Turistas Go Home

Turistas Go Home
Originally uploaded by Polish Carpetlayer.

Colby, Sadna and I found this advertisement in Nolita. It's an ad that says, "Come to Brazil," defaced with the spray painted sentence, "Turistas Go Home." Sweet.

Here are a couple more shots we got on that walk.

UPDATE: Full discloser. I just figured out that I was duped (we were all duped in fact) by the Turistas Go Home ads. They, in fact, were not defaced, but designed to look defaced. I think the ads are actually for a movie (a lame horror flick). I debated if I would just pull this post off or leave it up. I guess, right now, I'm deciding to keep it up because it's a good example of how all of us can get taken by advertising, even advertisers. If I'd never of found that this was an ad, I would have thought it was such a cool find, but now that I've found out that it is an ad I feel ripped off. Instead of having real value it's made me walk away from the communication feeling like it was just a cheap trick. A cheap trick that didn't, in the long run, create a good feeling in me for the product (lame horror movie) they were selling. But then again, I'm blogging about the movie so now you know about it. It's just that advertisers need to create ads that don’t just create product awareness, but rather they leave the viewer interested or endeared to the product, not cheated and made to feel like they are gullible idiots. In the end, because of this fact, this is a bad ad campaign.

It's Just Better

Colby, Sadna and the Brooklyn Bridge
Originally uploaded by Polish Carpetlayer.

Colby has a better digital camera than I do. It’s got detachable lenses and big megapixles and things. And it just flat out takes better pictures. Better pictures no matter who’s behind the viewfinder or pressing the buttons. In fact, Colby and Sadna came into town and we took the camera out this weekend and didn’t even look through the viewfinder before shooting many shots. We walked the Brooklyn Bridge, spent time in DUMBO, ate at the “best pizza place in NYC” (I think my homemade pizza is better), visited Soho, Nolita, Noho and a host of other places and made our way to the Brooklyn museum. We snapped away the whole time and the final verdict is in—Colby has a better camera than I do.

Totally Not Cool

Me and the Mountain
Originally uploaded by shredmaximus.

OK, as I watch the news, read the papers, look at the snow reports, check out snow covered pictures on flickr (picture of skibowl above was taken Nov. 25, 2006) and wear a t-shirt outside on November 29 in New York City, I start to realize global warming is real and it’s fucking with my happiness. Come on! This just isn’t cool. While my former home (well it will always be my real home) is getting snowed on day in and day out, I’m breaking out the sunscreen. Mid-sixty degree weather after thanksgiving just isn’t right. It’s downright freaky. I didn’t know that when I took this job in New York City that New York City was in Arizona. I need to be closer to the mountains and the snow! Seriously!!!

It’s amazing. You’ll see New Yorkers wrapped in wool coats, scarves, Gortex jackets, big boots and any other set of winter clothes they can find. Store windows are full of Patagonia gear, fake snow and a general nod to a climate that doesn’t seem to exist here anymore—or at least this year. And it’s like New Yorkers can’t comprehend this fact. They’re on autopilot. They’ve always worn winter clothes this time of year, and damnit,, they’re going to wear them now…no matter the amount of sweat they find themselves covered in. Bye god, the calendar says it’s winter. Break out the out the wool-fleece-down-parka-beanie-boots-thingy.

Now I don’t mind riding my bike around in this weather and I love going for hikes in it, but I love doing that in the spring or the fall, not less than a month away from Christmas. This weather is ridiculous. It’s crazy. It’s not winter. I don’t know what else to say.

Gotta go. I’ve got some hot cider and chestnuts calling my name.

The Best Pizza in NYC

Pizza
Originally uploaded by Polish Carpetlayer.

I've got to be honest, I'm not that into New York Pizza. So here's a picture of the best pizza in NY... homemade by Michelle and I. Yum. Yum. And need I say, yum!

In Honor of the Election...

Frida Michelle 001
Originally uploaded by Polish Carpetlayer.

Political Nascar. I've got nothing else to say.

Who's Next?

11-12-06 020
Originally uploaded by Polish Carpetlayer.

My transcontinental sister dropped in on us last weekend (ok, it was last last weekend. I know I should have updated the blog earlier) and lived like a New Yorker. She stayed up late, shopped, drank wine, had a sushi dinner delivered to the apartment and put about 45 miles on her walking shoes. She also took advantage of Michelle’s wine discount. She left with 7 bottles of fine wine (no wine coolers or Two Buck Chuck) and one overstuffed duffle bag. Do you have any idea how difficult it is to get 7 bottles of wine and MY SISTER’S five-day-wardrobe into a medium sized duffle bag?!! Tough/busted zipper/I’m sitting on it already to say the least. I’m glad to report that all of the wine made it back to the Northwest unscathed, but I can’t vouch for that stuffed-sausage-on-steroids looking duffle bag.

We loved her company. It wasn’t one of those “I want to be a NY tourists” visits (which we don’t mind either). It was more of a “I just want to hang out” visit. And Autumn is really fun to hang out with. Michelle and I just have one question. Who’s next?

Winter, How I Love The...

Bachelory05 212
Originally uploaded by geisthaus.

OK. I know. It’s been how long since the last time I posted and this is what I post about. We’ve had the election, Autumn visited, Rumsfield got fired…ahhhh, I mean quit and I write and post pictures about a ski trip I had with Evan and Gabe in February of 2005. I can’t help it. It’s what’s on my mind. Not that trip, but the snow. SNOW. Beautiful snow. Michelle and I will be in P-town on Dec. 24th and quickly after that I’d wager a guess that we’ll be on the mountain, in the snow, sliding down the beautiful Northwest and it’s outdoor winter playground. Bachelor is opening, Timeberline is opening, Meadows wants to open and Whistler is cranking up the lifts. Winter, how I love the. All the while, it’s in the mid-60’s here in NYC. You may ask yourself why this is the first thing I write about in a long time. If you know me at all, no need to ask.

Let it snow baby. Let it snow.

Frida Visits New York on Halloween

Michelle-and-Frida
Originally uploaded by Polish Carpetlayer.

I've never had a Halloween costume get as much attention. Well, there was that year I was Poison Ivy while I waited tables at Kell's... Anyway, not this kind of attention.

Cas and I went to a party in Manhattan on Saturday where, as soon as I walked out the door of my apartment, I had people staring and smiling in recognition. When we got to the city, we nearly got hit by a driver turning the corner while we crossed the street; he drove by starring with his mouth agape. Everywhere, people were saying "It's Frida!"

On Tuesday, at the wine shop, where I work, people were coming in off the street, not to get candy, (no a thousand kids were taking care of that. More on the Park Slope Halloween madness later.) but to comment on my costume and ask to take my picture with their child. I was like Snow White at Disneyland! It was crazy! I was actually surprised how many children recognized Frida.

Park Slope A.K.A. "The Hatchery" really comes alive on Halloween. There is a parade where people dance in the street and children show off their costume. It's utter chaos in the neighborhood. At the wine shop we had two wine case boxes filled to the brim of candy. We gave away every single piece. Absolute insanity, I tell you. I saw more kids in that one night than I have seen in my whole life put together. Needless to say, we didn't have a lot of wine business that night; anyone who goes out without a kid is either naive or have a strong desire to be mauled by mini Pirates and Sponge Bob Square Pants.

Caspian dressed up too. To go with the beard he's been growing to help him survive the bitter winter northeastern winds, and to feed the jokes of his coworkers on how "crunchy" he is, Caspian dressed up in corduroy and hemp and passed out granola. He even made his own t-shirt (actually designed, printed and ironed on his design.) Making it clear exactly what he was. (In case anyone mistook him as one of my boyfriends from college.)

All in all, although we pined for a Calderone/Gummere Halloween Bash, we had a great time.

(Please click on the picture to view more, and feel free to comment!)

Found in Brooklyn

Found in Brooklyn
Originally uploaded by Polish Carpetlayer.

There's music everywhere you look (and listen) in New York.