Lunchtime is for funtime

I don’t usually take a real break from work. For the past year-ish, I typically go out to the market two blocks away with coworkers who inevitably talk about work or work people. It’s 10 minutes of non-screen time, but it’s not a real break. Yesterday I went to the used art book store around the corner and it was an instant lift to my mood. I forgot how good it is for you to spend time in a world away from computers, email, URLs, etc. I’ve always had a lunch time retreat that was a real retreat, but I’d let that slide a bit in this recent job since, honestly, my job is pretty great. I highly recommend the P.S. Bookshop in Dumbo. They have a fantastic selection of artsy books and small sections about a wide variety of topics. I went in over the summer in search for an illustrated vintage book on how to grow herbs at home, and when the shop clerk referred me to the gardening section, I found exactly what I was looking for. It smells like a real bookstore, too.

What Would Google Do?

Last night, outside.in co-sponsored a talk with Jeff Jarvis for his newly-released book, What Would Google Do? at the Daylife office. There was a large turnout, mostly of 30- and 40-something media men. Jarvis stood on a table to talk, and only mentioned Davos four times (while joking about it).
[where: 444 Broadway, New York, NY]

Election Day 2008

I voted today in Williamsburg. Had to wait in line outside of my polling place (a school on N. 5th Street), but once inside my district had no wait! GObama!

Find me elsewhere

abangupjob.tumblr.com

Really sweet love story

A touching story from a tragic event.

Baci and Abbracci for outdoor drinks

My lovely friend Emma alerted me to the existence of a back patio at Baci and Abbracci (one of the many Italian places in my neighborhood). I’ve had the tasty beet and goat cheese gnocchi before, but this time opted for one of the salads. The service was not great (true Italian style), but the atmosphere cannot be beat. There’s a large tent over the patio, so you can go rain or shine! There was no wait on a weeknight at 9pm. I stopped by at 7 on Friday for a glass of wine and we were seated right away. It’s a nice little reprieve from the hectic dining establishments nearby.

review: Brooklyn Based Cocktail Club at Sidecar

I rarely venture out in Park Slope, and, let’s face it, I rarely make it outside of Williamsburg or Dumbo (where I live/work). Last night I went to the brooklynbased.net co-hosted Cocktail Club at Sidecar. The event was sponsored by a certain tequila company, so there were two signature cocktails offered. The bartender chose the Paloma for me (some concoction involving agave syrup, bitters, and grapefruit juice) stating that it tasted like summer. He was so embarrassed by this description (not manly enough?) that he made me promise not to tell anyone he described a drink as such (note: sorry Sidecar Bartender Guy!). The drinks were ok and the crowd was thin. I had to head out early, but I did have a chat with Nicole, the lovely editor and founder of Brooklyn Based. She’s single-handedly trying to create the new online medium, bleemail (cross between a blog and e-mail) with her site and daily mailer, brooklynbased.net. Since I’ve lived in NYC, I’ve subscribed to numerous daily and weekly newsletters, and I can honestly say that BB is one of the few I read (not skim) daily. They have great design along with great content. Killer combo. Check them out and sign up if you, as I do, love all things Brooklyn!

To do tonight, Wednesday, March 26

Brooklynbased.net-sponsored event in the South Slope at Sidecar. Tonight is a Brooklyn cocktail event at a new-ish bar on 5th Ave in the South Slope. I’m thinking it would be fun to meet other Brooklyn people, although it’s a bit far from my Brooklyn. There’s something so comforting and classy about a traditional cocktail, especially at a bar called Sidecar. Cute. There’s said to be good food and a dj.

Crystal Castles at the Mercury Lounge. This show is sold out but if you are lucky, you can buy a scalped ticket or make a buddy on Craigslist…My very music-savvy friend Grace named this band one of the top three she saw at SXSW this year in Austin. This boy-girl duo is about to embark on a UK tour. Catch them before they jump the pond!

Related: check out tourfilter.com. Great way to track upcoming shows in your area with a simple, smart design.

Dinner review: Le Petit Marche in Brooklyn Heights

Last night I ate at Le Petit Marche for Dine in Brooklyn. It’s on a quiet block on Henry Street in Brooklyn Heights. The decor is quite lovely — deep red and gold wallpaper, tin ceilings, very comfortable banquettes, and perfect lighting that made everything seem a bit soft, but not so dim that we couldn’t read our menus. It was a bit loud and the space is narrow (you have to wait for the servers to finish at the back tables before heading to the single-use bathroom). As part of the Dine in Brooklyn prix fixe, I opted for a salad with blue cheese, apricot and pear. It was delicious, but nothing outstanding. I had a taste of my friend’s sweet green pea soup, which was quite delicate and tasty. As a main dish, I had a roasted butternut squash ravioli with browned sage butter. As a vegetarian, this dish is nothing earthshattering or original. That said, it was quite good. For dessert, we were given two options: chocolate and banana bread pudding or apple crisp. After ordering the former, we were told the kitchen was out of the bread pudding. They substituted profiteroles. The pastry was a bit stale, but the hazelnut ice cream filling was good. The fudge sauce that topped the dish was delicious. The staff was friendly and took coats cheerfully for all 8 in our party. Overall, I give Le Petit Marche (with an emphasis on the Petite) 2 out of 4 stars.

Forget about Valentine’s Day, what about breakup songs?

Sometimes you need to wallow in a breakup. For that, I recommend this. Only wallow for the four minutes it takes to listen to the song. You might be a little angry or frustrated. Go with it. Then move on to acceptance. And repeat. You’ll feel better in no time. Did I miss any (less cheesy) breakup songs?