As a former Girl Scouts, the motto, “be prepared,” is engraved into my brain. With both parents as scout leaders, we were prepared. We took out the candles, changed the batteries on the flashlights and set the hot pot stove (aka butane stove), therefore, in case a black out occurred, we would still have light and a way of cooking food.
Fortunately, the worst didn’t happen to us. The worst we experienced during Hurricane Sandy was the loss of internet connection. It took Time Warner Cable two weeks after the storm to return the service to my house. The commute to do homework at school made my parents uneasy, especially after the hurricane. But nonetheless, compared to others, I’m thankful that I still have a home and a family.
At Eisenberg’s Sandiwch Shop, “you either get it or you don’t.”
If you’re looking for a classic and old-fashioned shop that still serves the traditional egg cream and malts, look no further. Take a trip to Eisenberg’s Sandwich Shop located on 174 5th Avenue in the Flatiron District and you’ll see why they’ve been “raising New York’s cholesterol since 1929.”
The decor at Eisenberg’s is old-fashioned and will make you hesitate as you take the first step. Not a very colorful place, nor the most inviting. For seating you have the choice of sitting at either a table or at the bar. If you’re coming in with a group of 4 or more, I would suggest sitting at a table. You can have a conversation and enjoy the food in privacy. However, if you prefer a more intimate experience, see the action and make small talk with your server, I would suggest the bar. Sitting at the bar, you get a front row seat to the show. You can see their wall of fame (pictures of the owner of Eisenberg and celebrities who have come and eaten there), you can see the sizzle at grill, and the process of their signature drinks.
Known for their sandwiches, I order the most unique thing I saw on their menu, the “Hot Tongue” sandwich, on rye.
“Hot Tongue” Sandwich
Many people would probably see the word “tongue” and steer clear, but not me. Along with the sandwich, I ordered a vanilla malt. Sitting at the bar I saw the cook thinly slice the meat. When the food arrived in front of me, I could immediately smell the saltiness of the brined tongue. But before I was able to take a bite of the sandwich, the server poured a smooth white drink into a cup and set it down in front of me. The vanilla malt was aromatic. You can not only smell the vanilla beans, but you can see them as well. I took my first sip and I could not stop. That malt was out of this world! I could not stop drinking the creamy goodness that was pouring into my mouth. After drinking nearly half the cup! I set it aside and prepare to take my first bite of the sandwich. On the first bite I could immediately taste the saltiness of the tongue. But, with a bit more chew, the rye helped absorbed a bit of the saltiness leaving a nice and light beefy taste behind. The combination of the “Hot Tongue” sandwich and the vanilla malt could not have been more satisfying, especially when it didn’t leave a hole in my wallet.
“Hot Tongue” Sandwich – $10.00
Vanilla Malt – $4.50
Being a fan of Anthony Bourdain’s “No Reservation” show, I was surprised to see a picture of him on the Eisenberg’s wall of fame. Apparently, Eisenberg’s Sandiwch shop made an appearance on the “Disappearing Manhattan” episode on “No Reservations.”
You can see more about Eisenberg on their website.
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and what better way to start the day but with eggs. Did you know that eggs are the only source of food that contains vitamin D? Eggs are also high in sulphur content which can promote healthy hair and nails. There are many other health benefits of eggs, but this is not what I’m here to talk about. What I want to talk about is how something so simple like an egg can transform into a something so creative and different!
Omelettes are my go-to breakfast in the morning. Making omelettes allow me to apply my creativeness and create a variety of tastes and textures in one meal. To make an omelette is really simple. Take two beaten eggs and incorporate your favorite fillings. Now the best thing about this dish is the variety of cheese, meats, and vegetables that can be mixed in. With the right ingredients and the right cooking time, omelettes can bring your taste buds to a whole new level. Experience various flavors and taste by trying other cultures omelettes. Making omelettes take time, so for me to have this dish, I must have at least an hour to spare to just sit and enjoy this fluffy creation. But in this 21 st century, omelettes are now on the go and in a roll!
I recently had my first omelette on a roll at the Gramercy Grill. I went with the classic Western omelette that contained diced ham, green peppers, and onions. It is often a platter served with a side of hash browns or homemade fries, but not this omelette. I purchased this omelette for on-the-go, therefore the omelette was tucked between a warm roll.
When I took my first bite, the heat of the omelette instantly warmed my body up. After chewing past the light and airy roll, I discovered a nice layer of ketchup and mayonnaise dressing. Now, that may sound disgusting, but it surprisingly works! I thought the cold was a refreshing surprise from the heat of the omelette and that the ketchup married well with the egg. Soon enough, I got a crunch from the green peppers, a sweet taste of the onions, and the saltiness of the ham. The experience was not only satisfying but filling, for only $2.75. I would definitely go back, but perhaps I’ll try something different, like their Egg White Omelette.
If I were to eat one meal for an entire month, it would have to be chirashizushi.
Chirashizushi (ちらし寿司) is one my favorite Japanese meal. Chirashizushi means “scattered sushi”. It is a bowl of sushi (seasoned) rice topped with a variety of sashimi and garnishes. There is no set of ingredients for the toppings, usually it is the chef’s choice. Due to the various toppings, this meal allows you to have more than just one taste, one flavor, and one experience. There is honestly no way, I can describe the oishi-ness (deliciousness) of this meal. You’ll just have to try it for yourself and experience the bowl full of flavor.
I came across this dish while eating at a sushi restaurant with my sister. She ordered the Chirashizushi and when it came, I just didn’t want my shrimp tempura bowl anymore. She explained to me that it is a bowl of seasoned rice with an assortment of sashimi on top. The variety usually consists of salmon, tuna, yellow tail, ikura (salmon roe), eel, and tamago (egg). Based on the size of the bowl, it was obvious that chirashizushi meal is meant for one. Honestly I love sharing food, but sometimes there are just some times when it’s so good, that you just don’t want the experience to ever end. There are some things you just don’t want to share. With this new discovery, I order Chirashizushi whenever I’m in my selfish mood.
“Detropia” is an eye-opening documentary that shows the deconstruction of Detroit, one of America’s fastest growing cities, in a downward economic spiral.
Directors Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady beautifully portrays a post-industrial America by focusing on Detroit, once a thriving city with plentiful jobs that is now facing unemployment, pay cuts, and corruption. The film focused more on life in the 21st century Detroit and not the history of Detroit. Detroit is downsizing and the number of abandoned buildings and destruction of empty homes increases. As the city devise schemes to revamp Detroit, the population and worth of Detroit will keep decreasing.
“This is not a depression,” says Tommy Stevens, “it’s more of a recession.”
Throughout the film, the director gives a tour through various Detroiters lives as they share their thoughts on the troubles and obstacles they must go through to survive. Union leader George McGregor shared the times of the “once was” Detroit and today Detroit where he now deals with the potential loss of another plant and pay cuts. Video blogger Crystal Starr explore abandon buildings and speak of “what used to be” and “what could become”. Raven Lounge owner Tommy Stevens explains the financial issue, not only for himself but for Detroit. Each of these Detroiters described of the “once was” Detroit and the Detroit that could be.
“Detropia” is a wake up call to America. It is the haunting reality of how the economy is like in the 21st century. These are real people going through real hardship living in today’s world. It is not only an eye-opener but a memorable documentary too. One may never see the world the same again because “Detropia” shows that the discussion of a recession is not just talk. It is real, and it is coming. If it can happen to one of America’s possibilities, it can happen to any state.
“Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog” is not your typical musical film. It is a hilarious and entertaining tragicomedy musical that gives the heroes vs villains scene a musical twist.
The movie was written and directed by Joss Whedon, along with his brothers Zack Whedon and Jed Whedon, and writer/actress Maurissa Tancharoen in 2008. The producers decided that the film would be released in three acts and produced exclusively for Internet distribution. But it was so successful that it’s now on Blu-Ray DVD and Itunes.
“Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog” is presented as Dr. Horrible’s vlog who tells about his dream to finally be a member of the Bad Horse’s evil league, the progress of his “freeze ray” that stops time, his love interest, Penny (played by Felicia Day), and his nemesis, Captain Hammer (played by Nathan Fillion), who always stands in his way and ends up getting what Dr. Horrible (played by Neil Patrick Harris) wants. In the end, will Dr. Horrible get the girl? Will he be able to produce a successful freeze ray? Only those who watch it will know.
Compared to other musicals, this is probably the most unique way of presenting a musical. A musical is the balance between spoken dialogue and song lyric. When songs are performed, it is highlighting a dramatic event or a momentous event. “Dr Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog” definitely incorporates those traits and more. What makes “Dr Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog” unique is the way the musical was presented, as a vlog. It also incorporates various comedy styles which is a must-see, because it will keep you entertained throughout the entire 42 minutes.
“Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog” won the People’s Choice Award for “Favorite Online Sensation”, an Emmy award for “Outstanding Special Class – Short-Format Live-Action Entertainment Programs”, and a Hugo Award for “Best Dramatic Presentation-Short Form” in 2009.
Music is not only a set of notes played beautifully. It is also a very important role in society, especially when it comes to films. With the right notes and tones, the audience’s experience amplifies. The background music supports a scene and actor’s emotions, which done successfully can cause the audience to shed a tear or intensify the suspense feeling. It allows the audience to understand the current situation, know how to feel, and enhance the mood setting. However, background music is not the only type of music in film.
I am a huge fan of musicals. I find them to be most entertaining because it is not just a film genre. A musical is a form of story telling which incorporates music and dance with speech. It can include other genres, so that is more than just a musical. For example, my all-time favorite film is the classic musical, The Phantom of the Opera. The Phantom of the Opera is a romantic drama set in music. It’s about a mysterious half-masked man who falls in love with one of the performers at the opera house. He does whatever it takes to make sure she has her chance in the spotlight to make her fall in love with him. It’s a very touching film and I would highly recommend this film to others.
If you’re in the mood for a less dramatic and comedic musical, I would recommend Grease. It’s a romantic-comedy with more upbeat songs compared to The Phantom of the Opera. When I was in high school, I had the Grease fever. I think I enjoyed it more as a teenager because the film was focused on high school students. I was able to relate to it and visualize myself in a similar situation which made the experience even more enjoyable.
If you’re hosting a family movie night, I would recommend Robert Wise’s The Sound of Music. The Sound of Music was the very first musical I ever watched and because of Julie Andrews’ performance and vocals, I grew to love musicals. My passion for music was actually inspired by this musical. After watching this film, I dedicated myself to studying how to play various instruments such as piano, bells, clarinet, violin, vocals, and guitar. Because of this film, I love and appreciate music.
The fun doesn’t stop there though. Nowadays, if a musical is successful enough on film, it can be performed live on Broadway!
The Caucus Blog is all about the latest politics and government news. Every day, bloggers post, update, and inform their readers. As a blog, it is not necessary for the text to be just fact and news. At times, bloggers would voice their own opinions and perspective on these events in their post, and it is very clear that the bloggers are mostly pro-Obama.
Last week, the Caucus Blog was consumed with posts about the events from the Democratic National Convention. Bloggers discussed about the convention speakers’ speeches (e.g- Michelle Obama, Bill Clinton, Elizabeth Warren, Mitt Romney, and Barack Obama), the issues Obama would address if he became president, the issues Romney would address, the candidate who would receive the Latino’s vote, the relocation of Obama’s convention speech and other election matters.
As a news consumer, I found the blog to be interesting and informative, however very one-sided. I would preferred it if the New York Times would do a little more coverage on Romney. Browsing through the blog posts, I noticed that there was an vast amount of posts about Obama. They provided so much information and background on Obama that I think the same courtesy should be extended to Romney as well.
MULTIMEDIA COVERAGE
Politics and I have a rocky relationship. I prefer to work “hands-on” rather than reading, writing, and listening. When it comes to politics, I have yet to find a way to motivate myself to understand politics “hands-on”. However with the multimedia round-up, there is still hope.
The New York Times did a phenomenal job in creating a more efficient and lively way to read and follow the news. What interested me the most was how they deconstructed the candidates’ speeches at the DNC allowing the readers to follow and comprehend them at their own pace. The deconstruction went as far as to showing the candidates’ speech via text and topic order. The New York Times even incorporated tools such as slideshows, videos, and social networks to make the experience more enjoyable. Connecting with social networks, such as Twitter and Facebook, gives readers the chance to comment and voice their opinions and views. But my favorite tool of them all, the solution to my “hands-on” politics problem are the interactive features. I find them easy to use, fun to play with, and very helpful.
