I fell in love with this song (“Lisztomania” by Phoenix) when I first heard it in the season finale of season 6 of Entourage.

I’m even more in love after this.

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A year has passed and a club that I really had no expectations for continues to run strong.

In the past two weeks, we had our 1 year anniversary of this club which started in July ’09. We had a good turnout for dinner at Manolo Tapas and a great time at Locksmith for brunch this past weekend.

I want to thank everyone who continues to support this club. I really appreciate it and am looking to incorporate some more stuff to bring people in the neighborhood together in the near future.

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There was a stage in my life from 17-to-25 (once I started working) where I was a fashion horse. Every time I got a paycheck it went to Ebay, some other website, or a downtown store like Charles Tyrwhitt or Banana Republic.

I was one of those high school/college kids who worked in retail and because we got an extra discount, I’d spend my paycheck the same day I got it at the store.

This eventually built my closet to stuff of legend. My closet was my most prized possession. I’d spend nights haggling over what to wear like a female, but I had options; plenty of them. My friends always talk about me being late when we go out to dinner or a club and it’s because of that.

My mom would always tell me: ‘You have way too many shoes, sneakers, t-shirts and jeans.’ I would always tell her to leave me and mi ropa alone.

But as I look back now, she was right. Absolutely right. My shoe/sneaker game has been whittled down to maybe 12-15 pairs tops. I’ve given up maybe 15 pairs in the last two years to family and local charities. All shoes that were in near perfect condition, but the money I’d receive for them on Ebay wasn’t worth the listing so I just gave them away.

The same goes for dress shirts and pants. Truthfully, there’s still some stuff in my closet right now ‘you’ may want to take a look at.

But, despite growing older and wiser, my love for clothes hasn’t died, but my trigger happy ‘purchase’ impulses have as has my dependence on clothes to make me feel better about myself.

Before it was about having anything and everything. Now, it’s just about buying what I need.

For example, I have a navy pinstripe and a grey suit. I love both of them. Would I like a nice, cotton beige suit? Of course. Maybe a wool light grey one like Diddy always wears? Absolutely. A slim all black/navy one ala Anderson Cooper? Without a doubt. But they would just sit in my closet all year with maybe two wears tops.

I dont need one ‘right now.’ I don’t need them because my job doesn’t require me to have them. I work in a corporate environment, but a lax one.

How many pairs of jeans do I have? Three – one white, black, and blue. Dress shirts? Maybe 7 that I actually use.

My needs? I don’t have many at the moment.

Wants:
Three suits
Black John Lobb’s
Brown Testoni’s
A black trenchcoat for fall
A new pair of loafers
A few spread collar dress shirts
A pair of Tim Duncan foamposites
A pair of old-school David Robinson’s
Marmot Polo’s in all colors.

Needs:
Nothing.

A few months ago, I even overdosed on dress watches and got a ton in different colors. Granted, they were cheap, but were they necessary? Nope.

Nowadays, you can catch Claudio wearing his staples. The usual American Apparel V-Necks that show off my Uncle Jessie chest hairs with Vidal Sasson Mousse on them (just kidding, but my chest hair game is the best in upstate Manhattan). On my legs, Dior or Levi’s jeans and any pair of the shoes I have left over from my last dump.

Before, when I made purchases, they were heat of the moment ones. Things that were ‘hot’ right now. Today? I just buy what I need and in the end that feels much better than what you want.

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I don’t know if these officers were provoked or not, so I will reserve judgment.

Shouts to my buddy Carla for forwarding this.

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Sorry I missed you guys last week, but there really weren’t any quotes worthy of putting on the page.

This week? Just a few…

Little girl on Nagle and Ellwood in front of 152:

‘Yo soy dominicano y orgullso (I’m Dominican and proud)!’

Analysis: It was our parade this past weekend. There’s not much else to say.

Random couple coming out of GNC on Dyckman:

‘I don’t like the dog run in the park. Those people think they’re better than us and have all these stupid rules.’

Analysis: I don’t have any dogs and haven’t heard much about the dog run from the folks I know.

A young, handsome 26 year-old deep chocolate Papi Shampoo whose first and last name starts with a C argues with a Fort Greene dude:

‘We’re the only authentic neighborhood left in this whole city. Brooklyn, SI, Bronx, Queens, Manhattan (LES, Harlem)… you name it and our authenticity surpasses any hood in any of those parts of town. Oh…and our women too. It’s not even close. Get outta here with Fort Greene. Half of that place is made up of transplants. *Big Pun* Go that way…

Analysis: I only speak the truth…

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Another video that details race and racism in the homeland of my parents…

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Location: 230 5th.

Pictured: Claudito and Tone The Referee.

Thoughts: This summer me and Tone were flying high. On this specific night, we both ended up wearing white blazers looking like we belonged in Miami Tubbs and Crockett style.

Anywho, anyone who knows the lines at 230 5th knows it’s a b*tch to get in there. But in 2008, I was at the prime of my “charm the girl at the door to skip everyone on the line” game and skirted it.

Claudio: Honey, you haven’t had a real man on this line all night. Be glad I’m even attending your club looking like this.

Lol. I was actually like that at one time. I was horrible.

But we had fun that night with Anna and her friends who we hung out with a lot that summer. Those were great times.

I love this picture a lot because this is the closest I think we both ever got to emulating our idol, Ric Flair. I wish my face was as skinny as before too. I was ’bout 155. I gained 15 pounds since. What a fat-so…but I’m gonna lose that even if I have to stay at Planet Fitness in Dyckman listening to bachata all m’fin day…

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After a few months of being unemployed, I recently landed a new job as the Junior Editor at Newsone.com which is a site dedicated to African American news. The site is under the umbrella of Interactive One which is the largest African-American digital platform in the world.

My job duties consist of aggregating articles, editing original pieces and producing them as well. I’m also considering starting a Latino News and Politics blogger position with LatinTrends.com.

I started this position about two weeks ago and really like it so far. The staff is cool and there’s a lot of potential for growth on a personal brand level.

Special shout out to Ced for helping me land this position and for everyone that provided me with support during my unemployed period.

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Happy Birthday to my Dad. This man is a work of art.

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Week 2 of the funny, sad, and ignorant s**t I hear in Dyckman weekly.

#1 Who? Two white women.

Where? On the train sitting next to me while we’re headed uptown.

Now this wouldn’t normally apply as I didn’t hear it “in Dyckman,” but I had to post this.

Two ladies: *tap me* Excuse me, but we are going to United Palace and wanted to know which is the safer stop to get off at 168th or 181st.

Me: *strange face* Either stop is fine to me. The closer stop would be 181st.

Two ladies: Isn’t the hospital on 168th street?

Me: Yes it is.

Two ladies: Well go with that stop just in case something happens to us. You know…more people around.

Analysis: No need to analyze. I wonder how people are going to come up here for the Tony’s next year. Helicopters, Armored trucks? Sheesh.

#2 Who? Dyckman poker players at our spot

Where? Undisclosed location

Player: You around here doing stuff right?

Me: Si senor…

Player: How you tell me that a few people living in my building don’t know where Audubon is? Some woman actually told me Amsterdam is only in Harlem and tried to argue with me.

Me: *laugh* That doesn’t surprise me.

Player: Why move up here if you don’t care to see what the “whole hood” is about?

Me: ’cause when you come from downtown Manhattan, 9x out of 10, you don’t want to know what the “hood is about.”

Player: Obviously not.

Analysis: SMH at people not knowing where these blocks are after living here for years.

#3 Who? Young kid on the phone.

Where? Wimpy’s on 207 and Nagle.

Kid: I sell drugs ’cause I have to. It’s the fastest way to get money out here. I tried to get a job but no one is hiring. My parents lost their jobs. I don’t go to school anymore because of that. I had nothing else I could do. I didn’t want to steal or rob. That’s not me. I’m not selling coke. I’m selling weed. I’m not hurting anyone so leave me alone…

Analysis: It’s rough out in these streets.

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