Read my review of Brazil Grill at Yelp!

The steaks were awesome!

Have You Tried Gingerbread Tea Latte?

I finally tried one of the tea lattes from Starbucks.  Now, I'm not normally a tea drinker, however the company dangled 3 bonus stars just for trying it and I thought, why not?  Those three extra stars would get me to a bonus reward sooner rather than later.

I order the drink in a tall and in my first sip, I tasted the gingerbread right away.  It smelled good and the taste was pleasant.  However, any kind of latte from Starbucks normally takes away from the underlying flavor of the tea or coffee.  Tea has a delicate taste to begin with so the gingerbread flavor really overpowered the tea.  If you like festive drinks, you might want to try it.  This is a seasonal drink so it will be on the menu for just a short time.

Nohemi Gonzalez, Killed in Paris Terrorism Attacks

Nohemi Gonzalez

Any New Yorker who lived through the Twin Tower attacks on September 11 knows what Nohemi's family and the Parisians are feeling at Friday's aftermath.  Nohemi was the first generation in her family that went to college, at California State University - Long Beach.  She majored in Design.  You read about this artistic, young girl living a dream semester abroad and enjoying every moment of Paris, only to have her life cut short by terrorists; you cannot help but feel the sorrow over her violent death.  You can't process the huge loss of lives that were needlessly taken.  It was senseless and there is no comfort.  I mourn that another city had to live through another attack.  Nohemi is the first American death.  I hope it is the only one but we are not sure.  All we can do at this point is give whatever support the French can accept and to cherish all our loved ones as much as we can.

Have You Seen The Martian Yet?

It first came out in the middle of October.  I just went to see it last week and the theater, when I went, was still full.

The movie is worth seeing, it's long but you are enjoying watching the movie.  It's a poignant, heartwarming story with some funny moments.  Yes, I looked up the term "poignant" and the word definitely fits here.

A short synopsis: a team of astronauts are on Mars to conduct a research expedition.  Something bad happens and the team leaves one astronaut behind.  Will he make it?  Is he going to be rescued?  The answers to those questions is what makes the movie riveting.  Now I know that I am giving you the barest of plots.  But that is all you need to know.  You will be hooked in during the first five minutes.  I guarantee it.

Go see The Martian.

OK, I think I'm over the Mets losing

Congratulations to the Royals for winning the World Series.  We'll win it next year!

Mets Win the National League

Elsa/Getty Images

Okay, it's old news by now, but there were too many things happening.  Mets swept the Cubs in Game 4 on Wednesday at Chicago, 8-3.

Congratulations Mets! On to the World Series...Amazing!

The last time the Mets won was in 1986 against the Boston Red Sox on an error.  That whole year was unbelievable for the Mets.  Google it!

Police Officer Randolph Holder

Rest in Peace to a New York Hero

10/20/2015

“New York City police officers everyday go out and carry themselves on the street like superheroes on the street," Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association President Patrick Lynch said. “But the reality is, when we’re attacked, we bleed. When we bleed, we die. And when we die, we cry.”

Movie Review: The Intern

I figure any movie with Robert De Niro is worth watching, even a light comedy.  De Niro delivers and co-star Anne Hathaway does a solid job.  This is your normal fish-out-of-water plot updated for the millennial audience.  De Niro plays Ben Whittaker, a representative of the past generation company man in a suit who puts in more than 20 years with one employer (to make it even more obvious, his company used to print phone books) and enjoyed it.   Whittaker has retired, become widowed and decides to be an intern at an up-and-coming online retail company in Brooklyn staffed with millennials.  Anne Hathaway plays Jules, the founder of this successful start-up that is facing challenges.  Ben ends up being Jules' intern.  Not only is he the oldest intern, he's the oldest employee.  It's a pleasant movie gently pointing out how vastly the modern workplace has changed and the differences between the generations.  You'll end up feeling nostalgic at the end of it.

In Memoriam

Ever bought a hot dog for $30?

Achmed Mohammed (if that's his real name) has no shame.  Charging tourists that much for a hot dog on a location where the Twin Towers once stood.

And he has such a friendly smile while he rips you off and he lies that he doesn't speak English.   Really?

Now that his deceitfulness has gone viral, all sorts of media types have camped out around his hot dog stand.  I don't think they're buying his hot dogs either.

The Famous Starbucks Faux Manager Rant in Queens

This video is all over the internet.

I know this Starbucks location!  I've been in it several times.  I've never met this Melissa behind the counter though.  She said that she was the manager and I kind of don't believe her.  I just don't think she's Starbucks manager material.  What do you think?  Clearly Melissa was having a bad day but come on now, Melissa was out of control.  So out of control that other customers started to gang up on her.  Then Melissa went off on the customers.  Bad move Melissa!  She ended up being fired by Starbucks.

I was able to find a video of Melissa's side of the story.

Of couse, she is wearing dark glasses so that we can't identify her.  Melissa says that she wasn't fired, she quit.  Yeah, I don't believe that either.  So now she's looking for another job.  With this video out, I'm wondering who's going to hire her.  I would suggest that she take a non-customer service job.

Now this Starbucks is usually busy, like all Starbucks stores.  However, if you know that the job is getting to you, you have to plan some sort of exit, or you're going to end up having a Youtube moment like Melissa.

Movie Review: The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

This is one of the best escapist and poignant movies that I have seen in a long time.  Now I have not seen The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, but I am going to look for it in DVD.  This movie is an ensemble performance with many different stories intertwined.

The main story is Sonny and Solena, an engaged couple who are soon to be married.  However they are already experiencing some discord.  Sonny wants to expand and buy another hotel.  With the help of Mrs. Donnelly, one of the residents of his hotel and co-manager, he goes about securing the financing from a venture capitalist firm.  However, somebody else may be after, not only Sonny's second hotel, but also his fiancee(da Da DAA!!!).  And if those troubles aren't enough, he has to please the undercover auditor that the venture capitalist sent.

Meanwhile, one of the couples who also reside at the hotel are experiencing their own discord, but the situation may not be as it seems.  As for Evelyn and Douglas, distractions get in the way of them finally coming together, will they or won't they? And will Ms. Hardcastle finally find love?

The movie makes for a lovely, amusing time with many twists and turns and since there is a happy ending (as if you could doubt it) it all ends with a Bollywood dancing extravaganza!

Tech Breakfast Presentations

This was the first Tech Breakfast I've ever attended.  The idea behind Tech Breakfast is to listen to new tech-oriented businesses do a show and tell presentation.  I wanted to find out what new things were out there so I went.

There were four presentations this morning.  The idea that was most intriguing to me was from 3DP4E.  Their idea was to make 3-dimensional statuettes from children's illustrations using a 3D printer that uses limestone to create the art.  I can see parents and grandparents really liking this idea.  However the statuette is very pricey, at least $160, so people do have to be selective. Check out kidscreationstation.com

The second most intriguing presentation was from TheSquareFoot.  They created a website for businesses to find commercial space according to their requirements -- without the help of a broker.  Kind of like a Kayak type of thing.  It would be a free service to the commercial renter because the company is compensation by the commercial landlord.  See thesquarefoot.com

The other two presentations were Eventuosity which is an app for event planners to make things easier, and Golfswell which helps golf course management to manage flow by minimizing slowdowns.  See eventuosity.com and golfswell.com

Lunch at Sirio Ristorante

They have a great lunch prix fixe for $26.  I was in the area because I was attending a conference at the Metropolitan Club.  It snowed all day so I didn't want to walk too far for a meal, the restaurant was just around the corner from the club.  I was interested in their Restaurant Week lunch, but I thought their regular prix fixe was a better deal.  You get two courses for $26.  I chose a spaghetti carbonara for my antipasto and Tagliata di Manzo (Sliced Skirt Steak) for my secondi course.  So delicious as you can see.

Spaghetti Carbonara

Tagliata di Manzo

It was very filling.  And the service was friendly and prompt.  They also bring you a fresh basket of bread while you're waiting for your food.  

Location: 795 Fifth Avenue (at 61st Street)

I'm Hoping This is the Last Snowfall before Spring...Pleeeaaase!

Central Park South

Movie Review: Kingsman: The Secret Service

If you like your James Bond movie with a dash of Tarantino, then Kingsman is the movie you must see.  It's a slick, campy British action film where the hero is a British underdog from the underclass and the villain is an American billionaire and global warming psycho.  The movie has some unexpected twists which keeps you interested.  It is a British movie so the accent takes some getting used to.  Other than that, the movie is a blast!

A Cute Beagle Won the Day

Source: The New York Daily News

Each February, one of the best events happen at Madison Square Garden: the Westminster Dog Show.  You see some really cute dogs, and it doesn't matter what breed, they are all cute.  There are no ugly dogs in this show.  They are all the star.  The winner for Best in Show is Miss P (for Peyton) from Canada, only the second beagle in the event's history to win that title.  And she comes from a winning family; Miss P is the grandniece of Uno, the first beagle to ever win the title.

Such a cute face!

My Review of Starbuck's Flat White

I finally tried what everybody was talking about.  Now, I'm not a connoisseur by any means and I didn't know what to expect, but it tastes like a sweeter cappuccino.  I say sweeter because I only needed to put one Splenda.   And that was about it.

Movie Review: Into the Woods

It's always interesting to see a movie based on a Broadway musical.  Sometimes it's good, like Chicago, sometimes it's not, like Jersey Boys.  Into the Woods is okay.

It is a sumptuous-looking movie, so the cinematography is wonderful.  However, part of the reason why it is okay is the material itself.  Into the Woods is a twist on traditional fairy stories.  It really doesn't have a normal plot.  The songs from the Broadway show are also not the catchiest although they are pleasant.  So these challenges are transplanted to the movie, and it's just okay because the characterization is so flat.  Now I have never seen the show no Broadway.  I certainly have familiarity with the fairy tales but there were times when the movie had inexplicable scenes.  I'm wondering if that was part of the show as well.  For example, Cinderella (played by Anna Kendrick) goes to a festival and attends a ball three nights in a row.  Each night she runs away from the prince.  You would think after the first time that the Prince would have the palace guards physically restrain her but no she keeps running away two more times.  And you're not sure why she runs away, since there is no fairy godmother with a deadline involved.  The Little Red Riding Hood story seems unfocused.  There seems to be a psychological undercurrent but it's not fully fleshed out.  So I was kind of sitting there going "Eh?"

In terms of comic relief, there were a couple of princes that were hamming it up during their bro-duet.

The standout actor is Emily Blunt, she is able to bring her character out of the two-dimensionality of the movie.  I didn't know that Meryl Streep can sing, but she did a pretty good job (if that's really her voice).   And I always like Anna Kendrick (since Pitch Perfect) although there was very little for her to do in this movie.  So I had a pleasant time watching the movie and there were a few chuckles but I don't think it's worth the price of the ticket.

New York's Great Discount Stores

I am lucky to live in New York.  I know, it's congested, it has a high crime rate, it's noisy, and those are the three minuses of living here that I can reel off the top of my head.  But one of the best things about New York is that you almost never have to pay retail.  New York has great discount shopping opportunities.  Let me tell you about two of my Go-to favorites: Century 21 and Jack's.

Century 21 in New York is a clothing store and should not be confused with the real estate organization.  You can find name brand designers off-the-rack for up to 50% and sometimes 70% off.  And you don't have to wait for a sale, their normal prices are already discounted.  The one type of clothing that I go to Century 21 for are for underwear.  I can find Wacoal, Bali, Lilyette, Olga, Maidenform, etc for half off.  Just yesterday, I bought a Lilyette minimizer that was priced at $32 retail and I bought at $14.97.  I can't get a bargain like that on sale or at the outlets.  How is the store able to sell these items at low prices?  Simple, they buy last year's fashions.  The fashion industry survives on those people who must wear the latest styles and are willing to pay top dollar.  I am not one of those people.  So every season, the clothing stores have to get rid of their merchandise.  They almost always have a seasonal sale so they can make room for the new merchandise for the upcoming season.  The clothing that they haven't sold, they sell to Century 21.  So my purchase of that Lilyette minimizer means that I am wearing the previous season's style.  It's such a hardship.

The other great store that I like to go to when I'm in Manhattan, is Jack's.  Jack's is kind of like a bargain basement type of store.  You come in and you never know what you'll find at a great price.  Jack's used to be a 99-cent store but not everything is 99 cents any more.  They sell all types of different merchandise and their stock turns over a lot so when you find something you like, you have to buy it right then.  I have bought JVC ear pods for $6.99.  They have a grocery section.  I bought a small wheel of brie, Presidential brand (made from France) for $1.99.  Have a party coming up?  You can buy some very nice party items for cheap.

So if you don't know about these stores.  Google them and visit.  It's worthwhile.

Where do you go for great deals?

Happy New Year 2015 to Everyone! Movie Review of Imitation Game and Big Eyes

I like the 2nd day of the new year.  Basically because you are back to normal but you are starting with a clean slate.  The last day of the old year I spent watching two movies in order to take advantage of a complimentary pass.  Of course I waited until the last day of the expiration date to use it.  New Year's Day is exciting because you continue to visit with friends and family.  The 2nd day of the new year is back to normal.  I love it.   The whole holiday period from Halloween through New Year's Day is exhausting.  I don't know how people survive it annually.

So what are the two movies that I saw?  The Imitation Game and Big Eyes.

The Imitation Game is about how Alan Turing and a group of code breakers (math geniuses and logicians) in Bletchley Park, England broke Enigma, the Nazi code.  You would think it would be a boring movie and it is slow, no doubt about it.  If you are used to action movies and hyper-animated computer graphics, then Imitation Game will be different for you because it requires an appreciation of the cerebral magic of a genius like Alan Turing.  Not only was he responsible for breaking the Nazi code but he invented the forerunner of the modern computer.  In fact, according to the movie, he would be a founder of a new field, computer science.  The Imitation Game looks at how Turing came to be part of and eventually headed the group of code breakers during World War 2.  You are watching a lot of geeks trying to do what was impossible and you are made aware of how important their work is because each day that passes means several men have died.  Their success means that the war will be shorter and fewer people die.  Part of what was interesting in the movie to me, is the internal dynamics within the group.  Turing was a genius but impossible to work with.  The movie gives you glimpses of his upbringing that highlight his otherness and how it has affected him.  Of course the code was broken, but this brought up other difficulties.  At the end of it all, despite his success at breaking the code, there is a tragic twist to his life.  It made me tear up that such a  genius could be so heartbreakingly destroyed.  It is worth seeing.  Benedict Cumberbatch, did a great job and effectively melded the vulnerability, genius, arrogance, and awkwardness of Turing.   Turing actually looks better than Cumberbatch in real life.  Cumberbatch unfortunately has kind of a bunny face with his wide cheeks and narrow jaw and it was somewhat distracting.

Big Eyes is about the saga of the Keanes, their paintings and big time art fraud.  During the 1960s Americans became enamored of these paintings of children with big haunting eyes.  The entire world thought the works were done by Walter Keane when in fact, they were painted by his talented wife, Margaret.  I have not spoiled the movie for anyone by telling the plot.  This is a movie that is based on true events.  Nothing I have disclosed is a surprise.  What is interesting about the movie, directed by Tim Burton, is how the whole thing came to be with little effort due to the megomaniacal dreams/delusions of Walter Keane, the passivity of Margaret which is par for women in that time, and how art became a big business in the modern era.  The movie is basically Burton's social commentary on the business of art and the roles of men and women during a time of upheaval in America.  I had to feel sorry for poor Margaret who had true talent and an artist's soul who somehow ended up in a situation which brought her much monetary success but no artistic recognition and a virtual prisoner to her husband's demands.  I also wonder at Walter Keane's huge cognitive dissonance between his huge desire to be known as an artist and his inability to paint.  The whole movie ends in a big trial scene that was funny and satisfying.  Before the movie, I had never heard of the situation.  I knew how the story was going to end but it was still interesting to see how things actually were at the time.