This important message of the day is brought to you from Clinton Hill by Faro and Moodswings.

Jesus Saves has been snapping photos everywhere he goes and wanted to share these photos taken in December as James Brown lay in state at the Apollo Theater. Rest in peace, James Brown. Nobody was as funky as you.

“The idea was that we found some old speakeasy that burglars would use to store their gear before fencing it.” So says Simon Hammerstein, great great grandson of the ballroom’s namesake and proprietor of The Box. Although it’s been active since December 2006, the theater and nightclub dinner theatre 189 Chrystie Street is not expected to be “officially” open until June. That’s because Hammerstein is busy schooling dancers’ routine and searching out new acts to dazzle the crowd.

“Three nightly shows will be put on, and Hammerstein and his team have been scouring circus schools and the like in France and Russia for guest stars. One of his favorites is a twenty-inch-tall woman named Firefly whom he wants to live in a glass house suspended above the bar and read aloud from her diaries.”

Is that even legal? If you can’t wait, head over to Brooklyn to hear teenage diaries read aloud at Freddy’s Back Room.

Photo by Mike Duva.

Photographer, Bill Sullivan, took candid photos of people exiting NYC subway turnstiles. Sullivan outlines the standards for situational photography which capture unknown subway riders in a very standardized setting.

I developed a situation so that various subjects could be defined by the constraints of exactly the same mechanical apparatus. The scenario consisted of someone passing through a subway turnstile. At the moment that the subjects passed through the turnstile, unknown to them, I took their picture stationed at a distance of eleven feet. I stood there turning pages of a magazine observing subjects out of the corner of my eye, waiting for only the moment when they pushed the turnstile bar to release the shutter.

Also capturing the determination to get home quickly, throw those new 24 inch mag wheels on your bike and ride.

Images by Bill Sullivan.

Last Friday, Metro NY recapped the graffiti drama going on with MadeULookNYC.com, Made U Look and the MTA. There’s not many new details about the case except for the discovery of part of the wholetrain.

- An eight-car R train was found covered in graffiti at 10:20 a.m. on Christmas Day at 57th Street and Seventh Avenue — where there’s an underground “lay-up” for parked trains — according to NYC Transit spokesman James Anyansi.

- Many graffiti writers use the darkness of lay-ups to paint trains and take photos after they finish their pieces.

Some graffiti writers use the brightness of subway stations to paint trains and take photos too. It’s called a backjump. You learn something new every day.

The NY Times highlights a largely unknown Keith Haring mural in a convent stairwell on the Upper West Side.

Mr. Haring painted it on a Saturday night in March of 1983 or 1984. More than 50 kids were staying at Grace House for a retreat, and a handful watched Mr. Haring work. In all, it took less than an hour and a half.

“It was mesmerizing to watch him, and for me, I was very proud of having him there doing that,” said Mr. Soto, who is now a party promoter. “I felt like it was for us.”

Kinah Ventura, another member of Grace House, remembers the night vividly. “For kids who were into graffiti,” she said, “it was a different spin on what art is and what art is about, especially because he was so positive.”

Pretty cool. Hopefully they can cash in before a band of art thieves attempts to rip the wall out.

Photo by Ozier Muhammad/The New York Times.

Idiotarod, the annual running of the shopping carts went down yesterday. Although there was a strong police presence, including a helicopter, the race went on with nary an arrest or ticket. Amidst the flying eggs, flour, fish oil and other unknown substances, Mike Green and Chris Ryan were able to shoot and edit some great video (from a tandem no less). Final results are forthcoming from the Carts of Brooklyn Racing Association (C.O.B.R.A.).

Update: Gothamist is providing comprehensive coverage of the whole event.

Since Sue Teller taught us how to decorate our shoes, we’ve been on a do it yourself kick. Fortunately, Scientists of Bling, Reggie Osse & Gabriel Tolliver created this instructional video for making fresh diamonds in the microwave. All you need is peanut butter, charcoal, and lighter fluid! Extra points because they’re conflict free!

We just cooked up enough rocks for a grill piece. What are you cooking?

A friendly reminder that the Bicycle Film Festival is still accepting films with a strong emphasis on bicycling. For further details check out the submission guidelines on www.bicyclefilmfestival.com.

Last night, Hiro Ballroom witnessed a showcase from Radio 1 DJ Gilles Peterson’s Brownwood label: Jose James, Tita Lima, Taylor McFerrin plus the American debut of Japanese jazz band Soil & “Pimp” Sessions . If you haven’t heard, Soil and Pimp plays high energy club jazz with intense brass and big beats. Motoharu gets really wild on the saxophone plus his sax strap is a dookie chain. What’s not to love?

Continue reading: Soil & “Pimp” Sessions’ American Debut