In the post-industrial neighborhood that is Greenpoint, Brooklyn there are a variety of thriving businesses offering their wares to a hungry public. Few offer as many hands on activities and popular events as Word, Greenpoint’s independent bookstore. Tuesday night, we made our way over to Franklin Street to check out one of Word’s über hands on events. It was the ‘Bookbinding for Beginners Workshop’ led by local author Nathaniel Kressen.

The bookbinding event was an exercise of do it yourself ingenuity under the instruction of a writer who has made a career of keeping his work local. Nathaniel Kressen is a Brooklyn-based playwright, screenwriter, and novelist. Kressen’s debut novel, Concrete Fever was released this past November and his New York centric novel has been selling throughout the borough ever since. In keeping with the giving nature of this event, each attendee of the bookbinding event received a copy of the hand-bound, illustrated first edition of ‘Concrete Fever’ as part of their registration. It appears that the DIY culture is thriving, because this event was sold out leaving the Word staff tasked with turning people away, promising potential future sessions around summertime.

Kressen began the session by reinforcing the eventual reward that he finds in making something with your own hands. He informed the guests that all of the materials they would be working with in the class were available locally at one of many Brooklyn based craft and supply shops. He went on in detail about some of the more common mistakes made initially and even revealed the fact that you might draw a little bit of blood while binding. But in the end, mistakes are inevitable and give the book character. Kressen continued, stressing that one should not be afraid to change one’s approach to the process because the process should always be changing innovatively. After digesting Kressen’s instruction the class jumped right into the process under his guidance, while at the same time, lending some assistance to each other using the methods they had learned just minutes before.

Word Brooklyn is a revelation in a crowded big box bookstore type atmosphere in which we currently reside. The store is warm and friendly with a crack staff of knowledgeable book lovers on hand to point you in the direction of a book you are searching for or make a solid recommendation. Besides books, they sell locally made shirts and crafts, and throughout the year the store offers various hands-on events, as well as writers making in store appearances. So if you are a fan of the current wave of DIY culture or just looking to pick up a new book to read on the train, you have to check out all the goings on at Word.

- Jay Rubin

With a hit single (“Stains”) quickly rising and being played anywhere hard rock music is heard, Chicago quartet Janus is just weeks away from the release of their sophomore major label release as “Nox Aeris” drops on March 27th. Prior to that, the band is gearing up to embark on a short springtime tour with Chevelle and Middle Class Rut, which comes through our area on February 29th at Irving Plaza.

The band Janus rose from a muddled midwestern modern rock scene and from relative obscurity with 2008′s “Red Right Return,” with their single “Eyesore” serving as the catapult to the band’s stardom. Their live shows became intensely captivating, as the band paired their emotional song writing with eye catching militant uniforms, collaborating sight and sound during each performance. On their second go round, the uniforms are gone, and while their energy remains, the band’s new sound is darker, heavier, and truer.

No strangers to the road or to playing in New York City, the band has supported Sevendust, All That Remains, and even Chevelle on prior tours- but this time through, on the cusp of the release of a new album, and a single burning up satellite radio, the band is gearing up to take the next step from opener to headliner. As the countdown to the release of “Nox Aeris” dwindles, Janus will be releasing short video clips featuring samples of each song on the record, giving fans a small taste of what’s to come on March 27th. But if you can’t wait that long, grab your tickets to their show with the incredibly underrated Chevelle, right now.

LocalBozo.com was fortunate enough to sit down with Janus’ frontman David Scotney for an exclusive interview. Listen in as we discuss the pros and cons of performing in New York City, the band’s excitement for the new album, whether writing “Nox Aeris” was influenced by the success of “Eyesore,” and what the band has in store for the rest of 2012. For more information on Janus, including tour dates and their upcoming video shorts, check out janusmusic.com and for tickets to their upcoming show with Chevelle at Irving Plaza, you can grab them here.

- Jane Van Arsdale

While Monday was nationally recognized as President’s Day, it was also a day of note for a different reason- the official grand opening of Wahoo’s in the Flatiron District. Following a soft opening on Saturday, the first New York City outpost of the west coast chain began serving up their distinct blend of Mexican, Asian, and even Brazilian flavors on Monday, infused in the form of tacos, burritos, and bowls. With locations in California, Hawaii, Colorado, Nevada, and Texas, it is time to add Park Avenue South to the esteemed list, in the first of multiple rumored locations coming to Manhattan.

Stepping inside, Wahoo’s is geared to look like a respite from a warm weather SoCal surfer’s paradise just outside of its front doors. From its bleach blonde bartender to the surfboards and skating decals that line its walls, the entire haunt flaunts a California style appeal. Even the young and energetic employees are enthusiastic and warm when serving up your chips and guacamole or passing you that frothy beer.

The menu can be a little bit daunting at first, since it is extensive and because it is plastered along the side wall as you step up to order at a counter. But rest assured, the friendly staff will walk you through it based on your level of appetite. The ability to create different ordering combinations however is all you. The menu employs traditional quickly prepared Mexican staples like tacos and burritos to more involved entrees like enchiladas, salads, bowls, sandwiches, and “Baja Ladas,” or a wet cream cheese, chicken, and spinach filled roll served with rice and beans. Known for their fish tacos, Wahoo’s serves them up Cajun or grilled style, and other fillings range from shrimp and carne asada steak to braised pork and teriyaki style “Banzai Veggies.”

Spoiled as we’ve been by the Chipotles and Qdobas of the world, and even to a degree by our favorite late night spot- San Loco- the feel at Wahoo’s is a welcome sort of different. The pictures attached to this post will not do the delectable tortillas or the side of tasty pico de gallo justice. The fare actually tastes made to order and is lighter and fresher than the tacos we’re accustomed to. A small order of chips, salsa, and guacamole ($3.49) perfectly set the stage for a two taco combo platter ($7.99), mixing and matching the Cajun and grilled fish along with the grilled chicken over a bed of brown rice and black beans. The fresh tortillas were feathery and airy, doused with shredded cabbage, and cheese, and paced by the filling of seasoned meat, and a zesty and creamy green sauce for flavor. The portions were generous and as such, the value was peerless- a party of two, having a full dinner in New York City at under $25? Unheard of. We can only hold out hope that rumors of Wahoo’s expansion come to fruition so that our eating brethren both up and downtown can enjoy the same satisfaction that we did. Until then however, a trip into Gramercy for some $3 beers during happy hour and a plate of tasty fish tacos may just be worth you traveling for. Wahoo!

- Jane Van Arsdale

The Carroll Gardens’ section of Brooklyn is a virtual hotbed of innovative and fun eating establishments. But in this day and age it is highly important to consider value when making dining decisions, without missing out on style and taste. On a bustling corner of Smith Street sits Chance Asian Bistro & Bar, and be it lunch or dinner, it is a lively joint that delivers the best of the far east, at reasonable prices.

It must be said that Chance has an extremely diverse and fusion-centric menu. They serve everything from whole fish loaded with spices, all the way to expertly prepared Peking Duck. While each of these are delicious entrees that we would steer you toward, on our most recent trip to this Carroll Gardens’ staple we opted for their Dim Sum; Dumpling Dim Sum to be exact. Chance has one of the largest dumpling menus found anywhere outside of Chinatown. The quality here is excellent, and at the same time they retain the low prices associated with the popular weekend Asian staple.

The Dim Sum menu at Chance reads like a who’s who of favorites. But with a list of options this vast, you need to give yourself some time to make the right choice. Making your decision leaves you with the perfect opportunity to sample one of their many hot or cold appetizers. And in keeping with Chance’s model of culturally diverse menu options, our table went for an order of, ‘Spicy Thai Style Mussels’ ($7). A short while after the dish was ordered, a friendly staff member was prompt in dropping it off still steaming. Before picking out our first mussel, the look of the dish was impressive and it was clear that the whole dish had been evenly coated in the spicy Thai sauce. The mussels were extremely fresh, while carrying the intense yet highly enjoyable hot flavoring agent.

Once the last drop of the amazing Thai sauce was soaked up by a handy order of sticky rice, it was time to dive right into the ocean of Dim Sum delights. Our overly laid back yet knowledgeable waiter suggested that we try a little of everything. And with prices that are on the low side, we found this to be sound advice. All of the dumplings are plump and are served three to an order. They will arrive at your table in traditional steamers, solidifying Chance’s authentic feel. The dumplings also arrive in shifts, so nothing is left to get cold.

We certainly did not go overboard with our order but we did get served plenty of food, and as such, in the sense of timing here are some of the meal’s highlights. A must have is the, ‘Sea Bass and Carrot Dumpling’($4). The presentation was fantastic and the plump dumplings were not only bursting with savory yet sweet flavor, but they were molded in an ornate and artistic manner. Secondly, we would recommend the, ‘Crab Meat and Pork Dumplings’($4), a true surf and turf experience, with each fare being evenly distributed with every bite. Finally, one cannot leave Chance without trying the, ‘Foie Gras and Shrimp Dumplings’($6). Certainly an odd sounding combination, but these are both extremely decadent and wildly delicious. The steaming process turns the foie gras into a delightful butter which will fill your mouth with joy.

This Asian bistro has become quite popular in recent years, but they remain in a cozy and relatively quiet corner space. If you arrive during the lunchtime hours you can easily sit down right away, with little to no wait. However if you would like to go to Chance during dinner we highly advise you to make a reservation, especially if you are dining with a group. The layout of the restaurant is quite stylish and cool but also somewhat narrow, so waiting may present an annoying situation if you’re forced to wait. Whether you go during the day or at night, Chance is the Carroll Gardens staple providing you with the very best of the far east fused with several different cultures at great prices.

Arts & Culture

Saturday, February 18th – The artist mecca that is Williamsburg will be throwing an interactive multimedia event for models, photographers, make up artists and artistic people to connect with other creative souls, play and get inspired. The purpose of this event is to promote art that shows technical excellence and highlights our humanity. This event is an opportunity to support artists whose work meets those goals. (DenartNY)

Sports

Friday, February 17th – Sunday, February 20th- If you ever wanted to catch a glimpse of Linsanity, this is the weekend to do it. The Knickerbockers have three home games in four days, and a decent shot at winning each of them. Tonight, The New Orleans Hornets come to the Garden. (Knicks-Hornets Tickets)Sunday, the Dallas Mavericks come to town (Knicks-Mavericks Tickets) and finally, on Monday, the New Jersey Nets cross the pond for a matchup at MSG. (Knicks-Nets Tickets) Can Jeremy Lin save New York Tebow-style?

Music & Entertainment

Friday, February 17th- Movie release day. Quiet night tonight? Check out these releases coming out today. Director McG is back with Reese Witherspoon caught in a man catfight between two CIA operatives Tom Hardy and Chris Pine in “This Means War” (PG-13). And Chelsea Handler is in it, which must do something for someone. Also, Nick Cage is back! “Ghost Rider: Sprit of Vengeance” (PG-13) is in 3D and has all of the elements of a classic Nick Cage Film. Number 1, it exists. Don’t blame us if you hate both.

Friday, February 17th – Saturday, February 18th – It’s a turn back the clock weekend in New York City musically. First, tonight Irving Plaza hosts rock band Tesla for the ‘Twisted Wires Acoustic Tour’ with support by Built By Stereo. Tickets start at just $44.50. (Tesla Acoustic) Also, tonight and tomorrow- you can catch The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin at the historic Radio City Music Hall in two area performances, both of which start at 8pm. (Aretha Franklin Tickets). Tomorrow night, Frampton comes alive! The Beacon Theater hosts ‘An Evening With Peter Frampton’- in the 35th Anniversary Tour. Orchestra seats start at just $49 bucks! (Peter Frampton Tickets)

Saturday, February 18th- Catch two of comedy’s finest. Howard Stern Show alumni Artie Lange returns to the stage at Caroline’s all weekend long. Check out one of comedy’s funniest pure comedians as he reflects on hookers, drugs, and the Mets of course. (Artie Lange Tickets) Also, Comedy Central darling Demetri Martin is holding a taping for his tv special on the ‘Telling Jokes in Cold Places Tour’ at NYU’s Skirball Center for the Performing Arts right in the west village. Hey, at least you might be on tv. (Demetri Martin Tickets)

Nightlife

Friday, February 17th – Who says Brooklyn can’t dance? It’s Crooked Disco; a smoke machine, laser, blow out at The Cove. DJ’s Morsy and Kester will be on hand spinning hip hop, dance, and a little bit of everything else! Tonight they will be shooting a video so be sure to get decked out, son. (Crooked Disco)

Other

Sunday, February 19th- Head to the East Village to our pal Jimmy’s No.43′s tremendous bar for a “N’Orleans Style Gumbo Cook-Off.” $20 at the door lets you taste different amateur and professional chefs prepping some delicious creole style gumbo dishes. The event is serving as a benefit for “Chefs for the Marcellus,” which focuses on the protection of our farms. And there’s going to be a bunch of great wines and beers available for pairing and purchase. (Gumbo Cook-Off)

Sunday, February 19th – Calling all kids, and the kid at heart. The circus has returned to NYC! Ringling Brothers is back with their annual ’Kids Week’ celebration with special performances at the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum. Performers of all walks of circus life will dazzle audiences with their daring and unique routines that also teach children about scientific principles including gravity, balance and momentum. Kids can also enjoy the Circus Zone, where they can learn to juggle and spin plates all day long! (Intrepid Museum)

And as Always, Droid users- make sure to Download the official LocalBozo.com App for FREE from the Android Market! Get all the information we can fit onto your smart phone, NOW!

Like clockwork, seemingly each time we walk past Scotland Yard either to or from the Path station, we consider for a moment sticking our head inside to check out that evening’s live music. And like clockwork, we decide we’re either too tired or too bombed to actually take the couple of steps downstairs into the bar and instead continue on our way. Writing this column has been beneficial for a multitude of reasons, but perhaps the most positive part of the experience is the fact that it gives me an excuse to check out bars all over the neighborhood that I hadn’t been to otherwise. Scotland Yard, just steps from the Path, can now be checked off of my to-do list.

If you’ve been following my column closely the past few weeks, you’ve undoubtedly noticed the fact that I’ve been stopping into bars on relatively quiet nights- Wednesdays most often. While Manhattan rages Wednesday through Sunday, the Square Mile simply doesn’t follow suit. At least, not this early in the evening. As such, Scotland Yard was eerily quiet on this night. But even inside, the orange and blue was on every screen, and the only topic of conversation was the ‘Linsanity’ surrounding the New York Knicks. There would be no band performing, not at this early hour anyway, but the friendly bartenders gave us a solid feel of what the place is about.

Scotland Yard, the bar, is a locals spot, which doubles as a quick haunt for commuters, with the train station so close by. Inside, there are two weathered bars which make up much of the place’s odd interior shape. The exposed brick takes a break for the traditional bar flare and the dartboard, and the requisite flat screen televisions everywhere, including right at the front door, before you even get inside. The space is lit by a combination of Christmas lights and tea candles which illuminate the many liquors behind the main bar area- highlighting the entire half priced bar from Monday to Friday. The back area sports a second bar, with some high top tables, and beer pong and foosball tables near the restrooms. Aside from the half priced bar, $2 draughts and $5 bomb shots accentuate the terrific prices here, even though much of the bar was empty post-work.

So here’s the rundown…

Preconceived notion – A dive bar, close to the path that sports affordable brews and hosts live music

Bar Type – Dive bar

Crowd stereotype – Early 30’s, neighborhood locals, talking shop and sports

Music – Classic rock- Kansas, AC/DC, Ozzy Osbourne, and Lynryd Skynyrd were played proudly

Value – Half priced anything, every night during the week; $2 draughts were also too good to pass on

Good for a….

Date – If your date is into booze and bars and wants you to save money and doesn’t care where you take her… who are we kidding. Don’t bring a date here. Unless she’s your wife and she’s stuck with you.

Hookup – Look, I’ve seen people hookup on the street before randomly so I’m not saying it’s impossible. I’m just saying it’s improbable.

Dance – Probably not.

Catch up with a friend – Good as it gets for this.

First or last drink of the night – Check that- good as it gets for THIS.

Overall – There’s just something charming about Scotland Yard. The outside which resembles a phone booth. The fact that it’s downstairs in a proverbial basement. The insane price points. The bar games and live rock music. Put all of that together and everyone you know can find something that they like here. That’s notwithstanding the fact that they serve Lucky’s Burgers and it’s a great place to go if you get shut out of trendy Green Rock. With Hobson’s Choice shuttering across the street, it’s nice to know that Scotland Yard keeps it real with an old, dive bar feel as the surrounding area becomes increasingly gentrified. It gets a 7.9 from this humble drinker.

-Link Cromwell

Completed Bars
Introduction
Halfway
Marathon Recap
Northern Soul – 9.3/10
The Clinton Social – 9.1/10
Havana Cafe – 9.0/10
The Turtle Club – 9.0/10
Bin 14 – 8.9/10
Court Street – 8.9/10
Hudson Tavern – 8.9/10
10th & Willow – 8.8/10
Elysian Cafe – 8.8/10
Grimaldi’s – 8.8/10
Madison Bar & Grill – 8.8/10
Cork City – 8.7/10
Onieals – 8.7/10
Village Pourhouse – 8.7/10
1 Republik – 8.6/10
Mikie Squared – 8.5/10
Wicked Wolf Tavern – 8.5/10
Zack’s Oak Bar – 8.5/10
Black Bear Bar & Grill – 8.4/10
Moran’s – 8.4/10
Arthur’s Tavern – 8.3/10
Oddfellows – 8.1/10
Cucharamama – 8.0/10
Marty O’Brien’s Social Club – 8.0/10
The Dubliner – 8.0/10
The Shannon – 7.9/10
Carpe Diem – 7.9/10
Helmers’ – 7.9/10
Teak – 7.8/10
Mulligan’s – 7.7/10
Karma Kafe – 7.7/10
DC’s Tavern – 7.7/10
Louise & Jerry’s – 7.7/10
Brass Rail – 7.6/10
Hoboken Bar and Grill – 7.5/10
Four L’s – 7.5/10
Liberty Bar – 7.5/10
Texas Arizona – 7.5/10
McSwiggans – 7.4/10
Nag’s Head – 7.4/10
Eight Street Tavern – 7.3/10
Maggie’s Place – 7.3/10
Three A’s – 7.3/10
The Tilted Kilt – 7.3/10
The Quays – 7.2/10
Willow Billiard Club & Lounge – 7.1/10
S. Sullivan’s – 7.1/10
Farside – 7.1/10
Gaslight – 7.0/10
Hobson’s Choice – 7.0/10
Rogo’s – 6.7/10
Wilton House – 6.0/10

To have a holiday and/or day of celebration named after someone, there is certain necessary criteria for consideration. Are you a former United States President who succeeded in bringing this nation together? Answer: “No.” Okay, well are you a community leader who helped to change the face of civil rights and move a people forward? Answer: “No.” Oh, did you write, “Sussudio?” Answer: “Yes.” Sounds good to me, Phil Collins. It is true, February 15th, the day directly following the other day of love is officially, ‘Phil Collins Day.’ And its celebration headquarters is located in the artist and cultural mecca that is Greenpoint, Brooklyn.

It may have been the first time that LocalBozo attended Phil Collins Day but this celebration for the much loved singer/songwriter is far from new. In 2007 a ‘Face Value’ dance party was held in Mr. Collins honor but since then revelers have partied and reflected about the man in various ways. 2011 proved to be the grandest Phil Collins Day yet. A Phil Collins Day Parade through Greenpoint was held, fully equipped with a marching band playing “In The Air Tonight” with full gusto, cars and floats carrying paper mache Phil Collins busts, and a massive crowd sing-along in Collins masks.

Even though there is plenty of tongue and cheek humor built into this celebration, the minds behind it are extremely creative and artistic. And the creativity was on display during yesterday’s 2012 ‘Phil Collins Day’ celebration. A fantastic space on Freeman Street in Greenpoint played host to this year’s fun. ‘Phil Collins Day’ creator Heather and her team built a ‘Phil Collins Confessional Booth,’ a space for attendees to confess their loves, heartbreaks, obsessions, and degradations. The booth was sacred ground for one to step inside and privately record whatever they wanted. An intricate computer program was created in order to make this seamless and most important, fun. The founders confirmed that each year they will have an original idea which will never be repeated the next year.

In the end, whether you actually love Phil Collins is irrelevant. Sometimes it takes a pop icon to bring out the creativity and fun in all of us. These days we are all living in a “Land Of Confusion” so why not let Phil make it all better. Just be sure to give him,”One More Night” because, “I Can’t Dance.” I am now officially out of puns.

- Jay Rubin

Some restaurants have such nondescript exteriors that they are often confused for small shops or apartment buildings, while others seem to scream out at passersby, calling for them to come in for a visit. Such is the case with Barbounia, the seemingly never quiet Flatiron eatery boasting fine Mediterranean cuisine. Be it a 6pm happy hour or a weekend brunch, the place always seems to be packed with scenesters, giving off an enticing energy- one where you almost feel like you’re missing out on something everyone else already knows. After years of walking by wistfully, we finally made Barbounia our destination for a weekend brunch.

There’s a lot to like about Barbounia even before entering the massive space. First, they offer the two most important features for any place hosting a brunch- an unlimited drinking option ($17) and perhaps more importantly, they take reservations. Candidly, we’ve wasted far too much time in our lives waiting an hour to sit down at a table for a plate of eggs, and although you still may wind up waiting a bit here, that reservation is an excellent security blanket inside of a packed restaurant. Under the rusty orange awning, the window laden exterior allows you to peer into the crowded bar area equipped with large communal tables, high tops, and standing patrons waiting to be seated. Glancing around the large room, even on a Sunday afternoon the clientele is dressed for a night out, as large parties are toasting mimosas seemingly all around us. The middle of the restaurant boasts large plush booths which only add to the place’s aura of comfortable trendiness.

Because the restaurant serves up Mediterranean fare, the other excellent feature Barbounia offers is an eclectic, non-traditional brunch, and with it, the opportunity to taste something different. Sure breakfast staples like pancakes and an array of omelets have their place on the menu, but we were out to taste something that we couldn’t necessarily whip up at home. Perusing the rest of the menu, we opted for some traditional Mediterranean to start, tasting a sample of three ‘Meze’ dishes ($17.50). An elongated warm, buttery baguette was served alongside the restaurant’s tasty hummus, roasted eggplant, and an excellent creamy taramousalata- a salty, cream cheese like spread, prepared with fish roe.

Once the second baguette was delivered and devoured, we ordered up some of the restaurant’s specialty eggs, which per our waiter were must try dishes. Interestingly, Barbounia describes many of these dishes as ‘baked eggs,’ but really they are served inventively in a skillet, cooked perfectly with a barely runny yolk. The “Shakshuka Merguez” ($16.95) was a spicy concoction of baked eggs and a fiery tomato sauce over a homemade lamb sausage wheel. The tender sausage and egg combination paired excellently and the remaining bread on the table was thoroughly lapped up by the addition of the tomato sauce. The “Turkish Eggs” ($14.95) were also a big hit at our table. Served similarly in a skillet, the eggs were doused with ground lamb meat, chickpeas, spinach, and a tahini sauce for a more unique approach, still using traditional Mediterranean ingredients. Our final dish was the “Eggs Benedict” ($14.95); two perfectly poached eggs served over smoked salmon, with a side bed of mixed greens and tasty breakfast potatoes- an instantly delectable yet conventional collection of flavors.

While you certainly need to change out of your sweatpants before heading to Barbounia for brunch, the servers and staff do their best to make you feel at home. The energetic, brightly lit space is an ideal setting for larger parties, or just a group of friends getting together to reminisce about the night before. The brunch dishes were diverse and distinctive, and most importantly- delicious, to match a restaurant that is equal parts style and substance. Based on our initial experience at Barbounia, the next time we walk on by during happy hour, we’ll be certain to stop in for dinner.

It should come as no surprise that as the clock read 2:16am Monday morning, a sea of rabid fans remained standing inside west side music venue Terminal 5. The last speckle of confetti had fallen to the floor as an all too familiar face joined arms with his talented albeit lesser known bandmates, basking in collective accolades and bowing before a raucous and drained audience. Late Sunday night, enigmatic and iconic frontman Axl Rose and a rejuvenated Guns N’ Roses lineup took the stage for their second of three intimate Manhattan shows at three different venues (the final of which takes place on Wednesday, February 15th, at a sold out Webster Hall). With a set eerily similar to their November appearance at New Jersey’s Izod Center, the new GNR pared down the stage size and theatrics but brought the same intensity to a small New York City audience.

With rumors of a sellout largely just that and with tickets being released earlier in the day, we wondered how sparse the crowd on hand would be on this night. Turns out, Terminal 5 wound up being more packed than ever. Notorious for Rose’s late night start times, as we arrived at the venue at 11pm anticipating a long night ahead, seemingly each of our fellow New Yorkers did the same and the line sprawled down the block even further west than we previously imagined. Inside, standing room was scarce from most vantage points but just as we’d gotten settled in a space, the lights went down. It was 11:36pm and we were in for a two and a half hour roller coaster of familiar hits and new songs meshed together and delivered by one of the most polarizing and controversial rock figures of all time.

The show itself was excellent. The band, tight as ever, authentically recreated the now legendary songs of GNR’s catalog with precision. Rose himself managed to hit and hold many of the same extended and high pitched screams that he made famous over twenty years ago, although as the show wore on his voice did seem to wane a bit. Unfortunately, the feedback on Rose’s microphone acted as a pervasive deterrent throughout the performance, marring many of the songs despite the singer’s growing displeasure and the constant alternating of his mics. The crowd joked accordingly that Rose, notorious for being an incredibly high maintenance prima donna type, might storm off suddenly. But to his credit, he worked through the hindrance and continued the show. Despite any distraction, the experience of seeing a superstar of his caliber in a venue of this size would not be tarnished, as the talented troop of musicians around him catered to his vocal abilities, by playing the GNR songs as they were meant to be heard.

Traditional GNR staples like “Welcome to the Jungle,” “It’s So Easy,” and “Mr. Brownstone” pulverized the live crowd, who joined with Rose in unison to ring out each and every word. “Rocket Queen” and “Estranged” back to back was perhaps the show’s highlight, showcasing the band’s abilities to speed up and reduce the tempo melodically, perfectly pacing Rose’s onstage dance shuffles. Even newer songs like “Madagascar” and “Better” from 2008’s ‘Chinese Democracy’ were warmly received by the jam packed crowd, and “This I Love” was downright excellent in the live setting. But the fans were here to catch a glimpse of Rose performing the hits- and he delivered with just about all of them. From “You Could Be Mine” to “Sweet Child O’ Mine,” “November Rain” to “Nightrain,” “Don’t Cry” to “Patience” to the closer, “Paradise City,” with their killer AC/DC cover of “Whole Lotta Rosie” thrown in between, Rose and company left no classic Guns’ song untouched. The passionate applause given to the band as a sea of red confetti blew out into the air above the standing crowd on the floor was a sign of appreciation from an audience uncertain as to when they may see Rose perform again in person. And if this evening was in fact the last time, there is a certain level of satisfaction that can be taken knowing that the man left everything he had on the stage, with a performance that over-delivered on any reasonable expectation.

While the show was lengthy, it’s time to give Axl Rose some credit. He could have easily rested on his laurels as a societally puzzling lead singer from a band that fell by the wayside in 1994. As a reclusive figure who’s been out of the spotlight for the better part of two decades, he could have easily stayed sheltered from a permanently changed musical landscape. Instead, he collected a group of incredible musicians that stay true to the signature Guns N Roses sound, playing every one of the band’s notable hits in a comprehensive set, and manages to do so with the same divisive and notorious behavior that he did in his prime. And thousands of fans will still spend their money to come out and see him perform.

- Jane Van Arsdale

Guns N’ Roses – Live at Terminal 5

New York, NY

February 12th, 2012

1. Dexter Intro
2. Chinese Democracy
3. Welcome To The Jungle
4. It’s So Easy
5. Mr. Brownstone
6. Sorry
7. Rocket Queen
8. Estranged
9. Live and Let Die
10. This I Love
11. Motivation (Tommy Stinson)
12. Street of Dreams
13. You Could Be Mine
14. Sweet Child O’ Mine
15. November Rain
16. Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door
17. Nightrain
18. Madagascar
19. Don’t Cry
20. Better
21. Whole Lotta Rosie (AC/DC Cover)
22. Patience
23. Paradise City

Any true fan of a spirits will tell you that it’s necessary to travel beyond your comfort zone when imbibing adult beverages. When you think of Japanese liquor, the first drink that probably comes to mind is sake. In New York City, we love it- hot, cold, cloudy, and sometimes served inside a box. But in a world where variety is king, sake is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Japanese alcoholic beverages. On Monday, the LocalBozo crew headed to NoHo’s Astor Center to sample another exciting drink from Japan, called Shōchū. The event was “Experience Shōchū,” a sample of tastings of the very best of this classic distilled drink.

Before we could have our first sip it was imperative that we knew what this priced spirit was made of and how it should be consumed. Shōchū is generally distilled from barley, sweet potatoes, or rice. Because the drink is 25% ABV (alcohol by volume), it is stronger than its sister beverage sake, and as such, the tasty flavor profile and storng alcohol content neaks up quickly. As I roamed the tasting floor I noticed event-goers consuming the drink either neat, yielding the full flavor with no distractions or on the rocks, with two over-sized ice cubes in the white glass, lessening the full force of the alcohol.

After sufficiently observing the surrounding space, school was out and it was time to taste! The first Shōchū we sampled came from the Iichiko distillery. If you have gone out to Sushi in the past few months, chances are you have seen some of their bottles. Iichiko is a popular brand here in New York City because of their wide variety of flavors and reasonable price point. After deliberating, I opted for their full flavored yet dry Shōchū called, ‘Silhouette.’ The aromas from the nose yielded a spicy meets fruity bouquet and keeping in line with how it should be served, we opted for the ice cubes. As this is a very accessible Shōchū, it was incredibly tasty and thus a true winner in my opinion.

The second stand out Shōchū came from the Komasa Jyozo Company. Our group spent a great deal of time speaking with their representatives about the role of sweet potatoes in creating the celebrated drink. Aged, the sweet potato is often held highly regarded in concocting the finest Shōchū. And to prove it, the Komasa Jyozo Company poured different samples from their distillery, each of which were served a neat to taste every flavored nuance. Although we managed to sip on a few different varieties, it was the, ‘Kozuru Kuro’ that blew us away. This variety is made with 100% sweet potato and malted with black malted rice. The fragrance was literally all over the place with powerful, yet comforting scents. When we finally got around to tasting it we not only drank it, but almost chewed on it to reveal the spicy tones. It became a revelation, and is certainly a variety to seek out when dining on the fare of the Rising Sun.

If you are someone who drinks the same old beer or tired old cocktail every time you go out, it’s time to change your tune. Our good friends in the far east are here to help you get out of your boozy doldrums. Shōchū is not only delicious with a solid alcohol volume but it is produced in such a fine crafted way that makes this spirit a true work of art.

- Jay Rubin