December 19, 2011

Yesterday I posted a link to the Hand-Made Holiday Gift and Craft fair that MAD commenter and CBBM documentarian, Spike and his wife, Sacha host and tonight I thought I’d go check it out. And you’re invited too!

Brrrr...it's cold out here tonight!

Luckily, it's a short walk and here we are at d.b.a.

And here's a sign for the 7th Annual Hand-Made Crafts Fair, let's go check it out.

It's nice and dark inside and the bar is marble at the end and wooden in the middle, nice.

And the lovely and friendly bartender, Brie is quick with a beer and a nice smile.

They serve a huge variety of beer and have a large liquor list as well, some of the varieties are listed on the boards hanging over the bar.

Candle lit wooden tables line the wall opposite the bar.

And it looks like the craft fair is back here.

Wow, it's very festive and cozy back here!

And here's the hosts of the fair, Sacha and Spike!

Sacha is the founder and director of Stiggly Holistics, an East Village, New York City based holistic wellness center.

She had an impressive display of items for sale ranging from various balms to tea cups, pottery, granola and tea.

Let's take a look around and meet some of the other vendors in the fair.

Here's Deborah who had a nice selection of blown glass items on display.

Cid was selling hand=made jewelry and told me about an access cable show called, "Mark After Dark." I have to meet this guy! She also had two little wooden hands on her table that frightened me a little bit!

Karen was working at her table that boasted a very nice array of hand-made items.

This is a great event and I'll be back next year for sure.

Thanks to Spike and Sacha for the invitation and for hanging out with me, I had fun, but now I have to go and face the cold.

Yikes, it's even worse now. I haven't had a fire in the fireplace so far, but I think I'm going to fire it up tonight! Let's get moving!

Here we are...aaaaahhh...wait a second...a Cardboard Box Man in a fireplace? Probably not the best place to try and scare me.

Burn, baby, burn! Could this be the end of the Cardboard Box Man's reign of terror? Probably not, but one can hope! Goodnight everybody and see you tomorrow after dark.

d.b.a.
41 First Ave. (Near 2nd St.)
212-475-5097

Further Reading: New York Magazine, Diner’s Journal and EV Grieve.

Surrender, surrender,
But don’t give yourself away.

(Surprise link, click on it...I dare you!)

December 8, 2011

Tonight I’m heading out with the Chillmaster for a few drinks at the International Bar. Four words says it all, “Why the fuck not?”

Another rainy, chilly-ass night in New York. This weather has been rotten lately. I think I'd prefer snow.

Okay, through the magic of the internet you're spared a subway ride that was a lot drier than it is here in the East Village. Let's get to the Chillmaster's, I'm wet outside and dry on the inside.

At first I was a little worried when I saw the Chillmaster window closed, but a quick knock and...

I'm inside with the Chillmaster who is well stocked for the night. We have a few pre-International Hennesy's...

And then it's time to hit the road.

It's cold out, so Gumby's got the fur action going on.

After a cold and rainy walk up 1st Avenue, we finally make it to the International Bar.

Ahh, it's great in here, one of the darkest bars in town.

And Eric was there at the bar. We got drinks and relocated up to the front window seats.

Three stooges at International Bar.

The windows were steaming up from the cold and Eddie the doorman was drawing something on the front door.

I'm going to title this: "How much is that doggie in the window?"

Meanwhile Eric and the Chillmaster are hanging back in our area of the bar.

The Chillmaster points out we've got our own blank canvas of a window.

And this is our message for this Thursday: "Chill!" Goodnight and see you tomorrow after dark.

Further Reading: The post that started it all: EV Grieve.

Booker-Loo.

(Surprise link, click on it...I dare you!)

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Cardboard Box Man Mutation Sighting by Spike!

Spike sent in this latest CBBM mutation sighting along with the following words of wisdom: "Bathroom at boom boom room in standard hotel (work event I swear!).  He's kinda goofy looking, maybe hoping we will drop our guard.  Never I say!  We must always be vigilant!" I agree! Thanks, Spike!

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Leo The Barge Cat Needs A New Home!

If you live in New York and are a cat lover, a cat that was rescued from a barge last summer needs a new home. The story is over at EV Grieve right here: Leo Needs a New Home.

November 26, 2011

While the rest of the world shopped on Black Friday, we decided to have a Chillmaster Post Thanksgiving Day Dance Party instead and stayed away from the stores. A great time was had by all and it was Eric’s birthday and we surprised him with a cake and Goggla presented brought him a birthday hat and a chocolate Christmas Fish. I’ve got a ton of photos, too many to leave captions with, so I’ll let every picture tell the story. Big thanks, as always, to The Chillmaster for hosting a great party and to everyone for showing up!

Further reading: EV Grieve, The Gog Log, Neither More Nor Less, One More Folded Sunset, Slum Goddess and Single Linds Reflex.

Soul ain’t nothing but a feeling.

(Surprise link...click on it...I dare you!)

November 21, 2011

There’s tons of places to get pizza at in New York, but a lot of them have the same style of pizza and your options are a slice or a pie. One of my favorite pizza places is called Pie, a place that has a lot of different types of pizza and a unique ordering method where  you can get as big or small slice as you want and then they weigh your selections and you pay by the weight. I wonder if this was inspired by The Band?

It's a nice night out, kind of warm for this time of year.

And here we are at Pie. There's a building awning in front of the place, so it's a little rough to get a good shot of the place.

There's tables in the front as you walk in.

Amber serves me up a beer and informs me that you can't take a picture of the pizzas in the glass case in the front.  She told me the owner doesn't allow it. I don't really get this rule, but I choose my pizza selections and head to the back while they're warmed up in the oven.

Here's tables opposite the pizza case that you can't take a picture of. Yes, I'm obsessing over the fact that you can't take a picture of the pizza case and its kind of destroyed my night.

There's a communal table in the back where I decide to sit and stew about not being able to take a picture of the pizza case in all its glory.

And here's my pizza selections from the glass case I couldn't take a picture of. Yes, this will bug me all night long.

Fire! Goodnight everybody and see you tomorrow after dark. Hopefully then I'll quit obsessing over why I couldn't take a photo of the pizzas in the glass case.

Pie
124 4th Avenue (Between 12th and 13th St.)
212-475-4977

Further reading: New York Magazine, Chasing James Beard and NYC Menu Girl.

You don’t really want me,
You just keep me hanging on.

(Surprise link...click on it...I dare you!)

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Bonus Cardboard Box Man Photos By Goggla!

Goggla took these scary Cardboard Box Man photos at the Blarney Cove last night. Aaaaahhh!

This one's particularly scary!

November 8, 2011

It’s “Sixpack Monday” which means it’s the night of the week where I go out to a certain area in New York, take six photos and then match them up with songs that I think reflect the photograph for whatever reason (click on the caption to see the video and listen to the song). I thought tonight I’d wander around and on Houston Street in the East Village and snap some photos. Lights, camera...subway!

Dancin' out on 7th street,
Dancin' through the underground,
Dancin' little marionette,
Are you happy now?

They don't love you like I love you.
Wait! they don't love you like I love you.
Maps, wait!

Creme tangerine and Montélimar,
A ginger sling with a pineapple heart,
A coffee dessert—yes you know it's good news.
But you'll have to have them all pulled out,
After the Savoy truffle.

As long as one and one is two,
There could never be a father,
Who loved his daughter more than I love you.

All the world over, so easy to see,
People everywhere just wanna be free,
I can't understand it, so simple to me,
People everywhere just got to be free.

When the moon hits your eye,
Like a big pizza pie,
That's amore.

Further reading: GVSHP,  Russ and Daughters and New York Songlines.

Sorrow blowin' through the vents,
I'm over Houston,
You're over the night we met.

(Surprise link...click on it...I dare you!)

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Vote For Chester Bean!
This in from the world’s coolest DJ, Gidget:
“Chester Bean is up for the Midwest Boston Terrier Rescue’s yearly calendar. Those who have met our baby doggy know we rescued him from there last year! Please go through and vote for Chester Bean and his friend Maiden. He is number 33: Mr. Bean, black and white! Maiden is number 32. She is such a cutie pie! Me and Chester will owe you a thousand kisses for this!”

You can vote right here: Boston Rescue Calendar. And listen to Gidget on Woody Radio, check out her and “Boris’” show, The Secret Weapon.

November 6, 2011

Live from New York, it’s Cheeseburger Saturday Night. Starring Odessa with special guest stars, Ray’s Candy Store and St. Marks Bookshop and featuring the Ready for Prime Beef player, Marty Wombacher. Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome your host for tonight, Odessa!

Since I had to work all night last night and I didn't get to sleep till around six in the morning, my hours are all wacked out. I didn't wake up till around four in the afternoon, so this is kind of like brunch for me. At least I gain an hour tonight.

And through the miracle of the internet you're spared a twenty minute walk to the East Village. Here we are, Odessa, let's go in and see what's happening.

It's kind of early for this place, it's open 24 hours and a lot of people come here after they've done their time at some of the bars on the block. There's plenty of seats at the counter, so let's go snag one.

And I'm just settling in as Danny cheerfully serves me up a beer. What a way to start the day!

Here's the view from my perch at the counter.

Cookies!

There's a little bar in the back with menus and plants and booze, oh my!

Here's the guy's hard at work in the kitchen area.

Okay, the place setting is all set, all we need now is the cheeseburger.

Ask and ye shall receive. I got the bacon cheeseburger on an English muffin. It looks delicious.

And it certainly is. The cole slaw was really good too.

A wonderful cheeseburger. One of the great things about Odessa is that it's...

Right next door to Ray's Candy Store! I haven't been here since they put up the new sign featuring Ray and Bob that Lindsay and Chico collaborated on. It looks great!

Allie was on duty tonight and told me Ray was sleeping in the back.

I was full from the cheeseburger, but craved something sweet so I got one scoop of chocolate gelato. The perfect last course for this Cheeseburger Saturday Night!

On my way home I wanted to stop in at St. Mark's Book Shop. Jeremiah Moss has declared this as another, "Buy a Book Weekend," and I wanted to do my part and get the new R. Crumb book all at the same time.

St. Mark's recently won a battle to get rent reduction from Cooper Union and hung up this sign of appreciation. Good to see a local business winning for once!

Here's the R. Crumb book I want to get.

Whoa, check this out, a book devoted to those old comic book ads. I have to get this too. Why not, I worked a lot of overtime on Friday, might as well splurge.

Here's Chris behind the counter. He said that the entire store was very appreciative of everyone who's been supporting the store. He especially said they really appreciated what Jeremiah had done to help the battle. And you can do your part to keep this great book store alive and well, by buying a book today. If you don't live in New York, you can buy one online by clicking here: St. Mark's Bookshop.

Cheeseburger Rating
Three cheeseburgers, a great burger!

Odessa
119 Ave. A (Near 7th St.)
212-253-1470

Further reading: EV Grieve, Time Out New York and NY CitySearch.

Hallelujah,
Rock my soul!

(Surprise link...click on it...I dare you!)

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Bonus Video Sent in by Kate!

Kate from One More Folded Sunset sent in this escalator awareness video. Watch it, learn it and live it! This should be required viewing before entering Penn Station!

October 30, 2011

Live, from New York, it’s Cheeseburger Saturday Night! Starring, Korzo Haus and featuring the Ready for Prime Beef Player, Marty Wombacher. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome, Korzo Haus!

It's a horrific night out tonight. Windy, snowy/rainy and it's freezing. I'm hoping to get a cab, no way am I walking over there.

Usually it would be hard to get a cab at this time on a Saturday night, but since it's so shitty out, there's not many people out and about and I snagged one within minutes. Here's my view from the back seat.

And  the view of another cab from the side window. Heh heh...heh heh.

And here we are, Korzo Haus. Let's get inside and escape the rotten elements out here.

It's nice and cozy in here. The front room has a bar/counter that you can sit at and it overlooks the kitchen area.

And no sooner am I seated than Matt delivers a bottle of beer. I complimented him on his John Entwistle-like t-shirt.

Here's Keith who was working in the kitchen area. Keith's an artist and graphic novelist, check out his work here: Nobodyland.

Jay a.k.a. Dick Bulger was seated next to me and is hanging a portrait that Jay drew of him. That's horse menstrual blood on his face. You had to be there, folks!

There's a brick-walled dining area in the back with wooden tables.

But I preferred to sit up front where the action is happening.

I ordred the Korzo burger which is a burger that is grilled, then wrapped in Langol dough and deep fried. I've never had a deep fried burger and I'm curious as to how it will be. We'll find out soon as Steven starts to make the burger.

Fire!

Condiments are placed next to me and the burger is about to be served!

Wow, it looks and smells great!

Wow, it's one of the best cheeseburgers I've ever had. I thought it would be greasy, but it's not at all. It's crispy on the outside and doughy and soft on the inside. I added some of the homemade hot sauce and was in burger heaven!

No wonder it won the best burger of the year from Village Voice! Goodnight everybody and see you tomorrow after dark.

My Meal
I got the Korzo Burger which is a ground beef burger with bacon, cheese, house made mustard and a dill pickle wrapped up in Langol dough and deep fried. Deep frying things sometimes can be gimmicky and gross, but this was one delicious burger. it wasn't greasy at all, like I had thought it would be and the different textures and tastes from the fresh cheese to the pickles to the homemade mustard made for one of the most delicious cheeseburgers I've ever had. If you come to New York or if you live here, you have to try it out.

In addition to the Korzo Burger, there’s four other varieties of burgers available including: The Slav, which is a  beef patty, slow-cooked pork neck, haus sauerkraut, caraway seeds, juniper berries and bryndza; The Otto is a five meat burger including fresh ground blend of beef, pork butt, neck, hudson valley fois gras, chicken crisps & apple kompot and for you vegetarians there’s a Portobello burger which is all vegetarian, oven-roasted portobello mushroom, edam, bryndza, mozzarella, baby arugula topped with a spicy garlic emulsion. Also available are Spicy Hungarian Goulash, Fresh Bratwurst and a Wonderwurst Platter which includes, three sausages, sauerkraut, horseradish and haus mustard.

Bottled and draft beer are available and there’s also an ever-changing daily menu which you can view from their website listed below.

Cheeseburger Rating
Four Wimpy's—The mark of cheeseburger excellence!

Korzo Haus
178 E 7th St. (Between Avenues A and B)
212-780-0181

Further reading: Time Out New York, New York Near Say and EV Grieve.

Man buys ring woman throws it away,
Same old thing happens everyday.

(Surprise link...click on it...I dare you!)

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Bonus Photo by Ragin' R.R!

MAD commenter and quote-supplier, Ragin' R.R. sent in this picture of a Halloween mutant strain of Cardboard Box Man. Aaaahh!

October 24, 2011

Chillmaster Dance Party Number Five!

We all met at the Coal Yard bar for a few pre-party drinks.

The Duncester couldn't make it to the party, but stopped by and brought some flowers for Mrs. Chillmaster, who's put up with our nonsense for over a half a year now. Very nice! Everybody arrived, but I forgot to get a group photo taken. It ain't easy being green and you'll see what I'm talking about in the photos to come.

And here he is, the man behind the window, The Chillmaster!

Before the party begins, The Chillmaster had a special toast to give.

It was a toast to the memory of our friend, photojournalist, Bob Arihood who attended the first two Chillmaster parties.

To Bob!

I thought I'd bring something to add to the many cool items on the Chillmaster table.

Gumby! Here I am presenting him to the Chillmaster.

And now the party can start!

Here's Eric, Lindsay and Scott enjoying a laugh.

More laughs with Ed and the Chillmaster. It's always a good time here!

Lindsay had to leave early and waves goodbye through the Chillmaster window.

But just as Lindsay leaves, Nikki arrives and the party remains perfectly balanced.

Nikki takes over the Chillmaster chair and chills out. Why the fuck not?

Kate, Goggla and Eric are relaxing and enjoying the party.

The Chillmaster and Teneesha pose for a photo.

Then Teneesha pours herself some Hennessy.

The Chillmaster does likewise...

The remote is brought out...

The music begins...

And so does the dancing!

A group portrait of the males in attendance.

And the prettier half of the party, the females pose with the Chillmaster.

Thanks to the Chillmaster and everyone who showed up for another rollicking and fun, Chillmaster Dance Party! Goodnight everybody and see you tomorrow after dark.

Further reading: Further reading: EV Grieve, The Gog Log, Neither More Nor Less, One More Folded Sunset, Slum Goddess and Single Linds Reflex.

Papa was a rolling stone,
Wherever he laid his hat was his home.

(Surprise link...click on it...I dare you!)

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Bonus Link: Mars Bar Documentary!

There's a Mars Bar Documentary being shown this week in Greenpoint, you can read about it and see a preview of it  at One More Folded Sunset by clicking here: Mars Bar Documentary.

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Bonus Art by Jaws!

Jaws the Cabbie thought the green wig made me look like George Washington and sent in this art to prove his point. Ha ha ha! Thanks, Jaws, great job!