June 25, 2005

The shotty attempt at a Music Review

haughty_melodic_cover.jpg If you were a huge fan of soul coughing and cried when they broke up, simply go out and buy, download, or steal Mike Doughty's new album, haughty melodic. It has lyrics you swear you could write yourself and then they get repeated over and over, yet it is brilliant. Songs like busting up a starbucks and white lexus simply rock. I still miss soul coughing and this brings back memories from one of my greatest concerts, sc at roseland back in 98. Coincidence that soul coughing had the only song i know written about jeanine (they spelled it janine)

Posted by Patrick at 02:11 PM | Comments (1)

May 11, 2005

play the credit card game..

of course i didn't win the derby, but imagine if i had hit the trifecta and could have done the ol' i told you to listen to me. mom and dad came down this weekend and of course, mom hit the longshot derby winner. We awarded her immediately by handing her the check from a great argentinian steak house, pampa. Mom was excited about taking on the bill! it is mandatory that if you win bucks in any type of gambling event and you are at a meal or heading that you take the check, no matter how many people. The rule is if the amount covers the meal you pay. I remember the outrage caused by a colleg buddy when he won 100 bucks at a diner on quickdraw and didn't pick up the check. My buds were outraged and still using it at talking point till this day. These are things you don't forget. If you want to play another great game my friends and I often play it's called the credit card game. everyone has their version, but this one plays out the best. next time when you are at dinner with friends and the bill comes don't do the awkward everybody looks at it until the guy with the calculator on the cell phone picks it up. play the credit card game. Everyone put in their credit card in a hat. couples have to put 2 cards in. don't look at the bill. roll the dice... go to nobu for crying out loud. ask the waitress to get involved and here is the key. pick the cards out one by one. when the waitress picks out a card you hand it back to it's owner. they are safe. do this until you get to the last card and then watch the 2 people sweat. i suggest doing this with very large bills where drinks and wine flow like niagra. the last card is the loser and they pay the bill! humiliation. If you play enough..everyone wins and everyone loses. I lost in beantown real bad and it wasn't even a good meal it was apps and shots for $350. My other friend is still financing a $500 sports bar wings and beer outing. 3 more payments and that meal i had is owned.. Try it sometime if you like to live on the edge.. it is perfect for our texas holdem society we live in...

Posted by Patrick at 09:52 PM | Comments (3)

April 21, 2005

Tip of the day - Point to the sky like the pro's do!

pedrosky.jpgI haven't posted a tip of the day for a while so here goes. To the left you will see Pedro pointing to up above after a strikeout or a win. There are various plays on this from all sports, including the kiss the fingers and point to the sky and the famous hit the chest and point to the sky. It's simply giving a little thanks to upstairs for a 3 run bomb or a backwards K. It's not just tom gordon and big poppy ortiz that do this.. you can do it too. When you nail a presentation to the board of directors, thank them for coming and if they say great presentation, pin your index fingers against your chest and point to the sky. You can even do it after a good conference call or making that key 4th quarter sale. It's best done in front of a lot of people so we can bring this to the masses not just people who make millions.

Posted by Patrick at 07:17 PM | Comments (0)

January 04, 2005

Tip of the Day - Get to MoMa immediately

On Monday I got my first chance to hit MoMa and all I can say is wow. I'm not artistic or cool enough to say anything else about museums. It is truly a masterpiece and is a must visit on a trip to nyc. The line was long and the price is 20 bucks/ European tourists covered the entire place, taking advantage of the euro. I have the attention span of an infant and I was fixed on multiple pieces for up to a minute. Also, some of the exhibits make you feel like you can go home and turn some of your favorite household goods into a masterpiece. My dad's shopvac is modern art?

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Posted by Patrick at 10:04 PM | Comments (1)

December 24, 2004

Tip of the day - A great movie for Italian cooking night

bignight.jpg My recommendation of Emmett Otter caused a stir amongst friends and you would be amazed on how many couple friends have not seen that movie together - it's a shame. Last night, I finally got to catch the movie Big Night and it's a great flic. Stanley Tucci, writes, directs and stars, along with an amazing performance from Tony Shalhoub. If you are italian and you haven't seen this movie - shame on you. This is a dinner/movie night flic. Get some red vino, a great italian recipe, and pop Big Night in the dvd player. Also, this movie has ties to the beautiful hudson valley. Stanley Tucci is from Westchester, a graduate from Purchase and was trained for the movie by chef, Gianni Scappin. Stanley and Gianni opened, the finch tavern, near somers and Gianni's wife, Laura Pensiero, opened Gigi Trattoria in Rhinebeck, NY. I've also heard they plan to open a restuarant in Woodstock, NY. I haven't been in the valley over the last couple of years long enough to try any of them, but friends and reviewers rave about Gigi. CHOW BELLA as they say in irish.

Posted by Patrick at 03:06 PM | Comments (1)

December 15, 2004

Tip of the Day - If you are running for office do your own background check

There are 2 main headlines in new york this week. A bird and Bernie Kerik. For Bernie, I can't even list all the things that are coming out about his past and present. Essentially, they guy is more connected than roadrunner cable service and had ties to the companies he would oversee as head of homeland security. I don't know what's next with the dirt on this guy -it may go as far as when he stole lunch money from some guy in high school or he could have possibly humped a football. There is one lesson from this - Don't go into the public limelight of politics unless you have a clean record, have a rich family or are very slick. if your just a clebrity skeletons make for good true hollywood stories. Clinton was smooth, the Bush family ran cover for him and some politicians are actually clean. I had a kid on my freshman floor who wanted to be in the cia so he wouldn't do anything to ever put that in jeopardy. We wished him well and then woke him up calling him a loser after we hit the bars. That was the choices we both made. I've heard he is in the CIA now.

About that hawk on the 5th avenue that the co-op board kicked out of its nest because it was pooping on people - thank god it's over. If it was a monkey, i'd be impressed and drawn to the story. What's funny about it is that when the YMCA on 23rd street closed down in lieu of fancy apartments and put humans on the streets, no one protested. But when a bird is robbed of it's nest oh man what a travesty.

I'm off to FLORIDA for fun, sun and Jeannine's fam. Stay tuned next week for the first annual SHARKYs.

Posted by Patrick at 08:40 PM | Comments (2)

December 09, 2004

Tip of the day - Holiday Party Ideas

197814_sk_md.jpg Jeannine and I went to an amazing Holiday party last weekend in Brooklyn. The Party was in cobble hill and all the neighbors had an open house for the party. They had a pretty cool grown up idea for their party. First, they had a video camera in the corner that was recording activity every 2 seconds, so they could show the party in high speed. Second, they had arts and crafts, which they asked everyone to share their favorite Christmas memories. Once you were done you attached to a helium balloon. The ladies all loved this while I sat and drank other peoples beer that was better than the sixer we brought. Holiday parties are fun and I have a few ideas that can take your party to 11.
1) Play Beiruit or chugging contest with egg nog
2) Introduce the Christmas Pinata - Place it close to the yule log and invite crazy friends and see what happens. 9 times out of 10 it burns
3) If you don't own any holiday ornaments - invite your friends for a tree decorating party. Ask them to bring food, booz and ornaments. You win if you can get them to bring the tree. You are king if you sit the whole time watching TV.
4) Throw a sangria christmas party - Bring that summer drink to winter. Who cares what the "no white pants after labor day" people say.
4) Finally - My number one tip - have a raffle! All you need is a roll of tickets. I did this once in college. We had a party and a sorrority came over I found a roll of tickets and just started handing them out. Come up with the gifts after you start the raffle. I promise you will start a huge amount of excitement. Friends will ask you when is it, what is it.. The prizes should be random.. A used sled, 3 natty lights out of a sixer, a used candle still burning, or a date with your lonliest friend.. I've thrown a few parties in my day and this is a guaranteed winner, even if as I go into my 30's i am now going to "grown up" parties

Posted by Patrick at 11:41 PM | Comments (0)

November 30, 2004

Tip of the Day - Look Smart it's 90% of the battle

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I was very fortunate for christmas a few years ago to receive a Dartmouth t-shirt from my Cousin Kati, who got her doctor degree from there. It's been my favorite t-shirt for the past 2 years. I don't leave home without it. I always thought i wore the shirt so much because of the comfort and the quality, but I really think it was the respect i got. First, people walked by and yelled at me "go green" I was like who are these wackos. When I finally realized i started playing along and felt the pride of big green. It continued to steamroll. I'm in Starbucks and people want to strike up some talk on politics. People ask me for directions, even in spanish! So my tip of the day is to go to IVYSport.com and pick up an ivy league t-shirt. You'll thank me for the comfort and get the academic respect that community college did not bring to you! I think i'll try BROWN next.

Posted by Patrick at 11:26 PM | Comments (5)