February 2008
32 posts
Eerie photos of the abandonned capital of... →
New Yacht Rock
“They’re not people…they’re Jimmy Buffett fans.”
“If you’re like me, you know the power of watching Gordon Ramsay yell at...”
– Onstad
“Some Things May Indeed Be Better in HD. My puffy, drink ravaged face and 51...”
– Bourdain Blog
“In 2000, Ralph Nader was nominally carrying the banner for the Green Party. Now...”
– The Observer
Gold Star for Robot Boy(s and Girls)
Steve Coogan returns to the theme of the wheel in a lot of his work, including “24-Hour Party People” where his character introduces his first Wheel of Fortune taping thusly: Welcome to the Wheel of Fortune. There it is, the wheel that throughout the centuries has been used as a symbol for the vicissitudes of life. Boethius himself in his great work ‘The Consolation of...
Is it snotty to grumble about such things?... →
The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie
There is no nepotism. I hardly ever write for the Guardian,’ said Gogarty. ‘He is not an attention seeker. He is just bright and 19 and middle-class - and that’s a crime in Britain.’ Well, that and being of color. So he’s off the hook.
Daniel Row Your Bloat Ashore
I had a chance to visit Bar Boulud this weekend, and it was strikingly quiet for a Sunday afternoon meal on the Upper West Side. I’m not sure if it is the acoustics of that swooping ceiling, but there didn’t seem to be a lot of life in the place, despite being full. Meanwhile, the restaurant is underwhelming. Yes, the charcuterie is everything you’d want from cut up pieces of...
iLogrolling
What’s John Stewart going to do with the shipment of iPhones he’ll be recieving today?
Telling Details
Both Blender and Rolling Stone mention in their Britney Spears cover stories that Kevin Federline was nicknamed “Meat Pole” by friends and hangers on. Hard to resist shoehorning that into a story, clearly.
Nice Q & A from gym-fit airline oracle George... →
The Truth About Cats (and Pants)
Leif Pettersen, documentarian. All you need to know about freelance writing is that when you’re in the zone, putting on pants is considered a separate activity from getting up.
Daytona 500 in HD
The “Gopher Cam” is useless if the cars are under caution for most of the race’s final 30 laps. Until they install lasers and missiles in the cars, there’s no point in commiting any length of time to watchng NASCAR.
Two Things I Learned from Reading "The United...
1) People talk about California Cuisine and the restaurant mania of the 1980’s in a similar manner to the way the talk about Jay McInerney or Don Johnson’s suits: what were we thinking? 2) I didn’t know the Beard House had such ignominious troubles with financing and such. Now I understand that the awards are even sillier than I once thought. Also, the book was well-researched,...
At least it's not named the Cleveland Steamer. →
I know that a lot of what I say has been lifted... →
Filling the Void Left By the Second Avenue Deli...
…Momofuku Noodle Bar was serving Matzoh ball soup today. The love affair between Asians and Jews continues apace.
Masked and Anonymous
The burger at the Smith is pretty good—I’d rank it higher than the recently New York Times-lauded patty at Seymour Burton, which I found gooey—but after a second visit there, I wonder whether the restaurant is worth the trouble. Yes, it’s better than the Pizzeria Uno that preceded it, but for the price point the food needs to be better. My lamb schnitzel was tough, and the...
A Drop in the Bucket
Paul Greico is crazy, but in that good way that’s somehow entertaining instead of scary. Like Jim Cramer or Chris Matthews. Hence, I am excited for the opening of Terroir, assuming no sound effect buttons are installed on the premises.
Jet Blue Claims Gate 69 at LAX. Heh. →
“It seems that the Dean has already followed his onetime apprentice Levy over to...”
– Idolator
House Rules
Is it me, or is House music not as widely mocked in New York as it once was? Maybe it’s all the euros gamboling about, but I recall the days when it elicited a sneer instead of being employed in the lobby of a business aspiring to trendiness.
I can be your long lost pal
Thanks for the wicked bass solo, dude. Just thought I’d mention it.
“Attention TSA jackholes: if you’re going to insist that we all take off our...”
– Killing Batteries
Spotted!
On Sixth and 39th: The official K-Y “Personal Lubricant” Lincoln Town Car. Really impressive as it glided past, easily slipping in and out of traffic.
Terminal 4
No, not the nice one in Madrid. At Kennedy. It’s not as bad as it used to be, which is to say, it was much, much worse not so long ago. Like, only-a-Chili’s-to-sustain-you bad. In any case, lots of air and glass and nice views of the planes taxiing hither and yon. As for Ruzyne in Prague, it’s getting worse as it expands. Beyond the total lack of non-cold-cut food options,...
Inspired
Flavors of potato chip at the Tesco in Prague: Ham, bacon, Moravian ham, beef, chicken, and, my personal favorite, potato pancake.
