Monday, August 11, 2008

Restaurant reviews in New York City and Northern NJ



Yelp is an easy way to find, review and talk about what's great (and not great) in a specific city or neighborhood. It has been a pretty reliable resource when trying I'm looking for a restaurant in NYC and does a good job of isolating a neighborhood and type of food. Check it out at yelp.com. And check out a few of my yelp restaurant reviews here.

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

George Carlin hosts Saturday Night Live (first SNL episode from Oct. 11, 1975)

Rest In Peace: George Carlin
May 12, 1937 - June 22, 2008

Legendary comedian George Carlin died of heart failure at a hospital in Santa Monica, Calif.

This Saturday watch a rebroadcast of the first episode of Saturday Night Live on NBC with host George Carlin.



Original Airdate: October 11, 1975

Read Dying Is Hard. Comedy Is Harder, Jerry Seinfeld's Op-Ed column (published in the New York Times June 24, 2008).

Sunday, June 8, 2008

Top Travel Gadgets

I've been trying to pick up a pair of noise reducing headphones that fold up for travel and while evaluating my options I ran across the Jersey Journal's, Top 5 gadgets for Travelers. I don't necessarily agree or disagree with the list but a lot of people are planning their summer trips, so this list could be helpful if you're taking a flight in the near future.

  • Apple iPod Touch: The top-of-the-line iPod Touch stores 32GB of songs, movies and TV shows, with a relatively large, video screen.

  • Noise-reducing headphones: Little ipod earbuds don't block out a jet engine's roar, so something stronger is recommended. The Bose QuietComfort 3 headphones are considered the best choice, but Sennheiser and JVC offer decent options that cost much less.

  • Knee Defender: A bit obnoxious, okay this is totally obnoxious and rude. The knee defender locks on your tray table preventing the seat in front of you from reclining. Just be warned that seat karma will back at you for this evil trick.

  • Scanner Bag: A luggage tag with a quick-fold pouch inside to hold your “pocket stuff” when you go through airport security.

  • Nintendo DS Lite: I don't play video games, so I can't kick in any comments except recommend you wear your headphones when playing the games (or for that matter wear headphones while watching your portable DVD player or anything that makes noise). The author this list likes the Nintendo more than PlayStation Portable because of the interface and ease of use.

I'm thinking an Amazon Kindle or Sony Reader would be tops on my travel gadget list. I have trouble sleeping on long flights so this would be an opportunity to cut down my book list backlog. Hopefully inflight cell phone access doesn't catch on (cringe).

Add a comment if you can recommend a decent pair of headphones to use on a flight. Thanks!

Thursday, June 5, 2008

Sunday, May 18, 2008

Big Apple Barbeque Block Party Madison Square Park (free!) with music too

The 6th Annual Big Apple Barbeque Block Party


This looks like a pretty tasty way to spend a day, or a weekend... BBQ and Mardi Gras Indians! It's almost like 2nd and Dryades is coming to New York. Almost.


June 7 and 8, 2008 in Madison Square Park
New York, NY
Noon to 6pm
http://www.bigapplebbq.org/


Admission is free!
MAP of Madison Square Park


Barbecue is $8 per plate, sides and desserts $4 per plate and drinks range $2-$6


Feed your belly with variations of bbq from some delicous bbq joints


New York: Blue Smoke; Hill Country; Dinosaur Bar-B-Que; Rack & Soul

Connecticut: Wilson’s Barbeque

California: Mr. Cecil’s

Texas: Baker’s Ribs; The Salt Lick BBQ

Virginia: Checkered Pig

Alabama: Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q

Illinois: 17th Street Bar & Grill

North Carolina: The Pit

Mississippi: Ubon’s “Champion’s Choice”

South Carolina: Black Jack BBQ


Feed your head with music**





Saturday, June 7



1:00PM – 2:15PM THE DEFIBULATORS



Combining strains of rockabilly, bluegrass, and classic country music with the quirky camaraderie of a vaudevillian jug band, The Defibulators are one of the most engaging live acts to have emerged from Brooklyn’s thriving roots music scene. Watch for the Defibulators’ first full-length album coming this summer!



2:45PM – 4:00PM THE SWEET DIVINES



Don’t call it nostalgia: The Sweet Divines are doing soul music the only way they know how—the old-school way. This four-woman vocal powerhouse and their hard-hitting Divine Soul Rhythm Band have been lighting up nightclub stages all over town with their nouveau-retro brand of girl-group soul.



4:30PM – 5:45PM THE WILD MAGNOLIAS



“Big Chief” Bo Dollis and his Wild Magnolias have been among New Orleans’ top-ranked Mardi Gras Indian tribes for four decades, playing pure New Orleans street funk. Their five career albums include the oft-sampled classic “They Call Us Wild” (1975) and “Life Is a Carnival” (1999).
























Sunday, June 8



1:00PM – 2:15PM ALEX BATTLES & THE WHISKEY REBELLION



Brooklyn-based singer and songwriter Alex Battles leads The Whiskey Rebellion, a country band strongly influenced by the music of Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Tom Waits, John Prine and Tom T. Hall. “Battles can wrap audiences around his knotty fingers.” (Nate Schweber, The Village Voice)



2:45PM – 4:00PM ELI “PAPER BOY” REED & THE TRUE LOVES



Roll With You, the new Q Division album from Boston-based soul band Eli “Paperboy” Reed & the True Loves, is a potent all-original set of sweaty, up-tempo numbers and aching, lovelorn ballads. “He combines the sob of Al Green with the beef of Otis Redding, and boasts a band, The True Loves.” (MOJO magazine)



4:30PM – 5:45PM THE SADIES



The Toronto quartet known as the Sadies combine the timeless sounds of Sixties/Seventies rock and country music with masterful songwriting and casually stunning harmonies from front men Dallas and Travis Good. On their latest album, “New Seasons” (Yep Roc), the Sadies “build fresh, bracing psychedelia.” (David Fricke, Rolling Stone



** Artists and Performance Times can change. Double Check with Venue


Get official updates from http://www.bigapplebbq.org/


The Big Apple BBQ supports Madison Square Park Conservancy, responsible for keeping historic Madison Square Park a bright, beautiful and active public park. The Conservancy’s dedication and consistent, loving attention keeps Madison Square Park a vibrant haven in the city for all to enjoy.