personal update

so i'm all packed (well just about - a few more things to toss into the suitcase) and i'm heading for the entertainer of the year pageant in louisville, ky. i've been honored for the 3rd year in a row to sit on the judge's panel on what is (in my opinion) one of the most unique and most entertaining pageants for female impersonation.

this year is extra special - you see - most of the staff of carriefairfield.com will be attending and we are hosting a meet and greet with the membership on sunday afternoon. it should be rather festive and i'm genuinely looking forward to meeting some of the members!

i hope to be giving updates while on my trip - it's always a good time to be had in louisville!

when i return - it'll be nose down and nothing holding back from the big move back to manhattan. yes indeed - i'm leaving brooklyn and moving back to manhattan - this time in hell's kitchen (clinton). i've found a fantastic one bedroom apartment and i am excited to make it my new home. i'll miss living with nick (not necessarily the 2 other cats - woodward and bernie). nick has taken on a new roommate who will be moving in on or around august 15th. that's right around the corner.

where has the summer gone?

more later from louisville! time to finish packing!

foodie finds :: taboon

taboon
773 10th avenue
new york, ny 10019

unbelievable - some of the best food i've had in a while. the service was excellent and very accommodating. we unfortunately didn't have a reservation but was able to squeeze us in for a 45 minute window which meant we got our food fast and with plenty of attention. i had the halibut - fantastic - just the right amount of spice. i tried the lamb kebabs - oh wow! i'm not a fan of humus - but i'd bathe in theirs it's so good. their drinks and bread - fantastic additions to the meal. so glad i'm going to be moving a block away - i'll be eating there often - yummy to my tummy i can't wait to eat there again!

foodie finds :: zen palate

zen palate
34 union square
new york, ny 10003

ok so i don't get it...

you have a cafe - you have fine dining - but it's really the same menu just with an added charge and a $15 minimum - that's fine dining?

back when i first move to manhattan - i lived just a few blocks from this place and ate here often. it was cute. it was consistent. it didn't break the bank to eat here. it was very good vegetarian food with no attitude. in the warmer months - you could sit outside and enjoy a great meal and watch the people walk by.

i have returned a couple times in recent months to discover that they have 'upgraded' themselves. now - i may have never clued in on the fact that they had fine dining - it could have always been there - it could have just been added - but my experience this last time was less than desirable.

the hostess right away asked if we wanted cafe or fine dining - i was like 'how interesting' - we looked at the two menus and decided there wasn't that big of a difference and just said we'd take cafe service instead. we were then told there would be a 20 minute wait - but fine dining would be immediate seating. we declined and waited. at least 6 more parties came up and were given the same pitch. every party declined the fine dining option. am i missing something here? this was peak dinner time - and no one seemed to want fine dining from this place. i'm not even sure how it could possibly be economical of them to have the option if time and time again - people decline to take them up on the offer to go upstairs and eat.

am i crazy?

am i missing something?

when we finally were able to take a seat - the service was very slow. the food actually came out at 3 different times therefore throwing off the time it was taking for us all to collectively eat. if we were to wait - all of the food would have been cold (to recoup the timing issues the waiter gave us drink tickets - which i will no doubt lose - for the next time we dine - i wonder if it's for the cafe or for fine dining - he didn't say).

the food - still good - just feel like there's some kind of pretension has moved in and they are suddenly bigger than they appear to be. maybe i should try the fine dining option to see what the fuss is about - wait - no one fussed about it - that's right - it's a vegetarian cafe - nothing more - nothing less.

but hey - they must be doing something right - they continually get voted best vegetarian restaurant in new york - they have their awards table right there as you walk in to show off (just in case you were wondering).

say something photo :: the ass midget

ok so now i think i've seen it all - thanks to my friend michael in london. michael sent me this lovely picture of a product found in the prowler sex shop off of old compton street in soho, london. an ass midget. as if sex with toys wasn't sordid enough - now you can cram an entire travelocity gnome up your bum and use it to get off. i mean really - how do you explain that one when your mom comes to clean your room. or better yet - when you want to get your 'groove' on with another person - what do you say - 'gnome me - let me feel his point!' - not for all the lube in lube-land (it's a great place the roller coasters are fun!)

foodie finds :: go sushi

go sushi
759 9th ave
new york, ny 10019

it is what it is - a run-of-the-mill sushi place. nothing fancy though their spicy shrimp tempura rolls are a nice twist. i've had much better but i've had much worse too - it's average - sometimes that's good enough.

foodie finds :: hooters

hooters
211 w 56th st.
new york, ny 10019

well if it weren't for the wings - there really wouldn't be a reason to go to this cheese-fest of a restaurant. but hey - if you need some slumming and a reason to prove your masculinity - then this is definitely the place to go. just beware of the fat tourists and lonely suit guys out looking for some 'action' - i feel like i have to shower after walking in this place - but man - they are good wings.

chinese fortune cookie

from tonight's batch of fortune cookies:

1. a hunch is creativity trying to tell you something.
2. an investment in yourself will pay dividends for the rest of your life.
3. a mentor is someone whose hindsight can become your foresight.

words to live by!

foodie finds :: boqueria

boqueria

53 w 19th st.
new york, ny 10011

what a find - what a treasure - what a gem - what an experience - what a blessing - finally - a new alternative to the usual digs in the chelsea/flatiron area! i can't even begin to tell you how much my mouth danced for joy over the foods i had this evening.

i wish i had had a heartier appetite as i wanted to sample everything on the menu. the lamb - melts in your mouth - the bacon wrapped almond stuffed dates - unbelievable - the wine and cheese selection - out of this world. the sangrias were a nice touch - 3 kinds to chose from - i got the good old classic red variety - um um good!

price - not too bad - under $100 for 2 of us including wine. the staff - very nice - very attractive - very knowledgeable of the menu and the features. the scene - kinda rockin' for a monday but not too over the top.

I walked out of there pretty full - very happy - an very very eager to go back again. since my usual spot for monday happy hour is splash (just around the corner on 17th and 6th) - it may become my monday tasting menu on a frequent basis.

yummy to the tummy good!

foodie finds :: pop burger

pop burger
60 9th ave
new york, ny 10011

eh - yeah - eh.

one word - dry. i'm not sure if it was just a slow day - a fresh factor - or what - but everything i had was void of moist. i'm not a huge fan of fries with texture - just give them to me as god made them - only fried with salt and mayonnaise on the side. next time i'll try the onion rings - if there is a next time.

not a lot of satisfaction for the hype. the decor was about the only thing going for it but trendy is as trendy does - if the food ain't good - i can go lots of places for a trendy atmosphere. it's hip but overrated.

foodie finds :: breeze nyc

breeze nyc
661 9th avenue
(bet. 45th & 46th)
new york, ny 10036

for what it was - it wasn't bad - i will say this - for a place that touts every accolade it's ever gotten in it's menu - you'd hope that the 'good' things live up to the hype. i figured i couldn't go wrong getting two of the 'most popular' dishes.

starter: tuna tar tare - overall - it was edible but there was way too much going on - crunch - sour - sweet - fish - spice - it was all over the place. some say that stimulating each of the senses in each bite is a good thing - i think it's confusing - each bite was inconsistent and some were just 'off' - occasionally - all i got were grains of coarse sea salt. i left a good bit on the plate for when they took it away. this was a recommended favorite item.

main: grilled chicken breast - not bad - the inside was moist but the outside was tough and over-cooked. the sauce was good and the veggies were a nice touch. i've had better - i've had worse - i mean after all - it was just chicken.

drink: i had the cucumber sakitini - yumm yumm - definitely the highlight of the meal for sure.

maybe i just made the wrong decisions - there were several items on the menu that looked like it had possibilities - maybe i'll give it another chance. i am moving into that area so the chances are good. i guess i'll play it by ear.

say something photo :: no more nails

my friend michael (the one from london - hi luv) sent me this picture today - it's so freaking hilarious i just had to say something about it. sick and twisted - my god i want the t-shirt! haha - i just said god - i'm so going to hell - fun!

foodie finds :: pardo's

pardo's
92 7th ave
new york, ny 10184

for a no nonsense quick and easy meal - this is definitely a win! definitely a tapas-feel to the presentation - the chicken is always cooked to perfection and the yucca fries are excellent. try everything with the peruvian sauces - not too great for the heart (just flavored mayonnaise) - but definitely great to eat - and who doesn't love mayonnaise!

happy hour offers cheap beer and other alcoholic creations. great outdoor area for the right day in the sun. in a perfect location for people watching too!

this will totally be a place i'll return to often!

say something photo :: ride that pole

i mean really - how could i resist this one - man's arse wrapped around the pole of the subway - i mean it's just too hard to pass up - so - a quick snap from the treo - and here it is on the blog for all to see - god i love technology and random people - places - and things!

fat nap :: a definition

while 'googling' around the internet - i decided to see if fat nap was found elsewhere - and yes it was! below is the definition as provided by the urban dictionary - i about pissed myself!

1. fat nap
- when fat people fall asleep randomly, and at inopportune times.
- a cat nap...for fat people.
damn, craig's taking a fat nap again!

i don't like to think of a fat nap as a 'fat' thing - although sometimes it really is a fat person napping - more so than not actually - it's more of a celebration of all things napping - and in my case - most of the time that also involves the subway in nyc!

say something photo :: fat nap

this picture says - 'not only am i fond of a fat nap - i'm also a mouth-breather so bugs and other flying disease-ridden trash are welcome!'

oh did i mention - she has a weak chin - not to pick fun - but my god - so many things - way too many to deal with. you can make your own assessment.

say something photo :: no martinis

while strolling through the city yesterday - i found an interesting sign on the outside of a park. like most parks in manhattan - it was a haven for the homeless. most sitting around with their shopping carts overflowing with empty soda cans and plastic bottles. i tend to think of them as hermit crabs. most are usually drinking or drunk. yet outside of the park - it clearly says - 'no martinis' - so - one would think that if a sophisticated person of certain stature were to go to said park with martini in hand - he or she may risk a fine for drinking a martini but the drunken bums drinking their 40's of strawberry wine are fine - specifically because it's not a martini? i think they should change the sign a bit and put a silhouette of a drunken homeless person and his shopping cart! it would be so much more applicable.

say something photo :: fat nap

this book is soooo boring - i'd rather just take a fat nap while sitting up. ahhh - much better than reading any day!

seriously - the photo didn't do it justice - this woman was so asleep she kept doing that head fall-quick catch thing.

foodie finds :: joe's shanghai restaurant

joe's shanghai restaurant
9 pell street
(bet. bowery & doyers)
new york, ny 10013

ok the soup-filled pork dumplings - i don't know how they do it (actually i do - they freeze the broth then wrap them in the dumpling wrapper and when it steams - the broth thaws and stays inside the dough - clever indeed!) - but um um good! lol - quite an experience indeed. totally will go back - if i can ever find it again!

foodie finds :: temple in the village

temple in the village
74 w 3rd st
(bet. laguardia & thompson)
new york, ny 10012

tried out this place based on a suggestion from a friend - i didn't know what to expect but was quite pleased. had it not been suggested - i would have never ventured in to try - pretty nondescript - and i'm always suspicious of buffet-style places (you never know how long the stuff has been out). anyway - tried it - not bad at all - various selections - all vegetarian and pay by the pound. i tried a little of everything i could identify. of all the things i had - i liked the spinach salad and sprout salad the most and disliked the kale with sesame (it was gritty like it had not been washed enough before preparation). not too bad - $10 for a healthy portion of food an a bottled tea from the selection they had. in all - it was a pretty 'crunchy' experience - very natural with a surprising punch of flavor.