Hot guys sometimes finish last

Went to the 3rd round of the US Open with Robyn. Always entertaining, especially the way a hot dog, fries and a couple of beers costs more than the tickets.


The Unisphere in Flushing Meadows Park.


Robert Kendrick, after losing Mixed doubles on Court 7. Up close, no zoom.


James Blake, losing to Mardy Fish in Arthur Ashe Stadium.


John McEnroe, knocking balls around with his son (I doubt he was losing. Although he's a great player, I can't call him hot.)

Spotted: Roger Federer playing on the practice courts and James Blake's brother Thomas at a bar in the plaza

Take me out to the ball game

Got tickets to the Mets-Braves game. This is actually the last season for the current Shea Stadium. Like Yankee Stadium, seems a shame to build a new stadium right next to a perfectly fine one. Though unlike the Yankees, I must say the Met game was pretty mellow - not a lot of music, etc. However, I did try Dippin’ Dots, a new phenomenon to me.

Not your college ramen

Sarah coerced me to dinner at Ippudo, relatively new place near Union Square. We ordered pork fat as an appetizer. And then I got noodles with a spicy broth. Having lived in Asia for several months, Sarah is much more accustomed to the technique of eating ramen. I did OK, but was a little slow and a lot messy. But it was a good experience. Friendly staff and mainly Asian clientele (for now).

Memphis: Elvis Week is an actual event

“I went there on business…
sequestered in Memphis”
– The Hold Steadys

I had to go to Memphis for work in mid-August. We checked into our hotel downtown & then headed out for dinner. We were actually seeking ribs, but the places on Beale either looked too dodgy for BBQ and/or were blaring music. Wound up having a tasty dinner at Automatic Slims.


It was Elvis Week (anniversary of the week Elvis died). I actually really wanted to visit Graceland, but we had back-to-back client meetings the next day, followed by racing to the airport for the flight back to NY.

Stubby & Lisa.

1st impressions/observations of Memphis:
- Memphis is more “real” than Nashville. Nashville is to country music what Hollywood is to acting, but Memphis is all about singin’ the blues. In more ways than one.
- Beale Street is smaller and louder than I expected.
- The Mississippi River is very wide.

Did someone say football?

So UGA is ranked #1 in the coach’s pre-season poll. The NYC Dawgs kicked off the season with a happy hour at Firefly in Soho, Georgia’s new game-watching location. Met up with Maria, who had vocal chord surgery can’t talk for 3 months! Crazy, but she is managing to communicate with gestures, a pad & pen.

Walk in the park

Admittedly, sometimes I take Central Park for granted. If I don't go there for a while, I forget just how beautiful it is. Luckily concerts in Central Park are something I discovered very early on. Went to see The National at SummerStage and snapped these pics on the way there.

The Dakota, the apartment building where John Lennon lived on West 72nd St.


The Mall in Central Park.

Room with a view

View of the Empire State Building from the Williamsburg Bridge.

Had brunch with Joseph in Williamsburg and made an unsuccessful attempt to go to the Pool Party at McCarren Pool. But all was not lost: we walked back to Manhattan across the bridge and went out in my neighborhood. Saw part of a punk concert commemorating the anniversary of the Tompkins Square Park riot.

Spotted around town:
- Andrew from Top Chef on 2nd Avenue
- Dude from the Mac commercials hailing a cab on Avenue A
- Artist Chuck Close eating dinner outside at Alexandra on Hudson Street

Big time rock 'n’ roll show

Duck & I went to the Counting Crows/Maroon 5 show on August 1 at the Jones Beach Theater. Seeing popular artists in large venues is not my thing, but for a litany of reasons, I wound up at this concert. The venue is an ampitheatre on Long Island that’s adjacent to the beach, which is kinda cool. The musical performances were good. Sara Bareilles opened. Maroon 5 was much more “rock” than I expected. Liked the Counting Crows part the best. Was very nice to hear Adam Duritz reinterpret older songs like “Anna Begins.”

View of the bay from the theatre.


Counting Crows.


Maroon 5.

Birthday, part deux

Sarah utilized Facebook to organize a lovely dinner on my actual birthday. I arrived at Barbone and was quite surprised see several familiar faces waiting for me in the garden. Thank you, Sarah!

I'm way behind on blogging... but wanted to make time for this.

Rave up

Jonathan & I celebrated our birthdays Saturday at PS1. The guys from LCD Soundsystem were the headlining DJs. Since they’re well-known, the courtyard was more crowded than I’d ever seen it. But that means even more great people-watching.

The PS1 courtyard early on, around 4:30 pm.


Me & J.

After PS1, we walked around Long Island City, Queens. 1st stop was LIC Bar. Really liked this place: cozy joint with places to sit, cool pressed tin ceiling, and a big garden out back. Had dinner nearby at Lounge 47.

Lisa chillin' in LIC Bar's outdoor area.

Signs of a successful Summer Friday

Went to Long Beach for the day on Friday. Sun, a beach that wasn’t very crowded, and frozen margaritas. Muy excelente!

Sweating hipsters

Went to Coney Island yesterday for the Siren Music Festival. Saw the Dodos and Beach House. Despite blazing sun and temps in the mid-90s, it was actually more crowded than last year. I’m glad I braved the heat, though… it’s not really summer in NY til you’ve ridden the Wonder Wheel & the Cyclone and consumed a corn dog & a beer on the boardwalk.

View of Stillwell Stage around 6pm.


Wall-to-wall umbrellas on the beach, as seen from the Wonder Wheel.

Rollin’ on the river

Went to Hudson RiverFlicks on Pier 54 Wednesday night with Rick. “Almost Famous” was showing. Very nice to watch a movie on the water, with sailboats cruising by.

Spotted: Tim Gunn on West 19th Street and Sebastian Junger eating outside at Half King.


Intense sunset on West 23rd Street.

(Day before) quatorze juillet

Went to Cobble Hill, Brooklyn last Sunday to check out the Bastille Day festivities. We ate brunch at Trout and then wandered around the street party, getting drinks like sangria from the sidewalk vendors. The celebration wasn’t as “French” as I expected, but who can complain about a fun day outside?

Spotted: Alex from Real Housewives, entering a chain drugstore with her family. Oy.


Largest petanque tournament in the US.


Watch out for the guillotine!

How ads get created

Got this from my copywriter. It's been a challenging week.