What I did on my Summer vacation....

I cannot believe this summer is just about over...hoping for an Indian Summer....the highlights in no particular order...

• Vacation in Dubrovnik, Croatia (see earlier blog for details & pics)
• Vacation on South Padre Island
• Between rooftop pool, beach & vacations...possibly best tan ever...
• Finally started doing laps in my pool (looking to break 50 this weekend)
  
• Swimming with my Niece & Nephew
• Body-Surfing at Long Beach
• Lost about 15lbs of baby fat from the swimming & gym...
• Lots of cooking...
• Enjoyed all the best happy hour deals Soho had to offer...
• Became Norm-like at Nolita House, Bread, & Cafe Habana
• Finally making it to CITI Field...great stadium...would be nice if it had a team...
• Seeing Venus & Nadal at the US Open
• Discovered photographers Michael Dweck (Mermaids), Deborah Anderson (ROOM 23) & Jean Phillip Piter (PURE magazine St. Barths)
  
• The chorizo sandwich at Egg in Willamsburg
• The ice cream at Jacques Torres
• Coconut M&M's!!!
  
• Making mint chocolate chip cookie mint ice-cream sandwich's...mmmmnnnnn
• Making alcoholic & virgin drinks with muddled cucumber & mint
• Shopping for greens & hot peppers w/William Defoe ...True story
• The Highline...
• Falling in love with the ladies of FBN & CNBC on the 10 & 11am shows
  
• Dinner at the Standard...you would never know there was a recession!
• Going to the beach at the end of April! Hopefully can say end of September...
• Fallout 3 & finishing it
• Captain America Reborn!...or am I...?
• Shakira's She Wolf video...
• Marvel getting purchased by Mickey Mouse...
  
• Great movie summer for blockbusters & independents...favorites Star Trek, Hurt Locker, & Inglorious Basterds
• Read loads of great books...see reviews
• Massages at Great Jones Spa & Water Lounge

Farmers Markets/Happy Hours/ Entree's under $30...

Did it really need to take the recession to get Farmers Markets to spring up all over? For restaurants & bars to have happy hours...real happy hours where you get 2-1 rounds & 1/2 price food or FREE nibbles...for Entrees to go for $20 something bucks?

While it great to be able to get products from all over, Farmers Markets I hope are here to stay. You get fresh produce grown/made locally which saves you money, puts the money right in the farmers pocket & reduces greatly transport costs. It's a win-win that I hope is here to stay.

I got sick of paying $15+ bucks for a drink in a bar full of trendoids a long time ago. Happy hour should be a time where people go somewhere for a drink & a deal...not to get stuffed & screwed without a smile or thank you. So PLEASE keep REAL happy hours alive & well even after the recession is over.

Charging $40 for an entree w/o any sides or anything else is DISGUSTING & RIDICULOUS. I don't care what the quality, ingredients, or portion size is. I've eaten way to many great tasting entrees for $20+ & under in restaurants throughout NYC that it can be done. Reduce the portion size if need be & stop charging to attract celebrities & Hedge Fund Managers...unless of course you can sustain a business with ONLY their business (good luck since your clientele has been greatly reduced...)

FaceMash...

Recently read Accidental Billionaire the story of FaceBook*. While I'm not on it & have no intention to ever join it was a very good, very fast & interesting read. It is told from the point of view of others involved with the story & the CEO refused to be interviewed or add any input. It paints a less then pretty picture of the guy. However it does give some back story on him & outright shows that the guy is a genius.

Why it was originally started, how, & how incredibly fast it grew vs it's competitors is pretty interesting. I am a big fan of the author & kudo's to him from a marketing perspective from taking what should have been a 2 part article in Playboy or Wired & turned it into a book...

*Fashmash was the original name...

AMEX - Dont' Go to the US Open Without it...

Especially if you think there is a remote chance that you or whoever you are going with may LOSE their ticket... Originally I was going to get tix off Stub-hub or a like site. Nothing against them, they seem to work well & it's a pretty good way to get tix. However, if at the event before you got in if you or your friend/lover/family/client lose their ticket...what if anything can you do (if there is please let us all know) ? Well, my friend Mike did lose his ticket shortly after we picked up the tickets at will call. Luckily I ended up buying them from Ticketmaster off the US Open website with my AMEX. After a little running around we were sent back to the will-call window where they voided out my ticket & his & gave us new ones. Disaster avoided...got to see two great matches.

P.S. Apologies to the foreign couple in section 331 that I politely asked to please get out of my seats. I really thought you were in the wrong seats & that we were in section 330 at the time...