Musings

Grad School breakdown

2011-12-21T16:28:00.000-05:00

First semester is over and done! It was pretty hard, harderthan I expected. There was a ton of readings- maybe 300 plus pages a week, pluswriting, all with my 40 hours a week job. The classes were pretty quality, Ithink. Even though the same people talked every sessions (and yes, I was one ofthose talkers) each class seemed fairly lively and interesting.

Any problems I had seem to be with the pacing-sometimes I felt like we were going too fast, or too slow, over the material.Or I felt like what I wanted to talk about did not get addressed, or not in ahelpful way to me. But this was the minority of the experience.

Writing my papers was also an interestingexperience. One was fun, and flowed basically without much prompting- thechallenge was editing for coherence. The other was very dry to me, but probablymore logical and cohesive. I remembered how much I like to write.

Downton Abbey meet & greet!

2011-12-21T15:39:00.001-05:00

I had the great opportunity to go to the screening of the new season of Downton Abbey, a new Masterpiece show on PBS (and Thirteen :). Downton Abbey is sort of a brushed up and sexified version of Upstairs Downstairs, of the Jane Austen oeuvre. There's unrequited love, and awkward situations, and talk of women getting the vote!

The event was quite fun, as you got to see the cast in modern day attire. I got a few autographs and was pleasantly surprised by how nice (and good looking!) the cast was. Although they did seem smaller in person, which is always kind of funny. I can't wait to watch the next season, and enjoy the escapism.

Judith Butler at OWS

2011-10-27T10:06:00.000-04:00

If you already have an established acronym, you are in good shape as a social movement! Last week I went to see Judith Butler down at Washington Square Park for an Occupy event. She spoke for about five minutes using the human mike, which gratefully limited the use of overly complex language. She made some good points about the "body" politic and asking for the impossible. I'm very interested in this academic trend where OWS uses theorists as their celebrity representation. It says a lot about ideas of "quality" and authenticity that Kanye just can't give to them.

Next week: Angela Davis!

3 classes in

2011-09-15T15:18:00.000-04:00

So here's my preliminary evaluation of grad school so far

The classes seem to be just as hard, but not harder than, Swarthmore. Basically, a lot of Swattie profs treated undergrads like grads, which is awesome.
there is a lot of reading, but I would not have any trouble with it if I was working 20 hours a week instead of 40, and trying to have a social life too
NYU, just like Swarthmore, has those annoying people who have to overshare and connect everything to their lives. I've already learned about one student's love life and another cried when an article connected with their personal life. And all of this was in class.
grad school is awesome because you get lots of free booze and most of the socializing is in bars
my fellow grad students seem really smart, easy to talk to to, and very interesting.
profs are good, seem passionate about what they are teaching
I'm back to making bullet points!

My classes this semester

2011-09-12T15:05:00.000-04:00

MCC-GE 2001 Media, Culture, and Communication Core Seminar
Monday 7:15 - 9:25 pm (section 1)
Rodney Benson
Class number: 3235 (4 credits)
Examines theoretical approaches that are central to the study of media, culture and communication. Provides students with a historical and critical framework for understanding the literature and research traditions within the field of media studies with an emphasis on media and communication as institutional actors, technological artifacts, systems of representation and meaningful cultural objects

MCC-GE 2182 Communication Processes: Gender, Race and Cultural Identity
Deborah Borisoff
Wednesday 4:55 - 7:05 pm
Class number: 3243 (4 credits)
Students examine the processes and approaches to the study of communication theories, language and aspects of verbal and nonverbal communication with a particular focus on gender, race, and cultural identity. These processes are examined in both personal and professional contexts, across relationships (e.g. friendships, romantic, marital, and work settings) and are connected to current local and global media representations.
S. Douglas & M. Michaels (2004), The Mommy Myth; S. Keen (1991) Fire in the Belly: On Being a Man; L. Arliss & D. Borisoff (2001), Women & Men Communicating: Challenges & Changes; S. Hewlett (2002), Creating a Life; A. Hochschild (1997) The Time Bind. Course readings include also works by Julia Wood, Cheris Kramarae, Marsha Houston, Ronald Jackson, Frank Wu, Judith Butler, Fern Johnson, Pepper Schwartz and others who have written widely on the topic.
[MA Areas of Study: Interaction and Social Processes & Global and Transcultural Communication]

Game of Thrones- the female reader pov

2011-09-02T12:03:00.001-04:00

I just read Game of Thrones, all 807 pages of it, on a plane trip to Denver from NYC. Game of Thrones is a medieval fantasy book now in its first season as a HBO show. From Wikipedia:

Set in the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, where "summers span decades and winters can last a lifetime," Game of Thrones chronicles the violent dynastic struggles among the kingdom's noble families for control of the Iron Throne; as the series opens, additional threats from the snow and ice covered region north of Westeros and from the eastern continent across a narrow sea are simultaneously beginning to rise.[2]

The first thing I heard about GOT was a NYT article declaring it "for boys only." Here's the actual quote:

"The true perversion, though, is the sense you get that all of this illicitness has been tossed in as a little something for the ladies, out of a justifiable fear, perhaps, that no woman alive would watch otherwise. While I do not doubt that there are women in the world who read books like Mr. Martin’s, I can honestly say that I have never met a single woman who has stood up in indignation at her book club and refused to read the latest from Lorrie Moore unless everyone agreed to “The Hobbit” first. “Game of Thrones” is boy fiction patronizingly turned out to reach the population’s other half. "

And I can understand where that thinking comes from. The HBO show is very obviously seeking out the coveted youngish male viewer. There are random sex scenes not present in the book that add a little pizazz to show for both genders. The book is often times very dry and political. There are pages and pages describing battle tactics, actual battles, and then some more political intrigue. I'm not very interested in that. In fact, I admit to skimming the battle pages with no regret.

But I think it's inaccurate to say that GOT is only accessible or appealing to men. I would say it's mostly appealing to men but there is something there for female readers. There is something in the text that points to a consciousness in the author to include strong women and many female story lines. We have the three Stark women, diverse within themselves (the matriarch, the princess, the tomboy); Cersai, the evil temptress & schemer who really holds the plot together with all her villainy; Dany, the lost girl who becomes a dragoness; and Osha, the peasant from the true North where the "others" live. Bellafante's point becomes clear when you see the character that HBO has inserted into the show- Rose, the rosy prostitute, there for the (male) viewer's pleasure.

It's Britney, Bitch

2011-08-09T16:34:00.001-04:00

So I went to the Britney Spears concert at the Izod Center in New Jersey on Friday night.

First of all, when you go to a Britney Spears concert, when you even contemplate buying tickets to a Britney Spears concert, you are taking into account several factors. For me these were 1) Britney's songs are catchy and fun to dance to 2) it's no secret she lip syncs so there is no built up expectation of singing 3) her shows are known to be great spectacles 4) the nostalgia factor of a bunch of late twenty somethings getting together to see an idol they have grown up with and 5) the nerd-media factor of attending a concert and unraveling the spectacle-ness of it.

So taking all of that into account, I really enjoyed myself. The ambiance was great, the show was over the top, and Britney was interesting to observe. The show was structured around "plot" videos of Britney, trying to link the album's Femme Fatale theme. They were faux grainy bits of Britney trying to escape from prison, being handcuffed and captured (handcuffs featured prominently in the show). And then the videos introduced a male character, who was a mix of prison warden, CIA agent, and stalker. He was a very scruffy detective type trying to pin down Britney as a "sexy assassin"- those were literally the words on the screen to get the point across.

All of this was intermixed with dance sets and medleys that were very thinly attached to the video plots. There was a great jazzy remix of "If U Seek Amy" where Britney had a Marylin Monroe skirt and a good breeze. There was an Egyptian themed set, a Biker Chic set, Ninjas, Cops and Strippers, rainbow gangs. The big bang was the end of the world and Britney's resurrection as a flying angel.

UCB- John and Scott

2011-06-14T11:46:00.000-04:00

Last night I went to see John and Scott at UCB. These are two actors/writers for 30 Rock but also UCB veterans. In the long line waiting to see the show, there was more than one aspiring comedian come to see their nerdy comedy role models. Outside of their 30 Rock characters, these two comedians were a lot darker & dirtier, which was great fun. I was amazed at their confidence- how they really milked every improv skit to the max, building on the tension without caving in to the audience demand for a laugh. The skits included (in no particular order):

aliens
goats
pearl earrings
Psycho
diet sprite
the Grand Canyon
shaving
slapping, hitting, punching
"Mayhaps"
babies
mules (Bert)

becoming a jaded celebrity stalker

2011-05-19T17:13:00.000-04:00

This time it was an "up front" party which I did not even know about until I was there. Apparently, they are TV Advertising parties where channels brand themselves, network and present upcoming deals. I saw Ellie Kemper (Erin from The Office) which was cool. Jay Z, which I didn't much care about. And Aziz Ansair, which didn't count because I saw him like a week ago at the Time 100 Party. I mean really, I already got you on my list, I don't need to see you again!

Harry Potter (said with English accent)

2011-05-18T10:17:00.000-04:00

So on the same day that I get Harry Potter and the newest movie title of the never ending series, I see Daniel Radcliffe in person! It was like magic! He was, as you would expect, short and pale. I was impressed by his very blue eyes and large head. Someone was telling me that movies really favor actors with large heads and faces because you can see emotions easier on broader expanses of face. Which sort of makes a weird kind of sense.

I also saw John Larroquette, who is in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (which is on my street, next to the Gentlemen's Club). I did not see the show, but I heard it's pretty good. I love him from The Tenth Kingdom, one of my favorite pieces of media- well it was a TV mini series, which really doesn't fit in the usual categories. Great show.

watching buffy while sick

2011-04-25T09:46:00.001-04:00

Great scene- Scooby Gang makes fun of Giles for having a working TV. He squeaks out "Public Television!"

I got in to NYU!

2011-03-29T10:41:00.002-04:00

Which means this blog will be revived as I puzzle through my readings and screenings.

And in other news I saw Robin Williams, Tina Fey, Will Ferrel, Andy Sandberg, John Stewart, Stephen Colbert and Bruce Willis!

It's been a good couple of weeks :)

Best Picture

2011-01-27T10:30:00.002-05:00

The Oscar Noms are:

Best Picture

“Black Swan” Mike Medavoy, Brian Oliver and Scott Franklin, Producers
“The Fighter” David Hoberman, Todd Lieberman and Mark Wahlberg, Producers
“Inception” Emma Thomas and Christopher Nolan, Producers
“The Kids Are All Right” Gary Gilbert, Jeffrey Levy-Hinte and Celine Rattray, Producers
“The King's Speech” Iain Canning, Emile Sherman and Gareth Unwin, Producers
“127 Hours” Christian Colson, Danny Boyle and John Smithson, Producers
“The Social Network” Scott Rudin, Dana Brunetti, Michael De Luca and Ceán Chaffin, Producers
“Toy Story 3” Darla K. Anderson, Producer
“True Grit” Scott Rudin, Ethan Coen and Joel Coen, Producers
“Winter's Bone" Anne Rosellini and Alix Madigan-Yorkin, Producers

I've seen Inception, The Kids Are All Right, Toy Story 3 & The Social Network.

The film I want to win I haven't seen- The King's Speech. Who doesn't want Darcy to win an oscar? And have Colin Firth give an adorable acceptance speech.

The Social Network will probably win. After watching Inception last night, that's perfectly all right with me. Inception was pretty much a one trick pony spun out to the maximum. Once you figure out the sleep sabotage and dream layering concept, the rest of the film is a shoot-em-up action flick with cardboard characters just going through the motions. Nothing new there. Even the mind trip is old news. Ever seen Memento or the Sixth Sense?

I'm glad to enjoy Inception for what it is, a smart action film, but it's nothing better and it's certainly not original. The Social Network, on the other hand, is interesting for its here-now-ness. The film is about a current socio-political-media moment and tangles with the messy issues of today. Gender & technology- that's interesting. The Social Network has flaws but it has generated useful and though provoking discourse. That already makes it 10x more interesting than Titanic, a previous best picture win.

The Kids Are All Right was another messy movie that certainly had some problems when it came to representing queerness. It's too alternative to win best picture, but I'm glad it was nominated. Toy Story 3 was awesome. The first #3 of anything to be that good!

Rent...a bridesmaid dress!

2011-01-15T18:11:00.001-05:00

Everyday life doesn’t present much opportunity for glitz and glamour. So before now, I had never considered using Rent the Runway’s Netflix like service for designer clothes. But this summer I have three weddings to attend and suddenly the new RTR Wedding collection is making a lot of sense. I want to look good, I don’t want a shcmancy dress I will never wear again crowding valuable Manhattan closet real estate, and I don’t want to spend a lot of money. Problem solved!

Rent the Runway is a website where you can rent designer fashions. They mail it to you, you wear it & mail it back. Now they have added fashion rentals for the bride, bridesmaid and guests. Bridesmaid dress rentals will start at $65 and include a one-day fitting in addition to an 8-day rental period.

The best feature of the Rent the Runway Weddings collection is without a doubt the Bridesmaid dresses. They were designed exclusively for RTR in collaboration with designers like Badgley Mischka, Robert Rodriguez and Nicole Miller. Jenny Fleiss, President and Co-Founder of Rent the Runway stated, “Bridesmaid dresses are the quintessential dress women only wear once. With Rent the Runway Weddings, we’ll finally solve the ‘27 Dresses’ problem.” The bride can retain control of her color scheme- there are a variety of different styles all with the same color. Which means if you are busty, you can rock the dress with straps. If you are leggy, go a little shorter. And it’s already coordinated! I’m definitely sold on this feature. Just enough direction for the bride and freedom for the bridesmaids.

There are no traditional wedding dresses, which makes sense because wedding dresses are such emotional minefields that you really can’t do that whole process online. But they do offer a range of social dresses you might need for your wedding- engagement party, rehearsal dinner, bachelorette party, etc. Jennifer Hyman, CEO and Co-Founder of Rent the Runway stated, “We found on average that each bride was buying up to six dresses for all occasions surrounding her wedding. As a result, we’ve made a portion of the site dedicated to helping the bride find dresses for all of these events with personal recommendations from our RTR Stylists.” Those stylists can also answer your questions and provide fitting guidance, which is an extra bonus for the DIY bride. And if you really wanted a modern bride look in a great designer dress, you could just search through their database of existing dresses in white. They also have some great bling to rent. People will be looking at your cleavage for all the right reasons!

The Wedding feature will be up and running on Tuesday so check it out.

hilarious Bed Bug Intruder song

2010-10-21T21:58:00.002-04:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8GK6rJjuFo

Glee-tastic!

2010-09-29T09:54:00.000-04:00

Omg, the Britney Spears episode! I always like when Glee dials down the plot to concentrate on the music. Let's face it, Glee's strong suit is not character arches and plot devices. It's unmitigated joyful camp- and that is in short supply on TV right now. The Brit episode was excellent because, as Kurt points out, Brit is popular culture. It was pure entertainment to watch the Glee kids recreate her image and voice in such an obvious tribute. The geek fandom was overwhelming and wonderful.

And they did their best to tangle with the cultural matrix that is Britney Spears, the object, by debating her place as a role model, popular icon, falling star, young mother and her slow and rocky road to redemption. Britney is the narrative, as Brandy would point out. I also liked the silliness of the episode as personified by Britney's doppleganger, Brittany (played by Heather Morris). Although she managed to pack some serious punch by using Britney as a path to feminist empowerment ("I get all the solos from now on. Next week I'l be doing Ke$ha").

All in all, a truly enjoyable episode. This is what Glee does best. Throw seriousness and plot out the window and let us have all the glory moments, the spectacle and the fantasies.

Next to Normal

2010-09-23T09:41:00.001-04:00

Is a musical Broadway therapy session. The show is intense! and mad good, pun intended. It's about the average dysfunctional suburban family haunted by the image/ghost (played by a male actor) of their son who died when he was an infant. If there was any fault with this play, it was that the plot was structured in a fairly conventional way. Mom and Dad are unhappy, Daughter is ignored, Dead Son represents the unconscious. Mom is emotional; Dad is the stalwart supporter. Daughter wants to escape in all ways possible.

If the plot is a little well worn, the script really brings it back to life. The writing was at the perfect emotional level, getting maximum impact. And when you have incredible Broadway talents singing their hearts out in these rock-ballads about their deepest issues, it really works. I cried at the end and felt like I had just worked through some of my own issues, although this time with awesome songs! Quite the experience. It reminded me how Times Square can seem so irritating and cheesy, but within some of those theater doors there is a whole other world that justifies the throngs of tourists. It's Unique New York :)

Celebrity sighting!

2010-09-20T10:53:00.000-04:00

Sometimes I even forget to look for celebs in New York City because I'm busy living my life. So on Saturday I did a bit of a double take when I tall, scruffy man walked by with a blond toddler on his shoulders. I thought, really? In midtown? But it was most definitely Liev Schreiber who I know best from Mixed Nuts and the Scream series.

hip Brookyn

2010-08-18T15:56:00.001-04:00

So I follow a lot of NYC-centric websites and one of the, Curbed, was having a party to celebrate their list of 38 great places in Brooklyn. The party was four cocktail stations with bartenders from Brooklyn bars making cocktails with the sponsor liquor, Absolut Brooklyn. Absolut Brooklyn is red apple and ginger flavored. So the drinks were an interesting mixture of spicy and sweet! One was made with bitters and tasted grapfruity. The one I liked the least had homemade ginger spiked grenadine. It was really strong and sour. Then there was one that tasted almost exactly like apple pie, and was quite sweet. The favorite of the night was made with heavy cream, egg white, and cinnamon. It was like ginger froth. It was fun to be invited to such a classy free party!

Update: this photo appeared on Racked!

watch Huge now

2010-08-12T10:48:00.001-04:00

Great, complicated show with excellent cast and sense of humor. About kids at fat camp.

Watch. It. Now.

(can be found on Hulu as well)

UCB visit

2010-08-11T14:21:00.002-04:00

I got myself down the UBC this week-finally-after meaning to go for a long time. The Upright Citizens Brigade Theater hosts daily comedy shows, all for about $5. I went to see Diamond Lion which is a musical improv group. They were pretty funny, and boy- they could sing too! I like that New York is just brimming with all this talent. I am definitely going to try and see more shows as they consistently funny.

Rosemary had a devil baby!

2010-08-03T16:35:00.001-04:00

We went to see Rosemary's Baby in Bryant Park yesterday. I was surprised by the incredible turnout- the park was jam packed with people who wanted to see a very retro horror movie. The night was cold, there were chills on my arm, and the film was just as creepy as ever. I tried to convince my friend Rosemary (for whose sake we went to see the movie) that it wasn't actually scary but campy. Didn't quite convince myself!

It was fun to watch it with a group of people who cheered when Rosemary poured her poison drink down the sink or threw her evil amulet in the gutter. I never realized before how much the movie creates this very creepy, claustrophobic New York apartment full of secrets and death.Very anti big apple! During the middle of the movie there was a commotion in front of us and someone stood up and yelled "Officer! Doctor!" and then all these cops and EMTs came and took someone out of the park into an ambulance. Eerie, huh?

busy!

2010-07-27T11:36:00.000-04:00

Summertime brings a more frenzied social life along with the searing heat. I've been busy the last few weeks but here's some of what I've been doing:

Long Beach- took the LIRR out to the beach. Although the $12 beach admission seemed pricey, it was worth it for the pristine sand beaches. The water was cold and a bit rough, but worked well enough to cool me down. And lying around on the soft sand and listening to the ocean was pure bliss

Movie in Bryant Park- due to the crowd, the concrete and the long bathroom lines we didn't stay to watch the movie. We did however enjoy a nice al fresco picnic in an interesting setting.

Sazon- awesome. This Puerto Rican restaurant offered two hours of unlimited mimosas or sangrias plus a two course burnch. They had a great eggs Benedict with a green Hollandaise sauce. It's a hard dish to pull off, but it was perfect. And the drinks were strong!

Madiba Restaurant in Fort Greene- tasty South African place in cute Fort Greene. We sampled lots of dishes and had a great time.

Hill Country- meat! meat! meat! gotta love the meat here and the caloric, buttery sides. Although the sauce doesn't match up to the actual hill country greatness, the meat is pretty darn good. And the drinks were great! I tried a serrano pepper margarita (what a kick!) and a rum & rootbeer mixer (like dessert!). Fun and informal.

Big Apple moment

2010-07-13T09:46:00.002-04:00

Walked into a random wine shop in midtown west and Whoopi Goldberg was there! But I can't add her to my list because she's already on it. crazy city!

The Winter's Tale in the heat of summer

2010-07-09T10:08:00.000-04:00

Shakespeare in the park! After many weeks of fruitlessly entering in the virtual lottery for tickets, I finally got rewarded with a pair to see The Winter's Tale. And it happened to be on day where the heat in the city broke, the sky was clear and there was just enough of a breeze to keep one altet and cool. The scene to the left is Paulina ripping Leontes a new one after he has let jealousy get the better of him and caused the death of his wife and son. Paulina was amazing! She really stole the show with her energy and fiery tongue. Although the it only got a tepid review in the New York Times (they liked the other play in this summer's cycle, Merchant of Venice) I thought it was thoroughly enjoyable. For a three hour play, it kept a pretty good pace and the actors recited the twisty Shakespearean lines with enough clarity and panache that I understood most of it. The staging was also well done. They had fake sheep popping up from hidden grooves in the stage and a lovely glass window pane that mimicked rain fall. The drama was absorbing and the comic relief hilarious. It made me realize that as the precursor to television and modern entertainment, Shakespeare knew how to keep the rabble interested. All in all, a most enjoyable evening. :)

Oh Canada!

2010-07-07T13:16:00.001-04:00

This weekend I went to Montreal for fun with a few close friends. Montreal is a pretty and spacious city and seemed very uncrowded and sparkling clean from a New Yorker's point of view. I loved the spiral staircases, the flowers and ivy covered walls, and the cobblestone streets of Old City. And it was far enough away to feel like a real vacation and adventure.

We climbed up the winding Mont Royal to see the views from the top and the drum circles at the bottom. Bought and sautéed duck liver. Consumed loads of ice cream and sorbet, and maple flavored everything (including soda!). Went to the Montreal International Jazz Festival where we saw The Lost Fingers, a very popular Canadian band that covers eighties songs. Their rendition of Billie Jean was amazing.

We also ventured to Quebec City where we played around in the castle/palace like hotels before wilting in the scorching sun and having an impromptu picnic. Who knew Canada would be so frakkin' hot? Also did some shopping in cute French boutiques, where I bought pates, a nice wall hanging, and some maple tea.

What I'm watching

2010-06-28T15:18:00.000-04:00

True Blood, Season 2- so far, so good. Same great characters, sexy and fun. And more Eric! I loved it when he turned all vampire and ripped some poor guy limb to limb, then turns and asks Lafayette, "Do I have blood in my hair?" Lol. I'm still not tired of Sookie and Bill either. I think they are cute together :) But I'm sure I'll be ready to watch them be ripped apart when the time comes.

Skins- yay for British tv! Another well written, well cast and well acted British teen drama. Well bad! Nothing terribly new or original but pretty high quality.

Dog Whisperer- fascinating show. I can never get tired of Cesar Milan magically knowing how to calm all dogs and solve the people problem. Plus, puppies!

Orange is the New Black

2010-06-18T10:06:00.000-04:00

Just started reading Piper Kerman's Orange is the New Black: My Year in a Women's Prison. It sounds remarkably like college! She describes how you had to carry all your shower articles in a bag or caddy and then wait in line to use the good showers since half of them didn't have great pressure or hot water. Hello old Parrish hall! I had no idea that prison was so similar to dorm life. I guess in movies they always portray prisons as maximum security. In minimum, as Kerman describes, there are no bars on the individual cells- there are no cells, just a barracks like dorm system. Prison is a scary, almost mythical concept. It is enlightening to hear a middle class hippie describe her journey down the rabbit hole.

It's an interesting read- really brings out the gender and race issues in representations of prison. Jail stories are almost always about men and violence. So far in the book, what Kerman has noticed about prison is the racial divisions and the army like structure. I was turned on to it when Kerman's fiancé had a NYT Modern Love article describing visiting her every week in prison and the bond he developed with the other prison men. He writes really eloquently about what it is like to be one half of a couple in prison.

Who I saw last night!

2010-06-15T09:30:00.000-04:00

J-Lo at the Apollo! She is amazingly beautiful in person, and that golden dress was radiant. :) She hid in the VIP section the whole night but I did get a brief glance when we crossed paths en route to the bathroom. Not the most glamorous way to see such a celeb, but I will take what I can get!

And Aretha was there too! Also dressed in gold. Nice night!

What I'm watching

2010-06-14T11:52:00.000-04:00

Season 1 of True Blood in preparation for Season 2 being released on Netflix this week. I've read most of the books so it is quite pleasurable to watch the show and enjoy this fluff in another medium. True Blood is popcorn and enjoyment, pure escapism

I struggled to make it through the first few episodes of The Bachelorette. I just couldn't do it. The heroine of this season, Ali, is so disgustingly all American. She quit her job to be on the show and when asked what she wants out of life responded that all she wanted was a family and love to fill the holes in her life. Ack! I cannot watch her search so obviously for a "husband" to complete her, to give her life meaning.

Rewatched Kill Bill again and found it much more fun the second time round when you know what to expect. Then you can just relax and enjoy Tarantino's masterful touches and awesome female characters.

Still watching Party Down, and the characters just keep growing on me. Witty writing and excellent acting make this Starz comedy a critic's darling. With the stars being stolen away for other projects, who knows if it will last.

and Big Brother is coming in July! talk about summer flings :)

at the ballet!

2010-06-02T15:52:00.000-04:00

tutus! en pointe! prima donnas! Last night I made my way to the Met to watch the American Ballet perform Don Quixote. Sometimes when you live in New York, you forget there are amazing opportunities right around every corner. $20 for nosebleed tickets to watch some of the most bendy dancers (splits in mid air, wowza) cavort around on stage in shiny tights. It was great :)

Prince of Persia, or the movie that had entirely too much shirt

2010-06-02T10:44:00.002-04:00

So do you buy Jake Gyllenhaal as the nest Johnny Depp? Disney is certainly trying its best to groom Jakey into a money making action machine still imbued with some artistic integrity. And although they might want Jake to be their new Captain Jack Sparrow, complete with hotness, camp and appeal to all ages, this movie turns out more like The Mummy than Pirates.

Which is not necessarily bad- both The Mummy and Prince are great summer action films. They rely on well known cliches that comfort and amuse, have eye candy for all genders, don't take plot or character development too seriously, and deliver 2 hours of solid fun. Prince even had great video game moments where the characters leap and fight in such unbelievably awesome ways. Although, as noted in the title, Jake had his shirt on for way too much of the movie. What a tease!

But does Jake really work as an action hero? After Donnie Darko and Brokeback Mountain? The answer is maybe sometime in the future, but not yet. Prince of Persia was rich in good looking people, comic relief and quick action. It just lacked that special spark that makes a movie irresistible. Jake is not yet Johhny. Maybe one day...

So...lost

2010-05-24T19:30:00.002-04:00

I watched the much hyped Lost finale last night. In one sense it was satisfying. All the relationships that I loved about season one were revived and resolved (except for Juliet and Sawyer, which happened after I started watching).

But of course the show failed to truly wrap up its loose ends. But was I expecting it to? Lost has always been chaotic- that was one of the reasons I stopped watching after season three. Most questions were left unanswered and fanboys everywhere can go crazy trying to connect the dots.

But the finale truly drew from Lost's strengths: the relationships between thoroughly developed characters as well as a sense of "otherness," otherwordly and liminal displaced sense of time and space. Ultimately the show cannot return to the beginning, but there is no where for it go except back into mystery.

Film Festival Time

2010-05-12T13:00:00.000-04:00

One of the best benefits of living in New York is the ability to see independent films. Many of these interesting indies simply can't find a distributor and sometimes can only be seen at special screenings in NYC or LA. I thought I should take advantage of this fact, so last night I went to see Timer at the Tribeca Film Festival. Timer actually premiered last year at TFF, but a year later it still hasn't found a distributor. According to what the director told us in the Q&A after the film (yay for directors showing up to screenings!), they had a few offers but none were what they were looking for.

Timer takes place in a society where once you hit puberty you can get a digital timer implanted on your wrist that will count down the days until you meet your soul mate (and there is a 98% success rate for those couples!). It all sounds great and happy until you realize the complications that could arise. What if your timer remains blank like the protagonists- does that mean you don't have a soul mate? What if your timer says the soul mate is 50 years away? What are you supposed to do about relationships in the meantime? What if your match dies? What if you are matched with someone too young, or too old, or you don't like them? The movie seems to say that you can't force things like love, and you can't live your life waiting for something to happen to you.

I really liked this film. I thought it was well written and well acted. I mean, it had Anya from Buffy in it, so how could I not?

Timer also had some very non-Hollywood relationships that were great. Una, the main protagonist, lives with her stepsister Steph. When the timer and men threaten to come between them, Una tells Steph that their relationship is the most important in her life and she will not let anything come between them. It is so refreshing to see this non-romantic and non-familial bond between two women be so reinforced. The ending was bittersweet but authentic and made me respect the writing even more. Plus, it is very much a romantic comedy and made me laugh out loud several times. Honestly one of the best films I have seen in a long, long time. The DVD comes out in June or July and I hope people go rent it.

Party Down

2010-05-11T10:43:00.001-04:00

If you are not watching this hilarious catering comedy on Starz, you should be. The writing is quick and witty, the cast is pitch perfect (including Megan Mullally as a cloying divorce), and they capture the catering/acting community with comedic accuracy.

The show might not last that long because so many of the stars have been stolen away- including Jane Lynch who moved to Glee. They are streaming the current season on Netflix as it airs. Which is awesome.

Word of the Day

2010-05-03T14:14:00.000-04:00

Shipping, from Wikipedia

Shipping, derived from the word "relationship", is a general term for fans' emotional and/or intellectual involvement with the ongoing development of romance in a work of fiction. Though technically applicable to any such involvement, it refers chiefly to various related social dynamics observable on the Internet, and is seldom used outside of that context.

Shipping can involve virtually any kind of relationship — from the well-known and established, to the ambiguous or those undergoing development, and even to the highly improbable and the blatantly impossible. People involved in shipping (or shippers) assert that the relationship does exist, will exist, or simply that they would like it to exist.

Examples inclue LoVe (Logan and Veronica from Veronica Mars), shippers for Hermione+Harry, etc

TV Recap

2010-04-29T14:08:00.000-04:00

1) Sunset Daze

WE's new show about the zany folks at a retirement community in Flordia. They are too cute! Seriously, it's great fun to watch Gail "the actress" visit her gay son's rodeo and make friends with the drag queens. Or Sandy "the wild child" go on a first date and get those ageless butterflies. Like all reality shows, it's a bit over produced, which is why the first episode features sky diving, air balloon rides, and a gay rodeo. I'm hoping that as the show calms down it can let its stars shine. Because the great thing about these retirees is that they really want to live it up :

2) Glee

Was back this week with a calmer, less frenzied atmosphere. It was refreshing for once for Rachel not to dominate the show and see the side characters really step it up. I enjoyed the power ballads and the return of Kristin Chenoweth. The plot was sugary sweet and continued Glee's dedicated commitment to retaining the after-school-special flavor. You are beautiful no matter what they say!

3) Selling New York

New episode tonight! If you haven't yet seen this show about real estate brokers in the wild jungle of Manhattan, check it out. I love peeping into all the ritzy apartments I could never afford. Last week one even had an outside hot tub! As always, the people of NYC make for good television with their crazy personalities and blunt negotations.

easy on the ears

2010-04-28T10:57:00.000-04:00

I really like Colbie Caillat's new album. It's more folky and less pop. Perfect for listening to on the subway.

Bloody Bloody

2010-04-26T13:25:00.000-04:00

The Public Theater is really a great institution. They've given me two of my absolute favorite New York moments- Hair and Twelfth Night. They also offer up a season summer play festival (SPF) which has $10 plays by first time playwrights. I've been to two of those as well and they were actually decent. Most recently, I went to see Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, which has a great write up- Old Hickory, Rock Star President (NYT).

Bloody Bloody is a political emo-rock musical. If you don't know what that means, neither do I. This was a mash up of political comedy, slap stick randomness, rock show and solemn lecture on the dangers of populism. The political is personal and we sing about it. At one point, Andrew Jackson and his wife Rachel smear blood on each other in a 19th century riff on illness=love metaphor.

So it was weird, but in an enjoyable way. The cast were slick and confident, the music was solid, the points were well made. And it made me laugh.

United States of Tara

2010-04-21T10:46:00.000-04:00

Great new show with Toni Collette. I've loved her ever since Muriel's Wedding and she doesn't disappoint with this new show about a woman with multiple personalities. In fact, it's amazing to watch her transform into these characters. Good supporting cast, solid writers. I'm hoping the second season can spice things up a little and bring on the chaos.

Glee was blah

2010-04-21T10:43:00.001-04:00

I shouldn't have raised my expectations- or maybe I should blame it on Madonna. The musical numbers just lacked soul for some reason and I think it is because Madonna is a performer, not a vocalist. These kids are from Broadway and they know how to belt with emotion. Madonna is just too pop and spectacle and not enough soul.
Other than the weakness of the Madonna tie-in, the rest of the show as pretty on point. Brittany, the bubble headed cheerio, has some of the best lines delivered with deadly straight face. When the gang is talking about Madonna's girl power and fight with misogyny, she quips "When I pulled my hamstring I went to a misogynist." The Jesse-Rachel-Quinn threesome is a good source of drama. And it was awesome that Kurt and Mercedes joined the cheer leading team because they weren't getting enough solos. Hopefully next week will have better musical numbers!

Glee is back

2010-04-15T10:12:00.002-04:00

Finally! Let the musical nerdom commence! The new episode was fresh and fun, although I thought the "hello" framework for all the musical numbers was a bit tiring. Can't wait to see more of this great show. I heard the back 9 have a lot more music and less outrageous plot, which is definitely an improvement. But you don't watch Glee for character development or plot, you watch if for the CAMP! and vibrant musical numbers, a sharp sense of mocking humor and lovable, over the top caricatures. Can't wait for next week :)

Country music in New Jersey

2010-04-13T09:59:00.000-04:00

I guess NJ counts as the country when juxtaposed with NYC? Anyway, it is surely the suburbs. On Friday I took the train an hour or so outside of the city to Red Bank, New Jersey to see LeAnn Rimes sing me some country songs. The tickets were free so I was really just paying for the round trip train fare, which wasn't too cheap in rush hour.

But the concert was surprisingly fun. I wouldn't have considered myself a LeAnn Rimes fan. I knew her music vaguely and knew she could sing but I don't have a single song of hers on my ipod. Turns out that she is much, much better in person. She was very charismatic and personable and boy can that girl really belt it out! I love that kind of soul singing where you can tell it makes the singer happier than anything else to be on the stage singing. She has a powerful alto voice and she can really control it and let it rip when necessary. It was a nice treat and made me want to go to more concerts!

Happy Spring, y'all!

2010-04-08T16:30:00.001-04:00

I've been too busy enjoying the 90 DEGREE WEATHER in April to blog lately, not to mention the profusion of flowers, blooming trees and delicious sunshine.

I had an interesting experience last week being an audience participant on a reality show featuring chefs and food. For four or five hours, I witnessed the chaos that is food tv while drinking free wine and eating bits of things that haphazardly arrived at the table. Oy, the list of things they ran out of! The melted icecream! The dry, overcooked entrees! It was a long and fun process but I don't think I would do it again simply because there is so much waiting around, but it was a good use of a cold and rainy day. Not to mention it fed my food/blog nerdiness. Luckily, living in New York it's easy to find lots of interesting and drool worthy food experiences.

Most recently I visited Island Burgers and Shakes in midtown west where I had a juicy blue cheese and onion burger cooked medium rare- which is rare in NYC, ha. Most places cook their burgers to a dry brown no matter what you order. But this one was nice and red. I also tried a malted vanilla shake which was delicious. Typical NYC prices- $9 burgers and $5 shakes, but worth it occasionally.

Now to go bask again in the sunshine

Carnegie Hall

2010-03-31T15:19:00.000-04:00

I had the good fortune to get free tickets to a piano recital at Carnegie Hall. I had never been and I'm glad I went because the hall is quite elegant and I felt honored to be in such a legendary space. The pianist, Thomas Ades, played some brilliant Schubert and Beethoven and even premiered a composition of his own. I left feeling very classy and culturally enriched :)

Sondheim on Sondheim

2010-03-29T11:16:00.000-04:00

Roundabout Theater's tribute to the legendary composer and lyricist was, like most musicals, rich with music and emotion and thin on editing and momentum. Nearly 3 hours is way to long to string together different songs from different musicals, even if they are very well performed. The excellent cast did they best they could to glue together this fragmented piece of media. They sang their hearts out and acted out the little vignettes with passion. But for all their best efforts, it just seemed amateur and forced.

Part of this show is pieces of a documentary shown on a giant, scrabble like screen on stage. The screen was made of 10 smaller screens and throughout the production these screens would form different formations. Sondheim's bits of wisdom were great- and it would have made for a good TV opportunity. Stringing together these filmed moments with live performances of various songs just didn't work for me- or at least, it worked for the first 2/3 of the show, but after that I was tired of the conceit. With a big chunk of editing and less screen footage this could be a good show, but it won't save it from the fact that it's not a musical but an anthology.

The West Story live on the West Side

2010-03-22T15:37:00.001-04:00

There's always danger when you reinvent a classic. The Broadway show simply has a hard time living up to the classic 1961 film.

One of the main points of contention is the show's use of Spanish. When the Puerto Rican characters are alone on stage they spoke mostly in their native tongue. The lyrics and verses assigned to the Sharks are also in Spanish. I guess this was done in an effort to maintain authenticity and retain a PC distance from the film, which was equally famous for its whitewashed cast playing "ethnic." And in some ways, it works and gives the live show its own identity. But if you come to the show because you loved the film, you will be upset not to here "I feel pretty" in English and sing along in your head. I definitely felt a bit left out at times, distanced from the musical I know so well.

That said, the show had it's positive points as well. The music from the live orchestra was fantastic. The dancing, the energy from the young cast, the swirl of color and costume- perfectly Broadway. I thought the leads were great- Tony, Maria and Anita especially. And they really captured the emotion of the play. I even shed a few tears at the end.

Whedon strikes again

2010-03-17T11:10:00.002-04:00

Happy St.Patrick's day everyone! May your Guinness be potent and your rainbow have a pot of gold.

I finally got around to watching "Dr.Horrible's Sing Along Blog" directed by Joss Whedon. It's a hilarious farce starring Neil Patrick Harris as a wanna be evil villain and his nemesis, Nathan Fillian's Captain Hammer. To any Whedon fan, this little internet sensation is entirely logical. It is strongly reminiscent of the musical episode of Buffy that Whedon also directed. The sing-songy music, the good vs evil plot, and the refreshingly witty Whedon quotes are all there. I laughed out loud for real several times.

The casting of NPH vs Nathan Fillian is perfect, and after seeing Nathan playing such macho protagonists (Firefly, Castle) it's lovely to see his excellent ability to parody himself. The heroine, Felicia Day, was definitely overshadowed by these two powerful actors. She's apparently a Whedon muse because she had roles in both Buffy and Dollhouse.

Now I just cannot wait to Whedon's GLEE EPISODE!!! I even think NPH will be in that as well. Talk about geek heaven!

Kell on Earth

2010-03-09T14:42:00.001-05:00

Kell on Earth is a new reality show based on PR diva Kelly Cutrone's cutthroat fashion industry life coordinating runway shoes and marketing designers. Some of you- my fellow reality tv brethren- know Kelly from The Hills where she gave gainful employment not only to Whitney but Lauren and Stephanie as well (and when Lauren was forced to fire Steph, ah the drama!). Kelly's reward for hiring these vapid blondes was her own reality show where we see that despite appearing on The Hills Kelly is actually 1) a New Yorker at heart who likes to wear black and prefers to hire people who die their hair at the other end of the spectrum from LA blondes and 2) is an awesome bitchy feminist who clawed her way to top and is deeply dedicated to pulling up others now that she's made it. The picture below makes the point quite clearly (Kelly is dead center):

and Kelly also likes goth gay guys and buys lube for employees! viva la liberation

Now, the real question is can Kell on Earth make it as reality TV? Well, in its favor it has models and runway shows (ala Project Runway). It has crying employees (ala The Apprentice). What it doesn't have is romance. Kelly is unapologetically unromantic. She is a single mother dedicated to her business and has a "modern" relationship with her euro/metro baby daddy. Now, that's fine with me. I like the driven, business focused tone of the show and the working relationships provide a good cast of supporting characters. I like the edge of feminism, of alternativeness.

But I have doubts about whether this interesting show can stay on the air because it's lacking two things critical to reality show success: ridiculously good looking people and heterosexual romantic tension. Basically, what has made The Hills, The Bachelor, The Kardashians, The Millionaire Matchmaker, The Girls Next Door and myriad other reality shows successful. And it doesn't have the competition aspect that Project Runway or American Idol or Top Chef have. Or even the family & friends dramatics of the Kardashians and the Hills gang. But maybe it can live for a while in Bravo's niche of similar shows like Million Dollar Listing (truly terrible show) or the fun Housewives series. All I can say is Bravo!

$$$

2010-03-08T11:39:00.000-05:00

Just spend a Coach purse's worth of money on a long weekend trip to Montreal and Quebec City. Who knew Canada could be so expensive, eh? Anyways, even though it seems pricey, travel has always been my priority. And why do I have a job if not to fund adventures? It should be a really great girl's trip. :)

Empire State of parody

2010-03-05T10:54:00.001-05:00

New York was all ablaze with the new Alicia Keys/Jay Z song "Empire State of mind." I've even danced to it in a club where we all blare out "New York! New York! makes you feel brand new!" But the best part of this song was the parody it inspired- a tribute to the Jewish burb of Forrest Hills. The best lines are "where people are shaped like pears" and "why did everything have a prune in it?" Check it out.

Empire State Of Mind - Forest Hills State of Mind with Billy Eichner and Rachel Dratch

Must See TV this week

2010-03-04T16:14:00.001-05:00

Things I will try not to miss, even though I have to stay up past my bedtime :)

1) The Office Baby special. I loved The Office Wedding special. It was hilarious, awkward and touching all at the same time, which is this sitcom's specialty. Jim and Pam are wonderful and cute.

2)Real Housewives of NYC. Second season premiers tonight and the delightfully catty New Yawkers are back. Are Jill and Betheny no longer friends? Are the crazies still insane? I will definitely watch the best iteration of the "Real Housewives" spin

3) Kathy Griffin on Law & Order: SVU. Watch as Kathy breathes some life into this gray and dour show. Plus- she plays a bisexual named Babs!

4) and finally the OSCARS! omg there is so much drama this year. 10 best picture! A woman nominated for director! Dueling exes! And to top it all off, Baldwin and Martin :)

Police Women of Broward County

2010-03-01T16:44:00.002-05:00

is my new trashy tv selection. The Police Women on this show are really intriguing. And yes, it's definitely a few steps up from "Cops" in terms of story lines and footage. It follows a few select women over the course of a season so you actually get a feel for their lives and motivations.

I always wondered what would possess a right minded woman to become a cop. You are signing up to deal with angry, aggressive people all day long. In what way does that seem like a good idea? But this show offers some insight. Most of the women seem to be in the career to "give back" to society or, to be very stereotypical, to help.

One of them works in a rape unit and seems very dedicated to her job. It's amazing to watch her first console the victim with such complete sympathy and then turn around and make the accused assailant feel like she's on their side too- and the amount of confessions she wrangles from these guys is amazing. Another woman spends most of her time answering domestic disputes and acting as a family counselor. A third has to come search women for drugs or weapons whenever her fellow male cops find someone suspicious.

As with any pop culture phenomenon, the show has messy politics. It certainly has a claimable feminist aspect as we watch these women enter a decidedly masculine career and do well for themselves. They try to balance home and work, feeling the conflict keenly between mother and cop. There's a lot going on with gender based crimes, like rape or prostitution. It's also reality tv that draws its roots from Cops, which was all about macho spectacle. So...tune in sometime and see what you think.

I'm addicted

2010-02-23T09:45:00.002-05:00

to the Sims 3! I waited so long but then all my willpower just crumpled. Watch my real social life go out the window as I sim out. But it's so fun for my perfectionist personality :)
The new game is easier to use than previous versions and that makes it more rewarding. Everything is a little smoother and more detailed. Your sims make friendships easier and it takes less to make them upset. They also have a much more instant goal/reward system that keeps things running smoothly.

They also changed the game so that you are really encouraged to make one household and just stick with it rather than changing your active characters constantly. I'm not a huge fan of this because one of my main joys with the game is making my own sims and then having them meet in the Sim World.

They also have "opportunities" where you are offered a challenge and if you complete it, then you get rewards. I like this because it keeps the game spicy. I also love the new "trait" system where you can give your Sims characteristics like workaholic, flirty, lucky, daredevil, artistic, natural cook, hopeless romantic etc. Then they have certain affinities and can learn faster. All in all, a better change than from the first to second version. Sims 3 makes things easier for the player while being just as challenging and absorbing.

Oscar contender: The Hurt Locker

2010-02-19T13:21:00.003-05:00

I finally got The Hurt Locker through Netflix, after it had been labeled "very long wait" for a very long time. There was no way I would have watched this movie except for two things 1) it was directed by a woman and 2) it is nominated for best picture. I do not go for war movies. But I wanted to see what a war movie directed by a woman and considered one of the best pictures of the year would be like.

So, first of all, yes it is still a war movie. There are bombs and military garb, and sweaty men drinking whiskey and wrestling with each other. There's alpha dog behavior and testosterone. The movie is basically about a bomb squad in Iraq. Their leader dies and a new guy, William James, replaces him. William James is wild and heroic and inspires his followers. The most interesting aspect of the film is James' psychology. As the viewer, we can see that he is on the edge of something- sanity, maybe?

James bonds with a young boy who is later killed. There is a sequence with James running around Baghdad as a vigilante, a wannabe Batman searching in a city of "infidels" for someone to blame for his young friend's death. James becomes an impostor, a vulnerable outsider doing a dangerous job for unknown, unclear reasons. There is no Truth to found in this version of war.

For me, the clearest statement of the film was the last five minutes. We see James back in the states, utterly lost in the sterile aisles of a giant grocery store. He is unable to bond with his family. The distance between the two realities- one of war, one of homeland- feels immense and uncrossable. When James goes back to Iraq, you can feel his joy. The war has changed him. He can't get that intensity of feeling, the tick tock countdown of a bomb, the adrenaline of good versus evil, anywhere else.

Good film, but I don't know if it is great. It wasn't radical, or cinematically stunning. It wasn't even that original. But despite all the macho violence, it did have a heart and drew me in. That's success in my book.

Snow day!

2010-02-10T13:22:00.001-05:00

I worked a half day today due to Snowmaggedon's arrival in NYC. Here's a quick peek at the lovely white fluff in Harlem.

Superbowl Sunday

2010-02-09T15:01:00.001-05:00

So I actually watched a whole football game! And the proper way too, with friends and tons of junk food and cold beer. The game was surprisingly interesting. There was the underdog spirit of the Saints and the whole rooting for New Orleans to actually gain a small but important victory. And they were losing for a while too, so it make the last touchdown sweet. The commercials were bad though. They were just boring and conservative. Now to enjoy the whole year before I watch football again!

Gaga rocks my world (and the Grammys)

2010-02-01T09:10:00.000-05:00

Lady Gaga & Elton John

Check out this video of Lady Gaga opening the Grammys with a fabulous duet with Elton John. Meld her ballad "Speechless" with Elton's "Your Song" plus glitter and glasses, and you've got camp heaven.

Bright Star

2010-01-28T19:40:00.000-05:00

If ever poetry and film could intertwine, this would be it. Bright Star is a slow, dreamy, emotionally luscious film that, like all good poetry, still has a sting beneath all the flowery prose. What kind of sting? The sting of death, of poverty, or reality. What kind of great poet dies at 25, as Keats did? What a waste. But maybe it's the impending knowledge of your own mortality that brings out great poetry. It's really that mystery that makes Bright Star interesting. And to see, as always, the women behind the great men. The muse. The heart.

I liked Bright Star- it was hard to love. It's not at all what Hollywood grooms audiences to like. It has a very slow pace. The scenes are all about the dynamics between people, the power of words in a pale, light washed room. And most of all, it's about the clash between love and reality- not really Hollywood's thing. But it's my cup of tea.

What goes around comes around

2010-01-22T13:50:00.001-05:00

When I was a senior at Swarthmore I took advantage of their externship program to spend a week in New York City interning for Ark Media. Ark was working on a documentary about lobotomies. I remember watching One Flew Over the Cukoo's Nest and marking spots that referred to lobotomies and reading an autobiography of a woman who spent time in a mental hospital when lobotomies were common. I even went on a pre-interview to meet one woman whose mother was lobotomized by the infamous Dr. Walter Freeman. I sat in on an editing session with the director and editor as they pieced the film together. And now it's going to air on PBS! It's always interesting how different parts of your life collide.

The Lobotomist: American Experience airs 3/22/10 in NYC :)

Project Runway Avenue

2010-01-13T15:35:00.003-05:00

New York is the center of the fashion world! Or so declares Project Runway Avenue now in midtown near 39th street and and 7th Ave/Fashion Ave. I went to see the new signpost and catch a peek at the Runway cast. Heidi was a no show but I was more excited to see Tim Gunn. Michael Kors and Nina Garica were also there, which was cool but I didn't relate to them as much as the contestants.

A whole slew of them were there but the only two I could name off the top of my head were Austin Scarlett and Laura Bennett. Austin also appeared briefly on another of my favorite guilty pleasures, Say Yes to the Dress because he now designs wedding dresses.

It was a blazingly cold morning, but worth the pink cheeks and cold toes to see the designers in the flesh.

Also, the article and picture from Racked.com

http://ny.racked.com/archives/2010/01/13/project_runway_day_commences.php

mmm soup dumplings

2010-01-07T10:10:00.004-05:00

I never had soup dumplings before coming to New York City and I am so glad I delved into the heart of Chinatown to discover these delicious creations! Prepare for food porn:

The place to go for soup dumplings is Joe's Shanghai. The rest of the food is okay but you really come for the soup dumplings- delicious steamed pork dumplings filled with a dangerously hot and fatty broth.

Happy New Year!

2010-01-05T17:02:00.001-05:00

It's 2010 already! Wowza! What do we call the last decade- the aughties? the naughties? the zeros? the Os? Soon we will be in the teens- I don't think America can handle another adolescence!

I had a nice break and managed to see several new movies.

Up in the Air- Good cast. Now, I'm not a big fan of George Clooney. He was not my favorite batman. But he was good in this movie. I cared about him. Up in the Air's strengths were the writing and the cast. The two lead women were really captivating. The dialogue was witty and interesting. However, the movie was a bit slow and more than bit trite- moving, but predictable. B+

Princess and the Frog- Well, Disney, what do you have here. You've taken a bold move forward (black princess, yes) and wrapped that bold move in a thick fatty, cheesy layer of stereotypes and cliches. One step forward, half step back? Princess was charming. Like Disney comfort food, here you have the pretty 2-D hand drawn animation, the familiar outlines, the fairy tale world, the magic and singing, the true love. And weird bits of the dysfunctional real world thrown in like we wouldn't notice. Like: New Orleans, site of national disaster and chaos. Or hello uncomfortable stereotypes that are not funny. A charming hot mess.B+

Sin Nombre- don't know it? You should if you ever feel up for those thoughtful, sad foreign films that break your heart. This one was about a gruff (and cute!) Mexican gang member with a heart of gold that kills his awful, bullying gang leader and then tries to flee over the border and reluctantly makes a connection with a pretty Honduran immigrant. No happy ending in the traditional sense but maybe worth the ride if you are in the right mood. A-

Broadway, on and off

2009-12-21T14:48:00.010-05:00

The internet is for porn! This is a catchy line from Avenue Q, an off Broadway musical satire of Sesame Street featuring puppets and simplistic, sarcastic songs. I really liked this witty, very adult play on my old nursery friends. It's fun to watch the humans and puppets interact- one of the puppets even has two people manipulating him. The songs were great and catchy- "I wish I could go back to college" and "If you were gay" are two of my favorites. The writing was tight and funny and the cast was amazingly talented. And if the plot seemed to simplistic- an afterthought really- it was easy to see that as following the Sesame Street Structure. Fun!

The second play I saw was on Broadway although it also took place in the mythical world of New York City in another borough; in the margins, or In the Heights. I thought it was funny when in the opening title number they specify that the Heights does not include Harlem- no, no you have to go past Harlem on the A train to get to this magical inner city neighborhood where everyone sings and dances and wins the lottery. Besides the sentimental syrup, the play was filled with a great enthusiastic energy. Rap on Bway, yup yup. Those kids really sang their hearts out and it was awesome to be there live to really heart. That's the great benefit of Broadway and one that simply doesn't transfer through the screen.

Both plays were exhilarating and a real treat.

Paper Heart

2009-12-17T16:01:00.005-05:00

Background: Paper Heart stars Charlyne Yi as a young comedienne looking for a definition, a meaning, a feel for the four letter word LOVE. The mix of fiction, documentary and animation gives the film a loose, whimsical feel and reinforces Charlyne's background in comedy. Paper Heart always feels like a big joke, and really like a big in-joke that we in the audience will never really get.

The shot above shows Charlyne and Michael Cera running from the documentary camera crew. Plot wise, this was because they had fallen in love and craved some time away from the invading camera that was ruining their natural love. Beneath the surface it's another constructed image- this shot obviously reveals that they are running towards another camera capturing them running away from the cameras behind.

The relationship between fact/fiction and love/hate is mirrored by the camera's inability to capture the essence of love. Maybe this is why the audience is not allowed in to the last scene, where Char disappears in Michael's house, shutting the door quietly behind her.

I liked this movie because it was about a girl and a camera. I liked the scenes where the apparatus of film making was revealed. The two lovers sit on a couch, kissing. They stop, looking awkward. The scene pulls back to show a camera guy and a sound guy, their attention focused on the young couple. It sounds simple but this kind of transparency is rarely used, and is especially relevant in asking about our female protagonist's relationship to the power of the camera. Indeed, much of the tension is about how much the camera gets to penetrate into her life and how much narrative control she has.

London vs New York

2009-12-15T11:05:00.002-05:00

I just got back from a week long trip to London and it was fabulous! I really do love London, but this was the first time I've been back after living in another big city. It was interesting to see the differences between NYC and London.

First, London is physically prettier. The streets are curvy and lined with older, more stately buildings in a mix of styles. There are parks and squares dotting the city, and pretty pubs dripping with potted plants (nice alliteration!). London just has a more romantic, gothic atmosphere. New York is all skyscrapers, angles and concrete, albeit you can find pockets of cobbled streets and elegant brownstones.

The downside of all these wavy streets and hidden alleys is that London is quite hard to negotiate. NYC is tons easier to get around with the grid system and the plethora of public transportation. The tube is more expensive and less efficient than the subway; in London you are better off sticking to the double decker buses.

NYC wins on nightlife- almost everything closes down in London around 11pm except for a few skeezy clubs. London social hour is right after work, while New Yorkers tend to go home, eat dinner and then come out to a bar around 9 or 10pm.

London wins on accents! Yay for Scottish, Welsh and Irish accents not to mention the English classic :)

London also wins on castles and palaces. Yes, NYC has great museums but does it have ancient castles where Queen Elizabeth once walked? or Shakespeare? or Jane Austen?

New York might win on food, simply because it has such variety and cheap options as well as gourmet. Although I love fattening pasties and steak and ale pies, it's great to be able to eat almost anything at any price.

The two cities have very different alcohol cultures. London is all beer. Great beer- fresh, sweet Guinness; Trappist and Abbey Belgian ales; Bavarian beer houses; Irish pubs. NYC is about liquor. Rum and coke is the dominant and cheapest option but the city is also known for its cocktails (the Manhattan, the Cosmo) and mix-ology trend. This may be the reason for the different styles of nightlife.

So the solution? Visit Paris and see how it compares!

star sighting

2009-12-14T15:51:00.000-05:00

I saw Christopher Lloyd (back to the future!) today :)

party crashers

2009-12-04T10:35:00.000-05:00

Ever dreamed of an endless stream of free drinks and tasty food in a hot nightclub with no cover and great dance music? Well it can happen- if you are willing to crash. The party I crashed was a friend's work's partnering company holiday party. It was meant as a networking event lubricated with dark lighting and fruity drinks (mmm sangria!).

I was an impostor with a fake, lying nametag and a weak back story. And that story fell all into pieces the moment someone- who just happened to be a COO or something- started asking me what I did and throwing out names. I responded meekly with "I'm new" and sipped my drink and tried to look tipsy.

Besides the interrogation, the party was a lot of fun. My friends and I ate, drank and danced the night away. One of us even won an Ipod Touch through a texting guessing game! I really enjoyed it, but I also love the parties where we potluck cheap booze and cheezy puffs, board games and computer playlists. Those home grown budget friendly parties also don't require bad lies!

pet peeve

2009-12-01T09:28:00.000-05:00

People who insist on adding my name to every single sentence. Do you really need to punctuate every "thank you" or "good morning" or "hey" with my name? I'm not formal- I like casual interactions and don't like to feel dogged by someone who always has to have the last word, arg!

mmmmm cookie

2009-11-28T19:47:00.002-05:00

Mmm dark chocolate chocolate chip cookie at Levain Bakery. Cookies are done on the outside but still doughy on the inside and served warm...so good. At $4 a pop they are part of the NYC foodie craze but still worth it as the occasional treat after a few educational hours at the nearby Natural History Musuem.

Fall in Central Park

2009-11-21T15:42:00.000-05:00

Wishful Drinking

2009-11-20T13:49:00.002-05:00

So last night was another successful Hiptix night! I went with the girls to see Carrie Fisher's one woman play which has gotten pretty decent reviews so I had high hopes. As it turns out, there was no need to worry. Carrie right away reminded me all the good parts of my mother: warm, friendly, sassy, articulate, and funny as hell. Thankfully, my mother is not batshit crazy, lol, as Carrie calls herself.

The play was a bit out of place in the huge Studio 54 theater. It was definitely written for a smaller, more intimate and confessional space. Carrie made the best of it by wearing pajamas, directly interacting with the audience and using a comfy living room set. She was just completely charming from the first as she honestly revealed all the drama in her life and had a good time with it. There was a great quote like if it ain't funny, then it's just the truth. She satisfied all the voyeuristic-fan vibes from the audience and also managed to guide us, in the second and more somber act, to thinking about addiction to narrative. She was an addict most of her life and most of that was in the public eye.

It was a great night at the theater- lots of laughs and even a little wisdom sprinkled in :)

big apple gem: tea & sympathy

2009-11-19T14:47:00.003-05:00

When I first moved to NYC I ended up moving in with one of the girls who shared a semester abroad in London with me. We congregated at a little tea house run by "real" Brits with firm manners and great accents. There's a little strip of 3 shops generously labeled Little Britain down by 8th ave and 14th st where you can get hot and fresh fish and chips at A Salt & Battery, cream tea at Tea & Sympathy and British goodies, candies and tea accessories at their store.

They have a variety of teas which come with a variety of eccentric tea pots in a teeny tiny shop crammed with tables and stacks of cakes and scones.

The place is also known for its list of house rules and strict waiting policy, but the staff is fair and efficient- the only problem comes from other pushy new yorkers trying to get in their british goodies.

Their other food is pretty good. I've had a very decent quiche and salad. But's it really afternoon tea that shines. Their clotted cream is just right- oh so buttery and creamy but not to sweet.

I love to go their with friends and slowly drink my little pot of looseleaf tea. I love wondering which pot or cup I will get this time. On a rainy NYC day I could almost be in London again.

The hunt

2009-11-16T14:40:00.004-05:00

Over the weekend I went apartment hunting with a friend of mine because NYC real estate fascinates me. Not the negotiating, lease signing, background checking side; just the visual side and voyeuristic thrill of peeking into buildings to see how other New Yorkers live their life. Dealing with the financial side of getting an apartment in NYC is a real pain in the arse, so I was glad just to tag along for fun.

We were looking in two neighborhoods- East Gramercy (in the 20s around 1st and 2nd ave) and Midtown West (in the 40s and 50s around 10th and 11th ave). These two areas are pretty lively but still far enough to the east or west to avoid the price rise of central buildings. They also have a lower "cool" factor, ie they are not as chic or well known as their neighboors like St.Marks or Astor place near Gramercy or Chlesea and the UWS on either side of Midtown west. This is a picture from Best Apartments website where we looked at some apts.

We saw a whole range of quality, too. One apartment in MW had exposed brick, a washing machine, a dishwasher, a fireplace, wood floors and two evenly sized bedrooms. What a looker! The flaws in other places: being on the first floor or basement, tiny bathrooms, no living room, bathroom access only through the bedrooms, railroad style narrow hallways. One apartment had a roof deck with a giant couch, a table and tons of beer bottles- a little too frat. Another was right next to a bakery and made the building smell delicious. One had a rundown entrance way but a beautiful apartment interior. Far from the subway or close; five flights or one; big bedrooms or small. There are so many options in New York!

Update: now the search has become a battle between Midtown West and Midtown East. There are some nice apartments on 57th st and 9th ave- right near Columbus Circle & Central Park. The NYC quirk: all of the bedrooms have built in loft beds, which is kind of interesting. Another traditional 3 bedroom in the 50s on 2nd ave but since all of our friends live on the West side (including me!) that seems far away and not as interesting as Gramercy. All of these average out to about $850 a person.

Update to the update: my friend just put down a deposit on a first floor apartment at 52nd and 9th ave which apparently has a nice little patio! Can't wait to see it :) extra sq footage always wins in the end

I can has cheezeburger

2009-11-11T21:52:00.003-05:00

Orion is now a LOL Cat

Google is adorable

2009-11-10T09:37:00.001-05:00

In honor of Sesame Street's 40th birthday!

In West Philadelphia...

2009-11-09T14:54:00.004-05:00

so yes I am a dork for actually singing the Fresh Prince theme song when I went to visit a friend in West Philly last weekend. Although Septa was on strike, I got a ride with a friend to Philly and spent the weekend doing things within walking distance.

Philadelphia is a nice change of pace from NYC. I loved the residential streets with those stone quaker houses and trees dripping with autumn leaves. The weather was quite warm and we walked around Clark Park and through the Penn Campus which is full of red brick buildings and curiously charming dilapidated frat buildings.

We also stuffed our faces- with lavender mint chocolate sauce from the farmer's market, Ethiopian food from a nearby restaurant, stove popped popcorn, a six pack of Jamaican Red Stripe, dark chocolate dipped biscuits, numerous cups of coffee and a gluttonous breakfast of cheese grits, eggs, bacon and cider. What a glorious time!

We also made it halfway through a 26 episode long Anime series called Ouran High School Host Club, which I really enjoyed. It's a light hearted and surreal anime about high school kids acting out a whole variety of fetishes and fantasies in a PG-13 way. All in all a great weekend!

Rating NYC yogurt

2009-11-05T10:08:00.006-05:00

I love me some yogurt! Here are my ratings based on taste, location, price and line wait

1. Brown Cow Maple Cream Top: $3-4 at Whole Foods depending when it's on sale. rich and creamy, fattylicious and decadent. Lines are medium wait- locations more convenient.

2. Brown Cow Vanilla: $3-4 at Whole Foods depending when it's on sale. not as decadent as the maple cream, but still the richest of the brands.

3. Whole Foods Vanilla: a 365 organic brand, $3
nicely creamy, not very sweet so good for breakfast

4. Trader Joe's Vanilla: $3
little too sweet- you can taste the sweetner, but still creamy. Ridiculous lines and inconvenient location.

5. Pathmark Vanilla: $2-3 depending on sales
emergency yogurt- not worth the discount for this grainy yogurt. Bad lines, great location.

Jane Austen fan fic

2009-11-04T09:55:00.006-05:00

So big nerd moment of the week: I watched Lost in Austen. It's a about a modern day reader of Jane Austen who trades place with Elizabeth Bennett in a time machine switch-a-roo sort of way. Except she doesn't travel back in time but into Austen's Pride & Prejudice.

The main character, Amanda, then bungles the entire novel in a delightful way that highlights the differences in our modern world. For example, Jane Bennett does marry Mr.Collins because it is the practical thing to do, but then Mr.Bingly starts drinking and they decide to run away together to America- a "modern" choice if ever there was one.

This is blatant fan fiction as it places a modern day fan smack dab in the Austen world. The movie depends on the viewer's synchronous placement as a fan- it's a web of Austen jokes, turns of language, play with character and above all, the at home fan's complete and utter love for Mr.Darcy. Amanda is our on screen replacement. Not only does she love Austen's work she loves the recreations and adaptations just as much. Right from the beginning, she says that Mr.Darcy (the Lost in Austen Mr. Darcy) is no Colin Firth (one of the other and perhaps most famous Mr. Darcy, who also appeared in Bridget Jones' Diary as the modern Mr.Darcy). The best moment for me is when Darcy declares he loves Amanda and she asks him to do her a favor. The next thing you see is this:

which is a visual homage to Colin Firth's diving into the lake scene which has been over analyzed and enjoyed by every Austen nerd out there. It's a moment of pure visual fetishization of the male body/masculine ideal. Everyone always wonders at the fact that Elizabeth's feelings start to change when she sees Pemberley. Well, it's because she starts to feel desire- for beauty, for belonging, for wealth, for physical presences and bodies. This moment of female desire is rare in fiction in general, and it has been drawn out of Austen (scene never happens in the book) and treasured.

To be explicit, it's rare for female desire to exist and not be punished in some way. Lizzy is bold about her desire and she gets rewarded for it. In the film, Lizzy is also pretty straight about not wanting to leave the modern world. She ditches Darcy for London, short hair and a cell phone :)

Needless to say, I very much enjoyed this series- the Brits do tend to get it right! Austen has long been one of my favorite writers because she combined such great melodrama with biting social criticism and excellent wit. Lost in Austen managed to capture some of that by re-interpreting the plot and characters and all the what ifs. But it still gave priority to the female reader's pleasure which is fabulous!

cyber buy

2009-11-03T09:34:00.006-05:00

I just bought this camera:
and instead of giving my home address I gave my work address because it is much easier for me to get things shipped to work. About 10 seconds after I ordered the camera, my bank called me from the fraud department because I had not used my home address. Talk about on the ball! They were very nice and added my work address to my folder but boy did I feel monitored. Panopticon anyone?

Anyway I'm excited about getting my new sony digital camera, which I heavily researched and is supposed to be pretty good for it's price point (under $200). It's not as sleeky and Zoolander tiny as some of the other brands but it's supposed to have good image quality and that's what I am looking for, along with rechargeable batteries- go green everyone :)

I can't wait to take pictures of London and New York and add some personality to this blog.

After Miss Julie

2009-10-30T14:38:00.005-04:00

It's that time again! Time to purchase $20 Hiptix tickets and see a play, snack, drink and enjoy free issues of Time Out New York.

This time it was After Miss Julie. The play stars Sienna Miller, famous for being blond and dating a lot of people. The only thing I ever really liked her in was Casanova, where she played opposite Heath Ledger as a rebellious feminist tomboy out of place in a formal, male dominated world. The good news: she has tons of stage presence, just absolutely draws your eye. She's a stunner! Bad news: she acted stiffly and self consciously and kept making me remember that she was Sienna Miller instead of Miss Julie.

The play is about a one night stand between a servant and his mistress and the tension over class and gender that such line crossing generates. It was not particularly resonant in this day and age, although there was a lot of discourse about WWII that could be applied to our culture now- about what it means to go to war, to be around death and blood, to try and come home and go back to all those social norms that no longer make sense. After Miss Julie was dramatic but not moving; there was no one character to feel through and not enough distance to be meta.

But all this intellectual furor was appropriately quelled by free selections of cheese, bread and veggies and glasses of beer or proseco, not to mention Halloween candy! The American Airlines theater has a nice penthouse lobby with an outdoor deck. Next play is Carrie Fisher's one woman show Wishful Drinking later this month. When in New York!

NYPD pumpkin busting

2009-10-30T11:05:00.004-04:00

Last night we held a successful Pumpkin Xtravaganza! where we had friends over to carve pumpkins, drink pumpkintinis and pumpkin ale, listen to scary music and have fun :)

Around 10pm the cops showed up at our door. They were responding to a domestic disturbance call that one of our neighbors had made (either to try and intimidate us by getting the cops to show up b/c cops have to respond to all domestic complaints as opposed to noise complaints or because they actually thought there was domestic violence happening in our usually quite apt).

So the two cops show up and ask us if there is a problem. We tell them we are having a pumpkin carving party. Here's what the cops see: a group of around 10 twenty somethings carving pumpkins and drinking beer. As my roommate says, we are pretty lame. The cops try to fight smiles but they are secretly cracking up. They asked is we were watching the game, but we were not even that cool. We were watching America's funniest videos with the sounds turned off and the Halloween soundtrack on.

The best part is then I asked them if we needed to be quieter- b/c the neighbors ALWAYS complain when we make the least amount of noise. And the cop shrugged and said "if you want to." That was the best! They smiled again and said goodnight. Quite an action filled party!

Here are our pumpkins:

teatime

2009-10-28T10:37:00.003-04:00

Drinking Mighty Leaf Vanilla Bean tea in it's little silk baggie. Sometimes life is purely good :) Adding the "bean" in vanilla products is a new trend to verify vanilla's green naturalness but it's more believable in tea bags where you can see bits of it floating around.

Eating at fancy places for a living

2009-10-27T09:47:00.004-04:00

I just finished reading Frank Bruni's autobiography "Born Round"

Everyone's a critic, right? But it truly does seem like a dream job to get to eat multi-course meals at all the best restaurants in town and then have the power to uplift or skewer their trajectories. Basically writing+food=happiness. Yay!

But the path to this dream job was harder for Bruni, who recently retired after a five year stint as the NYT restaurant critic. The book is astonishingly frank (no pun intended) as it discusses Bruni's eating disorders, body hate and eventual path towards a sort of punishing exercise routine to balance out the thousands of calories he consumed every night. The highlights of Born Round are Bruni's honesty and his likability as a byronic hero.

The worst of it his body hate, the complete opposite of the current trend toward fat acceptance. For anyone who finds themselves fat and happy, reading through Bruni's cycles of bingeing & purging along with his own caustic self disgust is not really helpful. In fact it's a pretty big slide backwards. Bruni's answer to his own fat is to exercise 80 minutes plus 2 out of every 3 days with the help of a couple of trainers. That's great for him, but what about all the other fatties? Why isn't it ever okay to be fat, to eat what you want, and to exercise at a normal, manageable and affordable rate? These issues are impossible to avoid in Bruni's book.

The book ends on a more even note. Bruni was able to satiate his hunger- a larger hunger than others, he allows- and enjoy his tenure as a food critic. He learns to like his imperfect body and share it with others. Born Round is an interesting, compelling read. I just wish our society was not poisoned with such body hate in the first place or as Bruni points out, the need to super size everything. There has to be a happy balance somewhere!

Parks and Rec

2009-10-26T20:54:00.003-04:00

NYC gyms are $75 a year. That beats any other gym by far. Even crappy gyms are usually about $10-20 a month. So it seemed obvious to me that it was the recession-ista thing to do. Plus I'm not a big gym person. Treadmills bore me to death. I have no idea what to do with weights. But I do love to swim, and in the winter I need somewhere warm to expend excess energy. Woe is me when the pretty, sun dappled paths of Central Park are slick with ice.

For the most part, the city gyms are fine. They are decently clean and safe. And in the summer the outdoor pools are fantastic :)

But the downside is that they are filled with other savvy, pushy New Yorkers. It's like the subway version of a gym. Some of the people who work there are drunk on their small amount of power and their uniforms with badges. I usually can't go there more than once a week because that's all the patience I have for the men who try to dominate all the spaces (especially obvious in the pool & weight room) and the guards who demand to see locks and enforce bureaucratic tyranny.

So it's a mixed bag. At this point I can't spend more money on a better gym, and usually I get what I need. Just sometimes, you realize why it's only $75 a year.

OMG! I'm having a gasp moment

2009-10-23T13:32:00.004-04:00

So heard through the Perez vine that VERONICA MARS (aka Kristin Bell) will be joining the cast of Party Down, the way under appreciated new Showtime comedy about cater-waiters. I'm literally have a television nerdgasm. This makes perfect sense because VM and PD have the same producing team and tons of the VM peeps have already appeared in the show.

This is the best consolation I could have for losing Dollhouse mid second season.

The Office binge

2009-10-22T16:44:00.004-04:00

For a long time I had no desire to watch the Office. Zip. For one, it was a show based on awkward, humiliating humor and irritating characters. Two, it was yet another American rip off of British brilliance. Three, it was based in an office and I was on a vibrantly green college campus.

But then, I got a job in an office. With a cubicle. And office politics, funny coworkers, vacation requests and recession shuffling. So I started watching because now it applied to my life, the humor was mocking things I dealt with everyday and allowing me to see a new funny light on the complex shenanigans of office interaction. And like other shows that seem acrid and biting from the outside, it turns out the Office has a heart. Even the worst of bosses can have a bit of humanity in them (ie Michael). Or love can flourish in a stifling & stale environment (Jim & Pam).

But it's really the side characters that get me. Dwight and Angela- omg they are so brilliantly funny. Its the cast dynamics that make this show. Dare I say, it's sort of like Friends that way. You tune in to watch the interpersonal dynamics, to watch Ross lose his Rachel again and again, to see everyone dependably not change. That's one of the best parts of comedy as opposed to drama- the static, reliable world that becomes like an old friend.

I still skip some parts when the show goes over the top. That's what Netflix is for!

Pumpkin Ale in the Big Apple

2009-10-21T15:32:00.012-04:00

Ah, fall in new york. It's like a cover girl commercial: easy, breezy, beautiful. And with it comes the delicious influx of pumpkin flavored goods. Pumpkin is great as a seasonal flavor because it can go sweet or it can go spicy. It can be incorporated into soups, gelatos, muffins, breads, cookies, pies, cocktails and my most favorite of all, beer!

I've done two tastings so far of pumpkin ale and they were markedly different. I will finish off next week with the last tasting, Smuttynose's Pumpkin ale.

I started with a trip to the Brooklyn Brewery which opens it doors every Friday night and transforms the small warehouse into a frat-like party barn. $20 bucks gets you six tokens which you can trade at the bar for 6 party cups (not pints) of seasonal brews. All of the beer is pretty good but my two favorites are the Brooklyn Brown (with a malty, coca-cola flavor) and the pumpkin ale. The pumpkin is perfect; all the notes of nutmeg and spice but still a very light, crisp beer.

The next beer I had was the Coors seasonal Harvestmoon Pumpkin Ale. Now, I have a very extreme relationship with Coors. I hate Blue Moon. Detest. But I love their summer seasonal, Honeymoon. Love! So I thought I'd give this more budget friendly beer a try ($10-12 a six pack, depending on your location). It was disappointing. The pumpkin flavor was underwhelming, although if it had been marketed as a brown beer it would have been pretty decent. I thought it even tasted a little like Dogfish Head's Raison D'etre, which is in my top five of brown, malty, caramel beers.

One left to go- Smuttynose! I'll update next week.

work & play

2009-10-13T13:21:00.004-04:00

I've been a busy little bee! Traning for new stuff at work! going to plays! having fun! work, work, play, play

Last week I attended a play of the Night of Free Theater which is a national night where theaters give out a certain amount of free tickets to get people to come. So they are usually off broadway and not much in the spotlight. I went to see Penny Penniworth at Emerging Artists Theater. It was funny because you would never find this place unless you were seeking it out. The theater is on the second floor and is not marked, but it was quite a nice space and pretty big for off broadway (well technically broadway and 19th st I think). The play was a four person farce, with the joke on Dickens. There must have been only about 20 people in the audience, but they really acted their butts off and I laughed and laughed. We gladly donated $5 at the end and received a nice pumpkin oatmeal cookie in return :)

This past weekend I worked the New York Food and Wine festival, which is basically a 3 hour tasting session where people pay around $200 to taste the food and drink of a bazillion different vendors. It was crazy! I did see some Top Chef & Iron chef celebs and enjoyed the utter chaos that is mixing wine, liquor, food and people all together.

I heart fall

2009-09-30T12:02:00.005-04:00

NYC is crisp and cool these days. I broke out the black boots and the cozy sweaters. It's fall! My favorite time of year. Turning leaves, pumpkin everything! I've been watching two new funny shows to honor fall sweeps.

Glee- watched b/c everyone was talking about it. Sort of like High School Musical meets The Office. The awkward moments of high school brilliantly counterbalanced by professional song and dance sequences. Characters interesting but flat; if they can make them more dynamic I will keep watching.

Party Down- skated completely under the cultural radar. Show about a tiny catering company in LA. Very accurate, which makes it hilarious, and also very awkward. By god, this show had to happen one day because so much drama goes down during catering, and everyone is an artistic type. best line (which I hear all the time): "we are not waiters, we are actors!"
Plus: produced by Rob Thomas of Veronica Mars glory, so the show is populated by former VM actors. Yay Logan! and Dick! and Meg!

Both shows feature Jane Lynch (she actually left Party Down to do Glee), so that's a plus. She's frakkin hilarious.

Santorini

2009-09-29T15:00:00.002-04:00

When we got to Santorini (the honeymoon island!) it was pouring down rain. We took a bus on a road that hairpins all the way up a cliff right by the port. Santorini is an amazing mix of cliffs and beach and volcano. Our bus dropped us off in Perissa, a lazy little beach town chock full of tourists. We had a nice night exploring the town- bars, restaurants, tourist offices and souvenir shops.

The next day we went on a day long excursion. First- the volcano! It was quite surreal to walk around on the black, rocky, smoky volcanic island. Then they took us to a natural hot spring in the ocean tucked into the rocky cliffs. Or, luke warm hotspring. I actually had to jump off the boat into the ocean and then swim through cold water into the warm, red soiled water and then back through the cold water and clamber onto the boat again. It was fun! Then they dropped us off on a tiny coastal town on another little island. Well, you could climb the 45 minute hill to the town on top of the cliff or like we did you could stay at the bottom and chill out.

Our last stop was Oia, the famous honey moon destination, sunset watching, expensive blue and white hotel hotspot. The beauty! It was full of white washed buildings, blue doors and ironwork, bright pink bougainvillea! just perfect. we washed down some chokingly expensive sangria and enjoyed the glittery sunset before heading back to perissa. the next few days we just relaxed & enjoyed being beachy and swimming in the crystal clear ocean before finally flying up and over the islands!

The Greek Islands

2009-09-25T14:20:00.007-04:00

After Athens, we were on our way to the Greek Islands. I got up at around 5:30 am to get on the Athens metro and go to Piraeus, the dock where you catch the Island bound ferries. Our ferry left Athens at 7:25 and was supposed to get into Naxos at around 1pm. The ferry was a multi-level boat with a huge parking garage for cars and cargo and then two passenger decks, one mostly inside and the others on an open air deck. I didn't get too sick but the last hour made my tummy feel funny. Finally we landed at Naxos, one of the bigger Islands in the Cyclades.

We arrived at Pension Sofi around 2pm, exhausted and travel weary. Our friendly hotel hosts gave us a plate of tomatoes, olives and cheese as well as glasses of wine that they made in the vineyard across the street. The hotel was quite pretty, full of blue and white furniture, floral fabrics and pastel colored rooms. We then ventured out to the center of Naxos Town, which is on the top of a hill and gives quite a view of the island. There we had wonderful meal at Taverna to Kastro, where we ate grilled fish, lamb stew and other fun dishes and finished it off by sipping cognac and watching the magnificent sunset.

The next day, we rented a Fiat Panda and decided to explore the island by car. The roads were very twisty, high up and on the edge of large cliffs so needless to say I was quite scared. We made it to Halki, where there is a Kitron distillery, or the touristic remains of one. Kitron is a large citrus fruit that they make into a very pungent lemon/lime flavored alcohol. There are three different variations: yellow (the least sugar, the highest alcohol content), the most popular clear (medium sugar), and green (most sugar, least alcohol content). We also sampled some grappa with spices and honey and cognac.

From Halki we got completely lost and ended up- after a series of gut churning hair pin turns on high cliffs- at the little beach town of Lionas. Look it up on Google maps and you can see what I mean by lost. Only one road goes to Lionas. After that we drove back and around the rest of the island getting an incredible view of the hilly, cliffy terrain and great sunset.

The next day we went to the pristine sandy beaches and lounged around, then prepared to take another ferry to Santorini!

200th post!

2009-09-23T14:30:00.001-04:00

My goodness I can't believe where all the time has gone! I started this blog right at the tail end of college because I always have something to say and there were no longer paid professors for me to say it to, lol. It's amazing to think how much my life has changed in the last couple of years and wonder how much it will change in the next two. All I can say is bon voyage!

From the end, Istanbul

2009-09-18T12:30:00.003-04:00

Istanbul is just cool. I arrived at my hostel, Bahous Guesthouse, to find a four story building with a bar/roofdeck all decorated in a sort of mishmash of Turkish carpets, chairs, mirrors and knick knacks. There are a group of Turkish guys who work here and as far as I can figure out their job is to make nice with the guests, joke around and teach us bits of Turkish. And flirt. A lot. It makes for an interesting experience and I wonder what guys think of Turkey because all of our interactions here seem to be flirations with Turkish men.

We are staying in Sultanhamet which is very touristy, pretty and expensive. Kind of like the West Village with mosques, museums and palaces. A little further away from us is the Grand Bazaar (didn't like, too touristy) and the Spice Market (loved! spent all my liras here). The spice market is full of dried fruit, spices, water pipes, Turkish Delight (lokum), scarves, and jewelry. The market smells wonderful and was full of sounds and sights and Turkish men asking us where we were from and wouldn't we like to buy something. It shaped like a large cross with each line about three city blocks long. Outside of the spice market is a vast open air market that sells everything from undies to kitchen utensils to school supplies. I bought Turkish coffee, turkish delight, a scarf, olive oil soap, dates, etc.

Next to the market is Galata bridge which spans the Golden Horn. On the other side of the bridge is Beyoğlu (pronounced Bey-a-lou) on the Anatolian side. We wandered over the bridge and the up, up, up the steep stairs to the modern streets that lead to Taksim Square. This is where the majority of people work and play. It was very modern- like Broadway and Soho if they were completely pedestrian.

Luckily, one of my friends had a Turkish friend who took us to a local place for dinner. He led us to this out of the way storefront where there was a lone elevator with no sign and markings. You took this elevator to the 6th floor where there was a tiny rooftop tavern. We ate lamb with mushrooms, dolmas with yogurt sauce, and various other casseroles. It was delish!

The next day we went to Topkapi palace and saw the famous dagger and the harems. There wasn't much to see, per se, as most of the palace is quite empty and has all the same luxuriously tiled walls, elaborate windows and wall length couches. But I was quite happy to let my imagination run wild and picture the Sultan with his wives, his mother and his sons in that warren of rooms.

We also made our way to the hammans, or Turkish bath. So you get there and then take off your clothes (most people kept their underwear on but went topless) and go down to the steam room. Here this was a very hot, steamy room with a giant marble stone circle in the middle. You lie on top of this stone for fifteen minutes or so until you are quite sweaty. Then the bathing lady comes and starts scrubbing you down hard core. Then they splash water on you and soap you up. Then more water and they shampoo you. Then more water and you are done. Then you are free to enjoy the sauna and hot tub and marble slab as you please, dousing yourself with hot or cold water as you feel the need. After all this you get a warm towel and can sit in the tea room for a while. Very relaxing!

From the beginning, Athens

2009-09-15T12:52:00.003-04:00

I arrived in Athens on a Saturday night after a long flight. It was pretty easy to figure out the metro system and then walk to our hotel, which was a few blocks from the Syntagma stop. Syntagma is where the main parliment stop is and we went the next morning to watch the changing of the guard, a long process involving guards in full costume with big puffy balls on their feet walking around.

From there we walked further into the market/tourist district where you can see the acropolis from almost everywhere and the streets are lined with souvlaki and gyro places, selling greek salads thick with feta and cold Mythos or Alpha beers (Alpha being the sweeter/maliter, Mythos more like Corona or Stella).

We stayed at the Student Traveler's Inn which was footsteps from the Plaka, or center of Athens. Plaka is like little italy. It is pedestrian only with cobblestone streets, cute little sidewalk eateries and people selling all kinds of Greek chotchkes. It was enchanting for a few days but quickly became old and tiresome. The setting was great- the arched doorways covered with flowers and vines. It was just all the people trying to sell you stuff all the time.

The hostel was cute with a garden terrace and lots of friendly internationals. It was just a little too loud. Around 5 am before we had to get up to catch the 7am ferry to Naxos, we heard an american girl come in loudly saying that she had made out with a greek boy and nobody better tell her boyfriend! That "don't tell my boyfriend" became an instant inside joke througout our trip.

The historical sites of athens are pretty cool. For 12 euro you can buy a ticket to all the main sites including Hadrian's Arch/library, the acropolis, the two agoras, theaters and other places. The Acropolis had amazing views of the city but was very very hot on a 90 plus degree day. I enjoyed getting to know this side of Athens.
We also went to see a traditional greek dance but got rained out in the middle of this outdoor performance.

In Turkey!

2009-09-15T11:43:00.003-04:00

I'm writing this blogpost from Turkey. I have a few free moments since I just arrived at my hostel in Istanbul, which appears to be pretty awesome- ie rooftop bar filled with pillows, hookah, and a view of the city.

This morning I was in Perissa town, Santorini Island, Greece. I stumbled out of my beachside hostel around 8am and went into the sleepy town to catch a bus into Fira, the main town on the island. From there I took another bus to the airport and took the 1/2 hour flight to Athens, and then quickly turned around and took another 45 minute flight to Istanbul. The views out my plane window were amazing! and worth all the schlepping.

I have to admit I am a little exhausted from traveling. It's been more than a week already! But I am glad to be in a new place and look forward to exploring it in the next few days. I guess it can't really get any better than enjoying where you are and also getting to look forward to going home, so that's nice

Sunshine Cleaning

2009-09-02T21:49:00.003-04:00

This movie was a pleasure to watch. It was simple and not conceited, well acted and elegantly written and unpredictable enough to keep me interested.

Sunshine Cleaning stars Amy Adams and Emily Blunt as two sisters trying to find their way in life as adults after they mother committed suicide when they were kids. They start a crime scene/blood & guts cleaning business together.

I liked this movie because- gasp- it was about the relationship between two women and their family dynamics. There was no forced heterosexual resolution. It was sort of in the vein of Thelma and Louise but more subtle and less desperate; more cathartic and less edgy. It was the kind of old school melodrama that I like but it didn't have to punish the women for not being with a man, for not being financially successful, for not being married. It was nice to breathe a sigh of relief and enjoy a movie that was not just dripping with Hollywood slickness (although both Adams and Blunt are distractingly gorgeous).

:)

pet peeve

2009-08-31T09:57:00.003-04:00

people who force me to interact socially in the morning. I feel all those "good mornings" directed at me when I obviously didn't initiate said interactions are vaguely ominous. if i want to talk to you in the morning I will; if not, please do not make me.

that is all

Opportunities

2009-08-27T10:43:00.001-04:00

In about a week I head to Greece for two glorious weeks of paid vacation! I'm really excited about going somewhere completely new, taking a break from my everyday life and satisfying my travel lust.

When I get back, I will be training for a completely new job. Right now I am training coworkers to take over all my duties and that favor will be returned after my vacation. It's going to be interesting over here and I am not adverse to learning new things. And now for something completely different!

a three tiered fork in the road

2009-08-20T14:48:00.006-04:00

I've come to a point in my life where everyone around me is experiencing the tug of change. And I can't be immune. Friends are applying to graduate school (both masters and PhDs), leaving the country, leaving jobs, being laid off, searching for something more fulfilling. I essentially believe that in the next year I need to decide on a path. Here are my options as I see them:

1) stay in the office/corporate world and try to move closer to the production & creative side.

It took a lot of work to get my foot in the door and I am reluctant to walk away from the opening. I am also hopeful that in a few years the economy will recover and I will have enough of a TV network and experience in the workplace to jump up the ladder a few rungs. After all, I now a have a job in my field. Cons are a tense workplace and a non creatively challenging job.

2) get a master's in education and become a teacher.

This would be a quarter life crisis move. I could become a teacher, get paid more, play with kids, and do something more along my personality line. I know it's hard work but I love kids and I think I could really get a kick out of teaching. Cons are that it is not related to film/media. But at a high school level...there's wiggle room. Education is a reliable field choice with a high demand and good benefits.

3) go to graduate school in Media/Film Studies

This is the passion, the dream. However, it is expensive, debt-inducing and in no way promising of a future career in Film or Media. A big indulgence with high risk- but really fun. Kind of foreboding in this kind of economy. Also does not really address my interest in production.

I'm hoping two weeks in the Grecian sun will pull an epiphany out of me!