French Cuisine Quickie

Alrighty then, quick restaurant review time.

Met up with friends last night for a birthday dinner at Moto, a French-American old-world fusion place, of sorts! Definitely a great place for a dining experience. The things I liked about it:

1. Atmosphere. Very chill place with soft, red lighting. Old mechanical objects around, including a clock with a key, old cash register, and a scissor-arm mirror. The interior is tight - the building is located on a triangular road split and thus, the door side gets rather narrow. Makes for some interesting trips out of the table, which include standing on the back bench and apologizing to surrounding guests. Live music was gypsy guitar + vocals and a tenor sax. I'm not sure what genre this music was but it suited the place perfectly. The water closest was also very interesting, with an old-school upper tank.

Note about the location:
Located right underneath the JMZ line in the heart of Brooklyn. We walked about 4 blocks from the G-line and got to admire a nice mix of bodegas and old industrial buildings covered in graffiti. There's also no sign for the place; rather "Moto" is written on the outside wall in chalk. Very scenic!

2. Food. Until last night, I had never tried, let alone seen, seen a fully-bloomed artichoke before. It was surprisingly damn good! As was the meatloaf special (complete with a peppery red glaze) with super-soft mashed potatoes and fresh greens. Everything we tried was top notch, yet reasonably priced.

3. Drinks. Large Brooklyn Lager black and tans, Young's Double Chocolate stouts, and Stella Artois for the win.

Definitely a sweet place, and worth the wait for a table.

Sleeping in Loud Places

One thing that never ceases to amaze me is the ability to completely fall asleep in a totally loud environment. I'm a fairly light sleeper too - doesn't take much to wake me up, and once awake for the day, that's it.

Got back yesterday from a trip to Ohio for Thanksgiving. Good to see everyone, filled myself up pretty well with a nice mix of food and alcohol, per usual I'd say. Went out Friday night for a bit but knowing that we had to fly back the next day, kept the party under control. There was a bit of concern we could make it back on our target flight - standby was full and we were the lowest priority (S4) - and still made it back. Got on the train back from JFK and that's when my body just started shutting down. The A-train we were on was not particularly overcrowded, but it was an older car and had plenty of clank-smash-boing going on. Despite that, after about the third stop, I closed my eyes and was out of it. I was kind of in and out of it until we had to change trains, and totally could have ended up in the Bronx if it hadn't been for Reiko telling me "Nesugi!" (you sleep too much!).

So what actually causes the body to sleep like this? It was the middle of the day and fairly loud, and yet none of that mattered. I was out! I chalked up this excuse to my body relaxing from the fact that we had made it back to Brooklyn and would be home soon. Flight was over, now I can rest. Interesting!

What's the most extreme conditions you've passed out in?

Heading Back

There's a big question on my mind right now: will we make it back to Ohio tonight??

Reiko and I are currently set to fly out on an ever-shrinking handful of standby flights tonight. Never flown standby before. I suppose Thanksgiving isn't the best time to try it out, but this was our last chance to make it back on the cheap.

The goal is to make it back to Ohioland to celebrate Thanksgiving and meet our friend the amazing Sumiko. I'm taking tomorrow off, which is our back up date for travel. Hoping to make it back tonight though! Had to schlep our luggage out here this morning, no easy task for a delayed train packed to the brim. Couple rain to the equation and you've got a happy camper in the office.

Will be checking the status of the flights all day. Keeping fingers crossed!

UPDATE:
There was no meeting with Sumiko. Couldn't work out the way to Athens. So! I think she's going to visit us here. Alright.

Outta Work

Just caught word that 3 of my former coworkers lost their jobs last Friday due to the not-so-immaculate state of our economy. That blows. This makes the first employees (not temps) I knew to lose their jobs to hard times, from a highly conservative Japanese company that typically doesn't even fire those who deserve it.

I'm sure they're not alone in this, and I wish them the best of luck.

How about your job, anybody losing their jobs?

Let the Music Take Me Away

This past week was a sweet week for music. In addition to getting behind the kit again for a couple of hours, I went to see a a group of band-specific cover bands, a Japanese Arts festival complete with a taiko performance, and some incredible sax jazz. What was really cool was how at times during each of the shows I found myself completely lost in the music, and was instantly warped to some alternate reality I had visited before.

Take for example the Tool cover band I saw. Huge fan of them growing up; could have been my favorite band at some point when I was 14 or 15. Despite the fact that the cover band was not the real deal, they did a helluva job covering the tunes note for note. Suddenly, during Opiate, I found myself belting out the lyrics, whisked away to friend Rob's bedroom, perhaps late at night, high, and on the down low from his mom. The feeling was indescribably real, and for a moment, I was not in New York any longer.

I likewise left again to visit Japan Saturday night. Not unlike my last trip, this time was more through the performances, especially the pop stars, geisha performances, and perhaps even the samurai drama. Though the place we were in - the Polish Slavic Center in Greenpoint - looked nothing like a Japanese building, the organizers did an incredible job recreating the atmosphere through art and red latterns.

Pretty sweet experience. Wondering where I'm headed next!

Awesome Animations on the Train

Closure for yet another item I've been searching for: animations that are seen from the subway. And the key is your word of the day: Zoetrope!

Actually, there's one just right outside my window on the train to work. It's on the B-Q line, right past De Kalb Ave. station. It actually comes as a two-parter: the first animation is roughly 10 seconds, followed by a second, longer one that's more like 15 seconds. Of course, depends on the train traffic! It's not an ad, rather just some crazy animations of circles and rectangles dancing around. In the second one, this blue dildo rocket launches! Kinda weird way to start the morning!

As for the animation, it seems to be on track with the slit method of animation: still walls are set up behind a viewing wall which contains the viewing slits, like a big Zoetrope. The idea is that each "slit" becomes a frame of animation as you're zooming by, so that as you see several in succession, you see the animation appear, as opposed to a giant blur.

The animation I'm seeing in particular is entitled Masstransiscope. Originally produced in 1980 and restored just this year, it's quite a piece to see in action. It'll be on your left as you look at the window - don't miss it!

The Thing About Room Service

Last week, I got room service for the first time in my life. I mean, I had stuff delivered before, but as far as meals go, this was a first. Never really felt like paying the difference before! My rationale has always been that if I can walk, I don't need it. I guess I could have received it on my old job, but with a "keep what's left" per diem, I always chose to keep the change. However, take away the savings option and it's a whole different ball game.

I suppose it's probably quite standard for some hotels: the card with the select-what-you-want menu card that you hang on the door before retiring. Which breakfast, what side options, when you want it delivered. Easy enough, right? Not when they show up early. And your only pair of underwear is still damp from swimming in the pool and hot tub from the night before. And by they I mean a lady and a guy, outside my door, half an hour before I had requested my breakfast delivered. (Admittedly, I could have ironed my boxers the night before but figured I'd wait until morning).

And so my door was knocked, and I had little choice but to put on my damp drawers and respond. Nothing like waking up early, letting people into your room and all you can think about is how cold your wet underwear is. Not recommending this one!

Always bring a swimsuit. That's my new motto for hotels!

To Another Baba's Kitchen!

It's been almost a year now since my last visit to Baba's kitchen. Last Thanksgiving, to be precise. And unfortunately, due to the craziness and high costs involved traveling there, it may not happen this year. Man. Ah, but there are alternatives: the most excellent Krolewskie Jadlo (King's Feast) up in Greenpoint. Went there this past Friday for a special treat.

Started the experience off with plums wrapped in bacon and salmon topped potato pancakes. Bread was also served with a bacon spread... yes, bacon spread instead of butter. And for $13.50, they have a dinner special which consists of a full entree with sides, a drink, and dessert. Went with the Beef Stragonov with beets, shredded cabbage salad, and mashed potatoes, and the cake-like apple pie for dessert. Needless to say, everything was most excellent, and more than enough food. Ironically, the kitchen staff was ripe with bunch of baba's working in the kitchen - didn't see a single male worker in the place. They know their stuff!

Yes, it was great. Would be happy to go back there, though, just like Baba's kitchen, I should probably take some time off before next time. You know, just to let my belly shrink back down a bit.

Bob Barker Has Good Taste

Just read an article in Delta's Sky Magazine about Bob Barker. In it, he mentioned that his main companion is a found Golden Retriever / Chow Chow mix... also known as a Charlie Dog! Guy's got good tastes...

Check out the original article here.