Check it out – what a thing of beauty!

After seeing this on TV last night, by this morning I am already looking up Amtrak fares to Philadelphia… and all for a sandwich! The roast pork and broccoli rabe sandwich at DiNic’s in the Reading Market Terminal.

Image thanks to a fellow sandwich lover at Flickr

For two days later this month, the New Yorker Hotel will be swamped with media and marketing types, all looking for the golden answer – how to make money from the phenomenon that is Social Media. I dabbled with social media management with the BBC before I left London (see post about an interactive event I produced), but it was never with the intention of making money, such is the BBC way. So I’ll be heading along, with the intention of filling that gap in my knowledge & maybe meeting a few like-minded peeps in my new hometown!

The event is Socialize and it has been put on by those knowing folks at mediabistro.com and runs 31 March – 1 April in NYC. I’ll be reporting on the event as it happens so check back later this month!

When we were packing up for the move to NY I put EVERYTHING in the shipment going with the movers – including my trench. And it won’t arrive for another 6 weeks. With mild weather on the way and our shipment still in ol blighty, I am going to get myself down to my nearest GAP this weekend to pick up a new one. For a sweet $50. Nice!

Can’t stop listening to this lovely dubstep remix of Lauren Pritchard’s song ‘Stuck’. ‘Tis grand. That is all.

An exhibition of photographs by Jason Bell has just opened at the National Portrait Gallery in London. It features British people who have swapped old blighty for that very lovable New York City (something I’d LOVE to do, if the visa situation weren’t so difficult).

Take a look at an audio slideshow from BBC News of Bell’s photographs.

Photograph © Jason Bell

Hear Jason Bell on BBC Radio 4 this Sunday 22 August, from 09:00 BST.

Exhibtion An Englishman in New York: Photographs by Jason Bell now on at the National Portrait Gallery until April ’11.

Aloe Blacc intros what has to be probably the best part of this new HBO series, the soundtrack, with what might just be his finest tune yet, I Need a Dollar. With that and Mayer Hawthorne, the guys at Stones Throw must be feeling pretty good these days!

How to Make it in America is a new comedy offering from the producers of Entourage (which I LOVE). This one is set in Manhattan (and other bits probably in Williamsburg) with a couple of man-boys trying to make it in the world of premium denim/street wear.  They’re hustlers, hopeless, but kind of endearing. There’s also the token nerd-guy and tough Hispanic uncle just out of prison. I’m only 4 episodes into the first season, it’s full of hipster parties, skating and street art – but it’s entertaining.

It’s no Entourage, but the soundtrack (Phoenix, Broken Bells, Otis Redding, Sharon Jones, Talib Kweli etc etc…) I have to say is brilliant!

I’ve just been in Miami for some spring sunshine and this song came on the radio while I was driving across one of those amazing bridges over the turquoise water of the Florida Keys. It became the theme song of the holiday and I can’t stop listening to it… love it!

The Dream ‘Falsetto’

A talented musician and a really lovely guy. He will be missed.

Some lovely thoughts here from Bruce at Raves Raves

and so am I this southern summer, but sadly not in the same city as Kelley Stoltz at the same time he’s doing shows. pants!

- 20 Dec 2009, 8pm – Workers Club, Melbourne

- solo w. UV Race and Ships Piano
27 Dec 2009, 8pm – Pure Pop Records, Melbourne

- solo
7 Jan 2010, 8pm – Curtin Bandroom, Melbourne

- 9 Jan 2010, 8pm – Sandringham Hotel, Sydney

- w/ band
16 Jan 2010, 8pm – the Corner, Melbourne

- Summer Tones Party w. Bright Black Morning Light, Kes Band, Roland S Howard, Dent May and more…..
17 Jan 2010, 8pm – The Retreat Hotel, Melbourne, – w/ lisa miller, shane o’mara and sarah bethe nelson

Listen on his MySpace page

I recently watched the Ramones documentary ‘End of the Century’ and it’s brilliant. The band has had more lives than I realised – from their early days as awkward angsty Queens boys playing at CBGBs they went on to record 5 albums, toured relentlessly around the world for over 20 years, made THAT rock & roll high school movie & then their last album was produced by the infamous nutty producer, Phil Spector.

After watching the film, it’s also very clear just how different each of the members of the band were, and what the dynamic of the band was. I get it that Johnny and Joey had different political views (I always liked Joey the best) but add bipolar disordered Dee Dee to the mix and the mayhem is totally understandable now! Dee Dee might just be my favorite now – especially since he diverged into rap for a brief, hilarious moment as Dee Dee King.

Check it -

p.s. – hadn’t heard this one for a while and it’s great ‘down in the basement’