Get your mind out of the Gutter!
RUB or Righteous Urban Barbeque located at 23rd between West 7th and 8th Avenue is the 'answer' to NYC Barbeque!
I have walked past this place twice headed for Dallas BBQ's or food with barbecue sauce as the good folks in the south would say! There are two types of Barbeque: REAL and the meats with sauce.
Real Barbeque is slowly smoked and grilled to tender perfection, the entire time constantly being basted with sauce that will make you slap you Mama!
So like most NYC/NJ folk when I get to craving BBQ, I will settle for a BBQ's or some similiar establishment. Nothing against BBQ's, it's certainly satisfy's the craving that most city dwellers like myself who have a hankering for Barbeque.
But if your especially religious with Barbeque, desiring the taste of the pit, sauces that will set your mouth on fire, and the swanky feel of a southern Barbeque joint then RUB is the place for you.
On this cold November night RUB was truly a RIGHTEOUS experience! Like I said this is not my first time seeing this place, or should I say experiencing it. You can actually smell RUB down the block. That smell of smoked meat travels blocks and draws you in like a dancing serpent.
I'm telling you it will make the most religious vegan's mouth water! On this particular evening, I decided to walk through RUB's doors.
Being an avid beer aficionado and lover of Barbeque, RUB has truly answered my prayers.
I spent many weekends this summer in Nashville, TN tasting the best down home Barbeque and southern treats. Fried pickles, tomatoes, baked beans, hush puppies, slaw and all the appropriate Barbeque accessories.
Let me tell you folks...
RUB has a beef brisket that is so tender and juicy, each bite rivals the first! I can still taste that beautiful Brisket sandwich slathered with hot, spicy and sweet Barbeque sauce all over it.
No better way to top such a treat than an ice cold beer! If your ever in the neighborhood, do stop by for that RIGHTEOUS URBAN EXPERIENCE a.k.a RUB!
Just more randomness and life with your favorite city journalist.
November 17, 2007
November 15, 2007
Niggaz, Crackers, Hate another case of Blog Wars
Below is a blog conversation that I had with a man over an incident that happened in September in Plainfield, NJ involving the infamous N-word. The article is entitled: PLAINFIELD STORE'S RECEIPT ANGERS CITY MAN. Click on the title to read the article. I guess the most shocking part wasn't really the actual events that took place, but the online comments. I know that the struggle for equality continues and I believe that their have been strides. But this article goes to the heart of our internalized stereotypes and deep racism that we truly have as an American people. We do a lot of pretending in this country, but events like these allow people to show their true colors. "Boomin" posted the comment below, which sparked our dialogue. The conversation is in chronological order.
______________________Boomin
You know what I love about the black community. a small section of the community want to have it one way and not the other. You make a big deal out of words and that is funny to me. Young black men can call each other "nigga", deal drugs to each other, kill each other in the streets and thats not a problem. But as soon as a white man uses the word nigga, its up in arms call in Al Sharpton(that racist) and call the papers. Have you people ever heard of context. The way this word was used in this instance was not in a hateful or malicious way. So stop it already, because in the long run you are only going to hurt yourselves. Try tackling some of the real problems in your community like the fact that a large group of young black people can't gather together without someone getting kill or a riot type situation breaking out. STOP going after the easy targets and try bettering your community.
______________________Me
You know what I love about self-righteous people? They love to suggest what people should do when clearly they lack the respect, understanding and education to advise anyone of anything.
Listen, I don't walk around calling white people "crackers", mexicans people "wet backs'' asian people "chink", gay men "fags", or men/women "bitches".
Why, because those words have historical and negative connotations. There is nothing positive about them. The same goes for the word nigger, nigga, or niggaz. However you want to mask it.
Now have I heard many people refer to themselves and others with those words. Does this mean that the definition has changed? Are those words now good/acceptable and that I should use them: NO!
Unlike yourself and others, one person's ignorance seems to be enough validity for your own.
As for the "Black community needing to tackle their problems" as you put it, I suggest you concern yourself with tackling your own apparent ignorance.
_____________________Boomin
You are correct those words have been negative in history. The key word being history. People who is this day still make a big deal out of a word give that word the power that it has. Now when someone call me a cracker or whitey I laugh at them. I give those words no power.My cousin is half hispanic. When someone calls him a spic he laughs at them. Again giving the word no power. People like you and others who draw attention to this behavior are giving the word power to hurt. Just as Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson want to ban the "N"-word they are giving the word greater power. Yes in history it has meant horrible things. Its time to move on and put history behind us and stop letting a word cause so much pain. The past is in the past and we a a nation need to move on,learn from our mistakes and make this country a better place. That will never happen if people like you and Sharpton and Jackson keep further dividing the races
_____________________Me
I understand why the 'let's forget the past' argument is appealing.
Unfortunately, we live in a country where there is Jena-6, a black man can be dragged from the back of a pick-up, and states still raise the confederate flag...it's a little hard to forget history when we are constantly reliving it.
Well I'm happy that you and your half-Hispanic cousin are so evolved, systemic white privilege will do that for you.
I'm beginning to think this is a circular conversation and I will now get off the merry-go-round.
Have a Great Weekend!
______________________Boomin
You know what I love about the black community. a small section of the community want to have it one way and not the other. You make a big deal out of words and that is funny to me. Young black men can call each other "nigga", deal drugs to each other, kill each other in the streets and thats not a problem. But as soon as a white man uses the word nigga, its up in arms call in Al Sharpton(that racist) and call the papers. Have you people ever heard of context. The way this word was used in this instance was not in a hateful or malicious way. So stop it already, because in the long run you are only going to hurt yourselves. Try tackling some of the real problems in your community like the fact that a large group of young black people can't gather together without someone getting kill or a riot type situation breaking out. STOP going after the easy targets and try bettering your community.
______________________Me
You know what I love about self-righteous people? They love to suggest what people should do when clearly they lack the respect, understanding and education to advise anyone of anything.
Listen, I don't walk around calling white people "crackers", mexicans people "wet backs'' asian people "chink", gay men "fags", or men/women "bitches".
Why, because those words have historical and negative connotations. There is nothing positive about them. The same goes for the word nigger, nigga, or niggaz. However you want to mask it.
Now have I heard many people refer to themselves and others with those words. Does this mean that the definition has changed? Are those words now good/acceptable and that I should use them: NO!
Unlike yourself and others, one person's ignorance seems to be enough validity for your own.
As for the "Black community needing to tackle their problems" as you put it, I suggest you concern yourself with tackling your own apparent ignorance.
_____________________Boomin
You are correct those words have been negative in history. The key word being history. People who is this day still make a big deal out of a word give that word the power that it has. Now when someone call me a cracker or whitey I laugh at them. I give those words no power.My cousin is half hispanic. When someone calls him a spic he laughs at them. Again giving the word no power. People like you and others who draw attention to this behavior are giving the word power to hurt. Just as Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson want to ban the "N"-word they are giving the word greater power. Yes in history it has meant horrible things. Its time to move on and put history behind us and stop letting a word cause so much pain. The past is in the past and we a a nation need to move on,learn from our mistakes and make this country a better place. That will never happen if people like you and Sharpton and Jackson keep further dividing the races
_____________________Me
I understand why the 'let's forget the past' argument is appealing.
Unfortunately, we live in a country where there is Jena-6, a black man can be dragged from the back of a pick-up, and states still raise the confederate flag...it's a little hard to forget history when we are constantly reliving it.
Well I'm happy that you and your half-Hispanic cousin are so evolved, systemic white privilege will do that for you.
I'm beginning to think this is a circular conversation and I will now get off the merry-go-round.
Have a Great Weekend!
November 14, 2007
Interview with DJ Baker of the Da Doo-Dirty Show
It was a Saturday afternoon, and the cast of FINDING ME was on the set with Jonathan Plummer. I will refresh your memory for those of you who are unfamiliar with the name. Jonathan Plummer is the ex-husband of writer Terry McMillian. Jonathan was in town for the Derrick L. Briggs Book Club in collaboration with POCC.
After finishing what will be our last day on the set for the filming FINDING ME, we were presented with the opportunity to be interviewed by DJ BAKER of the Da Doo-Dirty Show! We met DJ and associates at COSI restaurant Cafe for what turned out to be a very fun day!
We are all new at OmeProductions, LLC. in this business of movie making, but I must say that we have assembled a great crew and cast for what will be a first in LGBT film making!
FINDING ME is set in Jersey City, NJ and tells the story of Faybien Allen a young gay man of Caribbean descent. Faybien as well as the other characters are people that we believe most people can identify with or have met in their travels. It is a story of a young gay man's urban experience. Personally speaking I was born and raised in Newark, NJ and I know many Faybien's. What I mean by this: I know Faybien the young gay man, Faybien the young black man, and Faybien the you black man of Caribbean ancestry. There is a difference in the two!
To listen to the interview of the FINDING ME cast with DJ BAKER please visit
http://www.ddirtyshow.podomatic.com/
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