Last Thursday I went to a place that claimed to have the best hot dogs in NYC. No idea who decided that, but according to the chalkboard outside the place it was voted by the Times and another magazine, I think it was Time Out NY. I'm fuzzy on important details like the place's name (update 12/8/09: it's called New York Hot Dog & Coffee) because 1) I was on my way to table for a fundraiser for my frat and running late, and 2)I was only on Bleecker St. to check out the record stores. Why? Because I was hoping to fulfil my quest for an original pressing of my favorite album; U2's The Joshua Tree.
No such luck on that front, but I did notice the hot dog place. Now, you don't get to be a slim 205 lbs like myself without turning down unique culinary opportunities, so I figured I'd stop in for one of the Best Hot Dogs in New York. Sure, was something like 5:45 and a bizarre time to be eating anything for me (my meal schedule is usually pretty uniform; breakfast at 9ish if I have it, lunch around 12, and dinner around 7-8). But hey, you gotta try the best, right?
So I stopped in and, wanting to save my cash for the weekend's festivities, I ordered a "New Yorker." That's just a plain hot dog with sauerkraut, relish and onions. It was $3.45 and easily the cheapest 'dog on the menu. While I waited I took a look at the place. It looks pretty nice, well-kept, walls the color of actual hot-dogs and a surprisingly extensive menu that includes burgers and fries as well. There are definitely classier places in the West Village, but it's cleaner than 80% of the Papaya Dogs floating around this island, so I was cool with it. I got my New Yorker and promptly doused that baby with ketchup and mustard, completing the masterpiece (in Jersey, we call that "the works." Probably elsewhere, too, but I don't get hung up on those details).
The verdict? Not the best hot dog ever. Definitely good, but not $4 good by a long shot. I'll probably go back and give it another shot, though. I scarfed this one down reeeeal fast and didn't have time to savor it. Also, I really wanted a chili dog, but all things considered that probably would have been a poor choice at the time.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
BRUUUUUUCE (part DEUUUUUUCE)
Who but Bruce Springsteen could roll into Madison Square Garden with almost no onstage fanfare, surround himself with a bunch of other old geezers and put on one of his best concerts ever?
No one, that's who.
Bruce's concerts at MSG this past weekend were landmark events for for a number of reasons. For one, they were the only shows of his mammoth Working On a Dream tour that stopped in the Big Apple. They were also showcases for a couple of albums that the Boss and Co. had never performed in their entirety. On Sunday's show, he ran through his epic, 1980 double-album The River in its entirety; a feat he proclaimed had never been done before and, in all likelihood, would never happen again (the previous night's show got a run-through of '73's The Wild, the Innocent and the E Street Shuffle).
After opening with his wacky but nicely maturing new single "Wrecking Ball" and a brief word about the River album's history, Springsteen seemed to take a deep breath, count to four, and tear through the record's 20 tracks without another word.
And oh, how he played. Springsteen is often noted for his onstage proficiency even at the ripe age of 60, but he and his heart-stoppin', pants-droppin', heart-shockin', etc. E Street Band have rarely ever sounded this good. Barnburners like "The Ties That Bind" and "Crush On You" had the audience rocking, weepies like "The Price You Pay" and "Drive All Night" had them bawling, and Hemi-flavored goof-offs like "Cadillac Ranch"(complete with its hootnanny line dance from the '80s) and "Ramrod" had them dancing.
As always, Springsteen remains the consumate performer; an occasionally ruthless bandleader, he puts the music above all else but never seems to take himself too seriously. No matter what anyone says about Bono, even U2 fans have to admit his offstage reputation sometimes casts a shadow over his onstage performance. But Springsteen is different; he rolls with the punches and the show is all the better for it. "I Wanna Marry You" had not one but two false starts, a cover of Arthur Conley's "Sweet Soul Music" was improvised literally on the spot, and a take on the King's "Can't Help Falling in Love" was minus a lyric or two ("anyone know this part?" Springsteen asked mid-song). They still sounded great.
And somehow, Springsteen still managed to play ten more songs or so after The River, including a rollicking "Atlantic City," a thunderous "Badlands" and an ecstatic "Born to Run." The old coot loved every minute of it, to. He cracked up during "Dancing in the Dark" when female fans mobbed the stage and security had to yank them down. And he embraced the crowd like his long-lost brothers during the closer, a cover of Jackie Wilson's "Higher and Higher." Maybe Jersey's favorite son felt the need to connect with his New York supporters, but it seemed like he was just having a lot of fun.
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band performing "Cadillac Ranch" and "I'm a Rocker" at MSG, 11/8/09
No one, that's who.
Bruce's concerts at MSG this past weekend were landmark events for for a number of reasons. For one, they were the only shows of his mammoth Working On a Dream tour that stopped in the Big Apple. They were also showcases for a couple of albums that the Boss and Co. had never performed in their entirety. On Sunday's show, he ran through his epic, 1980 double-album The River in its entirety; a feat he proclaimed had never been done before and, in all likelihood, would never happen again (the previous night's show got a run-through of '73's The Wild, the Innocent and the E Street Shuffle).
After opening with his wacky but nicely maturing new single "Wrecking Ball" and a brief word about the River album's history, Springsteen seemed to take a deep breath, count to four, and tear through the record's 20 tracks without another word.And oh, how he played. Springsteen is often noted for his onstage proficiency even at the ripe age of 60, but he and his heart-stoppin', pants-droppin', heart-shockin', etc. E Street Band have rarely ever sounded this good. Barnburners like "The Ties That Bind" and "Crush On You" had the audience rocking, weepies like "The Price You Pay" and "Drive All Night" had them bawling, and Hemi-flavored goof-offs like "Cadillac Ranch"(complete with its hootnanny line dance from the '80s) and "Ramrod" had them dancing.
As always, Springsteen remains the consumate performer; an occasionally ruthless bandleader, he puts the music above all else but never seems to take himself too seriously. No matter what anyone says about Bono, even U2 fans have to admit his offstage reputation sometimes casts a shadow over his onstage performance. But Springsteen is different; he rolls with the punches and the show is all the better for it. "I Wanna Marry You" had not one but two false starts, a cover of Arthur Conley's "Sweet Soul Music" was improvised literally on the spot, and a take on the King's "Can't Help Falling in Love" was minus a lyric or two ("anyone know this part?" Springsteen asked mid-song). They still sounded great.
And somehow, Springsteen still managed to play ten more songs or so after The River, including a rollicking "Atlantic City," a thunderous "Badlands" and an ecstatic "Born to Run." The old coot loved every minute of it, to. He cracked up during "Dancing in the Dark" when female fans mobbed the stage and security had to yank them down. And he embraced the crowd like his long-lost brothers during the closer, a cover of Jackie Wilson's "Higher and Higher." Maybe Jersey's favorite son felt the need to connect with his New York supporters, but it seemed like he was just having a lot of fun.
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band performing "Cadillac Ranch" and "I'm a Rocker" at MSG, 11/8/09
Sunday, November 8, 2009
BRUUUUUUUUCE
So I just got back from seeing Bruce Springsteen's concert at MSG, and thought I'd offer up a snap judgment of the show: fantastic; best concert ever...you name the sueperlative, it was awesome. A million times better than the dud-like Giants Stadium closer I went to last month. Even though it's midnight now, I haven't eaten in 12 hours, and I'm still a little shocked that I nearly plowed into James Gandolfini in my rush to get to the entrance, the show was good enough I felt it warranted a quick post. Once I've eaten, slept, and digested everything a bit I'll come back with a proper review. Until then, here's the setlist.
"Wrecking Ball"
"The Ties That Bind"
"Sherry Darling"
"Jackson Cage"
"Two Hearts"
"Independence Day"
"Hungry Heart"
"Out in the Street"
"Crush On You"
"You Can Look (But You Better Not Touch)"
"I Wanna Marry You"
"The River"
"Point Blank"
"Cadillac Ranch"
"I'm a Rocker"
"Fade Away"
"Stolen Car"
"Ramrod"
"The Price You Pay"
"Drive All Night"
"Wreck On the Highway"
"Waitin' On a Sunny Day"
"Atlantic City"
"Badlands"
"Born to Run"
"Seven Nights to Rock"
"Sweet Soul Music"
"No Surrender"
"American Land"
"Dancing in the Dark"
"Can't Help Falling in Love"
"(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher"
"Wrecking Ball"
"The Ties That Bind"
"Sherry Darling"
"Jackson Cage"
"Two Hearts"
"Independence Day"
"Hungry Heart"
"Out in the Street"
"Crush On You"
"You Can Look (But You Better Not Touch)"
"I Wanna Marry You"
"The River"
"Point Blank"
"Cadillac Ranch"
"I'm a Rocker"
"Fade Away"
"Stolen Car"
"Ramrod"
"The Price You Pay"
"Drive All Night"
"Wreck On the Highway"
"Waitin' On a Sunny Day"
"Atlantic City"
"Badlands"
"Born to Run"
"Seven Nights to Rock"
"Sweet Soul Music"
"No Surrender"
"American Land"
"Dancing in the Dark"
"Can't Help Falling in Love"
"(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher"
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
West Village News: NYU Suicide
At 4:30am on November 2nd, a junior in NYU's College of Arts and Sciences died in the University's Bobst Library on Washington Square South. No official statement on the cause of death has been issued, but NYU President John Sexton said in a statement later in the day that "indications are that he [the student] took his own life." If so, it would be the latest suicide for NYU, a school as renowned for its opportunities, academic programs and city living as the stress that the combination of all three can inflict on its students.
News spread around the NYU community quickly. Student reactions ranged from sympathy for the victim, Andrew Williamson-Noble, 20, to angry when they learned that a guided tour of the university made a stop at Bobst only hours after the death occurred. The University's student newspaper, the Washington Square News, ran a continuous coverage of the incident, adding to the report as updates on the situation rolled in from the University and student witnesses, several of whom have said that they heard a loud boom echo through the library that seemed to signify when Williamson-Noble died.
If Williamson-Noble's death is ruled a suicide, it would be the University's first since students Allan Oakley Hunter and Pranay Angara took their own lives during the 2007-2008 school year.
WTC Field Trip
I grew up in New Jersey, and on September 11th, 2001, I had what basically amounted to a front-row seat of everything happening in New York City. Not in the literal sense, since my middle school sat at the bottom of a hill and my vantage point was therefore nonexistent. But my cousin went to the corresponding high school (the same one I eventually went to) and, from the view of his cafeteria, he saw the second Twin Tower fall. My uncle was somewhere in Jersey that had a full skyline view; the Kodak picture of the smoke that he took is framed in his house for everyone to see. As for me, I didn't see anything happen firsthand. But I was one of those kids that got picked up early from middle school by his parents, and I called around to make sure my family members were OK. Luckily, nobody I knew or was related to suffered losses in the attacks. But I could see the smoke driving home from school and the people gathered around Bloomfield Ave to watch, I remember the radio broadcasts on the way home, I remember being generally freaked out, and I certainly remember having friends whose parents were working in Manhattan on that day. Ironically, however, my absolute clearest memory of 9/11 is listening to U2 on the bus ride to school and thinking what a nice day it was.
All of this considered, going to the WTC Tribute Center in downtown Manhattan was kind of a strange experience for me; since I live so close to the city I saw everything firsthand and didn't exactly need a reminder of what occurred on 9/11. A place like that exists for people who don't come from around here, and during my journalism class's field trip to the Tribute Center last week, I kept remarking on the fact that a good amount of my friends in the class had experienced 9/11 from a distance, not up close as I had. Granted, I was lucky enough to have not experienced it too too close - after all, I didn't lose anyone, thank God. But still, for someone like me the very existence of a guided tour of Ground Zero, or talking to someone who didn't see the towers burn from across the river seemed a little...odd.
I will admit: the idea of the tribute center is a good one; people have forgotten about 9/11. But I got the feeling that the whole tour turned the site into a bit more of a tourist attraction than it needed to be; as a group of tourists snapped photos all around me and the class, I quietly hoped a less ostentatious reminder of the attacks would be put in place along with the new Freedom Tower.
The one part I did appreciate was when my class spoke to Tracy Gazzani, a Bay Ridge, Brooklyn resident whose 24-year old son, Terry, died in the attacks. Since 9/11, I've heard and seen a million stories like hers on TV just like everyone else has, but this was the first time I'd actually met someone who had suffered an inconsolable loss on September 11th. I enjoyed hearing her speak glowingly about her son, gamely recount a drunken story of his or two for our professor and even poke fun at her own, ultimately unrewarded, optimism during 9/11 with a bit of black humor ("I was the one who thought my son was coming home, remember?").
Ultimately, I was more blown away by meeting her than the whole tribute center experience as a whole: the world has changed a lot since 9/11, and the things that were important to us on that day don't necessarily resonate anymore. Middle school is long gone for me, U2 has put out two albums since the one I listened to on 9/11, my father passed away, and pretty soon I'll be looking for a job. But hearing Tracy talk sort of made the experience complete for me; to a certain degree, her life will always be stuck on 9/11 because her son never came home, and that, to me, is the kind of thing that truly bridges the country and connects people who only saw 9/11 happen and didn't necessarily live through it.
All of this considered, going to the WTC Tribute Center in downtown Manhattan was kind of a strange experience for me; since I live so close to the city I saw everything firsthand and didn't exactly need a reminder of what occurred on 9/11. A place like that exists for people who don't come from around here, and during my journalism class's field trip to the Tribute Center last week, I kept remarking on the fact that a good amount of my friends in the class had experienced 9/11 from a distance, not up close as I had. Granted, I was lucky enough to have not experienced it too too close - after all, I didn't lose anyone, thank God. But still, for someone like me the very existence of a guided tour of Ground Zero, or talking to someone who didn't see the towers burn from across the river seemed a little...odd.
I will admit: the idea of the tribute center is a good one; people have forgotten about 9/11. But I got the feeling that the whole tour turned the site into a bit more of a tourist attraction than it needed to be; as a group of tourists snapped photos all around me and the class, I quietly hoped a less ostentatious reminder of the attacks would be put in place along with the new Freedom Tower.
The one part I did appreciate was when my class spoke to Tracy Gazzani, a Bay Ridge, Brooklyn resident whose 24-year old son, Terry, died in the attacks. Since 9/11, I've heard and seen a million stories like hers on TV just like everyone else has, but this was the first time I'd actually met someone who had suffered an inconsolable loss on September 11th. I enjoyed hearing her speak glowingly about her son, gamely recount a drunken story of his or two for our professor and even poke fun at her own, ultimately unrewarded, optimism during 9/11 with a bit of black humor ("I was the one who thought my son was coming home, remember?").
Ultimately, I was more blown away by meeting her than the whole tribute center experience as a whole: the world has changed a lot since 9/11, and the things that were important to us on that day don't necessarily resonate anymore. Middle school is long gone for me, U2 has put out two albums since the one I listened to on 9/11, my father passed away, and pretty soon I'll be looking for a job. But hearing Tracy talk sort of made the experience complete for me; to a certain degree, her life will always be stuck on 9/11 because her son never came home, and that, to me, is the kind of thing that truly bridges the country and connects people who only saw 9/11 happen and didn't necessarily live through it.
Monday, November 2, 2009
NFL Week 8 Recap
Favre. Favre! FAAAAAVVVRE!
In case you didn't hear, Brett Favre played his first game in Lambeau as a Viking this weekend, and it pretty much went the same way as the Minnesota/Green Bay game had a few weeks ago: Favre and Co. heartily dismantled the Pack, despite a He-Man comeback mounted by Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers and his big 2nd-half resurgence. Say what you will about the old man's waffling (chances are you won't be wrong, either), but the fact remains that Favre can still flat-out play. And the '09 Vikings are much, much better all around than the Packers have been recently. Expect this circus to continue for at least another season, if not more, should the Vikes make as big a postseason run as everyone thinks they will.
Big vindication weeks for Vince Young and Steven Jackson this week; Young made his first start as a Titan since his alleged Chappelle-ian mental breakdown last season and he led the embattled Tennesee squad to its first win of the season over Jacksonville. Rams RB Steven Jackson, meanwhile, has quietly been building up some of the best stats in the NFL - going into Sunday he was ranked 3rd in rushing yards and 2nd in total from scrimmage, and on Sunday his team finally got its first win of the year under first-year coach Steve Spagnuolo. Jacksonville and Detroit aren't exactly elite teams, but a W is a W, and those teams needed 'em.
The Chargers and Ravens got much-needed wins this week, as San Diego became the latest squad to beat up on the lowly Oakland Raiders. Baltimore's win was much more significant, as they dealt the stampeding Denver Broncos their first loss of the season. There are certainly worse teams to drop one to, though: the Ravens defense is still one of the most intimidating groups in the league. And I can't reiterate this enough: Ray Lewis is freaking scary. Has anyone seen those NFL network commercials where they slow-mo his Raven dance? Oof.
And thank God for the Yankees, because New York football is in a sorry state right now. The Jets lost again to the Dolphins, 25-30, in a game I didn't watch so can't comment very much on. But all those grumblings that Rex Ryan's green meanies were more talk than walk is starting to look legit since their 3-0 start led to a 1-4 skid that included two losses to Miami and one to the confounding Buffalo Bills. Counting the Jets out is premature at this point (one thing clear about this Jets team is that they will not go quietly, if anything), but they definitely have work to do.
They certainly seem more competitive than the Giants, who were unceremoniously demolished by the Philadelphia Eagles in a humiliating, 40-10 defeat. Big Blue's skid right now can't really be understated; its defense looks confused and frustrated (after a Saints game where they under-pressured Drew Brees, the Giants' game plan has become to bring the house on the QB and leave a diminished secondary to stop the passing game), and an offense that thrives on ball control and a running game is trying to re-cast itself midseason as a long-ball threat. It's safe to say that opponents have figured out Brandon Jacobs' MO right now and are going out of their way to clog the holes up front so the big man can't get his wheels turning. Eli Manning hasn't found a way to compensate for this against solid opponents, and as a result his INTs are climbing at an alarming rate. A game against the Chargers, whose defense has been spotty, will be a big opportunity for the Giants to find their stride again.
Oh, and apparently the GM of the Cleveland Browns is getting fired. Unless I'm misunderstanding something, I'm thinking Eric Mangini dodged a biiiig bullet right now.
In case you didn't hear, Brett Favre played his first game in Lambeau as a Viking this weekend, and it pretty much went the same way as the Minnesota/Green Bay game had a few weeks ago: Favre and Co. heartily dismantled the Pack, despite a He-Man comeback mounted by Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers and his big 2nd-half resurgence. Say what you will about the old man's waffling (chances are you won't be wrong, either), but the fact remains that Favre can still flat-out play. And the '09 Vikings are much, much better all around than the Packers have been recently. Expect this circus to continue for at least another season, if not more, should the Vikes make as big a postseason run as everyone thinks they will.
Big vindication weeks for Vince Young and Steven Jackson this week; Young made his first start as a Titan since his alleged Chappelle-ian mental breakdown last season and he led the embattled Tennesee squad to its first win of the season over Jacksonville. Rams RB Steven Jackson, meanwhile, has quietly been building up some of the best stats in the NFL - going into Sunday he was ranked 3rd in rushing yards and 2nd in total from scrimmage, and on Sunday his team finally got its first win of the year under first-year coach Steve Spagnuolo. Jacksonville and Detroit aren't exactly elite teams, but a W is a W, and those teams needed 'em.
The Chargers and Ravens got much-needed wins this week, as San Diego became the latest squad to beat up on the lowly Oakland Raiders. Baltimore's win was much more significant, as they dealt the stampeding Denver Broncos their first loss of the season. There are certainly worse teams to drop one to, though: the Ravens defense is still one of the most intimidating groups in the league. And I can't reiterate this enough: Ray Lewis is freaking scary. Has anyone seen those NFL network commercials where they slow-mo his Raven dance? Oof.
And thank God for the Yankees, because New York football is in a sorry state right now. The Jets lost again to the Dolphins, 25-30, in a game I didn't watch so can't comment very much on. But all those grumblings that Rex Ryan's green meanies were more talk than walk is starting to look legit since their 3-0 start led to a 1-4 skid that included two losses to Miami and one to the confounding Buffalo Bills. Counting the Jets out is premature at this point (one thing clear about this Jets team is that they will not go quietly, if anything), but they definitely have work to do.
They certainly seem more competitive than the Giants, who were unceremoniously demolished by the Philadelphia Eagles in a humiliating, 40-10 defeat. Big Blue's skid right now can't really be understated; its defense looks confused and frustrated (after a Saints game where they under-pressured Drew Brees, the Giants' game plan has become to bring the house on the QB and leave a diminished secondary to stop the passing game), and an offense that thrives on ball control and a running game is trying to re-cast itself midseason as a long-ball threat. It's safe to say that opponents have figured out Brandon Jacobs' MO right now and are going out of their way to clog the holes up front so the big man can't get his wheels turning. Eli Manning hasn't found a way to compensate for this against solid opponents, and as a result his INTs are climbing at an alarming rate. A game against the Chargers, whose defense has been spotty, will be a big opportunity for the Giants to find their stride again.
Oh, and apparently the GM of the Cleveland Browns is getting fired. Unless I'm misunderstanding something, I'm thinking Eric Mangini dodged a biiiig bullet right now.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)