iFrogz “Billionaire” headphones on Judas Priest “Screaming for Vengeance” album plus Jimi Hendrix blotter art

Love these crazy headphones – you can’t beat them in terms of style. iFrogz EarPollution Billionaire headphones in brown, gold and yellow.

I got mine on Amazon for $12 (on sale). The sound quality is decent and yes there’s better out there for the same price range (e.g., Behringer, Koss) but nothing as fun[1]. The short ~4-foot cord is great for listening on your phone/music player or at work. The downside is the earpad cushions will slip off at some point and are a serious pain to reattach (I got so annoyed I eventually superglued the earpads on a different pair of these headphones). Additionally, the headphone “springback” on the head weakens over time and the plastic anchoring the head cushion may crack (it did on one pair of mine).

iFrogz also made the even more amazing Munich earphones in red, black and gold. Sadly these are no longer available anywhere online.  The Earpollution Mogul is a interesting looking runner up.

In NYC, B&H Photo Video superstore on 9th Ave carries a wide selection of consumer and professional quality headphones and there’s an in-store wall of headphones where you can try them on and test them.

Random aside: in the Times Square subway station is Record Mart music store where you can purchase all sorts of headphones, CDs, DVDs and music related accessories. Yes, IN the subway on the platform between the N/Q/R/W, 1/2/3 and S shuttle to Grand Central. Also, if you want to wander through the maze of subway stations, you can walk through the underground passageway to the 8th ave A/C/E stations and there’s numerous small stores there.

[1] Nota bene: I’m not an audiophile and put style over substance for my headphones (obviously). Yes, there are much better headphones out there – that’s what google and review sites are for.

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Nixon “The Ticket” in gold and in silver & mother of pearl

Uniquely designed watches speak to me. I’m a huge fan of Nixon brand timepieces (no, nothing to do with the former President). The gold-white contrast and large square face of Nixon’s The Ticket watch caught my eye and it immediately went on my wish list. A year later, I tore the wrapping off a birthday gift to find one sitting in my hands. My silver Ticket came to me serendipitously. I’d stopped in to one of Paragon Sports Warehouse Sales, and was poking around the watch display case what should I see shining up at me, but the extremely rare silver Ticket with mother-of-pearl face. HALF OFF. Sold.

The Ticket is more than 10 years out of season now, but you can still occasionally find one for sale on Amazon or Poshmark.

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My blue floral slip-on “f’n shoes”

Sunday night, I dropped into Loosie Rouge to see Ethan who was working on a new milk punch cocktail (and had mentioned there would be Bossa Nova playing). A mellow way to round out the weekend, or so I thought. I walked in to find the space already half full and realized it was going to be more than mellow – Bossa Nova, yes, but from a live Brazilian band (Palmiera Records). Three young women next to me chatted in French and kept popping out to smoke, as the space filled up with even more music fans.

I had on my red blazer party outfit I’d worn to a friend’s birthday party, the night before, and the shoes. The bright colors, red brooch and “f’n shoes” initiated conversation and introductions with the French women, who, it turned out, were models visiting from Paris (une • deux • trois) enjoying a last night partying with their tall Israeli friend before flying off to Montreal (Loosie Rouge draws an international crowd on Sundays, apparently).

The milk punch was followed by a Manhattan cocktail variation, dancing and cigarette breaks outside (they smoking, I enabling) and random photos (note the shoes). More drinks and the band finished it’s second set. Etgar, the tall friend, invited us all next door to Bembe and the Sunday Latin dance party filling it up. Much dancing, drinks and a last cigarette break and the Parisians were off to Queens and I, to a nightcap at Fresh Kills (sister to Dutch Kills bar). A final text from the bartender Ethan provided the title.

The shoes are from Unique Designs in Newark, New Jersey, a shoe Mecca (for me). 17 Branford Pl, Newark, NJ 07102

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