November 4, 2011

As you may or may not know, today is National Sandwich Day. A holiday I hold high in regard, because just like Dagwood Bumstead, I love sandwiches. They come in so many delicious varieties and styles you could eat a different sandwich every day of the year and never repeat yourself...hmm...I have to put that in my blog list of ideas! Anyway sandwiches run the gamut from a simple, yet satisfying ham and cheese on white bread to more inventive sandwiches like The Rubix Cubewich. Sandwiches rightfully deserve their own holiday.

You know one thing that’s always pissed me off? The Manwich advertising campaign that ran with the slogan, “A sandwich is a sandwich, but a Manwich is a meal.” Really Manwich? You’re a meal? I’m so glad you informed me of this nugget of information, because I’ve always thought you were a third-rate version of a Sloppy Joe. You look like diarrhea on a bun and that’s fitting since you taste like shit! You think you’re better than a sandwich? In actuality all you really are is a sauce for Sloppy Joe’s, it says so right there on your fucking label! But yet, you’re better than a sandwich? You’re nothing more than a fucking condiment masquerading as a meal. You’re a complete and utter fraud. It’s like Hunt’s Ketchup saying that they’re better than a cheeseburger. Quite frankly this whole charade makes me sick. Fuck you and the bun you rode in on, Manwich!

So anyway, I thought we’d celebrate National Sandwich Day by going somewhere and having a sandwich. I have to be honest here, I had to work late and it’s after one in the morning, so National Sandwich Day is officially over, but fuck it, I’m still awake, so I’m extending the goddamned holiday here on MAD. I thought about going to the Hollywood Diner, but then decided since we’ve already gone there, it would be better try a new spot. I Googled around and found a 24 hour diner/restaurant that’s on my way home called, The Chelsea Square Restaurant. And so, it’s off we go for a little sandwich celebration!

It's not that far away, but I thought I'd take a cab because it's late and my feet are killing me.

And here we are, The Chelsea Square Restaurant.

Open 24 hours, always the mark of excellence.

Inside there's rows of vanilla colored vinyl booths to sit at.

And on the outer perimeter there's tables with floor to ceiling windows giving you a view of the outside action on the street.

I chose to sit at the counter, as I usually do.

Jesse was working the counter area and happily served me up a beer. He told me the diner has been on the block for over 30 years.

I'm always fascinated with the photos in these places. Let's take a look at a few of them.

Here's a photo of Al Pacino with the caption reading: "Guess who's mincing onions in the Chelsea Square kitchen?" I guess he couldn't pay his bill that night. Should've taken the back end deal on The Godfather III, Al!

Here's a signed photo from Erik Estrada. I'm guessing he got the fish and CHiPs. Sorry about that.

And no true New York diner is complete without a cheesecake shot of Marilyn Monroe hanging over the counter.

And here's another one of Al Pacino. This one is signed, I wonder if he lives in the neighborhood?

Okay, time to look at the menu and figure out what sandwich to have to celebrate National Sandwich Day. I came to the right place as they have tons of sanwiches here. It was a rough decision...

But I decided on my favorite sandwich, a grilled cheese. But to jazz it up for the holiday, I got two kinds of cheese on the sandwich, cheddar and swiss and a slice of ham on rye bread. It looks delicious!

And it is. Happy National Sandwich Day, everyone!

Burp. And fuck you Manwich! Goodnight everybody and see you tomorrow after dark.

Chelsea Square Restaurant
368 W. 23rd St. (Near 9th St.)
212-691-5400

Further reading: Eat Some Sweets, The Guardian and Mealtime.

Twenty year old turkey in a thirty year old tin,
I can't wait until tomorrow, and thaw one out again.

(Surprise link...click on it...I dare you!)

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Cardboard Box Man Mutant Sighting By Ragin' RR!

MAD commenter, quote supplier and "rotgut 45" guzzler, ragin' rr, sent in this sighting of what looks like to be a mutant strain of a cheese cassette Cardboard Box Man. Aaaaahhh!

November 3, 2011

I mentioned yesterday that MAD commenter, ragin’ rr (who’s missing in action, by the way), suggested I start going back to bars that I tried to go to on last year’s 365 bar crawl, but never made it to for one reason or another. That got me thinking to one place that I really wanted to document, but kind of got thrown out of after asking to take a picture inside. The bar is called, The Distinguished Wakamba Lounge and the atmosphere and some of the patrons are “sketchy” to say the least.  When I visited here on the bar crawl, I asked a bouncer if I could take a picture and was told to leave in pretty hostile tones. I was always pissed I didn’t get at least a couple of pictures in there, so tonight I’m going to go back and try to discreetly snap a few without the flash. Here’s hoping I don’t write this post from the hospital!

Alright, it's straight up here on 8th Avenue. I've kind of obsessed over this all night and I think the mistake I made was asking to take a picture. In a place like this you should have an air of confidence about you and not show any weakness. You don't want to be cocky, but you should walk in with your camera like it's no sweat to be taking pictures, it is a place open to the public, after all and I have every right to snap a few photos in there. I hope I don't get my legs broken!

Okay, moment of truth time. I took a shot outside and then said hi to these two guys as I went in and even shook their hands. So far, so good.

The bar is crowded and maybe it's my attitude, but the vibe isn't quite as scary as the time before. The bar is a combination of Spanish and tiki themes. If Tony Montana and Don Ho had a love child, it would be the Distinguished Wakamba Lounge.

The bartenders here are dressed in skimpy outfits and don't speak much English. After attempting to order a Budweiser for several minutes, she held up a bottle of rum with a questionable look on her face. I gave her a thumbs up and got some sort of rum concoction to drink, when in Rome...

And here she is ringing up the drink.

My point of view of the brown Formica-topped bar. Spanish disco music blares from the jukebox and every once in a while a bartender will do a little dance in your area and I think it's customary to tip a couple of bucks for the action, so I did.

This bartender was chatting with a woman who just got off duty. They were speaking in Spanish of course. The place doesn't feel like New York, it's got kind of a San Francisco vibe to it and you kind of feel like Dirty Harry is going to bust in at any moment.

There's tables up front, opposite the bar.

And there's more tables in the back area.

Here's a shot of the bar from the back end.

These two are having trouble getting the drinks they are trying to order. They should just take a glass of rum and be happy. In a place like this you should just go with the flow.

Your change in here is always delivered in ones, I think to encourage the tipping for drinks and coochie-coochie dances. This is my stack after about an hour in here. Okay, I think I pushed my luck as far as I should and it's time to get out of here. The Distinguished Wakamba Lounge has been documented on MAD!

One obligatory bathroom mirror shot for the road and it's adios, amigos! See you tomorrow after dark.

The Distinguished Wakamba Lounge
543 Eighth Ave. (Near 37th St.)
No phone (What a surprise!)

Further reading: New York On Tap, Midtown Lunch and NFT.

He's so honest that the dishonest dread,
Meeting the kid with the replaceable head.

(Surprise link...click on it...I dare you!)

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Bonus Linkage To More Ruby's Photos At The Gog Log!

Goggla posted more photos from the closing day at Ruby's. Check them out here: The Gog Log.

November 2, 2011

It’s Tuesday night, the night I go to a bar and see if I can score a swizzle stick with a drink. Mad commenter and quote supplier, ragin’ rr, had a good idea about going to bars that I was originally headed to on my 365 bar crawl last year, but never quite made it there for one reason or the other. He’s even compiling a list for me and I’m going to start hitting some of them soon. Tonight, though, I’m heading to a bar that’s close to work and on my way home. I decided to go to the Blarney Stone on 9th, it’s probably my second favorite Blarney Stone (my favorite can be found somewhere on this post, see if you can find it!) and it’s moments away. You’ll see.

See, here we are already, let’s go in and get a drink or three.

This was the 355th bar that I went to on my bar crawl last year. I was in here about 11 months ago. You can look at pictures of the bar here: Blarney Stone. It hasn’t changed at all, so there's no reason to take more pictures. It’s crowded in here and it’s not a crowd that I would assume would be too happy about a flash going off in their faces. Half of the crowd appears to be grizzled night shift workers from the nearby post office and the other half  look like they may be faces from the wanted posters in the same post office, so I’m going to take some mental snap shots and post them below.

Snap: I order up a double gin and tonic and the bartender dutifully brings it to me. There’s no swizzle stick and that’s not much of a shock. He kind of looks like a grizzled version of Flip Wilson. I pay for the drink and throw him a two buck tip and he scoops the cash up and thanks me. It’s crowded in here with heavy drinkers. The bar is an old school dive bar, it’s dark and the walls are dotted with aged pictures of sports stars from years ago. There’s a flat board internet jukebox on the wall near the Buck Hunter game in the back that is really out of sync with the place. House music is blaring out of it and people are shouting over the top of the dance music. There’s a back room with a pool table that no one is using, all the action is up here in the front room.

Snap: I notice that the place has a unique scent of a combination of three year old beer, that grade school Lysol/sand smell that they use when a kid throws up and just a hint of a dung/barnyard scent. I feel a little sick and try not to breath through my nose.

Snap: The drunken guy sitting to my left is slurring into my ear in between gulps from his tumbler of whiskey. I patiently nod my head up and down and don’t bother to tell him I’m deaf in that ear. After a few more drinks from his tumbler he falls silent and falls into a drunken stupor and is just staring down at the bar. I’m guessing he’ll pass out within the half hour.

Snap: A fat black woman with a shaved head drunkenly stumbles into me and asks if I have a cigarette. Her breath smells worse than the bar and I tell her that I don’t have any. She then proceeds to drunkenly ask if I’d like to have a “good time.” I thank her and tell her I that I’m already having a wonderful time and I don’t want to overdo it. She looks puzzled and I tell her I have a heart condition. A frightened look colors her face and she moves to a drunken guy at the end of the bar. They appear to be hitting it off and I’m happy for them.

Snap: I order another double gin and tonic and the bartender tells me his name is Corey. I tell him my name is Marty and we shake hands. Before we can get into any small talk, Corey has to run and throw out a woman who is attacking the ATM machine in the corner. Corey escorts her out the door, comes back to the bar and tells me it can get a little nuts in here some nights.

Snap: The loud, raging music, the yelling and the smell has given me a headache. I drink my drink, leave Corey a tip and gather up my things to leave. On my way out I wink at the good time woman and she smiles and winks back. A nice ending to a somewhat crazy evening in New York City.

Blarney Stone
340 9th Ave (Between 29th and 30th)
212-502-4656

Further reading: Jeremiah’s Vanishing New York, EV Grieve, and Grade “A” Fancy.

Freak out!

(Surprise link...click on it...I dare you!)

November 1, 2011

I had to work late tonight and I’m pretty beat. Even though it’s after two if the morning and Halloween is over, tonight for my six pack of photos and songs to go with them, I’m going to snap six Halloween-related photos as I walk home. Boo!Radley!

Okay, I started walking home and there was nothing, the streets were deserted. I think everyone started early and was home passed out. After about three blocks I hailed a cab and said, “Fuck it.” It was a horrible night at work and I just wanted to get home and drink a few thousand beers. So I didn’t get any photos, but here’s six scary images with songs to go along with them. Happy Hollow Weenie!

Welll, shake it up baby,
Twist and shout.

When you're strange,
Faces come out of the rain,
When you're strange,
No one remembers your name .

He will bring happiness in a pipe,
He'll ride away on his silver bike,
And apart from that,
He'll be so kind in consenting to blow your mind.

Days when the rain and the sun are gone,
Black as night,
Agony's torn at my heart too long,
So afraid.

I was raised by a toothless, bearded hag,
I was schooled with a strap right across my back,
But it's all right now, in fact, it's a gas!

We ain't got no friends,
Our troubles never end,
No Christmas cards to send,
Daddy likes men.

Further reading: New York Magazine, Halloween NYC and NY Times.

This is Halloween, this is Halloween,
Pumpkins scream in the dead of night.

(Surprise link...click on it...I dare you!)

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Bonus Photos By Gidget!

Gidget had a pre-Halloween experience by visiting a cemetary with her son, Dyl. Here’s some photos from the trip (including a "Martin" headstone!) and you can read about the whole adventure here, at Gidget’s blog: “They’re Coming To Get You Dylan.” And don’t forget to listen to her on Woody Radio, where you can also catch “Boris's” show, The Secret Weapon.

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Bonus Photo By Goggla!

Goggla sent in this frightening photo from last night in the East Village. A mutant strain of Cardboard Box Man is throwing down a reign of terror...aaaahhhh! (And check out her Ruby's videos here: Ruby's on The Gog Log.)

October 31, 2011

I’ve heard rumors and read stories that the death of Ruby’s bar on the boardwalk of Coney Island may not come true after all. The business that was going in there pulled out at the last minute. Karma, is that you calling? I can’t find concrete evidence one way or the other, so the best way is to just go out and see what they have to say.

The sun sets on the boardwalk at Coney Island.

Here's Paul's Daughter's food stand, they were one of the businesses that was going to be forced out.

But with the businesses pulling out, maybe they'll be here next year. I sure hope so.

And here we are, Ruby's Bar, let's go check out closing night of the season.

A decent crowd has assembled on this cold night.

There's three familiar faces at the bar...

It's the Duncester, Lindsay and Shawn. Time to let the party begin!

The tables are filled with people having their last drinks of the season.

Historical photos of Coney Island through the years hang on the wall behind the bar.

A long shot of the wooden bar at Ruby's.

And here's Mike behind the bar. I asked him if Ruby's was going to be open next year and he told me that all he could say was that they're in negotiations. Well, that sounds promising!

I asked him if the new TV on the wall was part of the negotiations and he just laughed and said, "Maybe." Hey, if it takes a TV in Ruby's to stay in business, that's fine by me, I just won't look at it.

Here's a couple starting Halloween celebrations a night early.

A song is chosen for the jukebox...

And a couple gets up and dances to it. Hopefully this won't be the last dance at Ruby's bar.

Harpo!

Cheers!

This woman told me she just moved here from the West Coast and hopes to see another season at Ruby's.

Leonardo was selling beads in the crowd.

So I bought a strand for good luck and posed with Leonardo and Lindsay.

Melody confirmed that Ruby's is in negotiations to stay on the boardwalk and asked everyone to keep their fingers crossed. I told her I'd keep my eyes crossed as well!

Shawn flashes a peace-out in front of a Warrior.

Vintage Coney Island books sit side by side with the booze behind the bar.

The boardwalk signs have been brought in for the season.

The bar is starting to clear out.

The chairs are stacked on the tables...

And I take one last obligatory bathroom mirror shot for the road.

Hopefully we'll see you next season, Ruby's! Goodnight everybody and see you tomorrow after dark. and One More Folded Sunset.

Further reading: Amusing The Zillion, Jeremiah’s Vanishing New York, The Gog Log and One More Folded Sunset.

Then we went down to Coney Island on the coaster and around again,
And no one's gonna ever tear us apart cause she's my sweetheart.

(Surprise link...click on it...I dare you!)

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Bonus Photos From Shawn!

Shawn sent me some photos he shot from last night. Wonderful shots, Shawn, thanks!

October 30, 2011

Live, from New York, it’s Cheeseburger Saturday Night! Starring, Korzo Haus and featuring the Ready for Prime Beef Player, Marty Wombacher. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome, Korzo Haus!

It's a horrific night out tonight. Windy, snowy/rainy and it's freezing. I'm hoping to get a cab, no way am I walking over there.

Usually it would be hard to get a cab at this time on a Saturday night, but since it's so shitty out, there's not many people out and about and I snagged one within minutes. Here's my view from the back seat.

And  the view of another cab from the side window. Heh heh...heh heh.

And here we are, Korzo Haus. Let's get inside and escape the rotten elements out here.

It's nice and cozy in here. The front room has a bar/counter that you can sit at and it overlooks the kitchen area.

And no sooner am I seated than Matt delivers a bottle of beer. I complimented him on his John Entwistle-like t-shirt.

Here's Keith who was working in the kitchen area. Keith's an artist and graphic novelist, check out his work here: Nobodyland.

Jay a.k.a. Dick Bulger was seated next to me and is hanging a portrait that Jay drew of him. That's horse menstrual blood on his face. You had to be there, folks!

There's a brick-walled dining area in the back with wooden tables.

But I preferred to sit up front where the action is happening.

I ordred the Korzo burger which is a burger that is grilled, then wrapped in Langol dough and deep fried. I've never had a deep fried burger and I'm curious as to how it will be. We'll find out soon as Steven starts to make the burger.

Fire!

Condiments are placed next to me and the burger is about to be served!

Wow, it looks and smells great!

Wow, it's one of the best cheeseburgers I've ever had. I thought it would be greasy, but it's not at all. It's crispy on the outside and doughy and soft on the inside. I added some of the homemade hot sauce and was in burger heaven!

No wonder it won the best burger of the year from Village Voice! Goodnight everybody and see you tomorrow after dark.

My Meal
I got the Korzo Burger which is a ground beef burger with bacon, cheese, house made mustard and a dill pickle wrapped up in Langol dough and deep fried. Deep frying things sometimes can be gimmicky and gross, but this was one delicious burger. it wasn't greasy at all, like I had thought it would be and the different textures and tastes from the fresh cheese to the pickles to the homemade mustard made for one of the most delicious cheeseburgers I've ever had. If you come to New York or if you live here, you have to try it out.

In addition to the Korzo Burger, there’s four other varieties of burgers available including: The Slav, which is a  beef patty, slow-cooked pork neck, haus sauerkraut, caraway seeds, juniper berries and bryndza; The Otto is a five meat burger including fresh ground blend of beef, pork butt, neck, hudson valley fois gras, chicken crisps & apple kompot and for you vegetarians there’s a Portobello burger which is all vegetarian, oven-roasted portobello mushroom, edam, bryndza, mozzarella, baby arugula topped with a spicy garlic emulsion. Also available are Spicy Hungarian Goulash, Fresh Bratwurst and a Wonderwurst Platter which includes, three sausages, sauerkraut, horseradish and haus mustard.

Bottled and draft beer are available and there’s also an ever-changing daily menu which you can view from their website listed below.

Cheeseburger Rating
Four Wimpy's—The mark of cheeseburger excellence!

Korzo Haus
178 E 7th St. (Between Avenues A and B)
212-780-0181

Further reading: Time Out New York, New York Near Say and EV Grieve.

Man buys ring woman throws it away,
Same old thing happens everyday.

(Surprise link...click on it...I dare you!)

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Bonus Photo by Ragin' R.R!

MAD commenter and quote-supplier, Ragin' R.R. sent in this picture of a Halloween mutant strain of Cardboard Box Man. Aaaahh!

October 29, 2011

Yesterday, Gene from the BBC, left this comment: “I miss the Fortress of Solitude that the Papaya is...” It made me realize I hadn’t been there in quite some time. It’s a good night to go, it’s Friday, it’s unseasonably cold outside (it’s supposed to snow on Saturday, to quote Gene again: UFB!) and it’s a perfect night to chill out at the Fortress of Solitude. This one’s for you Gene, so don’t blame me, Al! (I put a Neil Young song up as a consolation prize for Al!)

And we're off, just a short walk to Penn Station. It's not as cold as last night and no rain, which is a relief. However tomorrow it's supposed to go down to freezing temperatures and mixed rain and snow. I may have to bust out my winter coat for Cheeseburger Saturday Night!

Since we were just here last night, I thought I'd use a different entrance, so we have a little variety in the pictures.

Nice to see this fellow standing stationary on the escalator. Maybe people are finally learning, but I doubt it.

Hudson News, I think I'll stop and get a magazine to read at the Fortress of Solitude.

It's a crowded night here with people coming and going and standing around.

Wow, the Powerball is over 200 million!

If there's no post tomorrow, you'll know these numbers came up and I threw my computer out the window.

And now, let's pause for a David Gates moment.

The Papaya sign is covered up with a banner, that kind of sucks.

I was a little afraid they took the Papaya Dog sign down, but here it is, behind the banner.

And here's our friend behind the counter, getting ready to serve up the ususal...

Giganzo beer and a hotdog with mustard (apologies to Britta and Kari, but I gotta go with mustard on the dog!)

Gumby's all settled in.

Here's the view from where I sit. I've already wolfed the dog down, so let's enjoy the magazine and the beer.

I got a copy of Life & Style. The cover story was about Demi Moore starving herself. Her arms aren't quite as scary as Madonna's, but they're getting there. The headline reads: "Starving To Keep Her Man." Personally I would've gone with: "Moore Is Less," but what do I know?

I'm amazed, I got all the way to page six before running into a photo of one of the Kardashians. The weekly magazines are obsessed with them. In fact I'm going to flip through and see how many photos there are of each Kardashian in this issue. Give me a couple minutes here. (Time goes by.) Okay, I'm back and here's the official Kardashian Kountdown: There's five pictures each of Kim and Khloe and Kourtney has four. So, there!

And just in case Lux Living stops by...Lady Gaga?

And two words can sum those perks up: Breast Feeding!

Here's a subscription ad with a cover from a week ago. Within the cover line a confused Kim Kardashian asks: "What Have I Done?" Well, Kim, from what I can see you've turned your massive tits and ass into a multimillion dollar corporation, but outside of that, you really haven't done a whole hell of a lot. Anyway, you go girl! And keep on going...a little farther, okay, don't let the door smack that giant-million dollar ass of yours on the way out. Goodnight everybody and  see you tomorrow after dark.

Further reading: MAD, Time Out New York and 365 Bars (I forgot I went there on the bar crawl, it came up on a Google search!)

The old man is dressed in white clothes,
Everybody says he's mad,
No one knows the things that he knows.

(Surprise link...click on it...I dare you!)

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Bonus Separated At Birth Photos by The Duncester!

After seeing the pop up photo of William Shatner in yesterday's post, The Duncester found a photo of Kurt Russell as Jack Burton in the 1986 movie, "Big Trouble in Little China." Beautiful "Separated At Birth" moment, Duncester, thanks for sending it in!

Late Post Alert!

So I woke up and it's a cold and rainy and snowy day here in New York, so I went back to sleep. I just got up again and it's even more dreary out. I think I'll go back to bed, yet again. Look for today's post this afternoon around 3 or 4pm. Have a wonderful day, see you in a bitter.