IN: Tasteful spring handbags OUT: Short shorts over flashy tights
Aaron pointed out the spring phenomenon the moment the temperature rises above 57 degrees...girls wearing short shorts and tights.
I laughed his comment off at first, but the very next morning when I got out to walk around, I caught my first glimpse of short shorts paired with flashy fishnet tights. Then another. And another.
The fad has crashed like a deluge upon New York City. I'm stocking up the storm shelter.
"Fresh off shows with Blonde Redhead and all geared up for this week's release of their sophomore album, Lion The Girl, Midnight Movies have now received the golden touch of James Iha. Perfectly complementing Gena Olivier's haunting vocals, Iha adds understated beats and slide guitar to create this hypnotic noir re-mix of the "Patient Eye" single."
IN: Pick-up lines in the am OUT: Mass transit missed connections
This morning I was running late for work, so I called a car service to get me there quickly. I was eating a banana. After taking the last bite, I neatly folded the banana peel in my hand so as not to make a mess, then stared out the window. At a traffic light, I was startled to feel the driver's hand gingerly plucking the banana peel out of mine. I thanked him and continued staring out the window.
We finally arrived at my office, just on time. As I was looking for my wallet, the driver turned around and asked me when I get off of work. I told him it varies from day to day, and he smiled and said he finishes at 7pm. I smiled back politely. Then he told me that he will give me a free ride home, anytime I want. I didn't know what to make of this, so I said that's sweet but I couldn't do that, since this is his livelihood. He said it's no problem, because he likes ladies. I avoided the proposition as cleanly as possible, then paid him for the current ride, as it was already on record with the dispatcher.
So ladies, give me a shout if you want free rides after 7pm. I mean, as long as the sex with a middle-aged stranger thing doesn't disturb you.
I just heard that Kurt Vonnegut died earlier today. Like many, including I'd imagine most of the type of people who'd end up on this site, I was a fan. In his honor, here's a quote that ran in his Times obitituary, taken from the mouth of the title character in his bizarrely wonderful '60s novel, God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater:
"Hello, babies. Welcome to Earth. It's hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It's round and wet and crowded. At the outside, babies, you've got about a hundred years here. There's only one rule that I know of, babies -- 'God damn it, you've got to be kind.'"
Kurt Vonnegut died Wednesday at the age of 84. So it goes. And every day my Government gives me a count of corpses created by "the war on terror" in Iraq. So it goes.
IN: Smuggling flasks into bars OUT: Cunning bodega owners
Our photo editor Rick got ticketed recently for drinking an open container of alcohol on the streets of the LES. He was tricked by a bodega owner who handed him his beer in a paper bag with a straw inside. The result: a $25 fine, but zero loss of dignity. Until I posted this rainbow photo just now.
Check out the Loose preview for the upcoming we Ragazzi reunion show at Union Pool in Brooklyn. My friend Jon and I used to see them perform often in Chicago (back when Tim was drumming), then I moved to NYC and caught a couple shows here with Alianna on drums before they broke up.
We can all thank The Dirty Three for getting the band back together for two more shows. They booked we Ragazzi for April's All Tomorrow's Parties festival in London, billed alongside Nick Cave, Joanna Newsom, and other fancy-pants names. Lucky ducks.
IN: Good Friday jokes OUT: Feeling guilty about them
If you find yourself out at the bar this weekend, lost in a sea of cocktail options, just remember this handy acronym: WWJD. What would Jesus drink?
What would Jesus drink, you ask? Considering the lack of refrigeration options way back when, I imagine J.C. enjoyed his bevvy neat. If he had a local, I'd also guess that his barkeep named a cocktail after him. Perhaps the Scraggly Carpenter?
Meanwhile, something tells me he'd be less enthused about the Bloody Mary and, for entirely different reasons, the Slippery Nipple.
IN: Nonsensical band names (on the way) OUT: Animal band names
Alex Church from the band Irving has moved on to form Sea Wolf. Sea Wolf is embarking on a tour with the Silversun Pickups to support their debut EP which comes out on May 8th.
I know this was covered by my comedic acquaintance Chuck quite some time ago, but I feel like revisiting the growing list of wolven bands again (feel free to comment with additions):
Wolf Parade Wolfmother Guitar Wolf Wolf Eyes We Are Wolves Wolfbrigade AIDS Wolf Seasons of the Wolf Wolf and Cub Peter and the Wolf Patrick Wolf
I discovered Ducti today, an online shop that "produces" duct tape wallets and bags. I remember when people used to wind duct tape on their wallets themselves.
In honor of the start of baseball season, here's a little-known, music-related baseball fact. "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" was actually written in 1908 by two guys who'd never even been to a baseball game (and wouldn't find the time to get to one for another two+ decades).
More interestingly, I think, is the fact that the song actually has two verses which are rarely ever played -- partly, you'd have to think, because the verses make it clear that the song is not quite as innocent as it seems.
"Katie Casey was baseball mad, Had the fever and had it bad...."
"Katie Casey saw all the games, Knew the players by their first names..."
It's heartening to know the world had groupies even way back when.
IN: Dinner parties
