Been out

Kathy, Maxine and I went to see the Transport Group's production of Requiem for William, seven short plays by William Inge (who won the Academy Award for his screenplay for Splendor in the Grass). We went to see the plays at the Connelly Theatre in the Lower East Side mostly because Matt Yeager, who temped at the firm with us was performing and we think he's pretty great.

Starting up the week was the HBO taping of DEF Poetry, with fabulous performances by so many including Saul Williams, Georgia Me, Lou Reed, and Smokey Robinson and hosted by the affable Mos Def.

Middle of my week I went to Theatre Row and caught Dirty Story at the Clurman Theatre with Stuart, an allegorical play that really makes you think! Ben Brantley reviewed it in the Times.

The BLUES

Went to see the unbelievable concert, Salute to the Blues at Radio City Music Hall, presented by Martin Scorsese for a five hour show representing the best in Blues with renowned artists B.B. King, Robert Cray, Bonnie Raitt, Lyle Lovett, Aaron Neville, Keb' Mo', Dr. John, David Johanson, Vernon Reid, Mavis Staples, Gregg Allman, Chuck D, Aerosmith, Macy Gray, and Mos Def. The year 2003 has been declared "Year of the Blues" by the U.S. Congress. The concert was also being filmed for theatrical distribution and was executive produced by Martin Scorsese.
More on the Blues
Year of the Blues
Martin Scorsese & The Blues
Scorsese's PBS Documentary
Newsday review
Vulcan Productions press release
Another press release
Marshfield News Herald

Don't throw it away!

Before you throw something away, consider donating it.
New York City's Department of Sanitation encourages you to reuse, recycle, repair, or donate items you may have thought about throwing out to help reduce the amount of garbage in NYC. Start here for an alphabetical listing of items you want to throw away, and what to do with it, beginning with "A" items such as appliances, autos, air conditioners, and continue down the alphabet.

Especially useful is this list of places to donate in or around New York. What can you donate? Eyeglasses, hearing aids, clothes, food, electronics, furniture, autos, computers, construction materials, office supplies, just about everything. It's a slightly greater effort to donate than to set something on the street corner, but consider that you may be helping someone see better, hear better, be warm on the streets of New York, or have a bed to sleep on. You'll also reduce the amount of garbage in New York City, of a greater reaching impact than you may presume.

Also, NYCDS has a hotline: "...try the NYC Stuff Exchange hotline (1-877-NYC-STUFF or 1-877-692-7883) to locate businesses or organizations in your area where you can donate, buy, or sell quality second-hand goods, and repair and rent goods instead of spending money on new items. The hotline is toll-free for callers within the City; outside callers may dial 212-509-4850."

Matisse Picasso at the MoMA QNS

Picasso Self-Portrait with Palette, 1906. Matisse Self-Portrait, 1906 from MoMA.
A blockbuster exhibit in the making, Matisse Picasso, will be at the MoMA QNS from February 13 through May 19. The extraordinary show was previously at the Tate Modern in London (over a half a million visitors!) and the Galeries Nationales du Grand Palais in Paris. I was lucky enough to buy tickets early through my firm and prefer going in April or May as I can skip the coat check (the MoMA QNS at 25,000 square feet has a smaller lobby much less equipped than the 85,000 square foot home in Manhattan, where it is currently under renovation until 2005.). The enormity of the collaboration can't be understated. So seldom are shows of this caliber available. And so close to home! Even my friends will be traveling from out of state just to get to this exhibit.

See:
Matisse Picasso about the exhibit and an excellent chronological timeline
Museum of Modern Art Matisse Picasso exhibit information at the museum
MoMA home
Matisse, Picasso and Concerns About the Crowds from the New York Times, January 27, 2003, by Robin Pogrebin

Also, to note, from MoMA: "One Monday of each month during Matisse Picasso, the Museum will remain open late, with pay-what-you-wish admission from 4:00 p.m. through 7:45 p.m. This reduced admission is available on a first come, first served basis."
Dates are: February 17, March 24, April 21, and May 12

Cook for the Cure

About every three minutes, one woman is diagnosed with breast cancer. Every thirteen minutes, a woman dies because of breast cancer.
Cook for the Cure was created to support the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. If you're thinking about buying a KitchenAid, the specially produced pink stand mixers provide a $50 donation to the foundation, and other KitchenAid products contribute too. It's great.

Gastronomic Gourmet shops in Greenwich

Got up this afternoon and felt like a European as I popped around Bleecker Street, running my weekend errands.

First stop, the Laundromat on my block, second stop, Rocco’s (243 Bleecker), the Italian Pasticceria known for its freshly-squeezed cannoli, where I go every Saturday for my cup o’ joe, and last bit before the real food run, the hardware store. I crossed the street to Strawberry Fields supermarket at 311 Bleecker Street for some cupboard basics. Next door at 309 Bleecker is where Thomas Paine spent the last year of his life in 1809.

Crossed back over Seventh Avenue and made for Murray’s Cheese shop at 257 Bleecker, with the country's best cheese selection of over 250 varieties from around the world at great prices (I picked up a ceramic pot of St. Marcellin for $4.99 and nice wedge of cave-aged swiss @ $10.99/lb so I can make grilled cheese sandwiches) and friendly fellows serving. Because they were out of bread, I headed into Zito’s Italian bread bakery, around since 1924, to grab a baguette next door at #259. I crossed the street to Faicco’s Sausage shop at 260 Bleecker where the shelves are lined with marinated Italian olives and artichokes, dried pasta, vinegars, specialty spreads, and cans and cans of tomato products. Alongside are Faicco's acclaimed sweet and hot Italian sausages (I got hot sausage for $4.99/lb and super fresh ground beef for $3.99/lb), ready prepared meals, ground meats, and fresh chops. Plus, adoring and adorable Italians behind the counter. Last stop, Turquacino, my little gourmet grocer’s with just what I need, plus a hot bar and upstairs seating area for quick eats.

Take a trip to this block of Bleecker one Saturday for excellent groceries and you’ll feel like you’re in some little part of Europe. Oh, and a new café called Noi Café (in Italian, it means "Our Café") just opened. I’ll have to check that out another time, but in the meantime, get your creamy risotto at the Risotteria at the corner of Bleecker and Morton - a little expensive, but always perfect for a cold wintery day or John's Pizzeria, according to others, New York's best pizza.

**Note** Murray's cheese has since moved across the street to #254!

catch

Ok, on my return trip on Washington Deluxe, the bus arrived half an hour late, and by the time we actually departed after the bus driver collected tickets and payment, it was a full hour late. If you're not in a hurry, it's really not a big deal, but that's pretty much the only drawback to the price you pay.

Deluxe Deal

The Washington Deluxe bus from New York to Washington, D.C. is a complete bargain at $35 roundtrip or $20 one-way as compared to Greyhound's ever-changing fares of $74-85 round trip and $42 one-way NY-DC. You've got to make a reservation (and arrive 15 minutes before boarding or risk losing your seat to a standby) which is a simple toll-free call 1-866-287-6932 or 1-718-387-7523 from New York. Though you lose the flexibility of Greyhound's every half hour or hour schedule, if the time fits, it's definitely worth using. The trip is just as comfortable on a modern tour bus complete with movie on board. The only drawback is that you're dropped off on one of two stops in D.C. on the street corner -- no station, so when the weather's bad -- be prepared.

The Thirsty Burglar

I can't explain any better than Mitch:

I moved in November to a house with an old housemate of mine. It was one of those last minute deals where I was flying by the seat of my pants. We enjoyed living together before so we decided to do it again. It's been fun until we got robbed. Someone came into our house in the middle of the night and took her purse, her houseshoes and some money. They also made a pot of coffee. Then two days later, our neighbors were robbed and they made themselves a glass of wine. The thirsty burglar!

this poor girl

From the Washington Post, the story of a Vietnamese immigrant living in Georgia.
Thank Buddha for my open minded parents.

L'Arsenale

Here are some of the KleinReid pieces I bought:

KleinReid Studio Sale

Get your gorgeous gifts (!) at KleinReid's sale on Sunday, December 15, from noon - 5:00 p.m.
475 Keap Street Brooklyn 3rd floor
718.388.9331 for questions

Last chance this season for great samples, one-offs,
and cheap-n-lovely seconds at deep reductions!

Train: L to Lorimer or G to Metropolitan, exit to Metropolitan and Union. Studio is in large red factory building, 1/2 block south on Keap Street, across from gas station - you can't miss it.

Car: Williamsburg bridge outer lane, take second exit as you come off bridge (it comes up fast). At first light turn left onto Havemeyer . Take until it dead ends. Turn right onto Metropolitan. After you've gone under the BQE, turn right at second light onto Union and then veer right onto Keap. And there you are - big red building across from gas station.

If you have one minute

There's something you should see at www.dubyadubyadubya.com. Conceptually brilliant, and the message, pretty good too. Turn your sound on.

Fred Durst has one and so does Tony Hawk

Haven't I ever told you how much I love my Apple?
Read what Tony Hawk has to say and watch his TV commercial.

First-Class design

Just spent the day at the KleinReid studio for their fabulous sale, and then on over to Lisa's for the traditional KR studio brunch. Bought seven beautiful pieces and you should too! The studio will be open again next Sunday, December 15 for the holiday sale -- perfect for classy gifts for everyone you know. Browse the site for photographs of their gorgeous works.

Wild Things

I stopped in Books of Wonder and purchased five of Robert's books, and walked out thinking... hey, why didn't I buy more??? Sweetly happy to see me, Robert and I decided we'd want a rematch of Pictionary with the gang we had before... and I was just thinking... knowing Robert puts me one degree away from Maurice Sendak of Where the Wild Things Are. How cool.

Pop Up Magic

On Saturday, November 30, 12:00 noon - 2:00pm
Go to paper engineer genius Robert Sabuda's book signing for his new POP-UP BEST SELLER, The Night Before Christmas, at
Books of Wonder
16 West 18th Street
New York City
212-989-3270

Nekkid Customers you say?

I was briefly browsing on Amazon tonight looking at a Pastry Chef book. The page tells me the "Great Buy" deal where if I buy this book and another related one they advertise, I get a special deal on them. Next is the section where they remark on a bunch of other cookbooks under the heading "Customers who bought this book also bought:"

Next section I get what you see below. Uh, Customers who wear clothes... ??? I looked twice, couldn't believe my eyes. Copied their code down and took a screen shot. Sent the link to Kiki, but then it was gone. Nothing there. Refreshed the code... it was gone too. Then, I kept refreshing and it came back! Refreshed a last time and the new text, now FIXED, read "Customers who shopped for this item also wear:" so I guess they're selling to their naked customers too. But really, what does a naked one do with clean underwear (as opposed to what?). Clean underwear at the Gap is still on the amazon site.

Here's the code - the links should work

---

Customers who wear clothes also shop for: Clean Underwear from Amazon's Gap Store Cashmere Sweaters from Amazon's Lands' End Store Tommy Bahama Shirts from Amazon's Nordstrom Store Performance Fleece from Amazon's Old Navy Store For a limited time get $30 to spend at Amazon when you spend $50 in Amazon's new Apparel Store! Explore more in Amazon's new Apparel Store

---

Have luggage, must travel

Samsonite by Starck, can't get any better than that -- except, of course, FREE Samsonite by Starck!!!
What's that I say? Some months ago, Samsonite threw a PR "Samsonite by Starck" game where one had to answer a few questions (I can't even recall what) about the hip Philippe Starck, enter some personal info, and voila -- game entry. I got an email today announcing that "...the Samsonite by Stark game is over and you have won!" which at first I thought was junk mail or a joke, when I quickly remembered I had participated. Lo and behold, I visit the site and there my name is on the winners' list among 199 others from Australia to Zimbabwe indicating the prize I've won, beautifully showcased here.

A+ for the A-flat

Moved by Elgar's Symphony No. 1 in A-flat at Avery Fisher Hall tonight. New York Philharmonic. Kaly got Hung and I box tickets where the sound is great (not in one of the dead spots on the floor) and we were in for a true treat. Kaly had actually gone to the Thursday and Friday night performances as well -- it was that good!

Professional Pictionarian

Oh, and highlight of the night is that after going to the party, I went to Enrique & Vinnie's for a board game night and played Pictionary with my favorite children's book author, illustrator, and paper engineer, Robert Sabuda and wondered -- is it fair that we had an artist on our team? We won, but I think the team effort was pretty even. Plus, my team won Taboo afterwards too.

10013-2114

Dennis' 30th Birthday party tonight was at The Screening Room, one of NYC's coolest locations where you can combine great parties with movies. Plus, they play Breakfast at Tiffany's every Sunday at 1:30. Every Sunday. Yeah, every Sunday.

Busy

too much too little
no energy to write interestingly....

I am not a barhopper.

Kaly stopped by unannounced tonight and we headed out on the fly to meet with her friend Stewart from England. Headed to Blue Ribbon Bakery but Stewart wanted a "real bar" so we turned down the street a few blocks to Chumley's, one of the last speakeasies in New York City, never having had a sign outside the door. The article forgot to mention not to go during prime drinking hours -- it was too much of a frat house, too smoky and smelly for Kaly so we stopped in a Brazilian restaurant bar where I had my sapphire and tonic, Stewart with his red wine, and Kaly with chamomile and flan. Off again through the neighborhood for a nice little walk along Bleecker to Bank, a charming old block with lots of little single family brownstone homes, to Corner Bistro -- by now about midnight -- for a cheeseburger, fries, and drinks. Funny stories and more meandering to Patchin Place, and then to my house. Late night for me, later night for them -- they went off for another drink! Tomorrow I'll meet them again for my first meal at the famed Oyster Bar in Grand Central Terminal.

What is a Knickerbocker?

Adam and I went to Madison Square Garden to see the New York Knicks vs. Utah Jazz. Always good to see live sports in an arena, but the game was awful, and we left early (who would pay $56 for a pre-season ticket anyway?). We were grateful that we got our tix for free and that having known each other more than half our lives, we were self-entertained for the duration we were there.

Breath Control

Entertaining music documentary about the amazing art of beat boxing directed by Joey Garfield with just a perfect amount of humor and part of the RESFest 2002 digital film festival, touring around the world.
Breath Control: the History of the Human Beat Box

My gift from Roy

Times Square Mural © The Roy Lichtenstein Foundation

Saturday I window shopped some de Koonings and a Calder mobile, then browsed the special Roy Lichtenstein exhibit at the Mitchell-Innes and Nash Gallery displaying works that inspired his special gift to the city of New York and its denizens -- the bold Times Square Mural -- originally commissioned by the MTA Arts for Transit in 1990 and completed by the artist in 1994. The installation was recently completed and unveiled in September of this year.
MTA press release

The best thing about going to work at the Equitable Center is that it owns one of Lichtenstein's ten realized murals, the 68-foot tall Blue Brush Stroke. Not one of my favorites of his work, but the fact I get to see it, or his painting one of the firm's partners owns on our 44th floor makes my life in a law firm a bit brighter.

Building Art

Perfect Acts of Architecture, featuring work by Eisenman, Koolhaas, Libeskind, Mayne, and Tschumi is where I spent my lunch hour today. The exhibit, in the AXA Gallery of the Equitable Center has been extended to November 9th (as I was told by the guard there), so if you still want to catch it, you can.

Haiku Tunnel

Haiku Tunnel is perhaps more accurate to the story of my life though I've not yet seen it -- about a temp who goes perm at a law firm.

What I'm wondering is... how did I go from living in the tropics and traveling for 16 months before ending up in this hell?
The things we do for vacation days.