#2017 NYC Beer Week

[chemicallady]

Perfect Pitch

Prologue

A/N: This is just the introduction chapter. If you will be invested in this idea I'll write the entire FF!

Couple: Noah Sebastian x Reader (in which reader is a talented musician and the new member of Bad Omens. This is an Alternative Universe in which the guys decide to pick up someone to fill in for Vincent.)

Content Warning: this FF will include describing different delicate subjects like states of anxiety, depression, gender violence ( bad place, the industry, for a girl) and possible suicidal thought. Be careful if you feel exposed by one or more of this topics. Feel free to write me in PM about anything ♡ Since the main characters of this story are real people, I want to underline that this is the idea I have of them and not the reality since I don't know Bad Omens. I don't want to be disrespectful in any way because I have tons of respect for the guys and their job. I also don't want to dig in their private lives or whatsoever aside the things they reveal by themselves on interviews of post on social, present and past.

Summary:  reader has always wanted to be a musician her entire life. She pictures herself as first chair in a majestic orchestra, but thanks to her soft spot for metalcore, destiny is leading her somewhere special.

....

◇◇◇

The first time you have seen Noah Seabastian, you were in the pit. Vans Warped tour 2017, a fucking hot texan day. You had never heard about Bad Omens before, but they had such an incredible energy on stage. Good enough to surf crowding in front of the barricades to look closer. The bass guitar player smiked at you when he noticed that your shirt was lifted by the continued movement of hands all over your body. In the moment the security put your ass back to the ground you had found a pair of deep brown eyes on you. The singer was asking the crowd to sing along the main course but you had no idea about the lyrics so you simply smirked, lifting all way your tshit and unreveal the bra.

And.... thats it.

Rock'n'roll and a couple of extra beer made you brave.

Nothing less, nothing more.

No hot stories as a groupie walking her way to a bus tour or anything else. Just a glaze, one among millions.

At the end of that hot summer you started to looking for a job after you graduated at Julliard in NYC. It was the best time of your life. You have always been a talented violinist since you were 5. The prodigy from a very small town, ready to astonish New York.

But it never happened.

Always third chair.

Moving around the country as a ball in an arcade grew you tired after 6 months. The low salaries, the necessity of having a home for more than six weeks....

Settle down. Adopt a cat.

You wanted some stability.

So you started to work as a waitress. You have no idea of how you ended again in texas, but life in here is simpler compared with NYC.

Almost a year had passed when you met Shane and Zac. Summer was running out fast when the Oh Sleepers played in the small pub you were working. A couple of words after and a decent amount of good luck brought the singer to share with you an important information.

《 if you can play the bass, I know a band is looking for someone to fill in.》

You can play bass. You can actually play five instrument and sing. This is your only talent. Music. Feeling it. Being able to figure the notes in your head just listening at them once.

The ability of discover a F# when a pillow fall from the sofa on the ground. The ritmic dissonance of a A and a G in your steps while you walk home drunk.

The perfect pitch.

At least, you could work as a music engineer.

Shane was intrigued by the way you tuned a guitar whitout flicking before their show and from your musical curricula. It is far more than it should be in the industry. But he also saw something in you. How much you have work your way though the mud and sweat to end up in a pub, verbaly molested by creepy guys on daily basis.

Such a waste of rare talent.

《 try your luck. That's is his phone number. See if he still wants a replacement or if he's fine with is guitarrist as bass player. I lost track over their decisions, but their good friends of me. The singer slays on stage》

You picked up that piece of paper with a bit of concern. For this guy privacy in a first place but also for you. You were dreaming about orchestras, beautiful dresses with long sleeves to cover your tattoos.... but you have always wanted to be a rockstar.

A queen.

And you have never wanted to be that broke.

So... Why not?

《 alright. Thanks man. Just... what's the name of this guy?》

《 noah. Noah sebastian》.

***

I chose the Oh Sleeper to introduce bad omens to the reader because I've always find this video hilarious. Feel free to give me your opinion about this prologue!

[brookston]

Holidays 7.5

Holidays

Arbor Day (New Zealand)

Bank Indonesia Day (Indonesia)

Bikini Day

Black Day (Pakistan)

Bloody Thursday Commemoration Day (International Longshore and Warehouse Union)

Dolly the Sheep Day

Emancipation Day (NYC)

Fiesta do Tapuleiros begins (Portugal)

Fishermen’s Day (Marshall Islands)

Foreign Slovaks Day (Slovakia; Slovakian Communities)

Graffiti Day

Heroes’ Day (Zambia)

International Read Naked Day

Judicial Employees Day (Turkmenistan)

Mechanical Pencil Day

National Guitar Pick Day

National Hawaii Day

National Ian Day

National Injury Prevention Day (Canada)

National Sylvia Day

National Wear A Thong Day

National Workaholics Day

NHS Day (UK)

Peace Day (Rwanda)

Pet Remembrance Day (UK)

Red Currant Day (French Republic)

Rehydration Day

Salvation Army Foundation Day

Secret Service Day

705 Day (Jonas Brothers)

Social Care & Frontline Workers’ Day (UK)

Thong Day

Tynwald Day (Isle of Man) [If 5th a Weekend, Celebrated on Monday]

Urumqi Massacre Anniversary Day (China)

Virgin Islands Day (British Virgin Islands)

Work Without Your Hands Day (SpongeBob)

World Badminton Day

World Bikini Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Graham Cracker Day

National Apple Turnover Day

National Hungover Day

Spam Day

Independence & Related Days

Aeland (Declared; 2022) [unrecognized]

Algeria (from France, 1962)

Cape Verde (from Portugal, 1975)

Caudonia (Declared; 2019) [unrecognized]

Constitution Day (Armenia)

Reylan Imperial Triumvirate (Declared; 2005) [unrecognized]

Turdas (Declared; 2017) [unrecognized]

Venezuela (from Spain, 1811)

1st Friday in July

Alice Springs Show Day [1st Friday]

Comic Sans Day [1st Friday]

Drive Your Corvette to Work Day [Friday closest to 6.30]

Flashback Friday [Every Friday]

Fry Day (Pastafarian; Fritism) [Every Friday]

International Beer Sommelier Day [1st Friday]

Ra o te Ui Ariki (Cook Islands) [1st Friday]

Ways With Words Festival of Words and Ideas begins (UK) [1st Friday]

Weekly Holidays beginning July 5 (1st Week of July)

Roswell UFO Days (thru 7.7) [1st Friday]

Festivals Beginning July 5, 2024

Baltic Jazz Festival (Dalsbruk, Finland) [thru 7.7]

Calgary Stampede (Calgary, Canada) [thru 7.14]

Chicago Craft Beer Festival (Chicago, Illinois) [thru 7.7]

Contemporary American Theater Festival (Shepherdstown, West Virginia) [thru 7.28]

Copenhagen Jazz Festival (Copenhagen, Denmark) [thru 7.14]

EUROFANZ (Brno, Czech Republic) [thru 7.6]

Finncon (Jyväskylä, Finland) [thru 7.7]

Halal Ribfest (Dearborn Heights, Michigan) [thru 7.7]

London Film & Comic Con (London, United Kingdom.) [thru 7.7]

Love Supreme Jazz Festival (Glynde, United Kingdom) [thru 7.7]

Mariposa Folk Festival (Orillia, Canada) [thru 7.7]

Montreal Comiccon (Montreal, Canada) [thru 7.7]

Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival (Neuchâtel, Switzerland) [thru 7.13]

Oxford Symposium on Food & Cookery (Oxford, United Kingdom) [thru 7.7]

Rapa das Bestas of Sabucedo (Spanish village of Sabucedo) [thru 7.7]

Roswell UFO Festival (Roswell, New Mexico) [thru 7.7]

Ruisrock (Turku, Finland) [thru 7.7]

Savonlinna Opera Festival (Savonlinna, Finland) [thru 8.4]

626 Night Market (Arcadia, California) [thru 7.7 & 7.12-14]

Feast Days

Amitabha Buddha Day

André Lhote (Artology)

Anthony Maria Zaccaria, priest (Christian; Saint) [d. 1539]

Aphelion Day (Pagan)

Athanasius the Athonite (Christian; Saint)

Bill Watterson (Artology)

Catherine of Regensburg (Christian; Virgin Martyr)

Cyril and Methodius (Christian; Saint) [public holiday in Czech Republic, Slovakia]

Dabucuri umari (Initiation Rites of the Young Men; to Jurupari, South American Guarani/Tupi God)

Day of the Three Fewnesses That Are Better Than Plenty (A Fewness of Fine Words, A Fewness of Cows in Pasture, a Fewness of Friends Around Good Ale; Celtic Book of Days)

Edana (a.k.a. Edaene; Christian; Saint)

Feast of Anubis (Ancient Egypt)

Feast of the Milky Way (Chih Nu; China)

Fernando de Szyszlo (Artology)

Festival of Cargo Cults

Giuseppe Caselli (Artology)

Grace and Probus (Christian; Saint)

Impersonate An Orc Day (Pastafarian)

Initiation into Magick Day (Starza Pagan Book of Days)

Jean Cocteau (Artology)

Jiří Reynek (Artology)

John Schoenherr (Artology)

Ken Akamatsu (Artology)

Louis-Léopold Boilly (Artology)

Modwena (Christian; Saint)

Nicomedes (Christian; Martyr)

Pavel Chistyakov (Artology)

Peter of Luxembourg (Christian; Saint)

Poplifugia (Day of the People's Flight; Ancient Rome)

Sebastian Barry (Writerism)

SHOUTING DAY (Pastafarian)

Suger (Positivist; Saint)

Tanabata (Star Festival; Japan)

Taxi Driver McGillicuddy (Muppetism)

Wendell (Christian; Confessor)

X Day (Church of the SubGenius; Traditional)

Zamling Chisang (Universal Prayer Day; Tibet)

Zoe of Rome (Roman Catholic Church)

Solar Calendar Holidays

Aphelion (Apsis) [Earth farthest point from the Sun]

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Butsumetsu (仏滅 Japan) [Unlucky all day.]

Perilous Day (13th Century England) [21 of 32]

Premieres

The Alley Cat (MGM Cartoon; 1941)

Art as Experience, by John Dewey (Art Book; 1934)

BBC News (UK TV Series;1954)

Cracked Quack (WB MM Cartoon; 1952)

Cracked Rear View, by Hootie & the Blowfish (Album; 1994)

Debut, by Björk (Album; 1993)

The Emerald Forest (Film; 1985)

Gloria, by Them with Van Morrison (Song; 1964)

Hit the Road Jack, by Ray Charles (Song; 1961)

Hot Lead and Cold Feet (Film; 1978)

Hot Rod Huckster (Woody Woodpecker Cartoon; 1954)

I’m Free, by The Who (Song; 1969)

Institutionalized, by Suicidal Tendencies (Song; 1983)

It’s the Same Old Song, by The Four Tops (Song; 1965)

The Jazz Fool (Ub Iwerks Cartoon; 1929)

L’Amour the Merrier (Noveltoons Cartoon; 1957)

Maybellene, by Chuck Berry copyrighted (Song; 1955)

Pesky Pelican (Chilly Willy Cartoon; 1963)

The Principia (Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica; Book; 1687)

Red Sonja (Film; 1985)

Seinfeld (TV Series; 1989)

Slacker (Film; 1991)

Them There Eyes, recorded by Billie Holiday (Song; 1939)

Threads (Social Media App; 2023)

The Way, Way Back (Film; 2013)

Weekend at Bernie’s (Film; 1989)

The Worst Witch, by Jill Murphy (Children’s Book; 1974)

You’re No Good, recorded by Linda Ronstadt (Song; 1974)

Today’s Name Days

Albrecht, Antonius, Letizia (Austria)

Antun, Ćiril, Marta, Metod, Zakarija (Croatia)

Cyril, Metodej (Czech Republic)

Anshelmus (Denmark)

Kaja, Kajar (Estonia)

Untamo, Unto (Finland)

Antoine, Antoine-Marie (France)

Albrecht, Kira, Letiza (Germany)

Lampados (Greece)

Emese, Sarolta (Hungary)

Antonio, Filomena, Maria (Italy)

Andzs, Aristids, Edis, Edīte, Edna, Esmeraldas (Latvia)

Butginas, Filomena, Karolina, Mantmilė (Lithuania)

Mina, Mirjam (Norway)

Antoni, Bartłomiej, Filomena, Jakub, Karolina, Michał, Przybywoj, Szarlota, Wilhelm (Poland)

Atanasie (România)

Cyril, Metod (Slovakia)

Antonio, Cirila, Filomena (Spain)

Laila, Melker, Ritva (Sweden)

Agnes, Methodius (Ukraine)

Grace, Gracie, Graciela, Shannon, Sharon (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 187 of 2024; 179 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 5 of week 27 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Duir (Oak) [Day 27 of 28]

Chinese: Month 5 (Geng-Wu), Day 30 (Geng-Wu)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 29 Sivan 5784

Islamic: 28 Dhu al-Hijjah 1445

J Cal: 7 Red; Sevenday [7 of 30]

Julian: 22 June 2024

Moon: 0%: New Moon

Positivist: 18 Charlemagne (7th Month) [Suger]

Runic Half Month: Feoh (Wealth) [Day 12 of 15]

Season: Summer (Day 16 of 94)

Week: 1st Week of July

Zodiac: Cancer (Day 15 of 31)

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 7.5

Holidays

Arbor Day (New Zealand)

Bank Indonesia Day (Indonesia)

Bikini Day

Black Day (Pakistan)

Bloody Thursday Commemoration Day (International Longshore and Warehouse Union)

Dolly the Sheep Day

Emancipation Day (NYC)

Fiesta do Tapuleiros begins (Portugal)

Fishermen’s Day (Marshall Islands)

Foreign Slovaks Day (Slovakia; Slovakian Communities)

Graffiti Day

Heroes’ Day (Zambia)

International Read Naked Day

Judicial Employees Day (Turkmenistan)

Mechanical Pencil Day

National Guitar Pick Day

National Hawaii Day

National Ian Day

National Injury Prevention Day (Canada)

National Sylvia Day

National Wear A Thong Day

National Workaholics Day

NHS Day (UK)

Peace Day (Rwanda)

Pet Remembrance Day (UK)

Red Currant Day (French Republic)

Rehydration Day

Salvation Army Foundation Day

Secret Service Day

705 Day (Jonas Brothers)

Social Care & Frontline Workers’ Day (UK)

Thong Day

Tynwald Day (Isle of Man) [If 5th a Weekend, Celebrated on Monday]

Urumqi Massacre Anniversary Day (China)

Virgin Islands Day (British Virgin Islands)

Work Without Your Hands Day (SpongeBob)

World Badminton Day

World Bikini Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Graham Cracker Day

National Apple Turnover Day

National Hungover Day

Spam Day

Independence & Related Days

Aeland (Declared; 2022) [unrecognized]

Algeria (from France, 1962)

Cape Verde (from Portugal, 1975)

Caudonia (Declared; 2019) [unrecognized]

Constitution Day (Armenia)

Reylan Imperial Triumvirate (Declared; 2005) [unrecognized]

Turdas (Declared; 2017) [unrecognized]

Venezuela (from Spain, 1811)

1st Friday in July

Alice Springs Show Day [1st Friday]

Comic Sans Day [1st Friday]

Drive Your Corvette to Work Day [Friday closest to 6.30]

Flashback Friday [Every Friday]

Fry Day (Pastafarian; Fritism) [Every Friday]

International Beer Sommelier Day [1st Friday]

Ra o te Ui Ariki (Cook Islands) [1st Friday]

Ways With Words Festival of Words and Ideas begins (UK) [1st Friday]

Weekly Holidays beginning July 5 (1st Week of July)

Roswell UFO Days (thru 7.7) [1st Friday]

Festivals Beginning July 5, 2024

Baltic Jazz Festival (Dalsbruk, Finland) [thru 7.7]

Calgary Stampede (Calgary, Canada) [thru 7.14]

Chicago Craft Beer Festival (Chicago, Illinois) [thru 7.7]

Contemporary American Theater Festival (Shepherdstown, West Virginia) [thru 7.28]

Copenhagen Jazz Festival (Copenhagen, Denmark) [thru 7.14]

EUROFANZ (Brno, Czech Republic) [thru 7.6]

Finncon (Jyväskylä, Finland) [thru 7.7]

Halal Ribfest (Dearborn Heights, Michigan) [thru 7.7]

London Film & Comic Con (London, United Kingdom.) [thru 7.7]

Love Supreme Jazz Festival (Glynde, United Kingdom) [thru 7.7]

Mariposa Folk Festival (Orillia, Canada) [thru 7.7]

Montreal Comiccon (Montreal, Canada) [thru 7.7]

Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival (Neuchâtel, Switzerland) [thru 7.13]

Oxford Symposium on Food & Cookery (Oxford, United Kingdom) [thru 7.7]

Rapa das Bestas of Sabucedo (Spanish village of Sabucedo) [thru 7.7]

Roswell UFO Festival (Roswell, New Mexico) [thru 7.7]

Ruisrock (Turku, Finland) [thru 7.7]

Savonlinna Opera Festival (Savonlinna, Finland) [thru 8.4]

626 Night Market (Arcadia, California) [thru 7.7 & 7.12-14]

Feast Days

Amitabha Buddha Day

André Lhote (Artology)

Anthony Maria Zaccaria, priest (Christian; Saint) [d. 1539]

Aphelion Day (Pagan)

Athanasius the Athonite (Christian; Saint)

Bill Watterson (Artology)

Catherine of Regensburg (Christian; Virgin Martyr)

Cyril and Methodius (Christian; Saint) [public holiday in Czech Republic, Slovakia]

Dabucuri umari (Initiation Rites of the Young Men; to Jurupari, South American Guarani/Tupi God)

Day of the Three Fewnesses That Are Better Than Plenty (A Fewness of Fine Words, A Fewness of Cows in Pasture, a Fewness of Friends Around Good Ale; Celtic Book of Days)

Edana (a.k.a. Edaene; Christian; Saint)

Feast of Anubis (Ancient Egypt)

Feast of the Milky Way (Chih Nu; China)

Fernando de Szyszlo (Artology)

Festival of Cargo Cults

Giuseppe Caselli (Artology)

Grace and Probus (Christian; Saint)

Impersonate An Orc Day (Pastafarian)

Initiation into Magick Day (Starza Pagan Book of Days)

Jean Cocteau (Artology)

Jiří Reynek (Artology)

John Schoenherr (Artology)

Ken Akamatsu (Artology)

Louis-Léopold Boilly (Artology)

Modwena (Christian; Saint)

Nicomedes (Christian; Martyr)

Pavel Chistyakov (Artology)

Peter of Luxembourg (Christian; Saint)

Poplifugia (Day of the People's Flight; Ancient Rome)

Sebastian Barry (Writerism)

SHOUTING DAY (Pastafarian)

Suger (Positivist; Saint)

Tanabata (Star Festival; Japan)

Taxi Driver McGillicuddy (Muppetism)

Wendell (Christian; Confessor)

X Day (Church of the SubGenius; Traditional)

Zamling Chisang (Universal Prayer Day; Tibet)

Zoe of Rome (Roman Catholic Church)

Solar Calendar Holidays

Aphelion (Apsis) [Earth farthest point from the Sun]

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Butsumetsu (仏滅 Japan) [Unlucky all day.]

Perilous Day (13th Century England) [21 of 32]

Premieres

The Alley Cat (MGM Cartoon; 1941)

Art as Experience, by John Dewey (Art Book; 1934)

BBC News (UK TV Series;1954)

Cracked Quack (WB MM Cartoon; 1952)

Cracked Rear View, by Hootie & the Blowfish (Album; 1994)

Debut, by Björk (Album; 1993)

The Emerald Forest (Film; 1985)

Gloria, by Them with Van Morrison (Song; 1964)

Hit the Road Jack, by Ray Charles (Song; 1961)

Hot Lead and Cold Feet (Film; 1978)

Hot Rod Huckster (Woody Woodpecker Cartoon; 1954)

I’m Free, by The Who (Song; 1969)

Institutionalized, by Suicidal Tendencies (Song; 1983)

It’s the Same Old Song, by The Four Tops (Song; 1965)

The Jazz Fool (Ub Iwerks Cartoon; 1929)

L’Amour the Merrier (Noveltoons Cartoon; 1957)

Maybellene, by Chuck Berry copyrighted (Song; 1955)

Pesky Pelican (Chilly Willy Cartoon; 1963)

The Principia (Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica; Book; 1687)

Red Sonja (Film; 1985)

Seinfeld (TV Series; 1989)

Slacker (Film; 1991)

Them There Eyes, recorded by Billie Holiday (Song; 1939)

Threads (Social Media App; 2023)

The Way, Way Back (Film; 2013)

Weekend at Bernie’s (Film; 1989)

The Worst Witch, by Jill Murphy (Children’s Book; 1974)

You’re No Good, recorded by Linda Ronstadt (Song; 1974)

Today’s Name Days

Albrecht, Antonius, Letizia (Austria)

Antun, Ćiril, Marta, Metod, Zakarija (Croatia)

Cyril, Metodej (Czech Republic)

Anshelmus (Denmark)

Kaja, Kajar (Estonia)

Untamo, Unto (Finland)

Antoine, Antoine-Marie (France)

Albrecht, Kira, Letiza (Germany)

Lampados (Greece)

Emese, Sarolta (Hungary)

Antonio, Filomena, Maria (Italy)

Andzs, Aristids, Edis, Edīte, Edna, Esmeraldas (Latvia)

Butginas, Filomena, Karolina, Mantmilė (Lithuania)

Mina, Mirjam (Norway)

Antoni, Bartłomiej, Filomena, Jakub, Karolina, Michał, Przybywoj, Szarlota, Wilhelm (Poland)

Atanasie (România)

Cyril, Metod (Slovakia)

Antonio, Cirila, Filomena (Spain)

Laila, Melker, Ritva (Sweden)

Agnes, Methodius (Ukraine)

Grace, Gracie, Graciela, Shannon, Sharon (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 187 of 2024; 179 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 5 of week 27 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Duir (Oak) [Day 27 of 28]

Chinese: Month 5 (Geng-Wu), Day 30 (Geng-Wu)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 29 Sivan 5784

Islamic: 28 Dhu al-Hijjah 1445

J Cal: 7 Red; Sevenday [7 of 30]

Julian: 22 June 2024

Moon: 0%: New Moon

Positivist: 18 Charlemagne (7th Month) [Suger]

Runic Half Month: Feoh (Wealth) [Day 12 of 15]

Season: Summer (Day 16 of 94)

Week: 1st Week of July

Zodiac: Cancer (Day 15 of 31)

[blackcoffeeandblankpagess]

A lil recap

Okay first off strategically this race was a mess I did not follow my plan AT ALL 🤦🏼‍♀️ but I actually feel like a learned a lot of valuable things to take with me for my marathon race day and I got in the miles which was goal #1 so I’m fine with it

-I ran from home to the start which is 3ish miles so I knew I’d have a 16 mile day, when I signed up for this race last week I thought I had a 14 miler this weekend so I was like okay cool with my run from home that should be good but then I realized I actually only had a 10 miler so uh whoops but also my training plan is arbitrary and based loosely off of a runner’s world rec so 🤷🏼‍♀️ w/e the main goal was just to not hurt myself

-so I ran to the start which honestly felt good and I think overall this was a less mentally taxing way to run 16 miles as opposed to just making up my own route so I’m glad I did it for that

-my plan... “plan” ....was to run the 3 miles there at 9-10 pace as a suuuper warm up, first 5 at 8:30-9:00, 6-10 at 8-8:30, and last 5k at 7:00-8:00...yeah clearly that went out the window

-the warm up being fast didn’t worry me TOO much because it was largely downhill and my legs were fresh so I was like okok

-but an important lesson I learned is that if you want to start off slow it is, in fact, not the best idea to position yourself towards the front of the A corral 🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️

-I kept telling myself “check your ego” and “run your own race” especially because I wasn’t even running this to race I was running it to train but...it’s hard not to get swept up when everyone is moving quickly! This is my fatal flaw when it comes to racing though and what destroyed me in my marathon in 2017 so this spring I plan to position myself with people running slower to start. This is why when I run long runs alone I can finish strong but in a race I burn out

-I stopped to use the porta potties twice (those are the 9+ min miles), the first time was an emergency but the second time I was just exhausted, I had to go but I also know I could have made it to the finish before going but also I was like I am wrecked!!!

-honestly though I didn’t feel wrecked aerobically rather my back started KILLING me at mile 6ish like hurting SO badly which has happened to me on a few runs over the past few months but rarely and usually at the very end so it doesn’t matter but DAMN

-also I raced in new shoes which like...I knew was dumb but I was excited and my old ones were so beat up but like 8 miles into the race (?) my feet also started killing me and I was like ahhhhhhggggghghhghggh

-so in a way it’s good that what tripped me up was pain not fitness but also...pain isn’t good!

-okay also fueling...oof. I woke up at 5:50 and ate a bagel with pb and a little bit of banana, I never eat before I run if it’s in the morning but I feel like when I run my marathon it would be smart to and this seemed like a good opportunity to practice (lol don’t try anything new on race day am I right! 🤦🏼‍♀️) I was only planning to have half but this morning I felt hungry so I was like #yolo which was prob dumb because on my run to the start my stomach started killing me just like...stabbing pain so that was less than pleasant

-I was using honey stinger gummies every few miles but after awhile I legitimately just forgot about them and then I dropped one and then I was nauseous so yeah that all went out the window and when I finished my stomach felt wrecked and it still does but I got a sufferfest beer to try because they sponsor a bunch of ultra runners I follow and ...they were free but I only had a few sips before being like OOF no thank you (the beer was good my stomach was not). We went to brunch and I got pancakes and orange juice and I don’t think I’ve had orange juice since I was a child but for whatever reason it sounded amazing and it was fresh squeezes and hit the spot. The pancakes were fluffy af and the restauarant was cute and decorated for the holidays but tbh even now just thinking about food makes me feel like I’m gonna vom my stomach does nooot feel good. On a related note, the concept of brunch or good food after a race is nice in theory but I just feel like based on how my body reacts to long distances I’m better off enjoying good eats later that night or like..any other time

-okay back to running, tbh I literally walked a little around mile 11 because I was just in so much pain and I was like I could keep running and hurting for the next two miles or I could walk for a minute and gather myself and feel better for the last bit (spoiler: I didn’t feel much better). Honestly I did noooot finish strong, I did the opposite of finish strong, the last .2 felt like 100 miles but at the very very very last bit I gave a little kick but oof

-but like I said, very fine with it because main goal was to do a long run which I did

Other things!

-passed by elliot (my running bud) between miles 10 and 11 (that part of the course was an out and back) he didn’t see me but somehow I heard his voice and noticed him wtf?? I’m always amazed by my weird talent to find people I know in races in unexplainable ways like when I ran nyc I found a fellow unc marathon team person at like mile 23 in a field of 50,000 and I recognized her from behind and we weren’t even good friends...like...what!

-I felt really strong on the hilly sections and passed a good bit of people and feel like I’ve got good mountain legs for when that becomes relevant some day

-Jared ran his first 5k (race)! I’m proud of him. Yesterday at the expo he bought winter running tights and I was like ooooo I’m turning you into a runner boy 😈

There’s probably like 400 more things to say but I’m tired so if you read all of this you’re a rockstar !

[newyorkvisitorsguide]

Best Italian Restuarants in New York

Photo by Eneida Nieves on Pexels.com

New York has the best restaurants in the world. Including Italian restaurants. There are too many to choose from. We went ahead and narrowed it down for you. Take a look at our long list… it will make your mouth water

12 Top Restaurants in NYC’s Little Italy – Eater NY ny.eater.com/maps/best-restaurants-little-italy-nyc The restaurant has experienced a recent resurgence among the fashion set. … it’s no surprise that some of the best food in Little Italy can be had at the fresh-faced newcomers. Parm is the new …

17 Best Little Italy restaurants in NYC You Must Try This Week http://www.timeout.com/newyork/restaurants/best-little-italy-restaurants Nestled between the shopping bustle of Soho, the late-night bars of the Lower East Side and the dim sum restaurants of Chinatown, lies the best Little Italy restaurants, a pocket-sized swath of …

20 Best Restaurants In Little Italy That Aren’t Tourist … secretnyc.co/20-best-restaurants-little-italy-arent-tourist-traps With every restaurant begging you to dine there it’s hard to cut through the noise and find a place that truly serves good food. To keep you from being completely overwhelmed, we’ve compiled a list of 20 restaurants in Little Italy (and Nolita, for good measure) that are genuinely delicious options.

The Best Restaurant in NYC’s Little Italy spoonuniversity.com/place/the-best-restaurant-in-nyc-little-italy Mulberry Street is the main street in Little Italy that you definitely need to check out. For me, the restaurant that stands out from the rest is Angelo’s of Mulberry Street. This restaurant is ultimately a family establishment that was opened in 1902.

The Top 12 Restaurants In Little Italy, Toronto theculturetrip.com/north-america/canada/articles/top-10-restaurants-in-toronto-s-little-italy Bar Isabel is a Spanish-influenced locale in Little Italy that offers a variety of true Spanish style tapas. The menu focus on mainly Spanish cuisine and provides a range of craft beers, cocktails and wine. The atmosphere provides an authentic old European environment with mosaic floors and dim lighting.

Online Menu of Little italy Restaurant, Kissimmee, Florida … http://www.zmenu.com/little-italy-italian-restaurant-and-pizzeria-kissimmee-online-menu View the online menu of Little italy and other restaurants in Kissimmee, Florida. Due to Covid-19, restaurant open hours and service may differ. Please check with the restaurant directly. Little italy « Back To Kissimmee, FL. Closed. 8.20 mi. Italian, Pizza $$ (407) 396-7736. 2901 Parkway Blvd, Kissimmee, FL 34747. Hours. Mon. 11:00am-10:30pm …

THE 10 BEST Restaurants in Little Italy (Montreal) Updated … http://www.tripadvisor.ca/Restaurants-g155032-zfn15621169-Montreal_Quebec.html Dining in Little Italy (Montreal), Quebec: See 278,547 Tripadvisor traveller reviews of 5,863 Montreal restaurants and search by cuisine, price, location, and more.

15 Best Little Italy Restaurants in Montreal You Need to … http://www.timeout.com/montreal/restaurants/best-little-italy-montreal-restaurants The best restaurants in Little Italy, Montreal One of Montreal’s most vibrant neighbourhoods, Little Italy’s restaurants are a combo of what’s classic and classy By Colin Rier Posted …

The 10 Best Little Italy, Ottawa Italian Restaurants … http://www.ottawarestos.ca/s/?restaurants=best-10-little-italy-ottawa-italian&c=74&d=15&sort=best&lang=en Find The 10 Best Little Italy, Ottawa Italian Restaurants – Updated Menus, Verified Reviews, Photos for The 10 Best Little Italy, Ottawa Italian Restaurants- places to eat, such as Pub Italia, Trattoria Caffe Italia, DiVino Wine Studio, Caffé La Grotta, Carmelito…

9 Delicious Restaurants In Cleveland’s Little Italy http://www.onlyinyourstate.com/ohio/cleveland/little-italy-eats-cle He initially settled in Akron, but the allure of Little Italy was impossible to resist. Inspired by his mother-in-law’s authentic recipes straight from Sicily, he opened Mamma Santa’s in 1961. Ever since, the family has maintained the restaurant, and they’ve absolutely astounded diners with authentic flavors.

272 Best Waterfront Restaurants In Little Italy | OpenTable http://www.opentable.com/features/best-waterfront-restaurants-little-italy-san-diego-ca Being a food snob I was pleasantly surprised by the sumptuous delicious food at Nonna’s! Especially in Little Italy! A lot of the restaurant food is generic and although they all have similar menus I cannot wait to get back to this place!!

1955 Best Birthdays Restaurants In Little Italy | OpenTable http://www.opentable.com/features/best-restaurants-for-birthdays-little-italy-ny • Italian • Little Italy We first went to Caffe Napoli in June 2017, where I proceeded to enjoy one of the best meals of my entire life. This second time around, it was a chilly January evening, and it was another exquisite meal.

New York City’s Best Little Italy Restaurants | Travel … http://www.travelandleisure.com/food-drink/restaurants/best-little-italy-restaurants-new-york-city Pasquale Jones isn’t just a Little Italy standout — it’s also one of the best restaurants for Italian cuisine in all of New York City. The menu puts an emphasis on wood-fired preparations, and …

The 10 Best Little Italy Restaurants (Montreal) – Tripadvisor http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurants-g155032-zfn15621169-Montreal_Quebec.html Little Italy Restaurants – Montreal, Quebec: See 6,444 Tripadvisor traveler reviews of 6,444 restaurants in Montreal Little Italy and search by cuisine, price, and more.

Where to Eat on Arthur Avenue in the Bronx – Eater NY ny.eater.com/2019/6/14/18637240/best-food-restaurants-arthur-avenue-little-italy-bronx-nyc The Italians began to arrive in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, after which Arthur Avenue was christened the Bronx’s Little Italy, to distinguish it from Little Italy in Lower Manhattan.

Best Restaurants in Little Italy Vancouver, BC – Last … http://www.yelp.ca/search?find_desc=best+restaurants+in+little+italy&find_loc=Vancouver%2C+BC Reviews on Best Restaurants in Little Italy in Vancouver, BC – La Grotta Del Formaggio, Ask For Luigi, Robba da Matti, Sopra Sotto, Di Beppe, Gusto A Taste of Italy, Pepino’s, Zefferelli’s, Lupo, Tavola, La Vita – The House of Delicious Food, Via Tevere Pizzeria, Osteria Savio Volpe, Café Calabria, Trilussa, Cioppino’s Mediterranean Grill, Autostrada Osteria, Mordimi Bite Of Italy, Mangia …

Best Restaurants in Little Italy Toronto, ON – Last … http://www.yelp.ca/search?find_desc=best+restaurants+in+little+italy&find_loc=Toronto%2C+ON Eat local and support your community – Reviews on Best Restaurants in Little Italy in Toronto, ON – Gusto 101, Agio, Trattoria Taverniti, Buca, Baretto Caffe, Famiglia Baldassarre, Cafe Oro Di Napoli, Sidewalk, Mission Lasagna, Eataly Toronto,…

Best Restaurants In Little Italy NYC – La Mela ladyandtheblog.com/best-restaurants-in-little-italy-nyc If you are looking for the best restaurants in Little Italy NYC, you found it!La Mela has authentic Italian cuisine that keeps New Yorkers coming back for more but will also satisfy any tourist looking for old-world flavors and classic Manhattan vibes.. Best Restaurants In Little Italy NYC – La Mela. I was born in Manhattan and raised in Queens. This makes me a huge Italian food SNOB and I …

Best 30 Best Italian Restaurants in Little Italy, NY with … http://www.yellowpages.com/little-italy-ny/best-italian-restaurants Best Italian Restaurants in Little Italy on YP.com. See reviews, photos, directions, phone numbers and more for the best Italian Restaurants in Little Italy, NY.

Best Little Italy Restaurants in NYC – Thrillist http://www.thrillist.com/eat/new-york/little-italy/best-little-italy-restaurants-nyc Best for fresh pasta: Aunt Jake’s 151 Mulberry Street Walk down Mulberry Street and bowtied restaurant hosts will beckon you into countless Italian-themed restaurants teeming with red gingham …

The Best Restaurants in Little Italy, New York City theculturetrip.com/north-america/usa/new-york/new-york-city/articles/the-best-restaurants-in-little-italy-new-york-city Caffé Palermo is a Little Italy institution, and has been since its opened its doors in 1973. Voted home of the best cannoli in New York, Caffé Palermo boasts a modest interior that transforms into magic at night, especially beneath the outdoor string lights on Mulberry Street.

The Best of Little Italy http://www.bestoflittleitaly.com The Best of Little Italy, family owned and operated by the Scalia family, is at 765 Route 17M in Monroe, NY.

Best 30 Restaurants in Little Italy, San Diego, CA with … http://www.yellowpages.com/little-italy-san-diego-ca/restaurants Restaurants in Little Italy San Diego, CA CCPA. About Search Results. About Search Results. YP – The Real Yellow Pages SM – helps you find the right local businesses to meet your specific needs. Search results are sorted by a combination of factors to give you a set of choices in response to your search criteria. … Best Pasta and Stromboli in …

Best Little Italy Restaurants in NYC – Red Tricycle redtri.com/new-york/top-little-italy-restaurants-nyc 235 Mulberry St. New York, NY 10012 212-965-0500 Rubirosa’s website: rubirosanyc.com Rubirosa’s hours: open 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m. daily. Il Cortile If you’re looking for a traditional sit down restaurant that serves authentic Italian fare, look no further than Il Cortile.

15 Best Restaurants in Little Italy | Top Places to Eat … http://www.grubhub.com/best/restaurants-in-little_italy-manhattan-ny Looking for the best places to eat in Little Italy, NY? Grubhub has curated a list of the best restaurants in your area. Dine in or get delivery! Enter an address. Search restaurants or dishes. Search. Sign in. Best / Little Italy. Local favorites in Little Italy Find the best places to eat near you with our list of curated restaurants. 15 …

Best restaurant in Little Italy? | New York – Yelp http://www.yelp.com/topic/new-york-best-restaurant-in-little-italy Best restaurant in Little Italy? … Brooklyn, NY; 0 friends 9 reviews There’s still a Little Italy? Report as inappropriate. 8/5/2008. M B. NY, NY; 137 friends 94 reviews this is going to be a short list. Report as inappropriate. 8/5/2008. noelia d. New York, NY; 1 friend 47 reviews i know i know there’s like 5 but which one is the best? …

THE 10 BEST Restaurants & Places to Eat in Little Italy … http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurants-g60763-zfn7212544-New_York_City_New_York.html Best Dining in Little Italy (New York City), New York: See 1,434,297 Tripadvisor traveller reviews of 13,477 New York City restaurants and search by cuisine, price, location, and more.

Little Italy King Of Pizza – Takeout & Delivery – 38 … http://www.yelp.com/biz/little-italy-king-of-pizza-flowery-branch 34 reviews of Little Italy King Of Pizza “We’ve been eagerly awaiting the reopening of our favorite pizza place. We would regularly drive from Dahlonega to Gainesville for Little Italy. The new location adds about 20 extra minutes to the drive. It was pretty busy for 6pm on a Saturday night. We were seated immediately. The tables are very close together.

source https://newyorkvisitorsguide.wordpress.com/2020/11/05/best-italian-restuarants-in-new-york/

[boozedancing]

During the weekend of February 24, 2017, myself and a fellow beer connoisseur received two press passes from the NYC Brewers Guild to attend the Opening Bash Invitational at the Brooklyn Expo Center which serves as the kick-off to NYC Beer Week. This is The Guild’s Eighth Annual New York City Beer week.

The NYC Brewers Guild is a 501[c]6 non-profit founded to promote NY State made brew…

“The mission of the New York City Brewers Guild is to advocate for and promote awareness of its local brewing members; to increase the visibility of local beers through innovative events, programming, and consumer education; and to foster a healthy, ethical, and growth-focused craft beer industry throughout the city.”

The Opening Bash Invitational started at 6:30 and lasted till about 9:30 p.m. The location was easily accessible and enticing due to the Expo Center’s architecture. While waiting to get in, you were able to see where all the various breweries were located, as well as the games and food.

Participating breweries included: Big Alice Brewing Company, Bridge and Tunnel Brewery, Brooklyn Brewery, Burial, Capt Lawrence Brewing Co, Chelsea Craft Brewing, Civil Society Brewing, Community Beer Works, Coney Island Brewery, Destination Unkown Beer Company, Finback Brewery, Folksbier, Great South Bay, Greenpoint Harbor Brewing, Gun Hill Brewing Company, Harlem Brewing, Hudson Valley Brewery, Indian Ladder, Industrial Arts Brewing Company, Interboro Spirits and Ales, Ithaca Beer Co, J Wakefield, KelSo Beer Company, Kings County Brewers Collective, LIC, Lineup, Magnify, Marz Community, New Carnegie Brewery, Oxbow, Proclamation Ale Company, Rar Brewing, Rockaway Brewing Co, Rushing Duck, Sand City Brewery Co, Staten Island Beer, Sixpoint, Sloop, Sole, Strong Rope Brewery, Suarez, Family Brewery, The Bronx Brewery, The Flagship Brewing Copmany, Threes, Transmitter Brewing and Wartega.

Needless to say, there were quite a few breweries! Here is some information about some of my favorites of the night…

Indian Ladder Farmstead Cidery and Brewery

Indian Ladder Farmstead is “dedicated to the farm to table movement, or in this case–farm to glass”. They recently celebrated their centennial in 2016. The company is run by the fourth generation of the Ten Eyck Family (call me old-fashioned, but I have a lot of respect for family-run businesses, especially in this day and age). This cidery/brewery which originally started as a dairy farm that raised beef cattle is now well known for their fruit, especially their apples which led to their delicious DRY refreshing cider that I adored tasting…

Dry Hard Cider

Made from freshly pressed, gluten-free New York State apples. Available in 4-packs.

ABV: 6.1%

Taste: This isn’t your average cider. It hits the tongue (and nostrils) with a distinguishable fresh aroma of bittersweet apples. Not too bitter and not too sweet, this cider is sure to bring attention to itself with a dry delicious after-taste. I HIGHLY recommend trying it out for yourself.

Super Local Pale Ale

Made in collaboration with Interboro Ales & Spirits using 100% single farm hops & grains from their farm. The hops include Nugget, Brewers Gold, and Cascade, while the grains includes 2-row Synergy and Navarro Oats, both malted at Hudson Valley Malt.

ABV: 6%

Taste: Tangy with a clear bitter finish. Stands out as an IPA with it’s malty smooth mouthfeel.

Coney Island Brewery

I am now a “Boardwalker,” aka a fan of the brewery. This table was a big hit at the event. The historic location of the brewery helped to make this beer well known among the beer crowd. They currently have limited releases of their speciality styles including SuperFreak, Kettle Corn Cream Ale and Cotton Candy Kolsch. Ths brewery definitely brought a sense of surprise and creativity to the table.

Honey New York Stout

ABV: 8%

Taste: Full-bodied smooth sweet molasses flavor with notes of caramel, citrus and honey blended in.

Infectious Smile

A sour ale brewed with malt and hops.

ABV: 4.8%

Taste: Sour grapefruit and vanilla flavors. Made exclusively for NYC Craft Beer Week 2017. The name resembles the beer; once you try it you can’t stop smiling!

Third Rail Brewery

Wins for bringing the most original flavored Stout of the night. Not only were the brewers nice people, but their beer was EXCELLENT. Both my accomplice and I couldn’t get over the smooth delicious original taste it left us with. I’m already looking forward to visiting this brewery in-person.

Alternate Side Stout (Limited – 2016)

ABV: 10.5%

Taste: Full-bodied stout, containing dark malts and flavors of spice, caramel and coffee. The after-taste is filled with spicy peppers, Mexican cinnamon and a smooth smoke. I miss this beer! R.F., my tasting partner said, “I liked it a lot. It was very robust. It was like the inside of a wood burning stove”. I find it interesting that R.F. knew what the inside of a wood-burning stove looked and tasted like. What an interesting Dude!

Brooklyn Brewery

A New York favorite and also among the most popular at the Fest.

Cloaking Device

Limited edition, 100% Brett-Fermented Porter aged 9 months in French Oak red wine barrels.

ABV: 10.5% 

Taste: A surprising air of class at first smell. A mix of earthy aromas, vanilla, pineapple fruit and a smooth finish. This Porter is sure to brings a happy vibe to anybody’s night. Fun fact: this Porter was made with Champagne yeast made in their lab.

Singlecut Brewery

Regarded as the first operating micro-brewery in Queens since Prohibition. Going towards a more “hip” vibe. The owner and music obsessed brewer Rich Buceta states:

My obsession is creating original hop-driven beer; distinguished by a firm respect and admiration for West Coast pioneers, and bending that to our East Coast / NYC interpretation.

Their mission statement: Mastery Knows No Shortcut. Well said!

Weird & Gilly

“Cats from Japan line up for this..”

ABV: 6.6%

Taste: IPA with citrus fruit notes and pine resin which equaled out to a refreshing strong bitter taste. Unique in its own right.

19-33

Singlecut Brewery’s Czech/German Flagship Lager

ABV: 5.4%

Taste: “Classic, Crisp, Horizontal.” Pilsner with light lemon notes and a hint of spice.

Staten Island Beer Company

Another New York favorite. The Brewmaster of this is Jonathan Schulman who started out brewing in his basement at home in Staten Island: “I have that dream that all home brewers dream — of having all their beer.” From hobby-to-passion, Schulman’s “Staten Island Brewery” represents the American Beer Dream. His company proudly produces beer that is both straightforward and flavorful.

For Wheat’s Sake

ABV: 4.9%

Taste: Pour is smooth with a light golden body. Contains American grain, Warrior, Amarillo, and Simcoe hops, but the wheat tends to over pour the beer in a bitter (not so sweet) sense. In conclusion, if you like light bitter wheat-tasting beverages this is the beer for you!

Ithaca Brewery

Won for having the friendliest staff. Their smiles and welcoming demeanor immediately drew me in. I could tell this Brewery was full of passionate people that enjoy the simplicity of good company spent over a pint of beer.

Flower Power

This popular beer is available year round and has a 2-row pale, honey malt containing five hops including Simcoe, Chinook, Citra, Ahtanum, and Centennial. This award winning beer has made it to the National IPA Championship Final Four in 2008, 2010 and 2011.

ABV: 7.5%

Taste: Notes of clover honey, grapefruit and pineapple with a bold soothing full body. If beer was a meal – this could fill you. It’s their most popular and well-known product they have in-stock for a reason. Fun fact: the fermentation process is hopped and dry-hopped five different times when it is being made. Its creation is as unique as the flavors in the beer itself. Definitely the type of beer you sip throughout the night.

Midnight Sun

This beer was named after an episode of the “Twilight Zone” where they reference a painting of one of Ithaca’s waterfalls. Rod Serling, the creator of The Twilight Zone (it’s my favorite television show of all time!), called the episode “The Midnight Sun” that is about the Earth falling out of orbit and two women coping with the increasingly oppressive heat in a nearly abandoned city. If only they had Ithaca’s Midnight Sun beer replenish them!

ABV: 5.5%

Taste: A new dark lager that contains an incredibly smooth finish. Similar to a German hoppy beer with aromas of chocolate, caramel, toffee, coffee and a bit of spice.

BIG aLICE BREWING

They pride themselves on producing small batches of craft beer, each specially made with a creative experimental mindset. They are also a New York State Farm Brewery with each ingredient coming from locally grown farms.

Biggie Smash Beer Barley Wave

ABV: 12%

Taste: Contained a malt complexity with very rich and sharp barley notes. It’s heavy and thick in its finish. The alcohol content is strong, so be sure to take your time sipping this one.

Sweet Potato Farmhouse

ABV: 6.3%

Taste: Very sweet when it hits the tongue. Unique in it’s presentation and ingredients. Soft aroma of sweet potato with no traces of anything else. Good beer if you’re looking to try something different.

Askew Brewing

An all-grain naturally gluten-free brewery. They’re all fans of fermentation at Askew, whether it be pickles, kimchi, kombucha, or beer; the process and products of fermentation are things they feel a strong connection to. Askew Brewing consists of five friends and relatives from the NY/NJ area. Headed by their Brew Master, Travis Mullen, they continue to expand their array of tasty brews as beer drinkers continue to expand their palates…

It’s simple really, we brew what we like to drink. While beer is the passion, the overall vision is much larger. As we continue to pump out delicious concoctions, we are building the plan to move our operation to the Hudson Valley and open our Brewery on a Farm, alongside a CSA and community art-space. We hope our beer will help build and strengthen the community.

Very cool group here!

Fever Dream

ABV: 8.9%

Taste: Their dank and sticky DIPA. Brewed with a balanced malt bill of barley, oats, and wheat and a copious amount of post-boil additions including Mosaic, Citra, and Amarillo hops. The result is both fruity and creamy.

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In addition to all of that mouth-wateringly delicious Craft Beer, there was also some food that caught my tongue…

Woodward Extract

At the event we walked by this stand with brownies and various types of extracts. The food at a beer festival tends to be chosen for specific reasons, i.e. it isn’t just any food… its taste compliments what you’re drinking! This particular company had samples of brownies made with their Bird’s Eye Chili Extract. It was very different from the chocolate brownies that I’m used to eating, and as a matter of fact, it was better!

The Bird’s Eye Chili Extract: Handmade in Brooklyn with organic fair trade Thai chilies. It lends a complex flavor and just enough heat to savory dishes, drinks and desserts. This extract flavored brownie largely complimented all the craft beer I was drinking so I HIGHLY recommend that you try it (the recipe is available on their website).

If you’re a meat lover, you are going to LOVE this next one…

Slant Shack: A New Slant on Shacking

Do you like Carne Asada? Or how about Spicy Redrub or Maple Garlic flavored meat? Slant Shack does it right and their story is a good one:

Nine college friends. A crooked roof. A dream. Humanely, sustainably sourced 100% Grass-Fed Beef, organic spices and a proprietary dehydration process. The result? Jerky so tender you’ll think it’s a steak. Order, before we eat it all…

And if they don’t eat it all, I sure will! They also use organic spices and non-GMO, preservative free marinades. Yum. Now onto their tasty jerky…

Carne Asade Jerky: Made with steak jerky seasoned with paprika, cumin, brown sugar and ginger.

Shack Classic Jerky: Ginger, honey, garlic , cumin.

Spicy Redrub: Made with steak jerky seasoned with cayenne, chili pepper, basil, and molasses.

Maple Garlic: Made with steak jerky seasoned with maple syrup, garlic, and red pepper.

Willet Hop & Grain

The event told them to come up with something original to draw a crowd and they kept their promise…

We were talking with Sara Kaplan the freelance event coordinator from the NY Brewers Guild.  Since we did not have any brews to share, she wanted us to think of something cool at our table that was a little out of the ordinary.  Our group got together to figure out what we could do.  Originally we were going to do a slideshow of the farm but after brainstorming this a bit, we thought it would be really cool to showcase our hop varieties and make it into a contest by having people try to identify hops by smelling them. So we lined up five varieties in jars marked only by numbers. We provided variety descriptions and a list of the varieties that were in the jars.

Fun fact: I learned from them that a lot of people in the business know that back in the 1800’s New York State was the largest producer of hops in the US.  Their goal, along with many others, is to help bring this business back to NY.  Great group of people, but then again all beer goers tend to be.

Side note: I was one of the brilliant 6 that won a t-shirt.

______________________________________

Now that you know a bit about what I ate and drank at this super fun kick-off to NYC Beer Week 2017, here’s what My Partner-In-Crime had to say about the event via a brief Q&A:

Q1: What did you do at the event and what was your favorite activity?

RF: I went from table to table trying all the different beers. Though I have to say my favorite activity was the Galaga machine where I had the high score by the time that I left under “DCK”.

Q2: Who are you to me and why did I bring you?

RF: I am a beer connoisseur and expert beer taster.

Q3: If you had to pick a beer to describe me, your girlfriend, what would it be?

RF: “You are “Weird & Gilly” from Singlecut Brewery because you are both sweet and occasionally sour, but always a bit weird.”

Q4: Which Brewery surprised you the most and why?

RF: Third Rail Ale. The beer was just so overwhelming in all of its smokey and woody flavors and more intense than anything I’ve ever tried before.

Q5: Do you prefer fine wine or good beer?

RF: Good beer, 100%!

______________________________________

Many thanks to Holly Garman of HMG Public Relations for the media passes to this fun-filled event!

  .@DanaMarieFarley relives her night at @NYCBrewers 2017 #NYCBeerWeek Opening Bash! @hollygpr During the weekend of February 24, 2017, myself and a fellow beer connoisseur received two press passes from the NYC Brewers Guild to attend the…

[kimberlycollins]

NIPPON GA DAI SUKI (JAPAN WE LOVE YOU)

Traveling to an exotic country sounds, well, exotic. And it is. It’s a true adventure in life. It’s also exhausting. And enlightening.

I’ve traveled afar throughout my entire adulthood. All over Europe, The Middle East, Egypt, Central America, Mexico, Eastern Europe, Canada, the Caribbean, Australia… Florida. ;)

I give travel (and my parents, *ehem*) credit for keeping me grounded, humbled and modest, in the sense of “I AM BUT A SPECK ON THIS EARTH” or “MY BELIEF SYSTEM IS NOT EVERYTHING” or “I DON’T KNOW AS MUCH AS I THOUGHT I KNEW” or “I REALLY DON’T KNOW HOW I GOT BEST DRESSED IN HIGH SCHOOL” (read: France ;)).

Travel helps us all to get out of our comfort zone and to see what a tiny place we occupy on this planet. It’s a liberating realization, embracing one’s insignificance in this world. It’s not about being small, because none of us are. It’s more about the world being BIG.

Travel puts your life into perspective; your problems and celebrations do not hold as much weight as they seem. It also shows you how much you have or what you don’t have. It’s a healthy reality check.

That’s why travel is good for you.

I am reminded this after a crazy year. My husband and I have been on tour with our music (The Smoking Flowers) for a lot of 2018, in and out of the country. It’s been a healthy year of these reality checks for sure.

That’s why I am writing this post on my health blog, as this type of health is just as important as the physical.

And so I write.

I write to journal.

I write to inspire (myself, if no one else).

I write to remember.

I write because I am bored today, it’s cold outside and my matcha is steaming, infusing me with memories.

I’m also writing because I miss Japan.

Of all my travels, I think Japan smacked me across the head when I needed it most. It made me feel like I was five years old again. Everything, down to using the toilet, I had to relearn/rethink. Yep, it took 43 years off my life. Now that’s a natural youth serum I can live with.

It also made my brain function differently. Trying to learn a foreign language audibly and visually that has no history in the Latin world is truly a foreign language. I now know how to order water, draft beer, sake and vegetarian ramen in Japanese. Basics. (Although a friendly laugh is usually the response to the veggie ramen inquiry). I now know how to tell a Japanese punk band they did a great job after seeing them open up for us at our show. I learned to say just plain “awesome”, and used it a lot. Japanese is pretty “saikou”, after all.

Japan can feel very futuristic, and Tokyo is like being on a movie set at times. They are the future for most of the civilized world seemingly 10 years ahead of us all, yet still remaining ancient and historic at the same time. Eating sushi or having tea can be presented like it was 400 years ago or like something out of The Jetsons (ala conveyor belt computer sushi restaurants).

But beyond the exotic veil, it was the culture and etiquette that really impressed me and made my head spin.

Below are but a few observations of the plentiful Japanese culture I experienced over my month long visit. And of course, they are my own, so they are neither right nor wrong. Just observations from a somewhat worldly gal who grew up Southern in America:

1. The Japanese have manners like I’ve never seen.

They are unwavering in their politeness. Selfless hospitality is a cornerstone of Japanese culture, and you can feel it in everything down to their quiet nature to their cleanliness to the way they package your purchased goods like a present. And that bow! That Japanese bow. It makes you feel special.

2. They are startling quiet and calm.

Given that Tokyo houses more than 13 million people, the sense of order and calm as everyone goes about their responsibilities with concern for others is remarkable. The Tokyo city streets are shockingly silent. You can hear the air, the machinery hums that run a city and the cars passing, but they don’t honk like NYC. I think I heard two honks the entire time in Tokyo, and that’s not an exaggeration. We drove the interstates a ton on our tour, all over the country... aggressive driving doesn’t seem to exist. Could this be from their Zen culture?

Also, they don’t bump into you trying to get on the subway in a hurry. It’s an orderly line and gentle squeeze to fit everyone on the trains, like a can of sardines without the stink.

I want to throw in another aspect of “calm” here; safety.

Feeling safe, stable, and secure is central to our health and wellbeing. How safe we feel at home and in our neighborhood can influence our social habits and feeling of freedom. When we feel safe, we find it easier to relax, do all the things that comfort us, and focus on the work or study we need to do to help ensure our stability.

I’ve never felt safer anywhere in my life than when in Japan. I never worried about my purse or goods being stolen. Never worried about locking our apartment or car doors. Never got ogled at or hit upon. Wowza.

3. There’s no trash on the streets. And I mean zero. Not even cigarette butts. And it’s not like there are janitors sweeping the streets and alleys. To make this fact more amazing, it’s hard pressed to find trash bins anywhere. So where does a city of millions dispose of their goods while walking/biking about? Their pockets… until they reach home to throw in appropriate bins.

RETRACTION: One time we were walking under an over pass in Tokyo and we saw, gasp, trash. The remarkable thing was that this trash was piled neatly in a small pile, waiting anxiously to be picked up properly.

For an interesting article on Japan and the waste culture check out this article: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2017/07/why-japanese-dont-litter/

4. They seem to really care about the planet.

And don’t just post about it on social media.

You won’t find paper towels anywhere, sans a few nice restaurants. Water waste is thoughtfully considered in everything they do it seems. Yes, even the toilet fill water after a flush is used as a sink to wash your hands before entering the tank. They line dry their clothes (like most of the world except America). They ride bicycles like it’s Amsterdam on steroids. There are even parking lots just for bikes. This eliminates the need for excess taxis on the streets (i.e. “fossil fuels”). I know this goes on all over the world, but I again, I’m sticking to Japan here.

5. Buddhism and Shintoism.

I have practiced Buddhism since my 20’s and see it as more of a mind set and lifestyle than a religion. So for me, I felt right at home in a country that houses over 77,000 temples (No typo there). Incense permeates the air, especially in Kyoto. Smelled like my house and I couldn’t have been happier about that aspect.

But it’s more than Buddhism. The main Japanese religion is Shintoism. Many Japanese people practice both. The beliefs are very compatible and not contradictory.

6. ROBOTIC TOILETS!

Japan has a magic thing called Toto Toilets. And the toilet culture there is really something to behold. I fell in love with their toilets and never once worried to sit on the public toilet seat. I can simply not go back to our classic Kohler again. Trust me, once you experience a heated seat, self-cleaning, massaging, butt-cleaning, “privacy sound”, hand-washing toilet all in one small package, you’ll never go back. Don’t know how to expand on this in a blog… just “go” try it for your self.

7. 7- Eleven heaven!

Yep, you heard this health advocate correctly. When you are looking for a healthy bite on the road or on the quick, there’s a 7-Eleven on every corner. And it’s not the 7-Eleven we know in this country at all! Made fresh daily veggie sushi, veggie rice “sandwiches”, miso soup, raw veggies, healthy drinks, tea, fairly healthy snacks if you are into the packaged food thing. All for super cheap. I cannot tell you what a lifesaver it was on the road for us when there were practically no healthy options. Also, we decided to add fish into our diet while in Japan, and certainly glad we did. I’ve never had better fish in my life. It really felt healthy. My nails are still shiny like they’ve been shellacked. Win win.

8. VENDING MACHINES!

Super convenient and anonymous, there are vending machines all over Japan (even in remote villages) that can get you most anything you need instantly: from fermented bean drinks to green tea to hot or cold coffee to fully cooked meals to used panties. Yep, the Japanese can get weird.

Ok, so maybe the last three points are less about culture, but I had to throw them in for the “wow” factor.

I could go on and on about Japan… it’s as wide and deep and old and beautiful as it’s countryside beacon Mt. Fuji. But it has its pitfalls too. No culture is perfect. I just prefer to focus on the ideals I look up to, rather than focusing on the negatives. Their negatives are no different than America’s: too much sugar and meat in the diet, it’s a highly misogynistic society, cigarettes, stressful six day work weeks with long hours, those darn plastic bags… But we all know those are WORLD WIDE ISSUES.

Japan, you definitely stole my heart. Thank you to all who came to our shows and to those that showed us your rare style of hospitality. And a huge special thanks to my tour manager, Gus Bennett, who introduced my husband and me to this beautiful country, showed us the ropes and helped us navigate into this great unknown that will certainly be with me forever.

Mata, chikai uchini, aeruto iine.

Photo credit: Marley Parker at ML Parker Media

[brewyork]

Folksbier abruptly shutters in Carroll Gardens

Brooklyn-based brewery Folksbier abruptly closed this week after seven years of making beer in Carroll Gardens. Travis Kauffman, the brewery’s owner, announced its closure in an email to staff earlier this week, and promptly removed Folksbier’s website and social media presence.

Folksbier had opened back in 2014 and initially did not have a taproom, relying on distribution to beer bars around New York in a slow but steady rollout of kegs over their first three years. In 2017, the taproom opened, offering fans of their beer a chance to drink on-site in a room adjoining the brewery that evoked the feeling of a cozy cabin in the woods. Later in 2017, Folksbier canned for the first time, allowing their beer to hit beer shop shelves around the city and beyond.

During the pandemic in 2020, Folksbier became to-go only for a long stretch like most breweries. Without an outdoor space, it was only permitted to reopen its taproom upon the return of indoor dining in September, having to close again during Covid’s second wave in New York during the winter.

The OBL Helles was a lager standout in the city, and their Glow Up Series of Berliner-Style Weisses were sought-after among beer geeks. Collaborations were another strength — the Wellspring Doppelbock they brewed with Threes was a standout from the pandemic era, and their Black Seed Glow Up with Black Seed Bagels made headlines back in 2019.

This is the first brewery closure in New York City in 2021. The last came in 2020, when Mikkeller NYC shuttered at Citi Field after a Mets season without fans.

[jonathanleesink]

A Year and a Day

Originally posted on March 10, 2017

“This is going to be refreshing…I can already tell; similar to slicing into a freshly harvested vegetable. Fresh, clean, wholesome, and healthy.”

These were the very first words I wrote on this blog on May 30th last year. I have been writing for nine months. I have been sharing my most personal and vulnerable thoughts, struggles, and triumphs. I have confessed my struggles with drinking. I have shared why I chose to change my lifestyle. I have told you about my anxious personality and my spirituality. This has been an enlightening journey for me. I have been honest and scared to death. I have also felt empowered and bravery like I never knew existed. I have been asked why I have shared this part of my life so publicly. In the simplest terms I write this blog for two reasons. One, for myself. I write to document this ambitious change in my life, and to hold myself accountable to my commitment. This blog is monumental to my recovery process. The other reason I write is for anyone who may benefit in any way from what I write. I have learned people respect honesty. Like myself, everyone has their own personal struggles. But the personal struggles everyone has, it is very likely someone you know struggles with the same thing. The most rewarding experience from this whole thing is when someone makes a point to tell me they enjoyed my writing, or that my story has inspired them to take the first step of their own journey. That is what this is all about. When people use their talents to help other people…that is what defines purpose.

Yesterday…March 9, 2017.

Yesterday was day three-hundred and sixty-five of my sober lifestyle. One year without a drop of alcohol. It also marks one year of living vegetarian. No meat, no booze, one year. Amazing.

I was told just the other day from a friend that they want to give up alcohol too, but that they just don’t see how it is possible. I used to feel that way too. Once I had the realization that I wanted to love myself more than the currently trending pale ale, I had my moment of clarity. My vision for myself was crystal clear, and the motivation to make a change was significant. Making the decision is the relatively easy part. It is the commitment to yourself and to follow through with the decision which proves to be the most difficult. But now, a year later, I am truly proud of myself.

This journey has been eye-opening to me on the societal norms of drinking alcohol. I went through a period where I was silently disgusted with the beer and alcohol industries. I have always made a conscience effort to not preach my thoughts to my readers. I wanted to share my story, and that’s it. The last few months I have backed off from my strong opinions on the drinking culture. I am realizing that alcohol is not really a bad thing by itself. It was when I paired my addictive personality with alcohol is when it became a bad thing. There are so many people who can drink beer or a glass of wine without it becoming a habitual behavior. We are all our own people who must make our own decisions and take responsibility for our actions. What’s best for me, may not be best for you. And what you may be able to innocently enjoy, might not be so innocent for others…myself included. I know what’s best for me, and you know what’s best for you. Be brave, be honest, be you.

I have exposed myself through this blog. I have a hard time verbally talking to people about my vulnerabilities…I always have. Writing every few weeks has helped me more than you will ever know. So many have offered their support. I cannot thank you enough for that. It was a scary thing to put myself out there like I did. I was terrified that people would not want anything to do with me. I had heard that when someone stops drinking, they lose friends. The truth is you lose your drinking buddies. There are some people who I enjoy very much, but I just don’t see anymore because our socializing revolved around drinking beer. There are other people who I have considered very close at some point in my life who have not reached out to me at all to offer support. I understand that the topic of alcoholism, sobriety, and mental health are topics that not everyone is comfortable talking about, I get it. Then there have been the acquaintances, strangers, or old high school friends who made a point to reach out to offer encouraging words. That is amazing. They have no obligation to me at all, yet they have been remarkable supporters. Again, thank you.

In my very first writing, I not only claimed my sobriety, but also made a declaration to be my true self…always. I had spent years dealing with self-esteem and self-doubt issues, and somewhat hiding who I wanted to be. This has been a very liberating experience. I am a changed person. There is no more self-medicating my anxiety, or drinking my way into social comfortableness. I am now dealing with my anxious personality head on with a clear mind, and learning that it is perfectly okay to have an introverted personality. I have become an advocate for embracing your identity, and who you truly are. When you tear down the bullshit facade of doing stuff for the sake of pleasing others, you become liberated and free. I now understand that I only have control over myself, and that I am the only one who can truly make myself happy. Shit happens to all of us, and I used to grab a sixer to deal with it. Now I have an ever-increasing amount of tools to help process life’s complications. I have learned that being honest with myself is a powerful tool. I spent years in denial that I was dependent on alcohol. Once I realized that truth for myself, positive change happened immediately. Finally, I now know that I had to be brave to achieve a year of sobriety. I had to be brave to not fall into temptation, and I had to be brave to share my story with you. Successful sobriety is not for the weak. You have to want it, you have to have the strength to endure it, and you have to fight for it everyday.

People love reading lists. So, here are 9 things I have either learned or that have happened to me over the last year.

1. You don’t need alcohol to have fun! - This isn’t an immediate realization, but once you get over the hump it is an enlightening moment.

2. There are a lot of other people who are either non-drinkers, or are wanting to make that change. - Once I started writing, people came out of the woodwork to share their stories with me. It felt awesome to have people I could connect with.

3. When you quit drinking your body changes effortlessly. - Not only did I lose excess weight when I removed those empty calories, I also woke up every morning without a hangover, with more energy, and the quality of my sleep improved greatly.

4. I gave myself a pay raise! - I wrote about the financial aspect of my habit a couple months ago. I have saved about $1,800, which is a pretty nice annual bonus.

5. My creativity shot through the roof. - I started writing this blog. Who knew I would enjoy writing? It was a complete shock to myself. My musicianship has improved and I just feel more open to creative possibilities. My playing before felt like I was in a box with limits to my abilities.

6. I bought a BMX bike. - This was an early birthday present to myself. I even built a sweet ramp, and go to skateparks with it…at 40 years old.

7. I went on two amazing vacations. - I visited New York City for the first time, and I went backpacking in the mountains of West Virginia. Both of them completely sober.

8. I am in the best shape of my life. - Instead of sitting on the couch every night drinking a handful of beers. I choose to ride bikes, run a few miles, or even lift weights.

9. I have been to some amazing shows in the last year. I have been to MCA Day in NYC, I have seen Brian Fallon, Bad Religion, Against Me!, Henry Rollins, The Interrupters, and the Dropkick Murphy’s without a drink in my hand. The awesome thing about seeing shows sober is you get to remember every little detail; things I wouldn’t have picked up on if I had been drinking.

Thanks again for the support and kind words. I wish everyone good luck in whatever it is you want to achieve. Remember, you are worth it. You will likely see less writing on this blog in the next year. I have to make time to start my book. :) Peace!

[tabloidtoc]

OK, October 5

You can buy a copy of this issue for your very own at my eBay store: https://www.ebay.com/str/bradentonbooks

Cover: Kelly Clarkson is finally breaking her silence 

Page 1: Big Pic -- Naomi Osaka with the U.S. Open trophy paid homage to her Haitian heritage in a vibrant orange dress and a colorful headwrap 

Page 2: Contents 

Page 4: Prince Harry’s sweet celebration -- from homemade cake to phone calls from the palace all the details on how he spent his 36th birthday 

Page 6: It’s been over five years since Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton announced the end of their four-year marriage and while they’ve both remained tight-lipped about what actually caused the split but that may change as Miranda is penning a tell-all that’ll reveal lots of bombshells about her time with Blake as well as their breakup 

Page 7: Alec Baldwin already dad to a copious brood of young kiddos with wife Hilaria has been majorly overwhelmed ever since they welcomed baby no. 5 Eduardo, in the wake of Denise Richards’ departure from Real Housewives of Beverly Hills she’s planning a blistering tell-all about her ex-castmates especially Brandi Glanville who claimed to have an affair with Denise and old pal Lisa Rinna who turned on Denise to take Brandi’s side

Page 8: Demi Lovato who got engaged to actor Max Ehrich after four months of dating claiming quarantining together accelerated their romance has also majorly stepped on the gas with wedding planning, despite the longstanding bromance between George Clooney and Rande Gerber their wives Amal Clooney and Cindy Crawford simply don’t mesh because they have little to nothing in common -- Amal finds Cindy materialistic and Cindy is sick of being lectured about all things worthy whenever she hears from Amal, Tyra Banks made her debut as the new host of Dancing With the Stars with a fiery red gown and all the confident smizing she could muster but behind the scenes she’s gingerly tip-toeing into the role because she believes she came on too strong when she replaced longtime America’s Got Talent host Nick Cannon in 2017 and she learned from that experience 

Page 10: Red Hot on the Red Carpet -- stars look timeless in black -- Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Sara Sampaio, Cate Blanchett 

Page 11: Zendaya, Sienna Miller 

Page 12: Who Wore It Better? Sarah Paulson vs. Grace Elizabeth, Melissa Gorga vs. Bianca Peters, Josephine Skriver vs. Regina King 

Page 14: News in Photos -- Alessandra Ambrosio playing beach volleyball 

Page 16: Cate Blanchett took a break from her duties as jury president for the 2020 Venice International Film Festival to go shopping, Riley Keough on the beach in Malibu, Anne Heche 

Page 17: Will Smith caught up with his Fresh Prince of Bel-Air costars Daphne Maxwell Reid, Karyn Parsons, Joseph Marcell, Alfonso Ribeiro, Tatyana Ali and DJ Jazzy Jeff on the 30th anniversary of the show to tape a reunion special 

Page 18: Serena Williams lost in the semifinals of the U.S. Open, to mark the 19th anniversary of 9/11 Justin Theroux took his dog Kuma to One World Trade Center next to where the Twin Towers once stood, pregnant Ashlee Simpson 

Page 20: Kourtney Kardashian laying out by a lake, Justin Hartley and his dog Paisley, Irina Shayk and Bradley Cooper with their daughter Lea De Seine in NYC 

Page 24: Inside My Home -- Teresa Giudice’s marvelous mansion in Towaco, N.J. is for sale 

Page 26: Bindi Irwin and husband Chandler Powell have a few months to go until their baby arrives but the parents-to-be are staying cool and calm and collected as well as so excited -- Bindi has been balancing her duties at her family’s Australia Zoo while also keeping a diary filled with updates on her pregnancy and working on the safari-themed nursery 

Page 28: Hoda Kotb’s destination wedding to Joel Schiffman may be on hold but she’s seriously exploring the possibility of adding another baby to their brood, Zac Efron didn’t just fall in love in lockdown he may have found his bride -- Zac’s so smitten with the Aussie waitress he met while quarantining Down Under Vanessa Valladares he’d sooner get married than spend a moment apart -- Zac is due back in L.A. to film a remake of Three Men and a Baby but won’t necessarily be allowed back into Oz because of travel restrictions and Vanessa isn’t currently allowed to leave because of the clampdown on travel so the only way she could accompany Zac is if they got married, Love Bites -- Adam Brody and wife Leighton Meester welcomed a baby boy, Cardi B and Offset divorcing, Claire Holt and husband Andrew Joblon welcomed a baby girl 

Page 30: Cover Story -- Kelly Clarkson healing after heartache -- she is happy and healthy and ready to shed light on her painful divorce 

Page 34: Jack Nicholson coming clean -- Jack is gearing up to tell all about his wild life and finally reveal why he disappeared from the spotlight 

Page 36: Interview -- Dakota Fanning all grown up -- the star dishes on her latest project and being a showbiz vet at 26 

Page 40: 50 & Fab -- these ageless stars reveal the secrets to their amazing secrets -- Heather Graham, Giada De Laurentiis 

Page 41: Naomi Campbell, Julie Bowen, Taraji P. Henson, Kelly Ripa 

Page 44: Hollywood’s Mini Moguls -- Beyonce and Jay-Z’s daughter Blue Ivy 

Page 45: Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s daughter Zahara, Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony’s daughter Emme, Kylie Jenner and Travis Scott’s daughter Stormi, DJ Khaled’s son Asahd 

Page 46: Style Week -- Maddie Ziegler’s collaboration with Fabletics 

Page 48: Chic blue-light-filtering lenses -- Drew Barrymore 

Page 50: Drugstore Beauty Awards -- Lili Reinhart 

Page 53: Bebe Rexha 

Page 54: Entertainment 

Page 55: Q&A with podcast hosts Jana Kramer and Michael Caussin 

Page 58: Buzz -- 2020 ACM Awards -- Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift, Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton, Keith Urban and Thomas Rhett, Maren Morris 

Page 60: Sound Bites -- Kristen Bell on letting daughters Delta and Lincoln drink nonalcoholic beer, Pink on husband Carey Hart, Chris Evans on accidentally tweeting a nude pic, Olivia Wilde on keeping her Marvel movie directing gig a secret, Paris Hilton on being done playing a character 

Page 62: Horoscope -- Libra Hilary Duff turned 33 on September 28 

Page 64: By the Numbers -- Hailey Bieber 

[shananaomi]

2017.

Giving myself an hour on the clock to get through this, if at all possible. (ETA: Done!) 

Here’s 2016.

What did you do in 2017 that you'd never done before?

I have such a great answer to this that I’m still not ready to write about. Ask me in person and I might tell you. Also: went to yoga fairly regularly and found I both could and wanted to lay peacefully in one pose or another for 5 or 10 minutes at a time.

Did you keep your New Years' resolutions and will you make more for next year?

We did in fact #GetFitToFightFascism, or anyway on days when I didn’t know how else to treat the creeping anxiety I got up and hiked to the Observatory or somewhere else so ridiculously stunning that I felt slightly reassured we’d live another day. We were determined to see our BFF Jamie every Saturday night and except for weekends when one of us or the other was out of town or we had plans already for the weekend we had a near-perfect attendance record. And though I didn’t think I wrote that much, I got enough out in TinyLetter (now backposted at Medium) to add up to a decent Twitter thread last week. 

I always feel like next year should maybe be its own post, but for now I’m thinking about: Writing, always. Reading more. And finding a way to host maybe monthly dinners for small groups of our friends at home.

Did anyone close to you give birth?

My childhood best friend’s daughter was born on New Year’s Day 2017 and we finally got to meet her last week. She is able to reach for and drink from a glass of beer so I think she’ll be just fine.

What countries did you visit?

This was a year between big adventures out of the country, but we just booked a February getaway to Puerto Vallarta to celebrate the 10th anniversary of our first date. Went back and forth to New York a few times, plus a quickie up to SF for work.

What would you like to have in 2018 that you lacked in 2017?

Confidence the pendulum will in fact swing back from fascism.

What date from 2017 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

I guess the run from January 19 (Hamilton) to January 20 (bus trip from NYC to DC, with the worst possible welcome from post-Inaugural attendees) to January 21 (meeting up with so many old friends at the Women’s March). The rest is still vividly sharp but not so much tied to any specific date.

What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Surviving it with some semblance of hope. Making the move to a better, bigger place in Pasadena. Leading a loyal and devoted staff through a major corporate transition and many other hard challenges.

What was your biggest failure?

I have never done anything as hard as being a boss lady, and I’m still not sure most days I’ve left things at least better than I found them.

Did you suffer illness or injury?

For the first 9 months or so I got super sick every single goddamned month: a recurring case of America, I called it.  Overall I’ve been very lucky.

What was the best thing you bought?

The peace of mind that privilege allows when you need to pay your way out of a loud, anxiety-ridden neighborhood for the quieter (at least most days) and more serene outskirts of town. A weekly outlet and focus for my physical stress in the form of the most amazing personal trainer. A 40th birthday blowout weekend that included renting the most ridiculous house (as seen when CJ fell into the pool in The West Wing), hosting a dinner party and then pool party for so many of our friends and family.

Whose behavior merited celebration?

My wife’s, always. Because all I do these days is listen to Kesha, I’ve been thinking about these lines:

I know forever don’t exist But after this life, I’ll find you in the next So when I say “forever,” it’s the goddamned truth

Where did most of your money go?

The house and moving into it, the car, the trainer, the birthday celebrations.

What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Did I?

We discovered Two Bunch Palms, an old getaway near Palm Springs that soothed my soul in quiet calm ways I hadn’t realized could be so close at hand or that I needed so much. This year’s LA Pride parade became a protest and was the most joyous and community-filled day like that we’ve felt in a long, long time.

What song will always remind you of 2017?

This fairly goes to Kesha’s “Praying,” but since I already wrote a whole thing about that, I’ll say Julia Michaels’ “Don’t Wanna Think,” in part because I listened to it on repeat for so many hours in a row while flying back and forth from New York that it’s kind of embedded in my subconscious: I’m not really one for drinking songs, but — fuck it, here it comes. Heartbreak is annoying, and I’ll feel it in the morning. Swallow it down like a bitter pill. At least it will taste better than this feeling will. I don’t like myself when I’m just standing still.

Compared to this time last year, are you:

i. happier or sadder? Happier, though I’d say that’s grading on a goddamned curve for real.

ii. thinner or fatter? About the same, if trimmer and stronger in some places.

iii. richer or poorer? Close to a draw here, more or less.

What do you wish you'd done more of?

I was happiest when I was hiking, reading, sitting quietly on the couch with my wife and dog. I did a decent amount of all that but it was still to keep my head above water.

What do you wish you'd done less of?

Be on the goddamned internet. But I’m also aware that finding the right balance between awareness and mindfulness and rest and action is the most pervasive and elusive self-care challenge for literally everyone I know, so I’m trying hard not to give myself a hard time about it. And there’s probably something here to say about the betrayal and pain that came from incorrectly trusting people to be their best selves instead of being undeserving of the benefit of the doubt but I am working so fucking hard at leaving that behind in 2017.

How did you spend Christmas?

In Reno with my family and friends, bouncing between two houses full of other people’s people (and mine) and a lot of very rich and exotic meats and liquors. The last couple years have been really hard and not well-balanced or rejuvenating visits, and this year was much better if still not without its own drama.

What was your favorite TV program?

New: Star Trek: Discovery was almost everything I needed in a show this year. Also I loved The Arrangement and found it way smarter and more complicated and fucked up than I’d expected.

New to me: I was only a little late on Riverdale but found it very enjoyable.

Oldies but Goodies: Also I watched a lot of older Star Trek, from TOS to the early movies. Everyone keeps saying next week need to do DS9, so I guess that’s the kind of geek I am proudly now.

What friends did you make or meet this year for the first time?

All but one were not new but I really loved our all-girl get-togethers to watch hockey even when we barely paid attention to it.

What was the best book you read?

I didn’t make a real resolution about reading more but boy did I. It’s just so much better than being in the world or on the internet. The ones that really stand out are Queen of the Night by Alexander Chee (not from this year, but my fave read from it), John Green’s Turtles All the Way Down, and Amy Bloom’s White Houses, which comes out in a couple months. If we’re not already GoodReads friends come find me there—I’m terrible at writing reviews but I find it super helpful personally to know what y’all have read and liked?

What did you want and get?

A new house.

What did you want and not get?

A Japanese wooden soaking tub of my very own. (See below.)

What was your favorite film of this year?

We just saw Call Me By Your Name last night and now I can’t think of anything else. Though I’d say the sheer joy of Wonder Woman is still a solid contender.

What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I was 40, and I took 5 days to basically do only what I wanted, and it did the exact trick I’d hoped for: I just enjoyed it instead of ruthlessly evaluating what I haven’t done with my life.

What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? What political issue stirred you the most? Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

I am going to charitably say the answer to all three of these is both obvious and tiresome. Be better, 2018.

How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2017?

Lots of jumpsuits and DVF, all courtesy a Rent the Runway Unlimited subscription, which also falls under where all my money went but was a ton of fun and practical in many ways too.

What kept you sane?

Remembering how many amazing women are already in my life and know exactly what I mean even when I can barely say it out loud.

Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

Ugh, this one feels too much like work and also like tempting fate.

Who did you miss?

For the first time in a while there were frankly some people who I miss greatly but was glad didn’t have to live through this shit themselves.

Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2017.

Just because it could have been worse doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be better.

Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

Here’s what I wrote about 3 songs that shaped my 2017. I don’t think I can do much better in one quote.

What’s one photo that sums up your year?

[annualsurveyresults]

2017 Year End Survey Results

2017 Year End Survey!!!

Hi Friends…

Happy Valentine’s Day, we hope you’re all well and that love is in the air. 

This email is going out to the awesome ones who responded to the poll (51 out of approximately 150 recipients). It turns out it hit a lot of people’s spam folders, so next year we will do a better job of clarifying the subject, etc.

As the survey has grown, there are now too many answers for us to add comments and include links, so this year the answers are coming as filtered lists (we cut where necessary, to try to be useful and concise).

Thank you so much for your answers!

Section 1: What is Tickling Your Brain

Meaningful Books

Margin of Safety by Seth Klarman

Sapiens

Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win

American Eclipse

Cryptocurrency

Seven Mysteries of Life

Owned: Property, Privacy, and the New Digital Serfdom

Tiffany Haddish The Last Black Unicorn.

Colson Whitehead, The Underground Railroad

Fourth State of Matter (New Yorker piece)

The President’s Devotional

Born a Crime

Creativity, Inc.

A Little Life

Hillbilly Elegy

Book of Joy by Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu

Don Quixote

Oryx and Crake

All the Rivers

The Fifth Season

The Nix

Persepolis Rising

The Female Brain

The Undoing Project

Moonglow by Michael Chabon

The Girls on The Train

Underground Railroad

When Breath Becomes Air

Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace

The Innovators

Caine Mutiny

Pachinko

Beyond the Sky and the Earth

Saints for All Occasions

We Were 8 Years in Power

The Odyssey: A Father a Son & an Epic

Achilles in Vietnam

Zero to One

The Taste of Empire

May We Be Forgiven

Homegoing

Being Mortal

Born to Run

The Smartest Kids in the World

Groovy Song or Band (well known artists/songs were filtered out, focusing on discovery)

James Booker

“Sound of Silence” - Disturbed

Electrocutioner – Soraia

Flamingo

I’m The One

Sharkmuffin

Chicano Batman

Lord Echo

Jason Isbell

Hank 3

Waist Deep in the Big Muddy

Zodiac by Dave Douglas and friends

Static and Ben El Tavori

Ben Franklin’s Song (the Decembrists)

Kevin Morby

CHVRCHES

Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings

Secret Weapons

Squirrel Nut Zippers, Metropolitan Klezmer

Dr. Dog’s Abandoned Mansion

Old Crow Medicine Show

De La Soul

Despair

The XX

Favorite Apps or Websites (well known apps/sites were filtered out, focusing on discovery)

Autodesk Graphic, Robinhood

Kaggle

ParkNYC

Hades Star - game

Weather.gov - everyday weather

Strictly Dumpling Mike Chen Food Reviews on Youtube

overcast

TheRawStory.com

ThinkorSwim, Kerbal Space Program

Nextdoor

Design Home game, Monument Valley, Redbubble

childmind.org

Ars Technica

Duolingo, NPROne, Feedly.com

Remodelista

Verify (OCR receipts - expense tracking); Day One (journal)

Strava, belfastcommunityradio.org, All Trails app

Wirecutter

The RealReal, Pickett of London

Citymapper

cupofjo.com

.alltop.com/photography

goodguide.com

blinkist, farnamstreetblog, bothsidesofthetable

Podcasts (well known podcasts retained, focusing on reinforcing quality)

Chapo Trap House, Intercepted, Archaeological Fantasies

Fresh Air, RadioLab, Terrible -Thanks for Asking

The Daily, On Being, Radiolab

Planet Money, Pod Save America, Radiolab

Real Vision, The Moth

99% Invisible

S-Town

Kalaidocast

The Daily, Pod Save America, Lovitt or Leave It

Imaginary Worlds, Jay + Miles X-Plain the X-Men, Blank Check with Griffin and David

Slow Burn; Pod Save America; RadioLab More Perfect

Slate’s The Gist; MSNBC Rachel Maddow; Week in the Knees

Wow in the World, Deadpod, Dope Queens

The Daily, S*Town, How I Built This

Splendid Table, Pod Save America

Busy Phillips podcast

Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me; It’s Been a Minute; This American Life

NPR 1 (for Terry Gross), Global Politico, Preet Bharara’s new podcast

HBR Idea Cast, a16z, Tim Ferris Show

Adventures in Finance, Bloomberg Surveillance, The Moth Radio Hour

In Our Time, This American Life, Fresh Air

S-town, Revisionist History, Rachel Maddow

Section 2:  Soul - Feeling Better

What Makes You Happy (answers filtered based on broad applicability and usefulness)

Silence

drawing

Puzzle Mania 😀

Beer and wine

The possibility of reducing work to three days a week

family time / family vacation

Salty food and walking the local golf course with my dog off leash

Tennis

My SodaStream

My dogs

Exercise

Los Angeles

Sleep

Freedom

Skiing

Jogging

Civic Engagement

Reconnecting

Reading

Learning about self-compassion

Robert Mueller

yoga and Bulgarian yogurt

Stress Relief (answers filtered based on broad applicability and usefulness)

Drawing cartoons on my iPad.

Crossfit & Krav

Table Tennis

Quiet Places

luna & larry’s coconut bliss dark chocolate ice cream

Running

Hot shower on the weekends

Building Stuff

Citibike

Tennis

Swimming/hot tub

Mindless computer games like solitaire

Long Walks

Making Art

yoga and Tango Dancing

Reading and Writing Poetry

Transcendental Meditation

Kickboxing

Skiing

Needlepoint

Stop Taking Things So Seriously.

Being organized to that I actually get the piles of papers/bills/etc off my “To Do List”

SLT (strengthen lengthen tone) UWS

Mindfulness practices & class (meditation, writing prompts)

Biking

Cooking

vodka or tequila mixed with club soda with a squeeze of lime

Meaningful Not-For-Profit Organization (no filtering, if you named it, it’s in here…)

Sleeping Giants

Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition

misophonia research causes

Yvote

Israeli Venture Network

Humane Society of NY

International Refugee Assistance Project

Courageous Parents Network, helping families parent children with serious illness

The Bronx Freedom Fund

Goddard Riverside

IBD Support Foundation

Village Health Works

I just discovered the store BoxLunch, Badass Brooklyn Dog rescue is cool, also Tennessee Elephant Sanctuary is an amazing Group.

Hadassah hospital.

Jewish Funders Network

Child Mind Institute

CASA - court appointed special advocates for foster care children

EFF

The Trevor Project

Run For Something

Apex for Youth

Hazon

Indivisible, Hadassah

Child Mind Institute, Planned Parenthood

Mercy Corps

Harlem Children’s Zone

Indivisible

Second Harvest

City Step

Center for Justice and Democracy

Karuna Foundation

Speak Up Africa - helping mothers and newborns stay healthy

God’s Love We Deliver

Amani Global Works

Biblioburro

Gabby Giffords antigun PAC (giffords PAC) is fighting the right fight

AGW & WEACT (We Act for Environmental Justice)

ADL

Coney Island Prep

Polaris Project

American Cancer Society

Charity Water

Climate Reality Project

Inspiring Politician (no filtering, if you wrote it, it’s in here…)

No One/LOL (8)

Elizabeth Warren (5)

Donald Trump (“he inspired me to be active”) (3)

Tarana Burke (2) (#MeToo)

Kirsten Gillibrand (2)

Danica Roem (2)

Bernie Sanders (2)

Sally Yates (2)

John McCain

Jimmy Kimmel

Angela Merkel - her face says what I feel about American politics.

Adam Schiff

Samantha Bee

John McCain

Scott Stringer

Jeff Flake

Chris Murphy

Joe Kahn

Cory Booker

Michelle Obama

Jon Ossoff

Hillary Clinton

Bob Ferguson - Washington State Attorney General

Best Restaurant Experience This Year (no filtering, if you wrote it, it’s in here…)

PABU Izakaya in SF

Blanca

Berns Steakhouse in Tampa, FL

Breakfast Burrito from Frank’s on Fairfax

Sushi Nakazawa

Los Angeles Tatsu Ramen, Pork Bao on Melrose.

Asiate

Boulud Sud

Tomahawk steak at Gelso & Grand has changed me as a person

Park Avenue Summer

Pokeworks at lunch

Azurmendi ½ hour outside Bilbao Spain

The Modern (2)

Atlantic Grill

Candle Cafe

Barbuzzo (Philadelphia)

ABC Kitchen

Here’s Looking at You (LA)

Excellent Dumpling House in Chelsea

Burma Superstar

Blue Ribbon Brasserie, SoHo

Eataly

Quality Italian

Sate Kampar, Philadelphia

Shalom Y'all

Nix

Azurmende (in Bilbao)

Breakfast at Hyatt Kathmandu

Vietnam on First Avenue NYC

Maison Pickle

Jeni’s Ice Cream (ATL)

Sushi Takeshima in Kanazawa, Japan

Mastros

Picco Larkspur, CA

The Old Rose in the Jane Hotel

Souley Vegan - Oakland

Four Seasons Jackson Hole

Chris Aerni’s is the chef/owner of the Rosemont Inn in New Brunswick, Canada

Bite Into Maine - Lobster Roll

Sushi Inoue

Best Purchase Under $500 (answers filtered based on broad applicability and usefulness)

Allbirds runners

Samsung 4K HDR Monitor

Adidas Ultra Boost running shoes

Netgear orbi

Airpods (4)

5 nights of babysitting

SodaStream

InstantPot!

Deluxe Ninja blender

Salomon hiking boots

Brookes walking shoes

Western Mountaineering Sleeping Bag

Amope Electronic Foot File

Contigo hot cup for on-the-go. Really does keep my tea warm for 4hrs!

Madewell Jeans

Wrinkle-free shirts from LL Bean

Amazon Echo

Bombas socks (honeycomb support structure rocks)

We designed a glass vase and had it blown for us by Lexington Glassworks in Asheville, NC

Smart Light Bulbs

F2C Indoor Exercise Bike Stand trainer W/ 8 Levels of Resistance

Dream “Off The Beaten Path” Vacation (filtered to focus on discovery)

Northern India

Hill Tribes of India

The Color wars in India

Jacmel, Haiti

Rocky Mountain National Park

Lake Louise

Azores (3)

Portugal (4)

Mississippi

Namibia, Africa

Morocco

Aran Islands, Ireland

Northern Scandinavia

Lamu, Kenya

Palau

Iceland - Fire and Ice experiences

Cuba

Health Products or Insights (not filtered - you were all very interesting on this one)

Sleep more

ClassPass - yoga once a week

Pull-up bar that pops in above door

Stretches learned during physical therapy, amazing. Better posture while standing. Using a standing desk that can move up and down.

Switched from Eucerin face cream to Rose Hip and Hibiscus Moisturizer, skin feels much better.

One big meal a day

Citibike

under desk bike, apple watch

Yoga

I have begun Pilates this year and it really seems to work with my body. I am hoping I can join a studio to work with the machines next year. Also the foam roller will change your life ! I roll my back daily and it helps soooo much!

Not eating 5 or more hours before going to bed

Started tai-chi

Drink water

Cycling

doing at least a little bit of yoga or stretching every single day

intermittent fasting

alkali water

Flotation

TM

Mindfulness in every-day moments

You can do a lot in one day rather than spread it out over 5-6 days

More mindful breathing.

Hiking with walking sticks really helps the knees.

Still searching for something that I will stick with

SLT and retinol nightly

Yoga. And stretching.

I had some imaging done on my heart. Does that count?

Feldenkrais

hot yoga (I know, it’s so 10 years ago)

Stretching!

Marula facial oil and MCT oil in coffee aka bulletproof coffee

Float tanks

Eating low carb

Insight: Dry Fasting as implemented by Dr. Sergei Filonov in Siberia – cured my friend’s debilitating Lyme disease with six weeks of treatment.

Magnesium Taurate (back pain)

Milk thistle

How often do you meditate?

3+ times per week:             6.1%

1 or 2 times per week:     18.4%

1 or 2 times per month:   12.2%

rarely:                               22.4%

never:                              40.8%

Prediction: Bitcoin price at the end of 2018

>$25,000                                        22.0%

Between $25,000 and $2,500       63.4%

<$2,500                                         14.6%

Prediction: Senate after 2018 Elections

Republicans gain seats (>51 seats):        6.4%

51 Rep / 49 Dem (stays the same):         4.3%

50 / 50:                                                  23.4%

Democrats gain control:                       66.0%

Prediction: Who will win the World Cup

“I don’t care”:           53.1%

Germany:                 14.3%

Brazil:                       10.2%

Spain:                        6.1%

Argentina:                  6.1%

All other choices too low to bother with…

Favorite Life Hack (light filtering for usefulness)

Always be kind to your wife

Make a daily list of three things each day for which you are grateful.

Rely on the experts. They’re generally right

Better to “get over it” quickly

Using binder clips to hold loose wires to back of desk

Gowanus is as cool of a neighborhood as it is ugly.

Seek out comedy and laugh as much as possible. Recent interests Tiffany Haddish and Judd Apatow has a few good laughs on his special.

You don’t control your circumstances, you can control how you deal with them

Ink + Volt Planner

shave only once a week

Practice patience…

This is probably common knowledge to everyone, but it turns out there’s an arrow near the gas display that tells you which side of the car has the gas tank.

I learned about living an aloha life and while it is not super easy in NYC it is always a conscious decision that has not failed to make me feel better

“Books make my bed dirty, and alas, I ain’t got no transcendental eyeglasses”

Technology is not my friend

I should’ve spent more time with the Gottliebs in 2017. Will not make that mistake again.

Less social media. Facebook / twitter / insta can be bad for you.

overnight steel cut oats

Voters need to show up

Gmail allows variations to your address that include inserting a “.” anywhere or adding +“whatever you want” before the “@”. Generally logins require both you’re email address and your password. Half of that equation (your email address) is publicly available. For painless added security, when creating logins to sites, consider adding “+whatever you want” to the email address. A hacker would require both your password and this variation on your email address, which no one but you would have knowledge of. Incoming messages can also be filtered into folders by variations of this kind if you like (so “+secure”; “+junk”; “+temp”; “+important”).

Stop watching the news.

TM

It’s not as bad as it appears

To help kids be independent, we need to trust them.

Most damage can be repaired.

Be kind as often as you can because it will come back to you in spades

Book called subtle art of not giving a bleep….very good life advice

Take chances and try to be happy. Life is too short not to do so.

We need to regain a more equal distribution of income and the belief that we should take care of each other.

bidet

Getting old sucks

Growing old is good and becoming invisible has distinct advantages.

It’s not a new one, but work/life balance is CRUCIAL

Life is short.

When I say “yes” to something, what I am saying “no” to?

Electric power consumption will increase steadily over time notwithstanding efficiency gains in products that consume electricity

[rundavina2018]

How Did We Get Here?

I’ve never been what I considered a runner...I’m definitely not the fastest and I will never “win” a race.  Before I met my husband I never considered the thought of running for a purpose...It was all about fun runs with friends that ended with a cold beer! Dave has changed all of that for me.  Don’t get me wrong...we still want a cold beer and most importantly, a medal, when we finish, but as a whole, he’s turned running into something more and pushed me to try harder.  I have goals and expectations for myself that I never had before when it came to running.

When we found out we were pregnant in 2016, we were excited and the plan was to keep running until the doctors said to stop.  It would be a great way for me to stay in shape during the pregnancy and Dave was training for an NYC qualifying race that was set for February 2017.  It was near perfect timing since our due date was March 2017...so we thought!  Everything changed at our 7 week ultrasound when we found out we were having twins!  Not only was the idea of me traveling to Houston to support him in his race out of the question now, but he also wasn’t feeling so great about the possibility of me going in to labor with him 3.5 hours away.  So seven weeks into the pregnancy and our running efforts were already going downhill.  I was gaining weight faster than any other pregnancy, I was exhausted by noon, and the nausea was unreal!  Sure, Dave could have kept running regardless of dropping from his race, but I became overly emotional, overly needy, and overly hungry.  I became a bad influence!

The spring of 2017 became a crazy few months for us.  On February 7, 2017, the girls arrived...two beautiful, healthy little girls that needed our full attention.  Although they were actually really good babies, the idea of running was in itself an exhausting thought.  We were also smack dab in the middle of finalizing our move 10,000 miles away to Singapore.  I love a good excuse and I definitely let everything going on around us become our excuse for not running...the pregnancy, the first nine months with twins, a move across the globe, settling in to a new life in a new country...they were good excuses for BOTH of us in my mind.  

Well excuse time was up!  I convinced Dave to sign up for a 10k at the beginning of December 2017.  It was our first race in Singapore and with little to no prep we did well.  And on top of that the race did exactly what I hoped it would do...it motivated both of us.  But then came the holidays...with Christmas, and New Years and family and friends here we completely lost sight of our goal to make 2018 our running comeback year.  It’s March now and the holidays are over, the girls are one, the older kids are all thriving in school, worklife has settled for Dave, and I am well adjusted to my new surroundings.  So it’s time to throw away the excuses!

In February we started our comeback!  Dave decided his health was more important that he was treating it and really got into gear.  We started out small by setting weekly goals of 20 miles for each of us.  The 20 miles could be walking, jogging, running...anything that got us off our asses and out of the house.  I’ve conquered over 150 miles in the last month and I could not be more proud of my husband’s determination...200+ miles?!? Cheers to that!  Needless to say, we’ve upped those weekly goals and are managing to stay on track.

I’m stupidly excited to document and share this journey, and to have the chance to improve my running with the help of my best friend and partner in life (even if he and I are the only ones reading these posts).  The possibilities are endless and the chance to improve our health while running in parts of the world that I never thought I’d even see is amazing.  Here’s to running our own race and making incredible memories with the man I love more than life!  

[ambuhr]

2017.

Was the year of a lot of firsts and lasts.

Got accepted into medical school

Had the time of my life at my very last spring fair

Walked at my college graduation

Went to Greece for the first time and fell in love

Reunited with all my relatives in China

Explored NYC for a week with my favorite person

Started medical school and had my white coat ceremony

Turned 22

Struggled with finding myself and who I want to become

This year hasn’t turned out how I thought it would, but I am still growing and I think that’s what matters the most. This New Year’s Eve, I am not at my annual NYE party, I am not with my friends, I am not in the city. I am cozied up at home with my parents instead. I am watching the NYE festivities on TV with a beer in my hand, waiting for midnight to come and to clear out the second half of this year from my memory.

I am tired of feeling down on myself, and I wish I could be with A, but things didn’t work out and he couldn’t come stay over. I can’t wait for a new chance to make things right.

So 2017, thanks for the memories, but I’m ready to grow stronger in 2018. To a new me.

[brewyork]

The 9 Breweries That Opened in NYC in 2017 Made a Beer Together

Photo courtesy Five Boroughs Brewing Co.

Nine breweries opened in New York City last year. It was a banner year for the city’s beer scene, and yet another reason for beer drinkers to celebrate during New York City Beer Week, which kicks off this weekend. Those nine breweries are debuting a beer called Class of 2017 New York City Pale Ale in a launch event Thursday in the taproom of the brewery where the beer was made, Five Boroughs Brewing.

First, for starters, here’s a brief rundown of those nine breweries that opened in 2017:

Circa Brewing Co: Pizza and beer are the name of the game at this downtown Brooklyn brewpub that opened in July.

Death Avenue: The in-house brewery for this Mediterranean Restaurant just off the High Line debuted Fourth of July weekend. A separate taproom opened in the fall.

Fifth Hammer Brewing: Long Island City’s fifth brewery, with veteran brewer Chris Cuzme at the helm, opened to rave reviews in October.

Five Boroughs Brewing Co.: Lagers make up most of the core lineup of this booming Sunset Park brewery that debuted in August.

Island to Island Brewery: Inspired by Carribbean roots and all things fermentable, this Prospect Lefferts Gardens brewery opened last spring.

Kills Boro Brewing Company: Staten Island’s newest brewery opened its doors at Craft House over the summer, and their first two canned IPAs got snapped up fast in December.

Lineup Brewing: Kat Martinez’s beers are already making waves on New York’s beer scene after launching last February. 

Randolph Beer DUMBO: The third outpost of this beer bar chain opened in October with a hefty in-house brewery and a pour-your-own-beer system for those who like ultimate control.

Wartega Brewing: Debuting their beers last January at the Industry City Distillery is this one-barrel-at-a-time brewery from the minds of Merlin Ward and Mimi Ortega.

The beer itself is a 6.5% ABV Pale Ale brewed with “a healthy dose” of New York State ingredients. In addition to two-row malt, there’s New York State heirloom wheat in the grain bill, plus Chinook and Cascade hops from Pedersen Farms in the Finger Lakes Region. Additional Mosaic, Amarillo, and Citra hops offer a fruity, citrusy character.

The release party runs from 4pm to 10pm on Thursday in the Five Boroughs taproom, where they’ll have the beer on draft and available in cans to-go, plus commemorative Teku glasses designed by illustrator Abbey Lossing. Plus, author Justin Kennedy will be on hand signing his new book The Scratch and Sniff Guide to Beer. They’ll have food, snacks, and other surprises, too.

[sfpcschool]

Fall 2017: Week 7

post by ann (SFPC 2017)

Thoughts have begun to turn to the final showcase which is only two weekends away (Mark your calendars for Nov 11–12!). Students spent time this week brainstorming about the podcast they are creating for Morehshin Allahyari’s class, The Radical Outside, and talked about their project ideas over family dinner with alumni Andy Clymer, Michael Simpson, Yeseul Song, Anastasis Germanidis, and Todd Anderson, as well as SFPC co-founder Taeyoon Choi.

Day 1: Averaging images and making Text Rain

Day 1 kicked off with a lecture by Zach Lieberman that built on the previous week’s lecture on image processing. This week, students learned how to create an image that averages the frames of a video, and also how to recreate the well-known interactive art piece Text Rain (1999) by Camille Utterback & Romy Achituv.

The class started with a lecture on image averaging, and students discussed Nancy Burson and Jason Salavon’s work.

Burson was well known in the 1980s and 90s for her work on composite and morphed faces. The technology she created in collaboration with two MIT engineers (Richard Carling and David Kramlich) was used by the FBI to age the faces of missing children.

Her best-known public art project is probably the Human Race Machine, which was originally developed in 2000 but continues to be shown in museums today. The project is meant to spark a discussion about race as a social construct, rather than genetic determination.

After viewing Burson’s work, the class spent time discussing the controversial and problematic nature of her approach to race. In particular, Burson often presents as emblematic racial ‘types’ (Asian, Black, Hispanic, Indian) that are in fact an arbitrary fabrication reflective of her own biases as creator rather than any objective measure.

The class also looked at Jason Salavon’s work with averages. Next, Zach live-coded a recreation of Salavon’s style of composite image (check out the code here if you’re curious!).

After the Salavon demonstration, Zach walked the class through a recreation of Text Rain. In short, he created a binary black/white image from his video feed, and instructed the falling particles to stop when they encountered a black pixel (code is here!).

Lastly, Zach shared some of his favorite computer vision books for further reading and study.

Day 2: Digital Colonialism, Time, and Piracy

Morehshin started her class with a short lecture on digital colonialism and data ownership. Morehshin has spoken extensively on digital colonialism, and shared with the class her perspective on the proprietary ownership of 3D models of ancient artifacts as a new form of colonialism.

Then, Heather Moore, Hyojin Yoo, and Matt Jacobson presented on digital colonialism, the history of time, and piracy respectively.

Heather talked about the difference between colonialism, imperialism, and globalism (settlements and control of technology, ideology, transnational economies), and how colonialism today is about controlling people without military force. She also discussed restricting what is possible to do with a given technology as a modern control mechanism.

Next, Hyojin talked about the history of time. In the past, ‘time’ did not mean ‘clock time’ but could refer to many different representations of time such as a the movement of the sun in the sky or the changing seasons. She talked about how time affects our perception of the world and sets certain rituals. Today, we tend to think of time as linear and as a commodity.

“Time was an important way to measure labor output.” — Hyojin Yoo

Lastly, Matt talked about piracy as a facet of colonialism. He posited the open source movement as a form of revolution, meant to make democratic technologies that are usually obscured. He also talked about glitch art, and how artists working in that medium push back against the very hardware that constrains us and separates via access— the size of our monitors and the resolution of our screens.

Day 2 (afternoon): Student Colin Wang teaches a workshop on 3D modeling

As the final showcase approaches, many students have questions on creating custom parts for their projects. To help his classmates get started, Colin Wang, a current SFPC student, designer, and mechanical engineer, led an introductory workshop on 3D modeling.

Day 3: DIY sensors and capacitive touch

On Day 3 students were back with Pam Liou and Arduinos. Pam started by giving a lecture on potentiometers and variable resistance. She showed how some materials have enough resistance that it’s possible to create a quick-and-dirty potentiometer simply by sliding your power along the length while fixing the ground (she demonstrated with brass and steel yarn, which are both much less conductive than copper).

Then she challenged the class to develop their own sensors that used the concept of variable resistance. The students came up with everything from box shaped sensors, to ping pong balls wrapped in foil, to a crazy windchime sensor (sadly, not captured on film!).

Next, Pam talked about capacitive sensors and showed the class how to turn a regular Arduino into a capacitive touch sensor without any added shields or hardware. Simply add the capacitiveTouch library, wire up some big resistors (500K+ recommended!) and then you can use pins 2, 4, and 6 as touch sensors. Easy!

Day 4: Trading Zines on the last day with Nick Montfort

Day 4 marked the last code poetry class with Nick Montfort. In his three part lecture on small machines, Nick has taken the class through creating tweet-sized python programs that generated poems, to slightly longer (but still small!) programs to create zines. For their final class, students generated text for small zines which they read aloud, shared, and discussed.

Day 4 (evening): Family dinner and feedback session with SFPC alum

On Thursday evening, current SFPC TA and former student Todd Andersonarranged a family dinner + feedback session with four SFPC alum: Andy Clymer, Michael Simpson, Yeseul Song, and Anastasis Germanidis. After a hearty pizza dinner, alum introduced themselves, the projects they made for their final showcase, and their current work. Afterwards, students split into groups according to their interests and the expertise of the alum to receive feedback on their final showcase ideas.

It was great opportunity to sit down with the alum and get their insight, and a testament to the closeness of the SFPC family!

Day 5: Visit to Dark Matter

On Friday, students visited the studios of Taeyoon Choi and Zach Liebermanat Dark Matter in Brooklyn for a meet-and-greet. Artists from Dark Matter, Alex Qin from Gakko, cs, Jonathan Dahan, Pete Krafft, Maddy Varner, scientists from Biotech without Borders, and other friends of SFPC met over pizza, beer, and cocktails.

And a week 7 video from Yumi!

Finally, don’t forget to RSVP for the Student Showcase on November 11~12 at SFPC, 155 Bank Street, NYC!