Update

Here is an image of the plants - if you compare to a couple of posts back you can see that they are starting to grow some!

Watch out! Kramer may be stalking on you!

I also posted this elsewhere, but it's work-related, so I figured I'd contribute:

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On my walk into the office, who should I run into completely out of the blue? Michael Richards, in black, with Fedora and tripod-ed Nikon D-SLR, standing, STARING at a street performer dressed as Boba Fett, playing the accordion. True story.

We chatted for five minutes. About my job (and how he thinks its cool), about his job (not working on anything - "they're scared of me...they're scared of their own shadow!"). We also discussed living in NY (too expensive) and if he goes to comedy clubs anymore. He was cool, totally engaged and interested in Locations work (not in working in it, but in the way it works).

My favorite part was when I asked if he'd work on old buddy Jerry Seinfeld's new show "The Marriage Ref" and the generally aloof and spacey Mr. Richards snapped into complete lucidity, scoffed and said "I'd never do that." 

It took me a minute to realize I wasn't being punk'd or something (because he wasn't moving, he was just chilling, totally immersed in the Bounty Hunter's act) - when I did come to my senses, I suggested a photo and was overwhelmed by the amount of technology I had on me and took an awkward MySpace-style jam with the DSLR (first draft came out chinny and he judged me). I should have used Flip, but I didn't think of it in time. 

Yes, I gave him my info and invited him to a show. He'll be sitting with Robert Smigel in the "Hell's Frozen Over" Section, with all celebs I've invited. 

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Now, since then, I've run into him again. Next day. Same spot. Yes, Boba Fett was there too. It was surreal. Mr. Richards was staring at a real-estate poster and I commented on how there were some really nice apartments around there that we'd shot in. I mentioned the penthouse we recently shot in - with the all-white everything and the windows. He replied with something like "Of course the penthouses are nice." I wanted to fire back something about how he could afford it because he's probably crazy rich, but then I froze, because I was being presumptuous (Madoff?) and I didn't want to hurt his feelings (because the next time we meet would be the third date - and, well, I want it to go well). 

He said he liked my Superman T-shirt, and I said I liked dressing for the job I want (super-hero). We chatted about looking the part is important and how people call him "sir" when he's in a suit. We went our seperate ways...he disappeared fast.

I'm still not sure I'm not the secret guest of a new hidden camera show: "So You Think You're Not Dreaming".

Yesterday we were in Far Rockaway and he wasn't there. I hope I see him one more time...I think he's the kinda guy you bring home to the folks, you know?

Mac & Cheese As A Cure For Cranky

Not much in the way of food-related posts lately, is there? I haven’t been doing my part because I’ve had so little to comment on—although I do make a concerted effort to try new things as often as it’s convenient, my selections rarely stray out of the realm of comfort food and onto higher, blogworthy planes.

Le Zie is a fucking boring restaurant. They do a handful of creative things, and they do them well, but their menu has been and always will be a hodgepodge of fancy-sounding entrees you could find anywhere. They’re overpriced, they’re slow, and when I get appetizers involving poached eggs, their idiot delivery men often manage to spill yolk in places that yolk should never be.

It’s gross outside. Gross weather means it’s time for the carb-rich, the fatty, the cheesy; it’s been ages since I tried their macaroni and cheese, and while it’s going to mean extra treadmill time tonight, I didn’t feel like I could last the day on salad.

Le Zie’s macaroni and cheese involves about forty different kinds of cheese, or so it seems, baked to crispness on the top, and motherfucking black truffles. Considering their standards, I’d imagine these aren’t top-of-the-line little shits, but they’re still sinfully good. Truffle slices up top; truffle oil within. I may die fat and alone, but for today I will eat a tasty (and surprisingly hearty) lunch, enjoying liquid cholesterol oozing from every noodle.

While sublime, it’s an ugly dish, hence the dearth of photographic documentation (my phone takes brokeass pictures; my real camera is at home). But this can’t change how it tastes—it’s like Gordon and Tony constantly repeat: Simple ingredients, creatively prepared, flawlessly executed; it’s the only real recipe for culinary success there is. If Le Zie could apply these standards to their dry-ass salmon and their oily monkfish, I’d eat there every day.

Black Truffle Mac & Cheese – try it. It’s damn good. And hey, maybe if enough people opt for the good stuff, they can phase out the crap. When was the last time you paid $16.95 for a few ounces of fish wrapped in bacon? Joe Buda did it the other day. It made him angry. You don’t want to see Joe Buda angry.

A Month & A Half Ago...

...we had all sorts of Holiday fun.On our last day of shooting we had our traditional Holiday lunch- complete with every kind of fish imaginable, and a "are you going to eat that?" fancy meat. During lunch Jeremy made me look at inappropriate pictures, to which I turned a new shade of red never seen before.



At some point in the day, the boys of locations had a photo shoot for their yet to be released 2010 calendar (what happened to that?), and Crista and I got flowers from a secret admirer.


Crista and I went all out this year with the decorations. Crista brought in an unimaginable amount of lights to hang, and I brought the 10 ft long Santa and sleigh poster. There's nothing better than trailer park office decorating.


We had our official Holiday Party at Bowlmor- complete with black light bowling, karaoke, dancing, pizza and drinks. There are plenty of awesome pictures, but I don't want to upset anyone, so I'll censor them- if you want to see what went down- show up next time!

You don't know Jack...

...until you've seen this video.

Now, many of you know about my fascination with the beacon of justice that is fictional NY District Attorney John J. (Jack) McCoy. Apparently, I am not the only one who is inspired by the dignity and moral steadiness of the aforementioned public crusader, as evidenced by the following video, which I did not make:




Thanks.
Congrats on three more episodes!

- M

It has to do with Production...

This has nothing to do with L&O- but it has to do with TV, so why not share it. One of my favorite blogs featured an interview with an art assistant at MadMen- what a lucky guy!

(click the picture)

Super Manny!

It's no door, but still worth it.