Thundersnow With a Side of Blizzard

Posted on December 27, 2010 by Craig Nelson

Twenty Inches! That’s an incredible number for total snowfall in Central Park, but that’s the story of the massive Blizzard of 2010. From buses stranded all over the city to snow piling up inside subway stations to the rare occurrence of Thundersnow throughout the evening, this will be a storm to remember. Enjoy a few shots from around the neighborhood.

The day after at the Harlem Meer. C. Nelson, 2010.

Yes, this is Central Park. Not Colorado. C. Nelson, 2010.

This poor bus was stuck on 106th Street for almost 36 hours. C. Nelson, 2010.

Looking north up Lexington Avenue from 106th Street. C. Nelson, 2010.

Snow, snow, and more snow. C. Nelson, 2010.

 

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I Pugni in Tasca (Fists in the Pocket)

Posted on December 22, 2010 by glowinski

We here at 106th Street love cinema. In fact, if it weren’t for cinema the 106thstreeters would never have met, forged our way back across country, and returned our family names to their proper North American East Coast origins. Like many here in the US of A, our familial roots come from far, far away (be it by choice or by force). That’s why the Italian film, I Pugni in Tasca, reminds us here in this pre-pubescent country, that some our relatives ran as fast as they could from their homelands and (often) families.

Without giving away any plot (because you should watch this film, pure and unsuspecting), we were literally left dumbstruck when the credits rolled at the French Institute : Alliance Francais (FIAF) Florence Gould Hall Theater. This 1965 film, and first film by director/screenwriter Marco Bellocchio, stars the young and handsome Lou Castel and the gorgeous Paola Pitagora as brother and sister in a family with some issues. Funny, creepy, intelligent, philosophical, and cutting-edge (they filmed this in 1965, home of the Pope, Italy), we were reminded that the seemingly creative brilliance of today has mostly just riffed off of what has come before. Ignorance is bliss, until you realize you’ve been an ignoramus, and then it sucks.

The 106thstreeters are picky about where they see cinema. And thanks to some great venues here in NYC, we get the opportunity to see films that are rarely screened. FIAF, Film Forum, IFC, Paris Theatre, MoMa, BBQ Films, the Ziegfeld, Maysles Cinema, and Rooftop Films are all mainstays for the 106thsreeters. Not only because they have the films we want to see (and are willing to shell out the dough for), but they provide the proper atmosphere to give these films the attention they deserve.

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‘Twas the Night After Glöggfest

Posted on December 20, 2010 by glowinski

‘Twas the night after Glöggfest, when all through the flat, not a creature was stirring, not even a rat.”

Holidays in NYC are not milquetoast Middle America. They are citified, but not necessarily fancified. In New York, rats and Ratkings live alongside Whos and Sugarplum faeries. But we all make merry in our own way…and sometimes the inexplicable vortex of good spirit (if you’ve spent some time here, you know what I mean) brings us all together at the same time, in the same place, in a singular festive mood.

The 106thstreeters have been ‘Tising and ‘Twasing much during this holiday season. Partly due to the well stocked bar we keep here (from Absinthe to Zoco), and partly due to the fact that we are shameless holiday nerds, our long winter’s nap following Glöggfest 2010 led us to the 4pm reading of A Visit from St. Nicholas/The Night Before Christmas at the evocatively named Church of the Intercession. The Episcopalians do many things right–priests can marry (straight/gay/lesbian); rituals that satisfy those prone to extravagance; a great musical tradition (some of the best organs in the country and lots of singing).

December 19th brought the 100th annual reading of A Visit From St. Nicholas by actor Malik Yoba, followed by a passeggiata of the over 700 glow stick wielding ‘Twasers to the Trinity Church Cemetery and Mausoleum and the grave of Clement Clarke Moore (1779-1863) who penned the poem. Hot chocolate and wine flowed following our return; truly something for everybody. And one of everybody was in attendance. A Noah’s Ark of humankind. Ah, New York. Say Amen.

Even St. Nicholas walks everywhere in New York. C. Nelson, 2010.

 

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The 14th Annual Glöggfest

Posted on December 19, 2010 by Craig Nelson

Glöggfest 2010 got off to a Bang Bang Push Push here in El Barrio. With the help of Joe Cuba, Shuggie Otis, Hector Lavoe, Fela Kuti, Run DMC, and the jazzoliday vibes from A Charlie Brown Christmas, the Glögg warmed the Festers here at 106th Street.

Some people look forward to Christmas, some prefer New Year’s, but there’s one holiday that tops them all: Glöggfest. Every year we make a giant vat of Swedish mulled wine (aka Glögg) and invite our friends over to help us celebrate the holidays and get a little tipsy very quickly. Glögg is a tasty adult beverage packed with a ton of cheap wine and really good spices. Start with a couple jugs of Gallo Burgundy then throw in some cardamon, cinnamon sticks, cloves, orange peel, fresh ginger, and raisins. Then we let it sit for at least 24-48 hours and just before serving add some sugar, almonds, and half a bottle of aquavit. Aquavit is the real key to this recipe. It’s a special alcohol drunk all over Scandanavia, but ironically enough we really like the Krogstad brand out of Portland, Oregon. So to recap, Glögg is essentially spiked hot wine. There is nothing better on a cold winter night. One little glass of Glögg goes a long way. That’s why we serve it in tiny glass mugs. This slows people down a little bit. We’ve learned our lesson over the years to never serve it up in giant coffee mugs. And if you think this is some ancient Swedish recipe passed down from generation to generation, it’s not that complicated. A six month stay in Sweden and a quick glance at an old Time Life cookbook from 1968 inspired an annual holiday ritual. Fourteen years later from Portland to Seattle to now New York City, this boozy tradition continues. Long live Glöggfest!

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Pete Hamill and the American Vision

Posted on December 15, 2010 by glowinski

Leave it to Brooklyn native Pete Hamill to nail why immigrants are now and have always been the bedrock of our country. The son of two Irish immigrants, this second generation American writer knows first hand what it’s like to be the benefactor of hard-working parents who sacrificed their youth to make it here so their kids can make it anywhere. Last night, a standing room only crowd warmed ourselves to Mr. Hamill’s American Vision at the Tenement Museum.

Mr. Hamill’s American Vision rightly adjusts the American Dream, taking us from the ephemeral to the tangible, a pull-yourself-up-by-your-own-bootstraps work ethic that most immigrants who ever came here subscribed to. Because they had to. And just as it was, so it is today. Except many of those tax paying workers (or their children) who do not have legal status, can have their vision stripped from them regardless of the contributions made to this country. Meanwhile, those that are just a few degrees separation from where today’s first and second generation immigrants are standing, rant about having jobs stolen from under them (as one man in attendance argued, mind you he is not now nor has ever been working in some cramped kitchen at all hours for minimum–or less–wage). Methinks Americans should do a bit more reading of our history.

A vision of Pete Hamill at the Tenement Museum. C. Nelson, 2010.

 

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‘Tis The Season…

Posted on December 13, 2010 by Craig Nelson

Some people go crazy for Rockefeller Center during the holidays. We don’t mind a nice viewing from the M5 bus, but trying to wade through the crowds wrapped in waddling clothes is a bit too much. Take out 99% of the tourists, and it wouldn’t be half bad with the gorgeous tree and classic Art Deco architecture.  For a more “New York” holiday treat, we prefer Bryant Park during this time of the year. There are a few places to sit down and enjoy the park, skating rink, shops, and much more serene atmosphere (at least compared to Rockefeller Center). Throw in a trip to the NYPL Main Branch for a viewing of Patience and Fortitude all decked out in there holiday attire and a fancy cocktail down the block at The Campbell Apartment in Grand Central Terminal, and you have yourself a lovely afternoon.

The lovely skating ladies at Bryant Park.

 

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Big Apple Love, Worms and All

Posted on December 10, 2010 by glowinski

If you’re into NYC history, or like the 106thstreeters who oft have to quote reliable sources about it, then The Encyclopedia of New York City is that go-to source. One of the coolest museum milers and neighbor to the 106thstreeters, the Museum of the City of New York hosted a sweet little bash to celebrate the coming of the 2nd edition of the tome. And tome it is. Clocking in at 1561 pages of entries from the obvious to the obscure, this book is the NYC cool nerd’s Saturday night for 2011. The charming Kenneth T. Jackson (Columbia University history prof, Ken Burns clutch hitter, and Editor-In-Chief of the encyclopedia) stepped up to remind us how f$@*ing cool we are because we live here. After patting ourselves on the back for being New Yorkers (je t’aime and fuck you into simultaneous infinitum), we sauntered towards the free-flowing wine (and small bites for those who have eyes for things other than booze). The book made its debut while the successful and yearning-to-be-successful rubbed shoulders, purchased the discounted bible, and waited in the receiving line. Mr. Jackson and Executive Editor Lisa Keller were gracious (and libatious!) hosts and signed books for posterity. Ours reads, “El Barrio forever.”

Kenneth Jackson, Lisa Keller, fur coat woman, and some lucky bastard. C. Nelson, 2010.

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Home Is Where The Brew Is

Posted on December 8, 2010 by Craig Nelson

And speaking of guts and instinct…it was much to our surprise, when our friend/neighbor across the hall invited us to a craft beer tour organized by guess who…yup…Mr. Joshua M. Bernstein. Every few weeks he organizes a crawl to get an inside look (and taste) at a few home brewers’ lairs and lagers. The one on December 4 was an epic adventure that started on East 86th Street in Manhattan and ended up 5 hours (and 12 beers) later deep in Park Slope. All the beer was incredible from rye ales to Belgian style tripels to chocolate stouts.  Josh’s partners in crime from his New York Press column (Aaron and Julie) were even on the tour. It was like a Gut Instinct reality show with non-stop flowing beer. In other words: the perfect Saturday. Keep an eye on his blog for tickets to future tours.

Mr. Josh M Bernstein leading his flock of beer geeks.

 

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Gut Check

Posted on December 7, 2010 by Craig Nelson

Does anyone else still read the free weekly NY Press? Yes, it’s made of paper, you can’t download it to your iPadAppDroid (yet), and you have to retrieve it out of a pee soaked plastic box on the sidewalk. But don’t let that stop you. If nothing else it’s worth it for the gloriously entertaining Gut Instinct column by Joshua M. Bernstein. For years we’ve been following Josh’s adventures around town as he impressively subsists on a diet of mainly fried dumplings and beer while he explores the city on a quest for the best ethnic food (like tiny blood pumpers) and craziest dive bars (RIP Navy Yard Cocktail Lounge). Along with Josh’s  vegetarian girlfriend, meat (girl)friend Julie, and drinking buddy Aaron, this gang knows how to eat and drink New York. Or at least get drunk and full trying. To keep up with Josh and his crew, check out his blog My Gut Instinct for frequent updates on craft beer reviews, dollar food finds, and of course an archive of the Gut Instinct columns.

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Ho Ho Hanukkah Harlem!

Posted on December 6, 2010 by glowinski

The holidays got off to a great start on the 5th day of Hanukkah in Harlem with the Victorian Holiday Lighting festivities at the Dana Discovery Center on the Harlem Meer in our beloved Central Park. Not ones to usually goo over kids, Harlem has an inordinate amount of the cutest, prettiest children you will ever see. They were out in full cute force, decorating gingerbread cookies while the Victorian carolers put us all in the Bob Cratchit holiday spirit. Up next week is the 7th Annual East Harlem Holiday Tree Lighting at Franklin Plaza (106th St & 3rd Ave) on Dec. 10th at 6:30pm. No doubt, the 106thstreeters will be there with bells on.

Holidays at the Harlem Meer. C. Nelson, 2010.

 

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