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Catskills in Need

Catskills in Need published on

If you grew up in NYC, chances are you spent many a summer getting to know The Catskills as a kid.

Upstate got slammed by Hurricane Irene. Monetary donations are needed as well as dry goods and non-perishable food. Ain’t got nuthin’? How about some blood? Over 2000 units were lost due to power outage and now there is a blood shortage.

Come on, time to pony up for your fellow New York Staters!

More info on Catskill relief at Watershed Post.

Donation Collection Sites

Manhattan:

Eastern Mountain Sports
530 Broadway (Spring & Broadway)
New York, NY 10012
(212) 966-8730
Monday – Friday 10 am – 9:30 pm
Saturday 10 am – 9 pm
Sunday 11 am – 8 pm

Powell Communications
84 Wooster Street # 603 (between Spring and Broome)
Monday through Friday
9:00 a.m.- 6:00 p.m.

Greenwich Village Location
Ciao Stella Restaurant
206 Sullivan Street (between Bleecker and West 3rd)
ask for Stella
Tuesday-Saturday
5:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m.

Midtown Location
Decorum Consulting Group
295 Madison Avenue, 8th Floor (one block from Grand Central)
Ask for Jeannine Stryker-Triolo
Monday through Friday.
8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Brooklyn:

Boing Boing Maternity
Corner of 6th and Union
Ask for Karen or Kevin
Tuesday through Sunday
11:00 a.m.- 7:00 a.m.
(can also leave donations in the gated yard during off hours)
Red Shed Community Garden
266 Stillman Avenue
(at Kingsland)
THIS WEEK
Wednesday through Friday
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
NEXT WEEK AND BEYOND
Tuesday and Thursday
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Suggested Donations List

In addition to bottled water and non-perishable foods, the following items are also urgently needed at present:

Cleaning Supplies
Laundry Soap
Toilet Paper
Paper Towels
Ajax/Clorox/etc.

Personal care products
Soap
Toothpaste
Toothbrushes
Deodorant
Feminine care products
Shampoo/Conditioner (adult and for babies/children)
Diapers
Baby Wipes

Clothing
Underwear (adults and children, including boxers)
Socks (adults and children)
Pajamas (adults and children)
Shoes (especially children’s)
Any gently used clothing

Other
Charcoal and lighter fluid
Propane tanks
Formula and baby food
Bedding

The Morning After

The Morning After published on 3 Comments on The Morning After

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Tree down in Bed Stuy.

Hurricane Irene hit parts of the East Coast pretty hard and it caused some damage to the outskirts of the city. At least 21 deaths have been reported as a direct cause of the storm although some were caused by camping and surfing during a hurricane.  Still, for the most part, borough New Yorkers were disappointed in themselves for believing the hype.

Here we all were home on a Saturday night with nowhere to go, tweeting and facebooking about the damn hurricane. “Oh, tornado watch!” What’s with that? We woke up to some leaves on the ground and maybe wet basements, yet the media was still telling us to stay indoors. Urban dwellers called the hurricane boring and lame while everyone else in it’s path was relieved their power was only out for one day.

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On Sunday morning, we went to Coney Island to walk the dogs, thinking it was safer than the park because there are no trees on the beach. Coney was pretty tame. There were plenty of downed trees along the way and many that are now leaning in dangerous positions which will need to be seen to. So be careful out there. I’ll bet there is still some danger.

One thing is for sure, many people on the East Coast put on a few extra pounds this weekend after staying home eating and drinking. Wonder if the shops are taking returns on all the batteries and candles that won’t be needed?

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Exploring Lower Manhattan

Exploring Lower Manhattan published on

Are you living in the US and thinking of taking an exotic getaway? Well, don’t! Why fly overseas spending thousands of dollars on air travel, food and entertainment when you can visit one of the largest, most extravagant cities in the world.

Certainly the most populous city in the US, NYC is filled with historical sites like The Museum of The American Indian and Battery Island. And these are amongst a huge handful of sites to see and activities to do:

• Brooklyn Bridge
• Federal Hall National Memorial
• Fraunces Tavern
• Governor’s Island
• Ellis Island (Statue of Liberty)
• Bowling Green
• City Hall
• Museum of American Finance
• Museum of Jewish Heritage

And much, much more! Despite budget, age or gender, NYC continues to enrich even it’s own inhabitants culturally, historically and financially. From Horse Drawn Carriage Rides to the Charging Bull, NYC will keep you busy around the clock.

Not to mention the abundance of tours. This includes walking tours, bus, water, air and self-guided. Amongst some of the most popular walking tours is the “Big Apple Greeter.” This tour is set up to help those that are new and unfamiliar to the city meet people. How it works: Newcomers are matched with a professional “New Yorker,” who will then guide them through subways, streets and local haunts. On the other hand, there is Helicopter Flight Services, INC, which takes approximately 20 minutes of your day to give you a magnificent view of Lower Manhattan.

Vacationers can find comfort at one of several accommodating hotels, like the Club Quarters on 52 William Street, or perhaps The Holiday Inn Downtown (138 Lafayette Street). And for families traveling with children, there are plenty of recreational parks, along with interesting museums to visit. Amid all of these really stands out Battery Park, along with The Children’s Museum of Arts.

Diversely split between Little Italy, The Financial District, Tribeca, Lower East Side, Soho, City Hall, Battery Park City and Chinatown, The city has a huge impact on global media, finance, art, research tech, education, fashion and more. For a more detailed list of the attractions and sites, feel free to visit Fodors.

Courtesy of Douglas Elliman Real Estate Company, New York Luxury Rentals.

Why Hipsters Suck

Why Hipsters Suck published on 3 Comments on Why Hipsters Suck

*Update: The video has been removed by the user. Guess he realized what an eejit he looked like when he sobered up. You can still view it via the Gawker link below.

I know, I know. The whole hipster hatred thing is old. But they ask for it, they really do! Case in point. This video of their lame subway party. Now, call me an old curmudgeon but if I’m paying my subway fare I just want to get from Point A to Point B without having to put up with this shit. Are you friggin’ kidding me? Go to a bar! Have a house party! Leave us alone!

If I see any of these kids on my A train, I’m gonna kick their skinny jean asses right back to Ohio. But oooh, I WOULD love to see them hop the A train in Bed Stuy and ride it towards Queens. Come on guys, make my day.

Via Gawker

A Diner for Every Borough

A Diner for Every Borough published on 2 Comments on A Diner for Every Borough

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Entertaining Jewish seniors (mom is visiting) means lots of diners. We hit diners in 4 out of 5 boroughs over the past two weeks. We only missed The Bronx, but I’ll include that anyway.

Staten Island. New Dakota Diner on Richmond Avenue was everything you would expect a diner to be. Parking lot, back rooms, booths. We met cousins here and ended up staying for 3 hours. The service was great. The bathroom was pleasant enough for my 3 hours of coffee refills. Know what I’m sayin’? The food was really good too! I had a wrap with fries. Neither boring nor greasy but jusssst right.

Manhattan. Hollywood Diner doesn’t have the greatest reviews on Yelp, but screw ’em. I like going here. The food is ok, but I love the atmosphere. Old school diners are hard to come by in the city these days and Hollywood is a no-frills Greek diner. Service is perfect if the manager is there to scream at his employees. It sounds like the old Saturday Night Live Olympia Restaurant skit. Cheezbuger, cheezbuger! Chips! No Coke! Pepsi!

Brooklyn. I’m not putting my favorite Vegas Diner here because I finally tried a place I’ve always wanted to go. Hinsch’s Confectionery in Bay Ridge is like taking a step back in time. The exterior is still intact from 1949 and the interior does not disappoint. The food is pretty average. I thought it was awesome that there were only a few old people in there who come everyday and know each other by name. Then I heard them talking and remembered what I didn’t like about Bay Ridge of the past. The conversation was pretty ignorant and racist, the waitress being the worst offender. “This President is brainwashing the kids today.”

Queens. Pop Diner in Elmhurst is not old school, but not a completely hip new style eatery either. The decor is pretty cool and the menu is more eclectic than your average diner. They feature Latin, Asian and Caribbean dishes as well as good ole’ eggs, wraps and burgers.

The Bronx. As stated, we didn’t get to The Bronx. I don’t even remember having a wonderful Bronx diner experience from my past. I chose Riverdale Diner to recommend just because I had to come up with something. Sorry, Bronx. I like you, I really do. Just didn’t get around to it this time.

Vintage NYC Summers

Vintage NYC Summers published on 1 Comment on Vintage NYC Summers

Weegee. Coney Island, 1940’s.

Ack. You kids today have it easy. Back in my day, the subway cars, buses and cabs were not air conditioned. Children slept on the fire escape (Ok, that was my mother’s era). You wanted to cool off? You opened a fire hydrant.

Check out Subway in Black and White. Brilliant!

Weegee again.

1977 Blackout during the city’s most memorable heatwave.

Yeah, I like my Weegee. What can I say?



Gay Wedding Planning in New York

Gay Wedding Planning in New York published on

I’d love to be able to say “We’re #1!”, but we arrived a little late to the party. We’ll forever be behind the Massholes. Ok, the superfabulous news is that we’re here now.

2011 is gonna be the Year of the Gay Wedding in New York. Surely, it will add a big boost for New York’s economy and a million and one new gay wedding businesses will pop up. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.

Back when wedding photography was my full time job I shot some same sex ceremonies. I just want to call your attention to some sites that always did cater to the LGBT community. Before it was cool. Or legal.

Purple Unions is a national wedding directory that’s been going for about eight years. It all started with Purple Roofs, a gay travel guide that features inns and destinations. Want to buy real estate from a gay friendly agent? Gay Realty Network has been around forever. Same folks.

Rainbow Wedding Network is another old school directory. Plan your wedding from engagement to honeymoon.

Liberty View Farm in Highland, NY was purchased by Billiam van Roestenberg in 1999. Although not listed as a “gay wedding venue”, Billiam is an activist and was one half of the first gay couple to be married in New York by Mayor Jason West of New Paltz back in 2004.

Sullivan County Homes Under $30k

Sullivan County Homes Under $30k published on

Think you can’t afford a second home? What if I told you you can grab one for as low as $15k? Yup. I’m not saying it’s the most desirable house in the most desirable area, but you can make it a sweet getaway.

Don’t even THINK of grabbing that house above for $15,000. I want that one. Looks like an old farm house but it was actually built in 1970. This could be a plus, as it sits on 2.31 acres and old farm houses are almost always right on the road. So it’s possible this house is set back a bit. It’s located in Monticello. Last time I was in Monticello, I was about 12. No kidding. It was kind of crappy back then, although it’s a beautiful landscape. Anyway, who cares about any of this? The. house. is. $15k.

This listing doesn’t give much detail. I guess the agent couldn’t be bothered to even take a picture for her commission on the $29,900 list price. Looks good from that angle. It’s a 2594 square foot four bedroom in Hurleyville, NY. I think I have an idea of where that is. Nice hikes and all, but not much going on culturally. In fact, I do believe that if you’re not an orthodox Jew, you may feel a bit out of place. On the other hand, if this is a flip, a 4BR would be a selling point.

Yeah, I know. It looks like a trailer. But hear me out. It’s actually a 1950 ranch on 4.9 acres. divided into 2 parcels. Still with me? Good. Take a look at the interior shots. There’s something to work with here. Can you see your mid century fab getaway? Are you seeing the fifties kitchen? Oh, I didn’t mention that it’s in Neversink and includes lake rights and three outdoor sheds.

**When you’re looking at distressed properties, please keep in mind that you may encounter wildlife living INSIDE of the house. Try not to freak out. Where boots and bring a flashlight (although, if the realtor doesn’t have a flashlight for abandoned homes, they should be fed to the wildlife).

The Black Cowboys of Queens

The Black Cowboys of Queens published on 2 Comments on The Black Cowboys of Queens

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Over the weekend we ventured out to Howard Beach, Queens to hang with a buddy who’s a member of the Federation of Black Cowboys. Those are the guys you see riding their horses on South Conduit out near JFK.

Black cowboys have been part of American culture since the 1860’s, but the current incarnation of the Federation was born in 1994. The website is not currently being kept up. They do often welcome visitors, but check first to make sure it’s cool. When we showed up, most of the cowboys and cowgirls were at a Juneteenth rodeo in NJ, so it was a quite day back at the ranch.

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This is our buddy Ralph. By day, he’s a heavy construction laborer, but much to his wife’s dismay, he spends evenings and weekends tending to his garden on the Federation’s 25 acre property.

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“Mountain Man” was proud to show us the museum he’s been working on. Housed in one of the trailers, it has some very cool old western gear, but I winced at the animal skins, body parts and traps. He uses all parts of the animal, so kudos to him for that.

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This “kid” is only 17 years old. He has his own horse and attends an agriculture high school right there in Queens.

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The garden, barbeque pit and picnic area are just off the main road. Making the most out of the urban/rural experience!

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Black Cowboys Flickr set

Weiner’s Textual Healing

Weiner’s Textual Healing published on 1 Comment on Weiner’s Textual Healing

I have to admit that I am shocked that Anthony Weiner actually pulled this junk. I mean, he seems like an intelligent guy, he should be able to contain himself. Is it so hard? Who thought he could be such a schmuck? That being said, I hope he doesn’t get the shaft.

Seriously, although I’m totally bummed about finding out my hero is only human, I would still vote for him. Unless we do find out that there was something illegal or treif going on, what is it our business? Was he doing his job? Damn well, I’d say! Weiner’s wife (who BTW, works for Hillary Clinton) is the only one who should care where his pecker has been. And according to him, it’s only been in front of a camera. And everywhere online. The only guilt the public should be concerned about is his stupidity.

The media is saying Weiner has reached the climax of his career, but I think New Yorkers are willing to overlook this screw-up. We’re not the family values crowd. I still say he’s gonna be mayor. I hope he at least gives it a shot. If he hasn’t done anything illegal, let the voters make the decision.

If you agree, there’s this Facebook page for starters.

Government Properties for Sale

Government Properties for Sale published on 3 Comments on Government Properties for Sale

Back when NYC was run down during my youth, I heard stories about abandoned buildings that could be bought for one dollar. I remember thinking that I wanted to do it, but I was like twelve. Well, FYI, there are still abandoned government properties and they are ready to deal!

It’s doubtful these properties are the greatest bargain ever, but there may be a good buy in there somewhere. Plus, purchasing one of these places helps pay off the national debt. The map lists industrial structures, monuments, office buildings and land across the United States. Most of the local properties are in the Gateway National Recreation Area. Seems like a good idea for factories or artist cooperatives.

No prices. You must inquire for more details.

Via NPR

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