Halloween

Last year I dressed up as Kim Jong-il in a double beige outfit with big glasses and hair teased. It was a bomb (no pun intended). Angie is much better with her costumes. I was actually really impressed with someone's costume last year as a goth guy. Didn't even recognize him when I saw him! I think I should've carried around a big nuclear missle to improve the costume...what will you be this year?

If you live overseas, are you still going to celebrate Halloween even though nobody will know why you dressed funny?

Hulu launches...sort of

It's in beta. you can ask to be signed up. For those who don't know, it is the long-awaited syndication play for NBC and Fox. NBC folded nbbc into this JV. wonder how it will do? Does this mean we can't get clips anywhere else (as evidenced in NBC ending their relationship with Apple's iTunes recently)?

Blogs get money

Curbed, an NYC-based real estate blog, has raised $1.5 million in funding, after being in existence for a few years now. The site was founded by Lockhart Steele, who previously was managing editor of the Gawker Media blog network (Curbed was founded prior to Steele joining Gawker and he went back to it after he left). Nick Denton, Steeleâe™s boss and Zach Nelson, CEO of NetSuite, a maker of business software, and Brad Inman, founder and publisher of the real estate news service Inman News, are among the individual investors. Gawker Media also invested.

If you're into real estate in NYC, check this blog out. It is great and at times, quite funny.

New Shows

Well, now that I've had a chance to watch some of the new TV fall shows, I gotta say that the shows from last season are still on tops. Heroes has gotten a lot better. And COULD get a lot better if they got rid of the really annoying Mexican pair trying to cross the border with our resident evil, Sylar/Gabriel/Mr. evil look as the scene is ending.

30 Rock continues to be hilarious. I really like the character, Kenneth. he is hilarious. reminds me of a friend. And the indian dude (assistant to Jack) is getting funnier.

The Office is great this season. We need to bring back some drama for Jim. Maybe bring back his ex?

I think Tracy Morgan is really crazy. I think they had to call him Tracy on the show b/c he probably wouldn't respond to another name.

Pushing Daises is the front runner for me for Best New TV Show.

Journeyman anyone? Life? Cain? Bionic Woman? When is Project Runway coming back? really sick of the spinoffs...want the real deal with Heidi Klum!

The Hills -update

LC and Whitney were in NYC on a whirlwind trip through Teen Vogue. It really makes people in NYC look really mean. Especially the super-stylish mean gay guys that work at Teen Vogue. Snobbery rules i guess. Poor Whitney...she is really a nice girl.

Brody takes a huge hit in my book for trying to be LC's man-whore. It is tough to fill the role of a friend who is constantly accusing people of back-stabbing and holding grudges. Watch out Brody - you're next!

What's next for this show? I predict a major cat-fight between Heidi and LC. Brody reconciles with Spence/Werewolf. Whitney...does nothing. again.

What's up with Wall St?

Is it me, or are all the banks (except for Goldman) getting NAILED with the recent fallout in the CDO or asset-backed markets? Just read Merrill took a writedown of >$8 billion. This is mind boggling. And yet the Dow is hitting record highs. Fed will probably cut rates soon. Google is on fire, Facebook is valued at $15 billion and Apple keeps on its stratospheric pace. Bonds hurting, equities happy, housing looking shaky (except for NYC of course). I guess we'll see how it all shakes out (as B of A announces layoffs as well as Morgan Stanley).

The Hills - all a lie!

It is disappointing but it is becoming clearer and clearer that this show is less "Reality" and more just a show! As referenced by Perez Hilton:

Picture 1 is during her date with boring dude model Gavin

Picture 2 is post date when she just got off the phone with Brodie.

Note the different nail polish color / hair curlier. Wow. What can you believe anymore?

Go Griese

Watched a great Bears comeback (97-yard drive) on Sun via Sling box. Quality is ok, really depends on the streaming ability of your internet connection. This is the best and lowest cost solution to watching out-of-region games on your computer. My buddy, B, set his laptop up to a projector, so it was a much better experience than huddled around a computer.

Adios Sam

My buddy, Sam, is moving out to LA to work for Universal Pics. Best of luck! He is a native New Yorker (born and raised here) but I really see him doing well out in LA. Persians rule that city, ya know!

Party time at Gramstand (shh!)

Boozes have made themselves into the unique teas served up in the evening hours at Gramstand. Live band, great service. Pretty interesting combos and tasty (13th St/Ave A) but you need to get invited to know when the next one is. Hopefully, you're connected.

what it feels like to sell your company

don't know how it feels, but my buddy just did it and it has got to feel gooood! Congrats!

Nobu 57

Anyone like Nobu? I went to the newest Nobu in New York, Nobu 57. Pretty nice setup. Lot more spacious than the original one in my hood on Franklin St. Something sort of missing from the grand midtown experience, but the food is just as good. I highly recommend the Yellowtail with Jalepeno appetizer. Niiice.

They have these giant sake bins stacked on top of each other in dramatic fashion...

And a cool upstairs seating section.

The Darjeeling Limited...please try to be cool

Is it weird if that I'm annoyed at people who think you're not cool if you don't like The Darjeeling Limited? Wes Anderson? Jason Schwartzman? Sophia Coppola? It's like not liking Wilco or something. You are banned from being cool...Williamsburg will hate you.

ok. i'm over it.

LEROY JENKINS!!!

There is a phenomenon about Leroy Jenkins. Leroy joins your MMOG team in games like World of Warcraft, and then goes kamikaze, ruining all the careful planning to kick butt or accomplish the team goal.



Leroy Jenkins spin off...

ABC News Now

I know, it's really wrong to do this, but this is just as painful to watch...

Howard Stern and ABC News Now

Yes, as you know, ABC News has launched a new all-day news channel, ABC News Now. Here, Howard Stern talks with Chauncey about appearing on a new gossip show on the channel. I believe the saying is, "bad press is good press" or something like that...


Click to hear music file

Afraid of pickles?

This is crazy...

dekk is the new spot

Hung out at dekk again last night. That place is so chill and so close to our place, it is becoming our default hang out place. Fun time catching up with W and P. Lot of laughs. W is seriously in love with Curb Your Enthusiasm...only liked the 1st season and fell off after that.



Also got FIFA 08 for the Wii...can't wait to learn how to play this complicated game!

Sad...closing Augmented Music Blog

Unfortunately, I am shutting down my other music blog due to lack of firepower. Maybe someday I will re-open or even start another one on another topic. The good news is that this blog will start to contain more pop culture/music references and you might find some more info on sports musings as the NBA begins. More variety all at one place. You've found it! New Look and Feel!

Mussels at Petite Abeille

We checked out Petite Abeille in Tribeca with my cousin, D - angie got the mussels.

Long live belgian food!

George Clooney and Budweiser?

How is it that Bud got George Clooney to do the voice overs for their recent commercials? This also is in the same camp as how Jay-Z did a promo of his new album through a Bud commercial for his ill-fated "Kingdom Come" CD - probably one of his worst CDs as of late. He also somehow tapped the NASCAR crowd by getting Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Danica Patrick for his video, "Show Me What You Got."

I guess everyone has their price.




This is more like it...

The Hills Update - Brody is a slut!

This Brody guy is so nice, but if you think about it he's such a slut ...gets blamed for starting the sex tape rumor via Jen via Heidi. Drama in da hizzle fo schizzle.

Brody is really not being straight up. He knows who did what and finally fesses up. His alliances are now with LC, not Werewolf (aka Spencer) or Heidi...

Whitney is always saying she went to sleep at 10pm. Does she have a life? Someone ask her out or something! Argh.


Jen is such a gossip. She's one of those girls that say, "I hate to say this, but..." I give her props though b/c she steps to Heidi, who is falling deeper and deeper into her own world.


Did Spencer really do it though?? Gives off a really evil smile. (good job editing, MTV)!

Go U!! NU!!

Wow - 2 thrilling 2OT victories in a row for the Northwestern Wildcats!!

The Beach!

Getting to a beach, even though it's October, is just awesome. Some photos...65 degrees is actually not bad! Go LI!

Log Wars! Southampton style.

Lamb Shanks!

Last night we had some great lamb shanks courtesy of J and Angie. Thrown in there were leeks, carrots, mashed garlic, white wine, homemade herb butter (smashed against the bone).

However, we had a problem b/c our oven wasn't working!! AHHH!! So, we found a crazy awesome grill outside with 3 seperate burners. After some research, we created an "oven" environment by turning off the middle burner, keeping the side ones on low and roasting the lamb shanks for 2.5 hours. Let me tell you - it was worth the wait and more! Delicious.

But wait, there's more! The potatoes we baked were stuffed with some cigar-rolled pancetta filled with piece of sage, sliver of garlic and lemon zest. Wow. Speechless.

To top it off, I would highly recommend Provenance Vineyards 2003 Merlot from Napa Valley to complement the complex tastes of the food.

Phew! Dig it.

Hamptons Weekend

Ahhh, the stars really shine here out in Southampton. Clear night, I saw a shooting star!

Before this, we drank some Rioja and Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon. I highly recommentd Root:1' Cabernet Sauvignon. Yummy.

Sometimes it's nice to enjoy NY - not NYC. Highly recommend. But the lady we are renting from is really talkative! And we didn't have hot water here for awhile. Ghetto? luckily, she fixed it for us, so it's all good. But I was too impatient and took a cold shower.

We also played some tennis for the first time in a LONG time. It was awesome weather to do that too!

No Hills this week!

Stay tuned for coverage for next week's new episode. In the meantime, i've been watching Life and Heroes on NBC. Dont' really like How I Met Your Mother. Anyone like any new shows this season? Pushing Daisies? Bionic Woman?

Flashback Sound

Anyone like the Gwen Stefani song - Cool? It was from her Love Angel Music Baby album a couple years back, but it reminds of me of a totally 80s feel. maybe it's a remake? It seems that this is the case as well with Nelly Furtado's Do It. 80s feel. remake?

For more thoughts on music - check out my other blog at http://augmentedmusic.blogspot.com

The Kingdom

Saw The Kingdom yesterday...thought it was decent. Jennifer Garner kicks some booty. She should get more screen time in future projects now that she has had her kid. The star was undoubtedly Jamie Foxx. Got to hand it to him - he makes it really enjoyable. How much does he make per movie now? $20mm?

Luca lounge and Grease ball

You know what it feels like when you meet a tool? It's pretty funny. This dude was trying to talk to me and my buds and saw Angie and asked her if she knew us. The background is that this guy was a creep while we were all in b-school and he just couldn't help himself. He's totally eyeing Angie the whole time he's talking to us dudes. So, finally he takes the leap into this conversation

Grease: "Do you like kids?"
Angie: no response
Grease: "Do you like P?"
Angie: no response / shrug
Grease: "Do you know Kenneth?"
Angie: no response
Grease: "Is he your boyfriend?"
P: "husband"
Me: roll eyes

awkward....
Take the grease to the curb!

Brookyln

I went to check out VH1 HipHop Honors Panel series in Dumbo with my buddy, R, and we both thought Tribe Called Quest would be there. But alas, it was just these industry people talking about hip hop and culture. We walked into Andre Harrell talking about what was ghetto fabulous - which he said was Louis Vuitton. (ouch).
They were selling some good DVDs on street culture and b-boys. Wish I could dance like that!

Souped up car...flashback!

Check out this car I saw parked down my street. Reminds me of those hard-core Asians souping up their Acura Integras or Honda Preludes. Ahh, now they only have to play "Back to the Hotel" by N2Deep with the deep bass. Check out the spoiler! The rims! The tints! yes!

The Hills...update

What is the deal with LC? She really repulses a lot of people and has even gotten on the nerves of her best bud, Audrina. Mainly b/c of her deadbeat mute boyfriend - Justin/Bobby. Loser.

What's great is Elodie. She administers such sweet sweet revenge on Heidi. Did I tell you that she was on my friend's softball team in LA? She looks like she could really put a hurt on a softball!

Elodie lies and says she'll cover Heidi for the Emmy's while Heidi shamelessly goes on her anniversary dinner at some crappy Mexican restaurant.

I really dig the fact that Spencer really does nothing and is beginning to resemble a young bushy Teen Wolf character with his unsightly facial hair.

Frankie is also beginning to become an annoying character. But I like the objectivity of Brody in assessing people's relationships. Somthing to be learned here? Nah. Not unless you like to put a colored custom-fitting cast on your broken pinky. ha ha

UPDATE - clothing name discovery

We have added "Option A" as another choice to the right. Feel free to re-vote. You can actually vote for more than one name. Really enjoyed and appreciated the feedback so far. Will come to a decision by end of the weekend (hopefully)!

3 years and counting!

Tonight we celebrated our 3rd year anniversary. Had dinner at Esca! I gotta say the wine was better than the food. Does this piss anyone off out there? Grilled Octopus was great though!

My expectations were too high. French Laundry, Babbo, Morimoto (in Philly, NOT NYC), Per Se all solidly beat it.