Photo of the day: CHESTNUTS ROASTING ON AN OPEN FIRE
CHESTNUTS ROASTING ON AN OPEN FIRE: Tis the season for chestnuts roasting on an open fire – but good luck finding them on a street corner in New York City. The toasty treat that Nat King Cole immortalized in “The Christmas Song” was once a year-round staple of street vendors citywide. Now the chewy nuts are relegated to the tourist-heavy corners of Manhattan, a victim of changing tastes, vendors sadly say.
Chestnuts are mainly sought out by tourists and nostalgic native New Yawkers. Less and less sell every year as prices also rise. I remember I used to collect them with my grandmother in the fall in Woodhaven Blvd’s St. John’s Cemetery where there are chestnut trees in abundance. She had taught me the old German art of chestnut carving! We would spend many fall afternoons carving the beautiful brown nuts into people, baskets and animals aided with tooth picks for limbs, tiny buttons or pins for eyes etc. Now the chestnuts you see on the streets are imported from Italy and are expensive. Sugary coated peanuts are now in vogue and to be had everywhere instead. Roasted chestnuts have become an acquired taste, romanticized by the Nat King Cole song, seems we’re buying them now only to savor our past – not the taste . . .
Photo of the day: THE SNOWY BRIDE OF CENTRAL PARK
THE SNOWY BRIDE OF CENTRAL PARK: I was walking past Central Park in the midst of the heavy snowfall yesterday and I caught a glimpse of a Victorian like figure with her white umbrella making her way to the rocks on the lake in the park. There they were in the snowfall, just she, her groom and one of their moms. A photographer was on hand the document the “white wedding”. I later found out they are from England and were determined to have their photos taken by the lake and were enchanted by “the magic of the snowfall.” She had a white fur jacket to keep her warm, her cheeks had a red rosy glow, perhaps it was the snow, perhaps it was the joy of the moment, either way, it was a magical picture perfect Currier & Ives moment.
Photo of the day: MY OLD FASHIONED GERMAN CANDLE LIT CHRISTMAS TREE
MY OLD FASHIONED GERMAN CHRISTMAS TREE: Yes – those are real candles. We celebrate with no flashing lights or loud music, our ‘church’ is the tree. The tree is decorated with ornaments dating back several generations, about ninety years. Modern ones are included of course, that way the tree is a living story of the family’s history. Tin foil wrapped chocolates and marzipan fill the tree as well. We usually get the biggest tree that will fit in the apartment (we once had a 14 foot tall tree) but now that mom is downsizing, we get a smaller tree and it is placed on a turn of the century old wooden steamer trunk that was used when my great aunt came to visit us in the New York and it is used as a table base to place the tree upon.
Depending on the size of the tree, anywhere from two to four dozen candles are placed in strategic spots in the tree. Each candle illuminates the special ornaments nearby. The candleholders are metal clip-ons in the shape of a pine cone. You can still buy the candles and holders at Schaller and Weber’s, a surviving German delicatessen just off 86th Street on Second Avenue in what was once an entire German neighborhood.
December 24 Christmas eve, the elder in the family lights the candles in the room and on the tree and puts the ‘Christmas record’ on the phonograph. The record is of German church bells and church choirs singing. When all is ready, a golden bell is rung and the rest of the family comes into the glow of the room. We stand quietly side by side, arm in am or holding hands and quietly listen to the beautiful music we have listened to for decades before. That is ‘church’ to us. As the first side of the record ends, we play the other side, sit down and just quietly gaze into the serene candlelight, watching the ornaments glisten. No lights are on in the room, just the glow of candlelight, just as it is in Germany, France, and all of Scandinavia. Let your imagination go back to the late 1800’s enjoying a room just simply lit by candlelight (which is the most complimentary to any face!).
The second side of the record ends with a jolly children’s song “Der Weihnachtsman ist da!/Santa Claus is here!”, signifying it is time to open presents by the amber glow. We grab some of the marzipan, gingerbread and chocolates that are on the dining table for all to enjoy as we open our treasures. At midnight a bottle of champagne is opened to ring in Christmas day. At one time it was my whole family enjoying this tradition, now it is just my mother and me left to carry on, and sadly on day it will just be me, but I will always do it, perhaps with a heavy heart. But this is Christmas, a German Christmas, my heritage. My great grandmother’s, grandparent’s, mother’s and my heritage. Fröhliche Weihnachten!
Photo of the day: And they’ll blow their floofloovers, They’ll bang their tartookas !
. . . And then! Oh, the noise! Oh, the noise!
Noise! Noise! Noise! There’s one thing I hate!
All the NOISE! NOISE! NOISE! NOISE!
And they’ll shriek squeaks and squeals, racing ’round on their wheels.
And they’ll shriek squeaks and squeals, racing ’round on their wheels.
They’ll dance with jingtinglers tied onto their heels.
They’ll blow their floofloovers. They’ll bang their tartookas.
They’ll blow their whohoopers. They’ll bang their gardookas.
They’ll spin their trumtookas. They’ll slam their slooslunkas.
They’ll beat their blumbloopas. They’ll wham their whowonkas.
And they’ll play noisy games like zoozittacarzay, A roller-skate type of lacrosse and croquet!
And then they’ll make ear-splitting noises galooks
On their great big electro whocarnio flooks!
BUT ~ then the Grinch puzzled and puzzed till his puzzler was sore.
Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before.
Maybe Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store,
Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more ♥
Photo of the day: PEACE
PEACE: May this Christmas holiday season bring one of the most sought after and elusive gifts – the gift of peace to all my Facebook and blogisphere family and friends. Whatever and however you celebrate, may you celebrate in a peaceful and joyful place with those you love. Merry Christmas ♥
Photo of the day: THE ULTIMATE NEW YORK TREE
THE ULTIMATE NEW YORK TREE: If you are rushing home for the holidays and find yourself in Grand Central Terminal needing a last minute gift? Rush over to their Christmas Market and find ‘HUT STUDIOS’. You can find every beloved and some quirky New York icons available for your tree. It’s the perfect last minute gift as you rush on your way to the folks back home! Are you just visiting NYC? – they are the quintessential unique souvenirs. Artists Richard Hopper and Harold Gilstein have photoshopped images of New York (the Pan Am Building, the Flatiron Building, the Roosevelt Island Tramway) decoupaged into 3-D ornaments ($30 to $45). You can also buy an Astor Place train station business card holder, a Grand Central Terminal box, or The Ansonia, The Dakota, Chrysler, Empire, the Chelsea Hotel, in storage box form.
It is your one chance to buy a piece of real estate at affordable prices! You can now truly say “I’ll take Manhattan” . . . and not go broke – Enjoy !
Photo of the day: MACY’S STAIRWAY TO PARADISE
STAIRWAY TO PARADISE: In a year where we have suffered a great amount of closings of iconic landmark stores, restaurants and shops in New York City due to the voracious greed of the landlords, there is one thing we can still count on…the clickety clack of the wonderful wooden escalator at Macy*s.
Macy*s is paying tribute to those glorious wooden moving stairs in their main Christmas window this year, featuring fashions of the past fifty decades. The escalators will take women to the largest ladies shoe department in the world – shoegasm!
The Otis (as in elevator) escalator has been lifting shoppers to all heights since 1927. My favorite memory: in the 1960’s when women wore those thin stiletto heels they would always get caught between the wide slats of the escalator. One day mom and I were ascending to the second floor – mom got off the escalator – her shoes didn’t…that almost became routine. Women had to stand on their tippy toes as to not get caught. Since the stilettos were made of a primitive plastic, they would either break off or get sliced off by the notorious escalators. Limping women was a common sight in 1960’s. “Clickety clack, clickety clack buy another pair off the rack!”
Photo of the day: HANS VON RITTERN – December 21, 1955
HANS VON RITTERN – Born December 21, 1955.
This is my first day of third grade school at PS 139 on 63rd Drive in Rego Park Queens. Mom got me a new briefcase and a new umbrella! I am nine years old here, I remember I couldn’t keep those shoes tied 🙂
(Oh, and the tie is a clip on, lol).
WHAT WILL YOU DO IN YOUR FINAL HOURS ON EARTH?
WHAT WILL YOU DO IN YOUR FINAL HOURS ON EARTH?: According to the Mayans and many other ancient soothsayers from the past centuries, December 21st, 2012 has been predicted as the end of the earth. Now logistically – when does the universe &/or God determine the final bang should begin?? Each new day starts on Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean at 5am local New York time, so by Thursday the 20th at 5am we’re already screwed, but – if you’re reading this then the great chain reaction didn’t start and it proves the Mayans simply didn’t have a big enough rock for their calendar and they only had enough room till 12/21/12.
But if the end does come….how will you spend your last hours on earth?
Working?
Having that last great meal?
Spending all your money shopping?
Drinking till the end?
Making a list of questions you have for God?
Having great sex?
Listening to your favorite piece of music?
Watching ‘War of the Worlds’ or ‘The Day the Earth Stood Still’?
Quietly with loved ones?
Sleeping?
Opening the bottle of fine wine you have been saving?
Calling someone and tell then you forgive them?
Packing?
Playing every last Cher (or insert favorite artist here _____ ) CD you have till…?
Reviewing and burning your bucket list?
Calling your boss and telling him what you think of him?
Going to the most expensive restaurant in town knowing the bill won’t matter in a few hours?
Finally buying that pair of Louboutin shoes and going in style?
Be happy you don’t have to make your bed and do the dishes?
Getting your camera ready, because this should be one helluva final shot!?
Listening to Sinatra over and over again singing ‘I Did It My Way’?
Or just sitting back with a beer and say “Fasten your seatbelts it’s going to be a bumpy night!”?
I myself, will be listening to Peggy Lee’s recording of “Is That All There Is?”, over and over again.
However you spend the time – it’s been swell guys!
Peggy Lee: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2l8erdPprSc
Here is a chart and list of where the each new day begins first: http://www.timeanddate.com/counters/firstnewyear.html
Photo of the day: OSCAR THE SQUIRREL MEETS SANTA CLAUS
OSCAR THE SQUIRREL MEETS SANTA CLAUS: The conversation went something like this – – – Hi Santa! What are you doing in Hans’ living room? Well, never mind, here is my list, now pay attention, I want:
~ The super powered ultimate mega N9000 nutcracker, with batteries.
~ A giant bag of mixed nuts, no pistachios please.
~ The newest Scrat squirrel plush toy from “Ice Age”.
~ The acme SSTF – Splendiferous Squirrel Tail Fluffer.
~ A giant jar of peanut butter, the crunchy kind.
~ A limited edition Steinbach Elvis Presley nutcracker.
~ The ND2013, patented Nut Detector 2013.
~ A Sciuridae nest warmer.
~ A fancy bottle of Eau de Planteurs.
~ And . . . a new flat screen TV with DVR for my benefactor and friend Hans.
Go to my December 3rd, 2013 Facebook post and blog post to read the story of my ‘pet’ squirrel Oscar!
Photo of the day: MADONNA AND CHILD REST IN NEW YORK’S BOWERY
MADONNA AND CHILD REST IN NEW YORK’S BOWERY: I came across a more unusual wall art or ‘graffiti’ in the gardens of St. Mark’s Church In The Bowery in the East Village of Manhattan. Madonna and Child seemingly resting along the wall of the church’s tranquil garden.
St. Mark’s Church is located at 131 East 10th Street, at the intersection of Stuyvesant Streets and 2nd Avenue. The Poetry Project hosts an annual New Year’s Day 11-hour reading that often features such downtown icons as musician Philip Glass and rock icon Patti Smith among its 100-plus participants. The property has been the site of continuous Christian worship for more than three and a half centuries; it is New York’s oldest site of continuous religious practice, and the church is the second-oldest church building in Manhattan after the Morris Jumel Mansion of 1766 in Harlem.
Photo of the day: THE SALVATION ARMY ROCKS ‘JINGLE BELL ROCK’
JINGLE BELL ROCK: These two Salvation Army workers decided rather than play the staid traditional taped Christmas music they were going to rock out and were playing ‘Jingle Bell Rock’ followed by Mariah Carey’s ‘All I want for Christmas is You’ on their music player and were really getting into it. The sheer joy of it stopped me dead in my tracks, their exuberance was infectious! This little boy came along and loved it and started bopping along. So the Salvation man gave the boy his hat and bell and the boy joined in on the act! I think this one of my all time favorite Christmas photos 🙂
Photo of the day: SANTACON CABY
SANTACON CABY: Yesterday approximately 22,000 Santas of all types and styles descended on New York for the annual Santacon celebration.
There was fat Santa, tall Santa, dirty old man Santa, naughty Santa, Grinch Santa, baby Santa, zombie Santa, flasher Santa, disco Santa, leather Santa, biker Santa, gay Santa, Star Wars Santa, pimp Santa, punk Santa, hippie Santa and endless more elves and Mrs. Claus’s to match !
It is sort of a flash mob idea. The secret meeting place is only revealed on Facebook and Twitter shortly before the day of Santacon and they all meet in mass and create a huge sea of red. Imagine Christmas shopping in New York and all of a sudden the streets are filled with Santas as far as they eye can see. Unfortunately I couldn’t participate because I had to give a tour, but here is your average scene yesterday: Buses full of Santas, subways full of Santas, bars full of Santas, cabs full of Santas – ho – ho – ho ! ! !
Photo of the day: THE PHANTOM OF LE CIRQUE AT BLOOMINGDALE’S
THE PHANTOM OF LE CIRQUE AT BLOOMINGDALE’S: While other stores in New York have gone the traditional Christmas fantasy themes route for their famous windows, Bloomingdale’s has not . . . theirs is an homage to Le Cirque du Soleil. Le Cirque . . . is doing an homage to Phantom of the Opera with a twist of an demented aerialist kidnapping his beloved in an umbrella through a magical sea. . .
In sleep he sang to me
At Bloomingdale’s he came
That voice that calls to me and speaks my name
And do I dream again for now I find
The Phantom of the Le Cirque is there Inside my mind
Sing once again with me Our strange duet
My power over you grows stronger yet
And though you turn from me to glance behind
The Phantom of the Le Cirque is there
Inside your mind
Inside your mind
Photo of the day: NEW YORK AT YOUR FINGERTIPS
NEW YORK AT YOUR FINGERTIPS: One of the great things about NYC at Christmastime are the wonderful Christmas Markets. Some of the biggest markets are located at Columbus Circle, Bryant Park and inside Grand Central Terminal. They try to focus on local and New York themed items. One of the most popular and interesting vendors at all of these locations is ‘Insiders1’, specializing in fine soft leather goods featuring iconic New York photographic images enhanced through a sophisticated art collage process by founder Sigal De-Mayo and then hand-printed on the finest leather to create a unique effect that is permanent and designed to age beautifully. Bags of all designs, wallets and all sorts of fun accessories. One of their most fabulous items that caught my eye are these New York graffiti gloves. (Think of it, if you give someone the finger, you will just merely be pointing the way!) Please come to these markets to shop and if you can’t visit us at this magic time of the year, then visit them on their web site http://insiders1.com/pages/about
Photo of the day” HOW ARE YOU BRINGING YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE HOME??
HOW ARE YOU BRINGING YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE HOME?? . . . no story here, just askin’ ? . . .
Photo of the day: WHAT HAS 72 LEGS AND MOVES WITH PRECISION?:
WHAT HAS 72 LEGS AND MOVES WITH PRECISION?: The New York Radio City Music Hall Rockettes ! !
The Christmas Spectacular is the single most popular show in New York at Christmastime. 5,931 seats available for each show!!
There are two sets each of 36 dancers in each New York show. There are 80 Rockettes (4 understudies), and they split the casts into 40 and 40. On the days with five shows, one cast will do two shows, the other will do three. On six-show days they divide it by three and three. So they can get a break, during the week they give each other a day off. The most they would do is four shows in a day.
A little known fact, if you are from Missouri (ironically the “show me” state) – you can be proud! The group was founded in St. Louis, Missouri by Russell Markert in 1925, originally performing as the “Missouri Rockets.” Markert had been inspired by the John Tiller Girls in the Ziegfeld Follies of 1922, and was convinced that “If I ever got a chance to get a group of American girls who would be taller and have longer legs and could do really complicated tap routines and eye-high kicks… they’d knock your socks off!” The group was brought to New York City by Samuel Roxy Rothafel to perform at his Roxy Theater and renamed the “Roxyettes.” When Rothafel left the Roxy Theatre to open Radio City Music Hall, the dance troupe followed and later became known as the Rockettes. The group performed as part of opening night at Radio City Music Hall on December 27, 1932. In 1936, the troupe won the grand prize at the “Paris Exposition de Dance”…the rest – is history !
Photo of the day: AL MEETS THE BLESSED SISTERS OF MOTHER TERESA
AL MEETS THE BLESSED SISTERS OF MOTHER TERESA:
These are the two sisters of The Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta here in New York City. They have met Al a homeless man, just off Broadway. I quickly photographed them since I don’t recall seeing the Mother Teresa garb in our streets before. As I got closer the conversation went something like this:
Sisters: Please don’t photograph us. Why are you photographing us?
Me: Because it was a beautiful moment.
Al: Are you famous?
Me: No, I’m just a blogging photographer.
Al: You sure you’re not famous, because I know a lot of famous people.
Sisters: Well Al, it was a pleasure talking with you, we have to be going now…
Al: Hey sisters! I didn’t get you telephone number.
The sisters and I looked at each other.
Al: Mister, you sure you’re not famous? Where can I see your photos, are they in my stuff here? I got all kinds of books here, I found ’em. Let me get your email so when I become famous we can email each other and I can get your pictures of me and the sisters here.
Sisters: Al, how can you email if this is your home?
Al: I can send brainwaves, they’re just like emails.
The sisters and I look at each other again.
Sisters: It was so nice to meet you Al, God bless you. Let me give you this card, it was blessed by Mother Teresa herself, and this medal too.
One of the sisters opens a tin to reveal dozens of tiny little medals, all supposedly blessed by Mother Teresa herself. She kisses the medal and the card and hands them to Al.
Al: I gotta look this Teresa up. Hey Mister, you famous? No seriously, give your email.
I gave him an email which just might have been a few digits off…
Sisters: Bless you my son too, here please take one of these blessed medals from Mother Teresa too.
Al: I thought I was the only one getting a medal?
Sisters: They are meant for all good people.
Al: Hey! I know lots of famous people!
I took my card and medal, and graciously thanked the sisters. We then made our excuses and went on our separate ways, me wondering if I would be getting any brainwaves from Al soon. To this moment, they haven’t arrived yet 🙂
JOHN LENNON October 9, 1940 – December 8, 1980
JOHN LENNON October 9, 1940 – December 8, 1980. This is me attending the screening of the hand restored “Yellow Submarine” at the Zeigfield Theater in NYC May, 5, 2012. I had the privilege of meeting Al Brodax the producer of the 1968 art masterpiece. All you need is love…
Photo of the day: THERE ARE FAIRIES IN NEW YORK CITY!
THERE ARE FAIRIES IN NEW YORK CITY!: . . . well, yes, we have many different kinds of fairies 🙂
Photo of the day: HOW MUCH IS THAT DOGIE IN THE BASKET?
HOW MUCH IS THAT DOGGIE IN THE BASKET?: This is Madison the Scottish Terrier, she is very comfy being taken for a ride in her Duane Reade shopping basket. Madison was coasting along Third Avenue and 32nd Street, lovingly pulled by her owner Bernice (Bernie, as she prefers to be called). “Madison is only a one block errand dog, today we are on a three block errand, she doesn’t do three blocks.”
When I bent down to get a close-up of Madison’s adorable face and noticed the cart marked ‘Please do not remove from store’, Madison seemed to be saying ‘Hey, I didn’t steal this thing, Bernie made me do it!’
Bernie is a retired architect who at one time lived on Park Avenue, “but those were the good times, I live in this neighborhood now.” I could relate to that. It turns out were are both Nikon enthusiasts, except Bernie still shoots with a traditional film camera. She reminisced about her old days and said when she looks at some of the big architectural projects she had done she thinks “my god, did I really do that?” Bernie lit up when she talked about the past. We started to say our goodbyes and Bernie said “well I have to get home to Lexington.” “Great,” I said, “you’ve only got one more block to go.” “No,” Bernie answered, “that’s my other dog.” I smiled broadly, you see, Lexington and Madison happen to be major avenues here in New York.
As I walked away I started to wonder, exactly when did Bernie figure out Madison and the cart are a perfect fit? Doesn’t matter, they are both happy (except for Duane Reade of course).
(Duane Reade is our giant drug store chain here in NYC.)
Photo of the day: ENJOYING THE LAST WARM DAYS OF WINTER WITH VERA
ENJOYING THE LAST WARM DAYS OF WINTER WITH VERA: Yesterday was one of those last early warm December days you could find a comfortable chair in the park and close your eyes and drift back to summer memories of years gone by.
I took advantage of the warmth and made myself comfortable, as I did, I was intrigued by the woman sitting nearby, I sensed she has a bright spirit by the accessories she was wearing. A purple crinkle fabric handbag and a classic Vera scarf to go with her elegant black velvet jacket. Remember Vera deigns? How chic they were in the 1960’s with the little lady bug logo? Bright splashes of bold colors on bold flowers and bold waves of the paint brush swirled delicately about. Marilyn Monroe was a fan of Vera scarves.
I had to photograph her. What resulted . . . is this picture of peaceful elegant serenity. Beautiful expressive scarf, beautiful expressive hands, beautiful expressive face. Ageing gracefully has always been an art.
I HAVE BEEN CARTOON-IZED by artist SCOTT CLARKE !
SCOTT CLARKE aka CRABBY CARDS has become a dear friend and we have never met! We are one of the many Facebook friendships that have resulted from finding things we have in common – for us it’s CHER.
He is a wonderful father, friend, fan and humorous and humanitarian cartoonist and caricature artist. Cher herself is a fan of his cards as are many of the celebs he so lovingly portrays. He works hard at his local Annapolis, Maryland Home Depot where paints all the event signs, does face painting for the children’s events and in his spare time cares for his group of seniors he calls “my Golden Girls.”
This morning I awoke to find I had joined the ranks of Cher, Dolly Parton and Streisand! I have been Scot-tooned! He has lovingly captured “me”!
If you have a nearby event or need the more unusual cards for all sorts of events and causes check him out! Cards, signs, posters, shirts that have a bit of sass, laffs and attitude, please contact him or visit his web site, you won’t regret it and it will make you smile!
Scott Clarke
Artist, Writer
443 875 8641
crabbycards@aol.com
www.crabbycards.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Crabby-Cards/163880840406766
NEW YORK CITY - IN THE WIT OF AN EYE 