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.