SeattleCasbah.Com

Random musings

• God bless credit card points and work expenses. I finally used my REI dividends to purchase trail shoes, a camera daypack w/ hydration system, AND a new pair of trekking poles for the cost of shipping.
  
• New York moment: Tina Fey and Amy Pohler have been hanging outside of my apartment building for the past week filming a movie. I was telling a friend this and the absolute non-surprise in my voice was surprising. I was like, no big deal, Adam Sandler used my building in "Reign Over Me", so you know...
• Had drinks and dinner tonight in a wine bar with a friend tonight and there wasn't a single other soul there besides the waitstaff. It was actually a very cool experience, like I rented the place out.
  
• New weather term in NY: Dew Point. Today it was soaking wet, but not rainy. Just walk out and boom, you are sweating. Weatherman corrected though, it was actually low humidity, but a very high dewpoint. There was so much moisture in the air,  dew was actually forming on you. It only felt like humidity because of the warmth. So really, what's the difference?
  
• The Casbah will be open for new vacancies, beginning mid-August. If you know of anyone looking, let me know.
  

Coney Island

With the alarm clock ringing at 5am, I blinked back dry eyes and slowly, oh so very slowly dressed and tried to get the brain flowing again after a Saturday spent at the Dive Bar's Reisling wine tasting. Damn you, Germans.

The reason for the early morning awakening was two fold: first, to rise and spend at least one productive day exploring the streets of New York (a day that would have me hitting four of New York's five boroughs - but more on that later). And second, to meet the sunrise over Coney Island. While I failed in beating the sunrise, I was on the beach before 8am, which considering already described circumstances, was a fairly impressive feat (i thought). An hour and a half riding the rumbling Q train finally brought me to my destination, but not before going through Brighton Beach, New York's russian community. What I loved most about cold war Russia was still evident in Brighton - blonde women, teased hair, and too much makeup, even at 8 in the morning.

Being close in proximity to Brighton, Coney Island has its share of russian immigrants however these appeared to be of the retired kind. I stepped off the train platform into utter desolation - at 8 in the morning, nary a soul stirred in the bright sunlight. Garbage strewn everywhere, evidence from the previous day's Mermaid Parade. It was perfect.

Though piecemeal chainlink ringed what was left of the park (a good portion of it burned down long ago), it was not so big as to prevent a thorough exploration. The park, and its history, is scheduled to begin dismantling after labor day this year and with it, dies the birthplace of Nathan's and the rollercoaster. What will follow is anyone's guess, but I do imagine the end of Astroland will look much like it did this morning.

pics

Proof that Cheri is wrong.

Last week, Cheri started her war against television . I say that in jest, but she was questioning the value of tv and whether the amount of time people spend on TV is worth it or just pure escapism. If it was escapism, then for what reason?

There was some good discussion, but I think the TV debate falls into three camps: rejectors (aka kill your TV), reserved defenders (aka we only watch the discovery channel and PBS), and finally, unabashed supporters (like my friend, Katie). I fall into the supporter camp - however, it is hard for the unabashed supporter to make his point, that TV is one of the greatest forms of pure entertainment invented. More importantly, that there is nothing at all wrong with spending your time watching TV. And then like a gift, I saw something on TV that was able to sum up my argument in one short minute.

I give you: The Robot Chicken Star Wars Special. I consider further debate on this topic moot.

I heart NY

from Gothamist: "It turns out that a contractor found some bones - and a rusted gun - "embedded in cement,"

Slideshow here.

What stays in Vegas.

Really it was the silence at the end of the day that said it all. After three days, four nights of bells chiming, laughter drifting listlessly through the smoke, and the dry eyes that only recycled desert air can give you, after all is said and done, the silence of settling into my bed is what I will remember most about my 30th birthday. It was that kind of exhaustive silence that lends itself to self-reflection, the night air thick with realization. Three days with 7 friends and the reminder of the other ones left at home when I moved out here.  I didn't just leave my family and my work and my mountains - I left the stupid stories, the dumb jokes, and the kind of adventures that will be retold to each other for years to come.

So while others wonder why Vegas is such a big deal and why I go every year, I can only grin back in stupid silence, with the truth just behind my lips. The truth that somehow, this city built on fools, excess, greed, and vanity somehow delivers to me the simple reality of what it means to be surrounded by your friends.

That's what birthdays are all about, right?
(now...if they can only find my luggage)

UPDATE: Jayson posted some nice B&W's on his site. Check them out here.

Vegas, baby. Vegas.

Well, its time to sign off for at least a few days. I'm heading to Vegas and with it, the welcoming of the 30th birthday.

We Rhoades Men all have the same experience upon our 30th year. We wake up with a receding hairline, beer gut, and complain about our ankle. Look it up. However, spending it in Vegas with friends...I can't think of a better way to go out.

This will be my...geez, I've lost track. One of many trips to Vegas. Here are some photos from years past (I've since learned not to bring a camera).

Vegas Trip 2002
Vegas Trip 2003

Jayson's Vegas trip


Have a good weekend, everyone. See you next week.

The Appalachian Trail - Pawling Nature Reserve

What better way to welcome in June than to dust off the boots and head up north to the Appalachian Trail? Tara and I hit the trail to get in my first Northeastern hike.

The AT runs from Maine down to Georgia. The closest it comes to New York City is through the Pawling Nature Reserve. Even though it was a muggy day, the skies stayed clear enough for us to put down 10 miles.

Getting there was surprisingly easy. The MTA (Metro Transit Authority) has an AT stop on its Harlem-North line, which only operates on weekends and holidays. Little more than a wooden bench, nonetheless it dropped us off right at the trailhead.

I was surprised then that only 5 other people got off the train with us. In the next five hours, we would only see about 4 other hikers - a complete surprise for me with such a famous trail being so close and accessible to the city. Granted, there isn't much to this trail, but try finding a flat 10 mile hike within 2 hours of Seattle on a weekend and see only 5 people!

Though the southern trailhead is located directly across the tracts, we hoofed it across Hwy 22 and entered the Pawling Nature Reserve. The nature reserve runs you through a bit of everything - prarie, woods, farmland, and small creek formations. 10 miles into the hike you hit your first AT shelter, but having to be mindful of the last returning train of the day, we turned around at the five mile point; tired, muggy, and grateful for the opportunity to escape the city for a day.

Photos

Apparently, it doesn't take long to find Earth.

This sucks.

OK, on the one hand I respect the decision. You kill a show if you take it too far (see: LOST).

But on the otherhand, this sucks. Ah well, maybe movies are in the works?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070601/tv_nm/battlestar_dc;_ylt=AgcLvSnkefJiQhCZ6.cp5cO2GL8C

and the winner is...

Congrats to Kevin!

The answer? Not tough, I know. Paul F'ing Schell.

Anyway, thanks for playing and enjoy Pela!