My vacuum cleaner was broken. It was an electrical problem. The power kept cutting in and out as I was vacuuming the rugs in my apartment. It's a common problem with these types of cheap machinery, they need a little tinkering every now and again. So I took it to my local repair shop.
This is something a lot of people don't do today. A few of my friends would look at me funny and say, "just get a new one." Despite the efforts of many to recycle and reduce their carbon footprint we still live in a throwaway culture. It's very wasteful to take a vacuum cleaner, or any other type of electronic household appliance, to the dump without giving a local repair shop the chance to fix it first. Many of these things have a simple part that needs replacing and it won't take long or cost much. My parents once found one of those very expensive Dyson vacuum cleaners in their local recycling center, out to be trashed, and all it turned out it needed was a simple part replaced that Dyson mailed to my folks for free.
The problem is a lot of these mom 'n pop repair shops are going out of business because the parts are getting harder to order, the machines aren't even built to last, and the demand is simply not there. Luckily, New York still has a few of these stores left in each borough.
The place I went to was the Expert Appliance and Electronics Center on 293 Court Street in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn (718.858.5444). It took only a few minutes. The proprietor new instantly that the connection was bad in the extension arm and needed a new part that he happened to have in the back. I paid him $20 in cash.
So next time your vacuum, or Cuisinart, Osterizer, stereo poop out, don't throw it out. Take it to your local fix-it shop. You'll be glad you did.
I've
always loved you, beer. We've had a good thing going, you and I. We've
been together since my teens. We used to have to hide our love, but
eventually society came to terms with our bond. I drink you when I'm
happy, I drink you when I'm blue. When all else fails, beer, I'll always
have satisfaction with you.
My apologies for being away from this blog for so long. For most of May into early June I was traveling on business through Singapore, China and India. Right before that I moved to a new neighborhood and much of June was spent fixing up the new place. Now that I am back and more settled I hope to not be such a stranger to this site. I will aim for a post or two a month.
I think this would be a good time to share a few photos of my latest travels. 3 weeks was a long time to be away and, although it was a bit exhausting, the experience was great. I started in Singapore, where I spent a few, sweaty days and then off to China. I saw 4 cities in China, including Beijing and Shanghai. One crazy night I was trying to get back to my hotel, but the cab driver didn't speak English and we spent 15 minutes debating with each other in our respective languages, not having a clue as to what the other person was saying. I finally got a co-worker, who was Chinese, on the phone to help with directions. After China, came India, where I had a similar situation. I thought I was prepared this time,
since I had the directions written in Hindi by the hotel staff, but the driver turned out to be illiterate (not totally uncommon for the rickshaw drivers). Luckily he got out of his cab and walked over to a group of men that was able to tell him what the note said.
Onto the pictures...
I found this man and his grandson in the Forbidden City. Look at his expression. I love this picture.
This intense scene was all about chess. I saw this guy 2 days in a row in the same park in Shanghai, drawing a crowd each time. Must be a local favorite.
The West Lake in Hangzhou was a popular destination for lovers. This young couple was strolling the shores in the rain.
This fuzzy guy was for sale in 798 Art Zone in Beijing. Everyone was enraptured by his cuteness (and yes, he was intended to be someone's pet, not lunch).
These golden guys are to be found in Lingyin Temple.
Watched the sunset over the Arabic Sea with this guy while talking on the phone to Grandma.
Grilled corn vendor in Mumbai.
Saw this bronze lady riding her bike in the Botanical Gardens in Singapore.
Sky over Hong Kong.
Lately, I've been using the urban slang werd, to express my affirmations. However, I realized I didn't know where this expression came from or what its etymology was. So I googled and found its origin is based in remembrance of WERD 860 AM, the first black-owned and operated radio station.
WERD was founded in Atlanta, Georgia in 1949 by Jesse B. Blayton, a university professor and accountant. Its programming was marketed toward the black community and served as an important means of media exposure for Dr. Martin Luther King, who had his Southern Christian Leadership Conference headquartered in the same building.
In the segregated south of the 1950's and 60's, I'm sure WERD was an important and needed mouthpiece for black culture and popular expression. It's no wonder that the tribute slang werd is used as a declaration of positivity.
One of the most spirited DJ's of WERD was no doubt James "Alley Pat" Patrick, who screamed and ad-libbed over many of the AM broadcasts, as heard in this clip for Holts Auto....
8 years. 8 years filled with G-train commuting, Newtown Creek superfunding, rooftop farming, downward dogging, sidewalk picnicing, mobile wash uniting, pulaski bridge crossing, kielbasa eating, 10 alarm fire gazing, good-times-a-havin' in glorious Greenpoint, Brooklyn. With mixed emotion I'm packing my bags and moving on. Not a big move, mind you. Just to another part of Brooklyn, but nonetheless, it feels like a bigger deal to me. A lot has happened in those 8 years; to both myself and the neighborhood. But in other ways, nothing's changed.
Here's a list of my key favorite places in Greenpoint. Some I will continue to visit, others I may not. But I love them all just the same. This list is confined to north Greenpoint, which is defined as anywhere north of Calyer St. At least in my view, it's up for debate of course.
Kusala has been my regular go-to for yoga. Melissa runs a great studio for yoga and meditation in a laid-back and spiritually-angled atmosphere. It used to be on the corner of Franklin and India, but has since moved to a bit more secluded spot on Green St.
The Franklin Corner Cafe on Franklin and Huron will always be known for it's delicious, hot pressed sandwiches. The list to choose from is quite extensive, with notable names as the Sammy Sosa, the Guillaume and the Tazmanian. The quality of the sandwiches have somewhat declined in recent years with new management, but are still quite enjoyable and the staff is always full of smiles.
The Astral is located on Franklin between India and Java and was built in 1885 to house local workers in a kerosene factory. I've never stepped inside this building. I've heard it's had a dicey past but it's a real beauty on the exterior, with it's vaulted arches and terracotta brick-work. I used to live an in apartment that faced the back of the building. On some nights I would gaze through my window to peep at the goings-on inside.
The Brooklyn Label, on the corner of Franklin and Java (in the Astral building), is one of my regular hang outs in the neighborhood. I only go for brunch. It kinda feels like my "Cheers" since I know a bunch of the people that work there.
Kill Devil Hill is run by my friend Mary. A handsome, general store beautifully maintained and filled with great gift items. I always love the windows Mary lovingly puts together every few weeks. Last year, the shop would host art openings, with drinks served in the back which would always have a good turn out. I miss these events, as it was a great way to meet new people, and KDH always attracts good, friendly types.
One of the coolest buildings in Brooklyn. A prime example of late 19th century beaux arts style in America. Must be a nice corner apartment on the top floor.
The Pencil Factory. Another one of my regulars; a bar I have been patroning since before I lived here. It's great to spend hours in the summer nights, sipping your beer outside, while watching the mobile wash units drive by in a parade-like fashion. I've had so many good times here it's impossible to count.
Alter is a great women's and men's clothing boutique run by the affable Tommy and Roy. I've been going here ever since they first opened and am friendly with the owners. I will continue to make trips here.
Le Gamin didn't start in Greenpoint. It has a couple other locations around New York, but it's hands down the best restaurant in the neighborhood. Delicious french cooking for brunch or dinner with charming and friendly service.
Diamond Bar is located on the furthermost edge of Greenpoint's borders. Until The Calyer opened there was nothing around it for blocks. A true diamond in the rough, the place only serves a small selection of beer and wine and tends to attract a more "mature" crowd. I had my Goodbye Greenpoint party here last weekend and couldn't think of a better bar to host.
As we venture off of Franklin and walk down Manhattan Avenue, we find many of the more old school establishments. Christina's is a no-frills Polish diner, representing the large Polish community that has resided in Greenpoint long before the recent gentrification of the past 10 or so years. I haven't been here in a while, but it used to be one of the only spots to get breakfast at. My friends and I would order the cheese blintzes and eye the cute Polish waitresses dressed in black.
One of the many local spots to pick up your kielbasa and sauerkraut. The W-Nassau Meat Market. Not sure why it's called that, since it's not particularly close to Nassau St and it's not West of it either. Out of all the Polish meat markets on Manhattan Ave this is by far the most popular, lines often going out the door. Hours of operation are a bit confusing (it was closed when I passed it in the middle of a Sunday afternoon).
The Garden has been selling organic, health food long before it became trendy. This is my number one food shopping spot. I love their homemade peanut butter. On the Kent St side of the building is a graffiti of a black cat, looking as if it's dancing on the iron fence in front of it. This has been here as long as I can remember. No one knows who spray painted it or why but the owner doesn't seem to mind it and remain it does.
Photoplay is beating the odds as one of the only dvd/video stores still standing in this Netflix age we live in. And it's constantly packed, with devoted customers, like myself, who love the selection and the personal touch of receiving great recommendations by the owner, Michael Sayers (who used to be a programmer at the Film Forum). All this time I've refused to subscribe to online retailers, like Netflix, because I see no need with Photoplay down the block. However, now that I'm moving, it looks like I'll have to.
Another regular hang out for me. Habitat is the only bar with a television (3 televisions!) that I like. Great bar food and I love their Tuesday wing nights. Conveniently located between the subway stop and my house.
My local, 24 hour grocer. Prices are higher than others, but the food quality is excellent, it's open 24 hours and the staff is great. Until this place expanded it's hours, there was nowhere to get food in my neighborhood past 8:00pm.
Triangolo, located on Manhattan and Green, has been my local pizza slice stop since I've lived in Greenpoint. "What'll it be?" the benevolent store owner says to me as I walk in. Just a plain slice is my usual choice.
I don't go here too often, but Milk & Roses gets special mention because the atmosphere is great and it has the prettiest girls to be found in Greenpoint, both employees and customers.
Of course this list is comprised of places, buildings and businesses. It's the people and friends residing within that I cherish the most. The people make the town. I will always love Greenpoint and the friends I've made there. I'll be back time and time again, I know.
The view from my rooftop can't be beat. I'll miss living right by the river.
Now that Easter is here, lovers of junk food can rejoice. Jellybeans, Peeps, Chocolate Bunnies......but none please your author more than Cadbury Creme Eggs! Yes, those chocolate-covered, gooey, mysterious treats that only appear on the candy shelf once a year. Many people find them kinda gross, but I love 'em. Ever since I was a kid I would methodically unwrap the colorful foil wrapping and gaze with wonder at the familiar egg shape and then take a bite. Observing my teeth impression in the chocolate as the sugary, white and yellow-dyed goo would stick all over my fingers and chin. There is just something about this seasonal sweet egg that brings me unbridled delight.
The only problem is that I can never find it, even during the Easter time of year when it's supposed to be available. For some reason this is a very rare egg in the boundaries of New York City. About a month ago I came upon a few of them in a Duane Reade and I bought one. I showed my co-workers back at the office, holding aloft my new-found treasure. No one could believe my excitement. But to my dismay, the next few weeks have passed and I have yet to see them re-stocked on the shelves. Does this city simply not have the means to order more Cadbury Creme Eggs? Is there not enough demand from the five boroughs? Is there too much demand? Am I looking in the wrong places?
I have yet to find answers to the mystery of the missing eggs. I even once had an ex-girlfriend's mom mail me a box of eggs from Chicago every year. But this year another Easter season is passing and I've only been fortunate enough to eat one solitary Cadbury Creme Egg.
As I was preparing to write this post I also found that there was a Cadbury Creme Egg scandal a few years ago when Cadbury shrunk the size of the egg without an explanation to its customers. At first the company denied it, but when they could no longer get away with the lie, they finally admitted the egg had indeed shrunk by 5g in the United States because of a financial decision (i.e. rip off customers) made by their American distributor, Hershey.
Here's a video below of an actor and fellow Creme Egg lover talking about the proof of the difference in size.
Goodbye, Davy Jones. You sang one of my favorite feel-good songs.
