Baxter Bark Twice

Do as I say, never as I do

Posts Tagged ‘legitimately useful information’

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When the teacher becomes the student…

Posted by AllieB on July 9, 2012

Restaurant Spreadsheet: UPDATED. I made the new additions blue and the coming soon items yellow. I think I’ve got everything on there that should be on there – feel free to politely point out any omissions. I don’t know who’s going to take this over when I’m gone – Caro and K are generally (always) very in the know about this sort of thing, but I’m not sure they’d do it.

***ATLANTA RESTAURANT SPREADSHEET – JULY 2012***

I’m a little uncomf at the notion that I’m going to live in a place where I don’t know things and where I routinely get very lost. I am very well acquainted with Atlanta and where to go and what to do. I like to know stuff, and I’ve served as a resource for many who are too lazy to utilize the wonder that is Google friends – from where to dine to where to buy a top hat (Costumes, Etc.. off Cheshire Bridge), I tend to know what’s what around the Dirty. With NYC..not only do I not know much, I specifically struggle. I’ve never been able to wrap my head around where things are in relation to one another, like neighborhood-wise. When I visited Allison in Winter 2k10 I made a conscious effort to get hold of a map and try to sort out the neighborhoods. Fail. Every time we walked out her door, I instinctively turned in the exact opposite direction of where we were going. Then I’d try to figure out how to get back to her apartment – sure enough, off I’d go towards oblivion. I get that the Lower East Side is on the lower east side, and I also comprehend that the Upper West Side is on the upper west side, but I lose all sense of direction when I’m in NYC – up seems down and vice versa. Soo…wish me luck! The good news is that there are a lot of apps for NYC navigation, a few of which I’ve gone ahead and downloaded…always be prepared is not only the Girl Scout’s motto, it is also mine. I’m not a total moron, and I know people who kind of are who’ve managed to get around up there, so I think I’ll be ok…right? Seriously, wish me luck.

help.

I’m not going to really touch on the TomKat break-up because it’s not a break-up when a contract runs out and the two parties involved go their separate ways as was planned seven years previous, but I enjoyed this pop cultural gem: snippets of Joey Potter’s self-deprecating humor that are extremely applicable to her – Katie Holmes’s – current situation.

Dawson: “Here I am. Single, sandwiched in between two women who both dumped me. I am pathetic.”
Jen: “Hey, look at me, I’m dating a bible thumping hypocrite, okay?”
Joey: “Hey…my boyfriend may be gay.”

Well, not sure there’s any “may be” about it, but it’s still a totally cRaZy parallel. At least she got Suri out of the deal.

This week’s to do list:

1. go see Savages - WSJ really liked it, and they never like anything

2. sell my car

3. sort out/giveaway my clothes

4. make some money (babysitting?? petsitting?? I’m your girl. Call me.)

5. read fewer disturbing books so as to improve slumber – I read a lot this weekend and every book involved discomforting story lines pertaining to children. If you’re looking for a night rife with horrible dreams, then by all means check out The Neighbor by Lisa Gardner

XOXO

Posted in Arbitrary, Food & Drink | Tagged: , , , | 6 Comments »

The Year of the Dragon

Posted by AllieB on January 3, 2012

I’m jumping the gun on the Chinese Zodiac here, but it seemed like an aggressive, carpe diem sort of title which is only fitting for post numero uno of 2k12.

Happy New Year!!! It’s gonna be a good one – I can feel it in me bones. I aim to get a bit more personal with you peeps in the coming year, but that won’t be starting today. No, today I will pass along just a few points of interest, then you can carry on with your Tuesdays. Freaking Tuesdays.

If you are a Comcast subscriber, Showtime is offering FREE ACCESS this coming weekend. This is excellent news as Sunday, January 8, includes the season premiers of Shameless and Californication, and the series premier of House of Lies. I’ve been ranting and raving for months about how mandatory it is that you all have Showtime, and now you can just figure it out for yourself. But be sure you listen up for my voice in your head saying, “I told you so” accompanied by a knowing flat face when you’re on the phone with Comcast next Monday morning. If one more person comes up to me and says, “omigosh I am just LOVING that show Homeland!! Have you seen it??” …. I will pull a Nick Brady and punch them in the throat.

I’m no longer an avid AJC reader – I get my news from NYMag and the Today Show, which means I tend to know very little about local events, but I was at my parents’ house yesterday and stumbled upon award winning cartoonist Mike Luckovich’s favorite cartoons of 2011. He’s one of the AJC’s few claims to fame, and I really like his stuff. Check out the slide show here…and my favorite below.

RIP :(

Also sad: Georgia’s loss yesterday. Pretty irrelevant but football related: Oregon’s chrome helmets in yesterday’s Rose Bowl game were pretty rad. And that’s all I have to say about sports.

There’s no better day for hibachi than January 1, and I’d like to give a quick nod to Nakato on Cheshire Bridge: reasonable prices (particularly if you get in there for the Early Bird Special: 6:30 or before Sunday – Thursday), entertaining staff, and excellent pink sauce. And, I don’t know if you knew this or not, but Tower Liquor is now open on Sundays, and it’s right around the corner…

January kind of sucks because there’s a real emphasis on self-improvement and change and the righting of wrongs and other things of moderate to extreme difficulty. I guess it’s exciting in some senses – fresh start, clean slate, etc. – but mostly it just makes me tired. Or so it has in the past….this year is a totally different ballgame. BOLO for Active Allie, Backbone Baxter, and an All-Round-Better BBT. Like I said: it’s the Year of Dragon…I’ll be channeling Lisbeth Salander for the first few weeks, at least.

Welcome home, PALLISON!!! I feel whole once again.

From left: me & you :) Just kidding – here’s a much nicer/accurate rendition of us…

Posted in Arbitrary | Tagged: , , , | 5 Comments »

Homeland Girl with a Sherlock; Extremely Loud & Shameless House of Lies

Posted by AllieB on December 12, 2011

There are LOT of things to look forward to in the coming weeks in the tv/cinema arena. In case you aren’t subscribed to five weekly tabloids (People, Us Weekly, Life & Style, InTouch, Entertainment Weekly – Friday is a veritable partay at BBT’s house (at least it is when my neighbors don’t steal my shiz)), here are some especially noteworthy things coming up. Listed not only chronologically, but in the order as shown in my oh-so-cleverly spliced title:

The season finale of Homeland – Sunday, December 18: Ok, if you’re not watching this program you’re doing yourself – and maybe even our country – a grave disservice. Each week’s episode has trumped the last, and last night’s was no exception. NYMag does a pretty great weekly re-cap of each episode, which I highly recommend reading. Claire Danes is, hands-down, the ugliest crier on the planet, but instead of ruining everything like she did in Romeo + Juliet with Leo di Caprio back in 1996, her disfigured emotion adds a certain level of necessary mania to her character. Finally, a niche market for that contorted face.

Girl with a Dragon Tattoo – Wednesday, December 21: Oh.My.God. I AM SO EXCITED. Even if there is a slight change to the story line, as there allegedly is about 3/4 of the way through, I am confident I will love this film. I heart Daniel Craig.

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows – Sunday, December 25, 2011: Robert Downey, Jr. is awesome as Sherlock. I’ve seen the one that came out in 2k9 several times, and I still enjoy it. While RDJr totally steals the show, his rapport with Holmes (Jude Law) is very natural and plausible – they have great banter. Also, the way they film the action/fight scenes is really cool in this slo-mo kind of way…”really cool” “great” “awesome” – I’ve missed my calling as a movie critic, haven’t I?

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close – Sunday, December 25, 2011: This is going to be a real tear-jerker. With the cast (Tom Hanks, Sandra Bullock), director (Stephen Daldry – The Reader) and subject matter (9/11), it’s getting all kinds of Oscar-buzz. I’ll see it because I love to cry audibly at movies in theaters whilst sitting next to strangers, embarrassing my friends who have to depart the theater with me. Hello, The Help, Marley & Me, Titanic.

Shameless – Sunday, January 8, 2012: This is yet another gem on Showtime. Season 2 is coming in hot with it being summer time in Chicago- ie, no school and even more time for these Gallagher kids (and father) to run amok. The story lines are, at times, somewhat off-putting (that whole deal with Karen going crazy and seducing Frank made me very uncomf), but I am a huge fan.

House of Lies – Sunday, January 8, 2012: A brand new series to premier after Shameless on Showtime. Have you subscribed to Showtime yet? If you aren’t picking up the phone/initiating an online chat with your Comcast representative by the time you finish reading this post, you’re a fool. It stars Don Cheadle and Kristen Bell (in a surprisingly racy looking role…!) who work at some top-tier consulting firm. Suffice it to say, R-rated shenanigans ensue. It looks like quality stuff.

So… there you have it. De nada. That actually took me kind of awhile to write – like 30 minutes, at least.

And now, for this week’s Funny Christmas Foto Gallery:

Agreed.

FYI.

I took it too far, didn’t I?

Tis the season for December Bender. Have a merry Munday!

Posted in Imparting Wisdom | Tagged: , , , , | 5 Comments »

A cure for the common hangover

Posted by AllieB on December 5, 2011

The FDA has approved a hangover pill – a pill that promises to cure your hangover. (Credit: Baxter Bark Thrice)

Blowfish in an over-the-counter effervescent tablet that contains 1,000 milligrams of aspirin, 120 milligrams of caffeine and a stomach-soothing agent.

So how is this different from taking two Tylenol and chugging down a grande at Starbucks?

“The magic of the effervescent tablet is that it hits your system much faster than getting a cup of coffee, taking an antacid and taking some aspirin separately,” creator Brenna Haysom told the NYDN.

It also works fast, promising to have you feeling normal and functional in just 15-30 minutes.  And it won’t break the bank, even if you’re a practicing alcoholic. A single dose is just $2.99, or $11.99 for a six-pack.   For those wanting to see if this miracle pill actually works, you can find it online, at Ricky’s and in your local Duane Reade in January.

Well, color me skeptical. The fact that the FDA’s approved it says a lot, though…my take on hangovers is this: mind over matter. But I’m not opposed to a pill, in addition to my mantra. Here’s the link to purchase on Amazon – of course Amazon carries it. I guess it couldn’t hurt to try..? Tell you what, why doesn’t someone volunteer to order it for me then I’ll try it and let you know if it works or not. ‘Tis the season for empty wallets and a multitude of holiday parties.

HILBILLY and Jimbabwe are ENGAGED! I am so happy.

Another thing about which I am happy: this Best of Craigslist gem shared with me by Paxton. I’m still not convinced he didn’t write it….

Apropos of nothing. But who doesn’t love a thieving guinea pig?!

Yeah he is.

“That’s all.”  -Miranda Priestly

Posted in Imparting Wisdom | Tagged: , , | 6 Comments »

Bars of the jail and restaurant variety

Posted by AllieB on October 19, 2011

Lindsay Lohan Is Being Forced to Work at the Morgue

Idiot. She’s such a hot mess she makes Tara Reid look like Jackie O. I’m not even following this story anymore, but I saw the headline on Twitter, and I had to click through. Oh, this just in: she’s going back to jail. Nevermind, she can be bonded out. WHATEVER I don’t care anymore.

Go.to.the.dentist. Or maybe just brush every once in awhile. SOMETHING! (People)

Moving along to less manic/more hygienic subjects: Elise shared with me this gold mine of a resource, and I was almost tempted to keep it to myself for awhile but that goes against my oath as a blogger, so…here it is: GoBYO. This nifty website tells you, within a specified zip code and range, all of the restaurants that offer BYOB, as well as their corkage fees. I don’t know how accurate it is, because – por ejemplo – I’m pretty sure Thai Silk doesn’t charge anything, and they say they charge $10. I don’t think I’ll be the one marching into Antica Posta with my $9 bottle and checking what their fee is, as they would probably shove me out the side door before anyone in the restaurant saw such a ragamuffin clientele.

The good news is that it’s not just Atlanta! Other regions included are: Boston, Chicago, Dallas, NYC, LA, Philly, San Fran, South FLA, and DC/Baltimore.

Like I said, I cannot attest to its accuracy, but they got their info on Houston’s right, so that’s something.

 Revenge comes on tonight at 10 on ABC! Record it. You really might want to catch up on previous episodes before you dive in, not so much because you’ll be lost, but because you really want to watch every minute of this program.

ALSO, correction: Homeland comes on at 10 on Sundays, not 9. It’s after Dexter. I’m not sure I can even delve into the twisted world of Dexter.

Posted in Celebs, Food & Drink, Imparting Wisdom | Tagged: , , , , | 2 Comments »

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