100+ New York City Stories: Unscripted conversations with artists, entrepreneurs, small businesses and everyday people. Filmed, interviewed, edited & shared by LaRon Batchelor.
After 4 years, Georgia’s owners Jodie Becker & Kiara Ellozy, have decided to “close in order to expand” the beauty brand. On their last day of business, I stop by to talk with both about what they have learned running a NYC retail business and whats next for Georgia. Meet Sister-in-Laws Jodie and Kiara. Part beauty store and part salon, Georgia harbors a soft spot for the frizzy-haired masses. Named after co-founder Jodies corkscrew-curled daughter, their inspiration is Harlem native Madam CJ Walker. As a manufacturer of hair care products for African American women, Madame C. J. Walker, born Sarah Breedlove, became one of the first American women millionaires. http://www.georgiany.com/index.php Georgiawas one of the first small business stories I filmed early last year.
After walking by Jem a number of times, I had to satisfy my curiosity. When I walked, I saw aisles and aisles of colorful fabric from the ceiling to the ground. I loved the environment. Jem is not your typical fabric store. Jem is owned and operated by a brother-sister team, Michelle Zahabian, who is 24 years old, and her brother David. Their father was the owner of Fabric Warehouse across the street. After his passing a year ago, Michelle and her brother opened JEM, continuing their family tradition and a downtown staple. Located at 355 Broadway in NYC.
When I asked Michelle to describe their first year and half in business, she said it has been ” a lot of mini-miracles along the way”. Support NYC small business.
I along with millions of Americans have grown up “Fatherless”. And today 40% of American children live in a fatherless home raised by single mothers, aunts, grandmothers and other female caregivers. Kobie Brown’s 2012 film From Fatherless To Fatherhood explores the causes, effects and possible solutions to turning the corner on father absence. We met at Central Park for an unscripted, insightful conversation about the inspiration for the film, his family story and his goals. I love and support what Kobie is doing, solutions through dialogue.
“Before You leave this planet, it is important that you get in touch with what your purpose is and not be defined by what your job or career may be..but find out what it is you are suppose to do for the betterment of mankind and everything else will fall into place.” – Kobie during our Central Park conversation
I was having my usual sorrel & ginger beer at Spur Tree catching up with owner/chef Sean John and I see a Maxim magazine on the bar. The Braised Oxtail is the 2011 #2 Best Dinners in America according to Maxim. And reggae artist Sean Paul wrote the review “When I’m in New York, I like Spur Tree down on the Lower East Side for authentic Jamaican food. It’s a small restaurant, but the taste of the food is huge. It keeps me coming back, especially when I’m homesick. They do an oxtail Jamaican-style, so it’s braised and stewed down. The meat’s really tender, and it’s served with a really thick sauce and rice and peas covered in gravy. It’s bone-lickin’ good. I was home recently and thought, Lemme make some oxtail. I did, but it wasn’t as good as theirs.”
I coax Sean outside and ask him the small story with Maxim, new items on the menu, we happily sample the new Jamaican-asian mini-jerk steam pork buns..so good….so good..u cant go wrong. ..and where the name Spur Tree originates. 2011 is Sean’s year. He was also selected by MACY\’s as 1 of the Top NYC Chefs.
14 NYC stories in 14 minutes. I linked snippets of conversations from stories I filmed btwn June 2010 to July 2011. A thread of conversations beginning with a new New Yorker who is proof that people move to NYC from all over the world; a man roller skating w the bottom of a mannequin on his head in soho; Freedom Bradley Dir-City Parks Foundations on what else “NYC Parks”; Founder of cleanplates.com the online healthy version of zagats; Guy wearing airtrekkers on Park Avenue; Iesha of Street Corner Resources, anti-violence teen protest @129 & Lenox; DJ Moma on going from engineer to DJ and “escaping the rat race”; Abby & Tori on the call that sent them to Haiti; Footwear designer Yusef Sirius El on 5 and 10 year business plans; Opera singer Joanna Bergin on the day she knew opera was her calling; Stylist Jason Rembert@Rocawear pop-up store on how he got his first internship at Elle; my first Yankee game, in the parking lot I get schooled on Yankee culture by my host and former Yankee exec onYankee branding..but he has a World Series ring, I LOVE NYC; Cinematographer/producer Shawn Peters on what is Weeksville.
(Part I)Young people are dying from gun violence at an alarming rate across America. But in Harlem last Friday, teens representing High Schools across Harlem came to speak, rap and lay down on the street for 5 minutes; thus, putting themselves in the place of someone who has been shot.
Iesha of Street Corner Resources& Harlem renaissance High School brought Harlem community leaders from the NYPD, City Council, Teachers, Pastors and Jacob Restaurant provided the backdrop and much needed electricity for the sound system. My flip battery ran out after filming the teen’s speeches; thus, I used my android phone to film the teens laying down but I wasn’t able to link the videos thus http://mysmallstory.wordpress.com/2011/04/18/harlem-teens-ant-violent-protest-april-15th-129th-lenox/
Welcome to the sunny and 73-degree world of Park Here, an indoor alternative to Central Park in January & February, where you’ll relax on the grass during the day, and dine with a movie night on the lawn. It’s open and free now. Let’s take a walk in the park and meet the owner/curator behind the Openhouse’s 5,000 sq ft Park Here, where the grass is fake but the warmth and people’s response is real. The trees are plastic foliage stapled to wooden trunks. The sunlight emanates from light boxes designed to treat seasonal affective disorder. The birds chirp through a sound system. In addition, there is yoga sessions daily along with movie and dinner parties at night. The park occupies the Openhouse Gallery through the end of January (maybe longer) and is open to the public every day from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Visit their site http://www.openhousegallery.org/ Look out for five-course picnic baskets by the likes of Daniel Boulud, The Little Owl, The Fat Radish and Nobu. Also, fireworks. Read more: http://www.urbandaddy.com/nyc/leisure/12319/Park_Here_An_Indoor_Park_in_the_Dead_of_Winter_New_York_City_NYC_Destination#ixzz1BPbzRR8M
The Rent is Too Damn High!” This is the catchphrase of New York gubernatorial candidate Jimmy McMillan, which he put on display in a recent debate. It also happens to be the name of the political party that he is running to represent. No, I’m not joking. This is for real. He’s a cross between Isaac Hayes and Hulk Hogan. And NYC is enamored by him. He has over 4 million youtube views
If you’ve been to NYC’s Spur Tree, you may have met Ginger, Watermelon & Mojito. I filmed mixologist Mark blend them together and chatted with people about their Spur Tree faves. It takes “a” minute to make the GWM, so be patient and feel the DJs beats or be smart and order 2.
Should you plan to have a baby or just let it happen? Chef Paul shares the St Lucia answer with friends outside his South African restaurant Bunny Chow. You may know Chef Paul Simion from NYC’s Madiba & Negril.
