LOWER MANHATTAN
NEW YORK CITY
NEW YORK
NEW YORK CITY TOUR
Video Tour
by Bellino
Monday, June 14, 2021
Hurricane Sandy Odyssey Frankenstorm
Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis Getting COFFEE
The Importance of Coffee . It's really up there. High on The Importance Scale that is. Most people wouldn't think about it that much, they love it, their morning coffee, but it's probably just one of those things, you do it every day and so much, you don't think about. Hey, but take that coffee away, and believe me you will.
On the evening of October 30, 2012 a Hurricane hit New York, and hit us hard. It was Hurricane Sandy the biggest hurricane to ever hit New York City. It caused much destruction with its hurricane force winds, flooding and the Atlantic literally sweeping homes away, in New York and New Jersey. In New York, Staten Island and The Rockaways got hit the hardest, many people losing their homes.
In Manhattan we didn't have it quite as bad, but things did happen. I was back in my apartment in Greenwich Village after spending the day out at two separate trips to Caffe Reggio on Macdougal Street and a stop at Bar Pitti for a little lunch and a chit chat with Giovanni. Caffe Reggio and Bar Pitti were two of only a few businesses to stay open new my house. Well after my second trip of the day to Caffe Reggio where I spent 2 hours each trip it was back to my apartment at around 8 O'Clock. I was watching TV, Hurricane New Coverage of course when about 8:55 PM my lights started flickering. Oh No I said. But the lights stayed on. Five minutes later they were off. That ws it, we lost Power. Well I wasn't gonna stay alone in the dark. I got dressed and went downstairs to see if Bar Pitti was still open. Hell Yeah! They were. They were open, the lights when out, and the Emergency Battery Powered Lights that all restaurants, bars, and most buildings are required to have. Apartment buildings are required to have them in the hallways. We have them in my building. Guess what? They weren't working. No big deal, I had my flashlight. Anyway, they had lights at Bar Pitti, food, wine, and gas to fire the stoves. I had a bowl of soup and a glass of wine, hung out with Giovanni (the Owner of Bar Pitti and a friend) and the waiters, we chit-chatted, drank wine, and listened to the news. Apparently we lost power because a Con Edison Power Sub-Station on 14th Street was flooded from waters from the Hudson River over flowing the banks from the storm surge. The transformers inside blew-up, and the power went off. Well the power was off below 39th Street that is. Everyone above 39th Street had power (Lucky SOBs), we didn't.
So I Hung out with Giovanni and the boys at Bar Pitti for two hours. The batteries finally died on Bar Pitti's Emergency Lights, it was 11:30 and time to go home. Boy that was a Godsend having Bar Pitti open and a place to go for a couple hours, kill some time and be with people.
So I went back to my house. I listened to the news on this massive Hurricane on my iPod-Touch until the batteries died, and was bummed that I didn't have batteries for my portable Radio, which would have been a big thing to have. I did try to get batteries before the storm hit, but every place was out of size D batteries, so I couldn't.
Well I fell asleep sometime around 1 Am I think. I got up at 8:30 .. No electricity and no hot water, but I did have gas and cold water, so I boiled water and took a sponge bath, made a good ol Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich, got dressed and went outside to see what was going on. I made a beeline to Caffe Dante, then Once Upon a Tart and all nearby delis to see if anyone was open and selling Coffee. I didn't have any power at home, no TV, no Radio, but I wanted my morning Coffee, there was none to be found. I walked over to Cornelia Street and saw my buddy Jimmy B and Charlie outside. We BSed for about 15 minutes and I told jimmy I was heading Uptown were there was Power. I figured I go find a Starbucks above 39th Street get a Coffee and maybe power up my Cel Phone and Laptop, if possible. I don't really like Starbucks (too Commercial) but I'm gonna tell you in a minute why I can't stand those SOB's now and how they let New Yorkers Down during Hurricane Sandy.
So I said my good-byes to Jimmy and Charlie, wished them well and started making my way up town. It was raining lightly as I made my way up 6th Avenue in Greenwich Village. I was heading uptown in search of Coffee, Food, and Electricity. I had been walking about 10 minutes when i came across a newly opened Coffee Shop (In the old Joe's Diner space on 6th and 12th) that was open and selling Coffee. Right On! I got a coffee, sat down and relaxed. that was nice. I sat there about 12 minutes chatting with people about the storm, this-and-that.
After about 12 minutes relaxing at the coffee shop and sipping coffee, I was on my way again in search of food and electricity and more coffee. As I walked up 6th Avenue, you'd see someone every now and then holding a cup of coffee, or several cups, and people would go up yo them and ask "Where'd you get the Coffee?" Everyone wanted Coffee, and people started realizing just how important and meaningful that little cup of Java is in their lives, especially when you can't get it. You realize!
Well that day I had quite an Odyssey, and Odyssey in Search of Coffee and Electricity. The Odyssey took me from my neighborhood (Best in The City) of Greenwich, up above 39th Street and Midtown, in search of you know what. Well I'm not one of the masses who loves Starbucks, for me it's just the opposite. I don't like Starbucks and avoid it like the plague. Starbucks is the McDonalds of coffee shops and I've always preferred one-of-a-kind independently owned Cafes, and I've been going to them way before the first Starbucks opened its doors. Now, that, said, I do go to them now and then, but just out of convenience when there is no other better alternatives around. Starbucks does come in handy. Anyway, this day I was actually looking to specifically go to a Starbucks. I didn't know which one, but I did want to go to Starbucks that day. Yes, no electricity below 39th Street and my plan was to walk up to Midtown, above 39th, find a Starbucks that was opened, get a coffee and hopefully be able to get a Electrical Outlet and charge my Cel-Phone battery and maybe my Laptop. I knew that everyone else would want to be charging up but at least I'd get a nice hot cup of coffee. "Not!" I walked all around, passed about 10 Starbucks, and guess what? Not a one was open. OK, my usual Cafes in my neighborhood of Greenwich Village / Soho we not open. They couldn't, we had "No Electricity" downtown, that's why I went uptown, they had electricity and there should be some Starbucks open, "Not," again. There wasn't a one open. Those "Bastards" let us down. Starbucks, SOBs! OK, I realize there was a Hurricane and some people maybe couldn't get to work. OK. But with more than 50 Starbucks above 39th Street those "No Good SOB's" should have been able to organize some skeleton-crews and open at least a few Starbucks in a time when New Yorkers Needed Starbucks most, those SOB's let us down. Yes, "Starbucks Let New York and New Yorkers Down." They could have opened a few of their shops, when the comfort of hot Coffee and a place to go would have been so greatly appreciated, it would have been like a great Public Service to New Yorkers, but No, "Stabucks Let New Yorkers Down" when we needed them most, Starbucks was not there for us, New Yorkers. OK, enough of this already, I hate those Bastards, and will never forget when we needed them most, "Starbucks Let New Yorkers Down."
Now, back to my great odyssey. OK, no Dam Starbucks like I planned. I'd have to find some other options. Well, now that I think about it, maybe Starbucks did me a favor, as my options turned out way better than any time spent at that "Giant Commercial Sanitized Conglomerate Stabucks" could have ever been. So I looked all over for a Starbucks to go to, didn't find a one, they were "all Closed," SOB's! So I'm in midtown I figure I might as well go over to my workplace, maybe someone is around. So I walk over to East 49th, get to my job, nobody is around. OK? It's near the Waldorf so I figure let me go over there, Cha-Ching !!! I hit pay-dirt! The Waldorf is open, and it's jumpin, people are all over the lobby, sitting in chairs or on the floor (nice comfortable thick Rug) and they're "all Plugged-In), their laptops and cel phone. Right on! I do the same. Found a free outlet and plugged in. My laptop first, then my cel.
to be CONTINUED
CAFFE REGGIO
DURING FRANKENSTORM
HURRICANE SANDY October 29 , 2012
Watch The VIDEO
ONE MAN'S FRANKENSTORM
HURRICANE SANDY ODESSEY
NEW YORK , NY
I Begin My HURRICANE SANDY ODESSY
Walking around GREENWICH VILLAGE and Soho
Before headig up to Mid Town to get COFFEE . Food ?
A place to hang (The ALGONQUIN HOTEL and WA:DORF ASTORIA)
and to Charge the Batteries of my Cel Phone and Laptop Computer
It was quite the day.
Author Daniel Bellino Zwicke
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The BIG LEBOWSKI COOKBOOK
GOT ANY KAHLUA ?
BEING TONY BOURDAIN
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Friday, April 16, 2021
Keens Steak House Mutton Chops 18815
KEEN'S STEAK HOUSE
NEW YORK
NEW YORK
SINCE 1885
One of KEEN'S Famous MUTTON CHOPS
KEEN'S STEAK HOUSE
NY NY
KEEN'S STEAK HOUSE
NEW YORK
"Home of the MUTTON CHOP"
And The Largest WHISKEY LIST in NEW YORK
Start with an "OLD FASHION"
Then Sink Your Teeth into a Fabled KEEN'S MUTTON CHOP
A "JUICY" MUTTON CHOP
At KEEN'S NEW YORK
Inside on of the DINING ROOMS
KEEN'S STEAK HOUSE
LEARN HOW to COOK PERFECT STEAK
The BADASS COOKBOOK
AMERICA'S FAVORITE FOODS
And SECRET RECIPES
A SIRLOIN STEAK at KEEN'S
LEARN HOW to COOK a PERFECT STEAK
The LAMBS CLUB
Founding Members of KEEN'S
Friday, December 18, 2020
New York Pictures
The FLATIRON BUILDING
Original Artwork Copyright 2020 Daniel Bellino Zwicke
MINETTA TAVERN
December 2020
Daniel Bellino Zwicke
NEW YORK SKYLINE
ELEVATED SUBWAY
LONG ISLAND CITY QUEENS
NEW YORK
The NORMANDY
NEW YORK HARBOR
The CHRYSLER BUILDING
Daniel Bellino Zwicke
JOE'S DAIRY
"Sleeping on the Job"
Daniel Bellino Zwicke
Frank Sinatra and Daughters
with Friends
GILLY'S
New York, NY
NEW YORK TAXI
by BOKOV
The INAUGURATION of GEORGE WASHINGTON
AMERICA'S FIRST PRESIDENT
FEDERAL HALL
With TRINITY CHURCH
WALL STREET
NEW YORK, NY
1789
SUNDAY SAUCE
Written in GREENWICH VILLAGE
NEW YORK
by NEW YORK WRITER
DANIEL BELLINO ZWICKE
TWIN SISTER NORTH
COMMERCE STREET
GREENWICH VILLAGE
COMMERCE STREET
GREENWICH VILLAGE
RED DOOR
GREENWICH VILLAGE
CAFE DUEX MAGGOTS
PARIS
by Daniel Bellino Zwicke
Painted in GREENWICH VILLAGE
CAFFE REGGIO
GREENWICH VILLAGE
GREENWICH VILLAGE
DBZ
MACDOUGAL STREET
JOHN LENNON
The CHRYSLER BUILDING
Sunday, December 22, 2019
New York 1987
New York
View from Brooklyn at The Brooklyn Bridge
And Twin Tower World Trade Center
New York 1987 Video
Watch The Video
NEW YORK CITY
5 BOROUGHS
COOKING NEW YORK ITALIAN
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Saturday, December 14, 2019
John Lennon - IMAGINE
John Lennon
In his Icon New York City T-Shirt
Former Beatle John Lennon loved New York, So much so that he made it his home. Moving into the famed Dakota apartment building on West 72nd Street in New York. He moved in with his wife Yoko Ono in 1971. Yoko gave birth to their son Sean Ono Lennon on John's birth date on October 9, 1975. Yes John Lennon and his son shared the same birth date of October 9th.
Tragically John Lennon was murdered by Mark David Chapman in front of his beloved New York home (The Dakota) at 5 PM on December 8th 1980. Naturally most of the World mourned the loss of the former Beatle John Lennon's. I can remember the time very well. I was still living in New Jersey and in college at New York Technical College in Brooklyn. It was a Monday Night, and the height of Monday Night Football. I was watching the football game and having a couple drinks with my friends at the VFW in Carlstadt, NJ. I left before the end of the game, got into my car and was driving home to Summit Street. I had just pulled out of the parking lot and had only driven one block when I heard the tragic news on my car radio, when it broadcast a Monday Night Football over the radio and Howard Cossell announced that, "An unspeakable tragedy, confirmed to us by ABC News in New York City. John Lennon, outside his of his apartment building on the West Side of New York City. The most famous perhaps of all of The Beatles, shot twice in the back. Rushed to Roosevelt Hospital. Dead on Arrival. Hard to go back to the game, after that news flash, which in duty we had to report."
Cossell : "In case the folks missed the earlier news flash, ABC New has confirmed that John Lennon, a member of the famed Beatles. Maybe the best known member, was shot twice in the back, outside his apartment building on the West Side of New York tonight. Rushed to the New York Roosevelt Hospital, Dead on Arrival. An unspeakable tragedy. Details on Nightline, 30 minutes after this contest."
I could hardly believe my ears. I was shocked. I continued to drive home. Parked my car and ran upstairs to my apartment. I immediately got on the phone and called my brother Jimmy, and told him the sad news. We were big fans of The Beatles and especially of John. A senseless, stupid act by a moronic idiot Mark David Chapman. Why? Just to gain some notoriety? "What a No Good Moronic Bastard," is all I can say. And I must say it.I went to school the next day. Classes at New York Technical College on Jay Street Brooklyn. As I've said, I was still living in New Jersey, and I got on the # 35 Bus to take me to the Porth Authority Bus Terminal, where I went donwstairs and into the New York City Subway System to catch the A Train to Jay Street / Borough Hall, Brooklyn to get to school, 3 blocks away. I attened my classes, then got on another A Train out of Brooklyn to Manhattan, but I didn't leave the subway system their. I got off the A Train at 42nd Street and waited on the platform for a C Train to arrive on the local track. One came a few minutes later, and I hopped on to take to West 72nd Street where I got out. I got off the C Train and walked up the stairs and on to West 72nd Street, but not before emerging from the station, I could already hear the sound of people singing one of John's famous songs, "Give Peace a Chance."
When I walked up out of the subway and onto West 72nd Street, I saw a sea of humanity, hundreds of people out on the street in front of the Dakota where John Lennon had made his home with his wife Yoko and son Sean, and the day before he had been gunned down at the place where he lived in his beloved adopted city of New York.
The crowd started singing what had become John's Anthem song "Imagine," and I joined in, sing with a couple hundred people paying tribute to one of their heroes, the great John Lennon, who Imagined and just wanted the World to Give Peace a Chance. We salute you John, and your memory lives on, and we thank you for all you did. May you Rest in Peace Brother John.
Give SUNDAY SAUCE a CHANCE
Thursday, October 24, 2019
Debbie Harry Blondie Punk Rock n Roll Music NYC
BLONDIE
Debbie Harry
Photo Copyright Daniel Bellino Zwicke
Just walking back home from my Chiropractor. East Village to Greenwich Village, and came across this great mural of Debbie Harry (Blondie) painted on the side of a building wall on Bleecker Street, just east of The Bowery. Great job to the artist who did it. I'll have to take note of that the next time I walk by
Debbie Harry and her band Blondie were icons of Punk Rock, Pop, and Rock Music in the late 1970s and 1980s. Debbie Harry was a major fixture of the Downtown New York Scene of the 70 & 80s. Debbie Harry was immortalized by Andy Warhol, who did several paintings of Harry's image.
This mural on Bleecker Street is just feet from where the famed Punk Rock Club CBGB'S once sttood, and where Debbie Harry played on several occasions. The song "Rapture" by Debbie Harry is one of the 1st Rap Songs ever, though Harry was not a Rap Artist at all, it was just this one song, "a One Off." On the other hand, much of Debbie Harry and Blondie success comes from the fact that her music crossed many genres, including: Pop, Punk Rock, Disco, and Rock Music. Debbie Harry / Blondie hits include: Heart of Glass, Rapture, Call Me (American Gigilo), and The Tide is High.
"Keith Andy & Jean Michel"
McSORLEY'S OLD ALE HOUSE
East 7th Street
New York NY
McSorley's Ale House, or simply McSorley's as most people have called it, is an Irish Bar on East 7th Street in New York, first opened its doors in 1854 and his been operating as a bar ever since.
McSorley's has some famous motto's, including; "Be Good or Be Gone," "Good Ale, Raw Onions & No Ladie," aluding to their Ale, the raw onions on their Sndwiches served with Irish Custard (Mustard) and no ladies referring to the face that McSorley's was one of the last bars in New York that had a no women allowed policy, which held true until they were forced by a court order in 1970 to permit women into this famous old men's bar.
Some of the famous people who drank at McSorley's over the years include' Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, Ulysses S. Grant, Peter Cooper, and artist John Sloan who did some wonderful paintings of the old bar.
I first drank at McSorley's on St. Patrick's Day of 1975 with my friends Jay Fahy, his brother Richie, and my buddy Jimmy Ryan. I was just 17, had the most wonderful time singing Irish Songs that my friend Jay led and got the whole place singing along. That's McSorley's.
MILANO'S
East Houston Street
New York NY
FISH BAR
East 5th Street
New York NY
I walked past the Fish Bar (Kastro Lounge) today. The Fish Bar is another old haunt of mine when I used live on Avenue A & St Marks Place in the East Village from October 1982 to 1993. I was working at Les Halles, then Park Bistor back then, and the Fish Bar was a regular Friday Night stop after work. It was a small, serious drinking bar that was famous for their Martini's. The Owner Fran, who was a bartender at The Blue Bar in The Algonquin Hotel open this little bar on East 5h Street called Kastro Lounge. The place was reminiscent of a little bar that you might find on a Greek Island, with its over-head garage door and Fish decorations all over the bar, the customers disregarded the real name of the place Kastro Lounge, and just called the place the Fish Bar. The name stuck, and that was that. Fran's brother Johnnie was the main bartender, the friendly face of the joint that was filled with many hardcore regulars. I'm talking serious drinkers and a lot of Coke snorting in the bathrooms. That was not me. No Cocaine, and I've never been a big drinker. I like a cocktail here and there, and I love socializing out at a nice bar, and I never get drunk. I don't mind getting just a little buzz, which I actually like, but I never ever get drunk. I drink slow and nurse my drinks, as not to get drunk. My main reason for being there is to hangout, chit-chat, and have a nice time, without getting drunk.
One of my favorite things about the Fish Bar was their take-out menu. No they didn't have a kitchen, and they didn't serve any food. They had a loose-leaf binder that was filled with about 20 menus of local places that delivered food, and I used to love to go to there on Friday and Saturday nights after work, order my Mount Gay & OJ from Johnnie, call up the diner around the block, order a Cheeseburger, and wait for the guy to deliver it to me at the bar. I just loved that, and along with hanging with friends, and bull-shitting about this and that, and sipping my Rum, I just loved to order my Cheeseburger, have a guy deliver it to me at the bar, and schomp down on it.
These were my times at Kastro Loung, aka "The Fish Bar."
Basta !
Debra Harry
Just Another Picture
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