isabel solve a practice set of clues that I set up around the office.   On the day of the race, we gathered on the sunny front lawn of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts with nearly 30 teams. A packet of clues and a map were handed out to each team and Chris Dove, one of Ravenchase’s resident cryptographers, announced that the majority of the race would take place in the museum district, but that the final clue would lead you to a location downtown. We had until 3:00. Ready. Set. Go! “I don’ t care if we win,” I said as the we began sorting through clues to determine their locations on the map. “I just want to finish.” “Let’s just have fun!” I repeated as we walked quickly towards the location indicated by the first clue. As employees of one of the sponsors, we were not eligible to win the $2,500 prize money anyway. We neared Mulberry Street where we needed to find a number near Sir Arnold’s Picket. Was it the date on the monument? Was it the street number of the building near-by? Did we need this pizza menu stuck behind the mailbox? Did that blade of grass mean something? After  15 excruciating minutes, Mauricio waved us over. “I got it.” he whispered, “There was a phone number taped to the street sign.” We called and got another part of the clue. Our second and third clues went a little better and we were feeling pretty good about our progress. We hiked to the Arthur Ashe statue and made quick work of the riddle there. We wound through the  displays in the Virginia Historical Museum and came up with the correct name off a cover of TIME magazine. We got tripped up a bit by the strips of encoded paper we’d recieved at each stop and lost some time in front of the Science Museum trying to piece them together. It was Mauricio to the rescue once again as he solved the code with a golden key included in our tool kit. We knew we had to be close to the second leg of the adventure when we got our fifth strip of paper and decided to head downtown while we solved it. We jumped in my Blazer and, as we headed east, Mauricio and Isabel read the decoded clue. “It says to go to Monument and Davis!” “Crap! We’re not supposed to be driving, yet!” I parked my truck a few blocks away and we received yet another clue at the Virginia Center for Architecture. We solved the riddle, broke the code and were handed a copy of the Richmond Times-Dispatch and a couple of temporary parking passes. “We’re headed to the paper! This is it!” We ran back to the Blazer and piled in. Dwayne deciphered the code in the front seat as we bounced along the cobblestones, his progress hindered by the Blazer’s lack of shocks. “What’s the time?” I shouted. “2:40. We’ve got twenty minutes!” “There were still a lot of teams wandering around the Fan, maybe we’re in the lead?” Time ticked away as we neared the paper. Any of my noble thoughts of playing “just for fun” were rapidly dissipating. What if we could win!? There was a van stopped at the corner of  Franklin and 3rd, trying to take a wrong turn on the one-way street. “Where are we going, Dwayne?” I asked. “Should I park?” “It says to go to the top floor of the RTD parking deck! Go around the block.” We did and on 4th Street, the van in front of us was pulled up next to another, blocking traffic. The drivers compared notes through the windows. They were part of the race! They pulled forward and rounded the block to the 3rd street entrance of the parking deck. There is a driveway on either side of the security booth and the vans were blocking the path on the right, presumedly asking the guard about their passes. My brain flared in the heat of the competition and I made a snap decision. I whipped out my work I.D., flashed it at the befuddled guard and sped off into the deck, tires squealing loudly in my wake. (In my defense, the Blazer’s bald tires squeal under the slightest provocation.) Dwayne looked up from his notes in alarm. Mauricio and Isabel howled with laughter from the back seat, “Oh my God! I can’t believe you did that!” By the time we reached the sixth floor, my adrenalin had worn off and my conscience was starting to get to me. I’d abused my home field advantage to cut in front of other players and didn’t want to win by being a jerk. I slowed down and let the other vans catch up and pass. They rode by laughing and waving. No harm. No foul. We got our final clue from the agent on the roof and raced down the stairwell to the video screens in the front lobby. We were just settling in to solving the last puzzle when someone called “Time!” It was 3:00. The chase was over. We were so close to finishing that I wanted to stay, but all the other teams were heading to the Convention Center for the meet and greet and the conclusion of the race. We wandered down to enjoy some light refreshments and met the winning team, the $3 Bills. They’d finished in a mere two hours and thirty six minutes. They won the $2,500 prize money and secured a  $2,500 donation to Maymont. We were sunburnt, tired and brain dead and decided to head back to the parking deck where we encountered an unexpected final challenge. The security guard was waiting for us at the lowest level of the deck, arms crossed, toe tapping. He waved me over and was rather irate about my enthusiastic entrance. I did not want to risk ticking off the people who let me into the building every day so I accepted my stern talking-to, profusely and sincerely apologized and was released with a warning. The next day, I received an e-mail from Lisa Duty, the brains behind this particular adventure. Team Brick had the best time of all the sponsor teams. The four of us each got a free pass to play in any other public adventure and the Children’s Museum of Richmond, our charity of choice, received a $2,500 Ravenchase package for an adventure of their own. I can’t wait to play again!  Wed, 23 Apr 2008 3:19:00 EST http://www.brickweekly.com/index.php/features/experience_it_looking_for_a_few_good_kicks/ 2008/04/23 With soccer being the fastest growing and most popular sport in the world, and knowing very little about it, I was really looking forward to checking it out in person at the Richmond Kickers’ home opener at University of Richmond Stadium on Saturday.  I arrived just before Isabel, Jared and her friend from out of town, Jenny. “I just talked to Mauricio,” Isabel said. “They’ll be here in just a few minutes. Let’s go ahead and grab seats.” We walked through the ticket gates and around the concessions building toward the field. As we walked up to the wall near the stands we realized we were not going to get the best seats. “Guess we should have gotten here a little bit earlier,” I said as we maneuvered up and down the stands in search of a good place to sit. We finally found a decent spot off to the right and settled in to watch the game. Knowing Isabel was attending a bachelorette party the night before I asked, “So, how are you feeling today?” “Surprisingly not bad! I totally thought I’d be dragging,” she said. “Oh! I have pictures! Want to see?” “No!” Jared and I exclaimed in unison. Jared continued, “I’ve seen two already and that was two too many.” Having had enough of that conversation and stomach grumbling, I decided to get a snack from the concession stand before the game began. When I returned with hot dog and drink in hand Mauricio and his sister, Andrea, had found Isabel and company and the game had started. “Did I miss anything?” “Not yet,” Mauricio replied. “The Kickers have a really good team so it should be a fun game.” Having missed the kickoff I wasn’t sure who was who. “Okay, who are the Kickers? Are they the team that’s red with white or the white and black with red?” Jared provided that bit of information. “Red with white. Look at the mascot. He’s wearing the same jersey. Western Mass is the other team.” Several minutes into it I realized I knew as much about soccer as I did cricket and began peppering Mauricio and Jared with questions. “What’s the difference between a regular foul and a yellow card foul?” “When is a corner kick called for?” “How is time kept? It’s not like football or basketball… the clock just keeps running!?” As the first half came to a close it was a scoreless game. Several contests including a game of musical chairs and a Frisbee toss took place while we awaited the second half to begin. “I have no idea how you guys can do this,” I said to Mauricio and Jared, both of whom are on a league soccer team. “I’d be done in after the first ten minutes or so!” Kickeroo, the Richmond mascot, kept pacing the sidelines doing an assortment of weird gyrations to get the crowd revved up. On his pass by our end of the field Isabel took Jared down there so she could get a picture with him. Watching from afar, the sight was something out of a comedy. Isabel waved her hands motioning him over to her. He did the same. She tried again explaining she wanted a photo. He motioned her toward the field and mimed dancing with her. When she refused, the mascot began strutting around waving his elbows in a visual insult, calling her a chicken. With all the antics ending in a stalemate he finally gave in and let her take a photo with him without getting his dance. Right after that we took notice as several good passes ended in a score for Richmond. Everyone went wild as the team swarmed each other. Just a couple minutes later there was another score for Richmond effectively ending any chances Western Mass had due to the time. “Hey, we’re going to bust out so we don’t have to fight traffic,” Mauricio said. “Yeah, us too,” Isabel agreed. On the way out there was a call for a penalty shot for Richmond. We paused at the top of the stands to watch the Kickers score their final point of the night. That was the signal for everyone else to leave as we got swept through the gates toward our cars believing the Kickers had secured a 3-0 victory. “Wow! That was pretty intense. The other team just caved in at the end” I said. “Conditioning,” commented Mauricio. “It’s all about conditioning.” Thu, 17 Apr 2008 9:27:00 EST http://www.brickweekly.com/index.php/features/live_it_richmonds_lofty_standard_of_living/ 2008/04/17 Okay, readers, choose one: “Lofty”: 1. Elevated in spirit 2. Showing a snooty manner 3. Richmond’s downtown culture and newest coveted housing option. If you answered “3,” congratulations! You won’t impress the GRE board, but you’re spending more time downtown, enjoying what the city, developers, and many residents insist is a success story with a spectacular view. Venture Richmond regularly brings together city leaders, businesses, and consumers to nurture economic development, particularly downtown. They recently hosted a unique tour of stylish and livable lofts. Participants were guests in several homes for meet-and-greets with volunteer host residents. While some expected a sales pitch, the focus was on showing sophisticated living spaces and the people who make them home. The experience emphasized how many amenities Richmond offers downtown, all within walking distance.  Admittedly, it’s a story we’ve heard before: In cities nationwide, as economic changes take hold, manufacturing districts and industrial buildings have fallen into disuse. Their combination of expansive interiors, favorable light, and cheap rent have made such spaces longstanding favorites of perpetually money conscious artists, who often turn abandoned areas into vibrant and viable communities. Great restaurants, innovative retailers, and galleries soon rise where artists work and live. When sedans start to slink through the streets, developers smell business. The story is older than Warhol’s Factory and has outlasted fifteen minutes of fame. Cynics claim that when commerce takes priority, the original spirit of bohemian loft living vanishes. Others cite statistics that suggest loft development addresses urban blight, creates jobs, and reduces crime. Brooklyn has DUMBO, St. Louis has Washington Avenue, and Philly loves Broad and Eighth Streets, right? So how does Richmond rate in loft-appeal? Just count the ways. This year’s Venture Richmond Downtown Loft Tour featured walk-throughs in Shockoe Bottom’s Pohlig Paper Box Factory and The Reserve, both on Franklin Street. Along the Canal Walk the tour brought participants to The Vistas on Virginia Street. In Jackson Ward, the Tour brought visitors to Emrick Flats, 401 Brook Lofts, and Popkin Lofts, before finishing up south of the river, by stopping in at The Manchester Lofts of Porter Street, The Decatur of E. Third, and Warehouse 201 on Hull Street.  Jim Daab, who along with his wife Laura owns Mystery Dinner Playhouse Theatre, attended the Saturday afternoon tour. “I loved seeing the creative reuse of these buildings. I was really impressed by the mixture of adaptive reuse and new construction at the Reserve,” Daab points out. “But the greatest part of the tour was when I realized later that my Saturday consisted of touring beautiful loft living spaces, attending an intimate acoustic concert in a new gallery space, and [sharing] a meal and drinks with friends in a tavern, all within blocks of each other in an area of the city that would have been deserted on a Saturday night just a few years ago.” Richmond seems to have reached at least one lofty ideal. Thu, 17 Apr 2008 9:22:00 EST http://www.brickweekly.com/index.php/features/experience_it_bogey_at_6_oclock/ 2008/04/17 At the onset of our adventure Clay is probably the only one of us who actually knows what a bogey is. Bogey - A chiefly British: an average golfer’s score used as a standard for a particular hole or course B: one stroke over par on a hole in golf. I always knew that bogey was a golf term but given my experience with golfing it is no surprise that I have heard this term used referring to an enemy aircraft in video games more often than not. Surprised being the first to arrive, I wander around the parking lot looking for any of the other team member’s cars. “Hey! Get out of the road,” I hear as Clay pulls up. He steps out of the car laughing. “Where is everyone?” “I’m not sure but the Google Maps directions I got were bogus. Maybe they got lost,” I reply. Not being one to just stand around, Clay leads me into the building to check out the pro shop and find out what the rental fees are. We wander around for a few minutes before Isabel shows up, irritated. Seems she had the same problem I did. “That sucked! The directions I got were SO wrong,” she exclaims as Mauricio pulls up. He whips out his batting gloves, smiles and says, “So who are we waiting on? Tod? Korey? Let’s hit some balls while we wait!” We talk to the lady behind the counter, purchase our batting tokens and passes for mini golf and wander over to the batting cages where Mauricio nervously steps into the 70 mph cage. “Oh, man. This is going to be tough,” he says after the first ball whizzes by his bat. Several more swings and several more misses as you can hear the ball cutting through the air. He finally makes contact on a couple sending them foul. As Mauricio was finishing, Korey comes running up with his putter. “Sorry I’m late. Did I miss anything?” Clay, Isabel and I took our swings at lower speeds before moving over to the mini golf. Walking up to the first hole Clay is reading the score card. “‘You are about to play the most challenging putting course in the country.’ Wow, now that is a bold statement.” We begin looking around and realize that it may be bold but not necessarily untrue. Between the rock traps and water hazards at every other bend in the course it definitely seems a challenge. “I wonder who will be the first to drop one into the water,” I think out loud as Isabel steps up to putt. We all make it through the first hole pretty well with the exception of Korey. “Man, I’m just not good at this!” On the second hole I overshoot my putt right into the stream. Everyone laughs as Isabel rushes to rescue my ball before it travels further down the course. Clay, who always begins with a good distance putt, struggles with the shorter putts. His next few short putts just glance the edge of the cup only to shoot out in another direction so often it became dubbed as being “clayed.” Korey, pulling off some surprisingly good shots, kept improving with every hole. “Guess I just needed to warm up.” After the front nine I had a surprising lead only to watch it disappear to some skilled putting by Mauricio, most notable on the final hole of the course. Everyone takes their first putt doing well with Mauricio just smacking it awkwardly so it doesn’t go very far. Having the best beginning put on 18 I decide to goad him a bit. “Hey, Mauricio! What ‘chu gonna do now?!” I taunt him as he lines up to putt. He swings, the ball bounces off the wall, up the hill, around the corner and smacks my ball with enough force to knock it around the bend and down the hill — much to everyone’s amusement and setting him up for an easy putt. “Ha! I couldn’t have done that if I was trying to!” Everyone laughing, myself mock-grumbling, we finish the course with Mauricio emerging victorious. “I’m hungry,” says a very chilly Isabel. “Let’s go get Mexican!” With the idea of some spicy food and margaritas warming our thoughts, we jump in our cars and leave Bogey’s knowing we’ll be back in warmer weather.  Thu, 10 Apr 2008 11:40:00 EST http://www.brickweekly.com/index.php/features/see_it_sketchy_livin/ 2008/04/10 First things first: if you draw or doodle or design in any kind of serious way, you ought to look these folks up—the Richmond Illustrators Club has been around for nearly 20 years, started by a handful of VCU grads (though not school-affiliated or exclusive). They’re there to help each other network, brainstorm, find inspiration and connect to the outer world...who couldn’t use that kind of support? Kinda leaves me wishing there was a freelancers’ club. And their clubhouse? None other than the New York Deli in Carytown. “We just encourage people to bring their sketchbooks; it’s a good time, and a good spot to find people to draw. Though sometimes we’ll have a big meeting, and 40 people show up and drink and want separate tabs...” notes Holly Camp, the club’s vice president. Party. Currently, they’re gearing up for the club-sponsored Second Annual Juried Show, slated to open June 6th at Ghostprint Gallery (where they also do Sunday evening figure drawing, 6 PM, open to the public). There’s a new extension on the entry deadline—April 19—so if you want to send in your work, download a form at richmondillustratorsclub.blogspot.com.  Judging the show this year are three distinctly different masters of illustration: Anita Kunz, whose smart, satirical work has been seen just about everywhere (the New Yorker, Time, The Progressive, Mother Jones, etc.), Greg Swearingen, whose forte is fantastical childrens’ book covers, and Josh George, a gallery-focused painter with a number of Italian locations under his belt. The juried show isn’t the only focus of the RIC, though; member shows and collaborations are more fittingly the name of the game. Two shows per year feature the club’s work, one of which is going on now at the downtown public library on Franklin. As projects go, they recently compiled a book of Grimm’s fairytales (each member chose one to illustrate) which is currently up for publication, and there are ideas for a calendar or a Richmond A to Z. President Katie McBride comments, “We like the idea that we can get these projects off to art directors or agencies. The work is not only representing us, it’s representing Richmond… it shows that Richmond is a source for work, you can get access to a bunch of talented artists here.” They get each other through the work week. “As a job, illustration is really stressful. You have to be able to encompass a lot of things to be an illustrator—you’ve got to be creative, communicative, and capable of getting things down on paper. You also have to harass people… I sent out 40 emails today,” Holly laughs. And Katie backs her up: “You have to constantly remind people that you are the best illustrator in the world. If you don’t, they’re going to go with the best thing they’ve seen that week.” But… no pressure, right? Just in case, the club also offers a place to commiserate, swap art director horror stories, pass along the names of the friendlies. Interested in joining? Check their blog for that, too, or email //';l[1]='a';l[2]='/';l[3]='';l[36]='"';l[37]=' 109';l[38]=' 111';l[39]=' 99';l[40]=' 46';l[41]=' 108';l[42]=' 105';l[43]=' 97';l[44]=' 109';l[45]=' 103';l[46]=' 64';l[47]=' 115';l[48]=' 114';l[49]=' 111';l[50]=' 116';l[51]=' 97';l[52]=' 114';l[53]=' 116';l[54]=' 115';l[55]=' 117';l[56]=' 108';l[57]=' 108';l[58]=' 105';l[59]=' 46';l[60]=' 100';l[61]=' 110';l[62]=' 111';l[63]=' 109';l[64]=' 104';l[65]=' 99';l[66]=' 105';l[67]=' 114';l[68]=':';l[69]='o';l[70]='t';l[71]='l';l[72]='i';l[73]='a';l[74]='m';l[75]='"';l[76]='=';l[77]='f';l[78]='e';l[79]='r';l[80]='h';l[81]='a ';l[82]='= 0; i=i-1){ if (l[i].substring(0, 1) == ' ') document.write("&#"+unescape(l[i].substring(1))+";"); else document.write(unescape(l[i])); } //]]> ; it’s totally open to anyone, with or without work, who would benefit from a serious artistic forum. Says Katie, “A lot of people got into illustration because they like to read, not only to draw. They want to create images that further a purpose.” Thu, 10 Apr 2008 11:35:00 EST http://www.brickweekly.com/index.php/features/experience_it_wii_some_indoor_fun/ 2008/04/10 A few weeks ago, while browsing the bargain bins at the local Game Stop (no, not that one… the one across the street from it) the Wii display of Nintendo’s new Super Smash Brothers Brawl game caught my eye. I sauntered over to see what all the hype was about and when I picked up the controller, a voice from behind the counter immediately started bellowing excited instructions at me. “Pick which character you want to be! Press the ‘A’ button and then press ‘+’!” The ghostly blue hand, controlled by the counter clerk, moved confidently around the screen and chose Link from the Zelda games. My wavering ghostly pink hand could not be still long enough to choose from the extravagant array of Nintendo heroes available on the selection menu. The voice behind me sounded frustrated. “Pick who you want and press ‘A’!” I looked stupidly down at the controller, pressed ‘A’ and still couldn’t get it to work. I was not eager to have my ass soundly kicked by the large, sweaty, pimply kid working the counter. I shrugged my shoulders, returned the controller to the holster on the display and slinked away. The next week, when our plans for a fun, out-doorsy activity were put on hold due to the impending wet weekend weather, Dwayne suggested Smash Brothers. “I’m house-sitting for my neighbors this weekend and they have a Wii!” We all agreed and Friday evening, as the wind and clouds blew into town, Mauricio, Isabel and I met Dwayne on the front porch of his neighbor’s house. “Come on in.” He said opening the door “I’ve already got the beer and chips!” Mauricio and Isabel grabbed the dining room chairs and arranged them around the big screen TV, while Dwayne handed out beverages and fired up the game. He handed out the controllers; big clunky Nintendo GameCube controllers for Mauricio and Isabel and the sleeker, stylish Classic Controllers for the two of us. I was glad not to have to struggle with the Wii remote, but the Wii controller was nearly as awkward. With the cord jutting out from the front, it felt like I was holding it backwards. The title screen appeared accompanied by a triumphant, action movie soundtrack loop. The selection of characters seemed meager compared to the menu at Game Stop. They must have spent their entire shift opening up all the hidden fighters. We each chose our combatants: Wario for me, Princess Zelda for Isabel, Some fire breathing Pokemon dragon thing for Dwayne and the Ice Climbers for Mauricio. We pressed ‘A’ and then ‘+’ and the melee began. “Now what do we do?” Asked Mauricio as our characters appeared on a floating iceberg. “Hell if I know!” I responded as my character hopped on a motorcycle and drove unceremoniously off the edge of the playing field. When I reappeared at the top of the screen, I did it again. Power ups rained from the sky above as we duked it out, but none of us could figure out how to pick them up or use them. “How do I block?” “Which one am I? Where did my character go?” “Did you just hit me with an umbrella?” “This is dumb!” After much swearing at the screen, Isabel prevailed victorious. We selected new characters and started again. “Who is Pit? Is he from Kid Icarus?” “I don’t know. I’m some dude named Ike!” “I still can’t tell which character I am!” Isabel reigned supreme once again and continued to do so, round after round. “It’s because she’s a button masher!” said Dwayne, setting down his controller and grabbing another beer. We played a few more rounds. Isabel continued to win and we unlocked two new fighters, Ness and Marth, neither of whom we’d ever heard of. “I’m bored!” said Isabel after placing first once again. “Let’s play something else.” We fired up Wii Sports, made some Mii avatars and spent the rest of the evening kicking Isabel’s ass in Wii boxing. Fri, 04 Apr 2008 8:42:00 EST http://www.brickweekly.com/index.php/features/experience_it_infuzion_lounge/ 2008/04/04 No, this isn’t the beginning to another corny riddle.  Instead, these temps describe the excitement that awaited Team Brick when we ventured out to “Sexy Salsa Thursday” last week at Infuzion Lounge in Richmond. That night, we attempted our own version of “Dancing with the Stars” without the call-in votes and mind-numbing commentary of that guy from “America’s Funniest Home Videos.” When I arrived, I was greeted by David Prado, a salsa instructor from Cubariqua Dance Company who, along with Clara Toro, gives free lessons to the crowd at Infuzion Lounge every Thursday night.  Since 2006, the pair has been teaching New York-style salsa at local venues such as Big Daddy’s, the Virginia Boat Club and Fort Lee. They are also the current organizers of the Richmond Salsa Meetup Group that includes over 400 members.  The group’s aim is to spread salsa throughout the greater Richmond area.  David said he was immediately drawn to salsa when he first saw it, and it made him want to teach it.  “Watching the turns is beautiful,” David said.  “Salsa is like sex on hardwood.” Thankfully, I didn’t need to tell Team Brick that to guarantee their attendance.  Clay, Dwayne, Isabel, Mandy and Mandy’s friend Amy came in right before the lessons began. I was the only Team Brick member who had tried salsa dancing before.  In 2005, I took a few lessons to increase my sex appeal, but the jury’s still out on whether it worked or not. Mandy admitted she was at least familiar with a few Latin dances.  The rest of the group members, however, were green like Kermit. Salsa is a dance based on eight counts with two basic steps, the forward and backward movements.  Good timing is integral to success, and in our experience, poor timing led to hilarious results. Before he began instructing, David asked the women and men to move to opposite sides of the dance floor.  “Gentlemen, salsa is about the ladies,” he said.  “When they look good, we look good.” Of course, we all wanted to look good.  Amy, Isabel and Mandy learned their basic steps first.  Then, Clay, Dwayne and I were coached through opposite steps. Things were fine when we had a Grand Canyon’s measure of space between us, but calamity ensued when we started to dance together.  I noticed that Dwayne, Isabel, Mandy and Amy were learning the steps fairly quickly, but Clay fumbled through the basic steps a few times. David slowed down the counts to give everyone a chance to polish their moves.  When I glanced over at Mandy, however, her mouth was agape in horror about dancing with Clay because she had worn open-toed sandals that night.  “Let me go get the camera,” Mandy said as she rushed off the floor. There were three times more women than men there that night, so Team Brick’s female members bowed out for a while.  Clay, Dwayne and I stuck around to practice the turn move.  Clay was relieved when he learned that we only had to raise our palms during the turns and nothing more. “Man, this is just like cotillion all over again,” Clay exclaimed as he wiped his brow. After a short break, Dwayne, Isabel and I returned to the floor to learn the cross move.  Things began to heat up, and when the steps got more complicated, Clay eliminated himself from the proceedings.  After completing the advanced salsa lesson and another short break, it was time for us to venture into the Riverstone Ice Lounge.  Riverstone is the first ice lounge in the United States, so a trip to Infuzion isn’t quite complete without experiencing it.  The fully enclosed room features ice walls, tables and drinking glasses.  A thirty-minute visit in Riverstone includes a two ounce drink, a souvenir photo and a complimentary parka and gloves to wear while inside the room.  Before we entered, the room’s host Omed Mansoor fitted us for parkas we’d don to brave the chilly air.  Once inside, we met our bartender Taylor Cahoon, who smiled as she stood behind the shiny bar that is carved completely from ice.  Taylor told us that most people don’t stay inside Riverstone for the entire half-hour, so we made a collective pact to confront the cold. Again, Mandy’s feet were her downfall.  “Oh my God, my toes are freezing,” she said.  Just as my extremities began to tingle, it was time to go, but not before we got our photo taken inside the room for posterity.  As we handed Omed our parkas and discussed what a cool time we’d had at Infuzion Lounge, we finally had an answer to our original question. FOR MORE ON LOCAL SALSA EVENTS: Cubariqua Dance Company http://www.freewebs.com/salsaconsabor/richmondsalsameetup.htm Richmond Salsa Meetup Group http://www.salsa.meetup.com/190 Tue, 01 Apr 2008 9:46:00 EST http://www.brickweekly.com/index.php/features/article_of_the_week_the_war_against_scientology/ 2008/04/01 The biggest shocker in this Radar piece isn’t that Scientology is a cult, or that there are many angry people out there that are trying to bring the organization down. No, the biggest shock is that the most effective anti-Scientology movement in recent memory is driven by a bunch of jejune brats with delusions of grandeur, recruited from the filthiest and most depraved pits of teh INTERNETZ. Yes folks, the l33t members of Anonymous (you’ve seen the youtube vids, right?) hail from sites like 2chan.org, which is mainly known for teenie porn and lolcats. While the article is a nice bit of writing that neatly sums up Scientology’s current woes, the real interesting bit is what the writer implies: Hubbard’s encephalitic baby has been reduced into one big ‘tard fight between pseudo-celebs and a bunch of kids. You heard it here first, folks: cosmic justice DOES exist in the world! CD | The Odd Couple Gnarls Barkley / Downtown Fluff. Goddamn fluff. I’d stop right there, if I didn’t have a word count to meet. Sure, the disc is harmless enough, and most of it’s pretty catchy. But I just can’t get over the fact that one of the founding members of Goodie Mob is hustling this neo-soul-revivalist bullshit. Look Cee, why don’t you just change your name to Nora Jones right now and save us all a headache or two? DVD | Mafioso Alberto Lattuada / Criterion Oh Criterion, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways, starting with this lovely little gem from one of the great unsung names in classic Italian cinema. Lattuada’s whip-smart black comedy still seems fresh and vibrant nearly 50 years after the fact. This flick was one of the first to place the mob on screen, and it still remains one of the best. Pick it up to experience one of the first truly great Italian films. Book | Knowledge of Hell António Lobo Antunes / Dalkey Archives Ignore the fact that the title is kind of pretentious, and you have a helluva novel in hand. It’s a gripping if emotionally exhausting narrative, shifting constantly between different perspectives and illustrating some truly hellish scenes. The prose spits fire and shits gold at every turn, often reading like a very angry version of a lost Proust text. It’s a difficult read at times, but well worth the effort. Thu, 27 Mar 2008 11:18:00 EST http://www.brickweekly.com/index.php/features/experience_it_test_driving_hondas/ 2008/03/27 I wanted a new car equipped with all the bells and whistles. Tod needed something more practical for his wife and new baby. Dwayne wanted a more fast and furious car. And Mauricio needed something a bit more rugged and roomier. With this in mind, sales associate Fermin Trompeta at Pearson Honda in Midlothian assisted us in determining which Honda would best suit our very different lifestyles. Framin took us one by one and asked us questions that helped narrow down his search.  We were then allowed to test-drive a car that Framin specially selected for each one of us.  I test drove a Civic Coupe; Tod drove an Odyssey; Dwayne, a Si sedan and Mauricio, an Element. Continue reading and find out what we felt about our rides.  —Isabel Ramos Isabel’s Civic Coupe I volunteered to be the first potential buyer; mainly, because I was eager to test drive the upgraded Civic Coupe. I currently own a perfectly fine 2005 Coupe but it has no features. I told Fermin I wanted a Coupe equipped with everything.  So he led us to a gray metallic, sleek and petite, 2008 Civic Coupe. He unlocked the car door for me, and I sat inside the driver seat and enjoyed the smell of a brand new car. Everything about the car was pretty much perfect. It had all the features, the color, the size, the shape and most importantly, all the accessories built-in. After a quick overview of the specs, it was finally time to drive the car. We piled in.  Mau, Dwayne and Tod sat comfortably in the back. The ride was smooth as my 2005 Civic, but the 2008 Civic definitely has more power. At one point, I gave the gas too much thrust, and we went from 20 to 40 within a split second. Perhaps I was a little too at ease with the new car.  I was cruising along as if it was my own because Fermin noticed I was over the speed limit. After each of the other guys went on their joy ride, I continued to be the guinea pig and went through the negotiation process of purchasing my car I just test drove. We sat in Fermin’s office and he walked me through the process. We settled on a car that was ideal price and model.  But if my payments and insurance didn’t increase, I would have traded in my car in a heart beat. Tod’s Odyssey When it was my turn, I told Fermin that, as much as I’d like to test drive the sporty 6-speed Coupe, what I really needed was safe, fuel-efficient vehicle with some room for my soon-to-be expanding family. Fermin led us to baltic blue, 8-passenger Odyssey the size of a battleship and we all piled in. As we sailed off the lot he pressed a button on the steering wheel. “You’re going to love this! Listen!” He spoke in a clear voice ,“Computer. Directions. Nearest gas station.” A list of options filled the screen. He selected one and was instantly shown the way. Mauricio, Dwayne and Isabel were bouncing around in the back seat, fiddling with the DVD player and making lots of noise. “Will the computer hear me with a car full of screaming kids in the back?” I asked. “It filters them out,” Fermin smiled. We traded places in a nearby parking lot and I took the van for a leisurely cruise around the neighborhood. I continually asked the computer for directions to random things and to change the radio to random stations. When we pulled back into the lot, I checked the sticker price. All those bells and whistles added up to nearly a full year’s salary and was definitely out of my budget, but it would be a hell of a way to travel. Dwayne’s Si It was obvious to Fermin which car I wanted to take for a spin. As he exchanged the keys, the 6-speed Civic Si I was standing next to beeped. “I didn’t even have to ask,” he said as he returned. “This car has your name written all over it!” As Fermin turned the key you could hear the power in the engine. “Sounds nice, huh,” he said flashing a big smile. Once that I mastered the clutch without accidentally gunning the engine we cruised on out to the highway. Traffic was thick and going a meager 60 MPH. I popped it into 6th gear and it felt like going 35 MPH in 5th (in my car).  “Don’t worry about it,” Fermin reassured me. “This car was made for the windy roads ahead,” he said as we pulled off the highway and onto a curvy side road with Tod, Isabel and Mauricio bouncing to In Da Club pumping out of the sweet sound system. After 500 feet we end up behind a slowpoke going 5 miles under the limit. Just my luck! We both turned onto a 4 lane road and Tod yells “take him now!” I hit the gas and speed around him just in time to pull back into the dealership. Fermin asks my opinion. “I have a feeling I’ll be talking to you once my wife’s car is paid off!” mauricio’s element I got a chance to explore the Honda Element during our visit to Pearson Honda. I always thought it was a unique looking vehicle, and boy, was I right! The Element has more than 60 seating configurations and LOTS of space which is perfect for carrying big paintings from place to place. Checking out the different seating arrangements made me want to take the keys from Fermin, pick up my friends, drive up to the mountains and park the car in front of a lake. Who needs a tent when you can just fold the seats and make a queen size bed in the truck. The sunroof is detachable which makes it easy to kick back in the backseat on the lounge position and look at the stars while listening to your MP3 player. The wide-opening side cargo doors swing outward and make it easy to load and unload snowboards, turntables, speakers, drums, paintings, Boston terriers, a soccer team, or whatever else can fit inside the cargo area. The car gets good gas mileage and is perfect for living in Richmond because it’s not too big, making it easy to parallel park in the city. If I had an 18,000 dollar gift card to Pearson Honda I would buy a Galaxy Gray Metallic Element SC and drive to Denver to visit my cousin. Fri, 21 Mar 2008 11:33:00 EST http://www.brickweekly.com/index.php/features/live_it_bal_de_sade/ 2008/03/21 Ah, the injustice. The stinging humiliation of unquestioned dominance. Cities like San Francisco and New York get all the glitzy attention for their elaborate gatherings that bring together flesh and leather. Meanwhile, one of the nation’s longest-running events happens right here in Richmond. Are your cheeks flushed, NYC? That’s right, for fourteen years, Fieldens of 2033 W. Broad Street, has hosted “Bal de Sade,” where friends of fetish and leather mingle.  Nationally, such events cover the gamut from high-Victorian costume balls and masquerades, to latex hoedowns, to an excuse for buttoned-up professionals to let loose and lie about it later. Mike Love, General Manager and President of Fieldens, promotes Bal de Sade as all that, as well as a way to promote education and unity. ”Bal de Sade is a celebration. Even if you are not into any particular scene, it’s a great opportunity to shop, meet people, people watch, and dance till dawn.” Carytown resident “Evil” Scott, 35, is a bartender at Fieldens, where he has worked for six years. Scott admits that describing the event to the uninitiated can raise brows, but once they’ve arrived, even the dubious usually relax. “If they’re not into that scene or they don’t know about it, they kind of give you a look. But it’s a fun crowd. People have all sorts of different fetishes and interests and they come out and have a good time.” Fieldens first opened its doors in June of 1975. Since then, it’s often been where mainstream culture and subcultures can eye each other across the room or through latex hoods. “It’s a melting pot of sorts for nightlife,” Love says. Open weekends and holidays, Fieldens is a private club that currently registers about seven hundred members, primarily from Virginia. Every third Saturday, they host an open house, which are typically themed. In August, that open house is “Black & Blue Fetish Ball.” Dress and behavior codes are prominently posted on any promotional material, and they are enforced at the venue. Even with the diverse demographic Bal de Sade brings out, take away the handcuffs, whips, goth apparel, latex, leashes, fishnets, piercing, and tattoos, and by most accounts, what’s likely to go on at a traditional club is more shocking. And it’s not all about decadence. As a major sponsor, Fan Free Clinic (FFC) sends volunteers and staff to share information and items that promote safer sex. Virginia’s first incorporated free clinic, FFC shows dedicated creativity to provide education, treatment, and social services to those least likely to get it in traditional system. Through its myriad of programs, it reaches about 12,500 clients annually. Quillin Drew, 31, grew up in Houston, but moved to Richmond to work at FFC. During her seven years there, “I’ve always wanted to come [to Bal de Sade],” she admits. Along with co-worker Seth Croft, 23, Drew is at Bal de Sade to answer questions, and to distribute information about FFC and products to anyone who asks. It’s important to her, she says, for Bal de Sade and events like it to retain their edge.” It doesn’t normalize it or commodify it,” she notes. “But it gives a space for this community to celebrate in a safe space and environment.” Robert Key has worked at FFC for more than three years, first as a volunteer, and now as a Medical Case Manager. For four months, he has also moonlighted as Night Manager of Fieldens.  “Events like [Bal de Sade] allow an opportunity for people who don’t typically do things like this, to see that it’s not an awkward thing.” As he strolls through the crowd dressed as a gallant cavalier, he’s mindful of FFC’s goals, saying, “Events like this will reach a lot of at-risk people. It lets them know, you can use us as a resource.” Originally from Charlotte, North Carolina, today Key lives in Church Hill. Compared to other cities, he says, Richmond’s scene is quiet. “It seems like things are underground and not a lot of people know about it,” he admits. But Bal de Sade’s capacity crowd suggests that word is getting out. John Gray, 62, is a professional in Information Technology who travels the East Coast regularly for work. He often visits similar events in other major cities. He came to Fieldens tonight for the first time on word-of-mouth advice of friends in the area. “There’s just not a lot of advertising,” he said. He’s going to thank his friends for their recommendation. “I’m really surprised there are this many Richmond vendors. I think it’s terrific.” Vendors this year included Mr. D’s Leather, River City Restraints, and Curio, whose Website begs, “Don’t be afraid!” If that’s a tall order, take some advice from Evil Scott: “Experience what different people like to do. Have an open mind and have a good time.” Fri, 21 Mar 2008 10:36:00 EST http://www.brickweekly.com/index.php/features/experience_it_bowled_over/ 2008/03/21 I was still wiping the crusty sleep boogers from the corners of my eyes when I walked into the AMF bowling center in Mechanicsville for the Junior Achievement charity bowl-a-thon. I wove through the green-clad masses and found Dwayne at Lane 15. He looked up from the moulded plastic chairs as I approached and thrust a pair of bowling shoes into my hands. My fingers fumbled as I put them on. It was too early for tying laces. Mauricio and Isabel showed up shortly after, put on their shoes and looked equally displeased to be out of bed so early in the morning. “I’m on four hours of sleep,” said Mauricio as he slumped in a chair. We were just generating enough waking-brain power to figure out the electronic score board, when Leslie, our fifth team member and resident BRICK proofreader, came bounding up, decked to the hilt in St Patrick’s Day flair. “Hello! Hello! Good morning!” She dumped an arm load of green trinkets on the counter. “Last year, they gave out prizes to people who had certain items with them. This year I came prepared!” We had just finished entering our nicknames into the computer (DW, T-Cup, Izzy, Mau and Lellie respectively) when the announcer for the event bid everyone a bubbly hello and thanked us all for coming out to support the Junior Achievement fund raiser. There was a round of applause and then the crashing din of falling pins as teams bowled a few warm up frames. “Heineken or Yuengling?” asked Dwayne as he headed to the snack bar. “What?” I asked, not yet understanding the question. “Heineken or Yuengling? I’m getting the first pitcher.” “Dude, it’s not even 9 o’clock!” “Yuengling!” Isabel and Mauricio answered simultaneously and off Dwayne went to get us our morning pick-me-up. We passed around the glasses, paused for a toast and then got to the task at hand: bowling! We were barely through our first round of gutter-balls when the announcer came back on and asked for the first person who could spell leprechaun correctly. Leslie was off in a flash and returned with a free night’s stay at Hampton Inn. “I won! I won!” “Of course you won!” I said, “You’re a proofreader! I sure as hell don’t know how to spell leprechaun… L-E-P-E-R-K-A-H-N?” Our first round of bowling was drawing to a close. Mauricio led with a score of 144. The rest of us were trailing behind even with three “freebie” strikes. By frame 9, Dwayne had 95 points. “You have to knock down five more pins or you’ll have to ‘fly the hog!’” I told him as he stepped up for his final frame. “What’s that?” He asked. “House rules! If you don’t break 100, you have to bowl the first frame of your next game with your fly unzipped and your… well… your hog flying.” Dwayne answered with a spare and a strike and kept his pants firmly zipped. The announcer called out for the largest set of keys and Isabel, Mauricio and I hurriedly attached our keys together to win the prize. The winner had 29 keys, our keys combined only held 22. “Cheaters never win,” said Leslie, and then proceeded to win a small plastic piggy bank with green “shoe laces” that were actually just pieces of yarn. Mauricio won a box of golf balls for having a parking ticket on him and Leslie won yet another prize for being the first to show her library card. We started our second game and our second pitcher and my beer-to-skill ratio reached its peak. Including my three freebies, I only had two open frames for a final score of 196. Dwayne once again narrowly avoided flying the hog with a score of 100. On our third and final game, there were no freebie strikes. Isabel and I started off neck and neck and she pumped her fists in the air with every good frame. Unfortunately, the early morning and early beer began to catch up with me and my game began to falter. I even threw a gutter ball on my ninth frame. We traded frames but I eventually pulled ahead 157 to 119. Mauricio only scored 81. “Oh snap!” yelled Isabel. “You have to fly the hog!” “That was the last game! Sorry!” shrugged Mauricio. “Then you’ll have to fly it on the way to Applebee’s,” I told him as we packed up our stuff and headed for the door. “Where did Leslie go?” asked Dwayne as he turned in his shoes. “I don’t know. I guess she left,” I said and we headed out into the blinding noonday sun, happy to have been able to help out and have fun at this charity event. Leslie caught up to us in the parking lot. “I won again! They picked me as ‘The person wearing the most green!’ I even got a trophy! I love free stuff!” Thu, 13 Mar 2008 2:46:00 EST http://www.brickweekly.com/index.php/features/mark_montanos_big_ass_style/ 2008/03/13 A few facts designer, author, and television host Mark Montano isn’t likely to divulge, even while relaxing on an over-sized couch in the back of Shockoe Bottom’s eclectic boutique, House of Lukaya: He’s the youngest member yet to be inducted into the Council of Fashion Designers of America. His debut fashion show was the subject of a 1999 PBS documentary, and networks as diverse as Fox News, Lifetime Channel, and Travel Channel have featured his whimsical yet elegant designs. He counts movie and rock stars among his clients. Though he doesn’t bring it up, I finally ask about the afternoon he delivered a birthday gift to Oscar de la Renta and was invited by the Dominican fashion icon to work for him. It was that day at age 19, Mark says, “I made a decision that everyday would enhance who I was and advance my career.” He soon opened a boutique that still thrives under a flamingo-colored awning in New York City’s East Village. He spent more than twenty years in the industry achieving accolades only a few designers enjoy. “I miss fashion,” he admits. “But not enough to go back.” Professional contentment is understandable, even as Mark’s goals and vision flourish. For the Colorado native who values family and friends above all, entry from the world of fashion into functional and funky homes suits him fine. Author of five books and host to his fourth television show, WE Network’s “She’s Moving In,” his newest book is “The Big-Ass Book of Crafts,” published by Simon & Schuster. In spite of its cheeky title, Mark’s book instructs readers how to make a house a home. “Think about what you use and do every day,” he encourages. “Is it homeworthy? Do you love it? Does it serve a purpose? Does it make you happy?” Mark emphasizes the importance of making one’s home a soothing respite from the stress of world and work. He ought to know. On break from filming, he’s been on the road promoting his book. This morning he woke at 5:30 AM to fly to Richmond for a book signing and to help plan a breast cancer benefit. But he resists fatigue. “If you have the drive, have the ambition, if you set goals, work hard, you can have the life you want, no excuses.” Although today Mark has homes in LA and New York, he grew up in the small town of La Junta, Colorado in a close family with five younger brothers. Yet he sought a creative outlet. Fashion provided “an escape, more than anything. You’re fourteen and you open a fashion magazine. You realize there’s this whole world out there.” He frequently plays host to his thirteen nephews and nieces. “They’re a blast. They don’t get to watch TV at my house. We make stuff. I just put love and friendship and family above anything. Anything that is worth anything in this world is not tangible, period. No Louis Vuitton bag, no new pair of shoes is going to make a difference in your life. People who love you and respect you, people you can laugh with and depend on, have meals with, those are the things that really make life worth living and interesting.” Mark discovered Richmond only a few years ago, when restoration specialists and owners of Tinker’s, 2409 Westwood Avenue, invited him to visit. He says, “I just really like it here. [Richmond has] really good restaurants. I love the Jefferson. I love Can Can. I love the thrift stores.” His newest local favorite is House of Lukaya. About owner Lucretia Jones, Mark says, “I see a kindred spirit. I think she’s awesome. She appreciates color and she’s got her fingers in a lot of things. She’s a creative soul. There’s a place for beautiful, colorful things from every culture everywhere, even in the architecturally pristine and beautiful Richmond.” As Mark poses for photos, Keelyn Ellis strolls down the sidewalk. “The store caught my eye from the street,” he says after entering to browse. Ellis, 23, is a songwriter from Memphis visiting Richmond for the first time. “I’m into fashion. I love the craft. I love the art. This store has art, fashion, sewing, all in one.” “The Big-Ass Book of Crafts” is just as inclusive, and Mark promises to assist anyone. “I’m accessible. I absolutely get back with everybody. It’s my job. If I’m going to be responsible for the information I put out in the world, I want to be responsible to people that if they have a question about it, I will help them figure it out.” Mark enjoys his career, while figuring out his future. “This is the first time in my life I haven’t known what’s next. I want to see if I can possibly land my own show, where it’s focused on who I am and how I live my life, where I can say, ‘This is what makes me feel good. I hope you like it.’ Perhaps you’ll be able to take this idea and make it yours.” Thu, 13 Mar 2008 2:09:00 EST http://www.brickweekly.com/index.php/features/spidy_sense/ 2008/03/13 Hail, all fearful city-dwellers, pretty ladies, and science geeks: Spiderman is here! Actually, Spider-MEN. Josh Bishop and Joey Mason, assistant character designer and background painter for the CW’s new The Spectacular Spiderman, went through VCU’s art program and ended up working together on this modern and more youthful take on the superhero’s story. Marvel Comics, partnering with Sony Entertainment, put together a team of artists to flesh out Peter Parker’s experiences as a high school student; according to Josh, the show stays true to the style of the original comics, with a few updates like a cell phone for calls to Aunt May. “The fact that he’s really kind of a nerd drew me to him when I was young,” Josh recalls, “because I didn’t really know or interact with people too much. Yeah, I might have sat at the popular table in school, but the kids there didn’t really know me… and Peter Parker was a science nerd, which was also my thing. I thought about studying biology in college. I related to his personality as a man, not a hero.” Like most graphics and illustration folks I’ve talked to, these guys started out reading comics at a young age and watched as it grew into a more serious art form over the last couple of decades. Disney characters like Donald and Mickey drew Josh into the medium at first, setting him up to be seduced by the Turtles and a string of other superheroes as he got older and more action-thirsty. He penned his own Garbage Pail Kids and dreamed up friends for the Disney crew, and eventually sent in his application to VCU with the intention of becoming an animator. “Of course you get there, get yourself some life experiences, and see that things aren’t what you once assumed they were.  I realized that I didn’t want to draw the same thing over and over, with only a few minute changes from sketch to sketch.” As an assistant designer, his contribution to the show is comprised of editorial work like cleaning up the sketches, making designs uniform and creating a consistent line quality for all the characters. Joey used to be an assistant character designer, but now also creates original work for the backgrounds. Josh’s time away from the computer (insert goofy “web” joke here) is spent at his alma mater—he teaches for VCU’s art foundation program. “I love teaching in this program. It’s the students’ core year, the first year that they’re exposed to a crazy atmosphere that they may not be used to… I try to get them to see art in a completely different way.” He views cartoons and comics as communication devices for storytelling, a pastime that has flourished since the beginning of man. “People need to tell stories. Comics genres cover such a wide range [of stories], so many genres...that helps them stay current and endure.” Haven’t gotten your childhood fix in a while? Check out The Spectacular Spiderman on the CW, Saturday mornings at 10. Thu, 13 Mar 2008 1:49:00 EST http://www.brickweekly.com/index.php/features/experience_it_vcu_vs_wm/ 2008/03/13 In my six years as a VCU student, I never went to one of their basketball games. Perhaps it was my grudge that they didn’t have a football program, but I like to blame the countless hours spent in the art studio instead. So Tod, Mauricio, Isabel and myself got set up to go to this CAA semi-final game that turns out to be VCU versus William and Mary. Mauricio is particularly excited. “I’ve been watching the Rams games. They should take the Tribe easily!” Saturday afternoon, my phone rings and it’s Tod. “Hey, Dwayne. My wife is having contractions, so I should probably skip the game in case her water breaks and we have to bolt to the hospital.” I tell him that’s totally understandable and wish him and Corey well. The original plan was to meet at Mauricio’s before the game so I give him a call to find out what’s up and tell him Tod’s out. He hesitates before responding, “...Uh, well you know that soccer game I was playing this morning? It got canceled and now we have a scrimmage set for three o’clock.” Okay. Two down, so I call Isabel in the hopes something hasn’t come up on her end to interfere with the game. “What punks! Of course I’m still in!” she exclaims. “Now we have two extra tickets. What should we do with those?” “I don’t know. See if your sisters would like to go,” I respond. She does and her sister, Sharon, decided to join us. “Is this the good twin or the evil twin you were telling me about?” “The evil one,” Isabel laughs. “Just don’t tell her I said that!” So we meet up and walk over to the Coliseum and are amazed at how many people are walking the same direction. As we are considering how packed this event will be Isabel exclaims, “Oh! The Auto Show is here this weekend, too! Maybe we won’t be so crammed after all.” Once we go through the ticket line and security, we make our way to the section designated on the ticket. “14 U. Bet these seats are in the nose-bleed section,” I guessed. Sure enough, we go through the doors marked 14 U and start climbing, coming to a stop only six rows from the top with almost no one seated anywhere near us. As we sit down and began making ourselves comfy, I get startled out of my seat by an unexpected “wwhoooooooooooooooooo! Go VCU!” coming from Sharon as the VCU basketball team came running out for pre-game workouts. William and Mary came out right after to a chorus of boos from the crowd, as the VCU fan base is the majority by far. As we watch the warm ups it isn’t looking very good for the Rams. “Hey, Isabel. Is it me or is the Tribe hitting almost all of their shots and the Rams are making about half of theirs?” She watch for a few minutes before commenting, “Yeah, it does look like William and Mary is shooting much better, but this is just warm-ups. I’m sure VCU will do well once the game starts.” With the tip off come more screams for VCU. “Gooooo Maynor! Come on Eric!” Sharon isn’t the only one making noise as Isabel calls up her college cheerleading skills, more than matching Sharon’s volume. As I sit there about seven minutes into the game pondering the hearing loss I might be incurring in my left ear and being grateful that I’m not seated between the Ramos sisters, Isabel turns to me, “All right, let’s go find beer!” We wander downstairs where we’re told there’s a special room in the basement and we’d have to finish our drinks there. Disappointed, Sharon decides to go back up to our seats to watch the game while Isabel and I go forward with out quest. After nearly walking into the VIP room, we find where we were supposed to be. We grab a couple tall boys, find a sofa in front of a big screen television with the game on and plop down. It is nearing half-time and Isabel educates me on various dances fans are doing for the cameras including the “Superman.” Once halftime hits, the basement becomes a flood of people. Sharon comes down to join us and goes for a 22 herself. Some of their friends are there so we talk to them while waiting for the second half. “Oh, crap! We’re missing it!” Sharon realizes as the game resumes on the television. “Time to chug!” Sharon downs the rest of her beer with some assistance from Isabel and we get up to go back to our seats when Sharon starts leading us in another direction. “Guys! This way. Come on!” We walk through large double doors and find ourselves at the edge of the basketball court. “Come on. Follow me!” We follow as Sharon nearly leads us into the locker rooms before being blocked by Coliseum employees. “Oops. Sorry!” We continue on behind where the teams sit. As we’re passing the Rams bench, I hear Sharon telling Isabel, “Grant is so hot. You know, the VCU coach? Yeah…too bad he’s married.” We get back to more doors, and I turn to look across the Coliseum. “Sharon? Aren’t our seats on the opposite side from here?” “Yes they are, but wasn’t that fun?!” She laughs as we walk back around to our seats. We sit back down with just under five minutes left and VCU trailing. More ear-splitting screams as a quick comeback by the Rams ties things up with less than a minute to go. One miss by VCU gives the Tribe one last possession with under 30 seconds left. After running down the clock, they get the basket to put them in the lead with 2.6 seconds remaining. A failed prayer-of-a-shot from VCU ends their bid at the CAA title for this year. “Aw, this sucks! This is so depressing!” Sharon pouts as we make our way out of the Coliseum. “At least it was a close game that came down to the wire.” I find that sadness doesn’t stick around long with the Ramos sisters around. Two blocks away, all signs of depression are gone as everyone is joking and laughing again. Sorry, VCU. There’s always next year.