Friggin Fabulous Blog

Time Travelling With My Cousin

2011-10-15T09:28:00.000-07:00

So, I had this time travel dream the other night-wait that sounds like the start of terrible joke...

My dream catalog usually includes evil juggling clowns, Samaria Skeletons, Rabid Roving Dogs and the like, but this dream was very different. I actually went back in time! More specifically, my cousin, who is also my band mate and best friend, went back in time with me to see the band The Minutemen, circa about 1981 or thereabouts.

Mike Watt and The Minutemen, along with the band that followed them, firehose, are a constant inspiration to me, both lyrically and musically. D. Boon's anti-establishment, anti greed, anti stupidity tomes are a constant inspiration to me. Mike Watt's intense bass lines and arrangements give me chills. In my dream this power trio also had a keyboard player and a horn section!

In any case, the most interesting part of the dream was that my cousin and I were like voracious detectives-constantly trying to prove that we really DID go back in time and that it wasn't a dream or some kind of sham. There were the candy bars that they haven't made in 25 years, the newspapers with 1980's headlines, the terrible fashion of the time and the fact that just about everyone had a job.

The most important theme of the dream, I think, is the message of hope. I felt very good the next day and felt almost invincible. We may never know if time travel is actually possible, but I prefer to believe that it is-if only in my dreams...

James Dalton-Butterflies and Passerbys

2010-10-06T08:45:00.000-07:00

There seems to be a central theme running through James Dalton's new album, "Butterflies and Passerbys", and that theme would be "Jersey." But hold on a second-this album sounds like it could have been recorded at Sun or Muscle Shoals studios, or in some steamy back woods shack. It's a hearty collection of blues and folk tales, peppered with acoustic guitar, beautiful mandolin breaks and harmonica solos(Dalton is quite the Harp player).

But, getting back to the Jersey thing, there are actually only a few mentions of Dalton's New Jersey upbringing, such as this line in the upbeat ballad, "The House My Grandfather Built." "They say Jersey's nice this time of year, she gently whispers in your ear, your face is long and you're feeling oh so old, and there's a dialogue between the country and your old soul..." Dalton seems to be lamenting lost youth with lines like "Goodbye, Trenton Avenue, so loud, so loud, you want to sing, but the banjo in your lap has got broken strings." The harp solo on this anthem would certainly fit in anywhere on Dylan's "Blood on the Tracks."

The slower and more sentimental track, "Wednesday Night Mass", is in a major key, but has the feel almost of a minor key dirge. This beautiful tune really showcases Dalton's vocal abilities as well as his proficiency with a blues harp. The lyrics seem to evoke the feelings of a child who is getting dressed for church, but would much rather be playing football, or doing just about anything else: "Well, the Wednesday night mass for students has come to an end, and I wish I would let it slip my mind, the clouds come and clouds go by, but they always seem to hang around my sky..."

Dalton, although originally from New Jersey, is very well traveled, according to his bio, and he has the well worn passport to prove it. He's played tiny pubs and festivals, clubs like the Bitter End and Stone Pony, and even ships at sail on the Baltic Sea. The haunting tune "Senator's Square", which is certainly comprised of some minor chords, has some of the best lyrics on the album: "She lost faith in the revolution, a red jacket like a rose in the snow, cute smile, cute revolver too, she's the darling of the Helsinki Metro..." There is a mellifluous, Eastern sounding mandolin solo in the middle of this one, which ties the whole story together.

The deep and dense "Senator's Square" is followed by the straight up Country Blues tune, "Alafaya Mama", which really showcases Dalton's grittier vocal and harp style. Intertwined throughout the diverse ditties on this solid album are very short instrumentals such as "Kiss of the Dark Haired Girl" and "Spout and Ivy."

"Butterflies and Passerbys" is musically and lyrically impressive, but it's most impressive quality is the way it tells a story. It's certainly not a concept album, but rather a book of fairy tales from a wandering bard from Jersey.

J-Punch and Dave Moonishine-Stick Figure Guy.

2010-10-01T10:34:00.000-07:00

The most striking aspect of the home page of J-Punch and Dave Moonshine's official web site is this quote: "Blast us with wind, melt us with acid, and set us ablaze, and what are we left with? Stick Figure Guy." Followed by the tag line "Music for the wire frame."

The theme of stripping everything down to it's base elements seems to run throughout this DC duo's brilliant new album,"Stick Figure Guy." The tunes are dreamy, moody and darkly danceable. J-Punch, a veteran house music producer from Washington D.C., decided to scientifically engineer a new genre of music called "alt-Tempo" or "Down rock." It's truly a complex cocktail of many different genres mixing elements of house, indie, trip hop and more with abstract and contemplative lyrics.

The song "Shoes" is a great example of the stark and stripped down theme running throughout the album. It starts out with a haunting musical intro and breaks in to the lyrics "I got no shoes, I got no hands, I got no feet, I don't have a leg to stand on-it's borrowed. There is no today and there is no tomorrow." This song and others like "We Had It All" may seem to have a desperate almost nihilistic tone, but the music seems to blend an upbeat tone with the lyrics. There seems to be a thread of hope running through the hopeless stories on "Stick Figure Guy."

The completely danceable and addicting tune "Hours Late" is a superbly crafted, even tempo anthem that focuses on disenchantment and an almost limbo-like state of waiting. The lyrics are sadly brilliant: "Now I'm passed my prime-I wonder if we're even going to die on time. I waited for you forever."

"Almost Over" is reminiscent of early Depeche Mode or Yaz with hints of Everything But The Girl, and would certainly light up any rave or house dance party. The continuous droning of "It's almost over now" mixed with the synth-harpsichord effect is contagious and a lot of fun. It's certainly not light-hearted fare, but a great dance track, nonetheless.

The songs on "Stick Figure Guy" are not all sad and nihilistic. The ironic and almost tongue in cheek tune, "Comedy Song", has the seemingly obvious lyrics "This is a comedy song, designed to make you laugh." It's certainly not slapstick, but that line alone is strangely amusing.

J-Punch is an excellent producer who is getting more creative and credible with each new project. The ambient soundscapes,tribal rhythms and multi-layered vocals help to make "Stick Figure Guy" J-punch and Dave Moonshine's crowning achievement.

JJ Bittings Brew Pub-An Oasis on the North Jersey Coast Line

2010-06-22T13:59:00.000-07:00

I've taken the North Jersey Coast Line train from NYC to the Jersey Shore hundreds of times in my life and most of my train time is spent reading a book or listening to my iPod, occasionally peeking out the hazy windows to take a gander at the outside world flying by at 50 or 60 miles an hour.But, there is one point it the trip where I behave like a child hearing the distant jingle of the ice-cream truck, and that's when we pull up to the Woodbridge, NJ, stop and I can see J.J. Bitting's Brew Pub. My mouth waters like that kid waiting for his ice-cream fix.

Established in 1997, J.J. Bitting Brewing Company was the first brewery to operate in Woodbridge Township, NJ, since the repeal of prohibition in 1933. It resides in a spacious, one-hundred year old building that once housed the J.J. Bitting Coal and Feed Depot. These days, the fuel of choice is hand crafted beer, and James Moss is the Brew Master behind the tanks.

J.J. Bitting's hired Moss, who is originally from the West Coast, to spice up their beer menu, and spice it up he has with favorites such as Victoria's Golden Ale, a light ale featuring a blend of pale malt and unmalted wheat. It's lightly hopped and fermented slightly cooler than most ales for a crisp finish. It pairs well with food menu items like the Acapulco Gold Quesa Dillas or Seafood Fra Diavlo.

If you like your beer hop heavy and bold in flavor, you can't go wrong with the Barely Legal Barley Wine, which is packed with hops, yet balanced by the malt. You may want to slowly savor this barley wine, which weighs in at 10.0% ABV (Alcohol By Volume). It pairs well with the Stuffed Pork Roast with Pear Sauce or the One Pound Prime Rib.

Other beers of note include the Raspberry Wheat Ale, Avenel Amber, Garden State IPA, and X-Duff Beer, for the Simpson's fans.

Bitting's also has impressive buffalo wings, excellent burgers, and very tasty baked pizza. Happy Hour is Monday-Friday from 3pm-7pm, featuring $2.50 pints and free food at the bar. Also ask about the Mug Club and Frequent Diner Specials. They also feature live music, Karaoke, and a Guitar Hero night.

Writing about all this is making me thirsty! I think I'll get off at the Woodbridge stop and raise a few pints.

What You're Missing (text, text,text...)

2010-06-20T05:30:00.000-07:00

I've been living across the street from an old school that has been empty for about five years. Most mornings I would open my blinds and take a gander at the majestic old building that was erected in 1927. They recently started demolishing the building, and I have to say that it's a bittersweet experience.

Every morning around 8pm they warm up the big yellow wrecking machine as I put on a pot of coffee and get ready to sit at my window and watch old windows, desks, chairs and urinals tumble down in to the eagerly awaiting dumpsters. So far no one has been hurt in the process, but I did witness a close call. A very busy looking woman was walking in the street, texting-obviously oblivious to the awesome demolition project happening just feet away from her Blackberry. One of the workers yelled "Hey, you're too close! Cross to the other side of the street!" The woman looked up for a nanosecond, resumed texting and crossed the street-
without looking, of course.

This rather minor incident made me angry and sad at the same time. Besides the fact that she could have been killed, she didn't even take the time to stand back and witness, what in my opinion is a pretty awesome site. She couldn't stop texting for thirty seconds to at least pay attention to where the glass was flying?

And this my friends is the problem with our hyper-connected society. I've said it a million times and I'm sure many other pundits and bloggers have as well, but, my God, people, pay attention! While we are texting and calling and iConnecting, there are wonderful and horrible things happening in the world that we are missing because most of us refuse to live in the moment!

Put down your mobile device, for God's sakes, and see what you're missing!

The Influence of Les Paul.

2009-08-13T13:46:00.000-07:00

On a Summer Monday, back in the early 90's, My cousin Pat, my buddy, Jimbo and I headed for Third Avenue in NYC to catch Les Paul at Fat Tuesdays. We were all in a band together at the time, and were big fans of Les Paul. As we squished into our tight fitting table, I said "Thank God we made it to see Les today. He's getting up there and who knows how much longer he'll be playing guitar." He went on to play for another 15 years or so, and I've had the pleasure of seeing him perform again after that night, and to shake his hand.

He played at Fat Tuesdays and then moved on to the Irridium. He told the story of how he originally got the Monday night gig at Fat Tuesday's. Les called the manager at the time and said "This is Les Paul and I want to play at your club on Monday nights." The manager then informed him that the club was colsed on Monday nights, but he would book him any other night he wanted to play. Les persisited, "I want to play on Monday nights." The manager again protested and Les finally said "You don't understand-I want to play for free on Monday nights." The manager then said "We are now open on Monday nights."

His shows were a mixture of great jazz and jokes, and he was known to make fun of the menu when he played, and it was always a great time, and so many great musicians played with him over the years including Bing Crosby, Chet Atkins, Mary Ford, Brian May and on and on.

Everyone knows about Les Paul's chops, and most know that he was one of the inventors of the modern electric guitar, but perhaps his greatest contribution to the recording industry was his invention of "multi-track" recording. Prior to his engineering work with multiple tracks it was only possible to record two tracks, at most. His invention changed music forever!

I'm sad that Les passed away, but he lived a good, long life and was an inspiration to many.
Les Paul and my Uncle Ren were two of my earliest inspirations when I first picked up the guitar. He will surely be missed.

Zeppelin Hall Restaurant & Biergarten, Jersey City

2009-07-12T14:09:00.000-07:00

I'll admit that I don't remember much about my first trip to Zeppelin Hall Beer Garden, 88 Liberty View Drive, Jersey City, NJ, but I do remember the important things: the beer and food. The beer was excellent, the food good.

My friend and I wandered in to Zeppelin Hall about 4:30pm on a Friday afternoon, after getting lost among the new condo construction projects, and finally asking the owner of the Brownstone Diner, located a block West, for directions. The stress of our sojourn through "New Condo Land" made finally finding our beer oasis that much sweeter. We ordered a couple of brews inside the huge hall, and then wandered to the outside beer garden. I started with an old stand by-Smuuttynose IPA, a rich, cloudy, ale with a copper color, thick head, and a nice hoppy flavor. My friend had an Abita Purple Haze, a slightly sweet wheat beer, with a hint of raspberries. They are brewed in New Hampshire and New Orleans, respectively.

My cousins met us soon after and they ordered a Staropramen, an amber-gold pilsner with a hint of honey from the Czech Repuplic, and a Kira Belgian White, a straw colored brew with a hint of bananna, and a crisp, refreshing finish. As we sipped from our half-liter glasses, I remarked how crazy the people were who were drinking the liters. "Man, that guy is going to be tanked later", I said from my high horse (which was quickly losing it's footing). Little did I know that I would be "tanked" in a few hours myeslf (more on that later).

As the beer garden filled with thirsty happy hour fans we decided to order some food. I was very dissapointed that the "Sauerbraten", advertised on the web site, was not on the menu. In fact, I was told, it might not be for a while. So, I settled for buffalo wings (average) and the "Sausage Sampler", which includes three types of sausage from about a list of six. We went with Bratwurst, Kielbasa, and Andouille, which were all very good. The fries were cooked to the perfect crispness.

I washed down the meat massacre with a River Horse Double Wit, which has an almost orange tint, and a nice, frothy head. It had a clove spice to it and a nice peppery finish. And being in Jersey, I figured that I had to have at least one beer that is actually brewed in the Garden State.

The night pretty much deteriorated from that point on. I met an old work friend and met his friends and we had a grand old time at the huge wooden table by the window. By this point, the view of the brand spanking new condos was getting hazy and I knew it was time to go home, but I have a feeling I will be back to my new favorite Biergarten, and will hopefully be eating a big plate of Sauerbraten, and sipping on a nice Leffe Blonde Ale.

The Great Crash of June, 2009...

2009-06-27T14:04:00.001-07:00

Well, it happened a few days ago. My almost brand new PC's hard drive completely froze up and I lost about two weeks worth of photos, essays, pics and bookmarks. I also lost a lot of freelance stuff I was working on, which I'm now frantically trying to patch together from the fragments of my disjointed mind. Don't worry, I'll live.

The thing that did strike me as odd on the morning of my first day without a computer, was how blue the sky was, how purple the pansies, and how yellow the sun. It was like a man emerging from a cave after a year-everything burned with new significance.

But in all seriousness, what really bothered me was the fact that I have become so dependent on my computer, the internet-technology in general. I'm not one of those people who walks around almost being hit by a bus because he's texting on his Blackberry, and I consider myself a responsible, courteous, citizen. I like to think that I control my life, but sadly, to some degree, The Technology god rules.

In any case, it was actually kind of nice not being a slave to my computer for a couple of days-
I just whipped out my iPod, texted my agent, and rode off into the sunset...

Tivo As Time Machine.

2009-05-16T06:28:00.000-07:00

I have a bad habit of recording shows on my DVR and then not watching them for weeks, months, or even a year. I recently went through the list of recordings (half of them shows that I would never watch anyway) and I came across a documentary on Howard Hughes that I taped exactly a year ago. The documentary was fascinating and I learned a lot of things about a subject that I thought I was somewhat of an expert on. But, that's not what I want to talk about today. There was another more disturbing facet of my little screening - the commercials.

It seems that almost every car commercial these days comes with a disclaimer that says something like "If you lose your job, we make the payments for at least nine months", or "Lose your income and we'll take the car back, no questions asked." Most commercials are quite depressing and almost morose these days, but a year ago you would hear pitches like "Indulge yourself-buy a new Hummer-you deserve it." There was one car ad from last year where a guy is in a black BMW or Mercedes with three supermodel type women where he goes out to some really expensive looking club. Now, they show a guy looking sad, but sitting down to a budget family dinner, or they don't show people at all.

Now we have some pretty sad and dire ads sandwiched in between shows that have had their budget cut, at least somewhat, from last year. The saddest commercial of all is the Progressive Insurance spot where the guy had to sell his watch because he's so broke.

I'm not trying to depress anybody, just making an observation, and I hope that I won't be selling my watch a few months from now.

Kids on Leashes!?

2009-03-27T14:37:00.000-07:00

I think it was Mark Twain who said, "Children should be kept in a box with air holes until they are 18 years of age." While I always chuckle at that tongue in cheek quote, one thing I most certainly don't approve of is putting children on leases. Now, I know what you're thinking: "What the hell does Nick know? He doesn't even have any kids!" Very true, but I do have 3 wonderful nephews and a niece, who are all very curious and active. True, sometimes I can't keep up with them, and I have to chase them, but I don't think putting them on a leash is the answer.
Besides, somehow the leash would end up comically wrapped around my neck and arms, or in a tree, or something along those lines.

The leash thing seems pretty extreme to me, but then there's the other end of the spectrum: Parents who are too busy texting or chatting to notice that their kids are about to fall down the stairs or run into traffic. A few years back I grabbed a little kid by the collar as he was about to run into traffic in Manhattan. The mother, who was on her cell phone and not paying attention thought I had just grabbed her son for now reason. The guy standing next to me explained to her that I had most likely just saved her son's life. She was a bit nicer to me after that.

Parents, you probably don't want parenting advice from a confirmed bachelor, but I'm offering it anyway-Keep and eye on your kids, and the leashes on the cats or dogs.

It's The Blackberries Stupid!

2009-03-18T21:00:00.000-07:00

Okay, so everyone is postulating and speculating about the state of the economy and AIG and the stock market, and on and on. There is no doubt that the world is in the midst of a Bastard strength quagmire, conundrum, or what have you, but in this humble journalists opinion, it has more to do with the fact that we are alienating ourselves from each other than with politics or even the economy.

We are all blackberried, facebooked and twittered up the wazoo, but no one is REALLY communicating. Sure, it's all fun and a great distraction, but when 9 out of 10 people in a business meeting are texting their friends instead of paying attention to the new "Business Model", well, Houston, we have a problem. I've seen this first hand, and quite frankly-it makes me ill.

It's been said before, but all this technology isn't really helping us, it's ultimately just making us ruder and more isolated. I for one, go out of my way to bump into people on the street who are too busy texting to pay attention to where they are going. And of course they give me the "deer in the headlights" look when I grab their coat to try to save them from being hit by a cab (that actually happened).

I'll get off my soapbox now, but, perhaps we need to go back to the days where people would actually get on a soapbox and communicate with their fellow man.

Joe Blow-Blogger...

2008-11-26T13:13:00.000-08:00

I was watching CNN recently, and the anchor was interviewing a guest, about what I can't remember, but what I do remember was his title - "Blogger." Since when did "Blogger" become a title? I can understand "Analyst", "Doctor", "FBI Director", but "Blogger?" They might as well put "Eater" or "Breather."

Okay, the irony of me blogging about the title "Blogger" isn't lost on me. I love "blogging" and I have read many intelligent, hilarious and insightful blog entries of all kinds, from people of all walks of life. I've also read some serious crap from people from all walks of life. I guess my point is this - today anyone can be a writer, or in the case of You Tube, a film director. I'm guilty on both fronts.

And I'm not an elitist, by any stretch of the imagination. I just think that the digital age has made it easy for any shmo to famous, or to be considered an expert. It's truly a double-edged sword.

Nick C., Blogger, signing off...

Shaken or Stirred-The Cocktail Application For iPhone

2008-09-18T13:38:00.000-07:00

“Shaken or Stirred-The Cocktails Application for iPhone”, By Nick Ciavatta

Last month’s much anticipated launch of the new iphone 3G has created quite a stir for “techies”, such as myself, as well as less technically inclined users. This new “it” gadget offers dozens of useful add-on applications, such as games, GPS programs, social networking, music, video, and it’s a phone too! To be honest, the application that really creates a “Stir” for me, is the “Cocktails” application.

A Pocket Mixologist…

Created by Cocktail Historian and software developer, Martin Doudoroff of cocktaildb.com, and software wizard Ian Baird from Skorpiostech, Inc. (www.skorpiostech.com)“Cocktails” is a pocket mixologist that caters to the bartender us all. In addition to alphabetically listing the recipes for just about every mixed drink known to mankind, the “Cocktails” application also breaks down the libations by category-including fizzes, flips, flings and punches. Each recipe includes information about specific glassware for each drink, and the user can choose whether a recipe is displayed in Imperial or metric units.

Other functions include the ability to search by keyword, the ability to share recipes with friends via email and twitter.com, and a favorites key which automatically flags and files recipes for future use. iPhone users can also use the “buy the book” function which performs a search for a purchasable copy of the book from where the recipe came on Amazon.com.

An Interesting Mix

Martin Doudoroff founded the Cocktaildb.com project in 2003 with Ted “Dr. Cocktail” Haigh, a prominent cocktail historian, author and collector. Ian Baird, is the president of Skorpiostech (www.skorpiostech.com), a Mac and iPhone development shop specializing in the design and implementation of custom and general purpose software applications.

The two met in 2007 and began collaborating to improve the functionality of CocktailDB.com, when the opportunity to develop the “Cocktails” application for the iPhone arose. “Cocktails” launched in July, 2008 as the preeminent portable cocktail database. They plan to expand the application and add more features in the future.

The Ultimate Bartending Device?

As a former bartender myself, I really could have used the Cocktails application on my iPhone (even though cell phones were probably only used by the military back then). I was forced to drag out the “War and Peace” sized bartender’s guide when a customer came in and ordered a “Knucklebuster” aka “Rusty Nail”, which is comprised of 1.5 oz Scotch and .75oz Drambuie, which you serve over ice in a rocks glass. With “Cocktails”, you can find anything from a basic “Screw Driver” (1.5oz vodka mixed with ice and orange juice and served in a high ball glass) to a “Block and Fall” (.75oz brandy, .75oz cointreau, 1.5oz apple brandy and .5oz pastis-served in a cocktail glass.

According to Doudouroff and Baird, the “Cocktails” application was not created so much as a guide for bar keeps, but for everyone. They have recieved very positive bartender feedback, though, especially from bartenders in New York City, who are dealing with a huge demand for mixed drinks at the present time. Ian Baird warns: “Just be careful that you don’t get lime juice in your iPhone.”

As far as the general public goes, Douderoff and Baird have received emails from people who were inspired by the application and tried new drinks and combinations they never would have attempted before.

Cocktail Evangelist

Martin Douderoff considers himself an “evangelist” for American cocktail culture, and hopes to inspire people to be adventurous in their mixing endeavors.

Prohibition really disrupted cocktail culture, according to Douderofff, and we unfortunately regressed during those years, but in the past ten years or so there has been a real resurgence and interest in cocktails of days gone by, and a passion for new mixed drink creations.

The Cocktails application costs US$9.99, and can be downloaded and updated from the iTunes “App Store.”

Witness to a Bank Robbery?!

2008-07-19T14:07:00.001-07:00

Okay, this is a 100% true story- I swear! I walked into my bank branch in Manhattan last week and one of the bank managers asked me if the police contacted me. Of course, a million things start running through my mind-
was I a victim of identity theft? Did someone screw up something in the condo account? It turns out that it was something much more serious, surreal, and somewhat hilarious.

My friendly bank manager informed me that I was in line behind a bank robber a few days before. The guy, who was wearing bike shorts, a tank top, and a bike helmet, told the teller that he had a stick of Dynamite in his pocket (not this isn't from a Woody Allen movie), and to give him all the money she had in the till.

All this happened before I walked up to the teller window to his left. I did not witness the beginning of the conversation, but I did hear him say "Hurry up-
I don't have all day." I just assumed that he was an a$$hole, as many bank customers in New York are. The teller didn't seem alarmed, so I didn't give it a second thought. I'm not sure what I would have done if I had known anyway.

The police never contacted me, but I'm not sure if I would have been much help. I don't remember what the guy looked like, except for the fact that he was very tall and dressed in bicycle related garb.

I assume that Bank of America won't be hiring me for their security division any time soon.

An American Drinker In Hong Kong...

2008-05-23T09:57:00.000-07:00

For many years now I’ve had a list of cities, states, and countries whose bars I would like to patronize, and I have to admit, Hong Kong was never really high on my list, but that all changed recently.

Ned Kelly’s Last Stand

The seventeen hour flight made me quite thirsty, so my brother and I wandered blearily around the Kowloon neighborhood where he lives, and found what would be, if I lived in Hong Kong, my “local” bar. “Ned Kelly’s Last Stand”,11A Ashley Rd.,Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, is named after one of Australia’s most famous outlaws, serves Australian and American food, and has the feel of an Old West saloon. My brother and I were seated on a low wooden stool surrounded by a mini table, and I proceeded to order a Tetley’s English Ale, a smooth, nutty and very creamy brew, with a slightly sweet aftertaste. We had a huge plate of Fish and Chips, Cooks and Chips (a very juicy half chicken with brown onion gravy), and later a huge, juicy cheeseburger (also with onion gravy, upon my request).

This dark, intimate saloon was full of people from all over the world- some locals, some Brits, a few Italians, a big group of Australians, and a retired couple from Southern New Jersey, who were seated next to us. “Are you here to see the band?” our new friends asked. Not really, but were very pleasantly surprised when a seven piece jazz band took the stage. “The China Coast Jazz Men”, exploded with a mellifluous mix of Dixieland, Be-Bop, and jazz standards. Their leader, Collin Atchison, is part band leader, part comic relief, and on Sundays he leads a full twenty-piece band.

Carnegies

The next day I was in a more “Rock and Roll” type of mood, so I headed to “Carnegies”,53-55 Lockhart Rd., Wan Chai, which is similar to the “Hard Rock Café” only with a more interesting menu, a better wine list and an excellent single malt scotch selection. As I perused the walls, which are wallpapered with all sorts of Rock posters and memorabilia- everything from “The Dick Clark Five” to the “Sex Pistols”, I ordered a Glenlivet, single malt, twelve year old scotch and a Carlsberg Pilsner.

They have an impressive “Crazy Hour” from 6-7pm, where most drinks are HK$19 (US$2.50) which morphs, eventually, into a more traditional “Happy Hour.” The Rolling Stones were blaring over the sound system as a mix of local business men, tourists and students danced (some of them on the bar), and ate the free spring rolls, chips, sausages and chicken fingers. They have an extensive tapas menu, and entrees such as Steak Baguette, and Beef Bourguignon. Carnegie’s gets exponentially louder and younger as the night goes on.

Smuggler’ Inn

The high octane partying in Wan Chai was fun, but I was looking for a more mellow pub, which I found in Smggler’s Inn,90A Stanley Main St. Located on the picturesque Stanley waterfront, or “Stanley Beach”, as the locals call it. Smugglers Inn is a pirate’s paradise, with wooden beams across the ceiling and tables and stools made from old barrels. It’s more of a beer and appetizer type of place with a very good beer selection featuring Tetley’s Ale, Boddingtons Pub Ale from the UK, Guinness, Carlsberg and Strongbow Cider, also from the UK. The pub also has a nice patio with tables with umbrellas right on the water where you can watch the Chinese junks float by. Smuggler’s Inn has a local flavor but was packed with tourists, most of whom had just came from the famous outdoor Stanley Market, which is the best place to go for inexpensive souvenirs and I have to admit, I purchased a little ink stamp with The Year of the Snake and my name in Chinese.

The culinary highlight at Smugglers was the “Bacon Sausage Roll”, which is sausage wrapped in bacon, deep-fried and served on a stick. The nicknamed for this tasty, fattening delight is “Heart Attack on a Stick.” To offset the calories, I ordered “The Ploughman’s Platter”, featuring salad with Ham, pickled onions, boiled eggs, cheddar cheese and sweet pickles.

Ice Bar

I visited so many fantastic bars and restaurants in Hong Kong, but before I left, my brother and I made a stop at the “Ice Bar”, in the crowded, party neighborhood of Lan Kwai Fong. The bar is literally a walk in freezer, shaped like a block of ice, with the bust of Vladimir Lenin standing guard at the door. You can wear a fur coat, parka or winter cap (which they provide), as you down a shot or two of fine vodka. As I sipped my shot of Chopin vodka, I couldn’t help but raise my glass to Hong Kong, which is now officially near the top of my new list.

Booze News

2008-05-16T10:34:00.000-07:00

Okay, one of my side jobs at work (which I don't get paid extra for) is "Booze News" Correspondent. In other words, I have the odious job of having to go out and review bars and restaurants and drink a lot of liquor. The research is tough, but someone has to do it. Anyway, here are a few of my articles:

Manhattan Beer Bars

Brooklyn Beer Bars

Seattle Brew Pubs

You can find them all here, as well as stories from Paul Lin and Paul Goguen:

http://www.frigginfabulousradio.com/boozenews.html

Thanks, and look out for my Hong Kong story,coming soon to a blog near you...

N

My Very Own Infomercial...

2008-05-12T12:58:00.001-07:00

Most people are either sucked in or repulsed by infomercials. I personally think they are truly the last refuge of the hopeless romantic. Don't we all want a product that will clean our house, shave our dog, cut our vegetables and tuck us in? Too bad most of the products hawked in infomercials are total crap.

My dream is not to buy products from infomercials, or even be in the audience- I fantasize about hosting an infomercial! I ultimately sell crap for a living on radio (being a commercial voice over person), so I think I would be a great host for a half-hour jerk fest that runs at 4 in the morning. The only thing is that I wouldn't reveal what the product is at all-just a phone # and web site. The whole production would be a total tease. Hey, if P.T. Barnum could do it-why not yours truly?

A Stroll Down Bleecker Street...Part 2

2008-04-01T10:58:00.000-07:00

Let's cross 6th Avenue, shall we? As you cross 6th on Bleecker Street in Manhattan you can't help but be drawn towards Joe's Pizza, which is the best pizza by the slice in NYC in my opinion, and I eat a whole lot of pizza. For me it's like the Fred Flinstone cartoon where the wavy food smell line thingies lift Fred right off his feet as he floats towards the delightful dish. Joe's secret is the sweet, tangy, sauce and the super thin crust.

As we make our way down the West side of Bleecker Street it soon becomes obvious that we are dealing with the "best of the best." To our right, certainly the best bakery/pastry shop, Rocco's.They have fantastic coffee and they fill the canollis right in front of you with that wonderfully thick, fattening goop which sometimes has chocolate chips rolled into it. And for a New York City place they have some pretty fantastic key lime pie. You can sit down and enjoy or get it to go- but just get it at Rocco's.

As if desserts aren't your thing, there is always Murray's Cheese Shop right across the street. It is a cheese lovers perverse fantasy come true featuring some of the creamiest, sweatiest, smelliest chunks of pleasure you could imagine. This is the real deal, folks, not your "Land O'Lakes" orange cheddar or cheez whiz. It's not cheap, but it's absolutely worth it!

A couple of doors down is Amy's Bread Shop, featuring wonderfully soft and hot loves of French, Italian, Rye, Pumpernickel, Marble, and some damned good coffee (they claim the best in the City).

And if your so totally stuffed that you can't possibly eat anything else for about 20 minutes, I suggest wandering into Matt Umanov's Guitars which has not only the sweetest axes known to man, but many other stringed instruments and accessories. I buy my strings and picks here, but I'd like to take home a 1958 Gretsch Country Gentleman, thank you very much.

Now that we've gotten a little culture, let's cross the street and go to Fish, for a martinis and mackerels, or Stoli and shrimp cocktail, or maybe just get some awesome oysters. This is Nirvana for seafood lovers, and it's right next to what some consider the best pizza in NYC, John's. You can't get a slice there, but people wait in line for hours to get in. Go early- it's certainly worth it.

If fine meats are your thing, stop in to Ottomanelli & Sons for the best cuts you will probably ever encounter. Again, it's not cheap, but totally worth it.

And last, but certainly not least, my favorite Bleecker Street establishment (and bar in all of Manhattan) Blind Tiger. It is a craft beer lovers Paradise, featuring an ever-changing chalkboard list of the best micro brewed beers from the USA and beyond. The food is also fantastic and very creative. "Rafael's Black Pepper Chili" is perfect with a "Stone Ruination IPA", and their "Old School Grilled Cheese" is the best around and goes great with "Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout."I'm pretty much a regular there, and yes I've written about it:

http://www.frigginfabulousradio.com/boozenews.html

I hope you enjoyed our little stroll down Bleecker Street. Perhaps next time we will cross 7th Avenue? Or, maybe we will just head back in to Blind Tiger, grab a pint, and sit in front of the fire...

A Stroll Down Bleecker Street...Part 1

2008-03-18T13:28:00.000-07:00

Let's face it, my last few posts where kind of depressing, so I figured that I should think happy thoughts, and my thoughts are never happier than when I'm strolling down Bleecker Street in New York City. It is certainly my favorite street, and I've been playing my guitar, drinking good beer, occasionally skinning my knee, and so forth on the magical walk called "Bleecker."

So, this is sort of a travelogue for folks not in the know. A "Blogo Tour", if you will.

Let's start out at "The Peculiar Pub" a really keen "beer bar" almost on the corner of Laguardia Place. This recessed tree house has one of the coolest vibes in NYC. The carved-up wooden benches, crowded taps and Sphinx-Like jukebox envelop you as you open your beer menu, which is broken down by country. It's a mixed younger crowd and the fried mushroom appetizer is fantastic!

Right across the street is "Senor Swanky's", a righteous Mexican place that only takes cash, but has some really amazing burritos, and some pretty stellar frozen margaritas, and outdoor seating with a view of the old "Grand Union" which I think is now an "Amalgamated Foods" or something like that.

Let's walk eastward and hit some of the best music clubs around, including "The Red Lion", "Kenny's Castaways" (where I played one Sunday a month for most of my youth), "The Back Fence" and "The Bitter End." You will find therein great music, inexpensive drinks and low cover charges.

Let's take a rest and get a cup of Joe from "The Puerto Rico Trading Company" which has great coffee from every country that has the bean.

In the next blog entry we will cross 6th Avenue and explore the West side of that fabulous street called "Bleecker."

A Story of Two Nightmares...

2008-02-22T18:44:00.000-08:00

I'm a man prone to nightmares, and by making this bold statement, I'm not trying to scare anyone. It's just a fact. They vary in severity and stylistic nuance, but they all make me wake up at least a little bit jittery.

I had two nightmares this very week, and I won't go into detail, but one was horrific-to the point where I could barely function at work the next day, and the other one was actually ultimately inspiring. The interesting thing is that the really BAD one made me afraid of what I could become, and the other one eventually made me feel very optimistic about what I SHOULD become. Again, the personal details aren't important.

I'm a firm believer that when people sleep, even insomniacs such as myself, shit that you can't work out when your boss is on your ass or your bills are late or whatever, you actually work things out so that you become at least somewhat of a better person -which brings me to an interesting question- Do serial killers or politicians ever have nightmares??

Give Up Giving Up For Lent

2008-02-11T13:01:00.000-08:00

I'm not a religious person by any stretch of the imagination. People call me an "agnostic", but as Steven Colbert says,"An agnostic is just an athiest witout balls." In any case, the point of this essay isn't to debate the existance of God, or to question anyone's faith. My main concern is the Roman Catholic concept of "Lent."

First of all, I'm not a practicing Catholic, but I respect the concept of "Lent." I believe it is important to sacrifice and to step back and appreciate what you have compared to others who have less, but why do people always "give something up?" People give up chocolate, beer, ice-cream, dancing, movies, and so forth and so on. Instead of sacrificing by "giving up" something that is realtively meaningless in the overall scheme of things, how about doing something for someone that you've never done before?

Instead of giving up chocolate, go down to the local soup kitchen and volunteer. Instead of giving up movies, why not go read to blind people, or take underpriveleged kids the movies.

It seems to me that it makes more sense help the needy than to deny yourself something that you don't really need.

That being said, I better get off my butt. Lent or no Lent, and start doing somthing to make a difference for someone less fortunate...

Ed Koch Has A Point...

2008-01-23T17:35:00.000-08:00

There has been a lot of talk recently about these tax "refunds" or "bonuses" that tax payers are going to get to ultimately help jump start the economy. I've heard pros and cons and pros and cons, but today while taping "A Touch of Clash", Ed Koch came up with a very practical solution (as he is wont to do). The government is afraid that people are going to "hoard" their refunds and spend it foolishly on food and heat, but the former Mayor of New York said "Just send everyone a pre- paid credit card that they have to spend that has an expiration date." I may be paraphrasing, but I think it's a great idea. People would HAVE to spend it on toasters or groceries or an oil change or two.

Of course, there is the problem of the elderly and very poor who would rather spend it on food or medication. My friend Todd and I discussed it and came up with a plan that goes a step further - Issue checks upon request. Set up a web site or 800 number where people can easily leave their SS# or Tax ID # and have a paper check sent. My guess is that most people will opt for the credit card.

In any case, my guess is the rocket scientists in Washington will listen to neither Ed Koch nor Todd nor myself.

Cell Phone or Crazy Talk?

2007-12-30T03:47:00.000-08:00

It seems that you can't walk two feet these days without overhearing some one's inane cell phone conversation. Working in Mid-Town Manhattan, I see many overachieving yupsters with the tell-tale wire running out of their ears - closing deals, firing underlings, telling "sweetie" not to worry, he wont' forget the eggs.

With everyone spewing carbon dioxide and banter into our overheated atmosphere, it's hard to tell who is mentally ill any more. I'm certainly not making fun of mentally ill people, but 15 or 20 years ago, the only people talking in public without specifically addressing any one were considered "crazy." Now that everyone is gabbing, and who knows who they are conversing with, it certainly muddies the communicative waters.

My solution? Cell phone "zones." It will be illegal to talk on a cell pone (wireless or not) unless you are standing in a special area, which will be marked with white or yellow lines like a truck loading zone. This zone will be tucked away from the general pedestrian traffic flow. If you feel like talking to yourself, or God, or" Zorbot", the ruler of Pluto, that will be perfectly legal. Oh, and if someone is caught talking in a "cell free zone", as a citizen, it is your right, nay, your civic duty, to report them and/or smack them in the face - as hard as you can.

My Life is Now Complete - I Have a Blog...

2007-12-21T06:05:00.000-08:00

Ladies and Gentlemints, my life is now complete because I have a blog. I thought I was doing pretty well with my radio podcast web site and all that fun stuff, but recently a young friend perusing my web site said - "Where is the blog?" and continued "Nick, you can't have a web site without a blog!" Well, since all the kids are doing it, I guess I'm going to have to cave and start a blog -and here it is.

*The opinions expressed in this blog are my own - void in Wisconsin."

Oh, and check out my web site: www.frigginfabulousradio.com

Happy Holidays! Nick