Ten Degrees is a quaint wine bar comfortably placed on St. Mark’s Place between 1st Avenue and Avenue A.
Come sit around the U-Shaped wooden bar hosting 4 select taps: Brooklyn Lager, Six Point Sweet Action, Checker Cab Blonde Ale, and Southpoint IPA; surrounded by walls of wooden shelves filled with top shelf wines and champagnes, you get a true wine-bar feel. If bar-sitting isn’t your thing, there are plenty of other seating areas, as well as several high-top tables and low cafeteria tables, and a more exclusive lounge in the back.
With 2 for 1 specials on Wine, Signature Cocktails and select Beers, a growing food menu, and always pleasant bar tenders, Ten Degrees has become a favorite of my friends and mine. Helping step up St. Mark’s from platforms and PBR to wellies and Wine, Ten Degrees is a neighborhood gem.
My personal favorite is their Montepulciano d’ Abruzzo, served in a very large glass, it is a steal during happy hour at $4.50 a glass. Pair that with the Pick 3 platter (choose from cheeses, meats and olives), you have my favorite happy hour meal!
Growing up my family was the type to run to the dictionary to prove the meaning of a word, or get out the encyclopedia (yes, when every household had a full set of Encyclopedia Britannica or World Books), just to “learn something new”…aka…prove they were right about whatever we were discussing. Somewhere in that competitive fact-finding, I developed the love of nerdy quizzes. Even though, sometimes these quizzes leave me feeling stupid and poorly educated, two things I know aren’t true, I continue to enjoy them regardless of the results. This one is my favorite. I will take/play it from time to time, to see how many countries I remembered from the last time. I know next to nothing about Geography, I will readily admit that. But – at least I can now spit out 107 of 195 countries in 15 minutes.
15 minutes?! Yes, sounds like a lot, but trust me, it’s one of those things, like naming all 50 states, you think, “oh, I got this”…and sometimes…like my first time only conjuring up 75 countries…you just don’t. No cheating!
**Beware – spelling some of those countries can really mess a person up!!
Happy Website Wednesday – if you have a website you’d like featured shoot me an email through the “Say Hi” contact form, and I’ll try to add it to Website Wednesdays!
Lately I have been on a kick to update and upgrade my wardrobe. Trying to follow the trends and pair pieces I already have with new ones, all pulled together with accessories. An area I definitely need some help!
We all know, clothing can be expensive! Especially if you’re someone like i am, who gets overwhelmed in the bargain stores like century 21 and Loehmanns!
I saw this People article and had to share it! Trying to dress like the stars just got a little easier! Unless you’re me…who got every single one wrong! Some of the answers are shocking!
After experiencing another amazingly moving show on Saturday at the Highline Ballroom, I wanted to dedicate this Monday to two of the most talented songwriters I’ve experienced – Karin and Linford of Over the Rhine.
Although I’ll admit to being mildly disappointed they didn’t play my all time favorite song – I Don’t Wanna Waste Your Time, they did play my other favorite, Suitcase. After all, the concert was about debuting their new album, The Long Surrender. An album filled with so much raw emotion sung by Karin’s enchanting soul-filled voice, and accompanied by Linford on the piano, it’s not uncommon to literally be moved to tears.
If you like the songs – please support the band and purchase their new album, no stealing.
Set list: 1. Laugh of Recognition *Come on boys, it’s time to let it go, everybody has a dream, that they will never own. Come on boys, it’s time to let her down you might be surprised how far she’ll get with her feet on the ground*
2. Rave On *Bear down deep into the soul, the floorboard groans the rubber rolls, rock on, rave on*
3. Suitcase *Why’d you love me in the first place, you were always closer than a brother, I can barely look at your face. I’ve said my, I’ve said my, I’ve said my piece, I’m on my, I’m on my, down on my knees, whatcha doin’ with a suitcase*
4. Sharpest Blade *But you cut me quick, in the light of the shade, with the edge of the green, of the yard’s sharpest blade; when nothing I knew was all that it seemed. I still dreamed of a love to outlive us, I still prayed that this night would outlast us, and redeem some small thing*
5. Undamned *Don’t count me out just yet I’m not your little lost lamb, God might still get my world, get it undamned*
6. I’m On A Roll *This oyster is my world my oyster’s got a pearl, this ain’t no dress rehearsal I’m a very lucky girl, I’m on a roll*
7. Oh Yeah By The Way *Oh yeah by the way, oh yeah by the way, what a waste that I still love you, after the mess you’ve made. What a waste that I’m not jaded, once in awhile I even smile, what a waste you’re just a stranger to me now*
8.The King Knows How *Is that a jukebox altar call, or just a soft smoky place to fall? I’m thinkin’ I might be tempted to slide on over, slide on over. I’m thinkin’ I need a little somethin’ to tide me over, tide me over, till Memphis*
9. Infamous Love Song – (one of the most beautifully written & sang songs) *This love’s the affirmation, of everything good, the oxygen coursing through the blood, the feel of being understood, the belief that, oh yes, somehow we could, and the milkyway looks, like a flimsy blouse, but now we’re gentrified in our civil war house, safe as a painting by Currier and Ives, baby our love song must survive*
10. Only God Can Save Us Now♥Love. This. Song. Explained on the OtR website, “Set in a nursing home, where Karin has spent countless hours since her mom suffered a devastating stroke nine years ago, the humorous and heart-wrenching ‘Only God Can Save Us Now’ celebrates the tenacity of the human spirit. ‘We came to describe the nursing home as ‘a head-on collision between comedy and tragedy,’ says Karin. ‘Obviously, we’ve gotten to know many of the residents there and have found it impossible to ignore them and their stories. And we have our favorites. For example, once I leaned in to ask one of the residents, a little bird-like woman named Geneva, ‘How are you today, Geneva?’ She replied, ‘Only God can save us now…’ While listening to Karin explain this story in person, the majority of the venue looked visibly moved. *When my time has come and it may be comin’ soon, don’t mind me if you come to find me howlin’ at the moon, I’ll need a busy apron and a half-sedated crowd, only God can save us now. A baby doll some chocolates and flowers made of silk, a clean room with a window and some Prozac in warm milk, and sneak us in some whiskey ‘cause it’s prob’ly not allowed, only God can save us now*
Karin explaining Only God Can Save Us Now
11. There’s a Bluebird In My Heart *There’s a bluebird with a song with little effort how she sings it so well, like a lover with a broken-throated story to tell I’ve kept her secret for so long*
12. Trouble *If you came to make some trouble, better make it good, your sexy cocktail hour stubble is doing what it should, looks may be sweet and subtle, I think it’s trouble honey, I think it’s good*
13. Days Like This *Days like this you think about the ones that went before you days like this have you ever seen the sky it’s such a clear blue all I wanna do is live my life honestly*
14. All My Favorite People *All my friends are part saint and part sinner, we lean on each other try to rise above. We’re not afraid to admit we’re all still beginners, we’re all late bloomers, when it comes to love*
15. Drunkard’s Prayer *And in that motion, I long to drown and be lost not to be found, you’re my water, you’re my wine, you’re my whiskey from time to time*
16. No Kill Shelter *I’m a no kill shelter I’ll say it again, I may never get best in show but then again one thing in my life I’ve found to never fail, if I’m feelin’ real good I’m gonna wag a little tail*
I hope you enjoy all the lyrics and music so clearly written from everything inside the heart and soul of Karin and Linford to create their latest album, The Long Surrender.
♥Over the Rhine – All My Favorite People comes through Pandora♥
(As for) your tender heart This world’s gonna rip it wide open It ain’t gonna be pretty But you’re not alone ‘Cause all my favorite people are broken Believe me, my heart should know Orphaned believers, skeptical dreamers You’re welcome, yeah, you’re safe right here You don’t have to go
“So that guy texted me again the other day, the one I told you about who was kind of – off…” I start telling June.
“Oh goodness, what did he say now? Haha.”
“He asked if I wanted to grab a tea…”
“Tea? Not coffee? I’ve never had someone ask me out…for tea.” June’s astonishment is right on par with mine.
“What did you say?”
“I didn’t know what to say…I wanted to tell him how odd his proposal seemed – but I quieted the mean girl inside me and settled for a polite ‘no thank you’.”
“Well, since he didn’t ask you out for drinks, want to grab a drink after work?” June types.
“Surely – where do you want to go? Who’s got a good happy hour tonight?” I ask her. Both of us are seriously incapable of making decisions. We roll through the standards: City Crab? Sidebar? Ten Degrees? Yuca Bar? On and on we go like toddlers requiring our mommies to come make our choices for us.
We both finally agree it’s time to try something new.
“Let’s go somewhere with cute boys and champagne!” June types. Although the champagne seems like an odd craving at the moment, any place with cute guys works for me. We try Papillon. A fancier, French restaurant with a smaller bistro feeling bar area upstairs, packed with attractive, successful business men and women. This is #winning Mr. Sheen. No happy hour though. Oops. Adios extra cash in my wallet, maybe not so #winning.
“Let’s get a bottle” June chirps. “It’s cheaper by the bottle when the glasses are $12-$15 each.”
“And Chloe is coming later, so she’ll chip in” I tell June, who becomes super excited. Chloe has been kind of out of it; torn up over Gavin. She knew it was decision time and had to either talk to him, let it linger or just cut the split ends and start fresh.
June and I both wish over and over we could have been able to do more for her during her last bout with Gavin, perhaps kidnap & ship him off to some foreign country…but we all know how blind and deaf we can be when stuck in a situation with someone we are crazy about, who just doesn’t see us.
“Hey love!” I yelp as Chloe shows up, we kiss and hug her, as if she just returned from some foreign adventure we’re excited she made it back from alive. But wasn’t she? And aren’t we? What is every adventure in dating these days, but a foreign uncharted territory we’re lucky to survive. Or sometimes, fall so in love with the adventure and novelty we stay wrapped up in it, never making it home.
“So…what happened?” June bravely asks.
“I don’t know guys; I just couldn’t do it anymore. Ya know? He’ll probably never be ready for a girlfriend, or maybe he just really doesn’t want to be with me…who knows.”
“Jerk”
“Loser”
We all spout our hatred for him and how long he’s let Chloe hang on; attached to his every word, believing they’re gospel and proof he cares about her.
We all take a sip of champagne and hard truth – we’ve all believed the lines of lies and probably will again.
“What’s Drew doing tonight?” Chloe asks, sad she’s not here to share in the girl-talk, champagne drinking extravaganza.
“She’s ‘tired’. As per usual” I say, sort of annoyed.
“She’s seemed really weird lately. Is she mad at me or something” Chloe wonders.
June and I just look at each other, and know that it’s not Chloe, it’s none of us really. It’s how she gets.
“She’s got Finn now…” June explains.
We all hated this about Drew. She didn’t seem capable of having two lives or one all-encompassing life. She preferred her love life and her friend life separate. Lately, there doesn’t even seem to be a ‘friend-life’. We’ve been put in the backseat, getting antsy and car sick. Although we are slowly getting used to the motions, we still don’t like or accept our backseat friendship, but we sadly have grown to expect it.
“Anyway, how did you leave it?” June’s famous sum-up question. After every date, relationship, boyfriend fight, girl fight etc., she asks how it was left. I blame technology. We’re all really bad with these stupid blackberries and iPhones! We can’t help but constantly check to see if someone is contacting us. June gets exceptionally distracted, and I think she asks this sum up question, to make sure she’s on board with the conversation and understands where it landed.
“He said he had a lot of fun with me. And liked being around me, but didn’t want a girlfriend”
…”and you said?” I ask
…”are you going to contact him again” June probes.
Chloe continues, “I said that I couldn’t do this for another two years….and that was that…I don’t know. I should erase his number, but I don’t think I can.”
“Hide it under your bed” June says –that’s where all the Brads, Matts, and Brandons of the world are unknowingly held on to by a piece of paper and a mattress.
Why do we have such an inability to let go? Why do we need to hold on to things even if we know they’re bad for us? We all hope she won’t contact Gavin again, but in all honesty, we know she will. Hopefully she’ll meet someone else, that’s the only way to break the cycle…maybe he’ll meet someone and stop responding to her.
“I mean over two years of coming back to one another, that’s got to count for something, no?”
We all know it should, June and I nod our heads in agreement. We hold back the words ‘maybe he’ll come around’ - it’s all we want to say, but we’ve said it before, and here we are again, and we’re never right…so this time, we don’t say it.
Suddenly, an unsettling aberration overwhelms me and the hair on my arms stands on end; I shiver – how did we get here?
“What did you say?” June asks. Not realizing I’d said that last part out loud, I look at her with a blank stare.
“Tilson – are you ok?” Chloe pokes at me, I can feel both of their eyes desperately trying to penetrate the barrier of bone around my heart; has it stopped? Is she breathing?
Suddenly, the air is back in my lungs, and my face is unfrozen – the numbness subsides as I feel a tear in my eye.
“I was just thinking…” Chloe and June anxiously wait for me to finish my sentence.
“I was thinking maybe we should eat something, I’m getting hungry…” I lie, and they know it, but they let it go, *All my favorite people are broken, believe me, my heart should know.*
Thank you to everyone who’s been reading and following my blog!! Today I reached 1000 views!! I’m pretty excited about how its growing, and owe it all to my readers! ♥♥♥
In honor of this important step in my blogging life, I thought today I’d do a “Today in History”. After all, it appears March 25th has been quite a busy day – here are some snippets of history!
~421, the city of Venice was founded
~1634, Maryland was founded by Lord Baltimore
~1669, in Sicily, Mount Etna erupted destroying Nicolosi and killing 20,000 people
~1807, Britain abolished slave trade.
~1911, the massive fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist factory occurred, killing 146 workers, mainly young immigrant women. This fire helped radically change the labor movement.
~1994, American troops completed their withdrawal from Somalia
~1971, The Boston Patriots became the New England Patriots…super…
~2004, The US Senate voted on the Unborn Victims of Violence Act making it a separate crime to harm a fetus during the commission of a violent federal crime**my personal favorite
Happy Birthday to Elton John – 64, Gloria Steinem – 77, Sheryl Swoopes (my basketball idol growing up!) – 40 and Sarah Jessica Parker – 46
Lots of Love again to everyone who’s been supporting me & my blog! Happy Friday!
After a long week at work, many New Yorkers look forward to their Thursday nights. The night they can go out for Happy Hour and just forget about the day’s stressors for a bit. A place my friends and I love to do that at best is City Crab & Seafood. Although, mostly an upscale seafood restaurant, they offer an affordable and delicious Happy Hour to the twenty somethings, not making 6-figure somethings.
City Crab is located in an area lacking in suitable happy hours. Flatiron / Gramercy has few places offering specials for the young and employed, who occasionally prefer a more upscale locale for their thirsty Thursday than an Irish Pub.
I’m partial to their popcorn shrimp, which never ceases to please, while their Cajun peel and eat shrimp is perfectly seasoned in Old Bay and other such spices making it irresistible – especially when half priced.
Happy Hour is 4pm to 7pm Mondays – Thursdays & Sundays, and an extra special 10pm to 12am on Fridays & Saturdays. With 1/2 off wines, select beers, and shelf liquors, as well as 1/2 priced appetizers and $1 oysters, City Crab is a perfect place to cozy up to the bar, get to know the bar tender & catch up with your friends after a long week at work.
Grab your friends and order a $5 Pinot Grigio, $8 Peel & Eat Shrimp and $7 Popcorn Shrimp and enjoy the cozy coastal feeling bar surrounded by live lobsters, crabs and oysters all waiting to be enjoyed on your Thirsty Thursday.
This Wednesday I’m featuring a jewelry website – Gemma Redux.
Not only do I LOVE the name because it reminds me a. of my favorite restaurant in NYC – Gemma and b. It sounds like one of (in my opinion) the best directed films – Apocalypse Now (obviously, I prefer the Redux version).
Gemma Redux has all the necessary pieces to complete your today-trendy outfit. With big necklaces made of metal links and stones they create the perfect layered look.
A celeb favorite – Gemma Redux is definitely worth a website Wednesday shout-out! You Know you’ve seen this piece in the style mags!
*Death makes angels of us all and gives us wings where we had shoulders, round as ravens claws.* – Jim Morrison
for my dad ♥
Anyway
by me
It’s the George Strait
Streaming through my speakers.
It’s the Starbucks
Coursing through my veins.
It’s the watermelon
that’s not in season But I find a reason to buy it, anyway.
It’s the brownstone
Standing proud for the broker.
It’s the Southerner
Asking, ‘Which way to Broadway?’
It’s the Pecan Sandies
That I shouldn’t eat But I will treat myself to, on a bad day.
It’s Disney World
Bringing on smiles, miles wide.
It’s Wild West movies
Brimming with guns and love
It’s the office number
That’s disconnected But I keep in my phone, just because.
It’s the golf shirts
Hanging from me like a dress.
It’s the tattoo
Shaped like the home you loved, but left.
It’s your story, cut short early;
And if you ‘Don’t call me Shirley’
This Monday Mother Nature got her kicks while playing tricks on us New Yorkers who were ready to pack away our winter coats and sweaters over the 70 degree weekend. Mixing some snow into the chilly rain we experienced today, it was a dreary start to the week. ‘Wintry mix’ and rain always brings on a certain musical mood. For today’s Music Monday – here are some female vocalists and musicians who fit perfectly into a day like today.
Avril Lavigne – Push
Although an acquired taste for some, I buy Avril’s albums time and time again. Pulled in by her lyrics filled with energy and angst, all sung out to catchy beats. Written organically and from a place we can all relate to, you can imagine her songs playing in the soundtrack of your life. *And maybe you should just shut up, even when it gets tough, baby, ’cause this is love, and you know when push comes to shove, it’s gonna take the both of us, baby, this is love* Avril Lavigne – Push
Katie Costello – The Weirds
A new addition to my playlist, her voice is reminiscent of Rosi Golan’s; dark, tender and soothing. When you listen to her whole album and the wide variety of rhythmic arrangements and lyrical depth, it’s obvious she’s more than a voice, but an incredibly talented musician. *I’ve given up on waving off the flies that have blackened my mind, my sugar coated mind, why can’t I whistle, and why can’t I cry, why can’t I love you, the way I wish I liked? I guess I have the weirds* Katie Costello – The Weirds
The Band Perry – If I Die Young
A staple in my playlists since I’ve discovered it, a typical country themed song where someone dies, someone loses their dog, their house, or their husband etc.; but with an upbeat tune and smooth vocals it ends up being a calming song I can listen to over and over again. *If I die young, bury me in satin, lay me down on a, bed of roses sink me in the river, at dawn, send me away with the words of a love song* The Band Perry – If I Die Young
Taylor Swift – Back to December
Whether you’re a Taylor Swift fan or not, or simply refuse to like her because, clearly you should have dated Jake Gyllenhall, you can’t deny the success she’s earned at such a young age. Yes, some of the melodies in her songs sound similar to others she’s released, but they’re all catchy and you can’t deny thinking “ya, I’ve been there”, when listening to the heartfelt secrets she trusts her listeners with. *We small talk, work and the weather your guard is up and I know why, because the last time you saw me is still burned in the back of your mind, you gave me roses and I left them there to die. So this is me swallowing my pride, standin’ in front of you, sayin’ I’m sorry for that night – I go back to December all the time* Taylor Swift – Back to December
Adele – Set Fire To The Rain
I cannot praise Adele and her new album enough. On this rainy March day, there’s no one better fit to complete today’s Music Monday list, than Adele with my favorite of her new songs. Dripping with love, lust and the full spectrum of emotions we feel in relationships, Adele wraps it all up in a package so pleasing to the ear, you can’t help but get wrapped up with her. *My hands, they’re strong, but my knees were far too weak to stand in your arms without falling to your feet. But there’s a side to you that I never knew, never knew. All the things you say, they were never true, never true. And the games you play, you would always win, always win. But I set fire to the rain, watch it pour as I touched your face, let it burn while I cry ‘Cause I heard it screaming out your name* Adele – Set Fire to the Rain
