NYC The Blog Recommends: I ♥ NY Subway Maps From EQ

EQ is an artist who holds court on Prince St in Soho, off Broadway. You can find him there spray painting the ubiquitous I ♥ NY on subway maps, along with a variety of other original designs he works with. He will also do commissioned pieces on request. The piece he creates in the video, spray painting I ♥ NY on the map are sold for a very reasonable $20, and might make the pickiest tourist/friend/sibling happy to receive one.

You can find him via MySpace or by emailing him at groundzeroartsATyahoo.com

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A Conversation With Harlem Resident And Author Of 'Side Step Me', Alex Geana

Alex Geana, Harlem resident, blogger, and author of Side Step Me, recently sat down for a coffee date at the Hungarian Pastry Shop with NYC The Blog. Side Step Me draws on Alex's personal experience with "pill popping culture; a never-ending need for one night stands, conspicuous consumption, intoxication...encouraging the sensation of happiness through the lonely intimacy and sometimes fever of New York."

Having already done a question and answer session on Gawker with their commenters, and with a blurb appearing in Allure magazine about his book, NYC The Blog is putting Alex and his book in front of our huge audience. He handed me a copy of his book, and in return, I read it and sent him some questions via email.

NYCTB: Where do you live? And what do you like and dislike your current nabe? Do you have a favorite establishment in the neighborhood?
Alex: I live on 137th and Broadway, but moving shortly to 148th and Broadway, I really like the spacious apts in this area and the diversity. I love Fairway, I'm a huge grocery store buff and love cooking as often as I possibly can. Artists can't afford the East Village anymore, so it seems as though everyone moved uptown and I can't deal with the Brooklyn commute.

NYCTB: Why a book of poetry, as opposed to a fictional narrative for instance? Though a narrative does seem to run through the book, one of loneliness, glimmers of hope, anecdotes about chemically/substance altered states, and of acceptance of life on life terms. Is that accurate? In that respect, how is your life still the same/different from the times the poems reflect?
Alex: You're totally right. The narrative and through line came later, as I was editing and piecing the work together, I thought long and hard, about shared and common themes and how to tell a story using a poetry book. So in this way, it's unique. If you got the connectivity that holds the book together, then I feel confident other people will. All books should tell a story, to captivate. I wanted to put my poetry and short stories out there, with a sprinkling of photos. So this is was a great start. I wanted to do something different and I think I succeeded.

What I write is always written in the moment. I'm an observer above all else. Yet making the work come alive was important. Each poem at times, becomes it's own character. (i don't know if I'm making sense here). That was my primary goal. To tell a tale in a unique way, about the times we live in, the pills that are supposed to cure us, yet just contribute to the apathy that permeates our world.

NYCTB: Any parting shots?
Alex: Thanks for taking the time to review the book. I really hope people connect with it. It's been a work that's near and dear to my heart. I love hearing feedback.

NYCTB: Where can people buy your book?
Alex: They can buy the book through www.sidestepme.com, at Amazon and even at Target.com. It''ll be available in independent and gay book stores shortly.

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NYCTB Recommends: Koger Financial Group of Harlem For Filing Your Income Tax

Derrick Howard
Koger Financial Group INC.
2503 A.C. Powell, Jr. Blvd
New York, New York, 10039
(212) 283-1510

NYC The Blog Recommends! That's worth it's wait in a carton of black market cigarettes, at least.

I would encourage anyone in Harlem who is in need of an accountant to file your taxes to consider Derrick Howard at Koger Financial Group for this service.

They were thorough, professional, and neat. He and his secretary were polite, patient, helpful, courteous, followed-up with phone calls, advice, suggestions, questions, and were always so polite and helpful. Derrick called a few times to ascertain the right facts and numbers, while also attempting make sure we claimed all the proper credits I were due. As well, even though Derrick has filed the taxes and I have paid him already, he is doing some follow up work on my behalf that is not necessary but is helpful to me.

Ultimately though, it was their bill for services that was very fair and considerate.
My taxes are not that difficult, but their was a bit of work in preparing them. State and Federal, and it had to be done twice. Past experience told me the price would be around $400.00. Initially I approached H&R Block, and they quoted me a price of almost $500.00. Another hole in the wall place I tried quoted a similar price. I was like, "um, that's kinda high."

Stopping by Koger Financial on 145th and Frederick Douglas Blvd., Derrick Howard sat me down at his desk, and we talked about what services I needed, and I asked him for a ball park figure on the cost, because I did not want to go thru all the motions just to hear a cost for services that was too high. He told me it would be about $225. I was happy to hear that, and left all the paper work with him.

After going thru all of the paperwork, Derrick's secretary Hazel called later that day to tell me that the cost to prepare them would be quite a bit more than initially anticipated. However, in an attempt to be fair, and without any prodding from me, Derrick offered me a substantial discount anyways, with the final price coming in at $300.00.

Derrick Howards at Koger sees value not only in their services, but also in their community by being fair and equitable with the people who inhabit it, doing so without any strings attached. That's the kind of value you can't charge that to a credit card.