Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous

Can you be addicted to sex? Can you be addicted to love? Well, if you are, then you might as well face it. There are actually numerous support groups for you here in town that can help you out.

S.L.A.A. Greater New York Area Meeting List

"It's Time" - NYC Congestion Pricing Ad

Now that Mike Bloomberg is definitely not running for President, he can devote more time to his congestion pricing plan. Bloomberg first unveiled it last year and Mr NYC (along with The New York Times and other big power brokers of this town) endorsed it.

Now some organization called the Environmental Defense Fund is hitting the NYC airwaves with this and other ads promoting the plan. Check 'em out if you want to know more about who's sponsoring this propaganda. They seem harmless but it's always good to know who's putting up the money.

Mike Won't Be President

So it looks like Mike Bloomberg, our Mayor extraordinaire, will definitely-absolutely not-no way in hell-uh-uh-ain't gonna happen-no no no ... NOT run for President in 2008.

It's official. I mean it's officially official, not unofficially official like it was for the last year.

It's not that a short, Jewish, divorced, sixty-something billionaire New Yorker who loved smoking pot as a youth would have trouble appealing to voters in the heartland. It's that getting elected President as an independent in this country is, well, a bit tough. Also, while Mike is probably the most visionary and competent chief executive in America today, that makes little difference with most voters who value charisma and "character" above all else. Mike has many talents but the ability to charm is sadly not one of his more glistening ones. And his character? Well, unlike some of our other mayors, Mike really isn't one.

So maybe he'll become a great philanthropist like he promises to or maybe he'll become the Commissioner of Major League Baseball or a maybe university president. Whatever he does, I'm sure he'll be successful at it.

I just found a great new blog called The Disconnection: Encounters with Strangers by a writer named Nubia DuVall (who also writes for The New York Press). It presents funny and interesting observations about every day life in this town - the idiosyncratic, weird, strange, and surreal - and does it with a great heart. Check it out.

William F. Buckley RIP

The father of modern conservatism, William F. Buckley, joined Ronald Reagan and Barry Goldwater in that shining city in the clouds today. The founder of National Review, host of PBS's "Firing Line", and godfather of right-wing American thought, he spent more than half a century convincing our nation that greed was good and government was bad. And although his ideology triumphed in, and become almost synonomous with, the American heartland, Bill Buckley was a New York City boy through and through (he even ran for Mayor in 1965 but lost to John Lindsay).

Buckley was not, however, one of those pompous gas bags of the American right. Oh no. He was, above all else, a gentlemen and a scholar, a man of great wit and sophistication, a masterful intellect.

Yes, he thought Joe McCarthy was a hero and Social Security was the devil's work but there's no doubt that Mr. Buckley was a thoughtful, gracious man who respected everyone and valued the power of ideas and the American dream above all else. He changed America. How many of us can claim to have done that?

Here is Buckley providing commentary in 1968 on the upcoming Presidential Election with his archnemesis Gore Vidal (the one that gave us Richard Nixon). Agree with them or not, but do you think we'd never see such articulate men providing political analysis on TV today?

The New York Philharmonic in North Korea

Tonight the New York Philharmonic is in North Korea, playing before an assortment of diplomats and citizens of the Hermit Kingdom (although not the "Dear Leader" himself). This is the first cultural exchange between our nation and one of the members of the "Axis of Evil." What does this visit mean for world affairs?

It's impossible to gauge. But ping-pong diplomacy gave way to Nixon going to China and who knows but maybe the New York Philharmonic in North Korea will help thaw our glacial relations with this most strange, frightening of nations. If the people of North Korea, so isolated from the rest of the world and so brainwashed with anti-American propaganda, can finally instead see Americans creating beautiful music for their enjoyment, maybe, just maybe, they'll have second thoughts about us. And perhaps, in the years to come, things will change.

The New York Philharmonic Tries to Strike the Right Notes In North Korea

A Tribute to The Gates

Tonight HBO is showing a documentary about The Gates, the February 2005 art installation in Central Park. If you heard about it or actually saw it, it was an amazing display of literally thousands of "gates" with orange-colored flaps that were spread out across the three mile expanse of the park. The Gates was the brain-child of the eccentric artists Christo and Jean-Claude who have created other massive public art projects like the wrapping of the Reichstag. Apparently it took more than 25 years for this project to be realized and, once it was, it was a huge hit with critics and the public alike. Oh, and it generated over $200 million in tourist revenue for the city.

I remember seeing The Gates, this audacious and dazzling thing, in 2005. Walking around it, part of me found it absurd but another part of me was grateful to live in a city that thinks art should be shared by all. My brother, an excellent photographer, took a whole bunch of pictures of it and did a great job. I'm happy to share these exclusive photos with Mr NYC readers.

Interview: Midwesterner in NYC

Although I consider myself to be the quintessential New Yorker, I did leave town for four years to go to college. College happened to be in the Gateway City, otherwise known as St. Louis, in that great swing state of Missouri. How interesting then that I should come across another New York City blogger who happens to be from ... St. Louis! Thus I introduce you to the genius behind the Midwesterner's Guide to Living in New York City and ask him to compare and contrast the two cities.
What made you leave St. Louis for New York City?

Pretty long and complicated answer but cutting to the chase I was bored. In fact I can sum up pretty much why I do anything with those three words. Any decision I make in life usually stems from the fact I was bored with whatever I was doing before.
Why did you start your blog? In an all honesty no bullshit answer I wanted to get a blog I had created on Gawker. I know it is probably not cool to admit that but that is the truth, I had no aspirations that someday I would get a book deal or become a famous internet personality. I used to read Dan Murphy (Daily Dump/[redacted]) and Rob the Bouncer's (Club Life) blogs and wanted to have my own little niche like they did. Dan Murphy is an excellent writer and Rob the Bouncer has interesting stories to tell and I did not feel I particularly had either of these qualities. Fortunately I drink a lot and urinate in places I should not, and can make a good Star Wars reference so it only took me three weeks to reach my lofty goal. I considered quitting right then, and probably should have.Are you right at home in NYC or a fish out of water? I think everyone that moves here is a fish out of water for the first 18 months. I think it takes a solid year and a half to finally feel like there is a sense of knowing what you are doing. Then one day things that were once intimidating are not anymore and things that were fascinating are no longer fascinating. It just becomes "The place I live" and it takes a trip somewhere else to realize again what a wonderfully horrible place this is.Let's compare the two cities: I found the pace of life in St. Louis to be a little slower than NYC but I didn't find them to be that radically different. How would you compare them? I think the differences are quite huge. In one city you have to be constantly on guard, trouble will find you if not careful. I mean you can be walking on Broadway and your getting stared down by everyone that passes because they peg you as an outsider and the next thing you know your wallet is gone. Thank God I left all that behind and moved to New York.You're a big sports fan, and both St. Louis and New York are big sports town. Tell us your thoughts about sports and sports fans in both cities. I disagree, I do not think either city is a big sports town. St. Louis loves baseball but too many people are caught up in the hype that we are the "Best Baseball city in America". I mean people are holding up signs at games that say "Baseball Heaven U.S.A.". Give me a fucking break. Have you seen the Cardinals projected lineup for this year? Baseball Heaven? More like Baseball Purgatory.
New York on the other hand is too fair-weather. Too many Jets fans that "also like the Giants." I do know some native New Yorkers that are very loyal to their team but the average guy that lives in New York is not from here originally. These people move here and declare themselves Yankees fans though they could not tell you the difference between Claudell Washington and Kevin Mass. I will give credit to the people that pick the Mets as their new team, at least they are not just jumping on a bandwagon. If it is a bandwagon it is a very sad and poorly crafted bandwagon that breaks down before it ever reaches Oregon

One thing I loved about St. Louis was Ted Drews frozen custard. Are you a fan and do you think it would be a hit in NYC?

Yeah it is OK. I think I was six years old or so the first time I ever had it, of course my Grandfathers hype machine was in overdrive telling me how wonderful this stuff was. By the time I actually tried it I was expecting the equivalent of eating "Le Coeur de la Mer", when in reality it was just ice cream. I am sure it would do fine here, probably better in the summer than in winter. That is my prediction.

Any plans to move back to the Midwest?

No.

Any final thoughts?

I want to thank you for asking me to do this. It is an absolute honor to be interviewed by a publication as respected as The Economist.
Well Mr NYc is not quite The Economist but a blogger can dream. Thanks!

Peter Luger's Steakhouse ... and others

Recently my beloved and I had our Valentine's Day dinner at Peter Luger's Steakhouse. Now if you don't know, this is generally considered the best steakhouse in the WORLD. Not having eaten in every steakhouse in the world, I can't say for sure if this is true but it's darn good -- their famous Porterhouse, particularly with a medium rare bubblegum center topped with their famous sauce, is of a truly transcendent succulence. Equally good is their bacon appetizer, a thick and well seasoned strip of pork. Throw in some creamed spinach and fried potatoes plus a glass of merlot, and you've got a meal to remember.

There are actually two Peter Luger's locations -- the Brooklyn one, located right under the Williamsburg Bridge, and another in Great Neck, literally a block or two outside the Queens' border. I've been to both and my verdict is that while the Brooklyn location has slightly (and I mean slightly) better food, the Great Neck location is less frenzied and friendlier (Luger's waiters are, to put it mildly, a tough lot). You'll spend at least $100 per person and they don't take cash ... they do, however, take debit cards.

Other streak places I've been to in the last couple of years:

Wolfgang's on 33rd and Park Avenue South: good food, not great, but horrendously bad service.

The Strip House on East 12th Street: good if not memorable food but good service and luxurious decor.

Morton's: I've only been to the one in Great Neck but it's great: excellent food and great service. You must have their oysters on the half-shell as an appetizer and the souffle!

Snowstorm!

Currently our town is layered with about 2 inches of snow. Remember your galoushes!