October 2008
27 posts
Rating Ramen in the East Village →
Masaharu Morimoto (he of Iron Chef) reviews some noodle joints in NYC. (Momofuku’s David Chang sorta cheats and makes him a special bowl.)
Of course, in L.A., we have Rameniac for ramen reviews.
The Velvet Underground, “Prominent...
Lakers Win Season Opener →
All season ahead of us, but an auspicious beginning. Encouraging:
The Lakers’ reserves also staked an early claim to best in the West.
Trevor Ariza had 11 points and showed off his new shooting range, drilling two three-pointers. Lamar Odom showed what he could bring as a sixth man, parlaying a warm ovation when he entered the game into a nine-point, seven-rebound night in 29 minutes.
“That burger sounds good with that fuckin’ bibb lettuce, huh?”
– Jeremy C., at Dumont in Williamsburg
In Which IRB Goes to New York
I’ll be in NYC from Thursday to Monday morning. Save me a dance.
Dinner Social: You're Invited →
Eric Ripert is going to show us how it’s done, dinner-party style. Who’s up for a Moveable Feast?
Japanese Food Festival in Little Tokyo →
Attendees will see a tremendous array of Japanese foods and beverages including sushi, sashimi, yakitori, tempura, curry, noodles, beer, sake, shochu, tea, and much more! Please be sure to bring your picture ID with you for alcohol tasting.I would definitely go to this if I weren’t going out of town next week.
Bourdain ‘At the Table’ →
Not a new series, he says. Just talking about food.
In the strangely bright center of an otherwise empty restaurant, me and four guests gathered round and ate and drank and discussed such burning issues as: “What’s the butt-ugliest behavior you’ve ever seen in a restaurant? Or taken part in?” And the issue on everybody’s mind—at a moment when the economy teeters on...
“Space hyphen space is not a punctuation mark.”
– The Slot Twitter
“I entered politics because the America of my dreams includes everyone, not just...”
– Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, in a letter accompanying a $25,000 donation to the anti-Proposition 8 campaign. (Prop 8 would eliminate the right of same-sex couples in California to marry.) Via LAO.
What We Talk About When We Talk About Texting →
TNY’s Louis Menand on texting and its effects on both language and interpersonal communication.
There is no socially accepted excuse for being without your cell phone. “I didn’t have my phone”: that just does not sound believable. Either you are lying or you are depressed or you have something to hide. If you receive a text, therefore, you are obliged instantaneously to reply to it, if only...
Los Angeles tops EMPIRE OF THE SON's Top Cities...
spensom:
Reasons cited:
Secret Kanye listening party
Jigga re-opening the Palladium
Clippers v. Lakers (B. Diddy v. Kobers)
Looming Vegas trip
Delicate mix of cultural authenticity and popular glamour.
Also: taco trucks.
Reading Under the Influence →
Baltimore Sun copy editor John E. McIntyre suggests beverages to go with notable authors.
Chinatown Gallery Scene in Flux →
Artinfo says, “new galleries are opening, others are closing, some have moved, and others will soon move into new spaces.” I hope the scene in Chinatown stays vibrant; in any case, that neighborhood has seen a lot of change in its lifetime.
“You can’t put nothing past Manny’s bat. You cannot beat him. Also,...”
– Lil Wayne, in his latest blog post (main blog page)
Is Choke the Coolest Coffee Shop in L.A.? →
Probably, if only because it’s also a moped shop. “Riding mopeds is the answer to everything,” says founder Jeff Johnsen. Just remember to be careful out there.
Planning Org Loves Echo Park →
The American Planning Association named Echo Park one of its 10 Great Neighborhoods this year.
One of Los Angeles’s first suburbs, the Echo Park neighborhood is a vibrant mix of cultures, incomes, architecture, commercial activity, and social activism that has retained its unique character and charm for more than a century.Santa Monica Beach got some shine too as a Great Public Space. Full...
Mark of the Beast →
If you haven’t heard, Tina Brown (ex of Vanity Fair and The New Yorker) has a new project: The Daily Beast. It’s an online aggregator of high and low culture with the slogan “Read This, Skip That.” There are some other big names involved, including backer Barry Diller and a HuffPo-like lineup of celebrity contributors. But is there room for a bit more signal among all the...
Once More: NY on the Cheap* →
Last round of answers (previously).
*UPDATED: Here are some $1 eats for you.
Will the Heirs to the NYT Sell? →
The Chandlers sold the L.A. Times. The Bancrofts sold the Wall Street Journal. Could the Sulzbergers do the same with the New York Times?
It’s no secret the newspaper industry is in a time of upheaval, and there doesn’t appear to be any clear-cut successor in the family to lead the NYT. So what’s more important to the Sulzbergers—their inheritance or the pride and prestige that...
WatchThe first time I saw this, I had yet to really listen to You & Me and didn’t realize the song is called “Four Provinces” on the album. Enjoy. (And please excuse the ad intro if there is one.)
How-to-wear-a-scarf Roundup
I wasn’t aware tying on a scarf was such a mystery, but since it’s scarf season, here’s some help.
Valet
Esquire
GQ (direct .flv video link)
Bonus: NYT’s Dress Codes on scarf style.
In Which Odom Takes Point →
Ariza starting in place of Odom? Maybe. Or maybe this:
Forget about that Lakers frontline of Lamar Odom, Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum. Odom has been shifted to ball-handling guard, part of an experiment conducted by Coach Phil Jackson in a monthlong petri dish called exhibition season.Phil Jackson: madman, genius or mad genius? Discuss.
In Which Mayor Tony Brings the Funny →
A little L.A. vs. Chicago fun.
NY on the Cheap: Part 2* →
Answers to the questions.
*UPDATE: Another installment of answers.