So I’ve Read

New York Magazine - In Raise High the Rafters, Sam Anderson analyzes Obama’s rhetoric, musing:

“If you can think your way through a sentence, through the algorithms involved in condensing information verbally and pitching it to an audience, through the complexities of animating historical details into narrative, then you can think your way through a policy paper, or a diplomatic discussion, or a 3 A.M. phone call.”

In Who Owns Central Park?, Gabriel Sherman breaks down the park as the battlefield between type-A personalities within a shared space. Parks commissioner Adrian Benepe is quoted as saying: “The best thing to do is to expect people to behave like adults and be respectful that your liberties aren’t infringing on the rights of others….People need to behave more like members of a shared society and less narcissistically.”

Coney Island

A friend of ours was visiting from L.A., so we made our annual pilgrimmage to Coney Island, Brooklyn yesterday. We played a little skee ball, had a hot dog and fries at Nathan’s and headed to KeySpan Park for the Brooklyn Cyclones minor league game against the Aberdeen Ironbirds. Unfortunately, there was a huge rainstorm that struck right before the game started and we got absolutely drenched. Amazingly, it passed and the game went on and we ended up staying for most of it (despite being soaked). All in all it was fun to be there and to catch up with our other friends who joined us for the game. Here are some pics from the day, including one of a bunch of “superheroes” pulling the tarp over the field in preparation for the rain (it was “superhero night” at the stadium).

Where I’ve Been

It’s been a crazy week and somehow I went out a lot, nevertheless. Go figure.

Monday - Finally tried Taro Sushi in our neighborhood. It was okay but not great. Think we’ll stick with Oshima.

Tuesday - Met up with my wife and her friend for drinks/food in the West Village.

Friday - Dinner at Alchemy and dessert at the Chocolate Room on 5th Ave. in Park Slope.

BK Botanic Garden

Today, my wife’s family (uncle, aunt and cousins) visited us in Park Slope.

After having a nice brunch at our place, we walked around the neighborhood - showing them our usual haunts: the brownstones lining the side streets, Prospect Park, the green market at Grand Army Plaza, etc.

Eventually, we ended up at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Here are some pics below:

So I’ve Read

New York Magazine - In Prank You Kindly, Brian Thomas Gallagher writes about Improv Everywhere, the public-scene making collective. Check out their “Frozen Grand Central” stunt on youtube here. Founder Charlie Todd says: “Someone once told me, ‘What you’re doing is giving other people anecdotes,’ ” he says. “You don’t regularly see things in New York that make you go, ‘Wow, that’s awesome.’ You don’t see humans interacting in a way that takes you off guard and makes you smile. You see a guy taking a shit on the sidewalk.”

The New York Times - In At the End of a Leash, A Surprise, Carolyn Dworin writes of an only-in NYC event, a guy walking his cat on a leash.

UPDATE: Frenchie vs Wii

Frenchie is kicking Wii’s ass right now.

Frenchie also cleared a major hurdle in our landlady letting us know it was okay to have a pet.

Now, we have to decide if we really want one….

Where I’ve Been: Culinary Edition

This past weekend was a bit indulgent…

Friday - Met up with friends for drinks at Patio Lounge in Park Slope. Got sushi from nearby Kiku.

Saturday - Went to dinner at Union Square Cafe. Had a great meal in celebration of my wife completing her 1st year of grad school. She started with the Seared Yellowfin Tuna Tartare with Pantelleria Capers, Lemon, Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Spicy Fennel Cracker. I began with the Spring Greens Ravioli with Crispy Golden Garlic, Bread Crumbs, Lemon, Parsley. For entrees, she had homemade tagliatelle with lamb and spring vegetable ragu while I had the soft-shelled crabs. Best was dessert - a banana tart with honey-vanilla ice cream and macadamia brittle.

Good service and great food showed us why Union Square Cafe is a perennial New York favorite.

Sunday - Headed to NoHo for brunch with friends at Five Points. We all raved about our meals and our desire to return to try other items on the menu. My wife had an open faced sandwich with bacon, avocado and fried egg. I had the poached eggs with homemade sausage and a biscuit. We washed it all down with a pitcher of Bloody Marys.

Bring It On, McCain

Where I’ve Been

The blog posts have been infrequent this week as I’ve been really busy at work. There were a few nights where I came home, ate dinner and fell asleep on the couch. That’s probably not the healthiest pattern, but oh well.

Wednesday - Met up with my wife at Melt in Park Slope for Happy Hour. You can’t beat the $10 Kobe Beef Burger and $3 Stella.

Thursday - Got together with old co-workers as I transition to a new team at work.

Friday - Stayed in and caught up on ye olde DVR - Top Chef Chicago (how the hell is Lisa in the final three and not Dale?).

Saturday - Spent some time at work cleaning out my old cube as I prepare to move to a new floor. Met up with my wife and checked out the new Sandler flick, You Don’t Mess With the Zohan, which was okay but nowhere near as funny as it trailer.

Visit to the Brooklyn Flea

This morning we walked over to Fort Greene to check out the Brooklyn Flea which we read about in the Times recently.

They had a variety of vendors there - from homemade chocolates to old vinyl LPs to new T-shirts, etc. We indulged in some of the food vendors, trying a Cuban empanada and some soft tacos from a family outfit based in Red Hook.

Here are some pics I took while we were there: