FERSSEN UND GEFRESSEN WERDEN – Eat and be eaten
Photo and cause of the day! FRESSEN UND GEFRESSEN WERDEN/EAT AND BE EATEN –
HELP SAVE 5 POINTZ AT 3pm RALLY TODAY!
We are reaching out to any and all supporters of 5 Pointz to come out and support Meres. If you love 5 Pointz, show us on Saturday. COME AND SEE MERES BY HIS OFFICE IN THE LOADING DOCK . COME AND SIGN THE LANDMARK FORM Please come out to show your support and hear more about REAL STRATEGIES TO SAVE OUR MONUMENT. The future of 5 Pointz is within OUR CONTROL! Peaceful gathering and art from 3-4. Speakers from 4-5. YOUR SUPPORT IS NEEDED! COME ONE COME ALL THIS SATURDAY!!!!
November 16, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: 3 dimensional graffiti murals, 5 Pointz, 5 Pointz Graffiti Museum, 5 Pointz tour, 7 train, art, Court Street Station, eat and be eaten, fressen und gefressen werden, Graffiti Museum, graffiti styles, Hans Von Rittern, Help Save 5 Pointz, history of 5 Pointz, inside 5 Pointz, international graffiti, Jackson Avenue, Long Island City, Manhattan, Meres, Meres light bulb, Meres One, New York City, New York photo, Photo of the day, Queens, Sunnyside | Leave a comment
Photo of the day: CHRISTMAS DINNER AT BENDEL’S WITH LIZA, SARAH-JESSICA, WOODY, MARILYN, CAROL AND AL HIRSCHFELD – Since I was a little boy the magical drawings of Al Hirschfeld have absolutely fascinated me! The fact that a few twists of the pen could totally capture a person and their character was astounding to me. Every Sunday I would get up early to run to the corner store to get a Sunday New York Times and pull out the Arts & Leisure section to see who had been ‘Hirschfelded’. That was a steadfast tradition from about 1964 till Al Hirschfeld’s death in 2003. I have boxes and boxes (and boxes) of clippings of all the Hirschfelds I could find from then till now.
The great Hirschfeld
My dream of meeting him came true one day in the year 2000, in the theater that was later to be named for him, The Martin Beck now The Hirschfeld. The story of meeting him is a story unto it’s own. I had met the greatest of the greats until then: Ingrid Bergman, Bette Davis, Elvis, Elton, Cher, Liz Taylor, Katherine Hepburn, but meeting Hirschfeld had topped them all. I had met the man that had documented close to 100 years of America’s entertainment history. It was the most humbling and breath taking moment of my life.
Jerry Stiller meets ‘Jerry’ with Margo Feiden and Bendel’s
When Hirschfeld died, I bought many of his possessions at the 2011 Doyle Galleries estate sale, his pens and pencils, his large wooden pencil box, his shoulder bag and many, many other items, all lovingly displayed in my home.
Fast forward to November 14, 2013 and I am standing in front of Henri Bendel’s windows waiting for the grand unveiling of their Christmas window featuring a three dimensional tribute to the great beloved Hirschfeld.
Bendel’s president and top executives and creative team
I waited front row, clutching my Hirschfeld owned shoulder bag which still has his handwritten name tag attached written in his trademark squared signature. Due to arrive were Jerry Stiller who is featured in the window and Margo Feiden, the sole curator of the Hirschfeld collection. They were followed by the president of Bendel’s, the artistic director, and by Tom Carroll who created the pieces and Bendel’s Assistant VP of Visual, Gilberto Santana. Once inside, I showed the president of Bendel’s my Hirschfeld bag, “You must meet Margo!” (Shades of ‘All About Eve’!!) She welcomed me with open arms and warmth. There I was, after 49 years of collecting, sitting with Margo Feiden, holding hands and telling her my Hirschfeld stories. She so very much reminded my of my dear aunt “G” (see older posts here.) I told her: “Back in the 1960’s and 70’s I was the quintessential stage door Johnny. I had met Bergman, Davis and Crawford…” Margo squeezed my hand and cut me off, “but when you met Hirschfeld…” she interrupted. “Yes!” I proclaimed, “how did you know?” “I can see it in your eyes, it’s still there.” She held my hand tighter. I will not forget that moment. Bendel’s has a limited edition ($100.) poster available for sale commemorating the evening which I asked Margo to sign. “I hope you can read this,” she said as she rolled it up before I could read what she had written to me. I was on cloud 9 as I thanked her and left.
Hans, Jerry Stiller, Margo Feiden
I called mom and told her of the wonderful evening and how my Hirschfeld story had come full cycle. “Well what did Margo write to you?!” mom asked. I didn’t know, because shortly thereafter it was tied up in the traditional brown/white polka dotted Bendel bow and into to fancy large shopping bag it went. “I’ll stop by your apartment on the way home and we can unveil it together.” I rushed home holding onto to it for dear life.
Margo Feiden
Once in mom’s living room, we carefully untied the bow and unrolled the large parchment poster, our eyes transfixed on the small handwriting on the poster, trying to make out the inscription. Then we both looked at up each other and were speechless when we saw what Margo had written: “To Hans, with your enthusiasm Bendel’s won’t need lights, Margo Feiden.”
My heart is full.
“To Hans…”
The celebrated party guests translated into three dimensions in the window include from left to right: Whoopi Goldberg, Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe, Woody Allen, Matthew Broderick, Liza, Sarah Jessica Parker, Jerry Stiller, Bernadette Peters, Carol Channing and Hirschfeld himself. (Omitted in error is Margo Feiden.)
The Margo Feiden Gallery
15 East 9 St Between 5th Ave & University Place
November 15, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: 'Hirschfleded', Al Hirschfeld, aligncenter, All About Eve, arts, AUDREY HEPBURN, Bernadette Peters, Broadway, Carol Channing, celebrities, collecting Hirschfeld, entertainment, Hans Von Rittern, henri, Henri Bendel, Henri Bendel department store, Hirschfeld, Hirschfeld estate sale Doyle Auction, Jerry Stiller, Liza, Liza Minnelli, Margo Feiden, Margo Feiden Gallery, Marilyn Monroe, Matthew Broderick, New York Christmas windows 2013, New York City, New York photo, Photo of the day, photography, Sarah Jessica Parker, whoopi goldberg, Woody Allen | Leave a comment
Photo of the day: MY EVENING WITH FRANK COSTANZA/JERRY STILLER – Last night the upscale department store Henri Bendel’s Christmas windows were unveiled revealing a tribute to the greatest caricature artist of all time and one of the greatest artists ever – Al Hirschfeld. Bendel’s Christmas window revealed the ultimate fantasy gathering for Christmas dinner with some of the most famed New York personalities, Jerry Stiller among them. After some glasses of champagne and discussing today’s TV shows “our show is better than that vampire crap today!” said Stiller, I asked Frank Costanza, er, ah, Jerry if we could pose for a few photos together, this is my favorite. More of the event to follow.
November 15, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: Al Hirschfeld, arts, celebrities, entertainment, Frank Costanza, George Costanza, Hans Von Rittern, Henri Bendel, Henri Bendel department store, Jerry Stiller, Manhattan, Margo Feiden, Margo Feiden Gallery, New York Christmas windows 2013, New York City, Photo of the day, photography, Seinfeld TV series | Leave a comment
Observations of the same concert crowd 42 years later:
Creedence Clearwater Revival 1971 vs. 2013
– The size 28 jeans had been replaced by size 40+ jeans.
– Most concert goers could not see their tickets without squinting or using their eye glasses.
– The balcony crowd was most concerned if there was a bathroom on the upper level.
– Rather than arriving by motorbikes, they were arriving by power wheelchairs.
– Walking canes had been substituted for a must-have concert accessory.
– Long shoulder length hair had been replaced with no hair.
– The cause for peace & love was now replaced by fez wearing fat shiners’ looking for charitable donations to their hospitals.
– Rather than making sure you had a dime for a phone call, everyone had cell phones.
– In 1971 no one seemed to be older than 25. In 2013 no one seemed to be younger than 35.
– Beautiful faces now had jowls and laugh lines.
– Rather than racing up to your seats, people stopped to catch their breaths up the stairs “is there an elevator?”
– The people in front of me were wearing hearing aids, I suppose from the 42 years of concert going.
– Rather than lighting a match or your lighter to show your love for a song, there was a persistent greenish glow of tiny cell phone lights.
– Coke and 7-Up were now replaced by $15 cocktails – three times the price of my original 1971 $5 admission ticket.
Gray hair, huffing and puffing, canes, $15 cocktails – who cared! This night I could go back to that hot 1971 July’s summer night in Forest Hills Queens, rock on!
John Fogerty rocks the audience
November 14, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: 1971 Creedence Clearwater Revival, ageing rock audience, arts, Broadway, celebrities, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Creedence Clearwater Revival 1971 - 2013, Creedence Clearwater Revival audience 1971 vs. 2013, Fogerty Creedence 2013 tour, Forest Hills Tennis Staium 1971, Hans Von Rittern, humorous look at ageing rockers, John Fogerty, Manhattan, New York City, New York photo, nostalgia, Observations of the same concert crowd 42 years later, Photo of the day, rock concert review Creedence Clearwater Fogerty, The Beacon Theater, very white audience | Leave a comment
Photo of the day: 1971 CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL to 42 YEARS LATER AT THE BEACON 2013 (you “can” go back!)
In 1971 on a hot summer’s Saturday night in July, I heard on the radio that tickets were still available for the Creedence Clearwater Revival concert at the Forest Hills Stadium. I begged my mother for the money and to let me go, I was 15 years old and I was about to go to my first concert ever! I put on my size 28 faded pink with blue patch pocket bell bottoms and my purple long sleeve butterfly t-shirt and ran to the subway to head up to Forest Hills.
Creedence Clearwater Revival 1971
My seats were waaaaay in the back of the oval of the stadium, but I was so thrilled, I didn’t care. This was the group that had performed between The Grateful Dead and Janis Joplin at the legendary 1969 Woodstock festival. My music tastes were still evolving, I hadn’t quite found my identity. Disco was yet to come, then I loved the bluesy rhythmic rock style of Creedence Clearwater Revival. Their albums were all the rage in school and on the radio, I had all their lps and 45s. I loved the imaginative magical hit ’doo doo doo’ “Lookin’ Out My Back Door” from their 1970 Cosmos album. I have never forgotten sitting way up their in the upper seats singing along and experiencing what was to be so many more incredible concerts in my lifetime. I remember I was such a goody two-shoes that when the audience rushed the stage half way through the concert, I stayed in my assigned seat – boy did I change!
Within the next few years to follow, my musical tastes varied and broadened to include incredible concerts by The Rolling Stones, Sonny and Cher, any Beatle, Elvis at Madison Square Garden, Rock & Roll Revivals, and Elton John. Eventually my taste for disco and the fever to dance ruled and I forsook the sounds of rock, but never completely, always appreciating a good rock artist.
John Fogerty rocks with his son at the Beacon, NYC
Forty two years later, I saw an announcement on my friend Randi Horowitz’s web site SocialEyesNYC.com that the surviving and founding member of Creedence Clearwater Revival, John Fogerty, was going to appear at New York’s legendary Beacon Theater. I had to go! Ironically, the only tickets that were to be had were in the upper balcony, again, but didn’t mind – I was going to relive my first concert of forty two years ago. John Fogerty, an energetic and vibrant 68, gave his all and totally rocked the house with his electric guitar for 2-½ hours. Hit after hit after hit. I had come home again, and so had the rest of the audience. The audience all seemed to be from Queens, Staten Island or Westchester. The faces seemed sort of familiar yet things had changed dramatically. See my following post of “observations of a concert crowd 42 years later”.
Same seats for Creedence – 42 years later 🙂
November 14, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: "Lookin' Out My Back Door", 1969 Woodstock Concert, 1971 Creedence Clearwater Revival, arts, Beacon Theater New York, bluesy rock, Broadway, celebrities, classic rock concert 2013 review Creedence, Cosmos album, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Creedence Clearwater Revival 1971 - 2013, entertainment, Forest Hills, Forest Hills Tennis Staium 1971, Grateful Dead, Hans Von Rittern, Janis Joplin, John Fogerty, Manhattan, memories of my first rock concert 1971, music, New York City, New York photo, observations of a concert crowd 42 years later, Photo of the day, photography, Saturday July 17 1971, SocialEyesNYC.com, Sonny and Cher, The Grateful Dead | Leave a comment
Photo of the day: On November 13, Felix Unger was asked to remove himself from his place of residence . . .
that request came from his wife.
Deep down, he knew she was right,
but he also knew that some day he would return to her.
With nowhere else to go,
he appeared at the home of his friend, Oscar Madison.
Several years earlier,
Madison’s wife had thrown HIM out,
requesting that HE never return.
Can two divorced men share an apartment without driving each other crazy?
November 13, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: 1970's New York, arts, Blanche Madison, Brett Somers, Broadway, celebrities, classic 70's sitcom, classic TV show, entertainment, Felix and Oscar, Felix Unger, Hans Von Rittern, Jack Klugman, Manhattan, Neil Simon, New York City, New York photo, November 13 1970, opening credits The Odd Couple, Oscar Madison, Photo of the day, photography, The Odd Couple opening credits, The Odd Couple TV show, Tony Randall | Leave a comment
Photo of the day: THE LITTLEST YANKEE SLUGGER – This is “Slugger”, I saw him scurrying down 8th Avenue carrying his big Yankee bat. He never let the bat hit the ground as he was following his wheelchair bound owner along the avenue. Only when they waited for the light to change at the curb, did Slugger put down the bat to chew on it some more. Maybe he’s a Met’s fan?? . . .
November 12, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: baseball, dog baseball fan, dog in Yankees uniform, dog with Yankee bat, dog Yankee fan, Hans Von Rittern, little Slugger, Manhattan, New York City, New York Mets, New York photo, New York Yankees, pet baseball fan, Photo of the day, photography, YANKEE SLUGGER | Leave a comment
A soldiers hospital in Germany, 1917, World War I
Mondays on Memory Lane: 1917, MY GREAT AUNT SINGS FOR THE SOLDIERS OF WORLD WAR I – On this Veterans Day, it is important to remember the soldiers of all nations. I have discovered this photo of my great aunt, Anny Cornelius, in a German hospital in 1917 during World War I. She was only 17 at the time and already a gifted singer, she went on to sing lead roles in the Berlin opera.
From what I gather, she took her fellow class mates and volunteered to sing for the wounded soldiers. Whatever country is fighting, music is always used to try to heal the soldiers spirits. When you look at the faces of the wounded soldiers, you can see – there are really no winners in any war, the only winner is the human spirit.
November 11, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: 1917, Anny Cornelius, Berlin Opera, Berlin State Opera, entertainers singing for the troops, entertaining the foreign troups, German hospital, German soldiers of World War I, Hans Von Rittern, New York City, Photo of the day, Queens, school girls serenadning the German troops, Ursula Von Rittern, Veterans Day, vintage war photo, World War I, wounded German soldiers World War I | Leave a comment
Photo of the day: SMILE . . . it’s SUNDAY !
November 10, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: 5 Pointz, 5 Pointz Graffiti Museum, 7 train, architecture, Batman the Joker, Ceasar Romero as Batman TV series, Cesar Romero as Batman TV series, Hans Von Rittern, Jackson Avenue, Long Island City Queens, New York City, New York photo, Photo of the day, Queens, street art, street sticker art, Sunnyside | Leave a comment
Sunnyside, Queens November 8, 2012
Photo of the day: FROZEN FRIDAY 2012 – It’s hard to imagine but one year ago today, just nine days after hurricane Sandy, New York received 4 inches of snow, it was the heaviest early snowfall ever in November that night. (In the Philippines last night was the biggest typhoon storm ever with 225 mile per hour wind gusts…global warming…)
We have such a dense canopy of trees in Sunnyside, the weight of the heavy wet snow made for an eerie yet beautifully dramatic walk that night as they bowed dangerously low. Silent night, snowy night. All wasn’t calm, but it was quite a sight. Today November 8, 2013 it will thankfully be 54°.
November 8, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: earliest heavy snowfall in New York, global warming, Hans Von Rittern, Hurricane Sandy, New York City, New York photo, night snowfall scene, November 8 2012 snowstorm, odd weather, Photo of the day, pine trees in snow, Queens, Sunnyside, Sunnyside Gardens, typhoon Philippines | Leave a comment
Photo of the day: CELEBRATING THE BEGINNING OF A NEW DAWN = MAYOR BILL (74%) DeBLASIO – Last night in Chelsea’s Mustang Sally’s bar, dedicated animal rights activists, anti-Quinn and staunch pro DeBlasio supporters were uncharacteristically quiet as we listened to the uplifting speech given by our new mayor. Tears on the faces of the supporters glistened from the light of the 5 giant TV screens surrounding us, Bill’s voice filling the room. The 12 year reign of oppression, dictatorial rule and genocide of the middle class and our buildings and old establishments has finally ended. It may have been 10:30pm at night, but it was as if there was bright sunshine in the room, we were all beaming so much. We had done it!! We have all worked so passionately and hard, no one more hard than Donny Moss and Allie Feldman who started the ball rolling by getting rid of Christine Quinn with the help of animal rights groups. Our little rag tag group conquered with spirit and heart the billionaire dollars spent by the Koch brothers (sound Romney-like familiar??), the power of Bloomberg and the republican cash heavy war chests. Instead these grass roots groups and many more fought Goliath and won: NYCLASS, ABQ, Outer Boroughs Against Christine Quinn, Queers Against Quinn, Kittens Against Joe Lhota, Stopping NYC Horse Abuse, GoosewatchNYC, Bill DeBlasio for Mayor, and of course Donny Moss’s Defeat Christine Quinn. A landslide 74% victory, HA !
The dark, racist, oppressive cloud over our lives and this city is being lifted. A ‘mensch’, a caring human being is taking over, with a heart and not ice in his monied veins.
I am so DAMN proud of each and every one of them, and my mom who even at age 87 went out and campaigned and handed out Anti Quinn, then pro DeBlasio flyers every day she left the house to go grocery shopping or walk the dog. She was known as the “you have to vote for Bill DeBlasio!” lady here in Queens. Well mom, Donny, Allie, Daniela Knoppik, Natasha, Brian and Jeanne Gari, Andy Sydor and ALL you wonderful friends and supporters = WE DID IT!
Mrs. DeBlasio, Cynthia Nixon, our next mayor Bill DeBlasio and Susan Sarandon.
November 6, 2013 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: A landslide 74% victory, ABQ, Allie Feldman, Andy Sydor, animal rights activists, Bill DeBlasio, Bill DeBlasio for Mayor, Bloomberg corrupt, Bloomberg's tyrannical rule, Brian and Jeanne Gari, Bronx, Brooklyn, celebrities, Christine Quinn, Councilwoman Christine Quinn, Cynthia Nixon, Daniela Knoppik, DeBlasio grass roots, DeBlasio victory party, Defeat Christine Quinn, Donny Moss, GoosewatchNYC, Hans Von Rittern, Kittens Against Joe Lhota, Manhattan, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Mrs. DeBlasio, Mustang Sally's, New York City, New York photo, NYCLASS, Outer Boroughs Against Christine, Photo of the day, Queens, Queers Against Quinn, Staten Island, Stopping NYC Horse Abuse, Susan Sarandon, Ursula Von Rittern | Leave a comment
Ursula and Hans Von Rittern VOTED !
November 5, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: 2013 mayoral election, Bill DeBlasio, Bloomberg corrupt, Hans Von Rittern, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, nanny Bloomberg, New York City, New York photo, Photo of the day, Queens, Sunnyside, Ursula Von Rittern | Leave a comment
Photo of the future: VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE DeBLASIO! – GO out there and vote! I want a real human being in City Hall. A man whose family looks like the rest of us. A man with feelings and a heart. Not ice in his veins. I don’t care if all his promises can’t be reached, or if he will screw up and falter – I want a mensch, a human being I can approach and relate to. I want my city back! I got rid of Christine Quinn, one of the most cold calculating, selfish, power mad, destructive politicians of modern times, lets make sure MTA-thief Joe Lohta losses by a huge margin!
YOU can make history and get rid of the elite detached nanny-rule of this Bloomberg tyranny. In my born and raised 57 years as a New Yorker I have never seen a mayor do as much to destroy and harm my beloved city as bastard Bloomberg. We have NEVER lost as many long time established stores, restaurants, entertainment venues, historical neighborhoods and places and business places as with his greedy rule of allowing quadruple rent increases to squeeze (in some cases) 100 year old businesses out of business so he could build yet another mirror glass ivory tower for his billionaire friends. He has done more damage than 9/11 and hurricane Sandy combined, both of which we are rebuilding from. You cannot rebuild from the onslaught over priced glass ivory towers, the destruction of historic neighborhoods, the squeezing out of the middle class, the invasion of chain stores in even the most historical of neighborhoods, the racial and socioeconomic division of this city, the genocide of the middle class as what has occurred in the last 12 years of Bloombergistan.
Bloomberg is a thief. Oddly enough he went from being the 18th richest man in the country to 10th richest man as the zoning laws, historic district laws and street patterns changed and Citi-bikes have invaded and devoured our city. All those deals went into his back pocket. The zoning commission is working around the clock to cram through all of Bloomberg’s excessive destructive plans such as encircling Grand Central Terminal and the iconic Chrysler building with glass super towers!
I am tired of the little dwarf who is about as much a part of the rest of us as a cold rock from outer space. His Napoleonic syndrome of dominant power over every little aspect of New York went too far.
DON’T “ASS-U-ME” DeBlassio will win or win big: May I remind you , that is how bastard Bloomberg got this third term because of the anger and apathy that let everyone assume he would win his bought third term. Apathy and laziness looses you your city. VOTE! – Take 15 extra minutes before or after work, take the dog on a voting walk, turn off the TV, grab a warm coat, take your children with you and let them know they are a part of something great, take someone you love and share this exhilarating chance, but most of all, know that this vote is one of the most crucial votes you will cast in the last 100 years of this city’s glorious history and certainly determine our next 100 years.
HELP SAVE NEW YORK – VOTE BILL DeBLASIO ! ! !
November 5, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: 2013 mayoral election, 9/11, Bill DeBlasio, Bloomberg back room deals, Bloomberg corrupt, Bloomberg's tyrannical rule, Bloombergistan, Bronx, Brooklyn, chainstore invasion, Citi-bikes, Councilwoman Christine Quinn, CRUCIAL VOTE, GO OUT AND VOTE!, Greenwich Village, Hans Von Rittern, Harlem, homeless, Hurricane Sandy, Joe Lohta, loss of historical buildings, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, nanny Bloomberg, New York City, New York photo, Photo of the day, Queens, re-zonning laws, socioeconomic division of New York, Staten Island, Sunnyside, the destruction of New York | Leave a comment
Mondays on Memory Lane: 1987 JOAN COLLINS SELLS HER PANTIES AT MAXIM’S – Torrid headline, but true. Joan has added her name to many products over the years and in 1987 she launched a line of lingerie, promoted by SanMark Stardust and it was sold in stores such as Jordan Marsh, Emporium and Bon Marche, as well as K-Mart, Target and Shop-co. A diverse range of items were produced including ranges of sleepwear, lounge-wear and day-wear, in colors ranging from Red to Black and of course Pink. The line sold for between $8 to $35 and Joan appeared in print and TV ads to promote the line. The big launch party was at posh Maxim’s. Sadly after it’s fall launch and good sales it was gone by the following summer. (Maxim’s was only open in New York from 1985 to 2000).
Joan Collins lingerie promo
Joan was still at the height of the Dynasty craze which ran from 1981 to 1989, I was a rabid, addicted die-hard fan, forget Dallas! Dy-Nasty had bitchy, dressy, classy Joan Collins! I have (somewhere buried) every episode on VHS tape, with the commercials!).
Joan and family
So – when it was announced Joan was launching her lingerie line at legendary Parisian bistro Maxim’s on Park Avenue in New York, I had to go! By great luck, a co-worker of mine at the time had a press pass he let me borrow, and I wound up having front row access to Joan. I have about 3 dozen photos of the event.
Tomorrow night 26 years later, Joan Collins is making a very rare one night appearance with her one woman life story show at BB King’s Jazz Club on 42nd Street in New York. Despite the fact that it will be election night, my good friend Susan Godwin (who worships Joan) and I are running to see her. Hopefully she will sign some of my memorabilia!
November 4, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: 1987, 42nd Street, B.B. King's Jazz Club, Bon Marche, Dynasty TV show, Emporium, Hans Von Rittern, Joan Collins, Joan Collins lingerie launch at Maxim's, Jordan Marsh, K-Mart, Manhattan, Maxim's bistro, Maxim's New York restaurant, Maxim's restuarant, New York City, New York photo, Photo of the day, photography, SanMark Stardust, Shop-co, Susan Godwin, Target, Times Square | Leave a comment
Photo of the day: ALL CONEY ISLANDERS HAVE SAND IN THEIR SHOES – Yesterday was my last 5 hour German tour of Brooklyn for the season. From the Fulton Ferry Landing at the Brooklyn Bridge, to bagels in Park Slope to Nathan’s hot dogs on the Coney Island boardwalk. The amusement rides had been shut down and it was now a quieter tranquil place where the sound of the wind took over rather then the music blaring from the boardwalk concession stands. Nathan’s of course was still open and drawing a crowd – they always do.
The beach in the summer is joy, the smell of sun tan lotion, the sounds of little kids laughing, teens splashing in the water and girls who just want to tan. But, in the winter months the beaches of New York offer another treasure = contemplative tranquility as the sound of the wind whisks about the thoughts in your head. On Sundays you may contemplate in church, I prefer to contemplate in one of god’s most wonderful churches – the beach.
November 3, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: All, All Coney Islanders have sand in their shoes, Brooklyn, Brooklyn Bridge, Coney Island amusement park, Coney Island beach, Coney Island boardwalk, Coney Island mural, desserted Coney Island, Fulton Ferry Landing, Hans Von Rittern, Nathan's hot dog stand, Nathan's hot dogs, New York City, New York photo, Photo of the day, sunbathers at Coney, traquil beach at Coney Island, winter at Coney Island | 2 Comments
Photo of the day: IS ELVIS DEAD? – This being the weekend of Dia de los Muertos, I found it rather eerie to find this ageing ‘Elvis’ on the subway who got off at (of all places) Madison Square Garden. Does the king want to make one comeback tour like Cher? Does he want to recreate his 1972 Garden concert? Why does he look so perturbed – did he find out how much music acts are earning today? Does he even know who Madonna and Miley are? Before I got a chance to ask, Elvis had left the subway . . .
November 2, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: 1972 concert, Cher comeback tour, Day of the dead, Dia de los Muertos, Elvis Presley, Elvis spotted in New York, fat Elvis, ghost of Elvis, Hans Von Rittern, Is Elvis dead?, Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, Mexican Elvis, New York City, New York photo, Photo of the day, photography, Spanish Elvis, subway | 2 Comments
Photo of the day: DEAD MARILYN ~ DAY OF THE DEAD – Day of the Dead / Dia de Meurtos is a fascinating holiday celebrated in Mexico October 31 and November 1 & 2. Even though this coincides with the Catholic holiday called All Soul’s & All Saint’s Day (Halloween), Mexicans have combined this with their own ancient beliefs of honoring their deceased loved ones. They believe that the gates of heaven are opened at midnight on October 31, and the spirits of all deceased children (angelitos) are allowed to reunite with their families for 24 hours. On November 2, the spirits of the adults come down to enjoy the festivities that are prepared for them. I think this is wonderful. Elaborate altars are prepared with food and drink, skulls made of sugar, marigolds and lots of flowers, cigarettes for the departed and incredible folk art replicating and honoring their dear departed.
So on my annual trip to Tijuana, Mexico this August it was close enough for the approaching holiday that the Day of the Dead folk art abounded. Eagerly I shopped the markets – I saw dead Frida Kahlo of course, dead Elvis and my two treasures – dead Marilyn. Upon seeing them, my first reaction was with excitement. Second reaction with revulsion. Third reaction “I have to have them!” (Fourth reaction ‘Which do I choose?’) So here are my two hand made folk art Dead Marilyns (I’ve gotten used to them in my living room). Feliz Dia de los Muertos! .
PS – There was a short lived punk rock group called ‘Dead Marilyn’, I have the picture sleeve 45 tucked away somewhere.
November 1, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: angelitos de los muertos, arts, Day of the dead, dead Marilyn Monroe, Dia de los Muertos, fascinating holiday, Halloween, Hans Von Rittern, Marilyn Monroe, Marilyn Monroe folk art, Marilyn Monroe's death 1962, Mexican day of the dead traditions, Mexican folk art, New York City, Photo of the day, photography, punk rock, Tijuana, Tijuana Mexico | Leave a comment
Photo of the day: HAPPY HALLOWEEN FROM BABY DIVINE! – If ever there was a fierce drag queen, it was Divine! Born Harris Glen Milstead, star of cult films like “Pink Flamingos”, “Mondo Trasho”, “Female Trouble”, “Lust in the Dust”, “Multiple Maniacs”, “Polyester” and all time classic “Hairspray”. She has been copied ever since and will never be topped or duplicated. . . until now.
DIVINE in ‘Pink Flamingos’ 1972
I saw this Halloween tribute to her in the window of Two Boots Pizza in Greenwich Village. Tonight’s New York Greenwich Village Halloween parade is the largest in the world – our ‘carnival’. Filled with political satire, sex, gore, sex, humor, sex, and over the top creativity! Over 3 million participants and viewers and broadcast internationally. Only in New York !
Two Boots Pizza – 210 West 11th Street, Greenwich Village
October 31, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: "Female Trouble", "Hairspray" movie musical, "Lust in the Dust", "Mondo Trasho", "Multiple Maniacs", "Pink Flamingos", "Polyester", Baby Divine, Born Harris Glen Milstead, Divine, Divine as Demon Baby, entertainment, fashion, Greenwich Village, Greenwich Village Halloween parade, Halloween Parade Greenwich Village, Hans Von Rittern, Harris Glen Milstead, largest Halloween parade in the world, Manhattan, New York City, New York photo, NYC Halloween, Photo of the day, photography, Two Boots Pizza | Leave a comment
Photo of the day: THE CALM AFTER THE STORM – One year later after hurricane Sandy, the scene yesterday on Coney Island Beach was so serene, one would never know there had been chaos and destruction all along our coastline just a year before. Just a few strollers shell hunting on the windy beach. Most of the strollers were enjoying the sun on the boardwalk, sunning themselves while enjoying a Nathan’s hot dog. In November the rides will shut down awaiting the children’s laughter again in the spring of 2014. Hopefully time will heal the wounds of the heart and finances so that Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island, as well as Ellis Island will be able to return to their former glory.
October 30, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: 1 year later after Sandy, beach after the storm, beach erosion, Brooklyn, CALM AFTER THE STORM, Coney Island beach, Coney Island boardwalk, Hans Von Rittern, Hurricane Sandy, Manhattan, Nathan's hot dogs, New York City, New York photo, Palm tree fountain on beach, Photo of the day, photography, Queens | Leave a comment
Photo fo the day: EXPERIENCING THE ONSET OF THE HURRICANE IN NEW YORK CITY – 1 year ago today, I wanted to document the experience of a hurricane. I was blown down the street for two blocks several times, not having a thing to grab onto. But I made it to the water’s edge of the East River.
The statistics are: 820 mile wide storm, 13.88 feet high water, 44 deaths and then twice as many more afterwards, 2 million people without power, many neighborhoods today remain wiped off the map and over 500 people still don’t have any place to go. It has changed the city and people’s lives forever. Here is the storm in photos. (I don’t have the time or understanding how to post a whole albums of photos, so here is my link of the complete photo album on myFacebook page.) https://www.facebook.com/hans.vonrittern/media_set?set=a.437954789596068.95638.100001446524326&type=1
October 29, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: 10-29-12, 5 Pointz Graffiti Museum, deserted city, deserted train stations, experiencing hurricane Sandy, Hans Von Rittern, Hurricane Sandy, Long Island City Queens, Manhattan, New York City, New York photo, Photo of the day, photographing hurricane Sandy, photography, Queens, raging waves on East River, Sandy devastation, streets of hurricane Sandy, Sunnyside | Leave a comment
Mondays on Memory Lane: HURRICANE SANDY LIVE VIDEO – It was 4pm, October 29, 2012, and I was determined to witness hurricane Sandy from the water’s edge on the East River. I was the only one on the streets, soaked to the bone.
This photo was taken from Long Island City, Queens. I braced myself against a cement bench to prevent myself from blowing away. United Nations, Trump Tower, Empire & Chrysler building in skyline.
See my YouTube video below:
October 28, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: Chrysler building, East River, Empire State Building, Hans Von Rittern, Hurricane Sandy, Long Island City Queens, Manhattan, Manhattan skyline in hurricane, New York City, New York photo, Pepsi Cola sign, Photo of the day, photography, Queens, raging waves on East River, Sunnyside, United Nations | Leave a comment
Ladies and gentlemen, Grace Jones . . .
Photo of the day: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN – – – GRACE JONES – 1 year ago today, Grace Jones hit New York City with her show called “Hurricane” two days before the most disastrous hurricane ever destroyed parts of New York forever, hurricane Sandy. Eerily now in hindsight, the audience and I screamed and cheered in Grace’s defiance of the oncoming storm. None of us had any idea of what was to come. . . here is my review of that ironic and incredible night at Roseland Ballroom, which it was announced this week – Roseland be torn down, not due to hurricane damage, but torn down by greed:
“Thirty four years after the legendary performance of her 1978 concert at Roseland Ballroom, NYC – Grace Jones returned Saturday night, October 27, 2012 and gave what perhaps will go down as one of her most legendary concerts of her career. She has not changed a bit. At 64 years old she is an astoundingly fit statuesque Amazonian creature as she was then. When she asked “Who was here in 1978?” the roar in response was deafening. (I was there that night in 1978). Last night’s sold out concert crowd recreated the height of the atmosphere of the divine Studio 54 disco days. Extreme outfits were the norm. Glam, glitz, drag, shock and over the top seemed to be the order of the night.
Grace outdid herself for her die hard fans, even the Hammerstein Ballroom concert performance of July, 2009. She was more animated, loose, filled with naughty adlibs (Grace is obviously an oral sex fan). Roseland’s lighting crew was off their game for which Grace retorted with a flurry of quips, zingers and re-starts of her legendary disco and new wave songs. No dubbing, live for almost 2 hours! “Keepin’ it tight!” It was Grace unleashed.
Every move was a camera pose. Every gesture calculated to cause frenzy and cameras to go wild. She is still a fierce, angry, cocky sexual diva. Her legendary toned body is remarkable, her legs are longer than a Barbie doll’s, her ass firmer that a 30 year old. One of her songs was performed while consistently swirling a hula hoop around her waist and then while continually twirling and moving about the stage she introduced the band – constantly twirling! Lady Gaga, Britney, Madonna, Rhianna, Taylor Swift or any of the young acts today do not have the stamina of this remarkable icon. With a hard pounding rock/reggae beat flavored with disco and new wave, her mega hits did not disappoint. Ironically called “The Hurricane Tour”, Grace ended in defiance singing “Hurricane” while huge fans blew her about on stage and whipped the crowd into an ecstatic frenzy leaving euphoria in her wake.”
October 27, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: 1978 Grace Jones concert, 2012, Broadway, celebrities, concert review Grace Jones, entertainment, fashion, Grace Jones, Grace Jones "Hurricane", Grace Jones audience, Hammerstein Ballroom, Hans Von Rittern, hurricane Grace, Hurricane Sandy, Manhattan, New York City, New York photo, October 27, Photo of the day, photography, Roseland, Roseland Ballroom, Roseland Ballroom closing, Studio 54 disco | Leave a comment
Photo of the day: REASSURING THE SHORE – I am taking my German tourist guests on my 5 hour long tour of Brooklyn today, via Harlem Spirituals Tours. From the Fulton Ferry landing at the Brooklyn Bridge allllllll the way to Coney Island for a Nathan’s hot dog lunch – wunderbar! Our last and final stop will be the 5 Pointz Graffiti museum as a surprise ending 🙂
At Coney Island for the past few weeks we have been met by this long pipe snaking along the beach. Early in September the $7.2 million Army Corps of Engineer’s project to pump 600,000 cubic yards of sand along Coney Island’s shore began. Although the beach closed for the summer after Labor Day and red flags indicated no lifeguards were on duty, there were a few sunbathers and swimmers adjacent to the area where the work is getting underway.
While restoration work is going on, there were rolling closures of roughly 1,000 foot wide sections of the beach where construction work is active, according to the Army Corps of Engineers (ACE). The beach nourishment project extends from West 37th Street to Brighton Beach, and is expected to be completed in the fall.
Coney Island was hit hard by Super-storm Sandy and soon, its beaches will be well on their way to being protected against future flooding. There’s a ship out on the horizon pumping the sand from the ocean’s floor (and surprising a few startled crabs I bet) and pumping it methodically onto the beach where it is sifted and raked. You can hear the rumbling of the stones and shells as they go whizzing by inside the large rusty pipes lining the beach. Soon we will be enjoying pristine sand to stick our toes into! Join us?!
October 26, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: $7.2 million project to pump 600, 000 cubic yards of sand, Army Corps of Engineers, Brooklyn, Brooklyn Bridge, Brooklyn tours, Coney boardwalk, Coney Island, Fulton Ferry Landing, Hans tours, Hans Von Rittern, Harlem Spirituals, Hurricane Sandy, Nathan's original hot dog restaurant, New York, New York City, New York photo, Photo of the day, photography, pumping sand, Queens, replenishing beach sand | Leave a comment
Photo of the day: LET’S GET TO THE (5)POINTZ ! – Need something to do on a weekend that is totally different and cool? Take the 5Pointz Graffiti Museum tour with Meres One. This is a must-see tour!
Meres One, curator and guide
Meres One is New York and the curator of the living endangered treasure. His passion, quirkyness, straight forward manner, humor and insight to the art is priceless. I am a long time NYC tour guide and I know a good tour when I take one – this is it! Do you know which is the oldest piece? The order to the art? Who came from what country? The messages and inside stories to the murals? Did u know one of Meres’ murals is 3-dimensional? Can you see all the different styles? Have you ever been inside? Aren’t you dying to go on the roof? To top it off, Meres shows off his skill by transforming a canvas into a piece of art in a master class with him at the end of the tour. How can you pass that up?! God forbid 5Pointz gets torn down – you will regret forever that you passed up this opportunity – GO – book a tour now and join the world wide guests enjoying this tour! Come early/stay late, photograph all the art, buy some souvenirs like the painted light bulbs by Meres and other art available by other artists. Get to the Pointz, 5 Pointz!
The coolest part of the 5 Pointz tour!
Book a tour through SideTour.com. Tours are currently sold out till November 5, this is a rare opportunity, put yourself on the mailing list and grab this chance before it is too late!
Doorway to cool!
A masterclass with Meres One
MERES ONE LIGHT BULB SOUVENIR
October 25, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: 3 dimensional graffiti murals, 5 Pointz Graffiti Museum, 5 Pointz souvenir, 5 Pointz tour, art, geisha girl, graffiti master class, graffiti styles, Hans Von Rittern, history of 5 Pointz, inside 5 Pointz, international graffiti, Manhattan, Meres, Meres light bulb, Meres One, New York City, New York photo, Photo of the day, Queens, rooftop tour, Side Tours, SideTour.com | Leave a comment
NEW YORK CITY - IN THE WIT OF AN EYE 