Animals and blankets are an egregiously cute combination. There is little in this world that can make a person melt into a puddle of joy quite like a small animal swaddled.

But, aside from the cuteness factor, this burrito fad actually serves some important practical purposes.

For example, volunteers at the Morgan Hill Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation center wrap this little baby barn owl (appropriately named Barney) in a small blanket to keep him from scratching with his talons while he is being fed. Little Barney was brought to the center when he fell out of his nest in a palm tree.

Click on for more of our favorite animal burritos.

A cozy wrap can be used to weigh little critters, like this little northern saw-whet owl. According to the University of Minnesota's Raptor Center, "wrapping wiggly patients, like this saw-whet owl, in a specially designed wrap makes it easier to weigh them." This owl had been brought to the center with a fractured pelvis, but she made a full recovery after about two weeks.

Owls aren't the only ones who get snuggled. These orphaned baby bats were saved by the Australian Bat Clinic and Wildlife Trauma Centre after the Queensland floods in 2011. The bats were swaddled and bottle-fed, then kept on a clothesline until they were able to fly.

But, let's be real, animals love blankets, especially when it comes to little burrowers — like Kimi the hedgehog, who loves getting wrapped in a towel after her bath.

Sometimes blankets just make you feel safe and cozy!

Even cats dig the burritos — or, as they are sometimes called "purritos."

Stay cozy, my friends.

More Cuteness From The Dodo:
Doting Dog Keeps Adorable Baby Entertained
9 Dogs Who Know That Fetch Is More Than A Game — It's An Art
10 Pug Photobombs You've Got To See

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Just in time for cooler temperatures, Target announced its latest collaboration with Faribault. The Minnesota-based heritage wool brand has been around since 1865. The collection, launching on November 2, includes blankets, scarves, bags, and tech accessories.

READ MORE »

In April, we reported that city (national) treasure Spa Castle was preparing to launch a Manhattan location this fall, though details were scarce at the time. Since then, more information has eked out, including tantalizing renderings and the crucial intel that this location will ban rugrats under the age of 16. [ more › ]

The shot-and-a-beer combo has come full circle, from its early 19th century days as a working man's favorite, to the cheapo Williamsburg dive staple and now as the subject of a cool new cocktail bar in the East Village. At Boilermaker, there are boilermakers, of course, the classic name for the now ubiquitous drink combo. Where the Brooklyn iteration is more of the canned beer/well whiskey variety, here the pairings are slightly more sophisticated, though you'll find both Narragansett and Tecate on the menu. [ more › ]

Over the past few decades, snowboarding has gone from a rebel winter sport to having a solid spot on the main stage — especially after its debut at the 1998 Winter Olympics. Hugely instrumental in this transition: the owners of Burton Snowboards, Jake and Donna Carpenter. In addition to elevating the presence of the sport (and its equipment), Donna is also responsible for spearheading change for women in the workplace, championing conservation, and advocating for underprivileged kids. A superwoman by any standard.

Carpenter is an executive who makes guiding change her mission — and it's all rooted in a deep and driving passion for her work. Using just two words (one would be impossible), I would describe her as limitless and proactive. She’s traveled — and lived — around the world. She’s done everything at Burton from building snowboards to expanding the company’s European presence to serving as CFO. And, she's raised three sons, taking a 10-year hiatus from the workforce to do it.

Now, in the role of president, Carpenter continues to expand her reach through initiatives in key developmental areas like sustainability and mentorship. Like we said, she's making change happen — across the board. She’s a sports enthusiast, business owner, mother, ESPNW Advisory Board member, creator of the Burton Girls community, and head of the Chill Foundation, a non-profit mentoring program for underprivileged kids. She’s also a champion for women in a male-dominated sport and industry — starting inside her own company.

Carpenter has created a range of programs to promote women within Burton — from a mentorship program to a progressive post-maternity travel option for new moms — and she’s seen the company and its profits positively change because of the female presence at all levels. She's helped increase the number of women in leadership positions (director level and above) from 10% to 40% since creating the Women’s Leadership Initiative (WLI) 13 years ago.

Plus, she's a badass. You’ll catch her on the slopes on any given night or day, trying new moves as well as splitboarding (hiking up a mountain, clicking the board together, and snowboarding down) — which makes sense, because she's fearless in and out of the boardroom. Her secret: finding something you’re passionate about, and turning it into a career. “I’m convinced that snowboarding makes the world a better place,” she told me. And, I believe her.

Up ahead, an incredibly empowering conversation with a female executive with whom we would love to work. She’s rewriting the description of a strong female leader — and it's a definition we should all get on board with.

Hair & Makeup by Montana Sutton; Photographed by Winnie Au.



You’ve been called one of the most influential women in action sports and the snow ambassador. What does this role mean to you?
“I don’t think it’s a role I ever anticipated, but I’m happy to do it. The thing that makes snowboarding so special is that we all grew as a community. We were [a new sport that was] in opposition to skiing. They didn’t want us at their mountains or trade shows, but we were determined. We’ve had this rebel attitude. We grew up as a community, and I felt that women have always been a big part of that community. When we started we had as many women as men working, as many women team riders, a woman was just as likely to get her picture on the new snowboarding magazine that started. Then, as the sport grew very quickly, and we were pulling from male-dominated sports like surfing, skate, and even ski, it really started to take on this male-dominated culture.”

The action sport industry is still male-dominated, but you’ve been leading the efforts to bring more women into this community.
“At one point I said that we really have to be careful that we are staying open to women and inviting them into our community because they’ve always been a part of it. I realized that we really needed to be proactive and Burton can take a lead role in that. We started 13 years ago, looking at how we can recruit, retain, and promote more women internally. We were never going to grow and succeed in the women’s market unless we have internal women making strategic decisions. So very early on, I made this connection between how making Burton a brand of choice is connected to making Burton an employer of choice for women.”

Burton jacket; Topshop T-shirt; Brunello Cucinelli pants; Frye boots.



What have been some of the challenges you’ve faced?
“I think that when you’re in a room full of guys and they’re all snowboarders, it’s really easy for them to develop these informal relationships, saying ‘let’s take a few runs before work,’ and you have to be more proactive about it with women. We just recently established a buddy program where if there is a female candidate who is a finalist for a position, we match her with a woman internally who they can go off with and have coffee or lunch. It’s off the record, not part of the interview, and the woman can ask honest questions about what it’s like to work at Burton and understand the policies and culture. We have a Women’s Professional Association that organizes a lot of events including an upcoming surf trip in Maine. We also do three exclusive women’s events every season, one of them is a half-day where every woman can just take off and ride, which has the double benefit of allowing the guys to realize how screwed they are without us.”

What would you tell executives and industry leaders they should be doing to help women thrive at work?
“For us, the first thing that we did, and the first thing you have to look at is your maternity and post-maternity policies to make sure they are as progressive as possible. I always thought that you invest in these incredibly talented women employees in their twenties and early thirties [and] then they leave and don’t come back? They are at their peak in terms of talent and creativity and knowing the systems, so I thought, 'okay how do we address it?' You need to have role models — young women want to see that there are women in the company that have balanced both a career and a family, and working mothers in high positions, so they can see themselves investing in a long term career here as well. So, as a company, you have to make sure there’s a good culture around allowing high-performing women flex opportunities after maternity. One of the more progressive policies we have at Burton is that within the first 18 months after giving birth, if your job requires you to travel, you can either take a caregiver with you or we will pay for a caregiver at home.

“The second thing is mentoring. We started with 20 veteran women offering to mentor young women and it grew to where it was almost every woman, and it was so successful that the guys wanted it as well. Now, it’s company-wide.”

Burton jacket; Topshop T-shirt.



So, you’re helping women at a macro level, but you’ve also been working to encourage women from within. What’s the one thing that young mothers should feel empowered to ask their employers for?
“Looking at it from the employer’s perspective, they’ve invested a lot in you as an employee, especially if you’re high performing, so know that they don’t want to lose you either. I have the advantage that all my kids are grown now and on their own paths as adults, and I never thought that day would come, but it does. When I had my second child I went from a five-day week to four days and it made all the difference in the world. Everyone has to find different solutions, but know that you’re going into those conversations with your employer as a partner.”



You’ve also been spearheading the effort behind BurtonGirls.com, a community specifically for female riders. What has previously been the barrier?
“We’ve had women team riders from the beginning, we made women-specific products, and we have a great history of providing equal prize money at the U.S. Open, which was unheard of. We had a strong heritage, but the company had become male-dominated, and I realized that the way we were marketing to men was not effective for women. Burton Girls is our way of tapping into that. Snowboarding is about the sport but it’s also about who you’re with, where you are, and how it makes you feel, and the empowerment it gives you. Burton Girls is our way of inviting women into our lifestyle, company, and sport. I think it’s been a success because it’s really authentic female voices with some high-powered women driving it internally. I think we have the right combination there. And, our women’s hardgoods are growing at 7%, which is a much faster rate than men’s right now.”



You’ve had many roles at Burton besides co-founder — from snowboard builder to CFO to currently President. What have you learned about being a leader from your unique trajectory?
“Someone just asked me to give a talk on my leadership style and I said it [my style] was three words: I don’t know. I started very accidentally. Back in the '80s, my husband was convinced that snowboards, which were only a wooden plank with a rope on the end and some waterski bindings, could be made like a ski, something that was only happening in Europe at the time. [When we moved to Europe] I had lined up another job for a year and the next thing I know we’re setting up an office, and warehouse, and distribution and we had all this demand. I was in my early twenties, and a political science major with no business experience, so I really approached the business differently. I asked questions, I was curious, and I was open to learning. I didn’t know what the hell I was doing and I had humility — I approached everything that way."

Burton chambray shirt; Burton long sleeve T-shirt; Burberry pants; Converse shoes.

Owning a company with your husband must come with a particular set of challenges. How do you make it work?
“It was in part because what we were doing was something so much bigger than ourselves. We wanted people to try snowboarding because we knew they would fall in love with it. It was a new way to go down the mountain and it was spiritual for us. We did keep our areas very separate. He was laser-focused on product and marketing and I was really sales and finance operations, so that helped. I’m not saying it wasn’t ever hard, but I think it was because it was bigger than us. It was the hardest when things were tough. He would be having a product problem and I would be having these finance problems and we’d just make each other sick at night talking. So, we instituted this rule that we could not talk business after 6 p.m. and that was for about a year when we went through a tough time, but we got through it.”



What advice would you give women who are looking to continue to develop in the workforce?
“I’ve cultivated a lot of mentors over the years. As an entrepreneur you sometimes think that you’re the first person to ever go through this, and chances are, you’re not. It’s always comforting when someone else says they’ve dealt with it as well. It gives you perspective. So, one thing I always tell women to do is create their own board of directors. I have people around me that are interested in seeing me succeed and give me candid feedback. I think sometimes that we develop blind spots, so [to] have people that will really call bullshit on you, and get you to look at the stuff maybe you don’t want to look at, is helpful.

“And, don’t be afraid of not knowing, or making a mistake. That’s where the learning comes from, by not knowing and asking for help. Mistakes are the crash-courses. When I was in Europe in the '80s we had a terrible quality problems with the snowboards that only impacted my market. It was bad — the bindings would rip out of the boards when people were riding them. It was one production run and they all ended up in Switzerland and it was really difficult for me to manage through. But, in the end we were so determined for that to never happen again that we became quality freaks. That has really served us well.”

Burton jacket; Topshop T-shirt; Brunello Cucinelli pants; Frye boots.

You’ve also said that taking care of yourself is immensely important. How do you find the time?
“It has to become a priority. I think about it as the people that work for me, they want me showing up being present and feeling good. That’s how I can be of best service to them, not coming in dragging and tired. I don’t know if that’s doing them any favors. I think we’ve all learned that the hard way, myself included. We’ve all worked too hard and made ourselves sick. The older I get the more I realize that my emotional, physical, and spiritual health have to come first before I can take care of anyone else. Maybe I did hear that advice as a 25-year-old and just didn’t follow it.

“I do a lot of yoga and meditation and I have that connection with the mountain no matter the season. I hike a lot. I get up really early in the morning and hike before work or hike with a headlamp after work. So for me, it’s being in the mountains, either climbing them or riding down them, or hopefully both. What I’m doing on a snowboard isn’t the same sport that Shaun White is doing. But, keeping that connection with the mountain, doing yoga, and meditating has changed my life.”



You’ve also been driving the company’s global sustainability efforts. What do you think about the recent People’s Climate March and the UN Climate Summit?
“I wish I could have been there. Our director of sustainability was at the march and there was a little bit of a Burton presence. When you have a company you sometimes feel like you have to be careful of the political positions you take — customers might not like that you’re saying a certain thing. We weren’t really speaking up, but we also thought that we hadn’t really cleaned our own house, so how can we be out there talking about global warming. So, once I felt like we’ve made some progress, I said we really have to start speaking up more. We have joined different business groups and are really trying to speak up and speak out and see how we can get our demographic more involved.”

Burton long-sleeve shirt.

How are you spearheading the campaign in a way that is authentic and meaningful?
“Quite honestly, I think the action sport industry is a little behind the curve, especially when you look at the outdoor sport industry. So, within our own company I looked around, and there were things that we were doing in different areas: For a long time we’ve had a partnership with Mountain Dew where we made jackets out of their recycled materials and we had a grassroots employee group that was doing things to green our building and encourage biking. I kind of just brought it all together. We made a three-year commitment (we’re in the second year now) to audit 100% of our factories, to know exactly what’s in our product from a chemical point of view, and we’re on target to reach that next year. It’s been a great learning experience. I wouldn’t say that we’re leading the way, we still have a lot of work to do, but we’ve made incredible progress.

“We also really wanted sustainability to be a focus for innovation. This is a very innovative company so if you challenge everyone to look at it through a sustainability lens, it’s really exciting.”



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New Yorkers are lucky enough to have rambling green naturescapes like Central and Prospect Parks, but the small, public-accessible pocket parks that dot the city are an oft-overlooked joy, a temporary respite from the hustle and bustle of the urban artery. For this guide, we're confining our list to Manhattan, where slivers of semi-green space clocking in at 5,000 square meters or so can be found wedged between office buildings in Midtown and beyond. Here are our favorites; leave your suggestions in the comments. [ more › ]

When we read that New York Mayor Bill de Blasio was responsible for the mysterious death of a groundhog, we were more than a little confused. Then, we found out that the Staten Island Zoo attempted to cover up the entire thing. Now, we're completely in awe.

On Thursday, the New York Post reported that the groundhog from last year's Groundhog's Day ceremony died a week after its public appearance from "acute internal injuries." Even worse, it turns out Charles G. Hogg (or Staten Island Chuck, as he's better known) — the groundhog that was supposed to be present for the event — was actually not the one there that fateful day: It was his stunt double, Charlotte. (Chuck bit Mayor Bloomberg in 2009, which is why the zoo made the swap.)

So, what really happened that fateful day? Apparently, the mayor lost his grip while holding a squirmy Charlotte, and she plummeted six feet to hit the ground. Although she was examined immediately after her fall and "revealed no sign of trauma or pain," a week after the incident, the groundhog was found dead in her exhibit at the Staten Island Zoo, the place she called home.

According to the Post, the zoo requested that the mayor's office keep quiet about the death, as well as Charlotte's true identity. And, while there have been many conflicting statements about the timeline of events, a spokesperson for the zoo is sticking to the script. The official statement: "It appears unlikely that the animal’s death is related to the events on Groundhog Day."

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The Scary Truth Behind NYC Nail Salons

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If today's chilly, sodden weather hadn't clued you in: winter is coming. Time to move all of summer's outdoor bounty indoors, including powerhouse al fresco markets Smorgasburg and Brooklyn Flea, which are winding down their waterfront season. After last year's successful transition to a Williamsburg warehouse, the whole kit and kaboodle are instead heading to Crown Heights to join their gorgeous new sister Berg'n. [ more › ]

Houseplants are one of the quickest ways to breathe a little life into a room. Make them oversized and you have a sculptural focal point that brings the outdoors in, in a big way. Here are a few of our favorite inspirational images.

READ MORE »

There are recipes on my Cook This list that I’ve been plotting for years but take forever to jump from that place where they’re a rough idea of how I think something might taste good and how I’ll make that happen. There are items on the list which are just the names of dishes I haven’t tried yet and want to learn more about. And there are recipes that make me kick myself every time I see them because how have we not made a good hearty tortilla soup here yet? And where is that Russian napoleon I’ve been promising you? But this here is none of the above. Exactly one month ago, someone emailed me (hi Angela!) and asked if I had ever made a German Sunken Apple Cake [which sounds even cooler in its native language: Versunkener Apfelkuchen] and I had barely finished reading the email before I had a new tab open because I had to immediately know what it was.

What it was is adorable. Seriously, it’s relentlessly cute. Small apples are peeled, halved, cored and then scored and arranged rump-up on a buttery cake base and in the oven, the cake begins to creep up around them and the apples fan out like accordions and the whole thing is so golden, dimpled and lovely that I abandoned all hopes, plans to do anything else until I could make this happen. (Perhaps predictably, this still took three weeks.)

... Read the rest of sunken apple and honey cake on smittenkitchen.com

---

© smitten kitchen 2006-2012. | permalink to sunken apple and honey cake | 237 comments to date | see more: Apple, Cake, Everyday Cakes, Fall, German, Jewish, Photo

Even before it opened, the High Line was a snapshot of a vanishing moment. First came a zone of fond neglect, where weeds and wildflowers sprouted cheerfully from a toxin-laced rail bed. Some saw blight in the rusting relic, others possibility; either way, it couldn’t last. Then, in 2009 — ... More »

I have always loved art and thought that it was the most personal part of any home, but I never knew how to make it all look good on the wall. Then a friend gave me a great tip that to this day has made picture hanging a simple, gratifying task. The tip? Always hang your artwork at 57" on center. Confused?

READ MORE »

It's not everyday that you find someone with a chinchilla for a pet. After all, Mr. Bagel, as his fond owner, Steve, calls him, does hail from the rodent family. The pictures of this little guy, adopted from an animal shelter a few years ago, however, may just make you reconsider the definition of pet.

Chinchillin.

Mr. Bagel needs his cup of joe to start the day.

He's almost small enough for this dollhouse furniture.

Fiesta time.

Man purse.

Treat yourself to something yummy to boost your day!

Don't mess.

Driver'd ed.

I'll be back.

Treats!

What is happening?

Soda anyone?

Making a fashion statement.

Thanks, Lauren Conrad, for picking me as one of your favorite Instagram animals.

Not about it.

Wine makes Mr. Bagel very happy.

Merry Christmas.

Fo real.

Wash those hands.

They're getting closer!

I'd brush my teeth twice a day if I could.

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I spend a lot of time writing about complex techniques, but in truth, most of the stuff I like to cook for myself at home is pretty simple. This is one of those nice and easy summer dishes that relies only on great produce—zucchini, summer squash, and tomatoes—and simple technique, but comes with a little bit of a rough twist at the end. Read More

[Photo from early September via EVG reader Sal]

GG's is now in soft-open mode at 511 E. Fifth St. Goat Town owner Nick Morgenstern revamped the space here between Avenue A and Avenue B officially opens this weekend.

Eater got a sneak preview.

The menu is more relaxed than Goat Town's, with a strong emphasis on pizza, and some ingredients still coming from the backyard. Pies include the "Ev Greenery", which is topped with greens, lamb chorizo, sauce vert, grano padano, cherry tomatoes and pickled red onion. There is also a clam pie with three varieties of bivalves on it and a pie topped with morcilla and ricotta. Slices of two pies are available daily for around $4 at lunch.

Head over to Eater for shots of the interior and the menus.

Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] Goat Town is closing to make way for a pizzeria

The transformation of Goat Town to GG's on East 5th Street

GG's announces itself on East 5th Street

In the "Throwback Thursday" column at Fork in the Road this week, Kevin Kessler writes about the 31-year-old Cafe Mogador at 101 St. Mark's Place.

And?

Mogador is, arguably, the truest culinary expression of what was once called a modern East Village restaurant. It's hip, laid back, and older than it seems (it opened in 1983), but it's also vibrant.

The food still works too. "The café serves ultra-reliable Mediterranean fare from breakfast through dinner."

All of which reminds me that I haven't been here in a very long time.

Raincoats, winter booties, Santa hats...we're all familiar with the sight of dressed-up dogs. Heck, some of us even partake in the practice of clothing our own canines. Sure, it's silly — but when done right, it's the most adorable thing ever. Dog owner Stephanie says that her German shorthaired pointers, Gus and Travis (fondly called The Pointer Brothers), get excited when she brings the camera out.

"They associate it with treats, but they also love to please and 'work,'" she says. "I know a lot of dogs would hate wearing hats or being dressed up, but my guys seem to really enjoy it." We'll let the photos speak for themselves.

⬅Travis & Gus ➡

The boys were a bit chilly after a rainy trail run. Here, they show off the latest in fall fashion.

Who turned out the lights?

On Wednesdays, we wear pink.

Boys in the hood.

We're lumberjacks, and we're okay.

FALL IS THE BEST.

Baby, it's cold outside.

Too cool for school.

Excellent — 10 points for Ravenclaw.

Comfortable and stylish.

Bespoke pups.

Gus prepares for the US Open.

Are we the first ones up?

On the hunt.

Do we look regal?

We were framed, we swear!

DIY festive dress.

Painting the town red.

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The People's Climate March is coming up on Sunday. (Details here, if you're interested.)

Ahead of that, the Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space (MoRUS) is hosting a variety of events in the neighborhood, including:

Tonight, 4 – 8 pm: Banner and Puppet Making for People's Climate March
@ La Plaza Community Garden, (9th St & Ave C)

Bring paints, props, and food to share as we make ecological puppets and props in our green space for the upcoming People’s Climate March and Ride.

Friday, 4 – 8 pm: Sign and Patch Making for People’s Climate March
@ Loisaida Harvest Festival; La Plaza Community Garden

Join in the festivities of the Loisaida Harvest Festival and make signs and patches for the People’s Climate March and Ride.

Saturday, noon – 2 pm: FREE Lower East Side Sustainable Community & Garden Walking Tour
@ At MoRUS

The Lower East Side has the highest concentration of community gardens and squats of any neighborhood in the country. Come explore these sustainable buildings and spaces on this one-of-a-kind, full-access walking tour.

Saturday, 6:15 pm: Presentation on the History of Grassroots Environmental Activism in New York City
@ At MoRUS

Come learn how sustainable grassroots community projects have ignited social change and policy change in NYC. Hear about different sustainable subjects, like how community bicycle activism changed the whole city to a more safe and sustainable design with bike-lanes, auto-free plazas and greenways. Hosted by the Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space featuring a conversation and video screening by Wendy Brawer of Green Maps and Bill DiPaola of Time’s Up Environmental Organization.

Visit the Museum's events page for more info. MoRUS is at 155 Avenue C between East Ninth Street and East 10th Street.

Meanwhile, the Third Annual LUNGS Harvest Festival is happening this weekend... which also coincides with the march... Check out the LUNGS website here for details on events happening at various community gardens around the neighborhood. We'll have more on LUNGS later this week...

World leaders are converging at the UN next Tuesday to show how very serious they are about tackling climate change, coupling stern rhetoric with the same cataclysmic inaction on which we’ve come to rely. In an effort to shake them out of their planet-killing torpor, a coalition of activists, environmentalists, unions, and community groups are staging the People’s Climate March, billed as the “largest climate march in history,” with more than 1,000 partnering organizations bringing hundreds of buses of protesters. The organizers are promising to “change everything.” But how? [ more › ]

Picture this: it's 100 degrees out, you descend into the subway station to find a packed platform, you stand for 10 minutes waiting for a train as the sweat forms a glistening husk around your entire body. What if you could skip all of that, and float way above the river to your destination? CityRealty's president Dan Levy has proposed an East River Skyway, and we are on board. This high-speed gondola would connect a number of areas along Manhattan and the Brooklyn and Queens waterfronts—kind of similar to the East River Ferry route. [ more › ]

Last November, mom-turned-photographer Jessica Shyba launched an Instagram project that chronicles “the most organic and beautiful friendship” maybe ever: that of her toddler son, Beau, and the family dog, Theo.

Shyba and her family adopted Theo from the local SPCA last year, and he and Beau immediately became buddies. The two are so close that they nap together each day — and that’s exactly what Shyba photographs. Her son and her dog share a remarkable naptime intimacy, and it’s moving to watch them grow together. And, while they’re both doing a lot of growing, Theo is beating Beau by a long shot. As Shyba told My Modern Metropolis, it’s becoming more and more difficult to fit her ever-larger puppy in the frame.

Still, Beau doesn’t seem to have any trouble fitting Theo in his arms.

More Cuteness From The Dodo:
Doting Dog Keeps Adorable Baby Entertained
9 Dogs Who Know That Fetch Is More Than A Game — It's An Art
10 Pug Photobombs You've Got To See

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The Internet's obsession with animals has made us tough critics. For every cat video you share, there's a friend who knows it'll never be as good as this Scottish Fold Napoleon Kitten. Seth Casteel's cracked the code, though. His "Underwater Dogs" series is enough for even the most discerning viral critic to appreciate. That's why he's followed it up with another incredible segment: "Underwater Puppies."

In an interview with NPR, Steele says he started the photo project in 2010 when Buster, a King Charles Spaniel, refused to stay on land. "He decided he would rather be in the swimming pool, so he just started jumping in, over and over again," Steele told the news outlet. The series has become so wildly popular it'll feature in its own book, Underwater Puppies, due out September 16.

Beyond the cute factor, Steele's photos also have a meaningful message: Many of the pups featured are rescue dogs.

"You know, puppies lift our spirits. They don't care who you are, what you've been doing, where you're doing, they just want to love you and they just want to be your friend," Steele told NPR. That's why we love them so much, too. Well, that, and how fluffy they are.

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Fighting with your significant other lately? Before you call it quits over irreconcilable differences, take a look at your diet. Turns out the source of many interpersonal frustrations may have more to do with your blood sugar level than how compatible you are with your mate.

A team of researchers at The Ohio State University led by Brad Bushman, Ph.D., tracked the nightly blood sugar levels of 107 married couples (most of whom had been hitched at least a decade) for three weeks. Participants also received a voodoo doll representing their spouse and were instructed to stick up to 51 pins in it as a way of marking how angry they were with their partners.

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Following this 21-day stretch, spouses competed against each other in a lab-based computer game. The goal: Be the first to press a button in response to a red square popping up on their screens. (Spouses played alone in a room, under the assumption that their husband or wife was their opponent. Little did they know they were playing against the computer.) Winners earned the once-in-a-lab-time chance to blast their opponents with ear-shattering noises — fingernails on a chalkboard, dentist drills, and crazy loud ambulance sirens. (Less retaliatory victors could, of course, opt for a no noise option.)

Who delivered the most unbearable and lengthy aural assaults to the ears of their beloved? Participants whose blood glucose levels consistently clocked in below normal during the weeks preceding the game. What’s more, the lower their glucose levels were, the more abuse (in the form of pin pricks) their spouse-representative voodoo dolls suffered. Ouch. Read on to see why being "hangry" is a real problem.

Why Hunger Makes Us More Likely To Lash Out
So, what the heck is it about hunger that it makes us likely to hulk out? “Anger is one of the most difficult emotions to regulate,” Bushman says, explaining the connection between low blood sugar and aggression. “Without adequate fuel in the form of glucose, the part of the brain responsible for curtailing angry impulses — the prefrontal cortex — simply doesn’t have enough resources to exert self-control.”

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Previous research has confirmed that hanger is a legit problem. In one study using a similar computer game setup, players who slurped down a pre-competition sugary lemonade delivered less vicious bombardments to their competitors’ eardrums than those who’d chugged calorie-and sugar-free drinks. In another, folks unable to properly metabolize sugar — a hallmark symptom of diabetes — were less inclined to forgive a wrongdoer. And, by the way, single folk among us are not immune: Depressed glucose levels have also been cited as a primary cause of increased irritability around others (friends and lovers included), over-the-top anger, and general anxiety. “We’re not advising people to binge on sugar just to get along with their partners,” Bushman says. “But, if you have something important to discuss with a significant other, you should avoid doing it on an empty stomach.”

For better noshing that keeps us both energized and healthy, sports dietician Heather Mangieri, MS, RDN, CSSN, recommends constructing snacks as mini-meals — half a turkey sandwich with an orange or an apple with peanut butter. “The point of a snack is to hold you over, maintain your blood sugar, and supply your body with the vitamins and minerals it needs,” Mangieri says. “People often forget this because they associate snacking with something crunchy, salty, sweet, or processed.”Healthy eating may not make relationship conflicts disappear. But, properly nourishing our bodies can help us control anger and iron out issues with our loved ones by energizing us enough to manage strong emotions.

The Takeaway
Going from hungry to hangry is a legit problem — and it can make us hostile towards those closest to us. We’re more easily irritated when we’re running on empty because our brains don’t have enough fuel to tamp down aggressive thoughts and impulses. Self-control takes energy — in the form of food and drink that keep you sated and energetic throughout the day. Don’t be shy about keeping a decent supply of easy-to-carry, non-perishable snacks on you or at least within reach, especially if you’re susceptible to hanger-induced ragefests. Preventing hunger means preventing hanger which means your body, brain, and significant other will all have something to thank you for.

Next: Does Love At First Sight Really Exist?

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The New York City Department of City Planning has released a revised neighborhood map updated with new neighborhoods, statistics and topographical features, according to a sentence that I just lifted straight from The Wall Street Journal today.

Head over to the Department of City Planning website to download a map for free.

Also, please note the disclaimer on the bottom of the map page:

"Neighborhood names are not officially designated. Due to space constraints, this map product does not include an exhaustive list of known neighborhood names."

Which explains why the map doesn't include such locales here as Astor Place, WeAs (West of Astor), LeLa (left of Lafayette Street), SoFaBo (South of Facebook) and Stuyversy (The merger beween Stuytown and Gramercy Park).

Thanks to Giovanni for some of those fine names.

Tonight at 8:30, Reverend Billy And The Stop Shopping Gospel Choir will perform ("pray and sing") at the bendy tree in the center of Tompkins Square Park.



As noted yesterday, a professional arborist hired by the Parks Department found the leaning elm to be "structurally unsound" … and it "poses a danger to the public." The tree will likely be removed this coming week.

As much as we enjoy piecing our clothes together for a masterfully undone outfit — it's the fashion girl's version of a jigsaw puzzle — we also have days when styling shortcuts are key to getting out the door. Just like you, time isn't our friend on those still-half-asleep mornings. For these occasions, a throw-on-and-go jumpsuit is one of our most handy hacks to feeling comfy and looking cute in a hurry.

Relaxed, slouchy fits were sent down the runways last February, and now they're available in stores and online. To prep for cooler climes, we selected 15 long-sleeve offerings for extra warmth. Add a vest, and you'll be as street-style-ready as they come. Time to suit up.

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[Photo from July 18 by Michael Hirsch]

The 2 Bros. sliceria closed on First Avenue near East 14th Street back in July.

Now another nearby $1 pizza joint looks to be closing here between East 13th Street and East 14th Street this fall.

A listing appeared this week for 222 First Ave., home to Joey Pepperoni (Or Joey Guacamole per the listing photo!) across the street. (Asking rent: $9,500 plus key money.)



The 2 Bros. branch opened in February 2013, much to the dismay of next-door neighbor Vinny Vincenz, who had been there for 11 years. In response to 2 Bros.'s arrival, Vinny's started offering $1 slices.

We saw it all during the Great $1 Pizza War of First Avenue … multiple sidewalk sandwich boards … the introduction of $1 drafts… dancing pizza menu women.

For now, victory goes to the 11-year-old Vinny Vincenz, who also unveiled a new sign back in the summer.



Previously on EV Grieve:
First Avenue $1 Pizza Wars — now with draft beer

Checking in on the $1 pizza war on First Avenue

Latest weapon in the First Avenue $1 slice wars: Dancing Pizza Menu Woman

[Updated] Reader report: The 2 Bros. Pizza on 1st Avenue has apparently closed