A French man in New York

Back from Peru

2008-11-23T14:29:00.000-05:00

So many pictures, I just cant wait to finish the travel Photobook. easy question, where has this picture been taken?

42km Later

2008-11-23T14:12:00.000-05:00

Only in New York

2008-11-03T14:15:00.000-05:00

No one has told me that Borat was running the New York Marathon this year. For the record, it was windy and freezing. I am still trying to guess how he has succedede to hide this outfit at the departure of the race. Well Done buddy, you are a rockstar now...

NYPD

2008-11-03T13:09:00.000-05:00

My First Football Game

2008-10-19T13:55:00.000-04:00

Hit Me!, originally uploaded by Mr Vibe.

Pretty nice to finally be able to hit the field. This sport is really impressive.The Jets won and are currently havomg a great season with their new quaterback Brett Favre. Next Time I will go to see the Giants in harsh winter with my mountain sleeping bag in january.

7th Avenue

2008-05-11T02:29:00.002-04:00

7th Avenue, originally uploaded by Mr Vibe.

Have been living there for two years now, it is time for some changes... will keep you posted.

Chris Rock: NoApologies

2008-05-11T02:28:00.000-04:00

I have the chance to attend the Chris Rock show at the Madison Square Garden last week. I already was a fan of Chris, but seeing him live was definitely something big. He has a spot on killer humor helped by perfect stance and comic tricks. Even a guy under severe sedation, would laugh at a Chris Rock show. He was beating on everyone and everything and with the last events it was not too difficult to find topics. I cant choose among all the jokes which ones were the funniest since the level of the one man show was high all the time. Some of our fellow french comics should learn from him especially on his eay to handle subtle gestures to leverage his jokes. For those who have missed him, prepare your dvr for the next HBO special.

Explanation of the week: How about NYC Taxi Drivers...

2008-05-11T02:16:00.000-04:00

I was in India lately, in Bangalore to be precise. After a few days over there, I have got a flash... I was able to understand the behavior of New York City Taxi Driver. If you think that you have seen traffic before, I advise you to go to bangalore, it will be better that 3 years of therapy to make you become the most patient man in the world. Above the fact that the traffic is terrible, I have to admit that the way they drive is spectacular: no light signal (what for?), hand signals are mandatory due to the variety of vehicles on the road, and best of best, sound signals all the time, imagine a continuous symphony of honks that even my noise cancelling headset can not cover. Then i said to myself, what is the most common cliche about Taxi driver in the big apple, I mean how do you describe a taxi driver when you think about it, pleasebe honest... Yes, you imagine an NRI (non resident indian) with a cell phone constantly near his ear honking like crazy... Bangalore - New York -Bangalore, same thing. Then with the natural evolution... all non NRI taxi drivers were finding this behavior pretty cool and just adopt it as fast as we can adopt an highway. End of the demonstration.

Restaurant of the week: Ago Restaurant

2008-05-11T01:45:00.004-04:00

The last italian eatery sponsored by "you f. my wife" Robert De Niro in the Greenwich Hotel in the heart of Tribeca. Great scene, if only the surrounding models and movie stars were helped by the food, it could have been perfect. Good point for the wine card though since you can a very good and cheap st Joseph that really worth it. The service is attentive. Will I go again... Yes certainly to grab a drink. More information here.

Back to Blog

2008-01-23T19:53:00.000-05:00

Aye je reprends du service... dur de trouverle temps de blogger a New York...

Apres Coluche et Dieudonne... Mr Colbert

2007-10-26T12:38:00.001-04:00

The French comics have a tradition of getting a lot of traction by running for the presidential elections. In the US, it is basically the same except that this time, it could be a real threat to the regular process. Mr Colbert, host of the Colbert report is jokily or not running for president in 08. I have to say that his show and the daily news show are even funnier that our guignols or the other shows on C+. They have strictly no limit on bashing their own guys. They even have protected the French and our cultural choices ( check French bashing on youtube). If i was voting here, i might had think about him. the effect of his announcement has been huge, more that a million user has join a group for him on Facebook in less than a week. Concerns have been raised by other candidates and the federal state about the legality of his campaign. The equivalent of the CSA here are asking themselves if he has the right to auto promote himself on his own tv show. In a nutshell, a candidate from both parties sponsored by Doritos could not necessarily be a bad dude.

More info here

Blogged with Flock

Fight for Kisses

2007-09-28T23:56:00.001-04:00

Embedded Video

This video is so hilarious, I cannot stop laughing and I have no kids yet.

The Girl From Ipanema

2007-09-20T13:41:00.000-04:00

We all know that Gisele Bundchen is the hot Brazilian model that you have seen many times in the Victoria's secret ads and also with the Titanic guy, i have forgotten his name. Anyway her last shot for the Ipanema Sandals is absolutely stunning. They have shaped a water dress around her, photoshopped of course but still stunning. This is fashion photography in its pure state of creativity. Don't know if the sandals are nice though.

The Krispy Kreme Challenge

2007-09-20T12:24:00.000-04:00

"Only in New York...", this expression has never been so true. Here everything is possible after the shop in the east village who is giving away free sandwiches if you accept a free bible, we have this insane challenge. (thx to Matthieu to have found this out). Here is the challenge:
"To Complete the Krispy Kreme Challenge is to:
1) Run 2 miles from the NC State Belltower to the Krispy Kreme on Peace Street.
2) Eat one dozen donuts.
3) Run 2 miles back to the Belltower.
4) Do all this in under one hour.
People always ask if puking is allowed.Don’t puke on purpose.That’s not fair to the rest of us. Keeping the doughnuts down is the real challenge, don’t cheat yourself!"
The records has been set in 24:32, so who is in?

More information at http://www.saketvora.com/kkc/index.php
My Weakness, originally uploaded by ~Leesa.

Bike Trip in NYC - Dumbo

2007-09-17T12:28:00.001-04:00

View from Dumbo, originally uploaded by Mr Vibe.

Enjoying the last minutes of the summer in the big apple... Dumbo is a definite spot to chill out even if it is a bit noisy. Do not forget to have a pizza slice in the pizzeria near the river cafe. it will be even tastier after lining up for one hour to get it.

Clean the Beach part 2

2007-09-17T11:08:00.000-04:00

Thanks to Christophe for the pictures (and yes it is me on the last one and yes i know my position sucks ;-))

Clean The Beach part 1

2007-09-17T11:06:00.000-04:00

We all have reached the Beach near New York for the annual cleaning event. You will not believe what have been found there, a lot of cute and tasty objects like used condoms, used panties, some weeds, a pool ball, some strange local animals,.... A the end a very well organized and friendly events ended by a surf session.

Very Quiet...

2007-09-05T16:25:00.000-04:00

I know, I know, I have been very quiet for a long time, I have been travelling around Europe those past few Weeks and I am finally back in NYC for a new beginning. At least it has allowed me to make tons of pictures. A lot of things have changed for the best, I have to admit ;-). I will keep you posted

Can't talk today , I am @ the Beach

2007-08-11T11:27:00.001-04:00

Surfer with attitude, originally uploaded by Mr Vibe.

The summer is back for real... Let's go Surfing...

Restaurant of the Week

2007-08-08T16:00:00.001-04:00

Sweet Expectations, originally uploaded by Mr Vibe.

Each Week, I will propose a selection of the new restaurants we have discovered and a quick rating. it could be new , old, I do not care as long as it is good.

This Week so far:
- Tribeca : Viet Cafe, 345 Greenwich Street (Corner Beach Street), perfect taste and healthy food, definitely to try again.
- Upper East Side, Uskudar, 1045 2nd Avenue (Corner 73th st), Great Lamb for this smallish eatery. to try again with hungry friends
- The Bounce, close to Uskudar, pick up bar with good chicken wings, best days there are Thursday night and any given Sunday during the NFL season.

to be continued...

Another reason to come to New York... when you are a single guy!

2007-08-01T20:34:00.001-04:00

National Geographic in their February 2007 issue has published the map above. What is really interesting is that New York really counts a lot more single women than men. Everybody was claiming it, it is finally proven. Now I do better understand the all schmick in those bars like Employees Only and the Sway. Why are so many ladies coming here? what so special about this place. Is is a cliche like I am going to LA to be an actresse and finally finish in a bad gonzo or I am coming to New York to pick up a banker and spend my week end stucked i the traffic on the road to the Hamptons?

Un grand classique...

2007-07-19T02:49:00.001-04:00

Un grand classique..., originally uploaded by Mr Vibe.

Il etait temps que j'y fasse un saut quand meme apres un an et demi sur place... Rien de nouveau, toujours aussi petite mais l'emotion reste intacte... Tout ca pour dire que le prochain film de J.J Abrams (Alias et Lost pour les incultes) la met en scene de facon spectaculaire. Ceux qui ont vu les bandes annonces pendant Transformers ont eu un avant gout de Cloverfield. Ce film sortira en janvier 2008 et j'en ai deja l'eau a la bouche... The trailer is here

New York "Fly Boat"

2007-07-16T19:36:00.000-04:00

Thanks to Yamine, we had an opportunity to make the tour of the Manhattan on the New York Health and Racquet Club Private yacht, a fancy name to say "Fly Boat" like in Paris. After one year here, it was just the right time to have a new perspective of the city and finally see the statue of liberty closer than from Battery Park. Mission delivered ;-)

Petanque Day in New York

2007-07-16T17:19:00.001-04:00

A Family Story, originally uploaded by Mr Vibe.

Sympathique après midi en ce dimanche ensoleille qui a suivi une petite croisière sur la East River. Ainsi après avoir été habitue a de nombreux événements organises de manière extrêmement ordonnée par les autorités américaines, qu'il est bon de se retrouver presque comme en France, dans le désordre et l'anarchie la plus complète, ah France que tu nous manques... Bravo aux organisateurs pour ce tournoi de pétanque improvise a Boerum Hills sympathique quartier que je vous conseille de visiter a vélo (superbe balade et vue de la grande pomme sur les hauteurs pres de Brooklyn heights). On notera la présence de bacs a sable non homologués, de pastis et d’eau fraiche, de vin rose avec le petit glaçon qui va bien (un pas plus), de la chaleur humide typique de cette ville, de la Boule New Yorkaise, du Cercle Rouge, des vrais Marseillais... A refaire l'été prochain...

Ah Que j aimerais être a Porquerolles après le dernier départ du ferry de touristes, une bonne partie deboules et un petit verre de Demoiselle...

I am younger than I thought...

2007-06-20T20:48:00.000-04:00

My New York age is 16

This New York age puts you-generally speaking-into the young category. That's what you were hoping for, right? Run and tell your friends. Then get drunk (as usual). Then sleep it off. Then pop an Adderall. Then come back and consider experimenting with a more mature type of New York life (just once in a while). Have you ever been to the Village Vanguard or the Living Theatre? Eaten at Elaine's? Taken a date to Michael Feinstein? Before you laugh, check 'em out and see what old-school NYC experiences you can add to the new.

Does your age reflect how you're living? Let us know.

What's your New York age? Take the Time Out New York quiz and find out!

The Time is Now...

2007-06-19T14:16:00.001-04:00

Just received this showcase video from a party in my former university... memories memories... For the song it is of course Cassius (Feeling for you).

Manhattanhenge

2007-05-31T16:05:00.001-04:00

167_6796, originally uploaded by morgantse.

Yesterday, we witness a very special event in New York, the famous Manhattanhenge. Manhattanhenge is a biannual occurrence in which the setting sun aligns with the east-west streets of Manhattan's main street grid. The dates of Manhattanhenge are usually May 28 and July 12 or July 13.
So if you plan to come in New york in July, make sure you will hit this event. In addition you will also be able to spend the July 14 in the city with plenty of others French Guys.

Microsoft surface

2007-05-31T15:59:00.001-04:00

As you know, i am geek who likes photography and i am spending a lot of time to organize them, retouch them, view them, print them, make comments on Flickr. I have seen yesterday the most amazing technology ever that could even please the most non geek people and force them to buy one. This is simply awesome.

A voté

2007-04-21T20:21:00.000-04:00

It was the 1st round of the French election today in New York. For the first time we were voting before the France's results. The sun was welcoming the French crowd coming from everywhere. I cannot think about what would have happened if it was last week under the storm. Anyway, It will be a very interesting day tomorrow.

Montreal....

2007-04-09T20:16:00.001-04:00

poutine... a necessary evil, originally uploaded by terri_tu.

Parfois, je l'avoue cela fait un bien fou de se sentir en terrain connu le temps d un week end... Pour cela rien de tel qu'une escapade a Montreal. Vous saurez appreciez la legendaire bonne humeur et la gentillesse des quebecquois. Tete avait raison, cette ville possede un petit je ne sais quoi qui vous donne envie d'y vivre. Plus de bruits de clim, j'avais presque oublie que c etait possible. La mangeaille y est bonne, la festaille y est bonne, les filles y sont... Euh je m'egare, desole. Je laisserais le soin aux natifs de conter l'ouverture d esprit de leur ressortissantes. Que conseiller a Montreal en cette periode hivernale?:
- une petite balade sur le Mont Royal pour appreciez la vue en haut du belvedere et une petite glissade sur le Lac des Castors
- Un ti punch au Baracca...
- une soiree endiablee aux Deux Pierrots pour revisiter ses classiques francais et quebecquois. Pour les parisiens, ca ressemble a la bodega en beaucoup mais alors beaucoup mieux.
- une chtite poutine de fin de soiree pour remettre les idees en place.
- Des restos et encore des restos, tout simplement le bonheur (par ici la complete....).

Et puis preparez vous a revenir cet ete car Montreal est la ville des festivals et l'air y est bon tout l ete.

PS: Merci a nos gentils hotes pour leur formidable accueil.

My future wallpaper...

2007-03-30T19:56:00.000-04:00

A very cool wall effect. Would like to have the same at home that will automatically write me a good word every morning that would fit my mood ;-). Viewe in bangkok (Siam Paragon)

Where will Internet stop?

2007-03-30T16:45:00.000-04:00

It is funny to see how many websites have been created to answer one simple question:
- Where Are You Know? (WAYN)
or every kind of question:
- Yahoo Answers
The last one, I have visited is the most stupid one, you could imagine. The worst is that it is really fun to play by the rules. So i encourage you to discover Twitter.

Il y a de belles ballades a faire dans le coin...

2007-03-27T16:45:00.000-04:00

Sur les conseils de Yann K., je vous conseille ce petit website d'audio tours sous forme de podcasts bien cool. ils sont disponibles sur Soundwalk. Ils offrent des tours ude New York assez originaux qui vous feront sortir des sentiers battus. . De toute facon comme tout touriste venant ici achetent un ou plusieurs ipods, ca donne une occasion de les essayer tout de suite. D'ailleurs, Je cherche des volontaires pour faire un photo tour a Brooklyn en suivant le guide ce week end...

Bangkok by Night

2007-03-27T10:40:00.000-04:00

After a week in Avoriaz, I needed to make a stop in Thailand for business purposes. This city is just awesomely crowded. Since I was working, I did not really enjoy many attractions but I can say that the Bangkok Nightlife is crazy enough to compensate. For those who remember, the last time I was there ,I have met Jean Claude Van Damme at the Bed Super Club. This time no celebrities but a few nice places to hang out that i have discover:

Tapas Club (Silom Soi 4), great music, great ambiance, great crowd, a must see in BKK
The Tropical Pool after the best Brunch of the city in The Grand Sukhumvit Sheraton Hotel (Nana Station), You cannot normally access the pool but just act like a client, it will do the trick
The only place where it is -15 in Bangkok, I mean the Titanium on Sukhhumvit 22, a before party place with live concerts.

If you know any other good Bangkok Places, post them here, i will try them next time. More pictures of Bangkok in my flickr.

Life is sweet...

2007-03-20T02:01:00.001-04:00

La Neige on s'en fout tant que les potes sont la. Au palmares de la semaine, dans le desordre:
- une tartiflette, une fondue aux echalottes, des monts d'or, une potence geante, deux trois steaks frites, quelques merguez frites pour varier, des tartes aux myrtilles, framboises et citrons, quelques bieres, vodka, shots divers et varies et un peu de salade pour la couleur. A vos balances.

Jump Around in Avoriaz

2007-03-20T01:59:00.001-04:00

Jump Around, originally uploaded by Mr Vibe.

My first week of vacation since December 2005.... I feel refreshed... Thanks to the good friends who have rocked Avoriaz. We are getting older but we are still not really mature enough... et viva la cucarracha. More Pics in my flickr

Un peu de zouk love pour bien commencer la journee...

2007-03-06T09:24:00.001-05:00

Medhy Custos Elles demandent

Only in New York

2007-03-02T19:50:00.000-05:00

Yesterday Night, after a great sushi dinner with some friends @ Haru (48th Street between Madison and Park), we have decided to have a nice walk home. Unfortunately after a few steps, it was poring like crazy. We decide to run ans stop in front of the Moma under a small roof closed to 4 ladies, likely some Midwestern American tourists visiting New York. I was having a doubt at the time but the following scene has justified my initial thoughts. Knowing that the average time to find a cab when it is raining in NYC is close to never, we decide to wait for the end of the rain. What a miracle, a free cab was heading toward us in the street. It looks that the taxi driver was from Pakistan or from India, hard to tell from where we were anyway. One of the girls jumps on it and yell at the cab like a real new yorkers could have done it... The cab did not stop... The girls turns back and said to her friends in a visibly disappointed mood: "Just Another Terrorist".
I was so shocked... but now on there is many things that I better understand about some Americans and their deep knowledge of geopolitic.
Maybe a good one for overheard in New York

Henri Cartier Bresson at ICP

2007-03-02T19:43:00.000-05:00

Another event no one (at least no photo's amateurs) should miss in NYC, the ICP (International Center of Photography) hosts an exhibition about one of the best photographer ever: Henri Cartier-Bresson's Scrapbook from January 19 to April 29, 2007. I am running to see it tomorrow between 6th avenue and Bryant Park and you better do the same ;-)

Design Geek Style Inside.

2007-03-01T11:33:00.000-05:00

All my friends knows that i am a design geek. it means that i love high tech stuffs with a cool design. For my relatives, it also means very expensive items that I do not even need and that i will use only one time and forget them in a closet. Yeah right... maybe true. Anyway a real geek should check everyday what is just out on the market otherwise he will loose his modjo so i have compiled here the best geek websites for your eyes only:

Gizmodo is the reference
Engadget is quide good as well actually
Akihabara to make sure that you will know everything before everyone
Stuff Magazine because Geek also like Girlz especially if she is dressed only with a white Ipod
Lifehacker for the real geeks

The photo used here belongs to Peter Hegre and is only used to serve the purpose of this post not to attract vicious people.

Ski Trip to Hunter (1/2)

2007-02-26T14:04:00.000-05:00

New York is really full of surpises, a two hour bus trip and you are rocking the slopes. Of course it is not the Killy's Space but with some sun and some friends, it is definitely marvelous for one day. Think how good it is to leave the big apple and have the feeling to be on vacation. If you need more info, google "Emilio Ski Shop". Defintely a good workout before my real ski trip.

The First Family Laptop

2007-02-18T05:23:00.000-05:00

La vie parisienne me manquait un peu (les bons plats de moman aussi ;-)). J'ai donc decide de rentrer sur Paris pour le President's Day week end. Premiere journee bien productive avec la decouverte du laptop par la famille. Tout y est passe: de la fameuse epreuve de l'envoi du premier email jusqu'a l'installation de skype. Douloureux, Hilarant parfois mais necessaire car il n est jamais trop tard pour apprendre. Petit inventaire de certaines questions/remarques:
- La fin de la dictature d'EDF: "si je debranche la prise electrique, je peux prendre mon portable avec moi et l utiliser dans la rue..." euh oui si tu veux...
- Les ondes passe murailles: "Mais alors avec le wifi si je vais dans la chambre meme avec le mur j aurai encore internet?"
- Marketing quand tu nous tiens: "On a bien Windows Vista hein, c est plus rapide?"
- la force des deux coeurs: "on a un core duo c est mieux non" J'avoue celle ci est entierement de ma faute, j ai insiste pour ne pas prendre autre chose..
Bref, j en passe et des meilleures. C'est si gratifiant de voir sa moman envoyer son premier email qu'on ne regrette pas les quelques heures d explications.

Family matters...

2007-02-13T14:41:00.001-05:00

See you next time soeurette... I was happy to have you here.

Justin Timberlake @ Madison Square Garden

2007-02-13T14:35:00.001-05:00

After the great victory of the Knicks vs. the Lakers a week before, I was already missing the Garden. So we head out to see Justin's shows on February 7th in this magical place. Justin has chosen Pink to warm up the place but to be honest, it did not work too much. A great point however for her acrobatic show on her last song, she has been very impressive. The funny thing is that the Garden was quite empty during the warmup, it is maybe another American tradition that i did have heard about, really strange for a sold out concert. Hopefully the flow of people coming in was high and constant. Finally the Garden was packed.
Then Justin came in, in a flow of special effects, I have rarely seen before, it was quite impossible to suspect that during the warm up. The projections on the huge floating drapes were awesome with a lot of well spotted transparency special effects. Justin has a lot of nice songs but mainly he is one the best dance around here, he has built his own style and it is working. One of the best moment was the Timbaland show in the middle of the concert. He has given us a quick taste of all the successful production he has done along his career joint with Magoo. This guy in a great producer and a lot of artists would have been far less famous without him (Missy Elliot Ginuwine, Nelly furtado, Justin Timberlake... He might be even better than the Neptunes.
In a nutshell, it was a great show a l americaine. 2 hours and 30mn of very good entertainment.

New York Restaurant Week

2007-01-24T10:40:00.000-05:00

Thanks to Amandine for the tips, this is currently the New York Restaurant Week, the only time where you can eat in those fancy very expensive restaurant for cheap. Just click here for more information. We have tried Cite in Midtown. It is tough to be impressed here. The welcome waitress looks like she wants to commit suicide, not even a smile, she looks depressed. Nice food a little bit heavy. Nothing crazy. Very good Chardonnay. The price tag was sweet so it makes the food better. There is some gems in the list of participating restaurant so try to book it before it is too late.

Little Miss Sunshine

2007-01-18T15:08:00.000-05:00

Ah! One of the funniest movie I have seen so far. it is old now but i just did see it this week. If you think that you have the most fucked up family since the creation of the universe, you better run and rent this DVD right away. You will feel happier after that. All the actors are attaching and acting very well especially Olive, the little girl and Frank the uncle (40 years old Virgin). If above that, you like beautiful landscape, this movie is offering an impressive photographic work. The contrast between the dominant yellow color (represented by the old VW Bus) in the movie and the American landscape is surprising. The movie itself is very colorful and funny. A must see for sure

EDIT: 01/23/07. The movie has been chosen as a nominate for the best Movie of the Year. I do think it is deserved. Good Luck to Jonathan Dayton and the crew

This is what we call guest services!

2007-01-18T15:03:00.001-05:00

Madison State Capitol, originally uploaded by Mr Vibe.

I have had the pleasure to fly back to Madison (WI) for business purposes on Tuesday and Wednesday. I have to admit that i do like this city a lot. This time, because of a high pressured schedule, we have randomly booked an hotel room near the airport closer to my client (less sexy i should admit). Above that it was 3 degrees outside (-16 Celsius), I was literally freezing. As usual in the US, flights were late, so we did touch base even later. Hungry like hell, we have decided to do the 500m from the hotel to La Bamba Burritos. The longest trip of my life, i almost have lost everything on the way, fingers, nose, ears... Finally we did make it. In the restaurant, we were looking at each other, saying that we better spent the night in the restaurant and that we will not try to reach back the hotel when OMG, the hotel guy showed up and said " I have seen you heading out, i wanted to make sure that you were alright, could i propose you a ride back...." Simply Awesome. So I would like to thank a lot the Hampton Inn Madison East staff. Above that the beds are simply crazy comfortable and since this particular hotel is flagged as an experimental hotel, they are always testing the last innovation of the Hilton group.

Annie Leibovitz @ Brooklyn Museum

2007-01-04T09:54:00.000-05:00

As you all know, I have got a new passion for photography so I did enjoy a few exhibitions during the holidays. Among them, there was this retrospective of the work of Annie Leibovitz, the famous star photographer, from 1990 to 2005. 15 Years of work in around 200 pictures. You certainly the famous vanity fair picture of a pregnant Demi Moore or the one of Whoopi Goldberg in a bathtub full of milk (unfortunately not at the exhibition since it was before 1990). The exhibition is very impressive and say that she is really talented would simply be an euphemism. For the foreingners, i advice the book of the exhibit available on Amazon. This exhibition is hosted by the Brooklyn Museum. This museum is not as famous as the Met or the Moma but it contains some jewels as the Egyptian Floor or the temporary exhibit of Ron Mueck that also is must see. It was the cultural minute of the day.

Happy New Year

2007-01-03T12:08:00.001-05:00

Happy New Year, everybody!, originally uploaded by Pianoman75.

Merry Christmas and "Joyeux Noel"

2006-12-25T01:11:00.000-05:00

Original Christmas gifts ideas, anyone?

2006-12-24T11:00:00.000-05:00

I was running out of ideas for the Christmas gift so I would like to thank Justin Timberlake for this brilliant idea, i am sure that my relatives would appreciate.

PS: I like Justin more and more.

4 U

2006-12-21T16:48:00.000-05:00

The Week End List

2006-12-18T12:27:00.001-05:00

One light will guide me through the gate, originally uploaded by Mr Vibe.

So, in a nutshell this week end:
- A great party in Brooklyn organized by the Danger List. Very nice party organized in a basement near the Brooklyn Navy Yard. This list is famous for organizing cheap, cool open minded parties with stunning visual shows. The crowd is so different that the regular Manhattan "J'pete plus haut que mon cul" crowd and much more cooler.
- a nice neighborhood bar to be discovered called "10 Little West 12th" in the middle of the Meatpacking district. Who did just ask the address???
Quite a big suprise to find this bar between all the Fancy clubs. Cool crowd as well and also according to Robin, good pick up bar. Quote of the night: Always ask a girl to stand up and turn around before starting to talk with her". I do not know what it means but i am sure there is a story behind that.
- Of course the Maison burger at 5am in the morning, the burger is great, the rest sucks.

That's all for this week end party list.

NYC Christmas Market (Sorry Holidays Market ;-))

2006-12-18T12:11:00.000-05:00

There are few Christmas Markets in NYC. So for a French guy that was living in Germany, i could not miss that. We miss the snow here since it is crazy hot in City but is always so charming to walk in these alleys, to look at all the crazy stuffs the small retailers are selling. So if you need some pins, socks, colorful christmas decoration, original gifts, this is the place to be. You can also smell the Christmas food...
So make a stop at Union Square by night, get in the middle of the market. close your eyes and maybe that during one minute you will think that you are in the Nuremberg or Strasbourg Christmas Market...

Happy Birthday Matthieu

2006-12-11T11:05:00.001-05:00

Matthieu, originally uploaded by Mr Vibe.

Huge Party in town for Matthieu's Birthday @ PM this saturday. Big Thank to both Aisling, our favorite referee... More pictures here. Additional Pictures wil come soon. The party was simply vibelistik.
Thank you again for the headache.

Mr Vibe

2006-12-07T12:38:00.000-05:00

My Friends are coming to visit me for Christmas time (Holidays here)... I am so happy. Cannot explain better what I feel so an image is worth a thousand words...

Fall Silent

2006-12-03T20:30:00.001-05:00

Fall Silent., originally uploaded by A. Denomay.

I was looking for the best picture to describe an autumn New York. I do think that Alex has done it.

New York City Road Runner

2006-12-02T21:18:00.000-05:00

This city is definitely impressive. Every two weeks, the New York City Road Runner Association is able to wake up more than 5000 people for 5 miles run in the Park. This time it was for the Holidays race. The weather was simply perfect, as sunny as it was cold and believe me it was really a sunny day. Some people were brave enough to run half naked like in summertime, some others were disguised. A great ambiance. This race was a qualifying race for the next New York City Marathon. The runners need to succesfully achieve 10 qualifying race to get an automatic entry ticket for the next marathon. It is open to everyone. I was definitely impressed by the level of some kids that werer able to cover miles in less that 30mn. I really think that I shouyd go back on the track (do not laugh ;-)). More pictures in my flickr

The Beach @ Maya Bay

2006-11-26T18:40:00.000-05:00

Wow, when i arrive to the beach @ Ko Phi Phi, Porcelain was bouncing in my head. 6am in the morning, alone on the beach. I was hoping to find Virginie Ledoyen hidden somewhere but unfortunately it did not happen. defintely A day to remember. I was happy like a rock star. So great to see it for real. More pictures soon on my flickr.

The Muscle From Brussels @ Bangkok

2006-11-20T22:58:00.000-05:00

Guess who we have met at he Bed Super Club? It was an incredible night in an incredible club ranked amongst the best on this planet (Do not really know what it means but it sounds cool though). Just for the external and internal design this place is a must see, a real anomaly in Bangkok. So we were partying like rock stars when a friend asked me if the guy at the corner was not Jean Claude Van Damme. My brain might have been already smoked out, I did not even recognize him. He was quite cool and i was so sad that he did not give us one of its well knows crazy sentence about space, earth and air (http://www4.tz-technologie.com/). I love the one about Adam, Ev and the apple... He is smaller than I was thinking and has lost a lot of muscles maybe because he is far away from Brussels (a little bit like Samson without the hair). A pretty good encounter.

Cheers

Ps: I know the picture sucks not because of the model but because of the photographer, me, feeling too well ;-)

Back to Bangkok @ Q Bar

2006-11-15T23:50:00.000-05:00

I will be silent for a while, the time for me to come back from Bangkok where the work is currently hectic.
Cheers

Christmas Shopping List (part1)

2006-11-09T16:04:00.000-05:00

To make sure that people will well be aware of what i would like to receive for christmas. I wanted to start a review of some desirable objects that will perfectly fit my space. This LC4 chair made by the famous French architect Le Corbusier is a classic chair that has crossed the years and has kept the same wow effect. You may have already seen it in a lot of movies and pictures (the last one I do remember was the Spike Lee movie where the main actor loses his job and have to make babies to lesbians for money). After having tested a lot of lounge chairs, i have to admit that this one is top notch for the design and close to the bests for the comfort. Guess what! It fits perfectly with my current decoration. Do not get me wrong i am talking the lounge chair only, the girl is an option that i cannot afford for personal reasons. thx to Laclauz for this nice picture.

Halloween Parade in New York

2006-11-01T22:25:00.001-05:00

LP6X6483, originally uploaded by photobymatt.

Costumes were just out of space... Crazy Baby

La Tartine Gourmande

2006-11-01T13:05:00.001-05:00

Duck Confit, Squash Parmentier — Parmentier de confit de canard et de potimarron, originally uploaded by La tartine gourmande.

A small message for all the expatriates Frenchies that are missing the old flavored smell of the french cuisine, you must visit the blog of la tartine gourmande. Beatrice will guide you through an heaven of recipes as good looking as tasteful (this part i do not know for sure but the picture speaks for itself no). It is right that you may not have the smell but if you close your eyes and let your imagination flows, you'll get it.
To have tried to make this kind of shoot. I have to say that it is really tough because often it comes out flat: lights, shadows and reflections are important to give the right volume to the picture. In addition, you need to carefully use the dof effect to create this nice blurry touch on the back of the picture. It is like a good recipe if you follow well the instruction and add your personal touch on top of it, you may have something good. aybe something is missing im my recipe.

PS: I would have eaten this hachis parmentier big time.

Halloween 2006

2006-10-30T10:23:00.000-05:00

Ok, I know they do not look as scary as they were... It might be possible that i am not impressive enough as a Grim Reaper but I was doing my best. Anyway it was a funny Halloween Party this week end. It is really astonishing to see how the New Yorkers appreciate this celebration and are really playing the game. They all put a lot of efforts in their costumes. First a quick stop in Midtown East to have a burger and look at the crowded bars over there. I congratulate the bee girl, because to be able to sustain this temperature with this skirt size, it at least deserve an entry in the Guiness book. Then we all have headed to Brooklyn. I will skip the part where we were lost above the express highway totally frozen with our costume to directly go to the party. A very cool party to be honest with marshmallows on the fire, "barbe a papa", cool drinks and friendly people. A special dedicace to the fat Elvis and Tom the white puddle. Thanks to Robin for the invitation.

Redbull Rules...

2006-10-27T16:55:00.001-04:00

Redbull Rules..., originally uploaded by Mr Vibe.

I was looking for my dream car to warm up before the parties and show it off in the meatpacking. The goal is to find the girl who drives the Absolut vodka car and then you just get married and you will be happy for ever and have a lot of small vodka redbull children running in the park...
Sorry I am becoming crazy here, it's the Halloween mindset and the fact that we are on Friday and my to do list of the week has grown despite all my efforts so i need a drink...

PS: Of course, l'abus d alcool blah blah, Boire ou conduire blah blah, cela va de soi.

Another Movie Review: The science of sleep

2006-10-22T13:51:00.000-04:00

Having french movies that attracts people in New york is rare enough so we have decided to go see this one. The trailer was really attractive. Michel Gondry became famous in the US after the Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind so he has deserved another spot in the crowded movie line with this new movie. Less people knows that he also has directed Block Party in 2005 for Dave Chapelle (For The French reader with enough culture, it is Dave Chapelle not David La Chapelle, not the same art.

So how was the movie? First of all the actors were playing well especially Alain Chabat that was excelling in his regular goofy register. The main actor has some definitive hall of fame quotes. Charlotte Gainsbourg is nice and fragile as usual. They all are quite convincing but I have to say that the pace of the film is strange. Do not get me wrong, the realisation and the picture work are great. I really do appreciate the aestheticism of some of the scenes in this movie (under water or with the horse). But we leave the movie with a strange feeling especially if you have seen his previous movie. Consequently If you like Michel's Gondry twilight zone world, you will love this movie. If you are waiting to be as astonished one more time like with the previous one you may hate it.

In a nutshell, the movie is definitely not the best movie of the year but i did spend a good time.

The Real Campaign for Beauty

2006-10-18T12:06:00.000-04:00

I found this movie on Casimiri's website. A sharp vision of the beauty industry. One word only to describe it "Scary". Check it out here
I like a lot the accelerated photoshop part, I would like to be as fast. Anyway, ladies now you have the best excuse to say fake to every single pictures that you'll see. Guys, we still have Salma Hayek, Jessica Alba and Scarlet Johansson to rely on. Keep the faith.

Ubercool Green Sneakers

2006-10-17T15:32:00.001-04:00

Green Sneakers
Originally uploaded by Mr Vibe.

A little insider tip for the people looking for old school sneakers, do not hesitate to get those flashy scratch Adidas. The last time i have seen sneakers with scratch was in 1992. You could get them in a lot of different colors in any good sneaker shop ( the Adidas Garage Shop in Soho), the effect is guaranteed. Just think about wearing your sunglasses everytime you will put them on, because they are crazy shinadelic.
Thanks to M. for this fashion tip.

Flickr Mania

2006-10-16T14:26:00.000-04:00

Most of my friends know how crazy I am about flickr. This photographer community is growing up and provide astonishing tools and contacts to improve. For some of the flickr addicts, it works so well that people are contacting them to showcase their portfolio. It was the case for Ranjit. I was going two times across the atlantic avenue station in Brooklyn and there was this photo exhibit. I said too myself that I was pretty sure to have already seen all those pictures somewhere without stopping to ask someone or give a closer look, Finally i have figured out they have been taken by a Flickr guy spotted by the MTA Curator. Congratulations Ranjit your pics are stunning and i hope that this is the beginning of something bigger. More pictures here

How can we do that?

2006-10-12T16:19:00.000-04:00

I was in Paris last week, really happy to spend some time with Charlotte who is pregnant. Of course since i am not really aware of the pregnancy "how to", I was always scared as soon as she was doing something as climbing on a chair to grab a plate. Later on I was playing in the park with Albane son's, what a beautiful little boy. All of that was making me thinking that I may be ready soon for that reproduction thing, I mean I do not know exactly how soon but I really do appreciate all the happiness that kids could bring in a life.
So after those awesome moments, I get back here and start to read about the ugliest story I have heard about. I am like everyone, I am just reading the newspaper so I do not want to say who is guilty and who is not. We have had enough troubles with some others ugly trials in France, but this new story stinks a lot. I want to talk about this women who has explained that she has killed three kids. she has burnt the first one in 1999 and put the two other babies (2001 and in 2002) in a freezer to kill them as well. I mean, I am just speechless... I will not say that the world is fucked up because thanks to you Albane, and thanks to you Charlotte, we are not all on the dark side but yes the world is actually fucked up.
Of course we can argue that there was more 40000 civilians including kids as well that have been killed in Iraq, or that some genocide has killed a lot of people (ww2, Serbia, Rwanda). Those events are far more important. The fact is that we are not used to hear about that for the people that we are considering as our peers (meaning regular people, regular life).We do always think that it is far away from us (not really true for Serbia, by the way). And i am pretty sure that my fabulous baby week has something to do with my feelings but still.... it is just disgusting.
The worst part is when I involuntarily start to think how she has done it, i do not even understand why i am so curious about that. i would like my brain to leave me alone. I am not Patrick Bateman even if somehow i like the guy.

Rediscover a Legend: Maxwell

2006-10-09T19:25:00.000-04:00

I do not know why but currently, i am spending my life with my psp turbocharged with some oldies. D'Angelo, Gnarl Barkley and even Justin Timberlake, But there is one singer that really makes me feel good and i cant wait for his next production (still two weeks), it's Maxwell. For those who remember the famous MTV Unplugged showcases, just imagine that Maxwell's showcase was the best of the best and from far. You need to listen to his remix of the famous Kate Bush song : "This woman's work" an then discover the others albums (Urban Hang Suite, Now, Embrya and of course the Unplugged). It you are not aging with this voice, you have nothing left inside your heart.

A little video that smells the French Land

2006-09-25T12:09:00.000-04:00

Thanx Robin for this Link. it makes me laugh a lot, this guy has a good vibe. It reminds me Beaumont-Le-Roger. I hope that Kamini will the success he deserves.

Je viens pas de la cite mais le beat est bon..... LOL

A night to remember

2006-09-18T12:10:00.000-04:00

What an unexpected weekend. First of all the weather was supposed to suck big time but finally not at all. the thing I like the most in life is when you have no interesting plan on a Saturday and at the exact time when you are looking to the infamous TV guide, your phone is ringing. A friend proposed us a Drum and Bass party in Brooklyn. So we decide to go. The place was quite at the far end of Williamsburg on the L Line where people have investigated the old fabrics to create huge loft apartments shared by young hipsters, artists, musicians,etc...
What a big surprise, when we arrive to this place. It wasn't just a party, it was a building party, 4 floors, a different party on each floor up to the roof deck. We went first to the roof where a giant screen was set up with a crowd dancing on a wet floor. Perfect view of Manhattan from the roof. If you remember the introduction of Blade, you'll have an idea of the ambiance. Then we have tried to look for the drum and bass party, i have to admit that one hour session of drum and bass is better that fitness. The DJ was awesome. He was helped by a guy playing drums on the music. Guaranteed effect, they deserve to be acclaimed for this set. A quality mix, the D&B remix of Gorillaz was stratospheric. I definitely have to know the name of the landlord that authorize those kind of events ;-). Anyway the cops has closed the roof party at 3am. it was great since the others ones were still going on so the place just become more crowded. interesting encounters on top of that, definitely a night to remember.
In a nutshell, this is one the reason why people like or hate NYC, this city has just been built on a magma of creativity and people are trying to express it in their own way. It's just moving.

Food tip for the New York insiders

2006-09-17T05:30:00.000-04:00

He He, where is the best Egyptian Halal restaurant in NYC... Guess what! it is right in the middle of the street. This small "baraque a frites" rolling cart, is opened every night. This place is so crowded by night, I mean the line is so long even when it is raining. The line is already starting before the arrival of the restaurant. It is so funny to see people do a line in front of an empty space. After a wait that could last long, you will succeed to get the famous meal they serve, not a lot of choice, for everyone it will be the same meal. That is justice, rich, poor, fancy girls, taxi drivers.... we all eat the same. People are eating in the street, eating in their cars, eating on their bikes, mainly everywhere they could find a space.

Is it good, will you ask? it's damn cheap and good. Actually I only assume it since i never have the patience to wait in line. I am going around there quite often and I have to definitely stop and get it.

He He , you want the address,ok,ok, 53rd st and 6th avenue every night. What's the name of the place, is it in the Zagat, f.... no of course.

Edit (2006/09/17): I finally have tried it yesterday night or should I say this morning @ 4am, and guess there still was a line. damn i was waiting in line at 5am i the morning.... It was the best gyro - chicken meal , i have ever had, and of course this feeling was reinforced because it was 5am

In a nutshell this week-end...

2006-09-05T10:32:00.000-04:00

- First Fridays @ the Guggenheim
We went there to party, the place is beautiful of course, and as I was explaining for the Firsts Saturday @ The Brooklyn Museum, it is always funny to party in a museum. I was deeply impressed by the work of Zaha Hadid, widely known as one of today’s most innovative architects. Two thimbs up for this party.
Her work is a real revolution.

- Deep in the Lower East Side. We went to some bars between Stanton st and Orchard St, it is definitely a different crowd over there. Can't even remember a name, too many places. Special Greetings for the drive in the back of the moving van with 10 people. A real boat people in New York. Our favorite place still remains the Sapphire Lounge

- PM in the Meatpacking on Saturday Night. Fancy place, expensive cocktails, good looking people, a real classic. This place is managed by two brothers coming from Haiti so they have decorated the place accordingly. The red painting on the right after the entrance is awesome. Very Good DJ. The girl was mixing a great playlist. This place is cool especially when you are single and starving. I mean if you like thin models taller than you even without their shoes on, that's the place to be.

- Talking about being hungry, after the PM we have decides to get a steak tartare. I was dreaming about the usual late night steak tartare @ Le Congres Maillot so we aim to Pastis, another creation of the Balthazar guy. I will not even give the link since the food was quite disgusting, the cooker was maybe in love, far too salty, small portion, the meat was not great. So ok for the bread and the brunch in Balthazar and no to Pastis.

-Saturday @ The Sea, a wiliamsburg classic but so damn good and cheap still one of my favorite in the city and it is not in Manhattan. The place is so nicely decorated with the DJ mixing during the week end. Definitely crowded but guess why?

That's all folks.

Movies Review for foreigners

2006-08-30T15:37:00.000-04:00

I have to admit that I miss France for the French movies, you know those movies with this little "je ne sais quoi" that makes you feel happy when you leave the theater.
Here first you have to try to avoid the bubble gum teen movies, then you have some tricks with the horror movies that finally are also teen movies with some monsters or psychopaths inside (Pulse), then the bad blockbuster (MI-3, Pirates of the Caribbean 2, Miami Vice...), then the sport movies about football and/or baseball (invincible with Mark Whalberg, you remember the good looking guy with the big abs), then the comedy joke movies (Snakes in a plane, Talladega nights even if I like Will Ferrel) and maybe you will find something. OK, I intentionally have exaggerated a little bit the situation since it is is true that you have some theaters in Manhattan that could be considered as gems and where you can see high quality movies. But if you just need a mainstream movie on a Monday night, you can search for a long time. But finally this Monday, after a long hesitation between Trust the Man and Scoop, we have chosen trust the Man (NDLR: I was for Scoop but my addiction to Scarlet Johansson did not weight a lot in the balance). So let me tell, that it was a pretty decent surprise, pretty good acting even if sometime it sucks, realxingly funny, entirely made in Manhattan... Yes, David Duchovny was surprisingly funny, Julianna Moore is so hysterically classy, all about the New York couples and of course the typical happy ending that we all hate and like at the same time. I was so happy as a newcomer to recognize all the places in Manhattan. Go for it, you will have a nice time if you do not have too high snobish expectations for movie

Miam Miam Good Burgers

2006-08-28T07:20:00.000-04:00

After a quick shopping spree on fifth avenue to enjoy the final final final sale (it is always the final sale in NYC ;-)). We went to this hidden burger place called Burger Joint in the Parker Meridien Hotel on 56Th between 6Th and 7Th. I was really surprised to find a place like this one in a very fancy hotel. I was there a month ago for a conference. I was aware of their delicious croissants but not the burgers. Actually I am not even sure that the place is linked with the hotel since it is in a corner dark small room without window but packed with burger lovers. There are a lot of funny details on the wall of this room starting by the leitmotiv of the restaurant "If you don't see it, we don't have it". This one was remembering another one from Robin saying "When I like it, I l... it". In an nutshell, the food is is good but not great, prices are cheap, the place is intriguing what else could we request?

Busy Busy Busy

2006-08-23T11:49:00.000-04:00

I should post more often on my blog but time is running fast. I am trying to take care of professional and boring domestic issues. The good news are that I have found a new passion for photography so that's why i am spending more time on Flickr than Blogger but it is not incompatible. Here are a few links and cool stuffs I have found so far on the web and that I would like to share with you:

If you need a fancy high definition wallpaper for your boring desktop and kick out your family picture (find a frame, your family Will appreciate the investment), visit Interface Lift
If you like the photo challenges and if you want to improve your techniques, visit Weekly Shoot
If you do not want to miss anything cool on the earth, visit The Cool Hunter
I cannot stop reading the small stories of this genious guy, the crazy site of Merkley???
Jason Brooks Portfolio, click here

That's all folks...

Holidays at work...

2006-08-17T19:09:00.000-04:00

Yes, I have missed my annual holiday sailing trip this year... I was supposed to be sailing in Greece with my friends, and unfortunately despite all my efforts I have not been able to make it happen. New life, new work, New York... Anyway, I am sad and I deeply apologize to the crew for my absence to this fantastic trip. I hope that you did have fun. Here, I just have some old pictures of Eole to cry alone... You have the right to exhibit all your fantastic pictures in front of me and to talk about all the parties in white that you have done, i can take it. I did not have the opportunity to make stupid bets this time. I did not lose a bunch of bottles in club because sometimes I bring it on too much, so i have decided to offer them even without a bet as soon as you come to see me in the city or maybe sooner since I may have some kind of travelling advantages... More than missing the trip, I miss you all...

The DCI World Championship

2006-08-10T09:22:00.000-04:00

I was flying to Madison (Wisconsin), a very green beautiful city surrounded by lakes and well famous for the university parties (40000 students are hanging out over there). This city has been elected several times the best place to live in the United States. At a first, I have to admit that after New York, it's really a Garden of Eden. You can quickly understand the meaning of the expression "to be from the midwest". I mean, interestingly life seems simpler over there in very good way, do not get me wrong. As a New Yorker, they said to you "Ah you are from the East" so imagine what they could say about a french guy (Far East !!!). Anyway people over there are really friendly and they have this state street full of bars that you wont miss.
The most surprising part was that a big event is taking place over there: the Drum Corps International World Championship. Do not worry, I have never heard about it as well before. It was awesome, imagine drum corps from all over the world (but mainly from the US ;-) ) investing a city with all their instruments, special outfits,.... They were buses, trucks all over the city with an army of ants moving the instruments,praticing,... It's even live on TV over there. People looks pretty serious about that, it's a big investement for the participants. Each corp is going to the stadium make a demo and jury is voting. Idid not have the chance to see the competition but i am pretty sure it could be impressive if they play all the famous football or hockey anthem. Actually I do not know what they play during the event but the practice sounds nice. I was so pissed to have forgotten my camera.

Surfing in the big apple

2006-08-07T10:57:00.000-04:00

What a great week end, nothing more to say. Biking on saturday and surfing on Sunday. This city is crazy during the summer. We were at Rockaway Beach (Direct access by train). It maked a real cut in our week since you really think that you are on holidays over there. Perfect weather, refreshing water, small and nice waves, very friendly people. The surfing session has been great. We were all able to enhance our tricks. But I just want to share with you the best surf technique, I have ever seen, we called it the ducky dive hanging nose secret surfing technique. it takes years of deep training to be able to achieve it. We will take the same players and shoot again next week.

Update: Robin just has won a beer for this picture...

YouTube

2006-08-04T09:34:00.000-04:00

It is incredible how some internet phenomenons can explode and be related everywhere. You certainly have never heard about Youtube in France, or maybe you have. There are many videos websites like this one on the internet right now (metacafe, flurl,...). People seems to lose hours on those sites and it might be the next new Garden of Eden for advertisers. I was reading the NY Times yesterday and I fall down on an article about one of the new youtube virtual stars called lonelygirl15. This 15 years old girls does the NY Times because of awkward videos made online!!!
So curious, i just went to see it. I cant say so far if I like it, if it is a fake, or if I hate it. It is just a new kind of reality show "My so called boring but sometime funny life" but I have to admit that it is well done especially the ones about science. This girl has a great science background. You will not believe how many viewers are following the adventure of this young girl online, making comments, making response videos, giving endorsements,...
here is the link: lonelygirl15

New York Hotspot

2006-07-31T14:52:00.000-04:00

Walking in the streets, we have discovered this new club on the 5th avenue famous now to have this crazy hot sexy skybar. The good part is that you can go there during the day as well to enjoy one of the most terrific views of the city from the inside. I will not give more details to let you search a little bit even if it will not be so difficult to find. So wild during the night, so charming during the day, totally unexpected.

Brunch in NYC

2006-07-29T09:59:00.000-04:00

A very sunny saturday in New York, some friends came to visit me and we have spent a very charming time in this Irving Place Brunch called Friend of a Farmer. Very delicious food in a very nice and comfy place, what could be better than that. Everyting is of course organic, even the coke comes without gas ;-), not really in the tast of Marie and J.S. I definitely recommend it even if you have to wait a little. But New York is not New York if you don't wait in line.
Bike Afternoon with J.S a.k.a Big Pimpin in the Park where we have beaten two world records. First record, the slowest tour of the park ever done with a bike - 3 hours to cover the full tour without leaving the bikes and second one the worst frisbee demonstration ever made on the big lawn. We can reproduce these performances on demand and even try to beat those records with the next visitors.

Bastille Day in New York

2006-07-17T09:15:00.000-04:00

I have to admit that our national day is quite confidential in New York. Anyway I was in a party mood on friday and all the reasons are good to celebrate especially when you are an "irreductible gaulois". So, as usually i have googled the word "bastille day New York" and have found out that there was a "bal du 14 Juillet" @ thePuick Building. This location is a very nice ballroom with a skylight dance floor. Normally speaking, in every country in the world, this event, organized by the french consulate and/or the embassy, is supposed to be free for the french citizens, but of course not in New York where everything is a business. We need to help the French Tuesdays Association to grow up and finance the chairman last real estate deals. Hopefully, the party was well organized:

Pros:

perfect queue management (ok, you have to cheat a little bit but who does not when the queue is longer that a day without bread)
nice and really friendly people (I was scared in the beginning to be surrounded by some french tight asses). It was really a good fun networking event as well.
Nice music set when Louis (the House DJ was mixing) and nice French 80's set, it was impressive to sing on Indochine far away from france, I was really feeling like Bob Morane.
Hot, you have to see the way people were litteraly merging with the dance floor. Good moves everywhere. It was funny and odd to see that there were a lot of locals young women and local young guys in this party. They maybe were interested by the french way of life. So finally, they do like us in the US ;-)
the indhi dress of my ex landlord, a sunlight in the middle of all those classic women.

Cons:

Too Hot on the last floor, like a party in the Folies Pigalle organized by a well known student association.
Too short, 1am make the french guys look like boring people, hopefully an upgrade has been negotiated.
the champagne and the wine, the same level at the carrefour tarninov vodka, i mean not good at all

In a nutshell a nice party, a little less sexy that the swedish midsummer party but very funny. It has ended with a fresh 3am burger in the Lower East Side.

Language switch!

2006-07-12T09:31:00.000-04:00

As requested and as promised, i will switch this website to english in order to allow the non french in the text speakers to understand this crazyness. It also means that you will cope with some frenglish sometimes so i apologize in advance. ciao.

Barbecue a Williamsburg

2006-07-07T23:59:00.000-04:00

Il fait vraiment tres tres chaud dans Manhattan en ce moment. Le meilleur moyen de s'evader reste encore de traverser un pont pour trouver de l'air frais a l'exterieur de l'ile. Williamsburg est une des nouvelles annexes de manhattan plutot hype ambiance loft. Les residents initiaux reculent peu a peu devant l arrivee massives desHipsters. On y trouve une atmosphere beaucoup plus ouverte et moins superficielle que dans le meatpacking district et autres coins a la mode a Manhattan. Les prix y sont aussi largement plus abordables. J'adore la nonchalance stylee des residents. Pour ceux qui visiteront Manhattan, un petit tour sur la ligne L puis on descend a Bedford. S'y rendre de preference le weekend mais cela vaut le coup pour faire du shopping et pour diner en semaine notamment @ The Sea. Robin m a invite a un barbecue chez des amis colombiens vraiment tres sympas. C est donc bien installe sur la terrasse de leur roofdeck que nous avons pu deguster les magnifiques sirloin steak et autres skirt steak agrementes de quelques bonnes bouteilles de vin tout en admirant la skyline de Manhattan. Definitivement a refaire, ambiance vraiment sympa...

PS: Merci a Robin pour cette photo style American Psycho...

Magnifique Ile de Re...

2006-07-07T10:29:00.000-04:00

Ce we, retour en France pour un mariage sur mon ile favorite, l'ile de Re. J adore les mariages a la francaise. Honnetement, c etait la cagna toute le week end, un temps provencal. Je sais qu un autre petit couple se mariera au meme endroit l'an prochain donc je vais resumer les bons cotes et les moins bons.

Commencons par le moins bon. Ne jamais mais alors jamais prevoir de se marier l'annee de la coupe du monde de foot en se disant que les bleus sont trop mauvais pour arriver en finale. Et que France-Bresil ne pourra pas tomber pendant le diner.... il y avait quoi, 1 chance sur 100 pour que ca arrive et pam.

Les maries ont ete cools en integrant tout cela au diner mais je n ai jamais vu autant de radios, portables, et de mec au telephone pendant un diner... Deuxieme chose le DJ, on en parlait dans la voiture, certains d'entre eux ont une facheuse tendance a se prendre pour Bob Sinclar ou Dj Shadow mais sans le talent. Les maries doivent imposer la programmation en fonction de ceux qu'ils aiment pour eux et leurs invites. Choix Musicaux sympas mais mix et effets de voix totalement superflus. Il a du prendre des cours chez Eugene Sakhomano. Le pire c est que le cd de demo qu il nous a donne est plutot pas mal.

Pour le reste, franchement c etait parfait, les maries avec une mention speciale pour la robe de la mariee franchement hallucinante, la mini cab, l'eglise de la Flotte, le cocktail sur la vieille place du marche, le diner en bord de mer avec des spots qui illumine l ocean,la soire, le temps, le brunch, le traiteur (Le Richelieu), le prix du pont, la baignade sanglante dans le parc a huitres pour certains des invites, les douches de la plage de l arnault...

une chtite selection de photos prises pendant le we sur l'ile de Re (next time, je ramene le SLR)

Belle des champs

Le micro climat de l'ile de re
Charmant couple tout juste arrive de Hong Kong

La suite...

2006-07-07T10:00:00.000-04:00

Loft Story sans Loana

2006-06-28T09:18:00.000-04:00

Certains d entre vous m ont demande de partager les photos du loft psychedelique dans lequel j'ai habite pendant quelques mois a mon arrivee a New York. Le loft fait office de gallerie d art et une exposition y est organisee tous les mois. La proprietaire y expose en permanence ses oeuvres ainsi que celles d autres artistes du moment. Cest un cadre de vie qui melange le decale, le feng shui et reste assez simple. On pourrait dire austere mais confortable. A noter, un roofdeck avec une vue magnifique sur wall street.
C etait une tres bonne experience et j ai pu rencontrer des personnes fantastiques et fantasques: Virginie, la touche a tout, Lisa l'oeunologue colombienne, Giovanna la future productrice italienne, Henry l'ecrivain anglais, Robin le photographe nanotechnologue...

C est aussi un bed and breakfast pour ceux qui voudraient etre bien places downtown (c est colle a Soho) et economiser quelques precieux dollars.

La Chambre Ronde

La Chambre MiniMe (j y ai dormi une fois, c etait folklo)

La Chambre Ronde

Le Salon

La Cuisine

Le Salon

La Salle de Bain

La Douche

The Fancy Upscale Gym Concept

2006-06-21T00:44:00.000-04:00

L'intégration par le sport... Cette expression fait sourire les français mais prend vraiment tout son sens ici. Les New Yorkais marchent beaucoup et ont tous un club de gym. Cela fait un peu cliche mais je peux vous assurer que l'on constate une sacree difference de tour de taille des que l'on parcourt l'Amerique des Redneck. J ai pu le constater à Omaha et Chatanooga (by the way l auteur du premier commentaire qui donne les etats dans lequel se situent ces deux villes aura droit a une seance de massage gratuite a mon club de gym avec Dr Krueger qui bien entendu est aussi delicat que le nom que ses parent lui ont legues).
So since I want to fit in, je me suis mis a la recherche d un club de gym. Ceux qui me connaissent savent bien que je prefere toujours commencer par le top pour evaluer le marche. Donc direction l'Equinox sur Colombus Circle considere ici comme ze upscale club de gym. Autant le dire tout de suite, c est impressionant, imaginez que Stark ait l idee de designer un club de gym et vous serez encore loin du compte. La piscine de 25m est vraiment impressionante.
Des mon arrivee, prise en charge a l americaine, tout sourire, on m'offre un fancy trendy hype organic turbo boost cocktail qui ressemble fortement a un simple jus de goyave (Je vous expliquerais prochainement l'importance du mot organic a New York). Quelques minutes plus tard, un ephebe black vient m accueillir. Chose peu etonnante car on m avait prevenu que dans ce club, si j avais ete latino, j aurais eu droit a un commercial ... latino. Ils sont tres forts. Ensuite, c est le debut de la propagande avec un argumentaire bien rode. On est Equinox, on est les meilleurs, les plus propres, les plus belles installations, les plus jolies filles, les profs les plus beaux. Ce qui soit dit en passant c'est vrai, ca doit etre tres difficile pour une fille dite "dans la norme" de faire de la gym dans ce club. Heureusement pour se rassurer on peut voir quelques representantes du 3eme age trop bronzees de retour de Miami suivies a la trace par leur personal trainer.
Apres un tout du proprietaire et une observation du cours de bodyscultping, je suis emballe par ce club "sportivement tres interessant" quand survient la question du prix. Et la on depasse l entendement, le vendeur me fait gentiment cadeau des frais d entree de $300 gasp et me demande de bien vouloir m acquitter de $149/mois.
Je ne sais pas combien vaut la sueur mais je vais serieusement songer a la commercialiser a ce prix la. Me voyant dubitatif, il revise sa proposition et revient avec un nouveau prix qui reste tout de meme totalement indecent. Il m explique que l'Equinox un way of life qui se paie. Je le remercie promptement et quitte les lieux en direction du marchand de glace le plus proche pour m acheter un non organic orange sorbet. Il faut bien recompenser mes efforts dans cette quete du club de gym. yummie le sorbet a la orange(ok pas aussi bonne qu au bilboquet de Montreal mais pas mal quand meme).

PS: j ai finalement trouve un tres bon club de gym pour beaucoup moins cher et je pratique desormais le pilates et le stripperrobbixxx, tres tres interessante forme d aerobic.

Emmenagement Delicat

2006-06-02T11:46:00.000-04:00

On a beau se preparer le mieux possible, il subsiste toujours une partie aleatoire dans un demenagement... Voici en exclusivite le recit d une journee mouvementee.

En grand voyageur emerite, berce par le style TUMI, je me suis prepare comme il se doit:

Pratique du T-Shirt Folding Magic Art
Pas un espace vide dans mes bagages, le bonheur
Une bonne bouteille de vin avec mes futurs ex colocataires
La derniere compilation Paris Lounge qui tourne en boucle pour me relaxer

Tout demarrait donc parfaitement.
Le lendemain matin, depart guilleret pour le bureau par une belle journee ensoleillee. Je double checke la remise des cles avec le proprio, la livraison du lit avec le magasin, la presence du super et du doorman pour receptionner tout ca...
Tout est parfait.

Ma journee de travail se termine. je me dirige vers mon futur appartement pour faire l'etat des lieux, il fait beau et la c est le drame:

Proprio en retard
Lit non livre
Probleme de douche

Je commence a serieusement rager surtout quand le magasin de meubles m'indique "This is New York, the delivery guy is on his way" alors qu il a deja 4h de retard. Finalement je croise le landlord qui me remet mon jeu de cle, s excuse mille fois pour la douche. Enfin tout cela c'est bien gentil mais en attendant ca ne change rien, je n ai pas de lit et une douche qui ne debite que de l eau bouillante. La proprietaire se confond en excuses et me promet un plombier pour le lendemain.
Pourle lit, j'attends, j'attends, et un peu comme Soeur Anne dans Barbe Bleue, je ne vois rien venir. Il est 21h, mes affaires sont toujours a Soho et je suis tout seul dans mon grand appartement vide. 21h15, je recois un coup de telephone du delivery guy que j avais appele 15 fois au moins sans reponse. Il m explique que son van a creve dans le Queens et qu il ne livrera pas mon lit ce soir. Je fulmine interieurement et je commence a peter les plombs. Lui c est clair que son tip me servira a me payer une douceur chez Rice To Riches. Resigne et affame, je me dirige vers Soho puis me dit queje vais marcher un peu pour me calmer en pensant au Riz au lait et mascaporne de Rice to Riches. Je fais deux pas dehors et... Orage!!! Pas la petite bruine parisienne,non, le genre d orage qui vous lessive litteralement... C est la que la petite voix dans ma tete, celle qui ne vous parle que lorsque tout va mal me dit "Lionel, au premier bar que tu trouves, prends toi un Bombay Tonic et oublies tout", je m execute et fini par rentrer a mon ancien appartement apres 4 Bombay Tonic... Mon ancien landlord me demande ce qui se passe, je grogne et vais me coucher sans lui repondre...

Heureusement le lendemain, tout s est bien deroule, je demenage en 30mn montre en main, mon lit est livre, monte en 15mn. Je ne me suis jamais senti aussi heureux d arriver dans un appartement.

Chris Rock ou comment eduquer les blacks en Amerique par le Rire

2006-05-19T22:22:00.000-04:00

Force est de constater que les cliches sur les blacks en Amerique sont nombreux. Certains cliches ne le sont plus reelement tellement ils sont proches de la realite et d autres pretent simplement a sourire. Il n en reste pas moins vrai que la population afro americaine est celle qui a en proportion le plus d individu en prison et c est aussi la plus pauvre. Chris Rock, plus connu en France pour ses performances d acteurs, est surtout connu ici pour ses shows comiques. Il tente avec succes de se moquer de la population afro americaine et tout y passe. A mon sens, largement meilleur que Martin Lawrence, Eddie Murphy ou encore Dave Chapelle. Ses spectacles sont detonnants par la qualite de l ecriture mais aussi la facon d aborder des sujets d actualites, de societes ou de politiques de manieres explosives et ouvrant le debat. Tout cela bien sur avec le sourire:
Dans le desordre, l'Irak, OJ Simpson, Faracan, Bush, Michel Jackson,les femmes, les hommes, les blacks, les rappeurs, les strip teaseuses, le mariage, la fidelite...tout y passe de maniere cinglante. Il prend aussi d enormes risques: Dire dans une salle au milieu de Harlem "I hate Niggers, I love Black People" ou que "the greatest racists are the old black guys". Il est vrai qu il derape de temps en temps, ou est d un vulgaire extreme (Je ne compte plus les "fuck" ou les "pussy" ), dans tous les cas il touche sa cible en exprimant ses idees de maniere argumentee. Son public est totalement heterogene, wasps , blacks, asiatiques, hispaniques... Je ne saurais que trop vous conseiller de vous jeter sur ses trois meilleurs one man shows:

Bigger and blacker
Bring the pain
Never Scared

Vous prendrez tout le sens de l'expression "un show a l'americaine"

PS: Ma citation favorite "A man is only as faithful as his options."

La "No Can Do" Attitude

2006-05-12T11:27:00.000-04:00

Argh, I love America...

L'Amerique est vraiment un pays formidable ou tout est possible mais parfois (assez souvent me disent les new yorkais m entourant), on se heurte a la fameuse "no can do" attitude tres differente de la phinedo attitude pour ceux qui connaissent.

J' y ai eu droit hier. Ravi encore une fois de pouvoir faire une commande sans bouger de ma chaise, je visite le site de Staples pour acheter un white board et des accessoires. Je passe rapidement sur la problematique des dimensions liee a ma meconnaissance du systeme metrique americain. Arrive le moment de payer, je sors ma carte amex de son fourreau, entre avec un plaisir non dissimule les numeros magiques et clique... Aie ils me demandent des infos supplementaires comme l addresse de facturation de ma carte. Malin, ma carte etant francaise, je rentre mon adresse francaise... Aie la liste des etats ne permet pas de choisir un department francais... Je ne vais pas me laisser abuser par une machine. tant pis je rentre albany... Miracle ca passe.

Nonchalant, je retourne vaquer a mes occupations... dring...dring Staples: "your card is not valid sir, you cannot pay with this foreign card, do you have another one sir" Bien sur, je lui donne ma visa, "I am sorry sir, no can do, Do you have another card sir". La je commence a entrer dans la quatrieme dimension. pas d autres cartes. "Do you have a us checkbook sir", je pense au plus profond de moi meme, que j ai passe 4ans et demi dans une boite de conseil a ecrire ce genre de process, et que c est ma punition... A la limite de lui dire "Ta carte US et ton checkbook, tu peux te les...."Aucune solution possible, Staples ne veut accepter que les paiements US. 15 minutes plus tard, j ai le manager au telephone, une autre serie de "No Can Do sorry sir, it is the system" finalement resigne, je demande la carte de credit d un collegue de bureau et paye en arrachant la promesse d un bon d achat.

Staples, That was easy... qu'ils disaient.

A quand une soiree house dans la salle de la Joconde?

2006-05-09T18:43:00.000-04:00

Les americains n ont peur de rien, ils ouvrent leur musee pour des soirees privees. Ce week end avait lieu le Target First Saturday dans la salle principale du Brooklyn Museum. Ambiance tres sympa, un vrai melange de communautes qui fait plaisir a voir. C est bizarre de se dehancher avec des oeuvres d art autour de soi. Aucun accident recense, pas de verre sur les toiles qui bien que protegees par un cordon n en restaient pas moins exposees. Bien entendu pas de cigarette.
En tout une soiree bien sympa a refaire.

The New York Real Estate Market

2006-05-04T11:14:00.000-04:00

Bastard

le real estate new yorkais est une vrai chaine alimentaire. paris a cote c est de la gnognotte il y a plus de brokers a new york que d appartement disponible a un instant t.

Qualites requises pour etre un bon broker (agent de location):
- mentir constamment au client - transformer les cm2 em m2 - jurer sur sa propre famille qu on est le seul sur le coup alors que 3 autres brokers arrivent au coin de la rue - inventer des lois et des commissions farfelues - demander 15% du loyer annuel - appeler loft un appart en mezzanine de 50m2

Qualites requises pour une bonne management company (gerance):
- reclammer encore des fees - augmenter les loyers de manieres aleatoires - mentir au broker donc au client - appeler luxury appliances, une cuisine contenant un microwave

Qualites requises pour etre un bon super (concierge)
- reclammer encore d autres fees pour avoir montre l appart - faire le mort quand une reparation est necessaire - mentir a la management company

Finalement qualite requises pour etre un bon client (Yoy):
- payer beaucoup - se mentir a soi meme en se disant qu on a fait une bonne affaire au final
ou
- se demerder tout seul - leur dire go fuck yourself and do not waste my time toutes les cinq minutes - prendre conscience que rien n est parfait et que tout se paye

Tout ceux qui viendront nous voir se souviendront des litres de sueurs verses par votre serviteur en arpentant les rues de new york.

Bangkok Part 1: Khao Yai National Park

2006-04-29T12:47:00.000-04:00

KhaoYai.

Formidable sejour en Thailande. La Thailande pour le peu que j ai pu en voir est un pays magnifique. Definitivement a refaire plus longuement.

Debut de sejour sous forme de spa dans la residence de mon boss qui ne voulant pas tout le temps se deplacer pour le golf a construit un 9 trous dans son jardin. Franchement magnifique. Merci a Philippe pour son accueil.

Interdiction formelle de faire quoi que ce soit soit meme sous peine de vexer les differentes maids, il s avere que cela s applique aussi dans certains restaurants(Je vous raconterais plus tard le concept du "No Hand" Restaurant)

Khao Yai est une une region superbe, depaysement et ambiance jungle assuree ( Un parc enorme ou l on peut voir de vrais animaux sauvages, tigres, elephants, singe,...). Les thailandais y vont le week end, peu de touristes. on se rend compte de la qualite de l air une fois qu on se rend a Bangkok par la suite. Nous avons fete la nouvelle annee avec les moines (Songkran). Cette fete se situe le jour le plus chaud de l annee et la coutume veut que l on verse de l eau dans les mains des moines qui nous purifient. La verite c est que cela se tranforme en gigantesque bataille d eau et que l on revient du temple trempe jusqu au os. il arrive souvent que l on recoive des seaux d eau sur les voitures (attention si vous avez un convertible)

Pour ceux qui serait tente par l aventure, il existe un hotel dement ou l on peut louer une tente de luxe qui sera installee dans la jungle, avec maid , chauffeur, baignoire naturelle,etc... original pour un voyage de noce. Si cela vous parait encore trop risque, l hotel propose des chambres plus classique mais pas moins magnifiques,

Bangkok Part 2 au prochain episode...

Vol New York - Bangkok Direct @ 16h50 !!!

2006-04-14T12:19:00.000-04:00

Je pensais avoir tout endure apres avoir effectue plus de 200vols en quatre ans mais la on atteint les frontieres de l olympisme, du super thriathlon aeronautique ... Quand on vient de faire les 8 premieres heures c est genial, on se dit qu il en reste encore 8, deprimant.

Fort Heureusement, les hotesses de Thai Airlines sont charmantes et on volait en premium economy equivalent de la busines sur Thai... On reste quand meme mort de rire quand elle precise qu il est interdit de s allonger par terre durant le vol.

12heures plus tard, je rigolais beaucoup moins

Verdict version bridget jones:
7 canettes de ginger ale, 4 bouteilles de vin, 2 verres de champagnes, 3 repas, 4h de travail, 2h de PSP, 2 films vereux, 1 bon film, un quart de livre ridicule, deux cartes de visites echangees, 5 passages aux toilettes.

Le retour bcp mieux , merci Miles and More pour l upgrade...

Le mime marceau est black et vit a NYC + disgressions sur le CPE

2006-04-13T10:36:00.000-04:00

Black Mime

On dit que les americains ne manifestent jamais, pourtant depuis que je suis arrive, j en ai deja vu 5: des manifestations tres serieuses pour la legalisation des immigres aux manifestations pour la liberation des mimes new yorkais.

Et oui il n ya pas de mauvaises causes pour manifester. La bonne chose ici c est que les manifestations se passent dans le plus grand calme. Disons simplement que les nombreuses forces de l ordre interviendrait de maniere tres tres muscle quel que soit le nombre de manifestants.

Au moins pendant ce temps la, il oublie de vilipender le gouvernement francais a coup de " les francais sont des laches, notre pays recule, meme pas capable de voter la seule bonne loi qu ils aient pu trouver en dix ans, qui gouverne le pays?, blah blah blah". D habitude je suis prompt a la critique avec mon esprit gaulois parfois un peu chauvin mais la je dois bien avouer que je suis bien embarasse et desarme pour trouver une reponse valable a toutes ces remarques tant notre situation est ridicule.

J ai vu une caricature de Bruno Julliard dans une feuille de chou ici, je suis vert de ne pas l avoir conserver pour la partager. l auteur demandait une collecte collective pour faire avancer la recherche afin de pouvoir lui greffer un cerveau tout en le traitant de trotkiste. Assez rigolo je dois dire.

Je ne rentrerais pas dans le debat sterile du l'Amerique c est mieux ou moins bien. disons juste que c est different.

Je file, j ai 18heures de vol a me taper pour rejoindre l Asie.

Bises a tous