BYT Empire

Brightest Young Things


Yes, the show is (way) sold out.
Yes, only (what's the RNR capacity?) 400 people get to go.
No, RNR does not have a bigger stage for anyone to campaign to move this show to.
And the hype is deafening (even if I, myself, am trying to channel it, it has made its way all over BYT)

So, you know, whatever.
If you can't go, you can still keep yourself busy with the following (finely curated and wisely selected) activities that will make you forget about how much you love "Mansard Roof" (or whatever else you love)

THINGS TO DO INSTEAD

-Obviously going out to other places is an option, including hanging out at the upstairs bar for drunken jenga and Ben's yelle and ting-tings laced selections. Not to mention the very promising Wonderland, St. Ex and Luna Lounge activities

but then, that's sort of too easy.

use your evening wisely (and in spirit to)

-Make your own Paul Simon Greatest Hits (to me) CD. If it wasn't for Paul (and Art to some extent) there would be no Vampire weekend, Take a dash of Cecilia, drop in some Sounds of Silence, Call someone All, and see what's happening at the zoo. I made you a little sampler myself, to get you going.

-mix in some calypso and afrobeat for good measure. I'm looking at you Femi.

-while you're at it, watch "The Graduate". I have a copy. No, you can't have it. And no, watching "Garden state" instead does not count. Dustin Hoffman is an understated genius, Anne Bancroft is the only woman ever that made me wish I was 50 when I was 15 (did you know she was married to Mel Brooks in real life? HOW COOL IS THAT? THAT COOL) and Katharine Ross makes clumped mascara seem amazing. And no, it is not all about plastics.

-while you're at it, make yourself a little collegiate marathon: to include, but not limited to "Rushmore" (also, buy the soundtrack), "Kicking and Screaming" (the Noah Baumbach one, not the Will Farrell soccer disaster), "Metropolitan" (Whit Stillman is the high brow youth humor reigning king), "The Group" and maybe even "Mutual Appreciation" (theoretically, a post-college movie, but...). Most of these are available on Criterion which is ALWAYS the preferable movie watching way.
Prepare to quote these movies till the day you die.
Are you ready for the commitment?

-Bid for a first edition of "The Preppy Handbook" on Ebay

-Get yourself (re)acquainted with the writings of the Amis' clan (both Martin and Kingsley). I just re-read "Lucky Jim" while getting sunburnt in Puerto Rico, which is the perfect campus novel and a seminal humor novel (David Lodge said so, not me) and "Rachel Papers" and "Dead Babies" are still where its at.

-also consider starting a book club covering these authors: Muriel Spark, Nancy Mitford, Emily Post (right), and David Foster Wallace.

-Shop the J.Crew and L.L.Bean online only Sale. You'd be amazed what you'd find. Plus, your old boat shoes need company.

-learn how to tie a tie. In a perfectly imperfect manner. It is time.

-START YOUR OWN BAND. Lore has it (and by lore, I mean NYLON magazine) that Vampire weekend came to learn how to play after getting a college party gig and realizing they did not have a band. But that didn't stop them, did it?

-and if not, you can always offer your own suggestions. You know you know better than me. Admit it.

Previously in Misc/Awesome:

God loves a cheerful giver.

COMMENTS (21)

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4 years ago John Foster said

"Are you wearing mascara?"

"No!....erruh...yeah..."

I love Kicking and Screaming.

4 years ago Lily said

support the Wizards v. Spurs tonight
or scan the seats for Eva
either way

*drops to the ground*
Cookie Man?
Yeah, I just can't say no to that guy.

Is that a pajama top?
No...Yes.

Kicking and Screaming is a great movie

4 years ago Ted Robinson said

As if Vampire Weekend isn't over rated enough, BYT must dedicate THREE articles to the band?

I can't wait until they slip into irrelevance in 6 months.

4 years ago Svetlana said

and with a live show review/photos and whatever else coming tomorrow.
sorry, in advance.

4 years ago adam said

this band is gay.
i suggest bbqing due to the nice weather and drinking jim beam.

4 years ago Taylor said

I'm an alum of the same college as Vampire Weekend. Which wasn't enough to get me tickets, alas. Have fun everyone! Thanks IN ADVANCE, BYT, for the review and photos coming tomorrow. (And its not about what will be irrelevant in 6 months...its about seeing a good show now. If the only good things were things that lasted a long time, no one would listen to Jeff Buckley or watch Heath Ledger movies.)

4 years ago Jon said

Jeff Buckley and Heath Ledger were great THEN and NOW.

Vampire Weekend, sadly, IS awful now. So, basically anything tonight will be far more rewarding.

4 years ago Julio said

I would sub out "Call Me Al" with "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover".
70's Paul beats Chevy Chase videos any day.

4 years ago sergio said

i could try out for "the capitol hills" reality show...

oh crap...not a late night shots member...darn.

4 years ago Jon with no H said

So the tickets I've recently aquired AREN'T worth the effort. I was definately going to make another trip back into the city for the show.... might just have to rethink that "The Graduate" is one of my fav. movies Hoffman was the third choice for that film by the way... as was Mrs. Robinson.

4 years ago Taylor said

Jon - I was kind of joking about Buckley and Ledger. But the point remains that you can't expect all your art to be non-disposable these days. If that's what you're after, you won't get out much. There's no such thing as an instant classic. Classics are a dying breed anyway. Agree though - Ledger was really great.

4 years ago Chad Richards said

I think this show is going to be awesome! even Late Night Shots is getting pumped up for it!

4 years ago Jon said

Taylor - I was lucky enough to see Jeff Buckley a few times (even bought him a beer at the old Cat!) and you just *knew* there was something special happening. (Instant classic?)

4 years ago Doctor No said

I'm having the weirdest feeling.

First of allI have tickets to the Vampire Weekend concert and will see all of you fuckers there. Except for Lily, who's rocking the Wizards game.

BUT, I have been so totally called out:
a) I own Kicking and Screaming (Criterion Collection), Metropolitan (also, mind you, Criterion) and The Graduate,

b) and EVERY PAUL SIMON SONG EVER RECORDED, including half a dozen bootlegs and the _very_ hard to find PAul Simon Songbook from 1965, while he was in England doing solo versions of later S&G songs. Happy to burn them for anyone.

c) And, yes, I have a first edition copy of the preppy handbook which I bought, not on ebay, but on Alibris.

d) And I have read The Rachel Papers at least as many times as I've read Goodbye, Columbus, which is a few, and as many times as I've read Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace, which is exactly twice and a half, plus repeated snippets.

So WTF, Svetlana, where's my cookie?
N.

P.S. - I'm giving lessons: half-windsor or full, four-in-hand, and bow.

4 years ago Svetlana said

good taste is a reward in itself

4 years ago eduardo ignasio said

writer's suggestions - A
jeff buckley - A+
heath ledger - A
paul simon - earning extra credit; final grade pending

let's see... what else can i grade here....

oh, pix with no boob shots - F

4 years ago doctor no said

I Svetlana

4 years ago doctor no said

That should read:

I -heart- Svetlana

HTML sucks.

4 years ago Svetlana said

ding!

4 years ago Dominic said

Doesn't everybody already own 'The Preppy Handbook' first edition? Wait, maybe that's just us folks that grew up around here - my bad.

4 years ago dani said

band is kitschy at best

didnt have a ticket, totally snuck in via the stairway from the upstairs bar

;-)

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