Entries in Union Square (13)

Monday
Mar072011

Monday, March 7, 2011

The Food Emporium/My Apartment @8:23 pm
Union Square

Live from New York, it’s Cheeseburger Sunday Night! Starring the Food Emporium and featuring the ready for prime beef player, Marty Wombacher. Ladies and gentlemen...please welcome the introduction to this post!

Okay, we couldn’t do Cheeseburger Saturday Night last night, because I wanted to go to the CineKink film festival and check out Leslie Hope’s film, GAYKEITH. So I thought I’d do the Cheeseburger thing tonight. The only problem is, it’s been raining all day and it appears to continue all through the night. I had a late lunch and don’t really feel like going anywhere and then it hit me: I could do the Cheeseburger Sunday Night at home. I’ve always liked to cook, but doing the 365 bars thing required me to be out every night and so I had a year of not cooking one single night. Well all that is about to change. Let’s go to the store and get the ingredients and start Cheeseburger Sunday Night!

Okay, it was just sprinkling when I left my apartment and now it's like a full blown monsoon out. Most of the pictures will be in color tonight, the city always looks like it's melting when it rains at night, and I want to capture that.

Union Square Park is about empty, it's really coming down now.

Ah, shelter from the storm, The Food Emporium.

Wow, it's empty in here, I guess people are staying in because of the rain.

I'm over in the meat section and listening to these two debate on what kind of frozen chicken they should buy. It's been over five minutes and I don't know what's more pathetic, the fact that they're debating about frozen chicken or the fact that I can't walk away from this.

Okay, they decided and now I'm all alone in the meat section and it's a little lonely here. I'm going to get the meat and get out of here.

I've never seen it this empty in here and it's kind of freaking me out.

Now I'm really freaked out! Who would put such a thing up! Let's get our stuff and get out of this place!

Sonyha was at the register and flashed a great smile for the MAD camera.

Okay, back outside, hopefully the rain has let up.

Goddamn, it's worse than ever out here.

A black and white shot of the trip home.

Okay, here's all the stuff I got: Sandwich Pal mustard, seasoned ground beef meatballs, Velveeta cheese slices, Coleman's mustard powder, a spatula and little onion buns. I decided at the store I'd make a couple mini slider cheeseburgers. I had a late lunch and I'm not that hungry, so it sounds perfect. Now time to start cooking, but first...

We must choose the proper music for the evening. I decided on the Hollies Anthology. They're one of my favorite bands.

And onto the boombox it goes.

And the first ingredient before we start cooking is beer! I think I'll have a large one, Veronica.

Here's the kitchen area of my apartment. It's small, but has everything I need for a cheeseburger meal.

I don't have an actual stove in here, but there's a microwave, an electric skillet, a crock pot and a toaster oven. All I need to put tonight's dinner together.

The burgers go into the skillet. They were already seasoned for Italian meatballs, so I just added some mustard powder and pepper to them and they're good to go.

I cut two of the onion buns in half and toasted cheese on them in the toaster oven. They look pretty good, right?

And the mini burgers are swimming in a sea of melted cheese, time to put this all together and plate it.

Burgers on one bun and some of the spicy mustard on the other.

Here's a slightly out of focus shot of them put together.

Very delicious, if I do say so myself and I just did.

And a closing obligatory bathroom mirror shot which also showcases my groovy polka dot shower curtain. Goodnight everybody and see you tomorrow after dark.

I’ve never felt like the Hollies got their fair shake in the world of rock and roll. They were a great band and used some real different instrumentation in their songs: Steel drums, banjos, harmonicas and they had the best harmonies going at the time. And their drummer, Bobby Elliott was a first-rate drummer. Carrie Anne is one of my all time favorite songs by The Hollies and I think I’ve listened to it at least once a month since I bought the 45 in 1967 when I was all of nine-years-old. Graham Nash has said that Carrie Anne was a song about Marianne Faithfull, whom I have a sixth degree of separation story.

A few years ago my friend David Dalton who’s a writer and knows everyone, he knows your uncle, you just don’t realize it yet, sent me an email and asked me for a favor.
He said it was Marianne Faithfull’s birthday coming up and he wanted a poster of a photo of when she met Bob Dylan in the film, “Don’t Look Back,” to give to her as a present. He knew I worked at a printing place and wondered if I could output it for him. That’s one of the perks of working at a print shop, when someone needs a print for Marianne Faithfull, you’re at the ready to do it. I cleared it with my boss, printed it and sent it to David in Woodstock where he lives. I found it funny that Marianne Faithfull, a woman I had one of my first boyhood crushes on would be receiving a print from me for her birthday via David Dalton. I had a grilled cheese sandwich and then a beer or seven and promptly forgot all about it.

Then about a month later I got a notice from some international mailing service saying they were trying to deliver a package from London, England, but I wasn’t at home. Of course I wasn’t at home international mailing service, you stupid twits, I was at work, maybe you should start a night route, we don’t all work 9 to 5 you know! Anyway, for weeks this went on. I would sign a waiver for them to leave a package, they wouldn’t leave the package, my bell would ring while I was sleeping, a waiver would be left and it never got resolved. Finally the package was left and when I eagerly opened it, inside was a Marianne Faithfull CD. It was her doing duets with other people. I wasn’t sure why this came my way until a couple months later I was talking to David Dalton on the phone about something totally different. All of a sudden in the middle of the conversation he said: “Hey, did Marianne ever send you that CD?”

“I got a Marianne Faithfull CD in the mail, but I just figured it was some promotional thing,” I told him, having forgotten about the poster for her birthday.

“Goddamn her,” he spat into the phone, “She really liked the Dylan poster, so I told her you went out of her way to do it and asked her to send you the CD with a thank you note, because I knew you’d get a kick out of it. She didn’t include a note?” He asked.

“No,” I replied, “that would’ve really been cool.”

“Fucking rock stars,” he moaned.

Fucking rock stars.

Further reading: New York Magazine, Wikipedia, Wikipedia and Songfacts.

Nightcap

Hey Carrie Anne, what’s your game?

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Friday
Mar042011

Saturday, March 5th, 2011

My Apartment @2:31 am
Midnight Movie—“After Hours, Part II”

It's really after dark tonight, I'm still at work and it's almost 2:00 am. Tonight is midnight movie night, even though it's long after midnight. Let's go home and then I'll tell you what's going on.

Finally, I'm out of work. It's a little after two...

I got a few hours of overtime tonight, so I'll be fucked if I'm walking home. Taxi!

And here we go, before you know it, it'll be show time.

Last week we watched the first half of the movie, “After Hours,” and I said it would be continued tonight. Okay, I told you then how in the first Midnight Movie I cut large chunks out and still made it work. I'm so tired, I'm going to do that tonight. Last week gave you a good set-up, so I'll try not to cut out any key parts, but still keep it short enough so I don't fall asleep in the middle of putting it together. Okay, now it’s time to say: “Roll ‘em (and whoever just pulled out rolling papers, I hope you have enough for all of us)!”

I told you it was going to be quick!

Sorry about today’s post, but as I’ve said before, that’s the beauty of MAD, every once in a while I can just take it easy. So, sorry today’s post was a bit of a gyp, but tomorrow’s post will be epic. I’m going to a screening of a movie and I have a great interview with a woman who is the writer and director of the film. She’s acted in films and TV with actors as diverse as Alec Baldwin, Gena Rowlands, Kiefer Sutherland, Dennis Hopper and Matt Dillon. So who is this mystery guest being interviewed at MAD? I’ll never tell, you’ll have to tune in tomorrow and it’ll be an epic post to make up for this turkey. And as opposed to most nights where I go out and do something, come home and go to sleep and post it around noon the next day, this one is being posted in real time, because I’ll probably sleep the whole day away tomorrow. So tonight when I say, goodnight everybody, I really mean it! See you tomorrow after dark.

Further reading: IMDb, NY Times and Rewind.

Nightcap

I go to sleep...

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Bonus Video Supplied By Gidget!

"The Patty Duke Show" came up in yesterday's comments and I said I couldn't remember the hot dog thing. Well, the coolest DJ in the world, Gidget, sent in this video and it explains it all. "A hot dog drives her wild!" And why shouldn't it? Thanks Gidget! and don't forget to tune in to Woody Radio for the Secret Weapon show from 10am to 5pm! "Boris" picks the tunes and Gidget interlaces movie lines. The best show on radio! Now Check out the video.


Friday
Mar042011

Friday, March 4, 2011

My Apartment @12:31 am
Chelsea

I was planning on going to Chinatown tonight and wander around and take some photos and maybe go to a bar or something, but those plans have changed. My night turned to shit at work and I’m getting out of here a little later than usual. Plus I have a headache. And it’s freezing outside. And why yes, I would like some ice with my whine, please and thank you! Anyway, I think I’ll do something from home tonight and what I’ve decided is to put up some late night tweets from Twitter. But first I have to get home.

I only live 14 blocks from work and most nights I walk home, but fuck it, I feel like shit so I'm cabbing it home. It's just a six dollar ride and with a dollar tip it's seven bucks. Money well spent on a night like this.

And baboom, here we are home sweet home! I've had that Mothers of Invention poster at every place I've ever lived. My brother Jim gave it to me for my 17th birthday. If only that poster could talk...well, I wouldn't really want to hear the stories.

An obligatory mirror shot of the top of my head over my Beatles butcher block album.

And here's my good friend Mr. Refrigerator which houses...

My even better friend, Mr. Beer!

It's freezing in here, time to light this thing up.

Poof! Fire!

Okay, let's see what's happening in Twitterville.

Good idea! I'm sure that's never been done before!

Kaiczynski Meet MacheDimance. I think the two of you will live and tweet happily ever after.

What, leave your room?

Wow, all the news channels must be pissed that you got the exclusive on that!

No, that's someone in serious need of a real life.

Now this guy knows how to tweet! Brief and to the point!

I had a low floater earlier today, but I flushed the toilet and it was history.

I love Jesus_M_Christ. Always first-class tweets!

And speaking of first-class tweets, our very own resident artist, "Boris" never fails to amuse on Twitter and facebook. Good one, Daddio!

I've seen the future Charlie Sheen Goddess and it is SHEILIA_MAC420. Get ready to be a winner, Sheila!

Speaking of Charlie, here's his last tweet of the evening, #WINNING! Well, he's lost a show he made almost two million an episode, his kids and wife, so I'm not sure exactly what he's winning, but what the hell, let's check in with one of his Goddesses.

And here she is, one half of the Charlie Sheen Goddess team, Bree Olson. A classy lady indeed! In fact this tweet puts the ass back in class! Goodnight everybody and see you tomorrow after dark!

Further reading: Washington Post, 140 Characters and Huffington Post.

Nightcap


Whizzing and pasting and pooning through the day...

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Bonus Photos!

Since we've had posts about hot dogs and food carts, MAD commenter and Leaf Girl Blogger, Kari, sent in a couple of pictures of a trip from a trip she took to New York and a hot dog cart where her and her traveling troupe stopped for a dog.

Here's Kari biting into a dog in all it's ketchup glory!

And here's some of Kari's fellow travelers. I don't recognize the location, but I think it might be midtown. Thanks for the photos, Kari!

Saturday
Feb262011

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Friday Midnight Movie—“After Hours” @12:07 am
My Apartment/Chelsea

I had a conversation last week with MAD commenter (and former 365 bars copilot) Al last week and among the subjects that came up was the movie After Hours. After Hours came out in 1985 and it’s directed by Martin Scorsese. It’s a weird movie and a friend  of mine has said that when he watches it, it makes him feel like there’s bugs crawling under his skin and I couldn’t agree more. All of us have had nights where you just can’t seem to get home, but it never gets as bad as it does for Paul Hackett. You’ll see what I mean as the MAD Friday Night Midnight Movie rolls. Lights, camera...internet!


Okay, last week I was able to cut out huge chunks of Glengarry Glen Ross and still tell the story. I can't do that with After Hours, so we'll have to do it in sections. Stay tuned next Friday for part 2. Goodnight everybody and see you tomorrow after dark. And while we're on the topic of movies, listen to The Secret Weapon on Woody Radio with movie lines inserted between songs, lots of fun and great tunes! Songs by "Boris" movie lines by Gidget! The show runs today from 10 am to 5 pm. Stream it live here: The Secret Weapon.

Nightcap

I’m gonna wait, way in the midnight hour
That’s when my love begins to shine.

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Tuesday
Feb222011

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Fireside Chat @11:00 pm
My Apartment/Chelsea

As I wrote on Monday, one of the pleasures of doing this blog is I can do whatever I feel like doing, as long as it’s after dark. So I can go wherever I want and do the night’s post and then put it up the next day. And that includes my apartment, which will be nice for night’s like tonight. As I wrote yesterday, I had to go to work early today and this process is going to happen all week. Anyway, I’m really beat tonight and thought I’d just go home and make a fire and have a few beers and so that’s tonight’s destination and after hours journey. I’ll take some photos on my walk home and think about something to write about on my laptop while sitting in front of my fireplace.
And here we go. It's straight up 6th Avenue and then we're home.

Sandwiches, bagels and coffee, the holy trinity of delis.

Same caption as the last, just replace sandwiches and coffee for paninis and wraps.

In case you're wondering if this store is closing...

Just check out their other windows. Gee, this is just  a guess, but maybe you mismanaged yourself. You know, like maybe just puttting up one big sign saying you're closing as opposed to a thousand hand written ones all over your four windows.

Oh no, another one of these, let's just get home, I think the dollar pizza joints have officially outnumbered bedbugs at this point!

Ah, the log is in the fireplace and all is well. Let's fire it up.

There we go, now we're talking. Well, not yet, let me think of something to write about.

Tonight I thought I’d write about the very thing you’re on if you’re reading this: The internet. I have a love/hate relationship with the internet. What I love about it is the wealth of information that’s available to you at the tip of your fingers. Google didn’t even start up until 1998 and now I probably go there at least a dozen times a day. In fact I had to Google the word “Google” to see when it started. I was half afraid I’d turn to dust while doing that, but I survived.

For all the good the internet has done for the world, it’s also fucked a lot of shit up. Record stores are becoming a dying thing now because everyone downloads music on the internet, no one buys albums or CD’s anymore and it’s killing the thing that we knew as the record store. Going to the record store was a social thing. Even if you went alone, maybe you’d strike up a conversation with someone looking at the same record as you were, or you’d talk to the person behind the counter about the music they were playing in the store that you had never heard of. I had a conversation with two kids in a bar last year (where else) and they tried to tell me that going to the Apples iTunes store was the same thing as going to a record store. I told them it wasn’t a social thing to go to the iTunes store and they argued that it was, because you can leave comments and communicate that way. I gave up and went back to my beer.

And speaking of comments, that’s another thing that bugs me about the internet. It used to be if you wanted to sound off on something that was in the paper, you had to sit down and compose a letter to the editor of that paper. And then the editors of that paper would decide if they would run it or not. Doesn’t sound democratic? Well, that’s because newspaper editors are smarter than most of the people writing in to them. Most people read their news online now and almost every paper online has a comments button after every story. And you don’t have to leave your real name. This has turned every half-brained, drooling idiot out there into an instant critic and pundit and they now can have their inane and imbecilic thoughts plastered out there for millions of people to read. The only problem is a good portion of these nitwits don’t know how to spell. The New York Post’s gossip column ran an item today on Rosie O’Donnell breaking up wth her girlfriend. Someone who’s handle is “a2z” left this comment: “I lost 25 lbs All you need to do is think of being stuck that discusting beast. YOU EAT ALL YOU WANT THEN THROW THE FUC UP” I swear to God I didn’t alter that comment one bit. I was written up on somebody’s blog for my 365 bars blog last year and I was called an “alkaholic looser” in someone’s comment. Skary...I mean scary stuff!

Another thing that the internet is affecting is porn.
I’m not saying it’s ruining porn, it’s hard (no pun intended, okay pun intended somewhat) to ruin such a time-treasured part of our society, but I think there’s so much of it readily available in the privacy of your home or apartment that it’s making people numb to it. I was on a porn site a couple months ago...doing research of course, thanks for that excuse, Pete Townshend!, and you could click a button and see what the most watched video of that day was. Know what it was? Two obese women shitting into their hands and spreading it on each other. It was discusting...I mean disgusting. When that’s  the most popular video of the day, I think we’ve all seen a little too much porn.

The internet also takes a lot of the excitement out of porn.
I think we’ve all had that moment in the past when you’re renting, “Titty Titty Gang Bang” at the video store and your next door neighbor comes up to say hello. Awkward! But it led to the excitement of getting the tape. Now all you have to do is type in the word “porn” on Google and a whole universe of porn awaits you. The only trouble is, a lot of people these days don’t know how to spell porn.

Okay, I have to run. I haven’t checked my email in ten minutes. I’m way overdue.

Further reading: The Telegraph, NY Times and Hub Pages.

Nightcap

The sunshine bores the daylights outta me.

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