Food Truck Nation

An interesting article on the spread of 'fancy' food trucks
Why now: "well suited for a financial downturn"
The only problem: “We go up against the stigma. We’re trying to prove we’re on a different level than a lunch truck,” he says.
The solution- branding: "The new breed of lunch truck is aggressively gourmet, tech-savvy and politically correct"
The effect: "The new trucks are rolling in as many restaurants report steep declines in their lunchtime traffic. Businesses from fast-food chains to upscale steak houses have rolled out cheaper lunch menus to try to persuade consumers to spend money during the work day."
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204456604574201934018170554.html

Best 25 in NYC: http://nymag.com/restaurants/cheapeats/2010/67139

Tavern on the Green, the landmark restaurant in Central Park is now a courtyard with... food trucks. The product(in this case the trucks and not the food) has really changed:
http://www.slashfood.com/2010/09/17/tavern-on-the-green-turns-into-high-end-food-court

And an update on LA Food Trucks from Prof. Gal Zauberman

LA also had a very interesting period with food trucks and social media. For a time, the only way to know here the best trucks would be that day was with FC or twitter.

This is the truck that started the trend: http://kogibbq.com/

There are maps that allows you to track them remotely: http://www.foodtrucksmap.com/

http://www.findlafoodtrucks.com/blog

What's happening now:
http://laist.com/2010/09/21/food_truck_lot.php
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/15/business/15cater.html

Remind Me

A kid sends his hand to the cookie jar without permission.
1. He gets slapped on his hand
2. He hears a loud NO
Why is it that when getting slapped the kid will remember better never to do it again? It seems as if our bodies remember much better then our minds (not that I am promoting child abuse or anything like that.)

Every time I go back to the practice of Ashtanga Mysore Style I am in awe of how my body remembers what it used to know. The Vinyasa (sequence,) the Asana (poses,) and the feelings of pain and pleasure that flow through your body and mind.

These feelings and emotions will pass, you will be left with the merits of the practice.

Practice Mysore in NYC at The Shala, Yoga Sutra and Ashtanga Yoga New York

Photos from Alan Little’s Weblog

watching through the door

through the bars

backbending

Streetlight people, living just to find emotion...

People say that New York City is a very lonely place.
I have mixed feelings about that statement. When I moved to NY I was very lonely, I found people very intimidating, strong, out of touch, and it made me feel lonely.

That feeling still comes back once in a while, like when I am at a party talking to someone, and someone else walks by (usually more attractive) and the person I was talking to just walks away. That makes me feel lonely.

At a party I attended this weekend there were a lot of very self confident, young and attractive people, I love that! Later on, there was a whole discussion among my friends about how intimidating “they” were. I don't love that! If you choose to see a group of individuals, which happen to be at the same place at the same time, as a UNIT, that is what you will get back from the universe, they will always see you a part of a group or classification.

Discrimination and being prejudiced are a result of this unattractive tendency. I know that might sound extreme but I really believe that you must maintain a sense of self, and also a sense of other’s self. If one thinks that by saying that someone belongs to a “group of really hot people” he is giving him respect, I disagree. Individuals deserve to be respected for what and who they are. If you don’t know who they are, let them be. You will get the same treatment from the universe when time comes.

Drg-darsana-saktyor ekatmatevasmita- Yoga Sutra II 6
The Yoga Sutra states that one of the Rout Affliction-Pain-Klesha is Asmita, or “I Am’nes” Identifying with your qualities, internal or external as what you ARE. If you look at people that way, how can you teach your own mind not to look at yourself in that way.

Only once you start detaching from that feeling of ego, and practicing “I Am That” or “I Am That I Am” you can feel in good company again. It is hard work, but who wants to be idle.