New York Daily Photo

Pretty Rad, Part 1

Posted on October 26, 2011 by Brian Dubé

Fairway to Heaven

Don’t you love a bargain, a deal? A two for one sale? How about three for one? Please come with me on an adventure in three parts and see why New York City is everything you were told it would be, and more.

I do have a tendency to get very excited and animated by things that may perhaps be seen as ordinary, boring, or just “interesting.” And it is true that once unleashed, my unbridled enthusiasm often embellishes – things such as chewing gum on the sidewalk, etched windows on the subway. or a place where one may find nothing. But, nonetheless, I cannot conceive of another place where one can find the plethora of absolutely amazing people, places, and things that can be discovered and explored in one evening in one locale. Let me explain.

Needful of photos and story material, I was prompted last Saturday to corral a friend to explore Red Hook, Brooklyn. I chose Red Hook to visit a highly rated neighborhood bar, Sunny’s. But, as typifies any train of thought travel in New York City to the open-minded, I was quickly derailed, and Sunny’s became a postscript to the novella of the night. I often go on photography jaunts alone, but when possible, I do prefer company in these urban safaris. I have often explored the corners of the city with fellow photographer Bill Shatto.

On this trip, however, I recruited a friend who is a college student and who brings spontaneity, impulsiveness, and a fresh curiosity to the table. You will meet her in part three of this story and learn why this story is entitled Pretty Rad. However, I had no idea that this night would become the next cool adventure, befitting her expectations from a couple of previous outings.

I had visited Red Hook a number of times and was aware of the two big retail attractions of the area: Ikea and Fairway. Fairway is a market very well known to New Yorkers for its extraordinary prices and selection. It is an institution on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.
Given the scenic wonders of Red Hook and that I already knew Fairway, shopping here was never of interest to me. Hence, I had never set foot inside this particular Fairway. My companion had not been in a Fairway before, so I decided to briefly tour her around the store before our main feature of the night.

I made a big mistake in assuming that this Fairway was just another store and that an excursion here would be a quick perfunctory run through. When I say big mistake, I mean BIG. Have you ever seen limes stacked 20 across and 16 high? Or an aisle of yogurt? An olive oil department? An entire section of vanilla beans?

I have visited suburban Pathmarks and the like, but I have never seen such a mammoth selection of products within one food category as this market in Red Hook, Brooklyn. Those nearby who can shop here regularly are truly blessed with good fortune, and their path there must truly feel like a Fairway to Heaven 🙂

See Part 2 here for a slice of Charles Knapp.

Related Post: Gotham City

Posted on October 26, 2011 by Brian Dubé

This entry was posted in Only in New York, Stores. Bookmark the permalink.
Last to See the Future

Posted on October 25, 2011 by Brian Dubé

The future is here at last. I hope. I was excited to see the demo bike station of the New York City Bikeshare program to be launched in the summer of 2012. I never thought I would see a bikeshare program in New York City. We hear of these things in places such as Portland, Oregon, considered to be a model city when it comes to progressive ideas and quality of life. Here in New York, these things are like faraway fantasies of tropical islands in the cold of winter. Never going to happen.

But it is. I am impressed that Alta Bicycle Share was able to work out the details and orchestrate such a large program like this in New York. Programs which may be simple elsewhere can find monumental hurdles or impasses here. The beauracratic nightmare, along with issues of handling payments, security, theft, safety, vandalism, collecting and redistributing bikes using rebalancers, location of kiosks, etc. have to be worked out in a city already packed to capacity with pedestrians and competing vehicles.

Alta Bicycle Share designs, deploys, and manages bicycle share programs and systems worldwide. They have launched systems in Washington, DC/Arlington, Virginia, Boston, and Melbourne, Australia. The NYC program will roll out with 10,000 bicycles available at 600 stations in Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn. I spoke with a representative for some time and took a test ride on one of the bikes. The details seem to be very well thought out – I asked many questions and raised many concerns.

One of my biggest concerns for any plan that requires things left in public spaces is theft. Theft has been an issue that has severely limited the widespread use of bicycles in New York City. Bicyclists resort to heavy chains and lock systems along with the use of old bikes that are least desirable for stealing and resale.

I was told that the bikes used in the program are designed to use unique parts and have tracking devices. A stolen bike would be obvious on the streets, not to mention that a 40-pound clunker is not going to be particularly desirable in the resale market of stolen goods.

Bike Share in NYC will be funded by private sponsorship and user fees, not taxpayer dollars. Memberships are expected to run about $100 per year, and bikes will be available 24/7 (day passes will also be available). Membership will give unlimited use, but rides are limited to 30-45 minutes (for longer trips, a bike can be dropped off at any station and exchanged for another). See more here.

There are still problems to work out, not the least of which is $50 million in sponsorship funding. The program does look like it is moving forward. In many arenas, the latest and greatest can be found in New York City. However, in areas that involve large systems to be implemented, it often feels like we are Last to See the Future…

Related Posts: One Screw, Street Cred, Orange You Glad, Urban Bike Polo, Art Bikes, Penny Farthing

Posted on October 25, 2011 by Brian Dubé

This entry was posted in Sports Games and Hobbies. Bookmark the permalink.
No Cannibals

Posted on October 24, 2011 by Brian Dubé

In 1989, Daniel Rakowitz shocked New York City when he murdered and chopped up his ex-girlfriend Monika Beerle, made a soup out of her body, and served it to the homeless in Tompkins Square Park. Rakowitz, the “Butcher of Tompkins Square,” was found not guilty by reason of insanity and moved to a state hospital for the criminally insane.

It is hard for anyone to imagine, even to those of us who lived in New York City, that not so long ago in the 1970s, the East Village was one of the most frightening areas to live in or visit. Extraordinary, because it was just a stroll away from the center Village and some of the most desirable and expensive real estate in New York City.

Even through the 1980s, when much of the city had improved considerably, Tompkins Square Park remained a high-crime area, had encampments of homeless people, and was still a center for illegal drug dealing and heroin use. Rents were extraordinarily low – many drug addicts were able to afford apartments there, with lifestyles funded by selling drugs or through burglary and muggings. Virtually everyone I know who lived in the East Village in the 1970s was robbed or assaulted. It was truly a lawless land. Even to walk to St. Marks place at night could be worrisome. Alphabet City was no man’s land. Things escalated, and on August 6–August 7, 1988, the Tompkins Square Park Riot occurred. Since 2004, the annual Police Riot Concert commemorates this event.

Last week was the first time in my entire life that I walked through Tompkins Square Park at night, something that four decades ago would have been unthinkable to me. In the 2000s, a woman friend I knew regularly attended bars and clubs in Alphabet City. She trekked the area at extremely late hours. I was astonished that a single woman would venture out alone there; when I questioned her, she could not understand my concern that she did such a thing routinely.

However, even in 2011, Tompkins still has an edge. I find the nondescript, high fences to be very disturbing visually, a reminder that this place’s character is far from the parks of Paris, where a fence a few inches high with a small sign to stay off the grass is adequate to keep trespassers off. Here, even after renovation, I find the atmosphere much like that of a well-manicured prison yard with a feeling that restraint is necessary, lest there be an outbreak or an invasion of some kind. No doubt that many of these impressions are now largely a product of my mind from witnessing decades of decay, horror, and crime there.

So, on a recent chilly Saturday night, I walked through Tompkins Square Park from one end to another. It was only 8PM, but already the park was deserted with only a few stragglers here and there. The atmosphere was spooky and eerie to me. I was quite uneasy in that small jungle at night, but at least I saw no cannibals.

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Posted on October 24, 2011 by Brian Dubé

This entry was posted in New York at Night, NYC's History, Parks. Bookmark the permalink.
Off-White by Design

Posted on October 21, 2011 by Brian Dubé

At the risk of sounding ungrateful, I must tell you that I really don’t like being in my apartment much. I say ungrateful because although I have worked hard like many, I have also been lucky. And to live in an 1837 landmark townhouse on Washington Square is one of the rare privileges afforded very few in New York City.

Notice that I said apartment rather than home. The reason is simple: my place does not feel much like a home, for which I take full responsibility. It has not been decorated at all. Even the Shaker style, for all its spartan utilitarianism, at least has a style, grace, and aesthetic. I’m embarrassed to say and hate to admit, perhaps my place has devolved into a bachelor pad with a hint of hope.

Recently I was strolling home from my office via Mercer Street. An exquisitely appointed retail interior caught the eye of a friend, who immediately recognized the furnishings as the Shabby Chic style of Rachel Ashwell, a woman whom she much admired and many of whose books she had acquired. She wandered inside. I waited outside at first but soon decided to explore the store myself. The shop had an extraordinary feel. Truly inviting and homey, a place you want to just linger in. And we did. See my photo gallery here.

I was pleased to learn that Rachel Ashwell herself would be present for a book signing in just a few days, so I discussed with the staff my desire to return for the signing, meet Rachel, take photos, and do a story. The staff was extremely amenable, befitting my entire experience there. I was given a green light, and so, with cameras in tow, I returned last night for the small happening. It amazes me how so many such fetes with notables are going on concurrently in New York City.

I know nothing of the Shabby Chic style, but it is immediately apparent that although there is a casual nature to the decor, nothing is really left to whim. The messy, mushy, wrinkled, and time-worn comfort is deliberate – every element is given thoughtful consideration, even down to the white pencils, offered free. The lighting in the SoHo shop is soft with a yellow cast. Intrigued about the details of the decor, particularly the colors, I asked about the paint, and, as I expected, the precise shade was known and written down for me as per my request – Winbourne White by Farrow and Ball.

The turnout was not too large or too small. Free appetizers and wine were made available. Everything seemed just right. I waited in line and met Rachel briefly, telling her of this website. She was charming and cordial. I told her of my intentions and left my card.

We often like our things crisp and clean with hard edges, particularly in a world ruled by the precision of modern technology. We like bright and bold colors and harsh contrasts. In my lifetime, painting a place white meant a pure white. On November 17, 2009, I wrote White by Design. But that’s white, not off-white. My apartment is now painted Atrium white – a stark, bluish white. I never understood the desire for off-white. Why be so muted? I understand now. The world can be a harsh place at times. Who wants to come home more of that? I have seen the light, and it’s a little yellower. I want to come home to a place that evokes the comfort of a time gone by. A place that is soft and Off-White by Design 🙂

About Rachel Ashwell: Rachel Ashwell, was born Rachel Greenfield on October 30, 1959, in Cambridge, England and raised in London. Rachel is an author and interior designer who created the Shabby Chic style, opening her first store in 1989 in Santa Monica, California. Her mother restored antique dolls and teddy bears, and her father was a secondhand rare books dealer. While in her teens, Rachel began selling antiques at London outdoor markets, later pursuing a career as in England as a wardrobe and prop stylist for TV commercials and photo shoots. She currently resides in Los Angeles, California.

Related Posts: White by Design 3, Yellow by Design, White by Desire, Rhapsody in Blue, White by Design 2, Coup de Grace, Soho Treasures

Posted on October 21, 2011 by Brian Dubé

This entry was posted in Art and Sculpture, Bars Clubs and Fetes, Stores. Bookmark the permalink.
Last Resort

Posted on October 20, 2011 by Brian Dubé

Growing up at the time and place that I did, there was not much to do as a teenager and very little that was approved by adults. No Starbucks for us. One of the few activities that was considered “good, clean fun” was bowling. Of course, to bring a girlfriend meant no privacy, which is what made it good and clean, but not much fun.

Alternatively, a lover’s lane or parking with a girl meant having a driver’s license and vehicle, which was not a small achievement. Avoiding police interrogation was another concern in this endeavor. So it was bowling, and as often as I may have gone (I owned my own bowling shoes), bowling always felt like a LAST RESORT. I grew to hate bowling.

But everything gets reinvented, marketed, and repackaged. Virtually nothing is uncool – the uncool becomes cool as people exhaust existing cool. Bowling became very cool in the 1980s, but it goes back much further, with various spikes in interest, even to the earliest days of New York City’s founding, when lawn bowling was done in lower Manhattan.
From the New York City Department of Parks website:

Bowling Green is New York City’s oldest park. According to tradition, this spot served as the council ground for Native American tribes and was the site of the legendary sale of Manhattan to Peter Minuit in 1626. The Dutch called the area “the Plain” and used it for several purposes. It was the beginning of Heere Staat (High Street, now Broadway)—a trade route which extended north through Manhattan and the Bronx. It was also the site of a parade ground, meeting place, and cattle market. In 1686 the site became public property and was first designated as a park in 1733, when it was offered for rent at the cost of one peppercorn per year. Lessees John Chambers, Peter Bayard, and Peter Jay were responsible for improving the site with grass, trees, and a wood fence “for the Beauty & Ornament of the Said Street as well as for the Recreation & delight of the Inhabitants of this City.” A gilded lead statue of King George III was erected here in 1770, and the iron fence (now a New York City landmark) was installed in 1771. On July 9, 1776, after the first public reading in New York State of the Declaration of Independence, this monument was toppled by angry citizens, dragged up Broadway, sent to Connecticut, melted down, and recast as ammunition.

By the late 18th century, Bowling Green marked the center of New York’s most fashionable residential area, surrounded by rows of Federal-style townhouses. In the first decade of the 20th century, Bowling Green was disrupted by the construction of the IRT subway. The park was rebuilt as part of citywide improvements made in preparation for visitors to the 1939 World’s Fair. Renovations to Bowling Green included removing the fountain basin, relocating the interior walkways, installing new benches, and providing new plantings.
A 1976-77 capital renovation restored Bowling Green to its 18th-century appearance. Publisher and philanthropist George Delacorte donated the park’s central fountain.

Since December 1989 the statue of Charging Bull (1987-89) has been on display at the north end of the park. Its sculptor, Arturo DiModica, says the three-and-a-half-ton bronze figure represents “the strength, power and hope of the American people for the future.” It has also been linked to the prosperity enjoyed by Wall Street in the past decade.

The park and surrounding area is beautiful and certainly deserves a visit. Although located far from midtown at the southernmost tip of Manhattan, and once a place for bowling, it is far from a Last Resort 🙂

Related Posts: Trapped in Paradise, New York Stock Exchange, Federal Hall, West Side Community Garden, Esplanade

Posted on October 20, 2011 by Brian Dubé

This entry was posted in Homes and 'Hoods, Parks, Scenic NYC. Bookmark the permalink.
Esai is Taken

Posted on October 19, 2011 by Brian Dubé

Frequently I have been in a public space, perhaps a place such as Washington Square Park, when someone has pulled me aside and whispered something like “Do you realize who that guy is?” Of course, everyone has different standards as to what constitutes greatness and importance, so my initial reaction is to take these introductions with a grain of salt and do my research later. However, with current technology, later can be now if one has a portable device with Internet access.

On September 5th at 9:20 PM, Joe Rios (producer of the film documentary in which I was host – see here) approached me quite excited and whispered to me that this was ESAI MORALES, a lifelong idol of his. Apparently, this was a name I should have known but sadly did not. I did the prudent thing and took a handful of photos along with some video, just “in case” this person turned out to be worthy of a story.
I moved aside and pulled out my iPad to get a brief overview.

As I began to type his name in the Wikipedia search bar, his full name was completed quickly, so I knew that this person was likely a heavyweight. A few seconds scanning his Wikipedia entry, and I was embarrassed that I had never heard of him. There was a broad range of films and TV series, nearly 100 in total, many of which were quite familiar to me. Morales is perhaps best known for his role in the 1987 film La Bamba.

Reading his bio more closely, I could understand why my friend Joe Rios would have idolized Morales and found him to be an inspiration. Like Joe, Esai was Puerto Rican and grew up in New York City from a working-class family (Esai grew up in Brooklyn, Joe had a very rough upbringing in the Bronx). Morales is the classic success story that every urban youth needs to hear.

I can’t imagine another place where a man or woman who has achieved so much, essentially a celebrity, would sit on a park bench with a local and just sing his heart out. I was introduced to Esai and spoke to him briefly. A piece of the video footage I took that evening may be used in the film documentary that Joe is producing. Although it was crude and hand held, it documents the extraordinary nature of the park and this city, where anything can happen and often does.

Born in 1962, Morales began his acting career by attending the School of Performing Arts in Manhattan. I also learned that Morales is a vegetarian and political activist. Whatever he is doing, it appears to serve him well. He looks to be in great condition and is quite handsome and charming. For any women who might be interested, I am sorry to say, Esai is taken 🙂

Related Posts: Mzuri Sings, Myra’s Isle, Walid Soroor

Posted on October 19, 2011 by Brian Dubé

This entry was posted in Only in New York, People, Videos. Bookmark the permalink.
King of Accordion

Posted on October 18, 2011 by Brian Dubé

Barry does not ask for much. He only wants to be known as the King of Accordion. But the media attention he has received spins him the way it wants, so to the media, he is the King of whatever works best to suit their needs, including the front man to a recent Occupy Wall Street march. A little spin or artistic license often makes a story more enjoyable to read – I have been guilty of that myself. My writing has evolved from the fact-reporting style of the news journalist to one that is highly personal, weaving in connections from my life experience that are triggered by the place, person, or thing which I write about.

Nonetheless, I do like to feel that I have neither misunderstood nor miscommunicated the feelings and thoughts of an individual subject. It is for this reason that on personal profiles, I often email a biographical inquiry and use excerpts so that you can read the subject’s own words, not my translation. I have also frequently recorded long meetings/interviews. I make these available as well.

Barry Hamadyk, currently a Brooklyn resident, hails from New Jersey. Barry has played accordion since he was 5, and it is this love that he endeavors to communicate by attracting people with his regal garb. He can be found in the parks of New York City and is a habitue of Washington Square Park, sitting on a bench for passersby while recordings of accordion music play continuously. His preferred repertoire are waltzes and rhumbas. At one time he played organ for roller skating rinks.

Barry found that as his wardrobe became more outlandish (along with his Nordic look), the more attention he got. Once a crown was added, response went through the royal roof. This organic transformation has evolved over the last 5 years. Although, at a surface level, one may see Barry as someone akin to our friend Mark Birnbaum (with a shared passion for music), the motivations for the flamboyant dress are actually quite different, as are the men and their backgrounds.

Being referred to as the King of New York rather than the King of Accordion is not Barry’s only dismay with a news article recently written. It also was reported that “he gets a lot of money, too, without much effort.” However, Barry neither really solicits money nor collects it.

I spoke with Barry for quite some time and found him extremely forthcoming and congenial. If you meet Barry in the parks of New York, say Hi and remember, he is the King of Accordion 🙂

Related Posts: The Conductor

Posted on October 18, 2011 by Brian Dubé

This entry was posted in Extreme NYC, fashion, People. Bookmark the permalink.
Sorry About That

Posted on October 17, 2011 by Brian Dubé

On September 21, 2011, I wrote Not Under the Gowanus, about a church which had nagged me as an enigma for years. Or so I thought. Our Lady Of Czestochowa / St Casimir, located at 183 25th Street in Brooklyn, can be seen from the Gowanus Expressway.
However, on a recent excursion through Brooklyn, I realized that a much more imposing structure closer to a highway is what I had seen so many times on this stretch of highway and that this was the image that was stored in the recesses of my mind: the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary – St. Stephen Church, located at Summit Street and Hicks Street, fronting the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway before the Gowanus Expressway.

The parish was established in 1882, the first Italian parish established in Brooklyn. I have yet to tour this church, having been “distracted” by Our Lady Of Czestochowa. Only in New York – larger than life, historic, architecturally significant. A place that, elsewhere, would be an unforgettable icon. But here, in New York City, where the extraordinary can become ordinary, I confused one beautiful church with another. Sorry about that 🙂

Posted on October 17, 2011 by Brian Dubé

This entry was posted in Homes and 'Hoods, Scenic NYC. Bookmark the permalink.
I’ll Kill You

Posted on October 14, 2011 by Brian Dubé

Children soon learn the power of words, even if they do not know the full meaning. Take the ever popular “I’ll Kill You.” Adults often dispense with the words and just perform the act. Particularly when angry. And nothing enrages a New Yorker more than a breech of certain types of urban etiquette, particularly street parking etiquette. And yes, there is such a thing.

Many non-residents of New York City imagine this metropolis to be a lawless land with no rules. Not at all. If you doubt my words, try taking a parking spot deemed to be someone else’s. There is a protocol here, but I can’t tell you exactly what it is.
I street parked for years, and one of the best techniques, rather than cruising, is to stake out part of a block and WAIT. Cruising for a spot in a crowded neighborhood is very tricky. First, as you cruise, you will be encountering others who have staked out territory. And you will also have to be exactly where someone is leaving – empty spots are snagged immediately. In today’s photo, I had only stepped into my car when someone pulled up and double parked ahead of me in anticipation of my leaving. Waiting for what, in this city, is like a nugget of gold to the panner: the parking spot.

Of course, the waiting and staking out territory strategy has its problems, too. It is a generally accepted practice to stake out a portion of a block, lay claim to it and wait. If someone pulls out, it’s yours and yours only. However, there are many instances where someone unaware of you or of the protocol will just pull into a spot within your turf. A confrontation will typically ensue, with the offending party backing off, apologizing, and leaving.

A piggish thief may snag the spot and refuse to back off. However, if the thief has not executed his parking quickly and properly, such as pulling in front first, he is subject to the offended party pulling up quickly and blocking the thief from completing his parking, resulting in a stand off. This precise scenario was the subject of a Seinfeld episode, The Parking Space.

But there is a simpler solution for a victim in this predicament. Many years ago, I read an article in the Village Voice about exactly this scenario. Someone snatched a parking spot before a man who had been staking out the block could get to it. He pulled up to the thief, rolled down his window, pulled out a gun and shot and murdered him.* An enraged adult needs not to waste any time with “I’ll Kill You.”

*This is not an isolated incident. There have been numerous assaults and other fatalities involving fights over parking spaces.

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Posted on October 14, 2011 by Brian Dubé

This entry was posted in War Against Wheels. Bookmark the permalink.
General Malaise, Part 2

Posted on October 13, 2011 by Brian Dubé

(see Part 1 here)

It’s a music festival, political protest, slumber party, social club, and bookstore. A place for the activist, party goer, malcontent, happy hippie, angry man, disenfranchised, frustrated, and defiant. It’s Occupy Wall Street. And there, you will find a General Malaise.

Related Posts: Eyes on the Signs, False Assumptions, Fall Out Against the War

Posted on October 13, 2011 by Brian Dubé

This entry was posted in Festivals Parades and Events, Rebels of NYC, Videos. Bookmark the permalink.
General Malaise, Part 1

Posted on October 12, 2011 by Brian Dubé

I generally avoid “covering” news events – a short blog article rarely does a subject justice. And there are certainly better sources for such topics, as well as news journalists qualified to do the investigatory work.

But Occupy Wall Street has become such a phenomenon that even in the city with all that goes on, the demonstrations, marches, and occupation of Liberty Park is a topic of conversation amongst almost any group of people. I have been asked by virtually everyone I meet whether I have been down to the demonstration area, as well as whether I would write and photograph about this demonstration.

What is most remarkable is the lack of specificity regarding the goals of the movement. This very lack of goals has been the dominant issue in discussions about the event, both by the news media and the public. It is so odd to have a major political movement that is defined by not being defined. There are a number of specific complaints. Different groups with different agendas are part of the movement, such as We Are the 99 Percent. But taken all together, the whole thing feels like a general malaise.

I recently visited the headquarters for the demonstrators – Zucotti Park, now dubbed Liberty Park, located at Cedar Street and Broadway. I was surprised to see such a large encampment in the heart of New York City’s financial district. The occupation is scheduled to last 60 days, ending in mid-November. The occupants are a strange hybrid, like political protest meets Rainbow Gathering. There are also booksellers and entertainers. I timed my visit with a major march, which can be seen in the photos. I did not witness any violence or arrests, although I understand that there were some police actions and allegations of excessive force.

There’s anger, frustration, confusion, and finger pointing. It’s a very serious case of General Malaise.

See Part 2 here for more photos and a video.

Related Posts: Eyes on the Signs, False Assumptions, Fall Out Against the War

Posted on October 12, 2011 by Brian Dubé

This entry was posted in Festivals Parades and Events, Rebels of NYC. Bookmark the permalink.
Quest For Pizza

Posted on October 12, 2011 by Brian Dubé

During my visit to Grimaldi’s on February 9, 2011, with friend and photographer Bill Shatto, a couple was seated next to us. I began chatting with the man. We spoke on many subjects, and when I learned that he came from Staten Island, I discussed this photoblog, my exploration of Staten Island, and the numerous places I had visited, many virtually unknown to the outsider. I mentioned the enigmatic Kirschner Mansion, and in another occurrence of Only in New York, I learned that this man was involved in real estate and had previously OWNED it. Amazing.

Conversation turned to pizza, and of course anyone seated in a place like Grimaldi’s, where the privilege of eating is paid for by waiting in extraordinarily long lines, will typically have substantial experience in the Quest for Pizza. My new acquaintance informed me that in his opinion, the best pizza in New York, and in his opinion the best he had anywhere, was from Denino’s in Staten Island. If you’re looking for good pizza, one should never dismiss the opinion of a Brooklyn-born Italian, so I filed Denino in my mind for future reference.

On Saturday, October 1, I decided to pay Denino’s a visit. Located at 524 Port Richmond, the place is a landmark, established in 1937. As would be expected, the walls were covered with articles and awards. I understand that Denino’s is typically packed on weekends, but on my visit, it was a case of walking in and seating oneself. Service was perfunctory and a bit uneven. The crowd appeared to be very local, dominated by Italian-Americans who have a large presence on Staten Island (37% of the borough claims Italian-American ancestry, the highest percentage of any county in the nation).

The pizza arrived, and I must say, the crust is one of the finest I have ever eaten. The brick oven pie is different, but on a par with legendary New York City icons like Di Fara, Totonno’s and Grimaldi’s – the kinds of places that one patron referred to as “Cappelas di caminetto capolavoro” (chapels of fireplace masterpieces).

Getting to their location on Staten Island is far from the other boroughs of New York City and is not accessible by subway, so for most, traveling there by bus, car, or ferry will be a deal breaker. Unless, of course, you’re a New Yorker on a Quest for Pizza 🙂

Related Posts: Best Pizza in New York, No Folding Required

Posted on October 12, 2011 by Brian Dubé

This entry was posted in Food and Restaurants. Bookmark the permalink.
Come Back For Jupiter

Posted on October 10, 2011 by Brian Dubé

If you spend enough time on the streets of New York City and mingle, you are going to experience a depth and breadth of humanity that boggles the mind. Not only will you find an absolutely astonishing number of people with incredible talent, but likely, you will on occasion find the serendipitous meetings to be even more amazing.

On Saturday night, I ate dinner at my favorite local Italian restaurant, Trattoria Spaghetto (as mentioned in my story, Donato), conveniently located on Father Demo Square. It was an exquisite evening. Strolling out and through the small park, I saw a man with an enormous telescope, welcoming all to observe and partake in the wonders of the universe for free. There were no shortage of lookers.

Our master of ceremonies on Saturday night was Jeffrey Jacobs, who acquainted me with the organization, The Sidewalk Astronomers. Examples of “sidewalk astronomy” date back over 100 years. One of the popularizers of the sidewalk movement is John Dobson, who pioneered the design for the large, portable, low-cost Newtonian reflecting telescope known as the Dobsonian telescope.

The telescope was set up to observe the moon. However, I was informed that in approximately an hour and a half, Jupiter would be visible above the roofline of the neighboring buildings. Jeffrey encouraged me to “come back for Jupiter.” I intended to wander, stroll, and return, but instead found myself drawn into the social scene that grew around the telescope set up for observing the moon. The time passed quickly.

However, this is New York City, and the evening would not be complete without upping the ante in some more remarkable chance occurrence. A man who, coincidentally, had also eaten at Trattoria Spaghetto introduced himself. Employed at Columbia University, both he and Jeffrey bonded over their mutual acquaintance and reverence for John Dobson.

Soon, Jupiter made its presence, and I was excited to observe it in a telescope for the first time. My turn in line came. I was able to see Jupiter’s bands and its four moons. Jeffrey was ever the patient educator, helping each onlooker to identify the features and moons.

It was an exciting evening, with lovely surprises, chance meetings, and a fortuitous planetary alignment – just another miraculous night in what could easily be another episode in the series Only In New York or Sidewalk University, but for me, more appropriately called Come Back For Jupiter 🙂

Related Posts: This Is Not New Mexico, Back to Our Main Feature, Full Moon, Gothic Night

Posted on October 10, 2011 by Brian Dubé

This entry was posted in New York at Night, Only in New York, Scenic NYC. Bookmark the permalink.
Hey, Thanks Steve

Posted on October 7, 2011 by Brian Dubé

Please Click and Play Audio Clip to Accompany Your Reading:

Around 1980, a close friend suggested that I get a computer to run my business. He explained why I should get one with not just a floppy drive but also a big hard drive. It would take removable floppy discs. “What’s a floppy disc?” I asked, and why were they floppy? A few years later, I bought my first PC – a DEC Rainbow running CP/M. Some time later, I got an IBM PC running MS-DOS.

In the early 1990s, we wanted to start doing our graphics in house. For the first project, I rented a Mac. The day the two-week rental was over and the machine needed to be returned, our graphic artist was away. I needed to get the files off the rented machine, but what to do? If this was anything like DOS, I would have to learn a new set of instructions. I had only a little time before the rental facility closed to make the two-week deadline.

I decided to try my hand – I had no choice. I inserted a disc and voilà, it APPEARED ON THE DESKTOP. I had never seen such a thing. But how to copy the file? I had an insane idea – what if I were to just drag the file I needed onto the disc icon? And that was the moment I became a BELIEVER. The file was copied, and I had ZERO knowledge of the operating system. This was my first experience with a graphical interface. I returned the rental machine, clearly a man converted.

This rental had essentially been a test before purchase. However, I found Macs to be expensive, and some friends began telling me that Windows could do anything a Mac could do and much more cheaply. So I ordered a Dell for our graphics needs. When it arrived, the Windows interface was nothing like Apple’s. Disappointed, I decided to call sales at Dell. I took the honest approach and told the saleswoman that the machine was fine, but I really preferred a Mac interface and COULD I RETURN THIS DELL?

The sales person was exceptionally pleasant and understanding (I have over the years purchased some Dells and have recommended them for anyone wanting a Windows PC). She said she understood completely and that her daughter was a graphic artist and used Macs. A return would be no problem at all. We sent the Dell back and went out and bought a Mac. And so my long relationship with Apple began.

In 2001, I was excited to visit my first Apple Store in the Westfarms Mall in Connecticut. Subsequently, Apple opened stores in New York City, the first being just footsteps from my office in SoHo, where I and millions of others found it to be something akin to a clubhouse for happy members. Many an evening on the way home, for no particular reason, I drop in and peruse.

Since that time, I have owned nearly 20 Macs, an iPhone, an iPod, and and an iPad. I spend most of my waking hours using one Mac or another. I write these words using a Mac Mini. I have written a number of stories about Apple stores – some of my favorite photos have been of their interiors and exteriors, particularly Step Softly (top photo).
I am a little saddened to have heard about the premature death of one of America’s great visionaries: Apple CEO, Steve Jobs. I never got to meet Steve nor thank him personally for a job well done. So, I think I can speak for many of us here:

Hey, Thanks Steve 🙂

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Posted on October 7, 2011 by Brian Dubé

This entry was posted in Stores. Bookmark the permalink.
Legacy

Posted on October 6, 2011 by Brian Dubé

Posted on October 6, 2011 by Brian Dubé

This entry was posted in Stores. Bookmark the permalink.

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