New CultureSurfer videos & pics for March15 through March 21

All on the homepage of http://culturesurfer.com

ART
Naughti Gras artists (an erotic art show)
In this final interview from Naughti Gras, John Webster talks about his phenomenal “paintings” that are actually created with a ballpoint pen. And yes, the man is sane.

The Sketchbook Project
If you missed the on-day only opening of The Sketchbook Project at the the Soulard Art Market, check out this inteview with the adorable duo of Shawn & Steve. These two hail from the Art House Gallery in Atlanta where they came up with an innovative idea of sending out about 3,000 sketchbooks to people around the world.

Rock, Paint Scissors (Interview #1 of 3)
Photographer Bob Reuters is the rock of Rock, Paint, Scissors, a new exhibit at Soulart Art Market. Talk about eccentric characters in St. Louis.

DANCE/MARTIAL ARTS
Pandora’s Matchbox
Check out the fire dancing at 3rd Degree Glass Factory. So cool it’s hot.

Indian dance #1
Traditional Indian dance at the Southeast Asian Heritage Fair last year. Bet you didn’t know there was one, did you?

Chinese Martial Arts
This little kid can kick some butt!

MUSIC
Chinese New Year 2009
Need to brush up on your Chinese? Check out “Moon Gazing Song.”

Fresh Heir
That is some funky rap/saxophone/all kinds of stuff indie music. Performed at Off the Wall at City Hall.


What’s CultureSurfer filming next?
· I can’t wait to see what Typewriter Tim is all about at Third Degree Glass tonight. This guy does WHAT with moleten glass and typewriters???
· And I get to check out the Barbie exhibit (Long live, Barbies!) at Bruno David Gallery.
· And do some Bad Housekeeping at the Flax Gallery.
· And last but not least, it’s time to get my fashion fix at Saint Louis Fashion Week! If I could only have the clothes!!!!

Why I haven't blogged in a while

Naomi and Charlotte at THE U, UMSL radio station

Why I haven't blogged in a while
Sorry it's been so long since I last blogged. My excuse is that I have been working, working, working on CultureSurfer since the middle of December when I lost my video players. I don't mean "lost" as in "Where did I put my keys?" but rather lost as in my video players that were free were about to cost $500 per month. Yikes! So I spent about 3 weeks doing tons of research looking for a comparable video player. Then, I had to spend two more weeks re-building CultureSurfer. And I'm still not happy with the video players. It turns out you can't embed or link to one specific video. Not cool! So I am considering redesigning the site (but I need free help from a tech person if you know anyone) to re-create CultureSurfer.And I'd like to host my own videos, in order to be free and clear of any video hosting sites. Those people irk me. And of course, we've been filming. A lot. So we're slowing it down a bit so I can deal with umpteen tech issues that I would like to resolve and I am busy working on a business plan. Ok, end of whining.

UMSL radio interview
I finally got some local media coverage!!! Charlotte gave me a great interview at the University of Missouri's radio station, The U, last Monday. We spent an hour talking about CultureSurfer, player a few of the videos, and chatting about the incredible talent we have here in St. Louis. I'll try to make the sound file available on CultureSurfer when I get a copy of it.

So in short, I will try to blog more. I'll try to give you more regular updates on how the site is going & what cool stuff we'll be filming in the future.

Additions/changes to the site
I've added both articles and movie reviews? Why? The site just seemed too image-heavy and that's not cool where Google is concerned. Google likes text to crawl in order to increase a site's visibility for people searching. Also, I personally love to write movie reviews since I watch 1-2 movies per week (that's my escape from reality), and I thought it would be nice for people to contribute articles on all of the various topics I cover. You'll be seeing articles from contributers soon. You're may also be noticing more photo galleries on the site because I've asked St. Louis galleries to send me pics of their openings.

I moved the cycling videos to their own site, STLbikegeek.com.

What we'll be filming next
To start with, there are so many art openings that I can't even believe it. So I'm sure in the next few weeks, we'll be filming one or two. But the big deal for March is Saint Louis Fashion Week. Jeff and I will be there along with Dan, our photographer, and a contributor who will be writing about some of the fashion. I can't wait to see what creations the various designers have come up with recently.

New CultureSurfer videos for November 10, 2008

Yup, CultureSurfer is delving into that girlie (mostly) world of beauty. There are those who will argue that beauty, like fashion, is not culture. I beg to differ. Or I would beg to differ if it weren't my site. But since it is my site, I can do whatever I want.

BEAUTY
Pretty Sweet-the beauty bash put on by PrettyCity.com at Mandarin Lounge in St. Louis.

Mineral-based Makeup-Jackie from Jon Tomas salon talks about using mineral-based makeup at Pretty Sweet, the beauty bash put on by PrettyCity.com at Mandarin Lounge in St. Louis.


FASHION
The Dillard’s Show-Part One-At Saint Louis Fashion Week, Fall 2008

ART
Dallas Moses-curator of Jack’s Art Show at the Koken Art Factory

CYCLING
Cyclocross at Creve Coeur Lake-1-See Dan Elavsky’s beautiful photos put to music.

New videos for Nov. 3, 2008 on CultureSurfer.com

FASHION

Silver Dagger-at Saint Louis Fashion Week, Fall 2008

Traditional Filipino Fashion-At the fall Asian Couture & Cultural Event at Mandarin.

ART

Sara Parry-artist/adorable bloody bride at Jack’s Show at the Koken Art Factory

INDIE MUSIC

Here-by Elleven

CYCLING

4K To Go-The approach into St. Charles at the 2^nd Annual Tour of Missouri, filmed from the Team Bissell car by Dan Elavsky.

Glen Mitchell-Director of Team Bissell

DANCE

Fire Dance, Part 2-Pandora’s Matchbox performs at Third Degree Glass Factory

New CultureSurfer videos for the week of October 27, 2008

Yup, we're still bringing you more fashion videos from Fashion Week but we're switching gears a bit to bring you some very whacky art videos. Apparently, the St. Louis art community gets even more creative than usual this time of year & puts on events like Jack's Art Show (as in Jack the Ripper, how funny & sick is that?-lol) and Art Attack, a fundraiser at which the audience decides how to destroy the pieces of art that don't win the auction. I must say that I have never, ever had so much fun at at art opening as I did at Jack's Show. You may notice that I was giggling a bit in this video and no, I was not drunk! I was just letting loose; no alcohol was involved.Really.

FASHION
Pics of the Meghan Fabulous Runway Show

Meghan Fabulous Runway Show-At the 2008 Saint Louis Fall Fashion Week (Check out the designer whose looks are worn by celebrities like Sharon Stone & Paris Hilton.)

Meghan Fabulous Interview-At the 2008 Saint Louis Fall Fashion Week

DANCE
Fire Dance-Part One-performed by Pandora’s Matchbox at Third Degree Glass Company

ART
Jack’s Show-The Jack the Ripper Art Show at the Koken Art Factory in St. Louis

Jeremy Hendry-interview with the artist at the February 2008 Art Coop opening

CYCLING
MTB Pro race-Spanish Lake-October, 2008

Team Symmetrics Interview-at the 2nd Annual Tour of MO pro cycling race

POLITICS
Missouri Politicians at Bosnian Festival Speak Up for Obama

CultureSurfer videos-October 20, 2008

Saint Louis Fashion Week, Fall 2008
Fashion Week was great to film this time. We filmed fewer shows so we were less exhausted than after we filmed in May, but we still came out with 15 videos. We've got some interesting behind the scenes interviews & were able to film a good variety of runway shows. You'll see St. Louis designer, Skif, who made the sweaters worn in "The Matrix," as well as some very cool fashions from designers in LA (Meghan Fabulous & Silver Dagger). We've also got some urban/street fashion by hip hop artist Nelly (St. Louis native, grew up right near me in U. City, but he's just a bit younger than me) and another line by another rap artist out of U. City, Murphy Lee. We'll be uploading the Fall Fashion videos through December.

Skif International Runway Show-The St. Louis-based designer with her innovative knits

Lipstick Touch Up-interview with a makeup artist backstage at the fashion show

Music
Me He Enamorado/I've Fallen In Love-performed by St. Louis sensation Javier Mendoza at Brandt's Restaurant in the U. City Loop.

Bosnian Music with Edo Sadikovic-Part One-At the Bosnian & Herzegovian Festival in St. Louis

Dance
Traditional Indian Dance-Part One-at the South Asian Heritage Fair in St. Charles, Missouri.

Cycling
On The Radio-footage from the team Bissell car at the 2nd Annual Tour of Missouri, Stage 6.

MTB Spanish Lake-Part One-2008 Missouri Mountain Bike series in Spanish Lake, Missouri. Sport, Endurance, & Women's races.

Politics
Swiss Television in St. Louis-Esther Mamarbachi & Hubert Gay-Couttet from tsr.ch tv talk about their experience in St. Louis, talking to all sorts of people about the Presidential election.

Skif International Runway Pics

Check out St. Louis-based Skif International's latest designs at Saint Louis Fashion Week, Fall 2008.

"With more than 15 years in the knit biz, Nina Ganci and company specialize in dressing men, women and children in unique, avant-garde sweaters. Probably best known for outfitting Keanu Reeves and Samuel L. Jackson in The Matrix movies, their one-of-a-kind pieces are created in the Spielberg Furniture building located in St. Louis’ The Hill. Ever-evolving, Skif clothing is consistently classic and comfortable, yet cutting-edge and unpredictable."
-from www.saintlouisfashionweek.com