August 9, 2011
Motherfucker! I just realized I forgot to bring my camera with me. I’ve been leaving it by my bag so this wouldn’t happen again, but I had to go to work early today (I had to be there by the crack of noon!) and must’ve left it behind. That kills the plan I had, because I’m not going all the way home and then traveling somewhere else. But since I stayed home last night I do feel like I should do something, so I thought I’d go home, get my camera and wander around where I live. Just a random night in my neighborhood. Why the fuck not? Next stop, my apartment where I’m hoping my camera is. If somehow I lost it this post is going to be a little bit dull tonight.
****UPDATE: The comments section is acting up again. Right now it's not allowing me to leave a comment. If anyone else has a problem, please email me. I'm working on getting it fixed now. Thanks!
Okay, this is how stupid I am. I'm back in my apartment and sure enough, my camera and phone were on the futon where I left them and forgot to pack them inside of Gumby. I just said to myself, "This'll be good, I'll take a picture of the camera on the futon." Then I realized that I needed my camera to take that picture, so here's one of the phone and Gumby. And yeah, I talk to myself, you got a problem with that?
Wow, the beer selection in here is a little anemic. I need to fix that before the night is through. Okay, it's out we go.
And so it's down the steps we go, out into my neighborhood.
Here's the Hollywood Diner which I've documented earlier on this blog.
And next to the Hollywood Diner is the Wine Gallery liquor store.
Marilyn Monroe is featured in their front window.
A flavaboom just opened up here. Just what this town needs another frozen yogurt place. Okay...full disclosure, I come here at least once a week. You make your own fro-yo and they have a toppings bar where you can put whatever you want on top. It's a chain place, but it beats the shit out of the fucking Olive Garden up the street.
Here's Maffei's Pizza place. This corner pizza parlor has been on the block forever and has great pizza. I eat here a lot.
They're closing up and the guys inside posed for this photo.
And here's the fucking Olive Garden. Ecch. Hey, I just thought of something. We're a couple blocks away from the Chelsea Hotel. Jeremiah Moss recently wrote a great post on Jeremiah's Vanishing New York about spending the night in the Chelsea Hotel the last night before it closed. It's one of the best things I've ever read on the internet, check it out here: Last Night At The Chelsea. Let's go check out the Chelsea Hotel.
The Chelsea Papaya Dog! Well we have to stop in here. Sorry, Al!
A dog and a papaya drink. I wish they had beer in here, but what are you going to do?
I couldn't resist an ebony and ivory ketchup and mustard shot before I go.
And here it is, the dimmed Chelsea Hotel sign. I tried to get a shot of it using a flash so you could see it, but I couldn't get it, it was too dark. It's like a ghost that refuses to appear.
Here it is brightened up via Photoshop.
The canopy remains for now.
The hotel is temporarily closed. Sorry for the inconvenience and to all the tenants that we threw out, enjoy the street!
Take a picture now, because when it reopens it'll probably have a Chipotle in the lobby.
The El Quijote is a great restaurant next door to the Chelsea Hotel, I need to stop in here one of these nights.
Okay, the last stop of the evening is the Blue Valley Deli. My corner deli. I'm in here almost every night of the week for my two staples of life.
Beer...
And diet Mountain Dew for the morning.
And Tenzen behind the counter rings it all up.
And we've come full circle, back to the apartment. That looks a little better, doesn't it? Goodnight everybody and see you tomorrow after dark.
Further reading: About.com, New York Magazine and Jeremiah’s Vanishing New York.
You Might Also Like: Green Day, Green Hornet and Green Green Grass of Home.
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44 Comments | Share Article | tagged Blue Valley Deli, Chelsea, Chelsea Hotel, flaveboom | 7 References
Reader Comments (44)
I've never been to an Olive Garden...I hear they treat you like family. If that's the case, well, no thanks! Hahaha.
Do you remember the fly fishing store that used to be next to the Chelsea Hotel? The guys there would cast their flies across 23rd St as cars whizzed by...I always found that delightfully amusing, an only-in-ny kind of thing. Of course, I had to wonder who would buy fishing gear in Manhattan, but I guess that was back when you could find anything and everything in the world (except Olive Garden!!) on the island.
Q.: But master, what could be more Zen then Zen?
A.: Tenzen.
The only time I tried to stay at the Chelsea Hotel was when I first moved to the city. I was pretty disappointed they were charging $230 for single occupancy a night in 1996, and never really revisited the scenario. Will read the article you recommended, although I am not up to speed on the situation, I have a good guess as to what happened.
Speaking of the Chelsea Hotel å la Sid and Nancy; I always found it ironic that Courtney Love landed a role in that movie.
Also, Steve Jobs wants you to buy his phone so he can buy all the virgin livers in the kingdom. (camera on the go)
Flavaboom ? ..... really ??
I'm disappointed in you .... a street side ice cream truck should be your choice !
and .... after all the chain place rants from you ..... I hereby say:
UFB !!!!!!!
@Goggla: I do remember that fishing store! And I've never been in that Olive Garden, but I've been to one in Peoria and it's bland food for bland people!
@csp: Wow, I had no idea their rates were that high. I was never a fan of the Sid and Nancy film turned the whole thing into a cartoon. And tell Steve Jobs that there's one holdout who's not buying his phone!
@GENE: We all surrender to the chains occasionally, but I'd rather surrender to flavaboom than the Olive Garden any day of the week. And the only street side ice cream trucks are Mr. Softee and I do get one from them once in a while as well. To a UFB! moment!
@MAD ......... I'd like to remind you of this little exchange 11 days ago when I sent you a picture of me & Terry getting some "maintenance" food .......
fishwrap@earthlink.net
Fri, Jul 29, 2011 at 9:30 PM
To: Gene
Burger King? What the fuck? Have you learned nothing from my anti-chain and fast food rants when in New York City? Next thing you'll be drinking beers at a 7-11! (Just Kidding!)
Gene
Fri, Jul 29, 2011 at 9:31 PM
To: fishwrap@earthlink.net
I love their chicken !
fishwrap@earthlink.net
Fri, Jul 29, 2011 at 10:29 PM
To: Gene
That's crazy talk!
@GENE: You do realize that your new nickname is Deep Throat?
@csp ...... seems that Marty wants to have his cake and a frozen yougurt too ....
@GENE: Personally, I'll take a flavaboom on my block over a Burger King any day of the week. And I never get cake there.
@MAD .......... maybe you can get some cake at the Hollywood Diner ?
@GENE: Now you're talking! Maybe I'll do that next week. And I promise to pass on falvaboom for the next two weeks!
I don't think I could ever step foot inside of a place called "Flavaboom" .... even if it was the only one on Earth.
Been gone a while...getting back.
Chelsea looks like a cool area. I would like to visit there sometime....and plenty of beer!
@GENE: Okay. (I thought I was obsessive! Let it go Gene, it was just kind of a joke.)
@Tiki Bar Susie: Great to hear from you! I need to send you an email!
I like jokes !
Nice to see Tiki.
One last thing about Flavaboom, and thing I'll go on my merry way.
It was (over)designed based on a 2001 A Space Odyssey aesthetic.
Just for tits and giggles, I for one think it would be fun if: when paying for your apparently highly addictive "Fro-Yo", you just keep repeating, "My God, it's full of stars!"
csp-Bowman-over and out
@GENE: Me too, just joshing!
@csp: But there's no stars there, only sprinkles.
I don't know why, but this particular photo-journalistic report tickled the hell out of me, Party, and I'm out of beer! I love your "who gives a fuck" attitude! Never stop writing, man!
The El Quiote Restaurant is a classic. I remember going there in the 1970's--red banquets to sit in--some art-a Spanish feel to the place--walking in you entered another time and space. We went there in the days when I was a model and boyfriend a musician. Their lobster special got me. A deal and wonderful sides included. Can't wait for your trip there. And BON APPETIT!
Hey, Papaya in Chelsea has a Breakfast ATM - I wonder what it dispenses? Pancakes, breakfast sausage, Belgian waffles?
Okay. Bad joke - your beer stash was getting scary low - I was worried about my Sol becoming your appetizer again. I do need to take a picture of our beer fridge sometime - it is pretty stuffed.
@Melanie: you are correct about El Quixote,,,it is a old school restaurant with old bar. @MAD: Remember back on 365 I mentioned EL Quixote and what a great place and a time warp it is,,,,you should go there for a paella,,,,sit at the old wooden bar and soak in the atmosphere.
@Danny Maness: Thanks my friend and you keep writing too!
@Melanie: I would've loved to have gone there back in the '70's! I'll try and get there soon, I haven't been there for quite awhile!
@Britta: You have a fridge devoted only to beer? Post it up on your blog, I'd love to see that!
@Al: I do remember that. It was just one of those places that I never got to. I promise a visit this week!
Well it's the Beer Fridge but it also has our liquor cabinet residing in it, and some soda. We have to buy beer by the case here so it's usually pretty full. Isn't your fridge pretty much dedicated to beer too? I don't see anything else in there! ;)
@Britta: I have some salad dressing in there. Plus a couple of quarts of flavaboom fro-yo. JUST KIDDING!
I went to some sort of re-enactment of the Nancy murder in the Chelsea Hotel, in the room where Sid & N. stayed - wow, a long time ago. 84? Can't remember the rest of the evening, but there was stuff going on in other rooms.
And a link to Leonard Cohen's C.H.?
Personally, I'll take Flavaboom over Flavor Flav any day (or night).
"Yeah boy!"
@Boris: You are going to have to.
@onemorefoldedsunset: That sounds like one kooky night! I'll put up the Leonard Cohen link in a bit, I'm having trouble with the comments section again and I'm working with the hosting site.
@"Boris:" Ha ha ha! Good one, Daddio!
@Chuck D. I never knew he opened one up!
@Everyone: The comments section is bugging out again, I couldn't leave a comment from Firefox, but Safari is allowing me. If you have trouble, please let me know, I'm working with a tech now. Thanks!
@Everyone: I think the comments section is working okay and there was just some kind of glitch, please email me if you have a problem. Thanks! And here's that Leonard Cohen link for Kate! Chelsea Hotel
a great romp 'round the neighborhood...well by going home and then back out...took down two birds w/ one stone...got some good stuff for MAD and replenish the mainstay...la de dah...
Deep dish is pizza like Olive Garden is Italian.
~anthony bourdain
rr
@MAD ........ I used to use Firefox ... but have fell in love with Google Chrome --- best browser ever. I deleted Firefox - and never use Internet Explorer -- I only use Chrome and have never had it do anything bad.
Holy shit! Thems a getting heated about the chain stores!! Subway anyone?
Is the Chelsea shut for good? Another slab of NY history to be deleted?
If only the walls could talk in there!
@rr: GREAT quote! I'm a big Anthony Bourdain fan and I hate deep dish pizza! Horrible, horrible stuff!
@GENE: Can you send me an email on how to get Google Chrome? (I'm an idiot when it comes to this stuff.) If you do, next time you're in town, I'll treat you at flavaboom!
@Clacky: It's not closed for good, but from what I know, the tenants got the boot and I fear they're remodeling it.
Google Chrome
chome is a nice little browser...it is my default a couple machines...firefox on another...and believe it or nt ie on another...why?...one glove does not fit all situations...
rr
@GENE: Thanks!
@rr: That's what O.J. said! (rimshot)
Flavaboom
Actually .... it seems Flavaboom is NOT a chain. If it is ... the one near Union Square is the first Flavaboom -- and no other Flavaboom's have opened ... yet ........
Google it ....... I can find nothing else ........
@GENE: Great news, my record is clean again! I won't feel so guilty getting fro-yo there anymore! Thanks for the information!
Sticking with the 2001 thing, "Sorry Marty, I'm afraid I can't do that."
just kidding. I heard about the Flavor Flav cluck up on...the Chelsea Handler show..
And Netscape Navigator is way better then Mosaic, I think usenet is in trouble.
@csp: Too funny that you heard about the Flavor Flav thing on Chelsea Handler! Perfect!
Frozen yogurt places have breed like crazy here! Guess it's not just here. The guy inside the Chelsea didn't look to happy to have you taking a picture. Glad you didn't get lost wandering around :)
@kari: Yeah, I don't think he was too thrilled to have his picture taken. And for once I didn't get lost!
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