At The Movies

I hope you are having a wonderful holiday weekend with your friends and family. I am really enjoying my break and have been relaxing and discovered this new movie theater in Hoboken. It's new, there are lounges and the staff is over-the-top friendly. While it's somewhat of a walk for me to get there, it's well worth the stroll through town. This weekend I saw Avatar and It's Complicated. There are still many films I want to see and will hopefully get to them during the week.

I have also been using my time to work on some other projects I had to put on the back burner.

Speaking of which, it was just another saturday afternoon at the local high school soccer field:



How did you get back there??? I don't want to tell you.



For those of you who didn't receive coal for Christmas, I hope you received some fun gifts. This time of the year isn't just about the gifts though...it's about spending time with friends and family...right?

Proof

The X-Rated Gift Basket

Every year, an x-rated gift basket is sent to our office from an alumnus and it cracks me up. The basket arrived yesterday and although I was out of the office, I got a laugh from the email that was sent out telling us that a gift basket had arrived but it was x-rated.

So this is really awkward, I don't know how to make this transition so I'm just going to do it. I have always been a huge fan of the muppets and Sesame Street. I just found out Sesame Street's Olivia has passed away. I think my first exposure to death came from watching Sesame Street when Mr. Hooper died.




And now, I leave you with this trailer for the remake of a classic film. What a shame.


Happy Holidays to you and a happy and healthy New Year!

The Perfect Birthday Meal

29 and Feeling Fine

I love birthdays, what better way to celebrate growing older than with good friends, a candle, and delicious food. I had an amazing birthday this year and it is always followed by more holidays and time off from work, who could ask for anything more? On top of it all, there was a snow storm which blanketed the bustling city in a layer of white powder.

I was going to take a few days off from blogging but wanted to post a few things for your viewing enjoyment:

Like, Extreme Kids Playhouses.

This site reminded me of a site I had posted on here awhile back, one that is too good not to post again! Here it is. Take a look at how the kids are dressed and positioned. Hilarious.

He asked them to turn the lights down because they were too hot. Then he asked for some Air Conditioning and a glass of water. She laughed. He fainted.


Dude Passes Out During Interview - Watch more Funny Videos

In case you weren't chilly enough today, let's talk a look to see what the Polar Bear Club is up to.

Try Not To Bragg

I am always intrigued when I come across a new type of beverage. Sometimes it's the label, sometimes the name, or sometimes it's a combination of the two. Last night, I stopped off to get some Mandarin oranges after the gym and found a drink made of Apple Cider vinegar and honey.

Apple Cider Vinegar has been highly regarded throughout history. In 400 B.C. Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine, used it for its amazing natural detox cleansing, healing, and energizing qualities. Hippocrates prescribed Apple Cider Vinegar mixed with honey for its health properties. Now you can enjoy Bragg Organic Apple Cider Vinegar & Honey in a convenient refreshing drink.

Who knew? I figured I would try it and try it I did. I was done after one sip. I don't care how healthy this is for you, drinking vinegar is not something I ever want to do again.

Now of course, as I'm sure you can imagine, I am intrigued by this Bragg family. You can read all about them here.

They even have monthly affirmations on their site:

""The world is my playground, because of my love for all things harmonious."

And then there is this:



Have a great weekend! The next time I see you, I'll be 29.

Almost There

Two days left before I have a mini birthday break and then one day back in the office and then some more days off. Best part is, I got my presentation out of the way last night so now the fun begins.

Have you seen the new Iron Man 2 Trailer? Looks great. Robert Downey Jr. is just great and I'm curious to see how this new Sherlock Holmes flick is.

I agree with this survey 110%...Office temperatures affect our productivity.

I leave you with this...so good:

It's Wednesday, but I'm writing this on Tuesday night..ooooo...ahhhh

That's right, tomorrow I will be in full presentation mode, awaiting my chance to stand in front of a group of classmates and talk about something I don't really care about, Gambling.

So why not take a look at some off videos that sort of have something to do with Casinos and gambling...sort of:


Live Reporter Slaps Dumb Drunkard - Watch more Funny Videos

Casino from Paul Zwicker on Vimeo.

It's Almost Here

My final presentation is almost here and I will be oh so happy when it is over. In the meantime, let's read about an Octopus and the coconut. Sounds like a good children's story. Better get on that.

While working on my Presentation last night I put on the last few minutes of this Acapella/Glee/Idol show, The Sing Off. The Acapella was really good and I'm a fan of Ben Folds who is a judge on the show. It's nice to see Acapella in the limelight.

Okay, we knew this was coming. A Japanese store is selling customized robots. Want a robot version of your girlfriend, how about your deceased Aunt Betty? Check it out.

And now I leave you with another episode of Improv Everywhere...

Middle School Monday

The circus, ahhhh the circus. Friday night, after a 20 something year hiatus, I returned to the Big Apple Circus. It was a magical evening, as I could immediately recognize the smells and sights that I used to love as a kid. The music, Grandma, things that have remained the same and things that were different all collided and it was an overwhelming sensation. As a kid I remember my grandma taking us to see the Big Apple Circus every year. I distinctly remember many things about this experience and one of the things that I remembered were the metal bleachers they used to have, which have now morphed into comfortable chairs. Turns out my dad lost his favorite hat to those bleachers which is most likely why I remember them. When I spoke with him on the phone over the weekend I told him I had found his hat. In addition to a twirling horse, trapeze, the wheel of death, not-so-swift audience members, a new ringmaster, the worst act came about halfway into the show. It looked like a proposal, it smelled like a proposal, IT WAS A PROPOSAL. Nothing more romantic than proposing to the woman you love in the same spot where the twirling horse shat a few minutes earlier. Okay, not really but you get the point. I had a chance to hear what some of the kids in the audience were saying when this proposal was taking place.

"Mom, who is this clown?"

"He's short, why would she want to marry him"

"She'd be much better off with the ringmaster...oh, I get it RING-master...*giggle* *burp*"

"Dad, if he's a contortionist, when is he going to start stuffing himself into that tiny box?"

All in all, I had a really good time at the circus and I'm looking forward to going back again and re-implementing the tradition.

With my birthday and the holidays coming up I thought it might be fun to open up my Middle School yearbook and share with you a few of the comments from my then classmates. Sounds like a blast, doesn't it? Let's see, how about something from 1994:

(unfortunately this comment is nameless)

"Dear Evan,
Hope your summer is as fun as this year was, which wasn't too fun. But anyway have a good summer, see you next year"

"Hey Evan What's up your a really bright kid. I notice that you get all good grades. I know your in only one of my classes. I'm not in all smart classes like you are. Your probably going to get an A in Mrs. Leavens class. PS. Lets go Devils. Your friend Rob"

and now we fast forward to 1995:

"Hey Evan,
You've got the coolest hair in the world. I wish I was you! Well, I don't really know you that well, so next year we have to become close! Have a kick asssummer! See ya in high school! Michelle

Well, we've come to the end of today's post. I'd like to point out that there was no use of any videos or links. So for those of you who are always complaining about this, you can't complain today.

:-)

It's Freezing Friday

Despite my defrosting ears, I am great. It's Friday and tonight, tonight I am going to experience something I have not experienced since I was a wee lad. Tonight, I will be back at Grandma's house, under the big tent, at the Big Apple Circus. As a kid, my grandmother used to take us to see the Big Apple Circus every year and I loved it. So you can imagine how excited I am to go again, 20 or so years later.

When your kid won't stop crying, why not try the 'ole climb in the crib trick?



Want to piss off people in class? Why not try doing what this kid does and see what happens.


Student Brings Typewriter To Class - Watch more Funny Videos

I have said that I have no real interest in seeing Avatar, the new flick by King of the World, James Cameron, but the reports coming out about the film are great. People are saying it far exceeds any expectations and that it may be considered for an Oscar. Will all this hype make me go see it? Perhaps.

Facebook implemented its privacy changes, so if you haven't done so, make sure you aren't sharing yourself with the world.

Have a great weekend!

Ponzhu Scheme

If you know me, I'm always drumming up ideas so you probably weren't surprised that I bought a bunch of Zhu Zhu Pets when I found them. For those who don't know about what is being hailed as this year's "Tickle Me Elmo". Here's a commercial for these things. If you ask me, it's silly, but I sort of want to recreate a scene from one of my favorite holiday films, Jingle All The Way. Go ahead, laugh. I want a Turboman doll. Who told you you could eat my cookies?

Anywayy...



So this guy notices food missing from the fridge, sets up a camera, and here's what he sees. I don't buy it.



Check this out, horse and buggy DUI...

And now, with all this Zhu Zhu frenzy, I will leave you with a hamster riding the subway.

If only it were a little colder...

We would be having a lot of snow here in NYC!! But no, it's just pouring rain, wind in your face and soaking wet pants. An umbrella does no good in this weather. You need a body umbrella. Speaking of umbrellas, I decided to see what sort of umbrella/windy/rainy footage I could find and here are some favorites:






Now these are my favorite stories. A woman dines with a cardboard cutout. Priceless.

Short post today, sorry, many marshmallows for TOASTING.

First Snow

When it snows, I always feel a kind of joy that is hard to explain. The excitement is in the beauty of snow but also in the unknown, meaning we're never quite sure how much it's going to snow. Sure the weathermen and women tell us one thing, but they are not always right and there's always hope that there will be so much snow that we will not be able to leave our dwellings. This video from the first snow fall in Philadelphia, captures the beauty, stillness and any other emotions I feel when it snows. Watch it once, watch it twice, it's like a perfectly crafted snowflake.

The First Snow, Canon 7D from Reid Carrescia on Vimeo.

Think your apartment is tiny? Well, check out this 210 sq. ft. apartment.

A happy belated birthday to Mr. Walt Disney, and what better way to celebrate than with some fun facts!

I love a good lip-sync video...and so I enjoyed this one:


Country Toddler Lip-Syncs Perfectly - Watch more Funny Videos

Winter is here and if you're in NYC and like me, you want to take advantage of all there is in this wonderful city. Thanks to Time Out NY, we have a list of 101 things to do in NYC this winter. Ready....set....GO!

Have a great day!

Good Pain

I'm feeling good pain this morning after a much needed training session yesterday. It was the first time I had to do push-ups while balancing on medicine balls. I don't want it to appear as though I am complaining, but to put it in Muppet terms, my arms are feeling like that Marvin Suds and the Muppephone skit, "ow, ow ow". Enough of that.

Did you have a nice weekend? Wacky weather. It was freezing in NYC and we had our first taste of snow. Decorations went up, the sidewalks of NYC are crowded with tourists and shoppers, and the holiday party season has begun. I went to my first party on Saturday night, where we had to bring an ornament for the tree. So in typical Evan fashion, I made my own and brought a one-of-a-kind Tiger Woods ornament:

Party was fun and the snow added an extra special touch.

I need to sell my Zhu Zhu's and luckily, I didn't get any of the brown ones.

This is pretty cool, captured video of the vine seeds soaring through the forest.

And now, it's time for...FUN WITH GLYCERIN!



Enjoy your day. Evan Almighty, signing off.

Still Posting After All These Years....OHHHHH, Still Posting.

It's hard to believe that I started this blog almost two years ago. January 5, 2007 was my first post on Evan Almighty, it was short but it started this journey of daily blogging. Some people don't understand why I do this and I don't care that they don't understand because I'm not doing it for them. I'm doing this for me, myself and I. Sure you get some entertainment from it, laughing at my stupid jokes and observations. But I enjoy doing this. Okay, time to transition into something more fun.

Like this, a man dressed up as an elf told the mall Santa he had dynamite.

Nothing feels better than getting your car washed. Whether you do it by hand or go through a machine, a sparkling clean car is so nice. Well, as long as you stay dry...:



Hoses Gone Wild.

The overweight flight debate continues. Should obese people pay for two seats? You may have seen this new photo.

I was waiting for the subway yesterday and had the pleasure of listening to a subway performer I have never ever seen before. And he was really good! He was singing opera along to an orchestral recording and people were loving it and he was making a lot of money too. Thanks to YouTube, I was able to find some video of him:





Maybe I can get him to sing us a special song for Evan Almighty.

Honey, the Robinsons are at it again:



Hope you have a great weekend!

65 Degrees and the countdown begins

Okay, today is December 3, 2009 and it is currently 65 Degrees in NYC. That means I left the house without a jacket which may come as a surprise to many of you. I enjoyed my walk to work this morning and for the second day in a row, walked right by Mario Batali. Today he was with his kids hailing a cab. Once he dropped his kids off at school I imagine him going to the market and cooking up a big breakfast. Then he calls me and invites me over to try this new omelet he's come up with. Gwyneth Paltrow is there as well and then the three of us hop into a convertible and cruise around the city.

December 3rd...that means that in 17 days I will be turning 29. 28 was a great year but I know that 29 will be great as well. Check this out:

Twenty-nine is:

* The number of days February has in leap years.
* The number of letters in the Turkish,[1] Finnish, Swedish,[2] Faroese,[3] and Norwegian[4] alphabets.
* The designation of Interstate 29, a U. S. freeway that runs from Missouri to North Dakota.
* In the name of the town Twentynine Palms, California, also the name of the adjoining Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, affectionately referred to by Marines as "Twentynine Stumps".[5]
* The number of suras in the Qur'an that begin with muqatta'at
* The highest possible score in a hand of Cribbage.
* The highest possible score in a hand of Khanhoo.
* An album by Ryan Adams.[6]
* The track the Chattanooga Choo Choo leaves in the Glenn Miller song.
* 29th Regiment of Foot, a former regiment in the British Army.
* The retired jersey number of Rod Carew
* The Olympiad number of the 2008 Summer Olympics
* The number of the French department Finistère
* The amount of attributes existing according to The Strokes in You Only Live Once.
* The retired S.L. Benfica shirt number in memory of Miklos Feher.
* The number every woman in the "wrong age" claims to be. According to "The Nanny".
* The number of CMS Baseball Star John "Zach" "Jay-Z" England
* The number "Weird Al" Yankovic uses frequently as an inside joke.
* The number of Knuts in one Sickle in the fictional currency in the Harry Potter novels.

See, it's going to be a very good year. Weird Al uses it as an inside joke? I mean, come on.

How cool is this? A bowling alley discovered in a building in Queens.

Have you read up on how facebook's new privacy changes will affect you?

This just made me laugh. I don't know why.

Bloggers, get something for free? Well be sure to let us know.

Well according to these folks, we could actually get a wintry mix today. Hope you enjoy the weather, Skippy.

A Heircut

I went to get my hair cut at a new place last night. I felt like I was cheating on the place I have been going to for the past year but the new place is in Hoboken and saves me a trip, not to mention they are open until midnight two nights a week in case I ever need to trimming in the middle of the night. In addition to a complimentary clean-up followup (in about three weeks) I got a hot towel wrapped around my face while the conditioner worked it's magic, a brief and somewhat weak shoulder massage and a cut. The first thing I was offered when I walked in was a beverage and yes, they did have alcoholic beverages. I know, I know. At first I told them I didn't want the towel but they had to talk me into it. I just wanted a haircut.

After a long shampoo and condition, I was brought back to the chair and the woman cutting my hair told me that the woman who washed it was just raving about my hair and how she got sentimental because it reminded her of her dad's curly hair. She said this woman has never been so emotional over anyone else's hair. Perhaps this is just a line they use with everyone but I found it highly amusing.

The tipping at these places is always sort of awkward and I'm never sure what the correct protocol is. You can be sure that as I was getting my hair cut I was looking at customers in the mirror's reflection to see what they did with the tips. There are two types of tippers. Some of us like to take the small envelopes, write the name on it and then discretely slip in the tip and leave it at the front desk. Others make a big show about the tip, folding it so small and then slipping it to them on the way out or even while they are cutting the next person's hair. I'm an envelope kind of tipper. Adds some suspense. It's like a little present.

Like gummy bears? Well then, here's something for you. It's the world's largest gummy bear.

Here's how you will feel when you get a large gummy bear.



We all love to eat and go out to try new restaurants. Here's a list of secrets your waiter will never tell you.

Thanks to LEC and Cait for providing us with this incredible blog of awful library books. I have a few favorites. What are yours?

I've got another treat for you this morning...it's a bird? nah..a plane? nah..Superman The Musical? YESSSS.

All You Need Is A Belter and a Dream

Okay so all I need are a few lead roles in Broadway productions and then I can have a Christmas album and sing at Birdland. Shouldn't be too difficult right?

Time to get your thrill on Vinegar Hill...it looks cool. I might have to check it out.

Neil Young was on his way to meet someone at the Wrecking Ball...



Don't worry, it was just a stunt for a movie being filmed in NYC. No one was harmed.

This is just horrible but I think it's interesting from a journalism perspective.

I heard on the news the other night that a woman saw an image of Jesus on her iron and it did indeed look like Jesus when they showed the photos. I came across this odd site that had some other Jesus sightings. You can see them here.

Now you can turn alcohol into a powder which means, well, Vodka pills.

And now, your cute kitty moment of the day:



Have a good one.

It's The Holiday Season...

I had a really nice Thanksgiving break and hope you did as well. I got off the elevator with some co-workers this morning and came up with a new line. They asked me where I was for Thanksgiving, I said New Jersey, they made a sour face and then I said, "the only place where the turkey talks back to you". They laughed. I laughed. Feel free to use that one.

I'd like to briefly talk about two products this morning: Hippie Chips and Zhu Zhu Pets. So I was in CVS last night just browsing when I came across these Zhu Zhu hamsters. I had read about these toys and how hard they are to find and saw a couple piling them into their cart. So I went home, looked them up and quickly went back to CVS and bought the rest of them. So now I am in possession of a bunch of these hamsters. Go figure.

Perhaps you have seen these new baked chips in stores, Hippie Chips? Baked, because hippies like their chips baked, I guess? I just thought I would mention it.

I'd like to go back to talking about Thanksgiving again. I really enjoyed being with the family this Thanksgiving and it's always like pulling teeth trying to get people to say what they are thankful for, and no, I wasn't only thankful for the pumpkin pie. Good food, good times. I'm ready to enjoy the holiday season.

And what better way to kickoff the holiday season than with ELF YOURSELF!! That's right. It's back. And better than ever.

Clips and Quips Vault

One of my all time favorite segments from our Clips and Quips days was The Family Guy piece. Spending a day at Family Guy headquarters in CA was surreal. Many of you have seen this already, but for those who haven't enjoy. And for those who have, enjoy it again.

Happy Thanksgiving

Taking a few days off

Okay, I'm going to be a turkey for the next few days and take some time off from blogging. I want to wish you and your families a very Happy Thanksgiving. Boaz made another Thanksgiving short this year which I wanted to share with you.

A Thanksgiving Story from Boaz Frankel on Vimeo.

I am especially thankful this Thanksgiving and I hope you will take a moment to reflect upon the things you are most thankful for this year.

The Lonesome Sax Player

There was a man playing sax on the corner of Washington Square Park this morning and unlike many of the sax players who can usually be found uptown, this guy was good. He was really good. And as he laid down a track to the scene in which I was a part, I took note of everything happening around me and envisioned myself in a movie scene. Am I an extra in this great movie? Perhaps. It was a nice start to my morning.

Everyone is filled with Thanksgiving joy so why not bring it down a notch and see if you can count the number of turkeys in this ad:



I'd love to jet away somewhere for the weekend but I will most likely stick around and keep a low profile. Although Travelzoo likes to tempt us all.

You might not find Harrison Ford inside, but perhaps you've always wondered what it's like to fly on Air Force One. Here are some interior shots you might enjoy.

Hey, all you swine flu vaccine recipients, read this.

Here's a Thanksgiving story and recipes from NPR.

Many of you have asked me if I will be going to see the Tim Burton exhibit at MOMA and the answer is, yes, I will be going. If you haven't seen the MOMA Tim Burton animation, check it out here.

The Most Wonderful Week

I am so happy right now. A great weekend, a short week and then the official kick off to the holiday season. That means, holiday songs 24/7 on the radio, snow, birthdays, Christmas trees, lights..oh my!

Introducing....Motoman!



For those of us who clean our ears out with Q-Tips, you might want to read this.

I saw Wes Anderson this past weekend and being a fan of his work it was exciting to see him. He was wearing a green suit which I believe is the same one he was wearing in this interview with Charlie Rose:



I have not yet seen The Fantastic Mr. Fox but am very much looking forward to seeing it soon.

My mom's birthday was yesterday and my parents were in the city so I had the chance to see them which was really nice. The weather was so beautiful that walking around the city was the perfect thing to do this weekend. So now that Thanksgiving is coming up I want all of you to tell me what you are thankful for. And while you think about that, let's kickoff Thanksgiving week with this:

Happyyyy Friday

It's a beautiful day today and the forecast is looking good for this weekend. I don't have much for you today.

Jude is irked by NYU students and throws oranges??

Don't worry ladies, she will never go away for good. She'll always be around.

If this doesn't prevent you from getting popcorn the next time you go to a movie, I don't know what will.

I hope you have a great weekend. I'm looking forward to fun in the city with friends and family and hopefully will not be hooked up to a polygraph machine.

Sad Panda Revealed

I want to open up with this video which, reveals the mystery of the Sad Panda...



The world famous Radio City Rockettes are starting to do all their usual promotional stunts to promote the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. Kicking at the top of the empire state building with King Kong and this morning, riding the Nostalgia Train, a 1930's era IND Nostalgia Train that will leave the Chambers Street E platform at about 10 a.m. and end up at the Rockefeller Center station.

Don't you just love fast food stories? Like this one. Here's my favorite line:

"He also allegedly put the vegetables from the burger in his mouth and rubbed the bun on his body."

Ever wonder what you should do with all those extra Styrofoam peanuts? How about doing this?

Tim Burton's exhibit opens this weekend at MOMA and yes, I will go at some point to see the show. When I was working at Columbia Pictures, one of my best memories was the Big Fish Premiere after party. It was the most amazing thing I have ever seen. I only wish I had pictures of it. They recreated the town, had circus and sideshow performers, and the most incredible displays of food and candy you have ever seen. It really felt like you were in a Tim Burton film and of course, Tim was there along with the entire cast.

Hope you have a great day!

On A New York City Corner

I was standing on the corner of fifth ave and 9th street this morning thinking about an idea for a new book. Hopefully you won't take it. There are some great New York City corner scenes. A mixture of people and actions and colors that all work together to make a picture perfect photograph, each and every corner unique in its own way. Perhaps I will start taking photos of street corners and people waiting to cross the street, hailing a cab, looking at their watch while waiting for a girlfriend or boyfriend, tossing trash into a can, or just looking up at the sky.

There is a gross video circulating the Internet and believe it or not, I decided not to post it here. Mostly because if you watch it, you might never eat sushi again. It shows Chinese diners eating a fish that is still alive. That's all I'm saying about that.

Want to be semi-famous...well, not famous at all really. Then try out for Under The Arch!

Noise is all around us. In the city that never sleeps, noise is constant and it's one of the things that I don't miss when I escape to the country, to the quiet. Noise isn't healthy and believe it or not, guys like Benjamin Sachwald go out and measure noise. He says, "Studies show exposure to noise can lead to certain health problems like high blood pressure, stress, anxiety.”

Reminds me of this film Noise with Tim Robbins:



And now, I present to you... How To Make A Baby:

How to Make a Baby from Cassidy Curtis on Vimeo.

What Are Other People Reading?

It's Tuesday and I've decided to start a new feature on this blog called....What Are Other People Reading? I am going to start to write down what people are reading on the subway, bus and PATH and then give you a report. This will give us some idea of what's popular but maybe also even introduce us to a book we wouldn't have read otherwise. I'm not too happy with today's book, but it was the only cover I could see. So what are other people reading today? THE TIME TRAVELER'S WIFE. I know Adam liked it, so why not take it for a spin?

Here's one woman you might not want to invite to your wedding:


The Wedding Crasher - Watch more Funny Videos

And the Oxford Dictionary's Word of the Year goes to...*drumroll please** "UNFRIEND" Now, please use it in a sentence.

Who's excited about the Leonid Meteor Shower? Whenever I hear about Meteor Showers I remember being in Vermont, the family taking a blanket outside and laying in the Orchard watching the sky. There is indeed something magical about the Vermont sky at night, especially during a meteor shower. The peak was this morning.

Monday Music

I'm opening today's blog entry with a video, sent in by Pam, of an amazing music machine. I could watch this all day long. Looks like this machine will soon find it's way to The Smithsonian. Check it out.



Did you see the Water Main break on Bleeker last night?

Gotta love this article in the NY Times about words that can be said on television shows these days. Here's the opening line:

On many nights this fall, it has been possible to tune in to broadcast network television during prime time and hear a character call someone else a “douche.”

All you superheroes out there, you are in luck!

I saw A Christmas Carol in Imax 3-D yesterday and they showed the 3D trailer for Alice in Wonderland. Here's a new poster:



I have always enjoyed A Christmas Carol and Bill Murray's comedic version, Scrooged, and while I haven't seen it but have to bring it into this rant, Ghosts of Girlfriends Past...I sort of hope they don't make another version of A Christmas Carol. There are good ones out there and why not come up with a new Christmas classic? I enjoyed this one, the animation is very similar to The Polar Express which will most likely be brought back into Imax theaters once Thanksgiving has passed and Jim Carrey makes an excellent Scrooge. Some of the scenes in which the characters fly are a lot of fun especially since you really feel like you are flying with them.

Monday is here. Time to party hardy.

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas...

That's right, those are cupcake cars. I just happened to come upon this photo and naturally became curious. I made my way to the Neiman Marcus site and saw that anyone, for a mere $25,000 can own a cupcake car. Check this out:

Put on your matching hat, slip under the muffin top of your Cupcake Car, and let the world figure itself out for awhile. Get (or give) the sheer, joyful chaos of a gift that is mind-blowing, triple-dog-dare, double-infinity forever cool. Make the kids or grandkids literally squeal with joy. Bring it to work and buzz the breakroom. Crash parades! Putter about the ‘hood. Ever had a crowd of kids chasing after you just for the crazy gleeful heck of it? (No worries, the top speed is a comfy-safe 7 mph.) What’s it made of? A 24-volt electric motor, a heavy-duty battery, sheet metal, wire, fabric, wood…and mad genius. Launched at Burning ManSM as a cooperative art car project, the Cupcake Car sprang from the fevered mind of Bay Area artist Lisa Pongrace and her less-rules-more-laughs posse of artists and techno geeks. Yours will be tricked out with your favorite topping, so start thinking flavors.

Call 1.877.9NM.GIFT for details.

Now, I'm just curious how many people have actually ordered this item. I'm just wondering where people take these besides a parade and to tease fat kids around the neighborhood. Honey, hop in, we're taking a ride to Montauk in good 'ole red velvet.

Still obsessed over these cupcake cars, I looked on YouTube and of course, found footage.



Maybe everyone knows about these and that they are actually sold at Neiman Marcus. I wonder if they have any on display. And what else is this store selling>??? How about an aircraft for two? Romantic. Check their Christmas Book to find out.



Here's a reason you might not want to bring a Beaver into a television studio. Urine for a surprise.

We've heard of these sneezing cases before where someone can't stop sneezing. Well now it's Lauren Johnson. 12,000 times a day. I can't even ima..a...achoo.

Does someone see a theme today? Well, now you will.

I wonder what Brent has to say about today's blog, Brent?

Morning Routine

I've been contemplating for some time now switching up my workout routine and doing it in the morning rather than at night a few hours after I get home from work. This would mean I would have to start forcing myself out of bed earlier but in the long run, it will be worth it. Why do you care? Well, you probably don't but if I put my new plan out there, I'm more likely to stick to it. And with that, let's get this party started.



Thoughts about the new NY license plate?

Um, yeah I'll go see this film.

Time to pick a destination and book a flight. Do it!



Have a great Thursday..

You've Got To Be Kittying Me

For those of you keeping score, this is post number 888.

There are cat lovers and then there are crazy cat lovers. Would you feed your cat with chopsticks? Well this woman did and it's making me want sushi.
(Courtesy of Dolce Designs)



And what's the deal with kittens and wigs? Check this site out.

Today is Veteran's Day so please take a moment to hug a Vet today and explain to your bratty kids the difference between a Veteran, a Veterinarian, and a Vegetarian. Thank you.

If you've been walking by NYU lately you'll notice an art exhibition set up on Washington Place called Journey. The installation will be hosted by Emma Thompson, Sam Roddick, Helen Bamber OBE, and other members of the Journey team.

This is for all of you coffee drinkers.

I like ping pong, but something tells me I wouldn't want to play against this guy:



With the heavy emphasis on cats today, I'd like to leave you with this:

The Mountain Man

Last night, I had the pleasure of going to see Ray Lamontagne live at the Beacon Theater. It was an extremely mellow show but awesome. His voice is very soothing even though it reminds me of someone playing a washboard. I don't know why. The few moments during the show when Ray spoke to us, his words were muffled and he was frequently interrupted by some woman who thought it was cute to shout out "I love you" at which point he veered off from whatever story he was telling us about Elvis Costello and Lyle Lovett and had some banter about how you could put anything in front of this woman and she would love it. Carrot Cake? I looove carrot cake. He has one of those voices that they should really put on a sound machine. I could have easily fallen asleep at the concert last night, but luckily the Gladiator-esque decor prevented me from resting my eyes. It was a great evening and I have to start going to more concerts. One of the most interesting moments last night was when he played "You Are The Best Thing". But he played it the way he originally wrote it and not the way it was performed on the album. It was very different, style wise and beat wise. The man has the voice of a mountain and he seems like a cool guy which doesn't hurt.

Here's one film I most likely will not be seeing.

Porsche is suing Crocs..funny because I heard Mario Batali was jetting around in his orange Porsche this morning.

Ces't tout!

Birthday Post

I really enjoy birthdays and would like to take this opportunity to wish LE a very happy birthday! May the celebration continue far into November.

Did you have a good weekend? Do anything fun? See any good movies? It was such a beautiful day yesterday here in NYC and today is going to be amazing as well.

Don't have room for a garden, why not try a window farm?

Short post today, but it's a good day and so we deserve a treat. Here's the opening to Arnold's Carnival in Rio. Might not want to watch this one at work but save it for home. There are some scantily clad women but it's hilarious. Oh Governor.

Mailbag Friday

Yes, it's that time again, time to go through some of the millions of letters that flood my mailbox and while it's hard to choose which ones to answer, I've selected a few. So let's take a look at our fans writing in. The first letter comes from Carl Ridgeon of Blue Ridge, Arkansas.

Carl writes:

Dear EvanAlmighty,

You have a huge following here in Blue Ridge and this is really more of a submission than a question, but was wondering if you had seen this article in our paper? I scanned in part of it for you and am including it below. Thanks for entertaining us on a daily basis.



Our next real question comes from Stacy Went in San Francisco, CA. Stacy writes:

Dear Evan,

Greetings from San Fran! Not sure if you remember me but we rode the Trolley together and I was the one who basically fell off just before we got to the Fisherman's Wharf. Do you remember me? I wanted to know what you did for Halloween!

Thanks,
Stacy

Thanks for writing in Stacy, and no, I don't remember you. Halloween was a lot of fun, probably one of the best I can remember. Here are some highlights from the fun I had.




One more question before I need to jet...this one is international! Hans Leland from Sweden (hey that rhymes) says:

Evan,
The Swedes love you! You rock. I am coming to New York City and want to know what sort of things you would recommend I do. I want see Times Square and other attractions but was wondering if there's some off the beaten track attraction I need to see.

-Hans

Hans, I have always wanted to go to Sweden and I hope to make it there soon. This is a tough question. There are so many great things to do in NYC, broadway show, television tapings, Central Park, the museums, buildings, so much! But, if you have a chance, I highly recommend checking this out:



Hope you have a great weekend!

The air horn sounds, and my day begins

It's Thursday, and that means the weekend is almost here. Stores have already switched over to holiday mode and it's only a matter of time before the sweet pine can be smelled on the NYC sidewalks, one of my favorite smells especially when mixed with freshly fallen snow. Despite the days I have to battle the streets to get to work, I love winter in NYC. The holidays, the lights, the color, the crisp air, spending time with friends and family, sitting inside and staring out at the snow. I'm looking forward to it. But first, I guess we have to make it through Thanksgiving. I don't really have anything to talk about this morning as you most likely already observed. So here are some newsworthy links to start your day off with. I also have not edited anything typed here because my editor will be looking it over later.


It's only a bear. The bare necessities of life will come to you.

This guy's obviously been watching too many movies.

A man shows up to his own funeral, no really.

7-Eleven is now getting into the wine business but my question is, wine slurpee?

Even Michelle Obama is an Iron Chef fan!

You can even control a car with an iPhone...I'm impressed.

In case you missed the 2009 ING NYC Marathon, here's a recap:

2009 NYC Marathon Timelapse from mdkmc on Vimeo.

Dirty Laundry

Can I tell you a brief story about my laundry experience last night? Well, I guess you don't really have a choice here although you could just click on the x at the top and close out of this page. I have never had the luxury of dropping off my laundry-- having someone else wash and fold it for me and then just being able to pick it up. Since I moved to Hoboken almost a year ago, I have been bringing my laundry to the same place. It's sort of out of the way but I like the guy so I've stayed loyal. The other night, I ran into my neighbors who mentioned that they drop their laundry off a few doors down at this small laundromat aptly named, Garden Laundry (it's on Garden Street). I figured I would give this new place a shot. I was excited to pick up my laundry last night but something was wrong. Very wrong. First, they bring out my laundry in the wrong laundry bag. It's a green tattered looking thing.

"Are you sure", the woman says to me when I told her that the bag wasn't mine.

Like I didn't remember what kind of bag I had. I looked in and saw my shirt on top. I walked around the counter and found my real bag inside of which were also my clothes, but it was all labeled wrong. Upon pulling out my clothes from the wrong bag I noticed that my clothes had been mixed in with some other guy's clothes. So while I worked to sort out my clothes from this other guy's, the woman called the woman who took my clothes in the night before. She explained that she must have been distracted because her boyfriend was there. This led to a conversation, much of which I couldn't understand about how this only happened two times before and how she screwed up my laundry. Now I know where Seinfeld gets his material.

Despite the mishap, I was pleased with the job they did on my clothes. They smelled good and were folded perfectly. In fact, they were folded better than the other place which folds too many times and wrinkles everything.

Brilliant move by the Academy to choose Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin as a host team for the Oscars!

If you take away anything from reading this blog today, I hope it's this: Don't ever flip a judge the bird because you will go to jail.

Battling the flu? How about some home remedies?

Here's what happens when you strap a camera onto the front bumper of a Ferrari and stroll through the streets of Paris. So Cool.

C'ÉTAIT UN RENDEZ-VOUS - short film by Claude Lelouch (ORIGINAL HQ) from Vahe A on Vimeo.

I forgot to mention that I made a trip to Costco when I was home the other weekend and I had to get a gigantic box of cereal which was way up out of arms reach. Here's what happened next:

Nanowrimo

It completely escaped me that this month is National Novel Writing Month. It's not too late to start your novel. Head over to the official site and sign up!

I never like getting sentimental on this blog, but I was thinking this morning about how lucky I really am. Sure I'll win a raffle here or there but life is good, no not good, great. And that, my friends, is about all the sentiment you are getting from me today.

A recent conversation got me thinking about car rides to Vermont as a kid. We spent most friday nights hopping in the car and heading up to Vermont. I was always tired after school and would be able to sleep in the back while my parents sat up front listening to the radio, tapes and then cds, talking and singing. I have such a clear memory of them singing along to certain songs and cds and harmonizing. Upon hearing a Tracy Chapman song in the car the other night, I pictured myself listening to my parents singing from the back seat, except this time, I found myself in the drivers seat, singing along and harmonizing just as they used to do. It was a special moment for me and... shoot, I'm getting all sentimental again.

Hear-ye Hear-ye, Cocoa Krispies will protect you from the Swine Flu!

Have a great day :-)

I Love A Parade

What is it that makes us love parades? The music? the floats? the happiness? There are many aspects of a parade that can leave us cheering, waving our non-existent batons in the air. Seventy-Six trombones did not lead the NYC Halloween Parade, a glorious sight this year, down Sixth Ave in the rain. I hadn't been to the parade since college and it was a great time. Securing a spot on sixth ave was pretty easy and the costumes were most enjoyable. Thriller was big this year as was The Wizard of Oz. I was, however, disappointed that there were no tipsy Ewoks.

Friday night, a bunch of us went up North to exit 18 off the NY State Thruway to the Headless Horseman Tours. According to them, they are America's #1 haunted attraction, and I'll believe it. They have quite a production going on. Just make sure you don't loose anything on the hayride and thanks to Levon Helm Studois. (spelling mistake is on purpose, but you had to be there.)

I hope you had a great Halloween and now I guess, the countdown to Thanksgiving has begun.

Adam, I'd like to hear your thoughts about this.

Oh, hey kid. Can you make some calls for us? - love Barack.



Neil Simon's Brighton Beach Memoirs, waved goodbye already. Only open a week, the show was forced to close due to low ticket sales.

Last night I went to my first test/research screening for a movie. It was very cool because we got to see a rough cut of the film and then give our opinions after by filling out a long questionnaire and talking with the producers. There were things I really liked about this film but some of the plotlines just didn't work for me. And that's why they have these screenings. So they can get honest feedback and fix it the best they can. The cast was great and I can definitely see this film making it's way to Sundance. It'll be interesting to see what happens to it.

Happy Halloween!

Hope you have a happy and safe Halloween! Thanks to elly for telling me about this clip!



Priceless

Pedestrian Rage

I witnessed pedestrian rage this morning. Some people like watching people fight, but it usually leaves me with a feeling of uneasiness. A guy in a suit that wasn't a perfect fit, was crossing the street when a car made a right and cut him off. He banged his fist on the trunk and continued walking. It wasn't until the guy caught up with the Beemer who was dropping off his wife that the fight ensued. The cops got involved and there was much confrontation. On top of this, commuters were being bombarded by annoying volunteers reminding us to vote for so and so and what's her name.

I love the politicians who stand right by the steps to the PATH with an extended hand. First of all, am I going to shake your hand when you've been shaking hands with people all morning? I don't think so. Second, I'm trying to get to work and it's nice to see you in person but I don't know you and I don't trust you. Want my vote? How about you break up that fight over there.

This just in, I'm listening to Ray Charles' Genius Loves Company...it's so good.

In Letterman news, a female staff writer who worked on the show when they were at NBC is now speaking out about the sexually charged work atmosphere. I won't comment on anything here but I'll just say that I will not argue against her although I do feel she is trying to use this to get attention because after all, that's what writers, heck, all of us want right?

Did you have breakfast? If so, you might not want to see the world's scariest foods.

Get excited!!

Post 878

Even though I don't have HBO, for some reason I get a few HBO movie channels and they will rerun the new Curb Your Enthusiasm. So last night, having come home from a fun get together with my favorite boss, I sat down and watched two episodes which had me cracking up. I'm glad to see the show is still on top of its game and able to provide a much needed laugh.


First the balloon boy and now this, a meteorite hoax.

Curbed is an excellent site for anyone remotely interested in real estate. Well I was happy to see a post with some of the most hideous apartments for sale.

Have no fear, the edible bacon fat candle is here.

This is a pretty amazing story and one which gives me an idea. (lightbulb turns on)

With all the hoaxes in the news I'm not sure what to believe any more. This shark story however, freaks me out.

Okay, this is just bizarre.

Hope you have a moment to play out in the rain today. Stomp in some puddles and swing around some street lamp posts. What a glorious feeling, I'm happy again.

Aspirin

I only wish I could convey how I have been feeling lately but this isn't the place nor the time. Instead, I'd like to talk about aspirin for a second. It'll make your aches and pains go away but it will also start a dead car battery. Why not use it to get out a stain?


Clothing Stains:
How To Remove Sweat Stains With Aspirin


Just what exactly were these pilots doing on their laptops?

Washington Square Park is currently undergoing phase two of it's facelift, and they uncovered a tombstone!

Here's a tip, if you are working in a haunted house, don't frighten any cops.

Last night I went to the opening of the new Tonnie's Minis in Harlem. It's a great space and the event was a lot of fun. Not to mention, the cake that was designed for the opening was the star attraction. Very cool.

Ilulissat icebergs from icescapes on Vimeo.

Credit Card Crazy

I heard on the news this morning that for the first time, the use of Debit Cards has exceeded that of credit cards. This was followed by a conversation about how credit card companies are going to screw us even more with new fees. For example, if you are someone who pays your bill in full each month, companies are starting to issue annual fees because they aren't making money from any interest you would be gaining otherwise. That's messed up. The other thing that was mentioned is that people who don't hit a certain spending amount each month will also be charged a fee. If they think they are going to get away with this, well, they probably will.


Did you have a good weekend? I did, despite feeling like I have been fighting something. Probably should have gone to the doctor but I figured sleep and a lot of tea and vitamin C would help and it has.

I used to get my previous car oil changed at Jiffy Lube. As I pulled my car into the garage I always thought about the car going into the open area in the floor. Well, I guess it does happen.

Short post this morning. And we're off....

Batman Cakes

First of all, HAPPY FRIDAY! So, every now and then I like to see how people are coming to this blog. I am able to see what people put into Google to pull this site up and I was surprised to learn that numerous people have been searching for "batman cakes" and are being brought to this site. If you are looking for a batman cake and living in NYC, please email us at evanlucasblog@gmail.com. One of our readers is actually a very talented cake designer and we can put you in touch with her. So all you batman cake searchers, you were brought here for a reason.

First swine flu and now the Mumps in Brooklyn.

For anyone interested in filmmaking, I hope you've been following the phenomenon that is Paranormal Activity. It's amazing what is happening with this film.

Check out these photos. How cool!

Ice Ice Baby