Here is a shot from the other night walking down 2nd Ave. across from the hospital. The moon caught my eye. Taken with a Sigma DP1 ISO 800.

Whenever I change work neighborhoods, one of the first things I scout for is a place with good noodle soup, preferably udon. One of my coworkers recommended the Rickshaw Dumpling Bar, which is a small chain restaurant. They might specialize in dumplings, but I ordered a big bowl of Miso soup with noodles and it was delicious! The service is fast, the food is healthy, and the place is clean. It’s a perfect spot to get my noodle fix.

In a “it should have been that way all along” move, ABC announced this week that its hit series “Ugly Betty” will move to NYC and start filming in the city where the series actually takes place. The fictional Betty works at Mode Magazine in Manhattan, and lives with her family in Jackson Heights, so it’s a natural fit for the show to film here.

And Mayor Bloomberg and Governor Paterson welcome the show, whose NYC filming will create about 200 jobs. ABC is also benefiting from a 35% cut in state and city taxes as a result of the move. People in Jackson Heights are hoping they will film in that neighborhood. When they see street closures and the lineup of trailers, they may eat those words.

Not to mention, the new opportunities for NYC actors, who formerly depended on “Law and Order” for NYC TV roles.

So, you are in the restroom in a public building. Let’s say you’re in the stall next to, or perhaps standing at a urinal. In one of the stalls you hear a phone ring. If it was you would you

A)Pick it up without thinking
B)Check the caller ID and only pick it up if you know you need to take the call
C)Pick it up because you are in the fucking bathroom taking an audible shit

Well dude in the stall next to me chose C.

What would you choose?

I’ve been working in the West Village for a few weeks now and I’ve been enjoying one of this job’s biggest perks: free live music at lunch. In Washington Square Park, everyday some jazz band or solo guitarist is playing. And some of them really impress me.

My first week, I heard this incredible reggae band, featured in the Tribeca Film Festival’s Playing for Change. I still remember the catchy tune they played that day in the park. Then there’s a small jazz band that plays almost everyday. Their very talented trumpet player does these amazing solos.

But my favorite band so far has been a small group including a base, washboard, and fabulous violinist. When I first heard them play, this violinist, a strikingly beautiful Asian woman, was awing the crowd with a solo in the song Summertime. Happily, they’ve returned every couple days to the park right around lunchtime.

Apparently, the folks at MTV who helped launch the scourge against good programming that is reality TV with “The Real World” back in 1992 are bringing it back to NYC for its 21st season. (Has it been that long? Man, that makes me feel old.) Specifically, the show will be filmed in Brooklyn. There’s no mention of which Brooklyn neighborhood they’ll film in, but like the MTV News blogger, I assume it’ll be Williamsburg, because all the kids think it’s hip or something. (Damn. I feel old again.) Unlike Choire Sicha of the Observer, who would like it to be The Real World: East New York, I’d like to see it in Bed-Stuy, or maybe Bensonhurst. The Real World: Whaddya, a Tough Guy? might be kind of interesting.

Before you start going ballistic over the title of the post hear me out.

I ride my motorcycle to work everyday from Brooklyn to Chelsea. And as a regular user of the same streets shared by cars, bicyclists and pedestrians, my observation is that when it comes to disobeying the rules of the road, no one beats the bicyclists.

On any given day, 90% of bicyclists I encounter blatantly flout the traffic lights. 1 out of 10 will stop for them the way they should. All the others just zig zag past oncoming cars or go down the pedestrian crossings.

Another very common issue is bicyclists riding in the opposite direction of traffic in bike lanes. Just because there is a bike lane does not mean that you can ride in any direction in a one-way street. And when pointed out, bicyclists dont even realize that they are breaking the law.

Yes, I will be the first to agree that bicycling is environmentally sound. And that more of us should be doing it. All of that is true. But that is another topic for another post.

As much as bicyclists have a chip on their shoulder about using the streets with others, I would really like to see some sort of enforced discipline, because surely they are not a self-disciplined lot.

Every single day I see at least one incident where a bicyclist misses being a casualty in an accident. All because they did not follow the rules.

So in that circumstance, I am amused when these same bicyclist target the cars and trucks and motorcycle for their misgivings.  Cities will have traffic and cars and stuff. That is why they are cities and not suburbs or the countryside. So if you want to exist in the city, it would be nice to first follow the rules and then fight with fellow users of the same streets.

In the wake of the devastating earthquake in Sichuan province in China, the Chinese-American communities in NYC are opening up hearts and wallets to help victims. An estimated 20,000 are believed to be dead or buried, with the toll expected to go up as rescuers go into the more remote areas. Many of the survivors are sleeping out in the street, either because their homes are gone, or they can’t trust that any structures still left standing are structurally sound enough to not collapse on them. Food is in short supply, and practically depleted.

The New York Consolidated Benevolent Association, based in Chinatown, has raised thousands as a result of a letter-writing campaign to over 60 member organizations. According to the MSNBC website, they hope to raise $100,000. And City Councilman John Liu, who represents the Asian area of Queens [including Flushing, Elmhurst, and Bayside], urges New Yorkers to donate to the American Red Cross International Response Fund, which is also sending relief to victims of the recent cyclone in Myanmar.

My friend Sean sent me this copy of a letter he sent to an apartment broker’s company management about how his wife was yelled at and harassed by the broker when she tried to find an apartment. It’s a lovely, heart-warming tale of bullying, harassment, and attempted bribery right here in good ol’ Brooklyn. Enjoy! (All phone numbers and e-mail addresses have been redacted to protect the innocent and not-so-innocent, as the case may be. Warning: the language is not for the squeamish.)

To Whom It May Concern:

As you can clearly see from the text message I have forwarded below, one of your “representatives”, Seth (xxx.xxx.xxxx), has gone above and beyond his duties in representing your company.

Backstory:

My wife called Seth in regards to an ad posted on Craigslist for a 1 Bedroom Apartment for rent in Greenpoint. Upon making contact with Seth, my wife was asked the following:

“When do you need to move by?”

When my wife explained to him that we were flexible, as our current lease was month-to-month, Seth responded with the following (which is pretty similar to what he said to me in his text message):

“People like you will never rent the apartment, and if you want to see the apartment, you need to give me $1000.00.”

My wife asked if that was his broker’s fee, he said no, that the broker’s fee is one month’s rent, but the $1000.00 was to just “see the apartment”. My wife, shocked and upset, then tried to explain to him why we were moving (repeated break-ins in our building), but Seth decided he should scream at her, saying “show me the money, you fucking cunt”, and then he hung up on her.

(more…)

I don’t know what’s funnier - that local NBC newscaster Sue Simmons dropped an f-bomb in a live promo spot for the 11:00 news on Monday night, or that the NY Times wrote a 2-page article about it.

Look, I know she’s a newscaster and should remain professional on the air. Apparently she wasn’t aware the promo spot was live - most of the time they are taped and edited later - so she slipped up. I’m sure plenty of newscasters and other on-air professionals do this all the time. And it’s not like you don’t hear the f-bomb dropped every day walking around New York City streets. Hell, you might even see it on this blog later today. Shocking!

In any case, she apologized. Let it go, NY Times. Find some other minor thing to make a fuss over.