Nomadic Travels

National Geographic’s ‘Found’ Showcases Rare Pictures

Bengal tigers crouch as animal trainer carries a 300-pound lion in Moscow, March 1966.
PHOTOGRAPH BY DEAN CONGER, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC

Growing up I’ve always had this desire to see the world, but never quite knew how to make that mission a reality. And as I’m embarking on my 22nd birthday next week and still dealing with life after college, in the back of my mind (and in my heart) I long to see the world. Yes, I’ve seen most of the United States, but my glimpse of the world over the years has come from National Geographic (amongst other sources) and I thank them for their breathtaking 125 years of bringing travel into the homes and hearts of those of us who have yet to go abroad. 

However, in 125 years of photojournalism and discovery throughout the globe, National Geographic has kept thousands of images a hidden secret up till now. In celebration of 125, National Geographic recently revealed a brand new Tumblr, FOUND, which is the new digital home for rare pictures dating back to the 1900s.

FOUND, which is set up in a minimalistic design that allows the pictures to speak to you as you scroll down the page, has some riveting pictures that capture the beauty life throughout the various eras.

From culture to technology and innovation, the pictures from some of Nat Geo’s best photographers are bound to inspire you to grab a camera. I know that it truly caught my attention and has spoken to my love of photography. Culture is a beautiful thing to experience, and documenting it is even better; it’s priceless.

Visit National Geographic’s FOUND tumblr. 

Deep Sugar: Where House Music Lives In Baltimore

Normally, I blog about an event the day after, but I partied last weekend at Deep Sugar till 5 in the morning; slept most of the day and Monday was an exceptionally lazy day. By no means am I a slacker, but as a freelance writer/artist, I make my own schedule. So you know what that means? I can live it up on the weekends  (and weekdays if I want) with no regret, but I must say, there is nothing like a night/morning at Deep Sugar.

I hadn’t been to Deep Sugar in quite some time, considering I had moved to Los Angeles, and prior to my move, I was living all the way in Germantown (crazy far from Baltimore.) But I knew that since I had moved back to Maryland and had already had my night of dancing at U Street Music Hall’s Red Fridays, I would have to venture to downtown Baltimore and get in my monthly fix of Deep Sugar. And boy, did I ever!

Bringing my mom with me for the first time (we had never been out dancing together, it was a new experience) we made the 15 minute drive to the Paradox. My mom, being cautious of finding parking, decided we should get there right at 11pm. And…we did. Normally I don’t go early unless I have to, but it was nice seeing Lisa Moody already getting warmed up. Shortly after some great funky tracks, the room began to slowly fill as people from all different backgrounds, ages, sizes, and even fashion choices made their way onto the dance floor.

Let me tell you, Deep Sugar is truly an experience! You can try to be a wallflower and bop your head to the music, but trust me, you’re gonna wanna dance. Sweat, sweat, sweat! I can’t even tell you how soaked my shirt was. It was so wet, I had to take it off and wear my tank while jumping up and down, smiling, and getting lost in the infectious house.

From classics to tribal to soulful to deep to tech to gospel, Lisa and Nate played all types of house!

If you’re looking for some pure house and you happen to be in the vicinity of the DMV (DC.MD.VA,) then you need to check out Deep Sugar. Held at Baltimore’s legendary nightclub The Paradox on the second Saturdays of every month, Deep Sugar is a fabulous event hosted by the Deep Sugar Family. It’s a big family, but the lovely Girl Squad Ultra Nate and Lisa Moody hold it down in the main room.

Not only did I have such an amazing time (as usual,) but I met some cool people (lots of dancers) and passionate house junkies. Everyone comes with a vibe that is just all about the music. Every now and then you might sense an attitude, but once a certain track comes on, someone’s frown is turn upside down into a joyous smile. It’s hard to be upset when you get lost in the spirit of house. My mom and I even shed a few tears while dancing and getting lost in the spirit of some of our favorite gospel house tracks.

Hey, they say house is a spirit thing, a body thing, a soul thing, and I know from years of falling in love with this music and experiencing it, that house truly is like no other genre!

So, with all that being said (sorry for the lengthiness,) I must say that if you want to experience house music on the East Coast and don’t want to make a trek to New York, then check out Deep Sugar @ The Paradox. From 11pm to 6am the morning, come early and till dawn (like I did,) or come whenever you want and still dance till dawn. Haha, you can’t resist the enigmatic atmosphere of the dancefloor chanting your name.

Hope to see you next month at Deep Sugar. Save the date: Saturday, May 11th, 2013 with OSUNLADE. Yes, Osunlade. I can’t wait!

LIKE DEEP SUGAR MUSIC ON FACEBOOK

Related articles

• There’s No Right or Wrong Way To House…It’s a Feeling (thinksoul25.com)

Global Design | Street-artist JR’s “The Wrinkles of the City”

From the streets crowded streets of Shanghai to the vibrant boroughs of La Havana, Parisian street artist JR has showed us “The Wrinkles of the City.”

Originally started in 2008, according to JR’s site, “The Wrinkles of the City is a world-scale project aimed to be presented in various cities around the world where ‘wrinkles’, human as well as architectural, can be found.” From the finish of his first piece in Cartagena, Spain, JR has successfully put up masterpieces in Shanghai, La Havana, Los Angeles, and last week he finished a new piece in Berlin.

With a global approach to design and a compassion for humanity, he continues to effortlessly work on “The Wrinkles of the City” and other projects that are a voice for a generation of street artists and cultures across the globe.

Check out his latest piece in Berlin, as well as the other series within “The Wrinkles of the City.”

All pictures are from JR’s website. http://www.jr-art.net/projects/the-wrinkles-of-the-city-los-angeles

See the pictures from La Havana here and the shots from Cartagena here.

Berlin

Los Angeles

Shanghai

Nomadic Buzz | Starbucks “Box Of Coffee” Traveler

Good morning! I hope that you’ve all gotten off to a great start this morning, and if you’re anything like me, then a freshly brewed cup of joe gets you started.

Whether it’s home-brewed or something you pick up from Starbucks (or the local gas station,) the beauty of coffee is that you can always grab it on the go. But if you happen to be a nomad that is always shuffling from place to place, then you’d be better of buying a “Box of Coffee.”

Often advertised at most Starbucks and online, the “Box of Coffee” is actually a common nickname for Starbucks very own Coffee Traveler. The design is quite eye-catching and it’s the perfect solution for having a steady flow of coffee. It hold’s 8-ounce cups of joe, isn’t that great?! For someone like myself who drinks coffee a lot and is always driving all over the country and moving, this is the perfect solution.

The next time I get the chance, I’m going to pick up one of these! The price varies by location, but I’m sure it’s not crazy expensive.