On this Veterans' Day, men and women who have fought for this country will be saluted for their bravery in the face of danger. (No political statement.) But I'd like to also draw attention to some of the contributions that veterans may have unknowingly made to our society.
First, a small thing: the great game of Goal Ball. You haven't heard of Goal Ball?! Designed for soldiers who had lost their vision in WWII, today the game is quite popular among blind and visually-impaired athletes. A small bell is placed inside a ball, and players are blindfolded (sighted and blind players alike), forced to rely on the sound of the ball to block their goal. Goal Ball is an official sport of the Paralympics, and pretty cool to watch.
Secondly, an unexpected contribution: modernist furniture. No, seriously. Charles and Ray Eames developed the technology to bend wood using steam when they were asked to improve leg splints for disabled WWII veterans. They then applied this technique to make sleek, streamlined chairs that caught on and spurred a whole trend in modernist furniture.
Last, a pretty big one: the Disabilities Civil Rights Movement. With more and more military personnel coming home disabled, the treatment and rights of all people with disabilities -- combat-related injuries or not -- gained more attention from the public and the government. The military community did a great deal to get the Americans with Disabilities Act passed in 1990, granting basic rights to millions of people, the majority of whom were unaffiliated with the military.
So as we thank Veterans for their obvious -- and very significant -- service, let's also acknowledge that their contributions may go deeper than even they realize.
This fascinating blogpost by one of my favorite writers on design and disability brought up some fascinating questions, espeicially surrounding what, exactly, we consider "prosthetic"? Any physical extension of our bodies?
Atmosehere: Feels homey and East Coast but new. Dark wood, jewel tones, high end couch-booths and lovely exposed brick.
Offerings: Bathroom, seating, bar food, wine and beer (this is a brewery at night), coffee, wifi.
Perks: Charming, friendly staff, sit and stay. Low key drinks for nighttime.
Downsides: Closes at 11. Expensive.
Favorite: Decor. Super cute- feels distinctly like you're in New York at a nice place, without being pretentious.
Pricing (Penny Saver, Average Joe, New York City Slicker, Indulger, Money Flinger): New York City Slicker- you're looking at upwards of $3 for a cup of coffee.
Offerings: Bathroom, seating, food, full bar, goldfish and peanut snacks.
Perks: Kuma (the bartender) allows you to play your own music, always lively, free goldfish, incredibly boozy and inexpensive drinks, greasy food, Kuma!
Downsides: Can be really hot, not open on weekends, greasy food.
Favorite: The obscene amounts of alcohol in a my tie (yes, my tie).
Pricing (Penny Saver, Average Joe, New York City Slicker, Indulger, Money Flinger): Penny Saver- you'll get a drink that is at least half booze when you order, and pay about $5-$6 for it.
Atmosehere: Mexican (American Mexican) Decor. Lots of tile and colorful paintings. Not shabby, not over the top.
Offerings: Bathroom, food, full bar, fresh made guacamole, free chips.
Perks: Friendly staff, full menu, large space (no wait), great for parties, fantastic margaritas with lots of flavors (guava to mango to strawberry), reasonably priced pitchers.
Downsides: Can get loud.
Favorite: The margaritas- the perfect blend of tequila, tart citrus, and fruit. Not too sweet and they use fresh fruit.
Pricing (Penny Saver, Average Joe, New York City Slicker, Indulger, Money Flinger): New York City Slicker- these prices are average. You're looking at $15-$25 entrees.
So the CMA's (Country Music Awards) happened on Wednesday night, and overall it was actually pretty well done- entertaining, satisfying winners, and no super awkward, squirm-inducing speeches. Jesus was thanked at least sixty-seven times, but it came across as surprisingly endearing rather than just annoying. So without further ado, here are the highlights:
1. Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley's opening number.
Most awards show hosts' lines seem a little too scripted, and while Carrie and Brad were certainly scripted, they delivered well. They were a happy mix of funny, culturally relevant, and talented- another reason why the CMAs are awesome. It was impossible not to see the raw vocal talent as they both sang an opening, eclectic number to the tune of well known country songs, with perfect pitch, wit, and duck calls. They commented on Obamacare, which was vaguely awkward with the conservative crowd, and were joined by the cast of Duck Dynasty (for a Blurred Lines mashup, no less) classed up for a night on the red carpet. Overall, it was entertaining and far less tired than many of the awards shows. Feuding assignments for the night were perfect:
Start at 0:45 for the song! WATCH THIS. The whole thing is GOLD.
2. Florida Georgia Line winning everything.
Single of the Year. Vocal Duo of the Year. Super awesome. They definitely deserve it for their hit single Cruise. Have you seen the remix video??
3. Blake Shelton thanking his publicist for consistently cleaning up his messes.
Oh Blake...
4. Brad Paisley thanking Taylor Swift for keeping her nasty on the DL.
"I just want to say something to Taylor Swift. Taylor, you have grown up right before our very eyes, and I want to thank you from a grateful industry for never once humping a teddy bear or gyrating with Beetlejuice. I know that's not easy."
And then Carrie: "And I gotta say, if someone in music today was going to be caught naked licking a hammer, I think we all thought it'd be Blake Shelton."
5. Kacey Musgraves' performance.
Very nice. As someone who had heard her songs a few times, but didn't know her, I'm now curious. She was also wearing an adorable yellow dress. Best new artist indeed. Check out her performance of Follow Your Arrow!
6. Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton winning Female and Male Vocalist of the Year. Well deserved.
Her speech was awesome. Included was, "Well, hell! I really didn't think this was going to happen this year. To my husband, I love you. Thank you for putting up with my crap!"
If you're as creepily obsessed with Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton's Twitter as I am, you'll remember that one of those doses of "crap" from Miranda included her painting Blake's hunting trailer bubble gum pink while he was out of town. Simply hilarious.
I just love that they both won those awards- cutest couple ever! Truly country music royalty.
7. Taylor Swift's CMA Pinnacle Award.
Ok, so I used to be a super fan and then her last CD ruined it. She's slipped into the trap of the sell-out teen pop idol status (with matching if slightly better music), which sucks because she's so much better than that. Her image has slipped that way too, making her a little more of a brush off person than an idol in my book. Sad day. Taylor, please go back to country and whimsy- you don't have to get jaded just because you get older- you are NOT generic!
That being said, this tribute made me like her again. I felt like I was seeing her real personality, and it was darling that her whole family was sitting with her in the front row. She truly is accomplished and it was awesome seeing their compiled video, all the bigs (Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, George Strait, the Rascal Flatts...) up there honoring her. Really sweet. And her speech was perfect, as was her gorgeous, demure red dress! She really is fabulous- I just hope she remembers that and who she can be.
8. George Strait's Entertainer of the Year win.
He's classic, and the seven gallon hat shows it:
If you have any doubts, check out this amazingness:
The Union Square Greenmarket happens four days a week, but Saturdays are like something else. Especially in the Fall, although Summer is nice too (one of the Maple stands has iced mint tea sweetened with maple- pure deliciousness). So here are the reasons to go.
1.The colors- whether you're looking at rainbow carrots, heirloom tomatoes, or the many squash varieties, the colors in the Fall farmer's market are absolutely stunning. There are also some surprising looking vegetables, like the purple (also in green) cauliflower or the black peppers (left).
2. The variety- there is a little of everything at this market. Obviously, there are copious amounts of vegetables, greens, and fruit (especially apples in the Fall), but there is also fresh meat (from chicken to bison to scallops) and eggs, jams and chutneys, fresh goat cheese, flowers, sprouts, garlic oil, yarn, and fresh baked goods. Yummy!
3. The causes- there is a section for composting and mulch, lots of organic (and better than organic- no pesticides whatsoever), and all local products. You can get Ronnybrook Farm milk and yogurt, local squash, and throw away all of your produce scraps in a way that helps the environment. 4. The square- super fun, ecclectic, and energetic. Everything is in this square. There are lots of chess players, Indian hymns and fortune tellers, people promoting their causes, entertainment acts, and totally random one offs (drawings of 150 faces in a path around the park, or a man spending his day with a sign that reads "not checking out hot girls").
I could list a bunch of other reasons to go- the attempt at nature in the city, the smell, the food trucks, the hot cider- but it really just comes down to a great Saturday shopping, eating, and enjoying the best of NYC.
