UrbanDaddy is a free exclusive email magazine devoted to keeping you in the know.
New York Home > Leisure > Good Times...
12/30/09
Good Times...
The Best NYC Moments of 2009
And so it draws to a close. 2009. One of the downright wildest years since 2008. And with everything that made the past 364 memorable, we thought we might step back and ponder the earth-shattering, world-changing, life-affirming moments—the foibles, fisticuffs and occasional lobster tossing—that reminded us that New York is the seductive mistress we know and love. Let the reminiscing begin.
FEBRUARY 18: AQUARIUM DAYS
Tracy Morgan's Almost Fish Fry
Sully's Miracle on the Hudson kicked off 2009, a year of close calls. And then there was 30 Rock
star Tracy Morgan, whose Manhattan apartment was damaged by a fire started by a light in his fish tank. We
can only hope this wakeup call will lead to improvements in overall quality of life for celebrity fish.
APRIL 15: CON ED
The Hipster Grifter Lands in Brooklyn
Add, to the familiar cast of characters who flock to New York, a twentysomething Utah-bred con artist with
an "I Love Beards" back tattoo. 2009 introduced us to Kari Ferrell, aka the Hipster Grifter, who preyed on
trusting hearts and left little but depleted bank accounts and tight jeans in her wake.
MAY 6: SKULLDUGGERY
Kiefer's Headbutt Adventure
When diplomacy fails, adversaries sometimes resort to fisticuffs. At a Met gala afterparty at
SubMercer, Kiefer Sutherland opted for a more artful, more rarified gesture: the headbutt. On the
receiving end was Jack McCollough, the Proenza Schouler designer who allegedly pushed, or argued with, or in
some way offended…Brooke Shields. Chivalry is alive and well…
SEPTEMBER (FASHION WEEK): MYSTERY MALAYSIAN
Jho Low Does New York
Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Others rack up $160,000 bar tabs and leave footprints on our
hearts. Taek Jho Low, dubbed the "mystery Malaysian," proved that even chubby-cheeked non-celebs could
collect swank apartments, party like Leo at Pink
Elephant, shower Lindsay Lohan with Cristal, and fly cocktail waitresses to Malaysia on a whim. It's
good to be the Mystery Malaysian.
SEPTEMBER 16: MODERN POETRY
"Keep F***ing That Chicken"
You respect a man who speaks truth to power. Rest easy, Walter Cronkite. Fortunately, the venerable Fox 5
New York anchor Ernie Anastos stepped in to fill the gap left by Uncle Walter, with a now-famous live TV
slipup that bravely reasserted the relevance of television news: "Keep f***ing that chicken."
SEPTEMBER 23: FULL SERVICE
Alexander Wang's Gas Station Shindig
Location, location, location. In choosing a Chelsea gas station for his Fashion Week party, Alexander Wang
brought in bodega-style catering, Courtney Love and party guests lighting up near the pumps. Somewhere,
Zoolander is smiling a Blue Steel smile.
OCTOBER 10: KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL
Chang and Bourdain "Call Bulls**t"
In a predictably profane, refreshingly candid sit-down, Anthony Bourdain and David Chang gave their audience
a privileged glimpse into the world of celebrity chefs. The pair weighed in on the hype surrounding them
(bulls**t), the blogs (bulls**t), the critics—you get the idea. However, all agreed it was very sweet
when they started tearfully quoting recipes from each other's cookbooks.
NOVEMBER 17: THE LOB
A Brooklyn Chef's Seafood Toss
Nobody expects a flying lobster. But when a couple of unhappy customers at Brooklyn's Petite Crevette
complained that their lobster wasn't fresh, chef Neil Ganic's retort entailed charging out of the kitchen
and throwing a live—thus, fresh—lobster on their table. Ganic is on the record saying he has no
regrets. The lobster, however…
ADVERTISEMENT 
Only what you need to know.