NYC #10 // My personal Broadway Bomb Weekend

Ian Nichols, co-founder of the Broadway Bomb

Do you know the feeling when you skate through the streets of your town with some of your best friends? Imagine this with hundreds and hundreds of skaters pushing next to you in New York City! Anyways, let's start this post with Uncle Funky's Potluck Picnic on Friday Night. The Uncle Funky's family set up a small get-together to kick off the Broadway Bomb Weekend. A bunch of skaters from New York, the U.S. and even from Sweden and Germany came ;) 

After a while, we decided to move the skate party inwards. To be honest, I didn't really know what that meant... until I found myself skating by night on the big streets of Manhattan. We skated from the West to the Eastside, then on to the Williamsburg Bridge, the famous bridge - never done that before, so for me, über exciting! Then, skating down the brigde was another huge adrenaline kick! It was a long, very fast and a sweaty journey, but worth every single push.

Landed somewhere in Brooklyn, I was stoked as hell and couldn't hide my enthusiasm about the past moments. But it wasn't over yet. We stepped into a house party (I called it skate heaven because there was a Miniramp in the basement and hey, 6 rad skaters living under one roof) and we even played Adam Colton's famous Bite the Bag Game.

The next morning, THE day of the Broadway Bomb, everyone started at noon on 116th Street. For my part, I decided to wait on 14th & Broadway to take some pictures, and dived into the first big crowd. Even though it was only the last bit of the Bomb, it was sick! We were all pushing through red lights, making these crazy taxi drivers, pedestrians and cyclists stop, some held their smartphones up high to take a snap and it was such a cool vibe skating with amazing people, pushing and not giving a fuck. Just do what you love, get rad or get lost! And don't die! Haha!

 Kiefer Dixon on his way. 

 Jamie Nieves // Cami Best // Mike Girard

After hitting the finish line at the Charging Bull, we cruised down to the East River Park to announce the winners. Kiefer Dixon and Claudia Clase made it first. Some of us took off shortly after and went for some food, naps and beers, just to land at skate heaven again later that night. 

It was like a never-ending skate party with positive people, doing what they do every single day, being stoked about their passion and making the best out of the urban streets of New York. What I think can be related to any community or passion is, when you feel like your legs are killing you, the positivity and drive of the community make you go further and not care about pain. Everything is mental, so enjoy the time while doing it and push harder! Also, one of the most inspiring things about the last weekend was: it doesn't matter whether longboarding or skateboarding, whether long / small / or even middle boards, there is no difference, you are a skater and we skate everything. We all share one love, one passion. 

 Slide Jam with Steve Kong

Sector 9's Scavenger Hunt

 

The weekend went on with a small Slide Jam on Sunday Morning and ended with a fun Scavenger Hunt through the city organized by Sector 9 in the afternoon. Hopefully this will happen again next year! 

I cannot believe how my life has changed by getting my first longboard, back last year. Everyone else and everything what happened next were connected. This whole community of positive, creative, and motivated skaters opened up a new world. I cannot say it enough: thank you to everyone who is part of this, never did I feel so much freedom and vitality before. 

I hope this skate party will never end, 

cheers and keep your heads up high,

inspire and aspire

from New York with stoke,

Huyen

NYC #9 // 10 Facts about The Broadway Bomb

When I knew I was coming to New York City this semester, I put down Broadway Bomb 2014 in big red letters in my calendar. For everyone who is not familiar with this race, here's what you need to know about The Broadway Bomb: 

1. It was founded in 2002 by a group of 15 friends.

2. Ian Nichols was one of them and 

is still organizing it.

3. It is on the 3rd Saturday in October, 

every single year and kicks off at 12, noon.

4. Start: 116th Street & Broadway

 Finish: Charging Bull in Financial District  

 

5. It is around 8 Miles and

150 intersections & lights will be crossed.

6. The rules are as following: 

Stay on Broadway // No Skitching meaning no holding on to

 cars to gain speed // No knocking down skaters or pedestrians 

7. Since it first started, 

it has gained a lot of attraction and in 2012,

thousands of skateboarders from all over the world 

partcipated in this event. 

8. In 2013, police officers tried to barricade the skaters

with orange nets. Here is a fun video to watch.

In that year, some people got arrested, too.

9. Yes, it is an illegal race.

10. Best of all: it's free and will always be!

Who is coming with me next year? ;)

A post about my personal experience of the

Broadway Bomb Weekend 2014 is coming up,

so stay tuned!

NYC #3 // Skate and Art Saturday

Last Saturday was my very first day skating in and around Brooklyn and you cannot imagine, I loved loved loved it!! Being back on my board was tremendously relieving! I am so glad that one of my friends from Germany brought one of my boards here, so I can enjoy the city from a different perspective :) So, thank you again T! ♥

Although my ankle is still kind-of swollen, I really wanted to push through Brooklyn! That day, I met up with a dear friend and we had a lovely brunch together in Bushwick. After that, we talked a lot about dreams and travels, how we only have one life and that we should do what we love. What is the best for you? Not for your boy/girlfriend, your parents, your company.. but you? What is your purpose here and what is the most fun to you? 

Deeper into the conversation, she revealed some hidden artwork she did when she studied Design. I had to take some pictures and was amazed by her potential and her ideas :) Find Sarah Azpeitia on her instagram to get inspired!

After that nice afternoon of skating and exploring a bit of Bushwick, I took the subway home. In that train, a skatergirl approached me and we had a nice little chat, she told me that there's a skateboard artshow that night. It was the 20 year anniversary of Chocolate Skateboards. A skate shop on Bedford Avenue, therefore very close to home. It was really packed and really hot inside, so we only stayed for 10minutes, enough to take these pictures! But actually after that, I had tons of fun skating through my own neighborhood by night! It was exciting for me because it was my first time skating through the streets of New York, now I cannot wait to click on publish and head out.

It's beautiful outside,

you should go play! ;-)

NYC #1 // Welcome back to NY

As you know, I kicked off my new semester with NYFW (see the street styles I shot here, here and here), but this NYC Series will be a small diary about my New York life and what I'm up to. In here, I also want to show you revisited eating-out-tips, shopping-tips, events and also street styles from people I meet  ;-) Enjoy this trip with me and let me know how you like it!

It's been 3 weeks now that I moved to Brooklyn, Williamsburg and the faster time passes, the more I am getting used to it. I have to say, I was super lucky to find a room with a nice roommate here. Again, Vitamin B helps. It was only a couple of nights before my study abroad semester started and before, I stayed with friends in NJ. Looking for a room in the city is really not as easy, especially if you are not here. There are a couple of options such as Craigslist, Airbnb and also Student Housing, but often these I find superduper expensive and not reasonable. 

Such a warm welcome, thank you S & T!
You guys are the best ♥

My budget for a room in a private apartment was 1000$, which I think, is still lots of money and last minute a friend from a friend from a friend got back to me and offered me a room. It was under my budget and the decision was easy. It's a small room, maybe 8m², I sleep on an air mattress with my sleeping bag, but I don't really care, I am here for only a couple of months and I live in one of the best places in Brooklyn. Once again, I had to learn: don't stress out.. in the end, everything will fall into place!

Of course, I had to bake some good bread!

The very first nights on the East Coast // New Jersey

I am so glad that for the first couple of nights my friends from two years ago took care of me and welcomed me back to the States with open arms. Thank you again! ♥ School.. is situated in Downtown Manhattan, Financial District, therefore very busy, very smelly, very loud, many cabs, many tourists.. the Brooklyn Bridge, the One World Trade Center and Chinatown are nearby.  

Lunch view.

Germany is visiting me ♥

Some Sightseeing in Central Park

Germany, second round :)

But.. luckily, I can escape Manhattan a bit and spend most of my weekends in a more quiter place: Williamsburg. When I was here two years back, I wished I could live here, I guess that little dream came true! I didn't do anything big in Brooklyn so far, but will definitely come up with eating-out tips, where-to-shop and many more stories! Oh yes, two of my best friends from Germany already came to visit and I had an amazing time showing them around and showing them MY personal New York, wanna hang out? :)

Although my room is small and I have a 30minute commute to school, the location is just perfect! There is the McCarren Park, the year-long farmer's market every saturday, a donation-based Yoga Studio, a supermarket, the subway station, the beautiful East River State Park with the view to Manhattan aaaand.. for all longboarders out there: the Bustin Board Shop! Everything in 15minutes walking distance. Two weeks ago, I just had to stop by at their shop when they had a HUGE sale going on.. (they are moving down the street and will reopen mid-October) and I couldn't leave the shop without bringing this beauty of board home. Yep, this was definitely a splurge! Not planned, but even as an artwork for my wall totally worth it. I also have the feeling that one day, someone special will receive this :) 

I hope you liked this kind-of NYC Diary, let me know what you think about it! Anything special you want to see while I'm here? 

For daily New York posts, 

follow me on Instagram and Twitter.

Have a wonderful new week ♥

MH

I saw it, I fell in love, I couldn't resist.

Crack Pie anyone? :)