i keep a diary

July 19, 2003

Siren Festival and Jess Party

Despite the stiffling heat (and the mediocre line up of bands), Tara and I hopped on the subway and headed for the annual Siren Festival out on Coney Island.

tara
After a few minutes of walking around on the scorching boardwalk, we decided we needed some refreshments. We found a $10 all-you-can-drink frozen drink stand and quickly plunked down a Mr. Jackson ("Dos, por favor."). After a few sips, we realized the drinks, although festive looking in their florescent test-tube cup thingies, didn't contain enough alcohol to buzz a field mouse. We quickly remedied the situation with my the flask or rum we'd brought along "just in case." (Check out the reflection of Tara pouring. Artsy!).
flask ˆ tara
Like three years ago, Vice featured this guy as one of their fashion "Don'ts." (I'm not sure why, maybe it was the sandals?) Anyway, here he is three years later kicking it to two chicks. Hey, if it ain't broke...you know what I'm saying?
best ˆ boardwalk ˆ mandals ˆ vice
After our 2nd "frozen drink" refill, we headed for the water for a quick "swiss." (FYI: a "swiss" is when you go swimming for no other purpose than urination. It's a portmanteau of "swim" and "piss!")
coney island ˆ siren festival
karen landes, karen marsala, natasha
After our dip (ahhhh, refreshing) we decided to walk over to the main stage and see if we could catch Hot, Hot Heat. As we neared the side entrance, it was immediately apparent that unless we felt like fighting our way through a mass of sweaty-bodied hipsters, we were not going to get anywhere near the stage. But, on the good side, we randomly ran into Karen Marsala, Natasha and Karen Landes! Woooo! A few minutes later, we headed over to the 2nd stage and caught the end of Ted Leo's set, and then we headed back to Manhattan.
karen landes ˆ karen marsala ˆ natasha
jess d
Later that night (after a quick nappity-nap) I headed out to Park Slope to meet up with Jess D. at a party. Shorty after I arrived, it was decided that the entire party was going to head a few blocks over to Prospect Park for some nighttime croquet (to be played by tiki-torch light). Here's Jess getting ready to light the first torch.
jess d
Viola! With all of the torches lit, the course was fully illuminated.
fire
jess d
Jess preparing to, um, tee off? (Is that what it's called in croquet?)
croquet ˆ fire ˆ jess d
Jess' good friend Guilles (sp?), who I hadn't seen in over four years!
fire ˆ point
Jess' other good friend (and wife-of-Guilles), Steph!
croquet
jess d
Jess, moments away from almost burning off her eyebrows whilst trying to light a cigarette off of the giant tiki-flame.
fire ˆ jess d
Speaking of, check out the action photo I managed to capture of some random party guest completely burning off his eyebrows while spitting a huge tikitorch-fuel fireball.
best ˆ fire
jess d
Despite how easily you can see the ball by the light of my camera's flash, the game proved to be slightly more difficult with only torch light (which is probably what caused me to give up halfway through my game and head back to Manhattan).
croquet ˆ jess d
jess d
Thanks for having me, Jess!
croquet ˆ jess d
jess d, me
Jess and me! (Check us out way back in '97). Hahah.
jess d ˆ me