Walking Advertisements

In the midst of groovin' along to the Four Seasons (that's right) on my iPod this morning, I came face to face with a man wearing a TV screen around his neck, displaying an advertisement. I was so intrigued that I stopped in my tracks and missed my favorite verse of Let's Hang On. What is this phenomenon? It's Ads on Feet, a very new wave of street advertising bringing walking advertisements to a whole new level.

Here's how it works: A company coordinates with Ads on Feet, whether for full or limited service. Staff is trained on wearing and using the tv's tethered to a heavy duty vest. Upload your video advertisements and you're good to go walk the streets! Okay, maybe it's a bit more complicated but that's the jist.

Let's be honest, no self-respecting New Yorker stops to collect flyers from the man on the corner shoving them in every face that walks by. Even less stop to talk to the people with clipboards, asking for your credit card numbers to purchase hair cuts, spa treatments, or make the charitable donation du jour. But I will admit that I was strangely drawn to the man with the TV screen. Is it my love of television that drew me in? The newness of this brilliant, yet seemingly obvious marketing tool? I haven't decided, but I do know that I'll be on the lookout for others and will probably even stop to find out what companies are participating. Ads on Feet, you got me.

What are your thoughts? Minority Report (in a bad way) or the next obvious step?

Piggy Swine Flu

President Obama says not to fret over the recent swine flu epidemic, but as a person living in the place where 8 of 20 cases have been reported, I’m on full alert. Short of wearing a germ mask (which I'm totally considering), here are some tips for keeping your sanity.

Do’s & Don’ts:
1) Since the subway surf is never a guaranteed option, do use a tissue or other disposable cloth to create a barrier between you and the germ-infested handrails.
2) Do scrub those paws! This should be the first thing you do when you walk into the office. Say it with us, "lather, rinse, repeat…"
3) Even better, do carry around hand sanitizer – remember this article?
4) Don’t stand too close to other people unless absolutely necessary.
5) Don’t make your diet pork-free, as pork products are ok to eat*…unless you are looking for an excuse to remove bacon from your diet…
6) Don’t overreact. I’m suffering from full-on allergy attack this morning, and I’m laying the blame on global warming.

*Info from health.msn.com

Restaurant Roundup: Cercle Rouge

What: A brasserie tucked away in Tribeca, Cercle Rouge is the most recent addition in an eclectic resume of restaurants by the GF Group, joining one of my favorite downtown spots, Café Noir.

Where: 241 West Broadway

Why it Rocks: The brunch prix fixe, priced at a reasonable $19.95, will get you coffee, one of many delectable meals off the brunch menu, and your choice of mimosa, bloody Mary, or Bellini. The food featured a delicious mix of fresh ingredients from eggs (build your own omelette! Gruyere and fresh herbs? I’m all over it) to crepes (shrimp and asparagus, yum!) to waffles (with bananas and chocolate!). A word to the wise: Don’t skip out on the ‘hash browns’, which are actually the most deliciously roasted potato wedges you could ever hope for.

I’m all about atmosphere and a restaurant’s ability to transport me to another place via food, mood, and scenery. Cercle Rouge undoubtedly achieved as I felt as though I was sitting in a café of the Parisian persuasion, from the black and cream wicker chairs to the teeny 2 person round tables. All it lacked was the Seine River and the soundtrack from Amelie, which, admittedly, I kept waiting for.

Gripes: Construction on the opposite street corner left much to be aesthetically desired when dining outdoors.

Bonus: A man wearing a top hat performing table side magic tricks.

Bottom Line: Delicious food, courteous staff who didn’t rush us out (we were 4 ladies, after all), and great atmosphere – really the only way to do brunch.