Google Doodle has brought out the big guns with a playable Minimoog synthesizer to honor the birthday of Bob Moog on May 23. Because its May 23 in Japan and Australia already, you can play it today! And its hooked up to a little recorder, too.
Go here to get your synthesis on: http://www.google.com.au/
More on celebrating Moog:
http://createdigitalmusic.com/2012/05/bob-moogs-birthday-videos-benefit-swag-apps-and-a-playable-google-doodle/
NPR Morning Edition recently talked to some of the staff at Enoteca Maria, a wonderful and quirky restaurant on the north shore of Staten Island. I’ve had some great meals there and was happy to hear them on the radio, pots and pans clanging in the background.
The kitchen is staffed by a rotating cast of “nonnas,” Italian grandmother’s who turn out everything from sweetbreads, stewed pigs feet, whole roasted fish and rabbits to pillowy lasagna. My favorite part is the gratis antipasti tray of tiny dishes to snack on – sauteed zucchini, chick peas, pickled veggies, caponata, olives, sardines…different every time you go. Every restaurant should do this. And it’s well worth a ferry ride or Verrazano bridge toll.
Listen to the story here: NPR
I’m a sucker for good year end list (aren’t we all?). I’ve thoroughly waded through many of the music lists and now I’ve got my sights set on…FOOD!
My new years resolution is not to lose weight or eat healthier but to visit as many restaurants as I can on Adam Platt’s Top 101 list and Sam Sifton’s Top 10 new joints of 2011 list. Here’s a slideshow.
The Times’ $25 and Under crew also made their own Top 10 list.
Started the year with the Franks’ Prime Meats, which was amazing and heavily meat-focused. Our spread included roasted marrow bones, lamb stew, sauerkraut with pork belly, beef tongue and sausages (!)…gut-busting, cold weather eatin’ at its finest.
NY Mag's Adam Platt listed his top 101 NYC restaurants to visit
WNYC has been airing a special series this week on NYC subway lines that were planned but never came to fruition, along with abandoned stations and tunnels that were never (or have yet to be) completed. Check out the mythical line that would’ve connected Brooklyn to Staten Island. And the line that would’ve gone from Canal Street to Williamsburg. Let’s not even get started on the 2nd Avenue line. If only!
Here’s a link to the interactive map and go here to see a slide show of FDR’s old train and a number of unfinished/abandoned stations.
current maps of NYC subway system with a number of planned lines that were never executed - courtesy WNYC
Warren Haynes graces the cover of the December issue of Relix, an in-depth profile on the guitar god who has been performing and touring non-stop since he was 16 with some of the world’s greatest bands. This year he released his lauded, mighty soul record ‘Man In Motion,’ debuted his new band with a 5-month world tour and became a proud papa, welcoming a son to his happy family (congrats, Warren!).
Every year there seems to be discussion about whether CMJ still matters, and if it will, and/or should, continue to exist. Well, CMJ is always one of the highlights of my year (last year I saw 35 bands) and I hope it continues for as long as it can!
This time around I got to spend a lot of it with The Barr Brothers from Montreal. They are insanely talented and insanely sweet people and played 4 shows including The Apple Store and the always great M For Montreal showcase and emerged from the hubbub as one of the break out acts of 2011 with over-capacity gigs, landing on Top 5 (NPR) and Top 10 (AM New York) preview lists, in festival recaps and more. I snapped some photos along the way (and got to see some other great bands too).
The Barr Brothers perform in the crowd @ The Apple Store
jetting over the W'Burg bridge for more Barr Bros CMJ action
just about to play their final CMJ show @ Rockwood, check out that harp!
a tiny portion of the band's huge collection of mad-scientist instruments being packed away on Allen Street post-Rockwood show
I spent part of my summer working on the fantastic Rave On Buddy Holly record – and am also a proud wearer of Warby Parker glasses (as are a couple other Shore Fire staff members), so in a confluence of events went to the Warby Parker/Rave On Buddy Holly Fashion Night Out Party last night at Partners and Spade in NOHO.
Rave On Buddy Holly and Warby Parker, a super cool and affordable NYC-based eyeglasses company, teamed up to celebrate what would have been Buddy’s 75th BDAY with cake, booze, and a performance by Rave On contributor Justin Townes Earle. Rave On producers Randall Poster and Gelya Robb were in attendance and JTE put on a great set. Buddy deserves his own national holiday, but this party was a good NYC way to celebrate.
The world lost a blues icon recently when David Honeyboy Edwards passed away. Many outlets have paid tribute to this national treasure with pieces on his legacy as an original delta blues musician and one of the last surviving members of this esteemed group. I think YouTube’s is best, though: a curated playlist of 42 videos.
Open this video directly on YouTube’s site and all 42 will play in sequence, a great new YouTube Music feature. Check out this eMusic Blue Note Class of ‘64 playlist too!
Smithsonian Folkways also has a number of Honeyboy’s recordings in their catalog.
I had the pleasure last Friday night of attending a house party (a "Sweet and Greet," if you will) in honor of Brooklyn's singer/songwriter sweetheart Risa Binder. Risa, whose debut album 'Paper Heart' came out this past February, has an impressive … continued
