Two weeks ago I wrote on this blog about a tragic accident involving children riding in a taxi in NYC. Sadly, a child was thrown out of a cab from the back seat. The child was on his mother’s lap, but there is no law mandating a child seat in a taxi. Realizing that it was difficult for a parent to carry a car seat for taxi travel, I put the issue out there, and wondered how to get car seats into livery cars.

Well, I am happy to learn that there is a company in NYC. They advertise “child safety seats professionally installed in every vehicle” BINGO!!! Check out the website http://www.kidcarny.com

Hey, I applaud anyone who sees a niche and runs with it!!!

Robert Chambers, now 41, has not grown up. Found guilty of manslaughter in the killing of a classmate some two decades ago, he’s clearly not a new man. For those of you who were not in New York City in August of 1986, or were too young to remember, or not born yet (ouch!), let me summarize. On an August morning in Central Park in 1986, two students of a posh Manhattan prep school went out partying with friends, and ended up in Central Park together. Boy (Robert Chambers) strangles girl (Jennifer Levin) to death.

Chambers claimed the strangulation was a result of “rough sex” and he didn’t mean to kill her. For full details (this trial captivated the city for months, so there are a lot of details), just google “preppie killer NYC, and nock yourself out! So Chambers went to prison for manslaughter, is only free for a couple of years, and now this! Now he can go back to prison for the rest of his life, which many are saying should have happened the first time. I say it raises serious issues about a legal system that gives lesser sentences to the rich and privileged, and obviously doesn’t rehabilitate them. Say nothing of the arrogance of those rich kids (hello Britney and Lindsay) who think they can do whatever they want and not pay the price!!!!

I recently got engaged, and though we set a date fairly far into the future (April 2009), we have started idly looking at possible locations for the reception. This is partially due to general curiosity, as I have never had to plan a party for this many people before, and partially due to the fact that certain venues book out absurdly early in this city. What I’ve discovered so far: it’s ass-fuckingly expensive to have a large wedding reception in New York City.

If you’re having a reception with fewer than, say, 50 people, it’s not so bad - there are plenty of small, low cost venue options. If you have a larger reception, there are also ways to save, particularly if you are flexible on the day (Fridays and Sundays are cheaper than Saturdays) or the time (afternoons are cheaper than evenings). This is true elsewhere, of course, but in NYC, with limited facilities with enough capacity for larger receptions, it’s doubly true.

A good place to start for wedding planning is NY Magazine’s wedding section, and their current print issue has some awesome information, including itemized lists of four weddings from a “low” budget - $12,500 - to a high budget, topping out at $150k. They include great ideas on how to save, including specific total costs for photographers, caterers, etc. Very helpful. As one of the two brides-to-be here at MetroBlogging NYC, hopefully I’ll be able to pass on some tips for saving, as well as tips for non-traditional weddings. Because I sure as hell won’t be wearing white.

Photo of Anna’s Corner Former Interior - from Wikipages.com

I checked out Athens Tavern, the restaurant formerly known as Anna’s Corner. Under rennovations for over a month, this restaurant had finally opened its doors and I wanted to see the changes.

The interior, which had formerly included a ceramic goat on the wall, now looks modern and chic - ish. It still possesses a Greek look, but with more contemporary feel.

The menu has also undergone a transormation. The food is now a bit more upscale and a bit more limited. Happily, they still serve a haloumi dish - carmelized figs with chunks of haloumi. Utterly delicious! Just thinking of it makes my mouth water. Too bad that the prices have changed, as well. This used to be a relatively cheap spot that I frequented regularly; now I’ll be limiting those visits to rare occasions when I feel I can spend the money.

So all in all, this place is definitely still tasty. But I miss the goat.

You can find out the answer to that question at the Marc by Marc Jacobs store this weekend, where several of the staff will be selling and signing t-shirts of themselves while walking around in the buff. The line of shirts was created for skin cancer awareness, and features many naked people, some of whom you may recognize (Winona Ryder, Julianne Moore) and some you may not (dudes who work for Marc Jacobs).

The guys will be there Saturday selling the shirts with their images on them as well as a new batch of shirts with a new set of naked celebrities on them. They may or may not be covering up their junk, but you can always show up and try and get a peek, if you’re into that sort of thing.

Marc by Marc Jacobs is at 382 Bleecker Street and only has naked salespeople on occasion.

image courtesy WWD and features one of the naked salesdudes, Owen Marvel, who has an awesome last name

Since the 4,5,6 stopped got all screwed up during rush hour, I was forced to take a $25 cab ride from the UES to the Zipper Factory in Midtown to see Margaret Cho’s variety show, The Sensuous Woman. Which by the way, was FAN-FUCKING-TASTIC! I will now fondly refer to myself as Queer because I too want boys and girls to LOVE me. Why the hell not!

Anyway…………… back to my cab story.

Like I said, the 4,5,6 were having issues so I hopped in a cab. There was actually a point in the VERY slow moving ride where I thought I should put my seatbelt on. This guy was so bangry (bitter and angry) that he kept pounding his fists on the steering wheel, bitched about how the traffic was screwing him over (only 3 fares in 2 hours) and was driving WAY too close to the cars ahead of us. Then all of a sudden - “BAM!!!” - he smacked into the cab in front of us.

I really didn’t know exactly what happened until he turned around and started to laugh while he told me that he fell asleep. Yeah, that’s HYSTERICAL.
Not really knowing what to say, I asked him if he wanted me to take over.
Funny how he didn’t find that amusing. I did!

You know things have gotten bad when your driver readily admits that he fell asleep behind the wheel!
Something to be proud of. Idiot.

The other night I was presented with one of the best drink ideas I’ve ever heard. It came during a MetroBlogging meet up that YOU were not at. My fellow blogger Tracey came up with a drink so hardcore, so stealthy, so full of wind in its sails that I nearly peed. Well okay, I nearly peed cause I’d been drinking water all night, straight up. Tracey called the drink the Pirate Ninja. That’s right kids, the Pirate Ninja. It consists of Rum and Sake. Mmmmm, sweet sweet rum. Wait, I don’t drink (hence the straight water). So how do I know it was any good? Kathleen and Melissa were there and ready to go! They took it like champs, swigging that swashbuckling, ninja star throwing, new drink.

So what are you going to be drinking on your next night out?

So a large part of the state of California is burning, there is still a war raging in Iraq, the stage-hands are threatening to shut down Broadway during the December tourist season, and the newspapers are featuring Rudy Giuliani’s “treacherous” endorsement of the Boston Red Sox!!

I can see if they were competing against the Yankees, but please!!! And this morning on “Live”, Kelly Ripa theorized that this is Rudy’s way of expressing anger at what the Yankee owners did to Joe Torre. Well, maybe……

But, Torre will be fine, the Yankees will also be fine, and Rudy has to wear a lot of team hats now. After all, he is a politician. He would root for my niece’s softball team if he thought it could win him the election. And the only reason I am making this short today is that I am also moving on to more important things. Buh-bye…….

I met up with fellow bloggers at Cooper 35. Located in the East Village, this establishment has funky decor with a slightly Asian flair. Despite the summery weather, the garden was unfortunately closed, but it definitely looked like a fun hang out.

I was happily surprised to open the menu and find the prices incredibly low. A whole list of yummy-sounding cocktails for four dollars each! I ordered a Sangria and a $3 bowl of Soba noodles in soy broth. After munching on delicious hummus and chips, the server brought out a huge bowl of noodles, definitely a good deal for 3 bucks.

Each morning, my workday is started on the right path and a big smile on my face by one simple little part of my routine… my stop at Starbucks.

Without fail, my Venti Bold with room is ready when I walk through the door regardless of the long line, I’m greeted with a friendly hello, given a compliment on my outfit or accessories or SOMETHING, given an iTunes download card of the day and sent on my way with some kind words. Sometimes, I’m even able to cut the long line since my morning friends know that I’m going to give exact change.

Sounds like nothing, but it’s quite the luxury to me - and I’m starting to think that maybe I’m a bit of a luxury for them as well. My Starbucks is always filled with a LARGE amount of bitchy Upper East Siders that bark their demanding orders, throw out snide remarks, mill around without caring about the fact that other people are waiting, block everyone’s way with their crazy strollers, and other basic inconsiderate behavior.

Is it really that hard to be courteous and thank someone for dealing with your bullshit every fucking morning. Apparently, it is. I understand why my neighborhood gets the reputation that it does.
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