Richie The Mover

Friday, August 28th had been circled on my calender for quite some time. That was my moving date into Manhattan and as exciting as living in the big city in the world sounded, the idea of transporting all of my possessions was equally as stressful.



Let's face it, there's the bed, couches, clothes, TVs, it's alot of crap to haul around. Then you gotta decide where you're putting everything and take into consideration all the feng shui stuff... I don't know feng shui!

Finally, my roommate convinced me to take a friend's referral of a moving service. I figured it would smooth along the process.

When the big Friday arrived, I kicked off the morning with a trip to to the local bagel shop and when I returned to our apartment, the crew was already inside standing around. Except that's all they seemed to be doing... standing around. Not discussing strategy, or informing me what was going to happen. They didn't even say hello back to me. Instead, they gave me a funny look with a half smile. I was getting concerned.

... and then it happened.

The door flew open, and in Kramer-like fashion, a heavy set man walked in and introduced himself as Richie. Richie to the rescue. It turned out that he was the only one who spoke English which explained the awkward silence.

From there on out it was smooth sailing. Richie was like the freakin LeBron James of moving. He taped up the boxes at lightening speed, hauled our beds down the stairs with the strength of an ox and all while dishin out orders to his seemingly clueless teammates. He was the general.



More importantly, Richie kept us completely in the loop regarding the process. He even made up fake expenses that he was voiding to make us feel like we were getting a good deal. You know what? I appreciated it!

Sometimes it pays to delegate. You can't put a price on that kind of convenience. Thanks to Richie, I was ready to officially soak up the city life by 3 in the afternoon. That's Sprezzatura.

Thanks for being so clutch, Richie!

His Secret Weapon (Featuring Ms. Terry)

(As discussed, there have been suggestions to add some women perspective to the site. So once again, today's post comes from a female contributor, Ms. Terry.)

Ms. Terry: I’ve always prided myself on having a lot of male friends. I was the girl that could chill with the guys, without being “one of the guys”, and my female role was always prevalent.

They've benefited because I helped with their wardrobe, picked out birthday and anniversary gifts, and advised them out of countless jams with their significant others.



I've planned romantic dates, taught them how to do laundry, and so on. All of which probably deserves a metal of honor but it’s my role to stay behind the scenes.

A guy’s platonic woman friend is his secret weapon. Such a companion is incredibly useful but must be kept on the down low around his love interests.

No girl wants to hear how close another woman is with her boyfriend/guy that she’s dating. Nor do we want to hear that she’s responsible for picking out the necklace that adorns our neck. After all, we’re most likely only wearing it because it came from him (even though it totally clashes with our usual style).

Women like to feel assured that they’re his “go to girl”- the one he calls on for everything. I am not saying that guys shouldn’t have female friends, but like anything else, there is a time and place.

For example, any discussion involving female friends should definitely be kept under wraps during a first date. It doesn’t matter if this friend is married, gay or fat to the point where her stomach protrudes so far that kissing is not even a threat as it would be a physical impossibility… NEVER talk about female friends on a first date.



First dates are about getting to know each other and seeing if there is chemistry. It’s not when women want to learn about how wonderful and platonic a man’s friendship is with someone else.

I was actually on a first date with a guy, which was going pretty well until his phone started going off… it was her. Not an ex or another girl he was dating, but his female bff.

She knew we were on a date, and actually texted to see how it was going. (seriously girls, if your guy friend is on a date, don’t text an hour in for status – he’ll let you know if he needs your help and if it was that bad – he'll call you right after he escapes).

How do I know this? He told me – which was naturally followed by an explanation of who she was, how close they were and how why they were really just friends. Does that really sound like a conversation anyone girl wants to have on a date especially the first one?

I don’t think so. Keep the secret weapon… a secret. That’s Sprezzatura.

A Picture Says 1,000...

Warning: You can easily waste your entire day browsing around this link.

Thanks to Kevin for today's shout which is filled with infographics, or as coedmagazine.com puts it, "those clever, funny images that sum things up, lickity-split!"

Click Here!

The Tribe

Whenever it's time to kick off the week, I always think back to Office Space's famous quote. But while I'm tempted to give in and admit, "Yea, I got a case of the Mondays... Kill me.", that attitude doesn't exactly make me feel better.

Besides, when you're part of the coffee tribe, you've got your go-to morning ritual. It's only a matter of time before you're sitting back, inhaling deep and taking in that unmistakable aroma of freshly roasted beans.



We all know a few of "The Others" that are too good for the caffeine laced beverage. Whenever the topic comes up in conversation, they'll throw out the benefits of avoiding the habit. Maybe they have a few good points but I couldn't care less. Coffee tastes great, gets the juices flowing and puts me in the zone.

I even work in a nice little rotation regarding my morning pickup. For example, Starbucks is ONLY ordered on Tuesdays. Starbucks Tuesdays. What better way to spice up the most boring day of the week than loadin' up on the franchise's double dose of caffeine? My day's flyin and the next thing I know it's already time for lunch!



It's good to be part of the tribe. So today, take solace in realizing that although it's Monday, everything is gonna be alright. Whether you enjoy iced or hot, light or dark roast, skim or whole milk, Splenda, Sweet and Low, or sugar... Your coffee never lets ya down. That's Sprezzatura.

The Park Slope Grand Finale!

For 2 years I've been living in Park Slope, Brooklyn and never ventured out to the local night life. It's a nice area but I've always felt a little out of place (everyone here's raising young families... who's got time for that??) and so I've done my bar hopping in Manhattan.

Well, I'm finally moving to the promise land in a week and my roommate, Matt, and I decided that we had to give Park Slope ONE shot before we bounce!



There's something exhilarating about embracing a care free summer night in a foreign area where you don't know a soul. Armed with the right amount of vodka, a night with zero expectations can feel like a dreamworld. I agreed to play wing man for my newly single roommate and we hit a list of bars that were referred to us by his coworker.

On the way over, I couldn't help but second guess my actions over the past couple of years. What if one of these bars was actually good? What if a Brooklyn utopia existed that required specific Park Slope ID to get in and was filled with the finest of women who fed you grapes, Dove dark chocolates and waved those breezy large vine leaves while giving in to your wildest sexual favors?? Had I missed the boat?!

I hoped otherwise...

And so we set forth on our night. After about an hour it was pretty uneventful. There were no secret bars, no dark chocolate and no fun people to talk to. Still, that's the beauty of zero expectations. We decided to check out the last destination on the list before calling it a night.

Immediately as we walked in, Matt tugged on my shoulder- "Steve, we GOTTA go mack it with them shawties over there!". Just kidding, he doesn't really talk like that. But he showed interest and we went to introduce ourselves.



So we walked over all smooth, started up a little chit chat and Matt bought the ladies a couple of drinks. The conversation was flowing.... Good vibes. For a guy who just got back in the game my man was killin' it! He had em laughing, smiling, I mean the dude was working magic. It was like watching a puppet master.

I was happy for him. It really looked like he had found his groove.

And then, just as I'm kickin back and enjoying the show, my wing woman (or whatever the term would be?) leaned in and whispered in my ears the only words that can simultaneously let you down and yet turn you on... but mostly just let you down:

"You guys know we're lesbians, right?"

...Tough break, Matt. You'll get 'em next time.

In the meantime, good bye, Park Slope. It's been real.

Rock Bottom & Still Sprezzin'

Thanks to Mike for today's link... 25 Awesome Homeless Guy Signs... Mad funny!

Click here to check it out

Sprezz Handbook: The Gum Factor

Anyone with Sprezzatura understands that there are two things you should have on lock while you're out and about.

First, you gotta look sharp. This doesn't necessarily mean wearing designer clothes, but more importantly, it's how you rock what you've got- with swagger and confidence.

Then, there's the second factor. Maintaining that fresh aura. Ever been around someone that smells especially good? You're opinion of them instantly skyrockets. People wanna roll with the winners and winners take care of themselves.



My buddy JB and I always joke about the gum factor. We've all been there... You're out on a date and the night starts off well enough. There's attraction, the vibes are flowing, and you both seem to be really enjoying yourselves. Then, without paying much attention, you innocently accept their offer for some gum.

... And that's when it happens.

What you receive is no ordinary piece but in fact the stalest and sorriest excuse for gum you've ever seen... It's like biting into a mint flavored rock! You have to wonder how long it's been buried at the bottom of their bag just collecting dust.

Or worse, you might get the melted gum. Gross. Now you're stuck spending the next 15 seconds trying to scrape it off the wrapper without offending the other person.

Remember, your gum represents you... What impression does yours make?

And as JB always says, just once, it would be nice to see a woman bust out a bag of Big League Chew! That's Sprezzatura.

Mass Memory Burners Tribute

This weekend, I was driving to the Hamptons with two of my buddies, Joe and Frankie. We were enjoying some solid cruising music when suddenly I Gotta Feeling by Black Eyed Peas hit the radio. This song was MADE for memory burn.



Memory burn's when a song takes you back emotionally to a moment of the past. There’s just something about it that feels great. Memory burn injects a little life into you while bringing to mind good times.

Then there’s mass memory burn, which is usually co-signed by a movie. EVERYONE can relate to these... It's like a phenomenon and very impressive to pull off. With that said, here are a few songs that have struck us all throughout the years. Give each song about 5 seconds and watch how you can feel the vibes just from browsing the list.

• Eye Of The Tiger – Rocky

• What Is Love – Night At The Roxbury



• Time Of Your Life – (What movie was this from??)

• Secret Garden – Jerry Maguire

• Free Falling – Jerry Maguire

• Still D.R.E. – Training Day

• Best Around – Karate Kid



• Bittersweet Symphony – Cruel Intentions

• I’ve Gotta Feeling – Next hit movie??

Good songs and good times. Let's hope the next generation can pick up where these legendary mass memory burners have left off and continue to hold it down. That's Sprezzatura.

The Morning After (Featuring Ms. Terry)

There have been suggestions to add some women perspective to the site. So today's post comes from a female contributor, Ms. Terry.

Ms. Terry: Men often label women as “complicated” and accuse us of sending mixed messages. The truth is sometimes guys just make poor decisions that have us reevaluating our feelings.



For example, we meet people at bars and get caught up in the moment. Then, the next day we’re second guessing our blurred memory.

Here’s something for guys to keep in mind that will leave you hanging in our good graces and guarantee a second interaction- whether it be drinks, dinner, or just some late night action. The major secret is that it all comes down to your next move. Do you call or text?

When we give our number to a guy, we don’t say "hey give me a text sometime". So why would we expect or accept one the next day?



Don’t go typing away about how much fun you had and asking to meet for a drink. That’s such a wimp move… grow up already! If you land our number – we want to HEAR from you – simple as that!

Sometimes, all you have to work with is a BBM pin. In this case, yes, you can resort to the electronic means of reaching out. But if you get the digits then be a man. Pick up the phone and CALL her! That's Sprezzatura.

(Here’s a tip- if you’re that nervous to call, at least pick up the phone during a “safe” time like while we’re at work and most likely won’t pick up anyway!)

6 Popular Voice Mail Routes

Last month, I discussed my thoughts about leaving useless voice mails (as a caller). If I had my way, we'd all resort to a text message only system. But I’ve come to grips with the fact that some people just enjoy letting their voice be heard.

With that said, you're going to receive voice mails... so let's discuss the signals that your message gives to callers. Here are 6 of the most popular voice mails and what you should know about them (because my opinion means everything).

1. To kick things off, I’m not a big fan of the primitive ones that include only your name, or worse, let some automated voice shoot back the phone number. There's nothing to work with here... zero personality. It's basically like telling the world, "I'm gonna sit the next few plays out."

2. Then, there’s the ultra peppy, upbeat message. Sometimes this can get a little out of control. I start to get suspicious... Why is this person SO happy? As a skeptical New Yorker, it's concerning to me. Women can get the benefit of the doubt of just sounding cute, but men should probably take it down a notch.

3. Still, it's better to have an over-anxious voice mail than be the Debbie Downer. This is when, for whatever reason, the person you're calling's recording sounds flat out miserable. You can just picture 'em hunched over in the bathroom after drowning their sorrows in a bottle of whiskey. These messages get ME depressed just from listening! Throw on a smile, please.

4. Of course there’s the cliché, “Hi you’ve reached ______, I’m not here right now but if you leave your name, number and a reason for calling then I’ll be sure to get back to you.” Really? Is that how we're gonna do this? Thanks for spelling out the voice mail protocol so clearly or I might have been lost there just stuttering away aimlessly...

5. Thankfully, every once and while, you run into a fake out message. Ya know, the ol' “Hey, what’s up? ………… Just kidding! Leave a message.” I always enjoy the curve ball (and fall for it every time). It's refreshing to see a little differentiation.

6. And finally, there are the free-spirited individuals who feel the need to play a song as their voice mail. You ever run into these characters? They tend to smoke a lot of pot. And there's nothing wrong with that... as long as it's a good song.

Does your voice mail give right the message? Stay Sprezzin...

Handout Overload

Walking around Manhattan in the morning, I'm always harassed by advertisers forcing their products down my throat.



Its crazy, everywhere you turn there's like 5 people coming at you. Getting to work can feel like an Olympic event just from dodging all the handouts. I'm juking left, going right, bustin spin moves along the way... I almost tore my hamstring pulling off a hurdle the other day!

Its tough trying to avoid the usual suspects, which include:

- The confident hand off: This guy walks up like he knows you. "Hey pal, it's cool. I'm not like them, I won't waste your time. You can trust me. This can actually benefit you."

- The costume/attention grabber: This one screams out, "Come on, look at all the effort that went into me standing out. At least give me a shot!"

- The flirter: She comes up all smooth, like "Hey big boy, get over here.. I picked you out from the crowd and wanna show you the goods."

- The walk n' talker: This one just won't give up. "Oh cool, you're going this way too? What a coincidence. We must be on the same wave length! Hey, so by the way..."

Look at all the effort they put into grabbing your attention. Why not just bring along a big ass camera and tease volunteers with the prospect of some air time? The thing doesn't even have to be turned on. Nobody checks. I'm kidding but always think about the other person's motivations. That's Sprezzatura.

Eating Good!

These days, everyone places such a strong emphasis on good health. We’ve got all the gurus with their uninvited advice... “You should be eating THIS, not that.”

But as much as these people piss me off, I usually take the suggestions. If something's supposed make me feel better and think more clearly, then why wouldn’t I jump on the bandwagon?

Well, yesterday I realized that I've gone too far. The cashier was ringing up my coffee at the deli across the street when suddenly, she stopped DEAD in her tracks...

In all my life, I've never seen such an utterly confused look. Finally, she revealed what was on her mind. "Huh? No apple or banana today?"

Well I was really taken aback! What the hell? Is that gonna be my legacy? The man who looked forward to his fruit each day! Fuck that. I am NOT going down as “apple and banana guy”.

So I've made up my mind. This weekend, I'm ploughin through chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast, followed by two of those big ass Crumbs cupcakes for lunch (s'mores and cappuccino sound about right), all of which will be promptly washed down with an extra large Starbucks mocha chocolate frappacino or one of their crazy drinks. I'm open to suggestions.



Then, to cap it all off, dinner's gonna be nothing but 2 giant plates of sweet potato fries. Maybe even 3 or 4. I'm not sure. You can never have enough sweet potato fries.

Don’t worry, I'll go easy on dessert. Life's about balance after all. That’s Sprezzatura.

Not Ugly.... Just, ya know, Unique.

1. Thanks to the readers, you're the best!



2. If you're a subscriber, make sure ya click "always display images" to see pics in the e-mail.

3. *** Happy birthday to Pilar! ***

4. Check out this article thanks to my buddy Frank. These are some crazy lookin' mo'fuckas! Click here

The Homeless Man's Sucker Punch

The other day I went to CVS to re-up on my 1-2 punch of dark chocolates (this week it was Dove). As I approached the store, there was a homeless man hunched over by the entrance.

Due to the overwhelming existence of homelessness in Manhattan, an unspoken agreement exists, in that whenever you're asked for food/money there are two choices on how to react: hook it up or avoid eye contact and keep it movin'... Either way, that's supposed to be the end of your exchange.

But on this given day, there was a breach of contract!

Ya see, I entered CVS safe and sound. The man behind me, however, wasn't so lucky. He was minding his own business and chatting away on the phone... when suddenly the hobo lunged from out of nowhere and cracked him in the face! It was like watching a rattlesnake go to town on it's prey.

(Incidentally, another of Manhattan's unspoken rules is that you never physically hit a homeless person, just like you don't acknowledge the crazy preachers on subways. You simply put up with their madness, knowing that it comes with the city.)

Over the next 15 minutes, I witnessed everything short of assault. Rightfully so, the guy next to me straight up lost it! If the homeless man didn't already have self-esteem issues... well, you get the point.

I felt bad and even offered the enraged cheap shot victim a dark chocolate. He turned it down. That's how you know when someone's not thinking rationally.

Life's unexpected problems always hurt the worst. But hey, shit happens... just don't get too shook up from the homeless man's sucker punch. Gotta keep moving forward. That's Sprezzatura.

July's Sprezz of the Month

Each month, I try to recap people that stood out in both a positive and negative way. They're the Sprezz and Spazz of the month. Not sure exactly how this started, I guess something about separating from the pack's always caught my attention.

Anyway, July definitely brought out a few Spazzes. Let's start with Brett Favre. I love the guy and he's had one hell of a career... but enough's enough. If you retire, you're not supposed to keep goin back and forth on your word.



That's like being in a relationship with someone, then deciding you want to break up... but after a few weeks of not getting laid you reach out, like "I miss you, maybe I made a mistake. I'm not totally sure what I want but in the mean time, please don't see anyone else."

Come on, you gotta be quarterback of the football team or something to get away with THAT kind of selfishness. Not to mention the non-stop retirement updates flooding ESPN. That shit was taking up half of SportsCenter! 'Bout time you made up your mind, big guy.

Then there's Alan Fishman, the limo driver who chauffeured bankers and lawyers around for years, picking their minds and then eventually starting his own hedge fund. Except, it was all a scam. Fishman and his posse duped investors from around the country into forking over about $20 million and then fled the scene. That kind of bitch move makes Favre look like Braveheart.

But enough negativity... Let's move on to the Sprezz of the month. This from Yahoo! regarding the filming of Robin Hood which will star Russell Crowe:



"Denise Yarde, a boom microphone operator, informed producers she'd be late to the set after the car went up in smoke. When she arrived, she complained that she'd have to buy a new one - reportedly earning a jibe from Russell.

"Well, I suppose it's OK for you, Russell," Denise reportedly fired back. "You've probably never had to worry about finding five grand for a new car.

According to the Mirror, the apologetic actor then gave her 5,000 pounds (approximately $8,100) to help pay for her new vehicle, telling her, "There you go. You can buy a 10,000 pound car now."

Nice touch there, RC. That's Sprezzatura. Now let's see what goes down in August...

(If you enjoyed this post, show some love and pass it on to a friend/coworker who might also enjoy. Thanks!)

Whats Up with Funny People?

You know what rainy Sundays are great for? Catchin' movies. This weekend, I saw Funny People and as promised, I'll share my thoughts. Am I an expert? Absolutely not. But sometimes it’s nice to have an “average guy” help you out if you’re on the fence about dropping your $12.

For a technical and in depth review, read the NY Times. I'm just gonna keep it real...



Obviously, this movie brings high expectations. For years now, director Judd Apatow's been droppin' hit after hit. He's like the Jay-Z (in his prime) of comedy. Keep 'em coming, baby!

Then, ya got a few of the usual suspects in Seth Rogan and Jonah Hall. They're always fun to watch but Adam Sandler's the kicker. It's nice to see two generations of comedic geniuses link up and everyone has great chemistry.

Here's what you need to know going in. First off, Funny People really plays around with your emotions. Apatow mixes in some heavy storylines in between the hysterical laughing fits. Also, be mentally prepared because the movie's 3 hours long. You'll be left a little foggy when it's over.



Consider my rating system for a movie’s desirability:

• Don’t waste your time
• Don’t waste your money (wait until it’s released on TV)
• Mid week movie
• Friday night flick
• Saturday night extravaganza

Funny People's way too long for any midweek action. While it could hold it's own as a Saturday nighter, you might be left unsatisfied (because of the heavy content) if you're banking on it as your weekend's main event. That being said, we're talkin an ideal Friday night flick.

(If you liked this post, show some love and pass it on to a friend/coworker who might also enjoy. Thanks!)