quote:

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If you're blue and you don't know
where to go to why don't you go
where fashion sits
Puttin' on the Ritz
Different types who wear a day
coat pants with stripes and cutaway
coat perfect fits
Puttin' on the Ritz
Dressed up like a million-dollar trooper
Tryin' hard to look like Gary Cooper (super duper)
Come let's mix where
Rockefellers walk with sticks or
um-ber-ellas in their mitts
Puttin' on the Ritz

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I'm searching for the lyrics to one of my favourite Paris songs, "Give Paris One More Chance," by Jonathan Richman. But no joy. So here's a bit from memory:

quote:

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If you've been to cities and you've had enough
Have you been to Paris, France?
And if don't think Paris was made for love
Give Paris one more chance
The home of Piaf and Chevelier
Must have done something right to get passion that way...

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And I forget the rest. But it's a funny song.

[ 18 July 2003: Message edited by: 'lance ]

It is fun to gawk a bit at luxe Paris, but I don't like it very much. Much prefer the type of neighourhood where there is couscous, tagine, little Portuguese and Turkish places, and old French bistros (not for the faint at heart in terms of second-hand smoke). And public markets with gorgeous cheese, even in ordinary working-class areas.

I have never had tagine, y'know. I have a recipe for it, but I have been assuming that you can't make it properly without a tagine-thingy (what are they called? just tagines?). And doesn't that require a proper kind of fire?

In loonies, that hotel STARTS at $919 a night!!!

And I bet that's for a broom closet. (Comment dit-on "broom closet," lagatta?)

On the subject though, does conspicuous consumption bother you? It does me, and my hypocrisy that goes along with it. I mean, I do like nice stuff too, and my material possessions, while not likely to grace the decore of the Ritz, and not all utilitarian, either, and would be less so given the income.

But, you know. $600.00 drinks? A Boxter with personalized licence plates that say "MuttDr"? (hmm, those vet bills are due to high overhead and nasty taxes, eh?)

Where's the boundry between having nice stuff and conspicuous consumption?

[ 19 July 2003: Message edited by: Tommy_Paine ]

But I was thinking yesterday - normally I would just say, "Isn't that stupid, after a certain point a drink is just a drink." And of course, I did say that. But my curiosity was piqued - wouldn't you just love to get a taste of that $600 sidecar just to see what all the fuss is about?

Oh Skdadl, I was drooling over the description of the sidecar that you found. And this line was beautiful:

quote:

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If you make the strong parts brandy, the sweet part Cointreau, and the sour part fresh-squeezed lemon, and if you shake it over ice vigorously and serve it up with a twist, you will get instant transport back to the days before vodka arrived on the scene and ruined almost everything.

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Hee hee! I don't like vodka much either.

I wish I could find a "favorite drink" so I could have just one bottle of something around the house to mix it occasionally. I've had a bottle of rum and a bottle of vodka in my house for ages, and have barely touched one and haven't even cracked open the other one. I just have no "drink" that I like enough to bother.

quote:

---

If you're blue and you don't know
where to go to why don't you go
where fashion sits
Puttin' on the Ritz
Different types who wear a day
coat pants with stripes and cutaway
coat perfect fits
Puttin' on the Ritz
Dressed up like a million-dollar trooper
Tryin' hard to look like Gary Cooper (super duper)
Come let's mix where
Rockefellers walk with sticks or
um-ber-ellas in their mitts
Puttin' on the Ritz.

---

[ 19 July 2003: Message edited by: audra estrones ]

Super Duper!!!

Y'know, even though I've got the tune in my head, I still can't make it work, looking at the words.

The only two lines I can scan easily are the bridge:

quote:

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Dressed up like a million-dollar trooper
Tryin' hard to look like Gary Cooper (super duper)

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But that's the only easy part.

Single-malt whiskey is so good that even a wino such as I has been able to talk self into tasting it only three times a year, no more than a wee dram each time (St Andrew's, Hogmannay [New Year's], and Burns Night).

Brandy. Cognac. Ha. Pretenders.

quote:

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Originally posted by 'lance:
If I had access to such Cognac, I wouldn't be diluting it in a highball.

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I don't know what political persuasion one could link over-proof bourbon to, but whatever it is, don't mess.