New York Cuisine

An unsatisfactory plate of potatoes lead to assault charges in a New York City restaurant, when a patron didn’t like the quality of food he was served.

Stephen Scott of New York apparently ordered a plate of potatoes but really didn’t like the food, reported the New York Post. After re-ordering the dish and still not getting what he wanted, Scott threw potatoes at his server and hit him in the face.
It’s not clear what Scott’s gastronomical criteria of satisfactory potatoes are, but allegedly the food was so gross that Scott threatened to stab and shoot the restaurant’s chefs.

Scott was arrested shortly after exiting the restaurant, and charged with assault, menacing harassment and possession of a weapon.

We better keep this guy away from Diversity Food Services.

Raffling Picasso

A fundraising organization is giving away an original Picasso as a part of an effort to raise funds to fight global warming, reported the Guardian UK.

The 10:10 organization is in possession of a mid-century Picasso lino-cut, which the artist produced to promote a ceramics exhibition in 1956.

The print is a printer’s proof from a series that Picasso produced, is autographed by the artist and would be expected to get bids of nearly $9,000 CAD. Tickets for the raffles cost ten pounds and ten pence.

According to one of the organizers of the raffle, this is the easiest way to procure an original Picasso, “short of robbing a gallery.”

The artist, famed for his paintings, was also an accomplished ceramicist and printmaker.

Stylish Sterility

Fashionable face-masks are springing up for sale, perhaps in heightened awareness of contamination and infection in the wake of H1N1 media hype, reported the University of Victoria’s Martlet.

The stylish surgical masks, which are designed to prevent the spread of disease through respiration, are now produced in many stylized colors and patterns, including tiger-jaws and sexy lace.

While Health Canada denies that the masks aid in preventing the spread of swine-flu, designer masks are popping up for sale online, with price-tags as high as $100 USD.

Young fashionistas sporting the latest accessory are still few and far between, but it’s only a matter of time before the paranoia of illness and need for fashion come together in a colorful doctor-chic.

Haute-Couture for Hire

A new business venture pairs the thriftiness of rentals with the highest end of fashion, reported the New York Times.

Rent the Runway is a brand new business modeled on the likes of Netflix (or Cinemail, here in Winnipeg) that rents items so consumers don’t have to purchase them for full price.

The new business provides high-end gowns and dresses on a four-day rental agreement, shipped to the door of the renter. After the rental period, the garment is shipped back to Rent the Runway.

Instead of dropping thousands of dollars on the highest end of fashion, women can rent a designer dress for under $100, and the next week can get a new one.

Published in Volume 64, Number 11 of The Uniter (November 12, 2009)