We Are Scientists at the Gap/SXSW, 3/7/13

The only time of the year I wish I were somewhere other than New York is the second to third week of March, when SXSW pulls all of the best and brightest to Austin. Nevertheless I was somewhat consoled by my eighth We Are Scientists show last week. Yes, it was in a Gap store and nobody could take off their winter coats; but Keith and Chris always deliver. The set included three new songs and the favorite two-pack that I hope they never, ever stop playing (you know the two I mean).

Setlist

Impatient
Don’t Bite
New song (Something else?)
The Great Escape
Nice Guys
Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt
Rules Don’t Stop
New song (?)
Jack and Ginger
New song (Springfield?)
After Hours

Guide to New York

Lately I’ve been toying with the idea of occasional non-music posts about New York. This is a start: TRUST ME ON THIS’s “Best of New York.” Predictably, more than half of it is food. Most of it is in Manhattan.

My New York top ten: Mornings at Almondine. Smorgasburg summer Saturdays. Catbird rings. Momofuku Noodle after work. Classy-casual dinner at Otto. Madewell skimmers. Restaurant Week at Lure. Brunch any time of the day at Kitchenette. Tiny skillets at tbsp/spoon. Catching the early show at the Merc.

Did I miss something? Leave your suggestions in the comments!

* = extra awesome.

THINGS

FOR HER
**Madewell: everything from chambray shirts to silk dresses, plus the best flats in the world
Zara: minimalist/cutting-edge clothes, with new shipments twice a week, but not for those averse to polyester
*Reiss: gorgeous English coats and dresses
Pinkyotto: hipster silk dresses
*Anthropologie: perfection in dresses, sweaters, skirts and accessories, until cardigan fatigue sets in
Topshop: the younger, hipper British cousin of Urban Outfitters
Club Monaco: cozy sweaters, hip blazers and silk blouses on that vague line between work and casual
J. Crew: my go-to for pencil skirts, blazers, and blindingly bright colors
Opening Ceremony; Creatures of Comfort; Bird; La Garconne, A.P.C., Rag & Bone: the best boutiques, if you can afford it
Bloomingdale’s: more discerning taste than Macy’s, more affordable prices than Bergdorf’s
Sephora: their customer service deserves an award

FOR MEN
Fine and Dandy: formal accessories for hipsters
*Charles Tyrwhitt; Thomas Pink: the gold standard in dress shirts and ties
Ben Sherman: the mod aesthetic, perfected
Reiss: for class, great coats and great suits

HOME/DECOR
*Fishs Eddy: dishes, flatware and porcelain glove molds
Whisk: kitchen wares
*CB2; A&G Merch; Future Perfect: home accessories, bright colors, bar ware and hipster flair
*MUJI: minimalist kitchen wares, housewares, and stationery
Anthropologie: beautiful kitchen wares, whimsical colors and animal motifs
Design Within Reach; Restoration Hardware: for people who can afford stylish furniture
Bowery Kitchen Supply: kitchen wares

ARTS AND CRAFTS
MUJI: minimalist office supplies
*Paper Presentation; Paper Source: for a rainbow of stationery and crafting supplies, as well as ready-made cards
Top Hat: for Japanese stationery and colorful masking tape
Blick; Pearl; Utrecht: for art school supplies
Adorama: for inexpensive, super lightweight frames

JEWELRY/GIFTS
**Catbird: my favorite jewelry store by far, and not in the least because they carry size 3.5 rings; for people with taste
Erica Weiner: jewelry that is or that looks vintage
Old Hollywood: jewelry and knickknacks like Catbird, but with a hint of rustic/Americana/nautical
In God We Trust: hipster perfection
*Brooklyn Charm: affordable jewelry supplies and charms for crafty people, and the only physical or Internet store I am aware of that carries charms for each of the 50 states

EVERYTHING ELSE
*Pageant Print Shop: affordable antiquarian prints
*Other Music; Soundfix: for free in-store performances from bands that sell out much larger venues
*Mercury Lounge: if only every show I wanted to see was at the Merc
*Bowery Ballroom: the site of the first show I ever went to, and and many shows thereafter (pro tip: opening bands usually unload their gear off the front of the stage on stage right)
Music Hall of Williamsburg: like the Bowery, but cleaned up a little
St. Marks Bookshop; Spoonbill and Sugartown: for hip books, literary mags (n+1, Granta, the Paris Review), stationery and the like
McNally Jackson: for all of the above, plus they print books on demand
Flight 001: clever travel accessories
Idlewild: travel and foreign-language books
Century 21: for bargains on everything from luggage to shoes
C.O. Bigelow: the best apothecary in the West Village that’s still an apothecary

FOOD

LATIN AMERICAN
Caracas: arepas in a shoebox-sized restaurant (East Village)
**La Esquina; Tacombi; Brooklyn Taco at Essex Market: the best tacos on the LES/Soho
Calexico: the best tacos in Greenpoint
Santos Anne: great French/Mexican fusion tacos (Williamsburg)
*El Cocotero: patacones and ambiance (Chelsea)
*Pio Pio: the magic spicy green sauce and the best chicken in the world; also, yucca fries (various)
*Gueros: fantastic tacos worth the trek into Brooklyn (Prospect Heights)
*Cafe Habana: spiced roasted corn and pretty fantastic everything else (Soho)
Boca Chica: the food is decent, the free plantain chips and black bean dip are amazing (LES)
Haab: dependable, affordable tacos (Williamsburg)
Gran Electrica: slightly pricey but superlative tacos and salsas (Dumbo)

PIZZA/ITALIAN
**Otto: red walls and impeccable Italian food under $15 (Union Sq/Washington Sq)
Basta Pasta: classy Italian/Japanese fusion pasta (Flatiron)
*Co Pane: pizza that isn’t much like regular pizza (Chelsea)
*Motorino: the best pizza in the East Village
L’asso: a solid choice, good for late nights (Soho/LES)
Vezzo/Spunto: the same fantastic thin-crust pizza place under different names (Kips Bay/West Village)
Rubirosa; Two Boots: solid slices (Soho; various)
Pulino’s: impeccable but hard to get a table (LES)

NOODLES/ASIAN/SOUTH ASIAN
**Momofuku Noodle Bar: delicious, affordable noodles with a side of tourists (East Village)
*Ippudo: avoid the 2+ hour waits by going early, and the karaka kogashi ramen is amazing (East Village)
Ramen Yebisu: their mazemen (cold ramen) was better at Smorgasburg, but the brick and mortar restaurant is pretty good (Williamsburg)
**Hide-Chan Ramen: ramen with lower prices and without the mob scene of Totto (Midtown East)
Chuko: pretty good ramen and pretty awesome chili garlic (Park Slope)
**Pure: the best Thai in Manhattan, especially for people who like it spicy (Hells Kitchen)
Sookk: decent Thai food and the best lunch special in Morningside Heights
*Qi: affordable, tasty and quick; the best Thai lunch special around Union Square
Room Service; Spice; Cafetasia: for decent Thai
Bon Chon: Korean fried chicken that is served with a side of nightclub at dinner (various)
**Bhatti: the best Indian “buffet-at-your-table” lunch special for only $10 (Murray Hill)
Bann Next Door: Korean tacos for the starving corporate masses (Midtown West)
Spice Cove: serviceable Indian curries and incredibly cheap dinner specials (East Village)
Cho Cho San: a serene oasis of a restaurant with wonderful Japanese food (Greenwich Village)
Bodhi Tree: authentic Thai with a more expansive menu than most (East Village)
Thai Market: the best Thai north of West 103rd (Morningside Heights)
Jin: not as good as Ippudo or Hide-Chan, but a solid meal for much less trouble (West Harlem)
Dhaba: a solid runner-up to Bhatti in Curry Hill (Murray Hill)

SOUTHERN/CARNIVOROUS
Dirty Bird: quick, tasty fried chicken; get the lunch special with a side of mac and cheese mac and cheese (Chelsea)
Fette Sau: if you aren’t afraid to eat with your hands — barbeque, sausage, pulled pork, Southern sides, gallon jugs of beer (Williamsburg)
Porchetta: the best pulled pork sandwiches (East Village)
Georgia’s; the Commodore; the Redhead; Pies n Thighs; Red Rooster: fried chicken for people who have lived in the South (LES; Williamsburg; East Village; Williamsburg; Harlem)

SEASONAL/MARKETS/TRUCKS
*Wafels and Dinges: order a WMD (with everything)
*Cemitas: for people who like sandwiches that are as tall as they are wide at Smorgasburg
Takumi Taco: surprisingly delightful Japanese-Mexican fusion at Smorgasburg
**Choncho’s Tacos: superlative fish tacos at Smorgasburg
*Our Daily Bread: the best focaccia at the Union Square farmers market
Red Jacket Orchards: the best apple juices at the Union Square farmers market
The Good Batch: homemade stroopwafels at Smorgasburg
Deep Mountain Maple: maple syrup and candy from Vermont at the Union Square farmers market
Urban Lobster Shack: affordable and pretty awesome lobster rolls rolling around in Midtown

BRUNCH
*Kitchenette: for good food in Morningside Heights that isn’t merely “good for food that’s in Morningside Heights”
**tbsp/spoon: the best brunch in Manhattan (Flatiron)
Mermaid Inn; Freemans; the Smile; Tartine; Friedmans Lunch; Elephant and Castle: pretty great brunch in Manhattan
*Popover Cafe: great sandwiches, solid eggs, delicious popovers (UWS)
Mile End: great breakfast sandwiches, and people make much of the poutine (Soho)
Cafe Orlin: the Mediterranean brunch is pretty great (East Village)
Alice’s Tea Cup: the service is slow at best and occasionally, iffy, but the scones, sandwiches and fries are excellent (UWS/Midtown East)

DESSERTS/BAKERIES

**Almondine: the best chocolate almond croissants, macaron, beignets and pastries — I’ve been hauling myself to Dumbo since 2008
Sugar Sweet Sunshine: great cupcakes for not ridiculous prices (LES)
*Chikalicious Dessert Bar: chocolate eclair ice cream sandwiches and macarons with sorbet filling, open late (East Village)
Sullivan Street Bakery: the best bread in New York (Hell’s Kitchen)
**Black Hound: the best cake ever (East Village)
Levain: cookies the size of baseballs (UWS)
16 Handles: the best self-serve frozen yogurt in Manhattan (various)
Grom: pricey, minimalist, intensely flavored sorbets and gelatos (West Village)
*Il Laboratorio del Gelato: for one-of-a-kind flavors (LES)
Jacques Torres: gift box chocolates and chocolate chip cookie ice cream sandwiches (various)
*People’s Pops: intensely fruity popsicles year-round (Chelsea Market; also Smorgasburg)
*Molly’s Cupcakes: nutella cupcakes, games and whimsy (West Village)
Billy’s Bakery: solid cupcakes, pies and banana pudding (Chelsea)
Doughnut Plant: exactly what it sounds like (Chelsea/LES)
Peter Pan Bakery: no matter what time it is, it’s always time for a doughnut if you’re near Peter Pan (Greenpoint)
Madeleine: a rainbow of macarons; the chocolate almond croissants sell out every day (Chelsea)
Laduree: the same macarons are sold here as in Paris as in Covent Garden — airmailed from France every day (UES)
Cafe Sabarsky: pricey but delicious sachertorte in the Neue Galerie (UES)
Bouchon; Financier; Payard: casual French patisseries (various)
Sprinkles: the smores and chocolate peanut butter cupcakes are worth it (Midtown East)
Mast Brothers: artisanal chocolate for when Smorgasburg isn’t in season (Williamsburg)
Momofuku Milk Bar: savory stuffed pastries and slightly salty sweet desserts (East Village)
Bien Cuit: breads, savory pastries and pricey croissants (Cobble Hill)
*Ample Hills: diverse and delicious flavors and mix-ins (Prospect Heights)
**Van Leeuwen: the flavors are simple but intense and the store is a lovely place to linger (East Village)
Financier: a sweet spot in Midtown so that one does not have to resort to Magnolia (various)
Hungarian Pastry Shop: a mouthwatering glass case of sweets, and they’re open late (Morningside Heights)

OTHER
Ground Support: the nicest coffeeshop staff in Manhattan and delicious half-price sandwiches after 5pm (Soho)
**Souvlaki: Greek food, beautiful decor and barely any dollars (LES)
Pylos: classy sit-down Greek food (East Village)
**Taim: the best falafel in New York (West Village; Soho)
No. 7 Sub; Num Pang: the best sandwiches, which cost not much more than the worst sandwiches in Manhattan (NoMad; Union Square/Midtown East)
Snack: spanakopita and other Greek delights (Soho)
SMac: mac and cheese with mix-ins (East Village)
**Lure Fishbar: the best Restaurant Week menu (seafood, great dessert) ever (Soho)
Cer Te: the most civilized lunch and the best sandwiches that can be found in Midtown
Paprika: Italian cuisine, perfect for dinner with ambiance (East Village)
99 Miles to Philly: perfectly seasoned waffle fries (East Village)
A Salt and Battery: fish and chips (West Village)
Tartinery: the best tartines on bread from Paris (Soho)
*Mermaid Oyster Bar: fantastic happy hour with oysters, lobster sliders and more (West Village)
Beecher’s Cheese: curried cauliflower mac and cheese is a highlight (Flatiron)
PS 450: surprisingly great sandwiches and Cajun fries, considering it’s a Midtown bar (Kips Bay)
Pearl Oyster Bar: a damn good lobster roll and shoestring fries (West Village)
Fika: intense desserts and espresso served with Scandinavian minimalism (various)

BARS
Ba’sik: nice for sitting. Backyard garden! (Williamsburg)
Pete’s Candy Store: it gets crowded, but there’s always live music (Williamsburg)
Videology: free bingo nights with prizes (Williamsburg)

Album review: The Age of Adz by Sufjan Stevens

*NB: I forgot to post this draft on November 15, 2010. My bad.

Five long years after his last studio LP (not counting The Avalanche), Sufjan Stevens has returned with one of the year’s most eagerly anticipated albums, The Age of Adz, to face all of the scrutiny of fans and critics whose expectations reached grandiose levels after Sufjan’s multimedia orchestration of The BQE for the Brooklyn Academy of Music in 2007. As the most universally recognized critical darling of indie music (excepting, perhaps, the Arcade Fire), Sufjan would not have been amiss to expect that negative reviews of his latest offering would be divided between purists decrying his unfortunate foray into electronic music, and ardent fans disappointed that The Age of Adz does not surpass the transcendental, thoughtful loveliness of Illinois and Michigan. And indeed, it does not.

For many, listening to The Age of Adz from “Futile Devices” through “Impossible Soul” will be an exercise in disappointed hopes. Even after having sampled Sufjan’s new sound several times last fall, I found my hopes arising with the fluttering keyboards in “Futile Devices,” only to descend with a crash into fuzzy effects in “Too Much” and “The Age of Adz.”

You can stream The Age of Adz on Sufjan’s bandcamp.