J-No - NYC blog that kicks so much ass it’s silly

Ding ding
ding… you hear that? Ding ding ding…
that’s the sushi bell. That means it’s
time to binge on raw fish. I love you
sushi bell!

Yes, it’s
been too long since we’ve heard the call to raise our chopsticks, secure our
napkins, guzzle some sake and rush into battle. You need to be prepared if you plan on getting through this ordeal
alive. Our first skirmish will be with the
infamous Dragon Rolls of Sendai. Don’t
be frightened by their delicious avocado exterior… the tender eel inside them
can easily be bested. But do not tire, I
beg you, keep moving. We will likely
then be flanked by the treacherous Tuna and Salmon Sashimi from the east and
west. They are deceptive – under their
tasteful, bare meat lies a requisite pile of rice that must be defeated as well. This can be quite filling and difficult to maneuver
around. We will brave the rain of sake
bombs in

Akita

and move south. There we will encounter the Spider Rolls, a clever bunch of barbarians
who have somehow combined

California

rolls with Eel to form this rare
breed. Do not be tempted by their crab
interior – it is fake. On to

Mito

where we will follow the
rainbow. But there is no gold at the end
of this rainbow. Instead there is an assortment of the finest trained samurai
this side of

Japan

– the Yellowtail may be the deadliest
warrior of all. And finally the Flying Fish
Roe will attack from the north, but their infantile tactics are childlike and
do not compare to your wasabi soy sauce. Ok let’s face it, they’re just eggs. If you can’t beat them, you’re not a very good samurai. If you emerge from this epic battle of bulge,
you are vict

ori

ous. You may never want to see
the light of a sushi restaurant again, but remember: you entered a mere child
with a hunger for sushi and blossomed into a true warrior with a belly the size
of a cantaloupe.

So let’s
rock out with our sushi socks out!

DEETS:

Easter
Sushi (AKA Nihon Sushi)

2^nd Ave

btw 72/73^rd st (

West

side of street)

THURSDAY
(next week, June 22^nd),

7:30pm

$25 (incl
tax + tip) and half price drinks/sake

This place
is the best AYCE place I’ve found so far, so come with an appetite.  As
always, you don’t have to order the AYCE special.

Let me know
if you’re coming so I can make adequate reservations.  Email me at jeffnovich@fastmail.fm, or call my
cell 914-629-9071. See you there!!

Link: Eastern Sushi - NYC Restaurant & Menu Guide. Menus, Ratings, Reviews. New York City, NY.

Citibank is offering an e-savings acct, linked directly to your checking acct, at a whopping 4.75%.  This is pretty damn good considering ING, which normally has the market cornered on good savings interest rates, is only at 4.25%.  The other great thing about Citi is that they offer instantaneous transfer between the two accts… meaning, "oh shit, I gotta pay my credit card, insurance, and rent but all my money is earning interest at ING… it’ll take 3 business days to transfer funds… crap!"  no more.

BUT… citi has the shittiest site ever.  ING tells you simply what their current rate is, your interest earned that year, that month, and its just good and intuitive.  I was just on the phone with Citi trying to find out where the F they post their rates for the e-savings… turns out you need to look at the statement, and find some tiny number on the 4th page to see what the hell is going on with your money.

I told the rep I think they ought to put all the info on the site when you log in so it’s more like ING and friendly.  I don’t expect they’ll take my suggestions to heart.  I also asked if there was a catch because I don’t expect this to come out of Citibank, and I mentioned I used to work at Citigroup so I had reason to be skeptical.

Link: ETonline.com Television: Rachael Ray’s Food Faceoff!.

No, that wasn’t me… that was my double Mr. Bobby Flay.  Go Flay!  (ps, he lost… i was there)

Sorry for the delay, but here it is, my blathering about the NYC Marathon.
My stats:
Official time: 4:12
Net time: 4:11
Place: ~11,200

• My Bib … in the garbage: Two days before the marathon, I realize I threw out my number and sneaker chip, and that I had taken the trash out… I am an idiot.
• The bus ride: we picked up a wandering Venezuelan dude who was left stranded when his taxi wasn’t allowed over the Verrazano Bridge.
• The start: Funny people and lots of urination.
• The race: A play-by-play with some great photos. "The Wall" hit at about mile 21.
• My Quote: I was quoted in the NYTimes the next day.  Find out why the reporter picked me.
• After-Race Thoughts: Being a part of something so big that I spent months preparing for became an unexpectedly emotional experience.

• Buttonfly Jeans are Dumb: I don’t get it. Why was the buttonfly invented?  And what kind of measuring system does Old Navy use that makes my corduroys longer than my jeans (both the same size)? [Rodeo Clowns - G Love and Jack Johnson]
• School for Autism: At my first real job as a sound mixer, I learned how to use sound equipment.  I also learned where all the attractive girls go to work: at a school for autistic children. [Celebrate - Wyclef Jean]
• UPS Blows: They suck.  I’ve lost 3 packages because the dude refuses to ring my buzzer or leave a note, and simply leaves packages downstairs for anyone to steal.  What the fuck, UPS?  Now I don’t have my running shoes I’ve been waiting for. [A Million Ways - Ok Go]

• Movie Week: I’ve done a lot of movie watching this past week — at the opening of RESFEST, a film festival in Tribeca I used to work for // opening night of Proof, a pretty good, pretty compelling play-turned-movie // a screening at the New York Film Academy including a student film that I did the voice over for!  (includes a clip of my film debut) // and Lord of War, an awesome film where Nicolas Cage is an arms dealer for warring countries.

• The Bathroom Full of Hookers: In a quiet bar on the Upper West Side, a clowncar of prostitutes. [Kal Ho Na Ho - It's Time To Disco]
• On Eating Pizza: The cost of a slice in Union Square is simply absurd.  And a note about how every New Yorker’s inisists they know where to get the "best slice of pizza."  [Little Shop of Horrors - Feed Me]
• Don’t Waste my Time, Wear a Helmet: How bikers not wearing helmets is not only stupid, but can take up time from my day when they get hurt and I have to be the one to call an ambulance. [Cake - Building a Religion]

• Pants: I need to buy pants but I don’t like going to clothing stores so I’m going to buy them online.  Only problem is the Gap and Old Navy websites are both down for renovations…  [Modest Mouse - Paper Thin Walls]
• Where is all the Pert Plus?: Whatever happened to that ingenious idea of combining shampoo and conditioner to save me money AND time in the shower.  Oh yeah, everyone copied it.

• Friday Night: I went to a gallery opening for Sam Bassett in DUMBO.  It had an open bar.  7pm til 7am.  I thought I’d be the only one there at midnight.  I thought wrong. [Our Lady Peace - Wipe That Smile off your Face]
• Saturday Night: I made up for Friday by seeing TWO bands play… The Crooners and one of my favorite bands, Sahara Hotnights. Listen to MP3s of [The Crooners - Orphan Child] and [Sahara Hotnights - The Difference between Love and Hell]

• Kristin Hoffmann show: I went to see this girl perform at Cafe Vivaldi last weekend.  She has an incredible voice, and amazing songs, and puts on a great show.  I recorded the show, so here’s an mp3 of one of her songs - [Mary].  Go to www.kristinhoffmann.com for more songs and info.
• Story of my late night run: I went for a run at about 11:30pm last night.  It was a great idea. [Sahara Hotnights - The Difference Between Love and Hell]
• What I thought about on my run: There is a lot you can think about when you’re running in central park by yourself, in the dark, and you have no idea who’s lurking in the shadows. [Sahara Hotnights - Mind over Matter]
• Review of AllOfMP3.com: At about $1.30 per album, it’s cheap, it’s easy, it’s higher quality, it’s got more than iTunes can hope to offer, and by the way, it’s cheap.  www.allofmp3.com [Kent - 400 Slag]
• Monday’s BBQ Rampage: I went to two Labor Day BBQs, ate 4 burgers, 2 hotdogs, and booze, and gained about 7 Lbs in just under 8 hours.  The guy singing in the background music is Jared Drace, whose apartment was stop #1. [Rooftop Quality - Philly]