Friend abuse or alcohol abuse? It’s too close to call…

I haven’t had a Smirnoff Ice since the early 2000′s. I’d feel ashamed to admit that, but I’m sure that at some point we’ve all drunk something that we’d just as soon forget. In my defense, I was young and stupid, and SI looked really cool after you threw in a Skittle or two.

But I’m wondering what excuse people have now for this Icing thing I read about on Gothamist. (I really want to make a “young people” joke, but I’m pretty sure that most Gothamist people are my contemporaries.) The New York Times regards it as a form of viral marketing, which it certainly could be, but why would you do this? Smirnoff Ice stuff is vile. Its color-changing properties are the beginning and end of its awesomeness. My advice for summer get-togethers: save your friendships and buy some better alcohol (which you should still not force one another to consume).

If you’re in a restaurant and your 2-year-old drinks alcohol that you ordered, and was placed on your table with your party’s other drinks, it’s your fault. Not the waiter’s, not the restaurant’s. How could these people even kind of think that their reactions were reasonable? If I were that restaurant, I would have banned them for being negligent parents, crappy customers, and pretty useless in general.

I’ve just decided that May is going to be Personal Responsibility Month on this blog.

I always have the best time in Boston

So I just got home from Boston where, as usual, I had a blast. I think that my opinion of Boston is skewed because I’m always there expressly to have fun; what city could suck when one’s only goal is to be entertained? We stayed at The Back Bay Hotel (thank Jeebus for Priceline), which was awesome, but whose unlimited free wireless would have earned it my undying love even if it had been only half as good. The hotel was in a great location for us to walk whereever we wanted to go, which is great, since we walked everywhere the entire weekend. For somebody as lazy as I am, this is quite an accomplishment. Actually, I don’t usually consider walking as real exercise, as you can look around and talk while doing it without losing your breath, but I definitely haven’t walked that much since I was in Europe last year.

Newbury Street was really close to our hotel, which is great, since there are some incredible restaurants on it. We went to:

• La Voile – French, awesome. The pan-seared fois gras is pretty amazing and the portion is insanely generous.
• Stephanie’s on Newbury – Great brunch, smart casual.
• The Other Side Cafe – Another brunch spot, much more casual/vegan-friendly/inexpensive than Stephanie’s.
• Pazzo – Italian. Unassuming space, pretty tasty food.
• J. P. Licks – Great ice cream. Crazy flavors, too.

We really wanted burritos from Boloco this morning before we headed home, but they didn’t open until 10, and we were on the road by a little after 9. It was a great, relaxed and fun weekend, and even the rain that greeted us as we neared New Jersey didn’t ruin the good mood I’ve got going!

Why did we need a rule about this?

I rarely make it to Brooklyn, but I like the few areas there that I’ve been. It’ s a nicer place than blogs make it sound (I think, judging by friends who live there and love it), but some of its residents sound pretty freaking nuts. I laughed pretty hard when I read this post on Gothamist. The Double Windsor, a Winsor Terrace bar, has banned the entry of people under 21 after 5 pm. And some parents are upset about that. Why??  That’s the whole point of bars; it’s happy fun adult time, with alcohol. I feel like the mouth of hell is about to swallow us all or something, because for once all of the Gothamist comments were 1) on topic and 2) coherent.

Why don’t I feel bad about this? Kids get everything. They get toys, they take naps, and they don’t have to pay taxes. Can’t we grown-ups have something of our own?

Jack McFadden, a man who cause an uproar in Park Slope when his restaurant, Union House, banned strollers thinks this makes perfect sense. And he’s the father of a 10-month-old baby. He even said one of the smartest things I think I’ve ever read: “If people would just use some common sense and consideration, there wouldn’t have to be rules.” I totally agree with this, as it is applicable in so many situations. Sadly though, common sense just isn’t as common as one might hope.

As is to be expected, there are some parents aren’t happy about it. I don’t get it. I never went to a bar until I was old enough to drink. It wasn’t a big deal. When my parents went out to n0-kids-allowed type places, I’d go visit with a relative or a babysitter would come over to my house. Babysitters! Remember those?? Stimulate the local teenage economy and hire a babysitter already!

Gross Gross Gross

If I wasn’t already sick, my newfound knowledge of the McNuggetini would probably make me ill. What is wrong with people? I enjoy good production values and nice dresses at least as much as the next person, but seriously? Talks of a tv show? There is nothing good about this situation. I don’t know how I’ve gone this long without hearing about this thing, but I could easily have spent the rest of my life in the dark about this.

I may never eat again

Below you will find an email that I received from UrbanDaddy. I just joined this site, and I’m pretty sure that I will be unsubscribing rather soon, if this is their idea of something that MUST be shared. I left the contact info at the end, though, in case what makes me vomit in my mouth actually makes you salivate. I simply do not understand why you’d want sausage that tasted like a bacon cheeseburger, instead of just having a bacon cheeseburger.

Served Up
	Introducing the Bacon Cheeseburger Sausage
	Think back to your early days. It seemed perfectly reasonable, even brilliant, to combine all the foods you loved into one glorious superfood. Sure, there were naysayers who thought your chicken nugget pizza terrine was obscene. But you stuck to your guns. And we have a reward for you. Introducing the Bacon Cheeseburger Sausage, a hybrid foodstuff born into this world by superstar butchers Tom Mylan and Brent Young, available now at the Meat Hook, in Williamsburg. If you’re not familiar with these guys, they’re all about “disrespecting” high quality meats. They recommend serving the sausage on a bun, with mustard, at home, as an antidote to fast food cravings. Pair it with cheap beer (more on this later) and let the soul satisfying goodness wash over you. The varied, powerful, sausage ingredient list reads like the roster of the 1927 Yankees (or the cast of The View)—beef shoulder, pork belly, onion, cheap beer (usually Busch or Budweiser), cheese (American, cheddar and bleu), crunchy bacon bits, salt and pepper. And if you’re looking to indulge your old superfood cravings, they take custom sausage orders (in mass quantities). Call ahead and they’ll turn your whims into a meal: Buffalo Chicken Wing Sausage. Taco Chorizo Sausage. Go ahead, say it out loud. The sausage future is wide open. Note: Bacon Cheeseburger Sausage, available now at The Meat Hook, 100 Frost St, Brooklyn, 718-349-5033

Good on so many levels

I love helping people. And cupcakes. So I’m really stoked that there’s a new business in Teaneck that specializes in both! The bakery, Zoe’s Cupcake Cafe,  opened in June, with a mission to help teenage mothers get work experience. All proceeds from the shop benefit Zoe’s Place, a non-profit organization that helps pregnant teens and teenage moms and their babies. NJ Monthly magazine has a lovely article on the cupcake cafe.

Do you want me, D.C?

Because I’ve just learned that there are TWO (count ‘em) Nando’s in Washington, D.C., and the thought alone has me rechecking the current job openings at the Library of Congress.

A thorough ribbing, not necessarily undeserved

I like to read the Food section of the New York Times when I have a few minutes and find myself in front of the computer. I bake and cook when I get the mood, and I’m always looking for good recipes. This week’s Frank Bruni column focused on a challenge given to two food writers: feed a party of 8 for less than $50. I thought the article was interesting, and liked the ideas that I got from it, even though I know that it’s not at all difficult to serve 6 people a complete meal for $50 or less.

Still, I got a kick out of the way that the Jezebel community reacted to the story. In addition to being up in arms and making fun of stupid food reporters, chefs, the New York Times, and printed media in general, the Jezzies added something of even more value than humor: recipes. Most of them were in the vein of “tostitos, dip, coffee, etc” but a few (including Sadie’s recipe that she posted along with her reaction to the article) looked like something I’d in all seriousness make and eat. Thank you, Jezebel! I shall be eating cheaply for ages, now!

Awesomeness

I had the greatest weekend, and am really sad that it’s over. On Friday, I hung out with R and went to see The Uninvited. Then yesterday, I had my second date with G. He’s adorable, and I’m mostly smitten, and we had a great time. I caught up with some other friends of mine just in time to get a ride back home to NJ, which is great, because I have no idea what I would have done otherwise (would probably have stayed with one of my city friends, but I’m glad I didn’t have to try to arrange that as inebriated as I was). I awakened this morning with a pounding headache and mild nausea, but it’s really no more than I deserved, considering how much I had to drink!

Then today was the Superbowl. As usual, I had no stake in either team, so I randomly chose to go with the Cardinals. Well, maybe I’ll pick better next year. We went to the Reade Street Pub, which was great. The house beer (who ever heard of such a thing??) was this great dark, and there were tvs all over. The food was pretty great, too. The waitress started out being professional but kind of surly, but then she won $1,000 because her Superbowl grid numbers hit, and she was all smiles after that! It was great to hang out with friends old and new, and the weather today was so lovely. We got up to a balmy 53, and even though it’s almost midnight, it’s still 37 degrees. It’s going to snow and get cold again later this week, but I appreciate any duration of weather ths awesome.

Tomorrow it’s back to the salt mines.