Serge the Concierge

Message to Noisy Neighbors: Blast your Music Inside, Don't Ruin our Summer

You are getting ready to relax with a book, sip a cold drink or go out to the backyard and lay in the hammock to take a nap then the noise starts.
You got stuck with Neighbors from Hell who think nothing of blasting their stereo not in the house mind you but in their backyard so they can annoy the whole neighborhood.
They don't seem to think that some people nearby might be sick, have a small baby or just need to rest because it is past midnight and they happen to work during the day.
Imagine 10 neighbors each taking their sound system outside, playing different types of music and pumping up the volume.
Can you picture the cacophony that would ensue?
No wonder many companies are coming up with noise reduction and noise deflector products.
Noise annoys!
For some of us, prevention and relief might be found at Rotten Neighbor.

Be considerate and enjoy your summer.

Related: Noise Annoys...Loud Restaurants & Stores...How about a quiet time! and Music as a Weapon to Deal with Lingering Guests

Cool Treats for Warm Japanese Summer Days: Say 'Fruit and Vegetable Bars'

2 things I learned from Cool Packaging: Frozen Summer Treats From Japan by Ryoko (on PingMag) are first that "frozen treats began to be produced as a substitute for ice cream after World War II, when almost all dairy products were designated for military use. A popular simple treat at the time was merely ice mixed with sweetener, into which a pair of disposable chopsticks were stuck. Very basic, but it made folks happy in those tough times" and second that adzuki beans are part of the mix as they are in many Japanese candies.

I cut down on ice cream in the past year so I paid more attention to the healthier frozen treats in her piece. 

Ryoko mentions the unusual 'Fruit and Vegetable Bar' popular with women.
The “Gari-Gari-Kun” (”Mr. Crunchy”) celebrates its 25th anniversary this year and the mascot on its wrap packs a punch (illustration below, from PingMag).

I really like the Popsicles shaped like slices of watermelon and cantaloupe (picture also from PingMag)

Quality and standards are enforced by the very official Japanese Ice Cream Association.

There is a site dedicated only to the topic of these cold treats titled Japanese Ice Cream.

Is it more marketing than informative, I will let you judge.

Cooling off for Tokyo Thursdays # 47

Related:  Seafood Ice-Cream and other strange brews...Big in Japan

Losing Internet Connection...My 16 Year Old does not Understand Why?

Every so often as it did in the past few days, I lose my internet connection.

In our always on world, we somehow got used to the idea that internet access is like water.

You turn the faucet and there it is.

My 16 year old does not understand why it does not work when it happens.

Does not see any good reason for it except that his brother must have done something wrong.

I tried to explain to him that many things can fail or not work temporarily from servers to wires at the internet provider or routers and other boxes in our own place.
Could not quite get the message across.

Search for Losing Internet Connection on Google and you get a deluge of pages (1,410,000 pages the last time I checked).

Losing Internet Connection= Losing Patience

We forgot that sometimes you just have to sit back and wait.

200 Inner City Kids need a Vacation Home in August: Give the Fresh Air Fund a Hand

As time goes by, I get requests of all kind.

When Sara Wilson sent me not one but 2 e-mails requesting my assistance in helping the Fresh Air Fund find Vacation Homes for 200 Inner City Kids, I detected a sense of urgency.

So here's where and when they need help:

There are trip dates set for August 2008 for over 200 children and they need host families to volunteer to host these inner-city children. The dates and locations are as follows:

8/11-8/21

New Jersey:
Warren County, Bergen County, Union County, Somerset County, Morris County, Hunterdon County Pennsylvania:
Lancaster, Akron, Christiana, Denver, Donegal, East Earl, ElversonLititz, Manheim, New Holland, Quarryville
New York:
St. Massena, Ogdensburg, Potsdam

8/12-8/22
Harrisburg, Pa

8/15-8/22
Central Massachusetts:
Acton, Hopkinton, Lexington, Marlboro, Wayland

8/15-8/25

New York:
Western Fingerlakes: Canandaigua, Canal Towns, Dansville
Central New York: Fulton, Marcellus and Oswego

Massachusetts:
Cape Cod

Pennsylvania:
Doylestown, Upper Bucks, Lower Bucks, Chalfont

8/25-9/1

New York:
Columbia County
Red Hook/Rhinebeck (Dutchess County)
Albany County

• Unless all prospective host families are screened and vetted by the end of July these 200 children may miss out on an invaluable experience                              
                             
• Please host a child or help the Fresh Air Fund get the word out that they need folks who can welcome a child from the city into their homes next month                              
                             
• One last thing that is actually very important. The Fresh Air Fund is looking for families who want to extend an invitation to a 9-12 year old. We really need more families who want older children and boys                           
                             
• Please Email Angie, angie@freshair.org, immediately and she'll speed you through the process                                                
• Or, you can call the Fresh Air Fund at 1-800-367-0003 (212.897.8900) -- ask for Angie

Time is of the essence!

Thanks in advance to all those of you who can give a helping hand.

Old Denver Airport Runway finds Second Life as Kitchen Countertops

In the Remake Remodel sphere, a couple of Denver based companies are finding a Second Life for concrete from the runway of the now defunct Stapleton Airport.
Immix turns it into countertops as for Recrete Materials they recycle it into new buildings and projects.

Calling itself the earth surface, PaperStone is described as (I quote) "made from cellulose fiber (paper) and a non-petroleum phenolic resin  derived in part from a natural phenolic oil in the shells of cashews."

Wonder where some of that recycled glass goes, look no further than Vetrazzo whose products are 85% made from it and turned into stylish kitchen tops.
These beer bottles you sipped on warm Summer days could turn into the Alehouse Amber surfaces (pictured below).

A few examples of how we can be earth friendly and practical at the same time for Green Day # 35

Related piece: Picnic and Party Plates that Don't Trash Nature thanks to 'VerTerra' 

Paris, Not just Bar Tabac, Literary Cafes as well!

Paris has been known as the refuge for real and wannabe artists over time, be it jazz musicians, poets, painters, writers and others.
Isobel Scott covers some New Cafés Littéraires for Globespotters.
Amongst them Tea and Tattered Pages "with its second hand English books from floor to ceiling. At the back of the shop, behind beaded curtains, there is a little tea salon".
Another highlight is La Belle Hortense where "the accent is on wine. The zinc bar is the first stop when you walk into the baby-blue painted store. Pick a glass (or bottle) from the wine list and wander off to the bookshelves in the back room. Their selection includes design-your-own-cover (Penguin editions) English and French classics and modern prizewinners".
A more extended guide on Literary Watering Holes in Paris was offered by Gridskipper (February 2008).

Where are the best literary cafes in your corner of the world?

Looking for New Work Pastures? Action beats Introspection suggests Herminia Ibarra Video

Aspiring to a change in work and career in her video Moving out to pastures new (FT), Herminia Ibarra shares some ideas.

What she lacks in passionate delivery and Chutzpah, she more than makes up with clear thoughts on the topic.

If there are 2 strong points she makes, it would be her opening statement that Action beats Introspection and her conclusion spelling Don't get stuck thinking you've got it all figured out...

A quick and to the point Monday Work Etiquette #45.

Last week: A Declaration of Independence from E-Mail by Luis Suarez

3 Red Wines that Don't Break the Bank (Spain, France, Italy)

Even with the rise in prices due to a weak dollar, one can still find European red wines that do not break the bank.
What I would call table wine?
Over the past few weeks, I found 3 new options.

First Clua (El Sola d'en Pol, 2006) from producer Xavier Clua, in the 'Terra Alta' appellation in Catalonia (Spain).
This unoaked blend of Grenache (40%), Cabernet Sauvignon (20%), Syrah (20%), Ull de Llebre (Tempranillo, 10%) and Merlot (10%) is a fruit forward offering, simple and pleasant (around $10).

   

I bought the second pick, Chateau Calissanne (website, French only) as their Rosé was out of stock, I thought I should give their 2006 Red a chance. From the Coteaux d'Aix en Provence appellation, it is a blend of Grenache and Syrah (harvested early September) and Cabernet Sauvignon (harvested late September) from 30 year old vines.

The winemaker describes its robe as fuschia, some wild berry touches to it, fills your mouth with flavors, balanced tannins (around $14).

David McDuff paid a second visit to the property earlier this year and shares his impressions in Getting Reacquainted with Château Calissanne (March 2008).

Last on my list and maybe my favorite of the three Ciacci Piccolomini Toscana Rosso "Poggio Della Fonte" 2005, a ruby red treat with a little earthiness and spice to it.

It is 50% Sangiovese and for the rest Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot (not sure what the exact percentages are).

Want some technical facts: It is aged for 12 months in large Slavonian oak casks for Sangiovese and in old barriques and tonneaux for Cabernet and Merlot, blendend in tanks then aged in bottle for 2 months (around $12)...

Recent Red Blends Bits:

No Quatre Quart, De Lisio Quarterback 2006, An Australian Red Blend, Almost Equal Parts

Besides Petanque: 2CV and Solex 'Bastille Day' Rendez-Vous in New York

The Citroen 2 CV and the Solex are icons of the 50's and 60's in France and Europe at least
They would take you from point A to point B in a practical if not luxurious way.

The 'Bastille Day' Rendez-Vous kicks off at 10:00 am at Grant's Tomb (Riverside Drive and 122nd St) on July 13 in New York. Check the full map of the itinerary thanks to the Greater NY Citroën & Velosolex Touring Club site.



This is the Ninth Edition of the Event.

Will Lloyd Cole make a cameo appearance singing 2 CV?

Hard to believe but Velosolex models such as the S4800 (pictured below) can still be purchased in the US.

Even Catherine Deneuve rode one as that 1973 picture (courtesy of Velosolex America) shows.

Check the Velosolex America for details

Thanks to Katia of Pardon Me for Asking for pointing that Event to Me.

Related: Petanque in Brooklyn (at Bar Tabac) and other Bastille Day Events

Learn Japanese Tips and Tricks at the 'Urawaza' Book Party (San Francisco, July 13)

After reading The Maker of Balloons (Water Balloons that is) on PingMag, I wanted to learn more about this Japanese Summer tradition.

By some twist of fate, I landed instead on Tokyo Mango, one of the voices of Lisa Katayama.

She recently published Urawaza (Chronicle Books) where she shares some everyday Japanese tips and tricks such as "Can't find someone to water your plants while you're away? Place the plant on a water-soaked diaper, so it slowly absorbs water over time."

She continues a popular Japanese trend that expresses itself on popular TV Shows and numerous books.

If you are in San Francisco on Sunday, July 13, Lisa has a book signing party where she will demo some of her secrets. It takes place from 1to 3pm at Double Punch a store offering Japanese Toys, Art Books and more in the North Beach district, close to the Bay.

All the way back in May, Try Than offered her own Kitchen Secrets on Bay Area Bites. Let me quote a couple:

"After soaking dried tamarind in water, use the strained fruit and fibers to polish your copper pans and bowls.

Use the edge of a small spoon to peel the crooks and crannies of knobby ginger."

Are you hooked on the Urawaza trend?

Want to share your own kitchen and home tricks?

A side trip in the Bay Area for Tokyo Thursdays #46

Last Week: Slew of reviews on 'Japan Cuts' (New York), Could not make it to Opening Night!