http://www.smalera.com/p The blog of a New York City writer. Wed, 20 Aug 2008 20:55:06 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Pretty rewarding to see a piece I wrote for Condé Nast Portfolio end up on digg, where it's quite popular. Illustrated by the talented John Grimwade. Enjoy!read more | digg story http://www.smalera.com/p/2007/11/02/amazing-blastproof-seed-vault-use-only-in-case-of-apocalypse/ One of the first things I wanted to write about when I made the leap was a little country/bluesy rock and roll band that a friend of mine introduced me to by taking me to see them in a dark, weird basement under a pizzeria in Soho. When I met them ... http://www.smalera.com/p/2007/07/26/hallelujah-for-hoots-and-hellmouth/ A very brief review of a man and his sausage. Verdict: It's pretty good! New York Press - PAUL SMALERA - Cheap Eats http://www.smalera.com/p/2007/07/06/ny-press-review-of-mandlers/ As much as I want to leave my New York Times clip up there until I have another, I wrote a review of the Campbell Apartment, a swank little bar in Grand Central, for the Press recently. Reading it will give you a window into my daily battle with tourists ... http://www.smalera.com/p/2007/07/06/ny-press-review-the-campbell-apartment/ photo by wendy ploger I'm happy to link to a story I wrote in today's New York Times: Havens North Tucson. Havens is the second homes column, so this is a story about people who live there and why they chose to buy a second home in Tucson. The southwest is ... http://www.smalera.com/p/2007/06/15/cleared-to-tee-off-or-take-off/ Well, I don't know what's happening to the East Village. Since I moved across the island, comes word that Kurowycky Meat Products has closed its doors after 50 years of fatty service. This was the Polish deli of my childhood dreams, complete with slabs of greasy bacon back (boczek pronounced ... http://www.smalera.com/p/2007/06/07/restaurant-review-max-and-comment-on-dwindling-east-village-eating-options/ For the last six months, after only two successful trips to the Daisy May's cart that roams Midtown West roughly between 44th and 50th Streets, I've been dying for a pulled pork sandwich or some beef-tip chili, but DM pulled their carts off the street for the cold New York ... http://www.smalera.com/p/2007/05/18/hey-daisy-mays-its-spring-how-about-some-fn-street-cart-action-already/ I'd like to briefly report something I just noticed. When I started this job in January, I went to the supply cabinet and got four pencils, four pens, and a highlighter. Through massive amounts of work in the period since then, I have yet to fully extinguish even one of ... http://www.smalera.com/p/2007/05/09/a-model-of-efficiency/ I do have a bit of a love affair with Vegas. After three days there, I get sick of it, but I invariably find myself wanting to return. So I was thrilled when I had the chance to to the back page "Room with a View" for May's issue of ... http://www.smalera.com/p/2007/05/05/vegas-baby-vegas/ Also continuing in my role as Traveler's Quizmaster General (ok, I gave myself that title), I try, this month, to teach my fellow statesiders about our neighbors to the north, eh? See if you can tell  a canuck from a poutine: Interactive Quiz: Conde Nast Traveler http://www.smalera.com/p/2007/05/05/canada-quiz-eh/