tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85120122024-03-07T04:26:50.136-05:00The Know-AllFood, Ponies, Printing, and Random Yapping. In Brooklyn.SKLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07608166316249602621noreply@blogger.comBlogger424125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512012.post-6624407453179727122009-09-16T10:47:00.002-04:002009-09-16T10:54:44.879-04:00Closing up ShopAs my ten readers may have noted, I've pretty much stopped posting here in 2009. What with the changes in life status, and general slowing down of things, I haven't needed this outlet as much as I did in past years. <br /><br />Maybe I'll start a new blog at some point, but for now, this chapter is closed. <br /><br />Thanks for reading.SKLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07608166316249602621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512012.post-63366956839607266632009-05-22T21:40:00.003-04:002009-05-22T21:43:28.188-04:00HerbivoraciousWithout really meaning to, I've been cooking a lot of vegetarian meals lately. It's just what sounds good. <a href="http://www.herbivoracious.com/">Herbivoracious</a> is a great vegetarian website with tons of interesting and delicious recipes. I made the <a href="http://www.herbivoracious.com/2009/04/soba-in-shoyu-broth-with-asparagus-leeks-and-tofu-recipe.html">soba noodle soup with leeks, asparagus and tofu</a> tonight for dinner. Yum.SKLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07608166316249602621noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512012.post-83993910761540465192009-05-20T17:21:00.016-04:002009-05-23T02:30:01.997-04:00Link RoundupSome links I enjoyed lately ---<br /><br />Strath at <a href="http://pacific-standard.blogspot.com/2009/05/man-on-edge.html">Pacific Standard in Seattle</a> talks about the <a href="http://www.filmlinc.com/wrt/onsale/mcqueen/program.html">Steve McQueen festival</a> at Lincoln Center now through May 26th, accompanied by some gorgeous stills. The hottest, and the coolest man, all at the same time. <br /><br />A short day-in-the-life from <a href="http://blogs.wnyc.org/news/2009/05/14/a-day-in-the-life-peter-pan-donuts/">WNYC</a> at Peter Pan Donuts on Manhattan Ave. Classic Greenpoint, and best donuts ever. <br /><br />A couple more I cribbed from <a href="http://greenpointers.blogspot.com/">Greenpointers:</a> <br />Local photographer Kristy May's <a href="http://kristymay.com/blog/">site.</a> <br />And a <a href="http://greenpointers.blogspot.com/2009/05/tragically-nauseating.html">bartending school</a> in Williamsburg. Of course, something like this exists. Gross. <br /><br />The Belmont Special is <a href="http://www.nyra.com/belmont/stories/May192009.shtml">back.</a> Glad to hear it, but thanks for nothing on Derby Day.<br /><br />I've been walking around in the East Village on nice days lately. It's been a long time since I speant a lot of time in that hood, so I sometimes forget what a great place it can be. For example, a pork sandwich from <a href="http://www.porchettanyc.com/">Porchetta</a> that tastes like it came straight from the <span style="font-style:italic;">Mercato Centrale</span> in Florence. And for the flipside, some old-style Avenue A. Here's a fascinating take with raw photos showing how <a href="http://neithermorenorless.blogspot.com/">life on Avenue A</a> is still lived by some in the East Village. <br /><br />My appetite is getting better, so I bought a round of one of my favorite cheeses, <a href="http://www.cowgirlcreamery.com/cheeses.asp">Red Hawk from Cowgirl Creamery</a> in Pt Reyes, CA. Expensive but amazing. And a most interesting article in today's Times about <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/20/dining/20united.html">Sriracha,</a> the indepensible red chili sauce in the rooster bottle.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi92OfxTE3r7hhxeB1FQNupBdwXFflDt1h-ARXWLaw94fmF35596XpJgtcPvSyXAMgLBOtudm1YlyssJGDYkfLpQ75erGEejzqNrnJWKonFKW2QKZEuBLUQFXjPa69aJAY-ZRH7/s1600-h/11014_sriracha_sauce_lg.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 275px; height: 275px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi92OfxTE3r7hhxeB1FQNupBdwXFflDt1h-ARXWLaw94fmF35596XpJgtcPvSyXAMgLBOtudm1YlyssJGDYkfLpQ75erGEejzqNrnJWKonFKW2QKZEuBLUQFXjPa69aJAY-ZRH7/s400/11014_sriracha_sauce_lg.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338027356981496914" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.garfunkelandoates.com/music/clips/8/me-you-and-steve/">Hilarious songs</a> from comedy duo Garfunkel and Oates. Seriously, watch it.<br /><br />Lastly, I have a new three-day-a week permanent Production Director gig at The Daily Group, publishers of <a href="http://www.fashionweekdaily.com/home/default.sps">The Daily & the Fashion MINI,</a> (plus regular other special B-to-B pubs,) owned by <a href="http://www.imgworld.com/entertainment/fashion/publications.sps">IMG.</a> Guess I can't escape giant fashion mags. <br /><br />It's a funny, gossipy fashion insider paper that comes out daily during NYC Fashion Week + 6 times a year. Russell, an old friend of mine from college, hooked me up by so kindly being a VP there for a digital division connected with The Daily Group. We hadn't spoken to in 13 years, since I first moved to NYC, due to a bunch of complications. For my first 5 months here, I lived in his old room in an apartment on 14th Street. It made my move here simple as it could be, and again, he has helped a sister out.SKLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07608166316249602621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512012.post-1421793927160398712009-05-04T19:10:00.002-04:002009-05-04T19:12:05.801-04:00The End of the Belmont SpecialThere was <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/03/nyregion/03belmont.html">article</a> in the Times this weekend lamenting the loss of the 100 year old direct rail link to Belmont. Scroll through the photos to see one of Bartley and Tania on their way to the party!SKLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07608166316249602621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512012.post-63824151675160633772009-05-04T17:43:00.008-04:002009-05-04T17:50:24.963-04:00Mystery RhinoThis appeared amongst my flowerpots in front of my house this weekend:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxeerlpBHDDUqUkb6zpzfb5GaaUVkrIJMd6cECWS4Cfn90nxpec9Zr4JtnzVd2fRAYdPWOOxGDZa4kLwLrZUXsfgRmpFWW4Scc2CG5rFidvsamMdnR1evYFUrjfbHBQUnRD33D/s1600-h/IMG_0093.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxeerlpBHDDUqUkb6zpzfb5GaaUVkrIJMd6cECWS4Cfn90nxpec9Zr4JtnzVd2fRAYdPWOOxGDZa4kLwLrZUXsfgRmpFWW4Scc2CG5rFidvsamMdnR1evYFUrjfbHBQUnRD33D/s400/IMG_0093.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332087970590627778" /></a><br />No idea where it came from, but it made me smile today. I'm still exhausted from this weekend's socializing but it was a lot of fun. Thank you to all of you who came out to Belmont for the Derby party to end all Derby parties this year! (50-1 winner, grumble...I hate that) I hope everyone had as good of a time as we did. And please, send me your photos, since being hostess meant that I took exactly none.SKLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07608166316249602621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512012.post-79764799150579297722009-05-01T15:29:00.008-04:002009-05-01T18:02:44.317-04:00Updated Derby Picks + some mushThings have changed, as they always do, after my final review of this week's works at Churchill Downs, and the weather forecast for tomorrow. <br /><br />I'll be betting an exacta box with Friesan Fire, Papa Clem and I Want Revenge. I'm also betting Hold Me Back and Chocolate Candy across the board.<br /><br />FWIW, the best horse isn't even in the race. That'd be the filly, Rachel Alexandra, who runs in the Oaks in a couple hours. <br /><br />Mushy part: Thank you to all the ladies that came out last night for cocktails. Even flying in from points across America, it was really great to be able to introduce you all, and have everyone in in one room for a few hours. I feel very blessed and lucky to have such great women friends in my life.SKLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07608166316249602621noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512012.post-59348515767058560182009-04-28T16:14:00.001-04:002009-04-28T16:15:36.956-04:00Derby PicksI'll be betting an exacta box with Pioneerof the Nile, Papa Clem and I Want Revenge. I'm also playing Desert Party and Chocolate Candy across the board. <br /><br />See y'all at Belmont for this year's party!SKLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07608166316249602621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512012.post-87832210954057741392009-03-04T19:20:00.010-05:002009-03-05T20:09:10.487-05:00The GovernmentI went to the Social Security Administration today so I could file the paperwork to change my name. Somewhat surprisingly to even me, I'm adding Lynch to the end -- I mainly think Lynch is a lot easier to spell and say than my current last name. I am still going to use both indefinitely for work purposes, but how often do you get the option to have a new name for the second half of your life? Sure. Let's change it. <br /><br />I wait in line for about 45 minutes downstairs, surrounded on all sides by tons of families of every color speaking a million different languages. I get upstairs to a surprisingly calm and spacious office and hand the lady at Window 14 my form. She looks me up on the computer, and then asks "When did you get your passport?" Uh, 15 years ago?? "When did you become a citizen?" Since the day I was born in Ohio. "Well, they have you here as a resident alien who is ineligible to work in the US." Uh...WHAT?? I've been working in the United States, legally as far as I know, since I was about 14. <br /><br />"I need your birth certificate as proof you were born here. You have to go get it and come back." I protest, saying that this has never come up before, even when issued a Driver's License, Passport, etc. so how can this be possible. I'm also finding it somewhat ironic that nearly every other person in the SSA today seems to be from another country, at least based on their language skills, but the white girl from the Midwest who was born in the good ol' USofA gets called on the carpet for being an illegal. WTF. She calls over her supervisor. Somehow, they get it sorted it out, by selecting a different pull down box, or changing the spelling. Or something.<br /><br />She hands me the form to sign saying "You're going to see something that you won't think is right." Yep. My Dad's name is listed as Chester Kowelczyk. That's not even what it was before my parents changed it from Kowalczyk in 1960. I point it out. "Yes, I told you you'd see something that was wrong. Just ignore it." I guess the lady fudged it for me by changing my Dad's original name by one letter, even though I don't know how they pulled that up, as his name had been changed legally to the shortened by the time I was born. Okay, whatever. I'm cool with that. Just so I don't have to come back again. I pick up the pen. <br /><br />I sign my name. My OLD name, that is. 30+ years of signing the same name, what can you do? It's a hard habit to break. The SSA lady is cracking up. "Didn't you JUST CHANGE YOUR NAME??" Oh yeah. I'm laughing too. THAT'S what I'm here doing. But wait! I haven't even practiced signing my new name on the cover of my sunset-patterned Trapper Keeper in loopy cursive writing! I can picture it: loads of arrow-punctured hearts saying Mrs. Steve...Mr. and Mrs. Steve...Mrs. Susan ....Cripes. I forgot to ever try writing it out. She prints out a new form. I sign and hand it back to her. She looks at the signature and observes "You need to practice this more. You'll get your card in 6-8 weeks."<br /><br />I came home and signed my new name about 30 times. I still need practice.SKLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07608166316249602621noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512012.post-84314098869873418042009-02-28T12:33:00.005-05:002009-03-02T17:02:24.112-05:00Home Address<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhybNmcc2msenCBrmrI-w2tXgKJQRuJGVWz3rUmwZ0gYo19uuxuZ0Rtvji6hKalebjCjo3b-Pc1lYYYPIKoN-TPTirsPVfm4Mlf63IGzXTkWNne_3MNshGrGtQh74wBiw2xCQxa/s1600-h/Picture+1.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhybNmcc2msenCBrmrI-w2tXgKJQRuJGVWz3rUmwZ0gYo19uuxuZ0Rtvji6hKalebjCjo3b-Pc1lYYYPIKoN-TPTirsPVfm4Mlf63IGzXTkWNne_3MNshGrGtQh74wBiw2xCQxa/s400/Picture+1.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307904094504874274" /></a><br />My absolute favorite thing about Google Earth is that when <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=1091+lorimer+st+brooklyn&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&split=0&gl=us&ei=zXSpSYjnMIOftwfIq4X4Dw&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&resnum=1&ct=title">look up my house,</a> Uncle George is sitting on the stoop with his 40 (on his left), checking out girls walking by with guy from next door. This shot must have been before he got ticketed by the cops. And Kate's on her lawnchair next door. How many days until summer?SKLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07608166316249602621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512012.post-80851481570980990802009-02-24T22:06:00.005-05:002009-03-03T12:12:57.143-05:00They're Baaaack!Like Freddy Krueger, Studio B is the venue that never goes away. <a href="http://andtheend.blogspot.com">andtheend</a> was surprised the other night when I mentioned that they had never closed, with reports of their death being greatly exaggerated. A huge FOR RENT sign appeared for a few weeks on the exterior around Christmas, then had disappeared by the time we were back in early February. <br /><br />I never thought they would go away completely, (that space is huge and ready to go for dancing/shows--how could it sit empty?) and only hoped we would force them to be more responsible nightlife tenants in a residential neighborhood. I mean, <span style="font-style:italic;">godforbid</span> if even worse tenants were operating the club 7 nights a week. The devil we don't know could be something more horrible. <br /><br />As of now, the sound bleed isn't nearly as loud as it was previously, and not just because my windows are closed for winter. This is a good thing. I don't know what (if anything) they did to change, but if the sound levels from inside stay down to this somewhat duller roar on a 2-night a week basis, we neighbors will all remain happier. However, this doesn't seem likely. <br /><a href="http://nymag.com/daily/food/2009/02/studio_b_reopens_under_new_man.html"><br />NY Mag</a> reports the latest this week, and below is the text of an email I got back in early February from a booking agent friend, who kindly forwarded me what he received from the new promoters. <br /><br />My simple idea is that no business in any neighborhood should negatively impact its surroundings. If there is impact at all, it should improve the area, not just take from it. I don't want to go to a club every night. Maybe that makes me old, but it a choice I am allowed to make. When Studio B is in full effect, it's as if a sound system playing inside my house. Why should that be okay in any circumstance? <br /><br />People who argue that "You live in New York, get used to the noise!" or "We need better nightlife in the city!" is all fine and good; I am not against clubs or the noise of city life. However, the houses were here first, as in most cases where a new business moves in because the area becomes more desirable. I moved to Greenpoint 8 years ago exactly because it was a quiet neighborhood where I know many of my neighbors and local business owners, because it is a place where families have been raised for generations, because it was safe, and because it wasn't in the middle of nightlife city. It was inexpensive (at the time), and my neighborhood is the main reason I still love living in New York City. I can have all of the good of the city nearby while relishing a quieter place and life to come home to. <br /><br />To my way of thinking, the onus is on any new business to fit into the existing neighborhood, not the other way around. Greenpointer <a href="http://www.newyorkshitty.com/?p=15320">Newyorkshitty</a> spoke to this subject this week. Neighborhood turnover and change is constant in NYC; that is a given. Yet the change shouldn't be for the pleasure of a few and at the expense of many others' daily quality of life. <a href="http://gothamist.com/2009/02/16/valentines_day_bullets_fly_at_green.php">The Production Lounge shooting</a> is a perfect example of a new business bringing money into the neighborhood that doesn't add anything positive; Studio B's current plan to offer you a free drink with a taxi receipt is along these same lines. <br /><br />We'll see how these "new" guys do. I truly hope they are better. I don't need or want the hassle, believe me. Even so, if that roof deck is wide open in the summer with noise projecting off the smoking area, I suspect the problems will not be over. Wonder if they have that cabaret license yet? And the all ages shows should prove interesting, too. <br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">First let’s start with our new set up in Brooklyn :<br />As many of you are aware – Studio B has been open for about three years now in the Greenpoint / Williamsburgh section of Brooklyn. In the past two years they have hosted the likes of : Justice, Art Brut, The Klaxons, LCD Soundsystem, Madball, Battles, Santogold, M.I.A., Crystal Castles, Kid Sister, MSTRKRFT, The Black Kids, The Thermals, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, The Mountain Goats, Lady Sovereign, Diplo, The Cool Kids, Chromeo, Terror, Hercules & Love Affair, The Go! Team, CSS, The Thermals, Hot Chip, El-P etc etc<br /><br /> The club has had a quite a few people booking the room in the past. With the venue “open” to many different promoters at one time – it caused a great deal of issues and infighting between a lot of people you may work or have worked with in nyc. In addition to the insular promoter issues there has recently been a great deal of rumors and talk about whether the club is open / shut down for good / for sale / for rent (all created by the aforementioned promoters who e-mailed every blog when they didn’t get dates they wanted etc). All of this “chatter” has greatly contributed to a perception that Studio B is no longer fully functioning. That is not true. The club is back to being fully operational and open and hired a full new management team and staff.<br /><br />In January Studio B approached two long time friends to become the general managers and help them “start over”. The two general managers have begun to clean house from top to bottom - all new night managers, office people, bar managers, production people, bartenders, security guards etc. Both of the general managers have worked with us at R5 for over eight years now. The day and night managers are both former r5 staff members and close friends of 10+ years. For the first time ever, Studio B will now be run by “music” people. No more club personnel with limited or no experience with dealing with “indie” crowds, musicians / artists. Everyone working here is very experienced with live shows.<br /><br />The owner has removed himself from the day to day running of the club. After less than stellar experiences with previous promoters / managers that he hired, he has now relinquished full control to allow this newly formed team to run his club. The calendar will now be controlled by a small in-house group who all have previous booking experience. For the first time at Studio B, one small group of select individuals will be handling ALL of the booking for all their upcoming calendar.<br /><br />We, R5 Productions will be handling all of the live shows/concerts. For those not in the know, Studio B holds 800+ people. They have the ability to do all ages or 18+ and serve alcohol at their events. There is a full real-deal PA in there with EAW mains, Midas FOH Console and Crest VCA Monitor board - A very SERIOUS system. Starting in two weeks we are having the PA recalibrated + adding new monitors and outboard gear to further the already great stage production that exists in the venue. (A full production inventory can be provided upon request). Studio B will now be operating with the ability to be more of a serious option for live music (it was previously operating / focused on just DJ events and “parties” )<br /><br /> Obviously looking at the above sampling of artists who have played live shows here, Studio B is very well known and quite established in NYC. We now hope with the group of new people who take this very seriously – we all can make Stuido B even bigger. We are looking to book last minute artists and bands starting in March (or possibly February if you have something appropriate). Starting on March 1st - Studio B will begin a two month long press campaign handled w/ a hired publicist to get word out about the club’s new management. There will be weekly ads in The Village Voice and other likeminded publications as well as NYC focused blogs (Brooklynvegan etc)<br /><br />With Studio B making the majority of their $$ on late night dance oriented events - we are happy to make the room available for concerts/shows at an extremely low cost. Depending on the type of crowd the 800 perosn capacity room will start at only $XXX for the evening (all staff, promotion, rent, sound, insurance etc is included). We are willing and able to make 50% to 75% deposits for the initial string of confirmed shows to ease any concern about Studio B being open “for sure”</span>SKLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07608166316249602621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512012.post-76333395787168477832009-02-16T17:37:00.004-05:002009-02-16T17:53:09.865-05:00Wedding PixI got around to editing down the photos, and they are now posted on <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/skowl/sets/72157613959118838/detail/">my Flickr page.</a> Best viewed in order from 1-210 for the <span style="font-style:italic;">exciting</span> story of our wedding day...SKLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07608166316249602621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512012.post-89279249219332561912009-02-11T00:58:00.004-05:002009-02-15T23:13:06.196-05:00Printer's DevilClearly, I am a printing dork as I found <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Printer%27s_devil">the definition</a> of that term above to be fascinating. I've never heard the term used at a printing plant, although I am going to use it in as much conversation as possible when working tomorrow.SKLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07608166316249602621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512012.post-47913987010036442972009-01-28T00:26:00.004-05:002009-01-28T00:31:42.088-05:00On Your Wedding DaySL and I up and got married on January 26th, 2009 in Thailand, on the first day of the Chinese New Year of the Ox. Here we are on Bottle Beach on the island of Ko Phangan with the most gorgeous wedding day we could have hoped for. Many more photos to come when we are home...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi07Pr-T2fKkBL2TBbpTTZWLjbriJ6nfj5cX5cAbfBZYpYnNYtimoccwZPuKj6yXUjeHlmsn2zb1bKPJnryyejviZP8MU_PTEsbkJcIGt-h5arEYvuXxdEvhop3_f91eKqOn1yA/s1600-h/untitled.bmp"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 233px; height: 350px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi07Pr-T2fKkBL2TBbpTTZWLjbriJ6nfj5cX5cAbfBZYpYnNYtimoccwZPuKj6yXUjeHlmsn2zb1bKPJnryyejviZP8MU_PTEsbkJcIGt-h5arEYvuXxdEvhop3_f91eKqOn1yA/s400/untitled.bmp" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296212228283048882" /></a>SKLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07608166316249602621noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512012.post-31448559119916793412009-01-10T14:34:00.009-05:002009-01-10T14:47:04.689-05:00Extended BreakPostings will be light (or non-existent, apparently) for the next month. SL and I are going back to Thailand from Jan 15th to Feb 5th for our 2009 edition of "Running Away from the Cold." Meanwhile, holidays, actual work, a corneal ulcer that is severely bumming me out, and travel logistics have taken over, but I'll be back in February with a whole new look and name.SKLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07608166316249602621noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512012.post-28066301384582224032008-12-19T20:38:00.005-05:002009-01-10T14:45:59.268-05:00The End.Studio B <a href="http://gothamist.com/2008/12/19/studio_b_now_closed_forever.php">looks</a> to be closing forever. Well, they certainly caused their own demise. Still, it definitely feels like a bit of a victory, and can't say I'll be sorry to see them go. <br /><br />Wonder what comes next in that space?SKLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07608166316249602621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512012.post-11857013582724912832008-12-19T11:49:00.006-05:002008-12-19T21:30:06.212-05:00Gone Away, Come Back: Mickey RourkeI've always loved Mickey Rourke, even as he became a huge freak seemingly bent on destroying his acting career. There was always something about him onscreen that made him the center of any scene, even when the movie flat out sucked. Check out this great and thorough article by Shelia O'Malley on his 25-yr career on <a href="http://www.thehousenextdooronline.com/2008/12/gone-away-come-back-mickey-rourke.html">The House Next Door.</a> O'Malley on his latest film, The Wrestler:<br /><blockquote>It is a great performance, one that I am still processing and thinking about. I am not sure where Mickey Rourke fits in now. He "fit in" when he was young because he made it to the Alpha-Dog position of male Hollywood stars, and was gorgeous and sexy. He can no longer rely on those things. He must rely on something else that is much more permanent: his talent. He needs to choose wisely, and the problem still remains that it is difficult to cast Rourke properly, even more so now.<br /></blockquote>I can't wait to see the Wrestler.SKLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07608166316249602621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512012.post-69118592081996158552008-12-17T12:52:00.004-05:002008-12-17T13:25:49.529-05:00Neil at MSGWilco opened. I'm always interested in what they are doing, even if I don't like all of what they do. I sometimes can't believe how far Jeff Tweedy has come since the Uncle Tupelo days but I'm glad and impressed by what he has done. A six piece band since the last time I saw them, the 9 song set had lots of joyous noisy endings. Didn't knock me out, but liked most of it. Solid. <br /><br />As for Neil Young: what is there to say? The man has been making good music for longer than I've been alive. I will always go see him play, no matter what tour it is or what his last record release was. The first part of the set was the highlight for me, with the first ten songs including Hey Hey My My, Powderfinger, Everybody Knows this Nowhere, Oh Lonesome Me, Cinnamon Girl, Needle and the Damage Done and maybe the best version of Cortez the Killer I've ever heard. Stunning. The ;atter part of the set was lamer, as it usually is, with lots of his newer, topical call-and-response crap ("Cough Up the Bucks? Please). He's gotta play the new stuff, I get it, but his ticket prices seem to go up as the new song quality goes down. I know he can't just play the oldies, but we were debating how many hours Neil could play without playing a crappy song. Three hours? Longer?? As it was we got about 2:45 of Neil, with about 40% being decent. <br /><br />In case you forget sometimes, the 63-year old man still completely rips it up on guitar. More energy than bands full of kids 40 years younger than him, he gets such a great sound, so full and big and clean. Still blows me away. <br /><br />I can't get over how expensive tickets at almost $100 a pop for GA standing room on the floor, but being on center court at MSG is always cool. And those 'seats' are the place to be, good views and lots of space. I only came into mine as a Christmas present at the last minute when SL got sick and I got to be Greg's replacement date. <br /><br />I can still remember listening to Live Rust with my family in our blue wood-paneled Country Squire station wagon. We had a tape we played over and over again on vacation travels; and because my older brother brought Neil into my life when I was about ten, I will always and forever love Neil. Live Rust is still one of my favorite records and I'm going to go listen to it right now.SKLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07608166316249602621noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512012.post-54579954254843282612008-12-11T18:33:00.003-05:002008-12-11T18:42:21.019-05:00BrooklynologyAn interesting new blog that pulls materials from the archives of The Brooklyn Collection at the Brooklyn Public Library can be found <a href="http://brooklynology.brooklynpubliclibrary.org/">here.</a> <br /><br />Check out the beautiful map of my home borough from 1835. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOoUkQAOcqjhd0koN0_5FWLPqQiZXAqz8mreF3uUgQ4Tqfx04_ys6Tkkwe-TUSufqFoxUohh4mG-aNVV23_Q-Qj95ExGf53oIpaQdcajdkc1fVidcj689sU26t2K4CShlbRWIB/s1600-h/image.axd"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 288px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOoUkQAOcqjhd0koN0_5FWLPqQiZXAqz8mreF3uUgQ4Tqfx04_ys6Tkkwe-TUSufqFoxUohh4mG-aNVV23_Q-Qj95ExGf53oIpaQdcajdkc1fVidcj689sU26t2K4CShlbRWIB/s400/image.axd" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278681960292292450" /></a>SKLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07608166316249602621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512012.post-60173533078962651932008-12-11T18:22:00.003-05:002008-12-11T18:28:13.771-05:00The RockettesMy friend and co-worker Allison from LBM scored the production team free tix to Radio City Music Hall's Christmas show last night. She's the biggest Christmas queer ever, and got all 4 of us wound up about going. Snow fell, skaters skated on stage, bears danced, fireworks flew, Rockettes kicked high, 45 Santas danced at once, and there were real live camels on stage. Not to mention a 10 minute 3d movie mid-show complete with cardboard glasses. <br /><br />As the ads say, it was spectacular. Also hilarious and show stopping, causing big smiles all around. Now I can check another "classic New York thing I've never done" off my list. I mean, if I had that list.SKLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07608166316249602621noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512012.post-9918607144240669412008-12-03T14:05:00.004-05:002008-12-03T14:52:36.650-05:00Eatin' Out - Simply Fondue<span style="font-weight:bold;">71-19 80th Street, Glendale NY</span><br /><br />A new branch of this Texas-based chain <a href="http://www.simplyfonduequeens.com/">fondue restaurant</a> has opened in the Atlas Park Mall in Queens (80th/Metropolitan). It's fancy, in that shiny surface /tall black leather banquette / we-have-80-kinds-of-horrible-"martinis" way. I love fondue in all forms, so no complaints on my end. You are looking at $18 per person for your basic and decent swiss fondue served with bread, fruit and weird things like cocktail onions. We had a very nice young man providing extremely accommodating table service while whipping up our bowl o' cheese on site. <br /><br />Gotta think it would be a good place to take your baby mama out for date night, but make a reservation if it's prime time. Our server said they served over 200 people in the place last Saturday night.SKLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07608166316249602621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512012.post-67354561274411668302008-12-02T23:09:00.029-05:002008-12-04T23:47:07.271-05:00On the Street Where You LiveI was there tonight when a man named Dennis on a small, shiny red dirt bike was run down by a giant tanker on the corner of Franklin and Greenpoint around 8:30. I heard the collision -- and looked out the window of the Pencil Factory to see a bike crushed beneath the wheels. A huge 18-wheeler was turning right onto Greenpoint from Franklin, and Dennis was in the crosswalk. Who knows who had the light? Most likely they both did and the truck simply didn't see him from the cab high above the street. No matter -- it's wrong that it even happened how it did. <br /><br />Dennis pulled himself on his stomach from beneath the tires and began tossing back and forth on his back in the crosswalk. I bolted to the bar to ask Charles at the PF to call 911, then ran outside to do....something. His jeans were torn in places they shouldn't have been. I crouched down to ask Dennis his name, tried to keep him still, and held his hand to assure him he would be okay as we waited the longest 4 or 5 minutes in the world for the ambulances to arrive. The driver stood nearby anguished, with his hands in the air repeating "I didn't see him, I didn't see him." A ubiquitous, drunk Greenpoint Avenue Polacki did his part to add to the confusion in the street, while people stood around gawking and not knowing what to do -- and how can you?? The world turns upside down during such instants. It's unexpected and all out of order in one second. There I am, finding again that I am much better with others' traumas than my own. <br /><br />I saw the ring on his finger and asked who to call. He gave us his wife's Karen's number and I spoke with her for ten minutes on someone's borrowed phone as he was loaded onto a backboard and into the ambulance. While his child talked about his bedtime in the background, Karen tried to process what was going on. I told her that her husband seemed coherent with no obvious head or body injuries, although he was in a lot of pain as legs were probably broken, and that she should go to Bellevue. (Thankfully, they weren't taking him to Woodhull. Bellevue is the best trauma center in NYC, at least post-9/11. If you are at all coherent in an accident, tell the guys take you there). For their family -- for him -- in an instant -- everything changed. Man, I hope he's okay.<br /><br />As a side note, Charles mentioned that this was the 5th time he has seen an accident similar to this right there on the corner. I wonder how many more it takes. When does the light on a major truck route need to become an arrow-only turn with a clear crosswalk? <br /><br />So, ahem. As I was saying right before I left home, strangers can become part of your lives in NYC for the most poignant and intense ten minutes you can imagine. And there's no other way you can be sometimes. We all live half on the street; and there are crystallized instances where if we are at all human, we are flung deep into each other's lives.SKLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07608166316249602621noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512012.post-84938152601833692822008-12-02T18:54:00.003-05:002008-12-04T14:29:14.956-05:00ReduxWhen the thing happens again that you never imagined and you feel shattered into little pieces, you try to turn to others to reaffirm that you are still alive and whole and valid. Double whammy -- Your shit is inconvenient around the holidays and most other times; Or you are forcing someone else to confront their own personal, unrealized dreams; Or the hardest of all, you asked someone to step outside of their own tenuous world to hold onto your hand, just for a minute, so you won't drift too far away. <br /><br />And that's when you are surprised to find that some of the greatest kindness comes from strangers. No one knows exactly what to say, and it's hard and awkward like life is sometimes. But they offer you an ear and comfort, because that's all it really takes.SKLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07608166316249602621noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512012.post-9251304096459095842008-11-30T12:24:00.005-05:002008-12-16T11:43:53.171-05:00Golden RingsYesterday, SL and I made a trip to a crowded Aqueduct for the annual running of the Cigar Mile. The last Grade 1 stakes race for NYRA's year, it was a chance to see a quality field run in our own backyard at the Big A. These were the "pretty good" horses who say, came in 12th and 15th in the Derby this year. There was great betting to be had, with 6 legitimate contenders in the 9 horse field going off at odds between 7-1 and 10-1. Neither of us hit the Cigar Mile, but an easily attainable exacta for someone playing Tale of Ekati over Harlem Rocker would have netted them $142.50. The race ended up ugly, unfortunately, with an 9 minute inquiry that knocked Harlem Rocker down to second, and the tough 7 yr old gelding, Wanderin' Boy, needing to be euthanized after breaking down at the top of the stretch.<br /><br />We did hit on a couple other races, with Steve nailing a $243 exacta on the 6th (the Demoiselle, won impressively in 9 1/4 lengths by the 2 yr old filly, Springside, who immediately was vanned off -- ugh), and I got the exactas on the 7th (The Remsen, won in 7 1/4 lengths by a 2 yr old colt trained by Larry Jones named Old Fashioned aka my first Derby pick of 2009,) and the 9th for a net total of $178. Since track money is found money to be spent immediately, we decided the best thing to do would be head straight over to Camille's and put a $300 deposit on the wedding rings she's making us. <br /><br />Track winning for rings. You can't beat that. Even in a country song.SKLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07608166316249602621noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512012.post-7800638852633356042008-11-21T15:29:00.004-05:002008-11-21T15:41:05.788-05:00One DegreeProving once again what a very small world we live in, I was in Chicago/Logan Square last weekend when Shellie and I randomly went into this food/wine store called <a href="http://www.provenancefoodandwine.com/index.php">Provenance,</a> looking for some lunch. They didn't have anything like that, so we turned to walk out. The guy at the counter suddenly says "Hey, did you live in Cincinnati?" Yes, Shellie and I both did. He then asks me if my name is Susan, and turns out he's the owner of the place, Joe Patt, a name I have known of forever from the Ohio music world, but not that I remember meeting before. I was a bit stunned. He was extremely nice, and we chatted for a couple minutes, including me dropping my friend Pat Hennessy's name as some sort of Ohio Ambassador (always a good ploy with people from Cincinnati) before heading to grab a dog and cheese fries at the always delicious <a href="http://www.hotdougs.com/">Hot Doug's</a> down the way.<br /><br />Lesson? Ohio is everywhere. You can never, ever escape.SKLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07608166316249602621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512012.post-48391420741916642552008-11-21T12:06:00.006-05:002008-11-21T12:30:38.684-05:00A Classic<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigPrqOMRfhgiYuN4gqlYIX-3khr3v1kIKyV4j40b0kvCzXoSSfq0ycpser2zp8Lf683E5hzSc84Nwv3l4vUtvtg0al6n5JidxZQingriTWfixBA6-1Cs1p7-ZssguIh9RVXkxf/s1600-h/russ+and+son.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 209px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigPrqOMRfhgiYuN4gqlYIX-3khr3v1kIKyV4j40b0kvCzXoSSfq0ycpser2zp8Lf683E5hzSc84Nwv3l4vUtvtg0al6n5JidxZQingriTWfixBA6-1Cs1p7-ZssguIh9RVXkxf/s320/russ+and+son.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271163538453749474" /></a><br />How do I love <a href="http://www.russanddaughters.com/">Russ and Daughters?</a> Let me count the ways: horseradish cream cheese, raspberry rugelach, salmon roe, wasabi roe, whitefish salad, smoked trout, scottish smoked salmon...And the Super Heeb sandwich (bagel with whitefish salad, horseradish cream cheese and wasabi roe) is the absolute bomb. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUGNGsDP3yybxtob2N9QCE43KErrkLZXxME-BWPnLXekrhmbODOGFDutAZTcrFXw-6D3UjB93b5i0Y_r7LU5pNfIFB8GDvIWrCNHQBHtTSh59-TpZ-EfpDJV0_dea2d5c6dmvo/s1600-h/super-heeb.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUGNGsDP3yybxtob2N9QCE43KErrkLZXxME-BWPnLXekrhmbODOGFDutAZTcrFXw-6D3UjB93b5i0Y_r7LU5pNfIFB8GDvIWrCNHQBHtTSh59-TpZ-EfpDJV0_dea2d5c6dmvo/s200/super-heeb.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271161930263992674" /></a><br />Although I know that some of their products come from <a href="http://www.acmesmokedfish.com/">Acme Fish,</a> right around the corner from my house on Gem Street (open 9-1 on Fridays only for retail sales, another great thing), almost nothing makes me happier than going to Houston Street to stand in line for a few minutes and soak up the atmosphere of Russ and Daughters. <br /><br />And now they have launched a cleverly named blog, <a href="http://blog.russanddaughters.com/">Lox Populi.</a> <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Russ and Daughters<br />179 East Houston Street<br />NYC, NY</span>SKLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07608166316249602621noreply@blogger.com0