Firstly, I feel as if I've acquired an enviable (by the 500 senior
citizens I shared an audience with) bragging right in scoring a better
seat in the second row than Mr. Judge Judy at the 92Y this evening to watch the tremendously beloved Queen of Mean chat with Katie Couric. I should also note (just to
rub it in the faces of the aforementioned envy laden)
that I received a discount for being UNDER the age of 35. Boom!
Secondly,
you should know that Katie has some serious biceps and an engagement
ring that will attempt to burn a hole in your retina if caught at the
wrong angle.
But seriously (not that my previous points weren't
entirely literal, free of exaggeration and the god's honest truth) both
the Judge and Ms. Couric were as sharp witted and charming without TV editing as they are with it. They both
have impeccable comedic timing and an ability to read the moment without
a fleeting hint of hesitation.
That being said, I will now share a few words of wisdom Judge Judy showered upon the 92Y tonight:
On surviving as a working mother: SpaghettiOs for breakfast is always an option
On
feminism: She can take it or leave it as she "doesn't want pay parity with most men anyway"
(note that she earned $47m last year as the highest paid person on TV by a
long shot)
On haters: The amount of time and energy a person has to sit around and spew hateful nonsense onto message boards is directly proportional to the likelihood that they are unemployed.
On whether members of this generation should attend law school: Only if you don't get into business school
On whether she will continue her show after her current contract expires in 2017: "It depends upon how my face holds up"
What a gal!
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Saturday, August 17, 2013
Summer catch-up
Summer how did you fly past me? Truthfully it didn't really fly so much as sneak by with arms full of Netflix and hefty electricity bills. Even still, the mid-year months redeemed themselves from being denounced as mere sweat-soaked scorchers by providing a solid amount of goodness begging (successfully) to be enjoyed by us:
- Anthony Jeselnik performed a deliciously offensive set at Caroline's on Broadway, taking time for audience Q&A that was equally hilarious despite its being undeniably improvised.
- We rafted down the white water of the Lehigh River in Pennsylvania on a beautiful Sunday in June.
- Melissa Lee of CNBC moderated a fascinating discussion about women on Wall Street with former BofA executive, Sally Krawcheck, and hedge fund manager, Karen Finerman.
- The Human Rights Watch Film Festival screened over a dozen films at theaters across the City including "An Unreal Dream: The Michael Morton Story", a film that highlights the journey of a wrongly convicted Texan.
- We ventured to Coney Island to rejoice in Nathan's hotdogs, sprawling ocean and the Cyclone roller coaster.
- Tom Hanks made his Broadway debut in Nora Ephron's Tony nominated "Lucky Guy".
- We ate our way through Greenwich Village on a food tour with a good friend visiting from Florida.
- We traveled to Mystic, Connecticut to meet Jonnie's mother and grandmother for a lovely long weekend highlighted by delicious meals, a sunset cruise and a jaunt at Mystic Pizza.
- Sigourney Weaver stared alongside David Hyde Pierce (of Fraiser), Kristine Nielson, and Billy Magnussen in "Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike", winner of the best play Tony.
Saturday, April 27, 2013
I'm back, back in a New York groove
After a slow, month-long recovery from the hell of busy season full of Netflix, sleeping in, and a short trip to Cape Cod, I'm back, back in a New York groove (Kiss said it best). What's the best way to fall back in love with NYC after months of hibernation, you ask? Attending an event or two (or twenty, preferably) at the Tribeca Film Festival, that's what.
I got my film-loving feet wet at this year's buffet of movie magic at two events that sit on different sides of the spectrum - one laced in movie star glitz and the other in the poignancy of real-life hardship. The latter was the world premiere of Gasland Part II, the followup to the Oscar-nominated anti-fracking documentary that made waves in 2010. Jonnie and I attended this premiere last Sunday at the School of Visual Arts Theatre in Chelsea.
The predecessor to this film, Gasland (available on Netflix instant streaming), follows the individuals across the United States who's lives have been affected by "fracking", or hydraulic fracturing, the process by which natural gas is extracted from the ground. This film premiered right around the time that fracking started to jump in the headlines and Congress started taking notice. Because the original film was made slightly before fracking became a well-known and controversial issue, it seems only natural that director/creator/narrator Josh Fox would strive to make a followup.
The film was fantastic - far-reaching and fearless, but the real magic of this screening was brewed by the audience. Being that this was the world premiere, almost every single individual depicted in the film was sitting among us - and directly next to Jonnie and I, to my delight. It is a strange and powerful thing to be among families while they watch themselves pack up their former homes and moving or discussing their children's nosebleeds on the big screen. Most notably in the audience and film was the former mayor of DISH, Texas (named for the television company in a PR deal that yielded 10 years of free DISH Network for its 201 residents...no, I'm serious), Calvin Tillman, his wife Tiffiney, and their new baby.
After the film and obligatory standing ovation, Josh Fox came to the front of the stage and introduced all of those individuals in the audience in addition to those that helped make the film or supported it (Yoko Ono!). Overall, it was a very rewarding experience that I won't soon forget.
The second screening I attended solo today at the Borough of Manhattan Community College in Tribeca. There was a much larger step and repeat, and a much longer press line at this event than the last, in direct correlation with the increase in star power. This event was the premiere of Eastwood Directs: The Untold Story, an aptly named documentary following the directorial career of Clint Eastwood, followed by a conversation between the aforementioned and fellow director Darren Aronofsky (The Wrestler, Requiem for a Dream, Black Swan).
The film was full of Western film history, charming anecdotes, and big name interviewees that were directed by (and in many cases, starred alongside) Eastwood at one time or another. Meryl Streep reminisced over The Bridges of Madison County while Kevin Bacon and Tim Robbins discussed Mystic River. Hillary Swank got teary telling Million Dollar Baby tales and Martin Scorsese preached on the importance of J. Edgar. Most interestingly, Steven Spielberg discussed the little-known musical side of Clint, revealing that he wrote the entire score for his films Mystic River, Flags of Our Fathers, and Million Dollar Baby, among others.
The subsequent conversation between Clint, wearing a contradictorily gleeful scowl, and Darren, wearing old school three-stripped Adidas, was endearing. I found Clint to be insightful, witty, and ever so slightly charming - essentially the antithesis of the Clint that made headlines for talking to a now infamous chair at the 2012 Republican National Convention.
Unfortunately, none of my photos from either event really panned out, so I will close this long overdue post with some pics from our trip to Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket in early April. Cheers to spring!
I got my film-loving feet wet at this year's buffet of movie magic at two events that sit on different sides of the spectrum - one laced in movie star glitz and the other in the poignancy of real-life hardship. The latter was the world premiere of Gasland Part II, the followup to the Oscar-nominated anti-fracking documentary that made waves in 2010. Jonnie and I attended this premiere last Sunday at the School of Visual Arts Theatre in Chelsea.
The predecessor to this film, Gasland (available on Netflix instant streaming), follows the individuals across the United States who's lives have been affected by "fracking", or hydraulic fracturing, the process by which natural gas is extracted from the ground. This film premiered right around the time that fracking started to jump in the headlines and Congress started taking notice. Because the original film was made slightly before fracking became a well-known and controversial issue, it seems only natural that director/creator/narrator Josh Fox would strive to make a followup.
The film was fantastic - far-reaching and fearless, but the real magic of this screening was brewed by the audience. Being that this was the world premiere, almost every single individual depicted in the film was sitting among us - and directly next to Jonnie and I, to my delight. It is a strange and powerful thing to be among families while they watch themselves pack up their former homes and moving or discussing their children's nosebleeds on the big screen. Most notably in the audience and film was the former mayor of DISH, Texas (named for the television company in a PR deal that yielded 10 years of free DISH Network for its 201 residents...no, I'm serious), Calvin Tillman, his wife Tiffiney, and their new baby.
After the film and obligatory standing ovation, Josh Fox came to the front of the stage and introduced all of those individuals in the audience in addition to those that helped make the film or supported it (Yoko Ono!). Overall, it was a very rewarding experience that I won't soon forget.
The second screening I attended solo today at the Borough of Manhattan Community College in Tribeca. There was a much larger step and repeat, and a much longer press line at this event than the last, in direct correlation with the increase in star power. This event was the premiere of Eastwood Directs: The Untold Story, an aptly named documentary following the directorial career of Clint Eastwood, followed by a conversation between the aforementioned and fellow director Darren Aronofsky (The Wrestler, Requiem for a Dream, Black Swan).
The film was full of Western film history, charming anecdotes, and big name interviewees that were directed by (and in many cases, starred alongside) Eastwood at one time or another. Meryl Streep reminisced over The Bridges of Madison County while Kevin Bacon and Tim Robbins discussed Mystic River. Hillary Swank got teary telling Million Dollar Baby tales and Martin Scorsese preached on the importance of J. Edgar. Most interestingly, Steven Spielberg discussed the little-known musical side of Clint, revealing that he wrote the entire score for his films Mystic River, Flags of Our Fathers, and Million Dollar Baby, among others.
The subsequent conversation between Clint, wearing a contradictorily gleeful scowl, and Darren, wearing old school three-stripped Adidas, was endearing. I found Clint to be insightful, witty, and ever so slightly charming - essentially the antithesis of the Clint that made headlines for talking to a now infamous chair at the 2012 Republican National Convention.
Unfortunately, none of my photos from either event really panned out, so I will close this long overdue post with some pics from our trip to Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket in early April. Cheers to spring!
Saturday, December 8, 2012
NYC November (in pictures)
Since I've been a delinquent blogger, once again, I'm going to do a quick November wrap-up...mostly in pictures.
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On the 13th we went to see Madonna at Madison Square Garden:
She sang some older songs...
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| Express Yourself |
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| Vogue |
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| More Vogue |
She flailed around after asking (demanding) that money be thrown on the stage to be sent to Sandy victims...
She was joined by surprise guest, Psy (singer of "Gangnam Style")...
The day before Thanksgiving we went to see the Macy's Day Parade Balloon Inflation:
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| Papa Smurf |
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| Creepy Ronald McDonald |
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| Sonic the Hedgehog |
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| Pillsbury Dough Boy |
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| Elf (in quite an awkward position) |
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| Buzz Lightyear |
Had a mini-Thanksgiving dinner:
Went to the Sunday Night Football: Giants vs. Packers game (the Packers got trounced...obviously):
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Had a weekend visit from my mother, and spent it experiencing a few NYC Xmas traditions:
Holiday Department Store Windows:
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| Macys |
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| Lord & Taylor |
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| Saks Fifth Avenue |
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| Bvlgari (not a department store, but still cool) |
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| Bergdorf Goodman |
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| Bloomingdales |
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| Tree in Rockefeller Center |
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| The Dakota (where John Lennon lived and was shot) |
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| Christmas tree in the NY Public Library |
More posts to come soon over my random business trips and our December activities.
Saturday, November 10, 2012
Let It Snow!
Here are some pics from our first snow in NYC, courtesy of the Nor'easter (we have a lot of trees on our street that caught a good bit of it, but around the corned it was a few inches deep):
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| My first snowball (I obviously threw it at Jonnie) |
On another note...I can't wait to go ice-skating at the Wollman Rink we walked by last weekend in Central Park:
Saturday, November 3, 2012
NYC Conquers Hurricanes & the Heat
I suppose I should firstly mention something about Hurricane Sandy, however, I don't have much to mention as we were very lucky to be largely unaffected. Our only real experience with the storm amounted to sitting in the apartment listening to the wind howling for several hours and being stuck at home.
All public transportation, including subway lines, buses, and railways, were shut down beginning Sunday at 7 pm. There is still no subway access below 34th St. in Manhattan, and several other lines are down in other areas. Cars wishing to cross the bridge into Manhattan are required to have at least 3 passengers, in an effort to cut down traffic. Those who made it to work in the city this week spent hours and hours commuting. Fortunately, I was able to work from home for the entire week - though I'll be paying for it in extra hours next week.
Most Floridians (initially, including myself) scoffed at the immense amount of news coverage and fear surrounding the storm. However, we were clearly in the wrong.There are still 2.7 million people across 15 states without power - that's 2,700,000 homes that have been powerless (and very cold) for 6 days and counting. The total damages will rack up somewhere between $30 and $50 BILLION - making this storm second only to Katrina on the list of costliest storms to hit the east coast. There were 106 deaths in the United States, plus 2 in Canada and 67 in the Caribbean. Sandy was nothing to scoff at.
This post isn't all doom and gloom, however. Last night we went to the Knicks season opener versus the Heat at Madison Square Garden, after randomly deciding to buy tickets the night before. The energy in the arena was unreal, and unlike anything I've ever experienced.
I think my favorite moment was towards the end of the 4th quarter (after the Heat gave up and pulled Lebron off the court) when the fans chanted insanely loudly for Rasheed Wallace until he was put in the game (for the first time since the 2010 Finals with the Celtics). Naturally, he hit a 3...it was magical.
As a side note, the Magic really need to get the same t-shirt guns as the Knicks...those suckers were shooting shirts into the upper bowl, and some even hit the ceiling.
Here are some pics and a video of the players being announced:
All public transportation, including subway lines, buses, and railways, were shut down beginning Sunday at 7 pm. There is still no subway access below 34th St. in Manhattan, and several other lines are down in other areas. Cars wishing to cross the bridge into Manhattan are required to have at least 3 passengers, in an effort to cut down traffic. Those who made it to work in the city this week spent hours and hours commuting. Fortunately, I was able to work from home for the entire week - though I'll be paying for it in extra hours next week.
Most Floridians (initially, including myself) scoffed at the immense amount of news coverage and fear surrounding the storm. However, we were clearly in the wrong.There are still 2.7 million people across 15 states without power - that's 2,700,000 homes that have been powerless (and very cold) for 6 days and counting. The total damages will rack up somewhere between $30 and $50 BILLION - making this storm second only to Katrina on the list of costliest storms to hit the east coast. There were 106 deaths in the United States, plus 2 in Canada and 67 in the Caribbean. Sandy was nothing to scoff at.
This post isn't all doom and gloom, however. Last night we went to the Knicks season opener versus the Heat at Madison Square Garden, after randomly deciding to buy tickets the night before. The energy in the arena was unreal, and unlike anything I've ever experienced.
I think my favorite moment was towards the end of the 4th quarter (after the Heat gave up and pulled Lebron off the court) when the fans chanted insanely loudly for Rasheed Wallace until he was put in the game (for the first time since the 2010 Finals with the Celtics). Naturally, he hit a 3...it was magical.
As a side note, the Magic really need to get the same t-shirt guns as the Knicks...those suckers were shooting shirts into the upper bowl, and some even hit the ceiling.
Here are some pics and a video of the players being announced:
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| Carmelo paying tribute to Sandy victims before the game |
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| National Anthem |
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| Tip Off |
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| Some of the celebs in attendance |
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| The courtside DJ meant business |
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| Domination |
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