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80’s East Village Coming Back To Life

September 18, 2009 RH 3 Comments

Have you heard? Spike Lee and Robert Deniro have teamed up to develop a series set in 1980’s East Village. Reuters reported that “Alphaville” will chronicle the “bad old days” of the neighborhood.

I refused to see Rent because it looked really goofy, but I do admire Lee and Deniro, so I might have to catch this one.

Will they hang out at The Holiday Cocktail Lounge? Will Mr. Purple make an appearance? Will it star Matt Dillon? Will the main characters shoot pool at Blue and Gold? Will they drink at Downtown Beirut? Play trivia at St. Marks Bar and Grill? Dance at the Pyramid? Will they stay out all night and have breakfast at Kiev? Does any of this make sense to anyone other than my 1980’s East Village friends?

Will “Forever Young” be the theme song? (Get it? Alphaville?)

How Would You Make NY A Greener Apple?

August 3, 2009 RH

YouTube link

What would you do to make NYC a greener place? Native New Yorker Pamela French is asking High Line visitors and getting some interesting answers. I found it odd that there are still people without a clue (check out the Houston couple) but I guess it’s unAmer-cayn to recycle.

Thanks to Eva “Film Biz Recycling” Radke for forwarding this. Check out Pamela’s Tonic interview and her other videos on the youtube.

Graffiti Back in the Day + NYC Quiz

April 28, 2009 RH 1 Comment

Have you seen this NY Times clip of a 1982 documentary on graffiti, rap and break-dancing? I loved the city back then! Yeah, you can say I’m just a nostalgic chick, but I don’t get sentimental about the 90’s, so there.

Graffiti was more than just tags back then. It was an art form. Can you look at those old trains and say there’s no beauty to them? That it’s pure vandalism?

I’ll admit, boom boxes were annoying. I recently saw a near fight break out on a train when a skinny hippy 20 something asked some guy to lower his iPod because it was bothering people next to him. I thought “Good thing this kid wasn’t around when people REALLY blasted their music. ” Come on, an iPod? Really? How intolerant can you be?

Anyway, here’s a mini quiz on some famous New Yorkers of that era.

1. Who is Trisha Meili?

2. What is Dorian’s bar famous for?

3. What famous New Yorker died on February 22, 1987?

4. In the mid-late 80’s NYC was home to a graffiti museum. Which neighborhood was that in?

5. The Pop Shop. Who Dat?

6. What Brooklyn high school did Basquiat attend? (hint: I went there too)

7. Who is Adam Purple?

8. Which celebrity had a popcorn shop on W. 8th Street in the late 70’s?

Helen Levitt’s NYC

March 31, 2009 RH 1 Comment

Street photographer Helen Levitt died in her home yesterday at the age of 95. Levitt was one of my inspirations as a photographer. There’s a wonderful obit in the Times, but I’d just like to share some of my favorite Levitt NYC shots.

NYC Subway Stuff

March 20, 2009 RH 6 Comments

I’ve been playing on NYC Subway lately. The site is too extensive to sum up in a few paragraphs. Let’s just say you have to check it out for yourselves. There are exterior and interior shots of historic subway cars, abandoned stations, old tokens, you name it. If you ever wanted to know everything there is to know about the NYC Subway system, here it is. And if that’s not enough, there are several links to other sites.

My memories only date back to the early 70’s (maybe a little late 60’s). I remember the large tokens with a cut out Y, colorful graffiti covered trains, absolutely NO air conditioning(!) and even a few wicker seat cars leftover from earlier days. And a ride was 35 cents.

Oh yes, my father worked for the Transit Authority and to this day my mother holds a grudge against Ed Koch for the transit strike. I didn’t pay much attention. I was too interested in Starsky and Hutch at the time.

What are your earliest subway memories? Bet you’re not as old as I am!

My New Favorite Veggie Restaurant

February 11, 2009 RH 2 Comments

It’s not difficult being a vegetarian in NYC these days. Everywhere pretty much has one or two items on the menu for us. Most places have an entire vegetarian section. Woo-hoo! Would I prefer to eat at a place that caters only to vegetarians? Sure. But I have to admit that some of them are a wee bit boring for me.

Last night I had dinner at Blossom in Chelsea. My eyes teared as I read the menu. Everything looked SO good and I had SO much choice! I don’t know if any of you remember a West Village restaurant called Shojin. Now, THAT was my favorite restaurant for real! Well, the Blossom menu was sort of reminiscent of Shojin. Unfortunately, nothing compares to the Shojin decor. The restaurant was housed in a brownstone and the dining area looked like an old lady’s living room. It was so friggin cozy.

Ok, so this is about Blossom, not my long lost love, Shojin.

Unfortunately, we were too rushed to order appetizers. This definitely isn’t a quick meal kind of place. Entrees run about $20 so you want to savor that. But we were in the neighborhood and I’ve always wanted to try it.

I ordered the Port Wine Seitan Cutlets with a side of mashed. OMG, I’m crying again just thinking about it! It was good, ya’ll! Hubby ordered the Feijoadinha with smokey tempeh. It’s a vegetarian version of a Brazilian stew. I tasted it and thought it was good, but the hubby prefered my dish. Not that I let him have it.

I wish I could have tried everything on the menu. How does this sound? Seitan Scaloppini? Porcini Rubbed Tofu? Phyllo Roulade?

This place just might be up there with my other fave veggie restaurant, Hangawi.

FDNY Photo Exhibit

January 30, 2009 RH

My friend Ben is a retired firefighter and working photographer. In the last few years, he’s had the coolest job in the world, working with the FDNY photo unit. This exhibit at St. Johns features Ben’s work as well as others. It’s in chronological order, starting with images dating back to 1869. The opening is February 10th.

Shocking Sidewalk Deaths

December 8, 2008 RH

Ever since I heard about a dog being electrocuted by stray voltage on a city street, I’ve been careful to keep my own dogs away from lampposts. It happens more often than you might think, although the numbers have declined since Con Ed and the DOT took responsibility after a person was killed.

Last week the NY Times reported on an Upper West Side dog named Sebastian who was killed by electrical voltage. The article links to Street Zaps, an informative website that maps out areas where voltage has been reported. You can contact them to report an incident. They list utility contacts in PDF as well.

Street Zaps’ safety tips list dog booties as ineffective; even more dangerous than bare paws because they could get waterlogged. It says to keep your dog away from any street lights or sidewalk metal. And you probably want to avoid them yourself.

Cheap Gifts, NYC

November 25, 2008 RH

Is anyone even buying gifts this year? All I’m hearing is that we’re gonna be lining up for bread any day now. But if you still have a couple of pennies to rub together and you’re searching for gifts that look great but cost less, here are a few shops around New York you may have forgotten about.

1. Pearl River. The King of Chinatown! Ok, so they moved up to Broadway. You can really fool someone into thinking you paid a fortune for their gift if they don’t know this place. If they are familiar with it, they’ll thank you anyway: “Oh, I love Pearl River!”. Who doesn’t love Pearl River? They’ve got everything! Yes, it’s all made in China. But that’s because it’s a Chinese department store. So that makes it cool.

2. Sahadi’s. Mmm, Sahadi’s. When I want it to look like I spent a lot, I like to do gift baskets. Sahadi’s has top of the line gift basket fill. This middle eastern supermarket peddles coffees and teas, nuts and grains, cheeses and crackers. AND if you’re going to someone’s house for Thanksgiving, get thee to their deli section….olives galore, hummus and babaghanous, salads….

3. Trader Joe’s. I might be disappointing the fans, but I can take or leave Trader Joe’s. I’m not big on their food brand. What I do like though are their wine prices. Even if you don’t want to swing as low as $3 for a bottle of 3 Buck Chuck, you can do swimmingly on those $5 bottles! They also have a castile soap that’s just as good as Bronners.

4. National Wholesale Liquidators. Need a basket for all those food goodies? National Wholesale Liquidators is like a luxury dollar store! Items are more than a dollar, but they are cheap! As the name implies, this is a liquidator, so you can (sometimes) find quality for less.

5. Flea Markets. From Columbus Avenue to my favorite Brooklyn Flea, where else can you get handmade or vintage items direct from the artisan or um, person who found the vintage item? Be sure to check out Brooklyn Flea’s Gifted indoor holiday show. But don’t forget those regular vendors freezing their arses off in the schoolyard! I’ll be back there December 7th. Dress warm if you’re covering outdoor markets!!

6. Street vendors. I have a little bit of an art addiction. I usually purchase my goods on the street because that’s where I can afford it. Where can you find the best street vendors? Near the Met, Union Square and near MOMA. I hate to take away from the artists at the paid holiday craft shows at Union Square and Grand Central, but we’ve all gotta start somewhere.

7. B&H or Adorama. If you’re looking for camera, digital or video equipment, these are the guys. Do not bother looking anywhere else! Take my word for it. I’ve been in the photography business for 20 years. Word.

8. J&R. Audio or computers. I know less about this than the cameras, but I’m pretty sure they still have some of the best prices in town. Oh yeah, they also sell CDs. Remember those?

9. Canal Jeans. It’s still around (the last I checked)! It’s located on Nostrand Avenue near Brooklyn College. That’s the Junction for all of you Brooklyn novices. Just a shell of it’s former self, but still…it exists. FYI: So does Domsey’s.

10. Museum Shops. Perhaps not the least expensive shopping source, but I always find lovely gifts at the Met shops, MOMA and Brooklyn Museum.

Vegetarian Thanksgiving Out

November 20, 2008 RH

Written yesterday when I was trying to do a fast/cleanse. Bad move. The fast lasted 1/2 day.

Candle Cafe and Candle 79 are both offering Thanksgiving menus. 79’s entree choices include Sage-Walnut Crusted Seitan and Porcini Crusted Tofu. So-hungry. Four courses are $52 at Cafe and $68 at 79.

Blossom is doing 4 course seatings for $68, but the menu is not up on their website yet. Check out the regular dinner menu if you want to drool.

Red Bamboo in Brooklyn had a Thanksgiving prix fixe last year for just $19.95. That’s the only one posted on their website. I don’t see why they wouldn’t do it again for 2008.

The drink menu at Counter is more impressive than the food, but you can go for their wine pairing for an additional $30 over the $45 food menu. For $15 more, there’s a house infused vodka tasting. So basically, this is the Thanksgiving for lushes.

P*ong is a good choice for vegetarians and carnivores. They serve up the flesh, but do have veg choices on their $63 Thanksgiving menu.

I don’t see a Thanksgiving menu, but 4 Course Vegan is holding an event this Saturday called “Fine Dining in Williamsburg”. $40 for 4 courses.

Restaurant Week: It’s On!

November 18, 2008 RH 2 Comments

They tried to sneak this one past us. I seem to recall restaurant week being in the summer, but Open Table is sponsoring the pre-Thanksgiving Appetite Stimulus Plan.

From November 17th-21st, participating restaurants will be serving up three course dinners for just $35 per person. Lunches are $24. See the list of restaurants here and be make sure your pick is participating when making a reservation as not all Open Table restaurants are involved. When you arrive at the restaurant, you should let them know you’ll be looking at the Stimulus menu. Then there’s some kind of point system that my pea brain cannot comprehend. Points? I just want to eat.

This is taking place in multiple cities, not just New York. So, gutten appetit! Buon appetito! Bon appetit! And enjoy your meal!

NYC Transit Memorabilia

October 22, 2008 RH 7 Comments

Hubby won’t let me get these groovy subway doors for our house. How cool would they look for a bathroom? And they’re only $175 for the pair!

Whether you’re a subway buff like Travis the Trannyboi or you just want to decorate your home with some cool sh*t, check out the MTA’s surplus material section. These items aren’t dirt cheap, but it beats Ikea. Or wherever you kids buy your decor these days.

Subway seat: $500

Polls: $25 each

Roll signs: $350

New Yawk Movies

October 22, 2008 RH 6 Comments

Yesterday I listed my favorite NY songs. Today we’re going to the movies! What’s more fun than making lists? BTW, I couldn’t limit this one to ten.

1. Taxi Driver.

Scorcese’s finest movie and Deniro’s finest roll (sez me). A young Jodi Foster is brilliant and Harvey rocks it! Gritty NYC never looked so good. “You lookin’ at me?” Rent it now for campaign season.

2. Midnight Cowboy.

Ok, gritty NYC looks pretty authentic here. Don’t ask me why my parents were dragging me around Times Square when I was just a babe, but this movie brings back fond memories of some of the freaks I saw wandering around circa early 70’s. “I’m walkin’ here!” Shame Joe Buck is a Republican now.

3. The Odd Couple.

The series is all I lived for back in the day. I have to pay homage to the movie that started it off. Although Matthau and Lemmon were not as friggin awesome to me as Klugman and Randall, they were the originals and they were still fabulous.

4. Saturday Night Fever.

See my thoughts on the song. Did I ever mention that I danced on THE floor? It was in the 80’s though.

5. Taking of Pelham 1 2 3.

Soooo, they’re remaking this? With Denzel and Travolta, right? Sorry, but it will never be as good as the original. The cast was great, but the subway was the star!

6. Crossing Delancey.

First of my chick flicks on this list (more to come!) Totally sweet Lower East side Jewey movie. Her bubby reminded me of my own. And bubby’s friend who talks with her mouth full…also reminded me of family, unfortunately.

7. Dog Day Afternoon.

I can still watch this film over and over again. Filmed in Windsor Terrace! Serpico and Needle Park didn’t make the list, but Pacino was THE MAN!

8. The Warriors.

A cult classic. My friend’s dad wrote the novel and I lived in Coney Island, so how could I ever overlook this movie?

9. Moscow on the Hudson.

Guess it’s sort of chick flicky. Did anyone see this movie apart from me? Robin Williams as a Russian immigrant. There’s a scene in Moishe’s, formerly on The Bowery (if memory serves). They claimed to have the best egg creams. They were pretty good! So was this movie.

10. Moonstruck.

I didn’t like this the first time I saw it. It grew on me and now I can watch it over and over. Kind of like “The Wedding Singer.”

11. When Harry Met Sally.

I know. Real chick flick. But also real NYC. Need I mention the scene in Katz’s?

12. Arthur.

When you get caught between the moon and New York City…..Liza was great! And remember who played her father? The same guy who played Seinfeld’s dad!

13. The Producers.

I refuse to see the play. I want to remember it as it was. Mel Brooks is pure genius.

14. Rosemary’s Baby.

My parents took me to see this when I was really young. I wasn’t scared, but I was fascinated by Ruth Gordon. Worth seeing for The Dakota alone.

15. Out of Towners.

Again, Simon and Lemmon. Not very believable, but who cares? It’s funny.

16. Do The Right Thing.

Brilliant, brilliant film! My favorite Spike Lee joint. Shout out to Crooklyn, which was filmed around the corner from me.

17. The French Connection.

Of course. I think I only saw it once or twice though. Heaven’s forbid!

18. Splash.

Ok, total chick flick! I know. I don’t care. I loved it!

Least favorite NYC film: After Hours.

I sat through the entire movie asking “Why doesn’t he just f*in walk home?”

New Yawk Songs

October 21, 2008 RH 3 Comments

I somehow discovered an 80’s video site yesterday and wasted far too much time! Caution: Click on the link at your own risk. I’m talking bands you haven’t thought about in 20 years: Fiction Factory, Icicle Works, Altered Images, Orange Juice, huh?

Anyway, since I wasted so much time on the site, I had to work it into a post. So, without further adieu, ladies and gentlemen, my favorite New York songs……1. No Sleep Til Brooklyn. Beastie Boys

It’s kind of been my theme song all these years, what with traveling back and forth upstate and all. Plus, I gotta love Brooklyn’s own Beastie Boys. One of those kids went to my high school (Yauch). I remember when they were a punk band, those little whipper snappers!

2. Stayin’ Alive. Bee Gees

Fact: I was a “Disco is dead” person by the time Saturday Night Fever came out and I didn’t see the movie until the mid 80’s. But I loves me some disco now! Ah, old school Brooklyn at it’s worst.

3. Fairytale of New York. The Pogues (Check out Matt Dillon in the video)

Ok, another one with some personal history. The song came out when my now husband was an illegal immigrant in NYC. The first year of our relationship was rocky, with some long distance thing going on when he returned home for awhile. I remember a Christmas in Dublin some 20 plus years ago, this song on the radio and the hubby promising me that next year, we’d both be in New York. And he kept his promise!

4. Native New Yorker. Odyssey

Yeah, baby, that’s right! Disco lives!

5. Two Billy Joel songs. New York State of Mind. Of course. Check out the video with that Jersey boy. Miami 2017. The evening of 9/11/2001, I remembered the lyrics to this song and it spooked the sh*t out of me. Then he played it at that Concert for NYC benefit. Oy. Powerful stuff.

6. New York, New York. Nina Hagen

Just because it’s so weird. Please refer to video above if you’re too young to remember Nina Hagen.

7. New York, New York. Frank Sinatra

Come on, I couldn’t leave out Sinatra! Hey, did they play this song at every Sweet 16 in the country or was it just a NY thing?

8. Rockaway Beach. Ramones

Hey, Queens needs some lovin’ too!

9. New York Fever. The Toasters

More high school alum band members. Fabulous ska band!

10. Avenue B. Gogol Bordello

Love, love, love Gogol Bordello. They’re so…..raw and alive!

Shout out for Hubby: Leonard Cohen’s First We Take Manhattan. I’m not a Leonard Cohen fan. You got a problem with that?

Living Cheap in NYC

October 3, 2008 RH

Ethan Wolff ala “Frommer’s NYC Free & Dirt Cheap” has been answering questions on City Room about living cheaply in NYC. Since I have a bad case of PMS today, I’m just going to bitch about the questions rather than give you any real insight.

Question 1: As a recent transplant to New York City from a much more affordable city, the price of groceries has shocked me the most. What tips do you have for finding decent prices on groceries?

His answer: Trader Joes, Park Slope Food Coop, East Village Cheese, Chinatown, Shop Smart on Ludlow.

My answer: Go back to your little podunk town if you can’t handle it and stop your whining!

Question 2: Are there any classy bars where one can find inexpensive (like, $7) drinks below 34 Street during normal evening hours (like, after 8 p.m.)?

His answer: Verlaine on Rivington, Blue Owl on 2nd Ave & 12th St.

My answer: Classy? Who the F do you think you are? Jackie O? Look honey, if you can’t afford class, you’ll have to hang out at the dives with the rest of us. Holiday Cocktail Lounge: drinks are $4 any time of night. And PS….I don’t think $7 is so inexpensive. But then I’m not a classy broad.

Question 3: What are some good, cheap restaurants where you can B.Y.O.B. without paying a corkage fee (especially in the Hell’s Kitchen/Chelsea area)?

His answer: Nook, Wondee Siam or Zen Palate, all on 9th Ave. Tartine. Ivo & Lulu.

My answer: This didn’t annoy me. And woo-hoo for Zen Palate!

Question 4: Inexpensive, yet high quality theater that doesn’t require that I stand in line for hours on end? Also (am I limited to one?) cheap movie theaters in Manhattan where not everyone feels the need to yell at the screen or bring their screaming infants?

His answer: Off- and Off-Off-Broadway are your natural choices for affordable theater (I assume TKTS isn’t your speed.) You might also consider moonlighting as an usher. Alas, cheap movie theaters in Manhattan have gone the way of investment banks.

My answer: Gosh, don’t we have a lot of demands? Was Off Bway not obvious to you or is it not good enough for your high quality taste? I like the usher answer. As for movies, looks like you should get a subscription to Netflix.

Question 5: What is your favorite free or cheap place or sight in each of the five boroughs?

His answer: Manhattan: The National Museum of the American Indian. The Morgan Library. The New Museum. Governors Island

Queens: Queens Museum of Art. P.S. 1 Contemporary Art Center. Socrates Sculpture Park.

Brooklyn: Green-Wood Cemetery

The Bronx: Wave Hill

Staten Island: The ferry. Snug Harbor Cultural Center. Staten Island Botanical Gardens.

My answer: Good question. Ok, you are spared my wrath. I would have added The Metropolitan Museum (suggested donation) and Coney Island boardwalk.

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