Gotham Gal

Jessica's blog

I read a lot of shit on the Internet.  I am one of those people who read a lot of stuff that is worthless information for you brain.  Jessica is my daughter, so of course, I think she is fabulous but I really enjoy her fashion summaries and her pictures.  This particular picture is definitely one of my favorites of late.

When people ask me what do you think Jessica will do when she graduates....a variety of ideas run through my brain.  As I have watched her photography over the years and seen her eye emerge, I wonder if something will ever come out of this.  Who the hell knows, it is all up to her. 

Yet, I so love this photo.  So NYC. 

A story

This story keeps roaming through my brain.  We are living in such strange times.  I spent last night with a bunch of bankers and spoke at length with a guy who works at Fannie Mae.  Conversation was fascinating on many levels.  There is a part of me that every time I sit down with someone new, particularly someone in my age range, I wonder...do they get it?  Do they understand that the world has completely changed? 

There is something in this story that keeps drawing me back.  In many ways, this story, although 10 years old, is exactly where we are today in the world of social networking, creating niche businesses, and connecting with like individuals in the flat world that we live in.

Henry Bar Levav is someone I got to know quite well during the Internet craze of the 90's.  He was the brains behind an Internet consulting company called Oven.  I really adored Henry.  He told me a story years ago that I have told over and over again that in many ways defines the world we live in. 

He had ( I assume had because so many years have passed ) a niece that lived in Pittsburgh.  In his eyes, she was a beautiful, smart, wonderful young Jewish girl who couldn't connect or relate to any of her peers in Pittsburgh.  Yet, she was a huge They Might Be Giants fan. 

She would come home, get on line, and go to the They Might Be Giants website and hang out in the chat rooms.  She found many people in those rooms who she could relate to.  It was a huge awakening.  Other kids in High Schools around the country ( perhaps around the globe ) who found themselves in the same frustrated predicament as herself.  Through these people she began to realize that once she left Pittsburgh and went to college she would find other people, like herself, and her world would open up.  She was not alone, she was not strange or weird but she was just living somewhere where there was not a lot of other people like herself.  This website and community changed her life.

Fast forward 10 years, we see how social networking has transformed and connected the world.  If you want to find other people in the world who only eat deep fried chocolate covered pickles  (are there those people ), you can find them.  If you have a product to sell, think Etsy, that rocks your existence, you can find a market of people out there that feel the exact same.  What social networking has done, or what the web has done, it create the ability to reach our your hand to someone else in the world who has the same interests or perhaps the interest in buying your product, etc. 

This connection makes for niche businesses as well as tiny like communities on the web that can be passionate about something and perhaps choose to make a difference in the world or even just make oneself feel connected and complete.  That is alone is very powerful. 

Damn, I love the Internet. 

Ginger Ribs

I am pretty sure I posted this years ago but it a recipe that I usually make a few times over the year.  It is simple but takes time.  Also, make more than you think you need because I never make enough.

Ginger Ribs

For 5 people, I'd do 3 racks of baby backs if you have a few sides.  have the butcher cut them for you.  Makes life easier.
6 Tbsp. dark soy sauce
6 Tbsp. sugar
4 1" cubes of fresh ginger
4 scallions - sliced
3 tbsp. dry sherry
4 cups water

Put the ribs in a deep non-stick pan ( the non-stick is really key here ).  Add the soy sauce, sugar, ginger and scallions.  Pour the water and sherry over that and bring to a boil.  Cover the pan and simmer for about 45 minutes.  The ribs will have turned color at this point, they will look as if they have been boiled. 

Uncover, turn the heat up to high and let them cook for another 20-30 minutes or until the liquid gets really thick and syrupy.  Watch is at the end because you want the liquid to get into the ribs and evaporate but you don't want it to burn.  I leave just a little bit of sauce on the bottom of the pan when I turn it off.

The ribs should be coated in a dark sticky glaze.  Delicious. 

Ben Kweller

Image via Wikipedia

Ben Kweller is one of my all time favorite musicians.  He is a great performer, I love his music, he is incredibly talented and smart and his most endearing attribute is that he is such a nice guy. 

We have been listening and watching him for years.  We have also been fortunate enough to get to know him.  I was thrilled for him last night to play Town Hall and see all these young kids rush the stage at the end of the show.  His audience is pretty wide.  People in the audience definitely spanned from 10 - 60. 

Also, there really is nothing like a concert where you know every single song. 

Chicken-and-Rice Soup with Shrimp

This is one of those soups that you can put this together in minutes.  We came home from the girls basketball game and we were sitting down in minutes.  A little bit of prep but even if you don't prep the rice early on, then just add 10 minutes.

1 whole rotisserie chicken ( love that right - I made a chicken earlier in the day ) - pull all the meat off the bones and chop into small pieces
2 tbsp. chopped ginger
3 large shallots sliced
4 cups chicken stock
1 cup water
3 tbsp. Asian fish sauce
1 tsp. honey
1 cup cooked Jasmine rice
10-12 large shrimps, halved lengthwise
2 tbsp. lime juice
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
3 tbsp chopped basil

In a large sauce pan, with deep sides, cover the bottom with vegetable oil, heat and then add in the ginger and shallots.  Saute for about 3 minutes. 

Add in the stock, water, fish sauce and honey.  Bring to a boil.  Add in the rice ( already cooked ) and chicken, summer for 5 minutes. 

Stir in the shrimp and cook just until opaque.  It should take about one minute. 

Stir in lime juice, cilantro and basil. 

Serve.  Such a winner...and who thought something could taste so good in less than 20 minutes. 

Perilla

 I am not a big TV watcher, actually I rarely watch at all but my kids do.  Top Chef is one of their faves.  I believe Harold Dieterle won Top Chef in its second season.  I did catch a few of those shows.  We cheered for Harold.  Nice guy, team player and good chef.  At least it seems like he is a good chef from the show. 

Harold grew up on LI and after his win, returned to NYC and opened a restaurant on Jones Street which is between West 3rd and Bleeker in the West Village.  The restaurant is named Perilla.

Our of sheer curiosity, I wanted to check it out.  It has taken me a while to get there but I finally made it last night. 

The restaurant is a nice size.  18 tables and a nice long bar in the front.  There is a nice vibe in the place.  Feels like a neighborhood place.   The menu is seasonal which I am a big fan of.  The menu has a lot of variety with a mixture of flavors. 

I was watching the food come out of the kitchen.  Everything was really well plated.  Do I sound like a judge on Top Chef? 

I started out with a spinach salad.  Baby spinach mixed with feta, and spicy red peppers.  The feta did not make its way through the entire salad.  It was clumped.  More like an okay home made salad.  I also tasted the tagliatelle that had a beef cheek sauce.  Again, nothing great.  Someone else had the other salad which was similar to mine in presentation.  Too much, too bulky. 

For the main courses, I had the duck.  2 long slices of duck, served medium rare.  The skin wasn't crispy enough and a bit too thick on the skin, fatty actually, although the meat was quite delicious.  It was served over a mixture of basmati rice that was running through the mustard greens with a garam marsala sauce and tiny gooseberries.  The sauce had a strange flavor and so did the gooseberries.  I tried the Striped Bass which was well cooked with a nice crispy skin over a mixture of bulgar wheat, mushrooms and a sweet and sour eggplant sauce.  Again, okay, didn't rock my world.

The restaurant sort of reminds me of Cafe Loup which is a neighborhood restaurant that has been open for over 20 years.  I think the food happens to be better at Cafe Loup but perhaps it just depends on the night.  Although I was thoroughly underwhelmed at Perilla he might survive because of size, feel and location.

 I usually don't toot my own horn live but there wasn't a thing last night that I haven't made better myself.  Although I am not cooking at a restaurant so it isn't fair to judge on that note.   I have certainly cooked for 24 people at once but not over a course of an evening at a restaurant.  Maybe I should try it.

First accidents

  Jessica got her license yesterday.  You have to be 18 in NYC to get a license to drive.  Hey, its a tough town. 

I made Jessica go through the driver's ed class, one on one driving etc.  For one, your insurance rates go down and I believe it is best to hone your skills with someone besides your parents. 

This morning, Jessica wanted to pick up her friend on her 18th bday and drive her to school.  She lives on the Upper West Side and we are in the West Village.  Of course we had to say yes.  I remember getting my license and figuring I was an expert day one too.

This morning Fred comes upstairs and says to me, I am a little worried about Driving Miss Daisy's outing today.  I was too but there is no time like the present. 

Something in my gut told me that I was going to get the call this morning saying that she had an accident.  I took my brother and sister out for ice cream on my first night of getting my license, in the pouring rain and took out a mailbox.  My brother, I believe on this first outing, hit some snow and side swiped a car, my sister did something too.  Alas, it was bound to happen.

The good news is nobody was hurt.  The bad news, she did quite a nice job.  Took out a headlight, smashed a bit of the hood and the side.  The other car was a delivery truck and she smashed their door.  This is the picture of the truck...our car looks worse.  Very sweet. 

She was on 20th Street on the way back down from the UWS when it happened.  I didn't race out to save the day.  I talked to her a few times and let her deal.  The cop made her take a breathalyzer test, she had to deal with the insurance swap and phone numbers, the whole deal.  It sucked and it was stressful but that's life. 

She came out on the other end learning many lessons.  Now she needs to get back into the saddle and I have to get the car fixed. 

Chocolate Cake

This is probably one of the most delicious chocolate cakes I have made.  I have also had the recipe for 30 years.  Light and moist. 

Growing up, my parents were friendly with a couple who, like my parents, got divorced.  Divorce is a weird thing in terms of relationships.  My father stayed friends with him and my mother stayed friends with her.  She was not a very nice lady.  She had a seriously bad attitude and she was plain out nasty but she was a helluva baker.  My mother ended their friendship but we still have the recipe for the cake.  We call the cake by her name which I always find amusing.

½ cup unsalted butter ( 8 tbsp ) at room temperature
2 cup sugar
4 ounces semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate  (you could always add a few more ounces of chocolate for a more intense flavor)
1 cup hot water
1 tsp baking soda
3 eggs
1 cup sour cream
1 tsp. vanilla
 2 cup flour
1 tsp. baking powder
¼ tsp. kosher salt

Chop up the chocolate and melt in the hot water.  Best to pour a really hot cup of water over the chopped chocolate in a bowl.  When cool, add the baking soda.

Cream the butter and sugar.  Add the eggs, while beating, one at a time.

Sift together the dry ingredients and add alternately with sour cream into the mixture.

Stir in the chocolate mixture and vanilla.

I used 2 -  8” cake pans or you could use a 9 X 12 baking pan.  About 30- 40 minutes at 350 or until the toothpick comes out clean.

My Chocolate Frosting

1 cup heavy cream
6 tbsp. unsalted butter
3 tbsp. light corn syrup
8 ounces bittersweet chocolate ( chopped )
1 cup confectioners sugar

Melt the cream, butter and corn syrup over a low heat until mixed.  Don’t bring this to a boil.  Then take the hot mixture and pour over the chocolate.  Let that stand for a few minutes or until the chocolate melts.  Use a whisk and make sure it is all melted. 

Use a mixture and beat for a few minutes.  Then add the confectioners sugar.  Keep beating until thick.  Put in the refrigerator.  Should cool for about an  hour before using.

An American Plan

 An American Plan got rave reviews.  I was excited to see it as we are patrons of Manhattan Theater Company.  After seeing it, I wasn't sure what everyone was raving about.

Theater is so personal.  Our friends, who we went with, sort of felt the same way as we did.  Friends we saw last night, really enjoyed it.  Hmmm. 

The play takes place in the early 60s.  Young woman, her mother and her maid summering in the Catskills.  A young man enters their life which changes everything.  A controlling Jewish mother who came out of Nazi Germany, a daughter who appears to be a little off, a maid who we learn very little about, men who are gay and want to closet that part of their life while they marry and have babies and lots of passive aggressive drama.  I guess the message is that getting married, living in the suburbs, having 2 kids, and summering with family friends is the American Plan.  At least in the early 60s.

The acting is mixed.  Mercedes Ruehl and Lily Rabe are both wonderful.  Love Rabe's voice.  I wasn't sure that Ruehl was actually enjoying being on stage.  At the end when the cast comes out for their bows, Ruehl appeared to be uninterested in the audience's applause. 

Not my favorite play.  We had dinner with our friends before hand and then went to see the play.  I would have preferred talking with our friends that we don't see often enough for the 2 plus hours we sat watching the play. 

Everybody is becoming a brand

I started blogging October of 2003.  I began for a variety of reasons.  The biggest one is that I wasn't working anymore in the Internet industry.  Fred was in the midst of the next generation of Internet users and I wanted to keep my connection.  Blogging became a way for me to remain connected.  In many ways blogging also created a daily job for me because I figured who knew what type of opportunities might unfold as a blogger. 

Let's fast forward to now.  I have continued to blog, almost daily.  I have found an audience who I really enjoy hearing from ( Disqus ).  Opportunities have come my way.  But most important, I have remained connected to a burgeoning industry which I believe I fundamentally understand whether or not I participate ( social networking ). 

As we are watching the world change, over night, it is interesting to participate in different conversations with people at many ages about what the future brings.  On one hand, there are many people, mostly people who are in their mid-40's and older who want to look at last year to prepare for next year.  They don't understand that what happened last year in their business is irrelevant. Consumer spending has changed dramatically, what and where people are reading is changing ( print media is dead ) and advertisers are at a loss on how to find their audience unless they truly understand how the Internet works.  Granted, people don't want to believe that things have changed because that means that their businesses will never make the type of money that they have in the past but that is the reality of the world today.  Twitter is growing, not Madison Avenue. 

People who are 30 and below mostly get it.  They are participating in social networking and technology is part of their daily life.  They grew up with it.  It is an extension of who they are.  I see it in my kids. 

Blogging has become standard stuff.  Everybody seems to have a blog.  Through blogging, everybody is becoming a brand.  If you want, as your audience grows, you can monopolize your product, your brand.  I have a few friends who have now started their own brands.  Even my daughter Jessica has a blog.  Each of these blogs represent them.  My friend Vanessa, who is from Brazil, works with retailers in South America who come to the US and want to engage someone who understands the fashion markets and trends in America and how to translate them to the Brazilian market.  Her blog, gives people who are her clients or potential clients to get a daily glimpse of what Vanessa is seeing and thinking.  My other friend, Helene, who started the card company, is creating a business that works around her life style (the image Now What is her card)  Jessica has started a blog which is her voice on fashion and her photography.  Her audience is exploding and perhaps she will be one of the most read bloggers who are out there now in the industry she is part of.  That unlocks opportunities that you hope for but aren't expecting.  You go to a site like tastespotting which aggregates beautiful photographs of food everyday and when you click on someone that you'd like to make you are directed to someones blog.  Some of the blogs are not worth writing about but others are fantastic and have Google ads running which make me want to see how many people are reading that blog.  Tastespotting gives me a reason to never buy a cookbook again. Josh Rubin started Cool Hunting five years ago and that blog definitely provides a lifestyle for Josh. 

Blogging has become mainstream and is changing media.  Social networking is changing the way people connect and do business.  There are now millions of micro-businesses on the net.  Etsy is an aggregation of marketplaces for handmade goods and many of their shops create economies for people who live off their sales.  Some blogs are creating enough money so that the income generated from ad revenue is enough to exist without having to go into an office everyday.  Figuring out how to market yourself on the web isn't easy.  Sometimes it is just viral while other times it is about being connected and connecting to others. 

Blogging has allowed people to make themselves into their own brand.  The next generation is going to use technology to spur entrepreneurship at a total different level.  It doesn't mean starting up a lemonade stand then growing it to lemonade stands across the country through raising money and giving away a part of your business to do it.  It means creating an audience who is interesting in reading what you have to say or perhaps spurning an interest in people want to hire you for your talents. 

As the entire world has turned up side down, the youth really get that the playing field is changing over night and it is essential that everybody become a brand.  After all, they began their brand the first time they set up their facebook account.