Nightmare On Bleecker Street

Well, last night was a little crazy. My roommate Double D and I went to the theater at around 6:00 for a 7:30 screening of Saw. By the time we got there, the line was already ridiculously long. Finally around 7:00, they started to let a select group of VIP guests with special passes in, but for the rest of us peons we still had to wait it out. It was now about 7:15 and we still haven’t moved yet, and by this time the natives were getting restless. A man behind us went to the front to see what the deal was and came back to report that they only had about 70 seats left and that there was still a ton of people ahead of us. And that everyone might as well just leave. Well of course everybody was telling everyone else that they might as well go home, but nobody left. Everyone was hoping for the people in front of them to leave but no one was fooled and they weren't going to fall for that little trick. Now it is about 7:45 and people are really beginning to get upset and I guess enough of them bugged the guard at the door enough that he just flung it open and told them to go for it and every man for himself. Problem was there were more people than seats. So everyone, including myself started to run up the escalator towards the theater to find a seat. But the manager had somehow charged up to the top and forced everyone back down. And this is when the near riot broke out. People were cussing, yelling and hollering. They wanted a free pass or some kind of compensation for having to wait so long without being told that the theater was already full. Part of me wanted something too, but part of me was saying – people get a grip. The promoters never promised that everyone would get in. Imagine that, people nearly killing each other going to see a movie with a lot of killing in it. Hmmm…maybe these people shouldn’t be going to see these types of movies, how about catching Shark Tale instead people– just my humble opinion of course.

Dejected, my roommate and I decided to go to this little place in the West Village on Bleecker St. called Magnolia Bakery. For those of you who haven’t heard of this place, they are famous for, of all things - cupcakes – they are like the Rolls-Royce of cupcakes. This bakery was already popular but became a New York institution when it made it onto an episode of "Sex In The City".

So anyway, when we got there – we walked into another frenzied riot like atmosphere like something out of a movie. Only a few things scarier than yuppies on a sugar fix, I tell you. People were all over the place grabbing all sorts of cupcakes already on the tables and counters. They are so popular that there is a one dozen limit for everyone. And each cupcake was $2.00 - that’s right $2.00, kinda pricey in my opinion. The way people were acting, you would have thought the bakery was giving everyone $2.00 for every cupcake they wanted instead of the other way around. For that price, I thought they would be like the size of grapefruits and if not, at least the size of a muffin. But they were just the normal standard sized cupcakes. I paid for mine and had to fight my way out of the store so that I could enjoy my little treat. Two bites and ten seconds later, I had to say, I was pretty dang disappointed - I thought they were just okay. The frosting was good, but the cake was very dry – I would have thought it would have been more moist. Funny thing was, as I was saying this to myself, a guy next to me finished his and said to his girlfriend/wife – "hmmm…I thought the cupcake would have been a little more moist." The whole night was kinda crazy. Amazing what a bloody movie or the need for sugar will do to some folks. Well - have a safe and Happy Halloween.

Not That There Is Anything Wrong With That

Yesterday on the way home from work, I hopped on the E as usual and try to grab a seat on the train when possible. So after about 2 stops, a seat opens up and I go to sit down. However, the person next to me had their little fancy-schmansy bag resting on the seat. So I just said "screw it" and plopped my big butt down so that I can read my paper and enjoy the ride. I gave him a few seconds to move it but he chose not to, so what else is a guy suppose to do. Well anyway, the person who the bag belongs to turns to me and gives a "Hummph..." and a roll of the eyes. He was dressed in his all black Versace outfit looking very metro-sexualish. He was seating at the end of the bench on the train – so he then proceeds to cross his legs and cram himself far away from me as he could and as close to the bench railing as possible. The nerve of him, acting as if I got a bad case of cooties or something. To make matters worse for him, I then had to sneeze and this made him scoot down even further but being at the end – he just had no more room to go. It looked as if he only had one butt cheek on the seat and the other one in the air. This just had me cracking up on the inside and telling myself this serves him right. By now, I just had to turn to see just who this dude is, and immediately I notice he is one of those Queer Eye For The Straight Guy wannabe kinda guy. He was definitely very feminine and gay - "not that there is anything wrong with that"….From there I just chuckled and ignored the guy and continue to read my paper. But the story continues my friends. For those of you who have ridden the subway, you know that it can be very bumpy with a lot of turns. And at every turn that would force his body towards my direction, you could tell that he had to put extra force on himself to lean the opposite way so that he would not touch me and get my "cooties". Eventually I had to get off and transfer to another train for the rest of the ride home. As I was waiting for the R, it made me start to think – was he acting like that because he was a snob or was it because he was gay – once again, "not that there is anything wrong with that". And before all you cynics out there reading this start to say, "Well Bob, it’s neither and maybe its just you", well let me just say ha ha ha…funny….I would like to think that it was just him being all snooty and well okay – I admit maybe because I do have a small case of the cooties – but just a little though.

As for tonight – I am back out on the red carpet of NYC. Two of my roomies and I are going to a free sneak preview screening of "Saw". It is a new horror flick from the makers of Seven and is being billed as the scariest movie since The Ring.

"The terror has started immediately, and won’t relent until the final frame. No, make that the five minutes after the final frame." – Phil Villarreal, ARIZONA DAILY STAR

This review gave me mix feelings – excited because it sounds so good and scary. Skeptical because, just who the heck is Phil Villarreal anyway? But anywho, I am sure the movie will have a few scary scenes and hopefully I won’t jump onto either one of my roommate’s laps – as was the case in the past. Oops…did I say that out loud. So tune in tomorrow to find out how it was. Have a good one.

When Bobby Met Holly

Well, last night I went to get my haircut/head massage and some very cheap food. I went to the other highly recommended dumpling house that was tucked away in a little section of C-Town on a narrow alley that I have never been to before. As I was heading into this seedy area of town, part of me couldn’t help but feel a bit intrigued and the other part of me felt as if I was about to do something shady. However, once I got there, the sweet aroma of fried dumplings warmly welcomed me. I originally only wanted to sample the fried dumplings but I couldn’t resist the fried pork buns that were sizzling alongside them. They both were very excellent and now I may have to go back to other dumpling place to compare the two. I topped it all off with a box of low-mein being sold by a street vendor in his make shift cart on my way to the hair salon. Mmm…Mmm…Yummy for my tummy.

I then headed to the salon that I was going to when I first moved to NYC that was recommended by a girl who I worked with down in Big D. She used to live here and pointed out this hidden and inconspicuous gem on the edge of C-Town. In the last few months, I have tried a few different places - but nothing has enticed me to return for a second visit. You know how that goes….sometimes nothing compares to the original no matter how many other places or things you have tried. At this place - the hair stylists are decent, but what sets them apart is the shampoo/head massage girl. When it is your turn, you first sit upright on the barber chair and she squirts some shampoo on your head and then she slowly squirts some water next and works the hair until a very frothy lather forms. Then this is where the magic and the seduction begins. I almost gave Meg Ryan a run for her money in the diner scene in When Harry Met Sally, with my own table pounding - foot stomping experience as I closed my eyes and was in total bliss the moment Holly’s hands touched my scalp. Nothing compares to those long nails digging ever so gently into your scalp, those firm yet delicate knuckles rubbing your temples, those powerful slender fingers squeezing the back of your neck and shoulders - but my favorite although very ticklish part is when she wiggles her fingers in my ears when she is rinsing out my hair. Another minute longer of this stuff – and the next guy waiting in line would have probably said give me two of whatever he’s having.

1 box of low-mein, 4 fried pork buns & 5 fried dumplings - $3
Haircut with a to-die-for head massage - $10 + $5 tip
Having my own "Sally" moment – Priceless

P.S. The five dollar tip was split $2 to the stylist and $3 to Holly – and YES, she deserved and was worth every dollar of it.

I Heart NY

Well, let me just first start off by welcoming a few new readers to my blog. All of you are my inspiration, the fire that keeps me going, even when I feel as if I can’t do it anymore. Thank you, thank you, thank you...Ouch...that was me slipping of my little self-made pedestal there. Ahem…moving on. There were a few comments about me living it up here in the Big Apple. While that may seem to be the case, and sometimes it is – but for the most part, I must admit it is not. Most of the things that I do are free events. That is the one great thing about NYC – there are tons and tons of things to do here. And yes, while a lot of them do cost money, there are a few that don’t. You just have to be resourceful, persistent and you can’t be too picky or selective. It is not all glamorous stuff as it seems my friends, but it does take a little adjustment in your attitude, perception and a whole lot of imagination to make any free event become your own red carpet gala.

However, with that being said, I am off to get more fried dumplings for $1 at another place that was highly recommended in C-Town tonight because I need a long overdue haircut. And everyone knows that you can’t get a haircut along with a 10-minute head massage cheaper anywhere else in the city. In other words, I am having my own poor man’s spa day – for we all need a little pampering once in awhile, do we not…Why pay $100 somewhere else when you can do it for $10 right? Ahhhh…there is no place like New York, NY.

Just As I Expected.....Not

Well, unfortunately the art show that me and a roommate went to was not really an art show – but more of a welcoming party for an international artist. Not what I really expected. So no head tilting with hand on chin this time. The artist is from Vietnam of all places. She is on some sort of art exchange program. She will have her gallery showing in December. She spoke quite good English for being a foreigner. I was able to meet her and got a special sneak preview of some of her artwork. Also, we got a chance to meet some very interesting and nice people. Of course there were your standard starving artists, a few up and coming artists I suppose and a lot of their friends. We also met a very nice couple there. She was actually the one who invited me to the gathering. She started a social group that I joined and so it was nice to finally meet her and her husband.

We suckered them with our sob story and they fell for it. Yippee!!! It got us a round of drinks at a local bar and we were able to catch the rest of game 1 of the World Series. No, just kidding about suckering them, they were very nice peeps. This also gave me a chance to finally go to Williamsburg. This is supposed to be the new Soho/Greenwich Village. Because those two areas are so expensive to live in, Williamsburg has become the new art haven for the up and coming artists. It was a very nice, hip, cool and trendy little spot and I will have to go back again just to hang out at some of the local joints there.

Spent the rest of the weekend lounging around, going to my favorite neighborhood Italian bakery for my Sunday ritual of coffee and dessert. I also read “Breakfast At Tiffany’s”. Ooops, I meant a “friend of a friend” read it and told me all about it. Okay, I will admit, it was me – but it was definitely interesting. I thought this was the story where the girl and guy was supposed to meet at the top of The Empire State Building and where she gets into an accident on her way there. But nope, this was not that book. So once again, this was not what I expected when I got to the end. But it was still very interesting and I will have to share an excerpt or two in a following blog posting. Also saw – Coffee and Cigarettes. Definitely not as good as I expected or even what I expected, again...do you see a theme here, but oh well – what can you do?

An End To The Curse?....

The Yankee nation is still in mourning from the greatest collapse in baseball history. Everywhere you go, people are either talking about it, getting mad at talking about it, or just can’t bear to talk about it. Many people including my self – can’t believe that they lost the series after going up 3-0. However, I wouldn’t mind seeing the Sox win it all because I think they deserve a World Series Title. They have not won since 1918 and have been plagued by “The Curse” of the Bambino. Anyway I have to admit, although I do like the Yankees – I am just a casual fan and not a die-hard one. I guess that is because I am not originally from NYC.

Well not much planned for this weekend except for a little art show that I am thinking about attending. Trying to do that - get more culture thing again. It will be in Brooklyn, so it will be nice to be in that part of the city. I suppose I will go there, walk around and fold my arms with one hand on my chin, tilt my head just a little and say hmmm…interesting a few times.

One a side note, it is beginning to get chilly here and you know what that means. Soup Nazi and ice skating at Central Park or at Rockefeller Center time!!! Have a great weekend.

Things That Make You Go Hmmm...Part I

I am starting something new in my blog called - Things that make you go hmmm....From time to time I will post just some random thoughts that hopefully - makes you go hmmm....And I am just really pooped today.

- Why does your feet smell and your nose run?

- Is Freedom, really free?

- Why are there flotation devices under planes instead of parachutes?

- What's another word for "thesaraus"?

Have a good one.

Getting My Drink On Wit Da Big G

Yesterday, me and my two roommates went to a Theology On Tap event. One roomie has been attending the last few events and invited me and Double D along. For those who don’t know what TOT is, it is kind of an interesting idea. You meet at a place, mostly like a bar or restaurant(hence the On Tap part) and a theological discussion takes place, followed by a question and answer session. Sure it is another chance to get a drink, but it is also a place to get some insight on some of the relevant topics that are currently going on in our society. We met at a nice little swanky place in Midtown and quite a number of people showed up to the event. The topic of the day was about morals and ethics and the danger or rationalizing or skewing them to fit our circumstances and situations. The guest speaker, who was a priest/professor at Fordam University, was very highly educated and knew his topic well. Unfortunately, a little too well. He used a lot of Latin words and words in the English language that I didn’t even know existed. I know that’s a little hard to believe, but it is true my friends. Most of the talk was over my head and I ended up sneaking a few peeks at the Boston/Yankees game on the t.v. All in all, it was a good evening, got to have a nice cold one, watched a little baseball action and just had some time out of the crib. Sorry, this post is a little uneventful, but you really don’t expect every post to be wacky and crazy do ya? My life is not some Hollywood movie you know….but it sure would be nice. But before I sign off, I would like to leave you with this little nugget of wisdom about the sexes that I read on another blog. Enjoy.

Women....are like apples on trees.

The best ones are at the top of the tree. Most men don't want to reach for the good ones because they are afraid of falling and getting hurt.

Instead, they just take the rotten apples from the ground that aren't as good, but easy....

The apples at the top think something is wrong with them, when in reality, they're amazing. They just have to wait for the right man to come along, the one who's brave enough to climb all the way to the top of the tree.

Now Men....Men are like a fine wine.

They begin as grapes, and it's up to women to stomp the crap out of them until they turn into something acceptable to have dinner with.

When The Moon Hits Your Eye, Like A Big Pizza Pie ....

That’s Grimaldi’s - For those of you not in the know – Grimaldi’s Pizzeria just happens to be one of the best, if not the best pizza joint in town. It has been rated #1 by Zagats for seven years in a row. " "Mama Mia", this Brooklyn mecca venue is pizza paradise. It’s world-class coal-oven pies, are "done right" with a "light", crisp crust, the freshest ingredients and the long wait only makes you want it more. " And yes let me tell you was there a line – there was maybe oh say a gazillion – oh okay maybe 30-40 people ahead of us. But let me tell you my fellow readers that it was definitely worth the wait – even though it was raining and what felt like mid 40’s temperature. As we were standing outside freezing our butts off, we welcomed every time the door opened - not so much for the customers leaving – but to get a whiff of that sweet, delicious aroma of crusty dough, melted cheese and the succulent smell of sausage and pepperoni that would escape each time the door opened. Mmmm..Mmmm…making my mouth water for just a little slice of pizza heaven.

Alright enough about the pizza, earlier this week a friend from IN came to visit and so we hung out and ate a whole lot. One night we went to one of his favorite areas in NYC – C Town. Another roommate of mine joined us and we decided to do our own “Taste of China Town” event. First we went to The Dumpling House where me and my roomie got 2 orders of the five fried pieces of delight for $1. The friend from IN got the steamed veggie dumplings. Then we headed to a place where I’ve walked by several times but never went in. It also got good reviews in the Time Out magazine – so we decided to just get a bunch of appetizers there. We got a bowl of cold noodles in a sesame sauce, a stack of fried scallion pancakes, some fried spring rolls, and an order of veggie shu mai(steamed dumplings – for those of you who are not culinary aficionados like myself – you guys should try some grey poupon once in a while too, while you are at it). Our plan was to go to another place for our main entrees but we were stuffed. But not stuffed enough for dessert! As luck would have it, the China Town Ice Cream Factory was right across the street. So we had some ice cream and my roomie got dessert at a nearby bakery.

Then on Saturday – my IN friend and I went to Central Park for a little four mile run. Should have been farther just to burn off all the calories from C-Town. But it was a nice run and the weather was great. After that we got breakfast at a local dinner and headed off for the Circle Line Cruise. This is a three hour tour around the whole island of Manhattan. By the time we got to the boat, the weather had turned kinda gloomy, windy and cold. As we departed, with the bad weather – I couldn’t help but think of the Gilligan’s Island theme song. “A three hour tour, a three hour tour…..” And we all know what happened to them right? But we made it back safely and headed off for where the moon hits your eye, like a big pizza pie …that’s right folks – you guessed it Grimaldi’s Pizzeria. Until the next time my friends. Be safe and have a good one – oh heck - or two, why not….

Calling all psyche majors….

Wow, what an interesting night it was last night. I found myself shopping at a mall type shopping center underground at Penn Station. I was carrying around an empty wooden violin case(just work with me here…) and happened to notice a crowd gathering at a salon. They were all watching a very beautiful topless model getting her hair cut(once again, just work with me here for a little bit longer). What they were doing was getting in line to come up to her so they can spray her hair with a water spray bottle thingy. So I said, “Heck yeah, why not get in line too – why miss out on an opportunity like this. But as it was approaching my turn to be at the front of the line – all of a sudden there was a commotion outside the salon in the mall area. It seems like a big celebrity just arrived and was heading for the Macy’s entrance. So everyone behind me ran to Macy’s to get a glimpse of who this person was – because word was that they were shutting down the whole store for him. So as I am like next in line – I think to myself, topless model – or unknown celebrity – spraying water on the topless model’s hair – or get a glimpse of this guy. So what did I do….Just like any other normal male, I made a dash for the Macy’s entrance. As I get there I see that it is who else but…Mathew Perry or Chandler of Friends. And I just let out a loud shrieking yell….Ohhhhhhhhh nooooooooo…What the….it is only freakin Mathew Perry!!!!! So as I franticly run back to be second in line at the salon for my chance to see the model, what do I find when I get there. She is now fully clothed and done with her haircut….Can you believe this…Because I surely can’t. Well, you win some - you lose some. So I just left and went back into the mall hallway swinging my empty violin case with my head down. The funny thing was I remember wanting to go home immediately to write this down in my blog to share this story with my faithful reading audience. But then here is the kicker, all of a sudden – where did I find myself? Comfortably lying on my bed with a slight drool on my chin and saying huh?…Seems like it was all a dream. So any psyche majors out there who would like to take a crack at analyzing this one? Off course, all thoughts and opinions would greatly be appreciated – just don’t expect to get paid for it. And, oh to all my fans out there, do you see that I am even thinking about you in my dreams….Have a great weekend. See ya on Monday. And by the way – if you ever find yourself in my situation – just a bit of advice - STAY IN LINE!!!

Pardon me, do you have any Grey Poupon....

Since I am living in NYC I thought I should do some of the more high brow stuff from time to time. Well, last night I thought I would expand my horizons and become more cultured with the more sophisticated things in life. So I went to my very first book reading. It was at a little bar in the LES in the basement. It was part of the Cupcake Series of Book Readings. It was mostly a platform for women authors to get more recognition.

There were two authors there, Joanne Jacobson - who was sharing a few excerpts from her latest book - Hunger Artist. Her memoir evokes the unraveling of one Jewish family's hopes of starting fresh on post-World War II suburban ground. Her essays have appeared in such publications as The New England Review, The Nation, BOMB, The Massachusetts Review, Michigan Quarterly Review, American Literary Review, and The Iowa Review. She teaches American literature, American studies, and creative writing at Yeshiva University. She was okay and kinda lost my interest a few times by just being to descriptive and long-winded in her writing style.

Next up was Monique Truong. She coedited the anthology Watermark: Vietnamese American Poetry and Prose. Her first novel, The Book of Salt, a national bestseller, has been awarded the 2003 Bard Fiction Prize, the Stonewall Book Award-Barbara Gittings Literature Award, and the Young Lions Fiction Award, among other honors. Granting Truong an Award of Excellence, the Vietnamese American Studies Center at San Francisco State University called her "a pioneer in the field, as an academic, an advocate, and an artist." She was supposed to originally share excerpts from her latest book – The Book of Salt, but she instead treated the audience to the first chapter of a work in progress. And I do have to admit, I really enjoyed her story and her writing style. It was very humorous and yet engaging and captive at the same time. At times I could feel myself being in the main character’s shoes during her reading.

I was so impressed that I had to get her latest novel being sold at the reading – The Book of Salt. A few people asked her to sign her book and so I decided that I too must get my book signed by her. As I was standing in line, I began to peruse the back cover and notice the name of the main character in the book. It gave me a good little chuckle(you will just have to read a little more to see why I chuckled). Then when it got to my turn she asked me whom she should make it out to, I said – “Just make it out to the same name as the lead character in the book”. She then too gave out a little chuckle and we chatted for a little bit and off to home I went last night.

Tonight, it is my turn to cook so I will be grilling my all ready prepped famous burgers made with fresh ground beef, minced - onions, green peppers, and garlic. Also added were a few dashes on this and a little bit of that, but most importantly a whole heap of a lotta love. That is just me I suppose...Also got some frozen seasoned fries and onion rings. I plan to go home early today to also prepare some sautéed onions to go with the burgers. And as a side dish, I am planning to grill some eggplants, Holland yellow peppers, red peppers – drizzled in olive oil with a little salt and pepper, then I will bath them in a balsamic wine vinegarette. Hmmm. Hmmm. – doesn’t make your mouth water all up…I hope you enjoy your dinner, I know I will mine. And oh by the way - can you pass the Grey Poupon? Bon Appetite.

Flying Daggers Hits It's Mark

While the movie - House Of Flying Daggers - did hit it's mark, it did not however hit the bullseye. But it was still a great movie anyway. This was a very different sort of martial arts action picture. It was more in the lines of Crouching Tiger And Hidden Dragon and not Hero. I was definitely surprised by the deep love story and the intensity of the relationships of the characters in the movie. Some of the action sequences were also very good. But this was definitely not about the fighting and action - it was about the human spirit and mind.

HOFD is a martial-arts movie that owes more to Bizet or Puccini than to Bruce Lee that is filled with supple and spectacular grace. This is a plush, enveloping blanket of a picture that nonetheless feels essential, boiled down to to its barest emotional elements. It's an epic of the heart.The beauty of HOFD is so lulling that by its climax, we're barely aware of the way its dramatic texture has become denser, more intense. The finale of "House of Flying Daggers" has the emotional potency of silent film. Everything around the actors -- the sound, the colors, the lush scenery -- is still firmly in place, yet it may as well have dropped away. The actors, and the web of feeling that connects them, are all that matter. Their faces become the only reason for the screen to exist.

Okay I admit, the paragraph above was kinda taken - oh alright - stolen from a review that I found on the web. But I could have not said it any better than that and I definitely felt the same away about it as the reviewer did - so there. But definitely a thumbs up movie - so go see it. Oh - I forgot. You guys can't yet - awwww.....Guess you will have to just wait till December.

Also before the screening, the director made a few remarks and also as a treat - the lead actress Ziyi Zhang also appeared and thanked everybody for being there. She was definitely very cute - and to my very nonjudgemental(wink wink) friend EP in TX - her teeth were very white and amazing.

Well time to retire for the evening - too bad I get Columbus Day off and not have to work tomorrow. Oops, did I say that out loud-ha ha ha. Guess I will just have to make a little stop to my favorite neighborhood Italian bakery and soak in this b-e-a-u-tiful weather again. Alright boys and girls, thanks for tuning in - till next time.

P.S. to EP - when can I expect IA 2 and IA 3.

I Hit The Powerball!!

Okay, okay, so I only hit the powerball and not the other 5 numbers. Well actually I got one number and the powerball. So for a whopping $30 spent on it, I got a whole $4 dollars back, that's right $4 - so there....

Well just let me also say sorry for the late update today. Was really busy hosting people today and well for the rest of the week really. But I will still try to update my faithful readers - that means you - everyday.

Also, made a very mean pot of chili for our frito pie. Some of the people I cooked for never even heard of the stuff - too bad for them. One of the guest also had her birthday today so I baked her a cake. That's right, you read correctly I bake too! Don't hate just because you don't get no cake.

Well sorry for the boring day except for me hitting $4 today- yeeeahh.....

C-Ya

Two Thumbs Up - Times Two

Well, what a b-e-a-u-tiful weekend. For those of you who have seen
Bruce Almighty - then you will get what I just said. For those of you who didn't then I guess you will just have to see the movie then.

Alrighty then, I saw two excellent, excellent movies this past weekend. First up was another Jim Carrey movie, Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind. What a great artsy movie that really makes you think. I won't say too much about it except you gotta see it. Next on the list was the Hong Kong export - Infernal Affairs. This too was also an excellent movie. The plot involves undercover work by both a cop and mob guy. This is also another must see. Since this movie is a few years old, you can save the 10 bucks and rent it at an Asian video store or netflix instead. So definitely two thumbs up or in this case four thumbs up, way up. Note to self - "Wouldn't that be a dream job to become a movie critic". - end of note to self.

Moving along, one last movie note before proceeding, my roomie - Double D and I have been talking about another new movie from Asia called The House Of Flyer Daggers. They showed a preview during the Infernal Affairs movie and what a rush it was I tell ya. Another definite must see. But anywho, we were in China Town eating dumplings - the kind that was 5 for $1(what a deal by the way!), and out of his backpack he pulls out and gives me an envelope. As I pull out the contents, what do my eyes see.....4 passes to an advance screening of THOFD at the New York Film Festival. Double D
you da man!!!! Never been to a film festival event before so tres, tres cool. The tix were $15 a piece, but his Aunt gave him some money and he splurged it on movie tix for me, him and any another two people who wants to go. For the rest of you who don't live in NYC, suckas....you will just have to wait to December to see it. Sorry, just had to gloat for a second there, alright maybe two.

As for the rest of the weekend, did my usual thing - just hung out at my favorite corner neighborhood Italian bakery sipping on some coffee, eating a pastry and reading the Sunday paper on a bench alfresco(go ahead..look it up). Sorry had to gloat again for it was a b-e-a-u-tiful day. I then met Double D in China Town for some dumplings then headed to Battery Park to see a favorite singer of his, Dar Williams perform at 7:00. But when we got there at around 7:30, they were packing everything up and it was all deserted. Then we found a poster and turns out our Time Out New York Magazine printed the wrong time. Looks like it was an all day festival
with multiple acts performing from like 12:30-5:30. Oh well, still a great day.

Alrighty then, peace out and take care - tune in again - till then.

What a feeling....

What a feeling!
Feelin's believin'.
I can have it all,
Now I'm dancing for my life.
Take your passion
And make it happen.
You can come alive,
You can dance right through your life.

After hearing this for, oh say...the first 30 or so times as I was driving through the midwest last week, it kinda made me want to put on my leg warmers and dance around the van like that lady in Flashdance. But by the 31st time I was ready to pull my hair out. Can't figure it out yet, but that was by far, the most played song on the airwaves on my 11 hours to Indiana. And yes, on the way back, it was played just as much. Now I can't get that damn tune out of my head for the life of me. But the more disappointing thing was only one Scorpions tune was played on the whole trip. sob..sob..

But back to the trip, it was very nice and pleasant. Went to visit a friend in Ft. Wayne, IN. After spending the night there, we headed for the Windy City over the weekend. Ate a ton of deep dish pizza, and as good as it was - nothing compares to the thin crust slices in NYC. Never been to Chicago before, so I was very impressed with how clean and new their downtown was. For being, I believe the third largest city in the country - it was amazingly clean. But the only bad thing about it was there were no people walking around like there is in New York.

Then we went to Marquette University in Wisconson and then headed to Notre Dame in South Bend the day after that. Did you know that ND has only about 10,000 students. It was a huge campus, I thought for sure the number would have been double that but I was wrong.

Anyhow, back in New York and I do have to admit, I kinda miss this dirty, smelly, over-crowded, rat-infested place. Good to be back home boys and girls. Till next week. Will try to catch Infernal Affairs this weekend. Will let you know how it was.