TV Shows »Stella

stella dvdWatching Michael and Michael Have Issues, a perfectly acceptable comedy, but not, perhaps the greatest achievement of these two charming comedians, I found myself really longing to watch their brief lived series from a few years back, Stella.

The loosey goosey, often absurd and silly skit show stars The State co-conspirators (and the famous people you're most likely to see walking the streets of Manhattan), Michael Ian Black, Michael Showalter and David Wain. The trio performed under the name Stella with less safe for television material for years before they were picked up for a series. But the glory was short lived and The Mind of Mencia was there to fill there shoes after only ten episodes.

In one of my personal favorite episodes, the suit clad boys crash a Paul Rudd attended company picnic only to become heads of “the big account”. Another finds them battling paper boy bullies through the art of friendship rapping. You can find these moments and more on dvd – which is also finally true regarding long awaited release The State – though it's had “a very long wait” for a very long time on netflix, boo.

See more: TV Shows


Be the first to leave a comment →
Posted on August 10, 2009

Web Sites »Journey Round My Skull

I am a longtime, huge admirer of Journey Round My Skull a “Unhealthy book fetishism from a reader, collector, and amateur historian of forgotten literature.” Go there for inspiring images from around the world and over the decades. You're unlikely to find a more visually compelling collection of graphic design and interesting illustration anywhere

See more: Web Sites


Be the first to leave a comment →
Posted on August 10, 2009

Spend a Couple Minutes »McCarren Park Farmers Market

greenpoint farmers marketretfully, we have just not taken advantage of the weekly McCarren Park farmer's market until this summer. Fresh produce and other treats are such a great thing to have access to.

The Ronnybrook stall is probably the most exciting with their ice creams and pints of delicious milk but Jim is thrilled about the apple cider from Red Jacket Orchards and I got some great looking dill, carrots, and radishes today.

See more: Spend a Couple Minutes


Be the first to leave a comment →
Posted on August 10, 2009

Hunks »James Ensor

james ensor skeletons fightingThe James Ensor exhibit at Moma has drawn many viewers with its intriguing images of Skeletons Fighting. The first room, however, with the very competent but run of the mill landscapes and portraits doesn't quite live up to expectations. Soon, however, the work becomes far more interesting and bizarre with skulls and wild imagery of scary masks.

Ensor's astonishing work is creepy, detailed, and funny – I chuckled particularly over his etching of a skeleton called Self Portrait in 1960. Most of his work shown is from the late 1890s but they seem so modern in their look and subject matter.

The show is worth the admission alone and is open until the 21st of September. When you stop in, keep an eye out for my favorite pieces, both called Bad Doctors.
/p>

See more: Hunks


Be the first to leave a comment →
Posted on August 10, 2009

Drinks »Beer Island

You may want to go the way we did and get bleary eyed over several beers at Nathans before daring to enter Beer Island at Coney. Even with the veil of Budweiser, the cigarette butt strewn, vomit stained, port-o-potty lined box of sand is glaring to the eye and seems like a dangerous place to spend our time. But spend our time we did.

After all, there was entertainment – if you count burly cretins walking around with unsafe pythons (with their faces taped shut with scotch tape because they bite) and parrots that the pythons are trying to eat. Tons of seedy fun.

See more: Drinks


Be the first to leave a comment →
Posted on August 10, 2009

Desserts »Blueberry Ice Cream

ronnybrook blueberry ice creamRonnybrook Farms has thrilled me before with their spectacular milkshakes and tasty yogurt, so you can imagine my love for their seasonally flavored Blueberry Ice Cream.

We picked up this sweet refreshing treat from the local Farmer's Market (see this weeks what to do with a couple minutes) and you can too at several market locations and their Chelsea Market store.

** Since I began writing this, we have also tried their coconut flavor that features chocolate covered almonds and is equally mind blowingly delicious.

See more: Desserts


Be the first to leave a comment →
Posted on August 10, 2009

Style Icons: Female »Cherie Currie

cherie currie As much as I'd like to be optimistic about The Runaways, an upcoming bio pic about the jailbait band, let's all focus on appreciating the real life rock stars, because any way you slice it, Dakota Fanning ain't no Cherie Currie. (I'll definitely be waiting for it on dvd though as some guilty pleasure viewing.)

I loved Currie madly in the Jodie Foster, Scott Baio Brix Pick, Foxes, and her on stage persona was fantastic. She never got the solo career of band mates Ford or Jett, but her rocker blond framed elfin face and her petite bad girl electricity make her my favorite.

See more: Style Icons: Female


Be the first to leave a comment →
Posted on August 10, 2009

Style Icons: Male »Bill Clinton

Straight from the AP wire:

“The North Korean leader, Kim Jong-il, pardoned two jailed journalists after meeting with former President Bill Clinton, the state news agency reported.”

See more: Style Icons: Male


Be the first to leave a comment →
Posted on August 10, 2009

Albums »Black Monk Time

black monk timeI can't quite remember how I stumbled across The Monks and Black Monk Time, but I am glad I did. They remind me of many of the British invasion stuff I most enjoy, like The Troggs and The Animals, but it's a bit more raw and strange. The band, made up of American GIs stationed together in Germany were more original than just post-Beatle wanna bes. In fact, according to wikipedia, founding member Remy Essen:

“”designed” the Monks as “anti-Beatles”: short hair with tonsures, black clothes, ropes around the neck, image of being hard and dangerous”.

Their sound is sometimes abrasive, always rhythmic, and sometimes a bit silly but somehow beneath all the shouting, spoken word, banging drums and strange costumes, there is a pop sensibility at the heart of it all.

The once obscure band and album has gotten a renewed life with a recent re-release and wildly praising reviews from among other spots, the usually non plussed Pitchfork:

“When you hear it barked out by Monks lead vocalist Gary Burger over an otherworldly groove, though, it's an unlikely call to arms, and an immediate auditory stamp for one of the most strikingly original bands of the mid-60s.”

See more: Albums


Be the first to leave a comment →
Posted on August 10, 2009

Songs »For Your Eyes Only

For Your Eyes Only, a song on the strange four track release Cherry Bomb: Cherie Currie of the Runaways, sounds a like leather clad, big haired, lady-rock B-side from 1989 though interestingly enough, it was released only a couple of years ago – but I can't find any information on whether the recording itself is new or only just released… But I'd like to think it's a new recording and that Currie just felt compelled to do a brief 2007 recording session between giant chainsaw sculptures (her current passion).

Even though this is pretty an obscure track, it is available on iTunes.

See more: Songs


Be the first to leave a comment →
Posted on August 10, 2009