D and I went to the PLUG Awards last night at Webster Hall. The PLUG Awards are thrown by and for hipsters to award independent music. While he was reading the nominees, D said “Huh… maybe I am hip…” when he realized that he reads all of the magazines and zines nominated, and that he owned most of the albums in all of the genres honored. “Admit it! You are a hipster!”
There were a bunch of sad rich kids and messy hair and I felt old and gross. D said he felt "corporate."
The first performance was by Beans with Holy F*@k, which was amazing! I could have watched them for hours. Beans is a rapper (I think he’s from NY but I can’t be sure) and Holy F*@k is a band, somewhat electronica. They have a guy who plays film? We have no idea. Regardless, the performance was great and I will see them together whenever they are together. It made me nostalgic for the days when I went to hip hop shows non-stop. I long for the days of crowd unity and call and response. There is no energy like the energy in the audience of a good hip hop show.
Awards were then presented (12 nominees in each category – annoying) while they set up for Chad Van Gaalen’s set. I have been listening to his album as of late and have been digging it. Will I ever listen to it again after last night? Probably not. This was yet another instance of a live show ruining your opinion of an artist you used to love. The thing I love about his album is the quietness, the subtlety, the textures. He played last night with an electric guitar and a drummer, nothing else. The vocals were abrasive, nobody paid attention.
One thing I learned last night is that indie folk is called “Americana.” I apparently listen to a lot of Americana. The horror.
Celebration played next, and they were awesome, if not kind of scary. They will be huge.
We were hungry and wanted pizza and popcorn, but I made wait because I knew that Matisyahu was presenting, and because I am obsessed, I didn’t want to risk missing him. I don’t know anything about his music (I’ve heard it, but don’t know what to think about Jewish reggae) but know that I am intrigued. He came out with C Rayz Walz (who I saw at Lyricist Lounge at Avalon with LBF a million years ago) and, oh my god, he BEATBOXED while CRW rapped the nominees for the category they were presenting! So here’s the thing: Matisyahu is good at beatboxing. I was very impressed.
Here’s the other thing – I don’t think he’s Hasidic. He wasn’t wearing full-on Hasidic grab. If anything, he looked like a gigantic Amish man (which, as you know, made me double blissed).
What else… Cage was up next and I was unimpressed, so we spent their entire set eating. I ate a bag of popcorn while D inhaled a hot dog. The Perceptionists (Mr. Lif and Akrobatik) were next, and they were ok.
By then I was exhausted (I have had some sort of flu-ish thing the past week and I just couldn’t keep my eyes open), so we headed back to D’s and watched Strangers with Candy and then passed out.
We had fun. It was fun to be out, and I am such a fan of the 25 minute set. I like going to shows, but since I, in my adulthood, have become attention-deficient, I only have limited tolerance for performances - 25 minutes is the perfect length. If anything, I’d prefer three-song sets. Unless it’s Radiohead, in which case they can play for eternity.
So that’s that. I am still sick today (although starting to feel better) but enjoying the fact that it is over 60 degrees outside. I went out for lunch without a jacket and was warm. The weekend will be fun – M and A are en route right now, and we will see musical theater shoes and gaze upon unaffordable shoes and modern art. Hopefully, in addition, much sleep will be had.
Incidentally... I only have 20 more days in my 20's.
Have great weekends!
Friday, February 03, 2006
Thursday, February 02, 2006
Finally Fondue
Before heading downtown to watch the Craigslist documentary, D and I went to the restaurant we tried to go to earlier this week as an end to our quest for fondue. This was only, of course, after D called to verify that they were indeed open and that they were not holding some sort of corporate function.
This place was lovely for many reasons, one of which was the portion size. Little portions for people with little appetites like D and myself! The cheese fondue, which was served with apple and carrot wedges, some sort of raisin-having bread and foccacia, was miniature! Everything there is designed to be shared, so we ate a small pizza after polishing off the small fondue.
We then shared a little caramel apple fondue for dessert. This came with apples for dipping, and then goodies to put on the caramel apple fondue once the apples had been dipped. Coconut shavings, macademia nuts, and chocolate. Yummmm.
All of this was reasonably priced. D had a ginger ale and I had a cranberry juice. When D and I decided that we wanted another ginger ale and cranberry juice, D said "Do you know which restaurants I love? Restaurants with free refills. We'll see if I end up loving this restaurant."
When the bill arrived, D said "I'll get dinner, you get the movie."
I made out on that deal!
D said "You're not going to believe this."
"No free refills?"
"No, hardly," he said, despondent, then giggling.
"What?"
"Two drinks are $8."
"$8 total with refills?"
"No, two drinks are $8."
Four drinks, non-alcoholic, for $16. You can get an entire bottle of ginger ale for half of what it cost for the glass.
Ah, New York City. I said "Wait, four beverages are the same as two desserts? That's obscene."
I think we will go back, though, because the fondue was cute. But we will, of course, only drink water. Ridiculous.
This place was lovely for many reasons, one of which was the portion size. Little portions for people with little appetites like D and myself! The cheese fondue, which was served with apple and carrot wedges, some sort of raisin-having bread and foccacia, was miniature! Everything there is designed to be shared, so we ate a small pizza after polishing off the small fondue.
We then shared a little caramel apple fondue for dessert. This came with apples for dipping, and then goodies to put on the caramel apple fondue once the apples had been dipped. Coconut shavings, macademia nuts, and chocolate. Yummmm.
All of this was reasonably priced. D had a ginger ale and I had a cranberry juice. When D and I decided that we wanted another ginger ale and cranberry juice, D said "Do you know which restaurants I love? Restaurants with free refills. We'll see if I end up loving this restaurant."
When the bill arrived, D said "I'll get dinner, you get the movie."
I made out on that deal!
D said "You're not going to believe this."
"No free refills?"
"No, hardly," he said, despondent, then giggling.
"What?"
"Two drinks are $8."
"$8 total with refills?"
"No, two drinks are $8."
Four drinks, non-alcoholic, for $16. You can get an entire bottle of ginger ale for half of what it cost for the glass.
Ah, New York City. I said "Wait, four beverages are the same as two desserts? That's obscene."
I think we will go back, though, because the fondue was cute. But we will, of course, only drink water. Ridiculous.
Craig
As you all know, I am enamored with Craigslist. I went to see the documentary 24 Hours on Craigslist last night. It was not only a love letter to the sitet, but a great time capsule for life right now. I think watching this in 20 years will be informative and hilarious. It covered every sort of ad, from exercise classes for new mothers in which they run around the mall with their babies in carriages to casual encounters to an Indian boy trying to lose his virginity to people looking for roommates to someone trying to sell a bunch of doors.
It was awesome.
I have been using Craigslist since around 2002, when I got a David Sedaris. This is a weird story – I bought four tickets to hear David Sedaris at the Wang Center. The Evil Sandwich didn’t want a ticket because it was happening around the time when things were getting super shaky, so I bought tickets for me, two friends, and a friend of the second friend. The Evil Sandwich then decided that he wanted to come, and I was determined to find him a ticket to the sold-out show. This is how I learned about Craigslist. Not many people were using it in Boston at the time. I found a girl selling her ticket, and was thrilled! As we exchanged information, we both realized that she was the friend of my friend and she had decided not to go! Which was awesome, because then The Evil Sandwich didn’t have to sit by himself.
What are the odds?
Since then, I have acquired the following from Craigslist:
1. a bunch of terrible attempts at music collaborations
2. a fantastic musical collaboration that resulted in an album and a new friend
3. a bunch of bad dates (and therefore a bunch of good stories)
4. a date that resulted in dating someone for a few months and a really good story about a burrito
5. some more terrible attempts at music collaborations
6. a roommate for my move to NYC
7. an apartment in Williamsburg
8. an amazing blue couch
9. an apartment in NYC
I have also sold the following on Craigslist:
1. a broken digital camera
2. a Pinback ticket
3. a full-size keyboard
4. a garment rack
5. two book shelves
6. a lava lamp
7. a palm pilot
8. a laptop bag
9. some books
10. a pink lamp
11. a red lamp
12. D’s blue chairs
I'm sure there are more things, I just can't remember. I also can’t imagine life without Craigslist – looking for an apartment using the newspaper, trying to sell/buy things on EBay, etc. I may have to sell my piano soon, and I am hopeful that Craigslist will find me a worthy buyer.
Does anyone have any interesting Craigslist stories?
It was awesome.
I have been using Craigslist since around 2002, when I got a David Sedaris. This is a weird story – I bought four tickets to hear David Sedaris at the Wang Center. The Evil Sandwich didn’t want a ticket because it was happening around the time when things were getting super shaky, so I bought tickets for me, two friends, and a friend of the second friend. The Evil Sandwich then decided that he wanted to come, and I was determined to find him a ticket to the sold-out show. This is how I learned about Craigslist. Not many people were using it in Boston at the time. I found a girl selling her ticket, and was thrilled! As we exchanged information, we both realized that she was the friend of my friend and she had decided not to go! Which was awesome, because then The Evil Sandwich didn’t have to sit by himself.
What are the odds?
Since then, I have acquired the following from Craigslist:
1. a bunch of terrible attempts at music collaborations
2. a fantastic musical collaboration that resulted in an album and a new friend
3. a bunch of bad dates (and therefore a bunch of good stories)
4. a date that resulted in dating someone for a few months and a really good story about a burrito
5. some more terrible attempts at music collaborations
6. a roommate for my move to NYC
7. an apartment in Williamsburg
8. an amazing blue couch
9. an apartment in NYC
I have also sold the following on Craigslist:
1. a broken digital camera
2. a Pinback ticket
3. a full-size keyboard
4. a garment rack
5. two book shelves
6. a lava lamp
7. a palm pilot
8. a laptop bag
9. some books
10. a pink lamp
11. a red lamp
12. D’s blue chairs
I'm sure there are more things, I just can't remember. I also can’t imagine life without Craigslist – looking for an apartment using the newspaper, trying to sell/buy things on EBay, etc. I may have to sell my piano soon, and I am hopeful that Craigslist will find me a worthy buyer.
Does anyone have any interesting Craigslist stories?
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Improv
On Friday I received an email from Upright Citizen's Brigade about a show going up featuring Paul Rudd! Oooh! I was very excited and thought "I shall deal with this later..." but never did, as work has been chaotic and stressful for various reasons. I have been so self-absorbed, scattered, trying to figure things out, trying to focus.
I forgot about the email entirely until Sunday, when I mentioned it to D, who is a huge fan of Paul Rudd. I said "I didn't get tickets... and I don't even know when it is..."
D, ever the optimist and never the planner, thought there would be plenty of tickets.
When I got into work yesterday, I checked into things only to learn that it was last night and that there were no tickets! There would, however, be a limited amount of tickets available at the door night-of-show. I told D that if he really wanted to, we could forego the original plan for the night in favor of seeing Paul Rudd improv.
I called UCB and the guy on the phone was of no use. He had no idea how many tickets had been sold, how many would be available, what time to get there, etc.
Hmph.
I decided that getting there by 7:15 would be best (for the 8:00 show). We went on a mission for fondue beforehand, since our Sunday mission for fondue didn't occur because we were both exhausted. I found a place en route to UCB, but when we got there, it was closed for a private function! This is the second time in two months that I have tried to get cheese fondue but have been unable to because of a private function. I was pissed. We ended up eating decent crepes somewhere else.
We got in line and things looked bleak. Very bleak. Luckily Paul Rudd (who is ever-so-small in real life) walked by us in a tux while we were in line, so all was not lost.
We waited for an hour, and they finally said "You can all come in, standing room only!"
I didn't want to, because standing room only for a person who is 5'1'' is different from standing room only for a person who claims to be 6'2'' but is probably taller. But D really wanted to, so we did.
I could see bits and pieces, so it was ok aside from my legs aching.
We got to see Paul Rudd, which is really all that matters. Sadly, however, he was not funny. The format for this improv was a talk show - two hosts and a bartender sidekick from UCB, and then four or five celebrity guests. The two hosts worked really well together. The opening was hilarious, but they didn't give the guests much to work with. I guess seven funny people on a stage, just chatting, isn't as funny as you'd think it would be. I guess its important for people to know each other and their styles to improv effectively. The whole thing was awkward, but still worth $5.
Tonight I fully intend to pick up my laundry and clean my apartment in preparation for M and A's visit this weekend! Unfortunately the postponement of last night's plan may prevent me from buying mint chocolate chip/cookie ice cream for their visit, but that's ok. We will have fun anyway!
And now I must work, or at least do a better job pretending to work.
I forgot about the email entirely until Sunday, when I mentioned it to D, who is a huge fan of Paul Rudd. I said "I didn't get tickets... and I don't even know when it is..."
D, ever the optimist and never the planner, thought there would be plenty of tickets.
When I got into work yesterday, I checked into things only to learn that it was last night and that there were no tickets! There would, however, be a limited amount of tickets available at the door night-of-show. I told D that if he really wanted to, we could forego the original plan for the night in favor of seeing Paul Rudd improv.
I called UCB and the guy on the phone was of no use. He had no idea how many tickets had been sold, how many would be available, what time to get there, etc.
Hmph.
I decided that getting there by 7:15 would be best (for the 8:00 show). We went on a mission for fondue beforehand, since our Sunday mission for fondue didn't occur because we were both exhausted. I found a place en route to UCB, but when we got there, it was closed for a private function! This is the second time in two months that I have tried to get cheese fondue but have been unable to because of a private function. I was pissed. We ended up eating decent crepes somewhere else.
We got in line and things looked bleak. Very bleak. Luckily Paul Rudd (who is ever-so-small in real life) walked by us in a tux while we were in line, so all was not lost.
We waited for an hour, and they finally said "You can all come in, standing room only!"
I didn't want to, because standing room only for a person who is 5'1'' is different from standing room only for a person who claims to be 6'2'' but is probably taller. But D really wanted to, so we did.
I could see bits and pieces, so it was ok aside from my legs aching.
We got to see Paul Rudd, which is really all that matters. Sadly, however, he was not funny. The format for this improv was a talk show - two hosts and a bartender sidekick from UCB, and then four or five celebrity guests. The two hosts worked really well together. The opening was hilarious, but they didn't give the guests much to work with. I guess seven funny people on a stage, just chatting, isn't as funny as you'd think it would be. I guess its important for people to know each other and their styles to improv effectively. The whole thing was awkward, but still worth $5.
Tonight I fully intend to pick up my laundry and clean my apartment in preparation for M and A's visit this weekend! Unfortunately the postponement of last night's plan may prevent me from buying mint chocolate chip/cookie ice cream for their visit, but that's ok. We will have fun anyway!
And now I must work, or at least do a better job pretending to work.
Monday, January 30, 2006
French Movies
I was very tired last night when I got back to NYC from Princeton. Brother, D and I were exhausted all day. Why? No idea. We blamed the weird weather (which, incidentally, is even weirder today - it was 61 degrees! in January!).
In spite of my fatigue, I decided to continue blazing through my NetFlix queue, deliriously, by watching A Very Long Engagement, which was a very long historical movie, involving a romance, that flew by, unlike certain other historical romances I had the misfortune of seeing this weekend.
If you haven't already seen it, you must. The cinematography is exquisite exquisite exquisite. It's like one long glowing photography. I wish I'd seen it in the theater. My only complaint is Audrey Tautou, who I usually like, but who was a bit annoying in this movie. Incidentally, I just looked her up to confirm the spelling of her name and am surprised to learn that she was born in 1978! I thought that she was far older than me. Interesting...
Watching a good movie and eating waffles for dinner on the eve of a 61 degree day at the end of january. Does life get any better?
I guess watching a good movie and eating waffles for dinner on the eve of a 61 degree day at the end of january while feeling secure about one's life could be better. But, as The Boss said, it could be worse. We could have been hit by shrapnel while reporting in Iraq. Right.
OK. Until tomorrow...
In spite of my fatigue, I decided to continue blazing through my NetFlix queue, deliriously, by watching A Very Long Engagement, which was a very long historical movie, involving a romance, that flew by, unlike certain other historical romances I had the misfortune of seeing this weekend.
If you haven't already seen it, you must. The cinematography is exquisite exquisite exquisite. It's like one long glowing photography. I wish I'd seen it in the theater. My only complaint is Audrey Tautou, who I usually like, but who was a bit annoying in this movie. Incidentally, I just looked her up to confirm the spelling of her name and am surprised to learn that she was born in 1978! I thought that she was far older than me. Interesting...
Watching a good movie and eating waffles for dinner on the eve of a 61 degree day at the end of january. Does life get any better?
I guess watching a good movie and eating waffles for dinner on the eve of a 61 degree day at the end of january while feeling secure about one's life could be better. But, as The Boss said, it could be worse. We could have been hit by shrapnel while reporting in Iraq. Right.
OK. Until tomorrow...
Sunday, January 29, 2006
Christian Bale Wasn't In The New World Until The Last Half Hour - WTF?
Between not having (read "being able to mooch") internet at my apartment these days and massive amounts of tumult/work at the old job, I feel like I haven't had much time to blog.
I've been wondering if I should stop blogging. In my mind, my time in NYC is coming to an end and so should the blog. My focus is so narrow these days. I am trying to figure out the future, make plans, save money, think about things I never think about like closet space and babies. These sorts of things make for boring entries, so I feel like I should just stop. I don't want my entries to be all "I am so stressed out! Again! I don't know what to do!"
This being said, with the feeling that my New York era may be drawing to its close, I will start taking advantage of all things New York, and live a New York life to its fullest while I am still here.
Which could make for interesting blogging.
I don't know. I am torn about everything these days.
Regardless...
I am going to post an entry now! Woo!!!
I am in Princeton right now, visiting Brother. I really wanted to get out of the city, have a good night's sleep without the sounds of taxis and gas station parties preventing me from remaining asleep for more than three seconds. D and I arrived last night and we went to eat dinner at this Mexican place where you could design your own burrito! I ordered mine with "sour cream sauce," because I didn't want to pay the extra 49 cents for actual sour cream (I am so responsible with the whole saving of money). That is my only regret on my designed burrito. Otherwise it hit the spot.
Lately I've been craving gross food. I don't know what that's all about. I am wondering if its in retaliation to "the diet." I've been eating healthy - I've still been eating my normal level of food, just greener food and more balanced food. I think my body is revolting. Yesterday was gluttony. Eggs, toast, facon, apple sauce, hash browns, huge ass burrito inhaled, chips and salsa, chocolate fondue, chocolate cookie pie. And still I am starving.
We then went to see The New World, which D liked and which Brother and I (and the rest of the theater patrons, who either snored loudly or made hysterical comments as to the length of this movie) could not tolerate. It started off well enough... but deteriorated into a movie that would have been better titled Girl Walking Around, Oftentimes Painfully Slowly, While Being Followed Around By Lonely Men. More history, less cheesey love story. The narration was overwrought, and the conflict was one-dimensional. We agreed that we liked the history and wish there had been more of that and less, well, walking around. And frolicking. There should have been more development. The movie didn't need to be 2.5 hours because none of the exposition contributed to the plot. Allegedly they cut out 20 minutes! I can't even imagine.
We then went out for dessert, which proved to be a challenge because everything in Princeton closes at 10:00 pm on a Saturday. I said "It must suck to go to school here!" but Brother pointed out that most people probably hang out in New York City. We finally found a college bar that had fondue. Sweet.
We came back to Brother's and watched The Aristocrats, and I fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.
On Friday I went to see Bench Buddy perform in a standup showcase in the East Village after I participated in work-related solidarity. We drank too much and talked about "the future" and I was comforted to learn that many are disillusioned and are considering going back to school. It was also just comforting to talk about things, react, have people understand. I kept spilling cosmopolitan down my sleeves but didn't care because sloppy is better than anxious.
On Thursday D and I went to see Spamalot (the beginning of my quest to see every musical in NYC). It was really funny. I'd seen Holy Grail once, and figured I wouldn't remember anything but remembered everything. I can't tell if this is from having seen the movie or from witnessing people act it out since high school.
I am re-motivated regarding Music Project du Jour after seeing it. I just have to rethink things a bit. After seeing Spamalot, I am convinced that, as long as the lyrics are funny, the music can suck. Not that it sucked, but the music obviously isn't its strength. I highly recommend seeing it.
I am to see The Producers and The Pajama Game in the next two weeks. I am going to see Low and The PLUG Awards in the next two weeks. I am going to spend money on New York things and nothing else. I am going to turn 30 very soon and will then be a grown up. I guess its timely that all of these big decisions are forced upon me as I am about to turn 30.
Anyway, I am going to brush my teeth and hit the town and shop but not buy anything. Sniff.
Until tomorrow...
I've been wondering if I should stop blogging. In my mind, my time in NYC is coming to an end and so should the blog. My focus is so narrow these days. I am trying to figure out the future, make plans, save money, think about things I never think about like closet space and babies. These sorts of things make for boring entries, so I feel like I should just stop. I don't want my entries to be all "I am so stressed out! Again! I don't know what to do!"
This being said, with the feeling that my New York era may be drawing to its close, I will start taking advantage of all things New York, and live a New York life to its fullest while I am still here.
Which could make for interesting blogging.
I don't know. I am torn about everything these days.
Regardless...
I am going to post an entry now! Woo!!!
I am in Princeton right now, visiting Brother. I really wanted to get out of the city, have a good night's sleep without the sounds of taxis and gas station parties preventing me from remaining asleep for more than three seconds. D and I arrived last night and we went to eat dinner at this Mexican place where you could design your own burrito! I ordered mine with "sour cream sauce," because I didn't want to pay the extra 49 cents for actual sour cream (I am so responsible with the whole saving of money). That is my only regret on my designed burrito. Otherwise it hit the spot.
Lately I've been craving gross food. I don't know what that's all about. I am wondering if its in retaliation to "the diet." I've been eating healthy - I've still been eating my normal level of food, just greener food and more balanced food. I think my body is revolting. Yesterday was gluttony. Eggs, toast, facon, apple sauce, hash browns, huge ass burrito inhaled, chips and salsa, chocolate fondue, chocolate cookie pie. And still I am starving.
We then went to see The New World, which D liked and which Brother and I (and the rest of the theater patrons, who either snored loudly or made hysterical comments as to the length of this movie) could not tolerate. It started off well enough... but deteriorated into a movie that would have been better titled Girl Walking Around, Oftentimes Painfully Slowly, While Being Followed Around By Lonely Men. More history, less cheesey love story. The narration was overwrought, and the conflict was one-dimensional. We agreed that we liked the history and wish there had been more of that and less, well, walking around. And frolicking. There should have been more development. The movie didn't need to be 2.5 hours because none of the exposition contributed to the plot. Allegedly they cut out 20 minutes! I can't even imagine.
We then went out for dessert, which proved to be a challenge because everything in Princeton closes at 10:00 pm on a Saturday. I said "It must suck to go to school here!" but Brother pointed out that most people probably hang out in New York City. We finally found a college bar that had fondue. Sweet.
We came back to Brother's and watched The Aristocrats, and I fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.
On Friday I went to see Bench Buddy perform in a standup showcase in the East Village after I participated in work-related solidarity. We drank too much and talked about "the future" and I was comforted to learn that many are disillusioned and are considering going back to school. It was also just comforting to talk about things, react, have people understand. I kept spilling cosmopolitan down my sleeves but didn't care because sloppy is better than anxious.
On Thursday D and I went to see Spamalot (the beginning of my quest to see every musical in NYC). It was really funny. I'd seen Holy Grail once, and figured I wouldn't remember anything but remembered everything. I can't tell if this is from having seen the movie or from witnessing people act it out since high school.
I am re-motivated regarding Music Project du Jour after seeing it. I just have to rethink things a bit. After seeing Spamalot, I am convinced that, as long as the lyrics are funny, the music can suck. Not that it sucked, but the music obviously isn't its strength. I highly recommend seeing it.
I am to see The Producers and The Pajama Game in the next two weeks. I am going to see Low and The PLUG Awards in the next two weeks. I am going to spend money on New York things and nothing else. I am going to turn 30 very soon and will then be a grown up. I guess its timely that all of these big decisions are forced upon me as I am about to turn 30.
Anyway, I am going to brush my teeth and hit the town and shop but not buy anything. Sniff.
Until tomorrow...
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