Author Archives: fromabrooklynbasement

An Indie Press Worth Your Time: Sunnyoutside

Posted on July 18, 2013 by fromabrooklynbasement

As I wrote recently, there’s a whole boatload of small, independent presses out there putting out great literature. These presses have become the backbone of the literary community and the home of most of the really interesting work being written … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Writing | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

The Top 25 American Novels

Posted on July 17, 2013 by fromabrooklynbasement

If you’ve read this blog at all, you know that, like most people, I love lists. They’re silly and arbitrary, sure, but they give us a great excuse to debate with our friends about the things we love. One such … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Writing | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

The Meaning of a No-Hitter

Posted on July 16, 2013 by fromabrooklynbasement

There is nothing else in sports that makes you drop what you’re doing and sprint for a TV like the words “no-hitter.” This is true no matter who is pitching, but if the guy throwing the no-no happens to play … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball, Sports | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Desert Island Album #9: Warren Zevon

Posted on July 15, 2013 by fromabrooklynbasement

The album cover: A photo of the 29-year old Warren Zevon in black suit and unbuttoned white shirt, a dim, noirish image with only an offset stage light providing illumination.The image indicates a bit of Zevon’s past (he was a … Continue reading →

Posted in Desert Island Albums, Music | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

My Final Meal on Death Row

Posted on July 10, 2013 by fromabrooklynbasement

I have a few favorite questions I love to ask people I’m getting to know, or to argue about with friends. I like to call these my “stock questions.” My favorite, of course, is: Which ten albums would you take … Continue reading →

Posted in Drinks, Food | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Desert Island Album #8: Electric Ladyland

Posted on July 8, 2013 by fromabrooklynbasement

The album cover: This is a fun one. The above was the cover that Reprise Records chose, a blurry red and yellow headshot of Hendrix. What Jimi wanted to use was the photo below: himself and Experience bandmates Noel Redding … Continue reading →

Posted in Desert Island Albums, Music | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Ghosts of New York: Max’s Kansas City and the Fillmore East

Posted on July 3, 2013 by fromabrooklynbasement

I’ve long described New York as being like the girl you’re desperately in love with who doesn’t even know your name. It’s not personal; New York doesn’t stop for anyone, doesn’t care what anyone’s name is. It’s a place that … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Desert Island Album #7: Led Zeppelin IV

Posted on July 1, 2013 by fromabrooklynbasement

The album cover: The image of the old man bent beneath the weight of the load of wood on his back is from a 19th Century oil painting Zeppelin singer Robert Plant bought at an antique shop. The painting was … Continue reading →

Posted in Desert Island Albums, Music | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

My Five Favorite Moments from Mad Men Season 6

Posted on June 28, 2013 by fromabrooklynbasement

SPOILER ALERT: If you don’t want any surprises ruined, don’t read this until you’ve finished Season 6. The sixth season of AMC’s Mad Men ended on Sunday night. It’s a show I’ve always had mixed feelings about. It’s fun to … Continue reading →

Posted in TV | Tagged , | 3 Comments

On the Supreme Court and Self-Contradiction

Posted on June 27, 2013 by fromabrooklynbasement

I’ve always felt that the easiest way to explain the difference between liberals and conservatives in America, at least when it comes to social issues, is that if you think the 1960s (the Civil Rights Movement, protests against the Vietnam … Continue reading →

Posted in Current Events | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments