Photos from last night’s Art Brut show at Bowery Ballroom.

Last year when we saw Art Brut at Southpaw, the little brother was still 25. Perhaps his 26th birthday is later in the year.

That’s pretty much stating the obvious. Asians and gambling go hand-in-hand like ham and cheese, or Sonny and Cher, and M and M. It seems like we’re hardwired to want to gamble. Anyone who has visited Atlantic City or Las Vegas will have noticed the hoards of Asian gamblers trying to make a killing at the Pai Kow, Big/Small, and Baccarat tables. Let’s also not forget the Japanese obsession Pachinko. Now travelblog Gadling reports that Asia is about to turn into a gambling hotspot. Noticing how much money is being made in Macau, Japan is getting in on the act as they’re now considering Vegas style gambling. Even uptight Singapore is constructing a gambling joint on Sentosa Island.

Here in the urban jungle, lover’s lane isn’t the cliff overlooking the town, nor is it some lush quiet spot with nary a streak of light in the sky where the old man’s Ford is a-rockin. Rather, the cars are parked in some post-industrial corner at the Gowanus in Brooklyn. Last Saturday on a dog walk down 12th Street and 3rd Avenue, I’ve seen a chick bobbing her head up and down giving some lucky guy getting a blow job in his car. Then just yesterday, a minivan was swaying side to side on the same block. It wasn’t the car’s engine that was running, if you get my drift.

Whenever I recommend a Chinatown restaurant, I feel obligated to remind the reader that this is C-town so don’t expect good service. The Shanghainese food joint New Green Bo is no exception. In fact, it can even define C-town service. On the other hand, it also epitomizes the typical no nonsense, hole in the wall that serves up delicious food. At first glance of the 100 plus items on the New Green Bo menu is completely overwhelming. Go for what made this joint famous: the steamed dumplings. Many patrons swear by the pork or the crab, but the vegetable ones are just as excellent. An order makes a good appetizer for a large group, but can be an entire meal for a couple. Give the greasy fried scallion pancakes a try as well. If there is still a bit of room left in the stomach, order a plate of mei fun for the table. Stir-fried just right, it’s one of the finer mei fun in all of Chinatown.

New Green Bo, 66 Bayard St, New York, NY 10013
[photo by: The Amateur Gourmet]

The burning desire to move out of my New York is nearing a fever pitch as of late. We’ve always had the desire to pack up and go, but no other place in US was all that appealing to us. Ideally, we’d would become expats in some far off island or in an Asian metropolis. It’s almost reverse migration. Most folks leave home to head to NYC for work, excitement, or starting a new life. Having lived here all our lives, the city doesn’t hold this sense of liberation for us. Frankly, it’s a bit tiresome to see the same subway cars, buildings, and skylines every single day. San Francisco was fun but not for us, Philly is too close, Boston is… well Boston is Boston. We hear Portland, Oregon is slamming, but the job market there is rather thin. The midwest isn’t our cup of tea either. Now we’re considering Seattle. No, it’s not for the grunge history, but we’ve been hearing some great things from a pal who just moved there.

It’s a slower pace city than NY with decent job prospects. The State of Washington seems quite progressive being the only State that had a governor of Chinese descent. Seattle is ethnically diverse. Of course, the proximity to the lush natural environment will give us change of scenery from the current daily pavement. So off we go to drop in and check up on our pal and check out the city. In about 3 weeks, it’s off to the Pacific Northwest we go.

[skyline photo by: kenofseattle/flickr]
[public market photo by: sárah/flickr]

Oh bless you Mud Truck! You giant orange former bread truck, how I love thee. I gravitate to you like children running to Mr. Softee parked in front of a playground in the summertime. You’ve spared me the embarrassment of paying almost 2 bucks for my 3pm fix. You’ve spared me from having to deal with the douchebags at Porto Rico. You’ve given me hope, and a swift caffeinated kick in the ass to get through the work day. Oh Mud Truck… will you do me the honor of getting a spot in midtown around the East 30s? You will make the happiest person in the world.

[Mud Coffee]
[photo by: wallyg/flickr]