Last Week we had the extreme pleasure of celebrating Rachel Robert’s surprise birthday party at Bill’s Gay 90′s. Super preganant but looking more damn sexy than most women be they pregnant or not, the radient mother-to-be gracefully withstood the initial surprise and soon was safely seated and sipping several non alcoholic beers.
1920′s tycoon, John W. Campbell rocked the market until it crashed in ’29. His Gatsby style offices and salon were left vacant for decades until someone had the good taste to resurrect it as a lounge/bar. Spooky but impressive, this ‘bring-your-ascot’ spot is voted #1 bar in America by Playboy. Eh? Best looking perhaps, but the clientele is about as lively as John Campbell himself. As far as we know, Mr. Campbell’s remains are not on site, but the place definitely is haunted.
As true New Yorker’s, we feel we have a lot to learn about BBQ. Blue Smoke is a great place to get your ribs on and sample BBQ traditions from all over the US.
Jazz Band, bab ganoush, Malbec and baklava dress an evening with newly-wed Hallie Burton and George. Part Turkish, part hole-in-the-wall, this place feels like Istanbul on Mercer —minus the carpet salesmen and hash.
For the first time ever, Madison Square Garden hosted Professional Bull Riders, the NFL of bull riding. New Yorkers from all walks of life were treated to Americana at its finest.
About bull riding (Alex’s take):
From the bull’s point of view: “Someone just tied a rope around my tesicles and it probably has something to do with the guy siting on my back. If they let me out of this crate I’m going to kill him!”
From the “clown’s” point of view: “If I don’t untie that there rope tied round that there bull’s balls, we’re all gonna git tampled”
From the bull rider’s point of view: “If I can hang on for 8 seconds, I’m gettin’ paid!”
About Bull Riding (the official take):
The total score possible for a bull ride is 100 points. Half of the ride is determined by the rider’s ability to match moves with the bull beneath him. Judges look for constant control and good body position throughout the ride. Spurring the bull is not required but extra ‘style points’ are awarded for doing so. The rider must stay aboard the bull for eight seconds. The clock begins when the bull’s head, hip or shoulder crosses the plain of the bucking chutes. It stops when the bull rider’s hand comes out of the rope or he touches the ground. The bull rider must ride with one hand and is disqualified if he touches himself or the bull with his free hand during the eight-second ride.
The other half of the score is based on the performance of the bull and how difficult he is to ride. Judges look for bulls with speed, power, drop in the front end, kick in the back end, direction changes and body rolls. A body rolls occurs when a bull is in the air and kicks either his hind feet or all four feet to the side. The more of these characteristics a bull displays during a ride, the higher the mark is for the bull. A bull is given a score even if the rider does not stay on for the full eight seconds.
We love you all for hanging at the Anyway Cafe Holiday soirée! The advice for the night? Stop drinking when you feel your third Cosmo splash down your shirt. A fifth Baltika #4 beer is a bad idea. Good relationships start with a second bathroom.
Posted here are all the photos that wouldn’t embarrass anyone. (Embarrassing photos are available by appointment only.)
Andrea Buso, Alex and Andrea’s better half Sonya.
Sylvia’s is Harlem Down-Home, in your belly, stickin to your, ribs no-kiddn serious soul food. We all loved the cornbread and the liver with onions, peppers and gravy! Just above 125 Street, Sylvia herself is a legend. No doubt Billy Clinton must catch a meal or two there as his offices are right around the corner.
Anyway swung around to our friend Celeste’s opening at the Salmagundi Art Club Friday night. The club, housed in a gorgeous brownstone mansion at 47 Fifth Avenue was established in 1871 for "the promotion of social intercourse among artists and the advancement of art." The house had originally been built in 1853 for a president of the Pennsylvania Coal Company.
The piece you see here, graphic, almost like a painting, won Honorable Mention. More of Celeste’s dramatic landscapes can be seen at www.celestepix.com, her site in progress. Her next show Nevis: People and Landscapes is coming Dec 1st to Splashlight Studios. How she finds time to do this while also buying and producing for a big NYC Agency we do not know. We just say we’re proud to know you and congratulations!
The wife of a Rock Star cannot go half way. Dread Pirate Roberts is full-on (horns unfortunately are cropped out).
