Welcome to my Neighborhood

Can't remember but think I may have bragged about my new place - we are on the Upper West Side and happen to live right on Central Park West.  I know, I know... I could punch myself in the face on your behalf.  Needless-to-say there are maaaaany great things about living in our location.  Here are two I did not anticipate:

Blossom giving a "Jewish Values in the Age of Entertainment" talk at a synagogue around the corner and...

An art installation on our block.  Yes, ladies and gentleman - some artiste created this masterpiece and every day it doesn't rain, he pulls the tarp off to let us admire his work.  When the tarp is on, I *swear* it's not my dog who pees on it.  And yes, that is a Rastafarian Chester Cheetah in the driver's seat.

Try not to hate.  ;)

Dispatches from HK: Cray-Cray T-shirts

More fun "English" t-shirts and the clearly misinformed Chinese people who wear them:

Thanks Alisa for letting me raid your FB older posts for this one!

Dispatches from HK: Cum Fun Day

Oh how I miss the joys of how the Chinese massacre English!  My friend Mark recently sent me a gem:

If I'm reading it correctly, this is a flyer for a "Love Together" event in DB - my old family-friendly neighborhood in Hong Kong.  In what is undoubtedly an event geared towards children (note the game booths and board games), you have to love that they're calling it a "Launch Ceremony Cum Fun Day".

It sounds like a pedophile's dream. 

People and Their Pets

I'm in no position to judge people for acting crazy with their pets.  My dog was a featured part of our wedding, after all.

However, I had to smile when I walked by an outdoor cafe today (on the UWS, for all you New Yorkers) and saw a woman eating by herself.  Except, no she wasn't.  There was a medium-sized bird cage with a small yellow bird inside sitting on the table.  Obviously it was her lunch companion.

Sorry, no picture - was walking back carrying groceries and didn't feel good about trying to snap a pic of this lady (even though many of you are undoubtedly scoffing or gagging at the thought of a bird on a table where one eats.)

And for all your DB-ers I find this way less offensive than the people letting their kids run wild on the ferry.  Discuss.

Dispatches from HK: Trend-setting Style

What are the things I remember most about Hong Kong - other than the extreme heat, disgusting manners and amazing hot pot? The lack of fashion sense.

My friend Mark shared a pic of an emerging trend that I have a feeling won't be making it outside of the 852:

No, your eyes aren't playing tricks on you.  S/he (a hot pink shirt does not indicate female in HK, unfortunately) is wearing an item of clothing on the bottom with one long pant and one short short.  The new skort?  Shants, perhaps?  I don't know what to call this foolishness other than the opposite of fashionable.

Beggars - A Comparison

If you've been a loyal reader of this blog, you probably remember my post on beggars in Hong Kong. If you're a local Hong Konger, you know how destitute the people begging on the streets are - most are missing limbs or burned on 80% of their bodies.

Then there are NYC beggars:

Begging for singles to take to the strip club... it gives a new definition to needy, doesn't it?

Dispatches from Hong Kong: Dirty Sanchez

Hello friend; it's been a while.

Since I've gotten a job and live in NYC, this title doesn't seem to fit all that well anymore.  But I love it too much to give it up, so am relying on friends from Hong Kong to send me all the good stuff I'm missing out on.  I'll share these via "Dispatches from Hong Kong" posts, like this one.

Gourmet Burger is one of a few burger chains in Hong Kong.  None of them can hold a candle to a real American burger, but it was a place I frequented when that hankering for red meat got to be too much.  Suffice it to say, I'm happy I don't have to rely on Gourmet Burger any more now that they're offering this new menu item.

If there's one thing I don't want the burger I'm eating associated with - it's probably a dirty Sanchez.

I'm having vague recollections of another local HK fast food chain -- Shake 'em Buns, which had similarly inappropriate and vomitous names.

Happy eating!