N.I.N.Y. -- Here for the Holidaze

And by HERE, I mean New York.

It's gotten super cold here. Even more cold than the cold weather all you people back in the Bay are complaining about. This morning when I left for work, it was a brisk 25 degrees out. I'm hoping for some more snow soon.

Today is my last day of class. Just a video art class in which we're watching everyone's final videos. Mine wasn't terribly amazing. I did a tribute to William Butler Yeats, masterpiece theatre style, with interjected cartoon sound effects and onomatopoeia text. It was silly, but that's the kind of weird humor my video art teacher seems to go for...

I live in a heavily Jewish dorm. We have NYU's only Kosher cafeteria and we host Shabbat dinners every Friday. Currently we have a fire hazard of a Hanukkah set-up placed in the front doorway where it's very susceptible to setting someone's winter coat on fire. For a dorm that doesn't allow toasters or electric kettles, this seems pretty risky.

Next Friday will be Christmas, a holiday I generally enjoy due to the family-time aspect. (We don't do gifts). So this year, to replace family time, I'm working on setting up an itinerary to keep me occupied for the holiday. On Christmas Eve, my friend Gus, a freshman at Columbia, and I will volunteer at a soup kitchen in the morning, go to Scores for a little afternoon entertainment, and see Heath Ledger's final film, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, in the evening.

I'm still working out my plans for Christmas. Planning takes time. And don't even ask about New Year's Eve...

On Sunday on the train home from work, a man asked me if I shaved my knuckles, saying they were "extraordinary."
Who lets these people out of the basement?

Cheers for now. I'll be reporting back again soon, now that I have all this extra time on my hands.

Oh, and a closing note:
Everyone's good neighborhood friend, Marc Dantona (Pete's person), will be visiting NYC this weekend. I'm ready.

cute with kangaroos

yay Molly is back... and she is now famous thanks to cute with chris!
it just goes to prove that everybody is special.
and don't forget to check out...
http://chrisleavins.typepad.com/

THANKSGIVING OPENESS

THANKSGIVING DAY HOURS

FAYES will be open on 11/27

- Thanksgiving Day-

from 8am till 1pm

On Wednesday 11/26 movies are

2-for-1

(rent 1 movie get a free ‘non-new release’ rental)

New Releases that are rented on Wednesday 11/26 will be due on Friday 11/28 by 7pm

(you get an extra day on new releases rented on Wednesday- aka any movie that is due on Thursday will be due by Friday))

FRIDAY Hours

8am – 11pm

Gobble Gobble

N.I.N.Y. -- What A Crazy World We Live In

So I've had a pretty busy week, and during this week I've experienced and witnessed some pretty strange things. I apologize, none of these things directly relates to New York or Fayes Video, but that doesn't make them any less entertaining. Now I will write about them.

1.

I just found out about this kid.
http://www.justinbiebermusic.com/
Is he for real? Check out his perfectly combed hair. And all these sexy, prepubescent photos? He's 15 and wikipedia tells me he's a tween heartthrob. I lose faith in the judgement and taste of all American junior high aged girls when they make some kid who belongs on the men who look like old lesbians blog the second most googled "justin".

2.

My roomie. This girl also has given me serious reasons to doubt her taste. We have a Twilight poster hanging in our room, and today I witnessed her telling her mother over iChat that "the new Rob Thomas album is amazing!" This wouldn't be such a problem, but she likes to sing in the middle of the night, out loud, in bed, while I'm trying to sleep.

3.

Currently, I am surprising my own self. I am watching Legal Eagles. Again.

Quote of the Day, brought to you by Nina

Girl A: "What is female genital mutilation?"
Girl B: "I don't know, but I remember last season on America's Next Top Model that one girl had it."
Girl A: "True that."

Overheard while waiting at the Weinstein dorm elevator.

Happy Birthday YOu crazy Wallaby

Classes starting soon!

Sorry, no free tequilla this year!

Sunglasses at night is a costume only if you're pretending to be a douche bag.

Here at Faye's people do it right!

NINY: The flu, Chimay and a new job!

Hello San Francisco,

I'm writing to you from the East Coast where it's been raining all day. It's the end of my week so I'm having a movie night and drinking some Chimay. Cheers.

It's really turning into winter in New York. It rained all day yesterday as well. Probably as a result of the cooling weather, I got sick last weekend. Really sick. I don't own a thermometer, but I'm guessing I had a fever between 103 and 104 degrees. About 1 degree below super hot dead temperature. Luckily, I'm feeling much better now.

I recently got a new job! I'll be a host and barista at the Breslin restaurant in the Ace Hotel on 29th and Broadway. If you're ever in the neighborhood, come visit. The Breslin is a "meat-centric gastro-pub," we've been told. The restaurant opens tomorrow and it should be busy.

I'm halfway through my first semester at NYU. Time flies! Classes are going well, I seem to have it under control. In addition, my honors seminar takes a week long trip every winter to a different place in the world to do community service and a "cultural exploration." This winter, we're heading to Puebla, Mexico for the second week in January! It'll be nice to take a break from the NY winter and see Puebla while they still have their Christmas decorations up.

Until next time,

Nina

Slings and Arrows

Michael McConnell at Gallery BellJar

slings and arrows

October 15th - November 18th

Opening Reception

October, Friday the 16th

6:00 - 9:00 PM

Gallery BellJar

3187 16th Street

San Francisco

NINY: Autumn is here.

It's October now and I've been in New York approximately 2 months (minus last weekend, which I spent back home). It is no longer summer here. In fact, I think those tornadoes the news was reporting in Central Park a few weeks ago have made their way downtown a bit. It seems to be quite windy around Broadway and 8th, making it hard for me to walk to class with me big drawing board and paper pads.

I had my first New York celebrity sighting the other day (that I know of). It was Gael Garcia Bernal. And he is short. Really tiny. Pint sized. My friend Bonnie and I were sitting by the window of our favorite pub/restaurant in the LES and all these models started walking by and entering the apartment building next door. Then, five minutes later, GGB goes in. We assume they were all going to the same party. I guess he likes to hang out with beautiful people. Some of those ladies were twice his height.

Otherwise, not much to report. It was our first day of figure drawing in drawing class today. My favorite. Lady model.

Until we meet again (through my fingertips and your eyes),

N

You are the neighborhood Top Chefs

Although he may look like that guy sitting on our bench, he even has the tattoos, its not. This is on of the contestants on Bravo's much acclaimed Top Chef Season 6. I've been watching the show and seriously myself have thought this has to be David's long lost southern twin... they even have the same style (if only food came in helvetica)... but enough about that.

Our neighbor is organizing a "neighborhood cookbook" and she is still taking submissions of your signature dish if you are interested send us a message at
fayesvideo@gmail.com
here is her email seeking submissions:


dear Neighbors,

Thank you to those of you who already submitted recipes, they look fantastic! Given that many of you were traveling over the summer (and busy sitting on the bench and drinking iced toddies), and in the interest of having as many people included as possible, the new goal is to have the cookbook out in December, in time for all that midwinter comfort eating.

For those of you who still would like to send me recipe, that gives you until October 31. All kinds of recipes are welcome (drinks, entrees, breads, sauces, desserts), please feel free to email me if you have any questions and invite other folks you know to participate.

Send those recipes in, folks, or I'll get Mike to hound you when you come in for your Friday afternoon Teeny with room.

xo,
robin

BRING IT ON: REALLY THIS TIME, LIKE YOU MEAN IT!

So last week the latest installment of the "Bring It On" franchise came to video, making for the 5th movie. I know many may be thinking, "what? There are 4 Bring It Ons??" And sadly the answer is yes, and even maybe more sad is that I've watched and enjoyed every one of them. With the newest film however, I feel like it just wasn't happening, it was the same old story. I can get over predictable, but marry that with poor acting and not enough cheering and the herkie falls flat. Though seeing as Fayes believes in a cheerocracy, check it for for yourself (we won't tell anyone).

And for all those who have missed out on the past films, here is a littlle recap.

Bring It On- This movie is epic, and it's not just that the first time I saw it I was eating stolen cereal from a party we crashed, but really this movie makes my top ten list for teen comedies. The movie is quirky and smart, and Kirsten Dunst and Eliza Dushku give great performances. This movie will set your spirit fingers in motion!

Bring It On Again- "Higher Stakes, Higher Grooves, More Attitude!" The girls go off to college and even though the cast is entirely different, the movie still holds up to the tag line. The acting is not as up to par, but I think this girls have better moves and the cheer scenes bring it!

Bring It On: All Or Nothing- Hayden Panttiere stars in this riches to rags version where life goes from cheer-topia to cheer-tastrophe. Solange Knowles-Smith brings some singing action and mixes things up for thease pom pom gals.

Bring It On: In It To Win It- Paris-esque blondes battle it out for hunky boys and the spirit stick... need ZI say more?

all available at fayes...

Nina in New York (NINY): welcome week

So I've moved into my NYU dorm, which is a half block away from Washington Sq Park. There I can watch the dogs at the dog run. I get therapy for my Muffin and Mo withdrawal by watching them get their exercise.

The tradeoff for my awesome location is the fact that I live in an institutional dorm. It looks like prison. A prison with a few homey additions I'm working on installing. The walls are cinderblock, painted white or off-white; it's hard to distinguish under the unnatural glare of our overhead, fluorescent light, the only light source in the room with the exception of our window. The window looks straight across a lightwell to Tower B, meaning there's very little natural light that makes it into the room. However, Victoria and I do have our own personal bathroom, a luxury by typical college dorm standards. The bathroom also reminds me of life on the inside, but there's not much to be done about that.

And now, for the photo tour:

My bed, a Darjeeling Limited poster, a piece of Michael McConnell art, an 18th street block party poster, and a variety of photos. The majority of the wall decorations are still to come. Gotta cover up the cinderblock. Now that I'm looking at this photo though, I'm realizing that it's backward. Somehow it got flipped.

The light. And the window, with the blinds down. Nighttime!

Another view of my room. This one is oriented correctly. I'm the pile of crazy-in-progress on the left, Victoria is the 'Twilight' fan on the right (her poster fell down but I'm sure it'll be back up shortly).

Bathroom. Full view. Today I moved my toothbrush onto the bathroom counter. It adds a human touch to the room. And that's me standing in my roomie's closet space to take the picture.

Toilet, anyone? We now have a bath mat. Once I find a job, I'll buy an extra shower curtain; one of those decorative plastic ones with jet planes or a world map.

Photo tour ends here.

Today was my first day of orientation. It takes 2 days total. I met the kids in my major (there are some chill people and a LOT of Koreans and most likely some overlap between the 2 groups). Tomorrow I register for classes. I'll be taking Fundamental Drawing, Fund. Sculpture, Fund. Digital Art as my elective, "Writing the Essay" which is a required course for all freshies, an art criticism seminar, and my New Student Seminar (only for 1 semester).

As a freshman in my particular college and major, there's very little choice in classes. These are the ones I'll be taking for this entire year. My only choices were my elective and my professors for the drawing and sculpture classes. The first year for a visual art major is dedicated to fulfilling basic art foundation requirements. I do all my liberal arts requirements and continuing art classes, (ones that I choose), in years 2-4. In total, I will be taking 18 units this year, along with my Steinhardt Scholars seminars which take place once a week for about 2 hours. In short, with all my classes, homework, and the job which I need to find and start soon, I will be very busy this year. But I'm excited to get to classes and really start meeting people I have something in common with. Welcome Week is beginning to feel like summer camp.

Tomorrow I'm going to see 'Inglorious Basterds' (i'm ready!), and then I begin the search for the perfect cafe in the neighborhood with WiFi, cheap coffee, cheap food, and preferably a calm atmosphere. We'll see what I find, but I do need a stand-in for Fayes while I'm here.

Nina in New York

I'm finishing up my first week here in NY and I've seen and done a few things.

1. I visited Michael and Mark at the New York gift show. Mark Poulin had a beautiful booth set up with a fantastic view and hopefully he made some profitable new buyer connections. Find his jewelry here: www.markpoulin.com

2. After the gift show we took a walk along the high line, New York's new, raised, public walkway that spans ~10 blocks in the Meatpacking district.

3. I took a trip to the Frick Museum on 5th ave. and 70th st., right across from Central Park. The building used to be the home of Henry Clay Frick and it now houses the collection of masterpieces accumulated by Henry Frick and his daughter, Helen Clay Frick.

4. I've been staying on the Lower East Side and frequenting many of the local restaurants and bars. Plenty of good food and drink to be had here.

The weather has been ridiculously hot and humid. However, this should probably only continue for a couple more weeks. After that, we're into autumn.

Goodbye Fayes!

Bye Fayes.

I'm leaving you for NYC and NYU, but I'll miss you and I'll come back to visit once every couple of months or so.

It's been an awesome 3 years, I've met some cool people, some cute dogs, some ugly-cute ones, and watched a lot of movies. Thanks to Matthew and Mike for giving me a great neighborhood job where I got access to both caffeine and entertainment. Everyone needs those two things.

I'll keep you posted on any really big developments in my new East Coast life, and likewise, I would like to hear about important Fayes happenings. 

Love to you all.

Nina

TIKI- FAYES

Tonight the Fayes crew is headed to The Tonga Room! Come dance in the rain with us while sipping Mai Tais and saying "aloha" to the Neens.

Don't you like fun?

Q:"What kind of music do you listen to?"
A:"Anything but Country."

What is with people shutting off to whole genres? Haven't you ever heard Garth Brooks? Dude rocks! I try and try to help people pick out a movie that they'll enjoy and sometimes I pick out a movie that has singing in it and they'll be with me through the whole description until I get to the part about how great the musical numbers are. Come on people, didn't you feel totally cultured when you saw Slumdog Millionaire? Didn't you love Jungle Book? Julie Andrews, Xanadu, whole towns in perfect harmony! Musicals are just like regular movies, but with moments of orchestrated jubilee. When did you stop liking fun? Don't you like fun?

Some musicals we have at Faye's:
Ruling Class -Peter O'Toole
Romance and Cigarettes -James Gandelfini & Susan sarandon
Le Million -old French Flick

America's "most Trusted Man" Passes

Walter Leland Cronkite, Jr. (November 4, 1916 – July 17, 2009) was an American broadcast journalist, best known as anchorman for the CBS Evening News for 19 years (1962–81). During the heyday of CBS News in the 1960s and 1970s, he was often cited in viewer opinion polls as "the most trusted man in America" because of his professional experience and kindly demeanor. Cronkite died on July 17, 2009 at the age of 92 from cerebrovascular disease, described by his son as complications from dementia.

Fat Bottom Girls

Faye's video was alive today with the sweat and cheer of a thousand horny dykes at a Liz Fair concert. Every outfit screams "We're here! We're queer!" Yes, I know, but do you really have to glass pack your muffler?

FAYES VIDEO CUTEST DOGS OF 2009.

Here they are, the winners of the Cutest Dog Contest 2009, and honor bestowed on local neighborhood dogs annually.

Winner for BEST SMILE:

Bobby

Winner for BEST COMPANION:

LIAM

Winner for BEST TRICK (handshakes):

FOXIE

And now, the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners:

The 2nd runner-up, in 3rd place:

BURRITO

The 1st runner-up, in 2nd place:

PETE the snackster

In 1st place, the CUTEST DOG of 2009:

OLIVER

Thanks to all the entrants and spectators. That was fun.

Next year- bikini walk-off.