Last night, I was at an LG event with Jane’s Addiction and many, many cell phones.

LG asked a number of pre-selected attendees to film the concert with their new 3D-enabled phone, The Thrill. The show was then broadcast live on YouTube, and will later be edited into a consumer-generated 3D documentary (available online August 4). It was a great idea for a product launch, and Jane’s was the perfect choice. Their live show is a feast for the eyes and ears, and they haven’t missed a step. They sounded fantastic. (side note: new album in September, check out the [NSFWish] video to hear one of their new songs)

But while I appreciate the effort to use technology as a way to bring the live concert experience to the masses - and, as a way to help the music industry stay alive and well - it was odd to see people at the show who were simply filming the show to watch later (many more than LG’s 75 pre-selected), rather than participating in it while it was happening.

Which made me wonder - if this is the future of live concerts, will there eventually be a phone-only pit?

EWR > RIC > NYC

My week was spent between Richmond, VA and NYC. Though the travel flow was disrupted by delays at EWR (as always), it was a wonderful assortment of people and places. Herewith, some recommends for the next time you’re in either city.

RICHMOND 

Read: NYT 36 hours in Richmond

Do: The Picasso exhibit ends on May 15, but the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts is a forward-thinking institution that beautifully blends the traditional with the modern. Gorgeous grounds and top notch dining make it a wonderful place to linger. 

Drink (and dine): Balliceaux, a stylish neighborhood farm-to-table restaurant in the lovely Fan district. 

NYC

Half of the week was spent at the (excellent) 99% conference, hosted at the Times Center in the theater district. It’s not a neighborhood that comes to mind when I think of great dining, but located around the Times Center are Dean & Deluca, for great coffee or a quick gourmet bite; and Schnippers, basic but excellent American (burgers, fries, shakes, etc).

Downtown: Commerce. The neighborhood is cinematic New York (W Village), the vibe super low key and local. Top notch cocktails and outstanding food. Highly recommended: Daisy cocktail and burnt garlic broccoli (one of the best things I have ever tasted).

Bryant Park: The Grill at Bryant Park is one of those places you go to experience New York at its best. We sat outside yesterday as the day was winding down, and there’s really no way to describe it other than perfect. And the food is good - I had the gazpacho, which it was very (very) spicy but went down nicely with a glass of wine, and was just right for the season.