Microsoft Stores

I recently purchased a new Lumia 1520.  It's a phone as big as your head.  It's not as handy for making calls, but who makes calls these days??

Anyway, I bought it at the Microsoft Store.  You didn't know there were Microsoft retail stores?  You're in for a treat then.

It looks bright and welcoming.

It has plenty of open space.

The walls are made of LCD screens.

Look familiar at all?

They serve pizza!

Apparently kids come to the store to play Xbox on giant screens and eat pizza.  Where was this when I was growing up?

Store employees show off dance moves.

This was definitely the job for me in high school/college.  (Not the dancing part.)  Too bad it didn't exist.

3D printer making toys.

 What other store lets you print out a toy you want?

The printer made this helicopter.

That would be a really fun Christmas gift.  Not the helicopter, the printer.

This could be a good present too if I knew what it did.

It looks like it converts your Surface tablet into some sort of DJ device.  That accessory cannot possibly sell well.

Other brands have stores you didn't know about.  Feel like buying an electric car while you're out at the mall?

Fully charged and ready to drive off the lot!  (maybe)

Hello, I'm here with the church...

...of Scientology!

A free movie ticket!

What am I being oriented to?

The friendly man on the sidewalk just wanted to have a chat with me.  What a swell guy!  He invited me to go to the movies with him.  He even wrote his phone number on the back!  We're going to be great friends.

Food Innovations

It's pretty impossible to find new foods these days, but I have found a few things that aren't really new, but perhaps new to New York.  (Or maybe just to me in New York?)

Shepard's Pie

This is the first time I have seen this southern dish up here.  It wasn't really something I ate before, but it was fun to pretend I did.

Lamb, chicken, and beef.  All the food groups?

I wouldn't say this is an innovation, but kebabs of meat are a great find.  Why settle for chicken, beef, or lamb when you can have all three for the same price?  I've been going to this place for months, but am just now getting to new dishes.

Pre-mixed Thai Iced Tea?

 This was new to me, but not all new things are a good idea.  I think I'll stick to the fresh kind.  It's like the difference between fresh squeezed orange juice and the kind in gallon jugs at the store.

Asian Chipotle!

People love Chipotle.  The concept is really simple, so why not apply it to other types of food?  In this case I chose all the Asian ingredients I wanted.  Rice, vegetables, protein, garnishes, sauces, etc.  It's a custom-made bowl just like Chipotle.  Not a bad idea.  I'm sure it will do well.

Mutant cupcakes...

Please tell me this is the last dying gasp of the cupcake craze.  Giant cupcakes don't even make sense.  It's just a cake with a wrapper!  You just look silly eating this.  If you need a fork and knife, haven't you defeated the whole purpose of the cupcake?

A festive holiday beverage.

Add cider and carbonated water with a cinnamon stick and dried apple.  Simple, but fun.  My mom never made me fancy apple cider.  :(

Kenny Roger's has a restaurant?

Here's a fun fact: Kenny Roger's Roasters exists.  I discovered it by accident at a mall in White Plains.  Can anyone tell me about their experiences with a roaster?

Things I don't do

The crazy woman has friends.

I don't take bread from my shopping cart of junk and throw it on the ground to make flying friends.  I also don't terrorize pedestrians by screaming jibberish and throwing bread at them as they walk by.

This car is smiling at me.

I don't give my car eyelashes.  Is that a normal thing to do?

A friendly public service announcement by a concerned citizen.

When I have a good conspiracy theory, I don't manufacture fake documents and propaganda.  I also don't post it all over sidewalks and building facades.  Is this a good way to run for office?

Buying in bulk saves money.

I don't...actually I do.  Buying 15 bags of chips at a time is great because Amazon delivers them to your door for free!  It saves time and money and only makes you appear slightly odd to others.  I guess this is what it is like to shop at Costco?  Luckily we have this handy storage ottoman for hiding foods that would make our friends assume we are gluttons.

New Food Item

So this item won't be new for most people.  I however, never eat fast food.  Given that casual quick serve places cost about the same amount and have tastier options, I never have a reason to go to McDonald's.  I eat there about once a year when driving through small towns with no other options.

I had to take a train to Yonkers a few weeks ago and figured I should get breakfast before boarding.  I saw a really nice McDonald's on 125th.

Do most McDonald's have neon seats?

Anyway, I discovered the McGriddle.  I actually didn't know what it was.  I saw sausage biscuit, sausage mcmuffin, and sausage mcgriddle.  I thought it may have been some sort of grilled bread.

Nope, it's a pancake.

I have to say it wasn't nearly as terrible as I had expected.  I don't plan to go back for another one, but it's edible.  The sweet and savory combination is pretty interesting too.

I also approve of the redesigned McDonald's.  I have seen a number of styles now.  Some of them look like Starbucks inside while others look like the picture above.  I'm not sure if this is a nationwide makeover or if New Yorkers just like to have a fancy fast food ambiance.

Thanksgiving Dinner (NYC-style)

Erin had to work since she has Christmas off.  That left me alone for Thanksgiving.  Fear not, because restaurants here stay open to serve Thanksgiving meals.  They're not cheap, but it's better than sitting at home.  (Although you can order a turkey online and have it delivered.)

My local (and credible) spot.

 I have to specify credible because take-out Chinese places advertise serving Thanksgiving dinner.  No thanks.  I would rather eat turkey than "turkey".

Crab and corn chowder.

All the usual Thanksgiving treats.

Cherry pie.  I never eat sweets, but I suppose it's a Thanksgiving obligation.

I initially sat alone, but you're never really alone for long.  I met two other solo Thanksgiving diners on each of me.  One was excited to be out of prison for Thanksgiving this year.  I suppose that puts it into perspective.

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

It was horribly cold outside, so Erin stayed in bed.  I suffered through four hours of blistering winds, but survived.  Many people left early because of the weather.

This is Jason, the CNN reporter who did a segment with me.

How do you think this turtle feels about carrying Richard Simmons?

My favorite float this year.

The Goo Goo Dolls and a giant baker.

Pikachu!

Macy's has their own private band?

Santa!  (Also my cue to head home to soak my hands and feet until I regain feeling!)

The Magic of Food Carts

When it's 30 degrees outside pouring rain, you may be feeling sad because you have no umbrella.  Luckily, New York throws random happy things at you to help you get through.

For example, as I trudge through the rain, I see a Belgian waffle cart.  Instant improvement!

Even the people on the box look happy.

Take your waffle home and although the box is soaked, the fresh Belgian waffle is ready to cheer you up.

Non-NYC Photos

Most everything I post is related to New York, but I do travel, so I'll put it all together here.

New Hampshire is beautiful.

Tranquil too.

The Basketball Hall of Fame is in a strip mall.  That seems wrong.

Chicago has a nice skyline.

It also has a shiny jelly bean.

Seattle has a lot of cranes.

It also has mountains.

And trolls live under the bridges!

Seattle looks nice at night from the Space Needle.

Seattle has the world's best toast and potatoes, as judged by Erin.

Seattle also has the first Starbucks.

And scenic highway views.

The downside is that all these pictures were taken in the month of November.  That means my schedule has been a disaster, hence the lack of blog postings recently.  That should improve until the December/January break when I head to Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, and Thailand!

Horrifying Things

Which of these three things is most horrifying?

Carrying a huge knife in the subway.

Enlisting the services of this person.

Wearing this grotesque outfit.