Emily's May Inspiration "There Goes The Hood"

It was more than a restaurant, it was a symbol. And in the past decade, the last man standing in a sea of homogeny brought on by outsiders visiting the East Village on the weekends; dabbling in the hip, artistic, and edgy. Fact is MAMA'S was the neighborhood. At ten dollars a plate with a choice of meat and three sides, MAMA's was the spot you went for down home comfort. Nestled on 3rd St btw A & B, I walked past this soul food spot daily back in the nineties, sometimes stopping in just for a side of mash potatoes when the city got rough. They had the best veggies too, and if you didn't want meat you could get an extra side with their mac and cheese rivaling no other.

I encourage my yoga students to embrace change, to accept the only constant in our lives is just that. But as my old street in Alphabet City morphs into more and more sameness - that chain store, homogenized look that plagues our country - I have to cry out, 'Why this hood!?' Why the spot where artists flocked to so they could be different and accepted? With the fortune tellers, druggies, and performance artists singing their tunes, graffiti walls and dive bars that embrace all kinds... Why must the demographic who desires sameness, who feels more comfortable in an OLIVE GARDEN than an authentic Italian dive invade the one place on the planet where we screwed the Man?

Those who infest the East Village on the weekends are in no way supporting the community and those who inhabit it. They leave and go back to their commutes and cubicles, and tell stories about how they had a 'crazy' weekend in the village. We lived there, many old-schoolers still do. It's our home, and place's like MAMA'S, or the old KING'S PHARMACY replaced by a DUANE READE were our pride, our joy and choice to remain original, authentic to ourselves. Most moved to the East Village against their society's wishes. To a far away land where parentals did not understand paying a thousand dollars a month for a shoebox apartment on Ave C, but we did and sacrificed to be there. The natives know the secret to Alphabet City is its character, its funkiness, and constant groove we so adore. With the closing of MAMA'S, I dare say...there goes the hood.

PEACE,

Archived Inspirations

on Juice

A WINTER DARK

I barely reach my mountain casa for an afternoon cup of tea these days before the sky turns from pink to dusk to dark. Seven, eight-o-clock rolls around and my body asks me if it's not yet time for bed. The chill lends itself to a pile of blankets and a DVD screener to entertain the long night. Mornings are slow, and start by staying in bed till the gas fireplace warms the bathroom saltillo tiles to toast. I lay there and contemplate skipping cardio this morning - who can motivate in this season of dark?

Though a Wisconsin born girl - winter has never been a dear friend of mine, and I know I'm not alone in my struggles this season. We all fight the natural urge as mammals to hibernate and squirrel away. Our energy more stagnant, moving is a challenge and going out after dark counterintuitive. And during this specific time of year, stress and holidays are just part of life - tug at our past, remind us of friends and family lost or broken. And it's spooky going in. Deeper and deeper into the depths of our soul… the coming winter solstice demands a darkest day before the dawn. By the light of our fires we renew our spirits and make room for the blessings of spring.

Be good to yourself this month. Keep your throat warmed with hot cocoa and chai. Tell your family you love them. Let your gifts be compassion for all, prayers for abundance and harmony across this land. And in this fine season, a winter dark -

May your heart be light,