The Blog

Best kid’s birthday party I’ve ever been to.

Proud parents with their little girl.

Proud auntie helping with the decorations.

Ailey’s ready to receive her guest.

Ailey and friends.

Best friends.

And, yes, Ailey had fun. http://youtu.be/MAD-rTcVq1M

Hung at my desk as a daily reminder…

Oct. 26, 2010 12:55am — 34th and 7th — New York City

Way to protect the building, buddy.

A short photo essay.

“I want to eat! I want to eat!”

“Mmmmm…”

“What? Is there something on my face?”

“Peak-a-boo!”

“I see you!”

MY college buddy DeGeorge, my roommate Jonathan and I hit the town for Halloween. Jonathan had a gig with a band he’s just recently joined, Late Night Machine.

Crazy night in the Village. Here’s our costumes:

Chef “Boy-I’ll-Cut-You”

Detective “Fabulous” [LOL!]

Smo’ the Pimp

Cousins Tangie, Ailey and I hit the streets recently the Carroll Garden Soup Festival. We tasted at least 10 soups from various restaurants along Smith Street in Brooklyn.

The best soups we tasted were a pasta fagioli at Lunetta and a roasted squash puree from Bombay Dream. The exact recipes, of course, aren’t on the web.

I’ve been to Eataly three or four times now since the last time I blogged about it. I really like that place. I try to plan my trips to the city so I can stop at Eataly, pick up some fresh pasta, prosciutto or imported Italian products, before I head home.

Here’s a few pictures:

Entrance on W. 23rd Street.

Meat counter.

The dried pasta selection, alone, is insane.

One of the standing-room only restaurants.

Here I had a meat and cheese platter and a glass of prosecco.

Visit Eataly if you’re in town. There are several restaurants and counters to eat at. Be prepared for the crowds…and a possible line at the two entrances. Best way to avoid lines? Go during the week in the middle of the day.

This is neat. And strange. I like.

As a kid, piling in the RV and setting out for a camping trip wasn’t official unless the Paul Simon cassette tape was popped into the dash. My stepdad, my mom, my sister and I demanded Mr. Simon keep us jovial as we crossed California’s roadways to Reno, to Lake Camanche or to whichever destination the grown ups agreed upon.

Our favorite, by far, was Simon’s Graceland album. Long considered by many music journalists as one of the greatest albums ever recorded, Graceland’s African inspired sound convinced us we weren’t home…and that that was a good thing.

Here’s the title track, Graceland.

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