AfroPunk: Day 1
Commodore Barry Park | August 25, 2018
Hello AfroPunk!!!!
This was my first time going, and of course I purchased the VIP weekend pass to get the full, two day experience! It was everything I pictured it would be and then some... well kind of, but we'll get to that in a second!
It was a sea of majestic melanin deck out in uniquely creative, colorful threads. We SHOWED UP AND SHOWED OWT!!!! My Black people are SOOOO beautiful! The aroma of jerk chicken, cocoa butter lotion, and mary jane wafted through the air, and I was dead set on getting me some tasty food and finding a good spot to post up for the show. All I wanted to see was H.E.R. and Miguel, so I arrived around 3:00 p.m. as H.E.R. was set to take the Green Stage at 5:45 p.m., and Miguel was coming on after her set at 7:15 p.m. Y'all, H.E.R. didn't hit the stage until 7:30 p.m.!!! Now sis...
Some festival goers I was standing next to were pissed because that meant they couldn't go see other artists performing on different stages so it threw scheduling completely off. Thankfully, that wasn't my concern. Still, no one wants to wait in the sun for damn near two hours to see a 45 minute performance - give or take 10 minutes. Do better...
Pro Tip: if you don't plan to be at AfroPunk all day and you only want to see certain artists, check out a few vendors, and grab a bite to eat, I definitely recommend getting the VIP pass - whether you choose Saturday, Sunday or both days. The VIP weekend pass is $269 and VERY MUCH worth it - time is money! When I arrived, I walked passed the General Admission line on the way to the very short, fast moving VIP line, and there was absolutely NO way I would have stayed had I purchased a GA ticket. The GA line was wrapped around two blocks and was barely moving! I heard a group of women talking, and one of them said that they had been in line for 90 minutes, and they were towards the back of the line! I think the fuck not!
Besides that, having a VIP pass also gets you access to better restroom accommodations, lounge seats and other seating sections near the main stage, and various colorful sets for cute photo ops!
Once inside, I was given a black tote bag containing some goodies - an AfroPunk booklet, RISE nitro cold brew coffee lemonade, Garnier soothing facial mist, some gloves sponsored by AARP, an Etsy button, and some flyer post cards about related AfroPunk events. After taking a brief look around, my mind was set on getting a drink and some grub. I headed over to Jamrock Jerk and got jerk chicken, rice and peas, plantains, and a side salad. I also got a frozen raspberry mango margarita from a nearby alcohol vendor. Plan to spend $18 on your meal, and $14 for alcoholic beverages. Water is $3. Not bad for festival pricing. The well seasoned jerk chicken was falling off the bone good, and the plantains and rice and peas were good, too. I couldn't even finish it all! The daiquiri was decent - it kept me cool more than giving me a buzz. I pregamed with a couple glasses of wine before I left home, so I wasn't tripping.
One funny thing that happened while I was stuffing my face with that tasty jerk was Franchesca Ramsey (Shit White Girls Say... to Black Girls) walked right pass the table I was sitting at! I stopped eating, turned around and said, "Franchesca?" in the most "Hey girl, hey! Is that you?" voice. She looked at me and had the biggest smile! We chatted for a few minutes about all the amazing fashion we saw, the safe space AfroPunk provides that allows people from various backgrounds, shapes, and sizes to be unapologetically free and fierce, and the food I was eating along with two festival goers I was sitting at the bench with, and then she graciously took pics with us. This is my second time seeing her, having just went to her book signing a few months earlier, and she's the sweetest person ever! If you haven't read "Well, That Escalated Quickly: Memoirs and Mistakes of an Accidental Activist" then I highly recommend that you do! It's a great read!
The one thing I didn't do was check out all the vendors at the Spinthrift Market or stop by Activism Row. Commodore Barry Park was jammed pack, and I wanted to make sure I got a great spot for the show, so I plan on doing more of that today!
Overall, I had an amazing time! If you've never been to AfroPunk, you MUST GO and get your entire life 'cause you definitely will! Oh yeah, another dope, unexpected thing happened... Issa Rae and Sarunas J. Jackson from HBO's Insecure graced the stage to bring out Miguel!
Check out some cool photos and awesome footage below from Day 1 at AfroPunk in Brooklyn!
P.S. I was soooo feeling myself in my three-tiered pearl tutu and halter bralette! The Black Carrie Bradshaw is living her best life!!! #QueenTingz
I'm feelin' myself, I'm feelin' myself
I'm feelin' my, feelin' myself
This was my first time going, and of course I purchased the VIP weekend pass to get the full, two day experience! It was everything I pictured it would be and then some... well kind of, but we'll get to that in a second!
It was a sea of majestic melanin deck out in uniquely creative, colorful threads. We SHOWED UP AND SHOWED OWT!!!! My Black people are SOOOO beautiful! The aroma of jerk chicken, cocoa butter lotion, and mary jane wafted through the air, and I was dead set on getting me some tasty food and finding a good spot to post up for the show. All I wanted to see was H.E.R. and Miguel, so I arrived around 3:00 p.m. as H.E.R. was set to take the Green Stage at 5:45 p.m., and Miguel was coming on after her set at 7:15 p.m. Y'all, H.E.R. didn't hit the stage until 7:30 p.m.!!! Now sis...
Some festival goers I was standing next to were pissed because that meant they couldn't go see other artists performing on different stages so it threw scheduling completely off. Thankfully, that wasn't my concern. Still, no one wants to wait in the sun for damn near two hours to see a 45 minute performance - give or take 10 minutes. Do better...
Pro Tip: if you don't plan to be at AfroPunk all day and you only want to see certain artists, check out a few vendors, and grab a bite to eat, I definitely recommend getting the VIP pass - whether you choose Saturday, Sunday or both days. The VIP weekend pass is $269 and VERY MUCH worth it - time is money! When I arrived, I walked passed the General Admission line on the way to the very short, fast moving VIP line, and there was absolutely NO way I would have stayed had I purchased a GA ticket. The GA line was wrapped around two blocks and was barely moving! I heard a group of women talking, and one of them said that they had been in line for 90 minutes, and they were towards the back of the line! I think the fuck not!
Besides that, having a VIP pass also gets you access to better restroom accommodations, lounge seats and other seating sections near the main stage, and various colorful sets for cute photo ops!
Once inside, I was given a black tote bag containing some goodies - an AfroPunk booklet, RISE nitro cold brew coffee lemonade, Garnier soothing facial mist, some gloves sponsored by AARP, an Etsy button, and some flyer post cards about related AfroPunk events. After taking a brief look around, my mind was set on getting a drink and some grub. I headed over to Jamrock Jerk and got jerk chicken, rice and peas, plantains, and a side salad. I also got a frozen raspberry mango margarita from a nearby alcohol vendor. Plan to spend $18 on your meal, and $14 for alcoholic beverages. Water is $3. Not bad for festival pricing. The well seasoned jerk chicken was falling off the bone good, and the plantains and rice and peas were good, too. I couldn't even finish it all! The daiquiri was decent - it kept me cool more than giving me a buzz. I pregamed with a couple glasses of wine before I left home, so I wasn't tripping.
One funny thing that happened while I was stuffing my face with that tasty jerk was Franchesca Ramsey (Shit White Girls Say... to Black Girls) walked right pass the table I was sitting at! I stopped eating, turned around and said, "Franchesca?" in the most "Hey girl, hey! Is that you?" voice. She looked at me and had the biggest smile! We chatted for a few minutes about all the amazing fashion we saw, the safe space AfroPunk provides that allows people from various backgrounds, shapes, and sizes to be unapologetically free and fierce, and the food I was eating along with two festival goers I was sitting at the bench with, and then she graciously took pics with us. This is my second time seeing her, having just went to her book signing a few months earlier, and she's the sweetest person ever! If you haven't read "Well, That Escalated Quickly: Memoirs and Mistakes of an Accidental Activist" then I highly recommend that you do! It's a great read!
The one thing I didn't do was check out all the vendors at the Spinthrift Market or stop by Activism Row. Commodore Barry Park was jammed pack, and I wanted to make sure I got a great spot for the show, so I plan on doing more of that today!
Overall, I had an amazing time! If you've never been to AfroPunk, you MUST GO and get your entire life 'cause you definitely will! Oh yeah, another dope, unexpected thing happened... Issa Rae and Sarunas J. Jackson from HBO's Insecure graced the stage to bring out Miguel!
Check out some cool photos and awesome footage below from Day 1 at AfroPunk in Brooklyn!
P.S. I was soooo feeling myself in my three-tiered pearl tutu and halter bralette! The Black Carrie Bradshaw is living her best life!!! #QueenTingz
I'm feelin' myself, I'm feelin' myself
I'm feelin' my, feelin' myself
Jennifer D. Laws is living her best life at AfroPunk in Brooklyn
Franchesca Ramsey and Jennifer D. Laws at AfroPunk in Brooklyn
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Bralette Gang
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Franchesca Ramsey and Jennifer D. Laws at AfroPunk in Brooklyn
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LEWKS & TINGZ
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Issa Rae and Sarunas J. Jackson from HBO's Insecure
introduce Miguel to the stage
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