Manhattan Digest

All you need to know about Manhattan culture and so much more...

Manhattan Digest Launch Party December 12th!

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Credit to: Manhattan Digest
Credit to: Manhattan Digest

 

This has been truthfully an insane and incredible year for Manhattan Digest as a whole.  What started a simple email that I sent to a mutual friend of my partner in crime, Lane Campbell, has flourished and turn into something I never expected.  And after a hard year of work, countless interviews and interesting pieces about Manhattan and beyond, we are finally going to get to celebrate our efforts with sushi, alcohol and a fun night in the heart of New York City.

Credit to: Bamboo 52
Credit to: Bamboo 52

 

Next Thursday night, Bamboo 52 is hosting our official launch party of sorts.  Located in midtown Manhattan, it is a swank, trendy and sexy bar and restaurant that specializes in its signature sushi rolls and fantastic drink specials.  The event will happen between 7-9PM and will have some great happy hour drink specials ($5 Mojitos yo!) as well as some special appearances.  You can come and celebrate the holiday season, celebrate with the writers and team that have turned this site into something spectacular or you can do both and have a damn good time doing so.

For those first time visitors to Manhattan Digest, who are we exactly?  Well, to be honest, we are a little bit of everything.  Each of our writers discusses issues that have a personal edge to them.  Meaning that instead of just writing a factual news story, they interject their opinion just like the best writers out there do so.  So whether it is the latest headline that is swarming the social networking sites or a particular TV show or artist that you need to know about, we can guarantee here at Manhattan Digest that we will leave you wanting more.

Credit to: Bamboo 52
Credit to: Bamboo 52

 

Log onto Bamboo 52’s official website for more information on this fantastic location and check out the event invite  for more info.  Hit up [email protected] for further information.  Look forward to seeing all of you there!

Bamboo 52

344 W 52nd St

New York, NY 10019

(212) 315-2777

Kelly Clarkson’s Album “Wrapped in Red”- A Review

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wrapped

 

Wrap Yourself In Kelly’s Red 

 

Now that Thanksgiving is over, we can finally talk about Christmas stuff. Aren’t you glad I bothered to wait?! So, one thing that happens, just about every year, is a bevy of pop Christmas albums. From Destiny’s Child, to Nat King Kole, to Aaron Neville, we get bombarded with pop renditions of Christmas carols and newly written stuff that either makes a place in our traditions, or quickly falls by the wayside. So, of course, that’s exactly what this review is about!

Why did *I* wait so long? Well, I try to avoid Christmas music till Thanksgiving, so I kind of forgot that this thing came out, but we’re doing it now, and you still have enough time to download it and gift it!! [Read more…] about Kelly Clarkson’s Album “Wrapped in Red”- A Review

Best Funeral Ever Defies Expectations (For The Better)

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Source: TLC
Source: TLC

Best Funeral Ever: Mondays at 10 Eastern on TLC

For many people, the death of a loved one is a difficult and trying time. The survivor is often overcome with both grief and the pain of knowing that they will never see a person whom they spent a large portion of their life with again. Many times, however, during the funeral itself, the phrase “ a celebration of [the deceased’s] life” is often used with the promise of better times to come in the afterlife. TLC is focusing on that phrase with the intensity of a laser in it’s newest offering, which premiered Monday night.

Best Funeral Ever follows Texas funeral director John Beckwith Jr., whom has a reputation for putting together some of the most outlandish “life celebrations” the world has ever seen. Instead of the typical funeral, where the deceased initially goes through a wake before the funeral mass and burial in a traditionally somber mood, the “going home” ceremonies are full blown parties with contemporary music, custom caskets, a less formal dress code, and all sorts of interesting activities. Beckwith puts on about 125 of these ceremonies a year, and TLC is there to take you along for the ride.

When I first heard about this show, I had some serious concerns that the show was going to get in the way of the grieving process by putting too harsh of a spotlight on the mourning family (by forcing their constant input). However, thankfully, the producers instead opted to take the surprisingly more tasteful track of taking elements of an office comedy through the process of planning the most off-beat funerals most people have seen.

The show tends to shine it’s brightest when it operates in that office comedy mode. In our pilot, the best parts often involved Treanare and E awkwardly trying to explain to various people in the wedding profession that they are trying to have a wedding for two dead people while the wedding professionals look on with a mix of puzzlement and disdain. The second episode furthers this dynamic, as Beckwith’s bumbling son B3 bites off more than he can chew trying to get a casket to move 100 meters at track star speed.

Best Funeral Ever‘s cold opens concern me most, as that is where it seems like the show starts to drift into self-parody a little bit. This is particularly notable in the second episode, where we got a four minute musical production about Breakfast. While I understand these moments allow for the show to crystallize its’ premise of putting the fun in “funeral”, when it starts to veer towards ridiculous, it doesn’t reflect well on anyone. Similarly, boss Beckwith’s commentary feels lacking, often spouting out the same statements repeatedly, which is extra unfortunate because he’s our de facto narrator.

The Final Verdict: I went into this show thinking that I was going to end up exploding, LA Shrinks style. Instead, I stumbled into what’s mostly an office comedy about people who happened to work making unconventional funerals, as opposed to a show that exploited funerals for the televised eye. This is probably worth checking out once-or-twice for the spectacle and to watch funeral workers get over their heads during the course of their unconventional event planning.

Cyber Monday Sales Top 2 Billion

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And so, as the bruised and battered shoppers from across the fifty holiday-engorged states made their way back to their homes and questionable leftovers, a new beast lay in waiting behind their inauspicious computer monitors and tablets. The Monday after the turkey and gravy fest, and after the menacing crowds and monsters of Black Friday, is the latest great opportunity to present consumers with yet more ridiculous sales and deals – all now available conveniently within the safety of their own homes. It was Cyber Monday. Shopping online was madness. At nightfall the internet sat in the corner of the shower and wept. One phrase surely graced more computer monitors than on any other given day throughout the year: This Site is Temporarily Down.

Cyber Monday is a fairly recent cultural phenomenon. It began in 2005. A press release was conducted by the company Shop.org, publicly stating that the Monday following Thanksgiving was quickly becoming one of the busiest online shopping days of the year. This was based on the numbers of the previous year: The monday following Thanksgiving had been in the top 12 busiest online shopping days of 2004. Shop.org decided to attempt throwing the e-commerce community on the Black Friday bandwagon. It worked. That Cyber Monday saw record numbers: numbers which have increased annually since.

This year broke a new record, pushing online sales over the 2 billion dollar mark in a single day. $2.29 billion dollars to be exact.

Cyber Monday Profits 

2006 – $610,000,000

2007 – $730,000,000

2008 – $846,000,000

2009 – $887,000,000

2010 – $1,028,000,000

2011 – $1,251,000,000

2012 – $1,465,000,000

2013 – $2,290,000,000

 

In contrast, sales for the 2013 Black Friday weekend went down for the first time in seven years. Falling 2.9% from last year’s sales, this year saw 57.4 billion dollars in profits for the weekend. That is a significant pullback considering the numbers had been on the rise every year since 2006. Last year saw 59.1 billion dollars in sales.

The most evident thought-process to be reached by these numbers is right in front of us: everything is moving into the digital age. Cyber Monday was not only successful – it was phenomenal. It wasn’t just the computers either. A whopping 18.3% of online sales were found and processed using tablets and smart phones. Cyber Monday is becoming easier to do, so naturally the numbers are rising. Black Friday is a time-honored and kind of scary tradition, sure, but why chance being flattened to the ground by high-tops and pumps in front of a Walmart when you can sit in your pajamas and work those index-finger muscles?

Cyber Monday CrashesIt’s not perfect yet. There were, as there always are, some technical problems while dealing with the massive number of visitors on e-commerce sites. Several sites did crash due to an overload of volume, including Motorola, Toys’R’Us, Urban Outfitters, Brookstone, Nordstrom, and Barnes & Noble. While most of these companies were back online within a few minutes, they potentially lost hundreds of thousands of dollars in their absence.

If there is a moral to the story that was Black Cyber Weekend, it must be that, well, we’re all a bunch of greedy and impatient barbarians, and the machines will soon be taking over.

 

Sources: Wikipedia.org, Business Insider, Bloomberg News

 

 

Pescatore- Traditional meets Delicious meets Happiness

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Credit to: Pescatore Restaurant
Credit to: Pescatore Restaurant

Pescatore and great food go together like Peanut Butter & Jelly.

I am the first person to admit that fish to me is never the first thing I am looking to order when I go to a restaurant that has a meat or pasta option on the menu.  So when I first heard of a place called “Pescatore” I had to mentally change my game palate up due to thinking that everything on the menu was fish related.  I was wrong, yet at the same time pleasantly surprised with the entire meal (which included some of the best fish I have ever had, more to come later).  My friend and I went there a week ago and were treated like kings in so many different ways.  Here is more about our great experience.

Credit to: Charles Devigne
Credit to: Charles Devigne

 

Pescatore itself has such a warm and friendly vibe to it that is nestled in the heart of Midtown East.  The service was spectacular throughout the meal, and I got a chance to talk a little more with the owner Charles Devigne, who is celebrating the restaurant’s 20th Anniversary this year (Congrats!).  He started us off with a bevy of appetizers, all of which were unique in their own right but had great depth of flavors to them.  My personal favorite was the risotto balls with the truffle aioli sauce, something that we got a sneak peek of because they aren’t currently on the menu! Hooray for behind the scenes access!  We were told this was something that was being placed back on the menu eventually, to which I agree with that decision.  Better yet, do it sooner because my mouth is watering thinking about how damn good they were.  One thing that my friend was a big fan of that didn’t really work for me was the ricotta cheese with chives, pease, hazelnuts, honey, and mint.  It might have been a bit much for my palate but it was still tasty to say the least.

Credit to: Charles Devigne
Credit to: Charles Devigne

 

We also were treated to two different types of pasta dishes. One was Linguine alla Vongole which included steamed little neck clams with Chorizo, green onions, toasted garlic and fresh parsley.  The other was Spaghetti Carbonara with pancetta, caramelized onions, pecorino and egg.  Once again, my friend and I had a difference in opinion as I thought the latter was better than the former, yet both were equally delicious.  It was just a matter of our taste buds.  Out of all the dishes that we had, hands freaking down the best thing from the entire night was the Chilean Sea Bass.  Chilean Sea Bass is one of the few seafood that I really enjoy personally, as it is foodporn to the umpteenth level.  I can say this was the best Sea Bass I have ever sank my lips into, and that is because the supporting cast really made the star shine.  The bass was surrounded by peas, porcini farro and brown butter vinaigrette with a cauliflower, currant and almond condiment.  So amazingly yummy.

Credit to: Charles Devigne
Credit to: Charles Devigne

 

After all of that, the last dish that we had of course was dessert, which was a homemade cheesecake.  Delicious and then some.  Overall, an 8.5 out of 10 in my book.  Great place to go to if you want some hearty Italian cooking with an edge and an overall great environment.  Check out Pescatore’s official website for more information on menus and location.  Definitely worth the visit!

Pescatore

955 2nd Avenue

New York, NY 10022

212-752-7151

Black Friday: What it says about Humanity today

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Black Friday 2013
Black Friday 2013

When looked at from a business perspective, Black Friday is anything but negative. The fourth friday of November, specifically the day after the American Holiday of Thanksgiving, is easily and consistently the busiest and most profitable shopping day of the year. Where many retailers might be “in the red” (pertaining to sales, in-the-red refers to a business not turning a profit, but instead losing money), Black Friday serves as a jump-start to the season where these businesses can move their sales “into the black” (turning a profit) – and then some. It’s true – the deals and the steals are an attractive and magnetic aspect of bulb-flashing and glitzy persuasion, if not coercion. Yet at some point in the rise of the blackness of that single day we seem to have lost sight of what it’s all for. Sure, you can cry recession: We’re all trying to save as much money as we can nowadays, and Black Friday serves as the opportunity to do just that while expertly amassing the perfect collection of gifts for our loved ones. And yet, is it all worth it? The camping overnight, clamoring, clawing and bickering? The arguing, belligerence, and warmongering mobbing? Does the gift of giving hold its purpose when we lose ourselves to achieve it?

The Origin

The origin of Black Friday is not completely known. It has been referenced on several different occasions throughout recent history. The earliest known coining of the term occurred in the late nineteenth century during the Financial Crisis of 1869. During the Grant Presidency, the event was named, quite aptly, “Black Friday” – imputing the somber darkness of the term with the desolation of such a crisis. The term was not used specifically as a description for the post-Thanksgiving shopping frenzy until the year 1961, in which it can be argued that the current use of the phrase originated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The police departments in Philadelphia began to call the day after Thanksgiving “Black Friday” in regards to the terrifically obnoxious volume of overcrowding, traffic jams, chaos and crimes which did occur on that day every year. The Friday known as black held its title, and a gradual spread of the adjective quickly erupted. Soon it was a household date. Soon the department stores began to use it to their advantage.

It did not take long for major retailers to realize the full potential of what Black Friday could mean for business. There had been sales and deals on that friday long before the color graced its presence, but now there was power behind those two words. Instead of simply printing “50% off” on billboards and newspapers, retailers started to put “BLACK FRIDAY SALE” as their headline. People started paying attention. The words held a sort of ominous and dark-side implication. This drew in the crowds. Human nature took over. This wasn’t generosity-friday; this was Black Friday. This was no longer bargain shopping – this was war.

The Numbers

Black Friday is profitable. That much is certain. The numbers jump for consumers, small businesses, and big businesses alike. Yes, it is good for the economy. What is an economy, however, distributed among a commune of tyrants? Some may say it’s inhumane. Some may say that’s America. Both assumptions are quite correct.

Jumping back seven years, the profits from the Black Friday weekend have nearly doubled. The numbers are, in a word, astounding. Two-thousand six saw roughly 140 million shoppers grace the malls and department stores on Black Friday, each consumer spending an average of $360.00 dollars. Last year’s 2012 Black Friday saw about 247 million shoppers, each spending a much improved average of $423.00 dollars. Below are the total gross profits in billions, yes billions, each Black Friday weekend since 2006:

Black Friday weekend profits

2006 – $34.4 billion

2007 – $34.6 billion

2008 (U.S. Recession) – $41 billion

2009 – $41.2 billion

2010 – $45 billion

2011 – $52.5 billion

2012 – $59.1 billion

Clearly, the number rises significantly each year. It can be called astonishing that in the midst of a global recession period during 2008, the country as a whole still traveled in droves to spend money on the biggest friday of the year. Some may call this positive and patriotic; others might call it irresponsible and greedy.

The numbers for 2013’s Black Friday have not yet been accurately reviewed, but given the trend of the chart, it can be assumed that this year topped over 60 Billion dollars in sales.

Update: In fact, for 2013 the sales went down. Total in-store sales topped-off at 57.4 billion dollars, while cyber monday sales rose significantly.

The Violence

Where there is Black Friday, there is violence. That has become the norm; that has come to be expected. Each year there seem to be more reports of growing violence and tragic accidents as a result of the mobbing crowds of the holiday weekend. Where there is an expectation of joy and giving, there is bloodshed.

Unruly shoppers charge into stores as soon as they are opened. They trample. People are injured. Stores present gimmicks, like dropping coupons from the ceiling once their doors open. And in moments like those, people seem to lose a piece of the humanity they claim to be shopping for. They charge at the idea of a discount without a second glance at what or who stands in their way.

In 2008, a Wal-Mart in Valley Stream, New York opened its doors for business sharply at 5:00am. The crowd of over 2,000 people charged the doors like a stampede, killing a 34 year-old employee in the process. Two others were needlessly shot to death over a product altercation in California that same friday.

courtesy abcnewsIn 2010 there were multiple stabbings, arrests, and another trampling of a man in Buffalo, New York.

In 2011 there was a violent pepper spray incident pertaining to an altercation over the new Xbox 360. A man in California was shot.

In 2012 several people were shot, some over a parking space.

And this year was no exception to the curse of the friday known as black. On Thanksgiving evening, as it has become the beginning of the shopping frenzy recently, an alleged shoplifter dragged a police officer from his car while trying to escape in Illinois. The assailant was shot. In Las Vegas, a thief took a TV from a man who had just purchased it. While trying to retrieve the television, the victim was shot in the leg. There were multiple scuffles at stores across the country (especially Walmarts) involving several stabbings, fights and small crowd riots.

In Minnesota a man named Serge Vorobyov, who wanted to give cheer during Black Friday, dropped 1,000 one-dollar bills down to a crowd on the Rotunda of the Mall of America. It quite literally was snowing money. The crowd, in a disorderly fashion of course, went crazy for the money. Vorobyov was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct.

And in Philadelphia, where the entire Black Friday culture is thought to have originated, two women were caught on cell phone video fighting violently after an argument escalated. It seemed to be like any other Black Friday scuffle – one of many emerging amateur videos catching the instigators in the act – until one woman suddenly pulled out and began to use a taser gun. A security guard quickly broke up the fight – a potentially deadly fight which took place mere feet from a baby in a stroller.

The Humanity

So where do we stand? Where does society go from here? It can be said that the overall goal and purpose of Black Friday is to create a win-win circumstance for both the consumer and the nation’s economic well-being. And yet each year, as profits grow, so does the bloodshed. Are those who are injured or even killed simply “casualties of war” in the skirmishes that we create? No. That’s absurd. This isn’t a war. No bargain, whether it be a 20% or 100% discount, is worth the price of blood on our hands.

It is important to note that with each year, overcrowding and needless arguments are not the only problem on Black Friday. Robbery is an escalating trend. It’s not enough for some people to have the advantage of mega-deals and bargains for the items they seek. They want everything for nothing. Black Friday, with its growing reputation for irresponsibility and lack of morality, is becoming an open-door of opportunity to thieves and criminals. And rest assured – those things they do steal are not going under anybody’s tree as gifts.

It’s very simple. The only thing we still lack on Black Friday is patience. Nothing is worth violence or hatred toward another human. Nothing that comes in a box is worth letting yourself become a monster for a single day. You may not get that last big-screen TV for your husband, but you will be there on Christmas Day. And that still must be the most important gift we can give. And the good news – it’s completely free.

Album Review: Nils Frahm – Spaces

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20131202-175128.jpg

Nils Frahm: Spaces
Similar Artists: Max Richter, Steve Reich, Erik Satie
Genre: Minimalism, Modern-Classical
Label: Erased Tapes

The weather’s getting colder, and NYC’s striving artists have retreated to the subways to gift us with their musical talents in the hope that we will provide them with petty cash so they can sustain themselves through the tough months that lie ahead. During this past holiday weekend alone, I heard countless performers from such backgrounds as jazz, soul, percussion, and even opera. That’s not to mention the hordes of freestyle dancers flipping around subway carts to hip-hop. As much as I love these omnipresent musical flourishes throughout my day-to-day travels, they will often distract me from my personal headphone space, and I will have to put my isolated world on hold until I reach a quieter destination. However, with Nils Frahm’s latest solo offering, Spaces, the gifted young pianist has crafted a 70 minute modern-classical epic that as far as my travels have taken me, has remained incapable of being tarnished by any outside factor; all the saxophonists, soul singers, percussionists and dancers seem to arrive at the perfect time, blending inconspicuously into the vast open arena that is this music

That may seem a bit fantastical, as this isn’t quite as empty as ambient music, but it has to do with the spacious, occasionally barren, and most of all wintery, piano music that Nils Frahm is composing. I’m not 100% sure if Spaces is intended to be a live document, or a career compilation, or possibly an entirely new full length (only a few of these pieces have yet to be released in one form or another) but it is clear that it’s intended to feel intimate and personal; like Nils himself is sitting in front of us with his grand piano, fighting back the coldness of the air to play us one more composition. And grand compositions these are, as never before has the young pianist reproduced his sprawling talent within a statement as commendable as this one.

My introduction to Nils Frahm was through his brief 3 song EP Wintermusic, which was recommended to me at the time due to my obsession with minimalist piano music such as Erik Satie, as well as more modern classical composers such as Max Richter. As pleasant as Wintermusic was though, despite being an album I enjoyed to listen to during 2011 snowstorms (if I had already listened to Kate Bush’s 50 Words for Snow that day), it offered little to hold on to, and I never ended up chasing after any of the artist’s other work. Spaces, however, is massive, elemental, and more experimental/avant-garde in nature. As far as modern-classical works go, this is the most notable I’ve heard since Richter’s pivotal The Blue Notebooks.

It starts off on the noisier side with the uncharacteristically brief “An Aborted Beginning”, which clings to the listener with percussion (also uncharacteristic) and a slight dub infusion. “Says”, at 8:18, is the first real piece, and it sees Nils at his most hypnotic and momentous, ever so slightly picking up the pace every measure until exploding into a cathartic climax. From there he moves to “Said and Done”, which along with brand new track “Hammers” feels minimalist in the Steve Reich/Philip Glass kind of way. Compared to intense moments such as these, I first felt the three song middle section of “Went Missing”, “Familiar”, and “Improvisation for Coughs and a Cell Phone” — which are all slowly moving solo piano pieces — to be a bit on the boring side, especially when pitted against the more epic, synth driven pieces, but they also allow us to get a better grasp on Frahm’s improvisational supremacy, and how he feels comfortable no matter how abstract his music becomes. Still, there are no words to describe how great it feels when the huge, pulsating chords open up “For-Peter-Toilet Brushes-More”. As the four part title suggests, the nearly 20 minute track represents everything that is great about Nils Frahm and wraps it into one continuously flowing monologue.

I’m usually all about moving while listening to music, like I’m in fear that if I stay cemented for too long the music will stop affecting me. Spaces though, is an album I feel completely comfortable doing just about anything with (reading, studying, browsing the web, resting) without the music’s flow ever departing from my consciousness. In other words, it’s an album you could live with; each playthrough ever so slightly drawing you into the cold winter ahead.

Track Listing
1.) An Aborted Beginning
2.) Says*
3.) Said and Done*
4.) Went Missing
5.) Familiar
6.) Improvisation For Coughs and a Cell Phone
7.) Hammers*
8.) For-Peter-Toilet Brushes-More*
9.) Over There, It’s Raining
10.) Unter-Tristana-Ambre*
11.) Ross’s Harmonium

Album Highlight – *

Maria Kang’s Message Lost Amid Controversy

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Credit: Mike Byerly Photography/Maria Kang
Credit: Mike Byerly Photography/Maria Kang

 

Maria Kang, a California mother of three, who came to be known as “Fit Mom” for her no nonsense approach to health and fitness is once again caught in the crosshairs of an ongoing public uproar.

Kang was the recipient of harsh criticism after an image that she posted to her Facebook page last year recently went viral. The picture of Kang, clad only in a sports bra and mini fitness shorts, and surrounded by her three young sons (aged three and under), features the question “What’s your excuse?”

The controversy surrounding Kang was reignited once again on November 22, when she responded to a photo campaign launched by Curvy Girl Lingerie, in which larger women are seen in their bras and underwear.

Kang expressed her annoyance in a post of the following on her Facebook page:

“1. We have a health issue in America with over 2/3 overweight or obese.

2. We have a healthcare crisis. We spend over 3 trillion in healthcare yearly!

3. We have a childhood obesity issue, with many children suffering from adult diseases like diabetes.

4. We have magazines everywhere praising the celebrity (with all her resources) for being fit after months of giving birth and scorn the “real every day mom” who is able to be successful.

5. We keep blaming the culprit (school lunches, fast food, etc) when the real change starts at home – ESP those who lead, which are the parents.

There are some serious contradictions in our society. I know many people still get riled up with me and my convictions but the truth is I KNOW how it is to work your ass off and not have energy at the end of your day. I know how it feels to be overweight and not drop an ounce after years of disordered eating. I know how difficult it is to raise multiple children – all born a year apart – and make my fitness and nutrition a priority. Lastly, I know how it feels like to grow up with an unhealthy mother wondering if she will live to see your wedding day.”

We need to change this strange mentality we are breeding in the U.S. and start celebrating people who are a result of hard work, dedication and discipline. I’m not bashing those who are proud and overweight, I am empowering those who are proud and healthy to come out and be the real role models in our society.”

Facebook, which suspended Kang’s account for three hours following her post, reportedly did so because several people had reported the post as “hate speech.” The account was suspended for two days before being restored without Kang’s post, with Facebook claiming a misunderstanding, telling Kang that she could repost her opinion if she wanted to.

Kang was surprised by Facebook’s reaction, saying “I was pretty shocked. I definitely think my freedom of speech was removed.”

As a former bulimic, Kang says that she did not intend to fat-shame overweight women, but impressed upon the fact that being obese is unhealthy and should not be celebrated.

“It’s never my intention to say someone should look a certain way,” she said. “But I am not going to stand here and say being obese is okay and we should accept that as the norm.”

While I don’t necessarily agree with the manner in which Kang went about stating her opinion, it cannot be denied that she surely has a point, and that she has gotten us talking about health and weight in this country — a discussion that despite an incredulous amount of diet supplements and focus on body image, has been long overdue.

It cannot be denied, as Kang says, that the money spent on poor health and its effects in this country are astronomical; the cost of being obese trickles down to almost every aspect of life. From the families of those affected, to the cost of healthcare, to the toll that poor self-esteem and depression can take, obesity has undoubtedly become an epidemic. It has also been scientifically proven that a healthy diet and exercise are the cure for most health issues and diseases associated with obesity. Furthermore, it cannot be denied that said healthy eating habits and exercise are the product of hard work, dedication, and sometimes will power (okay…always will power). These facts we know. So what exactly are we so angry about?

Sure it can easily be interpreted that Kang comes across as preachy, holier than thou, and in some respects even abrasive. Her “What’s your excuse?” mentality tends to pin those without abs against those with a hefty six pack. It can easily put those of us with cellulite on the defensive.

I understand, because the truth of the matter is that even at my fittest, I do not look like Maria Kang. I do not have a six pack, or a mere 18% body fat for that matter. However, hating Kang, or citing her for “hate speech” is not only outlandish and inappropriate (not to mention in my opinion highly unconstitutional), but it defeats what I believe to be Kang’s true message, which appears to be getting lost among the ridiculous hubbub.

I believe that in an age where we are so inundated with ideas, it is hard to get others to listen to what’s being said short of shock and awe. So instead of hating on Kang for the way that she looks, let’s break down what it is that she is trying to say, rather than how she is saying it. It may just prove helpful.

1. Obesity is unhealthy.

2. Being healthy means a healthy diet and exercise.

3. A healthy diet and exercise take work.

4. Lots of work.

5. We should work. Hard.

This is not to say that Kang thinks that we should all look like her clones. Just that we should strive to lead healthy lives instead of making excuses for our inaction. If you are obese there is no doubt that you are beautiful. You should hold your head up high and love yourself with every fiber of your being. And if you don’t, I implore you to start. In fact I demand that you do.

But as humans we are constantly evolving. That’s why each and every one of us should be able to look at ourselves and improve upon where we are. If we slack off in class and earn a D, should we not still strive for an A? We may come up short again, but what kind of life would we be living if we stopped trying all together?

Though I don’t agree with Kang’s approach, I agree with what it is that she is trying to say. And if you still don’t want to exercise or make Popeye proud, that’s your prerogative. I am certainly not in any position to tell you what to do. And if you don’t like what Kang has to say, you can take it with a grain of salt (atop of fries), or leave it altogether. But she is certainly entitled to voice her opinion.

KTCHN’s Crostini’s & Snacks Bring on the Bite!

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Credit to: KTCHNNYC
Credit to: KTCHNNYC

Appetizers, Crostini’s and Snacks, Oh My!

You don’t have to go to a restaurant and order a big entree to fill you up and keep you satisfied.  Sometimes it is the perfect bite or appetizer that can properly keep your hunger tank on full without feeling like you needed that big plate to overdo things.  And KTCHN proves that just like their amazing brunch selections, they can do the same with their Amuse-Bouche of sorts.  I had the honor of covering this amazing location for a second time last week and was once again not let down.

Something that KTCHN provides for their bevy of customers are an array of Crostini’s each paired with a unique spread that packs a ton of flavor and punch.  My friend and I tried three of them (3 for $8, great price in my opinion) and each had a great flavor to them that was satisfying and delicious.  Out of the three that I tried my favorite had to have been the Cannnellini, Basil Pesto & White Anchovy.  This was an interesting conclusion for myself personally as I am not the biggest fan of anchovies yet have a fond liking for basil and pesto.  All three of the flavors melded very well together and gelled with the hard crunch of the Crostini.  The other two that we tried had a similar effect on our palates, this included the Artichoke Risotto with an Orange topping and a Chickpea Hummus with a Red Charmoula Aioli.  Keep in mind that I am a simple boy from Long Island who most of the time enjoys the taste of a good slice of pizza or burger, so these options are a bit out of left field for me but they worked harmoniously and were just great.

Credit to: R. Couri Hay Creative Public Relations
Credit to: R. Couri Hay Creative Public Relations

 

KTCHN is also the first place I have gone to where I have seen the word “Sexy” be used as part of a dish that they create.  Now normally the “sexy” element is of course when I walk into the room (kidding, not really), but I was very interested when I worked my way over to the next part of the menu, the Cocktail Snacks & Small Bites, and saw that was one of the menu items listed.  The fries have vinegar, garlic and smoked paprika in them, so if you are wimpy and don’t enjoy that kind of intense flavor then these aren’t the fries for you.  I personally loved them and thought they were quite tasty.  Other standouts for me and my friend included the always simple and classic yet delicious Shrimp Cocktail, which also had white corn chips to dunk into the sauce itself, and the Crispy Crab Cake Sliders which were warm and yummy with a great old bay tartar sauce that really elevated the taste to a whole other level.  Easily for a small portion meal me and my friend gave this a 9 out of 10.

If you are in the mood to just have some small appetizing plates before you head out on a night on the town, then of course I would recommend doing so at KTCHN.  It is nestled right in the heart of Times Square, and for anyone visiting should be a good time before enjoying the night ahead.  Always be on the lookout for their upcoming events, including their Dinner & A Movie Tuesdays and drag duo “The Hause Of Mimosa” performing each Sunday from 11-3.