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Items on the Docket: Summer 2012

May 1, 2012 By Jeff 41 Comments

A few quick updates from the bunker…

I’m taking next week off from work.  And that means I’ll be free starting on May 3, and won’t have to return until May 13.  To accomplish this, I only had to take four vacation days.  Pretty nifty, huh?

I’ll be working on a project during that time, and won’t be maintaining the site with normal-sized updates.  I will, however, try to post a Question of the Day, in the form of one or two paragraphs – each weekday, starting on Monday.  I thought about asking for guest posts again, but it doesn’t feel like enough time has passed since we last did that.  So, we’ll just go with the bite-sized mini-updates, and see what happens.

Also, I’m experimenting with the bunker cam.  I’ve moved the, um, video feed to a different page, and allowed comments.  I think this could be fun.  Old entries will be archived, and accessible.  And I like the idea of letting you guys make sarcastic comments, or whatever, on the dedicated page itself.  Hopefully everyone will like it, but if not… we can always go back to the old way of doing things.

And… I’m taking my younger son to New York City on a Friday in May.  I’m yanking him out of school, taking a bus to Manhattan, and spending the day browsing through record stores and book stores with him. We’re going to have lunch with Duff, and it’ll be a blast.  He’s a quiet kid, who loves to read and listen to the “weird shit.”  Hopefully this will be something he remembers fondly.

If you have any suggestions on record stores in (or near) Greenwich Village (I still haven’t earned the right to call it the village), please let me know.  We’re planning to go to the Strand bookstore, but if you know of any smaller, funkier places, I’m all ears.

Also, Steve and I are planning a trip to Cleveland this summer, to see the Reds play the Indians.  I’ll give you more details, as we get closer to the date.  But we’re driving on Wednesday, going to the game that night, and maybe visiting the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame on Thursday.  It’s gonna be a quick guerrilla strike on the city, and I know NOTHING about it.

So… I’ll need whatever guidance you folks can provide. Especially as it pertains to beer and food.  Ahem.

And our possible August trip to Atlanta is still on the table.  I have a feeling it’s not going to happen, but it remains in the daydream hopper.  We haven’t pulled the plug on it, entirely.  Not yet, anyway.  I’d love to show the boys around our old stomping grounds, and eat myself right up to the cusp of a blackout, at our favorite places.  We’ll just have to play that one by ear.

And finally, I came up with an idea for a new website yesterday that’s got my mind running wide-open.  Actually it’s an old idea that I’d forgotten about… then re-remembered.  It’s solid, man.  But I made a vow not to start any new sites this year, and just focus on the Surf Report and the book project.  I must be strong…

But, of course, rules are made to be broken. Right?  I might have to bring in a technical partner to Smoking Fish Media.  Please stay tuned.

And that pretty much brings you up to date on what’s going on.  If you can provide any help on the NYC or Cleveland fronts, I’d be much obliged.  Also, if you any suggestions for a Question of the Day to be used in next week’s extravaganza… please post it in the comments section. I’ll give you full credit, if I use your idea.

I’ll try to post a (normal) update tomorrow, but Wednesday’s are tough.  If not tomorrow, then definitely the next day.  Then we go into vacation mode…

Have a great day, my friends.

See ya soon.

Now playing in the bunker
Treat yourself at Amazon: US and Canada

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Comments

  1. icecycle66 says

    May 1, 2012 at 1:29 pm

    Are you going to get some next book work done?

    Reply
  2. Juancho says

    May 1, 2012 at 1:33 pm

    Atlanta in August? I so hope this trip happens. Not for your sake, but for the selfish small-minded surf reporter inside of me.

    Reply
    • Jeff says

      May 1, 2012 at 1:42 pm

      I lived there for six years. I know what we’ll be getting into…

      Reply
  3. Patty says

    May 1, 2012 at 1:34 pm

    Hey I’m writing this from Cleveland. I work 500 feet from Progressive Field and about 1/2 mile from the Rock hall. Don’t hesitate to ask me anything at all.

    Reply
    • Alex says

      May 1, 2012 at 4:13 pm

      Anything?
      What are you wearing?

      Reply
  4. Ognir says

    May 1, 2012 at 1:48 pm

    I don’t think you would have much interest – but there is a giant Grateful Dead display at the R&R Hall of Fame right now. I’d love to see it.

    Reply
  5. Rat Bastard says

    May 1, 2012 at 1:53 pm

    I think all of the good record stores that were in the East Village when I stomped around there are all gone. Replaced by K-Marts and Starbucks or something.

    Just checked, this one is still around:
    http://www.generationrecords.com/

    Wowsville! closed, Bleeker Bob’s is moving, but the one above Kim’s on St. Marks might still be around. Hope that helps..

    Reply
  6. Dogberry says

    May 1, 2012 at 2:01 pm

    There’s a mobile app for finding nearby record shops called The Vinyl District. I have it, but since I never leave the Kanawha Valley, I have no idea how good it is. http://www.thevinyldistrict.com/mobile/2012/01/the-vinyl-district-record-store-locator-app-the-forum/

    Reply
  7. Doug says

    May 1, 2012 at 2:19 pm

    I spent several months working in fucking Cleveland. Near the R&R Hall of Fame on the waterfront was an old WW II submarine I always wanted to tour, but it was closed for the season. Next to that was a fairly decent seafood place. Most of the warehouse district was closed for the season as well, but if you are there during the summer it may be well worth checking out.

    Reply
  8. SuperMatt says

    May 1, 2012 at 2:48 pm

    I’ve always liked the Winking Lizard in Cleveland – excellent beer selection & close to both the ballpark & the RNR HOF

    Reply
    • SuperMatt says

      May 1, 2012 at 6:01 pm

      been there several times for Black Crowes concerts @ the HOB; we have always stayed at the Holiday Inn Express on Euclid – it’s in an old bank building, not much of a view, but nice, clean HUGE rooms – easy walking distance to Progressive Field & the R&R HOF as well as the Winking Lizard & dozens of other bars & restaurants – interesting neighborhood, everything from panhandlers to guys in $1000 suits with cops walking a beat on every block –

      Reply
  9. Seanette says

    May 1, 2012 at 3:32 pm

    I’m just hoping for some more antics from N&N, Sunshine, etc. 😉

    Reply
  10. WB in OH says

    May 1, 2012 at 3:39 pm

    Can’t help you out on this one, been 14 years since I’ve been to Cleveland and I’ve never been to NYC. I’m such an adventurer.

    Reply
    • dto says

      May 1, 2012 at 11:32 pm

      WB…uh…do you think it would for rude if me and you rejoined in Cleveland for another Reds game and asked to meet up with Jeff and buddy Steve? That Hoilday Inn Express.place SuperMatt mentioned sounds like a perfect base camp. Given their location they’re probably quite tolarent of people like me. In fact…in the gift shop they most likely sell ether. If we get the dates (Reds are @ Indaians June 18, 19 and 20) and you can make it happen…I’ll make sure I’ll be there! Maybe t-storm can make it too. I’m gonna need some sort of distraction to keep me out of jail on, “Questionable Behavior”, charges and t-storm will provide a ligitimate reasnon to arrest someone and they’ll leave me alone. The plan is weak, I admit.

      Reply
      • t-storm says

        May 2, 2012 at 3:18 pm

        So im the fall guy?

        Reply
        • dto says

          May 3, 2012 at 6:32 am

          Not at all. A diversoinary tactic is a much better title. After all…we are reporters covering our national pastime….Drinking and Rock and Roll. They are bound by an amendment to leave us the fuck alone. We’ll also catch a ballgame or two. You’ll be fine.

          Reply
  11. bikerchick says

    May 1, 2012 at 4:00 pm

    Craigslist has a section called “Rants and Raves”, which is pretty entertaining. We could do The WVSR Rants and Raves next week. Even though we always seem to be ranting over something!!

    Reply
    • BoMama says

      May 1, 2012 at 10:39 pm

      That is a most excellent idea.

      Reply
    • Bill in WV says

      May 2, 2012 at 2:39 pm

      I was in your neck of the woods last Sunday, in the Squirrel Hill area of PGH. Thank God it was a Sunday. The clusterf*ck that they call Interstates in Pittsburgh is just amazing.

      Reply
      • bikerchick says

        May 2, 2012 at 5:22 pm

        And it’s only getting worse. Squirrel Hill is a whole conglomerate of clusterf*cks. Any major artery in and around the city is under some type of construction. It is impossible to get anywhere. Always seems like the same projects. Nothing ever gets finished. And by the time anything does get finished, they took so long, it has to be redone. It’s maddening.

        Reply
        • johnthebasket says

          May 2, 2012 at 10:01 pm

          That DOES sound like a clus*erfuck.

          jtb

          Reply
  12. madz1962 says

    May 1, 2012 at 4:01 pm

    A combination of rock and art, you can go see Ronnie Wood’s Art Exhibit at: http://www.symboliccollection.com/
    on Broome Street. It runs through June 30. They also have a shitload of rock memorabilia. Since you’ll be in that neighborhood anyway, and if that’s your thing.

    A somewhat goofy place to grab a cheap lunch: http://ilovepeanutbutter.com/
    I’m not all that familiar with Greenwich Village. I’ll ask my niece – she works there.

    Reply
    • Ed says

      May 2, 2012 at 6:00 pm

      Interesting link, madz! Got lost in there for awhile looking at Robert Crumb stuff etc.

      Reply
  13. Milissa "Jeff was married on by birthday" Sampson says

    May 1, 2012 at 4:11 pm

    Great restaurant to take the boy to is: http://www.jekyllpub.com/
    but try to go a night as it will be more interesting.

    Reply
  14. t-storm says

    May 1, 2012 at 5:23 pm

    ummm i believe you have pictures of me at the winking lizard in cleveland. It’s near the field so there is my endorsement.

    Reply
  15. t-storm says

    May 1, 2012 at 5:26 pm

    question: what is the smallest lizard that has ever crawled out of your pee hole?

    Reply
    • The Kuban says

      May 2, 2012 at 5:10 pm

      I’m sorry, did you mean out of, or off of? Just curious.

      Reply
      • t-storm says

        May 2, 2012 at 5:30 pm

        Out of

        Reply
  16. Cosgrove says

    May 1, 2012 at 5:38 pm

    Question: Where do you turn when thewvsr.com is on hiatus?
    Answers can be other websites, religious figures, narcotics, etc

    Reply
    • Jed says

      May 1, 2012 at 10:09 pm

      I agree with that question. Id like to know where like-minded wvsr reporters go for their daily fix.
      Here’s one to get it started:
      http://www.theonion.com/video/how-to-get-a-guy-to-notice-you-while-youre-having,19984/

      Reply
      • chill says

        May 1, 2012 at 10:24 pm

        I used to read The Onion before it got so bloated. Nowadays it’s dieselsweeties.com, engrish.com, and of course wikipedia.
        .

        Reply
        • Alex says

          May 2, 2012 at 5:18 pm

          That wasn’t what I was hoping it would lead to =-)

          Reply
    • Gretchen says

      May 1, 2012 at 11:59 pm

      I go to my gentleman’s log cabin.

      http://www.amazon.co.uk/product-reviews/B000KKNQBK/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

      Reply
      • chill says

        May 2, 2012 at 6:27 am

        Comedy gold! DO NOT PUT ON KNOB AND BOLLOCKS.
        .

        Reply
      • Alex says

        May 2, 2012 at 5:30 pm

        Comedy gold as they say.

        Reply
      • Rick says

        May 6, 2012 at 8:54 am

        Holy crap, not only did I LMFAO but I couldn’t read past the first three comments due to the tears in my eyes. It looks like the WVSR moved into these comments in some sort of cosmic internet quotes hijinks.

        Kudos my friend.

        Reply
  17. chill says

    May 1, 2012 at 6:55 pm

    For a bar in the Village, I suggest the Blind Tiger at Bleecker and Jones. Christopher St. or West 4th by subway. A dizzying array of imports and micros on tap.
    .

    Reply
  18. Evil Twin's Wife says

    May 2, 2012 at 9:59 am

    I haven’t been to NYC in years, but there was a cool record store – Recon Records – don’t know if it’s still around. Also check out St. Mark’s Bookshop (http://www.stmarksbookshop.com) and across the street from that, there was a shop that sold underground comics, books, etc. I can’t remember the name, but if you walk across the street, then take a stairwell down, that’s it. Very cool.

    Reply
  19. johnthebasket says

    May 2, 2012 at 6:57 pm

    QOD? OK. Here’s a short list…

    1) If Smoking Fish Media were sufficiently well endowed to provide funds for any education you wished, what profession would you like to go into?

    2) Who is your favorite baseball or football player, living or dead, and why?

    3) Who put the last dent in your car?

    4) How many times did you masturbate last month? Highlights?

    5) Who is your favorite author, and what book or books would you recommend the Reporters read?

    6) What should be the name of my (Jeff’s) third book?

    7) What are your five favorite songs of the rock age (1955-present)? Tell us why if you are so inclined.

    8) The NFL is concerned about head injuries. What kinds of injuries do you worry about on YOUR job?

    9) What are your favorite podcasts? Which ones suck?

    10) Which traffic laws would you change if you were Traffic Czar?

    jtb

    Reply
    • chill says

      May 2, 2012 at 8:11 pm

      If I were Traffic Czar, I would institute a License to Speed where you could take a test, get certified, and be ‘cleared’ for a certain personal speed limit, as it were, on limited-access highways. The better you do on the certification exam, the higher the speed you’re cleared for.

      Or just prohibit DMVs from revealing driving records to insurance companies.
      .

      Reply
  20. seanchai says

    May 2, 2012 at 7:49 pm

    Housing Works Bookstore and Cafe is in a cool neighborhood as is a must stop from inexpensive and funky books.

    126 Crosby Street, New York, NY 10012

    Mon–Fri: 10 AM–9 PM, Sat–Sun: 10 AM–5 PM

    Reply

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