Stephen Mejias

If we were late, we didn't care. An elevator showed us out onto a floor where people gathered round a table blanketed in champagne and wine. We made our way, and caught attention.

Oh, the aptly named Important">http://importantrecords.com/index.htm">Important Records, one of my favorite sources for outstanding experimental, noise, and otherwise out-there recordings, is having a crazy holiday sale, yo. Check it out: You can buy 44 compact">http://importantrecords.com/releases/44_66_sale.html">compact discs for just $44. Or 66 compact discs for just $66. Finally! And your purchase comes with a sweet tote bag. You’ll need it for hauling around all those compact discs.

Photos courtesy Peter McGrath.

What depression? There's nothing like a good old-fashioned listening party for lighting a fire on your savings account. Might as well spend your money now before it disappears. Turn your money into stuff. Turn your stuff into records. John">http://www.devorefidelity.com/">John DeVore should charge admission to his new listening room. Perhaps he'll accept payment in vinyl. I'd happily pay one limited edition pressing for an evening of outstanding music and fine company.

Check one and two, but you won't find any of three in my apartment. Unless, of course, you count Story of O&#151and you might. I like to think of it, however, as erotica. Then there's The Forty-Eight Ways. Is that porn? Nah, it's more of a manual. Takeout menus are few, and include: Wild Fusion (their green curry is delightful); Frank's Pizzeria (a large regular costs five bucks!); and La Conguita (their pernil asado reminds me of my grandma's). I don't keep a very large collection of Stereophile back issues at home, but I do have a few special issues on the bookshelf in my living room.

Ward asked, "Did you return the Arcam Solo already? Have you tried any gear yet that you would actually consider going out and buying in the next month or two, were it not for the parade of review gear?"