Posts tagged 99GR81
There is a cool photography event taking place through July 12th called “Masterpieces Made Simple” or MMS for short. The idea revolves around the use of your mobile phone’s camera to capture “moments” that would otherwise go unrecorded.
The event founders believe that “perceptions of art are evolving. We believe in making art attainable.“
The mission of the MMS event is:
As mobile technology continues to evolve, so does the medium’s relevance in the art world. Some would consider it a travesty to consider the mobile phone as a means to create art. We celebrate it. Moments that were once overlooked or bypassed because a person didn’t have a camera, can now be captured and shared because of emergence of phone technology. It’s these moments that nurture relevance regardless of whether the person who captured it considers themselves to be an artist.
The MMS Gallery, founded by Kenny Kim and Hilary Sedgwick, has chosen to showcase these moments, captured by regular people, because they reflect our unique individual perspectives. That, and because we think they are beautiful.
You can submit your photos by following these steps. I have submitted a few pics myself! (Pic One, Pic Two, Pic Three) @99GR81
Apocryphal Story #1
Robert Whiting, an elderly gentleman of 83, arrived in Paris by plane. At French Customs, he took a few minutes to locate his passport in his carry on.
“You have been to France before, monsieur?” the customs officer asked sarcastically.
Mr. Whiting admitted that he had been to France previously.
“Then you should know enough to have your passport ready.”
The American said, “The last time I was here, I didn’t have to show it.”
“Impossible! Americans always have to show their passports on arrival in France!”
The American senior gave the Frenchman a long hard look. Then he quietly explained, ”Well, when I came ashore at Omaha Beach on D-Day in 1944 to help liberate this country, I couldn’t find a single Frenchman to show a passport to.”
You could have heard a pin drop.
@99GR81
I am born and raised in New York - Manhattan to be specific. I love this city and I am always amazed but the things one can discover each and every day. Today, I was introduced to a blog called Scouting New York which is written by Nick Carr. Nick has an amazing job - one I have always envied. Nick is a location scout for film and television productions.
I have always been fascinated by what I like to call the “hidden” New York - the abandoned subway stations, the old bank vaults, the underground tunnels at Grand Central and other infrastructure that is not readily visible to the average pedestrian. There are unusual edifices and abandoned buildings, there are spaces and places that used to be something other than what they are today, and then there are hidden gems that are unseen, yet they are right in front of our eyes.
This is one of those gems: There is a building at 5 Beekman Street that has a secret. Nick shared that secret in a post on his blog:
You’ve probably passed it a million times in your travels through downtown Manhattan. Anyone who has ever visited J&R Row or hit the Starbucks on the opposite corner for a post-Brooklyn-Bridge-walk bathroom break has probably noticed its twin towers, and perhaps wondered how much its wealthy tenants must pay to live behind its beautiful brick and terra-cotta facade.
Except, 5 Beekman Street doesn’t have any tenants. In fact, it’s completely empty, essentially abandoned, and has been for a decade, with much of the interior shuttered since 1940…
Until now.
I share his photos above. Read the entire entry on his site.
@99GR81
A sea of red as more than a million (some estimate 2 million) people line up to cheer for the Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks. This is the view from our offices with the Wrigley building in the foreground.
@99GR81
Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat.
I am finally getting to write about the fabulous meal I had with Andrea, Janet, David, and Val at Gordon Ramsay’s flagship restaurant, Gordon Ramsay, in London way back in March!
The restaurant’s website describes the history of the restaurant:
Gordon’s first years in the kitchen were spent training under culinary luminaries such as Marco Pierre White and Albert Roux in London, after which he moved to France where he worked in the kitchens of Guy Savoy and Joël Robuchon for three years where he was able to enhance his expertise in classic French cooking. In 1993, Gordon became chef of the newly opened Aubergine, within three years the restaurant was awarded two Michelin stars.
In 1998 at the age of 31, Gordon set up his first wholly owned restaurant, Gordon Ramsay, in Chelsea. On 19th January 2001 it won its third Michelin star. It has since undergone a major refurbishment and in 2008 celebrated its tenth anniversary.
This intimate restaurant seats 45 guests surrounded by the stylish interiors designed by the acclaimed designer David Collins.
Let me just begin by stating that the evening can only be described as perfection. I have been to several of Gordon Ramsay’s restaurants including Maze and the London Bar and in my mind, there is no comparison. As good as those other establishments are – and they ARE quite good – Gordon Ramsay’s far exceeds them in terms of ambiance, service, presentation, food, and overall experience. Dining at Gordon Ramsay’s, although not cheap at 120GBP per person (I was lucky enough to be Andrea’s guest), is an experience not to be missed if you are a “foodie” and find yourself in London.
The photos used above are not my own. I sourced them from the blog Ulterior Epicure as I did not have a camera with me at the dinner and I felt that visuals were critical to the story.
Since I am so late telling the details of the story, I think I shall just let the pictures speak for themselves with just a few comments from me. Our dinner consisted of several incredible dishes from the “Menu Prestige” including the Ravioli of lobster, langoustine and salmon poached in a light bisque, with a tomato chutney; the Cannon of Cornish lamb with confit shoulder, ratatouille and thyme jus; the Potato Crisp with Pistou; and the Bitter chocolate and hazelnut cylinder with ginger mousse and blackcurrant granité.
Yum!
The total experience is what truly sets the restaurant apart. Not only is the food exceptional, but the Maitre D’, Jean-Claude Breton, is the secret ingredient. We dined for four hours, had seven bottles of wine, and never once felt the presence of the serving staff. They were unobtrusive, appearing only when needed, and they were incredibly knowledgeable. Jean-Claude appeared like a wraith at the perfect moment, shared a nugget of his immense knowledge, and then vanished as quickly as he had arrived.
If you ever have the chance, DO NOT miss this dining experience. It is one of the two or three finest I have ever had.
@99GR81
For those of you that know me - or those of you who just stumbled across this site - you know of the esteem in which I hold Wayne Gretzky. I have written articles about corporate recruiting and social media that invoke his name (Wayne Gretzky and the Zen of Talent Engagement in a Web 2.0 World), I have co-opted his moniker (The Great One) as the handle I use online (99GR81), and I embrace all things Gretzky.
The Arrogant Worms, or The Pursuit of Happiness (depending upon which source you believe), wrote and performed a song titled “Wayne Gretzky Rocks!” that I have shared with my family for years. You can follow the Arrogant Worms on Twitter at @arrogantworms. The lyrics to the song are below:
Walter Gretzky had a son
He grew up to be The Great One
He came from Brantford Ontario
He liked Gordie Howe you know
Americans don’t understand
The national sport of the north land
The world’s fastest game they always dissin’
But they don’t know what they are missin’
If they’d just watch Wayne Gretzky play
Then they’d watch hockey everyday
Actually I like the Hawks
But boy oh boy Wayne Gretzky rocks
When I lived in Edmonton
He made us the City of Champions
With Jari and Semenko by his side
He filled our frigid city with pride
Then he moved out to L.A.
To help bring hockey to the U.S.A.
Everyone hated Peter and Janet
For trading the best player on the planet
They traded him and sure enough
He took the Kings to the Stanley Cup
Actually I like the Hawks
But boy oh boy Wayne Gretzky rocks
He came from Brantford Ontario
His rival’s name is Mario
Actually I like the Hawks
But boy oh boy Wayne Gretzky rocks
Enjoy!
@99GR81
Last month I spoke at the Top Employer Summit in Toronto. I recently received photos (above) from the event. While at the event I tried some of Wayne Gretzky’s wine from “No. 99 Estates.” The wine is not bad at all and, as the Calgary Herald put it, “The Great One Becomes the Grape One.”
@99GR81
Continuing on the McDonald’s theme from my previous post, I remembered this commercial starring Wayne Gretzky (99GR81) and Mats Sundin.
@99GR81
