Happy New Year

Just don't tell the Chinese that. They follow a different calendar and it's not New Years for them. Go figure.

Now some of my best moments caught on camera.

Shea hey, beers before the game is always key.

Chi-town was a blast

Best hero in brooklyn

Lasik, wise choice

The birth of my beautiful baby girl

MMMKKKKAAAY

Priests brawl at Bethlehem birthplace of Jesus...

the world is fucked

in other news if my NY football Giants beat New England on Saturday night expect a italian brooklyn man to be on the next am newscast running around Boston with no pants on, peeing on all corners

Merry Christmas

Let me just say to everyone have a healthy and meerrryyy Christmas.

To rub in my italian heritage I give you tonights menu.

tonight's menu sponsored by guido's

antipasto
crab legs in a fish marinara sauce
cold seafood salad
scungilli
baked clams
stuffed squid
lobster tails
filet mignon
rice balls
shrimp scampi
calzones

EL Pad's NYC Good Times Post

2007 NYC Holiday Tourist Guide

A couple of tips:

If your going to use the subway, and you should, buy a subway map or print one from the MTA site. Trust me it can get very confusing for a newbie and you don't want to end up in any of the wrong parts of any borough. Unless you like to urinate on yourself.

Brings me to point #2. Seriously for as big as NYC is, crime is ridiculously low. Don't believe the stereotypes, this is not 1992. Outside of that homeless man who carved up that Texas kid last year there have been zero serious crimes. Just be smart, obviously the pick pocket guys are out this time of year so inside pocket with a zipper is like a fire safe and ladies wear the handbags under your arm. Snatch and runs are too easy and the crowds are RETARDED, you'll never chase them down.

Point #3, Crowds are retarded. Serious. You can hide an elephant on 5th ave. during this time of year. Keep a nice pace, I understand your sight seeing but try not to get trampled. We move at a very quick pace.

Point #4, you will see homeless people. If they scare you don't show it, cuz they smell fear and will make the most of it (chase you around, yell, growl, etc). You can patronage them if you wish, chances are your contributing to a liter of vodka. Your call.

Point #5, is obvious. Get some information from your hotel concierge about restaurant discounts, nightclub passes, tourist coupons, etc. NYC can get expensive.

Point #6, taxi's drive like lunatics. That's just the way it is, hail it (stand 2 yards into the street and raise your hand), hop in and pray.

Now some hotspots, must-do's and good times.

Visit Rockefeller Center. If you don't this time of year why did you bother? The tree is phenominal as usual and check out the observation deck on the TOP of THE ROCK. The surronding area is pretty cool too. Check out the SAKS 5th Avenue windows (for the ladies) then look up and check out the illuminated Snowflake Symphony on the acutal building. Right across the street is St. Paticks Cathedral. If your catholic get in there and talk to the big fella. It's quite a church. Stores surrond the area, everything from Coach to Sharper Image. The Rock Cafe below is a cool lunch, get a window seat to watch people bust they ass on the ice rink and get the crabcakes. They are phenominal.

Shop 5th Ave. Any and every major store in the world in on 5th ave. Stretches from 42nd street down to Central Park. Just heed my fourth point. No really. There are a ton of people.

Central Park. Oasis. If your trying to be romantic do the horse and buggy thing but bring a mask. Smells like horseshit if you ask me. Wolman Rink > Rockfeller Ice Rink. Wolman Rink is in central park. Skate there instead of Rockefeller Center.

The museums are awesome if that's your thing. The Hayden Planetarium is cool and the Museum of Natural History is something else.

Pizza = Di Fara's, Original Ray's Pizza (Prince St. location), Lombardi's (coal oven), Patsys (all locations) and Una Pizza Napoletana. If by any chance you are in Brooklyn L&B Pizzeria, Lenny's and Krispy Pizzeria.

Walk Little Italy if you can, almost every Italian restaurant is good.

Attempt one of the Rickshaw's Dumpling houses. Very good dumplings. And try a slice of Junior's cheesecake, you won't be disappointed.

Enjoy Broadway.

Chinatown is something you've never experienced before. It actually feels like your in China. Not kidding. If your looking to buy some horned frogs or a rolex whisper to one of the chinese women standing on any corner, follow her, don't worry, she won't hurt you.

Times Square is nuts. I know this. Financial district, any Irish bar will do for a quick beer. Whitehorse is my favorite. Check out the Trinity Church (National Treasure movie) and read Alexander Hamilton's tombstone. While your in the area check out Ground Zero, even though it just looks like a construction site now (hurry up with that boys!).

Dining/Bars:

Theater District/Midtown:

1. Dillions Bar and Restaurant - tourist cliche's abound
2. Burger Joint - located in the Le Perker Merdien hotel, you really have to find it but the burger is worth is and at $6.50 it really is a bargain.
3. Carnegie Deli - the one the only, giant piles of meat...if you finish a pastrami on rye i'll mail you a check
4. Morell Wine Bar & Cafe - if you like wine go here, the food is good too
5. Patsy's - One on the upper east side too. Excellent brick oven pizza, excellent.
6. Carmine's - Family style italian eatery, very good food, 2-3 hour waits without reservations.
7. Virgils bbq - Smoke is close but to me this is the best BBQ fare in the city.
8. Quality Meats - steakhouse for the young and hip, not the distinguished and old
9. Jimmy's Corner - one of the best bars ever established
10. Flute - champagne bar, cool if you with the lady
11. Whiskey Bar - cool little spot in the W hotel in midtown
12. Maggie's place - cool joint, just a regualr bar

Village

1. Art Bar - cool feel
2. Automatic Slim's - lunch served, sort of a party crowd at night
3. Sevilla - excellent Sangria and Paella
4. Caliente Cab Co - mexican fare, good margaritas
5. Down the Hatch - my favorite dive bar of all time
6. Off the wagon - 2nd favorite

I can type all day long, reference these two sites to look up every single establishment in Manhattan. If you want to ask me if I been there I will be honest.

Search Meatpacking district, village and Chelsea. I tried a marathon post but there is literally so much shit to do, see, and enjoy here in NY. Hope this helps.

Best site to look up Bars

Best site to search for restaurants

Coming so soon

Coming soon : a Holiday Guide for tourists travelling to NYC.

I realize that 4 million people come to NYC during the holidays and why not. Great place to be.

I will give some tips and link some cool places to check out. Hopefully by Friday.

Til then, enjoy this pic. Got my infected tooth pulled from my skull yesterday.

My xmas list

Amex Members lounge

Best thing about xmas shopping yesterday. Click above.
I thought at some point someone would come out and milk my prostate but that never happened. Not even a ball tickle. Ah, neither here nor there it was pleasant.

Great company that American Express. Recommend it to anyone.

My Top 6 Xmas wishes includes:

I LUV Portable DVD Player
Plays videos off your IPOD as well. Nifty.

Stereo with Dock for the Desk
I'm done with the FM transmitter.

I Touch IPOD
I needs a upgrade.

I want a Taser
ZZZZZZ...ZZAPPPPP. Don't Tase me bro!

XBOX HD DVD Player
Gotta have me one of these, although I can't say I'm happy that I have to purchase HD DVD's going forward.

The Glenlivet
Or something similar, like a Johnnie Walker Gold or Blue. Doesn't have to be a single malt either.

Following Gift Cards will be accepted.

Sunglass Hut - ever since my LASIK surgery I've wanted to drop a hundy or two on a nice pair of shades
J.Crew - most comfortable T-shirts on the planet
Macy's - where I purchase my suits and ties from, mostly
Gamestop - Call of duty 4 be calling me, be calling me
Foot Locker - could always grab a nice pair of Nikes
Pink Pussycat Boutique - what, no sex shops for you?
Best Buy/Circuit City - DVD's

Any and all restaurant gift certificate's work and work well

I also like fine Turkish sheets, 2000 thread count preferably.

Wine Decanter's would work, some Mach 3 refills (damn things are expensive), a POGO stick, and maybe on of those Koi fish.

See, I'm simple. Besides XMAS is not about these material objects. It's about peace, joy, family and the birth of christ as we understand it to be. But if I don't one of these things I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger.

Merry Christmas.