Bushwick, NY | After A Hurricane, Bushwick’s Superior Elevation Records Reopens: The popular record store moves down a few blocks. Last September, Hurricane Ida raged hit Bushwick with tremendous force, leaving many homes and businesses flooded. The East Williamsburg storefront of Superior Elevation Records was one of them; the storm forced them to leave their basement level address at 100 White Street, where they’ve been located for the past seven year. The popular record store, which specializes in selling disco, soul and house music, had since put up a GoFundMe page, which details that only a small allotment of the records were able to be salvaged from the storm; at least 75% were destroyed. Not able to collect a single dollar from their insurance policy, Superior Elevation’s GoFundMe page began shortly after the storm, with a goal of raising $20,000. To date, they’ve landed $16,934 from a total of 295 fans of the store. Though short of the goal they set, the money was enough to lease a new space…
Salt Lake City, UT | Doughnuts, records and love combine at a new Salt Lake City business: A friend’s suggestion prompted a record store owner and a baker to join their business ventures. The feeling of Valentine’s Day arrived early at Mad Dough, Mandy Madsen’s new doughnut shop that opened Feb. 2 within Parker Yates’ record shop, peasantries + pleasantries. Heart garlands descended from the ceiling in the establishment at 807 S. 800 East in Salt Lake City, and Elton John’s ballad “Your Song” played through the place. “We wanted to put on a playlist with a bunch of love songs,” Yates said. Coincidentally, it’s the same playlist — called “101 Ways to Say ‘I Love You’” — he was making for Madsen’s birthday. Madsen and Yates aren’t just business partners — they’ve been dating since last September. Yates met Madsen at Central 9th Marketplace, a business opened by his friends. She was selling her doughnuts there. Yates originally went in to get a sandwich, but his friends kept pestering him to try the doughnuts.
Grand Rapids, MI | Grand Rapids Public Library Introduces New Vinyl Collection: On Jan. 24, the Grand Rapids Public Library (GRPL) announced a new vinyl record collection at the West Side branch and Main Library. Both locations will feature listening stations where visitors can use turntables to listen to the new records. Library members can also check out five records at a time and even borrow turntables to take home with them. Due to limited supply, patrons may only borrow one turntable at a time. Those who visit either location don’t need a library card to listen to the records on-site, only to check them out. The GRPL is also accepting donations of vinyl records. Marketing and Communications Manager Kristen Krueger-Corrado said that the idea of introducing vinyl into the libraries stemmed from a surge in the use of vinyl by local musicians.
Nick Warren to auction personal vinyl record collection: One-off test pressings, classics, and much more. Legendary British DJ and producer Nick Warren will be auctioning his own personal record collection, acquired over decades as a globe-trotting performer, this March 15th, via Omega Auctions. ‘From my days of being Massive Attack’s tour DJ to my days at Cream, Twilo, and pretty much every major club in the world, the collection holds not just my dancefloor records but the extensive collection of Avante Garde electronica I have collected. One-off test pressings, the Global Underground classics…they are all here, plus loads more.’ says Warren about the items included in the auction. ‘The Nick Warren Collection’ will go on sale this March 15th. You can learn more about the auction and place your bid, here.
Whanganui, NZ | Whanganui Record Fair back in town: Brian Wafer has been organising record fairs across the country for more than 10 years. The Whanganui Record Fair has been in a number of locations during this time. The Rock ‘n’ Roll Club, Red Eye Cafe and Lucky Bar all hosted the event before he found the right fit at the Whanganui Musicians Club two or three years ago. Brian is a true vinyl enthusiast, and he always has new gems in his collection to sell or trade for items that interest him. He is based in Taranaki, and vendors from other regions will join him in Whanganui on Friday. As Brian enthuses: “This is a Friday-night event because it’s a feel-good time of the week and we like to enjoy these things, get some new toys, discover long-lost favourites along with previously unknown gems and discuss the good stuff with good people. New vendors always welcome and calls about records are always welcome on 0880rekords.”
San Francisco, CA | The ‘Chulita Vinyl Club’ preserves Latino culture via music: Growing up Latino means growing up to a common beat. “On the weekend, I just remember waking up and my mom was already playing Los Bukis or Los Temerarios and she was already cleaning. She was already cooking. It was just a part of life every day at home,” said Mar Velez, DJ of Chulita Vinyl Club. “Every Sunday, when I was at my grandpa’s house he would say, ‘OK I’m going to teach you how to dance merengue, salsa, and cumbia. Get all the steps down.’ Sunday school for us was teaching me how to dance,” said Gitana, DJ of Chulita Vinyl Club. La Musica transports Latinos to their childhood and reminds them of home. “In playing these songs, it feels like I’m there. Like I’m at a carne asada, or a birthday party, or a quinceaera,” said Maryela Perez, DJ of Chulita Vinyl Club. All these memories have shaped the lives of Mar, Gitana and Maryela. They are daughters of Mexican immigrants. When they put headphones on and spin vinyl they walk in their purpose. They are LatinX DJ’s known as the “Chulita Vinyl Club” with chapters in seven cities across the country.
