Take Me Out to the Ballgame!

Being a proud and lifelong Bronx resident, how could I not be a huge Yankees fan? Of course, there are the record number of championships but you have to admit, it's also about the rich Yankee history, the extensive Yankee tradition and of course, the new beautiful ball park.

Certainly, the haters insist the Yankees buy themselves a great team every year.  My response to this argument is, if in fact this were true, then why haven't we won a championship every single year? After all, the Yankees have historically had one of the highest payrolls in baseball but the fact remains,  they haven't won every year. As most Yankee fans will readily admit, having a huge payroll doesn't necessarily guarantee a pennant but it certainly does better the odds. To be quite  honest with you, I see nothing wrong with spending huge sums of money on a winning team! My rationale is there isn't a single major league team in America that isn't charging a fortune for tickets or forcing their fans to sneak food into the park because they can"t afford to pay $8.00 for a hot dog! There is a pleasure in knowing that at the home of the Yankees, fans will pay $12.00 for bleacher seats and $8.50 for a hot dog but at least, there is a sense of serenity in knowing that our hard earned money could positively affect the outcome of another championship!

Thankfully, I didn't have to pay for our fantastic seats along the first base line. My good fortune was attributed to the fact that my son Alex had wanted to take me out to the stadium for my birthday. He knew that as much as I loved the Yankees, I still hadn't been out to the new place. Along with Alex,  his long time friend Laura came with us. At one point, they were each busy sipping away at their warm $10.00 beers and I was chugging on my water filled plastic bottle and noshing on the Nutella sandwiches I brought in from home. Every so often, I looked over and wondered how they could afford their lifestyles! I suppose in their own special way, they were helping out Alex Rodriguez. They're such good kids!  My son also knew how apprehensive I had been about this new stadium. After all, tearing down the old stadium was the equivalent of demolishing a cathedral. I have to say, they did a fantastic job with the new place and it definitely is a suitable home for the Yankees. Alex and I were already talking about taking a tour of the stadium, some time during the close of the season and making the pilgrimage out to Cooperstown.

Being at the stadium is a different experience than watching the game at home. The most obvious differences are I don't have to stand on a long line to go to the bathroom and I can't fall asleep on the couch. However, I've also noticed that when I'm home, I seem to be more in tune with the game. Whereas, there are a thousand distractions at the stadium and in many ways, they aren't necessarily bad. Of course, you're checking out the boards, the people walking by, the fans yelling and the routine movements of being at the stadium. Despite the busy stadium environment, there is also a pace to the game that seemingly contradicts the hustle and bustle. I'm talking about the time between at bats or pitches.  This lull allows you to turn over and talk about what's going on in and outside of the game. Of course, there aren't any time restraints in baseball and the game will end when the innings are over. In the back of my mind, there is a pleasure in knowing this is essentially the same game I went to with my dad and there's a good chance the game will be the same for my grandchildren.


Despite the threat of rain and being down to the Tampa Bay Rays 2 - 0, the Yankees managed to come from behind and won, 4 - 2. Best of all, we were able to see Mariano Rivera (a.k.a.: The Sandman!) pitch his 163rd save of his career! Even though all Yankee wins are special, this game was significant because the win gave them the chance to clinch a playoff berth (As if we had any doubt!). What baseball fan could ask for more?

Catching Up With An Old Friend, The New Yorker

Before going to bed, I usually watch the monologue on The Late Show With David Letterman. The monologue isn't always funny but I'm always entertained by Letterman's  quirkiness and sharp wit. Besides the obvious entertainment value, I learn a great deal about the news from the monologue.

For example, Letterman mentioned an extremely well written article from the NewYorker called, Getting Bin Laden. Essentially, the article details the true life moments of the SEAL team that assassinated Osama Bin Laden. Even though the article is eighteen pages long, the story reads well and is informative, as well as engaging. At one point, I felt as if I was in the helicopter, ready to climb down the speed rope and take out Bin Laden!

If you're anything like me, you'll want to read through the short stories and of course, the award winning cartoons. I was, however, pleasantly surprised by a video on an amazing art project! This particular Dutch artist creates something that is beautiful, inspired and almost spooky. Let me know what you think of Beach Creatures.

Enjoy and be good.

The Kids Are Alright

After a month or so of starting this blog, the idea that I can actually create a blog is beginning to set in with my children, family and friends. Don't get me wrong, not all of them are regular readers but they all have been eager about giving me suggestions.  While I admit to being somewhat sensitive to change, many of their ideas have been constructive and I've tried my best to implement as many changes as possible. I also have to acknowledge my everlasting affection for Candice's good friend Sofia because she has enjoyed, laughed and loved every single one of my blogs. 

Well, now that there is acceptance, it appears they want me to do tricks. The trick this time, as suggested by my lovely daughter Candice, was for me to be a music/video critic. So, along with her own pick, she encouraged Alex, Paulette, Gabriela, Chris and Sofia to pick out songs and artists for me to review.

Deep down inside, I know Candice gave me this assignment with the intent of making me insane. After all, there wasn't one title or artist that I did not have a problem with. I either thought she was giving me more than the number of allowed songs or I thought the artist was the song and visa versa. However, after two days of back and forth, I was able to determine who sang what and most importantly, I didn't renege on our deal. 

The criteria I use to review these songs is not at all scientific and is subject to my biases and opinions but I'm sure that's what everybody wants anyway. 

Candice's Pick (a.k.a. Funchi): Check It Out by Nicki Minaj and Will.i.am - I absolutely enjoyed this video! There, I said it! Overall, the video was slick and well produced  and I found myself tapping the beat. Mind you, I have minimal recollection of what was actually said and the well-heeled Nicki Minaj does spew a few obscenities but I've heard saltier language from the Bleecher Creatures at Yankee Stadium. For better or worse, cursing seems to be the gateway to communicating and expression these days. What I did find more troubling was a few of Will.i.am's not so subtle and robotic machinations. The essential message I took away from the song was the walls that had to be built, in an effort to deal with people who are resentful and jealous of her. These same feelings seem to hold true for Will.i.am. As clear cut as this message seemed to be, the verbal message seems to be at odds with what is going on in the video. The clip is centered on the performers dancing and singing in front of an all female Japanese audience (The entire audience is dressed in black and are wearing sun glasses!).

In the words of Nicki, it's, "Da done done!"

Alex' Pick (a.k.a. Yippy): All I Need by Jay Z - The minute I heard the ominous thumping, the fifty something year old Riverdale resident in me ran for cover behind the sofa and every so often, peeked over at the gangsta' sitting and grinning in his place. I couldn't help but crank up the volume and hope I was disturbing my wife and neighbors. Cuz, I guess I got my swagger back! 

I've always been of the mind that Jay Z has an uncanny ability to plug into every male's inner gansta. His rhythms are hard and primal,  and his words scream alpha male! Yes, I envision myself driving a blacked out Chrysler 300M, "Like we underground kings, ridin' dirty!" Overall, this particular Jay Z ditty is long, and packed with nuance, as well as complexity.

After viewing Nicki's video, my only disappointment was there wasn't one featuring this Jay Z's song. Just imagine the visuals to the words, "I blow smoke in your face, burn rubber off the rim tires." Yeah, yeah, yeah... 

Gabriela's Pick (a.k.a. Bleee): Cheers (I'll Drink to That) by Rihanna Featuring Avril Lavigne - Much like Nicki's, the video to this song was well produced and reminded me of a perfume commercial. And similar to the Nicki Minaj song, her voice was mostly synthesized. However, the results gave this song a surreal and ghostly effect (Despite the fact the song was about partying and drinking). 

The first dreamlike segment features Rihanna inside of what appears to be a giant pink flower. The flower eventually pollinates and Rihanna, elegantly dressed in pink, walks along a maze of bushes or the "good" road. She then proceeds to enter the "bad" road maze of bushes by walking through a sheet of glass. Of course, this passage from good to bad is followed by a change in outfit - from pink to black. Once she transitions into the dark side of the garden maze, three sets of well manicured male hands cover her eyes and the focus proceeds downward to her hand where she is holding a black tinted bottle of perfume. From this point on, the video follows her taking the same steps, only backwards. The video ends where she began - inside of the flower. The beat and rhythm of the song are pleasant and catchy but I did have to strain to understand what was being said. Again, the title and verses of the song had little if anything to do with the video and appeared to be more of a vehicle for a new fragrance. 

Chris' Pick (a.k.a. Bubba): Taboo by Don Omar - All I could do was scratch my head when I viewed and listened to Chris' choice of video and song. Don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed the video and song. After all, it was well edited,  action oriented and the pace was fast and furious. The vocals were again, synthesized  but pleasant and rhythmic. What I couldn't understand was why Chris chose this song. After all, I've never heard Chris speak a work of Spanish or Portuguese. I kept asking myself, "Really?"

The video opens above the head of the concrete Christ, standing over what I believe to be San Paulo, Brazil. The camera then shifts to the well dressed Don Omar, singing in Portuguese and eventually, Spanish. At some points of the song, the vocals are so heavily synthesized that the two languages are almost meshed together as one. Our focus is then drawn to a beautiful blond woman at a party who seems to have had a romantic past with Don Omar, who had just arrived to serve her and her male companion drinks. What ensues is a mix of the Fast and the Furious 5 (Fast Five) , carnival, the streets of San Paulo, discos and Capoeira. One thing I've leaned about Chris over the years is he's a wild man and this video and song seem to confirm that notion!

Sofia's Pick (a.k.a. soFia): Bottoms Up by Trey Songz - Of all the songs given to me to review, this is the only song that is closely linked in meaning to the video. Nope, there isn't much room for argument here; the song is about partying, drinking and of course, bottoms up - both literally and figuratively! Both the song and video are fun, catchy and easy to listen to. Nicki Manaj is also featured and adds to the quick pace of the video.   

Paulette's Pick (a.k.a. La Grilla): Mirror by Lil Wayne, featuring Bruno Mars - With the exception of the Jay Z song, Mirror is the only song with true to life vocals. In short, no voices are synthesized or overly produced and as a result,  the emotions are truly heartfelt and lasting. In a nutshell, he sings about what he sees in the mirror. We eventually learn that he doesn't seem to be too happy about about what he sees.

Overall, the experience of reviewing these songs has been both enlightening and interesting. Throughout the process, I did my best to maintain an open mind and I tried not to think about the music/videos as either their type of music or mine. After all, I understand these are different times and everybody in the video is young enough to be a son or daughter of mine but regardless, many of the themes, concerns and emotions are essentially the same. The most positive aspect about the current music/videos provided to me was how articulate the artists were about the burdens of fame.  

Hope you've enjoyed the blog and be good.  

From Mama Sushi to Doña Irene

8/26

Noemi and I started getting ready for Hurricane Irene in the early afternoon. We both swore up and down we weren’t going to buy much at the supermarket, since we already had tons of meat in the freezer. All we needed was bread, milk, pasta & ice cream. We ended up spending more than $50.00. So much for sticking to the budget!


After coming home, I decided to do a short bike ride. I got in a little more than 20 miles in the neighborhood and I managed to take some pics. I was surprised to see only one owner boarding up his house.

That evening, Alex called me to ask if I could take him to his job in Chappaqua the next day. I asked him how was he getting back because the MTA was shutting down subways, busses and commuter trains at noon? He quickly responded he would get someone to fill in for him. Naturally, I agreed that was the smart thing to do. 

I was a bit bored that evening, so I started taking pictures of my sneakers.

A little later on, Candice and I texted about the fact that NYC had never shut down the subways. I believe the last time the subways were shut down was during the 2003 blackout and of course, 9/11. I had heard it takes about 8 hours to start up the subway system, once they’ve been shut down. Apparently, the MTA has to pump out the water that accumulates below the tunnels on a daily basis, even when there isn't any rain. 

8/27

I got up early this morning and decided to put some gas in the car and buy  bagels. I also had to get some sugar, pancake mix and syrup. When I got to the gas station the attendant pointed out they ran out of regular gas and they only had premium. Before I managed to put on "the face," he quickly added, "I charge you the same". I softly responded, "cool". Then I decided to get some cash at the bank, even though I’m in the habit of using my debit card, wherever I go. 

On my way to Bagel Corner, I couldn’t believe that in a time of crisis, the Starbucks on Johnson Avenue was shut down! What if I suddenly had an insatiable craving for Yukon Blend! As soon as this "monsoon" I'll have to make it a point to drop an email to Howard Schultz! These are serious times! 

As soon as I got home, Noemi and I started bringing in the plants, as well as the chairs from the terrace. I also secured the grill with some of my old inner tubes. I knew I would use that bag of inner tubes one day! After bringing in everything, I decided to get a short ride in, before the rain. Noemi became annoyed.

I wound up doing a short ride of approximately 13 miles, in the neighborhood. I was surprised there was little, if any activity going on at the big homes on Fieldston or Palisades Avenues.  As a matter of fact, I noticed that a construction site had a dumpster filled to the top with uncovered debris. 

As soon as I returned, Candice and I started texting and updating each other on the anticipated rain and wind. She had also done some time on the treadmill that morning and had wanted to rollerblade. Regretfully, the park entrance was closed. She had a whole lot of school work to do, just the same.

Noemi wasn’t home when I returned from my ride. She decided to go to the supermarket and pick up a few things. She’d been obsessing about buying ground turkey to make tacos tonight. Against her good judgment, she took Paulette with her and wound up buying more than $50.00 in groceries. Over the years, we’ve both learned that it's a bad idea to bring Paulette food shopping because she tosses junk food into the shopping cart and before you know it, you"re spending beaucoup bucks! Just the same, we had pasta for dinner.

Maybe it’s too early but waiting for Irene was really boring! All I’ve done today is watch the news, eat food (Including a few handfuls of Paulette’s potato chips) and check hurricane updates on-line. I’d even thought about straightening out the hallway closet. I have to admit, the real reason I want to clean out the closet is because I can’t seem to find my DVD remote control anywhere and I want to watch the Godfather l and ll. Maybe, I should subscribe to Netflix. 

So far, the highlight of the evening was Noemi calling Paulette and me over to show us how much water she’s collected. She managed to fill up the bathtub and five buckets, as well as two large pots. She also announced that we were not to touch her bucket of water because she had taken special precautions to disinfect her water. Paulette and I couldn’t stop laughing because we were essentially being told that our immune systems would have to fend for themselves! 

8/28

I woke up at 4:00 am to the sound of the wind blowing and the trees shaking. I looked out the window and it was was as if God had grabbed the trunk of this huge tree behind our building and began shaking it like a dashboard hula dancer!

I then walked over to the living room to make sure everything was okay. I discovered the windows were leaking and last year’s brick pointing project was pointless because water was seeping in through the walls. I strategically placed a few chinese food containers to capture the water and went back to bed.


I woke up at about 9:00 am and decided to take a look outside, since the rain seemed to hold up a bit. Right outside of the building, I saw branches strewn all over the street and as I walked down the block, I saw that a tree had been uprooted and collapsed on top of an Acura SUV and a light pole.

I then decided this was a bit too much action for me to have without a cup of coffee inside of me. I went upstairs and made egg and grilled sausage with cheese on pita sandwiches for everyone. I don't normally eat sausages but I wanted to make good use of all of the meats my sister Ada had ordered for me from Omaha Steak. I have to admit, everything they shipped was great: The steak, salmon, chicken, pork chops, breakfast sausages and even the double chocolate cake (I "inhaled" that cake a long time ago!). After breakfast and of course, the coffee, we each went our separate ways to check up on friends and relatives; either by phone, text or email. Thankfully, everybody we knew was fine or at worse, had to deal with minor inconveniences. We finally had the long awaited tacos for lunch and I was getting antsy from being inside most of the day. I managed to convince Noemi to take a walk outside with me. We were surprised to see a significant amount of damage within a 4-6 block parameter.

Although this hurricane / tropical storm was not by any means catastrophic, as a lifelong New Yorker, certain things become apparent in difficult times. You begin to notice that you actually stop and converse with people you don't know. You also start asking your neighbors questions and most of all, you begin to listen to them. Soon enough, you begin to feel for those you don't know and who are going through difficulty. 
Again, our hopes and prayers go out to those who are going through difficult times.
Take care and be good.  

Aye Caramba, Mama Sushi!

Mama Sushi is the kind of place I really wanted to love. After all, Mama Sushi is located near the corner of Dyckman Street and Seaman, the throbbing hotspot section of Inwood, in upper Manhattan. And even though there's a lot to get used to: The fire engine sirens, the reggaeton blaring from open car windows and the "Tigeres" warmly embracing one another, I quickly felt at home and was eager to be seated. I was also anxious to  partake in what everyone describes as, "Dominican-Japanese Fusion." Yes, even though Mama Sushi is barely a five minute ride from Riverdale,  I was in Inwood tonight, and felt as if I was worlds away.

Maybe my expectations were too high but I was anticipating my fellow latinos to flawlessly fuse two of my favorite cuisines; Japanese and Dominican. In all of my years of eating both types of food, I was waiting to be skillfully bowled over by Mama Sushi and I wanted it to be done with a great deal of, "Orgullo y estilo!"  After all, Mama Sushi, is the sister restaurant of the hugely successful Mama Juana. Meanwhile, through the corner of my eyes, I could see the multi-colored lights shine on Mama Juana, just across the street. All of a sudden, I was left wondering why there wasn't a light that shined on Mama Sushi? The answer to my question soon became apparent.

Within five to ten minutes, our group of five was warmly greeted and the corner sidewalk table we were led to was ideal. We were given adequate time to gather and give Mama Sushi the "Once over." Most of the people there were young, friendly and well dressed. The indoor portion of the restaurant was small, simple and seemed tastefully decorated.

The waitress quickly came over and took our drink orders and within minutes, came out with our beverages which included two exotically flavored and powerful mojitos. Both mojitos were flavored with rum, fruits, juices and herbs and packed with "sabor" to the very last sip! We then placed our appetizer orders, as well as a number of plates of sushi. Within minutes of our order, the waitress dropped off two long dishes of their special sauces. One of the sauces seemed to be made of ketchup, mayonnaise and lemon juice. The other phantom menace was similar, except it was a shade darker and had a touch of either horseradish or wassabe. Both sauces were pleasant and not at all offensive. A good while later, we received our appetizers and just about then, my daughters Candice and Paulette pointed out that I had "The face." While I routinely deny wearing, "The face," I always seem to be the only one who doesn't seem to know it. According to all of those close to me, any form of frustration and/or anger is immediately registered on my face like a Motel 6 sign. Apparently, I have the ability to aim my displeasure at an oncoming offender and almost singlehandedly, belittle and make them crave to be in a fetal position. While I firmly deny that I have a "face" or any other inherent traumatizing abilities, both bowls of fried calamari arrived cold. Furthermore, the texture of the edimome was good but was also cold.

Soon enough, our sushi arrived and I soon understood that at Mama Sushi's, "Japanese-Dominican fusion" was just another word for bland and forgettable. At one point, I almost felt compelled to kneel and beg for a few drops of soy sauce. Warning: Don't even consider asking for anything more than a dab of wassabe. If you want taste, dip one of your thirty pieces of sushi into the scant serving of the phantom menace sauce! As for the sushi, the texture of the rice did not contain the sushi tightly enough and the fillings were tasteless. At one point, all of us had a debate on whether we were eating canned tuna or crab and this impassioned discussion continued on the drive home. We then ordered dessert and about twenty minutes later, the waitress announced that the delay of our dessert was attributed to the fact that our sweet fried plantains had been burned. Candice announced, "Oh, oh, the face, " while Paulette and my wife giggled.  Meanwhile, I noticed the waitress coming out of the corner bodega with a bag of plantains.

The check finally arrived and along with the blare of the last fire engine, the waitress curtsied and ended her lame excuses.  Despite the "faux-fusion," we laughed and joked and I finally realized that there was a light that shined on us. And the light is still shining.


     


Enjoy and be good!

Ice Cream!!!!

Whenever I think of ice cream, I think of the Eddie Murphy skit, "Ice Cream." Besides the leather jumpsuit, this particular set holds up pretty well and is reminiscent of my childhood in the Bronx. Yes, children would go insane whenever the ice cream truck arrived. Some things never change. 

The routine also came to mind because of some ice cream recipes I came across. I've always been of the mind that there isn't any reason to actually "dress up" the frozen delight (Especially if it's chocolate!)! However, while I will continue to serve my guests tubs of ice cream (Only chocolate!), "Ice Cream Favorites Grow Up" offers  some terrific ways to serve up ice cream at your next Summer soirée.

Enjoy and be good.

The Burger

According to a report released July 6, 2011, food industry consulting firm Technomic says,  "Almost half of Americans, 48 percent, eat a burger once a week, up from 38 percent in 2009." The report also adds that, "Aside from burgers being a good value, this increase is attributed to the growth of "better burger" chains that have raised consumers' consumer expectations."


Maybe I don't frequent "better burger chains" enough but I've never been fond of hamburgers. Generally speaking, I'm not a consumer of red meat and neither am I going to eat a burger once a week. Let's face it, burgers have never tasted that interesting. At best, they taste like meatloaf on a bun. I've also tried turkey burgers and veggie burgers and while they are supposed to be better for you, they have about as much taste as corrugated cardboard. Over the years,  I've discovered the only thing that seems to make burgers appetizing are large quantities of condiments and toppings. For starters, I'll mix in ketchup, mustard (I stock about four different types in my fridge) and mayonnaise. I'll also add pickles, lettuce, slices of avocado and tomatoes (Sometimes a slice of cheese, other than American). If I really want to go crazy, I'll buy a fancy bread, in an attempt to really dress it up!


Regretfully, I've come to the conclusion what what I've actually been doing all along was disguising the taste of the burger and again, I find myself wishing burgers tasted better. As a matter of luck, I came across an amazing interactive feature (I won't mention from where....) that has an incredible array of Recipes for Burgers.  


I haven't tried all of the recipes but I envision these new fangled burgers as the start of a journey or a great way to top off the Summer (Yes, I know, my pleasures are simple!). You will be impressed by some of the exotic twists and ingredients added to augment the dignity of the traditional burger.  There are even a few alternatives for folks who don't eat red meat or who are strictly vegetarians and these look delicious too! 


Enjoy and be good!