The Nervous

Note Taking

Alex — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 15:53:35 +0000

Sometimes it is nice to go to a bar solo. I’m not usually good enough to make new friends as I sit there, so last time I went out without company I started taking notes. I particularly liked this out-of-context series of words from two doctors sitting across the corner.

12:20 to 1:30. Meet at the table — fifteen minutes — make a relationship. Even the lawyer can.

I was in Brooklyn at James restaurant.

The Hearst

Alex — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 14:33:57 +0000

The Hearst is a great drink to highlight your favorite bitters. Also dubbed the Martini for those who do not like Martinis, which may be true, but I wouldn’t think of it as a Martini. Traditionally this is how it goes:

2 ounces gin (Plymouth, Mt. Greylock)
1 oz sweet vermouth (Martini & Rossi)
1 dash {4 drops} Angostura bitters (Angostura)
1 dash {4 drops} orange bitters (Fee Brothers)

And traditionally, that is a great drink. However, you can and should use whatever bitters you want (to a total of 2 dashes). The gin and vermouth provide excellent canvas for the nuances present in various bitters. If you can get some, I recommend the Bittermens Burlesque. Or if you want something more aggressive for your tastebuds, consider the Fee Brothers Old Fashioned bitters.

Retronaut

Alex — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 14:06:11 +0000

How to be a Retronaut is an internet time capsule/photoblog with a healthy mix of carefully curated TIME magazine photo sets and reader submissions. Focusing on things that time has forgotten, things that did not stand time’s test, or things that just could make one nostalgic. It is a great addition to any lonely RSS feed.

{Frank Sinatra pictured}

Ties

Alex — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 21:29:19 +0000

“Wearing a tie lets people know you have some place to be, even if that place is a barstool.”

Drive — the film.

Alex — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 17:47:21 +0000

I walked to the Somerville Theatre on Sunday night to catch the first film I’ve seen in months, Drive. I would like to recommend this movie to everyone. There are a few brief, hyper-violent scenes that may disturb some, but it is not the focus of the production. If you can stomach a little human destruction I think it will be well worth your time. The show is well-paced, full of style, and emotionally provocative. I’ve been thinking about it for a while now.

The Brooklyn Derby

Alex — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 16:21:15 +0000

A Brooklyn is a good drink: rye, dry vermouth, maraschino liqueur and bitters. (It’s hard to get dry vermouth to play well with others.) Recently I had a good variation on the theme: bourbon, dry vermouth, Bénédictine, bitters. Bourbon for rye, Bénédictine for maraschino. I don’t know the proportions used, but I would try 2 oz, 0.5 oz, a teaspoon, and 4 drops. Mix + match from there.

Blog.

Alex — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 00:12:23 +0000

A man should have real estate on the internet, I think. We’ll see how this goes.