Cupcake of the Week

For years, I've been a devoted fan of Magnolia and, more recently, Billy's Bakery and their delicious cupcakes. But since those places have become somewhat oversubscribed recently, I've been searching for a new cupcake joint.

Tonnie's Mini Cupcakes is in a storefront that I'd often passed while walking to the subway at West 4th Street. It's in a shared space on 3rd with that weird cheesteak place that always made me think, well, maybe they're not such great cupcakes if they don't have their own store.

Well, recently Tonnie's expanded to their own store on Macdougal between 3rd and Bleecker (pictured above). So I stopped in and picked up a chocolate w/vanilla icing. What was interesting was that they put the icing on after I ordered it making it super-fresh. And the cupcake itself was extraordinary. And a whole lot moister (as they used to say in those Duncan Hines ads) than Magnolia or Billy's.

So if you have a sweet tooth and are looking for a Village fix, stop by Tonnie's for a treat. I give it my highest, sugary seal of approval.

Hello Dolly

Dolly Parton has been in New York for the last few weeks as she preps her Broadway musical "9 To 5", opening tomorrow night at the Marriot Marquis Theatre. The current issue of The New Yorker has a funny, little Talk of the Town piece in which Dolly discusses her first visit to NYC on a high school class trip in '64 and then a subsequent visit in '70. And here's Dolly in her own inimitable words:

“We came here and we stayed down on, what is it, Forty-second Street, where all the whores run?”

Classic. She was also on David Letterman last night singing "Backwoods Barbie" and doing a Top Ten list of her pet peeves. Hilarious. I just love this woman! But, then again, who the hell doesn't?

Metal Trees at The Met

Today at the Met, the roof opens for the summer with a exhibit of metallic trees by artist Roxy Paine.  The TIMES created a nice audio slide show about the artist and his work. I remember two summers ago, Paine had another one of his remarkable silver tree creations in Madison Square Park.  If you haven't seen them, they are really remarkable and, on the stunning rooftop of the museum looking over all the real trees of Central Park, they'll surely be amazing.   

Tale of Two Species

Last night, there was a fascinating documentary on PBS's "NATURE" about horseshoe crabs. I know that doesn't sound like it would be fascinating but I was riveted. I never thought much about horseshoe crabs when I saw them on their backs, washed up on the shore of Jones Beach. But here's some basic facts that grabbed me when I was flipping channels; horsehoe crab blood is worth $15,000 a quart to the biomedical industry, horsehoe crabs are 350 million years old, and the average female horsehoe crabs lays 80,000 eggs out of which 10 crabs grow to maturity.

The distressing part of their story, though, is that the horseshoe crabs are disappearing from the Delaware Bay at an alarming rate, threatening the lives of a rare species of bird that flies in from Chile to feast on the eggs. And that bird has a whole other story intertwined with the horseshoe crab which is just wild.

Anyway, bottom line here is that I'm not the world's biggest nature nut but this doc told a truly extraordinary story. Here's the link to watch it online directly at PBS's website. An educational hour of TV well spent.

Warmer Weather & Cheaper Cars

With temps heading into the 80's this weekend, it's time to start thinking about getting out of the city. The problem for New Yorkers has always been how since the majority of us don't have cars. ZipCar started offering their services here a few years ago but it's pretty expensive, at $15 an hour and close to $100 per day.

So I was thrilled to hear about a new car rental service where the rates are $2 an hour! It's called MINT and like ZipCar, you pay a membership fee up front and then pay as you go. The only real catch is the super cheap rate is for daytime rentals and, after you hit 180 miles, you have to start paying per mile. But for errands and trips to the beach, this sounds like a great deal. Also, MINT has SmartCarswhich are not only cute but easy to park in the city, that's for sure.

Anyone having any experience with MINT? I'd like to hear more. Thanks and have a great summery weekend!

NetPix: The Wackness

This was another movie I meant to see in theatres when it was out last year. However, despite being a hit at Sundance '08, this film was not such a hit in Summer '08 and it disappeared before I got the chance. So I popped it in last night and, though I wasn't crazy about it at first, this one really grew on me. By the end, this nostalgic story, with a solid and sweet central performance from Josh Peck, had thoroughly won me over.

At first glance, "The Wackness" seems to be your standard coming-of-age story about an 18 year old in NYC. What sets it apart, though, is that it's set in the summer of 1994 and the teenager in question has a thriving summer job as a pot dealer. At first, Peck's character comes off a little too depressed (i.e. flat). But as the movie ambles along at a stoner's pace, he slowly comes to life, as does the movie in general.

At first, I also had some trouble getting over the film's severe stylization, which was a little too hazy and sepia-toned for me. I don't remember the mid-90s being devoid of color...in fact it was sorta the opposite, right? But the script was really sharp and kept me interested. From the opening scene, where Peck is trading pot for therapy from the brilliant Ben Kingsley, I knew this movie had some potential. I mean, when you've got Gandhi doing bong hits, how can you lose? But more than that, Kingsley creates such a total fuck-up of a guy that you can't help care about him as he becomes a surrogate father to the lost, lonely Peck.

First time writer director Jonathan Levine has created some truly unique and memorable characters here which you really start to care about as the film makes it's way through a long, sexy summer. And sure, there's the prerequisite first love and first sex (at the beach even!) but all are dealt with in such a fresh way that to say more would be to spoil the lovely little surprises of this intimate and ultimately charming film.

Another thing I loved about "The Wackness" is its title. It's one of those titles that make you go, whaaaa, until you see the movie and it is all explained about halfway through in a way that then makes perfect sense. My fondness for this sort of titling might come from the fact that I pulled the same trick on my last feature, "WTC View". People are always a bit confused by that title until a crucial scene in which all is revealed.

Anyway, I would throw this one in your queue if like a good coming of age story with a dash of 90's nostalgia. Oh--and on the special features, don't miss the dead-on spoof of a 90's cable access TV show called THE DOPE SHOW. What can I say other than it was dope...and the bomb....and the bum diggity. Word.

A Sign of Spring

Spring seems to be running about two weeks behind here in NYC this year, as this week's weather has all too achingly confirmed. But my personal first sign that Spring is imminent has arrived; it's the flowering of the apple blossom tree right outside my kitchen window. It's a beautiful thing to see so I made a movie out of it to share it with y'all.

So, without further ado, a touch of Spring on the street where I live. Enjoy!

Signs Of The Times in the TIMES

I've noticed that the NY TIMES has been getting pretty adventurous in the ways that it covers news. With its "grey lady" days long behind, the TIMES has recently taken to commissioning artists and illustrators for soft news and feature stories.

The TIMES recently put up a slide show of drawings by artist Jane Chiverton which grabbed my attention. It consisted of illustrations of store fronts in the city reflecting these brutal economic times. What I really liked about Chiverton's work is that it honestly documents what I have noticed walking around town in recent weeks; family businesses closing after decades (like this butcher in Chelsea), abrupt restaurant disappearances (like the Two Boots on Ave A and the famous Vesuvio's Bakery), and an ever growing number of "for sale/rent" signs in shop-happy hoods like SoHo and the West Village.

There is no doubt we are deep into this Great Recession. And, as Chiverton's drawings illustrate so vividly, the signs are literally everywhere.

Homegrown Donuts

Yesterday, I was feeling the need for some serious donuts (shocker!). And as much as I love The Dunkin', a chain was not going to cut it. So me and my roommate hopped on the F train to the Lower East Side to score some of the best, freshest donuts in NYC at the Doughnut Plant.

Yeah, I know....they don't exactly use the spelling of donut that I prefer but I am not going to quibble when they make such extraordinary round, glazed treats. They are fresh and warm and downright delicious. I got a double chocolate cake donut and a glazed cashew (pictured) while my roommate ordered a strawberry cake one. Man, I'm getting hungry again just describing them!

Along with their good/cheap coffee (only a dollar!) we had a moveable yeast-feast and snacked on our donuts while strolling up Clinton Street on a nice Spring afternoon. If you are ever looking for a good Lazy Sunday activity, this is it. Well, if you like donuts, of course :)

Tomorrow is Record Store Day!

Saturday April 18th is Record Store Day. Yes, Record Stores have become so scare that they now need their own day...kinda like Earth Day for vinyl. At participating stores, you can go in tomorrow and get some good deals on LPs for one day only.

Now I thought you could get pretty good deals on LPs any day because, you know, they are not exactly the most popular way to listen to music these days. One of the greatest record stores in the world (and I can say that because literally people from all over the world shop there--I've seen it!) is right in my neighborhood; Bleecker Bobs, which for some reason is actually on 3rd Street. Anyway, I will probably stop by there tomorrow and see what deals I can get.

Lately, I've been buying old LPs but not for listening, but for decorating. They really make great wall art....so far I have about 6 of my all-time favorites albums of my youth (Grease, Dolly, The Partridge Family) lining the main hallway in my apartment. Urban Outfitters sells these great album frames -- 2 for $20 bucks. Take that plus some cheap LPs and, voila, you have some instant interior decoration. So go to your favorite record store (if it's still there) and pick up some cheap-ass albums this weekend. No deals on turntables though...unless there is a Natinoal Turntable Day? Sorry--Google says "no".