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October 23, 2005
Weekend Edition
The happenings in the suburban New York life and the rambling, unrelated thoughts of a self-important blogger.
-- Went out in Manhattan Friday night with Ethan, Ivy and Kelly, hanging out in the East Village at "Company" -- one of those many Manhattan bars that becomes cool precisely because it tries so hard not to be cool. In truth, it actually was pretty cool. They're marketed as a place you can go and "just be" (not too many of those in this town), and they fit the bill -- pretty casual, and a good deal on drinks (we were there for two hours and our bill was only $30, thanks for the two for one deals -- and Ivy had water), and decent music. It was a really nice night on Friday, the best one we got all weekend, and it was a good night to kick back and talk about Kelly's bizarre dreams (Freud would have a field day with her), Ethan's highly philosophical class schedule at the New School (after having read Hegel last weekend, he's reading Marx's Communist Manifesto), and how three midwesterners (Ethan and Kelly are Ohio natives, and I'm originally from South Canada) now perceive New York (they each are huge fans who have completely adopted the town, while I'm still stand-offish to it).
A couple hours later, we left the bar to find dinner; Kelly had to split, but Ethan, Ivy and I found an outstanding Thai restaurant called Montien just a couple of blocks away. Seriously, this was best Thai food I've had since I got to New York; Montien's now vaulted way up onto my "favorite restaurants" list, and if you're in the New York area I can't recommend it strongly enough. Anyway, it was over a fabulous Thai dinner that I faced a full court press from E & I about me needing to move to the city. It's a debate I've had with myself a bunch of times, especially each time I have to consider where I'm going to settle in (DC? Florida? Westchester? Manhattan?)... won't bore you with the pros and cons (most of which involve the criminal overexpense of this city), but suffice it to say that they made a compelling case, and they had no intention of relenting. Will I end up heading down to Manhattan instead of staying up here in the sticks? Stay tuned.
Yesterday I had the chance to watch Game 1 of the World Series... not sure why, but I'm definitely cheering for the Astros this year. So of course, Roger Clemens came up lame, pitched poorly for only two innings, and the Astros ended up loaing the game. Why is it that Roger Clemens can only come through when I don't want him to?
I haven't seen any specific reports yet about which resorts in Cancun have been leveled, and no one knows detaile yet about how badly devastated Playa del Carmen is, but here's hoping that the Moon Palace and Playa -- both favorites in the world of Mudge and friends -- as well as the rest of the Mexican Yucatan coast are okay. And for my friends in Florida, watch out for yourselves as Wilma bears down.
I'm reading Leigh Montville's biography of Ted Williams right now. I almost wish I hadn't. Don't get me wrong, it's a good read. But the thing is, for as great as he was, Williams was also cantankerous and petulent. I knew he'd had a temper, but I'd never really realized how immature he really could be. Sometimes, you kind of want to leave your heroes the way they existed in your mind, rather than learn how they really were, you know?
Songs on my listen to list right now:
1 - "Speak Slow" - Tegan and Sara Yeah, I know I am way behind the hipsters in discovering this sister act from Canada; they've been critical darlings for a while now, and the album this song came from made a whole bunch of best of 2004 lists. But oh well; I just discovered them, and if I'm about a year behind on cool stuff, so be it. Good song, catchy chorus, and they've got both the vocal chops and the writing skills to be around for a while.
2. "Wine, Women and Song" - Harvey Danger Kelly's been recommending this one to me for a week now, and I finally got around to downloading it yesterday. Actually, Harvey Danger is releasing their entire new album, "LIttle by Little" for free over the Net on their Website, and this is the lead track. It's a fun song, with a Beatle-esque piano line, and this gem of a line: "You can’t fool all the people all the time... But if you’re trying, if you’re looking, if you’re lucky... You can always fool a few and feel fine."
3. "Only" - Nine Inch Nails Reznor's back, man. One of the few bands I was into in the 90s that's still doing anything you listen to because it's good, not out of nostalgia. This single manages to be cool despite a pure disco drum line that leads off the cut. Industrial meets the discotheque, I guess. Whatever you want to call it, I'm digging it.
4. "The Price You Gotta Pay" - Buddy Guy and Keith Richards Did I mention that Buddy Guy has a new CD out? And that he duets on it with both Carlos Santana and Keith Richards? And that this is a fun, laidback, old-style number that reminds me of a sixties soul song (it's actually written by Keb Mo).
More later. Got some stuff I gotta do first.
Comments
Try PEEP (Prince St) and Kin Khao (Spring b/w Thompson and W. Broadway) for some seriously good thai... and you know I'm a thai hound. PEEP is funny - good atmosphere and great CHEAP food, but Kin Khao is my hands down favorite. It is probably my favorite restuarant in the city next to Asia de Cuba.
p.s. Go White Sox. :)
Posted by: Erika at October 23, 2005 06:11 PM
Right words. Wrong year. Wrong Sox.
Posted by: Curmudgeon at October 23, 2005 08:55 PM
move to manhattan. yonkersucks. end of discussion.
btw, is Ethan taking a philosophical class or a philosophy class?
Posted by: Marquette Hoops at October 23, 2005 09:59 PM
If you move to Manhattan, you are going to eat your words to so many people. If I were you, I would stay in Yonkers just to avoid the "I told you so's."
Considering Jersey yet? haha. Now *that* would be the day!
Seriously, hope it works out. You have to do what's right for you to be happy... maybe New York was right in front of you all along.
Posted by: Erika at October 24, 2005 11:54 PM
YONKERS?! Hey, how about you move to Gary, Indiana to avoid the I told you so's. Clean the sand out of your painties and move into the big bad city.
Posted by: your mom at October 25, 2005 12:57 PM
Glad you guys all think it's such a great idea to pay $2000 a month for a 350 square foot broom closet, just for the so-called "privilege" of living among the hipper-than-thou. You gonna pay into my "buy the next house" fund, since all my savings will be getting drawn into rent? I mean, sure I can afford it, but is it really worth spending that much money on *rent* -- and for a crappy studio or tiny 1BR at that -- instead of spending it on a mortgage?
In all seriousness, there's plusses and minuses to going to Manhattan. I have time to think about them.
By the way, "Mom," the sand hasn't come out in a couple of years... Florida'll do that to you. ;-)
Posted by: Curmudgeon at October 25, 2005 08:01 PM
