Semester final

Here is my final story for the semester, a news article about smoking within the LGBT community. It has been published on Pavement Pieces:
http://pavementpieces.com/lgbt-community-smoking-more-than-straights-study-shows/

Lizzard Kisses

Here is a story I wrote profiling Lizzard Kisses, a Bed-Stuy band, last month. I still haven't gotten the edits on it, but I figured I would put it up. I haven't written as many stories lately because I am busy working on my semester final, which is a reporting trip to Philadelphia. I will be covering public housing in Philly and am traveling there next week, hopefully to interview a family in a low-income unit. Here is the Lizzard Kisses story, with pictures:

Sleeping In and Staying Up: Lizard Kisses on The Band and Their New EP

By Rachel Ohm

There is a lot of space in Marc Merza’s room. A solitary bookshelf stands opposite a desk and a mattress on the ground. There is barely anything on the walls, cast in a baby blue light from a single bulb attached to the ceiling and reflecting the faded paint. 

However, the extra space seems to disappear when the guitar comes off the wall, the microphone moves to a stand in the center of the floor and Cory Siegler sings.

Marc and Cory record and write from the sparsely decorated apartment that they share with six other people, where the few items besides furniture include headphones that hang on the wall; the reel-to-reel machine in the corner and an envelope of Polaroid’s on the bed stand. The bookshelf contains folders filled with Cory’s drawings and album cover designs.

The Bed-Stuy duo, which goes by the name Lizard Kisses, just finished their first EP, a compilation of ethereal soul music mostly written and recorded on a three-week long stay in Vermont in October. At home in New York they talk about the origins of Lizard Kisses and the making of “Sleeping In.” 

“We started Lizard Kisses just because we thought it was a lot of fun,” said Marc. “We wanted to do something together and collaborate on this and we had a blast doing it.”

The couple met at the Guggenheim Museum last spring, where she worked in the gift shop and he sold audio guides. 

    Their first date was to a show he was playing with his band Inoculus. 

    Since then, they have been writing and recording their own music. 

    “We started dating and music naturally came out of it,” said Cory, a self-described visual artist who graduated from Pratt in 2008 with a degree in fine arts. “I never really did music before. It’s kind of a new thing.”

    Aside from elementary school chorus, Cory, who grew up in Yonkers, says she never sang but always had a musical family. She has aunts and uncles who sing and a grandmother who plays the flute, but it wasn’t until recently that she discovered her own voice.

    “I do more visual arts, but when me and Marc started dating this past spring I noticed that he’s always playing his guitar or ukulele,” she said, sipping green tea from a Zabar’s mug. 

    Marc, who grew up in the San Francisco Bay area, plays in two bands. He came to New York two years ago on the heels of a friend who worked at a record store with him in Berkley. 

    “I probably went to my first show when I was 11 or 12,” says Marc. “My sister brought me to a pop-punk show. We saw New Found Glory and I think Reel Big Fish. My sister was dating a guy at the time who was really into skateboarding and he gave me this CD by this band called Homegrown.”

    He says he started reading the inside covers of CD’s to learn about new bands. He watched music videos to teach himself the bass. He got involved in promotion for local bands and would hand out fliers and merchandise when he was still in high school. 

    “As I got older there was a transition where I started writing my own music and playing shows,” he says. “I always really loved bass and that was the first instrument I picked up. I learned mainly by listening to songs and playing by ear. I don’t know much about theory or chords or anything like that.”

Lizard Kisses does a fair amount of experimenting on their 9 song EP, introducing different instruments to mix up the sound. 

The short album includes a tambourine, toy instruments from Chinatown and “this bamboo Chinese flute recorder thing,” found on Canal Street. In Vermont they also recorded sounds like cars driving by and crickets. 

Usually Marc writes a melody for guitar and Cory will add the lyrics after. She 

sings and he plays guitar or bass. 

One exception is the first song they wrote- “Where the Living Room is Fine,” 

which didn’t make it on to the EP. The song was originally recorded in Cory’s living room in her old apartment, which had a piano.  

“Basically that song is just about the living room,” said Cory. “It was the first song I ever wrote and Marc told me to just write words. I didn’t know what to write about and he said write about anything.”

“I had this really pretty guitar line, but I’m not that great of a singer,” said Marc. “I brought it to Cory because I really love her voice. It was kinda by accident. It was an organic thing.”

What followed was a three-week road trip to West Woodsboro, Vt. in October, where Cory’s parents have a summer home. They brought Marc’s guitars, their own amplifiers, two microphones, a computer and the toy instruments. They recorded everything on the Mac program GarageBand. 

The EP includes 4 songs and 5 other pieces that the duo describes as more “experimental- they have these long interludes of instrumental.” The title, “Sleeping In,” derives from the mornings spent lying in bed followed by staying up all night to write and record. 

    Lizard Kisses are now working on artwork to go along with the EP. They have a collection of Polaroid photos from Vermont that they plan to use as artwork for the inside cover of the album. 

Cory, who has a background in drawing and print making, has designed a cover 

with geometric designs and the name “Lizard Kisses.”

  The songs are available to download for free on Lizard Kisses’ Bandcamp site, and they are making plans to take their music live, searching for a backup vocalist and a second guitarist. 

For now though, they are content writing music and playing in the upstairs room of their apartment.   

“Lizard Kisses is something we started because it was fun,” said Marc. “We want our music to be accessible to as many people as possible.”   

Photos: 

Lizzard Kisses 
Cory Siegler, 24, of the duo Lizzard Kisses, sings "Old Friend," a song she wrote about lost acquaintances. Cory and Marc Merza, 22, pictured here on the guitar, write and record their own music from their Brooklyn apartment.  

Waiting for the right note 

Marc Merza, 22, one-half of the musical duo Lizard Kisses, strums his acoustic guitar on Nov. 1, 2010. His eyes are on Cory Siegler, his girlfriend and band mate, as she sings the song "Old Friend," written and recorded by the two in their Brooklyn apartment. 

Big Apple Tweed Ride

After moving to the East Village, I returned to Brooklyn today to cover the Big Apple Tweed Ride, a bicycling and social event that encourages participants to ride vintage bicycles and dress in 1920's era British cycling costumes. The clothing was FANTASTIC. I went to the post-ride brunch, which was held at Flatbush Farms in Park Slope. Below are my photos- this was a photos-only assignment- the pictures tell the story. I only handed in three to be graded, but I had a hard time choosing so I decided to put the rest up here. I would definitely consider participating in next year's Tweed Ride, it was a lot of fun! I've included the captions on the photos I submitted for class, and brief descriptions next to the others. Last week we learned PhotoShop in class, so I used it to enhance a few of these...

Post-bike beer and brunch 
Tristan Henry-Wilson, 29, or Brooklyn, drinks a beer in the outdoor courtyard of Flatbush Farms in Park Slope, Brooklyn on Sunday, Nov.21, 2010 following the Big Apple Tweed Ride. The Tweed Ride is an organized group bicycle following a route from Prospect Park to Park Slope. Participants rode vintage bicycles and wore encouraged to wear tweed and vintage outfits in the style of the Tweed Run, an event held in London annually since 2009 that celebrates British cycling culture. By Rachel Ohm.

Dana Colomer, 39, of Weehawken, N.J. enjoys a cocktail after brunch at Flatbush Farms in Park Slope after the Tweed Ride.

Victorian cyclist after brunch
Dana Colomer, 39, of Weehawken, N.J. dons a hat from Ireland at the Big Apple Tweed Ride in Brooklyn on Sunday, Nov.21, 2010. Colomer, who rode with her husband, Carlos, said that although she is not a regular cyclist, she was inspired to participate in the cycling and social event after reading about the Tweed Ride, an organized group bicycle ride that takes place in London every year and was first held in Brooklyn last May. Participants were encouraged to dress in vintage clothing and afterwards enjoyed brunch and live music at Flatbush Farms in Park Slope, Brooklyn. By Rachel Ohm.

Vintage bicycles stand outside Flatbush Farms in Park Slope, Brooklyn while riders enjoy brunch at Flatbush Farms.

Stacey Cueros, 39, of Crown Heights, Brooklyn, won the "Most Ravishing Lady" award for her vintage accessories.

Victorian photographer
A woman wearing a 1920's cloche hat, lace gloves and pearl bracelets takes a picture as awards are presented for the best fashions at the Big Apple Tweed Ride in Park Slope, Brooklyn on Sunday, Nov.21, 2010. In the background event organizer Ouigi Theodore, 33, of Brooklyn, reads the awards and the cellist for the Dixieland Band the Scandinavian 1/2 Breeds holds her instrument in a moment of silence. Participants in the group bicycle ride enjoyed music, brunch and vintage fashions at Flatbush Farms after the ride. By Rachel Ohm.

Most ravishing lady 
Stacey Cuevas, 37, of Crown Heights, Brooklyn, enjoys brunch at Flatbush Farms in Brooklyn moments before winning an award for the best accessory worn by a female rider at the Big Apple Tweed Ride in Brooklyn on Sunday, Nov.21, 2010. The Tweed Ride is an annual biking and social event that celebrates bicycling and Victorian fashion. Participants were encouraged to dress in Victorian attire and many rode vintage bicycles on the ride from Prospect Park to Flatbush Farms in Park Slope, where brunch and beverages were served. Cuevas was wearing her great-grandmother's watch, costume bracelets and pearl earrings and a locket her father gave her mother in 1975 with a picture of them in it. By Rachel Ohm.

New York Marathon

The assignment this week was to write a vignette on the marathon in your neighborhood. Between RNY and Reporting the Nation students, we pretty much covered all 26 miles. Yvonne edited our stories and put them together as coverage for Pavement Pieces. Here is my marathon story:

http://pavementpieces.com/nyc-marathon-important-spot-to-cheer/

And here are my other photos (with captions):

20k at St. Anthony's in Greenpoint

A sign marking 20 kilometers in the New York City Marathon stands outside of St. Anthony's Roman Catholic Church on Manhattan Ave. in Greenpoint on Sunday, Nov. 7, 2010. St. Anthony's is about 10 blocks from the Pulanski Bridge, where runners leave Brooklyn and enter Queens. The four bridges on the marathon course are closed to spectators during the race, so the neighborhoods surrounding them are important cheering spots. 

About half way and the enthusiasm is still up

Runners in the New York City Marathon check their watches and smile for the camera outside St. Anthony's Roman Catholic Church on Manhattan Ave. in Greenpoint, Sunday, Nov.7, 2010. St. Anthony's marks 20 kilometers in the race and is about 10 blocks before the Pulanski Bridge, where runners leave Brooklyn and enter Queens. 

New York, New York: Ride Here, Ride Anywhere

So maybe I need to work on crafting headlines, but isn't that an editor's job?? Here is my story on a bull fight in Times Square!

        NEW YORK- Amongst the skyscrapers, flashing lights and billboards of Times Square, crowds gathered around a temporary bullfighting ring to watch the world’s best riders fight some of the toughest bulls Friday afternoon.  

Cowboy hats and boots abounded for a showcase by the nation’s top ten riders on their way to the Professional Bull Riders World Championships in Las Vegas Oct. 20 - 24. New York is the last stop before the championships and many of the riders have been traveling the country for competition the last few months. 

“Being in Times Square on the bull was amazing, definitely the coolest thing I’ve ever done. I’m lookin’ forward to Vegas real big,” said Ryan McConnel, who is currently ranked 5th going into the championships.

J.B. Mauney of Mooresville,N.C. racked up the most points for his ride of 7.3. seconds- a long time in this sport. 

“I feel good going into the finals; I’m real excited,” said Mauney, who is making his third trip to the Championships. Last year he finished 15th and even “hit 90 a couple of times.” 

In bullriding, points are assigned to both the rider and the bull on a scale of 0 - 100. A score of 90 is considered exceptional and may only happen a few times in a rider’s career.

The points were enough to make Mauney the day’s winner and tighten the lead of Austin Meier, currently ranked number one in points for this year with 10,891.75.  

Meier was disqualified from Friday’s competition because a slow-motion replay showed that he slapped his bull, Mac-Nett’s El Presidente.

“It is what it is, I have to look ahead to the finish,” said Meier. He said that El Presidente was one of the toughest bulls at the competition, where the animals are considered athletes as much as the riders are and are also evaluated on a points scale. 

Although bulls are assigned to riders by a random computerized selection system, Meier has ridden El Presidente in his last three competitions. 

“I’ve been riding since I was knee-high to a grasshopper-- my whole life,” he said. “El Presidente is one of the toughest there is. He hardly ever gets ridden.” 

For many of the riders, Friday’s competition was just a taste of the excitement that awaits them in Vegas, where five days of competition will produce five finalists for next Sunday’s world championships. The winner will go home with one-million dollars.

“My goal is to win the world this year. All the guys here are in the top and I plan on winning it. I’m not goin’ there just to mess around and party in Vegas,” said McConnel. 

On Friday the riders fed off the crowd’s excitement and the novelty of being in Times Square for a bull-riding competition. 

“I love being outside and surrounded by all these people,” said Mike Lee, a rider from Cool, Texas. “Who would have thought you could be on a bull and look up and see New York City? It’s different.” 

New Yorkers and tourists in Times Square flocked to the temporary pen, some wearing cowboy hats and boots, as mud and dirt were flung through the air by the bucking bulls.

The riders agreed that being in Times Square was a great experience, although not that different from any western bullring. 

“ In a normal season event, there’s a lot of lights. It’s loud and there’s a lot of people around. The bulls get to see a lot and they’re used to it in an indoor venue,” said McConnel. 

Before the show, New York dance troupe One Ride performed a country dance. The riders also said that most rodeos involve pyrotechnics or fireworks-- not so different from the flashing lights and loud noises of Times Square.

Here are Yvonne's comments:

         This story confuses me a bit because I think the focus should have also been on the people watching the event…it is so odd and crazy! But this is a very well written and reported story for the angle you were going for. Just take a step back when you report and think about your audience…

And a photo:

Not in Kansas anymore 
Justin Flexen, a member of the New York dance troupe One Ride, takes in Times Square after performing a country dance Friday. One Ride opened for the Built Ford Tough Road to Las Vegas Bullriding Showcase in Times Square, showcasing the top 10 ranked bullriders from across the country. By Rachel Ohm.

Bringing back the bomber...

On Bedford Ave! I shot this video on Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg, which is pretty close to my apartment in Greenpoint. It's about leather jackers as a fashion trend. I interviewed people I saw wearing leather jackets- the two here were probably the most interesting. The man who told me his name was Reverend Ted said he was keeping his sunglasses on because he was high. This made for some interesting quotes.... Anyway, here is the link to my first. Video. Ever. Produced!

http://vimeo.com/16128447

Best photos

I took the train home to upstate New York, and the leaves were at their prettiest. I brought my camera with me and went for a really long walk. I think my photo skills are improving a lot, thanks to Jim. For every story we write, we have to turn in three photos- 1) a "scene setter" that gives the viewer a sense of being there, 2) a profile that focuses on an individual and conveys something about their style, character or personality and 3) a detail shot, which is supposed to be some observation from the photographer's unique point of view. The detail shot is my favorite to take, because it requires you to look at the little things around you...

 This is a main shopping street in Poughkeepsie, where I got off the train. My parents and I stopped here on our way home so my mom could buy shoes.

There are wild grapes growing that I never noticed before! They are about 1/2 mile down the road, near Mr. Hober's house. Mr. Hober was an old farmer who lived by himself when we moved into the neighborhood. Even in the late 1990's he never had electricity or running water. He used to give my sisters and I ice cream sandwiches in the summer.

 This wire was wrapped around a tree stump on a path near the end of the road. I love how the leaves fell in and around it.

 The pond across from Mr. Hober's house. (My "scene setter").

 The driveway and part of the barn. Stone walls, like the one in the background of this photo, are all over. I think most of them were built by hand.

 This stack of wood was very near the wire and tree stump. Part of me loves looking at the rings and tried to capture them in this picture. It reminds me of the scent of firewood and the idea that winter is coming and bringing cozy fires. Part of me also remembers my dad chopping wood and getting my sisters and I to stack it. Even though I always wore gloves, I would inevitably get splinters :(

 Beautiful fall wreath I saw in Poughkeepsie. Reminds me of Thanksgiving and all the delicious things about fall!











This is part of a rusty old tractor with leaves falling on it. It is so easy to imagine the tractor aging when the dead leaves are sitting on it. It's as if the leaves fall and bring the rust.