First and foremost, my daily Arcade Fire update: If you didn’t get that email, let me be the first to tell you, the show originally scheduled for February 1, 2005 at the Bowery Ballroom has been moved to Webster Hall so more kids will have the chance to enjoy the fresh tasting, less filling, north of the border rock.
The weekends keep getting better. After work closed out last Friday, I returned home to watch Thursday night’s episode of the O.C. It was the 2nd annual Chrismukkah at the Cohen house, and this year was crazier than ever. If you didn’t see the episode, you may want to stop reading this post right now. Let me say this whole love child plot twist is somewhat out of place, but it does make the show uniquely Fox. Some friends have expressed their hatred for Lindsey (the red head new girl), but I must say she is shaping up to be this year’s Anna. I’m crazy about her, even if she is the bastard child of Caleb. Speaking of Mr. Dipstick, his lady is currently sleeping with her x-husband. Jimmy needs to get his head examined because Julie can’t be good for anyone. On a brighter note, the whole lesbian plot line should be hitting the small screen next month. Get your VCRs ready.
The next hour was spent sitting at the kitchen table making ornaments by my lonesome. Travis, Max and Noah’s party had a requirement of bringing home made ornaments to decorate their tree. My ornaments were collogue style. I attached cut outs to a cut up cereal box with bathroom putty. They came out pretty solid. Around 10pm I decided to hit the F Train and made my way out to Windsor Terrace. It took me quite awhile to figure out my way to their apartment (yet another reason Jay hates Brooklyn), but I eventually followed a group of similar looking kids and found the right party. Let me say those Jewish gentiles know how to throw a holiday party. It wasn’t an out of control time, but it did make me think about the holiday which seems to be the point. They had a beautiful tree decorated with various odds and ends (Jigga made crucified Jesus candy canes), and a pile of cider spiked with vodka or rum.
As the night progressed, everyone got silly. At one point Max, Mike, Tom and I were sitting around jamming out Weezer covers which is now my favorite holiday tradition. It was also good to catch up with the likes of Simon, Liz, Jeff and Travis. Jeff and I spent awhile comparing notes from our respective holiday parties. I get a hearty laugh imagining Jigga navigating the suits of some company party. As 3am rolled around, Stevo and I figured it was time to throw in the towel. We found a car with Noah S. and took a long ride back to NYC where the driver kindly dropped us off at Criff Dog. Beach, Oveis and Elise were inside the restaurant, and Beach was kind enough to purchase a round of dogs and tots for the table. Speaking of which, have you had their tots lately? In the words of one highly Culkinable individual, Holy Bulldog. They are the new tits of the winter. Best thing ever. We sat in Criff Dog watching Jackass the Movie with close to 15 other people until 4:30am. As we poured out onto the streets, Beach found it necessary to tackle me into a pile of garbage. Not wanting anything to do with this ridiculousness, Oveis and Elise took off, but a determined Beach and Stevo managed to take him down. We tried to search for a bar that would squeeze us in, but after a few tries, we called it a night. I went home and watched The Empire Strikes Back. It was such a high-quality night cap.
Waking up at 11am after falling asleep around 6am can really fuck up your day, but Saturday had purpose. For the past couple weeks, Cami and I had plans to go Christmas shopping. She had one of those coupon books from Virgin Megastore which saved us a ton of money. We stopped by Norm’s to pick up a couple copies of Napoleon Dynamite before heading to Union Square. Cami and I have similar aversions to the shopping environment, but we figured with our neurosis combined we could overcome the hectic holiday mission. Thankfully, Virgin has endless selections for everyone on your gift list. We got over our initial sweats and made a b-line to the basement. After spending nearly an hour dicking about, we nearly had all our bases covered. A quick browse through some CD racks later and we were online with all our shopping completed. The woman who rang me up hooked up some coupon deal that saved me $60. I’m a huge fan of Virgin(s).
All that commerce had us famished so Cami took me to Telephone Bar for some food. I wasn’t too excited about the prospect of greasy bar food, but this place was choice. They have a huge menu and a tuna melt that rivaled most. The lunch was especially solid because Cami and I finally caught up. It’s a damn shame when you don’t see one of your best friends for a good few weeks, but clicking on all cylinders once you hang makes all the difference. When I finally returned home, exhaustion put me down for a few, but a brief second wind got me up to wrap the gifts. My family thinks it’s hilarious that I consistently wrap their gifts with the call girl section of The Village Voice. It makes for a laugh on Christmas morning, and this year I promise not to take enough pain killers to put down an elephant like last Christmas Eve.
Noah stopped in for to hang out before we hunkered down at the Mercury for an evening of NYC rock. We got to the club around 8:30pm and stationed ourselves in the back with some hefty vodka tonics. Knowing that this early cocktail hour would eventually become a problem didn’t stop me from double fisting and getting completely ridiculous. The first billed band was We are Scientists. It was my first time seeing (and hearing) these guys, and though it’s not my particular brand of whiskey, they could make some waves in the current industry environment. They have that four on the floor beat coupled with some guitar and vocals that recall Hot Hot Heat, The Killers and a splash of Jimmy Eat World. During their set we were joined by Beach who was ready to join me in my crusade to black out though as the night grew older I became a one man wrecking crew.
By the time Bishop Allen hit the stage, we were joined by the always lovely Liz. Though I’ve raved about their record on previous posts, I never managed to see Bishop Allen live. Sean warned me their live show was a bit different, but he neglected to throw a warning flag in reference to their gorgeous bass player. I have heard rumors and rumblings, but nothing could prepare me for her. As for the band, they sounded great. They come off as less earnest on stage as opposed to the record, but it’s my contention that most bands should. Their pop rock is complemented by their playful onstage attitudes and if they keep it up, their future should grow brighter.
The third band on this unyielding lineup was Saints and Lovers who recently changed names after a cease and desist order for the rights to The Sons of Sound. Before their set I got to say a long overdo hello to Audrey who (if you haven’t noticed) has been a very busy woman. As the set began, Audrey dipped into the back room a tequila shot before us. We were greeted by Dennis who looked sharp on stage with some black glasses and a fedora style hat. The band plays with huge lights behind them which cast them as shadows to most of the audience. With my increasing inebriation, those lights made it hard for me to focus. Saints and Lovers have a huge sound. Huge walls of guitars command attention with a firm slap on the ear drum. Dennis’ tasty harmonizing makes all the difference. It affords their music a chance to have a softer feel. Dave and I bobbed in pure enjoyment. I’ll be excited to see them again in a less cloudy state of mind.
The night grew hazy as we camped out by the bar. There were flashes of Oveis and Elise as well as Karen and Kari. After Keegan poured us a gigantic shot, my check was cashed. I couldn’t make it home quick enough.
Sunday was my time to shine. Earlier last week, my sites were set on cooking a big dinner and having kids over to watch some football. My morning started entirely too early, but that’s what happens when you snap out of a tequila induced coma. Around 10am I cruised up to Key Foods to do the preliminary shopping. Upon my return to 186, I hung out in the kitchen preparing all the delicious we would later grub. I watched most of the Jets game by myself, but I was later joined by Kyle, Oveis, Dana, Elise, Beach and Daylen. During halftime of the Packers game we got down on the vegetable baked ziti, broccoli casserole, sausage, meatballs and garlic bread that was prepared earlier. The dinner set the tone for the rest of the evening that was spent sitting on the couch hoping Pedro would win his run for office.
6 Comments:
I LOVE Lindsay on the OC. But I also loved Anna. Did you see the Freudian Slippers?! Best ever.
n. they were brilliant. i don't know who thought of that, but it is simply the best. i felt all warm inside when she came home with seth and chrismukkah was in full effect.
i'm want them to bring anna back and get misha the hell off the show.
Just so you know, you can get your own pair of Freudian Slippers at the Union Square holiday market. Yowza.
thanks tumbleweed, but i wouldn't brave the union square market on a day like today at this time of year for all the money in scrooge mcducks vault.
maybe for the lucky dime though.
i can get freudian slippers and a yarmuclaus? my life is complete. well except that mischa is still on the show. but i'll survive somehow.
I hope Death is my ultimate fantasy playing itself out over and over, because I would spend all of eternity diving into that sweet golden ocean of metal money.
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