July 2, 2011
I was going to meet MAD commenter Jason Hwang tonight, but he bailed on me at the last minute because he’s super busy this weekend. The reason he’s so frantic is that he’s moving to France this Sunday to be with his wife, the infamous, Zioum Zioum. I know how it goes to uproot yourself and how at the last minute there’s a billion things to do. It was that way when I moved here and I can’t imagine what it’s like getting ready to move to a new country. Anyway, I just want to take a second and wish them both the best of luck and please keep in touch!
Alright, since I have no plans and it’s the start of a holiday weekend, I thought I’d just shoot some pictures on my way home and maybe stop and have a drink somewhere. No plans, just my camera, my feets and a somewhat powerful thirst! Let's go wandering.
And we're off, we'll travel down 7th Avenue in search of something to do and more importantly, something to drink.
Look at this, a few blocks into the journey and I've stumbled upon a brand new deli on the block called the Green Tomato. Let's check it out.
It's nice and streamlined in here and I can guarantee you there's beer in those coolers.
There's lots of wooden tables in here and the gentlemen behind the counter told me it's open 24 hours. Are you thinking what I'm thinking? Fortress of Solitude number three! I think I'll sit at the table up front with a nice view out the door of the people on parade at the sidewalk.
Gumby's all settled in...
And I've got a giganzo 24 ounce can of Budweiser, so all is well in my world.
It's relaxing in here just drinking beer and watching the world go by outside on the sidewalk.
There goes a hipster couple...
There's a woman talking on a phone and gesturing wildly. At least 75 percent of the people walking by are talking on phones or doing the Zombie text walk. I always wonder what the fuck everybody's talking about.
Fuck, I didn't get a shot of this, but a one-armed man just walked by and made eye contact with me. Whenever I make eye contact with crippled or disfigured people I feel like I've been hexed. I hope I make it home now. One time I was in midtown about five years ago and at the corner of 55th and Broadway a nun in an electric wheelchair whizzed past me and not only made eye contact with me, she scowled at me. I was so freaked out, first of all you rarely see a nun in the oldtime penguin habit, but she was decked out in one from head to toe. And to make matters worse, you know who she looked like? Burt Young, the actor! It took me a couple minutes to figure it out after she had rolled past me, but then it hit me, she was a dead ringer for Burt Young. I remember leaning against a building with chills running down my spine and feeling like I had been hexed for life and I still wonder if I am. I mean, Burt Young as a crippled nun in an electric wheelchair? In midtown? Sheesh!
Okay, enough of creepy memories. The beer is empty and Gumby's getting antsy, so it's off we go.
Further on up the road we go.
This block is always lit up like it's Christmas time, it's a cheery little block in Chelsea.
And smack dab in the middle of the block is Salsa y Salsa. I came here on the bar crawl last year. And now I'm craving a Michelada. Let's go inside.
It's crowded inside, but the bar is wide open, let's go snag a seat.
Hey, there's a familiar face behind the bar...
It's Rubens the bartender who was on duty last year when I was there. He remembered me and after a brief reunion, he set to work making me a Michelada beer cocktail.
The beer is added to the spicy mix, ice is added and...
Rubens serves it up with a smile.
The drink is served with a salted rim and a lime and it's delicious, a great summer cocktail!
And an ebony and ivory hot sauce shot completes the night. Goodnight everybody and see you tomorrow after dark.
Further reading: New York Magazine, Time Out New York and Menu Pages.
You also might like: Ben & Jerry, Stiller & Meara and Ben Stiller.
Four Happy Wanderers Videos and One For JAZ!
New Wave Shmenge
Christmas in Leutonia
The Last Polka (Part 1)
The Shmenge’s on David Letterman
Don't mean nothing, if they're dumping,
Things that sting on you!
Don't take that, honey.
ARCHIVES
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Bonus Photo/Art from Jaws!
Jaws sent in this frightening art! Aaaaahhhhh!
30 Comments
Reader Comments (30)
I think I asked Zioum Zioum once what the deal was with the French and Jerry Lewis...she didn't know what I was talking about.
That Michelada looks great! And a new Fortress of Solitude! I hope you're not abandoning the Papaya Dog though! LOL!
Another Fortress of Solitude! (you need a few back ups)
Jerry Lewis will forever remain one of the "Great Unsolved Mysteries".
Martin Short' did Lewis better than Jerry.
Best of luck to Zioum Zioum and Jason.
And...
Don't get me started on Nun Stories...
Speaking of nun stories, check your e-mail, Marty.
Did you have any food at the new fortress? Or did their food look good? Tom and I lived on Micheladas in Mexico. It was interesting because most of the places we went, they made them differently - a little margarita mix (with the tequila) and salt, with a lime. I liked those best by the beach but with food I really like the spicy ones.
@Jaws: Here's what you should've said to Zioum Zioum: "LAAAAADEEEEEEE!"
@Barfly: Abandon the Papaya Dog? Never!
@"Boris:" You have the best nun story in the world! That is one of my favorite SCTV skits.
@Jaws: I'll go check it out!
@Britta: I bet the Micheladas in Mexico are fantastic! I like them spicy, it's my favorite summer cocktail!
How is Gumby holding up? Whenever I have one of those types of bags, I wear em out so quickly.
I totally understand the surprise link having a French connection (and good luck on the move guys), but I gotta admit - when you left a Dion video out of the MAD List, I was kinda hoping it was the hidden surprise!!
I'm a big fan of the micheladas! The salted rim and lime make it great for getting through a hot day - and a little tequila in it never hurts (although a lot of tequila can). The great thing about micheladas in Mexico is that the ONLY thing to worry about is the heat.
@JAZ: Problem solved! I take requests here at MAD! And so far Gumby's holding up fine, thanks for asking!
@Tomatic: I just discovered the Michelada last summer and I love them! I need to go to Mexico to sample them there!
Wooooohooooo - I'll drink to that!!!
@JAZ: Ha ha ha! Cheers to you, my friend! I'm going to go crack open a beer myself!
Fortress of Solitude number three! shit i'll drink to that!...Michelada! damn i'll drink to that!...lookin' for a place nearby that has any idea what i'm talkin' 'bout round here...burt young as a nun...i'll drink one to jaws!...hey a little off topic...like all the best to jason and Zioum Zioum and from what i understand MAD had something to do w/ this...i'll drink to that!...damn yesterday was "canada day"...to any "canooks" that may be out there this one is for you...i'll drink to that!...hope it's a safe and happy to all...i'll drink to that!...
The sixties were when hallucinogenic drugs were really, really big. And I don't think it's a coincidence that we had the type of shows we had then, like The Flying Nun.
~Ellen DeGeneres
rr
Right about now would be the perfect time to make an astute comment / observation. Well, my room-mate Aileen just finished the bottle of Vodka and is blissfully passed out on the couch. But now I'm gonna have to find my pants, go to the cash machine and hope the liquor store doesn't close before I get all of this accomplished. It feels like Friday the 13th.
uncle waltie...i'll drink to that...
rr
@rr: I'll drink to your comment, as a matter of fact I already am! And I'll drink to that quote, great one!
@Uncle Waltie: It's Saturday night, you should be able to get to the liquor store in plenty of time. The one on my block (16th and 6th) is open till midnight. Sip ahoy!
Made it !
Any further utterances of mine should be disregarded until Tuesday or so. Sip Ahoy.
@Uncle Waltie: I knew you could do it! Sip Ahoy and over and out, I'm off to watch a movie and drink a million beers.
A very fulfilling night ! ... well played Marty !
Hi Marty--the Michelada looks great!!Gumby is having a good time.Where do we meet up for the next Chillmaster Party??Let me know. The last one looked like fun. Chill's son was there. A nice time.
I meant to tell you Marty--I did not see the Papya Dog at Penn Station--I saw a knock-off Papya place.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YLeTYWf_qY Forward this to 9:00 for the best Burt Young moment ever.
@GENE: Thanks, it was a nice relaxing night out indeed!
@Melanie: The next one is July 17th, I'll be sending out an email about it that week. I hope you can make it. And all the Papaya's are knock-off's of the original on the Upper East Side. But that is the only one that serves beer and it's close by where I work, so it's my favorite!
@Mike Hunt: Great Burt Young moment! Thanks for the linkage!
the last post a closing, now a new place, the circle of life. Although the places closing aren't replaceable, hope some of the new places that pop up end up being worthy of a night out.
@kari: I'm just glad a chain store didn't go in this location, happy to see a local place open up!
@Marty--knock off Papyas will do!!!Gumby agrees I believe.
Thanks Marty and everybody for the wish :) Yep things I've been really busy since we got married, especially with French bureaucracy! Then if I have to resume how an international moving looks like, I would say : JESUSMESSHITASSHOLE !! Something like 40 pages of forms, papers, proof of mariage, residence etc that you have to sign & give to customs, French bureaucracy really looks deep in your ass to see if you haven't hide an ostrich or anything else in your ass (who knows what we can hide in a ass! brief!!). So Jason is taking the plane in few hours now! youuuhouu!!!!!! We'll stay in touch ;) maybe to send some photos of the moving :) see ya soon !!! TO MAD !!!!!!!!!!!
@Melanie: Gumby agrees completely!
@Zioum Zioum: Good luck to everything and I hope both you and the new French man, Jason LeHwang keep in touch! Send photos when you can!
Sorry I bailed out , but I was doing things up to the last minute , really & then went nuts looking for my phone which was in my pocket , almost lost my mind .
Thanks to all & I will making comments still in the future , but soon they will be in French , since I need to learn it .
While I am glad that you found another Fortress of Solitude, I am sad that they chose those wooden tables for their joint. Because in the summer, and especially when you've got an open door and such, the humidity tends to make those things sticky. And then I always feel like I'm leaning on a Carnie or something. In any event, the Michelada looks delicious. And I suppose I could just carry a tablecloth around with me.
@JHwang: Good luck in France, send me an email!
@Biff: "And then I always feel like I'm leaning on a Carnie or something." Ha ha ha! You still gots it Bifferoonie!