Author Archives: Paleo Retiree

About Paleo Retiree

Onetime media flunky and movie buff and very glad to have left that mess behind. Formerly Michael Blowhard of the cultureblog 2Blowhards.com. Now a rootless parasite and bon vivant on a quest to find the perfectly-crafted artisanal cocktail.

Crap Space 1

Posted on July 31, 2015 by Paleo Retiree

Paleo Retiree writes: For no doubt perverse and disgraceful reasons I enjoy snapping photos of architectural goofs. One of the mistakes I’m most drawn to noticing and documenting is what I think of as “crap space” — pockets of in-betweenness (or out-in-frontness, … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture | Tagged architecture, christopher alexander, crap space, david sucher, Nikos Salingaros, parks, urbanism, william whyte | 11 Comments

Summer Drinks 1: Cold-brewed Coffee

Posted on July 23, 2015 by Paleo Retiree

Paleo Retiree writes: Cold-brewed coffee — often referred to by fans, stores and baristas simply as “cold brew” — seems to be everywhere these days. It’s certainly gaining rapidly in popularity. It’s featured at most upscale coffee bars and cafes, at least … Continue reading →

Posted in Food and health, Shopping | Tagged coffee | 11 Comments

Linkage

Posted on July 21, 2015 by Paleo Retiree

Paleo Retiree writes: Steve Sailer wonders what’s become of the world of college debating competitions. Why does hula-hoopin’ YouTube sweetheart Katie Sunshine feel she has to perform in Haiti? An oral history of “Deliverance,” book and movie. A lot of fat kids today … Continue reading →

Posted in Linkathons | Tagged alan jackson, JayMan, Katie Sunshine, rachel dolezal, Steve Sailer, The Great Courses, Toni Bentley | 9 Comments

Architecture Du Jour

Posted on July 15, 2015 by Paleo Retiree

Paleo Retiree writes: A spectacularly cushiony and lacy column capital from the 1899 Bayard-Condict Building, the only project that the legendary Chicago School architect Louis Sullivan ever built in New York City: Could that mofo draw or what? Intense training in drawing used … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture | Tagged architecture, Louis Sullivan, New York City | 5 Comments

Linkage

Posted on July 2, 2015 by Paleo Retiree

Paleo Retiree writes: “Camp of the Saints” du jour. If whites are so awful, why are so many Africans so eager to live in white societies? Is the U.S. soon going to join the Third World? Should Greece leave the EU … Continue reading →

Posted in Linkathons | 5 Comments

Taste Thrill Du Jour

Posted on July 2, 2015 by Paleo Retiree

Paleo Retiree writes: After lunch in Chinatown at this good place, Blowhard Esq. and I couldn’t resist sampling a specialty flavor at The Original Chinatown Ice Cream Factor nearby: Durian ice cream! “Is it really popular?” I asked the woman behind the … Continue reading →

Posted in Food and health | Tagged food, ice cream | 2 Comments

“The Black Swan”

Posted on June 29, 2015 by Paleo Retiree

Paleo Retiree writes: I was amazed how uninspiring I found this 2010 ballet-world-set psychological horror film. Natalie Portman plays a super-perfectionist, frigid (but yearning for release) ballerina who’s given the lead in a new version of “Swan Lake.” The movie … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged darren aronofsky, horror movies, mila kunis, movies, Natalie Portman, vincent cassel | 11 Comments

Trendy Slang Du Jour

Posted on June 28, 2015 by Paleo Retiree

Paleo Retiree writes: Spotted recently at a NYC construction site: I’m surprised they weren’t able to find room for “artisanal” and “bespoke.”

Posted in Architecture, Humor | Tagged architecture, humor, language, slang, trends | 5 Comments

Architecture Du Jour

Posted on June 25, 2015 by Paleo Retiree

Paleo Retiree writes: New York City’s very grand 240 Centre Street. Finished in 1909, it was originally the headquarters of the New York City Police Department. It was converted to luxury condos in 1988, and is now commonly known as … Continue reading →