Bitchin' Birthday Sing-A-Long Saturday and Smashface Sunday

Bitchin' Birthday Sing-A-Long Saturday and Smashface Sunday

I'm turning 28 this year and I'd like to celebrate my birthday with you. Here's a line up of the fun things I have planned for my birthday weekend. I hope you can make one it out to one or all events.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29th

7PM- 9PM: Cake, snacker-roos, and booze @ Olivia & Jessica's place
Send email for location and home number.

10PM- 1AM: Off-key Karaoke @ The Carriage House
312 Seventh Avenue at 8th Street, Park Slope, Brooklyn!
Directions: F to 7th Avenue Station. Exit at 7th Avenue and 9th Street. Walk on 7th Avenue for one block to 8th Street.
Enjoy totally FREE karaoke, cheap alcohol, pool, and darts at this random sports bar that has a great blend of old school neighborhood folks and anti-hipsters.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30th

3PM- 6PM: Gift Tour at Atlantic Antic
Watch me ooh and ahh over wonderful things you can buy me for my birthday. Oh, yeah, take in the sighs, sounds, and tastes of Brooklyn's diverse cultures in this ginormous street fair on Atlantic Avenue.

7PM: Stew perform songs from Passing Strange and a few songs with his band, The Negro Problem
Joe's Pub @ The Delacorte Theater in Central Park
Free but tickets must be obtained at 1PM either at The Delacorte or at The Public Theater, 425 Lafayette Street (near Astor Place), from 1PM to 3PM. Check out the website for details.

9:30PMish- 11:30PM: Cheapshots!
140 1st Ave (Cross Street: Between St Marks Place and East 9th Street, East Village
Since I was born on this day 28 years ago, I think it's only proper that I try to drink myself to near death for free this evening. You guys can enjoy pretty decent booze prices too. Bring singles for the jukebox!

WISH LIST
I have no shame. I want things. Maybe you could hook a sister up...
Re-gifted or gently used but awesome items will be totally accepted.

Karaoke CDs--various artist. The cheesier the better!
Trader Joe's Gift Certificate
Whole Foods gift certificate
Cool Clothes. Let me eliminate the guess work: dress, pant, skirt size 5/6. American Apparel t-shirt size Medium/OS ladies cut. Shoe size 8.
Cooking/Baking/ kitchen supplies.
Craft supplies.
Vegan goodies.
Laptop case to fit 15.4" laptop.
Subscription to BUST, Craftzine, BITCH, HEEB, VegNews, Readymade, and Naturally You magazines sent to my home address (see above). Pick one!
Something cute from ETSY.com or perhaps something you made.

I should be in bed but instead I'll tell youwhat happened today, Sep. 10

Today I continued my temp assignment at the fabulous Bloomberg NYC headquarters. There is lots of natural light, open spaces where co-workers gather to buzz, technology and news themed art, and--best of all--unlimited snacks--many of which are accidentally vegan. Terra Gold chips in all varieties, plantain chips, cassava chips, pita chips, kiwis, green apples, bananas, coffee, iced coffee, fancy syrup for coffe and soda, Poland Spring bottles (or Dasani, for folks who prefer tap), Oreos, Cinnamania, and Chicken Style Cup of Noodle (which I haven't tried yet because I'm not sure if it's safe to eat peroxide). My previous employer is rumored to have used the expression "All she does is eat and gossip" to describe my work ethic, so you can imagine how Bloomberg is like a wet dream come true for me. I actually don't hate my assignment either. I'm working in Ad Traffic in Web Publishing area--helping them transition from one server to another. It's pretty quiet and low key and, best of all, I do not have to use anything related to Microsoft Office, Lotus Notes, or a phone. Sweet relief.

Today, my amazing chef/ caterer friend Yoli and I filmed the pilot for our potential cooking show. We had a blast and I actually learned a lot--like how to correctly chop an onion and the difference between curly and flat leaf parsley. Hopefully, things look good after editing.

Inspired by my day of cooking with Yoli, I prepared a cook-up of Okra and Plantains for dinner, along with oven roasted corn and quinoa.

Here's the recipe:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Put corn directly on the wire rack. Don't remove husk! Set timer for 20 minutes.
3. Start preparing quinoa according to box instructions. I usually add about 1 tsp of Spike seasoning.
   
4. Meanwhile on the stove: Saute 2 cloves garlic, 1 half small onion, 1 small tomato, and about 1/3 cup diced green pepper in canola oil over medium heat until green pepper is soft. Be sure to push it around a bit, so it doesn't burn.
5. Add a handful of okra that's been cut into little wheels and one ripe plantain that's cut into bite size pieces. Cook for about 7 minutes or so. (Honestly, I don't remember how long I cooked it, but 7 minutes sounds good. Just make sure the plantain isn't raw or else you won't be able to digest it--if you know what I mean.)
6. Add 1 TBS lemon juice and pepper, salt, cumin, coriander, and paprika to taste. (I used about 1/4-1/2 tsp of each.)
7. Cook for another 3-5 minutes to let the flavors meld, then remove from heat.
8. Remove corn from oven once timer goes off.
9. Put everything in a bowl and enjoy with a cold beer--you deserve it!