http://www.newyorkian.com/blog/index.php Blog for New Yorkians en I visited Kumo last evening while on 72nd in part by chance. - This is a nicely decorated smaller sushi experience. - The food delivered was in a category of average to slightly better then average freshness. - The service was marginal to average. Forgot orders and length of time to delivery with one poorly behaved server that came across as rude but perhaps it was a cultural thing or maybe it was they were closing in 2 hours and this bothered them. This is a place that I would not recommend as I generally don't recommend smaller joints unless they deliver something unattainable anywhere else. It's a neighborhood decent drop-in. I have not ordered-in from them yet so I have no report on this level of service. Tue, 14 Apr 2009 05:47:27 -0400 http://www.newyorkian.com/blog/index.php/post/9/ Wagner may never have envisioned the Ring in its current form and production at the Metropolitan Opera. Unfortunately, this is the last time this production of the Ring cycle will be delivered to the opera state here and all the rest of us may never see the spectacular staging that is about to disappear for ever. Why is this landmark? Well the era that I know of the Met and its productions may give way to the new staging I have not been so impressed with. An example of a new production I like less is the Damnation of Faust. Though Robert Lepage should be applauded for putting together that which is hard to stage. the production is a bit to modern for my taste with the use of scaffolding, multiple levels and projection. I feel it is the set and staging of old that will be gone for ever if this is deemed acceptable. Are we exchanging flesh, hard work and crafted material for the equivalent of a LED screen (like a board game you think through to a mindless video game). See the Ring while you still can, it's worth it and it represents the end of an era. I have been fortunate enough to attend the first two in the cycle and despite the 5-hour long production times it is a complete immersion in Opera and major tune-out. If one were to compare it to the way people 0use a movie to put their current worries and care aside for a moment, one of these productions will give you outright amnesia. God Bless opera and the Met. Tue, 14 Apr 2009 05:37:41 -0400 http://www.newyorkian.com/blog/index.php/post/8/ Since my move to New York City over 3 years ago, I have seen many changes take place in the last 3 months that have me feeling a bit uncomfortable. The City I fear is changing, the economy here will have a problem. With many of the banks laying off employees and America essentially bankrupt from a 6 year buying spree spawned by low interest rate loans on real property and easy qualify loans passed off and packaged, we are staring down the barrels of a shotgun as New York City residence. When thinking about what this crisis means to me I consider those job losses as a major issue. The very individuals taking part day to day in the work that undermined this society also pay taxes. These taxes both local and state comprise the funding that keeps cities clean and safe. Consider the loss of value in our real estate markets! Consider all the means local NYC government has and had to develop revenue to pay for its programs and cut it. More homeless and mentally ill are traveling streets, the systems are breaking down where police forces are being put on hold. The best I can do from here is pray that nothing bad happens or the situation does not deteriorate as a result of our country's financial sector decline. Wed, 11 Feb 2009 03:40:03 -0500 http://www.newyorkian.com/blog/index.php/post/7/ The Newyorkian.com was launched by Blinder Entities Inc. NY, USA on 21st december 2006. Thu, 21 Dec 2006 14:47:13 -0500 http://www.newyorkian.com/blog/index.php/post/4/