Tapas

Last night we met up after work and headed to Union Square to check out Boqueria (19th btwn 5th and 6th) for some tapas.

We got there pretty early so there was no wait. It's a small but stylish space. Sangria was so-so but the tapas did not disappoint. We tried the aceitunas alinadas (marinated olives), datiles con beicon (dates wrapped in bacon with blue cheese), mixed croquetas (sample plate of three different croquettes - pork, fish and mushrooms), gambas al ajillo (garlic shrimp) and the patatas bravas (spicy potatoes).

Since anything wrapped in bacon is automatically a favorite, I'm eliminating it from consideration for our favorite tapas dish. It ends up being a tie between the spicy potatoes and mixed croquettes, which we'd both recommend and certainly will order again.

Service was top-notch due to an attentive waitress who actually anticipated our needs (bringing us extra bread, offering another glass of sangria, not rushing us out the door when we were done, etc.). It's rare to get good service but a pleasant surprise when you do.

We recommend Boqueria!

Summer Babe

It already feels like summer...

Rudeness

On Friday we went to our usual haunt, Union Hall. This time we met up with a friend and some of his friends. We sat on the raised platform at the back of the bar where they have a bunch of couches and chairs.

After settling in with some food and drinks, a curious event took place not once but twice - we experienced some rudeness from fellow bar patrons. The first instance involved someone who could best be described as a "meathead". He said (and I'm paraphrasing here): "Excuse, but I could have that chair? There aren't enough over there..." Now mind you, I was sitting in the aforementioned chair that he was requesting and was probably in mid-bite or mid-sip. Needless to say, I was taken aback and didn't quite know how to respond so I said sure and actually got out of my chair and let him take the seat. Yes, he literally took the seat from underneath me. Not a huge deal, we had a ton of space in terms of the couches in our area but in retrospect (and probably due to the fact that our friend was really pissed about this guy having the audacity to ask for the chair I was sitting in) it was a really rude thing for that guy to do and I certainly did not have to oblige and be the nicer guy.

Anyhow the night went on and then a woman approached our group and asked "Are you in it for the long haul?" We were like: "What?" Who was this woman? I thought she might've been a waitress or bartender or something. Long story short, she was trying to see how long we were going to be because she was having a birthday party. Who cares?! The lounge area in the back can't be reserved by anyone. It's first come, first serve. And when one of our group went to the front of the bar to let this woman know that the lounge area next to us was open, she simply gave a quick acknowledgement and promptly blew her off. Unbelievable. The only solace taken from this woman's display of rudeness was the fact that we later saw her chatting up her "birthday party guests" as a sheet of toilet paper clung to the bottom of her shoe. What a classy, classy gal.

Week In Review

On Monday, we went out to dinner at Peperoncino.

On Tuesday, met up with an old high school classmate for a drink at Gaslight in the Meatpacking District.

On Wednesday, met a reality TV star and then had drinks at Chelsea Brewing Company. Then I went to an ex-co-worker's going away party at El Rio Grande.

On Friday, went to Union Hall and met up with friends. Though apparently, (as one friend put it) it was "A-hole night in Brooklyn".

On Saturday, had dinner at Oshima.

On Sunday, sat outside with a friend in the patio of Nana and then had drinks outside at Flatbush Farm.

Smashing Pumpkins - Today

Here's to the three-day weekend....

The #1 President to Do #2 On

Score a victory for karma as Bush got crapped on by a bird recently...

Archers Of Loaf - Web In Front

An oldie but goodie that reminds me of college...

5th Ave Street Fair

Summer street fair season took off today with the 5th Ave. Street Fair here in Park Slope.

I had a jacket and umbrella but didn't need it since the sun came out and the weather was great as we strolled up 5th Ave. The usual suspects were there - mozzarepa stands, booths selling pillows that looked like "sushi" and, of course, the booths representing the local neighborhood joints.

Except for a samosa that my wife purchased from an Indian restaurant, we pretty much learned our lesson from street fairs past and decided to save our money. I did stop by the Nets booth and entered a drawing for an autographed Jason Kidd basketball even though I am against Bruce Ratner's Atlantic Yards development and can't imagine living blocks away from an arena. I also stopped by the Brooklyn Cyclones booth where the attendant spotted my Cyclones hat and said: "That's what I like to see."

Afterwards, we headed to Alchemy where we had brunch, picked up a few items at Target and then went home.

Where Was This Book When I Was Growing Up?

Being a sucker for nostalgia, I couldn't help but find The Dangerous Book for Boys to sound pretty interesting after reading an article about it in The Wall Street Journal.

Check out the amusing "Rushmore-like" trailer ad for the book on Youtube here.

And here's the description courtesy of Amazon.com.

Equal parts droll and gorgeous nostalgia book and heartfelt plea for a renewed sense of adventure in the lives of boys and men, Conn and Hal Iggulden's The Dangerous Book for Boys became a mammoth bestseller in the United Kingdom in 2006. Adapted, in moderation, for American customs in this edition (cricket is gone, rugby remains; conkers are out, Navajo Code Talkers in), The Dangerous Book is a guide book for dads as well as their sons, as a reminder of lore and technique that have not yet been completely lost to the digital age. Recall the adventures of Scott of the Antarctic and the Battle of the Somme, relearn how to palm a coin, tan a skin, and, most charmingly, wrap a package in brown paper and string. The book's ambitions are both modest and winningly optimistic: you get the sense that by learning how to place a splint or write in invisible ink, a boy might be prepared for anything, even girls (which warrant a small but wise chapter of their own).

See, Even Jimmy Carter Agrees With Me

That Bush is the worst ever.

Week in Review

It seemed like a long week - was at a co-worker's going away party on Tuesday, said goodbye to some neighbors who are moving to Manhattan on Wednesday and hung out with my wife and her sister who was visiting on Thursday.

This weekend it's supposed to rain so may stay in but hopefully can get out to the 5th Ave. Street Fair on Sunday....

TRADE VINCE, KEEP KIDD

Another Nets season comes to an end and although they exceeded expectations in some sense (making it to a Game 6 in the semifinals despite erratic play and a series of injuries all season long), the reality is they had a chance to win this series.

Jason Kidd continued to amaze despite his advanced basketball "age" of 34, averaging a triple-double during the playoffs. Richard Jefferson, coming off an injury-plagued season, showed his grit with fearlessness toward the basket. Even the role players showed something - from Mikki Moore to Bostjan Nachbar.

But Vince Carter once again disappointed. Yes, it's a team game and not to sound cliched, but "to whom much is given, much is expected" and it's now been three seasons where Vince has had some phenomenal regular-season games but has all but disappeared during the playoffs.

Now New Jersey fans can empathize with Toronto fans, fully understanding the frustation that is having Vince Carter. A superb individual scorer at times, a lackadaisical uninterested performer at others. During last night's loss to Cleveland, he scored a paltry 11 points. The NY media is calling for the break-up of the "Big Three" but trading Kidd who's exhibited he still has game and is (next to Nash) one of the best point guards in the league would be a horrible mistake. A healthy RJ can more than make up for the scoring punch that Vince would supposedly leave. It's time to do Nets fans a favor and execute a sign and trade for some bigs who can (alongside a healthy Nenad Krstic) do some damage in the post.

Please get rid of Vince, his sour puss, and frustrating play.

I'm not alone in these thoughts. Check out this article on ESPN and this one on NY Daily News.

Silversun Pickups - Lazy Eye

Good song - kinda sounds like old Smashing Pumpkins, no?

Feist - I Feel It All (Live)

Love this song

The DL - Ted Leo - 'Who Do You Love' Live Solo

BREAKING NEWS: HIPSTER POSERS SPOTTED AT UNION HALL

Last week we were at Union Hall and we noticed two guys whom, let's just say, did not look like Union Hall's usual patrons.

One tried a little more than the other, wearing a Brooklyn Industries t-shirt and possibly some old-school sneakers. However the two pagers/phones that were clipped to his belt were a give-away that he was not a regular.

That wasn't the crime, however, as this obnoxious gentleman and his friend made a ton of noise on the bocce court. The guy in the BKI t-shirt disagreeably tried to chat up women in the bar - first the one next to him on the bocce court and then another who was heading back to her seat by belligerently yelling "Hello" to her.

Also, I overheard him telling his buddy that he had to "dress like this" otherwise they would "ask him questions at the door" and made comments about the fact that the people that go there wear "weird sneakers".

If he was hating on the usual Union Hall patron so much, why did he even attempt to fit in? Clearly a guy who wanted to fit in and became obnoxious when no one paid attention to him.

Good Lookin' Out, Dawg

Yesterday, I stopped by Willie's Dawgs and had the Frankie (carmelized onions and bacon). It was pretty tasty and reminiscent of Nathan's with a good "snap" to it. There's outdoor seating too, making it a nice addition to the PS dining scene on 5th.

Active Week

On Monday, I caught up with a friend over drinks at Lucy Latin Kitchen.

On Tuesday, I participated in a charity bowl-a-thon at Chelsea Piers and then hung out at Chelsea Brewing Co. with some co-workers.

On Wednesday, I rested.

On Thursday, we met up with some random Swedes (friend of a friend who was visiting NYC) and took them to Union Hall and Flatbush Farm. Even though we just met them for the first time, we got along fine and they were pretty cool.

On Friday, my wife's uncle and family were in town and we had dinner at Southwest NY.

Last night, we went to Long Island City, Queens to catch up with some friends.

Love Will Tear Us Apart -Joy Division

Simple Things

Sunday mornings are the best. It's quiet on 7th Ave. Walk down to pick up some bagels at La Bagel Delight and then hit a corner store for a copy of the Times. Then it's on to Ozzie's for coffee and the free Brooklyn paper.

Walking Across the Bridge

Today we walked across the Brooklyn Bridge for the first time since we moved over a year ago. It was a great day so we got a good walk in and we took the pics below....

Once we made it to the Manhattan side, we went to South Street Seaport, which was pretty touristy and reminded us of Navy Pier back in Chicago.

When we returned to Brooklyn we had a nice brunch outdoors at Jolie in Boerum Hill.

Celebrity Sighting

The Celeb: Liev Schrieber

Why He's Famous: He's engaged to Naomi Watts. And oh yeah, he's been in a ton of movies.

Where I saw him: Manhattan side of the Brooklyn Bridge, jogging toward Brooklyn

When: Around 10:30 am, 5/5/07

Good Weather Week and Nets Win

The weather was great in NYC this week - sunny and pleasant. Earlier in the week we sat outside at Rose Water to have dinner.

Later in the week we went out to our favorite bar Union Hall for some flatbread and drinks.

Last night we stayed in and I watched the Nets barely beat the Toronto Raptors, edging them by a point thanks to Richard Jefferson's late game bucket and steal to seal the victory. The Cavs are up next...