Sweet Blog o' Mine

Go Read Some Stuff

InSpirer Consulting now has its very own blog! If you want a weekly read about pro bono, check it out. Then again, if cocktails are more your speed, check out my first piece for Wine Enthusiast on bottled cocktails!

Back the Rack!

Speed Rack 5/16. BE THERE.

I Want to Ride My Bicycle, I Want to Ride My Bike*

I finally dusted off my bike and went for a ride yesterday, which felt great. Given the prevalence of the new Citibike docks all around the city, I've been thinking quite a bit about bike riding lately. I was trained as a very safe rider thanks to the AIDS Ride folks back in 2000, but I'm still not super-thrilled about riding in traffic. I prefer to get over to a bike-friendly area that is blocked to traffic (Central Park, West Side Highway) and ride around there instead of using my bike for commuting. As safe and cautious as I am, I think that drivers are still not accustomed to cyclists and I'd rather avoid them.

That said, they're about to be everywhere. I'm incredibly curious to see how this whole Citibike thing will work. I plan to try it out (with a helmet, of course) and see if it makes me more comfortable using a bike as a mode of transportation rather than a means of exercise. My two big hopes are that 1) drivers will start to get used to and respect cyclists who share the streets, and 2) cyclists will ride safely, respecting traffic laws. The latter is something I don't see as often as I'd like. I constantly see cyclists riding the wrong way down bike lanes, not signaling, blowing through traffic lights, wearing headphones, texting (are you fucking kidding me?!) as they ride, and riding on sidewalks. I truly hope that with an influx of cyclists, this changes, and if not, that cyclists are ticketed accordingly for traffic violations. The sooner we all learn to share the streets safely, the better.

* Thank you, Queen.

Flashback Friday

Stuck in my head . . .

Together in Electric Dreams - G. Moroder by kaz1988

Spring Cleaning

I'm in the midst of spring cleaning. Yes, I'm cleaning out closets, scrubbing tile, and dusting in places that haven't seen the light of day in months, but I'm going way beyond that. I'm cleaning out the clutter to start the next chapter of my life; getting my foundation in order so that I'm ready to go out there and build my company; gearing up and getting grounded. Get ready, world -- I'm going to be well-rested (for the first time in years, most likely) and ready to go.

Gearing Up

Big things in the works these days . . . stay tuned!

Welcome to the Neighborhood!

There's a ton of construction going on in my hood (not just in/on my building), and with that construction comes new businesses. There are two that I am particularly excited about, and they're now both open for business. First, Greenwich Project, which offers a cocktail menu designed by John McCarthy, small bites in the downstairs bar area, and a full menu upstairs. Second is the Burger Joint, which I have loved for years in its original location in the Parker Meridien hotel. Welcome to the neighborhood!

Allez Cuisine!

I have been on an ongoing quest to cut down my spending in all aspects of my life. As you may or may not know, I have some mild food-hoarding tendencies (thank you, family), so I have a well-stocked pantry and freezer. It's strange -- when I'm at the beach house, I love the Iron Chef-like challenge of assessing available ingredients and coming up with a meal based on what's around. Perhaps it's because there are fewer alternate options. At home, for some reason, it often seems easier to pick up something on the way home or order in, despite the fact that I like to cook. I am trying to break myself of that habit and turn to my kitchen first. Last night I was ravenous when I got home. The goal? A decent meal in 30 minutes or less from what I had in the house. The end result was a tasty batch of rice and beans, with leftovers to boot!

Stuck in my Head: Hang Up The Phone

One of my all time favorites from back in the day (had a brief cameo in the movie Sixteen Candles). Became irrelevant with the invention of call waiting.

Booze You Can Use: Whisky Live (with a Discount!)

Over 250 whiskies in one place?! Yep. Come join me Wednesday night at Whisky Live at Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers. I'm trying to decide my game plan -- single malts? bourbon? rye? a hodgepodge? Regardless, we'll get to talk to experts, ask questions, and taste some of the finest spirits around. Also, there's Cocktails Live -- bartenders from Ward III, Bar and Books, the Flatiron Room, and other whisky bars will mix their original whisky cocktails. Tickets include a full dinner buffet and there's a special discount for Sweet Blog o' Mine readers -- you'll get 15% off if you use the code wlmedia. See you there!