Short and Sweet NYC: Reviews on NYC in 150 words or less

The Weekend Shortlist July 25 to 27

noreply@blogger.com (Short and Sweet NYC) — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 12:00:00 +0000

Catch She & Him's M. Ward and Zooey Deschanel at Terminal 5

Friday July 25

Location: Greenpoint, Brooklyn
Band: Ween
Show time: 7:00 PM
Venue: McCarren Park Pool
Food: Wasabi
Drink: Bar Matchless
Miscellaneous: The original Soupman

One of rock’s most eclectic bands, Ween combine lo-fi recording and alt-rock on top of their wit to create memorable albums like their new one La Cucaracha. Catch them at McCarren Pool. There’s a lot of restaurants popping up in Greenpoint nowadays. The Japanese restaurant Wasabi has been there before many of them and serves up some of the best sushi in that hood. A good local bar, Bar Matchless is that low-key place where you can chill, get a drink and not have to scream at the top of your lungs to make conversation. He’s been called “The Soup Nazi” on Seinfeld, but Al Yeganeh knows how to make soup. Try the Lobster bisque, it’s the best I’ve ever had, and don’t forget to follow his rules or “No Soup for You!”

Friday July 25

Location: Gramercy, NYC
Art: The Subways
Show time: 8:00 PM
Venue: Blender Theater
Food: Souen
Drink: Revival
Miscellaneous: Trader Joes

UK rock trio The Subways stop by Blender Bar to play tracks off their upcoming CD All or Nothing. Catch this high-energy band before they embark on their U.S. tour. For fans of the vegan lifestyle or if you want to try something new, Souen is one of the best places to go for macrobiotic food. With a menu offering mostly tofu and seitan, the closest you will get to any meat is fish if you can’t handle a meatless meal. Speaking of revivals, Revival is a two story bar nearby with a lounge up top and a cozy garden in the back open till midnight on weekends. If you’re feeling dangerous, step into Trader Joes. Once you get over the insane shoppers and lines, the very moderately priced gourmet goods will make you understand why the lines here are never-ending.

Friday July 25

Location: Upper West Side, NYC
Band: Laurie Anderson: Homeland
Show time: 8:00 PM
Venue: Rose Theater
Food: Josie’s
Drink: Candle Bar
Miscellaneous: Emack & Bolio’s

Electronic composer Laurie Anderson presents Homeland, a stirring work touching on many points on the state of the U.S. post 9/11. Josie’s offers dishes like Warm Macadamia-Crusted Natural Chicken Breast Dinner Salad ($17.75), several tofu and seitan specialty dishes and the Freshly Ground Char-Grilled Brandt Natural Beef Cheeseburger ($15.75), so everyone here will walk away happy. Comfortable and dimly lit, the Candle Bar has a pool table in the back and drink specials daily. For some of the best and most interesting ice cream in the city, Emack & Bolio’s offers eclectic flavors like Deep Purple Cow (Black Raspberry ice cream with white and dark chocolate chips and blueberries).

Saturday July 26

Location: Midtown West, NYC
Band: She & Him + The Rosebuds + Freakwater
Show time: 9:00 PM
Venue: Terminal 5
Food: Island Burgers and Shakes
Drink: Smith’s Bar
Miscellaneous: Colony Music

She & Him, the collaboration of singer M. Ward and actress Zooey Deschanel, on paper and blog, sounds like another attempt by a Hollywood star at indie cred, but in this case, it’s successful as the album comes off sweet. At worst, it’s much better than her recent flick The Happening! For a kickass burger or chicken sandwich, Island Burgers and Shakes specializes in making great burgers like the Bourbon Street Burger that’s blackened, with bacon, Jack, bayou mayo, and onion on sourdough. One great dive bar in midtown, Smith’s offers cheap booze, friendly locals, and live music daily in a separate room. Though the place is way expensive, Colony Music is a fun music store selling albums and sheet music. You can walk around and check out the entertainment memorabilia. Whether you’re looking for an autographed guitar signed by the Rolling Stones or an autographed 8x10 of Linda Carter, they’ve got it.

Saturday July 26

Location: Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Band: Spiritualized
Show time: 9:00 PM
Venue: Music Hall of Williamsburg
Food: SEA
Drink: Zablozki’s
Accessory: Academy Records

Touring in support of their new album Songs in A&E, Spiritualized have long been moving theaters and listeners with their psychedlic drenched space rock and this will no doubt be a show for long standing fans waiting to hear new material from this English group. A great restaurant on the same block is SEA. Asian inspired from the décor to the food, this huge and gorgeous space serves up a mostly Thai menu from massaman curries to house specialties like Red SEA Duck (Half duck in red vinaigrette-tomato gravy sauce served with stir-fried mixed veggies). SEA is inexpensive and visually impressive for Brooklyn. With an increasing amount of new bars on the block, Zablozki’s is a standout that’s cozy, mostly mahogany, and has great drinks specials. A great stop off if you’re early is Academy Records. One of the biggest vinyl shops in NYC, if you are a vinyl fan you will be blown away.

Sunday July 27

Location: Greenpoint, Brooklyn
Bands: JellyNYC Pool Parties with MGMT + Black Moth Super Rainbow + The Ting Tings
Show time: 2:00 PM FREE
Venue: McCarren Park Pool
Food: Shanghai Lee
Drink: Black Rabbit
Miscellaneous: Peter Pan

A MUST SEE FREE SHOW, MGMT’s album Oracular Spectacular is a hybrid of rock and sun-drenched psychedelic music mixed with electronics creating probably one of the best albums of the year so far. Joining them are the excellent bands The Ting Tings and Black Moth Super Rainbow. For dinner, get your Chinese food cravings under control at Shanghai Lee. Though serving your standard Chinese fare, the atmosphere here is fun and the cocktails drinks come in special tiki glasses. Black Rabbit, the newest bar in Greenpoint, with its dark wood and dark lighting make this place look like a pub transported from somewhere deep in England. With a great vibe and even better beer selection, grab a booth and hit a button when your cup is empty. Genius! If you like donuts, then Peter Pan will be your downfall. Making huge donuts stacked with creams and jellies, they are well-worth the stomach ache to come.

I WAS THERE . . . Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 at Summer Stage 7/6/08

noreply@blogger.com (Short and Sweet NYC) — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 11:30:00 +0000

Seun Kuti and Egypt 80 Perform at Summer Stage

Seun Kuti & Egypt 80, Afrika Bambaataa and U-Roy with Love Trio
Central Park Summer Stage
July 6, 2008

Seun Kuti and Egypt 80, Afrika Bambaataa and the Zulu Nation, and U-Roy with Love Trio put on an energy-packed show that kept the crowd dancing from start to finish. All three acts are Afrocentric icons of their respective genres, and all three lived up to their prestigious reputations.

U-Roy and Love Trio opened things up. U-Roy is a legend of Jamaican music and founder of the reggae sub-genre, dub. In the early 60s, he pioneered toasting, or rapping over popular songs in dancehalls to liven up the party. He used his same signature style on Sunday, acting as lead vocalist with Love Trio, bridging the generational gap between a founder of dub and those continuing the tradition.

Next on stage was Afrika Bambaataa and the Zulu Nation, one of hip-hop's founding fathers. They kept the crowd jumping and gyrating while interjecting Afrocentric and politically charged messages into their rhymes. Some were more overt than others; Afrika Bambaataa spoke only once at the end of the set, "Peace, Love and Unity, One Nation Under a Groove, and Fuck George Bush."

Closing out the show was Egypt 80 and Seun Anikulapo Kuti, son of Afrobeat pioneer and international protest figure Fela Kuti. Seun took the energy from Afrika Bambaataa and U-Roy and vaulted it even higher. Egypt 80 took the stage first warming up the crowd and Seun made a dynamic entrance, automatically demanding the attention of the crowd. Everything from his appearance to his sound was highly reminiscent of Fela. His dance moves reminded me of his father the most, but when he introduced himself as "the best singer in the world," I knew the apple couldn't have fallen far from the tree.

--Marc Amigone

THE BOOK REPORT: My Year Inside Radical Islam

noreply@blogger.com (Short and Sweet NYC) — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 12:30:00 +0000

My Year Inside Radical Islam
Daveed Gartenstein-Ross
Tarcher

A memoir of the writer’s conversion to Islam, his turn to a radical interpretation of the faith and his time working in a Saudi-funded fundamentalist charity; Daveed Gartenstein-Ross’ book promises to be illuminating, or at least compulsively readable. Alas, the book under-delivers in almost every aspect.

While one would expect the chronicle of such intense religious transformation(s) to illustrate the psychological aspects of the writer’s religious experience, Gartenstein-Ross is instead content to simply walk the reader through his thoughts and point out the rationale behind his decisions. As a result, his religious development appears to result from little more than trial and error. Indeed, he admits to his candidly methodical approach to religion by summarizing the reason for his eventual conversion to Christianity as simply having been “persuaded by the case for another faith.”

The book’s insights into radical Islam in this country are equally disappointing. Here, the problem lies not just in the writer’s inability to convey his experience, but in the limited nature of the experience itself. Indeed, his “Year inside Radical Islam” amounts to little more than doing administrative work at a fundamentalist Islamic Charity and being fustigated on a daily basis for his theological shortcomings.

--Luis Daniel Caridad

The Daily Shortlist July 24

noreply@blogger.com (Short and Sweet NYC) — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 12:00:00 +0000

Location: Chelsea, NYC
Art: JACK *%SS
Show time: Tues to Sat 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM; Through August 1
Venue: Susan Inglett Gallery
Food: Pop Burger
Drink: Gaslight Lounge
Miscellaneous: Amy’s Bread

Based off of the MTV show Jack *%ss, featuring physical stunts and pranks by a cast including Johnny Knoxville, the exhibit traces the history of performance art and features works from artists like Chris Burden, who 30 years ago, choreographed a performance piece in which his assistant shot him in his left arm. Burger joint in the front, upscale lounge in the back, the menu at Pop Burger includes basics like 2 pop burgers for $5 for a quick fix or if your lounging, the likes of tuna tartar with soy truffle jus ($15). The Gaslight, a great hotspot bar in the meatpacking district, is dark and cozy while affordable for the area. If you don’t know Amy’s Bread, when you order a sandwich at a café or restaurant in the city, ask where they got the bread. There’s a good chance it’s from Amy’s because she’s one of the best bread makers in the city.

MUSIC REVIEWS: Supergrass and Lady GaGa

noreply@blogger.com (Short and Sweet NYC) — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:30:00 +0000

Supergrass
Diamond Hoo Ha!
Astralwerks

Woo hoo! After three years, Astralwerks' Brit-pop superstars Supergrass have come out with another album, Diamond Hoo Ha, whose name I'd love to hear them inflect someday. I imagine it like Diamond HOO Ha! The album starts out crisp, bright and energetic, like all Supergrass albums do, with the song, "Diamond Hoo Ha," my personal favorite track. It's classic Supergrass rocking out, and you can't possibly sit still to its infectious, well-orchestrated arrangement.

Distorted guitars, keyboards, bass and singer Gaz Coomes’ signature vocals carry the entire album, all working well together. "When I Needed You" carries a cool, clear melody till the end of the track. Though Diamond Hoo Ha is definitely not as energetic as previous albums, I Should Coco and In It for the Money, it's still a very satisfying album to Supergrass fans because it retains the original style that made this band so famous in the first place.

--Christine Thelen

Lady GaGa
Just Dance
Interscope Records

Since the new wave, when Madonna fueled the airwaves of the eighties, pop music has taken a drastic turn. But out of the boy band littered airwaves of the nineties to the recycled pop beats used today, Lady GaGa, a disco-electro artist, brings pop music back to its heyday on her debut disc, Just Dance, released on Interscope Records.

Tracks like “Dirty Rich,” “The Fame,” and “Paparrazi,” are filled with lyrics about our celebrity-obsessed culture. My favorite, “Just Dance,” makes you want to get up and bust a move, as cliché as it may sound. For a truly phenomenal pop disc, check out the indescribable Lady GaGa.

--Corey Crossfield

The Daily Shortlist July 23

noreply@blogger.com (Short and Sweet NYC) — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:00:00 +0000

Location: West Village, NYC
Authors: Joanna Angel and Brenda Staudenmaier
Show time: 7:30 PM
Venue: Barnes & Noble
Food: Koo Sushi
Drink: Blind Tiger Ale House
Miscellaneous: Peanut Butter & Co.

Punk rock porn princess Joanna Angel, who started the sex and rock n’ roll website Burning Angel with photographer Brenda Staudenmaier, both stop by B&N to talk about their new book Burning Angel. A little known sushi joint, Koo Sushi offers affordable and fantastic fish with an impressive number of specialty rolls. For a bar that looks like any other, Blind Tiger Ale House offers an impressive number of beers including draught, bottled, cask and one called Louise’s Bloody Beer. Try it if you dare! If you’re in the mood for some comfort food, Peanut Butter & Co., offers some PB heavy hitters like the Elvis, a PB, banana, and bacon sandwich that tastes better than it sounds.

THE INTERVIEW: Lady Ga Ga

noreply@blogger.com (Short and Sweet NYC) — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 12:30:00 +0000

All Hot and Bothered, Lady GaGa Looks to be Dance Music's Next Big Thing

Her infectious music makes you want to get up and “Just Dance” whenever it is playing. The Fame, disco-electro pop idol, Lady Ga Ga ’s new album is filled with songs about fashion, fame, and our celebrity obsessed culture. Fortunately, I got to interview the pop idol herself and ask her about the album, working with Akon, and what she would ask Andy Warhol if given the chance to ask him anything.

Before we get started I have to say your album has been on repeat in my CD player. My gay friends and I have to dance every time we listen to it.

Thanks so much, that’s the image I like hear about.

Your CD, The Fame, is filled with songs reminiscent of ‘80s synth pop. Are acts like Madonna, Blondie and other eighties pop singers an influence on your music?

Most definitely Madonna, Blondie and Dale Bozzio from Missing Persons. All of those powerful blonde women from that era. There were not too many back then.

On your album you got to work with Akon. What was that experience like?

Dope, we met after he listened to a few of my songs. He was a fan. For him to take an interest in your work, for him to be into it is huge. He worked with me on six songs including “Just Dance” and I also worked with Red One. I wrote the lyrics and melodies and he mixed the songs. He is a hip hop pioneer who invented the ella-ella sound. It was an honor to work with him.

I saw your music video for “Just Dance” recently and it looks like it was a lot of fun to shoot. What was the concept behind the video?

I wanted it to look like a party I had gone to. I got to choose the clothing, where it was shot, and wanted to show what a New York party was like through a pop lens. A New York City party I would attend.

A few weeks ago I saw you perform at the New Now Next Awards in NYC and this weekend you are performing at San Francisco Pride. Are gay men a large part of your audience?

Oh yeah a lot. The gay community has been a huge support of mine. I have always had many gay men, gay women and transgender people as friends. I want to make music my friends would listen to. I have played at a lot of gay clubs. Performing at the main stage of Pride is a huge honor and very humbling.

What inspired the title of your album and songs like “Beautiful Dirty Rich”?

The album title is based on fame and the songs are about our celebrity obsessed culture. It is about putting these two ideas together on the album. I grew up in an environment with rich girls like Nicky Hilton who I went to school with. They didn’t do anything but were famous. I grew up and moved downtown. Me and my friends had no money in our pockets, did drugs, made demos and partied big. We totally felt famous for no reason. We were nobodies but felt like rockstars. It is funny how people define their own fame. Andy Warhol said, “I am famous for my parties”. It had nothing to do with who you are it was more of a choice or inner self realization. When I think of his work, I thought he was making a comment about our culture. Fame is an ideal and we can all get a piece of it for ourselves.

Your sound seems to defy any one genre. How would you describe your sound?

Thanks for saying that. Definitely pop, crunk, vogue. No one has been able to describe it right so I don’t want to give it away. (laughs)

How did living in New York City affect your sound?

Completely, the street fashions, coldness of the concrete, and traveling back and forth across the world. There is a sense of urgency in New York City and it takes a certain lifestyle to live there. In Europe they have it right. The wine and cheese, cool dance music and good afternoon creativity are amazing. I think New York City is trying to emulate the European lifestyle.

Some of your music reminds me of the vogueing craze that was popular in the late ‘70s club scene in NYC. Is that one of your influences?

Not so much in my music but in my performances. I am trying to interpret vogueing from old videos. I am trying to reinterpret it for the future and incorporate it into my performances. Trying to get it to reflect what you love.

Alright one last question: If you could go to Max’s Kansas City and ask Andy Warhol anything what would it be?

Um…Is it true you never had sex? I think it was a lie. Also where did he get his nerve? The idea of fame, where did it come from? I would die to be his muse. What kind of stuff do you have to do to be Edie Sedgwick?

Thanks for taking the time to answer a few questions.

Thanks. You ask thought provoking questions.

--Corey Crossfield

The Daily Shortlist July 22

noreply@blogger.com (Short and Sweet NYC) — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 12:00:00 +0000

Location: Financial District, NYC
Author: Randy Couture
Show time: 12:30 PM FREE
Venue: Borders
Food: Burritoville
Drink: Jeremy’s Ale House
Miscellaneous: Century 21

You may know Randy Couture as an Ultimate Fighting and mixed martial arts champion, but today, he stops by Border’s to promote his new memoir Becoming the Natural: My Life In and Out of the Cage. While most people buy hot dogs and grab a beer at expensive restaurants in the Seaport mall, you’ll be smart and head over to Burritoville for inexpensive and delicious California inspired burritos, all under $10. For drinks, Jeremy’s Ale House has a lively crowd and a beer list that will get you a pint for $5 and under. If you get down to the financial district early, check out Century 21. They won’t try to sell you some property, but they have some great designer clothing on the cheap, plus the place is huge to roam.

L’Oreal Men's Expert Hydra-Energetic Turbo Recharger Instant Facial Skin Fuel

noreply@blogger.com (Short and Sweet NYC) — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 12:30:00 +0000

L’Oreal
Men's Expert Hydra-Energetic Turbo Recharger Instant Facial Skin Fuel

The name packs a mighty punch: Turbo Recharger Instant Facial Skin Fuel. And it almost sounds better suited as a product for your car. L’Oreal calls it “a medicine cabinet must have for all men” and at $10.49 retail, one cannot dispute its efficacy, even with a name that congers up auto racing. This is one of the most useful post shave products available on the market. It has a particularly light, non-greasy triple threat effect: it instantaneously calms razor burn, provides moisture through the entire day, and it jolts the complexion to life from fatigue – think double shot espresso for the face. This product contains caffeine, which acts as a stimulant; vitamin C imparts a slight fragrance and orange hue, and menthol that cools the skin. The only thing to watch for is that menthol can be an irritant to some skin types.

--Ashkan

The Daily Shortlist July 21

noreply@blogger.com (Short and Sweet NYC) — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 12:00:00 +0000

Bertha Lum (American, 1879–1954). Rain, 1908. Color woodcut on cream, thin, Japanese wove paper. Brooklyn Museum, Gift of the Achenbach Foundation for Graphic Arts, 63.108.2

Location: Prospect Heights, Brooklyn
Art: Japonisme in American Graphic Art, 1880–1920
Show time: Wed to Fri 10: 00 AM to 5:00 PM, Sat & Sun 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Venue: Brooklyn Museum
Food: Tom’s Restaurant
Drink: Soda Bar
Miscellaneous: Old Brooklyn Parlor

This exhibition explores how Japanese art affected Western culture at the turn of the century, during early Japan-U.S. relations. Focusing on the graphic arts—watercolor, pastel, etching, and other graphic media—we see how it affected the work of several western artists. It’s the place where Susanne Vega wrote “Tom’s Restaurant,” but Tom’s restaurant is just as famous for its food. With a near insane breakfast menu, expect items like pancakes with apples and pecans to be brought to you by the sweetest waitresses in Brooklyn. Soda Bar is a great place for drinks. The alcohol is cheap, there’s surprisingly excellent food, and there’s even another room where DJs spin. If it’s too much, you can hang outside in the backyard patio under the stars. The Old Brooklyn Parlor specializes in old school drinks like the Brooklyn Egg Cream and the Lime Cherry Rickey, making it an excellent anchor to this neighborhood.

I WAS THERE . . . Chin Chin at Joe’s Pub 7/10/08

noreply@blogger.com (Short and Sweet NYC) — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 12:30:00 +0000

Chin Chin Stay Funky!

Chin Chin
Joe’s Pub
July 10, 2008

Chin Chin proved why they're one of the funkiest bands in the city Thursday night at Joe's Pub. They came out on fire with their 9-piece band with a unique attitude and sound that said, "We're here to party and you better be too." Lead singer Wilder Zoby brought so much energy to the performance, he was literally bouncing off the walls.

Chin Chin is a rotating group of highly talented musicians from the Brooklyn scene. Thursday night's show featured among others, Torbitt Schwartz on drums, Jesse Boykins III on backup vocals, Jeremy Williams on guitar, and Eric Biondo and Aaron Johnson of Antibalas on trumpet and trombone respectively.

Their infectious energy and groove make Chin Chin the perfect party music. You simply can't help but move with them on stage. They have a show coming up on the 24th of August at McCarren Pool. If you like to dance, check them out.

--Marc Amigone

I WAS THERE . . . DJ Shadow and Cut Chemist at McCarren Pool 7/17/08

noreply@blogger.com (Short and Sweet NYC) — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 12:30:00 +0000

DJ Shadow and Cut Chemist Mix it Up! Photo Credit: DaVe Lipp

DJ Shadow and Cut Chemist
The Hard Sell
McCarren Park Pool
July 17, 2008

The fact that a decomposed body was found in a shed in the McCarren Park pool this morning, DJ Shadow and Cut Chemist played their turntables till they were smoking. Touring in support of their album The Hard Sell, the theme of the night was 45’s. Playing strictly vinyl, the smaller kind popular from the 20’s to the 60s, they broke out the obscure funk, soul, and much much more. Playing off each other live, one of the highlights of the night was hearing Shadow and Chemist mix the Gilligan’s Island theme song with Led Zeppelin.

With videos on the screen behind them featuring vinyl and a myriad of other images that complimented the music they were mixing, there was also video cameras capturing the dynamic duo spinning and looping live. Playing a lot of new material, they ended the night by hooking themselves up to some sort of portable mixing equipment they wore and walked around the stage scratching to Metallica! All in all, DJ Shadow and Cut Chemist proved to be as innovative as ever, and as always, the crowd loved it.

--DaVe Lipp

More pics

The Weekend Shortlist July 18 to 20

noreply@blogger.com (Short and Sweet NYC) — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 12:00:00 +0000

This Saturday is the Village Voice's Annual Siren Festival

Friday July 18

Location: Upper West Side, NYC
Band: The Budos Band
Show time: 7:30 PM to 10:00 PM
Venue: Damrosch Park
Food: Josie’s
Drink: Candle Bar
Miscellaneous: Emack & Bolio’s

Part of Lincoln Center’s Midsummer Night Swing series, The Budos Band play what sound like old old-school soul from the 50s and 60s, but it’s actually original music that is heavily influenced by funk and Afrobeat. Dairy free, organic, and free-range are things that come up often on the menu at Josie’s, that include several tofu and seitan specialty dishes and the Freshly Ground Char-Grilled Brandt Natural Beef Cheeseburger ($15.75), so everyone here will walk away happy. Comfortable and dimly lit, the Candle Bar has a pool table in the back and drink specials daily. For some of the best and most interesting ice cream in the city, Emack & Bolio’s offers some eclectic flavors like Deep Purple Cow (Black Raspberry ice cream with white and dark chocolate chips and blueberries). This place takes their ice cream serious.

Friday July 18

Location: Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Band: Blktop Project + Bing Ji Ling + DJ Orb
Show time: 8:00 PM
Venue: Union Pool
Food: Wild Ginger Pan-Asian Vegan Café
Drink: Teddy’s Bar & Grill
Miscellaneous: Verb Café

When you think of a bunch of skateboarders getting together to play soul music in a band, what do you think happens? I don’t know what your answer is, but when Tommy Guerrero, Ray Barbee, Matt Rodriguez and Chuck Treece get together, they actually make pretty sweet music. Who knew! For vegetarians and those not in the mood for meat, Wild Ginger offers Pan-Asian cuisine in a relaxed earth-toned environment with a menu featuring veggies, tofu, seitan, and soy. The best thing about Teddy’s Bar is that it’s just got this great neighborhood vibe that’s warm and friendly, while also having a great menu of drinks and American bar food favorites like burgers, salads, sandwiches, and steak. A great place to get good coffee, take a seat, and watch the passing hipsters stroll by, Verb Café even has excellent sandwiches and baked goods to snack on before the show.

Saturday July 19

Location: Coney Island, NYC
Band: Siren Music Festival
Show time: Noon FREE
Venue: Coney Island Boardwalk
Food: Nathan’s Famous
Drink: Ruby's Old Tyme Bar and Grill
Miscellaneous: Brooklyn Cyclones

The Village Voice’s Siren Festival takes place at Coney Island again. Wasn’t last year supposedly the last year? Who cares! This year’s performers include Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks, Broken Social Scene, Islands, The Helio Sequence, Beach House, Ra Ra Riot, Times New Viking, Jaguar Love, The Dodos, Annuals, Film School, Parts & Labor, and more. While you may not be Kobayashi, eating a hot dog, a corn dog, or even cheese fries at Nathan’s Famous goes back several generations. Expect long lines, but it’ll be worth it! Not just a tradition but an institution on the boardwalk, Ruby’s is a great dive bar for cheap drinks and watching local drunks belt out Rat Pack songs. Even if this minor league Mets team isn’t playing a baseball game, The Brooklyn Cyclones stadium is worth the short walk over on the boardwalk to check out it’s size and beauty.

Saturday July 19

Location: Park Slope, Brooklyn
Band: Enter the Dragon with Karsh Kale + Soh Daiko
Show time: 7:30 PM FREE
Venue: Celebrate Brooklyn at the Prospect Park Bandshell
Food: Press 195
Drink: The Gate
Miscellaneous: The Chocolate Room

Blending traditional Indian music with electronic sounds, Karsh Kale brings his talent to the silver screen, well sort of, as he scores Bruce Lee’s biggest kung fu flick, Enter the Dragon, live! Opening for him is Japanese taiko drummer Soh Daiko. Taking the pressed sandwich to the gourmet level, Press 195 offers 30 kinds of hot pressed sandwiches that make this place hard to get tired of. One of the more social bars in Park Slope, The Gate is a great bar with a wide selection of local beers on tap and an outdoor patio overlooking the park. A great little dessert and coffee shop, The Chocolate Room has a menu filled with everything made with some form of chocolate. Try the hot chocolate, you won’t regret it.

Sunday July 20

Location: Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Band: Marshall Allen and friends
Show time: 10:00 PM FREE
Venue: Zebulon
Food: Bliss
Drink: Spike Hill
Miscellaneous: Ella Cafe

While there’s several amazing free shows around town today (Santogold, Diplo, and A-trak at Summerstage and The Liars at McCarren Pool), one worth going to is Marshall Allen at Zebulon. Having backed up Sun Ra and now leading his Arkestra from the beginning, getting the chance to see a jazz legend FREE is something that don’t come around too often. For veggie lover’s, Bliss Café is an excellent place for tempeh, tofu, and vegetables, with all menu items $10 and under. Right off the L train at Bedford, Spike Hill is a really nice Irish pub with a great selection of draft beers on tap and booths in the back to sit, drink, and even order off an Irish menu of food. While several new coffee shops have popped up in Williamsburg recently, Ella Café is not just the best designed, with it’s blond wood interior but the coffee is pretty good too.

THE INTERVIEW: Former Top Chef Contestant and Restaurant Owner, Camille Becerra

noreply@blogger.com (Short and Sweet NYC) — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 12:30:00 +0000

With Her Urban American Cuisine, Paloma Restaurant Owner/Chef Camille Becerra is Helping make the Greenpoint Neighborhood a Community.

She was on the third season of the Bravo channel show Top Chef, and currently, Camille Becerra, is the owner/chef of Greenpoint’s Paloma, where she doesn’t have to create a three-course meal in an hour and be judged by some of the food businesses biggest names! Here, she sits down to discuss her experience being on Top Chef, why she chose Greenpoint to call home, and where the name “Paloma” exactly came from, and more.

How did you get into cooking professionally?

It started as a great love I had and of course, I wanted to make some money off it, and it progressed from there. Early on in my late teens, early twenties, I traveled around the country, wound up in New Mexico, and started getting into Zen Buddhism. This monastery needed a cook at the time, so I became their cook and there, I really learned a lot of vegetarian techniques, and about foods and ingredients. Zen Buddhism plays a part in many things that I do in general, but cooking, as a whole, is very meditational. You have to stop thinking about everything else and just focus on what you’re doing. I take a lot of that and apply it to cooking.

Of all your experiences as a chef, what do you feel has influenced your style of cooking the most?

I think what influences me the most is where I live. It’s New York City. It’s all the boroughs. It’s incorporating all these different cultures and with them, their ingredients, and their techniques. Just going around the city and eating is a huge influence on how I cook.

How were you chosen to be on Top Chef?

I have a friend who’s a pretty well-known doorperson at nightclubs. Top Chef people came into one of the clubs my friend was working one night and they used the fact that they were from Top Chef to get into the club. They had just finished their NYC casting call. He is a huge fan of the show and had always been telling me to watch it. So at 2:30 AM one night, I get a phone call saying how he just met these people and they want to meet me. The next day they had me run up to midtown to meet with them. It went really well. We talked about food, NYC, and owning a restaurant. After that, I just kept meeting with them and then went to L.A. It all went really quick. I would say that from the time that my friend called me up until I was in Miami, it was probably a month and a half.

What was the experience like?

It was difficult. Some people are fine with it. I however wasn’t. You are sequestered, which is a huge downer for me because I own a business, and I have a daughter. Her birthday came up and I couldn’t call her. I was upset about it and they let me call her the next day. But at that point, I was just kind of over the show, and it became not about winning, but about leaving as a fast as I can, and keeping my dignity.

Did you have any heat with any of the other contestants or judges?

I left pretty early on, so no. I’m pretty easy going, friendly, and a social person, so they really weren’t going to get that much drama from me. Gail Simmons has been here to eat. Tom Collichio, though we didn’t know it at the time, we grew up about five blocks away from each other in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Of course, he’s a little bit older, so we didn’t really know each other. But now, whenever we see each other at an event, we’ve really become fast friends because we share our neighborhood. Padma [Lakshmi] is great. She’s always very gracious and fun. Instead of enemies, I actually made a lot of very good friends.

Given a chance to do it all over again on the show, would you have done anything different?

Well yeah! I could sit here and say loads of things that I would have probably done differently. But in the end, as I tell everyone, I took from Bravo what I needed to take and Bravo took from me what they needed to take, so it was a friendly exchange and I love that network and the people who work for it, so I really have no regrets.

Why did you choose to open your restaurant in Greenpoint?

I moved here in 2001, and opened the restaurant three years ago in 2005, so I was living here for a few years and there wasn’t really anything around. I saw a lot of great people, and that this neighborhood could potentially be great but also potentially a great community, and I think in Manhattan you don’t really get that because it’s so transient. Brooklyn has the ability to have great communities, more than just really great neighborhoods.

Tell me about the cuisine you serve. How did you come up with the menu?

The cuisine we have here is what we call Urban American. Basically, what we do is incorporate a lot of different ingredients and techniques from all over the world. But we really try to stay seasonal. Although we may use spices from India or wherever, we really try to buy a lot of our produce, meats, and proteins locally. There’s a lot of influence from all different cultures, but we offer seasonal and regional ingredients, helping our local farmers as much as we can. The end result is so much better, because a locally grown peach from a farm that cares is so much more rewarding. So those are the three components we feature, global ingredients and techniques, mixed with local, and seasonal produce.

Did the experience of being on Top Chef change the way you work with food in any way?

It was definitely a huge dose of inspiration. Just being around foodies and chefs, and then being so passionate, it definitely fueled a flame, and sometimes when you do a particular career for a long time, you kind of forget about that initial passion that you had. So that was a great thing to have gotten from Top Chef, a refueling of inspiration and creativity. So yes, it did change the way I work with food, and very much so, because I was reinspired, and on-set, you really do have a lot of time to share with these people, and when you get 15 people together who are also passionate about food, that’s what the conversation is, everything dealing with food. I left there with new techniques and new ingredients that I hadn’t really worked with before.

Where does the name “Paloma” come from, as it sounds Polish, like the majority of people who live in this neighborhood?

Ha! It’s so not Polish. It’s like the furthest thing from Poland! It’s the name of my seven-year-old daughter. It means “dove” in Spanish. It’s a common name in Spain. Naming a child is the most permanent decision I’ve ever had to make, so when I had to name the restaurant, I went in between names and decided to stick with Paloma. I asked all my friend’s and everyone really loved that it would be named after my daughter, so I just stuck with that. I kind of took the easy road to naming my restaurant!

Where do you enjoy dining and drinking in NYC when you have a free moment?

I really don’t go out that much. If I do, I kind of stick to Brooklyn. My favorite restaurant in Brooklyn is Marlow & Sons. In the city I like Public, Freemans, and The Spotted Pig. Those are my faves. I usually stay downtown. I like going to restaurants where the style of cooking is similar to my own. I don’t go out to eat a lot and that’s something I really want to start doing. I find myself eating and entertaining here mostly. Paloma is kind of an extension of my home, and looking at work in that light has helped so much, because I’m here so much. Looking at it like that, like Paloma is my living room and my dining room, helps me cope with working long hours.

Paloma is located in Greenpoint, Brooklyn at 60 Greenpoint Avenue. Phone: (718) 349-2400. Hours: Dinner 6:00 PM-11:00 PM; Brunch Sat. and Sun. 11:00 AM-3:00 PM; Closed Monday.

--DaVe Lipp

The Daily Shortlist July 17

noreply@blogger.com (Short and Sweet NYC) — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 12:00:00 +0000

Junot Diaz

Location: Upper East Side, NYC
Band: Junot Díaz + Aleksandar Hemon
Show time: 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM FREE
Venue: Central Park SummerStage
Food: Brother Jimmy’s Bait Shack
Drink: BB&R
Miscellaneous: Dylan's Candy Bar

On the heels of Junot Diaz’s highly acclaimed first novel, The Brief Wonderous Life of Oscar Wao, he hits Summerstage for a rather large reading. Joining him is Aleksandar Hemon, a writer from Sarajevo and author of The Lazarous Project. If you’ve got a craving for barbeque, check out Brother Jimmy’s Bait Shack as the ribs, chicken, beef, and pork are all smothered in some amazing BBQ sauce. BB&R, which stands for Blonde, Brunette, and a Redhead is the brainchild of three best friends. What they’ve created is something between a neighborhood bar and a lounge with leather seats in the front and a pool table, photo booth, and video games in the back. Looking more like it came out of Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Dylan’s Candy Bar is a colorful place to get lollipops, licorice, and all things sugary. Don’t go crazy or your sweet tooth might melt here!

MUSIC REVIEWS: Glass Candy and Jim Noir

noreply@blogger.com (Short and Sweet NYC) — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 12:30:00 +0000

Glass Candy
Beatbox
Italians Do It Better

With Beatbox, Glass Candy craft a sonically sweet synth-pop confection. Tracks like "Computer Love," an ode to lonely nights bathed in the pixellated glow of a monitor, and the anthemic "Candy Castle," with its refrain to "c'mon c'mon" capture the feel of the late 70s and early 80s when disco was dying, Blondie ruled New York nights, and all music needed was a Casio and a microphone.

It's the stripped down approach to making music that is most appealing. No one could accuse Glass Candy of being over-produced. It's not a wall-of-sound, but two collaborators confident in their voice, and their vision.

Rare missteps, like the unnecessary "Introduction" track or the "Last Nite I Met a Costume" interlude aside, Glass Candy's latest album is a delectable nod to a mirrorball world, lines on the mirror not required.

--Jonathan Shieber

Jim Noir
Jim Noir
Barsuk

Jim Noir’s second album, Jim Noir, sounds a lot like other bands’ albums. His influences are clearly discernible upon first listen. This cuts both ways: catchy tunes with poppy, psychedelic melodies, but falter as they directly invoke their predecessors. Whether it’s the Beach Boys on “Happy Day Today,” or Revolver/Sgt. Pepper on “What U Gonna Do,” the markers are unavoidable. And, with refrains such as, “I’ve broken all my cds…” and “I’m like a kid who knows exactly what he wants for his birthday,” I gotta pass.

I’ve read some interesting things about Mr. Noir and the quirkiness and likeability of this album—but I don’t get it; too many of the songs sound like they didn’t make the cut for a Bowie, Kinks, Beatles, or Beach Boys record. It’s undeniably difficult to absorb your strong influences and churn out a unique sound, but Mr. Noir seems to be letting his fandom get the best of him.

--David Levin

The Daily Shortlist July 16

noreply@blogger.com (Short and Sweet NYC) — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 12:00:00 +0000

Get Down With Shilpa Ray and Her Happy Hookers Photo Credit: Leslie Torre

Location: Lower East Side, NYC
Band: Shilpa Ray and Her Happy Hookers
Show time: 9:00 PM
Venue: Cake Shop
Food: San Loco
Drink: Max Fish
Miscellaneous: Sugar Sweet Sunshine

Former Beat The Devil singer, Shilpa Ray leads a new line-up with a more pop friendly sound that takes serious grooves and walls of sonic guitar to a new place with enchanting vocals that harmonize with her harmonium. San Loco serves inexpensive Mexican food. You can get a heaping amount of nachos for as little as $3.75, and telling by the heavy traffic, the place is doing just fine. What I like about Max Fish is that it’s a local bar for local artists. It’s walls play host monthly for art exhibitions, there’s a pool table in the back, and drinks aren’t pricey, like many new bars springing up in this neighborhood. For one of the best cupcakes in the city, Sugar Sweet Sunshine has 10 varieties, on top of cakes. Try the Sexy Red Velvet or the Bob, a yellow cupcake with chocolate almond buttercream.

I WAS THERE . . . Yoav at Piano’s 7/8/08

noreply@blogger.com (Short and Sweet NYC) — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 12:30:00 +0000

Yoav Live

Yoav
Piano’s
July 7, 2008

Yoav's gig at Piano's this past Tuesday, July 8th, helped me realize how truly beautiful and multifaceted the acoustic guitar really is when it's in the right hands. He cradled it, tapped against it, drummed it, sang into it, and slid his fingers carefully up and down its neck as of it was his lover. It was absolutely romantic to watch this.

He played nearly all of the songs off Charmed and Strange, his debut album, plus a cover of Radiohead’s "Idioteque," which was a good choice since I'd likened the wails on a couple of his songs to Thom Yorke. The small, intimate space at Pianos allowed his strumming and hollow beat sounds to cut the silent room of listeners, who could catch his every word. It was certain that all of the people in that room could feel what he felt. It was the most responsive audience I'd seen in a long time.

--Christine Thelen

The Daily Shortlist July 15

noreply@blogger.com (Short and Sweet NYC) — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 12:00:00 +0000

No Punch and Pie at this Show, Just the HITS!

Location: Chelsea, NYC
Bands: Bon Jovi + All-American Rejects
Show time: 7:30 PM
Venue: Madison Square Garden
Food: Supermac
Drink: Stout
Miscellaneous: Jack’s 99 Cent Store

Bon Jovi makes a stop close to his New Jersey hometown here in NYC at MSG! Expect lots of hair and lots of hits from one of the 80s biggest bands. Joining them are All-American Rejects. Though small, Supermac packs a hearty punch with it’s gourmet mac & cheese’s like the Mac Cheesesteak with shaved steak, caramelized onions, roasted peppers, cremini/shitake, provolone, and white American ($8.25 mini; $10.95 mega). A great place in NYC to get a full-bodied dark beer is at Stout. With a very detailed beer list with descriptions, I’ve never had a bad pint at this bar and restaurant, plus the food menu is American and quite good. Probably the biggest 99-cent store in NYC, Jack’s is three floors of some of the finest values you can find, especially in an overpriced area like Herald Square.

Location: East Village, NYC
Band: Baye Kouyate
Show time: 9:30 PM
Venue: Joe's Pub
Food: Minca
Drink: Common Ground
Miscellaneous: Beard Papa Sweets Cafe

Baye Kouyate is a talking-drum master from Mali. One of the most up-and-coming African musicians on the NY scene, he has collaborated with Salif Keita and Vieux Farka Toure, and recently released an album, Danama. If you love African music, or just quality music in general, check him out. If you’ve never been to Minca for dinner, go right now! This small noodle bar makes some amazing ramen noodles from scratch. Try the Minca Ramen, a mild broth with pork, chicken & dried seafood ($8.50). One of the newer bars in the East Village, Common Ground has a dark wood interior, a relaxed atmosphere, and excellent cocktails like the Blueberry Pie. If you like pastries filled with cream, check out Beard Papa Sweets Café. They offer cream fillings like earl grey, green tea, coffee, and the standard vanilla, chocolate, strawberry among others.

Clinique Long Last Glosswear SPF 15 and Self-Sun

noreply@blogger.com (Short and Sweet NYC) — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 12:30:00 +0000

Clinique
Long Last Glosswear SPF 15 and Self-Sun

Before the big eighth grade dance, I bought my first tube of tanning cream and applied it liberally. The effect was neither subtle nor human. However, it did match the globs of glittery gloss covering my orange lips. Needless to say, tanning technology has come a long way. Now you can confidently apply Clinique Self-Sun, a body lotion with just a touch of bronzing power, and not worry so much about streaking or looking like a golden chicken mcnugget on the dance floor. Whip out Clinique’s Long Last Glosswear SPF 15 in front of the other girls in the bathroom and be prepared to share...except with you know who, who is the cold sore queen.

--Sheehan McGuirk

The Daily Shortlist July 14

noreply@blogger.com (Short and Sweet NYC) — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 12:00:00 +0000

Larry Fink
Barack Obama, TX, 2008
gelatin silver print,
18 x 18 inches
© Larry Fink

Location: Midtown East, NYC
Art: Larry Fink: The Democrats
Show time: Mon. to Thurs. 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM; Fri. 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM. Thru August 15
Venue: Pace/MacGill
Food: Peking Duck House
Drink: Blackstones Pub & Restaurant
Miscellaneous: New York Milkshake Company

In this exhibition of 20 photographs, photographer Larry Fink gives a much closer look at Barack Obama and Hilary Clinton on the campaign trail for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination. At one of my favorite places to get duck, The Peking Duck House, the meat is succulent and the skin crunches like a potato chip. Sometimes you just want to grab a pint without paying a cover charge or playing host to a group of people after work, which is why I like Blackstones Pub & Restaurant. It looks like an old-time saloon and has two pool tables in the back and plenty of other games, while also being big enough to grab traditional American food from the menu. If you’re still hungry, check out the New York Milkshake Company for one of the best $6 shakes of your life.

The Weekend Shortlist July 11 to 13

noreply@blogger.com (Short and Sweet NYC) — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 12:00:00 +0000

The Breeders Play for FREE at McCarren Park Pool This Sunday

Friday July 11

Location: Park Slope, Brooklyn
Band: Brazilian Girls + Chicha Libre + Ticklah
Show time: 8:00 PM FREE
Venue: Celebrate Brooklyn at the Prospect Park Bandshell
Food: Press 195
Drink: The Gate
Miscellaneous: The Chocolate Room

Brazilian Girls headlines this FREE show in Prospect Park. Blending electronic and South American rhythms, this should be a booty shaking good time. Joining them are newly added Ticklah and Chicha Libre whose blend of South American and psychedelic styles are infectious and gorgeous. Taking the pressed sandwich to the gourmet level, Press 195 offers 30 kinds of hot pressed sandwiches that make this place hard to get tired of. One of the more social bars in Park Slope, The Gate is a great bar with a wide selection of local beers on tap and an outdoor patio overlooking the park. A great little dessert and coffee shop, The Chocolate Room has a menu filled with everything made with some form of chocolate. Try the hot chocolate, you won’t regret it.

Friday July 11

Location: DUMBO, Brooklyn
Show: Brooklyn Keeps on Takin’ It
Show time: 6:00-9:00 PM FREE
Venue: powerHouse Arena
Food: RICE
Drink: Low Bar
Miscellaneous: Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory

To help celebrate the 2008 Brooklyn Hip Hop festival, powerHouse Books plays host to the launch party at their bookstore in DUMBO. On the mic will be Fresh Daily, Sputnik Brown, Sucio Smash, and P.Casso. See the future all-stars of hip hop for FREE! RICE not surprisingly offers a pretty intense variety of rice, from brown to Bhutanese red. Most of the rice based dishes come in large and small sizes. Right below RICE is Low Bar, an extremely convenient place to grab a drink and catch some great DJs spin in a lounge environment. Right off the water, with a view of the South Street Seaport and the Brooklyn Bridge so close you can touch it, the only thing that could make this view better is ice cream. You’ll usually find a long line for Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory, but the sweet flavors are worth it!

Saturday July 12

Location: Upper West Side, NYC
Band: Damon Albarn and the Honest Jon’s Revue
Show time: 8:00 PM
Venue: Avery Fisher Hall (at Lincoln Center)
Food: Josie’s
Drink: Candle Bar
Miscellaneous: Emack & Bolio’s

In recent years Blur’s frontman, Damon Albarn has gone in any musical direction he’s felt like, from Gorillaz to Malian music. He’s even started his own record label Honest Jon’s. Tonight, he plays with many of the artists who have recorded for his label including Tony Allen, Afel Bocoum, Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, Kokanko Sata, Candi Staton, Lobi Traore, Simone White and Victoria Williams. Dairy free, organic, and free-range are things that come up often on the menu at Josie’s, that include several tofu and seitan specialty dishes and the Freshly Ground Char-Grilled Brandt Natural Beef Cheeseburger ($15.75), so everyone here will walk away happy. Comfortable and dimly lit, the Candle Bar has a pool table in the back and drink specials daily. For some of the best and most interesting ice cream in the city, Emack & Bolio’s offers some eclectic flavors like Deep Purple Cow (Black Raspberry ice cream with white and dark chocolate chips and blueberries). This place takes their ice cream serious.

Saturday July 12

Location: Lower East Side, NYC
Band: Cover Me Badd + The Black Tie Party
Show time: 9:00 PM
Venue: Parkside Lounge
Food: Chickie Pig’s
Drink: Mason Dixon
Miscellaneous: 151

Cover Me Badd are an awesome cover band that break the mold of what a cover band is supposed to be. Replace the bad lead singer with a badass trombone player and you get one kickass good time. Expect lot’s of classic rock, pop and a few surprise hits! What sounds like a vegetarian’s nightmare is actually a gourmet pizza restaurant. Chickie Pig’s offers some interesting brick oven thin-crust pies like The Pig’s Fig Pie with fig jam reduction, Gorgonzola, proscuitto, and chives ($15). If you have the desire to ride a bull when you order a pint, then you’re in luck! Mason Dixon offers both. Seriously, you can drink and ride a friggin’ mechanical bull here! For a good time or if your goal is to get trashed, hit up 151. There’s no sign outside, but inside, happy hour is 2 for 1 everyday from 6-10pm.

Sunday July 13

Location: Greenpoint, Brooklyn
Bands: The Jelly NYC Pool Parties with The Breeders + Matt and Kim + The Whip
Show time: 2:00 PM FREE
Venue: McCarren Park Pool
Food: La Locanda
Drink: Enid’s
Miscellaneous: Royal Oak

Since when do the Breeders play a free show? Who cares, all I know is that I’ll be there enjoying their hits and cuts off their new album April’s Mountain Battles. Matt and Kim will be there too and this duo smiles a lot and we will too as they play their fun and quirky songs. One of the last vestige’s of real Brooklyn in this hipster neighborhood, La Locanda serves simple Italian dishes like Chicken Parmigiana and pasta, but don’t be fooled, the food here is excellent, affordable and the vibe is homey. A good place to drink and talk nearby, Enid’s has cheap beer, a friendly atmosphere, and even food. Another good place for drinks if you feel like bar-hopping, Royal Oak offers a dark and sexy vibe, where excellent DJs play old-school R&B and 80s metal all mixed up like Britney Spears!

THE BOOK REPORT: The Naked Civil Servant

noreply@blogger.com (Short and Sweet NYC) — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 12:30:00 +0000

The Naked Civil Servant
Quentin Crisp
Penguin Classics

“Even hooligans marry, though they know that marriage is for a little while. It is alimony that is forever.” Witticisms such as this can be found on just about every page of Quentin Crisp’s classic autobiography The Naked Civil Servant. Beginning with his birth (“as soon as I stepped out of my mother’s womb…I realized that I had made a mistake”) to his cynical reflections on old(er) age (he was 60 at the time of writing and lived to be 90), Crisp’s writing is unflaggingly lively, at times outright hilarious.

Crisp came out as a gay man in 1931 in a virulently homophobic England. His autobiography chronicles his struggles to pursue his own way of life and remain fiscally solvent throughout the tumultuous years of the early twentieth century. Ultimately, between the lines of self-deprecating humor, The Naked Civil Servant is a testament to a brave life lived deeply for the causes of personal dignity and self-expression.

--Miranda Ganzer

The Daily Shortlist July 10

noreply@blogger.com (Short and Sweet NYC) — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 12:00:00 +0000

Charles Strouse

Location: Upper West Side, NYC
Book: Charles Strouse
Show time: 5:30 PM FREE
Venue: Barnes & Noble
Food: Symposium
Drink: Broadway Dive
Miscellaneous: Sip

Longtime Broadway veteran, Charles Strouse has composed music for shows like Annie, wrote the film score for Bonnie and Clyde, and the theme song for All in the Family. He’s a legend and in his new memoir Put on a Happy Face, he waxes poetic on meeting and working with acting legends like Sammy Davis Jr., Lauren Bacall, Mel Brooks, Warren Beatty, and Carol Burnett. Low priced anything near Columbia is getting harder to find, but at Symposium, you’ll get Greek food that won’t force you to take a mortgage out. The Pastitsio (baked macaroni with ground meat $9.95) is out of this world. Not the kind of dive bar you’re thinking, though Broadway Dive has a single malt scotch and bourbon menu big enough that you won’t even know where you are after a few. A coffee bar that also serves liquor, tapas, and baked goods all in one place? Sip sounds good to me.

Put on Your Dancing Shoes. It’s Chin Chin!

Location: East Village, NYC
Band: Chin Chin
Show time: 9:30 PM
Venue: Joe's Pub
Food: Oyama
Drink: Grassroots Tavern
Miscellaneous: Mudd Cafe

Don’t forget to check out Chin Chin at Joe’s Pub tonight. Blending funk, soul, disco, hip-hop, and electronica with an Afrobeat influence and plenty of hooks, these guys usually come 12 musicians deep and bring the party live. In other words, put on your dancing shoes! With sushi that’s 50 percent off all the time, you might think, “Something’s wrong with that?” but the fish is good and the rolls are inventive, making this one of the best low-priced sushi joints in the city. Though St. Marks all of a sudden lost its charm, Grassroots Tavern hasn’t. This large dive bar has cheap drinks, darts in the back, and old men behind the bar, things a good dive bar should have. Excellent coffee served in a big mug and a healthy menu of food coupled with a year round enclosed outdoor backyard patio make this place a great little coffee shop in the area.

MUSIC REVIEWS: The Coral Sea and Goldfrapp

noreply@blogger.com (Short and Sweet NYC) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 12:30:00 +0000

Patti Smith/Kevin Shields
The Coral Sea
PASK

If someone said that punk poet laureate, Patti Smith, would be pairing up with My Bloody Valentine’s, Kevin Shields, for a live performance, I would have told them to stop using drugs. The two paired up to do a live performance a few years back and the live album, The Coral Sea, is the result. The album is a musical memorial dedicated to Robert Mapplethorpe, a friend of Smith. The live disc includes excerpts from Smith’s epic poem of the same title.

Smith, a legend in her own right, comes through with a heartbreaking record and Shields is brilliant as always, accompanying Smith on guitar throughout her spoken word performance. If you’re a Smith fan or looking for an original kind of music, this is the album for you.

--Corey Crossfield

Goldfrapp
Seventh Tree
Mute

Dance party people, alert. Goldfrapp’s latest release may not be on your playlist. If you've got the patience, and if you liked her earlier material, still give this a listen.

It's fitting that Alison Goldfrapp looks like a grown-up Goldilocks. Her latest, Seventh Tree, evokes images of riding through a forest, in the middle of a kind of offbeat fairy tale. Though not as energetic or glamorous as recent releases, this album seems to be a return to her debut Felt Mountain. Beautifully arranged, Seventh Tree offers plenty of sensual, soothing songs, both contemplative and healing.

"Little Bird," the second track, is practically symphonic. The way the music sways and builds until it's all around you, with Alison's angelic voice, backed by drums and atmospherics, is absolutely blissful. "Happiness," is like a tiny, cheerful circus with its playful rhythm and catchy introduction. "Road to Somewhere" gently pulsates and guides the soul. "Cologne Cerrone Houdini" is sultry but sophisticated.

Seventh Tree brings us into the summer soothing and gently edging the soul forward.

--Christine Thelen