Brooklyn's on fire

On the cover this month, Abe Ana Choveche.
Design by K.K.W

Out-pacing the rest of NYC: Brooklyn's on fire. Photo's & text by K.K.W.

Looking around these days, who the hell could imagine that it was populated by the Canarsie tribe? Between the current residents, the recently arrived, newly arrived, and the rest who will quickly follow, its hard to tell who loves Brooklyn more.

East 18th & Beverly Road. 

Dumbo is posh, Park-slope is a jewel, and with most of Manhattan priced-out, its only natural for people to start flocking here in droves. Back in 2006 when I lived on St Mark's in Brooklyn, there were very few "young-people" there like myself. The neighborhood was undesirable, somewhat grimmey and a little dangerous at times.

Church Ave. A major stop on the Q-train.

Atlantic Ave, while Barclay's Center is going up.

Drugies, junkies, vagabonds, thugs, wanna-be thugs & the "usual suspect's" cavorted with the everyday respectable people who called the area home. Now Crown-Heights and Bedstuy have both seen a drastic influx of new residents, causing residential constuction, road improvement and increased police patrol. Changing the neighborhood. 

Bushwick sector. Its young people like these
two who are helping to change Brooklyn. 

Most of my friends though it was "a little bit ghetto", and not really a "good neighborhood". And at times I had to agree; though there was many reasons why the neighborhood was great. Meanwhile on Myrtle the "Toren" would soon be up; one of many new luxury building in North Brooklyn only minutes from the Brooklyn & Manhattan bridges. 

A former hospital across from Prospect Park,
on Parkside Ave. 

In the South, Courtelyou Road would have new eatery's, and bars to match the successive waves of new residents to area [Ditmas Park].  Williamsburg has been a major destination over the last 10 years, especially for artists, and with this would follow new buisnesses, places to eat, and a wave of residental & commercial constuction.

A former hospital across from Prospect Park,
on Parkside Ave. 

A former hospital across from Prospect Park,
on Parkside Ave. 

Between 2003 & 2012 private sector employment spiked by 19.8%, nearly double the amount of growth for the rest of the city [10.6%]. By 2013 there were more then a half million private sector jobs [with wages @ more then 18.7 billion].

Barclays Center, under construction. 

"..its a remarkable transformation thats changing neighborhoods and the economy. Its our job tp make sure this is a rising tide that raises all boats..." (Mayor Bill De Blasio). By 2011 there was about 50,000 businesses, with many more by now. 

Broadway Sector. 

Broadway Sector. 

The borough's largest job sector is health care and social services, which contributed 33.1% of employment. Along with this the leisure and hospitality industry [such as restaurants & bars] grew considerably; 10,000 jobs between 2008 2012. Two weeks ago the City Council approved a 1.5 billion redevelopment plan for the former Domino Sugar Factory site in Williamsburg that will create  2,000 permenant jobs and new offices space [not a balanced equation, of course].  

City Points construction project. Formerly
Deklab Market, on Flatbush Ave. 

Tillary Street near Myrtle. 

If you would like to know more, go to:www.nytimes.com/2013/03/10/realestate/moving-deeper-into-brooklyn-for-lower-home-prices.html?src=me&ref=general&_r=0. Some info for this article was taken from the article "Brooklyn's Boom",  by Ivan Perreia, from Am New York. 'Art is the reason, art is the way'

In Skopje; where to stay

On the cover this month, Abe Ana Choveche.
Design by K.K.W

In Skopje: @ The Urban Hostel. Text & photos by K.K.W

I still remember when I decided finally, on go to Skopje; minutes after updating my status on FB, Tanja (a friend of mine) suggested I stay @ Urban Hostel Skopje.

It was great choice.

Leaving Istanbul, Skopje in the distance. 

Looking out past the wing, only dreams. 

Getting my travel plans in order took longer then I thought, and the staff was willing to work with me. They even sent a taxi to meet me at the airport; strange to see man holding a sign that said my name. The homemade sign gleamed in the drivers hands like the light of a liquor-store, before a man who had been sober for to-damn-long.

The front desk.

The view from the balcony of my single room,
looking to the right. [towards Partisan Blvd].

My single room was spacious, with a large bed, closet for clothes, large flat-screen T.V and a small balcony [with a glass door, a small table & two chairs] shared with the 6-bed dorm-room next door. This was really great, as I didn't know the balcony.

The living room area. I had a good time getting
to know these travelers from a medical school in Varna.  

The main bathroom on the same floor as my room was large, with a jacuzzi tub-shower. Breakfast [which was always really good] was served every morning; mueslix cereal, milk, fruit-spread, whole grain bread, butter, and pudding. And the place is cleaned everyday and has a self-service laundry area. Situated @ 22 Adolf Ciborovski, the hostel is a 15 - 20 minute walk from the city center [Macedonia Square]. 

The front door. 

The porch area. 

Towards the front gate. 

Adolf Ciborovski Street - where the hostel is
& the apartment building I stayed in. The apartment
is operated by the hostel [across the street].

Interior of the apartment, facing the kitchen.

Interior of the apartment

Interior of the apartment

Interior of the apartment

Looking over the balcony. 

Looking over the balcony,
to the left.

Looking over the balcony.

After the rain

At the end of Adolf Ciborovski Street

On Partisan Blvd. 

On Partisan Blvd. 

Although there are many other hostels in Skopje, I would rather stay @ Urban Hostel; there is a real feeling of safety, kindness, and a positive atmosphere. If you would like to know more, go to:https://www.facebook.com/urbanhostel.skopje?fref=ts&ref=br_tf . 'Art is the reason, art is the way'  

Fashion in Skopje

On the cover this month, Abe Ana Choveche.
Design by K.K.W

"Hard to Explain": Fashion in Skopje. By K.K.W

At this point fashion is still dominated by main-stream labels that are reasonably priced and the usual high-end labels whose names have become more well-known then the Gods of myth & legends. 

Designs by Marija Dacevska

However, especially in the last 10 years, there's been a considerable amount of designers silently or overtly challenging the status-quo. But change comes hard, the road to success is paved with obstacles, and a general public seemingly addicted to brand names. 

Design by Marija Dacevska

Originating in Skopje, Macedonia, and operating for some years now, "Hard to Explain" is one of the few alternative design labels in the city [& possibly in the region].And of course its one of the few (good) alternative labels. The name is actually for 3 designers; Katerina, Marija [sisters] & Katerina Mikrut. For now we're going to focus on the first 2. 

Marija's designs showcase pastel colors with, at times, a gossamer material for a ravishing demi-couture look. There's a strong feel of elegant and sensual evening wear; a look of the past redesigned for the future. Simplicity, clever use of materials and patterns with an occasional  wild touch.

Designs by Marija Dacevska [She's the beautiful 
lady in the blue dress].

Design by Katerina Popeva

Design by Katerina Popeva

Design by Katerina Popeva

Some of Katerina Popeva's creations have an androgynous feel to them. There's a sense of masculinity balancing the softness of the feminine. Earthy tones, muted colors with a splash of primary, along with accentuated shapes and patterns that give a sense of modernity. There's a distinct bit of the 80's in some of her designs, exuding a retro-touch, but the look seems from another time ahead of this one. Her designs exude a world of there own, the models like characters, in story told without words. Their out-of-place, and yet right at home in Skopje; ready to walk of the runway and onto the streets. All the power, intensity and allure of her personality is imparted to her designs. Without words they speak in volume.   

Design by Katerina Popeva

Design by Katerina Popeva

Leni von Geleva @ Hard to explain shop.

Katerina Popeva, @ Hard to explain shop.

Katerina Popeva, @ Hard to explain shop.

In The Old Bazaar sector, just outside the shop.

With so much passion, intensity, and dedication to their craft one can only imagine how far "Hard to explain" will go. Each designer's style & look is not only unique, but an extension of their personality along with their out-look. Hard to explain's potential for immense, further creativity, is intense. And hopefully lead to even greater design's that will extend from the boarders of their country, to Western Europe [& maybe elsewhere - NYC?]. If you would like to know more, go to:www.facebook.com/hard.explain.5?fref=ts&ref=br_tf, www.facebook.com/mdacevska?ref=br_tf.

'Art is the reason, art is the way'

Art from Choveche?

On this months cover, Abe Ana Choveche.
Design by K.K.W

From the mind of a Gemini: Art from Choveche? Damn Straight! Curated & with text by K.K.W 

Often enough, people who are gifted in one area begin to venture towards another, usually as a hobby, only to slowly realize they have immense potential. Though she is know as a musician & Jazz singer, perhaps this immensely interesting young woman just might surprise everyone, starting with herself. 

Untitled #1

On a recent trip to Kosovo for a gig, she created a few abstract images with her smart-phone, that seem to have an intensity, playfulness, with an alluring dark quality. 

Untitled # 2

Untitled #3

There's a sense of living in the moment, of impulsiveness with a touch of control. A love of the light while living on the edge of the darkness. It could be said that there is a somber quality to the images, a creepy touch. However, their full of hope; beacons of light in a sea of unforgiving night. In a way, she's playing Jazz.  

Untitled #4

Untitled #5

It was a little more 2 years ago, when I first saw the images from her ongoing series "Gemini". Right away I liked them. Obviously skillful, full of humor with some pop-culture references, they resonate and speak in silence.  

Gemini #22

Gemini # 1

Many of them show an unabashed intensity, a strange longing, a kind of vulnerability. You can feel a deep need to connect with the self, or perhaps another kindred spirit.   

Gemini # 20

Gemini # 7

There's a fierce quality, a determined strength from a life of triumph's and bittersweet regret's that will never be apologized for. She exists in a world where many are present, though few are invited in. 

Gemini # 24

Yes, there is a sense of self-involvement, Although its sensible and without pretension. The gritty style of the images reflecting aspects of her life, the country she grew-up in, and road she's traveled. 

Gemini # 15

Gemini # 29

Gemini # 6

Gemini # 28

Gemini # 25 with Miki Manojlovic

If you would like to know more, go to: www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Phk1HlRTH4, www.facebook.com/abeana.choveche?ref=br_tf. 'Art is the reason, art is the way'.