Circle Line Tourist Time

Yesterday I took a 3 hour Circle Line cruise around Manhattan. I had family visiting, which was my excuse for being so toursity, but I did not mind at all. I actually love doing touristy stuff in NYC, despite the fact that I have lived here for nearly 7 years. I still love to go to the movies in Times Square. I like to shop at Macy’s. Just yesterday, I was taking pictures in Grand Central. And even though I know quite a bit about this city, the cruise’s tour director really taught me a number of new fun facts. Such as:

-Governor’s Island was closed to the public until 1997 as a coast guard facility, and was originally a fort designed to protect NY Harbor from British invaders. Even today it is only open to the public Friday-Sunday.
-Roosevelt Island used to be named Welfare Island and is home to many abandoned asylums and smallpox hospitals
-The old Domino Sugar factory is being turned in to apartment buildings, though the Domino Sugar sign is landmarked and will stay on the building
-Barbara Streisand is a huge clean up the East River activist, and had a crew house built off of Harlem River drive
-The Statue of Liberty is still gorgeous up close

Next on my list of touristy things to do: ride one of the double decker busses around Manhattan. Everything looks different from that high up! What touristy things do you love to do in your city?

China invents a Constructive Way to take out Anger

Today I was getting out of the subway on my way home from two treacherous days of dodging being selected for a NYC jury. I was a little grumpy, which can happen from being cooped up in a windowless room for two days straight and forced to listen to judges ramblings/tolerate all the weirdos that were called for jury duty too. I'm innocently climbing the stairs at my stop, perhaps with a slightly pissed off look on my face, and this little punk decides to block my way up the stairs and give me a hard time because I'm scowling and he is taking it personally.

Naturally, I told him he had better get out of my face immediately if he knew what was good for him (I've lived in some not-so-nice neighborhoods, sometimes you are not in the mood to be harassed).  And after a short yelling match/lecture on how to treat women he backed off. I went on my merry way. I don't think he realized what he was getting himself into. I was definitely not going to be sassed by a little boy thinking he's a thug who is half my age. People need to learn to respect each other. But really NYC, how many times has a random stranger yelled at you or someone else for no apparent reason?  I've seen it quite a number of times, though I must say this is the first time I have been targeted with the yelling.

People need an appropriate way to take out their anger. I get it, we all get mad, living in a big city can be very frustrating at times, especially during a recession when many people are out of work and things may not be performing at their best level due to budget cuts. The subway is always late and crowded; people are in the way; you missed the bus AGAIN. However, there is a right way to deal with it (e.g., kick boxing class, a glass of vino, chatting with friends), and there is a totally inappropriate way to handle it. That way would include yelling at strangers, or attacking MTA officials like this guy did. I know that our mothers raised us to be more polite and respectful than this.

In China, they have come up with a solution. There are "frustration-venting" stores installed into shopping plazas, and anyone who purchases something in the mall can utilize its services for free. I came across this little blurb in the August issue of Marie Claire magazine, and I was more than amused. After my little experience today, I can totally understand why it is popular, and even necessary.

The services the frustration venting shop offers are basically this, an opportunity to smash things to smithereens for 60 seconds. Rooms are set up with common household appliances, such as TVs, lamps, beds.  There are various stations that are designed to resemble a home environment, and you can choose if you want to trash the living room, bedroom, or kitchen, though I'm sure if you are this pissed off it won't really matter what you're hitting. They give you a bat, set the timer, and off you go. Wreak as much havoc as you please, no consequences. I would like to see some stations like that here. I bet they would be quite popular. Let's just hope they don't push the rates of domestic violence up with people taking a liking to hitting things in their home with a bat as a form of stress relief. That speculation aside. Way to go China. I wonder if you have people verbally attacking others in your public transit?

One step closer to complete summer fun

Last night I checked one more item off my summer wish list. I visited the “secret” rum punch paradise, Cienfuegos. It was just as wonderful as I thought it would be. It is located on the second floor on 6^th Street between Avenue A and First. Don’t look for a sign outside though. You won’t find it. There is no storefront, you enter through a Cuban sandwich shop, which conveniently serves frozen daiquiris if you have to wait to get upstairs, and then walk up a hidden metal staircase in the back. Once you get to the top of the stairs it’s like a green and gold wonderland, to the tune of Cuban music wafting in the background. The décor is slightly over the top, but is part of what makes the atmosphere so fun to be a part of—Cienfuegos transports you from the streets of NYC. All of the chairs are high backed, and there are tall tapered candlesticks on the tables.  You can find a table to suit any party from a conference room style round table for 8-10 to a corner window table for 2.  In the back is a pink room that can fit larger groups. I cannot wait to go back with a whole bunch of people and get a giant bowl of rum punch. All in all, it is a rather small place. It looks almost like a gutted apartment turned into a bar/lounge. Yet, it works. The homey feeling of it contributes to the contrived sense that you are entering a secret speakeasy.

The cocktails were fantastic. They were perfectly blended to challenge your palate, and boasted the bright colors to match the room. I recommend the Viola Royal, a blend of champagne, gin, and violet liqueur that is a pleasing pale purple and complex with flavor. The wait staff was equally fantastic, and extremely chatty and knowledgeable about the drinks. Our waiter helped me pick a drink I would like when I was having trouble making a decision because the selection was so vast. The food, on the other hand, failed to impress. We ordered popovers stuffed with cheese and chorizo, and the came out looking like little turds, not the fluffy muffinish shape you expect from a popover. They were ok, but left much to be desired, and took quite a long time to be served. Needless to say, they did not lead me to try any of their other cuisine, though the more traditional Cuban fare may have been more delicious.

Then we moved down the block to Death and Co, an establishment by the same owner that boasts mixologists not bartenders, and a intimidating binder of drinks to choose from, complete with ice chipped directly from a large old fashioned block. The cocktails were just as delicious. I had the Rita Hayworth, and it was love at first sip. The atmosphere could not be more opposite of the sunny colorful Cienfuegos. Death and Co is completely black, with no windows, on the ground floor, and lit solely by candles.

The menu, however, despite the fact that the two establishments share a head chef was far superior. We tried the pork belly, lobster sliders (I’m not sure if this is exactly what they were called on the menu the online one is not up to date, the cocktails are QUITE strong people!), and the truffle mac and cheese. Everything was delicious. The pork was tart and crispy. The truffle mac and cheese was tasty, though a little heavy on the truffle flavor. I love truffles/truffle oil, but you can't overdo it. It was served in 8 individual spoonfuls, so the cute presentation made up for the over flavoring. The lobster sliders were the star of the meal. They were served on mini buttery brioche buns that were a perfect mix of toasted yet soft, and the lobster was a refreshing mix of lemony and mayonnaise.

Overall I had a lovely evening hopping between these two venues. It is always fun to have someone put so much time and energy into crafting a beverage so delicious with such quality ingredients that will challenge your taste buds with new flavors. You will never be able to look at your standard kettle and soda the same way again. The cocktails are refreshingly frothy, since the block ice allows you to shake it longer without the risk of dissolving too much water into the mixture. The glasses are ornamental. Yet I simply don’t understand why these fancy pants bartenders still insist on putting egg yolk and egg white into so many of their concoctions. Not only does it make me wonder if they are unknowingly infecting the masses with salmonella, but I just find it a little gross. I don’t care how fabulous the stuff is that you are mixing it with, I don’t want to drink raw eggs, and that’s that. Am I right people?

I will be buying tickets soon

This weekend I had the opportunity to see the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater perform in Central Park. They were magnificent. It was a 1920's themed performance. The women wore fringed dresses, and feathered boas. The men wore suspenders, wife beaters, and business pants.A live band performed behind the dancers. They played a variety of bluesy tunes. Even in the 90 degree heat and humidity the dancers were enthusiastic and on point. Despite the fact that the crowd was chased out at intermission for a thunder and lightening storm, it was a great performance. And the SummerStage arena was packed full. Clearly they were a popular act. I hope to see them again soon in the future.

Too much information: There's an App for that!

I was perusing my August issue of Marie Claire while riding the stationary bike at the gym when I came across a little blurb called "Got PMS? There's an app for that." Um, really?

It outlines several iPhone applications designed to help men track a woman's menstrual cycle, and to give special alerts as to what phase she is in with labels ranging from "horny" to "smooth sailing," and the warning of "PMS" accompanied by a picture of a lady with lucifer's horns sprouting out of her head. This particular app is called Code Red. Another app, PMSBuddy with the tagline "Saving relationships one month at a time" allows the male possessor to track several women's cycles so they can keep both wife and mistress happy and stocked with tampons when that special time comes along.

I am a fan of the iPhone's convenience. It is a magnificent contraption. But really, have we reached the stage of TMI yet?

Creepy McCreeperston

Can we talk about Bob Saget's role on Entourage? Seriously, could he BE more creepy? I just watched last week's episode today, and he is actually telling a story about getting a blow job from two mormon women. It is just wrong. There are a lot of very manly moments on the show, and it is blatantly about sex a lot of the time. But it's entertaining. Bob Saget's role though, it just well, a little disturbing. I mean could we go to any more opposite extreme from Danny Tanner? The neat-freak, cleaning pro, and general nice guy dad to DJ, Stephanie, and Michelle and part of America's favorite family on Full House. I still can't watch the parts of the show he is on without cringing. Danny Tanner would never use language like that. He would be ashamed!

Presentation techiniques

Thanks to a wonderful group of New Hires that my company has brought on board in the past couple weeks. I've taken the opportunity to observe the presentation styles of many different people. There is been the Midwestern man from Kansas City who finishes every power point slide with the question, "Y'all good with that?" There's the lady from Texas who throws "Golly gee" into every sentence. There is the woman who lived in Hawaii for years and has the extremely relaxed, go with the flow attitude to match. Each of them has little tactics to set the group at ease, and to establish rapport with the trainees. One likes to toss candy and toys at the group. Another likes to make the class record what she is saying to keep their attention. Yet they all have one thing in common. They use one of two tactics to keep the people on their side.

1. They make fun of themselves
2. They make fun of people in the class (for being the last one in the room, for answering every question, etc).

Every single presenter I have seen in the two weeks of sessions uses humor as a bonding tool to unite the group. Watch the next presenter you see, you'll notice it. And maybe try it yourself next time you are trying to get a group of people on your side.