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Oy Vey!

Posted on May 16, 2013 by Brian Dubé Comments2

Sometime in the early 1970s, I found myself in the unenviable position of being in New York City with no place to live. For a time, I lived, or, better said, crashed, with a number of people in a variety of scenarios, living out of a suitcase.

One brief stay was as the guest of four women, at least one of whom was clearly not a New Yorker. One evening, this girl was busy finishing her shower in the bathroom and overheard the Yiddish expression, Oy Vey iz mir, I’m chalishing (oh my, I’m fainting). Unfamiliar to her, we attempted to teach her how to say it. Her interpretation went something like: Ova schmear, allava hallashing. I wondered whether an ova schmear was some medical procedure unfamiliar to me. From the living room, we urged her to repeat it over and over. On each telling, she popped her head out of the bathroom and proudly volunteered, “Ova schmear, allava hallashing.”

As she retreated, we laughed hysterically and secretly, never revealing how severely crippled her mispronunciation was, perhaps the worst bastardization of Yiddish I have ever heard. The scene was hilarious and reminiscent of a sophomoric prank in Wayne’s World where Mike Myers and Dana Carvey trick their mother to repeatedly announce a phone call from a mythical “Mr. Sphincter.”

Some Yiddish is a rite of passage in New York City. Certainly a working knowledge of basic words and phrases is a necessity. The lack of familiarity is a dead giveaway that an individual is an out-of-towner. If you doubt how much Yiddish is part of the fabric of the city, note the sign on the Williamsburg Bridge which proclaims, Leaving Brooklyn, Oy Vey!, below which one finds the names of the Borough President, Marty Markowitz, and Mayor Michael Bloomberg, both Jewish. Williamsburg, Brooklyn, has the world’s largest enclave of Satmar Hasidic Jews, estimated at 60,000 of the world’s 150,000.
The sign leaves no doubt of where you are. You should know that iz mir bears no connection to a schmear, which is a thin coating of cream cheese on a bagel, and that ova are eggs. And if you don’t, we New Yorkers can only say in despair, Oy Vey!

Related Posts: Essen or Fressen?, Hakafot, Chutzpah, Bagels

Posted on May 16, 2013 by Brian Dubé Comments2

This entry was posted in Curiosities of NYC, Only in New York. Bookmark the permalink.
The Tipping Point

Posted on February 18, 2013 by Brian Dubé Comment

It was a year ago or so that a friend recommended The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell. I had long ruminated and been very perplexed as to the reason that certain phenomenon, trends, etc, suddenly and inexplicably hit critical mass and really took off. Things such as the hula hoop – invented in 1957 and a fad by 1958. Then, interest lay relatively dormant for over 40 years. In the last few years, there has been a renaissance in hooping, but now with a much more serious interest for exercise and dance. Yet, it is difficult to ferret out any particular reasons to explain the resurgence in interest now. One may cit interest in exercise, material availability, etc., yet all these elements have been in place for decades.
Gladwell seeks to explain such mysterious sociological agents of change that mark everyday life with his three rules of epidemics: The Law of the Few, the stickiness factor, and the power of context. Gladwell’s thinking is also based on the 1967 Six Degrees of Separation study by social psychologist Stanley Milgram. However, despite the books popularity and Gladwell’s financial success (over $1 million dollar advance for the book and subsequent speaking at $40,000 per lecture), the scientific community is not in full agreement as to the validity of Gladwell’s analyses and for many, the reasons for a tipping point in social phenomena still remains a mystery.

I see this tipping point concept in my business as well as the innumerable trends I have witnessed in the last 44 years I have lived in New York City. Frozen yogurt shops, gelato, and most recently, aerial arts – a relatively difficult and somewhat dangerous activity to gain an audience with the general populace. Until recently, such interest in things like trapeze, wire walking, lyra, and silks has been limited to circus professionals. People such as Hovey Burgess have been steadfast in training a small number of those with a passion for flying high.

On Sunday, January 13, 2013, I had been wandering the streets of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, on a trip to visit the Domino Sugar refinery. I was intrigued by a one-story industrial building with a colorfully painted door with the words The Muse Performance Center brandished across its face, the huge Domino Sugar building in the distance looming over the place. I wondered what may lie behind this door when I heard my name called. I am recognized on occasion by a customer from the large number of contacts I have made over the last 38 years in business. But nonetheless, it is quite infrequent and certainly unexpected on a Sunday afternoon on a deserted street in an industrial area of Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
I did not recognize the individual, but he was in fact a customer and informed me that he had just been to my place of business in the last week. He was, quite conveniently, associated with The Muse. I asked if it would be possible to enter the space and take photos, to which he said yes. He introduced himself as Ryan and gave me his card: Ryan Shinji Murray, it said, along with the words: pleasure to meet you. let’s keep in touch. I learned that Ryan is a very talented working professional and was leaving for a 3-month tour that week – I was fortunate to have met him just before leaving.
I entered the small industrial space and saw that it was, in fact, one of a number of spaces I had heard of that was used for the training and teaching of aerial arts. In the last few years, there has been a renaissance in interest in all manner of aerial circus arts. Studios in inauspicious locations around New York City provide space for such activity. In the five boroughs of New York City, you will find STREB, The Trapeze School of New York, Circus Warehouse, Skybody System, Aerial Arts NYC, Helium Aerial Dance, Kiebpoli’s Aerial Class,The Sky Box, Body and Pole, the Manhattan Movement & Arts Center, and The Muse, located at 32D South First Street in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. STREB, one of the most well known, is only two blocks away from The Muse.

I thank Ryan and the cordial staff of The Muse for letting me take photos of their space. And I will let others explain why now, among the other particular current trends and fashions of New York City, that aerial arts has reached The Tipping Point

Posted on February 18, 2013 by Brian Dubé Comment

This entry was posted in Art and Sculpture, Only in New York, Sports Games and Hobbies. Bookmark the permalink.
I’ll Take Care of You

Posted on January 15, 2013 by Brian Dubé Comments3

Have you been in a restaurant where any special request, no matter how small, is met with hesitation or a negative? And where it is particularly irritating because you know that your request can be easily met? Don’t you already have plenty to do and worry about? When you are a customer of a service establishment, shouldn’t they shoulder the burden, troubles, and responsibilities? Why should you feel uneasy or worried that your needs and requests will go unmet and worse, that you may have to help solve the problem that you are paying them for? In short, why should you be doing their job?
Early Saturday morning, I lay awake in bed and reflected on the unpleasant chore of going to have my car inspected. In New York City, something as simple as inspecting your automobile can be very troublesome. Often an appointment in advance is necessary, there are long waiting periods, or a service station is out of inspection stickers. Many times I have spent hours trying to get my car inspected, only to return home defeated, having to try again another day.
I called Salerno Service Station and asked for Ryan, the general manager – a man who had forever changed my attitude towards the auto repair business and led me to write an extensive two-part story – Jacked. It was Ryan who had answered the phone. I asked if they could do an auto inspection that morning. He said, Don’t worry. Just come in. I’ll take care of you. That is when it hit me hard. He had given me the key to ultimate customer service when he said I’ll take care of you. It was the reason why Salerno had hundreds of five star reviews online.

HE HAD SHIFTED THE RESPONSIBILITY FROM ME TO THEM. All of the responsibility. Completely. 100%.

That was the key, because in that way and only that way can a customer fully relax while the service provider does their job. Even with good customer service, there is often a nagging worry that something may go wrong. In auto repair, so many things can and do go wrong – a bigger problem will be discovered, a part will be unavailable, there will be no time today for the repair, the cost will be too great, you will be cheated or lied to, you will be sold something you do not need, etc. But with great customer service, at a place like Salerno Service Station, you will be insulated from any hassles servicing your car because they are taking care of you. You can relax. Like my first visit when I was told by Ryan to go have a nice breakfast at the Willburg Cafe while he took care of my muffler job.
It is like the days of old, when people spoke of being in the doctor’s care. There was great comfort in those words because it meant that someone competent was going to take care of you. People love to be taken care of. This complete taking over of responsibility from the customer or patient is characteristic of the Italian culture and their approach to service. Now I saw how it was at the core of the No Problema attitude that I wrote about.

Over many decades of owning a car in the city, I have grown to despise the auto inspection ordeal. However, now, for the first time in my life, in the hands of Ryan and the Avallone family, Mario and Salvatore, I actually looked forward to this year’s inspection. In a harsh environment like New York City where comforts have to be actively sought out, there are no sweeter words than I’ll Take Care of You

Posted on January 15, 2013 by Brian Dubé Comments3

This entry was posted in Only in New York, People, Slings and Arrows of NYC, War Against Wheels. Bookmark the permalink.
Serious Business

Posted on November 19, 2012 by Brian Dubé Comment

I was recently informed by my office staff that we would be visited by Ringling Clowns and a film crew to shoot a promotional spot for the 2012 Boss Clown Election Debates. The individuals who were running for office were Ringling clowns Michael Richter and Todd Zimmerman. The moderator/MC was Joel Jeske. The debate, which toured nationally prior to the national Presidential election, was an educational effort to inform young students about the political process using comedy and clowning.

What may perhaps come as a surprise to some, is that the competition to become a Ringling Clown is quite fierce. Typically, clowns possess a wide range of skills and talents that go far beyond those demonstrated in the ring for a given show. For 29 years (1968-1997), Ringling clowns were auditioned, admitted, and trained within the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Clown College – around 1,400 clowns were trained during that period. Since the closing of Clown College, clowns are hired through a more conventional theatrical audition practice. Having been a teacher or graduate from Clown College has had a certain cachet – a veritable feather in one’s cap, a fait accompli and demonstration that an individual had the raw talent to be one of the chosen few. There have been many notable alumni who have gone on to work in other venues, such as Penn Jillette (of Penn and Teller) and Bill Irwin. You can find Joel Jeske’s bio here.

I have often been asked if my business needs to be located in New York City. The answer is, of course, NO, however, I do have a small but significant retail business which helps offset some of the premium we pay for a Manhattan location. It certainly is a luxury and a privilege to be located here. We enjoy the surprise visits of the illuminati of the entertainment world, most of whom are typically happy to share a little shtick with us – like Bill Irwin, who recently dropped in. To the audience, clowning is light-hearted, whimsical, and fun. But do not be deceived. Clowning around, just like any craft or performance art, is Serious Business

More people from the juggling/circus world: A Special Serendipitous Meeting, Look How Tall He Is, Fountains of Success, Just Like Them, Smile By Fire, Please Rub Off on Me Just Like Steve Mills, Think Big, The Women, Really Smart Guys, Kind Words, Viktoria’s Secret, Artiste Extraordinaire, Circus Amok

Posted on November 19, 2012 by Brian Dubé Comment

This entry was posted in Only in New York. Bookmark the permalink.
This Hood is a Done Deal

Posted on November 13, 2012 by Brian Dubé Comment

I recall a conversation many years ago with an artist who lived in Brooklyn and said that she found Manhattan over gentrified and fundamentally uninteresting. I was angry, defensive, and took this as sour grapes from someone who was not fortunate enough to live in Manhattan. After all, Manhattan was a mecca for so many human endeavors and the center of the universe, was it not?

Unlike the stereotypical Manhattan resident, I have visited Brooklyn in Queens often. And, over the course of the last six years that this website has been in existence, I have spent much more time in the outer boroughs, exploring and canvassing for subjects and potential stories. Now, in fairness, I must admit that the cultural brew in Brooklyn and Queens feels much richer than that of Manhattan, which has become more much more business and tourist oriented. If you seek an authentic New York and ethnic enclaves, the outer boroughs are where you must go. Neighborhoods such as Jackson Heights, Astoria, Richmond Hill, or Flushing in Queens and Borough Park, Sheepshead Bay, or Bay Ridge in Brooklyn have virtually no parallel in Manhattan, save Chinatown. In these neighborhoods, you will find a variety of merchants and restaurants catering to the local ethnic groups.

Regardless, Manhattan residents are a remarkably and classically xenophobic bunch, so you know things have changed when Manhattanites start traveling to Brooklyn for cultural and recreational activities. There are plenty of good reasons: the Brooklyn Museum, the Mermaid Parade, Coney Island, Dead Horse Bay, Floyd Bennett Field, the Queens Farm, the Queens Museum, Flushing Meadows – Corona Park, and perhaps one of the biggest draws and hottest neighborhoods in the five boroughs, Williamsburg.

You know things have really changed when, on a weekend, one Manhattanite runs across the dyed in the wool East Village icon, David Peel, in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, who both have crossed that river into another borough looking for a change of pace. Walking down Bedford Avenue, the main commercial artery of Williamsburg, I spotted David in a local pizza parlor, wearing his signature John Lennon-styled sunglasses.
The neighborhood has gone through remarkable transformations and even has a lively street scene with street performers, unusual outside of Manhattan. David knows me from our frequent meetings in Washington Square Park as well as the stories I have done including him as a subject. I spoke to him briefly about the irony of meeting in Brooklyn. He showed little surprise at all, knowing that Williamsburg was obviously the place to be. After all, New Yorkers love the hot new place and This Hood is a Done Deal

Posted on November 13, 2012 by Brian Dubé Comment

This entry was posted in Homes and 'Hoods, New York at Night, Only in New York, People. Bookmark the permalink.
A Special Serendipitous Meeting

Posted on November 8, 2012 by Brian Dubé Comments2

In the Wake of Hurricane Sandy

Many of us who live in lower Manhattan and lost power during Hurricane Sandy, found ourselves leaving our neighborhoods and heading uptown, where there was power. Many stores and restaurants were open, and in some locations, it was business as usual – one would barely notice evidence of a major power blackout. Many photos were taken and articles written about this bizarre bifurcation in Manhattan – in parts of the Village, one needed a flashlight to walk, yet midtown was all aglow and abuzz.

Two days after the hurricane, while on a journey midtown to a pharmacy, I spotted none other than Hovey Burgess.* He too found the blackout conditions quite depressing and was wandering in a world of light to pass time and brighten his day.
Hovey is one of my very earliest customers, going back to the very inception of my business in 1975. He often came to my home (where I ran my business for the first 6 years) with his wife Judy to pick up juggling equipment. Hovey is one of the greatest supporters of his fellow artists and suppliers I have ever met. When I have called him over the years to tell him of some new prop or publication as a point of information, I would often find him at the shop immediately to peruse and purchase. Money was never a consideration – purchasing new juggling-related equipment or books, or attending juggling- or circus-related shows of merit, was always his number one priority. He is well known to often attend numerous performances of the same show. He is the quintessential patron of the arts and, if possible, he is someone that, ideally, you want to have interested in what you do. He was one of my earliest customers and advisors. I owe him a great deal.
And so, that is why it was no ordinary occurrence - it was a Special Serendipitous Meeting

*Note about Hovey: For those who do not know him, Hovey is a circus aficionado, performer, juggler, and educator. For over 30 years, Hovey has taught circus arts at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. He is the author of the book Circus Techniques. Hovey has a B.A. in Theatre Arts from Pasadena Playhouse College of Theatre Arts.

His skills and work includes clowning, juggling, equilibristic and trapeze work with Circo Dell’Arte, Clyde Beatty-Cole Brothers Circus, Electric Circus, Patterson Brothers Circus, and Toledo Zoo Wild Animal Show. He is a former President of the International Jugglers Association.

He taught at American Conservatory Theatre, Juilliard, National Theatre School of Canada, Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Clown College, and Sarah Lawrence College. He was circus choreographer for Robert Altman’s Popeye (Paramount). Hovey is currently a member of Circus Flora, based in St. Louis. In 1999, he was inducted into the People’s Hall of Fame, which honors living cultural treasures and is housed at the Museum of the City of New York.

More on Hurricane Sandy: Yesterday’s Muddy Pants, Seeing Scenes Rarely Seen

Posted on November 8, 2012 by Brian Dubé Comments2

This entry was posted in Only in New York, People, Slings and Arrows of NYC. Bookmark the permalink.
Tardy to the Party, Part 1

Posted on September 25, 2012 by Brian Dubé Comments2

I had never been to the new Yankee Stadium, a replacement for the Yankees’ previous home, the original Yankee Stadium, which opened in 1923 and closed in 2008. Friends had purchased a set of four highly coveted Madonna tickets. One of their family, however, was unable to attend, leaving them with one ticket, which I was offered. I am not intimately familiar with Madonna’s music and so, I was somewhat unsure that I wanted to spend $189 to see a woman whom I was not particularly a fan of. My friends persuaded me to go – after all it would be a Saturday night out, an opportunity to see Yankee Stadium, and an arena concert, something I had not done in many decades. To sweeten the deal, they said that I could decide after the concert what it was worth to me and pay what I like – essentially a ticket on consignment. It was a deal I could not refuse, and so, on Saturday, September 8, I found myself at my friends’ apartment in the Village, readying ourselves for the Madonna concert.

There was a pre-show, but none of us were driven to see it, so a group decision was made to depart at 8:30PM. With travel time, this would leave about an hour before Madonna was to go on stage at 10PM. It was raining, but the concert was rain or shine. We planned and collected our raingear: umbrellas, ponchos, plastic bags, and raincoats, fully prepared for the worst – an evening sitting for two hours in the rain.

We made the short walk to Union Square at 8:30PM, walking briskly in the rain. Our train arrived promptly, however, there was congestion, and our train stopped abruptly. To add insult to injury, the train was mobbed, hot, and humid, and we learned that due to equipment failure, there was no air conditioning between 96th and 125th Streets. Everyone made the best of it as we enjoyed a joint roast. Finally, after what seemed to be an interminable journey, we arrived at our destination in the Bronx – 161st Street/Yankee Stadium. As the train pulled into the station, Hellen, shepherdess of the tickets, made the most disturbing announcement that could be imagined. Yes, she had forgotten the tickets.

So now, with only 45 minutes to concert time, we were in the very unenviable position of being at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx for a Madonna concert with $760 of tickets in Hellen’s closet in lower Manhattan, a distance that, even with the best of train fortune, was a long journey. To make the round trip journey seemed unthinkable, but the tickets were purchased via Ticketmaster, and with no recourse or ability to reprint them, only two options remained. Scrap the concert, or make the round trip and see what remained of the concert. A group management decision was made to do what we could to salvage the evening.

So back on the #4 to Union Square. A nice connection to the #6 to Astor Place was making the affair look more promising. A jog to their home, a swift elevator ride up to their apartment, and a beeline to the closet, where, as Hellen predicted, four tickets laid waiting. It was 9:40PM. I took a quick photo of Hellen gleefully brandishing four tickets, and we bolted out the door to retrace our steps. The subway ride was uneventful, however, we had become quite weary of train travel – this was now our third subway ride between the Village and Yankee Stadium.

We arrived at the stadium at 10:10, not bad, and in our seats approximately at 10:23 PM. Madonna had not gone on stage and so, through a miracle of fate, we had actually arrived 5 minutes before her portion of the concert. We had, with decisiveness and good fortune, accomplished our mission, avoiding what Hellen’s daughter had hoped – that we would not be Tardy to the Party

See Part 2 here for the conclusion to the story and a video.

Posted on September 25, 2012 by Brian Dubé Comments2

This entry was posted in Music and Concerts, Only in New York, Slings and Arrows of NYC. Bookmark the permalink.
Hope Springs Eternal

Posted on September 11, 2012 by Brian Dubé Comments2

One World Trade Center, 9/11/2012

Posted on September 11, 2012 by Brian Dubé Comments2

This entry was posted in Architecture, NYC's History, Only in New York. Bookmark the permalink.
Skillful Management and Careful Husbandry

Posted on September 10, 2012 by Brian Dubé Comments4

In my favorite film, Bedazzled (1967 starring Peter Cook and Dudley Moore), the Devil, on the first meeting with his victim, convinces him that he is indeed the Devil incarnate by telling him details and facts of his life that no mortal could know. He gives a brief genealogy of the victim, and at one point in the lineage he says:

Your great-great-great grandfather, Ephraim Moon, sailed to Australia in 1782 on a ship of the Line. Set himself up as an apothecary. The business flourished, and by the time he died it was worth something in the region of 2,000 pounds – a large amount in those days.

Your great-great-grandfather, Cedric Moon, by skillful management and careful husbandry, increased that sum a hundredfold.

The Devil, in his devious and duplicitous ways, goes on to tell his victim that, unfortunately, all such wealth was frittered away by his grandfather, leaving the victim in his present plight – “penniless and on the brink of suicide.” The solution is, of course, to avail himself of the Devil’s services by selling his soul for seven wishes.

I have always loved the phrase “skillful management and careful husbandry,” but I find no occasion to use it. After all, who and how many have the character, temperament, tenacity, and have, through their example, made themselves worthy of such a descriptive? Not many. Perhaps some of New York City’s more ambitious can collectors merit such words.

This is a city of extremes – extreme contrasts and people taking things to extremes. Things unfamiliar, infrequently seen, or of a perfunctory nature elsewhere can become enterprises and industries here, like the collection and redemption of bottles and cans for recycling. On February 1, 2010, I wrote Down on His Luck about a can redemption center in Harlem.
On the collection side, bottles must be harvested, bagged, and transported from place to place and eventually to a redemption center. For greater efficiency and productivity, these treasure troves must be guarded and shepherded through the city streets. Accumulations are neatly stacked – these urban armadas and flotillas are relatively common sights in the city. On April 5, 2007, I wrote Caravan of Dreams, and on August 28, 2009, I wrote Trash and Treasure. On September 5, 2008, I witnessed a veritable wagon train and featured it in Property Owner.

Recently, while walking on MacDougal Street, I encountered a can collector who took the enterprise to dizzying heights. Cans and bottles were neatly bagged and precariously stacked, in an enormous cache that could only have been done through Skillful Management and Careful Husbandry

Posted on September 10, 2012 by Brian Dubé Comments4

This entry was posted in Extreme NYC, Only in New York, Slings and Arrows of NYC. Bookmark the permalink.
The Big Mouth Does

Posted on July 24, 2012 by Brian Dubé Comments4

Many people do not like New Yorkers for a number of reasons. In all fairness, for a number of good reasons. New York is a city that is brash with people who are aggressive and competitive. It’s a sieve for success, filtering out those who can’t make it here or, like Dwanna, those who just don’t want to make it here. It is the ideal home for the self-centered, the narcissist who wants the largest possible audience to fan his or her flames. It is perfect for attention mongers and drama queens. And for those who prevail, it is a place where someone can make it big.

I am always astounded at how the real estate market here manages to be buoyed up regardless of the economy. The average 2-bedroom apartment in Manhattan sells for $2 million. A New York Times article reports that in Brooklyn, there is a shortage of single family brownstones with bidding wars driving up prices beyond the listing price. With pricing like this, obviously this is a city where many have achieved material success. It is also a home to the megalomaniacal or where it may at times be difficult to distinguish between the enormous success and the megalomaniac. It is a place where one truly must abandon preconceived notions or be faced with people like Mark Birnbaum, who, despite appearances and notions to the contrary, is who says he is and has done what he said he has.

Recently while in Washington Square Park, my attention was drawn to a man with a huge crucifix, dressed as the devil. Such a thing will provoke interest and garner attention. There was no shortage of onlookers or those seeking photo ops with Satan. I learned that this was Philip Garbarino, promoting his first book of a trilogy, The Devil Repents. The book is selling directly from Philip’s website. Chapter One can be found for free there as well. An ebook is available from Amazon. I spoke to Philip briefly and videotaped the conversation. Garbarino was eager to mention his acting credit in the film The Bronx Tale, directorial debut of Robert De Niro.

I have no idea as to the quality of the writing or what Philip’s aspirations are. Although perhaps not a necessary condition to success, in a city where everyone and everything is screaming to be heard and seen, self-promotion is a more likely road to success than a quiet unassuming demeanor or the meek, with Donald Trump as perhaps the best example. I do like real estate magnate Barbara Corcoran’s pithy and poignant remark:

In New York City, the meek don’t inherit the earth. The big mouth does.

Posted on July 24, 2012 by Brian Dubé Comments4

This entry was posted in fashion, Only in New York, Parks, People, Rebels of NYC, Videos. Bookmark the permalink.
Just There for the Taking

Posted on June 4, 2012 by Brian Dubé Comments2

Nothing gives a good overview like a view over. I have always gravitated towards tall structures – some readers are familiar with my obsession over the Washington Monument, the Chrysler Building, the Arc de Triomphe, et. al. These aerial overviews give a good sense of the lay of the land. So many people have little sense of direction or scale – in New York City, it is particularly easy to get lost in the forest or jungle. I am frequently asked which direction is north in Manhattan, when anyone who has glanced at a map of the city would immediately see that the long axis of Manhattan and its major avenues are oriented north-south. And, of course, a glance at the sun’s position will often easily provide that answer, but this approach to orienting oneself is virtually nonexistent in the urban world.

My first act as a child before coming to New York City was to acquaint myself with the city by looking at street maps. I was fascinated with locating (and hopefully later seeing in person) places I had heard of or depicted on TV. I was particularly intrigued with the opening sequence of The Man From U.N.C.L.E., which showed a nondescript laundromat that was secret headquarters for an international spy organization. Sadly, I was to learn that even the exterior shots were all done in a backlot in Hollywood.

In my travels through the myriad of businesses I have visited over the decades in Manhattan, I am sometimes privy for some moments to a spectacular view from an office or industrial space on a high floor. I was recently shopping for a sofa in the Starrett-Lehigh Building in Chelsea at 601 West 26th Street. The property is enormous, spanning an entire city block between Eleventh and Twelfth Avenues and between 26th and 27th Streets. The full-block freight terminal, warehouse, and office building was built in 1930-31.

It was a Sunday afternoon, June 3rd. The neighborhood and building were essentially deserted. The showroom was small and spare. The whole experience was rather depressing until I moved towards the windows, which had unobstructed views North, East, and West. Helicopters were taking off and landing from the heliport, affording me the kinds of views I had hoped for when I originally visited. Looking northeast were the Chrysler and Empire State Buildings, as well as many lesser-known players in the game of one-upmanship by New York City’s tall buildings.

With a view of midtown like this, I am often reminded of one of my favorite scenes in the film The Producers and the words of Zero Mostel as he tries to lure Gene Wilder into a moneymaking scheme and whispers over his shoulder, “All of these pleasures can be yours.” Like a small boy or girl looking down from atop the Empire State Building, where cars look like toys that can be picked up, when one has a sweeping vista of Manhattan’s cityscape like those in today’s photos, the industry, ambitions, drive, and achievements of generations of New Yorkers seems so tangible, Just There for the Taking

Posted on June 4, 2012 by Brian Dubé Comments2

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The Show Must Go On

Posted on May 28, 2012 by Brian Dubé Comments12

Chapter 1

It’s Friday evening at the workday’s end. A coworker, Rigel Sarjoo, and I decide to have dinner. However, her time is limited – she also moonlights as a singer with a local band and must leave Manhattan by subway at 7:30PM for a show in Brooklyn. It is 6:30 PM, and we have exactly one hour to get to walk to a restaurant, eat, and pay our bill. We both were thinking the same two options – the newly discovered Meatball Shop, recommended by mutual friend Bill Shatto, or the old standby, Saigon Grill (now Saigon Market). They are both in the Village, but some distance apart. Here’s the dilemma: Saigon Grill is very good with lightning-fast service. However, we LOVE Meatball, but it is typically PACKED and it is Friday night. But it is also Memorial Day weekend – which means it may be dead. We take our chances with our first choice.

Chapter 2
It’s a long walk in the warm, humid weather – about one mile and we are nearly sprinting. Nothing worse than summer heat and humidity in the city. Meatball rarely has no wait. This is a big risk and we agree if they are too crowded that we will try Thali, a micro-restaurant nearby, saving us from a long walk to Saigon Grill. Thali is a new Indian restaurant located in a tiny space, formerly the home of another Indian restaurant. They specialize in Thali – a selection of different food items, served in small bowls on a round tray. It’s a great way to sample a variety of Indian dishes. We have eaten at the new incarnation once. It’s the backup plan.

Chapter 3
We arrive at Meatball. It’s MAYHEM as usual, with at least a 30 minute wait. I tell the hostess to forget it, and we leave. We walk a few doors down Greenwich Avenue, arrive at Thali, and the door is open. There is no A/C, and it is hot inside. Forget it. We are off to Saigon Grill, where we both agree we should have gone in the first place. It has the fastest service I have ever had in a restaurant in New York City. I have seen entire dinners served before friends have returned from the bathroom after ordering. We need that speed now, because it will be 7PM by the time we arrive.

Chapter 4
It’s another long hike to Saigon Grill. It’s 7PM, and now we have only 30 minutes. But we are greeted and taken to be seated immediately. There is A/C, the place is spacious, and there are numerous empty tables. This is why Saigon Grill is an old reliable. They never fail us for large groups or when in a hurry.

Chapter 5
As we are about to sit down, we hear our names being called. Our mutual friends Harvey and Hellen Osgood and Myra Smolev are eating nearby. We are, of course, invited to sit with them. The five of us cram around a table for four. No problem. It’s a nice follow up to a long hike in the heat and a series of restaurant disappointments. Dinner with friends. We are, however, still in a rush. Time is fleeting. My coworker and I do not need menus – we both know what we want and order immediately. Within a few minutes, our meals arrive. Friendly banter dominates the meal. It occurs to me now that all four of my dinner companions have been the subject of stories for this website.

Chapter 6
Our check has been ordered, received and the bill paid. It is 7:30PM on the dot. Rigel makes the rounds getting her good luck hugs and leaves for her show in Brooklyn. She should make it on time. It was a job well done, if not a bit harrowing. My cell phone rings – I miss the call. It’s a number I do not recognize. I decide to return the call anyway. It is Kyle Petersen, a freelance worker who handles all of our social networking. He is a professional juggler and unicyclist. There is an emergency.

Chapter 7
He is scheduled to go on stage at 8PM at the Bowery Poetry Club. However, he is missing two silicone handsticks that he must have for a juggling routine in his show. There is nowhere that these can be had except at my shop, conveniently only a few blocks from the club. He is there now on the street – can I come down right now and open my shop and get him two handsticks?

Chapter 8
Oh man, I REALLY don’t want to do this now. I just left work 60 minutes ago. After all the running and sweating that I did, I do not want to go back to my office. It will take me 15 minutes to get there if I really hustle and leave instantly. But it’s his show, and it would be unconscionable for me to refuse. I tell my friends of the dilemma, my intentions, and the challenge in getting there in time. But there is good news.

Chapter 9
Myra conveniently happens to have her bicycle chained outside the restaurant and offers it to me! After that, I can ride it to her apartment building and just hand it to her doorman. No fuss. And she lives steps from my home, near Washington Square Park. We leave the restaurant and she unbolts her bike. However, a problem remains: I have a very heavy bag and a DSLR camera with no bag for it, and it’s not the best idea to bike with an unprotected camera. Hellen immediately offers to take both to her apartment, also one block away. I can pick both items up on my return. Excellent. Now every detail has been taken care of and I ride off, heading towards Broadway. I have owned and ridden bikes in NYC for my entire life here, and I love bike riding in Manhattan. This lemon is turning to lemonade. The ride to 520 Broadway in SoHo from Saigon Market is a breeze by bike. And fun. I am there in minutes.

Chapter 10
I arrive at my office. Kyle is nowhere to be seen outside. He is, however, inside the lobby. Perfect. He is shocked at how fast I made it. I tell him of my luck regarding Myra’s bike. He is fully dressed for his performance and ready for stage with a headphone mic on. This is like the NYC of moviedom. I hand him the bike. I take the elevator to the 3rd floor, unlock the door, disarm the security system, grab two black handsticks, rearm the security system, and run out the exit door and down 3 flights of stairs – all in one big sweeping motion. Kyle is nothing short of ELATED. He assures me: “You’re the man!” Thanks to the bike, it is only 7:45PM, and Kyle has a full 15 minutes to show time. We have seconds to burn.

Chapter 11
One more thing, Kyle, before you go. Give me a few SECONDS and pose for a photo with that bike because this evening’s events make one hell of a story. I snap a couple of shots, and he is off and running to the Bowery Poetry Club. My job is complete. I bike back towards the Village, arrive at Myra’s residence, hand the bike to her doorman, and walk two blocks to Hellen and Harvey’s. A quick elevator ride to the 11th floor, and I retrieve my camera and bag. Mission accomplished – it’s time for a stroll in the park and then home.

Chapter 12
By the next morning, I have nearly forgotten the episode. I examine my cellphone and find that my text memory is full. After deleting a few messages, I receive a text which had been sent by Kyle at 10:32 PM the evening before, apparently after his show. It proclaims: “Smash success. You saved my life.”

Postscript

It was a real New York City adventure, replete with frenetic rushing, two performers who have showtime pressures, turned away at a restaurant so trendy and crowded that patrons were waiting in the streets, a serendipitous meeting of friends, the fortuitous availability and offering of a bicycle, the helping hands of others, and someone who literally goes the extra mile – on Broadway. It’s what goes on behind the scenes in New York City when we say The Show Must Go On.

Posted on May 28, 2012 by Brian Dubé Comments12

This entry was posted in Food and Restaurants, Only in New York, People, Slings and Arrows of NYC. Bookmark the permalink.
Jacked, Part 2

Posted on May 7, 2012 by Brian Dubé Comment1

Shortly after running Part 1, I received the following email:

Love jacked part 1 lol , I’m honored for you to put us on your site . I’m happy your happy with the work on your car. Whenever you need to come in for Anything e mail me here first and I’ll Be happy to help you .
Enjoy your weekend . Thank you .
- Sal A.

Later, his mother wrote to me. She included the photo*, seen above. Here a few of her comments regarding my story and the business:

Hi Brian, My name is Margaret Avallone, my son Sal of Salerno Service Station, gave me your email address-

The article on your website “Jacked, part 1″ is beautifully written and we truly appreciate your kind words. All of your articles on your web site are extremely well written and very entertaining and I look forward to reading your future articles.

Believe it or not, that was probably a “quiet” day at the station, as there are many other characters who frequent the station on a daily basis just to socialize.
We enjoyed your view of our business and welcome you back anytime.

I inquired about the name Salerno. Margaret responded:

Salerno is the town in Italy where my father in law came from. He would have told you many more stories himself, but unfortunately, suffered a stroke in October and is just not the same.

Yes, they have great work ethics and they have a passion for cars as well as a passion for the community. Many people seem to find the business and family quite entertaining. We were approached several times with the idea of a reality show and someone did actually do a demo tape- but we refused to go any further. We weren’t looking to gain fame and all the problems that comes along with that.

We own real estate in the neighborhood that my husband built from empty rodent infested lots. When that section of Williamsburg wasn’t considered the trendy neighborhood it is now, it was quite broken down. My husband always loved the neighborhood and bought empty lots where buildings used to be at city auctions with hopes of restoring the area close to the gas station. His father actually thought he was wasting his money, but the neighborhood real estate values jumped tremendously and his investments proved to be quite fruitful.

My husband truly has a passion for the neighborhood and helps out as much as possible, from our huge Christmas display we do every year, to donating toys at local schools & hospitals and sponsoring just about every local youth sports team.

There is a lot more to Salerno then meets the eye.

It was a great pleasure to meet the Avallone family, and I intend to go back soon. I suggest you do too, for any auto repair or maybe just feeling that you need to be Jacked

*The photo is from the local feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, which does a procession through the neighborhood each year. They sell holy bread and make it a point to visit the gas station each year. Mario Avallone is in the center, and his two sons, Mario and Salvatore, are next to him.

More unique New York City businesses and their owners: Not Just Meatballs, That’s Giove, Joe’s Dairy (The Movie, Part 1 and Part 2), A Sharp Focus, Trimmings for Sale, Instincts, Walk Like Di Fara, The Bathroom Closes in 20 Minutes, We Don’t Do Windows, Because I’m the Best (Part 1 and Part 2), Thank You, Mr. Dupal, New York Moment, Hurry, Economy Candy, Alidoro, Space Surplus Metals

Posted on May 7, 2012 by Brian Dubé Comment1

This entry was posted in Only in New York, People, Videos, War Against Wheels. Bookmark the permalink.
Jacked, Part 1

Posted on May 4, 2012 by Brian Dubé Comments4

“Me and Mario are jacked out of our minds. We’re pumped up, high energy…” This is how Tommy Santino describes himself and Mario Avallone. It’s an understatement.

Jacked, pumped, stoked – in 42 years living in New York City, I have never seen a business that operates like this. It’s a social club on steroids or, as Salvatore Jr. described it, a circus. Three generations, all present every day. Salvatore Avallone, who founded the business in 1959, sits reading at his desk while his son, Mario, and his grandson, Salvatore, scurry about running the business. Interloper and friend, Tom Santino, comes in daily and makes lunch with Salvatore Sr.

What do you get when you combine honesty, competence, a sense of urgency, customer service par excellence, and fair pricing? A place where people will beat a path to your door. And here at Salerno Service Station at 451 Lorimer Street in Brooklyn, they do. This is a business that elevates customer service above all else. It is unique – after only a few minutes, I knew everything everyone had said about this place was true and that I, too, would become a Salerno devotee.

I needed a muffler repaired, and here in New York City, as elsewhere, auto repair is riddled with charlatans, liars, cheaters, and crooks. The Internet has helped immeasurably to sort businesses out. I began some online searching and became intrigued with Salerno Service Station in East Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Of over 80 reviews, all but two were 5 stars – remarkable and unfathomable really. The reviews themselves were saturated with superlatives. A visit was in order.

The station is open 24 hours and the auto service department from 8AM to 2PM on Saturday. I wanted to insure that my repair was done Saturday, so, given this place’s popularity, I arrived at 7:30AM. Mechanics were already on the scene in preparation for start of their workday. Ryan approached me immediately and pulled my car into the garage and onto a lift. He confirmed that I needed a muffler and that they could do the job easily. However, parts suppliers did not open until 8:15AM, so he suggested I relax at the Willburg Cafe around the corner. I took his recommendation and had a leisurely breakfast while waiting.
At 8:10, my cellphone rang. A muffler for my 20-year old car had already been located. I was given pricing and was told that I also needed an air filter, but it would be done at no charge. I needed an oil change. No charge. And I had the most annoying rattle that no one could isolate for years. They would investigate. (They found it and repaired it at no charge.) I gave the go-ahead for the muffler replacement.

A fellow diner overheard my conversation, asking if I had a vehicle at Salerno Service. I told him I did. He extolled their virtues, adding that he was their medical doctor, Dr. Zane, a podiatrist. A small and interconnected world indeed, here in East Williamsburg. I was also told that Mario was quite affluent, owning a lavish home in Long Island as well as many buildings in Brooklyn. He ran the business for the love of it. Workaholics. Nothing drives a business like passion and the love of work and people.

My car was completely finished ahead of schedule. I left the diner to pick it up. The place was now brimming with activity, and the family had arrived. I did not want to leave. I was escorted around the garage, given several complementary T-shirts (Mario keeps cases on hand). The original tow truck from 1959, perfectly restored, sits nearby. A sign below Lorimer Street proclaims “Via Salerno” – I was told this was given courtesy of the Guiliani administration. Salerno Service is a power station and has assisted the city in many crises.

I was being educated and entertained by Tommy Santino, who elaborated on business and life. I was to learn that the Avallone family and Tommy were pumped in more ways than one. All have the physiques of body builders – photos and trophies in the back office are testament that they had more than a passing interest. Two decades ago, they installed a gym in a back room. Here, I was escorted for a tour and learned that Tommy had been a professional boxer and headed the New York State boxing commission. His wife, Mary Murphy, is an award-winning reporter and anchorwoman for a local New York City television network. I watched Salvatore Jr. demonstrate his conditioning on the pullup bar. Mario, I learned, has appeared in films, including those of director Spike Lee.

The stories were endless, the achievements amazing, and the energy was infectious. I recorded my visit, and on my next installment of this story, you can see the movie and how everyone in this place, along with me, is truly jacked…

More unique New York City businesses and their owners: Not Just Meatballs, That’s Giove, Joe’s Dairy (The Movie, Part 1 and Part 2), A Sharp Focus, Trimmings for Sale, Instincts, Walk Like Di Fara, The Bathroom Closes in 20 Minutes, We Don’t Do Windows, Because I’m the Best (Part 1 and Part 2), Thank You, Mr. Dupal, New York Moment, Hurry, Economy Candy, Alidoro, Space Surplus Metals

Posted on May 4, 2012 by Brian Dubé Comments4

This entry was posted in Only in New York, People, War Against Wheels. Bookmark the permalink.
Wild Ride

Posted on December 2, 2011 by Brian Dubé Comment

Wednesday night, returning from Brooklyn, I was feeling a little wild, as is sometimes the case when I find myself driving in New York City and life is GOOD. Then the city just ELECTRIFIES me – I can feel its high voltage coursing through my body. Everything is RIGHT and I know I am in the world’s most exciting city.

With no prior plan to do so, I suddenly just decided to pull out a camera and video record a leg of my journey with stream of consciousness narration as I drove. See the NYC skyline from the BQE. Cross the Manhattan Bridge with me, and then cruise the streets of Lower Manhattan, NoHo, and the Village. The footage is raw, jumpy, and a little out of focus at times. It’s not reality TV – it’s the REAL DEAL while on a Wild Ride >>>

Posts referenced in the video: 212 and 2:12, New York Rockies, Sittin’ On Top of the World, No Sir, Pull Ahead, Childhood’s End, Public Theater, Astor Place Cube

Posted on December 2, 2011 by Brian Dubé Comment

This entry was posted in New York at Night, Only in New York, Videos, War Against Wheels. Bookmark the permalink.