a blogger (that’s me) and two restaurateurs walk into a bar…
… order some drinks (one of them likes "white wine with a few ice cubes." go figure.), get a little tipsy, and —what else?— start gossiping like a bunch of sewing bee bitches. it went down a little something like this:
one of them was late. personally i think he just completely forgot our appointment and hopped into a taxicab right when he got my text message. hey, it happens (quite a lot in NYC, actually). which was fine cuz i needed a drink anyways. it gave me some time to peruse my environs there in theAceHotel lobby. it’s pretty neat in that chic trendy modern retro modern whatever kind of way. and the waitress is really nice.
there are a lot of "locals" and familiar faces and whatnot, so i am assuming peoples are traveling a ways from wherever they live to get here which is pretty impressive. on the stroll over, a block away i started asking myself who the hells is coming out here to stay in a hotel, it’s ridiculous. well there ended up being a lot of people around so it just goes to show how much i know.
then the other restaurateur arrived so that was great. he’s very cute and jovial and he dresses like a little kid. we sat around and chitchatted about the hotel, and then he asked the waitress to bring out the funky little snacks in the plastic baggies. these are little goodie bags filled with stuffs made by april-bloomfield, like caramel corn and salted almonds and salt&vinegar chips…. and chiccharón (! puertochinos, holla). it’s a good idea because apparently the kitchen is behind schedule what with contractor issues and things, so it’s pretty smart to have at least something for bar patrons.
evidently a Stumptown Coffee place just opened here— which is a big deal apparently, it’s like some coffee cultists’ favorite from seattle or someplace. supposedly it’s quite busy already with lines at the door "at 6AM." so good for them.
subsequently that sparked this big discussion about coffee and whether or not LaColombe "is better."
then we started all the really good gossip and
wooo child. lemme tell you. harharaharrr ben-leventhal would kiss keith-mcnally’s jock strap to get a lick of the dish i got last night, honey.
sigh but you see this is my problem
when i first envisioned doing this blog feature "story" whatever thingie, i imagined it might be called "An Evening With: …" and then i just go out and about with all the really cool peoples i usually see, but now when they start to give me the usual "offff the record, abbbeeeee" bullshit i would just tell them to stick it up their asses this time.
obviously i am full of it, cuz i am not about to go spilling all the beans— it’s not stuff i know first hand so i’m not really sure how much of it is true or how much of it to believe anyhow. like for example, there was this one story about frank-bruni’s recent party at theSpottedPig, and supposedly there was some discourse about his former review process wherein frank-bruni called himself a consummate "professional" and HAHAHAHAHAA that one is just entirely too preposterous to swallow.
oh there was also some blabber about joshua.david-stein too. because he wrote something about something something "used to own Gusto" something (?), and i don’t know if that kid is just dumb as a rock or what.
oh! ohhh but the big news! i’m not going to say. nyeeah.
you wouldn’t believe me anyways, bceause everybody always just wants to believe what they want to believe. but haa ahaa believe me if i get so much as a sense of a whiff of an inkling i am about to get "scooped" or whatever, i will so bust that shit wide the fuck open (as usual, bitches)! so you may want to stay tuned just in case!
YAH SO
theBreslin is set to open probably "october first." it’s about 150 seats. it has a big open kitchen. it will have two bars— a large one (directly on the left if you enter from the street) that’s an antique "purchased in harlem." there will be a "bar rail" opposite with small tables lined down the center.
there’s a "grandfathered" mezzanine level as well, with a smaller (also antique) bar. there are refrigerated wine racks lining the wall, and there will be an "owner’s nook that looks down on everything" off in the corner at the end of the wine racks.
downstairs will be "banquettes banquettes more banquettes" and one (or two?) with "a curtain" cuz he "always wanted to do that."
the floor and (16 foot high, ornately molded) ceiling are "original."
and a "big round" table in the middle right in front of the kitchen.
i think it will end up looking quite beautiful. so the only thing the persistently pessimistic perfectionist in me can think to say is: i didn’t notice if there’s a built-in vestibule but i hope so cuz otherwise it looks like it could be potentially mad freezing up front in the wintertime.
i also got to meet the other restaurateur’s brother and a friend of his from london. they were nice.
yay!
Due to popular demand — OK, fine — my demands (why do I have to log in at The Forum and then log in again here? It’s annoying!), PX This has decided to open up The Blaaahhhg’s commenting system so as to not require registration. Hooray.
Be forewarned that malicious, defamatory and/or personal attacks on either other commentators, the subjects of the site’s “news items,” or the contributors to this site will NOT be tolerated, and will be subject to removal without any further prior notice at the Administrators’ discretion. Violation of this rule may also induce a “ban” on subsequent comment submissions.
Frankly, if you’re the type of commentator that gets your jollies by exhibiting what a stupid, racist, sexist (etc.), dimwitted asshole you are, be grateful if all you get is “deleted” and/or “banned.” More likely, you will incur the wrath of the “Trollai Llama,” who will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and fuuuuurious anger, making you wither and cry like the pathetic little bitch you are. And he’ll enjoy it, too.
And THEN you’ll be banned.
Thank you, and enjoy!
Showkett Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 – Napa Valley, California
Cost: $49.99/Bottle
A georgeous weekend, we dined outdoors with a lovely bottle of cabernet sauvignon from Showkett Vineyards, which, as not too many know, is a neighboring vineyard literally a stone’s throw from the famous Screaming Eagle vineyards. Having visited the winery perhaps about 12 years ago, I do recall this was one of the highlights of my trip, and it’s quite nice to pick up a bottle of this hidden gem if/when I see it on a store shelf. The cabernet is the hallmark of this winery, and the 2005 appears to be an outstanding effort, with notes of blackcherry, cassis, a touch of sage, smoke and vanilla, and— with a bit of airing and swirling, a rather enjoyable confectionary sugar powder that also emerges. In the mouth, very balanced, good persistence of fruit backed by polished tannins, and a nice cherry-vanilla lingering finish. It’s forward in that you can enjoy today, but give this a couple of years resting for maximum peak enjoyment.
Rating: 92
Karl Lawrence – Aldin Chardonnay 2007 – Napa Valley California
Cost: $25/Bottle
This is a nice summer-like chardonnay… with its fine notes of buttery oak laced white wine seemingly loaded with pear, honeysuckle and tangerine oil on both aroma and flavor. Has good acid levels and becomes nice and creamy on the palate. Full bodied, full flavored, and rich from mid to back palate.
Rating: 90
People have been expressing a lot of interest in Yoga Week at Villa Plantat. Proprietor/Operator Patrice Regnier writes:
"Yoga Week at Villa Plantat! September, 20th-27th (and next May).
We would be thrilled to welcome you. Already, we are busy preparing for this September’s retreat: Hugguette’s vegetables will be ready for harvesting, and almost all of her gourmet, Provencal cuisine will be prepared straight from the garden. Of course, we’re stocking up on local wine. The forecast is perfect for our hikes, swims and exploring the local villages and ruins. Anna (our beloved teacher) will be focusing the daily classes on individual development and having fun, and she’s preparing special events focusing on Pranayama (breathing), Qigong, Tai Chi, restorative poses and more. The price for the 8 day, 7 night retreat is $1,380 and it’s all inclusive.
Villa Plantat is an elegant 1830 Mas on a 400 acre estate, complete with gardens, a working vineyard, a spring-fed swimming lake and more. If you’re looking for little escape, our Yoga Week at Villa Planat is a truly fun, rejuvenating (and affordable) adventure.
Please view our website: www.VillaPlantat.com for pictures of the magnificent estate, and of past Yoga Weeks. Also, please feel free to write or call if you have any questions at all. Thank you!"
Time is running out— book your stay now!
[ If you would like to announce your event, exhibit, etc., please use the "Just tell" bulletin board at The Forum @ PX This. Membership/Registration is not required. ]
A Financier, an Operator, and a Blogger walk into a bar…
… order some drinks, get a little tipsy, and start — what else?—- gossiping like a bunch of sewing bee bitches. Here’s the transcript of the part of their discussion about Abe&Arthur/Simyone.
Blogger: Oh! ….And Abe&Arthur will be opening soon I guess.
Operator: Is that that new little place on Waverly?
B: No, that’s Joseph Leonard. Abe&Arthur is the place that used to be Lotus… the restaurant part is Abe&Arthur apparently, and then downstairs will be a club slash lounge type thing called Simyone… ya know, like Bijoux with the party brunch and whatever the upstairs was called.
O: Yah exactly, we don’t even remember the name… Who the hell wants to eat in a nightclub? That didn’t even work for Lotus and the food wasn’t even that bad.
B: People used to eat at Spy.
O: Get outta here, Spy had food? I don’t remember any food.
B: Sure… lobster club, fruit and cheese plate, caviar…
O: Ugh christ.
Financier: People might eat in the restaurant just to go to the nightclub afterward… that’s convenient.
O: Pssh, not if it’s like Lotus. Lotus didn’t guarantee entry to the club afterward just because you had a dinner reservation. That would be a good way for them to go though, because otherwise why would anyone eat there? Too many other good restaurants in that area, so why settle for one place for hours on end? That’s what people like about the meatpacking district… all the bar-hopping…
B: But doesn’t that kill the "exclusivity" thing? Otherwise it’s what— BuddhaBar with dancing?
O: Oh c’mon, in a place that size, how are they ever going to make any money trying to be "exclusive"? They can get the Tenjune crowd, but then what, kill Tenjune? There’s no way they can keep a "hot" crowd in both. But maybe that’s the plan anyway. Now that they milked Tenjune for what it was worth…
B: They can offer it up to the B&T gods? That makes sense.
O: The moneymaker. Does Tenjune charge a cover? They can probably start…. and from what I heard that’s what they probably should do if they going to try to keep the new one exclusive. I heard those guys are in deep with their own personal cash. And they might be cash poor. I know someone who was interviewing for a position… they just lowballed him all day long… it’s like The Inn [at Little West 12th] all over again… We all know how that turned out….
B: I did hear something like that. The way it was told to me is that supposedly they invested a lot of their own money right before the market crash… like "putting a deposit on a pre-construction condo… now that the banks aren’t lending, people either have to come up with the rest of the money some other way, or walk away and take the loss of the deposit… supposedly, this is the boat that those guys are in— they just can’t walk away from the cash already in, so they have no choice but to forge ahead."
F: Banks were never lending to nightclubs, anyway. I’ve never seen a good business plan from one, and that’s all I do all day is look at these things. All that money was coming from guys that may have been in banking but were fronting their own money… I even thought of doing it once…
B: I remember. But you wanted to own the property… I could be wrong, but most of these places are leased, aren’t they?
O: They’re all leased.
F: I know guys that have put their money in clubs. No one ever saw a dime back, but that wasn’t the point anyway.
B: Haa, oh god, I always thought that was a myth.
F: If these guys are dropping a couple grand a weekend anyway, what do you think 50 G’s means to them? It’s all the hype of "ownership" and drinks and the girls…
O: Yeah, you get 10 or 20 of those suckers… no offense…
B: Yeah, but then what about all the celebrities? It’s not like they have problems with drinks and girls…
F: Those are just names. Like, their name is worth money…
B: The place looks nice though… there were renderings all over the internet…
O: Ugh, why do people release their renderings? The actual place never matches the renderings. The renderings are sales pitches by the architects, and the budgets never meet the demands… Then they just look like they’re fronting…
B: Maybe they’re fronting then. Isn’t that the point? If they want to build hype and anticipation…?
B: Oh, what’s the deal with Remm and Tepperberg anyway? I heard they straight up kicked him out of Tao in Vegas halfway through his meal….
O: Remm was never one for making friends…
B: If he didn’t think you’re worth it to him…?
O: … But he shouldn’t be trying to make enemies either…
B: No, he’s got the right idea. I thought I heard he was going around saying he needed a starlet girlfriend, to make himself "next level." Oh! Wait, he did date Shannen Doherty, right?
O: He wants to be Richie Akiva more than anyone else in the world… but the food even sucked at Butter.
B: They do kind of look alike, don’t you think?
O: Shannen Doherty is no Carmen Kass…
B: You know I saw Eugene Remm dive under a banquette to rescue his [former] boss’s lipstick once. There were all these other bartenders and managers around, but Eugene Remm was the only chivalrous one….
O: He was the only one who could fit under the banquette without stooping over?
B: Aww… that’s mean…
F: No good deed goes unpunished…
Gottino’s Michael Bull is in Litigation with Partner/Chef Jody Williams
Members and/or followers of theForum @PX This might well recall chef Jody Williams’s long, convoluted history. Almost a year ago, speculation arose that things might not be all that verdant in Denmark. Much more recent rumors have been swirling that Michael Bull has indeed filed a lawsuit against Jody Williams, alleging (among other things) she may have illicitly misapproriated up to “$95,000.00 of company money.”
A source familiar with the story quotes Michael Bull as having stated, “The gloves are off and the fight is on… I will close [Gottino] down if I have to.” Some former employers of Williams have also been pre-informed they may be subject to court deposition. Williams might best hope Keith McNally is not one of them, as he recently remarked in an interview with Restaurant Girl that he “did not enjoy working with her.”
Williams was the opening chef for McNally’s first foray in Italian cuisine. She left Gusto Ristorante (located several blocks form Morandi) amid a flurry of unsubstantiated gossip in the Spring of 2007. She was fired from Morandi in the Spring of 2008.
Gusto proprietor Sasha Muniak, when asked to comment on the lawsuit, replies, “… I did briefly discuss it with Keith… I know how [Bull and McNally] feel… I guess [Williams’s leaving] was a blessing all along.”
**********************************************************
For more information on Jody Williams, read PX This Too (the Sequel to PX This) – Coming Soon in the Autumn of 2010
welcome to the "soft launch" of the new pxthis.com —
sometime over the next couple of days, the official http://pxthis.com URL will kick in and be directed to this new site. the current URL for The Forum @ PX This (http://pxthis.invisionzone.com) will remain in effect and will not change.
forthcoming updates may proceed slowly over the next several weeks, as everybody acclimates themselves to their new undertakings (people can be so unreliable when you only pay them in liquor). also: evidently, everyone has weddings and travels and other responsibilities and whatnot planned over the coming months so— you know how that is.
sorry, but your Forum logins will NOT be carried over to this new format, so if you wish to comment on any topics, it will require you re-register via the login module effective here, which is accessible within any entry. in an attempt to avoid "spam," your first comment will require "validation" by an administrator (which may take some time), after which your comments should appear immediately after they are posted.
as usual, all rules, guidelines, and disclaimers are in effect, with the exception of the Forum’s tiered membership system (which will remain in effect for the Forum only).
thank you so much for all your encouragement, enthusiasm, and support.
enough of this gobbledygook LET’S DANCE, BITCHES!
i’ve only ever been to one other one in my life. but that was totally different cuz it was on a fancy french island way out in the caribbean so it wasn’t such a "scandal" or any such thing. that beach was called "saline" (that’s suh-leen not say-leen like the eyedrops) and it wasn’t very crowded at all— the only naked peoples there were a couple of (beautiful) women off in a quiet corner. with their boyfriends. the boys weren’t naked, just the girls.
see? no biggie.
but this visit was pretty different all right.
oh! before i elaborate—
did you know this beach is considered one of "new york’s best kept secrets" ? even though it’s technically 35 minutes outside of new york city.
well, apparently— it is. so i don’t want to be the one to ruin the secret (my friends will get mad at me).
alls i can say is: if you don’t know "the secret," i guess you’d better ask somebody.
ANYHOO
so yah. there’s this nude beach about 35 minutes away. it’s pretty umm dope? uhh, yah sure— dope!
i’m sorry, maybe i’m a prude or whatever, but
eeheee hahahahaa that is just some of the bugged outtest shit i have ever seen (in real life, i mean. not just like on teevee and whatnot). and i have seen some pretty bugged out stuff. i used to work at ClubUSA so believe me when i tell you i have seen some things. i have seen a row of gay men fucking in a TRAIN that’s how much stuff i’ve seen.
yah so. they even play naked volleyball at this beach. and they did naked dancing. and naked drinking. and naked singing. and naked body surfing.
A TWO MILE STROLL DOWN THE WAY IS ANOTHER PLAIN OLE REGULAR BEACH WITH A RESTAURANT/BAR GET YOUR HEADS OUT OF THE GUTTERS YOU BITCHES!
So how long has it been since you saw Gosford Park? A pretty long time, I’d wager.
Well, it’s about time you saw it again. Honestly, how much of it do you remember? You probably don’t even remember whodunit, do you? And did you even remember Clive Owen? And a (youngish!) Helen Mirren? What about Maggie Smith? Or Ryan Philippe in arguably the best role he’s ever had or ever will get ever again?
The only reason Gosford Park sticks out in my mind so much is because the last time I watched it, I noticed for the first time what a good metaphor it is for the F&B fine dining industry. Seriously, watch it again and see if it doesn’t strike you in the same way. Marvel at how it makes you feel nostalgic and dignified while simultaneously making you feel inadequate and pathetic!
I loved Gosford Park the second time around. Especially how the master of the house reminded me of my last employer.
• Here’s at least one benefit of the recession. According to a 25-year professional Waste Management veteran, the dramatic increase in businesses closing (and employees losing their jobs) has resulted in less waste. He approximates his routes alone collect about "20,000 less tons of trash " per week.
• Idiohack Ben Leventhal attempts to instruct restaurant patrons on "How to be a Regular." Unfortunately, his advice is a load of crap. Oh ha, "crap" ha! There’s a joke about trying to be "regular" somewhere in there! Probably. – Vanilla Ice
• Steve Lewis updates us on his feud with Todd English (wherein he "pulled an Abbe Diaz" (!) – his words). – Inkslinger
• Famke Janssen was spotted twice this week (because she’s a total stalker). First on Bleecker and 6th Ave (walking by the fountain) looking cute in trendy casual cargo shorts and a lovely jaunty fedora. Homegirl must be a bit of a klutz though, constantly bumping into low furnitures and whatnot, seeing as her (long! thin!) legs were looking a wee bit bruised and purply.
Our second encounter found her dining at MeKong with a diminutive female friend. Ms. Janssen didn’t seem to mind at all that the air conditioner above her head was dripping all over the table (which we had just abandoned prior, specifically for that reason). She also really loves her dog. He’s an adorable stout puggish slightly overweight nearly cross-eyed little thing, but Ms. Janssen reached down and scooped up all 15 or so pounds of him, and dined with him ensconced in her lap for the entire rest of her meal. Aww.
And if that scarf and handbag she was rockin are really actually from a street vendor like they purport, well— go on with yer bad self, Famke.
You look fabulous!
• Idiohack Ben Leventhal (characteristically) swings joyously from Keith McNally’s testicles as he announces the news McNally will team with Nate Appleman on their new soon-to-open pizzeria project. – Dick Johnson
• Our intrepid heroine takes on (Idiohack Wonder Twins) Joshua David Stein and Josh Ozersky — where else? — in the comment section of New York Magazine’s GrubStreet. A Must Read! You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, it’s better than Moby Dick. – Dick Johnson
• Anna Wintour offspring, Bee Shaffer with dad, David Shaffer — spotted walking into "the phone store" on 6th Ave (where everrrrybody fabulous buys/services their cellular phones) to inquire about — what else? — new cellular phones.
Oh, WHICH "phone store" you ask?
Well, if you have to ask, you must not be fabulous? In which case, Mike the phone store owner responds, "Puhleese. I have enough [overbearing, annoying, demanding, rich luddite moron] customers on my hands. Thanks, but no thanks." Evidently, Mike pays mucho moola in rent for his tiny store in its swanky location. He doesn’t mind the trickle — a flood he definitely doesn’t need. If you require his services, you’ll find him.
• Blogger Choire Sicha breaks the news about (his former boyfriend) Frank Bruni’s replacement at The New York Times. Aww….(?).
Heh, jerkfaced Gawker commentators who typically swing from Sicha’s testicles (since he used to blog for Gawker) didn’t even know Choire Sicha once dated Frank Bruni! Because, despite all their pretensions, a lot of Gawker commentators are just ignorant fucking idiots. – Vanilla Ice
• Adam Platt files his review of Graydon Carter’s Monkey Bar.
"… ‘I’m not supposed to say,’ the waiter whispered, before explaining, with a conspiratorial grin, that the front-room staff at Mr. Carter’s restaurant had been asked to sign confidentiality agreements when taking their jobs…."
Thanks a lot, Abbe. I guess other aspiring waiter cum memoirists are just shit outta luck, huh? – Vanilla Ice
= "personne extraordinaire"