Day Ja View

Well, here we go again.  Sure, it looked like just a few flakes coming down yesterday, but the snow blew in last night.  Almost 16 inches in Central Park.  And in my neighborhood?

Our Sidewalk Was Shoveled


I still don't know why they park these two little police thingies in front of our place, but they have been there for months and I don't think the one by the mailbox has moved in all that time.

Not Going Anywhere Today, Either


At least this time around the streets were all plowed early.

Good Job


I think this guy should have taken advantage of the nearby parking garage.

Some Digging Out To Do


Once again, though, after schlepping my way to the nearby deli to pick up the morning paper I discovered they hadn't been delivered yet.

Just three more days and I will be heading to the sunshine and beaches of Puerto Vallarta and leaving all of this behind.  And I can hardly wait.  We have shattered the record for snow in January and that Christmas Day snowstorm was something else again too.

After years, and thanks to one of my Mysterious Sister-In-Laws, I have finally deciphered the rule for when Minnesota has its annual Fishing Opener.  It is, by law, two weekends before Memorial Day.  And, once again, it is not on Mothers Day this year.

Anyone think that Gil Meche had a touch more class than Brett Favre when it came to retiring?

Is it just me, or is Hillary Clinton begining to look more and more like the woman who lived under the radiator in the movie Eraserhead?

Just Asking


And, finally, after watching an episode of BBC's Law and Order I have to wonder, do they use prosthetics to make the actors teeth look bad, or do the actors really have bad teeth.  In the United States version even the bad guys have good teeth.

Snow Again

Arrgh, more snow here in Brooklyn.  We have already had more snow this so far this winter than we usually have for an entire winter.  And another major snowstorm moving in tonight. 

The View From My Window


Luckily it is all supposed to clear out by the weekend when I head out to Mexico with the Mysterious Chinese Woman.

Just saw the coolest thing on CNN, beer dispensers that fill up plastic glasses from the bottom.  They are designed primarily for sports stadiums because they are fast and there is no spillage.

Bottoms Up


And nothing says sports more than getting as much beer as you can into the fans as fast as you can.

There Is Always Next Year

Well, you can't spot a team 24 points and expcect to win. But you have to admit, the Jets did still manage to make it exciting at the end.

I didn't want go public with a dream that I had last week for fear of jinxing the Jets, but I thought I would share an email that I sent to a friend last Thursday:

From: Dan Freeman (dan_freeman_llc@hotmail.com)
Sent: Thu 1/20/11 12:50 PM
To: jersmrekar@hotmail.com (jersmrekar@hotmail.com)

Jer,

Bad enough that the Jets are on the cover of Sports Illustrated, I dreamt that they lose 19 to 28.

Dan

I am not looking forward to reading the papers or watching Sports Center today.

I saw where Jack Lalanne died the other day at age 96. I immediately thought that they should run him through one of his juicers and sell the extracted liquid as a vitamin supplement. Perhaps a bit macabre, but then I myself would like to be made into sausages. Beer sausages, of course.

Now that the Jets season is over I have only the Knicks to fall back on, and they have just lost six games in a roll.  Now the Associated Press, as reported in the New York Daily News, says that the Knicks "are in the midst of a six-game skid."  It seems to me that if you have just lost six-games you aren't in the midst of a six-game skid, you are at the end of it.  They were in the midst of a six-game skid after they lost three in a row.

Excuse me if I sound a bit grouchy, but did everyone but Brian Schottenheimer think it was a bad idea not to just run the ball when you had three downs to make one yard.  I know I was yelling at the televison after the first incomplete pass and was in agony after the second.  Of course given that the Jets only made one yard in the entire first half, I am guessing they weren't too confident in their running game.

Welcome To My House

Desert Islands and Books

The other day I happened to glance at an old Bible that I have. For some reason that triggered a thought about What book would you want to have with you if you were stranded on a desert island? Usually, when people are asked that question, the will say "Oh, the Bible." Sometimes you will hear someone say something like "The complete works of Shakespear," although that would probably be more than one book.

Me, my book would be Boy Scouts of America Official Handbook for Boys, preferably the original 1911 edition.



Hey, I want to know how to start a fire with sticks, build a lean-to, and identify edible plants. Plus, maybe, I could finally learn how to tie a sheet's bend knot so I can bend the sheet to the clew of a sail. For some reason I think this would be important.

As promised, I stopped into the Waterfront Ale House and visited my friend Gaid. He failed in his attempt to quite smoking so I am still charged with bringing him cigarettes back from Mexico. Those unfiltered Camels he smokes are hard to come by but he said he would settle for Marlboros.

Oh, yes, he said to separate the glass from the Boston shaker you tap the Boston shaker, not the glass. I will make myself a Margarita this afternoon and check it out.

But, back to Waterfront Ale House. Now my one complaint about this place is that the beers are a bit pricey. On the other hand, they do have a nice selection. I started out with an Ommegang Adoration.

Adoring My Adoration


This is Ommegang's first seasonal winter ale and is a stiff (10% ABV) dark Belgian ale. It is quite spicy with corriander, cumin, mace, cardamom and grains of paradise included in the mixture. You get a good hit of alcohol but it is a very pleasing beer and perfect for a cold winter day.

The Mysterious Chinese Woman had a Rare VOS Belgian Ale. This is another Ommegang product and another tasty one. This one had, perhaps, a bit ore of a hint of orange and, at a relatively benign 6.5% ABV didn't knock the Mysterious Chinese Woman off her perch.

Another Good Winter Beer


In addition to the Pig Island festival on Governor's Island that I went to, there was also another event there called Meatopia.  At this event Sam won 1st place for beef and  he also won the top Grand Master award as well.

Another Blue Ribbon


Well, it's not a blue ribbon, exactly, but a nice piece of paper. Maybe there was a ribbon to go with it.

And, as promised, a closer look at the famous hot sauce.

Use With Caution


Now when I say this sauce is hot, I mean it.  I was telling Jim, the chef here, about how it was written up in Details.  He said it was so hot that he used it only sparingly.

Of course we then also ordered two appetizers that make use of the sauce, Buffalo Wings and, something different, Buffalo Calamari.

Squid And Chicken


Both were very good, but I thought the calamari was particularly good. Maybe because you don't see it too often. Definitely worth trying if you stop in. And the orders were large enough that we had plenty to take home.  Oh, and they were also plenty spicy.

Oh, yeah, the beer prices. Ten bucks for the Adoration and six bucks for the Rare VOS. As I said, a bit pricey, but you do have a nice selection. I think six bucks is the cheapest beer they have except for the special, which is usually four and a half bucks but you have to drink it at the bar. I think the are pretty lax about that rule, though.  You can't really blame Sam for the prices though, this neighborhood is really undergoing a change and, sadly, rents are going up, and steeply.  I have already mentioned how the really good Mexican restaurant nextdoor to Waterfront Ale House had to give it up.  Sadly, the only way you can afford to stick around, unless you own your own building, is to increase prices.

Today I have to tidy up my place because the Mysterious Chinese Woman is hosting a birthday party, for herself, tomorrow. I think she is combining it with a Chinese New Years celebration as well because we will be in Mexico both for her kind of actual birthday on February 1st (Mysterious Chinese Women tend to have "kind of actual birthdays") and the Chinese New Year which starts on February 3rd. It will be the year of the rabbit but my suggestion that we serve rabbit at the party was strongly rejected. I don't know what all we are having, but I am responsible for roasting a leg of lamb.

I did make it clear to everyone that no matter what else is taking place, at 6:30 the television goes on and I watch the Jets game. Either that or I leave to watch the game at one of the local watering holes. Probably not the Waterfront Ale House, though. They just have two little televisions.

Best Undiscovered Sauces

The latest issue of Details magazine had a section on peppers and hot sauces and I was happy to see that the Waterfront Ale House's Whisky Barrel Hot Sauce made their short-list of America's Best Undiscovered Sauces.

Undiscovered, Until Now


The owner of the Waterfront Ale House, Sam, has always tried to have good food and great beers at his places.  When he first opened up his place on Atlantic Avenue about 20 years ago (and across the street from where it is now) Tim Stark, a farmer who raises heirloom tomatoes and peppers, sold chile plants in front of the bar during the Atlantic Antic.

Sam had the bright idea of buying up all of his peppers, which included chocolate Scotch Bonnets, Thai chiles, bird peppers, and poblamos to make his own hotsauce.  He blends his sauces in the basement of the bar and then ages them in old oak whisky barrels that he got from friends at San Francisco's Anchor Steam Brewing Company.  The sauce is aged in these barrels for two years.  And let me tell you, it is good and HOT!!! 

Coincidentally, I will be heading to the Waterfront Ale House this afternoon for a few beers and dinner.  I also want to talk to Gaid, the world's friendliest bartender, to see if I can get some advice about using my Boston shaker.  I haven't been to the Waterfront Ale House for awhile (too many holiday and Jets parties).  The last time I was there Gaid said he was going to give up smoking.  It will be interesting to see if he has and, if he has, if he is still the world's friendliest bartender.

Boston Cocktail Shaker

The Mysterious Chinese Woman bought me a Winco brand Boston cocktail shaker but I am having problems using it.  Whenever I make a drink in it I have a devil of a time getting the glass out of the shaker.  It is almost as though the coldness of the cocktail causes the metal shaker to shrink around the glass.  I guess I will have to make a trip to my local watering hole and ask the bartender if there is some trick I am missing.

Last night, after making a batch of Margaritas, I had to run hot water over the shaker before I coult separate it from the glass.  By the time I was able to do so the ice-cubes had all melted and the drink was far from frosty cold.

I was wondering if maybe the Winco brand uses a thinner grade of stainless steel than other shakers which would increase the liklihood of the thing seizing up, so to speak.

Anybody who has a possible solution to my problem, please feel free to offer your advice.

Big tiff between the Mayor of New York, Bloomberg, and the Governor of New Jersey, Christie, over whose team the Jets really are.  New York already lost the battle over the Statue of Liberty (it is in New Jersey).  Of course the Jets play in New Jersey but I think the real test should be to which state do the players and coaching staff pay their state taxes.  My guess is New Jersey.

Of course Bloomberg, he of limited knowledge of history, said "Well, they don't call Joe Namath "Turnpike Joe."  Someone should remind Bloomberg that back when Joe Namath was playing the Jets did play their home games in New York.

Now, let me ask you this, regarding team names and where they play, When the Nets move where they play to Brooklyn, do you think they will still call themselves the New Jersey Nets.  My guess is that they won't.

Breaking News

Brett Favre officially signed his retirement papers yesterday, again.

Just thought you would want to know.

And Brett is so young.  Hell, Evander Holyfield is 48, and he is fighting Sherman "Tank" Williams this Saturday.

Got to love Sherman's nickname, "Tank."  But really, Sherman Williams?  Shouldn't his nickname be "Paint."  Oh, wait, that is Sherwin, not Sherman.

Just think, if the Jets and Green Bay end up in the Superbowl it will be two teams that Brett recently retired from playing for all the marbles.  Now wouldn't that be a bit ironic.

Jets Jets Jets

What more can I say, it was a most gratifying victory for the Jets yesterday.  The game was just exciting enough to be interesting without actually causing stomach cramps, nausea and vomiting - unlike their last meeting which wasn't at all exciting but did cause stomach cramps, nausea and vomiting.

Bring on the Bumble Bees. 

Play Dead A Disapointment

I went to see the theatrical production Play Dead on Thursday evening and was quite disappointed.  Because Teller of Penn and Teller was involved in the production, if not the actual performance.

The premise of the show was that it was a reproduction of a midnight spook show, something that was, apparently, quite popular back in the 1930s and all the way to the 1970s, although I never saw one.  These shows consisted of a magician who booked a movie theatre for a midnight performance, had fake skulls strewn about, a couple of comely assistants skimply dressed up as vampires or something, and a lot of spooky music.  The shows were often quite cheesy and basically just provided a dark place for teenagers to make-out.

Well, they captured the cheesy part.  The theatre holds about 50 people and the stage is quite small.  The host started out by eating a lightbulb (jeez, haven't seen that before) and then proceeded to tell stories based upon the content of cardboard boxes stacked on shelves.  The stories were about real people, such as Albert Fish, who lived in Brooklyn and kidnapped, murdered and ate small children back in the 1800s.

As the stories were told some relatively basic illusions were done, some involving members of the audience.  There were also some mindreading tricks that, quite frankly, if they have nothing do do with you are really quite boring.  Who cares if someone in the audience is thinking of a lost relative or close friend whose name sounds like Harry, or Larry, or possibly Carrie.  Is there someone in the audience....  Well, of course there is, proably half the audience.

The most amusing illusion was the one that involved the conjuring up of Eusapia Pallidino who, in the 1880s and early 1900s claimed that she had control over the dead.  When she was conjured into existence she was nude (a bit of titillation for your money) and, somewhat out of character, sporting a bikini wax job.

At any rate, I have seen better shows put on by kids in their garage.  Except for that naked girl part, although when I was a kid we certainly tried to recruit one of the neighbor girls for that role.  We never even got one to audition.

On the plus side, before the show we stopped into Minetta Tavern for a drink.  The last time I was there, a couple of years ago, it was an Italian reastaurant.  Now it has new owners and is French.  We got there about 5:00 PM thinking we could just grab a table for an early dinner.  We were told we could wait to see if a table opened up due to a cancellation.  And the place was empty.  But not for long.

We sat at the bar and had a drink and by about 6:00 PM the place had really begun to fill up, and there were no cancellartions.  We settled for drinks, a Manhattan for me and some kind of a special drink for the Mysterious Chinese Woman.  I forget the name, but it was one of the signature cocktail designed just for Minetta.  It was really quite good and the next time I pop in I am going to have one of their specialty drinks as well.  And I will return, and with a reservation.

I didin't feel like eating French so we wandered down a few doors to a Mexican restaurant, the name of which escapes me.  It was huge though, and pretty much empty.  The staff was friendly enough and they made my Margarita to my specification, using fresh lime juice and Herradura silver tequila.  This was after they gave me a free taste of their house Margarita and I found it to be too sweet.  Interestingly enough, our waiter was from Minnesota, where yours truely was born and spent his formative years.

The food was plentiful, but pretty typical fare.  I liked my cheese enchilada because it was nice and greasy and cheesy, just the way they should be.  They are kind of meant to be eaten early in the morning after a night of drinking to absorb some of the alcohol before you go to bed.  And to give you good farts the next day.  The Mysterious Chinese Woman didn't like what she ordered for the same reasons.

Actually, there is kind of a funny story about Mexican food, farts, a drive-in movie showing Jurassic Park on the side of a building during a thunderstorm and my first date with the Mysterious Chinese Woman.  Despite, or maybe because of, that night we are still together.  

The Green Hornet

Not too much is going on here, although I am heading out to see the play Play Dead tonight.  It should be interesting.  It is co-written and co-produced by Teller, the silent half of Penn and Teller, the magicians.  I enjoy their shows and have seen them live twice.  The play is supposed to be quite interesting, full of gory special affects.  It is off-broadway in a little 50 seat theatre that is supposedly done up to look like an old deserted theatre.  I will report on my evening tomorrow.

But, today we will do one of these weird and little known connection things.  And, what with all the buzz about the new Green Hornet movie, what better topic.

First, did you know that the Green Hornet is a distant relative of the Lone Ranger?  Ah yes, and the reason has something to do with the fact that the impetus behind The Green Hornet was George W. Trendle who was the co-owner  and managing parner of WXYZ and spearheaded the development of The Lone Ranger.

In "real life" the Green Hornet is Britt Reid, a newpaper publisher.  The Lone Ranger was originally John Reid, a Texas Ranger and lone survivor of an ambush.  The Green Hornet is the great nephew of The Lone Ranger.

Now, after starting as a radio program, Universal Pictures made two Green Hornet serials.  In those serials the part of Kato was played by Keye Luke, perhaps best known for his role as "Number One Son" in the Charlie Chan movies.

In more recent time it was Bruce Lee who played Kato in the television series.  And, here comes that unexpected loop-around, Bruce Lee was strongly being considered to play the lead in the Kung Fu series.  One of the main reason he moved back to Hong Kong and started his movies career was because he was so upset about losing the role to David Carradine, who wasn't even Asian, to boot.  Anyway, so what has this got to do with anything?  Well, the actor who plays Master Po in Kung Fu is, you guessed it, the original screen version of Kato, dear old Keye Luke.

Now you will all have something to contribute to the water-cooler conversations about The Green Hornet.

Gone To Ghana

I had breakfast at Junior's, which is always a good thing.  I had kippers and eggs and cheesecake for dessert.  But, the reason I had breakfast there was because I met my nephew, Charlie, and his wife, Kaylee.  They are on their way to Ghana where they will spend four months doing their student teaching.

They flew from Las Vegas to JFK and got in around 8:00 AM.  I had given them instructions on how to take the Air Train and the subway to get to my place so they showed up around 10:00 AM.  The Mysterious Chinese Woman and I met them at the subway stop and we walked to Junior's for breakfast.

Anyway, Charlie and Kaylee started a blog to document their adventures in Ghana.  I am posting the link in case any of you feel inclined to take a look at it.  It might be quite interesting.

Charlie and Kaylee's Ghana Adventure

GO JETS!!!

What can I say, a real cliff-hanger, but the Jets did manage to win.

When You're A Jet You're A Jet All The Way


Things looked a bit grim when the Jets couldn't convert a third down on their second to last possession, even after being the beneficiary of a "roughing the kicker" penalty.  But the defense managed to hold Peyton and the Colts and our offense managed to get us down the field for the winning field-goal.

It may not have been the prettiest win in the world, but it looked damn pretty to me.  And with Sanchez pulling off that last drive, and winning some of the really close games, some in overtime, earlier this year, he is looking like the real deal.  He may be the most dangerous quarterback in the game with time running out and needing a score to win. 

And don't forget, last year Mark became only the second quarterback to win two playoff games his rookie year (the other being Joe Flacco) and now owns a 3 and 1 playoff record.

The Jets may not go all the way this year but, by-golly, they sure have become an exciting team.  And probably the most interesting team in the NFL with, certainly, the most interesting head coach.

Go Rex, We Love You, Man!!!


And, somehow, we have to thank Brett Favre for making this all possible.  Brett may have thought he played the Jets for a fool in his quest to go to the Vikings but, You know what?  He who laughs last laughts loudest.  And whose laughing now?

I am begining to like my Brett Favre New York Jets jersey more and more as time goes by.  I sniffed it this morning and it is starting to smell like napalm in the morning - it smelled like VICTORY.  Of course the Mysterious Chinese Woman thinks it just needs to be washed.  But then she also washed the two sweaty towels that Sue Wicks threw me.

It's Only A Game

Golf Digest just announced that they will no longer carry Tiger Wood's column in their magazine.  And, even more embarassing, Tiger Woods will no longer be on the cover of the new release of "Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12: The Masters."

You may remember that last year he shared the cover with rookie Rory McIlroy.  That was the first year Tiger hadn't been featured solo.  This year the cover will feature the yellow flag at the Augusta National Golf Club.

Sales of the game have dropped by around 50% since the news of Tiger's infidelities pretty much flooded the media.

Tiger Woods will still appear on the PlayStation 3 Collector's Edition of the game, which will cost $10 more and include five additional courses.  Maybe it will, indeed, be a collector's item.  It may be the last version ever released.

This one really should be a collectors item.  When they put Favre on the cover they thought he had retired and put him in his, what everone at the time thought would be his last, Green Bay Packer's uniform.  Of course by the time the game came out Brett was playing for the Jets.  Now, don't you agree, that should make it a collectible?



And, in the more hubris department, New York's Mayor Bloomberg still refuses to say where he was during the early morning of our Christmas blizzard saying "I have a right to a private life the same way you do."  Really, even when a blizzard is paralyzing the city and it is shutting down because noone seems to be in charge? 

And this from a man whom many susupect of having presidential aspirations.  I don't think so.

Kettle Black in Brooklyn was one of the places that Mayor Bloomberg did visit for his photo-ops on streets that were plowed.  A bit of an interesting choice seeing as how back in April there was a huge brawl there that resulted in a Port Authority cop getting his jaw broken and a firefighter getting stabbed.  And, just a few days after the Mayor's visit, the principal owner of the Kettle Black, a former firefighter, pled guilty to cheating the state and city out of over $1 million taxes.  He is due to spend 90 days in the slammer after making restitution of about $1.5 million.  The owner of Kettle Black, that is, not the Mayor.

It is snowing here again, but big fluffy flakes that are melting as they hit the ground.  I can already hear Mayor Blommberg crowing about what a great job the city did this time around, keeping the streets clear and the trains running.

Our Congress At Work

Members of the House of Representatives, led by their new Republican majority, will kick off the 112th Congress this morning with a reading of the U.S. Constitution. The reading is largely a political maneuver, so it's no real surprise that the Constitution you'll hear read on C-SPAN this morning will be the politically correct version.

That is because no elected politician wants to stand up and read aloud the Founder's vision of African Americans equaling three-fifths of a white person, so the GOP has decided to leave that part, and others, out when the Constitution is read today.

The reading of the Constitution on the House floor has never been done before, and it's only happening today thanks to the tea party. Throughout the campaign last year, "returning to the Constitution" (in a vague and largely undefined way) was sacred to the tea party, and supporters of reading the document aloud today seem to hope that hearing the words in the House chamber will cause members to adhere to the document more closely.

Democrats and Republicans are expected to participate in the reading, but not all members of Congress think it's a worthy use of their time.  So of course, before time is wasted reading only the politically correct parts of the Constitution, additional time is being wasted while members debate about whether or not the Constitution should be read at all.

Oh well, what else have they got to do with their time?  Deal with the economy, unemployment, the national debt, the wars in Afghanistan and Iran?  Hah, that can wait.  Let's grandstand a bit first.

Any bets on whether or not John Boehner tears up when he reads his part?

No Happy Ending

Just a few random musings to start off the new year.

First, best headline of the year so far, the NY Daily News front page featrured a picture of my favorite quarterback, Brett Favre, with the caption "NO HAPPY ENDING" in regards to the ex-Jet masseuses suing both him and the Jets.

Second, during the whole snowstorm fiasco here in New York over Christmas, not only was Mayor Bloomberg nowhere to be found, he refuses to say where he was.  And Deputy Mayor Goldsmith, who oversees snow clearing, was in Washington on a skiing vacation.  In fact, as it turns out, nobody really knows who was actually in control during the snowstorm and its aftermath.  You have to love New York.

Third, How about those Knicks?  Not only did they blow out the NBA's best team last night, they positively humiliated them.  So much so that the Spurs coach pulled all of the starters with three minutes left in the game when they were down by ten.  Hell, I have seen the Knicks blow a ten point lead in less than three minutes before.  Oh, it was a real defensive battle, the score was 128 to 115.

Fourth, is "douchebag" now considered to be a dirty word?  I see that a number of publications, including the estimable NY Daily News, has begun to use "d-bag" in its place.

Fifth, does it really make sense to release a new version of "Huckleberry Finn" with the word "slave" replacing the word "nigger."  Now I agree that the word "nigger" is offensive to many, including me, but aren't we going a bit too far with this.  How many recent Afro-American authors, Richard Wright and James Baldwin come to mind, have used the word in their works.  And how about the Avengers song "White Nigger"?  Or the lyrics to "Oliver's Army" by Elvis Costello? Or the lyrics to "Battleground" by Joe Jackson?  Do we go back and edit the word out of everything?  And does substituting "N-word" in print really accomplish anything except looking silly?

Oh, and finally, I think Brett Favre has retired again.  But then, this is becoming something of an annual event.  Once more and they may declare it a national holiday.

Happy New Year

Heading to New Jersey today for a prolonged New Years celebration at my Mysterious Sister-In-Law's.  Looking forward to it because we all had to leave early last Sunday due to the snow and I didn't get a chance to dig into a number of interesting beers that Jim brought over.  We were going to watch the Jets and Giants games and drink them up but, alas, didn't get to them.  Hopefully the weather will cooperate a bit more this time.

So, I will bid you a fond adieu untl 2011 and wish you all:


 

I Would Rather Be In Mexico

It is one thing to be in Mexico watching the weather reports from New York showing blizzard-like conditions.  It is quite another to be in New York when there is a blizzard.  I couldn't even make it to the deli to get a paper this morning, and the deli is only a block away.

I am going to have a second cup of coffee while I listen to Brian Wilson's great album "Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin."  Then I will try for the deli again and take a few pictures, which I will post.

The Jets lost, but managed to back themselves into the playoffs, so go Jets.  The Giants, well, they just backed into a meat-grinder.  I think Eli realizes he can never catch Brett in number of games played but he is certainly making an effort to catch him in the interception department.  He threw four yesterday and leads the league with 24 so far this year.

All This, And No Newspapers!!!

And no mail either. So much for "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds"

Spooky

Well, there is a reason that the Chinese Woman is called Mysterious.  She asked me what I wanted for Christmas and, because I am a man of modest wants and, really, couldn't think of anything I just said "Why don't you get me that Rabbit cocktail shaker.  The next day I started thinking that what I should have asked for is just one of those Boston shakers like the bartenders use.

Nothing Fancy

All I needed was the metal part because I have plenty of pint glasses, mostly stolen from Molly Malone years ago when I used to live right around the corner and would routinely walk out of the place with a pint of beer for the road.

Anyway, I didn't want to say anything because I thought the Mysterious Chinese Woman may have already ordered the Rabbit for me.  When she gave me my present I was a bit surprised at how light it was.  But, when I opened it, to my delight it was just what I really wanted, and not what I asked for, a Boston shaker.  She had read some of the reviews for the Rabbit and, apparently, they weren't too favorable.  Many people complained that it leaked.  And, she had heard me talk about the Boston shaker in the past.

So there you go, I got what I really wanted, even though I didn't ask for it.

When Men Were Men

Sheesh, everyone making a fuss because the University of Minnesota doesn't have heating coils under the field and the Viking football players are complaining about the risk of injury by playing there.  Is it just me, or aren't domed stadiums and heated fields a relatively recent innovation.  How did football ever get played back in the good old days when icy conditions, snow, rain and mud were considered to be just part of the game?

Bud Grant would be rolling over in his grave, if he was dead.

Brett's still tough though.  He is actually starting tonight.  Who would have thunk.

Vegas At Night

Okay, enough about Brett Favre, the Vikings, and conspiracy theories about the stadium dome collapsing. As someone pointed out, it isn't like that was the only time it has collapsed. Actually, I think it is the fifth time. They sure build them to last in Minnesota.

But on to more pleasant topics. Strolling around downtown Las Vegas at night is always kind of fun. Plenty of lights and you can actually walk from one place to another. The casinos and bars are closer together downtown then stuff inside the casinos on the strip. It literally took me half an hour to walk from the sports book of Ceaser's Palace to a smoke shop in the place, buy a cigar and walk back.

Bright Lights Of The City


On this particular evening we had eaten dinner at, I believe, Three Georges.  A very good steak house and quite reasonably priced for what you get. Not that it is cheap, but the food is very good and the ambience is classy.

Afterwards Tom, Jon and I headed for The Griffin for a nightcap.

I See The Light


This is one of my favorite nightime haunts when I am in Vegas. Mostly locals and a nice quiet place to have a drink. We were well served by a bartender whose name I took pains to write down on a napkin that I can no longer find.

The Unknown Bartender


I asked her if she would take a picture of the three of us and she gladly obliged.

Smile, Everyone


She asked me why Jon wasn't smiling and I said sometimes if you pulled his ear you could get him to smile.

Trying To Get Jon To Smile


As you can see, I wasn't very successful. She asked if she could try.

Much Better Results


We finished up our cocktails and we then headed to downtown. for a final nightcap. Unfortunately, or not, the one picture I took of the exterior was out of focus and I forgot to take any pictures inside. It was getting to be that time of night.

The Knicks played a thrilling game against the Celtics last night and for the first time in a long time I am not being sarcastic. Went down to the wire and, although they blew a seven point lead in the fourth quarter to lose by two, it was exciting all the way. Up to, and including, Amare's three pointer at the buzzer to win the game, except that it was one-tenth of a second after the buzzer.

Bring on the Heat.

Breaking Rumor

Word has leaked out that Brett Favre was so distraught at not being able to start last night's game that he gnawed off his own arm in frustration.

On Its Way To Canton?


Well, nobody said that Brett wasn't tough.

Favre Vows To Return

Brett Favre said, after missing last night's game and ending his streak of starts, that he will return.  He said with the advances in medical technology he would be back next year better than ever.

Just Strap Her On


His original arm will be shipped to Canton, Ohio.

Monday Night Football

I guess Favre must have said he needed another day to get ready.

And the Jets managed to have yet another game, their fourth, without scoring a touchdown as they lost to the Dolphins.

Who would think the high point of the day would have been watching the Knicks.  They actually beat a good team, the Nuggets, in an exciting game.  And Amare Stoudemire set a Knicks record by scoring 30 points or more in eight straight game.

I am reading Keith Richards' autobiography, "Life."  So far it is pretty good, but I think his knowledge of geography is a bit lacking.  He goes on a bit about how the Rolling Stones were originally a blues band, steeped in the history and culture of the delta, etc., etc., etc.  In one passage he says:

"Our thing was playing Chicago blues; that was where we took everything that we knew, it was our kickoff point, Chicago.  Look at that Mississippi River.  Where does it come from?  Where does it go?  Follow that river all the way up and you'll end up in Chicago."

Ah, somehow I seriously doubt you will end up in Chicago if you follow the Mississippi River all the way up.  You might end up in Minneapolis, though.  Or, maybe, Bemidji, if you keep following it.  Or Lake Itasca, if you really want to follow it all the way.  Chicago is on Lake Michigan, a slightly larger body of water than Lake Itasca. 

Nothing Says Dim Sum Like Chicken Feet

A couple of friends, Dave and Carol, who I met on the Berlin to Prague river cruise, were in town for a couple of days and wanted to meet the Mysterious Chinese Woman and me for dim sum in Chinatown.  They were with friends of their's from Britain.

Now, before we left to meet them, the Mysterious Chinese Woman said "Don't order any chicken feet, it will gross them out."  Well what, aside from the tripe, that I was also warned not to order, do you think they wanted to try.  By "they" I mean Dave and Grahm.  Their wives wanted no part of these tasty dishes.

Er, Just How Do You Eat These?


Just Push It In And Spit Out What You Can't Chew


We actually ordered a second helping of the chicken feet because they are prepared in two different styles.  It just goes to show, you shouldn't make assumptions about what people may or may not like.

A surprisingly warm day here in New York after a couple of really chilly ones.  I would head to the Waterfront Ale House but I am trying to lose a few pounds before I hit the beaches in Mexico, so that means cutting back on my beer consumption.  On top of that, I think I ate too much at dim sum so I am stuffed.  I probably should have walked home across the Brooklyn Bridge, but I was too lazy so I just took the subway.

They have installed new "informational" signs at the Brooklyn Bridge subway station, the ones that tell you how long before the next train arrives.  Of course the times they show have nothing to do with the time the trains actually arrive.  The sign said it would be 23 minutes before the train back to Brooklyn would arrive and it showed up with 21 minutes still showing on the sign.  It is amazing how the same type of signs seem to work to the minute in the subways in Europe and Hong Kong.  I have heard those signs also work in other cities in the United States.  Oh well, New York is something else altogether.  Most of the time the elevators and escalators don't work here either.

I still have a few more pictures from Las Vegas and I will try to get them up either tomorrow or Monday, so stay tuned.  Maybe not until Monday, because I will be watching football tomorrow.  The Giants/Vikings game should be interesting on a number of levels. It will also be interesting to see whether the Jets can regroup after their horrible showing against the Patriots, or if they have fallen apart completely.  I root for the Jets, but I have been saying all along that they have been more lucky than good this year.  Given the way the Patriots scored against them it probably didn't matter much, but this was their third loss where they haven't been able to score a single touchdown.  And Sanchez is starting to throw interceptions like Favre.

On the bright side, the Knicks are looking good.  I am reading "Life" by Keith Richards and next on my list is "Rockin' Steady: A Guide to Basketball and Cool" by Walt Frazier.  I also have an interesting looking book, "Travels with Barley: A Journey Through Beer Culture In America" by Ken Wells (a gift from my friend Bruce) and "The Castle in Transylvania" by Jules Verne (a gift from my brother-in-law Jim) in my Queue.  A great time of year to just curl up on the couch with a good book.

A Guest

Those of you who regularly read my postings are aware of my admiration for the Thirsty Swagman.  While Bar Man can hold his own with most, I have learned never to match a Russian shot for shot and never try to match an Australian beer for beer.  I have been asked to post some articles that are written by them (Thirsty Swagman, not the Russians and the Australians) if they fit with the overall theme of my blog.  As it turns out, they all do.

The Wettest and Wildest Party on the Planet

Speaking of epic places people go to party - Southeast Asia’s Thailand is home to what is possibly the biggest and wildest water fight event in the world. Keen travelers from all over, pack their bags and head to Thailand every April, to celebrate the Thai New Year (Songkran) with a splash. During this time, don’t be surprised when the whole of Thailand stops for 3 days to engage in an immense, country-wide water fight.

For the entire Songkran period, party goers line the streets and post themselves in every corner, ready with their water-filled weaponry (sometimes mixed with mentholated talc) aimed at who-ever dare pass by. ..So if you plan on walking more than 3 metres down the road during this time, expect to return nothing less than soaked from head to toe.

But why stop at a 3 day Thai New Year, massive, celebratory water fight – when you could turn this crazy travel experience into a full week of one totally unforgettable pub crawl marathon?

Buckle up beer-loving travelers and prepare yourselves for one exhilarating pub tour experience of a lifetime, handled by renowned Australian based tour operator Thirsty Swagman (ThirstySwagman.com) the company offering a purely pub- and bar-based itinerary worldwide. Your experience starts with bar hopping your way through Sentosa Island, where feet in sand and beer in hand, you’ll enjoy taking in the rays while making friends with the Thirsty crew that will soon be your new best buddies for the next action-packed week of partying.

After a day of blissful relaxation – you’ll be ready to head to the heart Clarke Quay, a cluster of themed bars ranging from Moroccan fantasy, to the Scottish Hilander. But be warned - A typical night at Clarke Quay usually involves nothing less that downing 4L towers of beer at Brewerkz microbrewery and then heading straight to The Clinic. Not the kind of Clinic guys end up at after a crazy night they can’t remember – this ironically themed pub had doctors and nurses treating you with syringes and drips filled with nothing but tasty alcohol, while you and your mates chill out on the slightly odd seating arrangements – hospital beds. The Clinic is definitely an unlikely pub, in a country where chewing gum is prosecutable.

The next destination is Phuket, Thailand, for a hard-core party in the Bangla Road. During the trip in Thailand, travelers get to experience Songkran, the Thai New Year, where you and hundreds of other partygoers, will be stumbling through the streets of Phuket with your water guns strapped on, in a fully-fledged, country-wide water fight! And did I mention? Soaked hotties everywhere!

One of the places in Thailand where pub travelers will dwell on is the hardest-rocking pub in the world, named Rock city, which is located on Phuket’s Patong Beach. With VIP entry and drinks, you’ll be raising your glass to the most authentic AC/DC, Metallica and Guns ‘n’ Roses cover bands you’ve ever heard. Along your drinking journey, you’ll also get to nail drinks at Tiger bar and several other of Patong beach’s best pubs and bar.

One highlight of this pub tour experience that mustn’t be left out is your speedboat adventure to a private pub on the beautiful Naka Island. To give you an idea of just how amazing this island is – it’s fit for a king – literally – as the Prince of Dubai recently stayed there. You’ll land on a stretch of beach with nothing but white sand, crystal clear water, and two tiny beach shack pubs that serve every beer, ice cold!

Ready to party? Visit ThirstySwagman.com

Double Down And Just Down

Well, let's get the "Just Down" out of the way.  I don't think I need to say anything more than I am a Jets fan.

Now On To The Double Down


While the decor in Frankie's Tiki Room is, well, Tikish, the decor here is more lower east-side before it got gentrified. For those of you who have been there, think Mars Bar. Especially the bathrooms.

Number One


Number Two


Our lovely bartender, Lynnea, proudly displayed two of their most famous concoctions, both of which were featured on Samantha Browns show. Well, the first is just the main ingredient in their Bacon Martini. And yes, it is what it looks like, a couple of slices of bacon in a bottle of vodka to add flavor.

Bacon, Not Just For Breakfast


And, of course, the world-famous Ass Juice.

The Holiday Special, With Corn


And here we are, drinking under the signs advertising the Double Down's specials.

How Appealing


And Here Is The Whole Gang


The second guy from the left is Alby, our designated driver. He is wearing his customary U of M sweatshirt. I won't say Alby is superstitious, but whenever he comes to Las Vegas he wears a U of M sweatshirt and he wears the same sweatshirt every day he is here. Makes it easy to pack, that's for sure.

Revisiting Old Haunts

Having gotten a taste of a few off-the-beaten-path places when we were in Las Vegas last year, we decided to revisit a couple of them.  Our first stop was Frankie's Tiki Room, where I was hoping to get a new calendar.

Just Like In Hawaii


When we entered the place we ran into the same bartender we saw last year.

Allison, In The Same Shirt, Too


Actually, I don't know about the same shirt.  When I said I wanted the same thing the guy sitting on the curb outside was having she shreiked and said "I remember you guys from last year."  She still served us, though.

Most Of The Crew


From left to right there is Jon, AKA Smiley, Yours Truly, Jerry and Tom.  Our designated driver was off somewhere drinking his coffee and playing video  poker or something.

I had a Navy Grog and, I think, a Mai Tai.  Both were quite good, not that weak syrupy stuff you get in a lot of places.

They play clips from cheesy movies on the little TVs behind the bar and the bathroom is decorated with old zombie/horror movie posters.

I Like The Decor


And, of course, you have to have a large Tiki.  This one had a decidedly Las Vegas look to it.

I Only Have Snake-Eyes For You


One of the movies that they had playing in the background was  "Fiend Of Dope Island" and it is now sitting on the top of my Netflix queue.  As a bonus, the movie "Pagan Island" is included on the same DVD.  I will most certainly be drinking a Mai Tai or two while I settle in to watch them.

Movie Night


Although we could easily have settled in here for the duration, our sober driver, Alby, moved us along to our next stop, Double Down Saloon, home of the famous Ass Juice.  No, really, it is famous.  It has been featured on both Tony Bourdain's "No Reservations" and, more recently, on "Travels With Samantha Brown."

Tomorrow I shall post about Double Down, so be sure to check back.  They had a special holiday Ass Juice that included, among other things, whole kernals of corn.  You might not want to think about that combination for too long.

Oh, and Frankie's Tiki Room didn't make any calendars for 2011.  What a bummer.

Tiger Woods blew a four-stroke lead on Sunday to lose the Chevron World Challenge.  There was a time when this would have been a major story, maybe a full back-page.  In this morning's New York Daily News it was just a ho-hum quarter of a column tucked way in the back of the sports section.  How far the mighty have fallen.

Las Vegas, Here I Come

After several days of eating, drinking and general merry-making at my sister-in-law's house to celebrate Thanksgiving, I returned home and regurgitated.  No, not really.  But I did return home.  Only for a short while, however.  It is now 2:30 AM and I am just about to hop in the shower and quickly pack before departing for Las Vegas.  I have a 5:00 AM pick-up and a 7:15 AM flight.

Not sure if I will have the opportunity to post anything while I am in Las Vegas, but I doubt it.  So, until I return, be well, be happy, beware.

Oh, and I see where the Vikings won yesterday, so Chilly must have been the problem.  Plus Favre had a game with no interceptons, how about that.  And how about Miami?  Will they ever be able to play as a team?  As of now the Knicks have as many wins as they do.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!!

Bar Man is heading out to dim sum in Chinatown today and then it is off to New Jersey where I will be spending the Thanksgiving Holiday with the Mysterious Chinese Woman's family. So, no more posts until after I get back next Saturday or Sunday.

In the meantime, I wish you all a most enjoyable Thanksgiving.

Oh, and did you know that "snarge" is the technical term for the bits of feathers, beaks and feet that remain after a bird is sucked into a jet engine.  And nothing says Thanksgiving like turkey snarge.

Willaims

Not saying that the Vikings are going the way of the Knicks of old, or maybe I am.  At least the Knicks always got the names of their players spelled correctly on their jerseys.  For Sunday's game the Vikings mispelled Kevin William's last name on his jersey, spelling it WILLAIMS.



Well, to be fair, there are three players on the Vikings team with the last name of Williams and they did get Pat's and Madieu's last names spelled right.  And, as Meat Loaf once sang, "Two out of three ain't bad."

And, speaking of Brett Favre, isn't it great that he goes 17 for 38 and throws an interception against Green Bay and they fire the coach?  The only irony is that they named Leslie Frazier as the interim coach.  I am sure Brett thought he would get the job.  Hell, I am sure Brett thought he already was the coach.

Meanwhile, my beloved Jets are farting rose-petals these days.  But what's with them playing on Thanksgiving.  That should only happen if they are playing either Detroit or Dallas.  Is nothing sacred anymore.  Well, yes, the almighty dollar.

On the bright side, the Jets are playing the Bengals, a team they really should trounce.  But I wouldn't put my money on them to beat the spread.  I will bet that all the player's names will be spelled correctly on their jersey's, though.

I wonder what a Kevin Willaims jersey would sell for if you could get your hands on one.  It would be kind of like that stamp with the upside down airplane, the 1918 "inverted Jenny."



As long as we are on the subject of mispellings and mistakes, here is a bit of trivia for you.  In the game of Monopoly the properties are based upon locations in Atlantic City.  But Marvin Gardens is mispelled in the game.  It is really Marven Gardens and is named for two bordering communities, Margate City and Ventnor City  It is also the only property in the game that is not located in Atlantic City (there is also a Ventnor Avenue which lies partially within Atlantic City). 

The mispelling was carried over to the title of a mighty fine movie starring Jack Nicholson, Bruce Dern and Ellen Burstyn: "The King Of Marvin Gardens." But, to be fair, the movie was referencing the boardgame so I guess the mispelling was actually not a mispelling.



Jason Staebler:
You notice how it's Monopoly out there? Remember Boardwalk, Park Place, Marvin Gardens?

David Staebler:
Go directly to jail?

Jason Staebler:
Well, that's me. Don't pass go, don't collect $200.

Jason was played by Bruce Dern and David was played by Jack Nicholson.

Now aren't you glad you read this blog on a regular basis?