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1970’s Brooklyn

1970’s Brooklyn published on 3 Comments on 1970’s Brooklyn

Dumbo. You wouldn’t really want to walk around there alone back then.

Photographer Danny Lyon is one of the all time great NYC street shooters. Business Insider came across these public domain images from 1974. What I miss most about old New York is everyone being out in the streets interacting with one another. Is it that New York has changed or is it just a sign of times that we no longer “play” outside because of technology? How old do I sound??

Bond Street, Boerum Hill. Burnt out cars and open fire hydrants: the playground of my youth!

Koskiusko Swimming Pool in Bed Stuy. Still there, right near Home Depot. People still line up on hot days.

It doesn’t say where this is, but do ya think that deck is legal??

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.

Weekend Events

Weekend Events published on

Tonight! Brooklyn Collective Spring Fling! 30 new collections on display from local artists. Drinks on the house and a performance by The Foo Fighters! (Ok, it just says “surprise musical performance”).

Friday, May 6th
212 Columbia Street
(between Union and Sackett)
6pm – 10pm

Bring yo mama along to to Film Biz Recycling and get 50% off your entire purchase! Damn my mother for moving down to Florida! This event is taking place alllllll weekend long.

Film Biz Recycling is now located at 540 President in Gowanus, Brooklyn. Open 12-7 on Saturday and Sunday.

Hester Street Fair (a weekly market) opens this Saturday. The vendors are of the vintage and crafty variety, so you can’t go wrong. Throw in some food and awesomely witty t-shirts and you got yourself a fab-o market! If you’re in the neighborhood, you can hit Katz’s Deli or Chinese Dim-Sum for lunch.

Hester Street Fair is located on the corner of Hester and Essex.

And for some non-shopping fun, there are two good Mother’s Day weekend family oriented events taking place on Saturday at The Highline. Artist Kim Beck leads a hands on Family Arts Workshop that explores New York’s “canopy”. It involves a scavenger hunt!

The Big Picture Bike Tour follows the original route of The Highline at street level. Tickets are $10.

Closure.

Closure. published on

Ground Zero reaction to Bin Laden's Death, New York

Close to 10 years. Nearly 10,000 American Military and civilians dead as a direct cause of Osama Bin Laden’s jihad. Two wars. Countless Afghan and Iraqi civilians and coalition troops under a President who fought a war that had nothing to do with 9/11.

This finally feels like the open wound is healing.

Until the next attack.

Gordon M. Aamoth, Jr.
Edelmiro Abad
Maria Rose Abad
Andrew Anthony Abate
Vincent Abate
Laurence Christopher Abel
William F. Abrahamson
Richard Anthony Aceto
Jesus Acevedo Rescand
Heinrich Bernhard Ackermann
Paul Acquaviva
Donald LaRoy Adams
Patrick Adams
Shannon Lewis Adams
Stephen George AdamsContinue reading Closure.

Weekend Events

Weekend Events published on

Queens Peeps! The PS 101Q Earth Day Flea Market will take place on Saturday, April 30th from noon-4pm. Address is 2 Russell Place, Forest Hills, NY 11375. Take the E/F train to 71st/Continental. I’ll be set up right next to Ms. Peculiar Whimsy.

It’s here! The 30th Annual Cherry Blossom Festival is on this weekend at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Bring your Allegra!

Clinton Hill House Tour sponsored by the Society for Clinton Hill is this Sunday, May 1st from 12-5. Pick up tickets at various venues or get them online here.

Happy Anniversary, Brooklyn!

Happy Anniversary, Brooklyn! published on

Don’t you remember the date, honey? It was one year ago that I returned to you after the longest break up of our relationship evah. Seven years apart! Ok, so I never reeeaaalllly left. But Happy Anniversary to my favorite borough!

One year ago (Ok, I’m talking to you now, reader), we gave up the “better quality of life” in a small town to come back to where we belong. Sometimes we wonder why we ever left, but all of us (well, many of us) have a love/hate relationship with the city and hubby and I were in “hate” mode. It wasn’t the crazy rat race that bothered us, it was that the city was becoming more like a suburb, so why not live in the country with clean air and more land and less expenses?

Well, easier said than done. It’s hard to wrap your head around not being able to get what you want when you want if you’re from the city that never sleeps. But hey, we lasted 7 years!

So, one year back. How is it?

Answer: Still happy! Still not pissed off riding the overcrowded subway or seeing people litter or having cars cut me off. I mean, yeah, I yell and scream, but that’s good for ya. It lets off steam. Otherwise, you get ulcers.

The best part about being back is that we now take advantage of what NYC has to offer. Whereas 7 years ago, we just kind of hung out around our neighborhood of Park Slope when not working on the house, we no longer take anything for granted. Any Broadway show or concert we want to see, we make sure to book. We try new restaurants now instead of eating at the most convenient place. After a year of being back, we still feel like tourists in our own city! (Well, the hubby is from Dublin originally, so it’s only been HIS city since 1986.)

We have neighbors that are like family on the Bed Stuy block we live on. Our renovations are almost done (sort of). I’m in touch with old friends from every decade of my life and BTW, I’m not the only one who returned to Brooklyn after a hiatus.

So, one year in….it’s still good.

* 1 month back in Brooklyn.

Incredible New York City Sculptures

Incredible New York City Sculptures published on

Check out these images below. You’re looking at mini sculptures from artist Alan Wolfson. They mostly measure under 2 feet. A native of Bed Stuy and Crown Heights, Wolfson creates these narratives of New York’s past in plastic with wood and cardboard. As if the sculptures aren’t fascinating enough, he then lights them to perfection.

Wolfson’s work is a combination of real locations mixed with details from his memory and other locations thrown in. People never appear in this scenes because he feels they would distract from the narrative.

Do you think new NYC would be as interesting? Bet not.

Via Huffington Post

Old House Museums in the Boroughs

Old House Museums in the Boroughs published on 3 Comments on Old House Museums in the Boroughs

Looking for something to do now that the weather is willing to cooperate? Hey kids, here’s an idea that’s fun and productive! Visit an old house museum. Get your inspiration from historic homes on a Saturday and start ripping into your house on the Sunday. (Some of these places are only open on weekdays, so you’ll have to call in sick.)

In Manhattan. FYI, did you know you can take a tour of Gracie Mansion? I never even considered that. Shipping merchant Archibald Gracie built this “country home” in 1799. It went through a few incarnations, including the Museum of the City of New York, until 1942. Fiorello La Guardia was the first mayor to move into Gracie Mansion.

Also, check out Manhattan’s only remaining lighthouse!

In Brooklyn. The Lefferts House has been right under my nose all these years and yet I’ve never been inside. This is one of the few remaining farmhouses in Brooklyn. The period rooms reflect daily life in the 1820’s and what finer backyard than Prospect Park?

In Queens. King Manor Museum was home to Rufus King, one of the first senators from New York. The house opened as a museum in 1900 and today, programs focus on King’s role in the antislavery movement.

In The Bronx. The Edgar Allan Poe Cottage is currently closed for restoration, but I’m including it here anyway because Poe is too cool to pass up. Poe spent the later years of his life in the 1812 cottage. He wrote such poems here as “Annabel Lee” and his wife Virginia actually died in the cottage.

In Staten Island. The Alice Austen House Museum is a Victorian Gothic cottage overlooking the water near on Verrazano Narrows. Austen was one of the first female photographers in America. The museum features Austen’s images as well as those of contemporary photographers. Plus, it’s a great old house.

New Bar for Nostrand

New Bar for Nostrand published on

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*This post has been updated with a few corrections.

Another immediately successful business popping up in the amenity-starved Bed Stuy. “Vodou Bar” on Nostrand and Halsey had their soft opening last night. They are now open for business but will be working out the kinks over the next couple of weeks. Thursday was a trial run.

Feedback? It’s gawna rock!

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Daphne, one of the owners of Ms. Dahlia’s Cafe right next door, is behind this new venture. Lemme tell you something. She knows how to run a business. The place was packed last night. Don’t know if it was the “little” emails a select few sent out or if it was people walking off the street, but it was biz-zy.

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They have some nice bottled and tap beers, but I had to get myself a fun drink. Apart from the usual mixed drinks, there was a “special” drink menu, which is what I deserved. I ordered some watermelon thing. It was really good!

My only complaint? No umbrella in my drink.

No signage on the bar yet. Corner of Nostrand and Halsey.

Related: Wine Shop on Nostrand

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Curb Your Enthusiasm, New York

Curb Your Enthusiasm, New York published on

If you haven’t heard, “Curb Your Enthusiasm“, season 8, takes place in New York. Welcome home, Larry David! We don’t mind you filming here because we love you!

You know how New Yorkers are. We get annoyed when we have to cross the street for a film crew. We’re too jaded to get excited over George Clooney. We don’t need Hollywood taking over our city streets.

But Larry David, we can let him slide. Even get excited about seeing him. He’s one of us.

Sidney Lumet’s New York

Sidney Lumet’s New York published on

Over the weekend we said goodbye to one of the kings of gritty old New York films. Sidney Lumet lost his battle with lymphoma at the age of 86.

I came of age on those gritty NY streets in the 60’s and 70’s, but everyone experienced the same New York thanks to Mr. Lumet. The city was a character in his films as important as the leading role.

Instead of going on about Lumet and his movies, I’m sharing three videos of real life people: Frank Serpico (Serpico), John Wojtowicz (Dog Day Afternoon), Bob Leuci (Prince of the City).

Anthony Weiner for Mayor!

Anthony Weiner for Mayor! published on 2 Comments on Anthony Weiner for Mayor!

The campaign starts here and now.

It looks like my dreams are coming true after all. Congressman Anthony Weiner will probably run for Mayor of New York City. I know, I know, he ran before and lost. But he’s hot stuff now. Really made a name for himself. Not since Ed Koch has NYC had such a meshugana loud mayor. I mean, this guy is funny as hell! You know, he was college roommates with Jon Stewart.

His politics? Not bad. He’s pretty progressive. Check out his stand on the issues here.

The video is nearly 12 minutes long, but trust me, it’s worth it. He makes some good Weiner jokes….

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