In a post to his blog, Emilio had this to say:

“In conjunction with the World Basketball Festival, Nike Sportswear is connecting the Five Boroughs of New York City in a celebration of its iconic Air Force 1 sneaker.

Nike Sportswear has chosen five ambassadors from each of the five boroughs. The Five Borough ambassadors include rapper, songwriter and producer Theophillus London from Brooklyn; up and coming rapper Miss Banks from Harlem; Rapper and Young Money record artist Corey Gunz from the Bronx; Format, a BMX lifestyle store and crew led by Nigel Sylvester, from Queens; and from Staten Island— host of the longest running show on WSIA in New York, Emilio Sparks.

Each ambassador will document his or her memories of growing up in each borough in unique pieces of content. (Via EmilioSparks.com)”

The Trailer for this project can be seen below.

The veteran Saturday Night Live actor is set to be interviewed as part of local talk show host Jay Miller’s “Mid Evenings” show tonight at Snug Harbor’s VMH Playhouse.

Forte (no relation) joins NYC comic staple Nick Turner as well as national headliner Kevin Brennan (Letterman, Conan) for a show especially-heavy on the laughs.

Best head over HERE and grab your tickets fast. This will arguably be the best Mid-Evenings show so far and hopefully lead to bigger-profile names, as the program has been attaining since it’s inception in the Summer of 2008 with writers from SNL, Late Night, and Colbert, among the ranks alongside local legends such as Phil from Gino’s and the Puerto Rican Van guy.

From performing in the back of Martini Red, to the rooftops of Van Duzer, and now it’s current home at Snug Harbor, I wouldn’t be surprised if Miller and Co. were soon seen holding court on the regular at UCB Theater in Manhattan.

This Friday night, local rock outfit Altered Perception will be celebrating the release of their first studio-recorded EP by playing Rhythm & Brews at 10pm.

According to their Myspace:

“[Altered Perception are a band] with a radio friendly sound, not typical of most local original bands.”

Talk about throwing-down the gauntlet. While select local bands revel in being abstract and experimental, Altered Perception seem absolutely giddy about having a more easy-to-digest sound.

Call them the anti-anti-mainstream, if you will.

A band surrounded by roads of twists and turns, albeit intriguing ones, banking on people wanting something straightforward and catchy to the ears.

Red Hot Chili Peppers front-man Anthony Kiedis once described the making of a good album as a “concise, straight-to-the-point, old-fashioned Beatles kind of record–eleven songs that you can enjoy during your lunch break.”

This band has five songs (snack break?).

This week, the SI Film Festival wrapped up and presented it’s awards for various categories including Best Director, Short, Cinematography, and Local Film.

According to the SI Advance:

For several of the filmmakers, last night was a clear sign that they should keeping following their dreams. Gabriella Loutfi of Richmond won the award for Best New Filmmaker for her short, “Apartment 7.” The 22-year-old enrolled in the New York Film Academy after graduating from Fordham University.

“I was a little scared to go into film because I knew there’s sacrifices. But I went ahead 500 percent and look at me now,” she said, beaming. “This is like out of this world for me.”

And the complete list of winners is:

Best Picture: “The Crimson Mask”;
Audience Choice Feature: “Cropsey”;
Audience Choice Short: “Waiting for…Budd”;
Best Director: Elizabeth Page for “The Pilgrim”;
Best Actress: Maria Rusolo in “Withdrawl”;
Best Actor: Trevor St. John in “The Art of Getting Over It”;
Best Suspense and Thriller: “Mourning on Charlotte Street”;
Best Comedic Feature: “Randal and Simon’s Big Damn Movie”;
Best Documentary Feature: “Warrior Champions”;
Best Dramatic Feature: “Friends and Lovers”;
Best New Filmmaker: Gabriella Loutfi for “Apartment 7″;
Best Documentary Short: “M.U.R.A.L.”;
Best Comedic Short: “Me, Myself and Your Husband”;
Best Dramatic Short: “The Happy High Laughter Club”;
Best Short: “The New True, Charlie Wu”;
Best Staten Island Local Film: “17 to Midnight”;
Best Short Screenplay: “Chase Thompson, A Film by Chase Thompson”;
Best Feature Screenplay: “The Scientist”;
Best Cinematography “Chase Thompson, A Film by Chase Thompson” and
Best Film Editing: “The Crimson Mask.”

The event overall was the highest-attended year for the film festival, securing it’s place as a future Island staple for years to come.

Even NY1 gave the festival some press, with a profile of the winners for “Best Local Film,” “17 To Midnight.”

Ciick the pic to watch:

June 5, 6, 12, and 13 mark the third annual Art By The Ferry grass roots festival.

The festival presents Visual Arts, Live Music, Performance Art, Street Performances, Crafts, Literary Readings, Children’s Workshops, Circus Performances,  and more.

Here are all the details you need to know:

“VISUAL ARTS VENUES” Building 11 at The Lighthouse Plaza (enter at 1 Bay Street), ART at Bay Gallery at 70 Bay St., Fishs Eddy at 139 Bay St., E.T.G Café at 208 Bay St.

“MUSIC VENUES”: Main Stage at Lighthouse Plaza (enter at 1 Bay Street), Overlook Stage by 911 Memorial Monument (near the SI Yankee’s Ball Field), ART at Bay Gallery – Soloists

“PERFORMANCE & WORKSHOP VENUES” Lighthouse Plaza enter at 1 Bay Street, Overlook at the 911 Memorial Monument near the SI Yankee’s Ball Field, Fishs Eddy at 139 Bay Street, E.T.G Cafe at 208 Bay Street, On the grass by the 911 Memorial (Bank Street), Show Gallery at 156 Stuyvesant Place.

Festival Admission is free,  donations are encouraged. Workshops are $5 per person.

For complete info, go to http://www.statenislandcreativecommunity.org

At the very beginning of Hylan Boulevard lies one of the treasures of Staten Island. A true icon and staple of North Shore Staten Island, the Alice Austen House (which is also known as ‘Clear Comfort’) sits adjacent to New York’s upper bay. If you’re new to the island, or just find yourself caught up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life; You may not know the importance of Clear Comfort or Alice Austen.

This two-story Victorian cottage-style house was the residence of photographer Alice Austen for 78 years. Known as Clear Comfort, the home’s simple elegance, extensive ocean-views and pastoral surroundings provided Austen with the subjects and social conditions needed to later establish her as the earliest American woman of importance in the field of photography. Austen developed all seven thousand of her photographs in Clear Comfort’s darkroom, and her detailed pictorials of the home were essential to the home’s eventual restoration. Austen’s work challenged Victorian traditions while providing examples of everyday society in late 19th and early 20th century America. Austen’s work often mocked Victorian mores by dressing female subjects in men’s clothing and even showing women smoking in public–an illegal act during the Victorian age. Her photography captured more common experiences than other photographers’ work, and her photos were often displayed in prominent shows. Her series on the quarantine facilities for immigrants on Staten Island was exhibited at the 1901 Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo. Despite her fame, the Great Depression brought financial hardship and Austen began to drift into obscurity. Although the Staten Island Historical Society saved much of her work, Austen was forced to sell almost half of her photos and by the late 1940s, she was destitute. The 1950 re-discovery of Austen’s work at the Historical Society led to the lasting establishment of her artistic significance. (Via National Parks Service)

Chez Vous Caterers, Dock Street’s sister company has had the privilege of catering numerous events in the large open field next door, which has hosted a plethora of outdoor events such as SiCoLab’s Bridge the Gap and Bridge the Gap II.

If you’re interested in learning more about Alice Austen or Clear Comfort, check out the official website.

If you’re interested in visiting, you can get directions from google maps here.

Instrumental rockers Audiometry will be playing The Cup on Van Duzer Street tonight starting at 8:30pm.

They will be joined by Phoebe Blue, Kites of Saturn, and Vessels.

While there will be a cover charge somewhere between $5 and $10, the show itself is well worth it for these great acts.

From the jazzy sounds of Kites Of Saturn and the classical tones of Vessels to the folksy innocence of Phoebe Blue and the sharp craftsmanship of Audiometry, It is sure to be money well spent.

As well as a good value for your entertainment dollar during a recession.

Art by the Ferry involves artists; photographers; musical groups; literary performers; street performers and Crafts tables. Many underserved groups perform as well.

Shows such as “Lifestyles for the Disabled,” Liberian readers, and Native American dancers spread art and culture through NY.

Art by the Ferry provides media exposure that attracts the general public of New York City and tourists visiting NYC from all parts of the world. The 2009 festival attracted nearly 6,000 visitors. This influx brought an unusual amount of people to our local businesses including restaurants, museums, parks and exposed available real estate to a world wide audience.

Art by the Ferry 2010 is coming up June 5, 6, 11, 12, 13.

A fund raising event will be held this Thursday at chez vous, 691 Bay Street, where there will be food, drinks, dancing and live music. Cost per person is $20.

Stay with Dock Street in the coming days as we will keep you updated on ART by the Ferry as it draws near.

On Monday, May 17, local songstress Therina Bella and her band The Terrible Girls (ironically all men) will grace the stage of Pianos at 158 Ludlow Street, Manhattan.

Not one to shy away from branching off the island (Bella’s music has recently been showcased on WRXP), Bella and her band are sure to make an impression with lovingly-crafted ballads and crunchy guitar pop.

Songs like “The Wreckage” and “Waiting” have a glorious tone of 90’s to them (in a good way), hearkening back to The Cardigans and their sweetly-crafted yet darkly tinged wink-nod to the more-ambitious side of life.

So check them out. Support a local act and get off this island every once and a while.

Staten Island’s own and WRXP darlings Plastiq Passion have sure come a long way this past year. From releasing an album to getting played on WRXP 101.9 (New Yourk’s biggest rock station).

The girls are looking to keep this positive run of momentum going with a show this Thursday at Bar East in Manhattan (1733 1st Ave).

Price of admission is $10 at the door and It’s always a fun night out when the ladies of Plastiq Passion bring their new-wave inspired rock to your ears.