Friday Moneymaker Shaker

It's Friday, it's 5:00, the sun is shining and the Yankees win.

Glorious.

Only one thing left to do: Shake it.

Whether you're a pompous old geezer who gets way too much enjoyment out of silly puns or this little dude I spotted getting his groove on to some Beatles music in Strawberry Fields, the best way to celebrate feelin' alive is to shake what your mama gave ya.

Walking in a central park [fresh air]

Unless you've been suffering from short-term memory loss, you'll recall that I took myself on a walk around central park yesterday to awaken myself from hibernation a little bit. Upon emerging from my den, I immediately found myself involved in my first attempt at amateur bird-watching. I followed this little rascal down a path and got as close as I could to his perch.

Not a spectacular pic by any means, but not bad for a first attempt, I think.

I got to cross one more item off the Murray Hewitt Bandshell tour of New York City when I stopped to watch some kids lining up soccer shots at a goalie waiting on the stage of the Naumberg Bandshell. Scenes at Naumburg Bandshell were featured in Hair, I'm Not Rappaport, Breakfast at Tiffanys and Mighty Aphrodite. Are you listening, Jemaine?

This guy came over and jumped in for just one shot, and he made it count.

I believe this move is from the original Street Fighter arcade game.

Venturing on, I happened past this disturbing chalk drawing of some sort of squid-like creature that belongs the credits of Superbad.

If you look closely you'll see the phrase, "OH HAI!" beside the creature, which actually makes this monstrosity the elusive Giant LOLsquid.

As I came around a bend in the path, the mellow, acoustic ambiance of Bon Iver quickly gave way to Central Park Roller Soul Train. This part of the walking tour is best accompanied by a the mashup mastery of Bonnaroo artist Girl Talk. And there's your countdown, kids -- 86 days! Cheeky bastard.

Ironically, it takes years of practice to master this incredibly useless skill. But whatever keeps you dancin' man.

At the end of my trek I ultimately snapped what were probably the best pictures of the outing.

Congratulations, you've made it through Monday. The week is officially underway, which means the weekend can't be far off. Godspeed.

Like a groundhog coming out of hibernation [bonnaroo countdown]

Today was what March in New York is supposed to feel like. Balmy, but not cold, bluish, but not cloudless sky. A perfect day to begin to emerge from the long, frigid odyssey that is winter in the City with a brisk Sunday stroll through Central Park. My music of choice for the occasion was Bon Iver's For Emma, Forever Ago -- a fitting choice, given that it was composed during a three month hibernation in a remote cabin in Wisconsin.

Bon Iver is one of many new artists in this year's Bonnaroo lineup that I have heard great things about but haven't really gotten into yet. The abundance of artists fitting into this category is one of the things about the festy that I'm most excited about.

I'll be interested to see how he brings his sound to the stage, but for now I can definitely endorse it for people- and amateur bird-watching walks at the first real hint of spring.

Bon Iver -- For Emma, Forever Ago

Unrelated completely -- watching Flight of the Conchords makes me really hope that they end up on the Bonnaroo ticket as a comedy act. It makes too much sense for it not to happen. If they're already scheduled to play elsewhere that weekend, go ahead and let me know, but I don't believe they are.