June 29, 2006

Where the Boys Are

Case Study: McSorley's Old Ale House on a hot, muggy Saturday night

Bachelor Partier or Drag Queen?


Took a wrong turn on the way to Bunny Eaton Browne's New England clambake.

Photos courtesy of springsandra

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June 22, 2006

Chatting with The Big Guy

God is everywhere -- even in chatrooms. Just had the oddest chat over IM with God. (You can too.) Transcript of my iGod chat:

Me: howdy, god! wassup?
God: I've been waiting for you. The stars.
Me: really? wow
God: For real. I'm glad your impressed, .
Me: i didn't know that you were a fan of chatrooms.
God: So I taught you something new.
Me: uh, ok.
God: OK. Excuse me!
Me: no, excuse ME!
God: Are you serious? You're excused.
Me: are YOU serious?
God: No I am just kidding around.
Me: hahahahah! you so funny.
God: Tell me a story. Thanks you make me laugh too.
Me: um, i tell stories badly. why don't YOU tell me a story?
God: Give me a break. Why did you tell them? The war began as an uneasy alliance between the Algeria and The Serbia. The Serbia had attacked the Algeria before. But this time they had a common enemy in the The United States . In the first battles, the Algeria' higher intelligence and the Serbia' numerical superiority proved decisive. Unable to call upon their traditional allies Germany, The United States even appealed to Tibet for mediation. But large numbers of casualties on both sides proved politically costly to the leaders of The United States, and so their successors sued for peace.
Me: what? that's a weird story. why are you telling me this story? am i supposed to learn something? so confused here.
God: Didn't you understand it? A weird story is a terrible thing to waste. The topic is hahahah. I think a lot of people are. Yeah that's right. How do you usually introduce yourself?
Me: "hello, nice to meet you." is my standard introduction. how do you introduce yourself?
God: Hello there. It's nice meeting you too . It depends who you ask. I usually say, "What can I call you?".
Me: what can people call you? The Big Cheese? The Head Honcho?
God: Quite a lot of things. Tell me more. What is your real name?
Me: You're God -- you should know.
God: Do you mind if I tell other people you say I am God me should know.
Me: ok, you need some grammar lessons, god. for real
God: Thank you for your criticism. That's alright. Existing in reality, eh?
Me: what?
God: Didn't you understand it?
Me: uh, no.
God: Are you kidding? Which part are you confused about?
Me: you're weirding me out. i'm outtie.
God: Do you mind if I tell other people you say I am weirding you out. Why are you outtie.
Me: ahhh, i'm going to logoff now. bye!
God: Oh. Would you recommend this action to a friend? Bye.
Me: stop asking me questions!
God: OK I'll try not to do it so much.
Me: bye. for real.
God: See you later . Existing in reality, eh?
Me: stop with the questions!
God: OK I'll try not to do it so much.
Me: bye
God: Goodbye.

I'm beginning to think that wasn't actually God with whom I was chatting.

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June 19, 2006

Taking My Own Advice

I didn't. Wandered here and there this weekend not properly hydrated and sunblocked due to sheer laziness. Whoops.

Seventh Heaven in Park Slope

Brunched at Provence en Boite with what seemed to be half of Brooklyn -- not bad for its second week since its opening in Carroll Gardens. I put it down to this week's Time Out New York feature.

My crepe with chicken and mushrooms was delicious, coffee was so-so (I prefer mine a lot stronger), but the outstanding part of the meal was the pain au chocolate. Mmmm...Provence en Boite's pain au chocolate tastes closest to the ones which I bought every morning at the corner patisserie during my first trip to Paris 14 years ago. One small drawback, which ended up being a big drawback in the hot hot weather -- the glass walls let in a lot of sunlight which made the decor's rich red, yellow tones glow (good). But the sunlight also heated the bistro at such a rapid rate that it rendered the weak air conditioning useless, and left me and other patrons blotting the sweat off our foreheads (bad). Felt a bit like I was eating in hothouse.

After stuffing myself, I hopped on the dreaded G train for my annual pilgramage to the Renegade Craft Fair, where I spent more money than I should. Wondered if most of the vendors were part-time crafters trying to make a few extra bucks or full-on crafters trying to support themselves with their work. One response from a designer whom I chatted up:
I'm not an artist, I'm a commercial artist. I'm doing this so I don't have to get a real job.

If I could support myself making these awesome necklaces, I would. I could try peddling my um, let me see . . . ok, as I don't have any obvious crafting skills, guess I'm stuck working for The Man in the forseeable future. Sadness.

Despite my laziness about buying sunblock and equiping myself with water, I managed to survive last weekend without frying myself. Sweet. Note to self: buy sunblock asap. Peeling bits of skin from my collarbones is so not attractive.

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June 18, 2006

Go Outside


Weather is beautiful, hot, sunny (did I mention really hot?). Go outside (after proper hydration and sunblock application) and play!

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June 14, 2006

Before Memory of My Boston Gigging Fades Away

For a fun buzzy high, listen to The Sounds. Their music may not be "deep", but must we limit our listening to bands playing Important Music That Will Change The Music World As We Know It?

The Sounds rocking out at Avalon
Saw them last April in a half-empty Avalon, site of a few cringe-worthy and cheesy club nights from my college days. Left slightly freaked (feeling a hand come out of nowhere to caress your face mid-set was spooky -- more so when it comes attached to a Debbie Harry look-alike), but happy. Their second album didn't seem like a huge stretch from debut album (I enjoy Living in America more than Dying to Say This to You), but that's OK with me.
On the otherside of the spectrum is Eyes Like Knives, whom I saw at the Middle East the next day. Both bands have attractive female leads, but that's about all they have in common. I don't know how to accurately describe their style (Anne, help me out here) -- spooky, bleak not-quite-noise rock with synths? My initial reaction was negative. Band didn't hold my attention, on-stage banter seemed awkward, had to leave before their set lulled me asleep. But I was intrigued enough to give their tracks a listen online-- and you know what? They are much more engaging online than live.

Are they making Important Music That Will Change The Music World As We Know It? Their style is certainly different. 10 years from now, who will people remember? Who will bands cite as their influence ("Oh yeah, X band was a huge inspiration.") -- The Sounds or Eyes Like Knives? Neither?

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June 12, 2006

Back From Hiatus

...with a new look for the blog, a dedicated home high speed cable internet connection and a burning sensation to post! (Though that sensation may be due to the sunburn on my arms, chest and back from yesterday's sunny BBQ by Hudson River.)

Here's are the highlights, lowlights and random stuff in between of my sporadic posting period: moved into new apartment, wrangled with utility companies/building management over the course of six weeks to get stuff turned on/fixed/replaced, attended some awesome and some gawdawful gigs, drank at a my new favorite bar in Cambridge, tightened up my writing style for my day-job, bid farewell to one of my favorite aunts, left Canada with nine mosquite bites (serves me right for swanning around a lake in a ridiculous--but fashion-forward--pair of black corderoy shorts), watched a relationship die a slow death, revived a stagnant relationship with a faraway friend, photographed strangers, and scared off the F train subway masturbator.

During those months, I stopped blogging regularly because I really didn't have the energy and time to enjoy it as I did way back when. But my fingers are starting to get itchy -- so I'm back. Maybe I'll update less frequently or write less epic posts, but I'll be blogging.

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