Dutch Kills on a Tuesday. Not a bad night. Great blues on the stereo. A freestyling bartender handing out quaint little tin cups of water with slices of cucumber in them. Rustic and refined all at the same time. Some loud mouth girl at the bar. She's not too obnoxious, but seemingly on her way. She flirts with the bartender while the guy shes with gets jealous inside, but the bartender subsides him with a free Gin drink, suddenly he doesn't care.
The bartender slides a long drink in front of me. Gin, lemon, cognac and a touch of sugar. A long silver spoon straw and one massive piece of ice. The first sip tickles me awake and then the second sends a shiver down my spine. Such a delightful experience. The drink is called a "Stay up Late" definitely fitting.
The blues keep singing thru the stereo. I'm now moving on to my third cocktail. The "Hanky Panky". A classic drink made with gin, sweet vermouth and Fernet. A great night cap. As you may have noticed the night has revolved around gin. I will listen to Goodie Mob on the way home and probably watch some Bill Murray flick or Golden Girls when I get home. Laugh if you will, I don't give a fuck. Cheers and goodnight!
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Monday, July 25, 2011
Would Buddha send a drink back?
When does our etiquette begin and allow others to end? When are we passive enough to let the rude person cut in line in front of us, or are we angry with so much that we must curse and yell at this person, or even simply bring it up at all.
I have been listening to a Buddhist podcast lately, it's a very sedative listen. Oddly enough to me, a woman with a thick Scottish brogue speaks through out one of these episodes, her voice just has this mellow ring to it though that is transcendent at the least, what I found to be very fitting of a Buddhist speaker.
Listening to this has really brought my own criticisms that I this out there, be brought under scrutiny. And I am now hearing my grandfather in one ear, urging me the manly duty of defending your honor, however in the other ear I hear the voice of a Scottish Buddha, and the thoughts conflict often.
The other night I was out with friends. All cocktail lovers and knowledgeable of the craft. We decided to try The Campbell Apartment, a great vibe, friendly hosts and what assumed to look and operate like a proper cocktail bar. Well long story short they shook gin martinis and hot explicit instructions wrong every time.
A typical story of assuming you can order a 50/50 gin martini at a bar whom seems should be able to facilitate, and instead getting melee of I don't know what. But nothing that we ordered.
So full circle comes the thought from before, knowing the business and knowing in fairness if a steak I ordered med rare and came out well done, industry would allow me to critique and send back. However, am I either not being brazen enough or is it better with cocktails to take the bigger mans role, so to speak, and just enjoy that we have a drink. I'm still baffled at what is the right thing to do?
Another example where I was on the other side of things, I went to a premiere of a movie today. When arriving move ushers directed me to head up a stairwell. I did and there were other people walking up the stairwell as well, well, well, (lol). Anyhow, about ten minutes later some lady yells at me and says,"you know I'm not going to let you cut in line", I was startled, told her I just went up the stairs as directed by the ushers, she went on to gospel her war story of waiting in the rain for this movie, I understood, though thought the tone and manner of informing me were ill. I was just one guy, we were headed into a theater with hundreds of seats, and we were at the front of the line, but, whatever.
Buddha would have probably not even noticed if someone with no ill will cut in front of him in line. He would just chill to the Chuck Mangione playing on his headphones and keep repeating in mantra,"it is what it is".
A how would Buddha act to his drink not being made properly over and over? Probably something in the vein of, "if the person making this drink can never make a mistake, then he can never learn, and the only one who can never learn is the one who knows all, and he does not make drinks".
Or something like that. Still, my pondering mind wants to know how to tell me to be the man my grandfather was and Buddha all at once. How to be all people to all people and yet still get your way when you pay for it. Hmmm....
I have been listening to a Buddhist podcast lately, it's a very sedative listen. Oddly enough to me, a woman with a thick Scottish brogue speaks through out one of these episodes, her voice just has this mellow ring to it though that is transcendent at the least, what I found to be very fitting of a Buddhist speaker.
Listening to this has really brought my own criticisms that I this out there, be brought under scrutiny. And I am now hearing my grandfather in one ear, urging me the manly duty of defending your honor, however in the other ear I hear the voice of a Scottish Buddha, and the thoughts conflict often.
The other night I was out with friends. All cocktail lovers and knowledgeable of the craft. We decided to try The Campbell Apartment, a great vibe, friendly hosts and what assumed to look and operate like a proper cocktail bar. Well long story short they shook gin martinis and hot explicit instructions wrong every time.
A typical story of assuming you can order a 50/50 gin martini at a bar whom seems should be able to facilitate, and instead getting melee of I don't know what. But nothing that we ordered.
So full circle comes the thought from before, knowing the business and knowing in fairness if a steak I ordered med rare and came out well done, industry would allow me to critique and send back. However, am I either not being brazen enough or is it better with cocktails to take the bigger mans role, so to speak, and just enjoy that we have a drink. I'm still baffled at what is the right thing to do?
Another example where I was on the other side of things, I went to a premiere of a movie today. When arriving move ushers directed me to head up a stairwell. I did and there were other people walking up the stairwell as well, well, well, (lol). Anyhow, about ten minutes later some lady yells at me and says,"you know I'm not going to let you cut in line", I was startled, told her I just went up the stairs as directed by the ushers, she went on to gospel her war story of waiting in the rain for this movie, I understood, though thought the tone and manner of informing me were ill. I was just one guy, we were headed into a theater with hundreds of seats, and we were at the front of the line, but, whatever.
Buddha would have probably not even noticed if someone with no ill will cut in front of him in line. He would just chill to the Chuck Mangione playing on his headphones and keep repeating in mantra,"it is what it is".
A how would Buddha act to his drink not being made properly over and over? Probably something in the vein of, "if the person making this drink can never make a mistake, then he can never learn, and the only one who can never learn is the one who knows all, and he does not make drinks".
Or something like that. Still, my pondering mind wants to know how to tell me to be the man my grandfather was and Buddha all at once. How to be all people to all people and yet still get your way when you pay for it. Hmmm....
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Friday, July 22, 2011
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Stoned and Stone
Tonight it's a 6 pack of Stone IPA. One of my top ten favorites of all time. Just a great consistent stand by. Tipple me this?, does anyone out there have a documented idea of when the first branded IPA beer was on the market? If this was a Twitter comment I would proceed that last question with #drinksthatmakeyougohmmm?.
As I drink this fine brew, I sit on my balcony in Bushwick, Brooklyn. The kids underneath me in the street have been an still are playing in the fire hydrant for 3 or 4 days now. Using cans to jet the water onto passing cars and people on the sidewalk. I undertand the need to play in the water when it's hot, but the old man in me says, "How much money is this wasted water costing the tax payers?",
"If we weren't losing money paying for all this water, maybe the state wouldn't have to be making budget cuts in the school districts.".
The ornery old man in me worrying about taxes. Why a crock!
I've been listening to these Buddhist podcasts. They really have been a mirror reflection, dharma if you will, into myself. I've been seeing the unnecessary anger and dishoveldness(made this word up, but you understand it) beetled over my subconscious and it has really become quite a cumbersome beast. So these podcasts have been helping me evoke the emotion and heart behind the thought thy things will be what they be, you can only be your best. Through our personal action we can profess our inner emotion. And if allowing us only to work upon ourselves, than we will naturally be more forgiving as well as giving of ourselves with others. Yep, we need to understand, "It is what it is."
On my second beer for the eve. Seeing my first star of the night. I've been praying a lot more lately. Today I caught myself realizing I had not prayed since getting the keys to move into my girlfriend and I's new place. Praying up until we got it begging for it, and once it came, I completely became consumed with my self and forgot to keep praying. I caught myself today, and it seems I have been praying all day since then.
I pray I don't run out of beer to soon.
Our garden is coming along nicely. I can't wait to have a few friends over and have some rooftop garden to glass cocktails. Can't wait.
'Tis all for now. More when it's time. Hope this was not a waist for you.
As I drink this fine brew, I sit on my balcony in Bushwick, Brooklyn. The kids underneath me in the street have been an still are playing in the fire hydrant for 3 or 4 days now. Using cans to jet the water onto passing cars and people on the sidewalk. I undertand the need to play in the water when it's hot, but the old man in me says, "How much money is this wasted water costing the tax payers?",
"If we weren't losing money paying for all this water, maybe the state wouldn't have to be making budget cuts in the school districts.".
The ornery old man in me worrying about taxes. Why a crock!
I've been listening to these Buddhist podcasts. They really have been a mirror reflection, dharma if you will, into myself. I've been seeing the unnecessary anger and dishoveldness(made this word up, but you understand it) beetled over my subconscious and it has really become quite a cumbersome beast. So these podcasts have been helping me evoke the emotion and heart behind the thought thy things will be what they be, you can only be your best. Through our personal action we can profess our inner emotion. And if allowing us only to work upon ourselves, than we will naturally be more forgiving as well as giving of ourselves with others. Yep, we need to understand, "It is what it is."
On my second beer for the eve. Seeing my first star of the night. I've been praying a lot more lately. Today I caught myself realizing I had not prayed since getting the keys to move into my girlfriend and I's new place. Praying up until we got it begging for it, and once it came, I completely became consumed with my self and forgot to keep praying. I caught myself today, and it seems I have been praying all day since then.
I pray I don't run out of beer to soon.
Our garden is coming along nicely. I can't wait to have a few friends over and have some rooftop garden to glass cocktails. Can't wait.
'Tis all for now. More when it's time. Hope this was not a waist for you.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Drinking Pisco, Missing TOTC 2011
Stuck at home. Just spent $8000.00 to move into a new home. I've never been to Tales of the Cocktail, and sadly I didn't get to go again this year. I know a lot of folk in this industry that think little of me because I still haven't been, to them I say, take off your cape!, your not Superman.
Moving on, I mixed some fresh lemon ginger tea with Pisco Porton and a touch of honey. Very nice!, I even used collins style ice cubes made from the tea to keep the drink chill, the ginger kicks in a little extra with each sip, simple tipple, very enjoyable for an at home delight.
And what a nice home to hang out in! A new two story apartment. Two balconies, lots of room for the herbs and vegetable garden I have growing. I can't wait to use my chocolate mint and cucumber in a drink together. Possibly mix some fresh rosemary with my sweet peppers in a spicy twist on a Red Snapper, possibly pouring a spicy beast of a Gin like Beefeater? Hmmm, what else would I add to that mix? I've grown Borage for the first time this year. My girlfriend and I did a nitrogen infusion of this and some fresh Lemon Balm into some Plymouth Gin, added a touch of some home made Italian Limoncello and a half ounce or so of some fresh peppermint tea. Also a very nice drink. The Borage sends out flavors varying from watermelon, tamarind and even some cucumber and strawberries. Such a great cocktail!, And all with fresh ingredients from our rooftop NYC garden. Who says the city can't be green? That's all for now. Be back soon.
Moving on, I mixed some fresh lemon ginger tea with Pisco Porton and a touch of honey. Very nice!, I even used collins style ice cubes made from the tea to keep the drink chill, the ginger kicks in a little extra with each sip, simple tipple, very enjoyable for an at home delight.
And what a nice home to hang out in! A new two story apartment. Two balconies, lots of room for the herbs and vegetable garden I have growing. I can't wait to use my chocolate mint and cucumber in a drink together. Possibly mix some fresh rosemary with my sweet peppers in a spicy twist on a Red Snapper, possibly pouring a spicy beast of a Gin like Beefeater? Hmmm, what else would I add to that mix? I've grown Borage for the first time this year. My girlfriend and I did a nitrogen infusion of this and some fresh Lemon Balm into some Plymouth Gin, added a touch of some home made Italian Limoncello and a half ounce or so of some fresh peppermint tea. Also a very nice drink. The Borage sends out flavors varying from watermelon, tamarind and even some cucumber and strawberries. Such a great cocktail!, And all with fresh ingredients from our rooftop NYC garden. Who says the city can't be green? That's all for now. Be back soon.
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