Things that make me happy... Capitol Steps Political Satire

Things that make me happy... Capitol Steps Political Satire Comedy

Its election season. No better time to get your laugh in. The Capital Steps is a political satire comedy troupe that is touring this year in a city near you. The show mocks our political parties and the colorful characters that make up our various branches of government.

Capitol Steps founded in 1981 is celebrating there 30 year of performances. They have produced 30 comedy album and have performed on radio and TV shows. 

1st Presidential Debate Redo...

Barack performs - Disney's Under the Sea

Perry and Bush skit

You can find out more about Capitol Steps at http://www.capsteps.com
Includes listing of their live tour dates and locations.

Pros
1. This is funny as hell. A must if you like political humor.
2. The sketches are set to music. They are quick and clever.
3. These performers are funny and can sing... This format works for them.

Cons
1. Not a big stage production. Don't expect special effects or lighting here.
2. A bit hard to find since they play in small venues with limited marketing. Listen to your local NPR station for a show near you.
3. This is not for the "Fox News" fans unless you have a politically neutral funny bone. Then you will enjoy anyways.


SF Guru

Things that make me happy... Esperanza Spaulding

Things that make me happy... Esperanza Spaulding

She composes, she plays, she sings, and she scats... my newest musical crush has to be Jazz performer Esperanza Spaulding.

Now I didn't grow up in any of Jazz's legendary periods like Big Band, Bebop, or Avant Garde, but I've been a fan of Jazz for the past 20 years (yes... I've got the achy bones to prove it.) But the good news is that Jazz has continued to evolve. Today its infused in the music of hip hop and soul artists like Q-tip, Outkast, Eryka Badu, and Jill Scott. But Spaulding is a new voice that updates the classic sounds of pure Jazz with a contemporary spin that is bring new fans to this American musical art form. Esperanza's music contains many influences. Most notably -- the music of Brazil, which is prominently featured  on her 2009 self titled album.

New Music Alert:: Radio Music Society
So much happening on this album... Its part Jazz, part Pop, all Esperanza!!
1. Radio Song - The theme song of the album. Fun beat and playful to sing along. "if like to.. Because you need toooo..."
2. Cinnamon Tree - Classic Jazz ballet... One of my favorites.
3. Crowned & Kissed - R&B infused Jazz. Tribute to those everyday "kings and queens"
4. Land Of the Free -
5. Black Gold - Great song... More classic R&B sounds
6. I Can't Help it - Back on the Jazz sound...
7. Hold On Me
8. Vague Suspicions
9. Endangered Species
10. Let Her
11. City of Roses
12. Smile Like That - More vocals on some great instrumentals

The 28 years old bassist got her first major award under her belt -- the 2011 Grammy for best new artist. A first for a jazz musician. But at the pace she's going. It won't be the last. And as Jazz finds a new generation of fans, Esperanza Spaulding will be leading the new Jazz revolution.

Black Gold...

At the White House... Overjoyed!!! She rocks this performance.

Crowned and Kissed Video

Little Fly Video

Pros
1. Great musical talent. Her fresh vocals aren't even her best talent.
2. Jazz music is still classy
3. R&B and Jazz fans will find a song to like

Cons
1. Its Jazz... not everyone's cup of tea
2. A few songs are inspiring. But no can get it right all the time.


SF. Guru

Things that make me happy... NYC Food & Wine Festival

Things that make me happy... NYC Food & Wine Festival & The Food Bank of New York City

http://www.nycwineandfoodfestival.com

This is the 5th year of the NYC Food & Wine Festival and it kicks off on Thursday October 11th. The festival is a celebration of food and spirits and features celebrity and local chefs at venues all over the city throughout the weekend. Similar to their sister festival in Miami, this festival supports hunger relief programs. This year's festival proceeds go to the Food Bank of New York and Share our Strength charities.

One of the best events of the weekend had to be Thursday night's Shake & Bake event hosted by Whoppi Goldberg and sponsored by Whole Foods. Guest DJ, Questlove took a night off from his regular gig with Jimmy Fallon to DJ the event and was in top form spinning tunes from classic funk, R&B and some deep house music. The event was at the Yotel hotel in midtown area.

If this was a Iron Chef battle the main ingredient would have to be Chicken!! Each of the 20+ chefs made there signature chicken (some did desserts) for the hungry crowd. In addition, several signature cocktails and wine were available for those that attended the event. After all the food was sampled, the night ended with a dance party to work off the calories consumed during the event.

Menu

Buttermilk Fried Chicken and Collard Greens
chicken thigh marinated in a blend of herbs and spices and submerged in buttermilk and braised collard greens in smoked ham stock

Bell Book & Candle, Chef John Mooney

Deep Fried Chicken Thigh Burger and Harvest Salad
deep fried chicken thigh burger with spicy aioli and salad of seasonal ingredients

Barbuto, Chef Jonathan Waxman

Backhendl and Potato Arugula Salad
golden fried chicken and potato arugula salad

Blaue Gans, Chef Kurt Gutenbrunner


Liquid Klondike

covered with chocolate and potato chip crunchies,

devils food cake, and chocolate potato chip cookie

Catch, Chef Thiago Silva

Buttermilk Dipped Fried Chicken

Dirty Bird To Go, Chef Justin Crooks

Sherry Glazed Fried Chicken and  Sugar Snap Peas and Potato Cream
crispy chicken coated in a sweet and sour sherry glaze and marinated and julienned sugar snap peas with fingerling potato cream

Edi and the Wolf, Chef Edi Frauneder

S'mores Pie
Graham Cracker Crust, Milk Chocolate Custard, Homemade Toasted Marshmallow

First Prize Pies, Chef Allison Kave

Buttermilk Brined Fried Chicken & Waffles with Ancho Honey Butter and Maple Syrup

Hill Country Chicken, Chef Elizabeth Karmel

Buttermilk Fried Chicken and Joanne's Pecorino Waffle
buttermilk fried chicken and waffle, Pecorino cheese, crispy Salumi, Burton's Farm Maple Syrup

Joanne Trattoria, Chef Art Smith

Matzo Meal Crusted Drumsticks and Buttermilk Biscuit
drumsticks coated in Matzo meal and spices and house made buttermilk biscuits served with wildflower honey butter

JoeDoe & JoeDough, Chef Joe Dobias

Fried Chicken and Mac & Cheese
buttermilk & honey fried chicken and Mac & Cheese

Ken & Cook, Chef Richard Diamonte

Fried Chicken and Kimchi Coleslaw
Korean style fried soy garlic or spicy chicken and Korean pickled cabbage salad

MONO + MONO, Chef Myung Jin Chung

Korean Fried Chicken Tacos and New Potato Salad
Korean fried chicken tacos with Gochujang salsa, cabbage slaw and potato salad with roasted corn, red onion, caper Aioli

Richard Sandoval Restaurants, Chef Richard Sandoval

Fried Yard Bird and Auntie's Slaw
a Red Rooster take on an American Classic and Auntie's Slaw

Red Rooster Harlem, Chef Marcus Samuelsson

Pumpkin Spice & Gluten-Free Candied Yam Cookies
An autumnal duo -- Pumpkin cookies with cranberries, fall spices and a maple buttercream frosting & Gluten-free sweet potato cookies with pecans and cinnamon, topped with toasted marshmallow

Schmackary's, Chef Zachary Schmahl

Seersucker Fried Chicken with Carolina Benne Seeds & Kentucky Soy-Sorghum Dipping Sauce and Late Summer Slaw
chicken thighs with Carolina benne seeds and Kentucky soy-sorghum dipping sauce and Carroll Gardens Greenmarket seasonal vegetable slaw

Seersucker, Chef Robert Newton

Brûléed Sweet Potato Pie
sweet potato pie with a brûléed candy top served with spiked brandy whipped cream

The Blue Stove, Chef Rachel McBride

Fried Chicken & Waffle Cone
hand made waffle cones rolled and stuffed with mashed potatoes, shredded cabbage, fried chicken and topped with heavenly burnt onion chow chow and black pepper honey

The Brooklyn Star, Chef Joaquin Baca

Fried Chicken and Potato Latke with Jalapeño Apple Mash and Maple Syrup

The Smith, Chef Glenn Harris

Malay Fried Chicken and Cucumber Salad
coconut fried chicken with spicy Sambal and spicy and tangy home style pickled cucumber ribbon

WONG, Chef Simpson Wong

Jalapeno, Cheddar Cornbread with a Maple Bacon Bourbon compound Butter served with Butternut Squash Soup garnished with Crème Fresh and Sage

Whole Foods Market

Pros
1. Sampling of various dishes was fun.. check out the menu above...
2. Drinks included and they were awesome. Lots of stuff to try.
3. The music and DJ - Questlove... nuff said.
4. The venue and the organization was perfect. Inside and outside space with plenty of room to mingle. No trouble or hassle getting into the event.

Cons
1. A little pricey for some, but money well spent especially for such a good cause. over $1M raised last year to end hunger. Can't be made at that.
2. If you feel a little guilty about enjoying such good food while some people are struggling with hunger... You can always do something about it. Volunteer or donate... http://www.foodbanknyc.org

This made me think a little about a quote I heard about food and hunger...

"One cup of food a day changes Fabian’s life completely. But this morning, about a billion people on Earth — or one out of every seven — woke up and didn’t even know how to fill this cup. One out of every seven people.” - Josette Sheeran

Check out her out... http://www.ted.com/talks/josette_sheeran_ending_hunger_now.htmlEnding Hunger Now


But this was a great event for a worthy cause. If you get a chance to check out one of the many events at the Festival... I think its worth doing something to help to end hunger now.


SF. Guru

Things that makes me happy... Detropia the Movie

Things that make me happy... Detropia a documentary film by Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady.

A "collage of Detroit" is what best describes Detropia, a insightful film about the current reality facing the once thriving city of Detroit.  This film is for anyone that is from, visited, or cared about Detroit and the many other cities like it that have experience the effects of lost (good paying) jobs in a ever changing business landscape.

Detropia won at Sundance Film festival for best editing in a US Documentary and will be featured on PBS in the near future. The directors Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady spend over a year in the city meeting its people and capturing the ever present decay of the city.  They show the city council debates around redistricting, impact on the lower income residents, and the drought of middle class jobs. The movie addresses the racial overtones of the cities demise by tiptoeing around the exit of the white middle class over the past 50 years to the suburbs. The lack of investment and the lost of the automobile jobs help to accelerate the urban collapse.

What the film does not do is following a typical path of this type of story where the there is a clear path of hope in the end. It ends with a question for the audience... If this can happen to Motown, can it happen to any main street city?

Movie Trailer...

Interview with director

Interview with Directors...

Pros
1. Great editing and cinematography and handles the dire subject with respect for the people and and the city.
2. Tommy Stephens the owner of Raven Lounge. As charismatic as he is wise is the heart and soul of the film.
3. This is a suspense movie... Will Detroit survive? If so how?
4. A great intellectual vitamin for those that aren't aware of what is happening in many towns across across America.

Cons
1. No solutions... don't expect a Cinderella Story... This city still got problems.
2. Tough stuff to watch... a not so pleasant side of modern "main street".


SF Guru

Things that make me happy... Bike Vermont

Things that make me happy... Bike Vermont

Since the summer starts with a bike ride (5 Boro NYC Bike Tour) it makes sense to end it with one.  Vermont is not just a great destination for skiing in the winter, it is also a great destination in the fall for biking, checking out New England, and checking out some fall foliage.

Bike Vermont http://bikevt.com/index.aspx is a great bike tour company that focuses on delivering a safe and enjoyable riding experience. If you use them ask for Frank and Toni as guides (they are awesome!!) For anyone that haven't ridden in a while no fear, Vermont is fairly flat with some small hills spread around a beautiful landscape. The ride is all about you and you can take the van anytime you want (no shame). A typical day one ride is about 35 miles (with an optional 11 mile addition for those wanting more). Day two is about 25 miles. They also have multi-day tours available locally or in other cities around the world.

 Vermont is picturesque in the Fall. In late September the daytime weather is about 70 which is perfect for riding. Its not too crowded and the roads are biker friendly. There are plenty of small towns to visit while riding. Woodstock, Plymouth, and Quechee (to name a few) are great for stopping for food and shopping.

 Dam it!! That's darn pretty.

 Glass Blowing Artist...

No hot air jokes here... he's working.

If you need a place to stay -- October Country Inn

Great times, great people.

 Scenic views for days...

 Nice foliage... Fall is coming.

 Going to check out Coolidge's crib...

Yes... this is New England...

If you want take a local trip for some cool site seeing, Vermont is a great destination.

Pros
1. Bike friendly roads
2. Great New England town with lots of Vermont cheese and maple syrup sample and buy.
3. Bike Vermont is a great tour company. No drama... easy going with great support and nice guides
4. World class Bed and Breakfast type inn. Meet new people from all over.

Con
1. About 5 hours from NYC... Not a bad drive tho...
2. Vermont is not a party scene... things close down early


S.F. Guru