Jun 23, 2010
The Return Of Bossy’s Far Flung Correspondent
Welcome to Notes from a Far-Flung Correspondent, which features the weekly interests and musings of Bossy’s Son, who is currently enjoying the summer proceeding his junior year at Columbia University in the City of New York.
This week: Far-Flung 2.0.
So. It’s been a while.
I’d like to claim that I had a debilitating finals week; but no — the majority of my classes were writing and reading intensive, so I was finished earlier than most of my friends.
I’d like to claim that I’ve been traveling throughout rural Paraguay, sans phone or internet, quite far-flung but unable to correspond; but no, besides a post-finals trip to Montreal (beer, wings, Burger King, dancing, sleep, repeat) and a weekend camping trip to the Catskills (beer, dutch oven donuts, beef stew, long hikes and short swims, repeat), I’ve been vacation-less.
I’d like to claim that I’ve been working 100-hour weeks, too exhausted to brush my teeth let alone type out a Far-Flung; but no, while it’s true I’ve been splitting my time between interning at Atlantic Records and a couple of other ca$h-money jobs to pay the bills, I haven’t been overwhelmingly busy.
So, asks the Bossy faithful, what is the deal?
And to this I offer the following detailed explanation:
Apologies, Bossy faithful. My Bad. Let’s move onwards and upwards. And there are a few things to report.
Beyond the banalities of finals and papers and move-out, oh my, there was Columbia’s Spring Concert, which shook up the drudgery of schoolwork and gave every student a weekend to look forward to.
The concert featured up-and-coming rap artist Wiz Khalifa, who recently signed with Atlantic Records. He dominated the stage and ramped up the late afternoon crowd:
Next, on loan from the Wu-Tang Clan, was a nice gentleman by the name of Ghostface Killah, who told the student body that Columbia was his people:
And finally to end the day’s events were glam-rockers Of Montreal, whose performance quickly turned from the standard:
To the downright psychotropic:
With school wrapped up, I made sure to make it home to see the people that matter:
And to get a taste of the hometown I love:
But mostly, I’m kickin’ it in New York for the summer, trying to combine cheap living with fun living. And this, most loyal Bossy readers, is where you come in.
I’ve picked out a few things in NYC I want to check out, but I’d like to hear your opinions. With the idea that I’ll report my experience back to you –- which one of the following should Bossy’s Son check out first?
- The Jamaican Dutchy, a famous Midtown street vendor close to where I work
- SummerStage, the crowded-but-popular free concert series in Central Park
- Zabar’s, where I would try to figure out The Best Sub-$20 Zabar’s Shopping List
- The Corner Bookstore, an Upper East Side independent bookstore on which Meg Ryan’s You’ve Got Mail store was based
- Museum of Sex, whose name is self-explanatory
- Strand Bookstore in Greenwhich Village, which claims to have 18 miles of books
- Artichoke Pizza, an East Village hole-in-the-wall classic, where slices are hand-crafted, non-greasy, and decadent
- Housing Works Bookstore Café and Thrift Shop, where they sell anything from books to blazers with profits going to charity
or finally
So -– which one would you like to hear about?
Gosh I miss college, what a week that was!
Great job!!
UP
Zabar’s, please, and the under $20 shopping list. A challenge so awesome it could be its own reality show.
Housing Works Bookstore Cafe & Thrift Shop, maybe. You could buy a blazer and a book and look all smart.
I am biased because I used to work with HousingWorks so, OF COURSE, I think you should go see what awesome things you can find…but SummerStage employs many of my starving artist friends currently so I’ll have to go with that!
Enjoy your summer, it’s a great city to explore!
Strand Bookstore, for sure. And pictures, please! I need to see what 18 miles of books looks like, so that I have something to aspire to, natch.
I’m choosing Zabar’s and Museum of Sex – cuz we all need to learn some new tricks…
oh and because I’m your favorite aunt – why cover such a cute face with hair – are you playing the choking game?
The DUCHY of course!
Oh, and be sure to check out MY exhibit in the Museum!
BH
My beloved husband grew a beard like yours in August 1970 and kept it until he died in Nov. 2009. I LOVED it, please don’t listen to your mother or your favorite aunt.
I choose Summer Stage because free is awesome.
I’d say the Museum of Sex, but Bossy’s son writing about that experience may cause untoward thoughts. So – well, everything else seems a little banal after that glimpse I got of those untoward thoughts. (sorry)
Yes indeed…
The beard is cool.
Free = priceless..
BSD
I would like to hear about all 8, please. Bc (a) you’ve been missing from these pages lately and we need to read more of you. And (b) bc there are eight(ish) weeks in the summer and you can do one a week!
I would like to hear about all those places.
Side note for Son of Bossy: A very good friend of mine put out a book called Broke Ass Stuart’s Guide to Living Cheaply in New York.
I edited a portion of said book for him.
He has a website that talks about cool cheap and free stuff to look at and do in New York. The book is HIGHsterical, full of curse words, and really awesome.
Peep this: http://brokeassstuart.com/category/ny/
I vote for pizza or sex, depending on your mood tha day.
#2 and #8 please!! With a side trip to #5
Housing works and the Strand get my vote. Also: Shakespeare in the Park, free tickets, you just have to wait in ling for a long time.
You know, Museum of Sex could potentially be interesting, but it still can’t hold a candle to pizza.
And what’s this talk about Montréal without mentioning poutine? Don’t tell me you didn’t have *the* quintessential gâterie quebecoise.
Wait, what? Museum of Sex? How did I not know about this???
Guess what my vote is for? go ‘head, guess.
Oh boy, oh boy — Bossy’s Boy is back!!!
We missed you, Mister!
And, The Delightful One has a dimple! (that’s a really great picture
Have a great time summering in the CIty. Central Park, cheap pizza, free entertainment…do it all! And let us hear from you as often as possible, please. We all adore Bossy’s son, beard or no beard!
Summer stage is great, although stupidly crowded. We went to M Ward last year, and set up a lovely little picnic just outside the venue where we could hear the music, toss a frisbee, and enjoy our own beverages. Highly recommend.
Yeah, I’d like to to to or hear about Shakespeare in the Park. And the book store/thrift place. and everything else.
i vote for them all please!
Well, the sex museum and pizza, of course.
I’ve experienced all of those except the Jamaican Dutchy, Artichoke pizza and the Museum of Sex.
But I’d say go to the Museum of Sex and report all the delicious details. When I lived in NYC, I always wanted to go, but every time I passed by the place it looked like only European tourists were going in and out of there. Who knows what was really going on inside. (Take a camera!)
We’d love to have you at Housing Works. Keep in mind, we’re not just shopping! We do tons of cheap and free rock shows, comedy nights, and readings. Plus we have a great cafe, wine and beer, and wifi. Come meet your friends and stay for an event…
Not on your list, but Criff Dogs, 113 St. Marks Place. And be sure to go into the phone booth in the back.
All of the above. But especially #8. (And how can you resist now that you have an official invite from Rachel?)
Why oh why must we choose? You are young and energetic – do them all and report back!
But since you asked, for my own selfish self, i’d pick the summer concerts and museum of sex because i love, love music and collect small museums.
Do the concerts first if someone good is playing! Otherwise, THE STRAND. It sounds like a magical place.
ALL OF THEM. Now get busy!
I’d like to hear about SummerStage followed closely by The Jamaican Dutchy. now go….
I didn’t think Zabar’s sold much under $20, except bagels and maybe some cold cuts.
Do they still show free movies in Riverside Park?
AND then I went to Jamaican Dutchy (on you tube!).
How lovely….so I want to hear all about him..
And save Zabars for your first BIG paycheck….someday.
My first answer of course was the Museum of sex, until I saw the Artichoke Pizza. Artichokes always win over sex.
Silly me, I thought EVERYONE would say Museum of Sex.
Try them all. But don’t be sad if you leave Zabar’s with only a bar of chocolate and a loaf of bread.
Oh C’mon, Bossy’s son, we all know you are going to the Museum of Sex whether we want you to or not.
The strand bookstore, because they have EVERYTHING and they will help you find the most obscure books. And it smells lovely. like old books.
All of them! I am bringing my 13 year old son to NYC in August and I need an itinerary!
HousingWorks!
Well, the Museum of Sex, of course. I didn’t know it existed, but now I need a full report. Plus, we need to know if it’s appropriate for Bonnie’s 13 year-old son. (I’m guessing not, but maybe it’s an educational thing, who knows?)
Philly/#35 just uttered the Best. Line. Ever. “Artichokes always win over sex.” You have no idea how many times I plan to work this phrase into conversation today! (Yes, at work. Why?)
Also, another thing that always wins over sex would be olives. And pomegranates. And avocados. I think that may be all. I hope that is all. Is there an artichoke-olive-pomegrante-avocado pizza place?
Right. I was so excited by the Best. Line. Ever. that I forgot to answer Bossy’s Son’s question. Mostly I want to see pictures of eighteen miles of books, please, but sex and charitable thriftiness and pizza and free shows and nifty vendors all sound good too! Zabar’s…eh.
Here’s my two cents:
Always do anything free that involves music.
Always do anything that involves a bookstore. Especially the Strand, which I still remember from so many years ago that you’ve had time to be born AND grow a beard.
Always do anything that involves really good food.
Helpful? No?
Oh, and Housing Works sounds ultra-cool. Do that too. (I realize it’s also contained in advice 1 & 2 from me, but it deserves special mention.)
Strand bookstore, because it has the word “bookstore” in it and then I lost my attention.
What?
HousingWorks with a side of artichoke pizza.
And a razor.
in order from first to least important
2 (send a schedule of who’s playing), 7,6,5,1,4,3
#2, #8……I’m assuming at this point, you have been to #5 and are typing a far flung about it RIGHT NOW!!!!!
Number five please. Goes almost without saying.
All please! Being an NYC and then Jersey City resident for almost four years now, I’ve done a lot of things in the city, but amazingly, none of those things. So please, do and tell!
Do you really want your mom to know you went to the Museum of Sex? Sex is not a thing one should talk about with their parents (after “The Talk” we all had when we were 12) let alone post on their blogs.
The Strand. The Strand! You will love it there. I have spent whole days there, lost in the stacks. Bring a rolling suitcase. You will want to leave with lots of books. Also buy a Strand t-shirt.
Never been to Housing Works Bookstore Café and Thrift Shop. Sounds intriguing.
Artichoke pizza is really really good (although the line out the door? Not so good). But what I hear is even better is if you get a blogger friend of your mom’s to treat you to a slice or two. As long as you don’t mind him bringing a camera along for future bragging rights.
Okay…I went to the Museum of Sex. It was equal parts interesting and horrifying.
Afterwards, instead of a cigarette, I needed a Silkwood shower. For my brain.
I would love more info on numbers 1 & 8!
Have a great summer. Keep the beard, I like it!