You Got Kung Fu Grip

I first became addicted to the chair massage when my first job out of school offered them every Tuesday.  If you're going to the right place, the chair massage is anything but the poor man's table massage, although they are definately easier on the wallet.  Chair massages end up close to a dollar a minute and come in 10-15 minute increments.  The cagey chair jockey though can usually milk you for additional increments by working the "I've only done one side/ one section" gimmick.  They know a stressed out "gaigin" with their head smooshed in the donut pillow and a elbow pressed deep in a pressure point is likely to just throw their wallet on the floor and tell them to keep going until Visa Fraud Protection raises the red flag on repeat charges.  

YouGotNails on the Bedford St main drag offers an exceptional chair massage.  The master is a distinguished looking Asian dude that practices the all out ninja attack massage style.  I'm sure he could be gentle if that's you liking, but he isn't with me, which is interesting because we have never actually spoken.  I have no doubt the man also possesses telepathy and can either sense my knotted shoulder need a more aggressive approach or is totally disgusted reading my thoughts and thinks I need to be slapped around some.  He doesn't badger you for more time unless you ask.  After the massage he will put you through a series of submission moves and stretch you back and chest.  I'm waiting one day to be thrown in the Cobra Clutch.  The only thing that keeps me from tapping out is knowing how amazing you'll feel after.  

I'd ask his name, but I know were he to speak it, it would only unleash ancient & untold power that would level The City That Works.  

Stamford Brings Home the Bacon

According to the Advocate this morning, Stamford just received a fat piece of government cheese for local public works. Among the projects allotted funding is the removal of Mill River Dam and the transformation of the pond back to a natural river. This is the first major step in creating the Greenway that will run from the Sound up to Scalzi Park.

The Mill River Collaborative’s website is vague in particulars and seems to be lagging with updates worse than this site. Effective use of Google though really is a skill, and one at which I excel, and I found a link to a power point that illustrates the master plan. Some very cool stuff, kayak launches, fishing piers, trails that dip under bridges for a continuous loop. I hope the plan continues to evolve if and when more land along the river becomes available. For instance, I’m sure the South End redevelopment opens up some possibilities. I’m curious why the city doesn’t make a strong play for the empty, fenced off lot next to the river along Washington Blvd.

The master plan calls for ripping down an office building and apartment complex, but the empty lot is not part of the plan. It seems to me that going after this blank slate of a tract would be the easier first step.

“An Alligator with Sunglasses? Now I’ve Seen Everything!”

After over a year of window bannered hype, Houlihan’s is currently under contruction under Target. Houlihan’s is a chain resterant the specializes in “classic American Food” according to their website with a few new interpertations here and there. There is no decernable theme beyond that as far as I can tell. Not sure how I feel about that. If I’m going to eat in a chain, part of me says I should atleast get to pretend I’m in China, or on a boat, or Olde Timey land or something. My guess is they have the stock chain resterraunt theme of “crazy crap on the walls”. If the Stamford location participates in their “Mini-Monday” promotion of $1 sliders, it could earn it a try from me. I’m sucker for anythign that recreates a White Castle experience.

Houlihan’s follows the chain invasion in the new south plaza of Stamford Town Center (our drawn out name for “The Mall”). I’m personally against too many chains invading downtown; it pushes out local business and contributes to the overall “generic-ification” of America. There is something decidedly less offensive about the Mall development. The restaurants are grouped together in a pedestrian friendly environment that encourages foot traffic in an area of downtown traditionally fit only for automobiles. The location helps extend the domain of street level activity beyond Columbus Park & Bedford St. The open air design breaks up the fortified consumer fortress feel of the mall. The choices of chains are unique to the area with P.F. Changs, Kona Grill, Mitchell’s, & Capitol Grill. I think I’d feel slightly less enthusiastic if the selection was Chili’s, T.G.I.Friday’s, & Applebee’s.

There is also the reality that some people only eat at chain restaurants. If a chain can draw someone to eat downtown who might otherwise not, that is still a positive. Maybe they notice an independent restaurant downtown while there and decide to give a try on the next pass through. And sometimes chains aren’t all bad. It turns out Tigin’s, my favorite Irish pub downtown, is chain out of Texas.

And while the chains are rolling in, where is The Duchess? Why no love for The Big D in the City That Works?