Hollywood loves 5Pointz (latest on closure news)

Still from the film, "Now You See Me"

Hollywood didn't fake hip hop in the movie, "Now You See Me," which I got from Redbox last week. Who knew the film featured exciting footage of the iconic, infamous 5 Pointz graffiti Hall of Fame (as pictured above?)

I've been visiting this location for many years, even before the fire exit collapsed! So, of course I was saddened to hear the news back in 2011 that the warehouse was threatened by property development. But, I never wrote about it until now. Life, just got busy!

As a hip hop fan who never got to see subway train whole cars traveling across the city back in the 80s (pre-Mayor Koch days,) 5 Pointz represents the essence of graffiti. It's the nearest to real graffiti in hip hop's Mecca. Despite, every city I've lived in having graffiti Halls of Fame, there is nothing like having the #7 train rumble above as I walk around checking out the latest graffiti burners! It's as close to the heyday of New York graffiti as I can experience. That may all disappear into history and memories held on this blog and my hard drive.

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So, here's the latest news. Last Weds 2nd October, 2013, there was #1 of the official City Council hearing in Manhattan. There was quite a sympathic article towards the development in the New York Daily News this summer. It seems that, in June 2013, the Community Board 2 voted down the G&M Realty development plans. But, as an advisory board, it's unclear what teeth it has to enforce any changes to the plans and how long it can hold up any development schedule.

You can check out how you can help and other updates at the official 5 Pointz website.

Don't Bomb These Walls (5 Pointz Documentary) from Riki Sakai on Vimeo.

Five Points...graff Hall of Fame

So good I gave it its own posting. Five Points in Queens has been around for yonks. I first saw the Blade pieces in the late 90s when Tina lived in NYC. The art still continues as artists from around the world come to paint.

Queens has been cool for a minute

Queens is Chinatown, P.S.1 art gallery, Five Points graffiti Hall of Fame and now Raychel's new home too.

To live there and hang out in Jackson Heights gives you a different perspective on the borough. And seeing Lil' India and the Colombian 'hood made me feel like I was in Holloway, north London a bit. Then heading towards the East River you get to see P.S.1 and within walking distance, the seasonal Water Taxi Beach bar. There's not actually a beach as we know it, with the waves lapping up on the shore, but you are next to the water.