Monkey Around with Cafes

I've not posted anything for a couple of months now and my only excuse is that my bill paying gig has been interfering with my fun time. I was happy to find this treat waiting for me when I started digging around in what's new and cool.

Cafe racers have been back for a while now but these guys out of Copenhagen Denmark have come up with some of the coolest bars to grab on to. Wrenchmonkees will build bikes to your specs or you can choose one of their pre-built ones if any are available.

Writers Bashment

I had to "BIG UP" my long time friend and talented author Colin Channer for hosting another very successful Calabash event at Treasure Beach in Jamaica, this past Memorial Day weekend.

Colin, acclaimed author of Waiting In Vain, Satisfy My Soul and Girl With The Golden Shoes started the Calabash International Literary Festival in 2001 with the support of his friends, poet Kwame Dawes and producer Justine Henzell.

The three-day festival of readings, music and storytelling has grown into an anticipated event pulling in famous names such as the former Prime Minister of Jamaica, Edward Seaga and Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song, writer and director Melvin Van Peebles. The event is hosted at Jake's resort and is held annually on Memorial Day weekend.

I unfortunately didn't make this past bashment but it's on my calendar for next year.





Author and Calabash founder, Colin Channer.

Golden Treasure

This spot is not new but always worthy of honorable mention when talking about Yard (Jamaica).

Rick's Cafe will always have one of the most beautiful settings in the world to watch the setting of our beautiful golden god. There is a lot to do there from sun up and well beyond sunset so pack accordingly.

Incase Bamboo Case For iPhone 3G

Incase goes green with a Slider case that is 40% bamboo. Sexy and green.

Bursting Out of My Shirt

All Trini massive put yuh han in di hair if yuh luv buss-up-shut!

Now I'm not Trinidadian, but you don't have to be to love this tasty Trini (really east indian, read on) treat. This is by far one of the Caribbeans more tasty dishes.

For those who don't know Trinidad has a pretty significant population of East Indian transplants, who brought with them the fine art of Curry and flat bread making. "Buss-up-shut," vernacular for "burst-up-shirt," is the West Indian version of Paratha Roti which is generally served with any one of these sides, bodi, pumpkin, ochro, curry chicken, curry goat, curry shrimp, curry mango just to name a few.

I was reminded of how good buss-up-shut can be when I went to Tassa Roti Shop, a Trinidadian restaurant just North of Atlanta in Marietta and had more than my fill.

Aahh Chute!

I'll just say it. I HATE FLYING.







When I was younger nothing was more exciting than knowing a plane ride was coming up, no matter the destination. These days sweaty palms, butterflys and anxiety attacks accompany me with most flights, unless I increase my alcohol consumption right before boarding. If the fears of flying really come from the fear of crashing then there might be some relief in sight, at least on smaller planes. In comes Cirrus an aircraft manufacturer that has found a way to attach deployable parachutes to their planes. They even have videos showing the ultimate flying safety feature in action.

I can't wait for these things to become standard on passenger aircraft.

My Ride Is Back

After 3 long weeks I finally got my bike back from the HD mechanics. It appears that the recession is affecting parts production for motorcycles, delaying the delivery of my brake line which had to be shorter for installation of my new drag bars.



So far I've installed a set of Vance and Hines Short Shots, done the stage one race tuning and now installed black drag bars. I'm already trying to figure out what to do next that will not make the custom installations seem forced. I'll let you know when I do.

Now if the ATL weather would just cooperate I might actually be able to ride.

BMW Eater?

Test driving the new 2009 Subaru WRX was as much fun as I expected. My one regret was that I didn't get to drive the WRX STI which is rarely ever available to purchase let alone test drive.

Is the STI a BMW ETR? I don't know for sure but checking out the written specs it would seem so. The BMW M3 costs around $70K the STI $35K. 0-60 in the M3 takes about 4.6 secs, the STI, a meer 4.4 secs. At half the price and with as many rally wins as WRX's have, some might say, "dinner is served".


2008 WRX STI pictured above. No real external differences from the 2009 model.

Beat Your Ear Drums

I've not had the chance to experience these head phones yet but from what I've read they sound as good as they look. Available in custom colors, ColorWare Beats by Dre from Monster Headphones make a bold statement.

Looky C-LUX

While in college I wanted a Leica camera but was never able to afford one. Finally when I could, there was no justification for spending thousands of dollars on a camera especially since I wasn't even an avid photographer.

Recently I decided to take another look and discovered that while Leica is still THE exotic camera maker, there are a couple of them that are reasonably priced and don't stiff you on picture quality or the sexy factor.

I like the C-LUX 3 in Black.

I could really get into snapping pics again.

Leaving Las Vegas

Sorry for not posting much over the last couple of weeks but my bill paying gig has been keeping me busy.

Last week my business partner and I did go to Magic and Project in Vegas though, to pick up some gear for ROCKIT, our boutique in Downtown Decatur, Georgia.



Here are a few new looks that will be available for Spring.

Women







Men

Floating Sculptures

Some years ago when I worked in Annapolis, Maryland I came across these wooden Kayak kits from Chesapeake Light Craft and thought they were one of the most beautifully designed pieces of sculpture. The cool thing is that they really work and the only thing better than looking at one is going out on the water in it.

883 Iron

I don't have to say much about this sweet ride that the pics don't already tell you. The 883 Iron is the baby brother of the Sportster series 1200 N but will not be bossed around. It lacks very little and is a winning addition to Harleys growing line of sexy vintage look bikes.

The Black House

Being in DC for the inauguration of Barack Obama was probably the single biggest event I've ever attended, and despite the 20 degree weather it was worth the trip.












Having my first born, wife and best friend there made the event even more special.

U Street Party

Monday 1/19, U Street looked like it was Howard's home coming. Even at 1am where Ben's Chili Bowl looked like it had a riot going on outside its doors. That's what a free endorsement from Obama can do for your business.

The City That Reads

Yes! You read right. Charm city's motto was once "The City That Reads" as BELIEVE able as it was charming...





...never the less it was the city we called home for five years and I still love our old house that was on beautiful Union Square, the setting for at least three movies that I know of.