Friday, March 22, 2013

Books To Get Lost In

Amor Towles debut novel, Rules of Civility is truly a love letter for New York City. Katey Kontent is a girl about town, and she navigates the streets of 1938 Manhattan with true finesse, reveling in the contagious energy of Greenwich Village jazz clubs, making high society friends with monogrammed lighters and impressive doorman building apartments, and working her way through the ranks of the secretariat pool to a challenging but envy inducing editorial job. Kontent comes from modest means and is quick-witted, sensible, and relatable. You will find yourself rooting for her whether she is climbing the ranks in the workplace, or charming her way through a Long Island lawn party. Serving up a heavy dose of Great Gatsby glamor and capturing the glimmer and promise of New York, this book transports you to another time and place and you won’t want to leave it.

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Food To Eat

Va beh’ is a little known gem of a restaurant nestled in the center of Dean Street between Flatbush and Fifth Avenue and walking distance from the new Barclay’s Center Stadium in Park Slope. Built in what appears to be a converted garage, it’s small and although you may have to wait for a table, you’ll likely do so with a complimentary glass of wine in your hand. The animated waitstaff are welcoming and knowledgeable, speaking with robust Italian accents and serving you appetizers you didn’t even know were on the menu. There is wine on tap and the food is high quality but simple, to enhance the natural flavors of the ingredients. It is a great little spot for an authentic rustic Italian meal and you’re sure to leave with a full belly and no regrets.

Friday, March 15, 2013

Bands To Keep An Eye On

Band: The Head And The Heart
Label: Sub Pop
Genre: Indie-Folk
Sounds like: Ryan Adams, Fanfarlo, Mumford & Sons
They hail from: Seattle, Washington
What to expect: Strong vocal harmonies with Americana roots, perfect percussion with strains of violin and surprise girlie vocals
Fun Fact: They sold out of self-burned CDs in stitched denim sleeves that they brought to concerts and local record stores, earning them the title of Seattle’s Best New Band by City Arts Magazine.
Standout Tracks: Rivers and Roads, Cats and Dogs
Lyrics: “Down in the valley with whiskey rivers, These are the places you’ll find me hidin’”




Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Books To Get Lost In

Amor Towles debut novel, Rules of Civility is truly a love letter to New York City. Katey Kontent is a girl about town, and she navigates the streets of 1938 Manhattan with true finesse, reveling in the contagious energy of Greenwich Village jazz clubs, making high society friends with monogrammed lighters and impressive doorman building apartments, and working her way through the ranks of the secretariat pool to a challenging but envy inducing editorial job. Kontent comes from modest means and is quick-witted, sensible, and relatable. You will find yourself rooting for her whether she is climbing the ranks in the workplace, or charming her way through a Long Island lawn party. Serving up a heavy dose of Great Gatsby glamor and capturing the glimmer and promise of New York, this book transports you to another time and place and you won’t want to leave it.

Saturday, March 9, 2013

Bands To Keep An Eye On


Band: Walk the Moon
Label: RCA Records
Genre: Indie Rock
Sounds like: The Talking Heads, The Killers, and Ra Ra Riot, with a hint of Vampire Weekend and Dirty Projectors
They hail from: Cincinnati, Ohio
What to expect: You will be kept on your toes as the sound shifts from synth rock to catchy pop. The hormonally charged lyrics send you straight back to those lusty days of high school crushes, as do the occasional yelps of falsetto. It’s fresh, it’s youthful, and it’s fun. 
Fun Fact: “Anna Sun”, Esquire’s 2011 song of the summer was named after lead singer, Petricca’s professor, Anna Xiao Dong Sun.
Standout Tracks: Anna Sun, Quesadilla, I Want! I Want! and William Blake, the sped up chipmunk version of I Want!, I Want!. Some things just sound better chipmunked.
 ”My eyes are on the road/ But my mind is on your body.”

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Tom Sharpling does it again!

Here is a Funny Or Die video, directed by Tom, that travels back in time to The Postal Service auditions. With some great and unexpected cameos,  this is a must watch.





If you enjoy Tom's (and friends) specific type of humor, check out WFMU's comedic call in program, "The Best Show." The station operates completely on donations.  They are currently conducting a telethon, called #TomThon, in order to collect budget for the upcoming year.  Check out the site for more information.