Alice Smith performing at Afropunk Fest 2012.
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Summer is finally here! And what that means to many of us New Yorkers is an array of glorious outdoor festivals and events to partake in. Enter Afropunk, an amalgamation of a lot of cool looking and superbly dressed people, all of whom could be in Solange's entourage, and great alternative music. When I tell you this is an awesome place to people watch and get your fashion fix in real time, it is! My best friend and I have tried to make it a tradition ever since the first time we went to Afropunk way back when. That was when it was literally sectioned off to a couple of Brooklyn blocks. Those were the days...the days when we felt like we belonged.
Wow, everyone here just...gets me.
Nowadays it's held in Commodore Barry Park (which has a little over 10 acres in total), and the turnout is huge. The last year we went it was packed to the seams. The lines literally swirled out and around the block(s). It was brutally hot. I think that was the year Janelle Monáe was headlining. (Plus, that was the year I almost passed out because I hadn't eaten anything beforehand and I have sporadic claustrophobia/anxiety issues. I had to eat some random girl's granola bar to prevent myself from being laid out in the middle of the grass). Not really setting this up well, am I. Do I really want to go?
Anyway, I just checked out the lineup and there are some great artists this year: Alice Smith, Lianne La Havas, Meshell Ndegeocello, just to name a few. I'm kind of excited. Things to do before I go though: eat, bring lots of snacks/water, and maybe don a hat and some shades. My comfort is paramount these days.
Will you guys be checking out Afropunk this year?
Afropunk Fest, August 23-24, Commodore Barry Park, Brooklyn, New York
-Sophia