An Anti-War Protest in The Borough

Its taken me a few days to sit down and get my thoughts around the status of protesting in The Borough. It's kind of a sad state of affairs - in all fairness, I should tell you about the whole event so you can understand the dilemma more completely.

Generally being on an organizations email list means you get lots of stuff, sometimes it calls for an action, like a petition or letters to representatives - click through and it's pretty simple. It allows you to accomplish something without even typing anything in, and I think is the best alternative if you want your voice to be heard (or read).

Then there are the in-person requests. Move On (Moveon.org) and UFPJ (United for Peace and Justice) do an excellent job of creating events - but we may be at a point of saturation.

The September vigil was an event that was happening nationwide on Tuesday evening, as a protest against the war in Iraq. The Borough did not have such a great turnout - about 40 or 50 die-hard protesters were there on the steps of Borough Hall - and the crowd being so raucous, there were 2 cops hanging out int he back.

So there was an opening speech, then some words by a woman from Brooklyn Parents for Peace (which is now just Brooklyn for Peace), then they broke out into groups and they read the war calendar. Now for those of us who are not up on our lingo jingo - this is an accounting, rather matter of factly of the date (going day by day), the number of US soldiers killed and where they were from. (with an intermittent chorus of "and how many Iraqi civilians").

As powerful and emotional the whole process was (an hour of Feb 3, 3 US soldiers were killed, they were from Plano, Texas, Culver City, Clifornia and Miami, Florida...and how many Iraqi civilians...feb 4 130 us soldiers were injured..etc. etc.).

The point is that as profound as the listening of the list was, I already know how horrible the war is, umm we're against it thats why we were there. preaching to the converted.

Maybe we are just too saturated with trying to stop the war, maybe it has gone on so long that people are apathetic and preoccupied by their sky rocketing sub-prime mortgages - but we didn't even try to engage the public or make a statement to someone maybe who would change their mind...so what was the point? shameless self promotion is what it felt like.

A Bar in The Borough

Now playing: The Ramones - Howling At The Moon (Sha-La-La)
via FoxyTunes



Good-bye to Coney? Good-bye to Ruby's? The verdict isn't in yet (well the verdict may be in but the sentencing I guess is what still awaits us) - But I would be remiss if I didn't have at least one entry here that talks about the place I spend more time in the summer than anywhere else. It will take several more entries to fully say "fare thee well" to my favorite watering hole and my favorite Friday night activity 0f Fireworks on the beach in The Borough,

Ok so I'm experimenting here with my own photo (yes I finally remembered to change the batteries) and now they are letting me put up a bit of video - so here it goes - the formatting may be off - but y'all are smart you can figure it out.

I must tell you first off, that I've been going to Coney Island since I was in diapers. In those days (early 70's) you didn't go at night, not unless you wanted to get mugged or raped. My father loved taking my brother and I there, and I remember being firmly (but lovingly) told that if I got wet on the flume, I'd have to spend the rest of the day wet, so it would "behoove me" to stay dry. It was the one place where dad would let us scream and run around like looney tunes, but he always made sure we knew it was confined to us being there. And I do remember being wet and itchy on that ride home - dad giving me that "I told you so" look.

As a young teenager (I want to say I was 12 or 13) the Coney Island Museum was still just a small sideshow on the boardwalk - and I was witness, by accident, to one of the first Mermaid Parades. Now don't ask me what street they were on (was it in the parking lot across from the Thunderbolt?) It's all kinda hazy now - I don't remember it well - only a vague remnant of people having fun dressing up. I thought they were wacky. In those days it wasn't on a set day, or as far as I can remember those first few years it didn't happen every year (I'll look for a link on the history, I'm sure Dick has one)

Okay I know, what does all of this have to do with the Bar - Ruby's.... I'm getting there - hold your horses...

When I came home from college I making my first run to the Cyclone for the year (I used to ride probably 40 times a summer, but less since they keep raising the cost)- I made my usual pilgrimage to the waters edge - then I stopped at what we called "the old mans bar" on the boardwalk. That was the beginning of the end for me - meeting Ruby for the first time that summer ('91), I was legal (something that had never been true before having hung out in bars since I was 14) and it quickly became a regular stop after riding the rides - I was even babysitting an unnamed individual, I was 23, she was 13 and I dragged her to the bar after we had both nearly been suffocated on the music express (or one of the rides that worked the same way- its starts going around and you are slammed to the outside holding on for dear life).

So it has been until the new millenium, I don't remember exactly when Ruby died, but I expressed my grieving with various patrons that year I think it was 2001. (more fact checking jeeesh), probably every time I was there for the season - it had become a favorite hangout for me and the sadness that surrounded everyone helped me. Being a part of something like that, having smiles and familiar faces - people who knew you for a split second and really knew you. A alot of bad things happened that year, and I wasn't having the best time I can honestly say that Ruby's saved my life.

The last 6 or 7 years they have been shooting off fireworks on Friday nights, and it has been a regular happy hour excursion - with any number of friends joining me for a drink (or 5) some greasy coney food and a walk on the beach - awaiting the sky to light up like the 4th of July!, (only better, since you can sit under them almost!).

I have a multitude of stories about the people I've met while sitting and having a beer and some clam strips - the fisherman who is being harassed by homeland security, the guys who travel down from the Bronx and consider gong to Coney "getting away" for the weekend, the tourists who try to eat food bought at Nathans at a Ruby's table, and somewhat yokel locals who have family reunion (including a guy in a wheelchair) every Friday night - it's a real patchwork of young people, old-timers looking like they just rolled out of the 80's and 90's east village, complete with tattoos and attitude, our Hispanic friends who chose Ruby's over cha-cha's (crap hole next door, next to shoot the freak) - but we all have one thing in common - a love for cheap beer and endless summers. Beer the great equalizer.....

I know big changes are happening (see my link for the development in The Borough) and part of me wants it to stay as the same decrepit and shabby place its been in my lifetime - but I know change is inevitable - I just hope something remains.

Now most of you would think that for me, the changes would be a definite vote in favor of "getting the hell out of dodge" - and its a biggie - but I'm holding out to see what happens - I still have faith in the locals to do what is best for them and the community - but beware - I have a feeling there will be no place left in the world to "Shoot The Freak" and get away with it.

For more on the hot-bed issues, check my link (on the side) for development in The Borough, and http://www.myspace.com/saveconeyisland which, if you get to the right side of the screen, has actions you can do.

*My* bartender Frankie was interviewed recently for NyMag online - here is the link! http://nymag.com/daily/food/2007/07/frank_gluska_of_rubys_wont_be_1.html

Cicada in The Borough

"Cicadas are the loudest and most efficient sound-producing insects in the world"-wikipedia. Here in The Borough it's that time of year. The cicada have awoken, heralding in the end of summer. For some strange reason I love this sound - I know bugs freak me out - not especially fond of them crawling anywhere near where I am - but the sound of the cicada (I looked for a good link, I may try and record something myself later on), totally relaxes me.

I think we all associate good things with the sounds of summer - and when they start singing here, in The Borough, it washes away the sounds of an overheated city - air conditioners, sirens and even gun shots - suddenly I'm in the forest.

I know if I had to clear my basement of them, or step over them as I walked to the mailbox, I might not have such an amiable view of these natural sound machines -and If they were prone to flying around and got inside..I might not feel so centered and relaxed at hearing their song.

Isn't it amazing how much nature exists here, even in one of the dirtiest, most congested cities on the planet. The fact that all manner of creature can survive here is kind of comforting, to me anyway. All year long The Borough is a stop over point for many kinds of migrating birds - (we'll talk about that in September) and there are always sightings of wildlife that are not expected to be here. I'm not sure the birds and squirrels like them, but if they do they are having a tasty treat.

This is a good link, still trying to find one for NY Cicada, http://insects.ummz.lsa.umich.edu/fauna/michigan_cicadas/Periodical/Index.html
http://www.mechaworx.com/Cicada/cicadavideos.asp

Oh and most of the documentation out ther says something about them coming out in springtime, well they are dead wrong in NYC it's august..so maybe we have our own special brood.

B-52's In The Borough

So I forgot to bring my camera to last night's performance by the B-52's in The Borough, thus we have a canned picture. Since we were "holding up the back" as I so often like to do - out of the crowds, it would have been hard to get a decent picture anyway.

The evening started with myself and two friends having a quick beer down in Coney at Ruby's (more on Ruby's and the demise of Coney in a future post) - heading out to sit by ocean and take in the fresh ocean breeze :-) and parking ourselves behind the crowds - hoping the rain would hold off.

The rumor that I kept hearing is that every year for the last few years it has become a torrential rain right before they go on, or during their show - well hallelujah they managed to break the curse!

Luckily not only did the rain hold off, but instead of Patty Smythe opening - the B-52's opened!!! No disrespect to Patty Smythe and Scandal, but our first reaction was "excellent, now we don't have to hear Patty Smythe".

The B-52's came on and lived up to their marketing slogan as the world's best party band - the energy was amazing - the sound was like the last 25 years hadn't happened (does Fred age?) - we danced in the sand (umm.. we were across the street in the back) and sang along - they did all of their party favorites "Mesopotamia", "Private Idaho", a personal favorite of mine "Give me back my man", along with a few new songs - "Ultraviolet" and another song about Shopping Malls..which had the same vibe and sound that defines their music - and it still sounds fresh and new. The encores were "Planet Claire" and "Rock Lobster". We were only slightly annoyed that they kept saying "great to be in NY" hello, you're in Brooklyn...just made them sound kinda uneducated about where they were.

During Rock Lobster, it started drizzling a bit, but stopped soon after....We left dry and smiling - even with the oppressive police presence.

Now I went on last time about Marty Markowitz and the self-serving marketing that went on before the last show - he managed to repeat his whole diatribe verbatim (he must stand on front of a mirror saying "Don't smoke, even if you don't care about yourself, care about the people around you" fuck head. sorry i shouldn't use profanity but in the years before he showed up - the music started on time and we ere not subjected to 45 minutes of his moralistic ramblings.

Someone needs to tell him that we'd rather hear some music before the show starts or even an explanation of why its starting late - with an apology. Marty look in the mirror and practice this " Sorry for the delay folks, we're a bit incompetent here". And once again there were 5 times as many cops as people - and more per capita than at the Puerto Rican Day parade.

My friend who was wearing a tie-dye shirt actually got trailed and harassed by the cops -I mean he's coming back from the bathroom and cops follow him across the street and ask him what's he's smoking (funny since he had his hands on his WATER bottle) - they seriously need to focus on actual crimes happening instead of harassing tax paying citizens at a concert.

I did love the show, but I repeat what I said last time - stick to Prospect Park or Summerstage.

Monday in The Borough

Monday, Monday. I realized that for the short time I've been writing this blog, even though I've focused on things and places in The Borough - that I seem to be very fixated on the weather. This comes as no surprise to anyone who knows me and my obsession with the radar.

The weather can determine and define so much about how we live our lives - it is more than just an integral part of our lives - it is the force that defines what we do, how we do it and most importantly what we wear.

Over the weekend - storms rocked us up here in The Borough. I did manage to catch a shot of lightning (see picture). I've noticed over the last few months that the weather patterns and geography of The Borough, 9 times out of 10 - storms that come from the west don't make it here - on the night in question lightning and storms - part of a larger front that tore off the roofs of houses in Maine, missed Brooklyn altogether. It seems more obvious that its possible when you look at how Brooklyn juts out into New York Harbor that it sits on water - on 2 sides at least......when this happens it just gets gross and sticky here amd I can see the storms off in the distance. Some may call that lucky - especially if you've been through a bad storm and have flooding or wind damage - but I yearn for the break in the heat and I like storms. I get excited by thunder and lightning.

I'm not fooled by a short term weather pattern, it's not global warming or a drastic change in weather, it is just the first time I've noticed this pattern. We get plenty of rain and storms, certainly no drought in The Borough - but the cycle this summer has been one where the storms are coming from a front moving east, that they break up over New Jersey or divide - with storms moving over land (and over Westchester and Connecticut - parts of Connecticut have really had a rough summer) and the rest hitting the northern Jersey shore line. Even storms that come from the NW seem to miss us as well. New York City covers such a large area that it is not unheard of for it to be raining on the upper east side and sunny in The Borough.

Ah well - I can always look forward to a nice Nor'easter coming through.