I found some compelling discussions of synthetic vs sable. Foremost in the argument for synthetic is that the nature of the compounds in acrylic paint are very hard on sable brushes (oil paints are much kinder and even water colors are easier on sable than acrylic). The synthetic is able to withstand the acrylic much longer. I hadn’t found the ( Read more... )

Defiant Brewery has a "members" club that allows purchase of this brewery's limited edition beers. Defiant Lambic has been on this limited edition list lately so we picked up two bottles about a month ago. As I enjoy lambic (fruit and otherwise) I bought two bottles. One we drank immediately the other we let cellar for 3 weeks. Both were bad and in ( Read more... )

We acquired this grand crue about two months ago, leaving it cellar-ed (literally in the basement) in the interim. I have in the past enjoyed other beers labeled in the style of a crue. Recently I've learned that "grand crue" doesn't really refer to a style as much as it means "premium beer" or "more complex or stronger version". Hmmm ( Read more... )

This coffee porter was, to my taste, one of the best coffee porters I have yet tasted. For many, I think it would be characterized as under carbonated, but as I have a preference for low carbonated beers, I found it to be perfect. It poured very smooth, with a small dark tan head of medium sized bubbles. The coffee aroma was not particularly ( Read more... )

First sip through 1/3 of a pint (latter 2/3 remained unfinished) I proclaim his a horrible rendition of an Imperial Stout. I characterized it as being heavily dry hopped with a very aromatic hop; this hop dominated the top note. It had a strong, malty middle that to me had far too much of the grain sugars left unfermented. This made it excessively ( Read more... )

For more than a decade I had a bag by Eclipse which was terrific. I kept it (almost 12 years!) until the manufacturer no longer made the replaceable neoprene pad that went between the tank the the bag. Two years ago I picked up a Chase Harper tank bag at a dealership because I needed one and that was about as good as the choices got. I hadn't been ( Read more... )

Many others have already voiced their concerns over this in a way that is much more articulate than I can do. Check the blogs and chatter. There you'll find the real concerns. The Bloomberg article is financially oriented and really doesn't give a sense of how terrible for the consumer this will be.

Here's the petition to sign against the merger ( Read more... )

If you're in New York City, have an afternoon to spare, and have a penchant for history you should put the East Side Tenement Museum and neighborhood walking tour high on your list ( Read more... )

In the fall I went to see a play with my friend and former co-worker, William. He had chosen "The Divine Sister" by Charles Busch. It was directed by Carl Andress and held at the Soho Playhouse. Several of us made an evening of it, having dinner at a small (and sadly, a not that impressive Italian place in Soho) and ice-cream from a bodega before ( Read more... )

It's 4 years until the 200th anniversary of the battle of Waterloo. As a US citizen, I'd previously never given much thought to whether or when there would be an anniversary commemoration of this signal battle. A bit myopic of me, I know. But now that it has percolated to my attention, I'm reading about it with some mild interest. I have friends ( Read more... )