From the editors: Today marks the first day of 2007. As people's schedules get back to normal, and the post-holiday winter sets in, we thought we'd give some of our writers a space to reflect on 2006. Today, it's The Year in Review for Culture. So, enjoy -- tomorrow, we'll have The Year in Review for Politics.
THE MEALS IN REVIEW: BEST (AND WORST)
TOP FIVE -- OK, SIX -- SONGS BY LOCAL ARTISTS
FIVE MOST CRUSHWORTHY DAY JOBBERS
FIVE BEST AND WORST TV MOMENTS
THE THREE BEST ROCK SHOWS I SAW
THE MEALS IN REVIEW: BEST (AND WORST) OF 2006
Kimberly Kaye
I don’t eat bad meals often. I have, quite fortuitously, found myself engulfed in a lifestyle conducive to good eating. Some of it is simple positioning (I live with a chef, I work in a restaurant, etc.). Some of it is common sense (I don’t order the fish on Tuesdays, I don’t eat at chain restaurants that dress their staff with “flair”). And some of it is pure, stupid luck.
I was lucky to have experienced only a few bad meals in 2006, and thrilled to encounter many good ones – it was, all in all, a very good year in terms of what I put in my mouth (minds out of the gutter, please). As always, the majority of good meals I’ve come across have been in homes; thrown together by a talented father, toiled over by Ramon’s familial network of soulful Puerto-Rican home-cooks, or successfully conjured by him and I in a claustrophobic kitchen. We do, however, eat out a lot. And so I have compiled two short lists to help try and guide other fans of all things edible towards positive digestive experiences and away from those which will leave you gurgling with dismay.
The criteria for these lists were loose and simple: how did I feel during the meal, how did I feel after the meal, and how did my wallet feel about the whole experience? Because really, once a critic stops pontificating about their lofty expertise of all things culinary or the chef’s aspirations to change the world with avocado foam, that’s all I give a shit about. And it’s all you should really give a shit about too.
So here is my list. Keeping in mind that some of us do venture out of our own towns to meet, eat and celebrate, I haven’t limited the lists to North Jersey alone (though stay tuned in 2007 for more reviews in the area). Go forth, children of the table, and eat.
Best Meals of 2006
5. Avra, 148 E. 48th St., NYC
It’s pricey, in a pseudo-pretentious neighborhood, and filled with Wall Street types trying to impress future trophy wives – but as soon as the complimentary hummus with warm pita bread and olives hit the table you won’t even notice. Airy, picturesque and romantic, this Greek spot serves up some of the tastiest seafood and Mediterranean fare in the area (and is responsible for turning my love of skorthalia into an obsession). The décor is transportive, the service spot on, and the food makes you want to swim the Aegean and never come back ... stick to Greek classics like grilled fish, homemade yogurt, savory spreads, and anything wrapped in grape leaves. And if you’re making a reservation, ask to be served by Tassos. He’s my choice for Server of the Year.
4. ChowderFest 2006, Beach Haven, NJ
Cold beer, fresh seafood, and over a dozen creamy or savory chowders enthusiastically competing for your vote aren’t the only edibles this daylong affair has to offer. There are warm elephant ear pastries, homemade cakes/cookies, ice cream in old-fashioned sugar cones, burgers and ‘dogs grilled in salty sea air – every grin-inducing food you can imagine sprawled before you at the edge of a pristine bay. And it only happens once a year. So plan ahead.
3. Pat Thai, 410 Bloomfield Ave, Bloomfield, NJ
Pat Thai is everything your neighborhood ethnic-eats spot should be. It’s homey, well priced, and they always remember you by name. If Thai standards like spring rolls, lemongrass soup, or Kaeng Phuk (which, lets face it, is just fun to say) don’t suit your fancy, tuck into Pad Kraprow (Thai-style, please) or Wonton Pad Thai. Pat herself, not an anonymous assortment of line-cooks, will be preparing your meal from scratch, so be patient! Crack open a beer, offer one to Jerry (Pat’s partner in crime and, most likely, your server), and be thankful you’re not trapped in another franchised ethnic-food monstrosity.
2. Taqueria, 236 Grove Street, Jersey City, NJ
This humble basement-level space boasts fantastic Mexican cuisine and ridiculously low prices. Dedicated to serving 100% authentic food, heady owners Phil and Andrea have banned Tex-Mex distractions like fajitas and fishbowl margaritas, leaving only delicious and satisfying traditional fare. Their wide assortment of tacos, flautas, tamales, enchiladas, and entrees are flawlessly done and downright fun to eat; easily the best Mexican food in the area, and a must for any group of friends looking to eat well and socialize on a budget.
1. La Isla, 104 Washington Street, Hoboken, NJ
After 12 months trawling the culinary waters in search of a damn good meal, I can honestly say that La Isla was the catch of the year. Born and raised on rice, beans and Abuela’s authentic island cuisine, my faithful dinner partner Ramon cannot say enough positive things about La Isla -- in English or Spanish -- and the mere mention of its name in his presence still evokes a barrage of pleasure-fueled expletives not fit for print. Cramped but cozy and reminiscent of an old-school diner, La Isla’s food is so good (and cheap) that words fail me (check out the original City Belt review here). Go there. And go hungry.
Worst Meals of 2006
5. Becco, 335 West 46th Street, NYC
One of pseudo-Italian-food-guru Lidia’s haunts, we tried this one out on a personal recommendation that promised some of the best pasta in town. While the food wasn’t bad, Becco is an example of what happens when money, rather than food, is priority number one: pushy waiters, cramped dining spaces, rushed meals, and disappointed diners. Don’t waste your time or money -- my father makes better sauces. And he’s Irish.
4. Pino’s, 488 Rt. 9 North, Marlboro, NJ
At this central-Jersey Italian spot the décor is lovely, the food is pretty good, and the prices make me want to punch the owner in the mouth. $12 for a handful of mixed-berries decorated with Redi-whip? Here’s hoping Pino’s gets whacked sometime soon.
3. Its Greek to Me, Washington Street, Hoboken, NJ
Decent Mediterranean fare served at slightly indecent prices. Granted the portions are huge. Granted there seems to be nowhere else to go if you’re in the NJ area looking for Greek food. But with all the ambiance of a high school cafeteria and the cuisine that ranks as “fun snack food” at best, you’d think there’d be prices to match. Stick with the take-out menu.
2. Carmine’s, The French Quarter at The Tropicana, Atlantic City, NJ
Family-style, savvy, and a bit tongue in cheek, the AC Italian spot known for extra-large sharing portions isn’t bad. The food was just fine, the prices weren’t exorbitant, and there were a few really great beers on tap. Unfortunately, the staff that did make an effort only fumbled their way through service -- the rest of them just looked unhappy to be there.
1. TAO, 42 E. 58th St., NYC
P. Diddy, Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan -- just a few of TAO NYC’s dedicated celebrity clientele. The trendy sushi spot is deliriously decadent -- thumping music, koi ponds, a 20 ft. golden Buddha. You’re paying for the atmosphere, and the drinks are so good you almost don’t care (the food is good too). And as long as you appear to be beautiful and content, TAO is happy to have you. But when an unfortunate sushi incident left Ramon and I both with brutal food poisoning, TAO revealed its propensity for bad karma -- an uncaring staff, rude hostesses, and an outright disdain for non-celebrities. Okay TAO, we get the point: we’re nobodies. Have fun fishing Paris Hilton’s vomit out of the koi pond.
TOP FIVE – OK, SIX -- SONGS BY LOCAL ARTISTS I’VE HEARD THIS YEAR (IN NO ORDER)
Jon Whiten
American Watercolor Movement, “Sweet Thursday”/"She Danced Like a Demon"
It was actually a bit difficult to pick one song off of It Takes 15 to Tango in My Book, AWM's second full-length, since the album flows song-to-song quite well, and really comes off as a coherent piece. And that's the case with these two songs, which I always thought were one, due to their interconnectedness. As "Sweet Thursday" winds down, with chants of "I don't know when that is," and delay pedals making me hear -- and feel -- tracers, "She Danced Like a Demon" explodes and peaks -- it's like when you're trapsing through the woods all quiet-like, and there's that moment when you come out into the open field -- and it's fucking beautiful.
Lismore, “Cherry Bomb”
Released on the EP It Takes Guts to Deceive So Eloquently, I didn't much care for this song when I first heard it, especially compared with Lismore's earlier material. But after I saw them perform it live, I revisited "Cherry Bomb," and wondered how I could have possibly disliked it. It's spare and repetitive, but the song evolves nicely as it winds along its course, keeping signifiers from the beginning of the song but pushing it in new directions. Or as the song would say, "push[ing] it to the limit." Analog-electro at its finest.
Screaming Females, “Baby Jesus”
It's got that Talking Heads guitar, but that's about as far as you'll get with any New Wave revivalism in this New Brunswick band's excellent track off Baby Teeth. The upbeat, underwatery verses make way for full-on pop choruses -- complete with the big hook. Perfect summer music, driving music, dancing music.
The Sunshine Will, “Your Chariot Awaits”
Sometimes you kick yourself for being a little bit late to the party. After first hearing them this summer, I missed out on between five and ten opportunities to see the Sunshine Will. And then they broke up. Like I said, sometimes you kick yourself. Anyway, this song, released on The Escapist, feels like when you end up at a strip club or an OTB at 6:30 in the morning. Discordant and dissonant, and all that reverb is kicking last night's adventures around in your head. And just why are you at such an establishment, and when/how/why did you become a scumbag? That's what I see when I listen to "Your Chariot Awaits."
Thunder Kids, “Wolf Ride”
This song starts pretty much like a psych-hippie trance jam, with lots of toms and tribal rhythms. Then "Wolf Ride" breaks into the most amazing bridge I've heard in some time -- a demented, twisted-around cluster of what I think might be fiddles. It sounds vaguely southern and backwoods, but not in any traditional sense. That leads to the next phase, as chants of "She's having a baby" string us along as they grow in strength, only to lead to a dark, quiet end.
Tris McCall, “Colonial Williamsburg”
This was another instance where I had a hard time picking one song off the album -- in this case, Tris' I'm Assuming You're All in Bands: an amazingly smarcastic (yeah, I took that from you, Tim Kinsella) look at the indie scene in Brooklyn circa the past couple of years. Was "Colonial Williamsburg" too obvious a choice? Too directly mocking of our Bedford brethren? Maybe. But it's smart, clever, funny, and all that -- plus, it's just fucking catchy. as. hell.
FIVE MOST CRUSHWORTHY DAY JOBBERS (IN NO ORDER)
Shane Smith
Victoria Mack
Justin Fullam
Joe Condiracci
William Stamos
The girls from Huma
TOP FIVE FILMS (IN NO ORDER)
Nightdreamer
La Science des reves (aka, The Science of Sleep), by Michel Gondry
Because nothing is better than dreaming. It’s getting even better with Paris in the background, funny-naked-dreamy-heavy-accent-Gael and one of the most charm-as-hell-promising actresses, Mrs. Gainsbourg (vive Serge’s genes!)
Zui hao de shi guang (aka, Three Times), by Hsiao-hsien Hou
Because three is my number. Three epistolary relations in three different time frames. Calligraphic letters on rice paper in the 10s, prosy yellowish letters in the 60s e-mails and sms in the 00s.
The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada, by Tommy Lee Jones
We’ve been through this. Three is my number. Now, for real, because we loved when Melquiades got shot or when he got burned. Well, actually, he even got rotten and got eaten by ants! But at least he got buried in the end. Rest in peace, Mr. Estrada.
Volver, by Pedro Almodóvar
Because it rocked in Cannes. Because Pedro seems to be more mature behind his camera than ever. Because Penelope is just astonishing and entrancing (like West Side Story song) – and no, Tom, it’s too late for you.
Dalkomham insaeng (aka, A Bittersweet Life), by Kim Ji-woon
Because I liked both Kill Bill and Oldboy in 2003. Because I heart Korean cinema. And, finally, because…
“One late autumn night, the disciple awoke crying. So the master asked the disciple, ‘Did you have a nightmare?’ ‘No.’ ‘Did you have a sad dream?’ ‘No,’ said the disciple. ‘I had a sweet dream.’ ‘Then why are you crying so sadly?’ The disciple wiped his tears away and quietly answered, ‘Because the dream I had can't come true.’ ”
To put an end in my palaver, this last story is also my wish for 2007. May all of your dreams come true, so that no one of you will ever cry for them again (at least for 07).
FIVE BEST AND WORST TV MOMENTS
Elizabeth Weill-Greenberg
The Best (From Best to Most Best)
America’s Next Top Model -- the best union-busting, reality show around -- survived the UPN/WB merger.
I interviewed Janice Dickinson by phone for a freelance story. She scared me.
Law and Order: Criminal Intent mini-marathons. Who needs health insurance when you’ve got the hypnotic L&O to watch? Vincent D'Onofrio -- you’re my Ativan!
When Jon and I moved, I finally agreed to sacrifice cable to save a little money. Maybe this isn’t a big deal to you but it was my own personal Sophie’s choice. Any-who, our first night in the new apartment Jon plugged in the cable thingy to the TV (just to try) and free programming glittered before my eyes. Thank you, cable Gods, I’m no longer an atheist.
The best show ever created -- Beverly Hills, 90210 (duh!) – was finally released on DVD. I love you, Jennie Garth.
The Worst (In Order of Least to Greatest Disgust)
Top Chef – You’re not Project Runway. Don’t even pretend. (Full disclosure: This is not to say I don’t occasionally tune in.)
Brokeback Mountain -- a movie that made me sob for days – losing the Best Picture Oscar to the meaningless, gibberish clusterfuck that is Crash.
When the WB and UPN merged, Twins -- a sweet, clever, formulaic sitcom (in the tradition of greats like Golden Girls and Will and Grace) -- was one of the casualties.
Project Runway contestants have had to make clothes from garbage scraps and household goods. But nothing was more revolting to them than having to design for women with lots of junk in the trunk. Now I know why I can never find a pair of jeans that actually fit.
Tatt-ew (Project Runway winner Jeffrey Sebella) making Insangela's (Angela) mom cry on said episode. I can watch almost anything (as evidenced by a recent desperate attempt with a friend to find background TV that wouldn’t enthrall us – we failed) but I can never view that episode again.
WHEN MY YOUTH WAS YOUNG: THE TOP THREE ROCK SHOWS I SAW IN 2006
Daniel Morris
1. Rainer Maria (Northsix, NYC)
Flowers on mics and draped over amps, Kyle and Caithlin almost back together, fans pouncing on each other, plenty of disjointed footwork, arms flailing, screams and silences handcuffed like wrists, that weirdly gnomic syncopation from Bill, extra-doleful banter: the final RM show. Exhausting. Exhilarating. On and off, on and off, into the northside night, forever.
2. Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins (Town Hall, NYC)
Jenny Lewis, a western girl, performs cross-country road trips in about an hour. She takes you to Vegas, Omaha, the San Fernando Valley, then down south and all through the east. She sneaks you into schoolyards where glittery girls in knee-highs clap and sing a cappella. Jenny has been a red-hot throwback ticket, everyone agrees, but the consensus contracts when you try to decipher all the musical personalities kept like secrets deep inside her mama’s picture box. Dolly and Loretta are surely there, but other femmes are just grainy tresses and dusty curves. In trailer parks and tenements in these here parts, Jenny remains the most favored farrago of blues, country, and gospel. Her live show, complete with towering twins from Kentucky who, like Jenny, change costumes, is winsome proof that ersatz glamour and a feigned drawl can go a very, very long way.
3. Pela (The Delancey, Tonic, elsewhere in NYC)
Ten years ago I wondered what the ascendancy of post-hardcore would bring once the angular notes still ringing true near DC and Chicago started to sound false.
As you can imagine, then, I wish Pela had arrived a little earlier than 2004.
Unsigned royalty from Red Hook, they live by the water but the undertow hasn’t got them yet. The trouble with their river city, of course, is the surfeit of bands these days, many of which come and go with tidal regularity. But even if they never record another song, these far-flung hopefuls will go on playing for admiring throngs everywhere. Indeed, the demand for Pela's live shows has climbed considerably in recent months, and with headlining spots on the horizon it’s tempting to view their appeal as artificially inflated. More likely is that fans have simply come to admire their reliability, tightness, and heft on stage -- hard-won virtues for any rock band. Boys, it’s all boom, no bust, in the new year.
By the way, I still own a four-track recorder. Don't make me use it.
TOP REASONS TO BECOME A LUDDITE IN 2007
Jon Whiten
iPod broke, lost scores upon scores of great songs
People that look like they’re talking to themselves as they talk on bluetooth things
Laptop broke, almost lost “life’s work”
Traffic – not the film, not the Web stats, but the cars, et al.
Obscene amount of taxes and miscellaneous charges on cell phone bill
People who interrupt dinner to take phone calls/check messages/check e-mail/etc.
That darn ever-expanding surveillance society
TOP FIVE ROCK SHOWS
Shane Smith
Nicole Atkins and the Sea, Rothko, 1/16
City Belt Day Job Show, Maxwell's, 10/4
Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins, Town Hall, 10/13
Rainer Maria, Bowery Ballroom, 12/16
Rainer Maria, Northsix, 12/17
Hey Shane, Great list of Day Jobbers but how could you leave off Jim Testa?!
Any man who proudly poses next to Homer is my crush for life:
http://citybelt.typepad.com/citybelt/2006/08/day_job_jim_tes.html
Happy new year! :) Elizabeth
Posted by: Elizabeth Weill-Greenberg | 01/01/2007 at 01:54 PM
"Brokeback Mountain -- a movie that made me sob for days – losing the Best Picture Oscar to the meaningless, gibberish clusterfuck that is Crash."
I second, third and fourth that.
Posted by: Emma Pollin | 01/02/2007 at 02:31 PM
Hey!
Longtime reader, first-time commentor. Grew up in NJ, now living in CO.
Wondering: Why did so many NYC items (lotsa food, all rock shows) make your tops of '06 lists? I mean, I imagine they are better than most competing NJ items, but isn't this a NJ paper/blog?
Just wondering. So many out here think NJ is basically a NY borough, and I have to defend its independence and standalone worthiness. Should I not? Should I say Jersey is great because you can go to NY?
j
Posted by: Josh | 01/02/2007 at 04:31 PM
Josh,
You make a good point. It's something we have to struggle with as north Jerseyans, and it's been an interesting idea as related to City Belt items as well.
Fact is, throughout our coverage area, there is a real connection amongst the types of folks who are our readers to NYC. I mean, I love eating in New Brunswick, or going to Maxwell's -- but a lot of culture does the fly-over to the Garden State. So people end up spending a lot of time in NYC as well as in Jersey City, Montclair or Newark.
We keep things pretty local in many ways, but one thing we didn't want to have happen is what happened to me at a previous newspaper job: when I got a press release about something (an art show or a home invasion), my boss often had to whip out his map, which had sharp red lines dictating what we did -- and didn't cover. I do understand that these lines have to be drawn at some point, but I just thought his approach didn't made that much sense, and have tried not to fall into localism for localism's sake.
-Jon
Posted by: Editor | 01/02/2007 at 04:52 PM
Josh -
Totally hear where you're coming from with the frustrating overlap of NJ and NYC locales.
I did cover some NYC food-stuff, but to, with the one exception of Avra, encourage readers to eat in NJ...you'll notice that two of the WORST meals in 2006 occured in NYC, while all of the top 4 BEST meals were in NJ. Point being that with the unfortunate exception of Greek food (of which I still cannot find any good NJ providers), the best food is still coming from good ol' NJ.
And if you stumble on any other phenomenal examples of underrated but awesome NJ restaurants, shoot them my way. I'm always looking...
Cheers!
Kimberly
Posted by: Kimberly Kaye | 01/02/2007 at 10:44 PM