Friday, April 29, 2005

Jon Simon: The San Francisco Kid

I'm gonna keep this one short. Pretty much this kid is like my long lost brother. I hardly see him, hardly ever talk to him, but that hardly ever seems to matter. The previous post was inspired by this kid on one side and by my girlfriend on the other. They're definitely two of the most important people in my life. Sometimes I really think that there are people that you knew in a former life, and have the privledge of knowing them again in this life. Jon is one of those people, and if money was no object I'd be on a plane to SF. I miss you bro!

  • Name: Jon (beware of men with two first names) Simon
  • Occupation: workin' for the man every' night and day
  • Hometown: the one and only
  • Passion: Stone Cold Chillin'
  • Current Project: becoming a real estate mogul


The First Chance and the Last Chance.  Posted by Hello

My Sangha: 38th Street and Beyond!

yeah, its been a couple of days. thought i'd be a bit more diligent with my postings, but alas, other things have taken precendence. (ps. i don't really care if that's spelled wrong) Like a lot of things, updating this blog takes discipline, something that doesn't always come naturally to a lot of us. Another thing that takes discipline is a relationship, romantic or otherwise. No matter what you call it, we all have relationships with others in some way shape, or form. Sometimes, when it really clicks, relationships seem as though they are meant to be. cosmic. fateful. real. It doesn't matter if that person is on the other side of the country or sleeping in the bed next to you. When its real its real and it's timeless. And sometimes you can come to this relization when things are not necessarily clicking, or when you least expect it. I'm not sure where I'm going with this...I guess it's just that sometimes you know when you've got it, no matter how distracting the rest of the world can seem. And trust me...there's a lot of distraction out there, especially on this internet of ours, or any media for that matter.
I guess what I'm really trying to say, for my own sake if nothing else, is that you can't take it for granted. If you've found someone out there, and i'm not talking about gooshy romantical stuff necessarily, that does it for you. Then you better remember that there's like 8 gazillion people in the world. And even if you'd like to think the grass is greener or your friends are your friends just because of circumstance, well then you better take a look around. Not everyone is like us. Not everyone has the gift of true, inward reflection.
I think this gets at the core of 38th Street. You have to remember that the people that surround you, even if you never see them, are what make up your time here. I'm not gonna get all religiousy on yall, but personally (and not always to the best of my ability) I take refuge in the buddha, the dharma, and the sangha. And 38th Street is my Sangha. And it stretches to Chicago, it stretches to Brooklyn, it stretches to San Francisco. And sometimes, the greatest distance is between those who are closest to you. Close the gap people! The world's not that big.

Monday, April 25, 2005

Chris & Anna: Newlyweds, Rednecks, Intellectuals; Pick Two

Contrary to what it might seem in this lovely photo, these two are probably the two highestly edubacated individuals on 38th Street. Unlike this humble blogger, they value their brain cells and they value helping others. I think the only thing that may actually liken them to rednecks other than this picture is that their current residence is EastKabum, WV. No offense to our neighbors to the South, but it ain't exactly cosmopolitan down there. Some folks are willing to go to great measures to become doctors and brainiacs and stuff. Mad props guys. Keep up the good work. Hope to see you back in civilization sometime soon.

  • Name: Chris May
  • Occupation: Dr. Frankenstein's Right-hand Man
  • Hometown: Hotlanta
  • Passion: Junker Motorcyles
  • Current Project: Professional Commuter for Dr. Love
  • Name: Anna Skold
  • Occupation: Compassionate Vigilante
  • Hometown: Gainsboro, FL
  • Passion: Hotalaskans
  • Current Project: Gross Anatomy


Rednecks in Love. Posted by Hello

Friday, April 22, 2005


The Triumvirate Posted by Hello

The Triumvirate: Gina, Idris, Miller

There's really no way I couldn't group these kids togther. Besides it's the only picture I had of them and cropping just results in floating heads. Anyway, these kids rock the house. Two of them are significant to each other, the other only slightly less significant. I'll let you figure that out for yourselves.
If I had to sum up the collective attitude that is exuded from these three...MF Ice Luge. Yeah...for real. I mean who throws down for an ice luge at pretty much every party they throw. That's kinda ridiculous, right?
And did I mention...Idris is a supergenius, Miller missed his calling as the next James Brown, and Gina is the host of Pittsburgh's only morning show? And you thought 38th Street was just another number. Y'all better recognize.

  • Name: Gina Focereta
  • Occupation: Making shit sound damn fancy
  • Hometown: Pittsburgh (Soon to be Chicago, along with everyone else I know that doesn't live in Pittsburgh...or Brooklyn. Sorry Max)
  • Passion: I heard she's got some.
  • Current Project: Attempting to make Steel Town more fabulous

  • Name: Idris Evans aka Two Dimes n' a Nickle
  • Occupation: Countin' mad loot, yo.
  • Hometown: MF Wales, biatch.
  • Passion: Thug Life
  • Current Project: Makin' ladies quiver. (sorry Gina, but you know your man is sexy)

  • Name: Miller aka Miller
  • Occupation: Guardian of the Earth
  • Hometown: Seeeeeeeewickley
  • Passion: Good ol' fashion laughin'
  • Current Project: Strip Club Inspector

an apology. a disclaimer

okay. so i don't want this blog to become some sort of weird archive of pictures of the 38th street crew in their 'less-than-finest hours' but seriously, what's more hilarious than passing out with your hand in a bag of cookies?!! Grandma would be proud!
I know my karma's gonna take a hit for this one, and max, you know I love you brother, but I just couldn't resist. Besides, you just looked too sexy in that other picture.


No Caption Needed Posted by Hello

Thursday, April 21, 2005


Mad Max Posted by Hello

I Call Him #2: Maxwell Kellog

If anyone I know could give Lance Armstrong a run for his money, it's Max. This kid rides his bike full tilt 365 days a year. I know that seems absurd, but it's actually true. If you can hang with this guy on any climb, then more power to you.
Coming from a long line of bad-ass-Irish-Mofo's, Max is no exception. He's the only person I've ever met whose returned to a certain D.C. night club specifically to tear the men's room sink off the wall. You think I'm joking.
Proving that 38th Street spans the globe, or at least the eastern seaboard, Max just moved to Brooklyn, NY to spread some love. But he's still representin' for 38th Street as far as I'm concerned. Until recently, Max was my favorite bartender at my favorite bar. But alas times change, people move on, bars become trendy, and they don't make things like they used to. Fortunately, Max is around to prove that adage wrong. Drink hard, rider harder, One love.

  • Name: Maxwell Kellog
  • Hometown: Steeltown by Day, Ireland by Night
  • Occupation: Bikes
  • Passion: Bikes and Dry Humping
  • Current Project: Spreading small town love in big town Brooklyn

Wednesday, April 20, 2005

Victim Numero Uno: Michael A. Browne

So this is probably the worst picture I could find of one of my best friends. And before you get all, "oh, that's not very nice to do to your friend" on me, just quit it. Trust me he deserves it. Not in that vindictive, god this guy's such an ass let's make him look like a sucker, kind of a way. It 's more in that, you deserve a weeks worth of noogies lil' brother kinda way. Understand?
But seriously, for a flat-lander this guy's alright. I'll spare you all the gushy details, but I'm sure he'd give me the shirt off his back, but only if I actually deserved it...which, on most days isn't likely.

  • Name: Michael A. Browne
  • Hometown: Culver, IN
  • Occupation: Words (see DirtRag)
  • Passion: Bikes
  • Current Project: Remodeling a house. (see RookieHomeOwner)


What can Browne do for you? Posted by Hello

The Usual Suspects

To maintain the truthfulness and honesty of the following posts, names and faces have not been changed to protect these otherwise innocent hoodlems that I call friends. Its just a lot more fun that way. Besides, isn't everyone looking for their fifteen minutes of fame. If you want a head shot, move to Hollywood.

Tuesday, April 19, 2005

What's the Point?

So what's the point of this whole blogging thing? It's oddly personal and public at the same time. I mean really, with free speech and all, I could really say anything from, "F#*k George Bush" to, "I like to pee in the shower." But I kinda figured since this blog is titled 38th Street USA I'd start there and work my way out into the world, or at least to a point where I can cover my circle of friends.

  • Where the Hell is 38th Street
Technically, 38th Street is in Pittsburgh, PA in neighborhood called Lawrenceville. www.1662DesignZone.com
I like to refer to it as Larryville, Lawrence is so formal. But really, 38th Street is more a state of mind than anything else. More than a street, more than a house, more than a home even. It's like a metaphysical home base of sorts where anything is possible...Film Festivals, Winter Cookouts, whatever. Really its just a one bedroom apartment, but why not think big.

  • Who the Hell cares?
You know, there's so much homoginization in the media, marketing, and meatpacking that goes on out there its nice to know that maybe somewhere things are different. Now, we're not starting any revolutions or anything, but F*&k the status quo! I like having six bikes in my dining room, I like the fact that my coffee table is a crusty, metal flatbed cart. And I'm not excited when Wal-mart rolls back pricing. I just want my little corner of the universe, and that happens to be 38th Street USA.

  • So What?
So, I guess this blog is off and running. I hope to keep it rolling and keep it interesting, and provide some insight into myself, my friends and my little peice of 38th Street USA. Over the next few weeks I'll get some pictures up here so yinz can have some visuals and attach some faces to names (for those that don't know). I hope to get some feedback from everyone as things progress and maybe even surprise myself a little, by realizing that I may actually have something to offer. We'll see.

Monday, April 18, 2005

Pittsburgh is Spoiled Rotten

I don't know if you've ever been to Pittsburgh, or lived there for an extended period of time. But seriously, we have some of the worst weather I've ever seen, until recently. We've been spoiled rotten for about a week now. Sunshine, mild temperatures, it's really quite pleasant. So for all the shit I've talked on Pittsburgh's weather in my fifteen years here, I take it back. A few days of sunshine is enough to wash away most of my bitterness and cynicism...at least for a few days.

Friday, April 15, 2005

One of Many

So this whole blogging thing is new to me. Perhaps it will be an adventure. Perhaps quite boring. We'll see what happens. I used to write a lot, journals, poetry, that sorta stuff; not so much any more. Maybe I'm just too old for that shit. Maybe I need to start again in a new medium, and maybe this is it. Don't think I'm going to drop any serious insight on anyone just yet, but who knows...'the years go fast and the days go so slow.' Cheers everyone, here's to more-to-come.


Playing Tunes at Moondogs2004 Posted by Hello