Debjao del Agua, Dia del Immigrante, Denver.

I LOVE WHEN artists that bring something real and original actually get recognized. This seems to be what’s happening, luckily with Debajo del Agua.

I started listening to Debajo in 2007, catching one of their early shows in a University of Colorado Biology building.

It was among the strangest and best shows I’ve ever been to, not just for the venue but the format, which was a combination of music workshop (demonstrating various wind, string, and percussion elements of Andean music and Afro-Latino percussion) followed by an ass-kicking performance that mixed Caribbean / African rhythms with Latin melodies and laced it all up with rapid-fire hip hop vocals in Portuguese, Spanish,and English from emcees (all brothers), Pablo, Dani, and Elias Cornejo.I don’t think a biology building has ever been rocked so hard.

What I love most about Debajo is how it’s a totally family affair. The patriarch of the band, José Cornejo ( a native of Santiago, Chile), went into exile during the Pinochet regime, eventually settling in Denver and raising his sons, as he says, “listening to songs and instruments of America south of the Rio Grande. . .mixed with the music of Víctor Jara, Violeta Parra, Mercedes Sosa, Atahualpa Yupanqui.”

Now the whole family + friends (most of whom grew up in the same neighborhood in Denver, playing on the soccer team José coached) continue the tradition of songwriting with social justice and human rights as the central message and hip hop culture as the way to deliver it.

I wrote a piece on Debajo del Agua back in 2007, and have kept up more or less ever since. I was stoked to see this week they are being awarded the 2009 Global Justice & Peace Award from the Denver Justice & Peace Committee. If you’re around the area on Dec. 5th, I definitely recommend being there.

Debajo del Agua will perform a full evening of music, plus ndividual band members will speak on issues relating to music and social justice. The ceremony begins at 7:30pm and the concert starts at 10pm.

The event will take place at the Mercury Cafe on Saturday, Dec. 5th. Bigup.

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1. Since 1986 Miss.tic has been spraying her characteristic black and white ladies across Paris, typically accompanied by a short comment – a play on words relating to the image.

2. Miss.tic’s style has lead her to appear not only in multiple exhibitions but also as the logo of a car rental firm and on a range of handbags and accessories

3. The invasion of Paris started in 1998 with a number of mosaic tiles inspired by the classic game. ‘Invader’ has now spread to 35 other cities.

4. Nemo is known for his male silhouettes which appear in various poses throughout Paris.

5. Not all ‘tags’ (as graffiti is known in French) will gain recognition.

6. Mosko have been spray painting their colourful animals on drab walls since the early 90s. The 19th and 20th Arrondissements are particularly popular with the artists.

7. The popularity of several artists have seen collaborations of the their works in many areas of the city.

8. Jérôme Mesnager is one of the pioneers of Paris street art with his ‘stick men’ that have been appearing in the city since 1983.

9. Paper figures and designs are now becoming popular among urban artists, replacing the traditional stencil and spray paint.

10.New masterpieces appear on the streets every week, so keep your eyes open next time you visit.

Community Connection

Matador has some incredible photo essays. If you’re into photography, be sure to check out The Most Alien Landscapes On Earth , The Giant Redwoods or 12 Places To Get Close To The Edge.

Magnolia’s famous. Photo: loop_oh

Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream

Unlike most ice cream vendors in New York, the Van Leeuwen ice cream truck is not stationary. It’s hard to predict where and when you’ll find their artisan ice cream made from local dairy.

As soon as I spotted the truck in Williamsburg, I promptly walked over and ordered a small cup of strawberry ice cream. The ingredients of each flavor have been scoured from the world over to ensure the highest quality, so even otherwise ordinary flavors like strawberry or vanilla are produced to the purest form.

Van Leeuwen Ice Cream Truck, location varies.

Babycakes NYC

If you want to gorge on decadent desserts like frosting-filled sandwich cookies dipped in chocolate chips, and get away with it, this is the place to do it. Babycakes NYC uses no refined sugars in its products, nor does it use any dairy or, for some items, gluten.

Black Sesame Ice Cream. Photo by: craige

Since it opened in 2005, it’s gained popularity with vegans, the allergy-sensitive, and the weight-conscious for its delicious cupcakes, brownie bites, and banana bread. Butter, eggs, and sugar are replaced by coconut oil and agave sweetener, which result in high prices but as founder Erin McKenna will reassure you, the healthier ingredients will save you from medical traumas that conventional baked goods can cause.

Despite having some essential ingredients replaced, each of its (comparatively) wholesome treats has a nice flavor and texture and is very tasty.

Babycakes, 248 Broome St. Lower East Side

Chinatown Ice Cream Factory

Only in Chinatown will flavors like red bean and taro be labeled “regular” and chocolate and vanilla “exotic.” This family-owned favorite has been a local institution for 30 years.

The signature flavors, which include almond cookie, black sesame, and lychee, are served generously, so a single scoop is plenty. Stop by after dim sum or any meal in Chinatown and you won’t be disappointed.

Chinatown Ice Cream Factor, 65 Bayard St. Chinatown

Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory

It would have been easy for me to dismiss this place because it only offers six flavors. But if New Yorkers will walk across the Brooklyn Bridge to come here, they’ve got to be on to something. My friends and I stopped by after a pizza dinner at nearby Grimaldi’s. Perhaps the reason for its popularity is its suggestion that ice cream is the new health food.

Health food or not, the ice cream here was quite nice, better than a lot of those shops that have more than 20 flavors on any given day. We made sure not to let it distract us from enjoying the nighttime view of the Manhattan skyline visible from the shop.

Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory, 1 Water Street, Fulton Ferry Landing Pier

Photo by: yosoynuts

Blue Marble Ice Cream

This eco-conscious shop – it runs on renewable energy and uses biodegradable cups and spoons – began after one of its owners moved to Brooklyn and couldn’t find a decent scoop of ice cream in her neighborhood. As an ice cream snob with a green heart, I’ll go as far as saying that it’s easily one of my favorites in all of New York’s boroughs.

I sampled a taste of matcha green tea before settling on a mini scoop of blackberries and cream, which I ate at one of the adorably decorated tables. Any establishment that uses locally-sourced ingredients and goes out of its way to make a minimal environmental impact gets extra points from me.

And even better yet, the owners are very globally aware and have started a nonprofit, Blue Marble Dreams, to help establish an ice cream shop in Rwanda and raise the spirits of its people.

Blue Marble Ice Cream, 420 Atlantic Ave. Boerum Hill, Brooklyn

Sugar Sweet Sunshine

Need an excuse to eat a cupcake? Sugar Sweet Sunshine will give you ten. And at just $1.50 a pop, a fraction of what other bakeries will charge, it’s hard to resist the sassily named cakes, like Sunshine (vanilla cake with vanilla buttercream), Bob (vanilla cake with chocolate buttercream) and Lemon Yummy.

Vanilla-frosted cupcakes come in a variety of sunny hues. The chocolate frosting is jazzed up with almond flavor, and there are two types of red velvet – sexy with a satin buttercream, or sassy with a chocolate almond frosting. I went for the owner’s favorite, the black & white (chocolate cake with vanilla frosting), which was nice and sweet, although the standouts seem to be the pistachio and pumpkin.

Even if it lacks the hype of some of its more famous counterparts in the city, it’s attracted a loyal following with its customers, and has even earned a mention in the Zagat guide.

Sugar Sweet, 126 Rivington St. Lower East Side

Cones

Bleeker Street is lined with great eats. Cones stands out not only as the best ice cream shop on the block but also one of the best in the city. OK, so there isn’t much competition in its environs, aside from the ubiquitous Pinkberry and Red Mango, and the ultra-pricey Italian import Grom. But don’t let the no-frills interior deter you from the 24 flavors of delicious ice cream.

Photo by: micheung

The Argentine ownership is evidenced by offerings of dulce de leche and mate. I sampled the mate and corn, both quite nice, and convinced the staff to squeeze two flavors into my small cup – Andean blackberry sorbet and strawberries and cream.

Cones, 272 Bleeker St. West Village

Magnolia Bakery

Made famous for its cupcakes by Carrie Bradshaw and friends, this old-fashioned bakery was the place where the craze for those childhood birthday treats began. If you like your cakes intensely sweet, you’ll be happy to know that Magnolia’s are liberally frosted with buttercream.

While the chocolate and vanilla cupcakes are the top sellers here, I personally prefer the specialty banana caramel and hummingbird varieties. Don’t forget to sample the other treats here – the mini cheesecakes, particularly the key lime, are also worth a try. Come during an off-peak hour, otherwise be prepared to wait in a line that wraps around the corner.

Magnolia Bakery, 401 Bleeker Street, West Village

Billy’s Bakery

No matter how much people rave about Magnolia’s cupcakes, I think they’re for the most part pretty ordinary. There’s really no reason for them to be topped with that much frosting, making them so tooth-achingly sweet.

I’m one of the few people who will dare say that Billy’s Bakery in Chelsea, which offers many of the same treats, is better. It’s probably the only place where I’ve been tempted to get the vanilla vanilla (called the yellow daisy here), just because of its flowery name.

One of its specialties is the banana layer cake with cream cheese frosting, which I opted for in cupcake form. The atmosphere is so cheery here that I could easily stand for hours, watching the staff frost cupcakes.
Billy’s Bakery, 184 9th Ave. Chelsea

Milk & Cookies Bakery

Even if you’re not the type of person that would go to a bakery and get the most basic of all cookies, the chocolate chip cookies here are worth a try. They’re made from an oatflour dough that give it an extra crisp that set it apart from all other chocolate chip cookies you’ve ever tasted. There are plenty more to choose from, of course, and you can even help yourself to free samples. If you can’t decide on just one cookie, you can get three for $5.
Milk & Cookies, 19 Commerce St. West Village

At first glance, dodging the ubiquitous mountains of dog shit, shattered glass and gamines (street people), this part of town feels decidedly unsafe and edgy and after a certain hour this is certainly the case.

But, taking a midday stroll while the students from 5 universities are on their lunch hour renders the Candelaria harmless and one can inspect with further intensity the high quality of political graffiti that adorns the walls of the birthplace of contemporary Colombia.

Just blocks from where the Conquistador Gonzalo Jimenez de Quesada decided to rest and let his horses drink from the brook in 1538, one can find some real gems that go a long way in illustrating attitudes of students and graffiti artists in these politically charged times.

This series of photographs show the point of view and graphic prowess of one of these artists. With elections set for 2010, there will surely be more. My investigations have not revealed the identity of Juega Siempre beyond his MySpace page.

All photos courtesy of Richard McColl.

Photo: screenshot from YouTube

Prancing around in various costumes, French prankster Remi Gaillard disrupts traffic, dodges security, and crashes national events all to have himself a little bit of fun.

Having gained notoriety through his ballsy stunts and YouTube videos, Gaillard provides the perfect childish outlet for an adult world stifled by cut-and-dry maturity. In “Bat,” Gaillard wears a cartoon bat costume and finds random locations around the city to hang upside-down. Honestly, what else is a grown man dressed as a bat to do.

Random? Yes. Ridiculous? Sure. Pee-yourself-hilarious? Better strap on those Depends.

Check out some of his videos below!

PacMan:

Bat:

Mario Kart:

Snail:

Here at Matador, Editor Tim Patterson cops to his prankster nature in our confessional article Travel Guilty Pleasures. What about you?

Are you a prankster? Do share.

My wife and I ride the seesaw between full-on veganism and a pack of hyenas. But when we heard about Mercado del Puerto, there was no question which side we’d end up on in Montevideo.

1. The mercado is situated in an atmospheric building that resembles a train station. Windows in the roof let in lots of light, and there’s an old-timey clock tower in the center. Joint’s got class.
All photos: a song under the sugar sugar + author

2. All the restaurants are basically the same…and they all want YOU! If you don’t have the dismissive head shake down, you’ll likely be bullied into sitting in the first chair you pass.

3. Each restaurant has up to three side-by-side operations going on: the bar, exposed tables, and a “fancier” enclosed dining room.

4. We finally settled on the bar at Estancia del Puerto. One of the asadores tosses a log into the central fire, while our boisterous host (let’s call him Diego) scans the aisles for other passersby to shout over.

5. The full spread.

6. Before long, our selections come out. Let’s see…we’ve got a couple of gigantic sweetbreads (molleja), blood sausage (morcilla), regular sausage (chorizo), “Munich-style” sausage (this was super dense and kinda disgusting), red bell pepper (morrón), and a baked potato.

7. Nothing like a meal by the fire.

8. My wife tapped out early, so I was forced (arm twist) to put away the leftovers.

9. The work on the parrilla never stopped. Dripping with sweat, Diego joked that he stayed hydrated by downing red wine. He then promptly reached under the counter, hoisted a gigantic cup of iced tea, and took a five-second pull.

10. You can’t see me in this one, but by the time it was all over, I felt just like that parrillador in the background. I was ready to stumble home and shower off the meat sweats.

Community Connection

If you’re curious about other places to stuff your face in Uruguay, check in with Matador’s destination expert on the country.

Photo and Feature Photo: peletiah

Pioneers of the distinctly British genre Dubstep (the bass-heavy successor to the underground UK urban continuum that includes jungle, grime and garage), Hyperdub has been gorgeously unpredictable in delivering fresh, colorful takes on this most cutting edge of urban sounds, helping re-define it and bolster its reputation as a serious, anti-fad music form.

Famed for unearthing groundbreaking records by artists such as The Spaceape, Burial, Darkstar and King Midas Sound, the label is run by Kode9, aka Steve Goodman, a DJ / producer with a Ph.D in philosophy and a deep interest in (and knowledge of) sonic culture.

In fact, Goodman has gone so far as to write a book called “Sonic Warfare: Sound, Affect, and the Ecology of Fear“ (click the link for free sample chapters), which “maps a (dis)continuum of vibrational force, encompassing police and military research into acoustic means of crowd control, the corporate deployment of sonic branding, and the intense sonic encounters of sound art and music culture.”

Photo of Nocturne 4/Kode 9 & Spaceape: basic_sounds

Hyperdub parties are fairly rare and Saturday’s, which took place at Elephant & Castle’s Corsica Studios, was road-blocked from the outset. There were blistering live sets from Kode 9 and MC Spaceape (whose radical re-versioning of Prince’s Sign O’ The Times classic was the inaugural Hyperdub release), King Midas Sound (a collaboration between poet/singer Roger Robinson and The Bug) and Darkstar, plus DJ sets from Ikonika, Cooly G, LD, LV and Videeo.

The venue shook all night long with the constant barrage of deep, dirty bass and sci-fi style futurebeats, running the gamut from the wonky, glitch-filled hip hop of Michigan-born Samiyam, an iridescent set from Cooly G and some bad-bwoy grimy throwdowns from Kode9. The crowd were mixed, dedicated and friendly – a perfect night and one of the best parties I’ve attended the whole year in terms of music and vibe. It’s Monday and I swear my legs are still vibrating.

Living in techno-saturated Berlin, it’s easy to forget how edgy London can be. Hyperdub’s extravaganza was a stellar reminder that the capital still holds the title for the most forward-thinking and diverse clubland in the world. For an insight into the Hyperdub sound, check out their recent 5th anniversary compilation “Hyperdub 5,” Burial’s “Untrue” (declared one of the albums of the decade by many music sites), or King Midas Sound’s forthcoming “Waiting For You.”

You can go directly to a FACT Magazine podcast from King Midas Sound that includes a bunch of sweet reggae / lovers rock as well as tracks from Burial, Larry Heard, My Bloody Valentine, Sade and Scritti Politti. And finally, for your reading pleasure, here’s a brand new interview with the man behind the whole sonic revolution, Steve Goodman.

Go on – get dubbed up.

Photo: atomicshark

Harry’s New York Bar – Paris, France

Open since 1911, Harry’s is an institution in Paris. Word on the street is that they make a heck of a Bloody Mary.

What to expect: A hearty brunch of pumpkin soup, rotisserie turkey in bourbon, coleslaw, yams, cranberries, pecan pie, etc. California wine is also served. Tables must be held with a deposit of €48 (about $71).

T.Y. Harbor Brewery – Tokyo

Photo by: ebarney

T.Y. Harbor is a restaurant and brewery on the Tokyo waterfront. They cook up primarily American cuisine and brew their own beer.

What to expect: Roast turkey with stuffing, corn chowder and all the fixings, plus pumpkin tart for dessert. ¥ 4000 (about $45)

Bodean’s – London, England

Bodean’s is known for their ribs and BBQ. Owner Andre Blais wanted to bring a restaurant to London that felt like Kansas City.

Photo by: seandreilinger

What to expect: A Kansas City styled Thanksgiving menu going for £18.95 (about $32).

Kansas – Buenos Aires, Argentina

Highly rated all over the web, Kansas is another restaurant looking to bring the feel of Kansas to another country. Why? Who knows.

What to expect: Turkey, stuffing, cranberries, vegetables and pecan pie for 58 pesos (about $15).

The Orchard – Beijing, China

The Orchard is said to be a garden paradise right in the middle of a growing part of Beijing. The restaurant is known for its healthy cuisine and using ingredients grown in its garden.

What to expect: Roasted turkey, stuffing and all classic trimmings for 220 rmb (about $32).

Bourbon St.

Photo by: gadgetgirl70

Bourbon Street is an American owned and operated Cajun/Creole styled restaurant. Expats give it rave reviews on the comfort food tip.

What to expect: A Thanksgiving buffet serving anything you could crave for 899 baht (about $27).

Malone’s American Cafe – Shanghai, China

Known for its pub style food, Malone’s is your typical sports bar (except it’s located in China).

What to expect: Large Thanksgiving dinner for 300 rmb (about $43) per person.

Do you have insider tips about the best Thanksgiving dinners around the world? Feel free to share them in the comments, although we’d appreciate it if you don’t explain what a giblet is.

Community Connection

Looking to flip the bird recipe this Thanksgiving? Be sure to check out our Five New Turkey Recipes at MatadorLife.

Photo: Cleavers, Feature Photo: mulmatsherm

CNN recently published an article titled 7 Reasons to Lose the Booze in Flight. Some of the points make a lot of sense, like that being intoxicated may be a problem in case of an emergency. Other issues, like “it’s embarrassing,” seem easily rectifiable. For example, stop drinking.

So here’s a list from the other side of the beer mug, six reasons to keep the booze in flight.

1. Booze helps to strike up a conversation. Rejoice in the boozey camaraderie of your neighbours, clink those glasses, and share stories of your journeys.
Someone’s kid is screaming like a banshee, and if you can’t drown out the noise you may punch someone in the face. Two glasses of wine later, the scream turns into an adorable drone. You turn to the parents with a toothy grin and say, “Yer baby is sooooprecious.”

2. Alcohol will help you relax. Some people take powerful relaxants before stepping onto a plane, is that really worse than having a drink or two? I once saw a woman devour a large shopping bag of candy in an effort to deal with her anxiety mid-flight. I’ll take a cold beer instead, thanks.

3. Your chances of joining the mile high club will increase significantly. Get the cute girl or guy next to you liquored up, and then invite them to get all airborne up in your business.

Photo: Andres Rueda

Nothing screams romance like bumping uglies over a toilet seat. Remember, be sure he or she is into it. Otherwise the rest of the flight will be a tad awkward.

4. It’s easier to start a spontaneous airplane sing-a-long. Start singing and have the whole plane join in. If the folks from Improv Everywhere can do it in a grocery store, you can do it in the aisle of a Boeing 757.

5. The cramped space, lack of good food and neighbour B.O. all become more tolerable with each drink. Enough said.

6. It’s a great way to kick-start a vacation. Your holiday begins as soon as you step onto the plane and leave the office behind. You owe it to yourself to tip back a glass of wine and enjoy the perks of having no responsibilities, even if it’s just for a few days.

If booze in-flight is really such a big problem for so many people, airlines should enforce tighter alcohol regulations. If someone is leaning into the aisle and up-chucking their bag of peanuts, cut them off.

The thing is, most people know how to have a good time without being drunken idiots. Like Omri Ceren points out in his Vagabondish article, “…folks have to live and let live.” As long as the pilot isn’t drunk, right?

Photo: rusvaplauke

The book, available for viewing and download on the couple’s website, JonsiandAlex.com, features an eclectic compilation of curries, dressings, soups, libations, and desserts that all have one thing in common: none of the ingredients are cooked.

From the website:

“The book holds a small collection of our home-made, Good Heart recipes. These recipes gather fresh and beautiful ingredients and are simple and easy to make. We hope this book will encourage improvisation and experimentation… so feel free to substitute your favorite ingredients in and out as you like.”

Though the food photos are less than stellar and the handwritten notes can be a bit hard on the eyes, after years of offering up their creative souls to the public, Jonsi and Alex are now serving their personal lives as well. Clicking through the recipe book, it becomes startlingly clear just how open and inviting the two are. Fans will undoubtedly appreciate this intimate look into the domestic side of Jonsi and Alex.

Interested in healthy cooking? Author of The Adventure Cookbook Sofia Brandon wrote her book after quitting her stressed corporate lifestyle to travel the world and focus on her health again.

Want to learn more about Iceland? Filmmakers Thomas and Tim had the fortune of being shown around Reykjavik by a local everyman. You can catch the video here.

Earlier this month, MatadorTrips Editor Hal Amen reported on Iceland being named the #1 economic tourist destination of 2010.

Additionally, Matador editor Paul Sullivan documented his trip to the fascinating country in this beautiful photoessay.

Interested in Icelandic culture? Want to show some love to Jonsi and Alex? Leave your comments below!