No lists here though. I started this thing too late in the season to post any original “best of o7″ lists. Not to mention that there are too many of these things to read online these days and there is only one day left in the year, so do you really need another?
Okay, the real reason is that I’m too lazy strapped for time to make one of my own. But I will do the next best thing and list a couple of 07′ lists that I enjoyed. Maybe you will enjoy them too.
Oh 2007, I hardly knew ye:
Bill Maher picks the biggest assholes of the year - Rolling Stone
Before I met wifey, I would have never have known or heard of this charming restaurant over in Rockville Center, which is not to be confused with the famed REM song “Don’t Go Back to Rockville” which is about the town in Maryland. The specialty at International Delight Cafe is their delicious and large selection of gelato and sorbets, but this not merely a dessert joint. They also serve a variety of delicious sandwiches and dinner specials, including a tasty roast beef sandwich served on garlic bread…mmm…Heads up: if you hate kids, then I would not recommend this place because they are drawn to it like flies to shit. Also bring cash, since they do not accept credit cards, not even a Nieman Marcus card.
So the wifey and I ended up at the famed Knitting Factory last night to be a part of a special screening of the new, long awaited 11th episode of Yacht Rock. For the uninitiated, Yacht Rock is a series of hysterical fictional films that tell the stories behind the biggest hits of the “smooth” music of the 70’s and early 80’s. The films follow the lives and careers of soft rockers such as Toto, Steely Dan, Michael McDonald and of course, Kenny Loggins.
So when the wifey and I heard that Yacht Rock mastermind, comedian J.D. Ryznar was having a special screening of a brand new episode of Yacht Rock, we set sail to Tribeca for the event. Unfortunately we didn’t see it, due to what seemed like poor planning. The club itself is three floors and we knew a band was supposed to be playing “smooth” music that night, along with the showing of the new episode and the older ones. Problem was that no one at the club could tell us the order of the events or which floor it would take place. After about an hour or so (doors opened at 8 pm) the band School of Rock started into a nice session of old school Yachtesque cover songs. The neat thing was that the band was made up of grade schoolers, just like that movie. Nice job kids!
It was then I got lucky and discovered that the band was to play at set downstairs, repeat the same set at the upstairs stage and then at 11 pm, the club would show the episodes of Yacht Rock. To make matters worse, they would be shown on little TVs above various bars on various floors. Well call me a snob, but when I hear the word “screening,” I imagine some cinema set up with a screen, not a bunch of TVs. With all of the people at the event and the limited number of screens, I knew that it would have been impossible for wifey and I to see the episodes clearly, considering we’re shortys! With that, combined with the commute back to the Island, wifey and I said “Fuck it!” and set our sail back to the north shore.
To J.D. and co - We love Yacht Rock and the work you do, but next time, have an event with a real theater and party space. I recommend Tribeca Cinemas. That would have been perfect.
Not really. According to this BBC article, aliyah is down this year. Frankly, I’m surprised that the article wasn’t angrier about the thought of more Jews staying in Europe, considering the way the BBC usually covers anything Israel related. But don’t take my word on it, check out this post on Jewlicious from earlier this year about the BBC’s coverage of the 40th anniversary of the 6 Day War.
Also, I was shocked that Jewlicious had a fresh post up this morning. I figured they would still be sleeping this morning after last night’s Heebonism events. As for the wifey and I, we got our gentile on and went to a great Christmas party last night. For us, being near a Chistmas tree was so fascinating, plus the tree itself was very impressive. Big up to Lea and Jason for the good food and good times!
And a big up to Uncle Fred for sending me the link to the BBC article.
I have and will continue to (constantly) make references to music and music lyrics in this blog, I have added a page that will catalog these references. Because not everyone knows the lyrics to that Arcade Fire song I might mention.
Seriously, this ain’t just a shout out to one of the best hip-hop songs EVER…I really do have to introduce myself. I realized with the first blog entry yesterday, I didn’t really say much about myself. I mentioned the various Manhattan hoods that I lived in, but that was about it.
My name is Scott Rosenblum. I recently turned 32 years old and a mere 2 1/2 months ago, I married the love of my life, Sue Hodara, a beautiful, wonderful playwright. You can find out more about her and her work at her Web site - www.suehodara.com and her blog Sue’s News. Everyday she does or says something that that blows my mind, which is really cool. Also, anyone who can put up with my shit on daily basis is worth a shout out on this blog. Love ya baby!
Career wise, I am public relations professional, which frankly makes writing this blog mildly ironic for the fact that part of my job these days is researching and reaching out to bloggers on daily basis. As for the firm I work with, for the moment it will remain nameless, only for the fact that 1) I don’t know how my boss will feel about me writing a blog, 2) I’m unsure if I am ready for them to know about my ramblings here and 3) and so far, this is not a blog about about PR or about work.
Other than that, I graduated from Syracuse University, and I am am huge college basketball fan, particularly SU and Big East B-Ball. As the season progresses, I will likely lapse into moments where this will blog will turn completely orange and blue. You’ve been warned!
I leave you with two things (seriously, who am I talking to? Does anyone know this blog exists yet?) . Today Sue and I ate brunch at delicious restaurant. If you are ever in Huntington, NY - check out Prime. This will be added to a new page I just created featured my Strong Island Picks. Whether it be restaurants, events, places to go, or just cool stuff, I will link to it there.
Okay- first blog posting- where to begin? The short of it is- Born in Brooklyn (big up!), raised in South Jersey in Cherry Hill, just outside of Philadelphia (as a Dallas Cowboys fan no less, which gave me such wonderful schadenfreude during the Aikman/Smith/Irving era. Eventually ended up in NYC where I lived in variety of neighboorhoods over the years: Upper West Side, Battery Park City, a brief stint in Murray Hill and until a month ago, the Upper East Side. Now I live in Long Island.
Still debating on whether this is an upgrade or not.
