nyc

Eighty Years Of NYC: 1930s to Today

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As evidenced on my Instagram account, I have recently returned from a trip to New York City. This fact might have something to do with why I liked this recent video from The New Yorker so much. It features a side-by-side comparison of the same streets using film from the 1930s and today. A few things I noted while watching the video:

  • Today’s skyline (as shown in the above video) hasn’t changed as dramatically as I would have thought since the 1930s.
  • Mondern day NYC is constantly under construction with scaffolding everywhere. This is especially prominent when compared to the NYC of the 1930s.
  • In the 1930’s Central Park was not pedestrian or bike friendly AT ALL.
  • New York City is much more lush and green than it was in the 1930s.
  • Driving in modern day NYC is insane. Driving in 1930’s NYC is insane.

Pinball Is A Game Of Skill, Not Chance

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Pinball was illegal in New York City from 1940 till 1976. The above short explores the surprisingly troubled history of pinball in New York and why it was banned there for over 35 years. The ban was lifted when WWII ended and the state finally (and rightfully) determined that pinball is a game of skill and not a game of chance. The great Big Story explains:

In 1940, pinball machines were banned in New York City. Like most contraband, this simply pushed pinball underground. After the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941, the “Salvage for Victory” campaign called on Americans to turn in scrap metal to bolster the war effort. As a result, then New York City mayor Fiorello LaGuardia went on a hunt for pinball machines. By February 1942, more than 3,000 machines has been confiscated, turning roughly 2,500 of them into one ton of metal for the war. Unfortunately for pinball enthusiasts, the ban in New York lasted for decades, outliving LaGuardia, who died in 1947.

True Love Will Find You In The End

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Mates Of State has a new video out for their cover of Daniel Johnston’s “True Love Will Find You In The End”. The single can be found on their new album “Crushes – The Covers Mix Tape”. The video was made in one day by recoding a live performance of the song in their basement and the projecting the that recording onto various surfaces around New York City. Those projections were then filmed by a ABC news crew. That footage was then edited and dubbed to the music. The result is the great video seen below. It’s HD, so click it full screen style.

[flashvideo file=/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/truelovewillfindyou.flv height=390 width=500 /]

You can currently stream the entire new album at their website, or just spend the measly five bucks and own the whole thing. After all of these years, the duo still maintain their high velocity for throat pounding energetic pop.

A video of the making of the video can be found after the jump.
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Thanking New York: Days Three & Four

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Day three was spent in apathy, on the couch, working (poor word choice) off the over indugances from the day before.

We did manage to hit up the wonderful Borough. This restaurant is aiming its services at those interested the new locavore trend. All of the ingredients are locally grown and produced in New York City and used to create dishes inspired by the five boroughs. Green and delish.

On Sunday we went and a homemade brunch and pleasant morning visiting friends and relatives we headed down to Columbus Park to play Soccer.

We started that evening off at the Cub Room (which is nice but pretty unmentionable) for cocktails and then headed down the street for sushi at Blue Ribbon Sushi. From the time you walk up to the non descript restaurant front, to walking down into the little cubby hole entrance, to the impressive line of sushi chefs, you know you have stumbled upon something special. The sushi was outrageous in the best way possible. Lilly Allen eats there seven times a week. I had the pleasure of trying box style sushi (mackerel) and jellyfish sushi – two things that you can’t find in Denver (if you know otherwise, I’d love to find out about it). We finished the night off at with a couple of drinks at a bar I can’t remember the name of (too many Karin Ichiban) where we were entertaining enough for the bartender to buy us a round.

The next day I flew back to Denver thankful to have experienced a culinary New York, but also just as thankful to be home.

Thanking New York: Day Two

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I had a slow leisurely morning on my second day in NYC. Taking time to enjoy my coffee, finish my book, and have a nice breakfast. Then I jumped headfirst into the chaos that is Times Square on Black Friday.

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I relieved my crowd-induced-anxiety by heading over to Madison Square Park where I enjoyed the, well-disputed-best-burger-in-New-York-City, at the Shake Shack. I was a little surprised they were actually open this late in the season.

After that it was off to have a look at two of my favorite buildings in the city. The Flat Iron building
And the American Radiator building.

Afterwards I headed over to the Freemans. I wanted to check out this little secret gem hidden away in an ally of the LES. It was cool, but veering on too cool. I stayed for a couple of beers before heading to Lorely for a tall glass of German suds and the meeting of friends and family.

Then it was off to our big dinner. For reasons I won’t get into we had a “break the bank” expense budget that had to be spent and it was my girlfriend’s parents 40th anniversary. We also had reservations at Perry St. This was a Jean-Georges Vongerichten (his blog) joint. He’s is probably one of the most famous chefs in NYC. And this was probably the best meal I ate all year (and probably in the top ten meals I’ve eaten ever). We went haywire in this place ordering several appetizers, all kinds of special cocktails, desserts, wines and entrees (grilled tenderloin of beef with herbal spinach and liquid gruyere for me). It was wonderful for everyone. The restrooms were out of toilet paper though. Not the type of thing you’d expect from a place like this.

Afterwards we to Turks & Frogs which I believe was having a sewage problem. I have no idea why we stayed there so long but the experience was disappointingly if not for the company. We quickly scuttled over to The Otheroom. This place was great. The music was perfect all night, the atmosphere was fun, dim and cozy, the people were really cool, the women were hot and the men were gay (mostly). We stayed here till about three am.

Our adventure home included three taxi rides, a car accident, the new jersey transit system, some tears, getting list in Secaucus, and a $60 cab fair. Ouch.

Thanking New York: Day One

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If my previous trip to Manhattan was all about the sexiness, then this last trip was all about the foodiness.

We started off at Spitzer’s Corner where I had my first pork belly sandwich. It was good but there were way too many tomotoes on it for my taste. I can verify that the hickory smoked hamburger is incredible though. We also started with a dozen oysters from the raw bar that really hit the spot. Spitzer’s main draw, however, is not it’s food but it’s incredible selection of beer. I had a couple of the Golden Monkey Tripels which were great, but, at 10% alcohol, they quickly did some pretty good damage.

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Thursday started off with a trip to the Macy’s day parade, an American Thanksgiving Day tradition. There were throngs of people and it was hard to get a decent view but it seemed like on of those things I needed to “check off my list”. I’m glad I got to see it when I did because it seems that every year the parade degenerates into more of a marching/floating advertisement and less of an actual parade. Someday it will implode on itself. Lunch involved a pretzel and hot dog street food. Dinner was, of course, the traditional turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, yams, salad, rolls, gravy, wine combo that we have all come to know and love. Given the choice, I would take a green chili smothered burrito over turkey anyday, but I have come to terms with the traditional holiday fair and always enjoy my annual turkey meal.

Inclined To, Characterized By, Or Inciting To Lust Or Lechery; Lascivious.

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City Lights

I can’t quite place my finger on it. It might be the slightly sticky sort of dirtiness. Or maybe it’s the wonderful food constantly titillating the taste buds. It may be the tall buildings that give a dizzy vertigo when I crook my head skyward. Or it could be the throngs of incredibly good looking people smartly dressed and not afraid to flaunt it. Possibly it’s the slight whiff of danger or excitement that builds as the night sets in. But there is no doubt that there is something inherently sexy, almost lewd, and downright erotic about New York City.

My short vacation there didn’t last nearly long enough. The last time I was there I checked a whole bunch of things off my tourist list. This time is was much more relaxed and real, yet much shorter. Despite it’s quickness this trip taught me a few things about Manhattan that I didn’t learn before.

  • NY pizza isn’t always NY style pizza and not always what you would expect out of it.
  • You really don’t want to see it all.
  • New Yorks finest don’t look kindly on turnstyle hoppers. AT ALL. But that can’t catch you if they can’t see you.
  • Three hot dogs from three different places in three days is not considered a challenge in NYC.
  • I can drink more in the city.
  • Scalping tickets, under a subway track, from a sketchy dude in the Bronx, is not the same as doing it anywhere else.
  • The girls can shop forever in SoHo. For real.
  • Manhattan is one giant street fair on Memorial Day weekend.
  • Skirts are shorter here. I need to spend more time in the (dirty) south.
  • Areo beds aren’t so bad. In fact they’re good.
  • Not much beats properly prepared Eggs Benedict for brunch. Except a plate of bacon of course.
  • You can seriously get run over by a car, bus, train if you aren’t paying attention.
  • There are more different types of bars and clubs here than I’ll ever really comprehend.

    • Damn, I got it shooting out of both pant legs just thinking about it!

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