Kohei Yoshiyuki's candid camera

With infrared film in his camera and a filtered flash, Kohei Yoshiyuki's explored Japanese voyeurism and exhibitionism and turned his dirty habit into a cult phenomenon.



Yoshiyuki mostly likes to photograph couples getting frisky behind bushes in his native Tokyo.

Although Yoshiyuki's been on the scene since the late '70s/early '80s, his first show in the United States was last year at the Yossi Milo Gallery in New York.

This reminds me of the Blair Witch Project, but much sexier and more honest.

The New Yorker magazine contributed to this post.

NYC subway angels

We've all seen them. They're the guys who post up in the subways and offer to swipe people through the turnstiles, seemingly out of the goodness of their hearts.



What they don't tell you until you pass through is that you owe them two dollars. Only an asshole wouldn't give these angels the ends, but most of the time the tourists even tag on a tip for relieving them of the awfully stressful task of going to the metrocard machine to buy their own damn ticket.

It's like an experiment my Psychology teacher in high school would've tried. Freaking brilliant.

It's always pleasing to see creative advertising

I took this picture a couple months ago. It's the flight of stairs exiting Penn Station in Manhattan. I don't think the ad is still there. They probably change the ads often.

Dr. John + Rebirth Brass Band full review

Sounds from New Orleans made their way to the northeast at the recently opened Blender Theater at Gramercy in Manhattan with the Rebirth Brass Band and headliner Dr. John.

According to the box office, the show was sold out, but the theater never got more than half full.

Rebirth, an eight piece horn and percussion band, started the evening with a 45-minute set that had the crowd on their feet dancing. Celebrating their 25th year anniversary, the band mixed in traditional New Orleanian instrumentals with some hip-hop styled vocals, and even played a rendition of T.L.C.’s “Don’t Go Chasing Waterfalls.” The songs were structured so that someone in the band would solo for a while and then everyone would come back together for a blasting horn interlude.

The band ended their set to roaring applause, and after a short intermission, the headline took the stage.

Dr. John’s band came onstage and started the groove before Dr. John himself, real name Mac Rebennack, drifted in with a big smile wearing a royal blue suit, blue sued loafers, and his trademark voodoo links of various animal teeth and beads hanging down to his belly.

They started the show off slowly with jazzy ballads, some from his new album due out in June, which mostly bored the crowd. But after a slow start, they dove into their most popular song, “Right Place, Wrong Time,” which finally got some people out of their seats and up near the stage to dance.

Dr. John seemed to have more political interests than musical ones singing socially conscious lyrics from his new album and taking time between songs to tell the crowd how we need to bring the troops back from Iraq and Afghanistan.

Much to my disappointment, the Rebirth Brass Band did not join Dr. John at all during his set. But even more disappointing was Rebennack’s performance, though nostalgic, lacked energy.

His band made up for some of the lost energy with solid playing and backup singing that sounded more like a full choir than three people.

But that did not seem to inspire Rebennack. After each song he turned the page on his music stand like it was a task he was not enthusiastic to complete. Even when he turned around and stood up to play his organ, he hardly moved any part of his body besides his fingers to push down the keys.

Like many musicians from New Orleans, Dr. John drew inspiration from Hurricane Katrina’s destruction in Louisiana for songs from his new album, many of which he performed. But the lyrics were trite and the music was bland. Even he seemed ashamed to play them.

Though I went to the concert more excited to see Dr. John, I left the theater impressed by Rebirth and sad about Rebennack’s soft performance. If you listen to some of his older albums, the music is funky and energetic, but none of that was the case that night. As much as I hate to admit it, Dr. John is getting old.

Nice space, but the clothes...not so much

The Comme des Garçons store in Chelsea is cool to walk through, but there's no music, which makes for a strange shopping experience, and the clothes are nothing special, besides ridiculously overpriced.

Fuckable sheep

I'm not making this up. I saw this at a sex shop on 8th Avenue while I was on a scavenger hunt in NYC with my friend Jade (for the record, SHE spotted it from the street, not me). It had a slit just under the tail where one could pleasure this plastic livestock. Notice how the shelf said "WET SELECTIONS." I have no idea what that means.

Dr. John, Rebirth Brass Band, and my new favorite chef

Good show at the Blender Theater in NYC Friday night. I'll post something more in-depth soon.

And if you're ever on Lexington Ave., check out 'Chez le Chef' between E 28th and E 29th for some serious pastries. Even if you don't like sweets, Chef Frédéric (above), is a funny guy to chat with.