foodie finds :: pinkberry

pinkberry
170 8th avenue
new york, ny 10184

i just don't get the hype...

after waiting on line for nearly 30 minutes to get this product - i have to say - i was completely underwhelmed with what was presented. two kinds of 'yogurt' - original: which tasted like sour / citrus / vanilla soft serve; and green tea: which tasted like the above - only add green tea flavor and a few more cents as it was the more expensive of the two. not much to write home to mom about.

the only thing that i found rewarding to the entire experience were the toppings. fun cereals from your youth (cap'n crunch and fruity pebbles) as well as healthy nuts and fresh fruits. each topping - however - was an additional $0.95 onto the already overpriced soft serve.

in all - wasn't bad - but not really worth the wait. the toppings were a healthy choice - but still - not too much different than tasti d-lite - and they are all over the city with less wait and for less money.

hmmm....

say something photo :: acrylic pumps

there's got to be something to say about wearing comfortable shoes. but my god - just take a look at these. this is why women should not attempt to dress like drag queens when they have big gross feet. this woman thought it would be extremely festive to wear her acrylic pumps to dinner at the front porch in ogunquit, me.

i mean if i weren't sure of the fact that it was a real woman - i would say based on the over-sized feet squashed into a shoe that would classically be called a 'hooker' heel that this woman was indeed - a drag queen. but no. this was a real woman with bad fashion sense (compounded by the fact that she had bleach blond dry and crusty hair and a pink 'jumper' and windbreaker no doubt bought from k-mart.)

when listening in on her conversation (because why not) she was more concerned about how many gays were in this beach town known for it's gay clientele. maybe she should stop gawking at the gays and befriend a few so they can teach her what not to wear. stacy and clinton would have a field day with this one.

note to women everywhere: if your toes lap over the ends of your 'fashionable' hooker heels - they don't fit! like truvy (dolly parton) says in 'steel magnolias' - 'in a good shoe, i wear a six, but a seven feels so good i buy a size eight.' words of wisdom and definitely words to live by.

foodie finds :: the front porch

the front porch
ogunquit square
ogunquit, me 03907

great food - a little loud - if you are into showtunes - head upstairs - otherwise - a good alternative for the typical gay scene. the crowd may be a little long in the teeth but the staff is charming and the drinks are great. try the crab meatballs! yumm-o! (oh my god - did i just say a rachel rayism - i sooo hate her!)

say something photo :: blow bros

i saw this and totally couldn't resist - i mean really - either this is brilliant or completely unfortunate. blow bros - bringing all of your dumping needs to a portable toilet. taken in portsmouth, nh while visiting friends for memorial day.

i have now learned their motto is: 'we're number one in the number two business.' insane!

say something photo :: chicken wing cocktail

the chicken wing cocktail

ingredients:
- drink 1-5 moscow mules from bar 89 in soho new york (preferably in a copper mug - and i like mine with a little muddled cucumber) until sufficiently drunk
- accidentally drop in one half-eaten chicken wing
- combine with blue cheese dressing and the best nachos in nyc
- stir and serve

it's not the best combination in the world - but when completely drunk - you hardly notice the difference!

say something photo :: fat nap (dc style)

so the first fat nap picture was a popular one. so my friend scott took this pic on the metro in washington, dc. as you can clearly see - people in dc are much much bigger than the people in nyc - well - that is if you are using this picture to base all of that on. it's clearly time to go on a diet america!

say something photo :: america's got talent (as does the uk)

while having a little fun at splash on a typical musical monday - brian (from nyc) and michael (from london) - decided to have a fist-eating contest. now - i'm not sure if this is a 'talent' but it sure makes for a fun party trick. you be the judge.

say something photo :: fat nap

everyone loves a good nap on the r train heading to brooklyn. and to think - once i got a $50 ticket for occupying two seats on the train. can't wait to get rid of trans fats!

say something photo :: no peddlers

found on the side of a high-end fashion boutique somewhere in soho in new york city. a nice juxtaposition between rich and poor.

say something photo :: reflective pain

two photos taken in the atlantic avenue subway station in brooklyn. it's of the same piece of paper taped on the support column in the station. i'm not sure if it was intentional - it's obvioulsy the second half of a 'wet paint' notice. i call it reflective pain as the word pain is reflecting out of the white tiles on the station wall.

say something photo :: awkward situation

taken on 6th avenue at the taco bell that had a major rat infestation in new york city. the yellow paper is the notice from the new york department of health pointing out the violation. makes me never want to eat fast food again - i know that's not the case - but eww nonetheless.

say something photo :: stay human

i've decided to start documenting interesting 'things' i see in and around my world.

i've noticed that there has been an increase in the 'statements' being made on public property. this photo was taken in new york city on prince street just off of 6th avenue.

theatrical thoughts :: 2007 tony award nominations

tony nominations are like gay christmas! this year's nominations are out and it's time to get talking on who will be taking home the award. my picks, notes, and predictions are noted with a star (*).

nominations for the 2007 american theatre wing's tony awards®
presented by the league of american theatres and producers and the american theatre wing

best play

the coast of utopia
author: tom stoppard









frost/nixon
author: peter morgan









the little dog laughed
author: douglas carter beane









radio golf
author: august wilson









* i think the coast of utopia will ultimately win the tony - however - the little dog laughed is my ideal pick for the win. i thoroughly enjoyed this play and the performances were spectacular.

best musical

curtains










grey gardens










mary poppins










spring awakening










* this is definitely a tough call. i've never been a huge fan of disnycals (disney musicals) but mary poppins was quite good. i'm pulling for spring awakening - though i have not seen it - it seems to be getting a lot of the buzz this year and the music is fantastic. of course last year i was all over drowsey chaperone but it later lost to jersey boys - we'll see if there's another upset this year.

best book of a musical

curtains: rupert holmes & peter stone
grey gardens: doug wright
legally blonde the musical: heather hach
* spring awakening: steven sater

best original score (music and/or lyrics) written for the theatre

curtains
music: john kander
lyrics: fred ebb, john kander & rupert holmes

grey gardens
music: scott frankel
lyrics: michael korie

legally blonde the musical
music & lyrics: laurence o'keefe and nell benjamin

* spring awakening
music: duncan sheik
lyrics: steven sater

best revival of a play

inherit the wind
journey's end
* talk radio
translations

best revival of a musical

the apple tree
a chorus line
* company
110 in the shade

* hands down company is the one to beat this year. i can't even believe a chorus line was even nominated. and why even bother with 110 in the shade? i know i'm a bit partial - but i think les miserables should have at least been nominated. oh well.

best special theatrical event

jay johnson: the two and only!
* kiki & herb alive on broadway

* as much as i hate to admit it - i think kiki & herb will take this even though i would rather wipe my butt with sandpaper than to ever have to sit through this rubbage again!

best performance by a leading actor in a play

boyd gaines, journey's end
frank langella, frost/nixon
brían f. o'byrne, the coast of utopia
christopher plummer, inherit the wind
liev schreiber, talk radio

* i think this will boil down to two possibilities - christopher plummer (he's old and may die soon) and liev shreiber (let's make it a back to back win.)

best performance by a leading actress in a play

eve best, a moon for the misbegotten
swoosie kurtz, heartbreak house
angela lansbury, deuce
vanessa redgrave, the year of magical thinking
* julie white, the little dog laughed

best performance by a leading actor in a musical

michael cerveris, lovemusik
* raúl esparza, company
jonathan groff, spring awakening
gavin lee, mary poppins
david hyde pierce, curtains

* this is raúl's year - it has to be - he's perfect in his role and totally deserves the win.

best performance by a leading actress in a musical

laura bell bundy, legally blonde the musical
* christine ebersole, grey gardens
audra mcdonald, 110 in the shade
debra monk, curtains
donna murphy, lovemusik

* um - where's the nomination for mary poppin's ashley brown? not that she has a snowball's chance in hell of beating christine ebersole - but my god - do they have to nominate audra mcdonald for everything she does? ashley should have at least had a nomination.

best performance by a featured actor in a play

anthony chisholm, radio golf
* billy crudup, the coast of utopia
ethan hawke, the coast of utopia
john earl jelks, radio golf
stark sands, journey's end

best performance by a featured actress in a play

jennifer ehle, the coast of utopia
xanthe elbrick, coram boy
* dana ivey, butley
jan maxwell, coram boy
martha plimpton, the coast of utopia

best performance by a featured actor in a musical

brooks ashmanskas, martin short: fame becomes me
christian borle, legally blonde the musical
john cullum, 110 in the shade
* john gallagher, jr., spring awakening
david pittu, lovemusik

best performance by a featured actress in a musical

charlotte d'amboise, a chorus line
rebecca luker, mary poppins
orfeh, legally blonde the musical
* mary louise wilson, grey gardens
karen ziemba, curtains

* why is charlotte d'amboise even in this list? of the entire cast of the revival of a chorus line - she was one of the weakest in the bunch. i'm going to have to go with mary louise wilson. even though i didn't care that much for grey gardens - her performance was spot on.

best scenic design of a play

* bob crowley & scott pask, the coast of utopia
jonathan fensom, journey's end
david gallo, radio golf
ti green and melly still, coram boy

best scenic design of a musical

* bob crowley, mary poppins
christine jones, spring awakening
anna louizos, high fidelity
allen moyer, grey gardens

best costume design of a play

ti green and melly still, coram boy
jane greenwood, heartbreak house
santo loquasto, inherit the wind
* catherine zuber, the coast of utopia

best costume design of a musical

gregg barnes, legally blonde the musical
* bob crowley, mary poppins
susan hilferty, spring awakening
william ivey long, grey gardens

best lighting design of a play

paule constable, coram boy
brian macdevitt, inherit the wind
* brian macdevitt, kenneth posner and natasha katz, the coast of utopia
jason taylor, journey's end

best lighting design of a musical

kevin adams, spring awakening
christopher akerlind, 110 in the shade
* howard harrison, mary poppins
peter kaczorowski, grey gardens

best direction of a play

michael grandage, frost/nixon
david grindley, journey's end
* jack o'brien, the coast of utopia
melly still, coram boy

best direction of a musical

john doyle, company
scott ellis, curtains
michael greif, grey gardens
* michael mayer, spring awakening

best choreography

rob ashford, curtains
* matthew bourne and stephen mear, mary poppins
bill t. jones, spring awakening
jerry mitchell, legally blonde the musical

best orchestrations

bruce coughlin, grey gardens
* duncan sheik, spring awakening
jonathan tunick, lovemusik
jonathan tunick, 110 in the shade

regional theatre tony award

alliance theatre atlanta, ga

foodie finds :: bar 89

bar 89
89 mercer St
new york, ny 10012

best nachos in the city - hands down - there's nothing fancy about them - just as nachos should be - perfectly toasted chips topped with loads of real cheese (not that fake cheese whiz crap) and jalapenos. each bite gets better and better every time. if you want to go the extra mile and pile on other crap - you can - but simple and cheesy is my preferred way. pair that with a plate of hot wings, grilled veggies, and several moscow mules (get it with muddled cucumber in a copper mug) and wow - what a night of sinful foodie goodness.

menu has many other upscale bar choices (burgers, salads, grilled cheese - another favorite). great for a party upstairs for a group - or fun for casual one on one down by the bar.

oh yeah - the bathrooms - must check them out - you'll know what i mean when you see them. definite place to pop into when out and about shopping down the city in soho.

foodie finds :: cafeteria

cafeteria
119 7th avenue
new york, ny 10021

overrated food with a staff that has more attitude than a runway model without booze and cigarettes.

granted - for a late night spot - it's more upscale than your cheesy diner - but at least you know what you are going to get at a diner. the 'trendy' factor is about the only thing that keeps this place running - it's very 'scene.'

though i will say this - their mac 'n cheese is pretty good in a pinch - but wading through the attitude to get it may not be worth the wait - that's why kraft makes microwave cheesy mac!

foodie finds :: bar veloce

bar veloce
176 7th avenue
new york city, ny 10013

when you want something a little different - head to bar veloce. it's a no attitude wine bar in the heart of chelsea (additional location in the east village - have not been there yet but aim to go soon). the staff is fairly helpful (when it's not packed to the rafters with people) with assisting you on picking the perfect bottle of wine - and i do mean bottle. dollar for dollar it's cheaper to get the whole bottle if you are planning on having at least 2 glasses per person (and when i say per person - that means 2 of you) - lol. glasses of wine run from anywhere between $10 and $14 while bottles run between $20 and $70 - so pick wisely - it can get expensive - but well worth it!

they also have a nice menu of foods perfectly paired with wine. the staff will help you with that too if you aren't so versed in pairing foods to wine. nothing too fancy - just something to get your grub on while you get your drink on.

it can get a little loud and a little crowded but it can be a great alternative to the usual bar for a casual date spot or some overdue catch-ups with old friends.

foodie finds :: magnolia bakery

magnolia bakery
401 bleecker street
new york, ny 10014

what's all the hype about - i can go to the grocery store and make a better cupcake from a box. these cupcakes are always void of moist. the frosting is good but it's the entire experience that makes a cupcake.

now - if you want something good - try out their other selections in the mainly overlooked cases just inside and to the right - their pies and cakes are pretty lovely - just have to beat the cupcake people over the head to get to them.

always too busy - very over-rated. moral of the story: you shouldn't have to wait in a queue for a cupcake if you really don't want to (unless you are at the checkout at food emporium).

say something photo :: world's tightest pants

this was sent to me by a friend - all i can say is - ouch - words can't even go there with this one. oh - not her - the guy in the grey jeans - i mean what was he thinking - haha! i mean really - i hope to god he's foreign or something - that's quite a site indeed.

foodie finds :: high chai

high chai

18 avenue b
new york, ny 10009

i had fun drinking here one night - that is until they ran out of alcohol - i kid you not - they ran out! but it's all good - i was trahsed and ready to move on anyway. i later went back to sample their food. i was on a date. we were the only ones in there. a much different scene than the party night with the missing alcohol. the food was a hodgepodge of this and that - nothing really seemed to be the place's specialty. go for drinks - the vodkas are good and they do have a great selection of teas. as for the food - go somewhere else in the hood.

foodie finds :: blockheads

blockheads
50th between 8th and 9th
new york, ny 10020

if not for the food - for the cheap margaritas! my goodness - $4 for flavored frozen margaritas outside on a hot spring day - i can't think of anything better. definitely a major contributor to my cinco de mayo hangover this year. oh - and the food ain't bad at all buy why ruin a good buzz with their healthy mexican traditional entrees.