BabyRock Records has a great collection of lullaby renditions of obvious band choices - the Beatles and the Beach Boys for exmaple - but a majority of their collection include bands that make me wonder how it was possible to make soothing tunes from such rockin’ jams. The selections include the Pixies, Led Zepplin, Metallica, and Queens of the Stone Age.

“Thank you to Disney VoluntEARS for helping out at our Mobile Markets. In addition to handing out fresh seasonal produce to New Yorkers in need, this energetic group gave away mini-soccerballs and mini-basketballs to promote increased physical activity, which along with proper nutrition is a key ingredient for a healthy lifestyle. ” - City Harvest

For ways you and your little one can help, click here.

1) Always wait for the light: In NYC sometimes waiting for the crosswalk sign to flash in your favor isn’t enough with manic Yellow Cab drivers jousting for the next fare. Instead of only looking both ways before I cross the street, I must also size-up the waiting traffic to determine if any of the vehicles are reckless turners.

2) Go all the way: Dangers also lurk inside the house. Ensure that plugs fit snuggly into their sockets. If not you might end up nursing a nasty burn on a toddler that looks like baby Einstein.

3) If it smells like a duck: I really hate taking trips to the E.R., but if my son seems a little too off then it’s a trip we have to make. On most occasions I am in no way comforted, but as the docs poke and prod I remind myself that it’s all for his own good.

4) I’m not your Superman: While on the subject of the E.R., I’ve also found that his aging and burgeoning independence is like Kryptonite to my paternal ESP. As such I am forced to resort to my more physical skills, such as the run, roll and retrieve.

5) My bark is bigger: I’ve developed what my wife calls my “disciplinary voice”. It makes her laugh inside whenever I am forced to administer the “disciplinary voice” to stop my son from jumping off the couch or out of his crib for example, but though it tickles her it terrifies him.

The lefties always get it right, whether it’s politics or choice of coasts. Another thing they get right is the perfect balance between hippy and hip – excepting the dreaded Birkenstocks of course.

Take Bootyland for example. The store is a triple whammy – it’s left-leaning politically, is located on the left coast and provides “sustainable urban fashion” for hippy-chic kids.

The grandparents, my son’s, recently returned from a Seattle trip with a wonderful Eight3One t-shirt emblazoned with a “skay-bore”. The t-shirt led me to the Bootyland website which has a wealth of info, but a poorly designed products section (click the Eight3One link for a more traditional browsing experience).

“Hip Clothes for Kids & Alternative Parenting Supplies,” says the website. “Our specialties are: Locally made goods, hemp and organic fabrics, vintage and deadstock clothing, wooden toys, cloth diapering supplies and alternative parenting needs.”

Bootyland is also home to the famous Bootyland Booties. “Bootyland has just acquired Eva Evan Booties!!! The name changes but our favorite booties stay the same. Bootyland booties are born!!!” announces the website.

Fittingly the store serves as home base to the Radical Mamas and Papas “community-centric support for conscious parenting”, and to that I tip my replicated red star beret.

I’m having fun with this video podcast project that is yet to be podcasted, and my son is a willing subject. I think once we start doing it ‘for real’ we’ll have to take lighting and video compression into serious account… for now we’re just trying to get together some edited content to see if the show is even interesting for us to watch.

Before you call ACS, his head was itching in the last scene, not hurting, but it makes for a funny ending. Enjoy!

(ps. we’re still cobbling together episode 002 featuring the ‘J’ of The DJ Show, Jinu)

“The City Kids - Helping children to know God through their INTELLECT by learning the Word of God, through RELATIONSHIP by receiving Jesus as their Lord and Savior and through EXPERIENCE by the power of the Holy Spirit.” - CityKids

Whew, powerful words… and to think it was a Keith Haring designed CD that linked me to the website.

Speaking of Haring, check out the Haring Kids section of the Haring Foundation’s website where you can find cool stories written by New York kids for the ‘What Is Red And Blue?’ contest.

The first-place Elementary school winner’s story begins “A man with one red eye will tell you a colorful tale. Once there were mirror people with heads only named Red Guy and Blue Guy and they lived in a Palace.” This entry is way more creative than even the middle or high school entries.

I know you want to read more. You can by clicking here.

“A limited number of Candykiller print packs are now available for purchase. Click here for large version and here for a detail of the “Demons” letterpress print.” - CandyKiller (more)

On Saturday we celebrated the second Powers Street block party since my son’s birth. Each year it gets better, with this year seeing a posse of hipster kids descend on the on event for a mock American ‘Band’ Idol contest – the Reggaeton blasting ‘homies’ were not impressed.

The fun started way before the first pair of skinny jeans arrived on the block. At around 10am my son scared that crap out of a pedestrian that was deep in cell phone conversation.

“Aaah!!!” she screamed as I allowed him to run into the street fronting our stoop. She was visibly shaken and had to explain to the person on the other end of the ether that she had forgotten that both ends of the street had been barricaded against traffic since as early as 8:30am that morning.

We continued this crisscrossing of the street intermittently during the dry spells of on otherwise wet day.

At around 2pm, after my son’s noontime nap, we went out again and to his glee the street was filled with kids; biking, jumping rope and playing various ball games.

My son’s five dollar recycled foot-powered fire truck was a hit, and a kid traded his shiny new training-wheel equipped BMX bicycle for the chipped and dented plastic steed. I made him none the wiser.

We ate tostadas but had to turn down yummy looking franks for the fact that we’re vegetarians – though those fire-grilled wieners were mighty tempting. If he needed an energy boost, ‘quarter waters’ were available for the taking in a large bag-lined garbage can with a lid that wasn’t nearly heavy enough.

The hands-on funfest turned into a spectator sport as soon as the first band arrived looking like extras in an Austin Powers club scene.

Soon the bands started playing, doing their best to please the motley crew of judges. My son loved the least favorite performance, Dreadlock Holiday by Men’s Tennis. Their horrid rendition of the unpopular 10CC song caused one judge to question “What the hell was that?” But the group garnered support for their ballsy choice.

Strangely, at the end of the day it was Men’s Tennis that walked away with the $180 first-prize money for rocking the block with I Know You Got Soul by Eric B. and Rakim. For this grand finale, the band sequestered the help of a female lead who aptly filled Rakim’s high-tops in his absence. Even the once disinterested ghetto-blasting thugs gave her props.

This once again proved that my son has an odd but keen ear for music.

Power’s Street Block Party, American Band Idol, Saturday August 26, 2006

“These giggly babies look the same, dress the same, even have the same sense of humor.” Y! News

And when they cry it’s not as funny.

I got this link in a comment on an old rave. Someone by the name of ‘lili madonna’ wanted me to be jealous of how much fun little French kids have. It worked! This picture says it all. The comment was about something called a Bugabike (a Bugaboo/Like-A-Bike hybrid) that rolls over the competition.

POP’S PICK: “Just sit right back and you’ll hear a tale, a tale of a fateful trip. That started from this urban port, aboard this tiny ship.” Yes, if the weather cooperates I’m gonna try to convince my wife that we can afford to drop 50 bucks this Sunday in order to sail the Hudson with a hull full of tiny seamen (I really wanted to have pun here). Hopefully barf bags will be plentiful.

FRIDAY
FlavorPill
MUSIC: Indie Rock
River to River presents Ted Leo + the Pharmacists w/ DC Snipers and Tokyo Police Club
Fri 8.25 (6pm) South Street Seaport, Pier 17 FREE
The Seaport’s prodigal indie-rock star returns to shake our sheets all over again with his freewheeling and passionate tunes. This time he’s joined by ruffian punks DC Snipers and hype-brewing rock kids Tokyo Police Club. (LT)

UrbanBaby
How to Eat Fried Worms
Based on the award-winning children’s book by Thomas Rockwell, this family-friendly dramedy from New Line Cinema follows a fifth-grade boy on the first day of his new school year, when he squares off against a bully and winds up accepting a dare (eat 10 worms in one day!) that could change the balance of power within the class. Rated PG (for mild bullying and some crude humor).
When: Opens Fri., 8/25.
Where: Check local listings: www.friedwormsmovie.com or moviefone.com.

SATURDAY
UrbanBaby
Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day
Help kick off the US Open at the 11th annual Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day, which features fun activities like obstacle courses, face painting, hair braiding and beading as well as tennis clinics, photo opps and autograph signing. Catch a glimpse at cartoon favorites SpongeBob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer, as well as tennis champs roaming the grounds of the USTA National Tennis Center. An afternoon concert features Cheyenne Kimball, Ne-Yo and Teddy Geiger; proceeds from the day benefit a variety of youth-oriented charities and USTA National Tennis Center.
When: Sat., 8/26; 10am-2pm; All ages; Free. Tickets for the 2pm concert are $10 to $20.
Where: USTA National Tennis Center, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens; 718-760-6200; usopen.org. Concert tickets available on Ticketmaster.com.

FlavorPill
the Glimmers w/ Mudd
Sat 8.26 (3-9pm) P.S.1 (22-25 Jackson Ave, LIC, 718.784.2084) map $10
Having started out DJing parties with attendees ranging from hip-hop/breakdance kids to full-on techno animals, the Glimmers honed the ability to find a middle ground, engaging everyone on the floor with masterful selections — perfect for P.S.1’s diverse crowd. (CJN)

DailyCandy
Smitten
What: Love-struck works by local artists in Giant Robot’s new gallery space.
Why: Afterward, fall head over heels for the fall collection.
When: Sat., 6:30-10 p.m. Thru Sept. 27.
Where: Giant Robot, 437 E. 9th St., b/t First Ave. & Ave. A (212-674-4769).

UrbanBaby
Pinataland
Take a walking tour of battle-scarred Brooklyn, ending at the Old Stone House with a special family-friendly performance by homegrown group Pinataland, a chamber-rock band specializing in orchestrated tales of Old New York that take musical cues from the likes of Tom Waits and David Byrne. For this special performance the band will be joined by a tuba, pedal steel guitar and perhaps a marching snare drum.
When: Sat., 8/26; 7:30pm; All ages; Free.
Where: JJ Byrne Park (5th Ave. between 3rd and 4th St. in Brooklyn); 718-768-3195; www.theoldstonehouse.org.

SUNDAY
Willy Bee’s
302 Metropolitan Avenue
Gustafer Yellowgold’s Wide Wild World
Sunday, August 27th, 11 am – 1 pm
Willy Bee’s Weekly Music-and-Brunch Series
Live music accompanies a story like no other. Gustafer Yellowgold makes a trip from the sun to shine his own light on Willy Bee’s.

FlavorPill
the Walkmen w/ Dr. Dog,
Human Television, Elvis Perkins, and DJ Mikey Palms
when: Sun 8.27 (3-8pm)
where: McCarren Park Pool (Lorimer St btwn Bayard St & Driggs Ave, Wburg)
price: FREE
So they lost their golden touch when it came to naming their band — big deal! Thankfully, Dr. Dog found a better outlet for their creative energy and joy — rousing, feel-good ballads and jams. At once reminiscent of the sweeping arrangements of the Band and the Beatles’ psych-ier tunes, the good Dr.’s sunny songs are perfect for a day of carousing by the Pool. Headlining today’s show are celebrated local five-piece the Walkmen. The moody retro rockers continue to bang out anthems for malcontents, though we can only hope for a preview of (bringing it full circle) their full-track cover of Harry Nilsson’s 1974 John Lennon-produced, drug-addled wonder album, Pussy Cats. (LT)

UrbanBaby
Kiddie Cruise
Sail away on a Hudson River adventure aboard The Queen of Hearts. Kids and adults will enjoy arts and crafts, music, balloon sculpting, face painting, dancing, story telling, raffle prizes and snacks, not to mention breathtaking views of the Statue of Liberty. The family-friendly event includes a stroller check before boarding and on-board diaper changing area.
When: Sun., 8/27; Ages 1 to 6; board at 11:30am; sail noon-1:30pm; $40 for one adult and one child, $10 additional for either an adult or child (maximum of four additional guests).
Where: The Queen of Hearts, at Pier 40 (West Side Highway at West Houston St.); 212-987-9200; www.kiddiecruise.com.

FUNDAY
DailyCandy
Fly A Kite
What: Some string, a template, and ingenuity.
Why: For a modern look, cut up one of your ironic tees for the sail.
When: Whenever there’s a breeze.
Where: Wherever you’ve got room to run.

Once again the Internet proves to make the world a smaller place.

“Two 3-year-old sisters’ lives have come full circle after they became separated in China.” - AP (watch video)

The August 4th River to River concert was all that and a bag of Chips. I have an aching collar bone - caused from carrying my hefty son on my shoulders for the entire concert - and a 21-month-old unofficial member of Oppenheimer to prove it.

—

Like everyone else at the August 4th River to River festival on the piers of New York’s South Street Seaport, I arrived early in order to get an excellent vantage point from which to see Mercury Prize nominees Hot Chip rock the stage.

I had never heard of the opening band Oppenheimer prior to reading the night’s line-up, and anticipated that they would be simply a warm-up to the main attraction. How wrong I was.

Oppenheimer took to the stage amid pallid applause. The Belfast band’s Shaun Robinson sauntered over to the drums and seemed genuinely happy to be there, followed by Rocky O’ Reilly who seemed a little less certain as to what the night’s performance promised.

“That’s it?” I thought, “Just two members?” I was baffled because the stage was filled to almost overflowing with instruments – two guitars, a drum kit, two keyboards, no wait, make that three keyboards. There was also a slew of guitar pedals strewn on the floor and a toy accordion that was hidden somewhere amid the grouping of electronic musical paraphernalia.

“I’m about to say something I thought I would never say,” was how Shaun greeted the crowd. “Thank you New York!” Then without much of a countdown the band opened with a wall of sound that seemed sonically, musically and physically impossible.

I caught up with Rocky O’Reilly the next day as the band was about to head to their instore performance at a small record store in Brooklyn’s Williamsburg neighborhood.

Rocky O’Reilly: We are running out the door, but I’ll try to answer some questions for you. Glad you made it to the show!

Pixel Surgeon: How did you feel about the response to last night’s River to River performance?

AMAZING! People in the states are a lot more open than those in Belfast, we met so many nice people last night, it was a great experience.

How many shows will you be doing (have you done) in New York?

The South Street was our first NYC show, we are doing two in Brooklyn today, and on Aug 21st are playing at Piano’s.

How is it possible that a duo delivers such a full, rich, funky sound?

Synthesizers are good for that, we like to think we’re half indie pop/ half electronica, so employing synths/samplers all that helps beef things up.

Would being a quartet or quintet make the musical process simpler or more difficult?

I could never imagine Oppenheimer being more than us Oppenheimers. We write and record all our own stuff, the creation is very studio based. It’s the two of us throwing our ideas back and forth at each other and seeing where it takes us. In that way I hope the live show reflects that process, that it is two people creating the sounds.

On occasion people are upset that it’s not guitar/bass/drums, but that’s not really what we are about, it’s about pop/electronica and really it’s about having fun!

—–

Toward the middle of the August 4th performance Shaun did something ego-ridden American pop bands never do… he invited everyone backstage. “We’ve just released our new cd,” said Shaun speaking of the band’s debut album simply titled Oppenheimer that was released July of this year on the infamous Bar/None Records label. “If you like our sound,” continued Shaun, “we’ll be loitering abouts back there. Come back and join us.”

It was petty brave of you to invite audience members back stage to chat with the band. Don’t you know that New York fans are a rowdy bunch?

People where telling us that New Yorkers can be tough, I don’t think anyone is as tough as a Belfast crowd! If we can brave that, then New York is a dream.

In introducing ‘Breakfast In NYC’ you said you enjoy pizza for breakfast. Where have you had the best slice since you’ve been in New York?

We’ll we had some good pizza last night, however the award has to go to the one we are about to eat. At 5am I was woken up by 3 crazy guys from Belfast that we are staying with, they had a HUGE pizza with candles and singing happy birthday to me. It scared the crap out of me! I think Shaun likes Pizza more than I, I’m all about the club sandwich these days.

Well, haaappy birrrthday tooo yooou!

There was no Guiness at the little beer cart on the pier where you performed. I was extremely disappointed and had to settle for amber Michelob. How did you guys perform so wonderfully without the Irish staple when without it I was struggling to be a proper audience member?

Well, actually Bar/None stopped by a special shop and bought 48 bottles of Guiness for us, so it all worked out!

I live a few blocks from Sound Fix in Brooklyn where you guys will be later. It’s a tiny venue for an in-store performance. Where will you put all your equipment?

Well, now we are nervous! We’ve played some pretty small stages, we will survive.

—–

Survive they did. Oppenhiemer turned their instore into an incafé as the performance was move to the slightly larger pastry and coffee shop that shares the back wall, and restroom, with the Sound Fix record store.

Toward the end of the South Street Seaport performance the night before, everyone in the audience was pleased to have witnessed this Belfast duo do their thing and showed their appreciation by introducing an impromptu clap sequence to the band’s last song. The performance was an amalgamation of disco, electronica, funk and soul. If you can imagine a little less animated Junior Senior channeling a bit of Ron Trent you’d come close to the musical energy Oppenheimer delivers.

The café performance was slightly more reserved. It saw a third person, a soundman maybe, assisting the duo in the cramped quarters of the eatery. Hipsters bopped their heads as the band did their best to rock out. When I went to the front, the record store where the performance was originally scheduled, I heard the storeowner and an employee manning the register discussing the band’s performance.

“They’re a lot louder than on the album,” said the employee. “Yeah,” agreed the owner, “but they totally rock.”

If Rocky O’Reilly and Shaun Robinson were born under the Union Jack instead of next to the blarney, and if there were a category for fun-funky-earnest-poetic-electro-pop in the Mercury Prize selections, they too would certainly be nominees for the next round of the coveted British music awards.

+ also published at PixelSurgeon