HOW MUCH RENT FOR THAT ROCK? I WANT TO LIVE UNDER IT.

Can someone please help me find my plugger thingie that links an ipod to a computer!?!??!?! I have looked everywhere possible in my apartment and can come to no other conclusion than the fact that my roommate actually took mine and is pretending that it is hers. The more likely story is that I probably came home drunk one night, looked at my ipod plugger thingie, mistook it for a funny marshmallow Twizzler, and ate it.

I am CERTAIN that one of my TECHIE friends out there (YES, YOU ALAN!!!nsjkegnlseg) has some sort of technology treasure chest made out of cardboard where he/she may store random plugger thingies for all of his/her electronic toys. And that out of the kindness of his/her heart, he/she may mail me his/her extra ipod plugger thing. I really need to add that new Black Eyed Peas song to my ipod. Thanks.

In other news, I have temporarily emerged from my trial TWENTY-FOUR HOUR HIKIKOMORI. I, along with 20% of the male adolescent population of Japan, have decided to practice SOCIAL RECLUISM. Many people blame the hikikomori phenomenon on Japan's sagging economy, so it is of no surprise that I am experiencing the same troubling feelings in this ECONOMIC RECESSION. Feelings of societal pressures and expectations are really weighing me down. People with hikikomori will stay secluded in their rooms in excess of 6 months, only venturing out every once in a while to visit a konbini (24-hour convenience store). My hikikomori experience thus far has been difficult and psychologically challenging. It is hard to be on Gmail without constantly feeling the need to log onto Gchat. I am sure these feelings of separation and anxiety will soon pass and I will progress into a calm, unfettered state, untied and independent from anything that society can socially and materialistically offer.

An excerpt from a New York Times article with examples of people suffering from hikikomori in Japan:

Before Takeshi returned to his dorm, I asked him what he wanted to do once he leaves New Start. He looked at me for a few seconds, assessing, I sensed, whether he could trust me. "You might find it silly, but I'd like to do something with TV variety shows," he said. "I'd like to be a scriptwriter." He also wants to enroll in a university. "But there are idealistic dreams," he said, "and then there's reality." Neither plan seemed particularly far-fetched, I told him. "You think so?" he said. "I don't know. It might be too late for me." He is 23 years old.

OMG, Takeshi. I, too, am 23 years old. I feel you. All I want to do is become the next Beyonce or Giada De Laurentiis. And for some reason, life thinks that is too much to ask.


Speaking of the economic downturn, here I am with Nouriel Roubini at his 50th birthday party this past weekend. Happy sweet sixteen, Nouri!! I put this picture up only in hopes that I may become as famous as internet sensation Julia Allison and score some weekly dating column in AMNY or TONY. Except my column will be about life as a social recluse in my room.

OH! OH! I am also currently looking for the perfect ROOM for my hikikomori experience. As in I am thinking of MOVING. Mostly because my apartment, until recently, rarely had hot water, plumbing is shaky at best, floors are creaky so I can constantly hear my upstairs neighbors walking around, and also does not include heat in the rent. If anyone knows of an amazing broker that refuses to accept a commission and likes to hunt for 1-month free apartments in the LES, please let me know.


As a half-time break to my trial 24-hour hikikomori, I rewarded myself with a trip to Momofuku Milk Bar. Donut-inspired soft serve is absolutely GENIUS!!!!!!!! Are donuts the new marshmallow!??! They have four different flavors: bavarian creme, jelly, old fashioned donut, and chocolate donut. We got chocolate donut with banana crumbles (pictured left) and old fashioned donut with coffee crumbles (pictured right). The chocolate donut soft serve was mediocre; essentially that fluffy texture/chemical flavor of Tasti Di Lite but with fat and more calories. The old fashioned donut, on the other hand, was - in five syllables - heaven in a cup. It has a surprisingly realistic spice and nutmeg flavor and you can almost taste the cake-like texture of an old fashioned donut. You wonder how Christina Tosi took these concepts and recreated them in a liquid form. TRIPPY!!!!! The coffee crumbles (like the kind that you find on top of coffeecake) were the perfect sprinkle.


After eating dessert first, I headed to TamilNadu Bhavan for a filling dosa meal before I returned to my current state of HIKIKOMORI. Confined to isolation in my room with only a faulty internet connection, a blog, and my thoughts. I wish I had a reflecting pool in my apartment.

TACOS DE PESCADO.

I don't know where my obsession with tacos de pescado came from. I honestly can't even remember the first fish taco that I've ever had...but I remember my first fish taco in the city - from Stanton Social. I like Stanton Social's fish taco because it has a hard crisp shell that keeps the taco and its goods intact. Plus they are mini (aka VERYYY CUTE), and who doesn't like paying MORE for LESS??? Structure, integrity, and durability are key components of a taco. Will your hard taco withstand finger and teeth pressure or will it crack in half at the first bite? Can your soft taco wrap fully around its filling without collapsing? Is your flour tortilla strong enough to not get soggy under pressure, but also not too tough that it is difficult to bite? All very key questions and things that every taqueria needs to consider.

Once the outer-shell is mastered, the only way you can differentiate your fish taco from another is the actual filling elements. And here I shall present to you the NY BATTLE of the tacos de pescado. EN GARDE!!!!!


Here we have the fish tacos from La Esquina. La Esquina is essentially a taco speakeasy. I called that restaurant so many failed times that I actually recognize the voice of the answering machine when I hear it via someone else's speakerphone. La Esquina has been around for so long that you would think no one wanted to go there anymore. But alas, you are forced to waste daytime minutes on a talking robot. When a mortal finally answers the phone, you will be offered really funny times to eat dinner - like 11:30pm. CHORTLE CHORTLE, GOOD ONE LA ESQUINA!!!! And you end the conversation by saying, you'll take the next available dinner reservation that is 3 weeks away. Nearly a month later, you will find yourself in front of a silly taco stand. You check in with a man inside the taco stand that is half-bouncer, half-trench coat mafia gang member and pray to god that your name is actually on the list. You are then ushered downstairs and forced to awkwardly pass through the kitchen and walk past all the line cooks that will be preparing your next meal. You suddenly enter a swank, underground, lively dining area. While the atmosphere is great and I would go to La Esquina to enjoy a few drinks, the food is definitely not worth the hype and the three week wait.


La Esquina is definitely one of those restaurants where you can't really see what you are eating. Thank god I accidentally took a picture of my tacos with flash because I was able to truly see how hideous and unappetizing my meal was. My highly anticipating taste buds were met only with big bites of runny guacamole (which they refer to as "salsa verde"), which definitely overpowered any flavor of fish. In fact, I couldn't remember tasting any seafood at all. It is highly possible that I was actually served a vegetarian taco. No bueno.


Pictured above you will find the fish tacos from yesterday night's contender: Yerba Buena, which was recently rated one of New York's best new restaurants according to NYMag. Top notch fish tacos by my standards. The tilapia is lightly breaded and fried, but not to the point where it is crispy fried. The softer nature of the fried fish helps it mesh with the textures of the soft tortilla. The seafood within the taco was great, and only accentuated (not masked) by a light drizzle of a spicy chipotle sauce and a splash of lime juice. Simply wonderful.


Behold the Moqueca Brazilian Paella - a comforting mix of octopus, clams, cod, shrimp, crawfish, and rice stewed in coconut milk. The coconut flavor is light so as not to endanger the dish becoming a curry. The seafood is delicious and unadulterated by a slew of overpowering sauces. The dish has a slight kick and that is all the flavoring that it really needs.


My indulgently creamy flan, oozing with caramelized sugar sauce. The addition of the dried fig and raisin compote made this Latin America's version of the fruitcake!


The service at Yerba Buena is also excellent. We were waited on by a kind, friendly, and attentive (but not overbearing) staff. They even served us complimentary champagne at the end of our meal! Now that's what I'm talkin' about!! Dear Julian Medina: I love that you serve me real food and not just a slurry of sauces. Yerba Buena > La Esquina.

LE WEEKEND.

Buenos dias everyone, I hope this evening fairs everyone well and that no one is slitting their wrists as a result of MARCH MADNESS. I have much to update you about but I will try to remain brief as I just popped a sleeping pill and writing blog posts when I am woozy often results in poor grammar and ill-structured thoughts.

1. LEISURE TIME is my new favorite club in New York City.

As we all know, my role in True Life: I live on a couch at Marquee has come to an end (TAG - that one's for you). And for a while, I didn't really know what I was going to do with myself. But I have found the answer and it involves a TOWER OF BEER from Leisure Time Bowl in the Port Authority. Yes, I kid you not, at Gate 230, next to the NJ Transit ticket booth, is an entrance to THE swankiest club in Midtown West. Not only can you dance around to hip hop and drink Towers of Beer at your own cushy table with plush seating, you can also BOWL. Yes, Leisure Time DOUBLES as a bowling alley. Well, ok, maybe that was the main feature but for me it was just an ADDED BONUS. Go after 9pm and get 2 hours of bowling, shoes, and a tower of beer (which is literally a six foot tall cylinder of beer with a tap at the bottom) for only $29!!
2. I want to steal every piece on exhibit at the National Museum of the American Indian.

If there is suddenly a robbery reported from Manhattan old custom's building, it is most likely because I broke in after hours and stole every piece of clothing on display at the NMAI's Idenity By Design exhibit, which featured brilliant Native American women's dresses . As you all know, Native Americans are the new IT race and I totally DIG their style.


Check out this FIERCE hooded sweatshirt complete with a collar of BEADING. I'm like obsessed and need one...that's lined with fur.


That sweatshirt would go great with a pair of leggings and THESE bad boys. These boots are like SEXY COMFORT. They are almost thigh highs!! And that sultry red...


I might even pair them with these amazing embroidered gloves. So luxe.


This light tunic would be perfect for upcoming spring days. If I could wear a muumuu everyday, I would. Oh wait, I kind of already do. Love these print details. So Hermes.


Me as a Native American. Sigh.

3. The lobster roll tram continues onto Pearl's Oyster Bar.
Well actually we had originally planned on going to Mary's Fish Camp but when we arrived we realized we had accidentally stepped into Mary's BITCH Camp. We asked for a table for 4 and the BITCH-HOST claimed that he "wasn't taking groups of 4 anymore." Had we been a group of 3, it would have been fine...but we weren't about to play SURVIVOR: WEST VILLAGE over a lobster roll. I asked if we could put our name down anyway, and the BITCH-HOST acted all BITCHY-EXASPERATED and told me that even if I put my name down there was no guarantee that I would ever be seated tonight, the likelihood of being seated was low, that he probably wouldn't call me back, and that I would "go hungry" tonight. He really told me I was going to starve all night.

Not me.

I marched myself straight to the ORIGINAL lobster roll restaurant - Pearl's Oyster Bar. Pearl's was actually co-founded by Rebecca Charles and Mary Redding - aka MARY of MARY'S BITCH CAMP. The two fought over the rights to the lobster roll dish (but really how can you own the concept of the lobster roll???) and that's when Mary PEACED OUT and started a restaurant that is, I'm sure, just as bitchy as she is. Personally I would still want to try Mary's if I ever got the chance and felt like eating dinner at 4pm...but for now, I am tres PEEVED.

At Pearl's we were also greeted with a healthy line at the front of the restaurant but the host was all smiles. She told me to come back at 10pm to be seated. It was only 9:10pm, but we slipped into a nearby bar to watch basketball and pass the time. 10pm came quickly and we went back to Pearl's. We were seated within 5 minutes and the food came even faster. Pearl's is a no-frills kinda place. The menu is very simple and straight forward, no funky ingredients, no surprise pairings. Sometimes it's nice just to eat real, normal food. But very good quality normal food.


Salt crusted shrimp. Nothing mind blowing, but tasty.


Jumbo lump crabcake. A little dry, I've definitely had better.


*fanfare* And we finally come to the lobster roll. Once again, I think this roll falls short of those from Ed's Lobster Bar. Reminded me of the lobster rolls from Lure Fish Bar, but the serving size was much tinier. I give it a faint thumbs down because the lobster salad tasted a bit too mayo-y for my liking. It slightly trumps Lure in that the bun is a bit tastier and the salad wasn't made of lobster ice cubes.


Chocolate hot fudge sundae for dessert!!!!!! Ridiculously yummy. I think this was, sadly, the best part of the meal and the reason that I would go back.

Pearl's Oyster Bar: I will cheat on you with Mary (for the sake of the hunt), but I am hoping I will hate her.

IS THERE SOMETHING ON MY FACE??!?!?!

UHHMMMM. DUB-TEE-EFF. Can someone please tell me why the lady that was ringing me up for my salad tonight pointed at a copy of today's NY Daily News and started laughing and saying "HAHAHA. It looks like you." !?!?!?!?

I got confused and said, "What??"

"IT LOOKS LIKE YOU."

I glanced down at the paper and saw she was pointing at a TREACHEROUS picture of Ruth Madoff.

*jaw drops*

"The glasses. It looks like you."

I WASN'T WEARING GLASSES.

SCANDAL-WICH.

OH HAIIII UPDATE EVERYONE:

Craig and I decided to take a Friday-kinda lunch today (as in one where you actually leave your cube, exit the building, and escape into the outside world kinda lunch), and made our way down to Num Pang for their big opening day!!! We got there around 12:30, and there was a bit of a line but nothing all that discouraging. A terrible sign reading "Cash Only" and an inefficient sandwich-making process are my only complaints about Union Square's newest sandwich joint.


Behold. The catfish sandwich. The only sandwich that I have ever loved. Oh lordy, they grilled the catfish in some sort of heavenly sweet soy sauce, which was a great addition to the spicy chili mayo, the tangy taste of the pickled carrots, and the freshness of the cucumber. The cilantro induced memories of comforting bowls of pho. The bread was toasted and had a slight garlicky-twinge to it. I wolfed this puppy down so quickly, I was ready to jump right back in the line (as if it were free scoop day Ben & Jerry's).


Num Pung, we love you. Enough to take a visit to an ATM. Even enough to visit one that charges a withdrawal fee. That's saying a lot.

______

With all this recent Scanwich vs Scanwiches hullabaloo, my mind has been invaded by evil thoughts of crusty breads, shredded lettuce, and yellow mustard. And no, that bewitching $5 foot-long from Subway that brainwashed me will not cut it.


As a side note, Scanwiches wins my vote for better website, only because they most recently scanned a lobster roll from Ed's Lobster Bar. Hello, new best friend.

My cravings for sandwiches will hopefully soon be fulfilled as the much-anticipated Cambodian sandwich shop, Num Pang, will be opening up this weekend!!!!! I called the shop today and they said that if all goes well, they will officially open at 11:30am on Friday!!!! Anyone feel like taking a long lunch?

Check back after the jump. And by "after the jump" I mean after lunch tomorrow.

LADIES WHO LUNCH.

Nowadays it is even easier to be a lady who lunches. Spend an absurd amount of money over the past year on the 8th floor of Sak's? Better known as - the shoe department?? Then Sak's Fifth Avenue has most likely mailed you an invitation for a free lunch for two at Sak's Cafe, which is also conveniently located on the 8th floor! Order anything you want and re-visit the pre-recession days of being a lunching lady...so long as you don't surpass the $100 limit.


Corn and crab chowder. Didn't taste as much crab as I should have, but it's a recession. I understand.


I got the special that day. Scallops with risotto and lobster sauce. Decadent lunch, no? Scallops were well cooked and the lobster came the way I like it (not still inside it's shell). Risotto was not really risotto (just rice congealed with cheese and other good substances), but that didn't stop me from eating the entire pile.

And there was even dessert (my apologies for lack of image). Mille-feuille. It ain't over until the fat lady sings. And we sang after that final course.

LURE THIS.

Jean's lobster roll tram...all aboarddddddddd...

Tickets out please, and if you were out celebrating St. Patrick's Day, then you were officially not invited to Lure Fishbar with me because I hate St. Patrick's Day. And was unfortunate enough to FORGET the holiday existed and ACCIDENTALLY wear a GREEN (not to mention PLAID) dress on the streets today.

Lure Fishbar wins my award for weirdest restaurant. It's an oyster bar, sushi restaurant, steak house, southern calabash, and seafood shack on the beach, all mixed together with a dash of homey comfort and childhood memories. The menu is absurdly variegated, but each eclectic component seems to make sense and you definitely want to try a bit of everything.


Lure House Roll - Shrimp tempura topped with spicy tuna. Usually I like to kid myself and pretend that I am beyond specialty rolls (especially the ones with too many sauces drizzled all over it). But this one was actually quite good! If I remember correctly, it had a citrus/lime taste to it...good flavors.


Yummy bowl of Macaroni & Cheese for the table!!!! This is what I'm talkin' about - who puts mac and cheese on the same menu as sushi??? Whatevs. I'm down. Delish, crusty, just perfectly torched, cheese and carb heaven.


The center fold of the evening: my lobster roll. You get a satisfying amount of lobster, but there was something missing with this roll. It was almost like..too...cold? What I love about the roll from Ed's Lobster Bar is that the bun is warm, which makes the lobster almost melt in your mouth with the rest of the buttery sandwich. While the lobster salad tasted fine (I would have liked some lemon flavor in it), it just wasn't as comforting as other lobster rolls I have had.


Desserts were a surprise and a delight. Here is our assortment of ice cream sandwiches!!! Really takes me back to the day of Chipwiches. A variety of flavors - peanut butter cookies with chocolate icecream, chocolate chip cookies with vanilla ice cream and Cocoa Krispie sprinkles, vanilla wafer with strawberry icecream drizzled in chocolate, and an oatmeal raisin cookie combination. So good!!!


An embarassingly blurry picture of our other dessert - a warm molten chocolate cake with salty caramel ice cream, popcorn brittle, and chocolate panna cotta. My cholesterol level was a little overwhelmed with the sodium intake (that salty caramel ice cream was like...really salty!!!) but I can't really complain about chocolate cake dripping with more chocolate. And the only thing better then warm cake is when it's served with ice cream.

Lure Fishbar - you're weird but I like you.

ALL VEGGIES DIE AND GO TO HEAVEN.

So everyone has probably heard the myth that a little dirt is good for you and aids in the development of a stronger immune system. That is just one more reason to dine at Amanda Cohen's new (ish) restaurant Dirt Candy.

I have been inadvertently following Amanda Cohen over my past few NYC foodie years. As a vegetarian (that eats fish), I am a big fan of trying vegetarian-friendly restaurants. You feel a special vibe when you are dining in a vegetarian restaurant - I love that earthy, healthy, alternative, granola sentiment. You almost feel as if you've contributed to the planet by eating a vegetarian meal. Unfortunately it is not always easy to convince non-vegetarian friends to dine with you in establishments that don't serve hardcore protein. But I have somehow made my way through most of NYC's veggie havens via force, bribery, or withholding information.


But back to the chef. Cohen used to be a chef's teaching assistant at Angelica's Kitchen (I love Angelica's Kitchen!!! Warm, hearty food. Comforting, cozy environment), was the first chef at Teany (I love Teany!! Yum teanychino), line chef at Pure Food and Wine (I love Pure Food and Wine!! Will still not forget my first dining experience there - I asked the waiter why my soup was cold and was about to send it back, until he informed me that I was presently dining at a RAW restaurant that did not expose their dishes to any heat!!), and consulted at Blossom (I love Blossom - where my peanut butter smoothie addiction began!!!!!!). I had no idea that Cohen was a common link between all of these restaurants! Thus, it comes as no surprise that Dirt Candy was just my kinda restaurant.

From her restaurant website homepage, Cohen seems rather intimidating and authoritative. Like "I'm gonna make you some damn vegetables, and you're gonna fucking love them" kinda intimidating and authoritative. But maybe I read her the wrong way, because she was the sweetest, most humble (not to mention youngest) chef I have ever encountered in my life (or at least seen on reality television)!! I'm not saying that the Anthony Bourdain's of the food industry are a fabricated delusion, but Cohen would make it seem as if chefs were peaceful creatures by nature!! On the Wednesday evening that K and I dined at Dirt Candy, Cohen was actually being photographed for some "upcoming/rising chef" award or nomination or something. And I think that she deserves it!! Not only was she busy working in the kitchen, she was also nice enough to be serving food and clearing plates!!


We began with the Spinach Soup. The soup was clearly chock full of healthy chlorophyll and defied your senses by sight because its' appearance, at first, is quite startling! But in fact, it tasted familiar and wonderful! This was most likely aided by the three sweet smoked tofu dumplings topped with a lemon confit. The smoky flavor from the dumplings mixed with the crystalized sweetness of the lemon were a perfect addition to the salty broth. Very Asian-inspired.


The Carrot Risotto was a perfect example of the way that Cohen plays with her food. You see those big carrot chip slices in the dish??? They were actually DUMPLINGS!!!! How inventive. The actual risotto was not a risotto by my definition (you all know how picky I am about risotto), but the flavorings from the fried carrot shavings definitely masked the blandness of the rice. And I didn't mind having to eat the components together in every bite. I think that was the point.


This was my favorite, favorite dish. I actually didn't notice it on the menu the first few times I glanced at it online and in the restaurant. The Stone Ground Grits. The girts were creamy, thick, and mixed with kernels of corn. And sitting atop the mound of wonderful carbs was a tempura poached egg!! I really appreciated all the different textures in the dish. The dish even seemed a bit playful. You break the egg apart and out oozes the yolk so you can mix it into the grits - this concept reminded me of Korean bi bim bop or Japanese nabeyaki udon.


And finally, the dessert. A little mound of sesame cake topped with sorbet, grapefruit, and strawberries. I love anything that has to do with sesame, and I love a grapefruit dessert (always so refreshing and cleansing), so this was the perfect way to end my meal. If I were to be picky, I would say the cake was a bit dry. But I won't be picky, because in reality I didn't really mind.

Dirt Candy, I'm hoping you are one of those restaurants that changes their menu seasonally. Because I want to continue being delighted by your surprises!!

WRINKLE OF THE NOSE.

Brunch in the city is one of those meals that you really have to carve out a whole day for. You never know how long the affair might take because it seems as if every notable brunch-ing restaurant REFUSES to accept reservations! Which is just what may add to its allure.

So for the past year, I have heard a lot of fuss about Prune. And I have also heard tales of 1-2 hour waits. Something that I am NOT in the mood to do if I am hungover on a Sunday afternoon. So that is why this past weekend was the PERFECT opportunity to finally taste my way through Prune. Why, you may ask?? DAYLIGHT SAVINGS, of course - the one weekend where New Yorkers will either forget to set their clocks an hour early, or grumble and simply wake up an hour late. Brunch at Prune, you are mine.

We arrived around 12:15pm and were promptly seated at the bar (the restaurant was actually already packed, so we were lucky these two spots were open - I guess people still do wake up, despite the curse of daylight savings). I personally liked sitting at the bar because I got to witness the magic behind Prune's famous Bloody Mary's! While the decor and vibe were comforting and lively, it is possible the reason why Prune has received so many RAVE reviews is because critics have been far too sloshed from the Bloody Mary's to realize that their food is actually quite mediocre.


Fried Oyster Omelette with Remoulade sauce. The dish was fine, but nothing out of this world. There was nothing to excite me beyond the two fried oysters within the omelette. Anything smeared with tartar sauce is bound to taste good. Hell, it even makes a McDonald's Filet o' Fish taste decent. My first half of the omelette was fine, until I began cutting into the second fried oyster. I'm pretty sure I was served a bad oyster (which can happen to anyone, at any restaurant) because it left a horrid taste in my mouth and I felt sick for the next few hours.


J and I shared the Fresh Ricotta dish, which was served with raspberries, dried figs, toasted pine nuts, and honey. The ricotta was almost a bit too dry and bland...if it weren't for the honey and the natural sweetness of the figs - it would have been completely tasteless. I would have lived without ordering this dish.

It is rare for me to not get excited about food or restaurants. And usually the hype is not what gets to me, it is the actual food that gets to me. So, Gabrielle Hamilton, thank you for your cute restaurant. But I'm glad I wasn't suckered into waiting over an hour for your meal.

OMFGOMFG.

Speaking of needing to find a NEW SOULMATE, check out this amazing opportunity I just found on Craigslist!!!!

Casting Notice: Are you are a connoisseur, critic, chef, aficionado, restaurant owner or are just in a serious love affair with food?

The Food Network is currently casting foodies of all kinds in the New York area to be a part of a fun and exciting new TV series! The show focuses on two teams who race through many of NY’s culinary hot spots competing in challenges in the ultimate chowhound smack down against two Food Network chefs!

It’s an amazing “food-adventure” race!

We are looking for high-energy, dynamic and competitive two-member teams (two good friends, two co-workers, husband & wife, parent and child, etc.) who are 25-45 and have some connection, and knowledge or experience in the food industry.

If interested, please email a current photo of the team and your info to Lisa at foodnetworkseries@gmail.com – Hurry, we’re looking to cast this show ASAP!

This could potentially be my dream come true. OMG, who wants to play with me!?!??!?!

EARTH TO ME.

OMG this is SO TRES EMBARRASSING GUYS: for the past nearly ELEVEN months or so, I have had a FAULTY link to Mindy Ephron/Kaling's blog on my little "BFF - Blog Friends Forever" blogroll.

And perhaps even MORE embarrassing: the reason why there was a FAULTY link was because I had NO IDEA that Mindy Ephron/Kaling had moved her blog from www.mindyephron.blogspot.com to her NEW (to me) blog www.thingsiboughtthatilove.com. Mindy, WTF, why didn't you tell me!??! For the past ELEVEN MONTHS, I had no clue that my twin-separated-at-birth had moved on and purchased a DOT COM (similar to me) and has been happily typing away into the blogosphere. It's almost like if you were to accidentally run into your best friend dancing on a table in a club, after she has claimed over the past month that she developed liver cancer, became paraplegic, and moved away. For someone who states that she is writing the "Companion Guide" to Mindy's blog...I am an utter DISAPPOINTMENT.

And perhaps even MORE disappointing: the fact that Mindy recently blogged about the Comme des Garcons Play heart cardigan in January 2009 when I blogged about the SAME THING June of LAST YEAR.

I need to find a new soulmate. Or at least someone who considerate enough to warn me about changing URL's and all!!!

COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT.

Something strange is afoot. Something along the lines of IDENTITY THEFT...or at least ARTISTIC AESTHETIC THEFT. I feel violated.


Today I went to visit the intimidatingly large Armory Show at Piers 92 and 94. This annual show began in 1999, and serves as an art fair devoted exclusively to modern art. For a moderate price of $10 (student price) or $30 (general admission), you have access to the Louvre of contemporary art. Galleries from all over the world bring selections from their collections to share with the public. The magnitude of the art housed in these large piers is staggering and overpowering. I experienced a paralyzing sensory-overload, struggled with deciding which next turn to take, where to focus my eyes.

My years as a Fine Arts major continue to haunt me today. I crave to be creative once again, and oftentimes when I surround myself with art, I feel conflicted. Part of me wants to pursue my passion, but another part of me is deathly afraid of failure. However, while perusing the Armory Show - two artists in particular popped out at me, making me realize that maybe I could have done this after all...


Kim Gordon.


Looks strikingly similar to my own work, no???? Gordon's watercolors are extremely reminiscent of the above portraiture work that I did in Drawing II at the University of Pennsylvania. I did a study on human faces and the natural reaction of watercolors on paper. Quick, fast movements and the collisions and interactions of the wet paint made for an interesting, sometimes abstract piece.


Robert Kushman. When you break it down to its bare elements - it is a series of four related panels of floral design, use of gold paint, and diverse range of colors.


Similarly so - I found a ridiculous correlation between Kushman's work and my own. The above five panels were another project from Drawing II (notice how I broke all rules and used paints rather than pencil/charcoal for the entirety of my Drawing II class). The series of five panels are meant to be hung next to each other. Similar floral designs, related color stories between the panels, and the use of gold accents throughout each panel. The strong outlines of the floral objects in Kushman's piece can also be seen in my own work. Is anyone else feeling this resemblance?

I am somewhat weirded out by all of this. And somewhat think this is a message from up above...

SPRINGTIME IN THE CITY.

When the sun is out and you can begin strolling the streets without a puffer, it means SPRING is here.


And what more perfect way to celebrate the first signs of SPRINGTIME IN THE CITY than taking a trip to the BRONX to visit the New York Botanical Gardens!??! I wanted to take some time to mention how NICE everyone is in the Bronx. I mean, seriously, what a BREATHER from the rude Manhattan scene where people harass you about wrinkly sweaters and having stubby fingers..I mean, no that never happens to me...As soon as I stepped out of the Bedford Park subway, people were physically pointing me in the right direction (without even being asked) and stopping their cars in the middle of the street to ask if I was lost. While I was probably actually a victim of some social, physical, or racial discrimination (why would they assume I was going the Botanical Gardens?? Besides the fact that I was wearing a floral print shirt, a weird hippie headband, and walking next to a gay man in short shorts????), I was quite appreciative of everyone's concern and thoughtfulness.


This is the 7th running year of the Orchid Show at the NY Botanical Garden. This year's Brazilian Modern exhibit was designed by Miami landscape architect Raymond Jungles. His contemporary Brazilian garden design was inspired by Brazilian design icon Roberto Marx. You can find several of Marx' pieces (and quotes) throughout the show. It was my goal to leave this exhibit knowing which orchid species was my favorite. So that if the question were ever asked of me, I could respond proudly, "Oh - well, orchids are the most diverse species of flower on Earth. But the one that tickles me the most is definitely the Anoectochilus formosanum, commonly known as the Taiwan jewel orchid." But alas, this show was quite vast and overwhelming (in a good way). When you saw one type that you thought was your favorite, a few steps later you would have already changed your mind.


Glorious entrance to the exhibit. We were already screaming and going crazy in here, we didn't realize this was only the beginning...

This glass case was filled with CARNIVOROUS FLOWERS - such as the VENUS FLYTRAP. Rar, scary.

One portion of the exhibit was dedicated to the CACTUS. I found my favorite species of cactus, which actually look like beautiful ROSES.


Orchid Show - I love you.

After winding through the show, we immediately marched our way towards the Everett Children's Adventure Garden for the Chocolate and Vanilla Adventures exhibit. Were you aware that vanilla beans actually come from a species of orchid, Vanilla planifolia?????


At the children's center, we got to have a JELLY BEAN TASTE TEST. We got them all right...yesssssss.


AND sample ANCIENT MAYAN HOT CHOCOLATE. The chocolate was crushed by hand from the cacao beans of the Theobroma cacao tree. We were told that this particular form of hot chocolate is actually 99% chocolate, and 1% water, and the healthiest way to have chocolate because it is nearly in its purest form. They add honey and spice into the mix...which made me somewhat gag. Honey and chocolate should not be friends.


After romping around the Bronx, it was time to return to Manhattan and eat at SWEETIEPIE!!! It is a magical space, with floor-to-floor mirrors and even a completely mirrored ceiling, plush pink velvet seating, whimsical chairs, candlelabras, and a GIANT BIRD CAGE for six to dine in. The vibe cannot be described in one word - but perhaps three that modify each other: crazy casual luxury. Not to mention, the food was superb!! Such a large variety of options on the menu.


The beet risotto. Lord, help me. I am picky about risotto, but I had nothing to pick at about this dish except picking big spoonfuls into my mouth. Perfect glutinous texture, warm, lightly-creamy, and damn comforting.


Eggs in a Nest. Scrambled eggs inside parcels of Parmesan cheese...simple, but delightful.

Chocolate Microcake!

Lemon Microcake!!

I understood that I had to try Sweetiepie's cakes and all...but next time I'm going to just stick to what I love most, and what Sweetiepie makes damn well - their HOMEMADE ice cream!!!! Tres delicieux.

A and I had a hankering to go see a Broadway show after our long, tiring day. Sometimes it's nice to just pay to sit there and be entertained. We decided to just take the subway to Times Square, walk the streets, and pop into the first show that we wanted to see. We finally got to Times Square around 7:40pm (Saturday evening shows typically begin around 8pm) and it was a frantic rush through the tourists to get to a show. I spotted the theater for August: Osage County and made a run for it.

"Do you have any super cheap tickets available!?!?" - I ask the ticket agent.
"Are you two students?"
"Yes."
"That will be $29.50 each"
"SCORE!!!!!!!"

We got orchestra seats for 30 bucks!!! New York Insider Tip: NEVER EVER GET RID OF YOUR STUDENT ID. What a deal. And a perfect way to end a perfect spring day in the city.