Setting the Mood with Raphael Saddiq

I don’t think you need me to reiterate how much ‘STUFF’ has gone down in the past three days.

The world watched a beautiful wedding ceremony occur within a historical family who’s history is plagued with divorce. Mother Nature continued to ravage the South with tornadoes. The kind the NOAA calls the worst in our nation’s history. Then, around 10:00p ET last night, the rumor mill starts buzzing that President Barack Obama will make a speech…subject unannounced. Those of you in news, or better yet, any profession, should sense the peculiarity in this.

Only a short while later, there it was. Across the news networks, online print publications, and of course Twitter, that Osama Bin Laden had been killed by U.S. forces.

That’s a lot to take in, but it’s an exciting time for the world. I’m not going to provide any analysis, commentary, questions, or explanations. Rather, I leave you with a song that sums all of these happenings for me, courtesy of up-and-coming musician Raphael Saddiq.

-alyssa estrada

anenews

timber timbre

I don’t know much about this band (yet), but I know that their music is the perfect representation of the transition occurring in New York City right now:

a dark, long winter approaching an exciting, unpredictable spring.

Check out this video for Woman:

-anenews

healing.

via First Aid Kit in this new hit produced by Jack White.

listen here.

DECEMBER.

The year is wrapping up. People wrapping up in layers to fight the cold, wrapping presents with bows, rapping about Christmas.

For me, this year has been one filled with change. A whirlwind so to speak. So while it’s crazy that the year is almost over, I am very excited to have a month that is full of familiarity and tradition. (Despite the fact that I’ll be working on Christmas this year)

If you missed Black Friday, Small Business Saturday or Cyber Monday, never fear. You still have 24 days to get those gifts! While I’m unsure as to what my purchases will be, I do know a few of my favorite Christmas things.

hope everyone has a blessed holla-day!

xo,

anenews

subway series: dancin’ on my own

this…

 

sort of reminds me of this…

subway series: the lone jammer.

man jamming out an empty tunnel. 14th street.

 

subway series: cleaning time.

MTA workers get down and dirty.

happy fall y’all.

It’s officially October. Here is what I’m looking forward to falling into.

changing leaves. cooler weather. chunky sweaters. tights and boots. ciders.

any party involving this:

ane.news fall playlist:

1. Sufjan Stevens: I Walked.

2. Local Natives: Shape Shifter.

3. Winter Sport: Eastover Wivez (Dent May Remix)

4. David Bazan- Hard To Be.

5.  Band of Horses- Older.

6. Jens Lekman- A Sweet Summer’s Night On Summer Hill.

Fall bonus:

I had a chance to see a pre-screening of “The Social Network” last night, followed by a Q&A with writer Aaron Sorkin. The movie was not only well-written, but visually captivating. The pace, editing, and score was exactly what I look for in a movie, and I think everyone should see it.

“Socializing on the internet is to socializing as reality television is to reality.” -A. Sorkin

alyssa estrada,

anenews

tributes.

Easy Dieting.

I recently took a trip down to the ‘Dirty South,’  seeing what the great city of Oxford, MS had to offer. But what I remember the most in the midst of Faulkner’s homeland was my flight back to New York.  Nancy and Jim, King Biscuit Time.

According to Nancy, her and Jim were lucky enough to always sit next to a “heavy-set person” on the airplane. Unfortunately for Nancy, Jim is already a large man himself, constantly leaving her squished between her husband and a whole lot of stranger.  As I arrived to my seat, she welcomed me with a “thank heavens!”

As she started telling me about a woman who was booted off an airline to make room for a man that took up two seats, I wondered where to draw the line in these situations. America is about individuality and freedom, so how is weight monitored in public places? It appears that a new diet invents itself every day, including machines resembling acts that should be reserved for the bedroom.  Yoga is in, people worship their elliptical, and I’m pretty sure I saw a box of 100 calorie pack Hostess Cupcakes.

I don’t need to lose weight, but I do wish I had more time to dedicate to fitness.  Unfortunately it seems I can hardly find time to gather 8 hours of sleep. So when I came across this article in the NYT about the subway keeping you in shape, I realized public transportation offered more than just rats and amateur musicians. Thank you MTA.

alyssa estrada,

anenews