The Extra Man

An “extra man,” is a escort for women that live longer than their men. They have the need for a man to fill the extra seat. You see, in society there is boy-girl-boy-girl seating at a table. This makes a need for a intellectual. A man with class to bring to dinner parties, the theater, or art openings. Kevin Kline plays Henry Harrison a character right out of a F. Scott Fitzgerald novel. “I’m not extra, I’m crucial, filled with wit and intelligence.” In this film as in most of Fitzgerald's writing there is a partially involved narrator Louis Ives played by Paul Dano. This young man moves to New York to find himself and become a writer. He seems to belong to a different time, with old clothes and soft speech. He shears a apartment with Henry who is a little off his rocker. This eccentric man brings new meaning to young Louis's life by teaching him the tricks of the city. The neighbor Gershon is something of a big foot played by John C. Reilly. The only thing that seemed out of place was Katie Holmes as Mary. Mary works with Louis at a environmental magazine. She plays a very green and hip photo editor that is more then selfish. Holmes is the only one in the cast that is "acting." She squirms through her small part not portraying exactly what Louis needs as a crush. Co-writer-directors Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini's made you love most of the cheaters in "The Extra Man." Just as they did in "American Splendor," the story of the late Harvey Pekar. An "extra man" is not needed to go to see Kevin Kline in this movie.

The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald

This great work of Twentieth Century American Fiction was not so well known in Fitzgerald's life time. The first printing that came out in 1925 was over 20,000 copies and sold out. The second printing (3,000) sat on the shelves of a warehouse for 15 years. Only after the news of his death did the last of the second printing finely sell. His novel is not just a social history, but is a pleasure to read. The Jazz Age, that great party before the depression. This is what is represented with the bigger then life characters in the Great Gatsby. The twenties was a time of bootleggers, flappers, and self made men. Fitzgerald knew how full and just how empty these characters lives could be. "The Jazz Age, it was an age of miracles, it was an age of art, it was an age of excess, and it was an age of satire." Gatsby is the man of the Jazz Age. He Has "some heightened sensitivity to the promises of life...an extraordinary gift for hope, a romantic readiness." This is a story about life, love and money from the 20's. It is also a story about New York, Long Island and how even back then young people flocked here to be where the actions is. The narrator Nick Carraway comes from the Midwest to find himself before being married. His story is told by reconstructing events in Gatsby's life from his own prospective. This Tall Tale is not just Gatsby's, or Nicks, but it becomes yours as you form your own prospective. "I was within and without, simultaneously enchanted and repelled by the inexhaustible variety of life." Nick lives next door to Gatsby on Long Island. On the Island rich people have big parties, nice cars, and huge estates. In Contrast some of the story goes on inside Manhattan, in small apartments, city streets and train stations. Nick's NYC is a big bustling place full of surprises. The whole book has a dark feeling that is heightened when in the city and lifted, if only slightly, within the excess of Long Island. But this is a vale, a fake cover for people that want to run from not through life's twist and turns. A must read for any New Yorker.

Weekend of BBQ at The Bell House

Labor day is just a couple of weeks off, but The Bell House is BBQ crazy already. They just got there license to have drinks and food out front and are celebrating with Happy Hour free Burgers and hot dogs. That's right FREE BBQ outside one of Brooklyn's favorite music venues. Happening this Friday the 27Th from 5pm to 7pm. They have Veggie burgers too, but get there early because the Veggies go fast. Then go inside and get great $3 drink specials. Its is Happy Hour you know. Stick around for HAPPY HOUSE at 10pm (also free) with resident DJ's Mister Disco, Danaskully and Enginesatsea. That's not all, if Friday is busy and there is no time to get down to Brooklyn, don't sweet it. This BBQ goes on all weekend with more free meat on Saturday from 6pm - 8pm and drink specials too. So sit out side on their new outdoor tables, drink in the sunlight, drink up some beers, and chow down for free. Stay on Sat. for RELEASE THE BEAST. Rock out with a guests DJ's from Philly Billy W. and Ryan T. and resident DJ's Fucci and Bryan Blackout will be on hand to help get everyone Rockin & Rollin. Its not a weekend with out Sunday and on Sunday the BBQ is not free but cheap enough not to care. Sunday from 1pm - 5pm The Bell House is helping NYC Daily Deals turn two. That means $2 drafts and well drinks and $2 BBQ. Whats a Birthday with out gifts? The Bell House is giving the gifts to customers with a raffle that is said to have so many prizes you are almost guaranteed to win. So this weekend go out to Drink and Eat, inside and out at The Bell House.

Check out these other events at The Bell House!!!
FRI 9/10:
Dead Flowers Productions presents
LALA BROOKS with
JENNY DEE & THE DEELINQUENTS
WED 9/22:
ANTI-FLAG
SAT 10/2:
VAN DYKE PARKS
CLARE & THE REASONS
SAT 10/2:
THE VIBRATORS That's right the Vibrators!! 70's Punk in the new Millennium!!
http://www.thebellhouseny.com/
http://www.nycdailydeals.com/

Invited Underground by Baker St.

Going underground on a Friday night is easy at the National Underground. This Roots Rock Americana Music Bar owned by Joey DeGraw and Gavin DeGrawin in the LES is a hopping good time. From the honky-tonk upstairs to the bands "underground" in the basement this place is worth the trip downtown. With good drinks, cheap beer and great hamburgers you can make a night of it on Houston St. Yes, its on Houston St. the strip between the east Village and Lower Manhattan. Baker St. is a street somewhere..anywhere USA, but in NYC Baker St. is a Band with a good sound and a great attitude. This band is one part Indie Rock, one part 90 Rock, and the rest Singer Songwriter. The slow/fast pop songs are so much like the music of our high school years. The song bird at the helm is Michelle Hutt, who not only has a voice but plays her original songs on the guitar. With Mike Kennelly on Bass, Kevin Oshinskie on Drums and new guitarist's Jimmy Nugent the Band is now complete. Some more time with the second guitar is needed to make the music sound like it does in Michelle's head, but when they put on a show thet kids pile in to hear not only the music but also the banter.

Baker St's next show is Sunday the 29th at Trash Bar in Brooklyn. They also have a show At Ace of Club's on 9/10.

Baker St. --
http://www.bakerstband.com/ (Under Construction)
www.reverbnation.com/bakerst (MP3s, Photos and Videos available)
Check out their EP - Distroy The Internet
National Underground --
http://www.thenationalunderground.com/

The Girl Who Played with Fire

The movie The Girl Who Played with Fire is the second novel in the Millennium Trilogy, written by Stieg Larsson and has the same charters as the first, but different directors. This is another great film that happens to be in a trilogy. The first films mystery is cut and dry. This new story is more conspiracy then mystery. Girl With the Dragon Tattoo was directed by Niels Arden Oplev. The Girl Who Played with Fire and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest are directed by Daniel Alfredson. One can tell the difference a director makes. The first film was slower with a way about it that made it creepy, it had a presence. The second film was faster with quick cuts and more action, it was exciting. Noomi Rapace plays a great part perfectly, one feels that "The girl" has gotten a little older and wiser.