In this essay, Brian Buchanan examines Staten Island’s interconnected arts scene through the lens of his own uneasy relationship with participation. What begins as guilt over leaving shows early becomes an exploration of community, connection, and how local art and culture can teach us that showing up for others just might be the most radical art form of all.

As part of our Nostalgia & History series, in this essay, Will Gallagher revisits Staten Island’s early 2000s punk scene through the eyes of a South Shore kid discovering his voice. From the quiet streets of Rossville to the life-changing night at L’Amour’s Battle of the Bands, this story captures how one night of local music transformed isolation into belonging—and how Staten Island’s underground culture continues to shape lives far beyond the stage.

In this personal essay, Brian Buchanan reflects on creativity, community, and the strange ache of FOMO. Set against the backdrop of a collaborative music project, the piece explores what it means to witness something beautiful from a distance—and how that tension can fuel both envy and inspiration.

In the final of three installments, Brian Buchanan explores the music landscape of Staten Island and advocates for a venue to serve audiences on the South Shore.

Can you taste it? Is that steaming hot cup of java simmering and wafting? You think to yourself, What ingredients does it possess and was it made lovingly? Who is pouring it? What’s the intention? Like any sought-after food and drink recipe, ingredients are key. And just like that, a place you visit with real investment in its community also possesses these ingredients. If you were around in the early 2000s, chances are you could look no further than the Muddy Cup Coffeehouse, which was located at 388 Van Duzer Street in Staten Island’s Stapleton district during the height of the early aughts.

In the second of this three-part installment, Brian Buchanan explores the cultural and music landscape of Staten Island.

In the first of this three-part installment, Brian Buchanan explores the cultural and music landscape of Staten Island.