MY URBAN KVETCH

Scoop'd: How to Eat Hummus Like an Israeli

This is all in Hebrew, so apologies if you don't understand it. But basically the discussion is "Why do Israelis enjoy dipping and scooping up hummus and tehina and all those other things?" (Oddly, no one mentions the Passover seder.) There's also some important discussion about technique, illustrated by helpful "airplane safety manual-style" drawings, and a discussion of the famous and apparently international "three-second rule."

Check it out and compare your technique. Do you have what it takes to scoop like a sabra? And where's your favorite hummus? Jerusalem? Tel Aviv? Abu Ghosh? Check Jerusalemite for some help in hummus selection, or share your own personal favorite.

Gathering in a Friend's Memory (Wed night, midtown NYC)

I don't know if I wrote about it here, but in January, a friend of mine died in an accident in Petra. Dave Burnett was very young, with a promising future ahead of him. In every moment and syllable, he fully embodied his Aussie pride/sense of fun and his passion for his Jewish identity and connection to Israel. Those two parts co-existed in equal force, and served as energy boost to everyone who knew him. I first met him at the ROI Summit in 2006, and then we bonded further on the Leading Up North trip, where I got to know him a bit more personally. (In the photo on the left, taken as we painted a bomb shelter in the north of Israel, Dave's in the middle, and that's me on the right.)

Dave loved a good party, and lived life with unabashed enthusiasm, but was more than a party boy: he was one of those people about whom you can honestly say was a source of creative inspiration and human energy beyond his years to everyone he touched. (An online Facebook tribute group has more than 1200 members.) He was a leader, and a friend, and we miss him.

Dave always brought people together, and loved expanding his circle of friends. So in his memory, some friends are planning a night out tomorrow night at the Australian Bar in midtown New York City (20 West 38 Street, btwn 5th and 6th Avenue). The restaurant will be open and there will be a cash bar. The Facebook invite is here, and everyone's invited--Dave would have totally wanted it that way.

$18 suggested cover donation. All proceeds go to the Dave Burnett Memorial Fund, established through AUJS. If you are unable to join us in person, but wish to make a donation, you can do so through Paypal (www.paypal.com.) Just sign on to the website, indicate that you'd like to send a payment to Gabby Sirner at gsirner@hotmail.com and we will send one large check to the Fund on behalf of the group.

Hoping to see you there.

The Jewish Blogger Recipe Virtual Collective

Of course, your favorite bloggers tickle your emotional palates with scintillating and refreshing posts about all aspects of their Jewish identity and theorizing, providing you the lists of ingredients that compose the complicated insouciance of their daily, contemporary Jewish lives. But, to paraphrase Joan Rivers' standard red carpet inquiry, "What are they eating?"

Thanks to the 92y blog (shoutout to Krucoff, he of the Jerusalem bar mitzvah and subsequent rejection of rumor-mongering Gawker for the more wholesome life of Jewish nonprofit blogging), I now have Jewcy president/editor-in-chief Tahl Raz's famous Israeli salad recipe. It's part of the 92nd Street Y Cookbook. Which I didn't really know existed. But now I can pair Tahl's salad with Gael Greene's Orange Fruit Soup, or if I prefer, have a dessert-off between F. Murray Abraham's Choco Dot Pumpkin Cake and Dr. Ruth Westheimer's Hamantaschen. (No, that's not a euphemism.)

I wonder what my favorite bloggers have been hiding, recipe-wise. And if I can get some of my recipe-smitten gal pals to step up and organize a recipe collective for Jewish bloggers...

"Esther, What's a Balagan Boogaloo?"

Someone asked me that yesterday. And balagan, I had no problem explaining. But a Boogaloo? Best I could come up with was, "It's like boogieing, sort of. It's the same root. You know 'Breakin''? That movie about breakdancing? Well, there was a sequel called 'Breakin 2: Electric Boogaloo'..." but that didn't seem to help.

But about a hundred people found out last night what a Boogaloo can be, as they attended a Hanukkah party/Sephardic Film Festival event/community synagogue celebration at the with the partnership of PresenTense Magazine and the 14th Street Y.

All the partners united to create an original atmosphere with an eclectic sound, and the party's guests matched the hosts' enthusiasm and originality. Wine flowed, and drinks sponsor He'brew provided the beer, while heaps of donuts and latkes aplenty made sure that visitors kept their energy high (sugar and music can do that). Shemspeed was in charge of the music, with DJ-mixed tunes and a surprise live performance from Y-Love after midnight. One visitor called it "an awesome jam with a relaxed atmosphere and no-pressure, no-sleaze dancehall," noting that only at Jerusalem's famous "Boogie" is there an experience like this.

So you missed it. Don't beat yourself up. Shemspeed's got more Sephardic Music Festival if you're down for it (see schedule here). Light another candle for Hanukkah and promise that next time, you'll be with us. Because really, how many times in your life can you say you were at a Boogaloo?

Shabbat shalom and hag Hanukkah sameah!

Thursday Night Hanukkah Balagan Boogaloo (NYC)

The 14th Street Y, Sixth Street Community Synagogue, PresenTense Magazine and the Sephardic Music Festival present:

The Balagan Boogaloo!

The Sephardic, Freestyle, Afro Beat, Bhangra & Israeli Hip Hop Party on Hanukkah… Featuring DJ Balagan (Modular Moods) and dj handler (Shemspeed) who will keep you dancing all night!

* THIS Thursday,December 6th at 9pm
* @ the Sixth Street Community Boogaloo
* 325 E. Sixth (b/w 1st and 2nd)
* $10 in advance ; $15 at the door– includes drinks, eats and beats!
* RSVP in advance (www.acteva.com)…or just show up.
* More info: Eastvillageshul.com
* Join our Facebook ” Community” group to find out more

** We need Hanukah Helpers to set up and knock down. Time slots Weds and Thurs. Email indicating eagerness to help…beer included.**

Sponsored in part by the Second Avenue Deli, He’Brew Beer.

Colbert & Bakkedahl Star in Hazon Purim Spiel at Makor

That's right, those crazy creative kids are at it again, looking at TV and pop culture through a Purim lens. I'm not involved this year, but thought I'd give them a plug anyway, what with the Daily Show involvement and all. Bakkedahl is a regular correspondent and will likely be featured in several of the sketches (like Ed Helms was last year and Rob Corddry was the year before), and Colbert is making a video appearance, in an apparent attempt to appease Jewish members of ColbertNation.

Buy tickets here to either the early (9pm) show or the late show (10:30pm). This show has always been standing room only, and I'm sure this year will be no exception. Maybe I'll see you there...
Happy Purim!

My So-Called Social Life

Last week was such insanity from Tuesday to Thursday, with every night dominated by the NY literati and bloggerati in one form or another, that I plumb tuckered out without blogging any of it except PresenTense's Thursday night exhibition, PresenText, at the Bronfman Center (photos of which are available on Facebook in many locations).

The blogger reception at the 92nd Street Y was on my calendar for what seemed like months, and I was excited to finally attend an event which was itself a nod that my blogging endeavors--and those of my fellow J- and non-J-but-interested bloggers--were of rising importance and visibility. The excuse was a lecture/conversation between neighbors Patty Marx and Adam Gopnik, and invoked three of the seemingly most holy words in NY hipster culture: :The New Yorker. (Gopnik and Marx both write for the New Yorker, and were promoting new books--Gopnik's a collection of essays and Marx's a novel about a late-night comedy writer, which she used to be.) Gopnik's piece on the rodential infestation of his building was hilarious and unfortunately all too relatable from plague-besotted New Yorkers, and Marx's fictional humor piece, which featured a woman giving a museum-style tour of her ex's apartment, provoked much audience laughter.

The blogorganizer-general was Andrew Krucoff, who famously had the first Jewlicious bar mitzvah on record and defected from Gawker for a glamorous life in Jewish non-profit life without speaking with me first. Others in attendance included Lilit (also of SavetheAssistants), Judith (KesherTalk), the JDub guys, Isaac Galena, EV, Rebecca from Six Points, and the omnipresent Steven I. Weiss.

Then Wednesday came along, with a reception at the Jewish Museum in honor of Scott Shay, Chairman of the Board of Signature Bank and author of the newly reprinted Getting Our Groove Back: How to Energize American Jewry. This drew a slightly different set (the only overlap seeming to be Rebecca from Six Points), with JTA writers, Jewish community leaders and bigwigs whose names I knew but whom I had never met in person. The reception was lovely, and I'm making my way through the book, which so far is depressing me with every Jew's favorite subject: the shrinking demographics of Jews in America. But, judging the book by its title and its impressive endorsements by Jewish names like Michael Steinhardt and Lynn Schusterman, I'm hopeful for some provocative ideas and suggestions as I proceed through the book.

Then, Thursday brought PresenText. And on Friday, I collapsed. But it's all in the service of the Jewish people. To whom I will be sending my rent bill.

Wishing everyone a good, so-called-social life this week.

What NYC Needs: An Israeli Coffee Shop

Since the last time I was here four years ago, Israel has developed a coffee culture--yet, to a New Yorker abroad looking for coffee, the ordering process is surprisingly complicated. In fact, even in this rundown, I may have gotten them all wrong. (For more about coffee in Israel, see this article by another java-drinking Esther, no relation.)

There is Nes Cafe ('miracle,' or instant coffee, which I think is also called cafe namas, melted coffee). There is cafe filter, which is filtered coffee, and probably the most like American style. There's also espresso, cappuccino and latte, which sometimes are and sometimes are not what they seem to be. There's cafe hafukh, "upside down coffee," which is mostly milk and a little coffee and often comes with either ice cream or katzefet (whipped cream--Israelis love whipped cream).

And if that's not confusing enough for you, try getting an iced coffee beverage: all I've wanted is the equivalent of a Starbucks iced Americano, and it's been impossible. (Starbucks opened in six locations in the Tel Aviv area in 2001, all of which closed in 2003.) Every time I order ice coffee (or ice-cafe, or cafe-ice), I get a barad (slurpee/granita)-style drink slightly flavored like coffee, but mostly consisting of milk and sugar. Don't get me wrong, it's an awesome taste, but it's like a zillion calories, and I cannot gain ten pounds from coffee drinks over the course of a month in Israel. That would suck.

Finally, today, someone told me what to order: a cafe kar (cold coffee) al basis espresso v'kerakh (made on a base of espresso and ice) im halav (with milk)--and to avoid the wonderful, weightgain-causing, creamy goodness of regular milk, I need to order "im halav dal shoman," with lowfat milk.

So, to recap, in English, I'd say: "Ice coffee please."
And in Hebrew, I have to say: "Cafe kar al basis espresso v'kerakh im halav dal shoman." And if I'm feeling friendly and not too tired from all those words, I should probably add a "b'vakasha" (please).

But the same person who told me that magic formula also told me that I should try Aroma Cafe's Ice Aroma Light beverage, which is essentially a lowfat frappuccino. And I did. And it was good. Not as creamy and delicious, but according to their nutritional information guide, only 88 calories.

But here's the news: get ready, SoHo...Aroma Cafe, where I am sitting as I type this (at their location in the German Colony), is opening a NYC location on Wooster Street this weekend. They're even importing 15 Israeli employees to get the store up and running. So if you go there, think of me, and unless you're feeling like you want to be challenged by your coffee order, you can always order the least complicated thing on the menu: tea.

(Two additional notes: the SoHo location is not going to be kosher, and my sister-in-law, the blogless Penina, was the impetus for this post...)

Cruise Quiz 2: What's Happening in This Photo?

In this picture, my roommate "Royce" and I are:

a) talking about boys
b) snickering about little bottles of alcohol in our purses
c) recalling a particularly fierce Jewish ping pong competition
d) all of the above
e) none of the above...and besides, I can't tell you: what happens on JSinglesCruise stays on JSinglesCruise...

Jewcy-licious Party Recap and Pics

I already posted this on Jewlicious, but since I know not all of my readers visit the group blog regularly, I thought I'd post it here, too. In case it isn't clear, the event wasn't perfect, and having to cover something with a camera and pen and paper in hand does somewhat impede your ability to hold a Jack and Diet, but I did have a good time.

"Been Caught Shticking..."

You've waited long enough...here it is, the "he said, she said" recap of Sunday night's Jewcy event that benefited Natan. The "he" is Muffti from Jewlicious, and the "she" is me. I mean, I am she. Whatever--it's me, Esther. Muffti will go first, and I will comment in italics, as I am wont to do. Read on, dear friends. Enjoy!

GM: Jewcy's Channukah Party looked good on paper. Former Jane's Addiction front man Perry Farrell was going to DJ. Comedienne Rachel Dratch was set to perform. Princess Superstar was going to lay down some rhymes. Triumph the insult dog was going to insult everyone. Most of all, Esther and the Grand Muffti were representing Jewlicious in the VIP [big shout-out to Jewcy for providing the VIP tickets].

EDK: Geez, only one paragraph in and you know that Muffti’s posting a negative review. You don’t see me complaining that I missed talking with Rachel Dratch before the show because Muffti called me on the phone, causing me to give up my chance a t becoming one Poehler short of having met the top three leading ladies of SNL…But after realizing that the VIP area was featuring an open bar, an endless supply of kosher stellar sushi, and a meat carving bar (Muffti and I don’t get to share hunks of kosher meat together often) at least my heart was softened by the VIP treatment—my biggest regret (aside from the Dratch miss) was not having brought Tupperware.

GM: Of course, as we all know (unless you are a philosopher), what looks good on paper doesn't always translate well in practice. In Jewcy's case, that turns out to be half true. So far, Muffti's On Paper vs. Reality scoreboard is 4, reality 0. Let's see how reality fared as the evening unfolded.

EDK: And I think that it’s worth noting at this point that Muffti had never been to Crobar for a Jew-Do, whereas I had thrice before (at last count), The place is huge, and the main concert area (and sound system IMHO) is not designed for a comedy show. I was actually kind of shocked to learn that the venue for this event was Crobar, and even more shocked to learn that there’d be general admission with no seats available. But Muffti’ll doubtless cover that territory later…

GM: But first let us talk about the things you really want to know about: Muffti showed up with his jersey crew, including Sam, Jessica and Manwhore Jonathon. After getting his press pass (leaving his friends behind for free drinks, sushi and other delectables in the VIP) Muffti met up with Esther and, well, started drinking. In the process Muffti and Esther ran into a host of interesting characters, including EV of Jewschool, Gabi from the Jewish Week, a cute NY Times reporter who wanted nothing to do with us [who actually was very nice to Esther, probably at least out of social courtesy], Naomi Less from the band Less Nessman [playing live at Makor on Thursday 12/22] and others. All in all an excellent time was had, though Muffti had to restrain himself a little because he is, well, trying to become a professor. Or something like that.

EDK: Not that he was at all professorial. At least he looked like no professor I ever had at Rutgers. Did I mention his pecs? But I digress. And seriously, if you're in the know in the NY Jewish community, the VIP room was the place to be. I recognized many luminaries--heads of established and up-and-coming organizations-- whose names would not even remotely impact Muffti, but whose presence I found invigorating. Present were representatives from various grantmaking organizations including the Steinhardt Foundation and the Schusterman Foundation, founder of Hazon Nigel Savage, my colleague Gabi from the Jewish Week, and Naomi, who leads a double life as rock goddess/Jewish camping professional. These are people who are committed to Jewish life and culture, and I found that a little bit thrilling.