NYC's Hottest,Hippest,Most Happening Happy Hour...

In all fairness I really should'nt be writing this blog. Why you ask...because I like writing about places you can go to that you may not have heard about or wonder about if the hype is true. Thing here is...you most likely will never get in to this happy hour. It's beyond trying to find some place without a sign, or getting past the bouncer, or being on a guest list. It takes place in a building somewhere in a very business centric area of Manhattan. Only one drink is served...the Freemantel (usually on the rocks...but when it really heats up frozen. It's green. The recipe is a secret... more like what you would put together drunk in college then a high end cocktail out of Death & Co, Pegu, the mind of Dale Degroff etc... The atmosphere is a dash of Mad Men, Heavy Metal, & Lounge Lizard. While this combo may sound bizarre...trust me it works. Most importantly so does the mix of characters. There is no arguing, no fighting, no preening or prancing around...just good times shared by a select few. While there is a core group that host the event...every week...different select guests are invited & they may bring a guest or 3. Of course the rule of this Happy Hour is...there is no Happy Hour Here...Plus even if you somehow found out about it...let's just say that there are pre-& post security measures in place to ensure you don't get in...or if you somehow do...out.

So while you trudge around trying to find a good happy hour going on up on a rooftop, or the newest hippest restaurant or hotel, etc...at least find some solace knowing that somewhere some lucky few...some band of brothers & sisters are drinking some crazy green concoction under the watchful yet benelovent eyes of the BobZilla...I did mention part Lounge Lizard earlier...did you think I meant some trendoid in Prada?

The Dogs of War

With all the less then awesome news coming out of everybody's favorite -istan...(such as the great story that WikiLeak broke by releasing loads of classified US Military docs that say that Pakistan's ISI is working with the Taliban, Iran is supplying insurgents with advanced weaponry...shocking...who knew???...etc... I for one cannot wait for WikiLeak to release some more stuff such as Financial Records of Iran funding Hamas & Hezbollah, Saudi Princes Funding Al Qaeda,  Dear Leaders Human Rights atrocities, China's Human rights atrocities among it's own people & the wonders they are doing for Africa's environment, Russian classified files on mass slaughters in The Republic of Georgia & Chechnya...oh the list just goes on) but I went off on tangent once again...

I actually have a great & truly heart warming story for you Dear Reader. It is a story of true heroism, sacrifice & redemption. Back in February of last year a Suicide Bomber snuck onto a US Army base forward position on the border of 2 -istans. Before he was able to get into the main tent he was attacked & in a state of panic triggered his explosives blowing himself to pieces, killing one of the hero's, wounding the 2 others along with 5 soldiers. The hero's who saved 50 lives in question were not Navy Seals, US Special Forces, British SAS or even Afgan Mujahideen...no the hero's of this story are 3 mutts who wandered onto the base & were taken in by the soldiers. When the Suicide Bomber came on the base they sensed something wrong & attacked. While 2 of the dogs barked...one attacked & took a bite out of Mr. SB. If these dogs were not there he may have killed 50 troops. The story doesn't end here. While one of the dogs (Sasha) was killed in the blast the other 2 were badly wounded but survived. Somehow this story got out to some activists www.robertscause.org & family members of the soldiers on that base (one set up a facebook page Puppy Mission Rescue).  They have arranged for Rufus & Target to be flown to the US! Rufas landed in NYC today & is heading for Ga. to live with one of the soldiers that he saved that was gravely wounded (when the solider got out of the hospital he went back to help nurse the dog back to health on base) & Target is on her way to AZ to live with the Medic who saved her life. Kudo's to those involved who arranged this, these hero's truly earned their trip & new life here. Like the saying the goes..."it's a dogs life"...

Like Lightning...Like Thunder

As I watch the sky light up with lightning & the sound of thunder I wonder when do we go from being scared of the sound of thunder & the flash of lightning to absolutely loving it? I can't say I remember being scared of them...but I'm guessing at some point as a child I was, most are. However, now & as  far back as I can remember I have loved the sound of thunder & the accompanying light show. It's like Natures/God's (your choice) fireworks. I love the shape of the lighting strikes & boom of the thunder...the louder...the mo" better. As a child we don't realize that the thunder is just a loud sound while the lightning can actually be deadly (rarely yes...but do you want to be on the wrong side of the statistics?) We are aware of this as an adult yet no longer fear them. Could be with the fear of the unknown removed & the knowledge of how to avoid the danger of lightning there is less to fear. Of course if one is out at sea or in the rain & exposed on a field & actually sees lightning strike & hears the rumbling of the thunder...does one not find themselves wishing they were safe & sound under the covers...

For your listening pleasure...check out the link to the song...Drive like Lightning-Crash like Thunder...

http://www.metrolyrics.com/drive-like-lightning-crash-like-thunder-lyrics-brian-setzer.html

Oh yeah...stay in tonight...relax...just pop by gallery...Imagine that...

On my way Thursday night to catch up with some friends at a gallery event in Soho at Martin Lawrence (I have a Bertho & Felix Mas from them) I stop by the Peter Lik gallery www.peterlik.com to check out a couple of pieces for my brother. If you're not familiar with Peter Lik's work...think sunsets in Hawaii with waves crashing on the beach...shafts of light streaming through a multi-colored canyon, a long wooden dock leading out to beautiful crystal clear blue gelatin like water etc...check out the site if your interest has been piqued...

Now while I am a fan of his work, I'm into photography myself & I have a pretty good eye, some understanding of lighting & the ability to compose a pic.  Nowhere near his level...but I've been to some pretty cool places & have some pretty sweet shots. So for the most part I usually went into his gallery more for inspiration & to check out his new work. This time for better or for worse while checking out the pieces for my Brother I make the mistake of asking Gabby the art consultant helping me if anything new has come in. As it turns out a new piece is being unveiled on Saturday night if I'd like to stop by, it's along the lines of the beach shots I'm looking at.

Saturday rolls around & I decide to stay in & relax after returning from Barcelona & the Costa Brava (blogs with pics to come...hope the anticipation isn't killing any of you) & being out the last couple of nights. Plus it's so hot & humid you can melt... I see no reason to leave the sanctuary of my roof top pool. I end up getting an email from the gallery with the info for my brother & a peak at the new work. After doing my laps (if you are not...start...best exercise I've found yet) I decide...I still want to stay in & chillax...but shooting down to Soho...having a drink or two (vs drink or 5+)...look at the new work & the piece for my bro, then go home early...gets me out for a bit...so happy medium.

Well the piece on my computer was somehow drawing me into it...so I should have been smart enough to stay in...because in person it really got to me. It didn't help the situation (as in  the combination of circumstances at a given time vs what some brain dead moron refers to as his abdominals) that Gabby & Laura the Art Consultants are both good looking & looked great in their LBD's.

Next thing I know I'm in one of the viewing rooms looking at the piece in multiple sizes & frame & mat options. I end up not only going with the piece... but in a larger size then I planned. It's going to take up a good chunk of the wall behind my bed. I just hope that I or any "guests" don't try to jump into the photograph. Why you ask? The piece I purchased is named Imagine...It is a pic of a sand cay with a white Umbrella on it with crystal clear water surrounding & lapping at it with a strip of blue sky & clouds behind it. The earlier comment I made about jumping into the picture was based upon a conversation I had with a 8-10 year old kid that walked into the viewing room drawn in by the pics...luckily after Gabby walked out with my AMEX card. Kids being kids always say what's right on there minds. He kept saying WOW these pictures look so real! I was like...well they are real photographs...He's said...Oh I know...it's just that the one with the water & little island (Imagine) looks like you can jump right into the water in it! He's right...it's one of the reasons I purchased it. He then asks "how much it is". I was kinda curious just what would a kid who is out with his parents in Soho value a photograph at. I had no idea what he would say...I'm thinking $100...$1,000...more? He says "I think it's worth at least a million...maybe even more!" Thank the Baby Jesus neither Gabby or Laura were around for that comment...

Shortly after they walk in to finish the deal, go over the paperwork & as an added bonus give me Peter's book of pics from Australia. They ask me "how excited I am" ...I of course say...well I guess once I get it up on my wall I'm sure I will be... (I'm in Sales...so when I close a deal...I get excited...when I buy something...more fun...not sure if as exciting). Plus... I did just stop by the other day to check something out for my Bro...& I really just wanted to stay in & watch must see Tivo'ed TV...yet I end up popping out & dropping $$$$ on a photograph...to which Laura oh so eloquently says..."it wouldn't be a Saturday night if you didn't...now would it?"...I guess not...but then again does it really need to be a Saturday night for me to do something impetuous, reckless, off the cuff...just for the hell of it...etc...I mean...just Imagine that...

Cami Secret...where have you been all my life!

I am both blessed & cursed with for lack of a better phase...a spectacular voluptuous pair of pecs. Oh how life can be such a double edged sword! Now while topless at the beach in Barcelona or in Nice or in a T-shirt or Polo over the weekend not really an issue. However in the workplace or even sometimes out at night in can be. Even with a well cut or custom cut shirt I usually have to open more then the top button to accommodate my chest trying to burst through my button downed shirt. What am I to do...getting grief & snide remarks about how I have have my chest out with my medallion/shield (Star of David) popping out! Well now thanks to Cami-Secret my problem is finally solved! I just slip on Cami-Secret under my shirt & attach it to either side & now I look classy vs trashy! Plus it comes in 6 practical easy to match colors! It's lightweight...looks great...& it's easy to take off if after work I want to let loose! Oh Cami-Secret...where have you been all my life! http://www.camisecret.com

Fatty Cue Review...

It hits you as soon as you walk in...DAMN this place smells good! As long as you love BBQ that is & have a thing for the far east. I can't exactly describe it but it's like the food...it's awesome BBQ...with an Asian twist...& I mean this in a oh so good way. Zac Pelaccio. is the chief...the same guy who gave us Fatty Crab & it's upscale Pan-Asian Street food ie.. Watermelon pickle w/Pork Belly... who by the way I met & is a really good guy. They have some really good sounding cocktails...but I never made it to them due to trying one of the shot-back-beer combo's (I believe there are 3). In honor of our current economic times I went with the...drum roll please... Recession Special 1 shot whiskey, 1 shot spicy pickle back, 1 PBR tallboy... the spicy pickle back was awesome & had a few of these throughout the meal.

Please note for those of you who like a formal meal...this ain't the joint...they bring things out as they come from the kitchen.  So in no particular order my cousin & I had the cue coriander chopped bacon(VG), dragon toast (some sort of high end liquefied fat w smoked toast...not bad) cucumbers w/smoked chilies (menu could use more like dishes to cut thru the BBQ, heat, smoke & phat...) pork ribs (think the best you ever had...but more favorable) & the beef brisket in bao buns (my favorite). Zac buys his meat from high end butchers so we are talking absolutely delicious high quality BBQ here with that Asian twist which really takes it to the next level. One of the things I loved the most was a side order of salted chilies. They were very hot...but delicious so worth the heat (please note I have a cast iron stomach...& they still tore through it the next day...the mango jalapeno margaritas I had at Diablo Royale's new East Village location may also have been somewhat responsible...sweet, hot & yummy). I slathered them on pretty much everything but the cucumbers & chocolate bars...so be careful...but use with some discretion...or just man up thrown down the drinks, slather the chilies & enjoy!

For desert a dark chocolate bar with hot pepper, almonds & sea salt & a milk chocolate with ginger & puffed rice. The first is more my type...but the latter was better...kinda like preferring brunettes but meeting a red-head that you fall head over heels for. We finished up with an awesome shot called I think a Smokey Bone...bourbon, Tabasco, lime...& something else...(please notes the shot & beer combo's throughout the meal after the frozen pint size Mojito earlier at Surf Bar).

Fatty Cue is located in Williamsburg not far from Peter Lugars by the bridge. So it's not just right off the L like many of Billyburgs spots...but this is a journey you do need to make if you love your cue & like yourself some Asian flava (read into that as you may) too...