Short Takes
September 4, 2009
Take 30 Seconds: Help Gustiamo Win $50,000
American Express is sponsoring a contest for small, innovative businesses with a $50,000 first prize. I nominated Gustiamo.com, the Bronx-based, women-owned importer of high-quality Italian food. Before September 13th, Gustiamo needs 60 fans to second the nomination. (If you’ve ordered from them, you know they’re great; if not, would you take my word for it?) To add your support, click here. Bonus: If you endorse Gustiamo and also want to place an order, they’ll discount your bill by 30% and include a gift in your package. Magic word is: SHINE. Your discount will be reflected on your bill and credit card charge.
September 3, 2009
Head Butler Field Trip: Willie Nile
On Thursday, September 24th, we’re off to to Joe’s Pub (in NYC’s Public Theater) to see urban rocker Willie Nile. He’s been around forever, but he’s probably new to you — and his House of a Thousand Guitars is as exciting as anything you’ll hear this year. (Watch a video from the new CD. Click here for tickets.) Joining us? Send me mail.
September 3, 2009
Dan Brown: ‘The Lost Symbol’
A billion copies of Dan Brown’s 528-page thriller will be delivered to breathless customers on September 15th. “Should I do something about this?” I asked my wife. “No way,” she replied, remembering my dismemberment of page one of Brown’s last effort, The Da Vinci Code. Still, it is not a Butler’s right to deny guests what the cook has made for dinner. If you wish to pre-order “The Last Symbol” ($16.17, discounted from $29.95), click here. For the Kindle version, click here.
August 31, 2009
SIGG Bottles: Don’t buy them
The reusable bottles that were supposed to be so much safer — and better for the environment — than disposable gourmet water bottles have just been revealed to contain Bisphenol-A (PBA). The company says the tainted bottles were all manufactured (and sold) before 2008. I don’t care — I’m removing my endorsement from the archives and will now seek a BPA-free alternative. If you bought one and want to contact SIGG, here’s the corporate info.
August 23, 2009
Hype Alert: ‘Homer & Langley’
E.L. Doctorow’s Homer & Langley has been panned by the New York Times, but most book columns have been beating drums for it as one of the prizes of the Fall. Sadly, no. Doctorow is a god to me — once a great book editor, then a serious novelist, always on the smart side of every issue — but this chronicle of the Collyer brothers (the nutcases who filled their Manhattan townhouse with newspapers and junk) is thin and forced. Better move: read Ragtime.