May 30, 2004

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

Weekend in Philly with the Lady'sfolks. Much much food, family, neighbours, ping pong, poker, beer, Pimms (i brought - but they find it a bit weak so they add vodka), splashing around in the pool. Sunburnt feet with flip flop marks. Oh, and a baby goat.
one kid with another kid

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May 27, 2004

THURS 27th MAY : NOSING 'ROUND HOBOKEN

Hung with Andrew on Thursday.

Bummed around Tribeca then jumped on a ferry over to Hoboken across the river in Jersey. It's the equivalent of Essex. City boys and cheeky girls. Had a few beers before I was ordered home / to a cocktail party with the Lady's friends. Rocked around. Oh, remember meeting this guy outside a Hoboken Deli listening to his radio on the bench - you know the type - he first asks us if we are hiring (thinks we're in the music biz), then realizes we are from England and points at the radio - it's playing Kylie - and says 'she's from there' - we disagree and tell him. He says 'Australia? Same difference.' Then he starts asking what the difference is between the UK and US and Andrew pipes up the one about how the news is so different - i.e. you know what's going on in the world. His reply (which is pretty good for a yank) is 'well, we don't want to know because we're not nosy.' Ha!

Guy Brighton woz here

Guy Brighton woz here

Guy Brighton woz here

Tribeca

Tribeca

BrooTribeca

Tribeca

Brooklyn Heights Promenade

Manhattan From The Boat

Hoboken

Hoboken

Hoboken

Hoboken

Hoboken

Hoboken

Hoboken

Hoboken

Hoboken

Hoboken

Hoboken

Hoboken

Hoboken

Andrew

Guy

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May 26, 2004

WEDS 26th MAY : OUTCOME

Pitch went very well!! Some problems with the way we presented as really good feedback at the end. Would love to get a decision today b4 I fly to London (for visa reasons) next week!

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WEDNESDAY 26th MAY : PITCH DAY!

Wish me luck!

Bring it on!

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SOUNDTRACK TO THE CITY

Manhattan User Guide must have felt guilty about being so pro-British recently. So they've released their ideas for a New York Soundtrack today - with iPod playlist available.

Hi! Mousey!

Song: Hey, Manhattan!
Artist: Prefab Sprout
Genre: Rock

Song: New York City
Artist: Moe

Genre: Rock

Song: Brooklyn Breezes
Artist: Will Downing
Genre: R&B/Soul

Song: NYC Waltz
Artist: The Right Bastards
Genre: Pop

Song: Slumming on Park Avenue
Artist: Ella Fitzgerald
Genre: Jazz

Song: New York, New York
Artist: Ryan Adams
Genre: Rock

Song: Bleecker to Broadway
Artist: Eddie From ohioald
Genre: Folk

Song: Manhattan
Artist: Dinah Washington
Genre: Jazz

Song: A Brass Serenade: Romanzo di Central Park
Artist: Charles Ives
Genre: Classical

Song: The 59th Street Bridge Song
Artist: Eric Reed
Genre: Jazz

Song: Harlem's Nocturne
Artist: Alicia Keys
Genre: R&B/Soul

Song: New York City
Artist: They Might Be Giants
Genre: Alternative

Song: Queensboro Bridge
Artist: David Mead
Genre: Folk

Song: Another Hundred People
Artist: Judy Kaye
Genre: Soundtrack

Song: Up On The Roof
Artist: Laura Nyro"
Genre: Rock

Song: Breakfast at Tiffany's
Artist: Henri Mancini
Genre: Soundtrack

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May 25, 2004

TUESDAY 25th MAY : PUTAMAYA HAVE ONE MORE

Spent a lot of time wandering Pearl's on Canal Street trying to find presentation boards for the meeting. When I got back to the office I spent a lot of time making myself high off Spray Mount. Stay focused.

Somehow we managed to get everything ready by 8pm - the presentation, the ads, the instore dispalys, ourselves - so I went and met the Lady at a Putamaya launch party at a bar on the corner of Bowery and Bleerker.

Putamaya is a world music label and at first it was great to see a down to earth mix of people form all walks of life there (compared to the snooty and disinterested types in the other launch parties I've been to). As we tried to get to the free bar with the rest of the regular joes we were pushed back by a stampeed. Food had arrived and - unlike the snooty musos who supress the urge - the people at the party tucked in. Elbows, pushing, can I take 3? etc. The poor Lady only managed to get a Jerk chicken wing. But I got a gap at the bar!

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GO SMILE

Street Art in New York

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May 24, 2004

MONDAY 24th MAY : MUG REPORTS ON THE BRITISH INVASION

Good to see the Manhattan User Guide (yet again) ranting about the Brits:

British Invasion

"Now that the band Franz Ferdinand has become “the new Strokes”, who will be the next UK act to hit big over here? Here’s a look at some prospective candidates:

Snow Patrol: A longtime favorite overseas, this band’s US career seems to be just beginning. Their latest album (and major label debut), Final Straw, doesn’t sound a whole lot like either to us, but critics are hailing these Scots as “the new Radiohead” or “the new Coldplay”. Whoever you want to compare them to, they do play mainstream radio-ready rock.

Keane: These guys are most often compared to Travis and, of course, Coldplay. Their music is of the melodic guitar variety, and music industry insiders have told us that the buzz on them in the UK is huge right now. Their second album, Hopes and Fears, comes out this month.

The Open: Word on the street is that the deal they made with The Open is the most record label Polydor has ever paid for a band. While we don’t know if they have any internal drama a la Brothers Gallagher, their sound is being most often compared to Oasis. They only have an EP and a single out at the moment, but we’re guessing once they make some appearances on the festival circuit this summer, they may be on their way."

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MON 24th MAY : STRESS

All in a panic. Nothing is ready for the pitch on Wednesday. Chaos. Mayhem. Where the hell are the other guys?

Late one.

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May 23, 2004

SUN 23rd MAY : PITCHING IN THE RAIN

Missed another great day sitting beside the design team for this pitch. Great guys - hot sweaty office in Tribeca.

By the time I got home I was worried and stressed about the work. It got a little rainy, so I went for a run and saw a beautiful red sun go down over the Hudson River - one of those suns with an orange top. Wish I had my camera.

The run didn't make me lose my stress so the rain came and the Lady made me strip the paint from the rest of the table iin the rain. Therapy, she assured me.

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May 22, 2004

SAT 22nd MAY : POSING, STRIPPING, COFFEE & CIGARETTES

bride_vespaAwoken early by the boss, I had to stagger down to Barrow & Hudson to take part in a photoshoot for the pitch - amazing to see how many people stop and stare when you put a blonde on a pearly white Vespa in a wedding on someone's property (who you don't have the permission of). Should look great for the pitch on Wednesday.

Good fun in the brillian weather however the Lady had plans for me. She has a table that she wants to strip the paint off - down the wood. Who had to strip it? Yup. What happened? The table isn't quite made of the pine or oak the lady was hoping. I'm sure any carpenter will tell you that plywood is very useful but it sure ain't going to look good in the Lady's new apartment (if the co-op agree).

We commiserated in the restaurant Sevilla where the Lady and I reminded ourselves of our times when she lived in Spain. You must go. Full of old Spanish guys dressed in uniform waiting on you. Great pungent smell of garlic. Amazing food. Amazong food.

After we went to see Coffee and Cigarettes, the film, in Chelsea. One you really need an art hat for. I have never seen so many people leave a film theater, ever. And altho the idea of joining all Jarmann's shorts together sounds great idea - there best shorts are at the start and the end. Wait for DVD is my recommendation.

The evening was ended in Hiro. Amazing lookign place full on flashy guys and glamour girls: can't complain. the rest of the aream was mobbed with girls in boob tubes and guy's with untucked shirts with high collars. Meatpacking on Saturdays? Only if you want a meat market.

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May 21, 2004

FRIDAY 21st MAY : PITCHING IN

I haven't written about work for a while. Probably because I am still waiting for this new ad agency to take off. We've been sending the odd proposal here and there and have a couple of small clients we're doing ad-hoc work on. The problem for me is the cash. I last got paid two months ago a figure that just reaches four figures. Just.

The pressure is on, so to speak. You can imagine what the Lady's reaction to all this is.

Next Wednesday we have a pitch for a beauty product. Large campaign. As in the words of a long haired chap looking at a chip in a coffee table on the phone to a french polisher: This could very much save our lives. The other two guys at work are stressed. We all are. Have to find a Vespa and a Wedding Dress for a shoot tomorrow. No, I'm not in it.

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FLY POSTING

copy_3_of_picture13Maybe an idea for my pitch?...

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FRI 21st MAY : POKER

Escaped the stress of the pitch to a classic American evening in Brooklyn: a poker night. Brits (English) Andrew and Bill USA turned up at Sean's together with an eclectic mix of Americans: a mod rock guy with dyed black hair, tattoo sleeves, red shirt, thin black tie and teddy-boy shoes; an Asian surf dude; and a fairly well known techno producer who had clearly not been out of his studio for a few weeks - they called him Disco Dave.

The Americans started off pretty aggressively and the Brits - a little unsure of Texas Hold 'Em rules - patiently threw their cards in time and time again. But with the wait came the results. By the end of the night we could work out Disco Dave's bluff and mod-rock's tattoo of a lady must have given somethign away: I went home at 3 with half the pot money!

They can't wait to play us again.

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May 20, 2004

THURS 20th MAY : OUT WITH THE IRISH

Guy Brighton's Nights OutWith the drought of drinking chums I made the decision to get back in touch with 'the Irish'. It had been a while since I had fallen over with this lot; some had moved away.

It was supposed to be a quick catch up, a little Anglo-Celtic chit chat. I met Adie at the Half King on 26th and 10th. A pub type pub where they still ask you to wait and try to seat you. As I walk in, I see Andy at the back of the bar - gettting a beer in. Good timing. Haven't seen him for a while. Would be good to have a man to man chit chat about nothing in particular.

As I walk down to him and suddenly 4 girls are waving at me. Yes 4. But bloody hell. It's the Lady and her mates! What are they doing here? Eating. What in this place? In all the bars in all of New York and they have to.... I manage to say quick hellos and escape to drink a couple of Stellas with Adie before we are reeled in to the girls' table. Andy doesn't seem to mind as he takes a mild fancy to blondie sat beside the Lady. Chit chat. Chit chat.

Two of the Lady's mates so it's just me, the Lady, blondie and Adie and what should be a quiet night nursing a couple of pints turns into a few more. We should go home but the Irish like to have a last drink. A round of Jamieson's are ordered and slowly downed. Then Andy suggests just one more. Margheritta's! The Lady is getting giggly now. I am feeling queezy.

Somehow we all manage to leave the bar. I think it was closing. Out in the street we hail a cab for blondie. She says her goodbyes and the Lady and I turn to say goodbye to Adie. Where is he? We look around to see that he's snuck himself into the cab with blondie! I wish him the luck of the Irish. The Lady mutters something about, 'your mates...'.

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Free Johnnie Walker Whisky

This whisky maker keeps spamming me with the same offer. Someone out there will love it... If it was beer, I'd be there everytime they spammed me. Maybe you'd like to go instead?

SPAM TEXT:
You and a friend are invited to attend the Journey of Taste - an informative, private Johnnie Walker Black Label event led by someone guaranteed to get you excited about Scotch whisky. Come learn about single malts, blends, and maybe even absorb a dram of Scottish culture.
These private events will fill up quickly, so to learn more, and to register, please click the "learn more" button or click here.

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May 19, 2004

SOMETHING BUNNY GOING ON IN TIMES SQUARE

Watch very closely.....

swatch watch times square bunny

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WEDNESDAY 19th MAY : LADIES NIGHT

Despite the invitations of good ol' Nichelle I didn't manage to make it to the Blogger Ladies WYSIWYG Night up on 9th Street. I was considering it seriously but then again the thought of women talking about rude stuff reminded me how deservedly repressed I was as an Englishman (and the fact I had a meeting at 7), so I went home and looked through the near final draft chapter 2 of Orange Fever to add a few extra naughty words.

You must read Nichelle's views on the night and all the other ladies' too.

Phew.

And now I read she's going to be famous!

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May 17, 2004

Franz Ferdinand / David Byrne

"David Byrne Was Born In Dumbarton'" mash up MP3 : Talking Heads/Franz Ferdinand .

Check out more IDC MP3 mix-ups here.

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SUN 16th MAY : RIVERSIDE PARK

Riverside Park, Manhattan. The perfect relaxation with the perfect weather. Helped get over the Saturday night special.
Riverside Park taken by the T610

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SAT 15th MAY : THE HOLE NYC

After waiting in all evening to dodge the rain, I went with the Lady and her friend over to The Hole. Now that's an interesting bar. It's everything you imagine New York's underground scene to have been like in the 70s or 80s. Dark, dingy, dubbed with graffiti, plastic cups, smoking, everyone on party tricks, dressing up wild,long line for the single toilet, guys dressing the same (if different colors), random music, random people. Recommended for that night out in New York's gutter.

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FRI 14th MAY : BIT MORE ROOM

With the sister in town we discovered a decent, new bar. A little upmarket but snobby in all the right ways: 5 9th Avenue. Food looks amazing.

Luickily we ate dinner at Biltmore Room. Think it used to be the lobby of a hotel. Food, tho' pricey, was amazing (we all had Red Snapper). Well worth waiting the 40 minutes after the reservation time.

Sister gets a tap on the shoulder during the meal from someone at the table behind us. It's a thin British guy with his rather chubby wife. Turns out that he knew my sister at University. We all exchange smiles but I notice the wife isn't happy and is a bit surly. Later the sister admits that the guy had been stalking her at college and had been given a warning. He had got so crazy that after Uni his wife forbade him from seeing anyone from Uni again in case he got crazy notions about my sister. Oh well - 20 years later: surely he can't harbor any of those feelings again.... well, by the wife's reaction....

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THUR 13th MAY : AROUND TOWN

Traipsed around town to not much joy. The chance that a random night may turn into something chaotic seems slim these days.

Started by blagging our way to the new bar above the restaurant at the Maritime Hotel - chilled but fairly quiet. One to keep an eye on. We journeyed north to the Diesel Music Party where we were going to use someone's name on the guest list but by the time we got there (8.45pm!) the doors were closed and the lines of hipsters and people with tickets were shut out. After a consolidatory but dull pint at Brite we dashed off to Nu-Blu. Great space but far to early. In fact, I've never been there when it's been busy. After another lager, we hopped bars into Lower East Side and wound up in Pianos. Little fun to be had there either.

Hmmm. LES has been consistently devoid of fun recently. Need better planning, me thinks. Or lower standards.

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May 14, 2004

LIFE SWITCH

Tired of your regular life?.... want to live somewhere else? Go on.... you deserve it.... www.lifeswitch.org

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May 13, 2004

WED 12th MAY : HISSIN IT AWAY

The Lady and I went to see The Hiss at Mercury Lounge. She's had enough of my drinking so ordered me to drink water. I had to buy two bottles of Poland Spring with a pint of Stella and walk around with the bottle of water in my right hand before me and the beer in my left hand hidden behind my back all night whilst we watched the band. For the first three pints it worked - then she kissed me ....

As for The Hiss! Great rocking band from Atlanta: you knew they were good when during the first song the lead singer sang by screaming at the chords on his guitar. Now that's rock and roll. Listen here

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May 12, 2004

WED 12th MAY : SYN DRONE

Sun is shining - in the 80s here, which is hot in centigrade, I think. The Lady is fed up with me yet again, something to do with having a conversation from the shower when I'm trying to rush out to work. That and I turned up tipsy last night after a 5 beers in 2 hours with my boss - was supposed to be a night where we sat down and talked about our little issues. hmmm.

Quiet night...

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TUE 11th MAY : A MODEL CAFE

Met a guy I knew for a chat for lunch at a cafe in Soho at the top of Greene Steet - Soho Espresso Bar I think. Must put it in my guide. I couldn't help noticing wave after wave of beautiful leggy women entering - conversation was thus limited as I couldn't stop grinning. Found out some fashion photographer uses the sofas at the back to cast from! Naturally, the place is somewhat recommended.

I told The Lady later in the day about my experience and she asks me, 'what would you do if any of them asked you out?' Huh - yeah, that happens everyday. Model walks into an interview in back of cafe, asks British boy out on the way out. She asked me again. I finally reply, 'I'd check them over for a couple of minutes then let them know I have a girlfriend.' For that I got a whack....

Other Fun

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May 9, 2004

SUN 9th MAY : MOTHER DAY

Spent the day in the dog house and alone. Ventured into Hoboken to dinner with the Lady's friends last night. Drank a little too much red wine. After looking at my watch for a couple of hours we were released and we dashed across on the Path back into town to jump up and down with some Brits in the Passer By. I dropped a couple of pints and the Lady thought I was drunk. I disagreed and started pogo-ing. She went home by taxi. I stayed, flet sad. I went home by foot.

There found pillow and sheets on sofa.....

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SAT 8th MAY : SPRING CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT

One of the lesser known constitutional rights, it seems, can be seen fervently exercised during sunny Spring Days in New York City.

You'll first notice the act when you hear a flurry of words and mumbles from behind; often repeated - altho some may be dropped. It is unlikely you will make any sense of them.

The next thing you notice is a rather proud guy (rarely a woman) strolling past you head cocked from left to right to left with a pair of white earphones.

Yes: New Yorkers right to sing along badly to their personal stereo or iPod with no shame.

You'll find these fellows on bikes on the Riverside Park, waiting for the lights to change on the Hudson and even on West Broadway circling in the street on rollerblades. It seems a particular occupation of vested gay men too.

Do not make any attempt to try to decipher the code and identify the tune. This is impossible. Ignore, shake head side to side, mutter. Then continue humming that tune you've had in your head all day.

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May 7, 2004

PUBLISHING MY 'ORANGE FEVER' NOVEL ONLINE

OK. So, last year I wrote a book. A fictionalisation of the crazy boom that happened around 1999/2000. I wrote 85,000 words. Sent out ten dozen letters from agents and got zero positive response. I sat on the book, went on to write two screenplays - learned more about the art of story writing - and now a year later I have tried to get back into rewriting the novel.

The problem is that I have little incentive / impetus to actually do something with the darn thing: 'I'm never going to get it published,' I mumbled to myself as I looked at my yellowing screenplays on top of the Lady's fridge.

Then I started to analyze why I wrote and I thought, I don't do this for money (altho income would be nice), nor fame (altho recognition would be nice). I really to express myself to people. How can I get on and rewrite the fiction: well I could promise to publish a chapter every 2 weeks on a blog....

That worried me. Then I thought. What the heck. So what I am saying is, that I am announcing the publication of my first chapter of Orange Fever! It's not a long one - take a look here.

What's it about?

A British boy meets American girl and they try to stay afloat together as they ride the tech boom wave.

Hmmm... doesn't sound too intriguing... must work on that line.

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THURS 6th MAY - CHINATOWN HIGH JINKS

Met a new crowd through the Lady's friend Michael: musos, writers and a computer programmer - well, you can't have everything.... Ate at the Green Bo on Bayard Street - where the meal came to $12 bucks a head (and that's for the people who drank)!!

A roll over to the Chinatown Ice Cream Factory (the Lady went crazy when I asked for vanilla, yet again) and then a wobble down to a Karaoke Bar. Fun place - Japanese Madame types oversee a bar full of fat white Americans wearing Yoo-Hoo Chocolate Drink shirts. They seemed to like it. One of our party did a Bob Dylan rendition of George Michael's faith which was well applauded but then they Yoo-Hooers took over again. Their singing reminded me of the time I tried Karaoke - an Elvis song with 2 others: when I heard my flat vocals singing 'we can;t go on together..' over the speakers I gave up and lipsynched the rest....

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THURS 6th MAY : WEST SIDE

More T610 Crap Cameraphone hi-jinks:

Lunchbox Diner


Hotel

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May 5, 2004

American Apparel

This is the article I wrote for advertising agency thread:

Brands We Love : American Apparel

american_a_store

The T-shirt, an American icon, was once a no-brainer to buy: Simple, versatile, accessible. But along with asking "Do I look good in this T?" consumers are beginning to ask, "Where’s it made? What are the conditions under which this T-shirt was produced?"

Amongst the vast sea of garment makers that these questions are levied against; one company seems to have taken advantage of an opportunity by managing to the higher-ground values it has set for itself. American Apparel has become one of the fastest growing garment manufacturers in the U.S., while also managing to be socially responsible in its method of production.

We are fascinated with companies that utilize the power of brand strategy to differentiate themselves in a sea of competition. Some companies manage to their brand strategy – others do not. Most companies fail and we believe designing a brand strategy is a critical element of business success. American Apparel is a company that uses a core set of brand values to define themselves and the image imprinted in the minds of the American public.

In this thread segment, we interviewed stakeholders and analyzed the American Apparel brand. Unlike many stories that focus on AA’s ethical systems and methods, thread set out to examine the relationship between the AA customer and brand. Specifically, we are interested to learn from AA in order to shed light for business and marketing leaders and the companies they manage – industries abound. Though you are likely not in the Apparel Industry, we believe the lessons learned are far-reaching for any business leader. If you can take these lessons away from this segment and apply them towards your industry – we have succeeded.

History of the ‘American’ garment

Towards the end of the 19th Century Levis Strauss took Jacob Davis’ designs and mass-produced a work wear now known around the world. Sometime around 1958 the visual distinction between American Adult and American Child blurred. Instead of switching up to formality in there twenties a new generation kept to their jeans, their comfortable casual wear. It led to a classic era in the development of all American clothing.

A few of decades ago, the world over knew American clothing as the jean, the chord, the T Shirt and underwear. With these terms came the brands. Hanes covered people’s backside. Champion covered people from the sports field to the shopping mall parking lot before GAP and the sports brands took over. To get an idea of how these item’s permeated the world’s conscience, check the stock of any vintage store in any city from New York to Tokyo to Sydney to Berlin.

Misunderstanding customer demand

Somewhere, somehow American garment makers lost their way. Envious of how European jean brands were charging $120 when U.S. brands were only getting $25, American garment makers tried to emulate the European ‘collections’ approach and walked away from the American system where classic styles remained more constant over longer periods of time.

In order to cost effectively cater for frequently changing consumer tastes, the manufacturers moved their operations offshore. Today 83% of all clothing in the United States is imported and more than 30,000 U.S. textile workers lost their jobs in the past year and a half alone, according to the American Textile Manufacturers' Institute. Outsourcing has become such a concern today that it has become a centering topic in this year’s 2004 Presidential Election debate .

Along with worries about job loss, there are also concerns about working conditions overseas. All of a sudden consumers are beginning to feel responsible for the modern specter of sweatshops across the globe! Na'imah Boone a college graduate from New Jersey wrote in a web-article, “People want to wear clothes that are stylish and hip, which is why name brand designers make a substantial profit. Teens want clothes from GAP, Nike, and Bebe, and the average person is not concerned that the name brand t-shirt they just paid $30 for was made for 30 cents an hour in near-slave conditions.” Rachel in her Urban Dryad blog thinks, “The main problem…is that we as consumers are so separate from the people producing. We have no idea what goes on, which is convenient for companies that want us to buy without questioning.”

The fact is that sweatshops also operate on US soil too, but with a target audience of over 137 million Americans under the age of 35… who’s going to make a change?

READ THE REST OF THE ARTICLE HERE

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WED 5th MAY : CHOP CHOP

Little to report: when I told the Lady that a helicopter had crashed in Brooklyn she told me that it was a good thing that we weren't moving to Brooklyn after all.

Good sighting of Mad Chap this morning outisde Panino Giusto on Hudson. Damn, I couldn't get a picture of him without being noticed.

At the deli near work, I had to get a decent breakfast roll to compensate for the hunger left over from the Just add a napkin with the letter U written on it. Thanks Boss. fcuk!great Sushi meal at Zutto last night. At the counter the boss had stuck on her assistant's French Connection UK logoed shirt a napkin with the letter U. Now that's customer dialog(ue).

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May 4, 2004

MON 3rd MAY : MORRISSEY IN NEW YORK

Jumped on the red line, avoided the rain and saw Morrissey at the Apollo Theater in Harlem. Amazing building with few bar staff - the rest of the staff were marshalling us about and confiscating cameras and camera-telephones.

Took the Lady 5 times as long to get in as they were searching each and every bag.

After I got a beer in we had good entertainment from floppy so and so. Bit of politics here and there, some great crooning amidst the lighting: one or 2 old ones, good few from his new album. Bloke jumps up on stage and gives him a cuddle. Lots of playing with the microphone lead: he could be one of those gymnasts with the flowy ribbon or a whipping guy.

Flowers all over the place. Trying to hide from the searchlights (honest) Took useless shot of the show with my crap T610 phone:
picture17
Went to after party which was empty - not all was lost: found out from barman that Euro 2004 is not being shown in only 4 pubs but everywhere as Direct TV have bought the rights. Spending May planning the event. Will post thoughts.

UPDATE - CHECK MY NYC GUIDE FOR EURO 2004 PUBS!

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SUN 2nd MAY : SNAKE

Hanging out with the 'in-laws', cards, help in their gardening, slow tan, ping pong, caught a snake and chucked into the woods (I'm hero for 30 seconds)....

After a weekend of Persian cuisine on Sunday evening we celebrated the Lady's brother's birthday at a restaurant called Shiraz (a Persian restaurant!).

birthday

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May 1, 2004

SAT 1st MAY : ALMA DE CUBA

Found a great bar (Alma De Cuba) in posh part of Philly to celebrate the Lady's brother's birthday with his Perisan posse - cuban, great mojitos, classy. The Lady dancing all night long because she didn't want us to eat (note cheesesteak earlier in the day). The music is near absent.

Her parents turn up (tipsy from a party) at 1am to pick us up. She's still dancing; somehow bumping into people 8 feet away. I get the blame for the fact she's pissed. 'If only she let me eat,' I reply. Father manages to correctly position key into ignition, I close eyes, we get home.

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SAT 1st MAY : PHILADELPHIA NO BARS GUIDE

Someone needs to write a decent blog with a Philadelphia bar guide. Here I am visiting the Lady's parents and we've got the chance to escape for the evening!

I google "good bar guide philadelphia" and my blog comes up in! Doh!

And then you start looking through the results and you end up reading a blog about New York.
Doh Dos!

If I find any - I'll add some later. Any suggestions helpful.

Posted by Guy Brighton at 7:38 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

SAT 1st MAY : PIZZA THE ACTION

Whilst the Lady and her mother bonded in the King of Prussia shopping mall, her father and brother took me to show me his businesses.

One of the Lady's father's jobs is proud part-owner of a number of Pizza joints near Philadelphia - some in Pennsylvania, some in New Jersey. We traveled by car and at every place he was greeted by respect - not only by the staff, but also by the customers. A peculiar eerie silence fell across the room as he ambled in.

At each place I was asked to try the food. Well, it would have been rude not to (despite the Lady's protests later in the day). I've never eaten so much in an afternoon: pizza and of course, one has to try the Philly Cheesesteak with extra mushroom in a hoagie.philly

At each place the chefs and managers waited in silence until I finished. 'And?' they prompted. The food was fabulous. As I nodded, the Lady's father burst into a big laugh and then the rest of the restaurant followed with laughter too.

At the last restaurant, after the laughter had died down, he turned to me and said, ‘you are going to look after my daughter, Guy, aren’t you?’

How friendly I thought.

Posted by Guy Brighton at 12:44 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack