7 MINUTES IN HEAVEN WITH RED BARAAT STAR SUNNY JAIN

BRRRUUUUAHHH!! If you have heard Sunny Jain's band Red Baraat, you have likely danced, shook your head and did some serious Bollywood bhangra to these crazy fun dhol and brass band! This NYC based group gets the motor runnin' with fresh beats, classic Hindi songs that your parents listened to on cassettes with a serious dance party/explosive stage presence! This is Sunny's world and BrooklynPBJS was just living in it...
PBJS: Sunny, tell us when you started playing music and what inspired you to make this your career?

SJ: I remember being 4 and air-tabla’ing to my Moms bhajans (religious song) and also air drumming to my older siblings’ Top 40 mix. I started learning symphonic percussion at age 10 and fell in love with jazz at 13 when I started studying drum set privately with my main mentor, Rich Thompson. From there, it’s been a beautiful journey hearing, studying and playing all types of music with musicians from all walks of life. I guess it was just my genetic make-up that took an interest to the sounds I heard at an early age and once you’re bit by the bug, there’s no turning back.

PBJS: Bum. Bum. Bum. ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST! Anyway,we love the name "Red Baraat" bc anybody who has been to a GOOD Baraat can relate to your music-- is this what inspired you?

SJ: The band actually got its start from my own wedding 5 years ago, before it was even named Red Baraat. In late 2008, I put together a 9-piece band (Red Baraat) that took the wedding, celebratory music of baraats to another place by incorporating funk, soca, jazz, Brazilian and go-go music. So definitely the baraat term comes from that tradition and well red, because it’s my favorite color, it’s the color of love, fire and excitement, which is the essence of the band.

PBJS: Red Baraat definitely sheds love, fire and excitement! You guys often play at one of our favorites BARBES-- in a small confined room in the back, we need to get you guys out side on the streets- anything like that coming up?

SJ: Well, we still do a bunch of wedding baraats, but obviously those are private events. We did a great gig last year at Lincoln Center that was outside and while we can work as a marching band and often do, our energetic sound is on full display when we are stationary and have our drum set player Tomas Fujiwara.
Adding the drum set to dhol, percussion, sousaphone and 5 horns, makes for a heavy, heavy sound! In fact, we’ll be at Lincoln Center on July 8th with DJ Rekha, part of Midsummer Night Swing, their first every Bhangra party!

PBJS: What is on Sunny Jain's iPod?

SJ: It switches often, but currently: Rebirth Brass Band, The Phoenix, Steve Reich’s “Different Trains”, Introducing Nitin Sawhney, and Bob Marley’s “Keep on Shanking.”

PBJS: Oh my, you did FELA! We LOVE FELA!. How was this experience and did you bring some Indian beat into this beautiful Nigerian story?

SJ: FELA!, the Broadway show is fantastic, but no I did not bring some Indian beat to it, at least not consciously, ha ha. I was subbing for the percussionist and friend, Dylan Fusillo. It’s really a great show with awesome music and dancing and Sahr Ngaujah, who plays Fela is unbelievable. Highly recommended!

PBJS: Tell us about the New Yorker in Sunny Jain-- what are your favorite parts of living in the best city in the world?

SJ: I’m really loving my neighborhood spots in Clinton Hill/Fort Greene, Brooklyn. One of my favorite restaurants here, and really in all of the boroughs, is Abistro, a French-Sengalese place that serves up the mostly amazing plates with ridiculously tasty sauces. It’s also BYOB and they substitute practically everything with tofu, which works great for me because I’m vegetarian.

PBJS: Any Indian restaurant reco's-- we are always looking for new hot spots.

SJ: Punjabi 5-star Deli in Long Island City. Slamming late at night. I’m talking after 1am.

PBJS: Sometimes I play your music when I am in the shower and find myself doing bhangra with shampoo in my hair...If you ever need any back up dancers, will you call us?

SJ: Hells yeah! I hope you continue coming to our show and be our front-up dancer! We feed off our audiences’ vibes and we love it when people are dancing.

PBJS: Any new projects coming down the line that we should keep our eyes/ears peeled for?

SJ: I actually just released my 3rd jazz CD, called “Taboo”. It features my core quartet, pianist Marc Cary, guitarist Nir Felder, bassist Gary Wang, as well as 6 different vocalists: Achyut Joshi, Sheetal Karhade, Samita Sinha, Shayna Steele, Sachal Vasandani and YaliniDream. The compositions are inspired by ghazals and the lyrics address issues such as sexual orientation, violence and inequality upon women and the juxtaposition of religions. The lyrics are by Ali Mir, Ifti Nasim, Kishwar Naheed, Vikram Seth, and Erin Thomas. We are having our CD release concert on Thursday, June 10th at Joe’s Pub. You can stream the full album here: www.sunnyjain.bandcamp.com.

PBJS: If you had a theme song that played every time you walked into a room, what song do you envision?

SJ: The theme song to Chips! Ha ha.

TO FIND OUT WHEN YOU CAN SEE RED BARAAT www.redbaraat.com

Pick up/Download Sunny's newest album: TABOO www.sunnyjain.bandcamp.com

THE WHITEST BOY ALIVE

"Hello New York. We are The Whitest Boy Alive from Berlin and this is our last show in the states and its about to start NOW!"

This is how Erlend Oye started his show last night at The Music Hall of Williamsburg.

For all that you missed out, you are probably not feeling pain in your legs from jumping up and down for about 2 hours while watching nerd eye candy.

This band brought me back to the house music I grew up on in Chicago. The keyboardist is a machine that is the brains behind this collaboration. The drummer plays tight beats, sometimes one handed. The bass was this funky goofy amazing artist and Erlend...well, he is just fantastic.

His tall lanky Napolean Dynomite look does not take from his inner rock star as he kicks and dances to all his songs. Erlend Oye created "The Whitest Boy Alive" project to acknowledge the party that is always in his head.

He entertains, he dances, he engages...at one point last night, Oye asked the audience to please not steal his bike that was unlocked out in front, he asked the ladies if they liked European men and also acknowledged BROOKLYN as better than Manhattan!

The beautiful part about this band is that the live sound is not at ALL different than listening to an album, its the experience that takes it next level. These guys get in front of you and you cannot help but move your hips, shoulders and boot-tay to their sound.

To end the show and to bring out my love for house music, they rocked a Robin S. cover of: "Show me Love." You have to be deaf to hate on that song.

Thank you for the Wednesday night party last night! COME BACK SOON!!

The Whitest Boy Alive takes the crown for my favorite 2010 show THUS far. cannot wait for the summertime line up!

Mr. B and the PS 22 Chorus

These kids are SO fun! Enjoy!!

Phoenix- Listzomania

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mZ1zV1l2KQ&feature=youtube_gdata

GaGa- Just Dance

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0FPZolbYns&feature=related

Coldplay- Viva La Vida

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_tcE4rWovI&feature=related

Eye of the Tiger

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IL0aDXekfyM&feature=related

Jay-z/Rihanna- Run This Town

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-upCBD3h9E&feature=related

7 MINUTES IN HEAVEN WITH NOMO FRONTMAN ELLIOT BERGMAN

BrooklynPBJS loves to dance on tables to the beats of Ann Arbor based AfroFunk-kay band NOMO. If you haven't checked them out, they are likely to suck you into a room with their groovy soul shaking tone and make you dance until all your clothes are off! PBJS had a fun exchange with their front man Elliot Bergman who is known to craft the powerful instruments he plays. Currently on tour, read how Elliot marches to his own beat...

PBJS: We love to rock out to NOMO- we are curious to hear who is on your iPod?

EB: I recently gave my iPod to my brother. Whoops! It was pretty good though. It was full of great Tropicalia stuff: Os Mutanes, Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil and Tom Ze-- oh and tons of Sun Ra. So when we would put on my iPod on shuffle in the van, it was either Brazillian stuff or Sun Ra, with an occasional track from Born to Run thrown in. I'm not a huge digital media guy. I need to get into it a bit more, but mostly files just stress me out. My search function doesn't work on my computer, so things just pile up on my desktop. It's a nightmare! I love records and worked in a great record store in Ann Arbor for years- Encore Recordings. Ask me about my records...ok. So my girlfriend just bought me a bunch of Harry Bertoia's records for Christmas and I am so excited about them. I've always wanted them and in my years of searching, I have only found one. She bought five of them for me. I was speechless. I actually couldn't believe it. The artwork is so cool and minimal and they have this wonderfully complete aesthetic. I could never feel the same way about some pile of files on my hard drive.

PBJS: First thing to come to your mind- QUICK! First concert? Musical crush?

EB: I remember being at the Minnesota State Fair and sitting on my dad's shoulders while listening to a Beatles cover band. I had a beta tape of Yellow Submarine as a kid (until my dad taped a Vikings game over it) and my favorite song was "Octopus' Garden." When they (the cover band) went into their rendition of it, I was so excited and I thought it was amazing that The Beatles were playing at the Minnesota State Fair. My dad kept telling me that it wasn't the real Beatles, but I just couldn't understand the concept. They looked just like them...suits and haircuts- how could this be?

Oh and musical crush, I am going to have to go with Beyonce.

PBJS: Favorite place to play-- cough cough BROOKLYN!! and why of course?

EB: Yeah. Zebulon (in Brooklyn) is one of my favorite spots in the world. It's a very special club. They do a great job keeping the lineup filled with interesting new stuff and it's just such a warm and friendly atmosphere. I wish there were more clubs like this. They should franchise. There is never any cover, but we more than often would make more money passing a hat around for donations than we would by charging a steep cover at one of New York's more established venues. It's always filled with musicians and very appreciative listeners.

PBJS: We read that FELA KUTI is an inspiration to NOMO, have you or the band gone to see the amazing NYC show? any new vibes NOMO is exploring?

EB: I did go to see the show, it was really fun. I know some of the guys who are playing in the band and it was great to get to see them on stage. It's quite an amazing production and the music and dancing are great. It's fun to see how Fela and African music are looming in the public consciousness lately. Lots of interesting combinations are happening right now.

I am hard at work on an album that will be centered around the instruments that I build. It's tentatively called Metal Tongues and Erik and I have been working on it for the past couple of weeks. Lots of crazy Kalimba type instruments and looping and layering on top of each other!

PBJS: E, we notice that you roll deep when you guys are on tour. Quite a family you have formed- how do rehearsals go with so many people in your band and so m any moving parts in your music? How on earth do you select who plays with NOMO as well?

EB: There are a lot of us. We've slimmed down a bit over the past few years...you know, the economy and everything. It is hard to keep a big band on the road, but everybody is very flexible and accommodating. We do have a familial vibe at this point. We try to keep rehearsals to a minimum once we have learned the songs. I'd like to think that the players in NOMO just sort of emerge when it's their time. Jamie just kind of waltzed through my front yard carrying a bass a few weeks before the first session. Erik and Justin lived in that house along with a number of former members of the band. Now, when we need a new member- we just post it on FaceBook. Just kidding!

PBJS: We think your bass player Jamie ROCKS! Jamie can really bring the funk and get us off our seats!

EB: She does rock. She's been focusing on her own project lately. Jamie Register and The Glendales is her funky soul outfit and they have been keeping her very busy, so she hasn't been able to come out on the road with us much lately. But we still get her in there when we've got a show around Michigan.

PBJS: Michigan, brrrr! How did you spend your holidays this year?

EB: I've got a great big family and we all convene outside of Chicago. Everybody is musical, so there's lots of singing and playing and Garage Band recording sessions. My sister is quite a prolific songwriter and a great singer. We're hoping to get her in some more NOMO stuff soon!

PBJS: Have to ask, we have been listening to you for years-- and in these years we've seen your many different hairstyles-- shorter, shaggier and even a potential rat-tail-- EXPLAIN PLEASE!

EB: It's hard to get a haircut on the road! I don't think I'll be rocking the long braid any time soon, but I have been getting longer and longer as of late. It's just natural. Maybe next time we are in Brooklyn, you can organize a band haircut day.

PBJS: Sounds like a plan! We love the unique beautiful instruments NOMO brings to town! E, you are a vocalist, musician, badass and a handyman- now that's the total package!

EB: Is that a question? Ha, I have been quite handy lately and I have been working on a new set of instruments. They should go up on Ubiquity's site very soon, so I'll have to send you a link. It's always really fun once the electronics are all done and you plug them in. Each one has it's own character and it's really fun to play each one before they get sent off to their new homes. In the early stages, it's pretty much dangerous machine work and very repetitive, so I need to make sure that I don't space out and amputate! Lots of sparks flying, wood chips shooting out, loud grinding noises, hot aluminum bits-- It's a dangerous world in my workshop. If you

To check out when NOMO will be in your town- check it:

http://www.myspace.com/nomomusic

and

BROOKLYN- NOMO WILL BE HERE APRIL 14TH- UNION POOL 10PM-- WE WILL BE THERE FO SHO!

To check out Elliot's latest batch of instruments- check it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YwFw4ZH8F0&feature=player_embedded (See Elliot Create!)

http://www.ubiquityrecords.com/shop/products/HANDMADE-KALIMBA

Enjoy some NOMO- youtube style:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOrNrLCIPug

7 MINUTES IN HEAVEN WITH FOOD NETWORK STAR CHEF JEHANGIR MEHTA

BrooklynPBJS loves to eat at Graffiti(http://www.graffitinyc.com/) in the East Village of NYC-a hip shoebox sized living room style restaurant where Chef Jehangir Mehta serves brilliant, eclectic and creative international small plates that feature his trademark affinity for bold flavors. We had the honor to chat up Chef Mehta who was recently the runner up on Food Network’s “The Next Iron Chef.” Born and raised with cooks in Mumbai, India, Chef Mehta knew early on that he had talent in the culinary world that he needed to share. Best known for his creativity, Chef Mehta opens up about how his cookie crumbles…

PBJS: Chef, you have been making your rounds these days! Congrats on your journey on “The Next Iron Chef”- we were cheering you on! What was going on through your head before they announced the winner?

JM: You are not going to believe this, but I was not aware of the results when we completed the shooting. For after the battle, they shot Jose and me, both winning and losing. So it was not until a few days before the final was to be aired, that I was told the outcome. Of course I wanted to win but I am basically a balanced person. Nothing gets me too elated and at the same time I do not get too dejected either. So for me, this has been a great opportunity to get national coverage for weeks on end. But most of all I am grateful to all my fans for their support. I still receive regular emails from them and even those who not from NY patronize Graffiti whenever they are in town.

PBJS: In the most heated moments of the competition, you still seem to keep a smile on your face and be kind to your competitors, how did you keep your cool the whole time?

JM: I firmly believe that I can succeed on my own merit. So I see no need to bring anyone down in order to get ahead. Also, helping others is an Indian trait, and I am so glad my parents instilled this value in me.The one thing that does get under my skin is when a customer is not treated well. However in the NIC battles customers were not in the picture, so staying cool was not such an issue. Although I did have occasional high stress moments!

PBJS: You have the hippest restaurant in NYC-GRAFFITI—cute space, sweet ambiance and incredible food- what was your inspiration? And what was your road to opening Graffiti?

JM: My inspiration has always been people. One thing that I really like is good service. I admire places that give me this experience and that is what I like to offer my customers. Additionally, I really want my patrons to feel at home. So Graffiti was designed as a living room. Its on purpose that our furniture is a collection of different pieces, just like one would have at home, since when you like something, you really want it there.
The food I serve at Graffiti is my style. I love to put ingredients together. I just have a feel for what will work and what won’t. Its hard to describe how I know but I do. I also try and follow principles of Ayurveda to a limited extent. So my food has different flavors and ingredients that balance themselves out. My customers often tell me, that this creates a party in their mouth. The first time I heard this I was touched. It was a wonderful compliment to have received and I was deeply honored.

PBJS: If you were sent off to a deserted island and could only take one food—what would it be and why?

JM: It would be fresh coconut. I’d have the coconut water to drink and the flesh to eat. So even if there is no possibility of lighting a fire on that deserted island, a fresh coconut would help me stay alive!

PBJS: We have a bunch of vegetarians at PBJS- any quick eats recipes you can share with us? We LOVE to cook!

JM: Try my thyme roasted potatoes. The recipe is up on jehangirmehta.com

PBJS: If you could have a slogan, what would it be?

JM: Life is a staircase, it could bring you down, but you can start climbing right back up again.

PBJS: Our favorite NYC restaurant is Graffiti- what are YOUR favorites?

JM: Surprisingly I do not really eat out much. I like home cooked food. When I get pangs for Indian food I just head out to Handi where they sell amazing biryani. When Desis go there to eat, trust me the food is good. Other than that if I were to go for a celebratory dinner I would head to Per Se. I also enjoy Brad Farmerie’s cooking so Public and Double Crown are my kind of places too.

PBJS: We see you have made the Top 50 Coolest Desi's of 2009 list -(http://www.desiclub.com/community/culture/culture_article.cfm?id=499)- How

cool!! We see another Desi we have featured on the blog in this list as well: Scrubs star: Sonal Shah! Actually, the last time we were at your restaurant: Graffiti- we brought Sonal Shah!! Two of 2009's Top Desi's in one room--yay!! So, our question: which all time Desi's are on your Top 3 list?? Chefs? Celebrities? Inspirations? Bloggers??

JM: I guess my list will be boring for most people because my choice is based on values. I have therefore divided my Top 3 into categories.

Category one: Humility and Kindness
I admire people who are humble and kind despite their achievements and fame. Here Mr. Ratan Tata tops the list especially for the way he looked after not just his employees, but also the hawkers outside the Taj after the terrorist attack in Mumbai in 2008.

Category two: Hard-work and Success
I admire people who have achieved success and sustained it over the years. For many of us can reach the pinnacle, but it’s much harder to remain there for a long period of time. So in that respect, I admire Mr. Amitabh Bachchan, Mr. Shahrukh Khan, Mr. Zakir Hussain and Mr. Ravi Shankar in the performing arts arena and Mr. Sachin Tendulkar in cricket.

Category three: Honesty and Truthfulness
Finally I value people who can be honest and truthful despite the circumstances in which they live and work. So in this category I respect India’s prime minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and most of all, my own dad, Petras Mehta.

Be sure to pick up Chef Mehta's beautifully made cookbook:

Mantra: The Rules of Indulgence

http://www.amazon.com/Mantra-Rules-Indulgence-Jehangir-Mehta/dp/0060899859

Check out his blog and blog videos:

http://www.jehangirmehta.com/index.html

All you New Yorkers or if you are coming into the area for a visit- you NEED to make Graffiti a must visit!

A Foodie's Delight

A wonderfully charming story for a wide array of people- readers, chefs, bloggers, men, women, New Yorkers, French, Americans, unhappy with your jobbers, creatives...so many genres...

The beauty of this story is that it follows two real life stories and they parallel path each other throughout the entire film creating a whimsical and warm story.

The first of the two stories features who the entire film is dedicated to: Julia Child and her memoir "My Life in France." Meryl Streep does a fabulous job interpreting the revolutionary Julia Child and embraced her quirks and mannerisms quite masterfully.

The second memoir, "Julie & Julia," follows writer Julie Powell as she works her way through a self-imposed quest: cooking all 524 recipes in Child's book in 365 days in an effort to break through her depressing cubicle day to day and find herself in a place where she is meant to shine. Amy Adams disappointed me at points in very predictable ways, but all in all thought she matched the intended quirkiness of this film. However, if her quirkiness was to reflect Streep's, it was completely living in Streep's shadow.

These two stories are connected through Amy Adam's character- Julie Powell- who plays a talented writer who definitely knows a thing or two in the kitchen. Powell' shared passion of cooking and butter creatively craft a journey to celebrate what Julia Child has done in the kitchen and for all powerful women. Both women are soul searching powerhouses that have found that cooking- completes them- Jerry Maguire style.

Child's husband within the movie Paul (played by Stanley Tucci) fit the role perfect when playing a suave Frenchman. Streep plays a wonderful role in trying to find herself in the French culture and Tucci by her side helps tell this story flawlessly.

In the scene of Julia hacking away at a mountain of sliced onions until she could chop faster and Paul covers his onion watery eyes and gasps: "You're being a little over competitive, don't you think?" truly crowned Streep's mastery of filling Child's perfect mastery of the French cuisine.

However, the second relationship within this film did not connect as powerfully. Julie and her husband Eric (played by Chris Messina) have an odd tug of war marriage where Julie leans strongly on her husband for advice while her husband Eric comes off slightly jerky. Eric who initially comes up and supports the idea of his wife's blogging soon accuses Julie of becoming too self-involved within her success. This relationship confuses me. And Eric bothers me.

However, this is a great warm fuzzy film for the Holidays filled with family cooking and quality time with loved ones. Be sure to bookmark this film for the following month. (It's on demand!)

Jude- No Tragedy Here.

Jude Law has proven all his critics wrong in his latest endeavor of playing Hamlet on Broadway.

When walking into this show, I am guilty of thinking- "Jude Law + Shakespeare...eye candy and brilliance- can't go wrong." Not knowing how I could possibly get past Law's charming looks and see past his usual romantic comedy roles, I was intrigued to see how Jude would handle the role of Hamlet.

Hamlet is arguably one of the most drama filled characters created of all time. He is quirkly, quick to contradict himself, reckless yet cautious, heartfelt but immature, fiesty yet smart. He is clearly consumed of hatered in learning that his father's death was no accident. This role, is one of the most layred, complicated masterpieces of all time. Jude Law needed to respect William Shakespeare all the while stepping away from the big screen and translating Hamlet on the big stage on Broadway.

Well he certainly did that. A long 3 hour production that highlights this tragedy of Hamlet in a modern day light. Law and the rest of his cast were wearing jeans, sweaters, leather jackets and boots. The casting ranged of different ethnicities showcasing an interesting interpretation of the orignal Hamlet. This unique Broadway production is a must-see. Make sure you are mentally prepared to be swept away into Shakespeare speak. Great Sunday show...

While the first few moments of Law taking the stage definitely caused the theater to flutter, it was soon outshined by his raw pure talent. From that moment on, Jude embraced his role making the audience laugh and cry in his journey with Shakespeare. The cast included some great breakout roles, but Jude certainly carried that "star quality" and truly deserves a Tony this year. Simply flawless.

Watching this show alongside my best friend from LA Sonal and dear friend from Chicago Shrujal, I felt lucky to experience this amazing New York City moment amongst the rest of the Theater. Congratulations to Jude Law and the entire cast of Hamlet for truly serving the master Shakespeare right. No easy task.

Mr. Ray

Soulful. Chilling. Beautiful. Tear Jerking. Brilliant. All words that come to my mind in regards to my experience in watching Ray Lamontagne at The Beacon last night.

I took a dear friend from High School (Naperville!) who has never seen Ray live and mid show- she leaned in and whispered- "Thank you for inviting me."

Thank you Ray- for having such an amazing energy that pulls you in. Its one of the voices that you imagine a rainy night, a bottle of wine, tunes and candle light. Tears are likely to be caused listening to his beautiful lyrics and story- beware.

Yes, Ray has quirks. He silences the crowd. He mumbles into the mic when speaking to us. He has an insanely dark dry sense of humor that the crowd crumbles at. One moan show- Cabbie lid- interchanging between guitars of choice- this man has found his own mastery.

Ray was introduced to me years ago when I lived in CT by an amazing group of friends in a room we referred to as "The Record Room." He is fitting for the wee hours we worked in CT. The beers. The company. Ray carries a "right in your own living room" feel which he carried at The Beacon standing on his "stage" which was an old dirty living room rug.

I am wearing his adorable concert series shirts that reads "Mr. Ray" that are a part of the smiley face series with a smiley face adorning a full beard. New favorite Tshirt!

PS. Ray has officially made it onto my Top 5 shows of the year:

1. Wilco @ Coney Island

2. Ray Lamontagne @ The Beacon

3. Depeche Mode @ MSG

4. Rodrigo Y Gabriela @ Terminal 5

5. Kanye West/ NERD/ Lupe Fiasco @ MSG

6. Mew @ Music Hall of Williamsburg

7. The Killers @ MSG

8. MGMT @ Prospect Park Band Shell

FOR THE FANS

It starts off with

"FOR THE FANS..."

And it truly was.

For those of you this week who have been too busy caught up with Halloween or watching the World Series--please do not forget to see this very important film.

The morning after watching this movie, I awoke with a meloncholy feeling of realizing we will never be able to see Michael perform again.

Yes, I am a die hard fan, but how can you not be? I will be the first to admit that he was a quirky, fragile plastic surgery mess- but beyond that I still will always respect him as The King of Pop. Nobody- NOBODY- can do it like he did.

This film brought out a side that has never been shown to the average eye. One can see his brilliance behind his music. He is not overcasted with an entourage- or is not advised by an assistant or creative director- everything MJ did was his own creation.

There are moments in this movie where the crowd will clap, yell for him and constantly bop their heads- but most of all the fans are able to relive MJ and appreciate him one more time. His 50 shows set to kick off was his "final curtain call," but he was not going to go quietly. The film lets you relive every favorite from "Bad" to "They Don't Really Care About Us" to "Billy Jean." Not for one second did the fan feel that he was washed up- the man was brilliant. He knew his music to the beat- to the tone- to the breaks...He stopped practice when there wasn't enough funk - he stopped practice when the music moved too quick- he stopped practice when it just wasn't good enough. "I want to hear it the way I wrote it," said Michael to his keyboardist.



And oh did he move. These dancers- who were clearly the cream of the crop- were hand picked by Michael. The film reflects on their appreciation of doing a dream job. Throughout the film, one can feel their energy even just merely watching The King of Pop perform in practice. They clapped, they honored and though they were working for him could not help but pinch themselves- that yes, they were dancing for Michael Jackson.

If you are a MJ fan, if you are a dancer, if you enjoy his music, if you appreciate film, if you enjoy a live show, if you questioned MJ's ability to return, This is it.

One of my life "to-do's" was to watch the King of Pop perform. Now that I have come to terms with the fact that this is no longer possible, I walk away in peace after seeing this film.

I love you Michael. Rest in Peace.

1 1/2 weeks left- buy your tickets: http://www.thisisit-movie.com/

Escape To The Island: Governors Island

We jumped out of the cab and ran through the hubbub on Old Fulton Street. We would have preferred to be on our own two wheels but the construction on every single subway line in the system forced us to take a cab, jump on the ferry and rent bikes when we got to the island, Governor’s Island.

The ferry ride was beautiful, with scenic views of lower Manhattan, Brooklyn, and especially amazing, views of our wallets still holding every penny it arrived with... because the ferry ride is free. That’s right, FREE! P and I soaked in the view and before we knew it, arrived at the dock on Governor’s Island and began marching off the ferry.

As we walked off the ferry, we tried to acquaint ourselves with our new surrounding and figure out where to rent bicycles. We followed some signs along a path and suddenly, we were absorbed by a colony of gnats. We dubbed this area “Gnatville” and avoided it at all costs from that point on. After a quick trudge through their colony, we reached clearer pastures and the bike renting area.

The bike rental area was fairly disorganized. After a few questions and run-arounds, P and I figured out the form filling-out/waiting procedure and found a place in the 40 minute line. We eventually, received two halfway decent bikes that were functional enough to ride and see more of the island.

In the future, P and I both agreed that it would be worth taking the extra time and energy to bike from home to the ferry or if the subway was working, take our bikes on the subway and proceed from there. The extra time and cost of renting halfway decent bikes (albeit, a reasonable $12) was not worth it if you have other options, which we do.

Finally, our feet were off the ground, the scenery was flying by and we were making laps around the island. It felt amazing to explore a whole new place that is so close to home.

Governors island seems like it should be a major tourist destination, with some of the most breath taking views of the Statue of Liberty, lower Manhattan and Brooklyn. At other moments, parts of Governors Island can seem like a strange suburbia with tree lined streets and quaint houses, or a military installation with castle like fortifications, or an Area 51 like place with fenced off portions containing people in hard hats examining lost hamlets or finally, a close, convenient place to visit, picnic and bike. All of the above are true.

P and I had an amazing day of biking in and around Governors Island. We explored, we discovered and even had some time to take advantage of the strong, island winds to fly our kite. I highly recommend jumping on the Governor's Island ferry, with or without a bike and check out this unique destination (next season that is. Governor’s Island is closed for the winter).

HAPPY DIWALI FROM THE PRESIDENT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuiAW_6XKVM&feature=channel

A Painfully Heart Warming Journey with Olive Kitteridge

10-7-09.

Olive Kitteridge may be a quick read, but it is full of depth and growth. Olive Kitteridge is introduced within a vignette of several short stories based in a homey town in Maine. She is introduced as a painfully grumpy woman who leads an unhappy life, but by the end you truly feel her emotion and her growing pains.

She plays a key role in each of these stories- one based at a wake of a man who's infedility is revealed at the reception. Another explores a troubled lounge pianist who is surprised by an ex lover. Switch gears- one is how love comes out in the most painful ways when you think you are about to lose it permanently which is highlighted in a hostage-taking within a hospital. Most of these stories are woven with the misunderstood Olive Kitteridge and her relationships she has formed in her community based off of her and her husband's long stint in the area.

The most painful for me was to watch her unappreciative son deal with his hardships growing up in a house where he was not loved for and reading him take out his anger on Olive years upon years later. There were moments of anger and disbelief.

And then I felt like I needed to call my Mom right away to tell her I love her.

Olive by no means was considered a kind soul. One person refers to her as "absolute without apology." Olive's son told her even worse things when referencing her as a terrible mother that drove him and her husband crazy.

With age and experience, Olive learns and reflects on her relationships and what her true meaning of love and family are.

Slow beginning, heart wrenching end.

Four star scale: ***

7 MINUTES IN HEAVEN WITH SCRUBS STAR SONAL SHAH

BrooklynPBJS had the honor to chat with up and rising South Asian star: Sonal Shah best known for playing Dr. Sunny Dey in the hit comedy "Scrubs." Born and raised in the heart of the midwest, still ipod-less living in the City of Angels, Sonal opens up about how she rolls...


PBJS: How can you not want to pass out everytime you see Zach Braff- he is just so darn cute?

SS: I do pass out every time I see Zach Braff. How did you know? Are you stalking me?? I hope so! Every time I see Zach Braff, my heart skips a beat and I forget how to breathe…and then before you know it, I wake up in a beautiful yellow meadow wearing a white dress. And Zach is there. Dancing.

PBJS: Tell us why you are the baddest of them all in regards to the up and rising stars of Hollywood?

SS: First of all…THANK YOU!!! To be honest, I think it’s because of my giant muscles. They are so big the Olympics won’t stop calling, and I’m gonna need to file a restraining order.

PBJS: Are you religious? What do you believe in?

SS: I believe in God. Yes, I’m religious and I am also spiritual. I believe religion is one’s personal way of connecting to God and having a community to share that with. I was raised Jain and I have a very close connection to the Jain community and I follow many Jain principles including that of observing a non-violent life. Hmmm…I’d actually say I believe in all religions and do not believe one is superior to another. I believe God can be found everywhere, within people, in nature… I will pray anywhere- in temples, in churches, on a mountain, in my room...I also believe that everything happens for a reason and we should always be compassionate and of service to others. Whew- That was a long-winded response…and I could still blab on and on about this subject, but I will stop...right...now.

PBJS: If you could have a tagline- what would it be?

SS: The little brown girl that could

PBJS: First names that come to mind: Hollywood Crush, Most talented woman in Hollywood *besides you duh*, and your favorite Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle. Go.

SS: Adam Brody, Kate Winslet, and Raphael because he is the “baddest”.

PBJS: You are vegetarian! (BrooklynPBJS LOVES THIS)- what is your favorite quick eat and would you be willing to share a recipe with your fans here?

SS: Yes, I am a veggie! I love making Indian food and everything I’ve learned is from my awesome mama… Saag Paneer is very easy and fast so I will share that (btw, did you know spinach has protein in it?!) I guarantee it will be yummy and healthy!! -throw a little oil into a wok; sauté 2 cloves of minced garlic, a little ginger, and a small amount of chopped onions (two boiler onions); then add the at least 10 oz of freshly washed spinach; add a spoonful of water; add ½ spoon of salt; let it cook for a few minutes (it will cook pretty fast…and yes, the spinach is supposed to shrink); add a pinch of tumeric, a ½ spoon of paprika, and a full spoon of coriander/cumin powder; add more spice to taste. After it is cooked, you can throw in cubes of frozen paneer (homemade cheese) bought at at any ole’ Indian store, or you can even just add cubes of a cheese of your choice (mozzerella works!).

PBJS: We hear that a staff member took you to a school dance- any details please??? We would love to embarrass “S”

SS: Hmm…I don’t recall such a circumstance (which could or could not be a good thing). Do keep in mind, I would love for a staff member to take me to a school dance. I’m as single as a horse galloping into the sunset…and I have no “game.” Every time I see an attractive dude, I get really nervous and run away. Earlier today, I tried to pick up a dude when I was jogging, and then I remembered I was wearing a visor.

PBJS: Have you had a “I Love LA” moment lately? Please share- we love our “I Love NYC moments.”

SS: Yes, it was just the other day because I was chillin at a coffee shop in West Hollywood (which is kind of a bustling part of the city), and 10 minutes later, I was hiking up a beautiful mountain, and then soon after that I was listening to jazz by the peaceful ocean! The city and nature are so close to each other and each part of the city has its own personality. I still get chills every time I’m on Hollywood Boulevard…or at a farmer’s market! Life here can be challenging at times… but it’s what you make of it and I’d rather choose to love it over hate it. I’ve learned so much being on my own and have made a lot of fantastic friends out here (nobody comparable to my best friend who lives in NYC. You may know her.)

PBJS: Good segway, when are you going to visit your best friend in NYC? :+)

SS: Immediately! I’m so proud of her! We both left Chicago at the same time and she moved to the east coast because she got a total badass position with ESPN, and I moved to LA to pursue acting. We are creating an East Coast-West Coast rap so get ready!

For some of Sonals work:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KN_m6HeFfz8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7euub8HKOcQ&NR=1


Be sure to check Sonal Shah out in the upcoming episodes of SCRUBS next season on ABC. For more information visit: http://www.sonalshah.net/

BONO DOES GIANTS STADIUM

Bono does it again. He takes NYC/NJ into the palm of his hands and entertains until the wee hours. Now, lets get something straight- I was cursing Bono all the way to Giants Stadium and all the way back- but for those 4 hours or so I was in the stadium- I bowed down to him.

Lets start with their opener: Muse.

Great band. Eccentric performance combining all sorts of genres: electronic, alternative, classical and progressive rock. They are an English band that is number one on iTunes downloads across seas. Muse has yet to really take over the US, but leave it to Bono to try to help them out.

They performed on U2's extravagent set. Honestly, the group of girls that I was with had their money on the set at some point taking off shuttle style. It looked like a gigantic tarantula that at any given time would get up and leave the stadium. In addition to the set, the light show and the sound within the stadium was powerful. The stadium remained half empty until about 930pm or so when U2 decided to take the stage. It was an incredible moment where the stadium transformed into a U2 production.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcudUzIe8zw

Bono rocked it. He gave credit to his band by giving a genuine introduction to each member and aknowledging the family they have created within. He dedicated a Michael Jackson tribute to Quincy Jones by singing a little of the jingle: don't stop till you get enough. It was magic.

He started with his new stuff- got it out of the way and ripped into his old ways. It is amazing that the man and his band can perform as if it were the early 90's. They sound just as sharp, just as strong and owned New Jersey last night.

They wrapped the show with With or Without you-- an absolute favorite.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHKYVNlyi1k

If you have a chance tonight- please check them out before they move on.

OLE! OLE! OLE! OLE!

Gracias Rodrigo y Gabriela! What an incredible evening. This duo has definitely got the most wicked energy and insane beats. Rodrigo who can riff and play just about anything while Gabriela keeps the beat and rythm through the whole show. Within 5 minutes of walking into this show, I was jumping up and down in my stiletto heels and clapping. R y G quickly turned this incredible show into a dance party. Continuously asking us to clap with them in rythms that Rodrigo would provide for us, it was hard to stand still and not be completely engrossed within their world.

This Mexican/Irish duo have mastered their art. The enlarged video of R y G playing behind them really highlighted the intricate/wicked/mind blowing playing. This was their first show in the states playing their new album and they definitely kicked it off with a bang.

Dealing with the annoyance of Terminal 5- it was still 100% worth the shoving/lack of beer/and bouncy sound within that warehouse. B was at the show and had his bag packed for work the next day consisting of his lunch and morning coffee-- all had to be poured out and thrown out before entering the show. Give me a break.

Back to the good stuff. Rodrigo played small parts of Metallica, Rage Against The Machine, White Stripes and Stairway to Heaven- but for the most part the duo kept it real to their own material which fired up the eclectic crowd they pulled in. I saw 40 year old men with beer guts, soccer jerseys, models, punk rockers, suits and a ton of short people. Its amazing the wide array that R y G bring even though their vibe goes back to Mexican roots. I loved it.

The show left you energized and fired up. It closed with the entire crowd chanting the Soccer favorite: OLE! OLE! OLE! OLE!...OLEEEEEEE! OLEEEEE! One day later, I am still bopping my head and feel the soreness in my legs from jumping up and down. Definitely top 5 in shows of the year.

1. Wilco @ Coney Island

2. Depeche Mode

3. Rodrigo Y Gabriela

4. The Killers

5. too many are tied.

If you have a chance- they have a full tour ahead of them- please check them out. Don't wear heels, be ready to jump and dance for a full 2 hours or so.

Rodrigo y Gabriela - 2009 Tour Dates

September 16 - Terminal 5, New York, NY, USA

September 19 - The Buell Theatre, Denver, CO, USA

September 21 - Moore Theatre, Seattle, WA, USA

September 23 - Fox Theater, Oakland, CA, USA

September 25 - Orpheum Theatre, Los Angeles, CA, USA

October 10 - 4th & B Concert Theater, San Diego, CA, USA

October 12 - Schnitzer Hall, Portland, OR, USA

October 14 - Pabst Theatre, Milwaukee, WI, USA

October 16 - Riviera Theater, Chicago, IL, USA

October 19 - House of Blues, Dallas, TX, USA

October 20 - Stubb's Waller Creek Amphitheatre, Austin, TX, USA

October 22 - Electric Factory, Philadelphia, PA, USA

October 23 - Orpheum Theatre, Boston, MA, USA

October 24 - Rams Head Live, Baltimore, MD, USA

Still remembering

While I understand this is a touchy subject and that most New Yorkers are still remembering, especially with the two beams of lights streaming straight up into the sky, we should also understand and remember that no matter what happens and what buildings get destroyed and the number of people that lose their life in this awful battle for world peace, there will be the arch nemesis of peace, who like to destroy and cause chaos, but we should stand strong and we have.

Bless America, Bless the world, and Bless those who want peace.

WiFi on Flights

Wow. Technology never ceases to amaze me. Quickie.

Pro's and Con's of WiFi on a flight:

Pro's:

- its simply awesome.

- I just watched 12 different youtube videos of people falling and was laughing all by myself.

- If your flight is delayed, you can jump online and book a later flight so you don't miss a connection.

- If you are scared of flying, it saves your wallet from getting yourself hammered. 

- hulu.com

- You can read our blog

- Your facebook status can be: Oh my god wifi in the sky! amazing!

- Keeps you company and you are not going to get bored- is this available for International flights? brilliant.

Cons:

-Don't tell your boss bc he may actually make you sign on from your flight 

-Dude next to you who is acting like he is not reading and looking at everything you are typing actually is.

-It only works well if you are in the window seat so you don't have to deal with small bladders, getting up, closing your lap top..etc etc

-Stops you from getting yourself hammered

-Takes away from reading a GREAT book....sighhhh

-P so high in the sky

I GOT A FEELIN...

TONIGHTS GONNA BE A GOOD NIGHT...

It's Labor Day wknd folks! time to ditch the crackberrys, log off outlook, loosen your tie and leave your office drama at the office. 

Unfortunately and fortunately for me, I am on a flight (yes, wifi on the plane-- soooo coooool) to work the next few days, but for a good cause. Come Labor Day wknd means COLLEGE FOOTBALL. I am en route to Atlanta, Georgia to celebrate the return of College GameDay. 

It is going to be a hell of a season. A lot of potential sleeper teams ready to creep up, probably the most solid Heisman race to date (Bradford, McCoy, Tebow, Pryor), and some really interesting schedules. Last night kicked off College Football with some Thursday night games on ESPN. Did anybody see those punches thrown in the Ducks/Broncs game? Interesting way to kick off the season. I cannot wait to see what we have in store.

6 of the  most powerhouse College Football Coaches own spots 1-6 in the AP poll- Urban, Mack Brown, Stoops, Carroll, Saban and Tressell. It will be a race to the top. 

Its virtually not a terrible schedule for top ten teams in week 1-- though somebody WILL get knocked out being that VA Tech v Alabama play one another. I already look ahead to some real landscape shakers: USC/Ohio State-- DOOZY. You  best understand that I will be front and center at that game. 

For this wknd, I am going to settle with the Top Ten matchup: Bama/Va Tech. Who do you take? I suspect a Bama upset. Go Hokies. I think. 

I met Coach Saban this past summer- not the nicest man. and his SID is even worse. real chip on their shoulder and constantly stressed out. Thats not what its about. If you have ever met the Mack Browns and Pete Carrolls-- you remember...these men are coaching College kids. They are powerful, strict, but also are very lighthearted. Nobody can ever say being a prick will win you Championships (you hear that Saban and Weiss!!) 

Alright- time to sign off for now. 

and how about that biking piece? sure makes me want to jump on my bike this wknd. 

Happy Labor Day to all and GOOOOO BUCKS!

-P going Southern. 

Squashing Brooklyn: Ocean Parkway's Bike Path to Coney Island

The city can seem huge and daunting. Looking at a map of it can make you feel like the only humane way to get from point A to B is to be teleported. But I’ve found that jumping on my bike has made some seemingly distant places seem within reach, especially when there’s a bike path involved. A recent bike ride from Prospect Park to Coney Island had this sort of borough squashing effect.

I began my ride at the Southwest corner of Prospect Park. After navigating a few blocks to the northern most part of Ocean Parkway (at Ocean Parkway and Church Avenue) the bike path begins (the top of the green line in the middle of the map). Here’s a little historical background on this bike path. After Fredrick Olmsted and Calvert Vaux completed Central Park and Prospect Park, they designed and proposed Ocean Parkway to the Brooklyn Park Commissioners. By 1880, Ocean Parkway was completed and in 1894, the pedestrian path was split to create the first bike path in the United States. The first bike path in the United States? Pretty innovative Olmsted/Brooklyn!

The ride down Ocean Parkway is a tree-lined, straight and flat bike path that covers about 6 miles. Besides the journey itself, the payoff is at the end of the path, where a beautiful boardwalk, gorgeous beach and the history and aura of Coney Island confronts you. You are only allowed to ride on the boardwalk from 5am to 10am, but I have cautiously rode on it at other times (on weekdays) without incident. In my opinion, you can’t ride all that way and not experience the feeling of seeing the sights on the board walk, staring out at the beach and feeling the ocean breeze on your bike.

Before you head out on your ride to Coney Island, there are a few things to keep in mind. The ride is bumpy at times, so be prepared to avoid places where tree roots have mangled the path and fallen victim to disrepair. My biggest complaint is the intersections along the ride. They are an obvious necessity for a bike path that runs along a parkway, but they do pose some challenges. The first challenge is that of safety. Even when you have the “pedestrian walk” sign in your favor, you still have to be 100% aware of your surroundings, watching for any turning cars that may interrupt your leisurely ride/precious life. Since you may be traveling at a rate that is difficult for a moving car to notice, you need to be extra cautious and defensive.

The second challenge is the necessity of pausing at intersections never allows you to build up much momentum. This makes the ride hard to justify for those looking for a good fitness ride. Regardless, it still makes for a great leisurely ride. Riding along a tree-lined street, being able to cover quite bit of distance and ending up at a gorgeous beach and historical landmark makes the challenges worth it. The Ocean Parkway bike path (in addition to Central Park, Prospect Park and Coney Island to name a few) is a testament to the beauty and power of public space and the foresight of intuitive designers over a hundred years ago.

Let me know of any great bike rides you enjoy around the city. Be on the look out for my review of the ride to and around Governors Island.

Just a little fun for Friday

Original ad: WILMINGTON TO CHICAGOI'm driving out to Chicago on 9/1 around noon. I'm looking for someone to split the cost of gas/tolls. If interested, send me an email.

From Me to ***********@*********.org
Hi!I am trying to go to Chicago, and the 1st sounds good to me. I took my ex-girlfriend's EZ-pass out of her car when she wasn't looking, so we can use that to pay for tolls. I have a few things I want to bring, do you have a lot of room?
Mike

From Brian ****** to Me:
Hi Mike,Will the easy pass still work even though it isn't in your ex's car? I do have some room, what are you trying to bring?

From Me to Brian ******:
Brian,I just want to bring a few duffel bags of clothes. Also, yes, the EZ pass will still work.
Mike

From Brian ****** to Me:That shouldn't be a problem. By the way, how old are you? Can you tell me a bit about yourself?

From Me to Brian ******:I am 25, and I am a landscaper. I actually am going to Chicago for a national landscaper convention.I just remembered, I also need to bring my weedwhacker. Will that fit in your car? Mike

From Brian ****** to Me:It should...I have a Honda Civic but it has a trunk access panel and we might be able to lay it across the back seat/trunk.

From Me to Brian ******:Great! I also have a mini-fridge that I want to bring (my hotel doesn't have one, and I need to keep my vodka chilled). Can we squeeze this in as well?
Mike

From Brian ****** to Me:How big is it. I need room for my things too.

From Me to Brian ******:It is about half the size of a normal fridge. I have some duct tape and rope, we could strap it to the roof of your car.

From Brian ****** to Me:I don't want to do that sorry. How about you bring it and we can see if it will fit.

From Me to Brian ******:Sounds good! I'm sure it will fit. I also want to bring my TV...it is a 50" flat screen. Is that a problem? I really hate the small TVs they have at the hotel.

From Brian ****** to Me:How much shit are you bringing dude? Are you trying to move to Chicago? I said I have a Civic... not a moving van.

From Me to Brian ******:I'm not bringing that much stuff, just my clothes, weedwhacker, mini-fridge, and TV. You said you had room for my stuff...now you don't? I don't understand. Does this mean we can't take my recliner either?

From Brian ****** to Me:Are you for real?

From Me to Brian ******:Yes I am for real. I just had an idea...Does your Civic have a hitch? I want to bring my Ford F250 truck, could we hook it to your car? It would be nice for me to have my truck in Chicago so I don't have to ride in those dirty cabs everywhere. We could put some of the stuff I want to bring in the bed of my truck, since you "suddenly" don't have that much room.

From Brian ****** to Me:Why don't you just drive your goddamn truck there. This is crazy.

From Me to Brian ******:Don't get me wrong, I love my truck, but it isn't so good on gas mileage. Can't we just tow it there? It works out better this way, because I wanted to bring my four wheeler but was afraid to ask you because you seem to be getting all pissy about me bringing my stuff.

From Brian ****** to Me:Why the hell do you need all this shit for a trip to chicago. If anything it is your truck that should be towing my Civic. For christ's sake man, get real.

From Me to Brian ******:Oh, do you think your Civic isn't capable of towing my truck? I understand. Tell you what, I'll talk to my friend Anthony. He's a mechanic, and could put a better motor in your car so it has more power to tow my truck. It shouldn't cost that much. What is your number? I'll tell him to give you a call.

From Brian ****** to Me:I'm done talking to you.

From Me to Brian ******:So am I still getting the ride? I talked to Anthony and he actually needs a ride to Chicago too. I told him he could come if he helps pay for gas. Do you have an extra seat for him? He might have some stuff he wants to bring.