In the spirit of the holidays, I wanted to share with you a little vignette. As I left my local Kmart on Astor Place one Saturday in December, I came across a herd of gentlemen dressed as Santa Claus. This did not occur by happenstance. Once a year, people in the 5 boroughs join together for a pub-crawl on a chilly December day known as SantaCon. The only requirement to participate is that you dress in the full Kringle get-up – no elf hats and jeans will do my friends. The crew I encountered did look the part, as by this time of the day their cheeks and noses were a little rosy.
To give you a little description of the setting, Astor Place is a square in the middle of the East Village. In the square, along with bike racks and hipsters, there is a large sculpture that is a cube that stands on one of its corners. At that corner there is a pivot that allows you to spin the cube around.
On this fine early afternoon, a few jolly old elves felt so empowered by Christmas spirit(s) that they dashed and pranced through traffic to the monument in question. Giving a nod, four of them began to spin the cube. They really got it going as the white poof balls atop their caps flapped behind them and appeared strained to stay attached. Of course the pack of 30 or so Santa’s across the street had to cheer them on with an appropriate ….
“ Ho! Ho! Ho! …”
Seeing these Santa’s reminds me of one of my theories on how to interact with strangers in a public setting. Overall, wearing a timely costume is one of the best ways to meet people randomly on the street, at a bar, or seated at a public library. In part – as I recall from my undergrad psych classes – people will naturally take on a persona when the dress in uniform or a costume. It also provides an instant icebreaker
But, more than that, it provides an instant litmus test for the type of person with whom you, the costume wearer, is going to interact. Essentially, there are three types of people in this world when in a costume:
1) Those who are too cool for school or slightly wierded out by the alternative dress
2) Those who dress in a costume normally and think nothing of it
3) Those who fun extraverts looking for an excuse to make a friend.
Certainly in a social setting we would all like to meet number three and when wearing a costume you would probably just avoid 1 & 2. Therefore, go be social and if you need an icebreaker around Easter, try picking up some rabbit ears at your local drug store. It might just put a few more Ho-Ho-Ho’s in your evening.
SantaCon Video:
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Sunday, December 14, 2008
The Toast of the Town
Every August my father takes his kids to the Ohio State Fair. Mom would generally avoid the indistinguishable August stench from the pig barn and the average fair patron. But, we all delighted in the best breakfast of the year – elephant ears and milk shakes – and the crowning event of the morning, a ride down the giant yellow slide. As part of the ritual, every child was allowed to play one of the carnival games to win a prize. After years of scientific experimentation, I figured out that the birthday guessing game was your best bet at coming home with a stuffed animal or a knick-kanck that would soon become a dog chew toy.
One summer I remember my friend, Evan Ruff, was invited to join along. Both Evan and I played and, given my decision in games, we both won. Oddly enough, we both selected as our prize what might have been the dumbest trend in sportsfan wear of the mid-nineties - the Dr. Seuss Hat. Evan chose a red and grey one. It was versatile and could be worn at his schools sporting events and moments of Ohio State pride - which are not rare inside of I-270. I choose black and gold. At the time I was one of the few, the proud Columbus Crew Soccer fans.
Like several others, I was swept up in Crew-mania when the MLS came to town. As a teenager, the team came to me at a time when my mind was fertile grounds for sports heroes and passion. I played soccer, so it was only natural.
But, like the career of Doctor Khumalo, the road for the MLS and crew have not always been smooth. Liquidating teams in Florida. A general decline in attendance after the initial hoopla. A poor showing by an MLS dominated US national team in the 1998 world cup. All seemed to be heading in the wrong direction at the turn of the millennium.
But, over the past few years, the trend has reversed. Despite these economic times, the MLS is essentially financial solvent. Attendance is picking up. Additionally, the sporting culture is becoming more mature. With the Nordeck, a supporter’s section has come to Columbus that provides a unique sporting experience. Previously the crew supporter’s section drew 75 people on a good day. Now they are averaging over 2,000 in the section.
With all of this, somehow my youthful obsession with the black and gold finally feels rewarded. The day after Harvard once again toppled the bulldogs, my sporting weekend was rescued when the Crew won the MLS Cup. When other people saved the front page when Obama swept, I asked my parents to save Monday's Columbus Dispatch.
To me it seems that the MLS and the Crew are defining its own piece of the pie. Hopefully it will continue to grow and mature so that I can return to game once Dr. Seuss hats are back in style.
= = = = = = = = =
Sampling of the Nordecke
One summer I remember my friend, Evan Ruff, was invited to join along. Both Evan and I played and, given my decision in games, we both won. Oddly enough, we both selected as our prize what might have been the dumbest trend in sportsfan wear of the mid-nineties - the Dr. Seuss Hat. Evan chose a red and grey one. It was versatile and could be worn at his schools sporting events and moments of Ohio State pride - which are not rare inside of I-270. I choose black and gold. At the time I was one of the few, the proud Columbus Crew Soccer fans.
Like several others, I was swept up in Crew-mania when the MLS came to town. As a teenager, the team came to me at a time when my mind was fertile grounds for sports heroes and passion. I played soccer, so it was only natural.
But, like the career of Doctor Khumalo, the road for the MLS and crew have not always been smooth. Liquidating teams in Florida. A general decline in attendance after the initial hoopla. A poor showing by an MLS dominated US national team in the 1998 world cup. All seemed to be heading in the wrong direction at the turn of the millennium.
But, over the past few years, the trend has reversed. Despite these economic times, the MLS is essentially financial solvent. Attendance is picking up. Additionally, the sporting culture is becoming more mature. With the Nordeck, a supporter’s section has come to Columbus that provides a unique sporting experience. Previously the crew supporter’s section drew 75 people on a good day. Now they are averaging over 2,000 in the section.
With all of this, somehow my youthful obsession with the black and gold finally feels rewarded. The day after Harvard once again toppled the bulldogs, my sporting weekend was rescued when the Crew won the MLS Cup. When other people saved the front page when Obama swept, I asked my parents to save Monday's Columbus Dispatch.
To me it seems that the MLS and the Crew are defining its own piece of the pie. Hopefully it will continue to grow and mature so that I can return to game once Dr. Seuss hats are back in style.
= = = = = = = = =
Sampling of the Nordecke
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
banging pots on st marks*
In the rhetoric of last night, we witnessed the best traits of McCain from the past (video) and the big tent Obama we wish remains with us in the future (video)
No matter what though -- last night was the culmination of years cultural change. Last night was America at its best.
To paraphrase the Shawshank Redemption and the Obama mantra:
I hope the spirit of bipartisanship persist well after the last piece of confetti is pick up in Grant park
I hope Obama defies forces from the left and his voting record to rule from the middle.
I hope the Republicans with to 40+ seats in the senate accept compromise and the spirit of change
I hope we are on the edge of period defined by centrist rule
I hope ...
* the title of this post is in reference to the spontaneous parade of people banging pots and pans up and down St Marks at 1am.
No matter what though -- last night was the culmination of years cultural change. Last night was America at its best.
To paraphrase the Shawshank Redemption and the Obama mantra:
I hope the spirit of bipartisanship persist well after the last piece of confetti is pick up in Grant park
I hope Obama defies forces from the left and his voting record to rule from the middle.
I hope the Republicans with to 40+ seats in the senate accept compromise and the spirit of change
I hope we are on the edge of period defined by centrist rule
I hope ...
* the title of this post is in reference to the spontaneous parade of people banging pots and pans up and down St Marks at 1am.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Searching for Babar
Sitting in a drawer in what could be called a closet in Columbus but passes as a bedroom in the East Village is my “McCain ‘08” T-shirt. Along with perhaps being the only un-ironic GOP shirt this side of 14th Street, it is distinctive in many respects. First, it is a pre-Palin tee. I purchased it around a frigid Super Tuesday morning when I was the first at my polling station and well before a McCain primary victory was certain. Its early design gives it the potential to collect big bucks some day. That and the shirt is still encased in its original plastic wrapping.
To the extent labels can apply to someone, I consider myself to be a fiscally conservative, socially moderate, pro-globalization, and democratic loving 26 year old. Moreover, in coming of political age over the past three presidential cycles, I have acquired a distinct distaste for partisanship. Therefore, I dislike centralized control and taxes, but unlike some on the right I recycle, see benefits to compromise, and do not select candidates primarily on “moral values.”
In McCain I was hopeful for reform of the Republican Party’s ideals and leadership. Soon after he had the nomination, moderate and even progressive gestures gave me prospects that he would mark the evolution and not the end of the Regan Revolution. He toured underprivileged areas of the south, had green friendly photo shoots in the woods, and visited frequently neglected South America.
But, driven to placate the party constituencies and to catch up to Obama, a choice was made to run a campaign with the tactics we are more familiar with today. My thoughts began to sour as the campaign became more and more populist, negative, and impulsive. Reliance on well-tread conservative rhetoric marked a reinforcement of red state principles - culminating in Palin’s coming out and my shirt’s concealment.
The recent Colin Powell endorsement crystallized my reservations. Powell did not necessarily articulate new ideas, but he was able to do so succinctly, eloquently and from a position with which I could relate. Unlike the taunts of my liberal friends, I could not immediately discredit Powell’s remarks. To that point, it also does not hurt that I think Powell should be running for President.
As to what he said, Powell spoke up for disgruntled moderate R’s. I agree with a recent Washington Post editorial. Powell’s declaration was to me a statement not so much for Obama but against the GOP and its leadership (Link). He highlighted issues with the party and how it is encouraging a mindset that is short sighted and narrow minded:
“I'm also troubled by, not what Senator McCain says, but what members of the party say. And it is permitted to be said such things as, "Well, you know that Mr. Obama is a Muslim." Well, the correct answer is, he is not a Muslim, he's a Christian. He's always been a Christian. But the really right answer is, what if he is? Is there something wrong with being a Muslim in this country? The answer's no, that's not America.”
Because he was able to connect with and articulate my own frustrations, Powell raised concerns in my eyes of how a McCain Presidency would govern. Powell implicitly brought into question the people and constituencies who might be working with and for McCain. Although he is not directly responsible for these short-sighted statements, it is troublesome that McCain is complicit in this campaign’s tone and what that might mean for political discourse. Moreover, Powell’s statements made me further question how a McCain selection could be transition for the party and the presidency.
So, where does that leave me? Currently undecided. When contrasted with McCain, Obama is problematic for me in terms of issues and experience that should probably be left for another essay. But, in terms of rhetoric and demeanor Obama can be inspiring. I can see how his personality could reshape how America is perceived. Instead of the nation of 9/11, Europe and the rest of the world might be more prone to regard us as a center for compassion and freedom. For all these reasons, Powell repeatedly referred to Obama as a transformative figure. McCain might be one too. Unfortunately, it appears he is too entrapped by the plastic wrap of his party constituencies.
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This article can also be found here
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Sunday, June 01, 2008
is there a downside?
union square is the start and finish line of my working day. in the mornings i am usually avoiding puddles resting on the asphalt and hippie types setting up tents for the farmers market. in the evenings i am frequently dodging skateboarders, nyu students, hipsters and other partakers of loitering. recently my jaunt through the square has had to navigate one additional obstacle - construction on the pavilion (PHOTO HERE)
in short, the plans are to improve the facilities in and surrounding the pavilion. of note, the renovations include the addition of a privately operated cafe. consequently, the construction is being done through a public-private partnership.
to be perfectly honest, this struck me as a good thing and i did not give it second thought. the pavilion is not inviting in the slightest. an overdue need for a face lift is complemented by the mental road block it creates. the white pillars visually and physically cut me off from the lush niceties of the park.
also of note, when the weather turns nice, the former pavilion has in the past been turned into an outdoor bar - luna park. luna park was generally frequented by summer banking interns and other yuppie types. construction zone pavilion equals no luna park equals no yuppies. another win in my mind.
however, some seem to disagree. i began to see protest signs and ribbons attached to the fence sealing off the construction zone. i also began to read quotes such as
“today we are calling on the city to abandon its support for the union square partnership’s irresponsible restaurant plan and begin construction immediately on the desperately needed playground”
i can honestly say that this is the first time i have seen "irresponsible" and "playground" in the same sentence. the authorities also took notice as well ...
about a month ago a new york supreme court - which as all law & order fans know is the lower new york state court - temporarily suspended construction. construction has since resumed but not on the pavilion itself. this mostly due to the nature of the cafe.
as the main catalyst to cease and desist order for mike mulligan and his steam shovel, the opposition raised concerns for need for more playground space as the top priority. but the tones of the discussion imply that there is more in question here.
the opposition to this is also being driven by the public-private partnership that is behind the construction. I get the sense that they feel that public priorities would dictate things other than a cafe would be created in such a place.
on top of all of that - as if the man were not evil or conservative enough - the construction is going to result in the removal and ultimate replacement of some very old trees in the park.
although I will be the first to state displeasure at the tree hacking that will need to occur (NB - these shady spots encourage ned reading and coffee consumption on summer saturdays), i think that overall the space is gaining quite a lot from the venture. more playground space and a cafe that - like shake shack - could become an important attraction to the area. as it is in their own best interest, the cafe operators can become advocates for additional activity and safety within the park.
the renovation - at least in what i have seen - looks like it will open up the space and encourage more north-south traffic. This will only help to connect the northern end of the park to its southern woodland friends to the south.
if the city and the tax payers benefit from a partnership with private donations, then who's to say we lose? A need is being addressed, meets a number of constituents wants, and is at less cost to the big apple. i do still call dibs on a shady seat this summer.
various links on the issue:
http://www.unionsquarenyc.org/documents/NorthEndBrochureFinal.pdf
http://www.plannyc.org/project-101-Union-Square-Redesign
http://www.thevillager.com/villager_189/opponentspileonunionsq.html
in short, the plans are to improve the facilities in and surrounding the pavilion. of note, the renovations include the addition of a privately operated cafe. consequently, the construction is being done through a public-private partnership.
to be perfectly honest, this struck me as a good thing and i did not give it second thought. the pavilion is not inviting in the slightest. an overdue need for a face lift is complemented by the mental road block it creates. the white pillars visually and physically cut me off from the lush niceties of the park.
also of note, when the weather turns nice, the former pavilion has in the past been turned into an outdoor bar - luna park. luna park was generally frequented by summer banking interns and other yuppie types. construction zone pavilion equals no luna park equals no yuppies. another win in my mind.
however, some seem to disagree. i began to see protest signs and ribbons attached to the fence sealing off the construction zone. i also began to read quotes such as
“today we are calling on the city to abandon its support for the union square partnership’s irresponsible restaurant plan and begin construction immediately on the desperately needed playground”
i can honestly say that this is the first time i have seen "irresponsible" and "playground" in the same sentence. the authorities also took notice as well ...
about a month ago a new york supreme court - which as all law & order fans know is the lower new york state court - temporarily suspended construction. construction has since resumed but not on the pavilion itself. this mostly due to the nature of the cafe.
as the main catalyst to cease and desist order for mike mulligan and his steam shovel, the opposition raised concerns for need for more playground space as the top priority. but the tones of the discussion imply that there is more in question here.
the opposition to this is also being driven by the public-private partnership that is behind the construction. I get the sense that they feel that public priorities would dictate things other than a cafe would be created in such a place.
on top of all of that - as if the man were not evil or conservative enough - the construction is going to result in the removal and ultimate replacement of some very old trees in the park.
although I will be the first to state displeasure at the tree hacking that will need to occur (NB - these shady spots encourage ned reading and coffee consumption on summer saturdays), i think that overall the space is gaining quite a lot from the venture. more playground space and a cafe that - like shake shack - could become an important attraction to the area. as it is in their own best interest, the cafe operators can become advocates for additional activity and safety within the park.
the renovation - at least in what i have seen - looks like it will open up the space and encourage more north-south traffic. This will only help to connect the northern end of the park to its southern woodland friends to the south.
if the city and the tax payers benefit from a partnership with private donations, then who's to say we lose? A need is being addressed, meets a number of constituents wants, and is at less cost to the big apple. i do still call dibs on a shady seat this summer.
various links on the issue:
http://www.unionsquarenyc.org/documents/NorthEndBrochureFinal.pdf
http://www.plannyc.org/project-101-Union-Square-Redesign
http://www.thevillager.com/villager_189/opponentspileonunionsq.html
Monday, May 26, 2008
Hump Day
Given my obsession with this blog and subsequent need for another blogging outlet, i have created an internet home for my hump day webpage of the week emails. Enjoy!
http://humpdaywebpage.blogspot.com/
http://humpdaywebpage.blogspot.com/
Saturday, January 19, 2008
been a long time since a rock and roll
ok, it has been a while. but, the stars have aligned and this blog shall rise from the ashes like a phoenix in the bleak night sky knows as the "internet". but enough waxing. on t0 business.
it is that time of the quadrennial when we need to chose our candidates who will be our candidates. Moreover, i think i have figured out who i am going to throw support in with and that man is john mccain for reasons such as his past stances on immigration, stances on spending, and articles such as the one above
even furry old grover norquist is warming up to the straight talk express.
if you want to try and change my thinking. feel free to comment.
however, please note that if you try and persuade me one way i am -- as shocking as this may sound for a 20 something in nyc -- a registered republican. so clinton canoodling, barack backing, and edwards enthusiast need not apply. i can only vote "r" in the state of ny.
- ny
stay tuned -- ned's "turn it to 11 in 07" -- aka ned's pop culture top 11 of 2007
it is that time of the quadrennial when we need to chose our candidates who will be our candidates. Moreover, i think i have figured out who i am going to throw support in with and that man is john mccain for reasons such as his past stances on immigration, stances on spending, and articles such as the one above
even furry old grover norquist is warming up to the straight talk express.
if you want to try and change my thinking. feel free to comment.
however, please note that if you try and persuade me one way i am -- as shocking as this may sound for a 20 something in nyc -- a registered republican. so clinton canoodling, barack backing, and edwards enthusiast need not apply. i can only vote "r" in the state of ny.
- ny
stay tuned -- ned's "turn it to 11 in 07" -- aka ned's pop culture top 11 of 2007
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