You Got Hustled, Son!!

So last night I was coming home from dinner with a friend and about a half a block from my house I got straight up hustled. Well, I don't know if it's a true hustle if you know what's going on.

I was walking up the right side of the sidewalk with three people in front of me. This guy comes from the opposite direction but on the same side of the sidewalk. So all three of us step aside to let the guy by.

With plenty of room to get by, the guy basically hockey checks me, causing him to drop his bottle of liquor. I knew what was up right away. He yells out, "Watch where you goin son!!" I started laughing, knowing what was coming next.

"Sorry man," I said.
"Sorry ain't gonna get me my liquor back, you owe me 31 bucks son!"

I kept laughing.

"What is it?"
"Don't matter what it is son, cost me 31 bucks."
"I got no cash on me, man."
"Well I guess we got a situation."

Then from behind me, a low voice said, "You better stop laughing boy."

That's when I realized shit just got real, son.

"Ok, I got ya. Wait here and I'll go grab some cash at home and come back," seeing if they'd go for it.

"A'ight, we'll walk with you."

Fuck.

So I pulled out what cash I had on me and counted out 23 bucks.

"I got 23 bucks, guys."
"A'ight, dats cool."
"Yep."

A couple of years ago, I probably would have done or said something stupid. Nowadays, it's not worth it. Plus, the guy was pretty hilarious in a Dave Chappelle sketch character kind of way. The big guy not so much.

Enjoy my 23 bucks guys.

PS -- In searching google image for a pic to top this post, I came across this ridiculous image that must be shared. Dude smashing a wine bottle on his face.

PHOTOS: After The Fall

Building Collapse.
Myrtle Ave.
Brooklyn, NY. June '09.

Here's the story.

PHOTOS: NYC Marathon - Bed Stuy. 11/02/08

I live in the Bedford Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn. Bedford Avenue is one of the main thoroughfares of Brooklyn running north from Sheepshead Bay to Greenpoint. Part of the 2008 NYC Marathon, held on November 2nd, ran right in front of my house. 

I woke up early that Sunday morning to a couple thousand people passing by my front yard. It was my first NYC Marathon experience and while I've never had any vested interest in the event, it is a pretty spectacular thing. Even on a Sunday morning, shutting down any street in NYC is almost guaranteed to cause a commotion but the NYC Marathon seems to go off without a hitch. I watched for about a ten minutes from my front stoop then grabbed my camera, and shot off a roll of B&W.

You can watch for just a few minutes and hundred different people with a hundred different stories pass before you. The overseas runners waving the flags of their homeland, the Borat fan, the firefighter in full gear running in honor of his fallen brothers, or the amputee showing us all the meaning of heart. New York City can offer you some amazing stuff, the annual marathon is no exception.

There are actually very few selections from the marathon itself. A few houses down from me on the opposite side of the street I came across a teenage girl and her younger brother. The girl was playing a faded honeyburst Les Paul - her brother, a set of synth drums and together they were knocking out some instrumental versions of Led Zeppelin's "The Ocean" and Nirvana's "Come As You Are." Their practice amps pushed to the limit, the sound engulfed most of the block.

I walked by them a couple of times hoping to snap off a shot without their noticing me. Kids are tough to photograph. They've been trained since birth to "smile for the camera," so capturing something authentically candid is a challenge. Kids are smart though and they we're on to my game in about a minute. I walked over and we chatted for couple of minutes. She'd been playing for about two years, her brother about the same. Their sister would occasionally join in the mix, singing her little heart out and stomping to the beat. They'd hung a handmade pro-Obama sign on part of the abandoned building next to their apartment. "We just wanted to play some music for everyone and show support for Obama." These are the kind of kids that bring hope to the next generation.

Two nights later, we shot fireworks off the roof of my building. The horns of passing cars blaring below, we celebrated the election of Barack Obama as our next president. And I felt lucky to live in Bed Stuy.

"NYC Marathon - Bed Stuy" photo info:

Nikon N-80, Tamron 28-75mm, various f-stops, ISO 400, Kodak Pro BW400CN.

Click here for the gallery.