Get Shorty: A Tribute to Top Tweeters

“I really have no idea what was going on tonight.”

Quick, can you guess which awards show host admitted this onstage before the night’s festivities were even over? No, it wasn’t Oscars emcee James Franco. (Good guess though.) Hint: I’ll give you 140 characters.

That’s right, it was comedian and tweeter Aasif Mandvi, on loan from Comedy Central’s The Daily Show, about two hours into a night honoring social media’s most creative, prolific, and downright “weird” – their word, not mine – at Twitter’s 3^rd Annual Shorty Awards, held Monday at The Times Center.

Indeed, with finalists feted in such categories as Travel, Location of the Year, Real-Time Photo of the Year, and Best Viral Campaign, this was one awards show that was truly all over the map. Voted on by a committee of 15 entertainers and social media experts, following a submission of 750,000 Tweeted nominees, the Shorty Awards included their fair share of bold-faced winners, including the Twitter accounts of Neil Patrick Harris (Actor), Castle’s Stana Katic (Actress), the Jonas Brothers (Music), and Conan O’Brien (Lifetime Achievement). Though none of them were on hand to accept, presenters included Kiefer Sutherland, Anne Meara & Jerry Stiller, and Jim Gaffigan, who presented trophies in the food categories as a “comedian, actor, and bacon enthusiast.”

In between the slew of more than 40 (!) awards, a song by punk cabaret performer Amanda Palmer highlighted the past year’s most amusing tweets, from the likes of notorious Twitter fiends Kanye West, John Mayer and Charlie Sheen. And though the show limited speeches to a breezy 140 characters, there was still time to award not one but two mayors – both of the governmental and Foursquare variety (Newark’s Cory Booker and SoHo Delicatessen’s Baratunde Thurston, respectively).

Thankfully not lost in the shuffle of acceptance speeches and pleas for followers was the underlying message of connection and progress promised by Twitter. Teachers, journalists, and nurses alike were all acknowledged for the work they do in bridging their communities across continents, while The Trevor Project received two awards for its commitment to aiding gay youth through social media outreach. And that was a cause everyone at the Shorty Awards could get behind, no matter who was #winning.

—ANDREW ROSENTHAL



A Doggone Good Time

The Westminster Kennel Club closes its annual competition at Madison Square Garden with the Best in Show presentation, and New York Insider was there to watch all of the barking good action. For our slide show, click here.

Not Bored by Bordeaux

Gossip Girl star Penn Badgley was among the revelers at La Soiree des Grands Crus, a celebration of the French wine-making region, at 82 Mercer last night.

So You Think You Can Dance?

The participants in the 21st annual Manhattan Amateur Classic sure did! For a video, click below, and for a slide show, click here.

Bloodcurdling

Dracula descends on New York, and we hit both the performance and the Sardi's after-party. For slide show, click here.

Because Charity Begins at Home

Check out Michael Trainer of Recking Studios' video from this week's charity:ball, featuring interviews with Mad Men's John Slattery and model Summer Rayne Oakes.

The Secret's Out

If you're tuning in to the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show tonight on CBS and find yourself in need of something to make you feel sexier (or something to forget that you will never be in the same shape as--or date!--a Victoria's Secret model), try one of these Stoli cocktails on for size. They're guaranteed to put you in the mood. (Or at least make you forget your troubles.)

Stoli Wild Cherri Bombshell (left)

1 part Stoli Wild Cherri

2 bar spoons cherry preserves

½ part fresh lemon juice

2 parts Rose Champagne

Combine Stoli, preserves and lemon juice and shake well

Strain into a flute, top with champagne

Dust with edible silver

Stoli Miraculous Martini (left)

2 parts Stoli Gala Applik

¾ part pear puree

¾ part lemon juice

*Crystallized cranberries (simmer these in vanilla bean simple syrup)

*Black pepper corn and brown sugar simple syrup

Glassware: Martini

Garnish: Crystallized cranberries on a pick

Stoli Vanil Secret

2 parts Stoli Vanil

1 part lemongrass simple syrup

¾ part lime juice

Dusting of kaffir lime leaf.

Glassware: Rocks

Garnish: Dusting of Kaffir lime leaf with a Red Rose petal floating on top.

 Stoli Original Starlet

2 parts Stoli

¾ part Rhubarb puree

½ part lemon juice

½ part strawberry puree

Glassware: Highball

Garnish: Sweet coating of the rim with cinnamon and chili bits. And a flames orange twist.

Let the Good Times Bowl

Bowlmor Times Square opened to the public last night. The space is a world apart from its sister location near Union Square...it's both cavernous and cozy all at the same time. There are multiple lane areas, each with its own New York-y theme, including Chinatown, Times Square, Central Park and Prohibition. And for food, consulting chef David Burke works his magic. For video, click here.

Turkey Tipple!

Try these scumptious cocktail recipes for a Thanksgiving that will make you forget all about how annoying your in-laws are!

Created by Master Sommelier Fred Dexheimer, both cocktails (appropriately enough) make luberal use of Wild Turkey Bourbon. 

And if you're not feeling bold enough to mix them up yourself, you can try them at Hill Country (30 West 26th Street) through Sunday. (NB: They're not open on Thanksgiving day.)
 
 

"Smashed Pumpkin" (above left)
1 oz Wild Turkey 101
1/4 oz almond liqueur
1/4 oz cinnamon schnapps
2 oz pumpkin pie filling
1/2 oz heavy cream
 
Puree or froth pumpkin pie filling with heavy cream.  Mix with other ingredients in a shaker with ice; shake well and strain into a martini glass. Rim with crumbled graham crackers and a cinnamon stick; top with a dash of cinnamon or nutmeg.

 "Pass the Turkey" (above right)
1.5 oz Wild Turkey 101
2 oz apple cider
1 tbs cranberry jelly
1 sprig fresh sage
1 sprig fresh thyme
 
Muddle sage and thyme with apple cider.  Add ice, top with Wild Turkey and cranberry jelly.  Shake well, strain over ice in a glass rimmed with turkey jus and breadcrumbs.
 
"Gosh Yam It" (not pictured)
1.5 oz Wild Turkey 101
1.5 oz sweet potato puree (see below)
1.5 tsp maple syrup
 
Cook yam/sweet potato in microwave with a small amount of butter, then add to blender to puree.  Mix puree with Wild Turkey.  Heat syrup in microwave, add to Wild Turkey/puree mixture, shake with ice and pour into glass.  Garnish with a toasted marshmallow.
 

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at New York Insider!



Hip, Hip, Hooray for Beaujolais!

Actress and model Molly Sims helps unveil the 2010 Beajolais Nouveau in New York, with winemaker Franck Duboeuf. For slide show, click here.