Athena New York

we've moved.

2005-04-15T06:17:00.000-07:00

To here. Thanks for following our tail.

2005-04-13T13:57:00.000-07:00

The Mulberry bag. Scroll down to look at the Bayswater.

Why hiatus?

2005-04-09T14:04:00.000-07:00

Well, one reason might be Mercury Retrograde.

We've been fiddling with the new site, and the communication of the old to the new has not exactly performed as was expected.

Faxes coming in twos? Attachments not attaching? Misinformation happening to you on a daily basis these days? That's Merc Retro.

2005-04-07T08:57:00.000-07:00

Hiatus time, while we get settled into our new digs.

What, did you think that I'd post any sort of rubbish in the interim? Dream on...

Athena has two words for you....

2005-04-02T16:47:00.000-08:00

and they are Sin City.

And maybe "woman-worship." If the Da Vinci Code didn't have any effect on you, maybe this film will.

more Tonic...

2005-03-31T17:53:00.000-08:00

And a special congratulations to the Venue That Could: Tonic has reached it's $$ goal!!!! Hurrah!!! Now keep it in business by going to one of these shows (excuse me, Fab Five Freddy is calling on my cellphone) -

--Fri, Apr 01--
* Raz Mesinai, Zafir Tawil & Doug Wieselman at 8pm
* Shot'nez at 10pm
* Cookie Mongoloid plus Mark Growden at Midnight

--Sat, Apr 02--
* Benefit for Tonic: Tristan Perich plus The Wind Up Bird plus World plus Dirty
Projectors at 8pm
* Steven Bernstein's Millennial Territory Orchestra at Midnight

--Sun, Apr 03--
* Willem Breuker Kollektief at 8pm & 10pm

--Tue, Apr 05--
* Kneebody at 8pm
* Michael Attias, Mat Maneri, Anthony Coleman, John Hebert & Tom Rainey at 10pm

--Wed, Apr 06--
* Okkyung Lee, Shelley Burgon & Tim Barnes at 8pm
* David Watson, Lee Ranaldo & Tony Buck at 10pm

--Thu, Apr 07--
* Mark O'Leary, Jamie Saft & Kenny Wollesen at 8pm
* Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra at 10pm & Midnight

The sun shines inside for these guys....

2005-03-30T12:08:00.000-08:00

So apparently since the last time I've left the house, men have become far more attractive than women ever were. I've seen some pretty ladies in my day, but nothing like the visual assault that hit me up the other night. I was at a fundraiser for Manhattan borough president candidate Brian Ellner a few nights ago, which was held at DVF's showroom in the painfully hip meatpacking district. While jockeying for a drink alongside lawyers, fashionistas, and the campaign contributors who love them, a group of other-worldly male deities surrounded the bar, demanding white wine and radiating some sort of high-end energy seen on this planet only from raw-food enthusiasts. I mean, we are talking beyond immaculate. More than just Etro suits and Hermes ties, we're talking tinted moisturizer. We're talking Bliss oxygen facials. J.Lo had no glow on these motherfuckers. They may as well have hired a lighting crew to follow them around. They were so coy and smug and beautiful that I could do nothing but stare. My eyes started to sting from the glare, so I had to step away from duty and hit up the cheese plate. Good thing. As I was shamelessly slathering some liver onto a cracker, I looked up and saw, across the banquet table, the immortal, inimitable Diane Von Furstenburg. She was probably about 14,683 years old, and made of leather. And she was also absolutely gorgeous, the undeniable glory of the good life in every crack in her face. Absolutely stunning. I never see shit like this on the street, so I can't reconcile how these ethereal little Paul Smith politicos will weather into old Gucci crocodile handbags without rain or shine to erode the glow. Good for them. Maybe they'll spawn more shiny masses and I won't have to look at the same Williamsburg "one haircut fits all genders and levels of trust-fund depletion" chic that I've been subjected to for the past 10 years. Halston.....LIVES!!!!

Tonic Events

2005-03-28T05:51:00.000-08:00

Tickets are now on-sale for:
* Benefit for Tonic: Dredd Foole & Matt Valentine plus Yo La Tengo (03/29)
* The Young Philadelphians featuring Marc Ribot & Gerard Little (03/30)
* Golden Republic plus 22-20s (03/31)
* Stars Like Fleas plus Paul Duncan plus Grizzly Bear (04/09)

www.tonicnyc.com

Your stuff is so pretty!!!!

2005-03-23T08:47:00.000-08:00

Sean Lennon at Tonic last night, re: his keyboard player, Yuka:

"Yuka just arrived from Japan this morning. It's 12 noon for Yuka. In 1953."

Yet Yuka was kind enough to pose for my camera.

Me: Where'd you get your shoes?
Yuka: At a store on West Broadway. You should go there. They have a sale.

Yuka couldn't remember the name of the store, but did remember that the store is between Prince and Spring. On West Broadway. And they have a sale. So run, don't walk...

*BMW SUV in background is the Lennon mega-mobile. I wish I could have taken a photo of Yoko Ono's skull and crossbones pendant around her neck. I believe it is encrusted with real diamonds.

Fortunately for you, dear reader...

2005-03-22T10:08:00.000-08:00

I have two other contributors coming on board Not Gone Fishing.

My life has taken a strange turn; I set out to discover New York and all its weirdness and wonderfulness, then I began to find a focus that I liked (street fashion and happenings), and then I found a Very Big Project that called out my name.

As a result, I have been fielding phone calls from the press, and I have been working with the director of "Silence of the Lambs" on something within the project. But that's what happens when you are Not Gone Fishing. Life happens.

Anyone know the lyrics to the 59th Street Bridge song?

More to come. And I'm headed to Tonic tonight to see Sean Lennon. My partners in crime are already working on new stuff, too.

So hang tight.

2005-03-21T06:05:00.000-08:00

Spring is coming. Because Mr. Softee is parked on Lafayette and Astor.

2005-03-18T17:28:00.000-08:00

The Miho Kusoda bouquet...a fitting end to a Friday afternoon that included Athena getting a personal phone call from a celebrity.

Don't Forget Philanthropy Friday, now, y'hear?

2005-03-18T15:12:00.000-08:00

Drop a coin or two into that Homeless Shelter's empty water jug. Or give it directly in hand to someone. Or give anonymously.

Thank you to mcgirl's blog.

2005-03-17T10:07:00.000-08:00

more Tonic benefit shows:

Tickets are now on-sale for:
* Radian (03/17)
* Sean Lennon (03/22)
* Benefit for Tonic: Dredd Foole & Matt Valentine plus Yo La Tengo (03/29)

www.tonicnyc.com

2005-03-17T09:01:00.000-08:00

On my desk this morning: Wonder Woman and Love and Rockets.

2005-03-17T07:40:00.000-08:00

Okay, that photo was rancid.

I don't need to exhibit photos of men wearing shamrocky-filled trousers for you to know what day it is today.

spotted

2005-03-16T10:04:00.000-08:00

This morning...

What is your name?
Sylvia.
Where'd you get your clothes?
I don't know. These are old, and...all my good stuff, including the Dior, was taken in a robbery.
Sorry to hear that. I like your boots. And your coat looks delicious, too.
Thank you, dear. Don't forget my last name, OK? It's Scottish.
OK.

Rush hour this morning

2005-03-16T09:55:00.000-08:00

So the 4, 5 and 6 trains had a "power outage" all the way downtown to Union Square or the Brooklyn Bridge, depending on which conductor you got to broadcast the news...

Manhattanites (and non-Manhattanites) had to ride the buses (or take cabs - notice the lack thereof here) today.

2005-03-15T15:18:00.000-08:00

I went here for lunctime tea. And I asked the waitress if she'd give me a tea with flowers in it. Because a previous date once told me that "teas with flowers" were served there. She produced a Teany tea pot with chrysanthemum flowers in the muslin bag. No chrysanthemum flowers in my tea cup.

"Excuse me? I'd like the tea with flowers in the cup, please." I didn't add, "because I need to shoot a photo of it to post on this blog."

I received another pot of rosebud tea. The rosebuds were...in the muslin tea bag in the pot.

I asked for my check and left. The oatmeal was good, though.

2005-03-15T06:17:00.000-08:00

unveiled. Yeah, I was there with the other non-bloggy media.

2005-03-14T07:31:00.000-08:00

upcoming shows:

March 15: FREE. The Onion Magazine Presents: DVD Release & 7 pm Screening For: The Ramones "End of the Century." CBGB. 315 Bower @ Bleecker. 212. 982.4052.

April 1: TSOL. CBGB. 315 Bower @ Bleecker 212.982.4052.

April 5: The Psychedelic Furs. The Supper Club, 240 West 47th Street. www.ticketmaster.com

April 20: Moby. Webster Hall. 125 E. 11th Street. 212.260.4700. Box Office: The Mercury Lounge (217 E. Houston St.) www.moby.com.

April 28 & 29: The New York Dolls. Irving Plaza. 17 Irving Place at 15th Street. www.irvingplaza. www.ticketmaster.com.

Trash and Vaudeville: the new generation.

2005-03-12T16:19:00.000-08:00

From left: Konrad, Nelson, Buddie, and Robert.

What are you guys doing here?
We were shopping over there.
Over where?
At that store. With the pink sign.
Trash & Vaudeville?
Yeah.
Konrad, where'd you get your leather jacket?
My mom.
Buddie, where'd you get your leather jacket?
From a store in New Jersey.
[I read a small button on Buddie's jacket and can't believe my eyes. It reads "DK"]
You like the Dead Kennedys?
Yeah. They're cool.
OK. And you guys like the Ramones.
Yeah. Joey Ramone is buried in Lindhurst. We've been to his grave twice.
What do you think of what's happening with CBGB?
They're getting evicted, right?
Something like that. The owner is appearing in court on Monday.
My social studies teacher was in a band that played at CBGB.

spotted

2005-03-12T16:09:00.000-08:00

Taking a cigarette break outside Trash and Vaudeville, 4 St. Mark's Place, New York, NY 10003 212.982.3590, were Jasper (left) and Jimmy (right), official shopkeepers.

Where'd you get your gear, Jimmy?
Well, I can pick a t-shirt out of the garbage, literally. I got my shirt from here, and some stuff from NY Custom Leather. Iggy Pop borrowed my pants once.
And your tattoos?
Most of them were done by a guy in Albany, NY. And then [bleep] over at [bleep] did this tattoo. She does rock stars, like Ozzy Osbourne and Steven Tyler.
Don't mention her name to the public. She keeps it quiet.
OK.

Where'd you get your gear, Jasper?
Huh?
Your clothes.
Sorry. Most of it is from here. And my shirt I got from a Spanish store in Jersey City for 13 bucks.

spotted

2005-03-12T16:06:00.000-08:00

at a street fair near St. Mark's Place: Metal designs from Thailand made out of car and motorcycle parts. Here are some Star Wars characters. Price range $15-$300- plus. You can view more here.

His name is Jaili Kandjia Cissoko

2005-03-11T16:51:00.000-08:00

Jaili is from Senegal. It was perhaps the second time that I heard Jaili perform in a subway, but the first time under an official "Music Under New York" MTA banner. And when I took this picture, there were serious-looking professional men in suits calling their friends/associates on their Blackberrys to have them listen to this guy's music. And college kids standing with their mouths gaping open.

I swear I could hear the Lion King roaring in the background as Jaili played... someone get this guy a dedicated world music manager. I mean, really.

more CBGB...

2005-03-11T08:21:00.000-08:00

Okay, so Hilly Kristal has a court appearance on March 14...

2005-03-10T14:09:00.000-08:00

This is why I love Siouxsie, and you should, too.

Free Your Mind.

2005-03-10T11:38:00.000-08:00

Check out Waiting for Dorothy.

Mercurial Girl's blog.

Dirty Talkin' Girl's blog.

What does this have to do with Athena New York? You tell me.

spotted

2005-03-10T10:27:00.000-08:00

In Grand Central Station. An anti-fur PETA girl sporting a video screen depicting a raccoon? a beaver? getting it's fur....um...removed.

2005-03-10T09:20:00.000-08:00

On my desk this morning: a bottle of water, my new metrocard holder, and a 1-hour old cup of Starbucks coffee.

2005-03-09T13:18:00.000-08:00

Who are you?
They call me Trash. Or X-Man.
You're a courier?
Yeah. [he shows me a delivery form. It reads "Cavalry Couriers"]
How long have you been doing this?
Since February 2, 1980.
Where'd you get your outfit?
I made it. I'm the only one in the City who looks like this.

Jada, is that you?

2005-03-09T11:03:00.000-08:00

At Nine West (yeah, the shoe store), East 48th Street and 3rd Avenue.

What is your name?
Tammy.
Do you know that you look like Jada Pinkett Smith?
Yeah. My mom said the same thing.
You're about the same size as her, too. What are you going to do with your up-and-coming celebrity career?
Um....

Further proof that talk of CBGB's closing is a load of bunk.

2005-03-09T08:40:00.000-08:00

I talked to my friend recently on the topic. My friend knows Hilly Kristal, the club owner of CBGB. "He's opening a store in Times Square. Why would you open a store to buy CBGB stuff if CBGB didn't exist anymore?" Good point. Word is Mr. Kristal's children stand to profit from a prolonged CBGB lifespan, and are involved in the negotiations, as well. Or the offspring could eventually bail out. But why would they?

CBGB trust fund anyone?

Trinny and Susannah on belts

2005-03-09T08:26:00.000-08:00

"Big boobs don't look great with big belts, because it all becomes too complicated."

Got that, Sid?

*Trinny Woodall and Susannah Constantine, What you wear can change your life.

2005-03-08T13:18:00.000-08:00

Rover's window today? Can this be?

give a few more women a mission...

2005-03-08T12:36:00.000-08:00

...and they might show up in a snowstorm in NY to protest things like war and occupation on International Women's Day.

give a woman a mission...

2005-03-08T11:39:00.000-08:00

.

That is, give a hipster woman a mission...heck, give a couple of hipster women a mission, and you might get this going down in Williamsburg.

spotted near Union Square

2005-03-08T11:25:00.000-08:00

was Summer, with her hat. Tell me about your hat, Summer.

"I bought it on the street near here and stretched it with the help of some steam."

a tale of two taxi drivers.

2005-03-07T20:47:00.000-08:00

So I had to head out to the Lower East Side during my lunch break from work. I cabbed it.

"You Egyptian?" I asked the driver. (I really do have fun playing "where are you from?")
How did you know?
"Your accent. Where in Egypt are you from?"
Alexandria.
"Ah. Home of Cleopatra Ptolemy and her ruined library."

He laughed.

We talked about New York, law school (the driver is a lawyer back home), Cubans in Miami, the Elian affair, and how tough it is to be an immigrant in the United States.

"Where can I get good Egyptian food?" I asked him. [god knows I had to]
Astoria. On Steinway. There's good Egyptian, Moroccan and Lebanese there.

We arrived at my destination. I am glad you rode in my cab. I can tell that I will have a good day today. He smiled and waved goodbye to me.

After I was done in the LES, I grabbed another cab.

"So where are you from?" I asked the driver.
Egypt.
"Nice. From Alexandria?"
No.
"Do you mind stopping at a falafel place on the way to my final destination?"

The driver seemed irked at my choice of falafel venue. Maybe it was that he was obviously a devout muslim, and that Chickpea was densely populated with Israelis and hipsters. I like Chickpea because it offers a pickled mango sauce that I haven't found anywhere else...yet.

"You don't want anything from here?" I offered.
No. I only eat from places I know.
"Ah."
You know Mamoun's? he asks me.
"I do," and I remember, "It's owned by Syrians."
Yes. They're a good family.
"Any recommendations where I can get good Egyptian food?"
No good Egyptian food in New York.
"Are you sure?"
I am sure.
"What about outside of Manhattan?"
Nothing.
"Are you sure?"
Maybe Astoria. There's Egyptian, Moroccan, and Lebanese there. On Steinway.

The driver proceeded to tell me how the United Nations was good for nothing, that the demonstration of Lebanese flags must have been planted there by Bush, and how Princess Diana was killed by Arab-haters. (Maybe kidding on the last one).

"Look," I pointed. "That's Saudi."
I know that building very well, he said.

Ten minutes later, I was relieved to be at my desk.

It's so sunny today that...

2005-03-07T14:52:00.000-08:00

Rover gets to do this.

spotted

2005-03-07T13:33:00.000-08:00

this weekend at Taj, 48 West 21st Street, were Amar Gamal (left) and Kaeshi (right), members of Bellyqueen.

why street (garbage) shopping in Manhattan is cool

2005-03-06T17:24:00.000-08:00

...because you can pick up this Orbit t.v. on East 48th Street on a lucky weekday.

Seppi's.

2005-03-06T15:30:00.000-08:00

Brunch: Seppi's, 123 W. 56th Street, between 6th and 7th Ave, 212.221.8440.

The exterior signage reads: "Restaurant Francais" and at first, I think I've got the wrong venue. Inside, near the door, a jazz duo are playing. And even though I've only called 45 minutes ago to reserve a spot, a small table has a "Reserved" sign waiting for me. It's a dark spot, but a good one. The Williamsburg-meets-Audrey Tatou hostess is cheerful and offers me a Sunday paper and menu.

Brunch is $25, but listen to this: it's a chocolate menu.

Which means even the bacon and eggs, or the steak and eggs, or the chicken, all offer chocolate somewhere on your plate. I ordered the bacon and eggs and received a chocolate-truffled ravioli in my salad. The salad was actually very good...the mesclun was thoroughly and evenly covered in dressing, just the way I like it. The potatoes were less than perfection: some just weren't cooked thoroughly (don't you hate trying to eat a raw potato?). The cooked spinach was good and the eggs were poached (I like poached eggs, but are they my favorite? I still don't know). Chocolate dessert buffet offered chocolate brulée on spoons, strawberry chocolate fondue, and four or five chocolate cakes plus chocolate tartes and a chocolate mousse with caramelized pears inside.

A friendly waiter offered to help pile all the desserts on my tiny dessert plate for me. "Would you like to see the mural in the back?" he offered. "Sure," I said. "It's a mural of the owner's hometown in Switzerland," he explained as I looked at the massive trompe l'oeil creation. I was saddened that I wasn't looking at a German mural of Switzerland, because the chef might have offered the kind of meaty sausages that I like.

After the chocolate, I lapsed into a diabetic coma. Prognosis: I will probably return to Seppi's.

just chalk it up.

2005-03-04T14:23:00.000-08:00

I am going to do something here that might make me unpopular. I am going to diss a bakery.

Not just any bakery. Magnolia Bakery. And all the Magnolia people who have opened up bakeries who just can't seem to get the cake in their cupcake confections to taste less like chalk, and more like cake.

For example: Buttercup Bake Shop, 973 Second Avenue, NY, NY 10022 212.350.4144.

I picked up one chocolate cupcake with chocolate frosting and one vanilla cupcake with green icing and cute white sprinkles. The chocolate cupcake's texture was chalky. Ditto the vanilla cupcake. The icing was fine, but stiff.

Someone please do us all a favor and tell the bakers and ex-bakers from Magnolia to give us something delectible, light, and soft to put in our mouths when we request cupcakes...

2005-03-04T08:08:00.000-08:00

credit to mcgirl for this one...

Oyster Bar

2005-03-03T08:11:00.000-08:00

So me and a friend headed here.

We had two cosmos (waaaay too much alcocandy for Athena) and an oyster sampler. The Oyster Bar's clientele is primarily married men, more married men, and some married men looking for a hooker. The waitstaff for us was an especially cheerful and informative blonde.

Me to friend: So. Do these taste like a woman?
No way. These don't taste at all like a woman.
How do you know?

[we had to disguise the flavor of the raw oyster by marinating it in fresh lemon, dunking it in wine vinegar, or smothering a horseradish concotion on top]

You never ate out a woman in college?
Nope.
Well, if you do, don't do what I did. I did it with a friend. And she and I aren't talking anymore.
Noted.

S train

2005-03-02T06:57:00.000-08:00

This morning, Athena rode on a Shuttle ("S") train between Grand Central and Times Square. It turns out that HBO is investing beaucoup bucks ($150K-$200K per train, currently at three trains and more to go) in the "S" train as the new vehicle to promote its new series Deadwood.

The train's interior was decorated to look like an 1800's coach train, one section of seats decorated to look upholstered, another section of seats to look wooden and Old West-y. Tons of Deadwood advertising inside.

I always thought the trains in Manhattan were under-utilized, and ought to feel more like a Disney ride. Perhaps especially huge amounts of corporate dollars on subway trains ain't such a bad thing?

It's Bani. That's B-a-n-i.....

2005-03-01T17:26:00.000-08:00

So, I've been talking to you New Yorkers, allowing you to ask me questions after I ask you a few, and generally opening up to the City. I've found that more often than not, people like to talk to me. Randomly. The limo driver parked on the side of the road will say "Good morning!" and the garage worker will smile and shout out, "Hey, you've got my coffee!" noticing my Tall Raspberry Mocha in hand. Today, I got chased down as I left the firm's offices for lunch. "Who are you? Could I have your contact information and ask you out for drinks?" (I was a bit surprised at that one, yes. Not surprising was the Blackberry at the ready, but that he opened my taxi door for me as I got in, was really pleasant).

There is such a thing as the Nice New York City Citizen.

Another example of the Nice New York City Citizen can be found at Bukhara Grill, 217 East 49th Street, New York, NY 212.888.2839. A functioning artificial waterfall in a back room (it doesn't look too tacky considering the overall tropical decor of the venue), offers a colorful lunch buffet for $13.95. I ordered out their lunch special, and the cashier disappeared after taking my cash. The food was ready, so I grabbed the aromatic bag and left.

"Oh, miss! MISS!!!!"
Yes?
"You forgot your change!"
Ah. [I took the $3 from his outstretched hand, the cashier now a full two buildings away from his restaurant]

What is your name?
"It's Bani. B-a-n-i."
Thank you, Bani. I won't forget you.

Here is to you, and to all the Banis in New York.

Belly King

2005-02-28T07:03:00.000-08:00

For the past week, Athena has been touching many a man's belly in New York City. I will touch a man's belly almost as soon as I'm introduced to him. I just sneak it in with the Cuban handshake (I am getting quite good at it, too). And it turns out that more of you than you'd imagine are actually pretty...voluptuous.

Not many six-packers out there. Guess what? I like y'alls that way.

brunch report #2

2005-02-27T17:20:00.000-08:00

I have a cold, so my brunch report took place from my apartment kitchen. Athena's Kitchen, Athenatown, NY. Reservations required.

On the menu:

Eggs, bacon, and Cuban guayaba pastries. I was out of English muffins.

I made an egg over-easy, and used plain old Oscar Meyer bacon. I had six servings of bacon. I like bacon.

Still no idea what kind of eggs are my favorite, though.

Next week: Seppi's. Maybe.

knock, knock, Athena

2005-02-26T21:04:00.000-08:00

It was the IKEA furniture delivery men.

Last week I headed out to the IKEA in Elizabeth, New Jersey, from the free weekend shuttle bus from Gate 5 at the Port Authority in Manhattan and purchased furniture to help fill my apartment. Home delivery optional, for around $99.

After unpacking five boxes to check that the contents were matched the purchase receipt, I looked at the very last box, one that was supposed to contain a red desk chair inside.

"Why not," I said, as I turned to the enormously muscled black man and his delivery partner. "Let's check it, no? Because if it's not the red chair, but charcoal, or something else, I will go to your house. And bug you. And stalk you. Until I get my red chair."

I smiled at the men. They got it. And laughed.

The big muscled man helped me open the box. Then his jaw hung open.

Me: "What's wrong?" I looked inside, satisfied.

Deliveryman: "I was hoping it would be anything but red."

choux fly

2005-02-25T12:55:00.000-08:00

Pate a Choux is a French pastry coveted by the Japanese. Athena also used to hang out at Patachou in Montmartre, Paris, and never ate choux there, but rather, dinner. So, fortunately, I have found the Choux Factory, 865 First Avenue, New York, NY 212.223.0730.

I got the plain 'ol custard choux and paid $1.60. And I was served by friendly Japanese staffers (How very New York). The choux? Was delicious.

The strawberry choux is $1.80 and chocolate choux ix $1.80. The Choux Factory also has choux "cakes" for under $4.

Alternatively, you can make your own choux if you have the patience and dollars...

CBGB

2005-02-25T08:37:00.000-08:00

So the New York Press is hovering around CBGB like a vulture, pen and "I told you so!" at the ready.

"You punksters didn't know to be capitalist pigs, and instead were about the music???!!! You shoulda bought the building! You shoulda known!"

Should CBGB be saved? If there is music to be heard, music of the quality that made the venue what it is, I say yes. If those acts aren't currently getting bookings there, something ought to change. And if CBGB is going down, I can only imagine, now that Tonic has set the precedent, what can possibly happen among the more socially active community of punks.

There once was a Bob Geldof, after all.

note: Athena has a nasty cold, and will be hitting the r & r circuit (read: brief blogging break) starting this afternoon.

It's Dou-kou-ré

2005-02-24T10:59:00.000-08:00

Today, I got a hip-looking African cab driver who helped me jet to work. I was very late, due to my staying late at work the night before and grumpily shutting off the alarm clock before fully waking up this morning. The music in the cab sounded familiar. Then I saw the driver's identification card.

DOUKOURE.

Are you Senegalese?
No. Close, though. Two hours away.
Côte d'Ivoire?
Oui. C'est ça. Vous connaissez?

We chatted about African last names all the way to the United Nations Plaza.

Never mind the bollocky killer bird flu...

2005-02-23T18:52:00.000-08:00

...and head out to Tonic this Thursday (February 24)night at 10:30pm (or any other benefit night if sold out), and show support for this Lower East Side nightclub currently facing money troubles (robbery being part factor) and eviction. Sean Lennon is lending a hand and is scheduled to perform Thursday night. $20 admission. If you can't go, you may make a donation at www.tonicnyc.com.

ring, ring...

2005-02-23T10:31:00.000-08:00

voice on phone: Helloooooooo. This is Stephaneeeeee from Miho Kusodaaah. Mihoooooh is in Japan right nowwwww.... and...we have sooooo many paaahties right now....and...

Me: Not to worry. I have a huge party March 5th, and could use the arrangement then. Can you deliver the Friday before?

voice on phone: Oooohkay! And thank you!

In the meantime, I can pick up another bouquet thanks to today's Daily Candy.

$160 million Chinese Man

2005-02-23T07:37:00.000-08:00

This morning I woke up to find that I was locked inside my bedroom. I live in an antiquated building, and the antiquated doorknob fell off the door. Just the knob, on my side. The rest fell off on the other side of the door. And the lock, was firmly locked.

A few pens, twists, turns, and 20 minutes playing my Ocean's Eleven soundtrack later, I figured out how to get out of my room. Which prompted me to call the folks at Spy Shop at 131 Christopher Street, NY, NY 10014, 212.633.1248 .

Me: "Hello. This morning I was locked in my room. Do you have products for breaking and entering? I don't want it to happen again."
Spy Shop: "Oh, wow. That's no good. We have products for privacy protection, like video surveillance. No breaking and entering gadgets. Why not keep a screwdriver in your room?"
Me: "OK."

And that, was the $160 million solution.

note: Athena's manicure, due to her room-breaking activity this morning, is now shot. Another manicure venue to be reported on soon.

* $160 million Chinese man, Ocean's Eleven soundtrack.

kb (ciao baby)

2005-02-21T19:26:00.000-08:00

Why did you kiss the world goodbye?
Ciao baby
Don't you know paradise takes time?*

Strange day today. I guess there is such a thing as cellular memory.

My muscles ached this evening.

Last week, I gave Fran Fontaine at Equinox on Lex a photo.

Fran: "Oh yeah? You want that?"
Me: "Yes."
Fran: "OK. I have a guy from the Marines, and a kick-butt hard-core lady trainer."
Me: "You pick. It's okay if they cause some pain. I am ready. But we have to be done in 3 months max."

The photo was Lara Croft in Tomb Raider. We start this week.

*Edie, (ciao baby) by The Cult.

resurrection Joe.

2005-02-21T12:08:00.000-08:00

My nails are grody. Who does the best nails in NYC and the outer boroughs? To start, I decided to go to - where else - Athena's Nails 31-11 30th Ave., Astoria, NY 718.278.4597. There is an actual Athena there. And she's not Greek! I requested the spa manicure. My manicurist was Gladys. Included was a green hand mask during which I got a nice back massage. During the hand soak, I noticed an eyelash in the soak water. I told Gladys about it in Spanish. She apologized profusely and offered to throw out the entire bowl. "I'm not drinking it. Just take out the lash." I added the paraffin wax hand treatment, got hot thermal spa gloves, and after compliments from other clients ("What color is that?" - the color was #23) my total was $28. Of course, when I noticed there was an expert in eyebrow threading, I added that, too. $9.

*title by The Cult.

more in the LES...

2005-02-21T10:52:00.000-08:00

San Lazaro Botanica, 127 Rivington 212.529.4747 offers candles for all your voodou/santeria needs. Jose Diac there told me that "Altagracia" and "San Lazaro" are pretty popular. I bet the "Fast Money" one is, too. The Elegua candle equally looked cool.

Economy Candy, owned by Jerry and Ilene Cohen, 108 Rivington Street, 212.254.1531. Dylan's Candy Bar this is not, but I cannot even begin to explain the obscene amount and variety of candy here. Weirdo candy, too. I picked out all my Pez characters with plenty of help from an enthusiastic staffer. When I handed the 25 Pez bags to Jerry Cohen, he asked, "Is that all?" because my shopping basket was only 1/3 full. I looked at everyone else's basket in the line behind me. Teeming. Just teeming.

Toys in Babeland, 94 Rivington St. They have a 800 number: 1-800-658-9119. The original incredibly-woman-man-lesbian-gay-friendly sex toy shop by Rachel Venning and Claire Cavanah. The women who work here are never short on info. Domination? No problem. A demonstration in nipple clamping is given. I looked at the Delightful model. "These nipple clamps...are they supposed to do this?" I ask. My thumb is nearly bloody. Oh God, no. The rubber tip came off! and the staffer gives me a clamp with rubber tip. And a smile. They even exchanged a malfunctioning vibrator with no receipt, as I had the store label on the product. Service is top notch here.

sooner or later

2005-02-20T21:11:00.000-08:00

*Save it for Later, by the English Beat

Two dozen other dirty lovers
Must be a sucker for it
Cry, Cry, but I don't need my mother
Just Hold My hand while I come
To a decision on it

Sooner or later
Your legs give way, you hit the ground
Save it for later
Don't run away and let me down
Sooner or later
You hit the deck, you get found out
Save it for later
Don't run away and let me down
You let me down

This song keeps playing in my head.

I am trying to find a brunch place where I can feel comfortable enough to go regularly. Since my assignment is to explore New York here, I'd appreciate if anyone can make a recommendation. In the meantime, here's my first quasi-carefully-researched brunch venue...

Essex House at 120 Essex St., 212.533.9616 in the Lower East Side, was actually introduced to me by a friend in law school. It offers a $15 menu of at least 10 brunch items regularly, including Mexican Brei, Eggs Benedict with Lobster, Cuban Sandwich with plaintains, and 3 alcoholic drinks (mimosa, bloody mary, and screwdriver) plus coffee.

I have a regular waitress there, "Gigi." As usual, it was busy, and Gigi sat me at the bar with Maximillian, the bartender, who was working with an Albanian bartender, but Gigi promised that she would wait on me.

The crowd at Essex is always...frat boys and sorotity girls, with a smattering of hipsters, and little in-between. I love how the venue looks, but the clientele and vibe sucks. So today, I determined whether I should Stay or Go? with Essex.

Me: Do you know that Julia Roberts movie where she doesn't know what eggs she likes?
Gigi: Erm..no.
Me: Well, okay. I don't know what eggs I truly like. I always order the same eggs, but I have no idea if I really like them. Can you give me a sampler? One eggs benedict, sunny-side up, scrambled, soft-boiled, whatever you've got.
Gigi: No problem.

What I get on my plate are eggs benedict with eggs served the different ways I requested. Lost in the translation, I decided to eat them anyway.

Me: So tell me about the clientele.
Maximillian: You're looking at it.
Me: How depressing. Any names?
Maximillian: The area is too dodgy for famous people. But Brooke Shields came in six months ago.

Max doesn't know that other famous people do go there, but I decided to order some coffee and split. The Albanian bartender obliged when I ordered the macchiato. I got an espresso cup with...no. Please no.

Albanian bartender: It looks like a heart, right?
Me: [owning a current and complete aversion to all things hearty-and-valentiney, I looked at the carefully-carved shape in the crema and foam on top of the espresso] Erm...yes?
Albanian bartender: Well, it's not. It's an apple. See the stem on top?
Me: Hah, hah! You are right!

I thanked the Albanian bartender. But the heart/apple did not save Essex. Time to check out another brunch venue.

why do I find this funny?

2005-02-19T17:21:00.000-08:00

I read this interview clip with Penelope Cruz in Jane Magazine, which is published right here in NYC:

"This has been a nice conversation. With no violence," Penelope offers. "I'm not a person that gets angry a lot. But once a year I get really, really angry and I have this bad habit of doing karate with furniture. I always regret it because I'm always on the limit of hurting myself. Once I was throwing bacon to the wall," she laughs. "Another time, I am throwing shoes at my best friend. Shoes and bacon. She started laughing and says, 'What are you doing? It's impossible to fight with you and not laugh.' A lot of people have told me that. Then I said, 'But this is not funny. I really am very angry with you.' Apparently I become this big clown when I get angry, but I'm not aware of it."

Athena knows that Penelope actually gets really, really angry more than once a year.
-----
Athena does not do online dating, but I found out that you can do an online dating background check on a potential date at www.lovedetective.com. Someone says that he looks like Colin Farrell and doesn't when you meet him? You can compare notes on online dating services and rat out people who place inaccurate personals. It's free to post and $25 to become a member and get access to things like searching by screen name.
-----
For the record, I walked into the Unicef Headquarters at 44th Street near 1st Ave. 212.326.7054, after the Miho Kusoda interview, and nobody batted an eyelash at me while I was at Unicef. Proof positive that I do not look like...um...the current Unicef Ambassador.

smell the roses, Athena

2005-02-18T11:03:00.000-08:00

This afternoon, I met with Miho Kusoda's daughter, Carol, at her mother's tony flower shop. Miho Kusoda, Ltd., 310 East 44th Street near 1st Ave. 212.922.9122

Carol knew I was going to write about this. She met me at the door and bowed. I instinctively bowed back. Miho Kusoda's floral arrangements get featured Vogue Magazine, where "Miho Mania" was actually born, as well as Elle, and other fashion & style magazines.

Miho, Carol's mother, studied flower design in Tokyo before she emigrated to the U.S. She lived, said Carol, "Near a huge park. It's a typical Japanese thing that you care for seasons."

Athena: Who are some of your clients?
Kusoda: (makes a slightly embarassed-looking face)
Athena: The ones you can talk about? The ones who have already let the public know that they shop here?
Kusoda: OH, OK! Bill Blass was a client when he was alive, for more than 20 years. The president at Manolo Blahnik. Anna Wintour at Vogue.
Athena: Erm...those are some big names.
Kusoda: (giggles, and then, appreciatively) Those people are loyal to us, and we are grateful. Others do buy from us and other florists.
Athena: What is your most popular arrangement?
Kusoda: The Rainbow. It's roses, and tonal. [she shows me a photo in Elle of an orange/yellow tonal bouquet of the Rainbow]

Garden roses, sweet peas, and lilacs make the more fragrant bouquets.

On my way out of the flower shop, Miho herself arrived, and again, more smiles and bows.

I ordered a Kusoda arrangement to be delivered to me. I'll take a pic when I receive it next week and will post it here.
----------------
Then, at Sephora, I picked over fragrances for myself. I tried over 50 fragrances. After a while, fragrances began to smell like "old lady" (a Sephora employee concurred with me on that one) and "new shoes" and "that hotel" and "my aunt in Hialeah."

My favorites: Dolce & Gabbana's light blue (smells just like a good mojito), Fracas de Robert Piguet (a type of retro/hip-Jean Cocteau-gardenia scent), and Issey Miyake's eau de toilette (it's just light and clean). edit: And I think Lancome's Miracle might be what a pussy should smell like.

You're a weirdo.

2005-02-17T13:12:00.000-08:00

Last night before I finished work, I goofed off with Crispy, the stunning actress who works the reception desk, who is leaving the firm because she got a great role in a film that is about to start production.

Then this exchange happened.

Crispy: You're a weirdo.
Me: OK...
Crispy: And I mean that as the utmost, best compliment. You have this weird other side to you. Like a comic book character.
Me: [shit, she knows...] Um, yes, you are right.
Crispy: And I get you. Because I'm in the weirdo club, too!

It made me smile as I walked out the door.

Plan B - Getting Cuban

2005-02-17T07:03:00.000-08:00

I am part Cuban, a child of an emigrée from Fidel Castro's Cuba (she rode on a comfy Pan Am plane to the States, not on a balsa, thank you).

I have a cousin in Havana who is Fidel Castro's crown jewel of salsa dance choreography. My cousin also is part of the Cuban propaganda machine touting the finest Cuban talent and he gets to be exported on teaching gigs worldwide.

Irony of ironies: Athena can't dance salsa. At all. And I refuse to do the anglo wiggly thing on the dancefloor. I want to learn real salsa. The intricate, crazy legwork that is calf-heavy, not that wannabe wiggly anglo-hip heavy obscene gyration that is so commonly committed on dancefloors by those who just don't get into the details of learning salsa. It is not bellydancing, after all.

Last night, I checked out the Wednesday night gig at Plan B, 339 E. 10th Street, between Ave A & B. There was live music by Grupo Cachimba, actually all boricua musicians playing Cuban music (that sort of thing inflates my ego, I swear),and free tequila shots from 10pm to 11 pm. David Medina, formerly of Carnaval, was the DJ of the evening.

I met two longtime lady dancers, Florence and Alex, who promptly took me under their wing. I met their friends, Stefan, Kaei, a guy who took my e-mail address, and others. Wei, a pleasant and spritely newbie to Wednesdays at Plan B, grabbed me immediately before I could even get a drink in my hand, and swung me around for a set.

There was the "10" - as Florence and Alex dubbed him, a hot blond guy who carefully surveyed the room. I wondered if he would grab me to the floor, too. I am glad he didn't. He's a wiggler.

There was a Natalie Portman look-alike who stayed seated the entire evening. Her friend in jeans danced a storm. She danced what I came to learn to dance.

When I asked Martha, the sexy Colombian Plan B barmaid, where she got her top, she asked me, "You want to come shopping with me?" and gave me her number.

Mildly annoying was a group of Williamsburg kids who arrived promptly at 10 pm just for the free tequila shots. They made no effort to mix with the salsa patrons and seated themselves in an adjacent white 60's style Goldfinger-esque room.

And Grupo Cachimba? Abraham Rodriguez, the lead vocalist, and I had a chat.

"Where do you get your playlist from?"
We improvise.
"What? You're kidding."
No. It's my gift from God. I improvise the lyrics and rhythm, etc., and they play. I drive the band nuts. But it's my gift. I do what I do for God.

Perhaps Abraham's lyrical gift is from a Higher Being. Who knows. But I do know what I encountered last night. Salt of the earth, the salsa crowd at Plan B. Salt of the earth.

Note to self: salsa lesson this week, and don't wear high heels next week when I return to Plan B.

Step 1.

2005-02-16T06:03:00.000-08:00

A journalistic approach to this blog. Learn about New York, the people here, and ultimately, I get to learn about me.

Step 1.

What are my phobias?

Outside: New York. No, really. I am from the south. This place is too big and phallic for my taste. It's ugly, grimy, not very friendly, and stiff. I came here for work and school and necessarily (for the time being) must stay. I am loathe to go out here, unless it is to go see a film or to pick up comics at the comic book store.

Inside: Me. I am afraid of appearing both too stupid and too intelligent, especially around men. Yes, you men have got me totally confused. If I stand at a bar and smile, all is good. If I open my mouth and say, "By the way, I was in Soviet Russia in August 1991 when the coup d'etat against Gorbachov had him locked up in a dacha in the Crimea and all I could hear on the radio was classical music, which spelled trouble for us Americans who were there" men will typically freak out. "Erm...too much information." Nevermind that I speak three languages. On the other hand, if I don't have enough degrees or titles, I don't get to keep up (whatever that means) with my friends or men I like, who do.

I feel both pretty and not. Yes, plenty of heads turned and as I walked past them on my way to work this morning. But that stuff gets me in trouble. I get the "sleep with me" guys. The surface-dwellers. And I have dated too many creeps to mention, not good for Athena at all.

I am also sort of_like_a guy. I don't typically do my nails, and I wear practical and sometimes not so attractive lingerie, instead of La Perla or Victoria's Secret. I am afraid to admit that to myself, especially when I wake up in someone else's bed with shitty lingerie.

Step 2.

Exposure is the best teacher.

Outside: Get out and meet...New York.

Inside: Ditto.

A kind "thank you" in advance to the City of New York for making this project possible.