End of the Decade

A picture of The Century building at 25 Central Park West to mark the end of the decade seems rather fitting. There in the park on the coldest of days, yours truly was compelled to pose in a welcome ray of sunshine while elsewhere, pedestrians were whipped by winds that howled down icy brick and steel canyons.

Less icy but by no means lacking in impact was the thrift store display window that seemed to strike its own blue mood. One can't help notice the mannequin's haughty, er, expression. And what was I thinking? So long, 2009. Hello 2010.

Shake It Up

A lovely Christmas and a rich and full Sunday afternoon spent exploring Manhattan's garden of gustatory delights in the company of Sisters2 and friend Babsey. I got my thrill at The Shake Shack where Kobe beef and garden fresh cherry tomatoes feature largely in their famed hamburgers. Long lines deterred serious investigation, but got a delicious custard late in the day, so all's well that ends well.

Christmas Desecration

Where many are traditionally driven to excess, one can discover unexpected art. One of the funnier Christmas displays we've seen features a faux disaster as its centerpiece.

And speaking of disaster (real or imagined) our first snowfall (the so-called "Blizzard of 2009") sent thousands to the stores in search of milk, bread and toilet paper. Are these truly the things we can't live without? Milk certainly qualifies. And toilet paper. But bread? Does bread belong in the holy grocerial trinity? I motion for bread to be stricken from the trio, and chocolate drafted in its place. Now there's a trinity!

Off Your Brass

Visitors to the jardin de Sparquette on Little Mass. Ave. in Cambridge may have noticed the memorial tile chipped and fading after only a season and a half's exposure to the harsh New England clime. Utton Bay R&D to the rescue: a solid brass plate designed and etched in our labs, which my experts tell me will weather a century or more. The project required no small amount of elbow grease on my part; however, I can report success. The plate is ready for installation come Spring.

Fashion Education

I often take on the job of escorting young neighbor girls Helen and Emmy to school. I really shouldn't call it a job because the two of them never fail to amuse and dazzle me with their oh-so-fashionable school outfits and backpacks. The other day I spotted Helen sporting a foulard featuring a peace sign pattern laced with metallic threads. Such is life in the fast lane at Maria Baldwin elementary school. And judging from this little passerby's up-to-the-minute GAP ensemble, apparently Columbia University too. Those pre-teen girls play to win.

Closer to Christmas

As the holidays loom, I observe the frenzy of consumer consumption fed by TV ads and store displays with mixed emotion. Being an aspiring retailer and good consumer myself, I often wonder if I'm doing my part to support the economy. Do I need a Google phone? Is Netflix worth signing up for? Should I switch to Geico? Scholars in the audience will note that comedian Bill Hicks and the legendary Stan Freberg have mocked the seasonal marketing onslaught as "The United States of Advertising". Yet I think commercialization is as much part of the culture as Christmas itself. At any rate, I'm going to look into signing up with Netflix. $10 a month seems a small price to pay to join in with the holiday spirit.

Strange Bagelfellows

It's been called "the tastiest Judeo-Sinic collaboration since Marco Polo discovered noodles." I refer, of course, to Nussbaum & Wu, a bagel bakery stumbled upon during an expedition to Manhattan's Morningside Heights neighborhood, adjacent to Columbia University. Alas, though I didn't have time to sample the goods, I immediately understood the concept. The fusion of Jewish and Asian cultures may be foreign to some, but the two ancient peoples have a long history of close cooperation, especially during the Christmas holidays.

Faces of Election

"Get out and vote" scolds the media. I admit I'm unprepared. Today's election will decide Ted Kennedy's replacement. As the deadline looms, my knowledge of the candidates is still too meager to cast an informed ballot. Which one seems nicer? More sane? Sure, that's no way to vote. But sometimes that's what it comes down to.

What might sway me is a candidate who supports tearing down Faces, the long-abandoned nightclub off Route 2 in Cambridge. I'm told the last time anyone did the Latin Hustle in this ghostly disco was over 20 years ago. Who knows how many kilos of crystal meth have changed hands in its parking lot since then? A worthy Senatorial candidate could spearhead a project to build a community center on the site. Or maybe a park. I wouldn't even mind an Ikea store there.

Biz The Season

Church: Saturday

Just when I thought I'd go stark-raving mad from the endlessly looped medley of Christmas carols booming 300 decibels loud in the Christ Church auditorium, young friends Elsa and Nicole showed up from the wilds of New Hampshire. Good thing, because they generously offered to cut me loose from my retail duty to enjoy a proper lunch with Mme. L, Elsa's mum, far from the holiday madhouse.

Later, two small elves plied me with cookies and milk at $4 a shot. I was happy to pay it, as the winsome pair trailed a bevy of cooing Christmas shoppers in their wake. Alas, none brought the holiday spirit of buying to my booth.

Still, it's good to have friends and attentive elves when you need them.

Hive: Sunday

Even as we speak, I'm weathering yet another medley of overpoweringly amplified Christmas songs. After the 3rd repetition of "Jingle Bell Rock," I'm ready to bug out. If this morning's light turnout of shoppers is any indication, Utton Bay's interest in a sales table at Design Hive (or similar holiday craft event) is definitely waning. I'll probably miss the opportunity to disport myself in public while meeting new and old friends, but I believe there's a better way to sell my boatnecks, and it's right here on the web. Stay tuned.

All-Table Weekend

If you're reading this on Friday or Saturday morning, why not plan to stop by Utton Bay's sales table at Christ Church's annual Christmas Fair? The church is located at Zero Garden St., Cambridge, MA. That's Saturday, December 5 from 10 am-3 pm.

Utton Bay's table-mania continues on Sunday, December 6th at Design Hive from 10 am - 5 pm at the Maria Baldwin School, 28 Sacramento St., Cambridge, MA. I'll be showing boatnecks in classic cotton as well as some fab new materials, so check it out.