photos by Ryan Muir

The Idiotarod is a shopping cart race in which five "idiots" tie themselves to a (sometimes modified) grocery store shopping cart and run through the streets of a major metropolitan area. The race usually features people in costumes and themed floats. The race, though fun, is competitive, and teams are known to sabotage each other in an effort to win. Forms of sabotage include tripping competitors, throwing marbles or large obstacles in their paths, and the spreading of misinformation, such as false route information.

The Idiotarod is named after the Iditarod, a 1,000 mile dog-sledding race in Alaska. [Wikipedia]

NYC's 6th Idiotarod race took place on Saturday (1/31). Starting around 11:45AM, the race went from 61st & East River Park in Manhattan, over the 59th St Bridge into Astoria, down through Long Island City, over the Pulaski into Greenpoint to Coco66 (the bar where Beirut recently played a secret show), and then finally ended in a playground. There were approximately 20 themed, powerful, and crazy teams (of idiots) running the long (5 miles?) race. They included Danger Zone (with Romulus and Remus gladiator carts and theme music), Wayne Fest (which was 1 Wayne and 4 Garths), Double Dare, Blue Man Group, and Gnomes (note: those may or may not be the official team names). Geese were also a popular theme. An Australian "Sparks" girl was running in stilettos and was very vocal about saving Sparks.

More of Ryan's pictures below...

Continue reading "pictures from NYC's 2009 Idiotarod race"

photos by Toby Tenenbaum

As previously noted, Jennifer O'Connor and comedian Jon Benjamin were the openers for Yo La Tengo Hanukkah night four. Jon went by the name Mark Levinsky. According to the show poster, "Jon Glassner" (not to be confused with Jon Glaser) was also supposed to be on the comedy part of the bill, but according to "Mark", Jon had to call out sick. "Mark" then "read out a VERY funny letter from Glassner accompanied by numerous props including a foot long subway hero, a photo of Jon on a jet ski, and randomly distributed free samples of a well known pharmaceutical product." Mixtapes for the evening were provided by Russell Mael of the band Sparks. In honor of the mixtape Yo La Tengo played a Sparks cover. The whole setlist and more pictures below...

Continue reading "Yo La Tengo, Jennifer O'Connor & Jon Benjamin @ Maxwell's (Hanukkah night 4) - pics & setlist"

MillerCoors is yanking the caffeine kick from its popular Sparks alcoholic drinks.

The beer giant is backing away from combos of alcohol and stimulants in the face of allegations by a number of state attorneys general and consumer groups that it was targeting underage drinkers, the WSJ reports.

The joint venture of SABMiller and Molson Coors Brewing will voluntarily tone down the formula of Sparks to remove caffeine, taurine, guarana and ginseng, and it has agreed not to produce alcohol-caffeine combos in the future, MillerCoors said in a press release. The company highlighted its willingness to "listen to societal partners and consider changes to our business to reinforce our commitment to alcohol responsibility," and noted the agreement with the AGs contained no finding that MillerCoors acted unlawfully or marketed Sparks to youngsters.

Still, the AGs noted in their own statement that MillerCoors has also agreed to "cease particular marketing themes that appeal to underage youth, eliminating advertisements that feature a bright orange-stained tongue and not renewing its contract with William Ocean, an air guitar champion who does a back flip onto an opened can of Sparks at all of his shows." They add MillerCoors will discontinue its Sparks Web site, "which looks like it was created by a college freshman." [Wall Street Journal]