PX This presents THE F&F REVIEW
Hey, sorry we couldn’t make it to "Friends&Family," we were out of town/ had to work/ not invited. We’re really glad we finally managed to come by, though— it’s so nice to see you!
What’s that? You would still like us to take the time to fill out the F&F survey, because you’d love to take advantage of all our vast experience, knowledge, insight, and expertise as long as we’re already here? Because you invited 75 people to F&F, and afterward all you got was 41 "Congrats[es]!" 22 "Awesome[s]!" 3 "Ciao[s]!" and 9 "Best of luck[s]!" ?
Of course, we’d be honored. Oh ha, yesss, we’ll be honest— brutally honest even, ha ha! After all, that’s what friends & family are for!
No no please, don’t send anything more, we’re stuffed, we can’t breathe, you’ll have to roll us out of here, ha ha ha… !
What was your first impression?
The entranceway is… different. For a restaurant, that is. For a club, it’s perfect!
Oh but umm, gotta admit I’m kinda dying to know where they plan on hanging the mandatory "at eye level" Letter Grade on this bad boy.
Please rate the Bar:
There are two, actually (not counting the lounge upstairs), and they’re decent. Pretty spacious and comfortable enough. The bartenders are quick, attentive, and proficient, if not particularly amiable.
Please rate the drinks/ cocktails/ wine:
Good. Creative recipes and quality ingredients for the cocktails and a fine sagacious wine list. Reasonably priced, especially considering their location and pedigree.
Please rate the Dining Room:
It’s a bit odd. The very low ceiling gives it a vague feeling of claustrophobia, and its bi-level structure doesn’t exactly help either. Kinda austere too, despite its rustic motif.
Please rate the BOH:
Technically the BOH is in the FOH, and it’s pretty snazzy. The food is better and more creative than you’d expect, but somewhat pricey. Counter seating offers up a pretty neat show, but it’s probably more (or maybe less?) entertaining if you’re not in the industry yourself— otherwise, it’s just sorta distracting. As in like: ohhh man, are they gonna have themselves a hoedown when the DOH comes calling. I feel for you, dawgs.
How was the staff?
Totally in the weeds. But ya know, that’ll happen when you schedule two large parties of over a dozen covers right at the same time. In a brand new restaurant. In the Meatpacking District. On a Thursday night. At 8:30PM.
What did you eat?/ How was the food?
Grace roll : OK.
Hudson roll : OK.
Catch roll : Not bad.
Stuffed Calamari : Eh.
Crunchy rice cakes with tuna tartare : So so.
Crab spaghetti : So so.
Mushroom spaghetti : This one is good! Tasty.
Scallop dumplings : This one too! Eat it fast though, don’t let it cool down on ya.
Crispy shrimp : Very good!
Macaroni and lobster cream : OK.
Mushrooms : Delicious.
Sugar snap peas : Nice. Fresh.
"Banana split" : Amazing. No, really.
Cookie platter : Excellent.
Tiramisu? Ugh, can’t remember now, but there was a third dessert : And it was awesome too, whatever it was.
What did you like?
The dessert chef is pretty spectacular! WTF, where’d you find him? Oh, right— Grayz. [We miss you, Grayz. Sob!]
What did you dislike?
Uhh, all the pretty typical nightclubby stuff.
What was your last impression?
The Russian chick trying to make jokes with Russell Simmons in the elevator on the way out was pretty hilarious. But not really in a good way.
Would you come back?
Do you really need me to? Come on now.
Thank you, and hope to see you soon!
Thank you, it was a pleasure.
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Have you heard?
Until the release of PX Me (Summer 2011), this website will henceforth be updated only intermittently (approximately once or twice a week).
Abbe Diaz’s new (daily) blog is now at: abbediaz.com
Hey, have you ever wondered whatever happened to Matt Levine? Oh, no? Well, we’re gonna update you anyway. (It’ll be fun, you’ll see.)
Apparently, Matt Levine "sold" his once uuuüber-hott Eldridge and then went on to undertake some bar/lounge something something at The Hotel on Rivington and then some other stuff happened with some other project he was endeavoring to— oh, whatever— pretty much his whole history is here if you want it. (Hang in there, it gets better.)
Anyhoo, PX This hears Levine was recently ejected from Mister H. We only mention it because: har har aharr, the irony is just killing us.
Evidently, not long ago Levine visited Mister H with actors Bryan Greenberg and Eddie Kaye Thomas of HBO’s How to Make It in America. According to a source from within, despite being seated at "the best table in the house," Levine soon became irate with the waitress who offered him a "bottle menu," speaking rudely and condescendingly to her. The frustrated waitress then summoned the host, whom Levine allegedly manhandled (by grabbing his elbow) and berated with the words, "Look into my eyes. I own three clubs in New York, and I don’t buy bottles. People send me bottles." Unmoved, the inured and apathetic host in turn summoned the manager, aaand "… within about three sentences, she was over him," too.
Levine and his guests were then summarily shown the door.
Another source who chooses to remain anonymous sums it up thusly: "Mathematically, if A is arrogance, and B is bottles, then two C-list actors is definitely not equal or greater than A minus B."
Or rather: 2 x C ≠ or > A – B
Got it? (See, fun and educational!)
We’re just sayin’.
UPDATE: Matt Levine responds via e-mail and has this to say:
"I have nothing but respect for… people in the industry… but come on – this story is bogus and wacky. Not sure where you got your information, but it is completely inaccurate and completely false… Isn’t even an inkling of facts or truth. Even the "quotes" — that is nothing close to what I would ever say, and I never even interacted with a waitress. It’s amazing how a story can be completely made up…"
Matt Levine also graciously requested we remove this narrative from our website. And we would (because, quite frankly, it just doesn’t matter that much to us), but since Eater has already more widely spread our little anecdote, the point just seems kinda moot now. And removing it altogether would probably just serve to increase the curiosity about what the report entailed, possibly fueling even more outlandish "fabrications" in the end.
In any case, the bottom line is this: sometimes stories like this need to be taken with a grain of salt— by ALL parties involved, including our audience. Had this been an account of Levine blowing rails in a banquette or banging hookers in the bathroom, perhaps we would have "fact check[ed]" first, as Levine would have "appreciate[d]." However, in this particular circumstance, we simply didn’t believe anybody would have a reason to make up a tale as absurd as this— nor a "quote" as utterly fabulous as "Look into my eyes…"
This is simply an amusing anecdote, meant to entertain— about an endlessly faaascinating industry, about a person within that industry who, like it or not, has successfully captivated and retained your decidedly limited attention span. So ya know— I guess yalls should ponder that one for a minute, bitches.
In short: We wholeheartedly thank Matt Levine for his courteous and heartfelt response. (And perhaps humbly suggest that next time, he more advantageously train his stupid fucking door people.)
God bless New York, God bless America and the First Amendment, and God bless us all, everyone. We would further venture to ask: Can’t we all just get along? But ha ha ahaa that would just be retarded.
Carry on, mutherfukkers.
* * * * *
Have you heard?
Until the release of PX Me (Summer 2011), this website will henceforth be updated only intermittently (approximately once or twice a week).
Abbe Diaz’s new (daily) blog is now at: abbediaz.com
MORE on Nightlife
Following yesterday’s news of a shakeup at The Box, we hear nightlife fixture Aalex Julien has left EMM Group’s Simyone Lounge (aka SL). In a somewhat ironic twist, partners Mark Birnbaum and Eugene Remm have evidently required all operatives to sign a Non-Compete Agreement— a move Remm might possibly have appropriated from Steve Hanson‘s BR Guest, having once overseen BR Guests’s very first foray in nightlife, Level V, formerly housed in the basement space under (defunct) Meatpacking District restaurant Vento (currently Dos Caminos), located mere blocks from EMM properties, SL and Tenjune.
Apparently, the rigid Non-Compete includes provisos on non-employment with rival entities for designated extended periods, and allegedly bars impresarios from further related employment in NYC at any time. Obviously, this proves problematic for Julien, who once openly admitted to surveying "other projects," at least one of which was situated in "the Meatpacking."
Julien has worked with EMM for several years, manning the entrance to Tenjune since its inception in September of 2006.
photo: Melissa Hom for Grubstreet, New York Magazine
* * * * *
Have you heard?
Until the release of PX Me (Summer 2011), this website will henceforth be updated only intermittently (approximately once or twice a week).
Abbe Diaz’s new (daily) blog is now at: abbediaz.com
Ohh, so you wanna know a little bit more about Nick Rytting, you say? Well, far be it for PX This, your expert in everything F&Bulous in New York City, to deny you by failing to satiate your intense curiosity. (You’re welcome!)
This is Nick Rytting, currently the General Manager of The Box and the former manager of longtime über-hotspot La Esquina.
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Nick is 20-something years old, with medium-to-dark brown hair and hazel eyes. He primarily plays for Team Rainbow, but has been known to date girls on occasion, when they helplessly succumb to his irresistibility by throwing themselves at him mercilessly. He was born in East Someplace, Utah but considers New York City his "other" home. He likes vegetables, good wine, designer clothes, kind "geniune" people, Mariah Carey, and references to his uncanny resemblance to Hunter Parrish. His dislikes include meat, possessiveness, insidiousness, the cost of airfare, and arriving at the party "on time."
In short, we absolutely adore Nick Rytting, and we’re sure you would too.
:)
This has been a PX This PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
* Black and White photo of Nick Rytting by Kristin Brown
Hey, remember a few weeks ago when we referred to Armin Amiri‘s new enterprise but didn’t want to give away all the details because we were trying to be respectful, and then Eater graciously picked up our tidbit and then the very next day The New York Post shadily ran with the story without crediting us, as usual, because they’re lame shystery fuckers, and then supposedly Amy Sacco got pretty upset and then maybe may or may not have thrown a wee bit of a tantrum that Amiri is riding her coat tails straight over her head now that he’s getting all these big new deals in New York (hey New York Post, did you happen to hear about the other project Amiri’s been fervently eyeing for months now?) and she’s not?
Yeah well, that place is called Mr H, and it soft-opened to "friends and family" as a complimentary "preview" last week on Friday night for "only thirty invited guests," in a practice run before the Prabal Gurung and Derek Lam parties over the weekend. We have a few photos even though technically we weren’t allowed to take pictures, so we’ll show you some because clearly there’s no point in trying to be respectful. However, we will endeavor to remain somewhat courteous and just give you a sneak peek, because apparently Mr H is currently in the unfortunate position of having to honor Fashion Week bookings made months in advance despite being behind development schedule and "not fully prepared." Evidently, its current state is "temporary"; Mr H will re-close after Fashion Week to undergo further renovations.
That is all for now. Try checking The Post tomorrow— maybe they’ll make some calls today in an attempt to score some kind of awesome indignant quote from Amy Sacco or something.
* * * * *
Have you heard?
Until the release of PX Me (Summer 2011), this website will henceforth be updated only intermittently (approximately once or twice a week).
Abbe Diaz’s new (daily) blog is now at: abbediaz.com
Salon 403: Love is…
Congratulations to Lelaine Lau of Salon 403 for another wonderful and successful event last night, "Love is…"
Love is one of those things that is nearly impossible to quantify or describe, and difficult to define beyond "a strong affection for". And yet we know it when we see it or feel it, receive it or give it. It’s also an energy and a visceral feeling. It’s positive and uplifting and healthy. It encompasses so much more than just romance, and yet that is the first thing most people think of when they hear the word. So what is love to you?
Love Is is a celebration of love of all kinds as told through the stories of my presenters. Love Is is meant to be an expression of the various ways that love manifests. Love Is is a storytelling event and an interactive art project.
Please join me at the next 403, where presenters including chanteuse, French punk, and cult icon EDWIGE BELMORE, singer/songwriter DAVID RALEIGH, writer and cartoonist ANTHONY HADEN-GUEST, Super Sprowtz founder RADHA AGRAWAL, purveyor of love KATIA TALLARICO, lifestyle consultant WILSON MESA, model and muse PETEY WRIGHT, and other members of the 403 community will share what love is to them.
French painter, poet and conceptual artist JULIEN ISORE will also present his LOVE project – an experimental and interactive international art work and "advertising campaign" for LOVE. The aim of the campaign is to combine materiality and immateriality and transform humanity into a work of art. Julien’s work explores theoretical questions about metaphorical thought and the process of imaginary, and his campaign has captured the hearts of people all over the world from Lisbon, Paris, Shanghai, Brussels, Los Angeles, Geneva, Bogota, Stockholm and Bombay. This is his first LOVE campaign in New York City.
Love Is will feature the cuisine of CAMILLE BECERRA, a NYC-based chef and restaurateur known for incorporating the Latin spices of her heritage and her dedication to the farm-to-table movement. A top graduate of the Academy of Culinary Arts, she went on to open the popular Paloma in Greenpoint, which lasted 3 years before being shuttered by fire, and she competed in Season 3 of Top Chef. Most recently she held a series of wildly successful pop-up restaurants called The Hunger, which drew raves from the likes of Tom Colicchio and Todd English.
To see more photographs of this fantastic evening, you know where to go…
Okay okaaay, I messed up. Yes, I’m a week late. Yes, I did see these beyoootiful photographs earlier, and yes, I meant to steal them— but I like totally spaced and completely forgot. And yes, you are googling Karim Amatullah all day long and for some reason expect to find his shiny bald round head here. (Sorry, he’s actually more like here. And uh… here.)
In any case, fine. Now you’ve found him. He’s at the Jay Z & Eminem concert at Yankee Stadium! Or at least, he was. (Check it out, dude. Time travel! Wheee!)
Enjoy! Or ya know, try. Seeing as you’re probably dejected and disconsolate now you weren’t actually there in person.
:(
** With very special thanks to Karim Amatullah of Green Tea Innovative Marketing Concepts and Matthew Katakis
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For more on Karim Amatullah, read PX This – The Revised Edition and PX This Too (The Sequel to PX This) – Coming Soon
GREATEST HITS: PX This [The Blahg]
Hi! Thank you for your "search"!
This website is currently undergoing changes as it continually progresses, so the entry for which you are seeking has likely been archived within "The Greatest Hits – PX This [The Blahg]". It was removed from its original location in preparation for the upcoming release of PX This Too (The Sequel to PX This). If you would like more information and/or further clarification on this particular narrative, please read PX This – The Revised Edition and/or PX This Too (coming soon).
And so without further ado— by popular (search engine) demand, we proudly present THE GREATEST HITS of PX This [The Blahg]
[*** warning: Eats, Shoots and Ladders Leaves freaks, please CLICK HERE* and HERE before reading any further. then take that favorite book of yours and stick it up your ass. thank you! ***]
"Mark Baker and Vicky Andren"
MONDAY, AUGUST 8, 2005. 10:48AM:
we just got back from europe, we went to the wedding of mark-baker and vicky-andren in stockholm, sweden.
wow, it was lovely. and totally fascinating.
weddings are such a trip.
ah haaa. literally
… there was rebecca-de.mornay and angie-everhart and ingrid-seynhaeve. and at the table with us was caroline-winberg (and her boyfriend "of two years" who apparently runs the Lydmar Hotel, he was really nice) and erik-wachtmeister who is the dude that founded aSmallWorld…
yah so then after that faboolous weekend in stockholm, we dropped by barcelona, spain…
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pxthis.com archives
This is an abbreviated version of Abbe Diaz’s diary/blog entry on August 8, 2005, for archival purposes only. A far more detailed, thorough, and incisive account is to be included in Diaz’s upcoming second book, PX This Too (The Sequel to PX This) – Coming Soon in the Autumn of 2010
* "…The intellectual community, as usual, showed itself to be timid and divided, and even the most unexpected graphologists engaged in controversies regarding their inconsistent analyses of my handwriting. It was they who divided opinions, overheated the polemic, and made nostalgia popular…. Make no mistake: peaceful madmen are ahead of the future." – Gabriel García Márquez
GREATEST HITS: theForum@px.this
PX This hereby presents The Forum’s Greatest Hits, a thread-by-thread archive of the most fascinating discussions from "theForum@px.this" — our online F&B oriented community IP.Board (founded in 2007) made virtually obsolete by the re-launch of theBlahg, pxthis.com, on August 31, 2009.
[theForum@px.this will be fully and permanently dismantled upon the definitive completion of its archive.]
Started: October 1, 2007. 3:49 PM by *Ferret-n-Chicken!* • Closed: June 24, 2010 11:28AM • Archived at 17,670 Views
PRIMARY SUBJECT : Who would play the "lead character" in the TV/Cable/Web extravaganza PX This – The Series ?
ADJUNCT SUBJECTS : Actress Marja Allen Vongerichten, Thandie Newton, Gary Dourdan, Michelle Malkin, eater.com
GIST OF TOPIC : "DANG. DAT BE A LITTER A’ FINE BITCHEZ! WORD."
SIGNIFICANCE: "DANG. DAT BE A LITTER A’ FINE BITCHEZ! WORD."
Also: PX This – The Revised Edition is about (among other things)… a certain chef, see. Who just happens to have this wife. Who just happens to be an actress. Who just happens to look a lot like Abbe Diaz.
Do you seeee the possibilities? Freaky.
Oh, and also: Who would play YOU ? Mwuahahahahahahahahahaaaa
RATING: ★★★★★
WHAT THE STARS MEAN: Ratings range from zero to five stars and reflect the discussion’s entertainment value, from amusing to hilarious, with edification taken into consideration. Hyperlinks contained within are subject to change.
The archives of theForum@px.this have been edited for the sake of clarity, brevity, and squeakiness. [If you require an original unedited copy of the discussion, please e-mail px.this@gmail.com]
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*Pictured: Abbe Diaz, Marja Allen Vongerichten, Thandie Newton
** See also (earlier): Abbe Diaz gets Personal
For more on this subject, read PX Me – The Sequel to PX This – Coming Soon in the Spring of 2012
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Have you heard?
Until the release of PX Me (Spring 2012), this website will henceforth be updated only intermittently (approximately once or twice a week).
Abbe Diaz’s new (daily) blog is now at: abbediaz.com
Oi! So, you think you know what’s what, what? Well, let yer ol’ chum Mark Baker tell you the bloody score, chap. This nightlife business isn’t all jolly good fun ‘n games, innit. This is serious bloody business; you’d be positively knackered and gobsmacked if you’d ever seen some of thing ‘e’s been through. Bloody bollocks, some of it! So, sit yer arse down and ‘ave a lesson. Or bugger off, slag!
Pip pip, cheerio and all that rot.
*See also (earlier):
• Mark Baker’s wedding to Vicky Andren
• PX This presents: The Travel Series
** And, for even more on Mark Baker, read PX This – The Revised Edition (and PX This Too – Coming Soon in the Summer of 2010)
It’s Friday, let’s dance! In keeping with New York Magazine‘s upcoming article on the legendary Limelight and its impending transition into a shopping mall— PX This urges you to: WORRRK.
(If Madonna calls, I’m at "Boom Boom.")
If you’re as fabulous as you think you are, then this little cutie pie needs no introduction.
Her father, however, may need a baseball bat in just a few more years.
:)
***Featuring Belinda Becker and Willow Becker – with special thanks to LaRon Batchelor for shustir.com
Just released in theatres – March 5, 2010. Yay!
Watch Brooklyn’s Finest, starring Richard Gere, Don Cheadle, Ethan Hawke, Wesley Snipes and of course, NYC nightlife superstar, Wass Stevens. Check out the official trailer (see if you can spot the temporarily revamped LaEsquina!)
* See also (earlier): " DON CHEADLE and WESLEY SNIPES… at LaEsquina"
Hey, how’d you like to take a tour through the gorgeous home of former nightlife superstar Athena Calderone? I thought so! OK, here ya go:
:)
Don’t mention it!
Rosario Dawson at Tuesday night BonBon hosted by Kenny Kenny and Susanne Bartsch at Juliet Supper Club.
• See also (earlier): "SPOTTED: (Volume 20)"
* With special thanks to Kenny Kenny
= "personne extraordinaire"