Artist: Run The Jewels Album: RTJ4 Date Released: June 3rd, 2020 Listen YouTube Spotify Tidal Apple Music Artist Background The duo consisting of Atlanta rapper Killer Mike, and legendary underground produceMC El-P, known together as Run The Jewels, originally came together as a result of Adult Swim executive Jason DeMarco who introduced the two in 2011. After his 2011 album PL3DGE peaked at #115 on the US charts, Killer Mike told Jason that he wanted to make his own AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted. Jason informed Mike, “If you want AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted modernized, the only producer I know who comes close to the Bomb Squad-level of production is El-P”. The duo’s chemistry was immediate, as El-P went on to produce all of Killer Mike’s 2012 last solo album R.A.P. Music, and Mike featured on El-P’s final solo album Cancer 4 Cure. Mike and El’s respective albums released within a week of each other in May 2012, and the two embarked on a twenty-city US tour in the following months. After returning from tour, the pair had found a friendship growing between themselves, and made the decision to put other projects on hold and focus on the chemistry that had been sparked. Recording at an upstate NY studio beginning in April 2013, the duo re-appropriated the phrase “Run The Jewels” from the LL Cool J track “Cheesy Rat Blues", and released their self-titled collaborative album, for free via digital download, only a mere 2 months later in June 2013. 36” Chain vs. Pistol & Fist Run The Jewels discography currently exists in a distinct pairing. With Run The Jewels as their debut, this record set the group's tone as a light-hearted, braggadocious duo with as much confidence in their abilities as swag in their punchlines. Just over a year later, the sequel Run The Jewels 2 took the foundation set from their freshman effort and dialed the insanity up to 11. RTJ2 pushed the boundaries of their aggression and flows to new heights; with incredible energy in their verses, and absolutely impeccable beats, blending El-P’s signature industrial sound with sharp synth arpeggios, chopped Zach De La Rocha vocals, and absolutely bonkers Travis Barker drums. It was then nearly 3 years before Jamie and Mike followed up their breakout RTJ2, with Run The Jewels 3 being released again ahead of its scheduled release date via free digital download, this time on Christmas Eve 2016. Instead of these two attempting to outdo the pure insanity and in-your-face attitude found in their predecessor, Mike and El decide to evolve themselves as a group. The duo had noticeably pulled back on the swag and dick jokes which made such a splash on RTJ2, instead choosing a more subdued, electronic approach to their beats, as well as a clearly stronger political approach in their lyrics. This change in sound and style is demonstrated in the album cover’s artwork. The first two records featured the distinctive RTJ “Pistol and Fist”, with the fist tightly gripping a chain. The chain, in my opinion, represents the swag and braggadocio that drove the aggressive nature of their first two albums. In RTJ3 the chain is removed, leaving only hands that have transformed from bleeding and bandaged, to a pristine gold. This brings us to early 2020. It’s been nearly 4 years of living in a post-Trump America, and El-P announces that Run The Jewels fourth record has been completed. Mike and El live-stream the first single “yankee and the brave” on Instagram on March 22nd, 2020. Lyrically and sonically, RTJ4 exists as the successor to Run The Jewels 3, with Mike and El again taking the good from their previous effort and launching it into the creative stratosphere. El-P’s beats are again leaning towards the synthetic, electronic side, this time with the intensity dialed all the way up to 11. From a lyrical perspective, RTJ takes the politically-charged lyrics from their predecessor, and again, up the ante, laying down some of the hardest hitting and politically poignant bars either of these two have ever spit. Album Review 2020 was a year that none of us will soon forget. An unprecedented global health crisis kept the majority of us inside for months at a time. RTJ4 was announced on May 12th, 2020, with a release date slated for June 5th, 2020. However, with 2020 as the gift that won’t stop giving, the end of May was highlighted by the unjust killing of George Floyd. The phrase heard around the world, “I can’t breathe” instantly became a rally-cry for the oppressed to finally take to the streets to demand systemic police reform, as Floyd’s death was not the first time this phrase was uttered in an unjust police killing. In fact, a 2020 study by the New York Times showed that at least 70 people have died in police custody after using the same phrase over the past decade. As millions of American’s began organizing protests and demonstrations in the wake of Floyd’s death, Run The Jewels made the decision to release their latest chapter two days ahead of the scheduled release. El-P tweeted, just minutes ahead of the drop, “Fuck it, why wait. The world is infested with bullshit, so here’s something raw to listen to while you deal with it all. We hope it brings you some joy. Stay safe and hopeful out there and thank you for giving 2 friends the chance to be heard and do what they love”. In line with all past Run The Jewels releases, the album was made available for free digital download, two days ahead of its scheduled release date, on June 3rd, 2020. THE RETURN (we don’t mean no harm but we truly mean all the disrespect) RTJ4 opens with the first single, “yankee and the brave (ep. 4)”. Using the team names from their respective hometown baseball teams, Mike and El use the opening track to prove that they’re not just a hip-hop duo, they’re brothers, for better or worse. El-P kicks this installment off with rapid-fire, machine-gun esque snares, matching Killer Mike’s aggressive flow and tightly packed rhymes, before El jumps in to trade some dense rhymes as well. Mike and El depict themselves as outlaws, with Mike surrounded by cops with only one bullet remaining. He contemplates suicide instead of allowing the police to take him alive, until El-P jumps back in, offering Mike a way out, with a getaway car waiting outside. This tense situation is depicted lightheartedly in this song’s music video, which was released via Adult Swim and features the duo animated. The trade-off between Mike and El’s short verses are reminiscent of late-80’s EPMD flows, while the production sounds like boom-bap that’s been sent to us from the future. This distinctive blend of old-school rap roots and forward thinking production is what continues to separate Run The Jewels from absolutely all of their contemporaries. While so many artists are continually playing catch-up with the latest trends, RTJ are side-stepping the trendy and moving forward with the mind-bending. FLEXIN’ (ayo one for mayhem, two for mischief) The second single “ooh la la” samples a Gang Star track "DWYCK (feat. Nice & Smooth)" as the basis for the chorus. I say “samples” as that’s how it is credited in the album’s liner notes, however it’s truly an interpolation of Greg Nice’s bar, slowed down slightly, and sung by El-P and Greg Nice himself. El-P is a true old-head at heart, and it’s abundantly obvious in his work, even going as far as to recruit legendary producer DJ Premiere to handle the scratching on the back end of this banger. Out of key piano chords are looped to quickly create an unsettling aura surrounding the track, before El-P’s voice cuts through the infectious piano like a whip. Pounding, up-tempo drums are introduced after the chorus’ first iteration, creating what is possibly El-P’s first danceable beat. Lyrically, Mike and El-P initially seem scattered on this track, however the music video quickly makes their point very obvious.
”we imagined the world on the day that the age old struggle of class was finally over. a day that humanity, empathy and community were victorious over the forces that would separate us based on arbitrary systems created by man. this video is a fantasy of waking up on a day that there is no monetary system, no dividing line, no false construct to tell our fellow man that they are less or more than anyone else. not that people are without but that the whole meaning of money has vanished. that we have somehow solved our self created caste system and can now start fresh with love, hope and celebration. its a dream of humanity’s V-DAY… and the party we know would pop off.”
The video envisions a society celebrating the fact that the class system we currently exist within has finally imploded. Money is worthless, and we have rejected the desire to bind ourselves to the constraints of capitalism. All creeds and colors unite to burn the system that has so effectively controlled us for over a century. It’s a party, and if there was a song to celebrate the end of the world as it is currently known, “ooh la la” is that song. Mike’s last verse features a few metaphors and comparisons celebrating the destruction of capitalism, saving the most poignant for last:
I used to love Bruce, but livin' my vida loca Helped me understand I'm probably more of a Joker When we usher in chaos, just know that we did it smiling Cannibals on this island, inmates run the asylum
Premo’s expertly cut scratches lead us into the equally hard hitting sample flip of “Misdemeanor”, by Foster Stevens as the basis for the beat to “out of sight”. Lending yet another nod to the old-school greats that laid the foundation for RTJ, “out of sight” samples the same track as The D.O.C.’s “It’s Funky Enough”, only adding a bouncy, electronic synth atop the inverted chord hits, and uptempo, industrial drums, to create an absolutely infectious groove for Mike and El’s dynamic chemistry to shine, rapidly jumping between each other’s two line flows in the first verse. “out of sight” shows each MC providing insight into how each of them earned a living and achieved their current status. Mike and El’s opening verse each details themselves robbing people in order to eat. El alludes to the fact that he crossed his accomplices in crime for the whole bag, while Mike details the fact his assailant tells him it’s an “honor” to be robbed by his mother’s only son. While El-P’s production is the obvious stand out on first listen, Killer Mike comes through with one of the most sonically pleasing and technically proficient verses of 2020.
We the motivating, devastating, captivating Ghost and Rae relating product of the fuckin' '80s Coke dealin' babies, never regulating, bag accumulating It would not be overstating to say they are underrating The pride of Brooklyn and the Grady, baby We don't need no compliments or confidence Our attitude and latitude is "fuck you, pay me"
The dense, intricate rhyme schemes smack you in the face, almost distracting you from Mike’s delivery and blistering flow on the verse; flexing his legendary status while paying homage to his drug-dealing past. This absolutely stunning display of technical skill, story telling, and complex rhyming illustrates how RTJ seamlessly integrates the best of both old school and new school hip-hop. “out of sight” also features a guest verse from 2 Chainz, and he continues to lay the braggadocio on thick. Considering Tity Boi’s dedication to trap stylings, his verse feels right at home on the flex track, despite it’s late 80’s tribute sample, a considerable departure from his usual sound palette. Up until this point, I haven’t mentioned any of the El-P’s lyrics specifically. El-P is a great rapper, but Killer Mike… Well, Killer Mike is an incredible rapper. He’s the guy who draws you in. El-P is the one who lays the foundation for greatness and Mike is the show stopper, and that’s generally the case for most RTJ tracks. But on “holy calamafuck”, El-P seems determined to make people stop and ask, “Who the fuck is this?!”. A sharp, yet nearly minimalistic drum kit backing a heavily distorted synthesizer melody lays beneath rhymically knocking cow-bells. This aggressively set stage allows Mike and El to flex as the dynamic duo they are, until the beat suddenly takes a turn for the chaotic. A gnarled, ultra-menacing synth overtakes everything while Mike screams into the abyss, until a distorted snare, enormous 808s, and skeletal hi-hats cut through and launch the beat switch into another dimension. The minimal, yet incredibly dark soundscape allows El-P to snap in a way I have never heard from him previously. His rhymes schemes are reminiscent of an old MF DOOM lyric notebook, while his topics flawlessly combine flexing, psychedelic use, and his well-cemented legacy in the hip-hop community. Cutting and pasting a few of his bars into this review could not convey a fraction of how stunning El-P’s performance on “holy calamafuck” is. Slightly later in the track list, making liberal use of the Ether song “Gang of Four”, “the ground below” samples and loops the sharp guitar riff and adds aggressive, pounding drums as the basis for the beat; this is finally reminiscent of the forward-thinking, stridulous production El-P has built his reputation on. Capitalising on the classic RTJ moment, Mike and El both flex in their own unique ways. Mike compares himself to Godzilla taking on Tokyo, and El-P demands respect for his name as the legend he is, threatening to smack dying children for mispronouncing his name with his middle finger to the world; his complete disregard for human life and confidence in his abilities are summed up at the end of his verse.
You see a future where Run the Jewels ain’t the shit Cancel my Hitler-killing trip Turn the time machine back around a century
SO¢IAL JU$T-ICE (until my voice go from a shriek to whisper...) While the first few tracks aren’t without their social and political themes, the back-end of RTJ4 is where Mike and El start to bust out the heavy topics. “goonies vs. E.T.”. starts off light, with El-P pointing to the irony of how once he finally started to make it “big” in the industry, the world began to descend into chaos due to climate changes, increasingly obvious social injustice, and political madness. He culminates his frustration with our disregard for the Earth with a fantastic quotable.
Fuck y’all got, another planet on stash? Far from the fact of the flames and our trash That is not snow, it is ash, and you gotta know The past got a wrath, it’s a lover gone mad
Mike’s verse takes the light-hearted frustration expressed by El-P, and turns the aggression to the next level. Aiming his sights against the ruling class and their society that’s been designed to oppress people for profit, who have very meticulously painted themselves as celebrities and idols to the American public. Mike accepts that he will be villainized by these people for speaking against them, but he welcomes the nefarious role, knowing that the working class will eventually eat the rich, no matter how much they are stomped into the dirt. And this is just the warmup. If it’s possible for a song to represent a moment in time that captures the absolute shit storm that has been 2020, “walking in the snow” is that song. It’s release coincided perfectly with the protests for George Floyd which were sweeping the nation. Killer Mike’s verse directly references the phrase “I can’t breathe”, the last words of Eric Garner, which also happened to be the last words of Floyd as well. The fact that this verse was reportedly written in November 2019 perpetually underscores the importance of the content and perfectly represents how persistent this problem is. “walking in the snow” is a true encapsulation of both a defining moment in time and an ever-persisting issue. But he doesn’t just stop at the racial injustice. Mike goes on an absolute rant about the American education system; how it’s not designed to teach people, but to discriminate against poor populations, limiting their legitimate opportunities, and therefore disproportionately leading them into a criminal lifestyle. He calls out the media as fear-mongers, and the apathy of the American public in the face of indecency. Fortunately for Mike, by the time we finally had the chance to hear this masterpiece, we were already on our feet, using this album as a war cry to mobilize against a tyrannical government that militarized against its own citizens simply for asking that we recognize systemic racism and demanding change. Killer Mike has the best verse of the year, no doubt in my mind. The only drawback is that Mike’s verse is so fucking good that it completely overshadows El-P’s, which is also amazing. A menacing guitar riff and haunting synths kick the track off into a bouncy groove, where El-P unleashes a flurry of internal rhymes that does not relent for about half his verse. Even adding layers of social commentary within the densely packed bars, El refuses to quit and continues on his political tirade; criticizing ICE’s detainment center practices and the “pseudo-Christians” who support them, with a bar that now lives in my head:
Pseudo-Christians, y’all indifferent, kids in prison ain’t a sin? Shit if even one scrap of what Jesus taught connected you’d feel different what a disingenuous way to piss away existence, I don’t get it I’d say you lost your goddamn minds if y’all possessed one to begin with
The combination of two of the best verses spit by any rapper(s) this year and production help from El-P and long time RTJ collaborator Little Shalimar, create a bouncy, aggressive, deeply truthful banger. “walking in the snow” not only encapsulates the crux of 2020 with lyrics that will become more powerful as they age, but will also forever be associated with the Black Lives Matter movement and the determination to expose continuing racial and societal injustices. The sonic palette of RTJ4 holds an extremely unique place in El-P’s discography. Jamie is the definition of a self-made 90’s hip-hop legend. This is the dude who put New York underground hip-hop on the map with Company Flow, and he did it with his unique flavor of dark, noisy, dense, boom-bap. Whether he was doing it with the help of Rawkus, or completely independently during his Definitive Jux run, El-P has never made music with the intention of becoming famous. Funcrusher Plus, Fantastic Damage,I’ll Sleep When You’re Dead, and Cancer 4 Cure are all highly revered as industrial, technical, abrasive, and completely unsuitable for the radio or a party. The fact that three songs on RTJ4 could easily be heard on the radio, at a party, or in a TV series credits scene is frankly, astounding. In a 2002 interview/documentary on El-P’s budding record label Def Jux, he stated that his friend bet him $500 that he could not make a beat that was “happy”. At the time of the interview, El-P said that he had not won that bet yet. While I might not qualify the beats on RTJ4 as “happy”, if you showed El-P the beat for “JU$T” in 2002, I believe he might have won that bet. Pharell opens “JU$T” with the pre-chorus, spitting varied examples of how we’re all slaves to our current system throughout the track, over echoing snares and bouncy 808s before bright synth chords and up-tempo hi-hats burst in while Killer Mike delivers the chorus, pointing to the fact that the majority of the people featured on American currency owned slaves at one point in their lives. Mike’s verse touches on the fact that he has committed crimes to get where they are today. Mike is publicly open about his past as a drug dealer. So why is he a criminal, but Benjamin Franklin isn’t? These are the people who built our country, and they built it on the backs of slaves. He illustrates this theme with a more recent examples:
You believe corporations runnin marijuana? Ooh (how that happen?) and your country gettin ran by a casino owner (ooh) pedophiles sponsor all these fuckin’ racist bastards (they do)
When corporations are able to sell cannabis legally, but the government continually incarcerates people who trap, our president is a notoriously fraudulent businessman, and the people who helped put him in power run a pedophile ring, yet none of them face consequences and are allowed to continue to profit and remain in power while people suffer; well, we might be closer to slaves than previously imagined. Rage Against The Machine frontman Zach de la Rocha also makes his mandatory feature appearance at the end of “JU$T”. As the only artist to feature on three Run The Jewels albums, Zach is essentially an unofficial member of the group at this point. His fiery verse is spit with the same “Rage” energy that set him apart in the mid-90’s, ending the track questioning his place in a capitalist society as a recipe for his inevitable demise, since his “breath”, or art, as his weapon to express himself is still being exploited for other’s profit. Continuing with RTJ4’s heavily synthetic sonic palette, “never look back” features wavering synth leads resting above the slow-jams snappy snares and thumping bass, while a haunting voice echoes in the background. This unsettling aura provides additional gravity for Jamie and Mike to continue self-reflecting on defining moments in their childhood, and as well as how far they’ve come from those moments. Mike and El are both self-made men, and while they have a certain fondness for those gritty moments that defined them, moving forward in life is undoubtedly more important. Skeletal drums reminiscent of a slowly pounding heart opens “pulling the pin”, before rhythmic hi-hats and textured, watery synths fluttering in the upper register resting above a bouncy synth lead, and punchy 808s, burst in. The track digs itself into a slower, marching groove and shows the duo figuratively doing exactly what the title implies. Painting a portrait of a society that has turned on itself, Mike and El are ready to pull the pin and start over. The duo both detail their despise for the ruling class, pointing out multiple examples of how the elite have designed our society to keep poor people in their class. Simultaneously recognizing their own hypocrisy for profiting in a system that inherently discriminates; Mike reflects on his own success, knowing that living the lifestyle he enjoys is one built on oppression, and expresses the guilt that has caused him. El-P opens with a brutal metaphor for police, implying that they’re the root cause of the “wretched state of danger” our society exists within, and that the only effective corrective action is to numb yourself with drugs. Despite his advice, Jamie knows this is not a permanent solution, but one that causes more self-inflicted wounds. The final piece of the puzzle that is RTJ4, “a few words for the firing squad” begins to close the album with ever crescending strings, and loud, thunderous drums which never seem to resolve, continuing throughout their verses. While the drums that lead to nowhere can be sonically unpleasant, the unresolved melodies are intentionally representative of their current mindsets. Their verses are reflective and grim, but simultaneously optimistic and envisions a world where tragedy is a less common occurrence. El is grateful for what he has now but recognizes his entire life has been skewed by traumas, so out of place feels normal for him. He reflects on his current success, noting that the worst people tend to end up with the most, which makes becoming “rich” something not as desirable as it once was. Mike opens up about the death of his mother who died while he was on an airplane, admitting his struggles to not cope with his trauma with opioids. However, his wife provides him the most important reason to stay clean “but my queen/say she need a king/not another junkie rapper fiend” while a heartbreaking saxophone solo highlights the gravity of his lyrics. The track ends with what sounds the like wrap-up voiceover to a TV show, a conceptually satisfying ending, as the opening track “yankee and brave (ep.4)” began with El-P stating:
”This week, on Yankee and The Brave”
This voiceover paints the duo as brothers on the run from the law and crooked cops, and while this does close this “episode” out as intended, the critic in me is bothered by the slightly kitschy outro to such a spectacular album. The voices singing over and over, “Brave, brave, braaaaaave, Yankee and the Brave” would be, simply put, better left on the cutting room floor. The ending of this track alone is what knocks my score of this album down a few points. Despite its stellar lyrical content, with drums that never seem to reach that “holy shit!” moment, and the easily skippable outro, it’s upsetting to me that an album this great ends on such a low note. Overview RTJ4 is by far my favorite album of the year. El-P’s cutting edge approach to their sound, blended with lyrical content that continues to be more relevant by the day, the duo have come together with what is objectively their most accessible album to date. RTJ4 is the natural evolution of sound and subject matter for the duo; taking the foundation set by Run The Jewels 3 and evolving it into a more concise, more accessible, and more conceptual album. While I still personally prefer the “fuck the world” intensity and experimental nature of Run The Jewels 2, RTJ4 opens themselves up to a whole new world of exposure, and when you’re as talented as these two, you know they’re going to capitalize on it. RTJ is currently at their apex, and they’ve created an album that will make many new life-long fans going forward. 9.2/10 Discussion Points
How does this compare to other RTJ releases? How about in comparison to the member’s solo works?
Does the overwhelmingly positive critical reception of this album surprise you?
Hi everyone! I am working non-stop provide the best research and analysis regarding DraftKings (NASDAQ: DKNG). I originally posted my overall investment thesis on the company a few weeks back and now I am breaking down and analyzing the latest news and developments regarding DKNG! And no, it is not the ticker symbol for Donkey Kong. DraftKings in my opinion, is the best pure play investment if you want some exposure to the sports betting, iGaming, and daily fantasy sports space. They're founder led (3 founders to be exact) and they're invested into the company themselves right alongside all of us shareholders or potential shareholders. Within the last week, there has been some exciting developments regarding DraftKings. I will share them below: DK Gift Cards Are Live! You can buy a DK gift card as a stocking stuffer for Christmas if you want. I’m really excited to hear this news. It’s only going to increase the brand awareness of DK and that’s what we want. According to the press release on DK’s investor relations website, they’ve partnered with InComm Payments to facilitate the launching of the gift cards. InComm payments is a global leading payments technology company that has a network of retailers that DK will be able to leverage through this partnership. Convenience stores like 7-Eleven, Speedway and Dollar General are just some of the many convenience stores in Incomm Payments’ network that DK will be able to leverage. For now, the gift cards will be offered in $50 and $25 denominations. The great thing about this to me is that they’ve beat their competitors to this. That shows managements initiative and ability to get things done which I complimented when I first picked this company. As of right now, you’re not going to be seeing any “FanDuel” (boo FanDuel *thumbs down emoji*) gift cards in the stores. Tim Richardson, the Senior Vice President at InComm Payments was quoted as saying “DraftKings will benefit from having its brand present in tens of thousands of Incomm Payments’ retail partner locations across the US”. Overall, good news for DK. New York State – Getting desperate? Do they need some online sports gambling revenue? I want to make this clear before I write about this topic – sports betting is already legal in New York state. The problem is, it’s only legal in brick and mortar (retail) locations. Just under a dozen upstate casinos can operate brick and mortar sports books at the moment. In typical DK fashion, they’re already active in a casino in New York State. DK offers in person brick and mortar sports betting through the Del Lago Resort Casino in Waterloo, NY. My news update I’m sharing is that it appears New York state might be considering expanding to online sports betting too due to a budget shortfall they’re experiencing (they need more tax revenue). This news came out on Wednesday, 12/16/20 during the day time. Governor Cuomo had a press conference during the day. The press conference was primarily focused on giving an update on the COVID-19 pandemic in New York state. During the presser, the topic of New York state’s budget shortfalls came up. As a possible financial solution, Cuomo said “Are there other ways to get revenue? How about marijuana? How about sports betting?” He’s referring to the possible tax revenue that could be collected if sports betting offerings were expanded beyond just the brick and mortar offerings. What if every New Yorker could place a sports wager from the comfort of their own home on their cell phone? The battle for legalizing online sports gambling in New York has been going on for years. Governor Cuomo has always been opposed to it. One of the reasons Gov. Cuomo has cited in the past is that he thinks a constitutional amendment would need to be made to New York state law to allow for mobile sports betting in the state. However, one state representative from New York that has been pushing hard for online sports gambling begs to differ. In response to Cuomo’s comments in the presser earlier that day, State Senator Joseph Addabbo said that there would be no constitutional problem with mobile sports betting because the servers could be placed on site of grandfathered in physical casinos. Addabo said that New York state’s need for revenue is “real and immediate” This is a situation to keep a close eye on. The impacts of legalizing mobile sports betting in NY would be substantial for DK as it would open the population of 20 million people in NY state the opportunity to place wagers on the DK Sportsbook app through the comfort of their home. I imagine it wouldn’t be too difficult for DK to mobilize once they get the green light for mobile betting as they already have the standing relationship with Del Lago Resort Casino for in person betting. The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) granted DK a provisional license to conduct online gaming and sports betting in the state of Michigan For this update I also want to be clear – retail (brick and mortar) and mobile sports betting are already legal in the state of Michigan. It’s just that there’s a lot of yellow tape for Sportsbooks like DK to navigate within a state even after sports betting has become legalized. This provisional license provided by the MGCB was provided to DK and 14 other sportsbooks (including rival FanDuel) on Thursday, December 10th last week. Now there are just a few more regulatory requirements that DK has to meet in the state of Michigan before they can go live. According to http://www.michigan.gov, “Before launch happens, the platform providers must complete additional regulatory requirements including independent testing of platforms and games and MGCB approval of their internal controls, which ensure gaming integrity. The firms also must secure occupational licenses for certain employees.” You can read the full article on Michigan’s government website here. Knowing that DK has a knack for being quick to mobilize once they’re given opportunities in respective states, I fully expect them to pass these last few tests with flying colors. The DK Sportsbook app has already been available in the state of Michigan for “free to enter” games. Once they pass the last few requirements, actual wagers will be allowed to be placed. And money will be allowed to be made! Another promising sign coming out of the state of Michigan, is that on November 30th, 2020, DK became an official sports betting partner of the Detroit Pistons, the NBA basketball team in Michigan. DK Chief Business Officer, Ezra Kucharz, was on the record after the deal closed saying “As our first professional team activation in the state of Michigan, we are thrilled to join forces with the Detroit Pistons ahead of our pending market introduction”. In my opinion, I anticipate we’ll be seeing DK online sports betting in Michigan some time in early 2021. This concludes my update and analysis on DraftKings. TL:DR
Draftkings now offers gift cards and you can buy them in convenience stores (first sports betting company to do so)
DraftKings received a provisional license to conduct sports gambling in Michigan
Governor Cuomo of NY said he would consider legalizing "mobile sports betting" to raise additional tax revenue
If you would like to read my original deep dive and analysis on DKNG, you can check it out here:
I'm always asking strangers what they think about the local music scene and often meeting ones who don't really know what's going on in town, so here's a refresher for you. This is not a complete list by any means, so feel free to add anything that people oughta know about. Anamon - instaspotify"Purple, Green and Yellow is the sophomore record from Anamon, a 3 piece from upstate New York led by Ana Emily Monaco. The band tread in the direction of country tinged jagged pop with varying tempos and echo-y and vibrato-soaked guitar squalls. Monaco’s vocals carry a dusky twang that suits the approach and adds a richness and depth that lingers in the ear canals of the listener. Anamon express their influences in a cohesive manner that leads to a steady foundation for some charming songwriting." -post-trash.com Clibbus - instaspotify"Originally conceived as a solo-homemade art and music multimedia project in the backyard of D'Aurelio's bedroom many years ago, the band became a full fledged live buffet of sensory overload when the three began to write together in late 2018... What's the most Reba you've ever Mac-entired? Those who may be bored of thinking or those who think too much ponder this question. Clibbus likes horses and dogs. The dog says the feeling is mutual." -floatedmag.com Aweful Kanawful - instaspotify"I really like this album and appreciate the sense of weirdness and mystery it offers up. You wonder how the hell something like the mad chamber pop of “Man of Steal” came together, but the liner notes leave as much to the imagination as they explain. Honestly, I like to think that this was all recorded with the band sitting in a sandbox like Brian Wilson doing Pet Sounds. It certainly wouldn’t surprise me." -modern-vinyl.comon "Clam's Casino" Dangerbyrd - instaspotify"The Rochester-based quartet plays without a shred of phony grandeur or self-imposed elegance. Dangerbyrd is down and dirty and a clever musical synthesis of vintage and classic. Just dig the band's guitar-driven rock 'n' roll and astute lyrics howled over its garage rock rumble. It's old, it's new, and it's the unheard strain of something familiar." -rochestercitynewspaper.com Boy Jr. - instaspotify"If there’s anything I’ve learned about Boy Jr., it’s to expect the unexpected. Rochester native Erica Lubman has been experimenting with music since childhood, combining her love for garage rock and indie pop with a flair for dramatic fashion. She’s equally likely to turn up on stage in a retro matching tracksuit as a leather skirt and torn T-shirt. As with her wardrobe, she shows off a wide range of songs in her repertoire – from punk to grunge." -nysmusic.com Gary Lamaar - instabandcamp"The title of Lamaar’s new album is “Freedom Rap.” The opening track of the same name is bookended by the refrain “fleet footed, loose tongue in the street,” establishing the emotional immediacy and quasi-punk ethos apparent throughout the album. His cadence sounds resolute and sovereign, delivering rhymes with a grit similar to emcees like MF DOOM and Talib Kweli." -rochestercitynewspaper.com Fuzzrod - instaspotify"This isn’t an album that sticks in one lane, though, and while that fuzziness is a recurring theme, there is more than one influence thrown into the pot with it. ‘Dum’ tosses a bit of early 90s alt-rock in there, bringing a Riot Grrrl vibe before ‘Fuck Work’ bounces its way into teenage rebellion. No-one is going to pinpoint it as a masterpiece of subtle song-writing, but it’s a hell of a lot of fun and deserves to be a punky live favorite for years to come." -ramblingsaboutwrestling.com Tafai - instasoundcloud"need more.. so fire bruv" -soundcloud.com Cammy Enaharo - instaspotify"It was barely two minutes into the album “From the Garage,” by singer and songwriter Cammy Enaharo, before her distinctive voice and catchy groove were apparent. A harmonious marriage of songwriting, voice and melody conjure up a soothing euphoria when combined with the smoky rifts from her signature baritone ukulele." -democratandchronicle.com Madeleine McQueen - instaspotify"Madeleine McQueen, a 23-year-old songwriter from Rochester, NY, has something to say, and you should be listening. With musical influences ranging from Nirvana to Amy Winehouse and Joni Mitchell, McQueen’s voice cuts through her songs with conviction, soul, and grace—a rare cocktail for a young songwriter." Televisionaries - instaspotify"Perhaps on paper, the term "contemporary instrumental surf rock" does not sound very appealing, but the Televisionaries of Rochester have managed to make a masterpiece of the genre. There's a lot to digest with this record, but it's more than worth it. Highly recommended." -materialworldrecords.com Overhand Sam - instaspotify"OHS (Overhand Sam, referencing his approach to the neck on the guitar), just put out his latest LP ‘Longer Legs’ and it’s one of the years more ambitious releases. On the surface it seems like a traditional 60’s Psych Rock genre exercise, but he’s offering up a lot more to the listener here. 11 songs tightly arranged and packed with enough ideas to reward repeated spins. Singable hooks, danceable rhythms, experimental zone outs, and oh yea…guitars. Guitars on guitars on guitars." -withguitars.com Full Body - instaspotify"Once "Always There" hit our inbox, we did our homework. We have to admit that we weren’t too impressed with Full Body’s first tracks... How times have changed! Don’t be scared by the rushed “noise rock” categorization, Full Body delivers here a palatable and digestive experience. Entrée, plat, dessert. With Always There, Full Body succeeded in crafting tasty and relevant compositions for both newbies on the scene and seasoned musicians (and even technicians). The Rochester quartet only left us with one luxurious anxiety: the fear of musical abandonment in the future." -slowculture.eu Moses Rockwell - instaspotifyRockwell spits rhymes with intelligent flow and charismatic swagger, throwing out poetic references like a well-versed librarian. "The Unfortunate Case of Mortis Rocksalt" is a candid reaction to societal issues through humorous observations of everyday life. You can hear the grin in his voice as Rockwell recites his inner thoughts on "An Old Yarn" and "Beak Down," while his crisp articulation is complemented by atmospheric electronic textures on "Mostly Harmless." -rochestercitynewspaper.com Harmonica Lewinksi - instaspotify"In a tight 28 minutes, Head Honcho spans the dial from weirdo surf to greasy garage to dirty disco to party punk. Recorded in Rochester NY by analog wizard Alex Patrick on ½ inch reel to reel. This full length tape from Harmonica Lewinski twists and turns its way through 12 cuts of swampy rock n roll, with booty shaker instros mixed in. Turn it over and start again." -imposemagazine.com Brendan Lake - instaspotify"In this, his first solo offering, Lake has achieved something self-evident. At its very core, beyond musical adornment or recycled melody, here is something of the utmost importance that many have forgotten. Childish Ways is about the first time you woke up and saw the world a bit differently. The first time you let something go and realized it was lost forever. The first time you found something else, both better and worse, but true nonetheless." - Reel Time Records The Fox Sisters - instaspotify"Have you ever danced so hard your body couldn’t keep up? Heart thumping, sweat beading off of the back of your neck, the onset ache in your glutes setting in? The Fox Sisters will make you dance ‘til you drop." -meltedmagazine.com Hallucination Realized - instaspotify The Low Spirits - instabandcamp There's just some for ya! It's easy for you to support your local musicians! Follow them online, tell your friends about it, maybe show up to Bug Jar when they're playing and most of all enjoy their music!!
There should be a film or mini series adaptation on the Douglas - Tyson fight @ The Mirage. Naturally a phenomenal storyline. Hear me out:
This is a very long shower thought.... Three simultaneous storylines: Buster Douglas, Mike Tyson and the fight itself (with Don King on lead for that). I'm thinking it plays in flashback - wth the fight as the backdrop and both Tyson & Douglas reminiscing on their path as they prep for the bout. Mind you, this is pure Hollywood magic touch up below and not all is accurate.
Buster Douglas: born to badass boxing legend "Dynamite Douglas" that owned a gym in Columbus OH. Trained a few amateurs occasionally.
Teen Buster is old enough to visit his dad at work and his dad tries get him to box as a way to pass down the legend. After training to simply stay in shape, his father signs him up for a fight and doesn't tell him till later while at the same time training Buster, unbeknownst to him. They confront this and Buster can't back out now. Buster ends up winning that fight handily and goes on a win streak. He starts fully appreciating the sport competitively. While his father's training intensifies to a point of frustration. Much friction ensues A string of losses and inconsistent outcomes, including a loss streak after losing the chance for a belt, forces Buster to fire his dad as the trainer. Falling out with father ensues (think silver linings playbook scene with Cooper and De Niro). More friction ensues. Douglas hires new people after struggling mentally to find the drive for a bit. His wife leaves him out of the blue. This further motivates Buster. He starts winning a few fights wth fundamentals and now has a shot at the belt....... against the viscous Mike Tyson in foreign Japan.
Mike Tyson: raised in the hard streets of Bed Stuy and Brownsville, 10y old Mike had a knack for defending others and getting in fights bc of his lisp / voice.
At 16y Mike's mother dies- his driving force and glue. However his temporary assigned guardian is a legendary boxing coach that now owns a gym upstate NY and looking more to life than just the sport. The relationship is very much Karate Kid (Coach gives Mike a simple task disguised as a fundamental stance) - Coach is peaceful like a Yoda and Mike is eager to fight, esp wth the build up of his mother's death. As an amateur he completely destroyed opponents. At 20y he wins the heavyweight with ease and a very inspirational moment to his mother's memory. More wins and fame build up. Mike becomes a pop culture icon with talk shows and interviews, etc (things Mike isn't a fan of). Frustration of this unwanted fame settles in while he nurses a coke and partying habit. Creating a rivalry with Evander Holyfield, he starts to find ways to mess with him while Holyfield disses him back continually. Just one fight stands between. And that one fight happens to be against.......Buster Douglas.
The Fight: cut to an older swanky G, mid 60s and weathered but well dressed male individual. He's a top dawg Vegas bookie. While reading the paper, Bookie notices that it's weeks away from the fight and no other casino is listing the fight for placing wagers, which is highly unusual.
He decides to list the fight at 42-1 odds, unheard of at the time. The other bookmakers knock him (similar to the underdog mentality the other fighters are facing) but he opens the door for others to place wages. "Theres no such thing as a sure thing." One of his clients reaches out and places this bet on Douglas. This client ends up being a friend of Don King. We shift focus to him now. Don King doing eccentric Don King business things to set up this fight, along with all the stipulations while fighting a messy lawsuit and the mob on his back. He's finding ways to squeeze as much out of the deal financially as possible while also pressured by the mob to throw the fight in favor of them making money in Vegas by using our Bookie character to place the bet. Admittedly King, like Tyson, has his sights set on the next fight vs Holyfield and begins to lose sight of what's in front of him.
The Mirage Fight: 7 days leading up the bout. We catch up to find out that Douglas lost his mother and Tyson is continuing his struggles from the point we last left them.
Some pre fight shenanigans to further amplify the importance of Douglas's role while Tyson isn't paying much attention to this. Fight begins - Douglas begins to dominate out of the gate while Tyson finds ways to survive the rounds. Some drama ensues in Tysons corner when it turns out his trainers didn't bring proper equipment for the round breaks since they thought this would be over quick. Tyson claws back and knocks Douglas down but he makes it through. At this point, it's anyones match. The fighters are on their last tick of gas. We enter the 10th round. Everyone is on the edge of their seats - Holyfield, Bookie, the mob, Don King, etc. The bell rings and the fighters begin their gassed assault on each other. Tyson and his body blows. Douglas and his long arm span. Douglas sees a small window and goes for the knock out (in slow motion). We flash back to a moment where Dynamite Douglas is knocking around teenage Buster to a point of anger. Back to the fight - Buster Douglas follows through his punch using that pent up emotion to knock down Tyson. Tyson is down. In his perspective now, we're fading between the ref counting to ten and a memory of Mike being bullied when he was ten. He lets that negative memory get to him just enough for the ref to count to 10 and declaring the fight over. Buster Douglas wins the match. Cut to black. Credits roll wth actual clips of the post fight interviews in the ring on half the screen. Themes of fighting physical and mental demons. Taking advantage of opportunities. Using your emotions to your advantage of success/failure. Importance of father figures. Or something like that... IT'S JUST AN IDEA AND NOT PLAGIARIZING WTH INTENT, ALL PURE COINCIDENCE IF SO. Heres a quick background source in case https://youtu.be/o4rHtSlaHqg
Do you pride our city on its music scene? Is supporting the arts an important part of your life? You can help...
I posted this list a couple months ago just to promote (myself and) my fellow musicians in Rochester and luckily gave myself a head start on the trouble of compiling artists, descriptions and links to where you can support them. You know musicians in Rochester. They're broke as hell, working in bars and kitchens, splitting $100 between four people at the end of a gig, usually just getting by. You probably know tons of them who just cancelled all the shows they had planned lately and even more who lost their jobs. If attending shows and buying merch from artists you love is important to you, and you can afford to do so, here is where you can. Follow these artists on social media! Share their music with your friends and family. You've got time to get acquainted with some new albums with the global pandemic and all. Add to this! Support local musicians! Anamon - instaspotifybandcamp"Purple, Green and Yellow is the sophomore record from Anamon, a 3 piece from upstate New York led by Ana Emily Monaco. The band tread in the direction of country tinged jagged pop with varying tempos and echo-y and vibrato-soaked guitar squalls. Monaco’s vocals carry a dusky twang that suits the approach and adds a richness and depth that lingers in the ear canals of the listener. Anamon express their influences in a cohesive manner that leads to a steady foundation for some charming songwriting." -post-trash.com Clibbus - instaspotifybandcamp"Originally conceived as a solo-homemade art and music multimedia project in the backyard of D'Aurelio's bedroom many years ago, the band became a full fledged live buffet of sensory overload when the three began to write together in late 2018... What's the most Reba you've ever Mac-entired? Those who may be bored of thinking or those who think too much ponder this question. Clibbus likes horses and dogs. The dog says the feeling is mutual." -floatedmag.com Aweful Kanawful - instaspotifybandcamp"I really like this album and appreciate the sense of weirdness and mystery it offers up. You wonder how the hell something like the mad chamber pop of “Man of Steal” came together, but the liner notes leave as much to the imagination as they explain. Honestly, I like to think that this was all recorded with the band sitting in a sandbox like Brian Wilson doing Pet Sounds. It certainly wouldn’t surprise me." -modern-vinyl.comon "Clam's Casino" Dangerbyrd - instaspotifybandcamp"The Rochester-based quartet plays without a shred of phony grandeur or self-imposed elegance. Dangerbyrd is down and dirty and a clever musical synthesis of vintage and classic. Just dig the band's guitar-driven rock 'n' roll and astute lyrics howled over its garage rock rumble. It's old, it's new, and it's the unheard strain of something familiar." -rochestercitynewspaper.com Boy Jr. - instaspotifybandcamp"If there’s anything I’ve learned about Boy Jr., it’s to expect the unexpected. Rochester native Erica Lubman has been experimenting with music since childhood, combining her love for garage rock and indie pop with a flair for dramatic fashion. She’s equally likely to turn up on stage in a retro matching tracksuit as a leather skirt and torn T-shirt. As with her wardrobe, she shows off a wide range of songs in her repertoire – from punk to grunge." -nysmusic.com Gary Lamaar - instabandcamp"The title of Lamaar’s new album is “Freedom Rap.” The opening track of the same name is bookended by the refrain “fleet footed, loose tongue in the street,” establishing the emotional immediacy and quasi-punk ethos apparent throughout the album. His cadence sounds resolute and sovereign, delivering rhymes with a grit similar to emcees like MF DOOM and Talib Kweli." -rochestercitynewspaper.com Fuzzrod - instaspotifybandcamp"This isn’t an album that sticks in one lane, though, and while that fuzziness is a recurring theme, there is more than one influence thrown into the pot with it. ‘Dum’ tosses a bit of early 90s alt-rock in there, bringing a Riot Grrrl vibe before ‘Fuck Work’ bounces its way into teenage rebellion. No-one is going to pinpoint it as a masterpiece of subtle song-writing, but it’s a hell of a lot of fun and deserves to be a punky live favorite for years to come." -ramblingsaboutwrestling.com Tafai - instasoundcloud"need more.. so fire bruv" -soundcloud.com Cammy Enaharo - instaspotifybandcamp"It was barely two minutes into the album “From the Garage,” by singer and songwriter Cammy Enaharo, before her distinctive voice and catchy groove were apparent. A harmonious marriage of songwriting, voice and melody conjure up a soothing euphoria when combined with the smoky rifts from her signature baritone ukulele." -democratandchronicle.com Madeleine McQueen - instaspotifybandcamp"Madeleine McQueen, a 23-year-old songwriter from Rochester, NY, has something to say, and you should be listening. With musical influences ranging from Nirvana to Amy Winehouse and Joni Mitchell, McQueen’s voice cuts through her songs with conviction, soul, and grace—a rare cocktail for a young songwriter." Televisionaries - instaspotifybandcamp"Perhaps on paper, the term "contemporary instrumental surf rock" does not sound very appealing, but the Televisionaries of Rochester have managed to make a masterpiece of the genre. There's a lot to digest with this record, but it's more than worth it. Highly recommended." -materialworldrecords.com Overhand Sam - instaspotifybandcamp"OHS (Overhand Sam, referencing his approach to the neck on the guitar), just put out his latest LP ‘Longer Legs’ and it’s one of the years more ambitious releases. On the surface it seems like a traditional 60’s Psych Rock genre exercise, but he’s offering up a lot more to the listener here. 11 songs tightly arranged and packed with enough ideas to reward repeated spins. Singable hooks, danceable rhythms, experimental zone outs, and oh yea…guitars. Guitars on guitars on guitars." -withguitars.com Full Body - instaspotifybandcamp"Once "Always There" hit our inbox, we did our homework. We have to admit that we weren’t too impressed with Full Body’s first tracks... How times have changed! Don’t be scared by the rushed “noise rock” categorization, Full Body delivers here a palatable and digestive experience. Entrée, plat, dessert. With Always There, Full Body succeeded in crafting tasty and relevant compositions for both newbies on the scene and seasoned musicians (and even technicians). The Rochester quartet only left us with one luxurious anxiety: the fear of musical abandonment in the future." -slowculture.eu Moses Rockwell - instaspotifybandcampRockwell spits rhymes with intelligent flow and charismatic swagger, throwing out poetic references like a well-versed librarian. "The Unfortunate Case of Mortis Rocksalt" is a candid reaction to societal issues through humorous observations of everyday life. You can hear the grin in his voice as Rockwell recites his inner thoughts on "An Old Yarn" and "Beak Down," while his crisp articulation is complemented by atmospheric electronic textures on "Mostly Harmless." -rochestercitynewspaper.com Harmonica Lewinksi - instaspotifybandcamp"In a tight 28 minutes, Head Honcho spans the dial from weirdo surf to greasy garage to dirty disco to party punk. Recorded in Rochester NY by analog wizard Alex Patrick on ½ inch reel to reel. This full length tape from Harmonica Lewinski twists and turns its way through 12 cuts of swampy rock n roll, with booty shaker instros mixed in. Turn it over and start again." -imposemagazine.com Brendan Lake - instaspotifybandcamp"In this, his first solo offering, Lake has achieved something self-evident. At its very core, beyond musical adornment or recycled melody, here is something of the utmost importance that many have forgotten. Childish Ways is about the first time you woke up and saw the world a bit differently. The first time you let something go and realized it was lost forever. The first time you found something else, both better and worse, but true nonetheless." - Reel Time Records The Fox Sisters - instaspotifybandcamp"Have you ever danced so hard your body couldn’t keep up? Heart thumping, sweat beading off of the back of your neck, the onset ache in your glutes setting in? The Fox Sisters will make you dance ‘til you drop." -meltedmagazine.com Hallucination Realized - instaspotifybandcamp The Low Spirits - instabandcamp
There should be a film or mini series on the Tyson - Douglas fight @ the Mirage. Naturally a phenomenal storyline. Hear me out:
This is a very long shower thought.... Heres a quick background source in case you need https://youtu.be/o4rHtSlaHqg Three simultaneous storylines: Buster Douglas, Mike Tyson and the fight itself (with Don King on lead for that). I'm thinking it plays in flashback - wth the fight as the backdrop and both Tyson & Douglas reminiscing on their path as they prep for the bout. Mind you, this is pure Hollywood magic touch up below and not all is accurate.
Buster Douglas: born to badass boxing legend "Dynamite Douglas" that owned a gym in Columbus OH. Trained a few amateurs occasionally.
Teen Buster is old enough to visit his dad at work and his dad tries get him to box as a way to pass down the legend. After training to simply stay in shape, his father signs him up for a fight and doesn't tell him till later while at the same time training Buster, unbeknownst to him. They confront this and Buster can't back out now. Buster ends up winning that fight handily and goes on a win streak. He starts fully appreciating the sport competitively. While his father's training intensifies to a point of frustration. Much friction ensues A string of losses and inconsistent outcomes, including a loss streak after losing the chance for a belt, forces Buster to fire his dad as the trainer. Falling out with father ensues (think silver linings playbook scene with Cooper and De Niro). More friction ensues. Douglas hires new people after struggling mentally to find the drive for a bit. His wife leaves him out of the blue. This further motivates Buster. He starts winning a few fights wth fundamentals and now has a shot at the belt....... against the viscous Mike Tyson in foreign Japan.
Mike Tyson: raised in the hard streets of Bed Stuy and Brownsville, 10y old Mike had a knack for defending others and getting in fights bc of his lisp / voice.
At 16y Mike's mother dies- his driving force and glue. However his temporary assigned guardian is a legendary boxing coach that now owns a gym upstate NY and looking more to life than just the sport. The relationship is very much Karate Kid (Coach gives Mike a simple task disguised as a fundamental stance) - Coach is peaceful like a Yoda and Mike is eager to fight, esp wth the build up of his mother's death. As an amateur he completely destroyed opponents. At 20y he wins the heavyweight with ease and a very inspirational moment to his mother's memory. More wins and fame build up. Mike becomes a pop culture icon with talk shows and interviews, etc (things Mike isn't a fan of). Frustration of this unwanted fame settles in while he nurses a coke and partying habit. Creating a rivalry with Evander Holyfield, he starts to find ways to mess with him while Holyfield disses him back continually. Just one fight stands between. And that one fight happens to be against.......Buster Douglas.
The Fight: cut to an older swanky G, mid 60s and weathered but well dressed male individual. He's a top dawg Vegas bookie. While reading the paper, Bookie notices that it's weeks away from the fight and no other casino is listing the fight for placing wagers, which is highly unusual.
He decides to list the fight at 42-1 odds, unheard of at the time. The other bookmakers knock him (similar to the underdog mentality the other fighters are facing) but he opens the door for others to place wages. "Theres no such thing as a sure thing." One of his clients reaches out and places this bet on Douglas. This client ends up being a friend of Don King. We shift focus to him now. Don King doing eccentric Don King business things to set up this fight, along with all the stipulations while fighting a messy lawsuit and the mob on his back. He's finding ways to squeeze as much out of the deal financially as possible while also pressured by the mob to throw the fight in favor of them making money in Vegas by using our Bookie character to place the bet. Admittedly King, like Tyson, has his sights set on the next fight vs Holyfield and begins to lose sight of what's in front of him.
The Mirage Fight: 7 days leading up the bout. We catch up to find out that Douglas lost his mother and Tyson is continuing his struggles from the point we last left them.
Some pre fight shenanigans to further amplify the importance of Douglas's role while Tyson isn't paying much attention to this. Fight begins - Douglas begins to dominate out of the gate while Tyson finds ways to survive the rounds. Some drama ensues in Tysons corner when it turns out his trainers didn't bring proper equipment for the round breaks since they thought this would be over quick. Tyson claws back and knocks Douglas down but he makes it through. At this point, it's anyones match. The fighters are on their last tick of gas. We enter the 10th round. Everyone is on the edge of their seats - Holyfield, Bookie, the mob, Don King, etc. The bell rings and the fighters begin their gassed assault on each other. Tyson and his body blows. Douglas and his long arm span. Douglas sees a small window and goes for the knock out (in slow motion). We flash back to a moment where Dynamite Douglas is knocking around teenage Buster to a point of anger. Back to the fight - Buster Douglas follows through his punch using that pent up emotion to knock down Tyson. Tyson is down. In his perspective now, we're fading between the ref counting to ten and a memory of Mike being bullied when he was ten. He lets that negative memory get to him just enough for the ref to count to 10 and declaring the fight over. Buster Douglas wins the match. Cut to black. Credits roll wth actual clips of the post fight interviews in the ring on half the screen. Themes of fighting physical and mental demons. Taking advantage of opportunities. Using your emotions to your advantage of success/failure. Importance of father figures. Or something like that... IT'S JUST AN IDEA AND NOT PLAGIARIZING WTH INTENT, ALL PURE COINCIDENCE IF SO. Shower thinkers - who would be the best actors to play the roles??
There should be a film or mini series adaptation on the Tyson - Douglas fight @ the Mirage. Naturally a phenomenal storyline. Hear me out:
This is a very long shower thought.... Heres a quick background source in case you need https://youtu.be/o4rHtSlaHqg Three simultaneous storylines: Buster Douglas, Mike Tyson and the fight itself (with Don King on lead for that). I'm thinking it plays in flashback - wth the fight as the backdrop and both Tyson & Douglas reminiscing on their path as they prep for the bout. Mind you, this is pure Hollywood magic touch up below and not all is accurate.
Buster Douglas: born to badass boxing legend "Dynamite Douglas" that owned a gym in Columbus OH. Trained a few amateurs occasionally.
Teen Buster is old enough to visit his dad at work and his dad tries get him to box as a way to pass down the legend. After training to simply stay in shape, his father signs him up for a fight and doesn't tell him till later while at the same time training Buster, unbeknownst to him. They confront this and Buster can't back out now. Buster ends up winning that fight handily and goes on a win streak. He starts fully appreciating the sport competitively. While his father's training intensifies to a point of frustration. A string of losses and inconsistent outcomes, including a loss streak after losing the chance for a belt, forces Buster to fire his dad as the trainer. Falling out with father ensues (think silver linings playbook scene with Cooper and De Niro). Much friction ensues. Douglas hires new people after struggling mentally to find the drive for a bit. His wife leaves him out of the blue. This further motivates Buster. He starts winning a few fights and now has a shot at the belt....... against the viscous Mike Tyson in foreign Japan.
Mike Tyson: raised in the hard streets on Bed Stuy and Brownsville, 10y old Mike had a knack for defending others and getting in fights bc of his lisp / voice.
At 16y Mike's mother dies- his driving force and glue. However his temporary assigned guardian is a legendary boxing coach that now owns a gym upstate NY and looking more to life than just the sport. The relationship is very much Karate Kid (Coach gives Mike a simple task disguised as a fundamental stance) - Coach is peaceful like a Yoda and Mike is eager to fight, esp wth the build up of his mother's death. As an amateur he completely destroyed opponents. At 20y he wins the heavyweight with ease and a very inspirational moment to his mother's memory. More wins and fame build up. Mike becomes a pop culture icon with talk shows and interviews, etc (things Mike isn't a fan of). Frustration of this unwanted fame settles in while he nurses a coke and partying habit. Creating a rivalry with Evander Holyfield, he starts to find ways to mess with him while Holyfield disses him back continually. Just one fight stands between. And that one fight happens to be against.......Buster Douglas.
The Fight: cut to an older swanky G, mid 60s and weathered but well dressed male individual. He's a top dawg Vegas bookie. While reading the paper, Bookie notices that it's weeks away from the fight and no other casino is listing the fight for placing wagers, which is highly unusual.
He decides to list the fight at 42-1 odds, unheard of at the time. The other bookmakers knock him (similar to the underdog mentality the other fighters are facing) but he opens the door for others to follow. "Theres no such thing as a sure thing." One of his clients reaches out and places this bet on Douglas. This client ends up being a friend of Don King. We shift focus to him now. Don King doing eccentric Don King business things to set up this fight, along with all the stipulations while fighting a messy lawsuit and the mob on his back. He's finding ways to squeeze as much out of the deal financially as possible while also pressured by the mob to throw the fight in favor of them making money in Vegas by using our Bookie character to place the bet. Admittedly King, like Tyson, has his sights set on the next fight vs Holyfield and begins to lose sight of what's in front of him.
The Mirage Fight: 7 days leading up the bout. We catch up to find out that Douglas lost his mother and Tyson is continuing his struggles from the point we last left them.
Some pre fight shenanigans to further amplify the importance of Douglas's role while Tyson isn't paying much attention to this. Fight begins - Douglas begins to dominate out of the gate while Tyson finds ways to survive the rounds. Some drama ensues in Tysons corner when it turns out his trainers didn't bring proper equipment for the round breaks since they thought this would be over quick. Tyson claws back and knocks Douglas down but he makes it through. At this point, it's anyones match. The fighters are on their last tick of gas. We enter the 10th round. Everyone is on the edge of their seats - Holyfield, Bookie, the mob, Don King, etc. The bell rings and the fighters begin their gassed assault on each other. Tyson and his body blows. Douglas and his long arm span. Douglas sees a small window and goes for the knock out (in slow motion). We flash back to a moment where Dynamite Douglas is knocking around teenage Buster to a point of anger. Back to the fight - Buster Douglas follows through his punch using that pent up emotion to knock down Tyson. Tyson is down. In his perspective now, we're fading between the ref counting to ten and a memory of Mike being bullied when he was ten. He lets that negative memory get to him just enough for the ref to count to 10 and declaring the fight over. Buster Douglas wins the match. Cut to black. Credits roll wth actual clips of the post fight interviews in the ring on half the screen. Themes of fighting physical and mental demons. Taking advantage of opportunities Or something like that... IT'S JUST AN IDEA AND NOT PLAGIARIZING WTH INTENT, ALL PURE COINCIDENCE IF SO.
Not all of these bands necessarily play "punk" music but the punk ethos in Rochester is very real and very wide-spread through the hardcore bands, the pop bands, the rappers and so-on. A lot of these bands will be touring in 2020 and could use yr support! Anamon - instaspotify"Purple, Green and Yellow is the sophomore record from Anamon, a 3 piece from upstate New York led by Ana Emily Monaco. The band tread in the direction of country tinged jagged pop with varying tempos and echo-y and vibrato-soaked guitar squalls. Monaco’s vocals carry a dusky twang that suits the approach and adds a richness and depth that lingers in the ear canals of the listener. Anamon express their influences in a cohesive manner that leads to a steady foundation for some charming songwriting." -post-trash.com Clibbus - instaspotify"Originally conceived as a solo-homemade art and music multimedia project in the backyard of D'Aurelio's bedroom many years ago, the band became a full fledged live buffet of sensory overload when the three began to write together in late 2018... What's the most Reba you've ever Mac-entired? Those who may be bored of thinking or those who think too much ponder this question. Clibbus likes horses and dogs. The dog says the feeling is mutual." -floatedmag.com Aweful Kanawful - instaspotify"I really like this album and appreciate the sense of weirdness and mystery it offers up. You wonder how the hell something like the mad chamber pop of “Man of Steal” came together, but the liner notes leave as much to the imagination as they explain. Honestly, I like to think that this was all recorded with the band sitting in a sandbox like Brian Wilson doing Pet Sounds. It certainly wouldn’t surprise me." -modern-vinyl.comon "Clam's Casino" Dangerbyrd - instaspotify"The Rochester-based quartet plays without a shred of phony grandeur or self-imposed elegance. Dangerbyrd is down and dirty and a clever musical synthesis of vintage and classic. Just dig the band's guitar-driven rock 'n' roll and astute lyrics howled over its garage rock rumble. It's old, it's new, and it's the unheard strain of something familiar." -rochestercitynewspaper.com Boy Jr. - instaspotify"If there’s anything I’ve learned about Boy Jr., it’s to expect the unexpected. Rochester native Erica Lubman has been experimenting with music since childhood, combining her love for garage rock and indie pop with a flair for dramatic fashion. She’s equally likely to turn up on stage in a retro matching tracksuit as a leather skirt and torn T-shirt. As with her wardrobe, she shows off a wide range of songs in her repertoire – from punk to grunge." -nysmusic.com Gary Lamaar - instabandcamp"The title of Lamaar’s new album is “Freedom Rap.” The opening track of the same name is bookended by the refrain “fleet footed, loose tongue in the street,” establishing the emotional immediacy and quasi-punk ethos apparent throughout the album. His cadence sounds resolute and sovereign, delivering rhymes with a grit similar to emcees like MF DOOM and Talib Kweli." -rochestercitynewspaper.com Fuzzrod - instaspotify"This isn’t an album that sticks in one lane, though, and while that fuzziness is a recurring theme, there is more than one influence thrown into the pot with it. ‘Dum’ tosses a bit of early 90s alt-rock in there, bringing a Riot Grrrl vibe before ‘Fuck Work’ bounces its way into teenage rebellion. No-one is going to pinpoint it as a masterpiece of subtle song-writing, but it’s a hell of a lot of fun and deserves to be a punky live favorite for years to come." -ramblingsaboutwrestling.com Tafai - instasoundcloud"need more.. so fire bruv" -soundcloud.com Cammy Enaharo - instaspotify"It was barely two minutes into the album “From the Garage,” by singer and songwriter Cammy Enaharo, before her distinctive voice and catchy groove were apparent. A harmonious marriage of songwriting, voice and melody conjure up a soothing euphoria when combined with the smoky rifts from her signature baritone ukulele." -democratandchronicle.com Madeleine McQueen - instaspotify"Madeleine McQueen, a 23-year-old songwriter from Rochester, NY, has something to say, and you should be listening. With musical influences ranging from Nirvana to Amy Winehouse and Joni Mitchell, McQueen’s voice cuts through her songs with conviction, soul, and grace—a rare cocktail for a young songwriter." Televisionaries - instaspotify"Perhaps on paper, the term "contemporary instrumental surf rock" does not sound very appealing, but the Televisionaries of Rochester have managed to make a masterpiece of the genre. There's a lot to digest with this record, but it's more than worth it. Highly recommended." -materialworldrecords.com Overhand Sam - instaspotify"OHS (Overhand Sam, referencing his approach to the neck on the guitar), just put out his latest LP ‘Longer Legs’ and it’s one of the years more ambitious releases. On the surface it seems like a traditional 60’s Psych Rock genre exercise, but he’s offering up a lot more to the listener here. 11 songs tightly arranged and packed with enough ideas to reward repeated spins. Singable hooks, danceable rhythms, experimental zone outs, and oh yea…guitars. Guitars on guitars on guitars." -withguitars.com Full Body - instaspotify"Once "Always There" hit our inbox, we did our homework. We have to admit that we weren’t too impressed with Full Body’s first tracks... How times have changed! Don’t be scared by the rushed “noise rock” categorization, Full Body delivers here a palatable and digestive experience. Entrée, plat, dessert. With Always There, Full Body succeeded in crafting tasty and relevant compositions for both newbies on the scene and seasoned musicians (and even technicians). The Rochester quartet only left us with one luxurious anxiety: the fear of musical abandonment in the future." -slowculture.eu Moses Rockwell - instaspotifyRockwell spits rhymes with intelligent flow and charismatic swagger, throwing out poetic references like a well-versed librarian. "The Unfortunate Case of Mortis Rocksalt" is a candid reaction to societal issues through humorous observations of everyday life. You can hear the grin in his voice as Rockwell recites his inner thoughts on "An Old Yarn" and "Beak Down," while his crisp articulation is complemented by atmospheric electronic textures on "Mostly Harmless." -rochestercitynewspaper.com Harmonica Lewinksi - instaspotify"In a tight 28 minutes, Head Honcho spans the dial from weirdo surf to greasy garage to dirty disco to party punk. Recorded in Rochester NY by analog wizard Alex Patrick on ½ inch reel to reel. This full length tape from Harmonica Lewinski twists and turns its way through 12 cuts of swampy rock n roll, with booty shaker instros mixed in. Turn it over and start again." -imposemagazine.com Brendan Lake - instaspotify"In this, his first solo offering, Lake has achieved something self-evident. At its very core, beyond musical adornment or recycled melody, here is something of the utmost importance that many have forgotten. Childish Ways is about the first time you woke up and saw the world a bit differently. The first time you let something go and realized it was lost forever. The first time you found something else, both better and worse, but true nonetheless." - Reel Time Records The Fox Sisters - instaspotify"Have you ever danced so hard your body couldn’t keep up? Heart thumping, sweat beading off of the back of your neck, the onset ache in your glutes setting in? The Fox Sisters will make you dance ‘til you drop." -meltedmagazine.com Hallucination Realized - instaspotify The Low Spirits - instabandcamp
Anamon - instaspotify"Purple, Green and Yellow is the sophomore record from Anamon, a 3 piece from upstate New York led by Ana Emily Monaco. The band tread in the direction of country tinged jagged pop with varying tempos and echo-y and vibrato-soaked guitar squalls. Monaco’s vocals carry a dusky twang that suits the approach and adds a richness and depth that lingers in the ear canals of the listener. Anamon express their influences in a cohesive manner that leads to a steady foundation for some charming songwriting." -post-trash.com Clibbus - instaspotify"Originally conceived as a solo-homemade art and music multimedia project in the backyard of D'Aurelio's bedroom many years ago, the band became a full fledged live buffet of sensory overload when the three began to write together in late 2018... What's the most Reba you've ever Mac-entired? Those who may be bored of thinking or those who think too much ponder this question. Clibbus likes horses and dogs. The dog says the feeling is mutual." -floatedmag.com Aweful Kanawful - instaspotify"I really like this album and appreciate the sense of weirdness and mystery it offers up. You wonder how the hell something like the mad chamber pop of “Man of Steal” came together, but the liner notes leave as much to the imagination as they explain. Honestly, I like to think that this was all recorded with the band sitting in a sandbox like Brian Wilson doing Pet Sounds. It certainly wouldn’t surprise me." -modern-vinyl.comon "Clam's Casino" Dangerbyrd - instaspotify"The Rochester-based quartet plays without a shred of phony grandeur or self-imposed elegance. Dangerbyrd is down and dirty and a clever musical synthesis of vintage and classic. Just dig the band's guitar-driven rock 'n' roll and astute lyrics howled over its garage rock rumble. It's old, it's new, and it's the unheard strain of something familiar." -rochestercitynewspaper.com Boy Jr. - instaspotify"If there’s anything I’ve learned about Boy Jr., it’s to expect the unexpected. Rochester native Erica Lubman has been experimenting with music since childhood, combining her love for garage rock and indie pop with a flair for dramatic fashion. She’s equally likely to turn up on stage in a retro matching tracksuit as a leather skirt and torn T-shirt. As with her wardrobe, she shows off a wide range of songs in her repertoire – from punk to grunge." -nysmusic.com Gary Lamaar - instabandcamp"The title of Lamaar’s new album is “Freedom Rap.” The opening track of the same name is bookended by the refrain “fleet footed, loose tongue in the street,” establishing the emotional immediacy and quasi-punk ethos apparent throughout the album. His cadence sounds resolute and sovereign, delivering rhymes with a grit similar to emcees like MF DOOM and Talib Kweli." -rochestercitynewspaper.com Fuzzrod - instaspotify"This isn’t an album that sticks in one lane, though, and while that fuzziness is a recurring theme, there is more than one influence thrown into the pot with it. ‘Dum’ tosses a bit of early 90s alt-rock in there, bringing a Riot Grrrl vibe before ‘Fuck Work’ bounces its way into teenage rebellion. No-one is going to pinpoint it as a masterpiece of subtle song-writing, but it’s a hell of a lot of fun and deserves to be a punky live favorite for years to come." -ramblingsaboutwrestling.com Tafai - instasoundcloud"need more.. so fire bruv" -soundcloud.com Cammy Enaharo - instaspotify"It was barely two minutes into the album “From the Garage,” by singer and songwriter Cammy Enaharo, before her distinctive voice and catchy groove were apparent. A harmonious marriage of songwriting, voice and melody conjure up a soothing euphoria when combined with the smoky rifts from her signature baritone ukulele." -democratandchronicle.com Madeleine McQueen - instaspotify"Madeleine McQueen, a 23-year-old songwriter from Rochester, NY, has something to say, and you should be listening. With musical influences ranging from Nirvana to Amy Winehouse and Joni Mitchell, McQueen’s voice cuts through her songs with conviction, soul, and grace—a rare cocktail for a young songwriter." Televisionaries - instaspotify"Perhaps on paper, the term "contemporary instrumental surf rock" does not sound very appealing, but the Televisionaries of Rochester have managed to make a masterpiece of the genre. There's a lot to digest with this record, but it's more than worth it. Highly recommended." -materialworldrecords.com Overhand Sam - instaspotify"OHS (Overhand Sam, referencing his approach to the neck on the guitar), just put out his latest LP ‘Longer Legs’ and it’s one of the years more ambitious releases. On the surface it seems like a traditional 60’s Psych Rock genre exercise, but he’s offering up a lot more to the listener here. 11 songs tightly arranged and packed with enough ideas to reward repeated spins. Singable hooks, danceable rhythms, experimental zone outs, and oh yea…guitars. Guitars on guitars on guitars." -withguitars.com Full Body - instaspotify"Once "Always There" hit our inbox, we did our homework. We have to admit that we weren’t too impressed with Full Body’s first tracks... How times have changed! Don’t be scared by the rushed “noise rock” categorization, Full Body delivers here a palatable and digestive experience. Entrée, plat, dessert. With Always There, Full Body succeeded in crafting tasty and relevant compositions for both newbies on the scene and seasoned musicians (and even technicians). The Rochester quartet only left us with one luxurious anxiety: the fear of musical abandonment in the future." -slowculture.eu Moses Rockwell - instaspotifyRockwell spits rhymes with intelligent flow and charismatic swagger, throwing out poetic references like a well-versed librarian. "The Unfortunate Case of Mortis Rocksalt" is a candid reaction to societal issues through humorous observations of everyday life. You can hear the grin in his voice as Rockwell recites his inner thoughts on "An Old Yarn" and "Beak Down," while his crisp articulation is complemented by atmospheric electronic textures on "Mostly Harmless." -rochestercitynewspaper.com Harmonica Lewinksi - instaspotify"In a tight 28 minutes, Head Honcho spans the dial from weirdo surf to greasy garage to dirty disco to party punk. Recorded in Rochester NY by analog wizard Alex Patrick on ½ inch reel to reel. This full length tape from Harmonica Lewinski twists and turns its way through 12 cuts of swampy rock n roll, with booty shaker instros mixed in. Turn it over and start again." -imposemagazine.com Brendan Lake - instaspotify"In this, his first solo offering, Lake has achieved something self-evident. At its very core, beyond musical adornment or recycled melody, here is something of the utmost importance that many have forgotten. Childish Ways is about the first time you woke up and saw the world a bit differently. The first time you let something go and realized it was lost forever. The first time you found something else, both better and worse, but true nonetheless." - Reel Time Records The Fox Sisters - instaspotify"Have you ever danced so hard your body couldn’t keep up? Heart thumping, sweat beading off of the back of your neck, the onset ache in your glutes setting in? The Fox Sisters will make you dance ‘til you drop." -meltedmagazine.com Hallucination Realized - instaspotify The Low Spirits - instabandcamp FOLLOW THESE BANDS, SHOW YR FRIENDS, ROCHESTER RULES AND U SHOULD ENJOY THIS GREAT MUSIC
What events and activities are you looking forward to this month? (August 2017)
Welcome to the monthly events post for August 2017, where you can submit information about upcoming events and activities. It can be difficult to navigate all that our city has to offer, especially for new residents and students. Submit even if you think it's obvious. Submissions with links to the event page (official websites, Facebook, etc.), time, date, and location are particularly appreciated. And if you're part of an organization that's hosting an event, let us know about the details here. Separate posts to Troy about individual events or a series of events are still welcome. Submissions will be included in the list which will be updated regularly to include new information. What events and activities are you looking forward to this August? Check back regularly for updates! Submissions, in no particular order (last updated August 19 @ noon):
Picasso: Encounters is on exhibit at The Clark in Williamstown, Massachusetts until August 27th. Features some of Picasso's paintings and a large number of his prints. Not local, but worth the drive.
The Troy Farmer's Market from 9am-2pm every Saturday, rain or shine, in Monument Square. The biggest in the region (confirmed by Albany Business Review, July 2017) and possibly Upstate NY with close to 90 vendors. Browse through crafts, food stalls, farm stands, etc. Live entertainment every week.
Troy Flea is "an ever growing, hip outdoor summefall market located in Troy’s Riverfront Park that features a rotating slate of more than two dozen vendors." August 13th and 27th from 10am-3pm, rain or shine.
"Summer in the City Flea Market and Community Day will be held Saturday(s)... thru August 26, 2017 at Powers Park... from 8am-5pm. There will be activities for all ages, live entertainment, great food, carnival games, bouncy entertainment when available, community resources, & great deals on items. The flea market will benefit the Block Center & the youth we serve in the City of Troy."
Troy Night Out on August 25th from 5-9pm. Lots of activities, entertainment, food specials, etc., with information usually released at least a week in advance. Frequent after parties hosted by downtown restaurants and bars. This month's theme is "Welcome Back Students and Teachers."
Poetic Vibe every Monday, 7-9pm at the Troy Kitchen. There are usually musical performances every Thursday as well.
Collard City Growers is an urban neighborhood farm in North Troy that accepts volunteer work every Sunday, usually from noon-4pm. If you're interested, message them your email address on Facebook. As suggested by u/OhCrow.
St. Paul's Episcopal Church offers open house Tiffany tours every Saturday from 11am-12:30pm. Louis Comfort Tiffany's company was hired to redecorate the interior in the 1890s into the stunning work that remains today. The Troy Public Library is another great spot to view Tiffany's work.
Troy Pop Up will be having another art show, July 28th from 5:30-9pm. Free wine and music while you browse and talk to the artists and other patrons. Donations are accepted. As suggested by u/PlagueofCustom.
Leaded to Unleaded Cruise In is a car meet sponsored by 1945 Speed and Custom on July 30th from 8am-noon. There will be cars, food, coffee, and a raffle. The event is free but donations are encouraged to help cover costs. As suggested by u/cmaxby.
Cooking in the Garden at The Demonstration Garden at The Robert C. Parker School in Wynantskill, August 1st from 7-8pm. "What can you do with summer’s gorgeous produce? Join our Master Gardeners as they make three kinds of pesto (arugula, kale & sun-dried tomato), sautéed radishes, gazpacho, tomato/watermelon salad and spiralize various vegetables for summer treats. Samples and recipes provided!"
Chicken Joe's will be opening their Troy location on August 5th at noon.
Troy Summer Square is a temporary community art project ending August 5th that turns Broadway between River and 2nd into a public square. Events: August 2 - Beer Garden from 5:30-7:30pm, August 3 - Interactive Painting and Good Vibes + Dancing from 5-7pm, August 4 - Everyday Experts from 6-8pm, and August 5 - “Troy”nglwood BYOP (picnic) from 5-8pm.
Ink & Drink presented by Troy Cloth and Paper, 4pm August 6th at Joseph Bruno Stadium. Ink your own t-shirt and enjoy the ValleyCats with beer and food from the box seats behind home plate. Starts at $50, includes admission to the game. As suggested by u/dmlanger.
Urban Sketch and Sangria at The Art Center, August 15th, 5:30-7:30pm. $35, pre-registration is required. "Try your hand at urban drawing using Downtown Troy as your scenery and enjoy a refreshing Sangria! Watercolor extraordinaire, Tony Conner of Bennington, Vermont will lead the way!"SOLD OUT
Bike Breakfast is August 9th from 7-10am in Monument Square. Food and drinks will be served by Troy Bike Rescue. Share your ideas for making Troy a more cyclist friendly city and/or chat with your fellow riders. As suggested by u/eccentricfather.
Rockin' on the River, as suggested by u/rockyosockz, is a free concert series on Wednesday evenings near Green Island Bridge, starting around 5pm. The remaining acts are as follows: August 2 — SIRSY with Sly Fox and The Hustlers & August 9 — Rumours – Fleetwood Mac Tribute
Jazz@Rensselaer has a free summer concert on the 9th at 7pm on the lawn behind the Commons Dining Hall, as suggested by mcguik3.
Third Street Flea is a one-time pop-up indoor summer garage sale and maker's market. August 12th from 9am-4pm and August 13th 10am-3pm at 38 3rd Street. As suggested by u/OhCrow.
A Botanical Watercolor Workshop will be held at Forage+Sundry on August 17th from 6-8pm. "In this two hour workshop you will learn about the history of botanical drawing, color theory, and various watercolor techniques. All materials are included! You will be painting from live Forage+Sundry plants!" $55, pre-registration required.
Unity Ride is a monthly community bike ride hosted by the Troy Bike Rescue. Meet others in Riverfront Park at 5:30pm, Thursday, August 17th then bike through town. As suggested by u/OhCrow.
What are the best upstate casinos for people under 30?
There are a ton of casinos in upstate NY, and they're starting to pop up like weeds at this point. There's a huge off of the Waterloo exit that opened this year for example. Then there are others like the Hamburg Casino that has a clientele a little more akin to a bingo hall than a Vegas-style casino. So my question is, who brings Vegas to upstate NY the best? What's worth the drive? As a preface, I'm 21 and haven't gambled yet. I'm just curious. Edit: yes I've heard of Turning Stone from when I used to be in the Utica area a few years back, just never had the time to go when everyone else did
Planning for family trip for parents (60s) and sister (34), brother (23) and myself (24). My parents stick to Chinese. Looking for places in Norrtheastern USA to getaway from NYC for a weekend during Chinese New Years Feb 15ish-Feb 18. Parents never been on a vacation before.
My dad is older and can't participate in sports like snowboarding or skiing. He's a retired restaurant owner who’s worked his whole life until he couldn't. He's a penny pincher and I take after him but I hope to fully fund this trip with the help of my sister and brother. He likes to raise pigeons and garden. My mom is a devoted gambler whose life depends on her socializing with her friends over mahjong or cards. She loves casinos and shopping which she can do whenever and hoping to distract her away from it over the weekend. She can't be on her feet too much due to a bad ankle. My sister loves the simple pleasures of life. Eating, drama watching, gossiping, etc. She will be ok with whatever as long as it's not too strenuous as she's a vampire who works from a desk all day. My brother is sort of high maintenance and will not like dingy places. He likes quality but with a reasonable price. He's a smart shopper and appreciates the arts. If you want something, he can find a similar item for a lower cost as he's a savvy high end shopper. I am open to traveling to a new city (not Boston, Maine in general, Philly, D.C., Baltimore) that's in the NE and is a 2-3 hour drive max that will be enough to not off each other by the time we get there. I just want fam time as we kids are now all employed and making some income to enjoy a bit. We are originally from upstate (Newburgh, NY) and haven't decided if we should just go upstate but a new scene would be refreshing. Preferably somewhere where a couple of older Chinese folks who are anre’t used to traveling can handle and not feel isolated. Preferably no casinos.
The Pants (2-parter) The gang is dragged to a racino (casino/racetrack) in upstate New York by Kramer to bet on a major race. Kramer claims to be friends with the owner and "in-the-know" about the outcome. George becomes quickly addicted to a seldom-used “coin pusher” machine and feverishly guards it, trying to win a few $20 bills from the machine. Meanwhile Kramer and Elaine to pose as a married couple to bring good luck. Elaine reluctant to have to even gone to the track in the first place gets plastered and mocks the jockeys. Jerry meanwhile is coyly trying to get a date with an attractive blackjack dealer while oblivious to the fact that she is helping him win big. Back to George who is now perspiring heavily and has just blown through most of his money. A big pile of coins and prizes is about to fall when the last quarter won’t go down the chute. Fed up with the prospect of losing to such a “simple game”, he repeatedly kicks the machine in hopes of dislodging the prizes. He sets off an alarm and quickly runs away to find Jerry. George spots a chip on the floor, he squats down to pick it up…when the front of his pants rip open. Jerry watches from afar and is puzzled by George’s bizarre expressions. He then stoically walks backwards while Jerry tries to signal him. He then hides in a bathroom stall and happens to catch Kramer looking for tickets in the trash. Kramer is curious about George’s predicament and the “coin pusher”, the two hatch a plan to get their “fair share” of money from the casino. Elaine finds Jerry and hits on him, making the dealer think they’re an item…she leaves the table. Jerry decides he’s had enough excitement for one day, then tries to find the others. George is stuck in the bathroom griping about his ripped pants while Kramer attempts to reach the coin machine, which is being serviced. He chats up the mechanic and finds out his “manager friend” told several rubes about the false “outcome” in order to boost business. Outraged Kramer tells George to create a distraction; he runs out shouting about a race ticket and tears his pants even further. Kramer steals a large bucket of coins and splits to the cash-in before anyone notices. Jerry too is at the cash-in and asks what happened to George when he rushes by with an entire pant leg torn apart. Kramer and Jerry cash-out and Kramer is astonished by how much Jerry made. Kramer: You usually just break even! George is tackled by security and hauled outside, he makes a ruckus and lets it slip that the broken machine was his fault. The manager comes out and Kramer whispers he knows about the scam and bargains for money. The gang heads to the car and see Elaine riding by on a horse…Seinfeld theme kicks in as credits roll The Pizza Chase An out-of-town relative has to shack up with Jerry for awhile and orders pizza, being old & senile causes them to forget that pizzas can be delivered. The relative leaves to pick up the pie. Jerry comes back to find an angry note and pizza splattered on his door, Kramer is eating what didn't come out of the box..."it's free pizza!" Said relative gets lost going back to Jerry's after ordering yet another pizza and hauls it across NY. Jerry is worried that the "rogue deliveryman" will strike again and wonders where his relative is. The relative is later found in Central Park due to him remembering Jerry cracking jokes about the "horse faced parks officer" (Cousin Jeffery). These plots are loosely based on real experiences from my life. I really did rip my pants open from kicking a coin machine and an elderly relative walked two miles to pick up pizza.
This is from memory from a weekend ago, so forgive me if my details are fuzzy. I had just sat down at a casino in upstate NY that I'd never been to before, so no reads on anyone. Hero (UTG+1): $200 Villain (MP): $200 effective Button ($100) Hero is dealt AsQd (AsQd).
Hero (UTG+1) opens to $11
Villain (MP) who calls.
C/O ($200 calls)
Folds to Button who calls.
BB (~$75) calls
Flop comes 57Tddd. (Pot ~$55)
Hero checks.
Villain bets $50.
Hero??
I sat there for a good 15 seconds wondering whether I should Cbet into this board. I didn't feel like I had a ton of fold equity, and the only real hands that call me that are worse are hands like 89 with a diamond or someone that's rolling the dice with 1 low diamond and a gutshot. All Tx, Kdx and Adx have me in pretty big trouble and will likely call a bet. In the end, I decided to check and see what developed. As much as I wanted to call, I felt $50 was just enough to give me pretty meh odds on the flush, and his range included Ad and Kd or pairs enough that I might only be drawing to 3 Ace outs. Was folding too weak here, or is folding a better option than fighting this hand out OOP?
Boxing Kings of the Ring Mike Tyson and Larry Holmes to Appear in Exclusive Interactive Event at Turning Stone Resort Casino on Wednesday, June 4
www.billycboxing.com Heavyweight boxing legends Mike Tyson and Larry Holmes will sit down for an exclusive “Kings of the Ring” moderated conversation, leading up to Tyson’s Iron Mike Productions promoted ESPN boxing event at the resort ONEIDA NATION HOMELANDS (NY) - Renowned boxing legends and International Boxing Hall of Fame inductees Mike Tyson and Larry Holmes will participate in an exclusive, live discussion at the Turning Stone Resort Casino Showroom on Wednesday, June 4, at 6:00 p.m. This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, “Kings of the Ring: A Conversation with Mike Tyson and Larry Holmes,” will feature an open dialogue between the two world-class heavyweights. They will recount their famed 1988 championship fight, reflect on their remarkable boxing careers, and take questions from the audience. Longtime sports columnist for the Syracuse Post-Standard and Syracuse.com, Bud Poliquin, will serve as moderator. This behind-the-scenes dialogue will take place just two days ahead of the June 6 bouts at Turning Stone Resort Casino that will be featured on ESPN’s Friday Night Fights and promoted by Tyson’s Iron Mike Productions. The nationally televised fights will be Tyson’s second appearance at Turning Stone within the past year. He made international headlines last August for his debut as a boxing promoter and intensely personal revelations at the event’s press conference. With strong roots in Upstate New York, Tyson has effectively established Turning Stone as his hometown ring. Turning Stone’s world-class, four-season resort continues to distinguish itself as a premier destination for boxing. In addition to Tyson’s recurring appearances, boxing great Floyd Mayweather Jr. also appeared at Turning Stone earlier this year for his promotion of Showtime’s “SHOBOX – The New Generation” bouts. “Kings of the Ring: A Conversation with Mike Tyson and Larry Holmes” is free and open to the public, Wednesday, June 4 at 6:00 p.m. in the Showroom at Turning Stone Resort Casino.
New York’s four upstate commercial casinos – Rivers, Tioga Downs, Resorts World Catskills, and del Lago – as well as the two downstate racinos, Empire City and Resorts World New York City Competition in NY’s casino industry is extremely high. Many of the casinos here are located within a small area in Upstate New York. These gambling venues employ a huge number of individuals and bring valuable revenue to the state. Back in March, Governor Cuomo ordered all of New York’s casinos to close down. Everyone agreed it was the correct decision. That’s particularly true after the massive spike in Covid-19 cases experienced here. Get a full listing of the local casinos and gaming throughout upstate New York including visitors guides, recommendations and upcoming events. Central NY. Log In Watch Live. LATEST NEWS Headlines Business & Growth Around the State State Senator Pam Helming agrees if malls are open, casinos should be too. She said in part, "...as one of the most highly regulated industries in NYS, they are better equipped to manage the situation than many of the big box retailers that have remained open throughout the pandemic. Many local families Upstate New York’s non-Indian casinos can reopen: What will it look like? Updated Sep 03, 2020; Posted Sep 03, 2020 Slot machines at del Lago Resort & Casino in Tyre, Seneca County. The casinos are also pushing the state to allow them to offer mobile sports betting, which is currently only allowed on site at the four upstate casinos. Casinos quietly plan for a reopening Casinos said they are confident they could reopen slowly with new safety measures, such as limiting occupancy, creating social distancing at slot machines and table games and not open some restaurants The nation’s other two casinos, Point Place Casino in Bridgeport and Yellow Brick Road Casino in Chittenango, also opened Wednesday, making them the first casinos in New York to reopen their doors. NY bowling alleys get OK to open, guidance for gyms coming Monday Updated Sep 22, 2020 Gov. Andrew Cuomo delivered long-awaited news for bowling alley and gym owners on Friday. Cuomo says update on reopening NY casinos coming this week Updated Sep 01, 2020; Posted Aug 30, 2020 Slot machines at del Lago Resort & Casino in Tyre, Seneca County. There are five full-service Indian casinos in the state, open 24 hours and offering table gaming as well as electronic "slot machines." The state is headed for a gaming expansion; in 2013, voters
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