So I spent most of the past weekend (I know, here it is Wednesday and I

As far as I can tell, you read about it hear first in early September: Brooklyn borough president Marty Markowitz finally got approval for his proposed (and controversial) sign saying

I normally write about life on the other side of the country, but I’ll be guestblogging in New York for the next few weeks, while I’m here for work. I’ve been on the east coast for a few days, but this morning I took the Metro North down from Poughkeepsie and realized just how much I’ve missed the city. (I lived here for about 7 years before moving to L.A. in May 2004.)

On the way to work today, I was overwhelmed by the awesome New Yorkiness everywhere I looked: A class of kids from a private school, all dressed up in uniforms and pink dresses, passed me on the sidewalk. Burly firemen blocked traffic to back their truck into its garage. A sign on a lamppost begged Johnny Mc to call Skip, because Skip lost his cell phone and doesn’t have Johnny’s number. And everyone — seriously, everyone — looked so freakin’ stylish! An old lady next to me on the subway platform was wearing a dress cooler than anything I own.

I think when you’re surrounded by the excitement and chaos of New York every day, you become sort of numb to it. When I lived here, I never paid attention to strangers. I just tuned them all out and focused on getting through my day. But this morning, I was amazed by everyone. I had to hold myself back from hugging strangers on the subway, because they all seemed so wonderfully New York.

Today, I was that idiot on the subway who can’t stop smiling. Maybe I’m delusional from the three-hour time change. Or maybe I’m overtired from getting up at 5:15. But damn, it is nice to be back.

Crawling with the old bill!

Its all going down on the lower east side. Just looked out the window on Montgomery Street and part of it is roped off. Not a camera in sight, so can’t be CSI:New York.

Bloody hell, it could be a real crime scene!

Just saw a few coffees delivered, so looks like it could a long session ahead.

In 2 to 3 weeks Catskill area in upstate NY would be blazing with colors, so if you have a car, this might be the coolest upstate trip during this time of year.

Your day starts early for a 2-3 hour beautiful drive to exit 19 on NY throughway. Take route 28 West and in few seconds you should see billboard for Paul’s Corn Maze on left (If you don’t see it, probably harvest season is over). As corn grows little higher than 7 ft, the corn field makes a perfect maze. Really good fun if you are in group.

After you get tired running around in the maze, continue on route 28W until you hit exit for Woodstock. This is nice little quaint town with tons of art galleries and cool restaurants to satisfy your appetite. You might want to explore the unconventional shops in this town for a little while.

Next continue on 28W until you hit Kaatskill Kaleidoscope Museum! This place hosts world’s largest Kaleidoscope. Ask for the “show”. Explore the different types of kaleidoscopes scattered all around the shop kept for you to give them a try, some of them you can probably try out only here. Most of them costs few hundred bucks, lot of them costs few thousand bucks.

Your final stop is Kaaterskills Falls. These are the unique two story water fall besides being the tallest in the NY state. The falls at upper level makes a big pond that is so high that it isn’t visible from the lower level. And then water from that hidden pond falls out again from an impressive height to form the lower level. It is possible to hike out on an unmarked trail to get to the 2nd level but don

Someone asked on metafilter about cheap furniture store in NYC. I think Gotta Get A Cover is pretty cool. I’d just walked by it near NYU area few days ago and couldn’t help but stop and admire the simplicity of their stuff.

So this month

New York city officials should hand out Ritalin to all baseball fans this year.

True, the Mets are basically out of contention, but instead of flopping into a miserable funk, they’ve cherished their last games, winning eight of the last ten. They may not be in the playoffs but they’re having a lot of fun spoiling everyone else’s chances. For once the fans from Shea can say with a smile, “Next year…”

In the Bronx, the phrase “next year” has been banished from the clubhouse. The Damn Yankees are going to find a way, preferably through the door to the Division championship, which remains ajar. With a one-half game lead in the division, and Boston forced to play a double-header today, wreaking a little havoc with their pitching order, the shadow of the Green Monster is starting to brighten. Aaron Small, the emblem of the Yankees startling turnaround, will replace Wright to close the door on the flailing O’s, going for his tenth straight win.

The Title Match, litterally, comes this weekend though, with the Yanks playing the Sawx in what looks to be a division deciding set at Fenway. In New York, this kind of excitement doesn’t appear until the post-season, often, not until the ALCS. But now we know September baseball, and the stakes may be even higher. The Yankees have often had a chance to end the season for their blood-rivals, but a chance to deny the World Championship Boston Red Sox of a post-season all together is a different twist. On the other side of the coin, Boston has a chance behind Wells and Shilling to prove to the world last year wasn’t a fluke, and begin building a dynasty of their own.

The landscape may have changed with Ortiz and Damon wearing their rings, but it doesn’t change Baseball Armageddon.

I’ve watched the games from home this season, but this weekend, I’ll have to be out amongst the fans. Expect to see me curled up to the pine in Revival, gritting my teeth, and pounding the bar. It’s one thing to sweat out the games at home but being a New York baseball fan is comprised entirely of dead quiet moments standing over forgotten beer. If the crack of a bat still lurches your stomach, come on down, and with any luck, the lot of us will be dancing in the streets, singing Sinatra, one more time.

Yesterday was our first full, jetlag nolonger a problem, day. We did MOMA in the morning and jumped the queues thanks to a friends ‘corp’ guests card ;-) What was it like? I was impressed, especially with the galleries that housed the Matisses, Picassos & other late 19th/early 20th century masterpieces. There were a few pieces I’d seen before at the Tate Modern such as a set of photographic portraits taken of four Canadian sisters from 1975 till this year, amazing. However, the true test of any modern art gallery/museum’s worth to the average punter is the …….shop. Here MOMA scored highly and add to that the staff were really friendly.
Lambardi’s was the lunch venue and after the pizzas we had I willl never, I repeat never again darken the door of Domino’s or Pizza Hut. The pizza was perfection, simple as that. The meatballs were soooooo tender as to melt in the mouth. If you haven’t been yet, then get your arse down there soon. After we left we went past a place called Rice to Riches. How can simple Rice Pudding be made to taste soo good. I had a single scoop of some raspberry thingy and it was a joy from first to last slurp. However, it was not quite as good as ‘the original chinatown ice cream factory’ at 65 Bayward Street. Now, that WAS good. We finished off the day with a quick visit to Times Square for the lights and then headed home.
Today is our third anniversary. What are we going to do? Grand Central Stn, followed by a light lunch and then in the evening we’ll head out for a steak ;-)
Damn, I forgot to add. Yesterday we did some majot retail therapy. Thank you Banana Republic for men, you can’t come to London fast enough. When you do, please keep the same prices.
AEINY

Sean

This just in: Pioneer Theater’s “A Month of Horror, Terror, and General Mayhem” is the winner of the coveted “Brian Thinks This is the Best Damn Name of an Event Ever” Award. All October long you can drop down to the Pioneer Theater to get your scare/laugh on. A month of horror/slasher/zombie/vampire/thriller/shock/porn/comedy with highlights such as:

SHAUN OF THE DEAD - A romantic zomedy for the whole family

NIGHT OF THE DAY OF THE DAWN OF THE SON OF THE BRIDE OF THE RETURN OF THE REVENGE OF THE TERROR OF THE ATTACK OF THE EVIL, MUTANT, ALIEN, FLESH-EATING, HELLBOUND, ZOMBIFIED LIVING DEAD PART 2: IN SHOCKING 2-D - If you haven’t seen it yet you must and if you have I know you’ll see it again

I. ZOMBI - An evangelical zombie documentary. Seriously.

A NIGHT TO DISMEMBER - “Certainly one of the worst movies the Pioneer has ever shown. Cannot be recommended highly enough!” And, “An awful, ugly, cheap, and incoherent mess.” - James Kendrick, Q NETWORK FILM DESK

PLUS: Rock ‘N