Kobraâ€s Iconic Murals Include Portraits of

PHOTO CAPTION:  International mural artist, Eduardo Kobra, stands in front of his mural of Bob Dylan in downtown Minneapolis.

JERSEY CITY – Fresh off setting the Guinness Book of World Records for the “largest spray paint mural by a team” with his Rio 2016 Olympic Games-inspired “Ethnicities,” internationally-renowned, Brazilian street artist Eduardo Kobra is bringing his unique vision and talent to Jersey City.

Widely known simply as Kobra, the sought-after artist has begun work on a 180-foot tall mural on the façade of 837 Jersey Avenue in downtown Jersey City. 

Kobra, whose murals of notable historical figures include Gandhi, Abraham Lincoln, Bob Dylan, Nelson Mandela, and John Lennon, are painted utilizing bright colors and bold lines while incorporating a kaleidoscope theme.  Much of Kobraâ€s work represents fraternity, respect for the other cultures and acceptance and love for differences, which was one of the reasons he was approached for the Jersey City Mural Art Program that is rooted in the cityâ€s diversity.

Kobra has worked in more than 20 countries and created more than 30 projects in the United States alone, with murals in London, Athens, Lyon, Los Angeles and New York.

“Jersey City has one of the most diverse and expansive mural arts programs in the country and we couldnâ€t be more excited to welcome Kobra to contribute to the artistic landscape of our city,” said Mayor Fulop.  “His work is recognized around the world and his Jersey City mural will not only be our largest to date, but will also be an iconic image that will draw people here to visit the mural and our entire collection of outdoor art.”

Expected to take approximately two weeks to complete, the new mural will be an exciting addition to the more than 86 other public works of art created throughout the city by local and international artists in the past three years as part of the cityâ€s flourishing Mural Arts Program.

“Itâ€s great to see that Jersey City has embraced street art through its mural program and Iâ€m very happy to be a part of it,” said Kobra.

Launched in 2013 by Mayor Steven Fulop to foster arts and cultural awareness, the Mural Arts Program has effectively transformed the City into an outdoor gallery through the creative works of local, national and international street artists, including Shepard Fairey, Pixel Pancho, Karski & Beyond, Fintan McGee, Faith47, and WK Interact, and local artists Mustart, Fermin Mendoza, Lissanne Lake and Catherine Hart.

The new installation is taking place during Jersey Cityâ€s Annual ARTober festivities that kicked off with the 26th Annual Jersey City Art and Studio Tour (JCAST), a city-wide showcase of the arts featuring nearly 1,000 participating artists in hundreds of venues that include private studios, galleries, local businesses, and pop-up and public spaces.

To further integrate the Kobra mural into the local Jersey City art celebration – which runs through the end of October, – a 10,000-square-foot pop-up gallery has opened in the 17^th Street retail space of the Cast Iron Lofts building that displays a collection of works from nearly half of the participating artists in Jersey Cityâ€s Mural Arts Program.   Entitled “OUTSIDE/in,” the gallery features more than 85 pieces of visual artwork from acclaimed mural artists such as Distort, Emilio Florentine, Hell Bent, John T. Ruddy, Pawn and many others. The exhibition also includes indoor murals and large-scale installations, and is open to the public every Saturday in October from 12pm to 4pm.

The Kobra mural and “OUTSIDE/in” exhibit reflect Jersey Cityâ€s emergence as an important art and cultural destination that attracts the creative class.  The Mural Arts Program has commissioned works that support local art and beautify neighborhoods by programming public spaces with outdoor paintings that deter graffiti and incorporate the cultural and historical aspects of different neighborhoods.  Jersey Cityâ€s Mural Arts program has been compared to those in Brooklyn, Los Angeles, Detroit and Miamiâ€s Wynwood neighborhood.  The Kobra mural, and others like it in Jersey City, offer accessible, authentic artwork that can help enhance and re-energize neighborhoods through creativity and aesthetic beauty.

 

The post One of the Largest Names in the International Mural Scene, KOBRA, Begins Massive New Mural in Jersey City first appeared on River View Observer.

If you grew up in New Jersey itâ€s likely you knew somebody who had a friend whose second cousin had a brother-in-law whose uncle was connected to “the Mob.” Born in Jersey City and raised in Union City and then Secaucus, Jon Dâ€Amore had family members who were “connected”. An accomplished musician and songwriter, Dâ€Amore kept mental notes of a Las Vegas casino caper that went down back in the day and tells the fascinating and sometimes nail-biting story in his new book, “The Boss Always Sits in the Back.” Hereâ€s an excerpt:

“This is my story, based on actual events, of living on the fringe of what some people call ‘the Mafia.†You see, several members of my immediate family were connected. Connected simply means that through blood, honor or business…you have a direct connection to the Cosa Nostra, the Mafia, Our Thing, La Famiglia, the Mob. And those members of my family made a very comfortable living for many, many years through this affiliation. I thought about becoming more involved when I was in my early 20s, but at the time it was the mid-1970s. I was a professional musician and having too much fun living the rock ‘n†roll lifestyle. I was living every dream of most of my high school and college buddies (and at the time… that mattered!), so why would I want to cut my hair, wear dark suits and ties…and take the chance of getting whacked? Instead, I decided to watch da guys from the sidelines.”

Funny, irreverent and a natural storyteller, Dâ€Amore has made Los Angeles his home since the mid-1990s, but he has remained connected to his Jersey roots. He returns to Hudson this month for special appearances at the Secaucus, Jersey City and North Bergen libraries where he will read excerpts and sign copies of “The Boss Always Sits in the Back,” On a recent afternoon, Dâ€Amore took time out of his busy schedule to talk with Riverview Observer about his controversial new book.

 `RVO: Can you tell our readers what “The Boss Always Sits in the Back” is about?

JD: The book is about some guys I knew from Hudson County who pulled off one of the greatest scams to hit Las Vegas and after it was exposed it changed gambling laws across the country forever so that a scam like this could never happen again. It tells a story of the human side of these people and at the same time it describes the demise of what can be considered ‘the Mob,†because it certainly isnâ€t what we knew it to be from the 1940s through the late 1970s.

RVO:  Why did you decide to write a book about the Mob?

JD: The things that happened in this book started in 1975 when I was a musician. When I had heard about what these guys were doing in Vegas, I thought it would make a fantastic story. One thing I always believe to be true is that these guys are part of our history. Like it or not, there isnâ€t a culture that hasnâ€t come to this country that didnâ€t have to do what they needed to do to survive as a family and as a culture. Itâ€s part of our society. These things I heard about I knew it needed to be written about and that these people needed to be immortalized, because of what they were doing. These guys, and I say ‘these guys†with love and respect, did amazing things when you think that none of them had a college degree, or even prior to 1970, a large number of them didnâ€t have a high school diploma and some of the things they did were worth writing about. I knew I always wanted to write this story but the timing wasnâ€t right. I needed to wait. There were loose ends that needed to resolved – people needed to be incarcerated or released.

RVO: Werenâ€t you a bit nervous about naming names?

JD: I changed the names of everyone except my family. Everybody who is still alive and who I am still in contact with, I told them that I wrote this story and they all ask the same question: ‘Whoâ€s going to play me in the movie?â€

RVO:  Have there been any movie offers?

JD: Thereâ€s been a lot of interest. I wrote the screenplay and I have people contacting me wanting to talk business. Weâ€re just waiting for the right person to get a $25 million movie made. Thatâ€s the budget of this project.

 RVO:  How did you go from being a musician to a writer?

JD:  Because I had been taking guitar lessons since I was seven, by the time I was 14, I could read any kind of music chart put in front of me and that gave me impetus to write songs. Iâ€m not saying any were blockbusters or hits, but I learned how to write lyrics that were good. In the Jersey club bands I played in, the songs I wrote were good for the time we were doing them. I always wrote to a degree, just not books or anything that was publishable until 1976. At the Herald News an editor found out I was a traveling musician and gave me the opportunity to write a weekly column called “Jon Dâ€Amore on the Road.” When I was touring, I got to tell about being a musician on the road. I got to review albums, concerts. I got out of the music business in 1985 and I made it into the corporate world and by the 90s, I was traveling all over the country as a corporate executive doing presentations for large groups. I was in the insurance business but I never sold a life insurance policy in my life. After a decade in the corporate world, I was unhappy with what I was doing. I loved the people who were benefiting from what I did, but Iâ€m not really a corporate guy.

RVO:  What made you decide to become a Californian? Did you have ties there?

JD:  My father had two cousins who had established themselves in the restaurant business in Los Angeles from the 1930s to the 1970s, so when I was a kid, we came out here to visit. I donâ€t remember this, but I was told that when I was just an infant the actor James Dean, who was a frequent customer of my cousinâ€s restaurant, picked me up and held me in his arms. Six weeks later he would be killed. I always had a connection out here and I always knew I would live here.

RVO:  You have several book signings scheduled including May 16th at the Secaucus Library. How does it feel to come back to your hometown a published author?

JD:  In all honesty, itâ€s a wonderful feeling to be able to go back. From first grade to eighth grade, I attended school in Union City and from ninth grade to high school graduation I went to Weehawken High School. (Back when I was living in Secaucus, there wasnâ€t a local high school and we went to Weehawken.) At the book signings, there will be people I havenâ€t seen since then. I was the guy who played all the high school dances. And you know whose footsteps Iâ€m following? You know who else was famous from Secaucus who came before me? The Tidy Bowl Man, the guy who did all those Tidy Bowl commercials. Thatâ€s the guy Iâ€m following.

If you go:

Jon Dâ€Amore will read excerpts and sign copies of his new book

“The Boss Always Sits in the Back” on the following dates in Hudson:

 

Wed, May16, 7 pm

Secaucus Public Library and Business Resource Center 1379 Paterson Plank Road

Secaucus

(201) 330-2083

www.secaucus.bccls.org

 

Thursday, May 17, 6 pm

North Bergen Free Public Library

8411 Bergenline Avenue

North Bergen (201) 869-4715

www.njpl.org

 

Mon, May 21, 6 pm

Jersey City Free Public Library

Five Corners Branch

678 Newark Ave. Jersey City, NJ 07306 (201) 547-4543

www.jclibrary.org/branches/five-corners

 

For more information, or to purchase the hardcover or paperback of “The Boss Always Sits in the Back,” visit www.thebossalwayssitsintheback.com. (hardcover $22; paperback $13)

Kindle and Nook readers can download the book for $7.99 at www.Amazon.com and www.B&N.com

Boxing Promoter Al Certo (2nd from left) along with Boxers: (l) Joey Giardello, next to Al Certo the great Jack Dempsey and Willie Pep

Photo Below: A young Jon D’Amore future author holding a fake machine gun at a friends wedding

The post MOBSTER TALES-Jon D’Amore Who Grew Up in Secaucus, Pens Page Turner on Jersey Wiseguys and The Casino Caper first appeared on River View Observer.

Saddle Brook HS Senior Tyler Vitiello Receives Courage Award;

Shawn Oâ€Connor, Lincoln (NYC) Named Coach of the Year;

Vin Ascolese, North Bergen Receives Lifetime Achievement in Coaching

BETHPAGE, N.Y., December 20, 2011 –– MSG Varsity and The National Football Foundation this evening announced the second annual MSG Varsity All Metro Team, comprised of 25 standout tri-state area high school football players. Selected by the networkâ€s panel of football experts from hundreds of tri-state area high schools, the honors were revealed live on MSG Varsityâ€s “A Quick :60,” Cablevisionâ€s iO TV Channel 14 at 8:00 p.m. The broadcast also showcased the first ever Courage Award, the Coach of the Year and Lifetime Achievement in Coaching awards, while second team and honorable mentions are available on www.msgvarsity.com.

For the second year in a row, five players from Don Bosco Prep of Ramsey, NJ—ranked number one nationally and in MSG Varsityâ€s Tri-State Top 25—received first team honors, including senior wide receiver Leonte Carroo; senior defensive linemen Darius Hamilton and Mike Strizak; senior defensive back Kyle Sakowski; and sophomore running back Jabrill Peppers. Old Tappanâ€s quarterback Devin Fuller, Bergen Catholicâ€s wide receiver John Tsimis, running back Dalton Crossan of Sachem North and William Floydâ€s Stacey Bedell also received first team honors.

“Weâ€re delighted to partner with The National Football Foundation to honor the stand-out student athletes who comprise this yearâ€s MSG Varsity All Metro Team,” said Michael Lardner, Senior Vice President & Executive Producer, MSG Varsity. “The MSG Varsity All Metro Team is part of our ongoing effort to showcase the sportsmanship, determination and passion of local athletes and coaches in the tri-state area.”

“Through MSG Varsityâ€s comprehensive coverage of high school football, viewers have had a chance to watch all these field leaders develop and excel throughout the season,” said MSG Varsityâ€s Mike Quick. “Weâ€re honored to recognize these athletes who represent the very best that the tri-state area has to offer.”

 The following players have officially been named to MSG Varsityâ€s All Metro Team:

Saddle Brook High School (NJ) senior captain Tyler Vitiello is the recipient of the first ever Courage Award. Vitiello, who suffered a serious neck injury during a game on November 5, is now walking and will be returning home in time for the holidays. Since his injury, he has been at the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation in West Orange (NJ) working on his recovery.

 Lincoln High School (Brooklyn) head football coach Shawn Oâ€Connor, who led the Railsplitters to an undefeated season (13-0) and the schoolâ€s first PSAL championship since 1993, has been named All Metro Coach of the Year. Under his leadership, the top-seeded Lincoln team has strung together 20 consecutive regular-season victories and back-to-back title game appearances.

North Bergen (NJ) head football coach Vin Ascolese was honored with the Lifetime Achievement in Coaching for his unparalleled dedication to high school football and decades of student athletes. Ascolese, who concluded a storied 50-year coaching career by spending 39 years at North Bergen HS, retires as the third winningest coach in New Jersey history. Ascolese amassed an overall record of 359-124-7, with 12 Hudson County titles and seven state championships. North Bergen rallied with a touchdown pass as time expired to win the North 1, Group 4 state title over previously unbeaten Montclair HS in his farewell game.

ABOUT MSG VARSITY

MSG Varsity is a multi-platform suite of services comprised of: an Emmy award-winning 24/7 HD television network, a comprehensive online destination, and a groundbreaking interactive service, all dedicated to high school sports, academics and activities happening throughout the tri-state area. Content for these services includes MSG Varsityâ€s professionally produced programming as well as content created by the high schools themselves. Working in partnership with MSG Varsity, students and faculty are given extraordinary access to curriculum and training in multimedia creation and distribution, empowering them to become active participants in telling their schoolâ€s stories. MSG Varsity is a Cablevision exclusive service not available to satellite or phone company TV subscribers and reaches three million households throughout the New York market. For more information, please visit www.msgvarsity.com.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL FOUNDATION & COLLEGE HALL OF FAME

Founded in 1947 with early leadership from General Douglas MacArthur, legendary Army coach Earl “Red” Blaik and immortal journalist Grantland Rice, The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame, a non-profit educational organization, runs programs designed to use the power of amateur football in developing scholarship, citizenship and athletic achievement in young people. With 121 chapters and 12,000 members nationwide, NFF programs include the College Football Hall of Fame, Play It Smart, the NFF Hampshire Honor Society, the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Alumni Association, the NFF Gridiron Clubs of New York City, Dallas, and Los Angeles, and scholarships of over $1 million for college and high school scholar-athletes. The NFF presents the MacArthur Bowl, the Campbell Trophy, endowed by HealthSouth, and releases the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) Standings.

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Photo source Bing.com -Getty

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When I heard that Dennis Hopper had died, my first thought was, “We won’t see his likes again.”

 Much has been written about Dennis (meet him for five minutes and he insists on first names), but what hasn’t been said is how genuine and kind he was.

 It was early 2004 and we had met, unexpectedly, at Ago, the trendy restaurant on L.A.’s Melrose Avenue.  The restaurant was crowded, noisy, and vibrating with energy of the celebrities, who were at home in the place owned by a consortium which included Robert DeNiro.

 Suddenly, I recognized a familiar voice. I turned and there was Dennis Hopper at the next table, close enough to touch. “Hey Dennis,” I said. “How’s it going?” I had spoken to him at many Hollywood events and he always greeted me as if he remembered every time.

Photo of Mr. Hopper by: Alice O’Neill

 “Great,” he said. “How about you?”

“Same here,” I said and reminded him that I was still Alice O’Neill, and still writing the syndicated column, Hollywood Behind-The-Scenes. 

 Dennis smiled, saying, “I know. I’ve read it. You’re good!”

  I was with a man and his wife, who’d bought the Hollywood trip I annually donated as a fundraiser for Chicago institutions, DePaul University’s Theatre School and The Joffrey Ballet. We ordered drinks and toasted an exciting day in Hollywood. We talked about the Joffrey, the couple’s work in supporting the Chicago dance company, and my work interviewing and writing about the stars. I had married a Chicago businessman and moved from L.A. to live in Winnetka, IL. The marriage meant I had to do a good bit of traveling to keep up with happenings in the movie industry.

 I introduced the couple, explaining their “angels in the industry” status, a designation of people who pay money to support the arts.

 Dennis’ eyes lit up as he stood and shook hands and introduced his adult daughter Marin (a full-figured woman with an American accent), and his wife, Victoria (very fine-boned and slender, despite being seven months pregnant). Victoria, who had a distinct British accent, seemed too young      to be the mother of Marin. I made a note but never got around to asking who was Marin’s mother. I later learned it was Brooke Hayward, Dennis’ first wife.

 I ordered a round of drinks and Dennis led an animated discussion about the Joffrey, internationally known for its excellent dancers, superb choreography, and innovative programs. “I love Chicago,” Dennis said. “What a city, and what great people.” He spread his arms to indicate the couple as if they were royalty. They beamed. You could tell that they were in a moment they’d keep as a special memory all their lives.

 And it didn’t stop there. Dennis and Victoria both thanked me for also supporting the arts. “So, you donated a Hollywood trip?” Dennis said, appreciation evident as his eyes twinkled and he stroked his white goatee.  “You’re good, Alice!”

 “What are you working on?” I asked, remembering that actors need publicity to get out information to fans, to sell movie tickets, and to give columnists new material.

 “Well, The Last Ride is ready for release in a few months,” he said, adding that it wasn’t very good but that he enjoyed some parts of it.  “I play an ex-con who recruits his grandson to help get revenge on the cop who sent him off to prison.”

 “Sounds interesting,” I said.

 “Yeah,” he agreed. “I figured that would be interesting to explore. It was, but not enough to save the picture.” His shrug said he couldn’t win ’em all.

 “Hey,” he added, “I’m working on another film that promises to be better, Land of the Dead, written and directed by George Romero. “It’s a horror flick, science fiction, probably be out next year (2005),” he explained, adding that costars were John Leguizamo and Simon Baker.

 “Why do you think it’s good?” I asked, thinking it sounded like a war movie.

 “It’s a really good zombie movie, about the living dead taking over the world,” he said.

 At my raised brow he quickly added, “No, no. Really. It’s got a lot of heavy psychology entwined with the action.” His trademark smirky smile gave no hint of whether he was serious or not.  I scribbled a note, nonetheless.

 Well, as it turned out, he was not exaggerating. The film has since gained cult status as one of the best horror/sci-fi films of all time. His Easy Rider with Peter Fonda and Jack Nicholson stands as the dominant film that defines a generation. And his brilliant portrayal of a drugged-out photographer in Appocalypse Now stands as a defining character in a film that is part of Hollywood history. His work in those films as well as his early work opposite James Dean in Rebel Without a Cause and Giant solidify his place in the story of Hollywood filmmaking at its best.

Rest in peace, Dennis Hopper. Your total honesty, kind heart and prodigious talent make you unforgettable.

The post Dennis Hopper Remembered – Alice O’Neill first appeared on River View Observer.

And who doesn’t need a good laugh these days…Enjoy

The post Taking a Laugh Break with Jersey City’s Own Comedian -Mike Marino first appeared on River View Observer.

 

 

The post Pillowman at Attic Ensemble Begining February 19th- 28th first appeared on River View Observer.

All attended the showing of La Villa’s feature film “Oak Hill” , starring Academy -award winner and Golden Globe winning actress Sally Kirkland, at the La Femme Film Festival in Los Angeles in November

The post Peter La Villa’s “Oak Hill” Film Shown at The La Femme Film Festival in Los Angeles first appeared on River View Observer.