Posts from 3 2009

• March 30, 2009
  Nikon D200 and 17-55mm f/2.8 AF-S for sale!

  The time has finally come — I’m selling my trusty Nikon D200 and 17-55mm f/2.8 AF-S DX lens in order to upgrade…

  I still love this combo, and it has served me well over the past few years. I’m only upgrading because the Nikon D700 exists, and it’s what I’m currently looking for in a camera. To say it plainly, if it wasn’t for the D700, I would honestly hold on to the D200 for at least another couple years.

  If you’re just looking for price info, you can jump to the end of this post. If you’d like some background on the equipment, and the “why” behind my upgrade, please read on…

  Continue reading "Nikon D200 and 17-55mm f/2.8 AF-S for sale!"...
• March 27, 2009
  Best. Office. Ever.

  Did anyone else notice that the rich guy's office in tonight's Law & Order ("Anchors Away") looked familiar?

  Well, it seems they shot at the same location as Flight of the Conchords did, for the Season 2 premiere where Murray was working at the record label ("A Good Opportunity")! Not sure if it's a real office or a set, but replace a little bit of mirror with marble, and you too can be a hotshot hedge fund manager!

  Check out the screencaps after the jump, and sorry for the bad quality — the first was from funnyordie.com and the second was from my Slingbox.

  
  
  Continue reading "Best. Office. Ever."...
• March 23, 2009
  James Beard 2009 nominees: Congrats Chicago!

  The James Beard Foundation (JBF) Awards 2009 nominee list just came out, and, as usual, Chicago did a great job!!!

  Congrats to all the restaurants, restauranteurs, and chefs, including:
  

  • Richard Melman, Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises (Outstanding Restauranteur)
  • Paul Kahan, Blackbird (Outstanding Chef)
  • L2O (Best New Restaurant)
  • Mindy Segal, Mindy's HotChocolate (Outstanding Pastry Chef)
  • Bin 36 (Outstanding Wine Service)
  • Spiaggia (Outstanding Service)
  • Koren Grieveson / Avec, Arun Sampanthavivat / Arun's, and Bruce Sherman / North Pond (Best Chef Great Lakes)

  The Publican and their designers were also up for two awards: Outstanding Restaurant Design (Design Bureaux, Inc.) and Outstanding Restaurant Graphics (The JNL Graphic Design). And, of course, a special shout out to Isaac Becker from 112 Eatery in Minneapolis, who is up for Best Chef Midwest. I've eaten there (thanks to Jay) and I'm just sorry the honor didn't come sooner!

  Update 5/5/2009: Ouch. Chicago came away with zero wins at the 2009 James Beard Foundation Awards ceremony... I suppose we can count Best Restaurant Design for The Publican, but I was really hoping for some culinary representation. NBC has a funny, albeit sad, article with the details.

  Better luck next year, Chicago!

• March 21, 2009
  Ra Ra Riot: The Rhumb Line

  

  I’ve been listening to Ra Ra Riot for a while now, mainly thanks to their tours with Vampire Weekend and Death Cab for Cutie. They also received some unfortunate exposure due to the tragic death of their original drummer, John Ryan Pike…

  I finally picked up their latest album, The Rhumb Line, and it’s wonderful. Great indie pop melodies and some fabulously lush instrumentation. With songs like “Dying is Fine” I’m sure the album holds special significance for the band — how could it not? “Too Too Too Fast” and “Oh, La” are my personal faves — the former has just enough synth to get the party started, and the latter has exactly my kind of cymbal/snare driving beat.

  So go pick it up now, and enjoy the rest of your weekend.

  Buy it on: iTunes

  Amazon MP3

  Amazon CD

• March 10, 2009
  Denizen Hotels launch = Oops!

  Just got an email from Hilton re: their new “lifestyle brand” of hotels: Denizen Hotels.

  As vague and as “markety” as the email was, it seemed interesting enough to click through to the site. Unfortunately, it just gives an “Invalid Hostname” error… Guess the launch isn’t going as smoothly as planned? Anyway, here is a funny chunk of the email…

  Denizen Hotels will become a cultural epicentre at each of its destinations, cultivating community within its walls. Eclectic, social and humbly authentic, each property within the brand will be smart in design, cultural in character and sensitive in service delivery. Developed as an international intersection of business and pleasure, Denizen Hotels will redefine how guests stay and play.

  Really?!?!?! I want to be an “international intersection of business and pleasure…”

• March 02, 2009
  surfer, sunset
  
• beach jump, sunset
  
• gull, carlsbad state beach
  
• March 01, 2009
  guard tower 35
  
• george 'stache manolis