Battle of Brooklyn

(PBS special on the American Revolution – Chapter 4: “The Battle for Long Island”)
It’s pretty darn shocking how many life long New Yorkers have no idea about the Battle of Brooklyn, which back then was also referred to as Long Island. If you’re one of them, watch the videos to gain some insight.
In the first battle ever [...]

Sigur Rós with Björk – “Gobbledigook” Live

(“Gobbledigook” Live at Naturra)
“Gobbledigook” is the greatest song ever! Right now we have this piped into the stereo in our apartment, and me, my lady friend, and the pizza and Chinese delivery guys are dancing like nuts!
Join us! Come on!
“La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, al, la, la . . .”

(Photo by Olikristinn)
Here are my [...]

Coney Island’s Blowhole Theater

(The Steeplechase and the Blowhole Theater)
I love this clip! To me it represents Coney Island’s zenith caught on film.
If I could go back in time I’d visit with George Washington, Abe Lincoln, Jesus, Einstein, and Henry V. Miller. Then I’d zip over to Coney Island, ride the Steeplechase, and afterwards, file into the Blowhole Theater for an electric jolt by a clown and a whack by [...]

Times Square – The Cheesy Heyday

(Times Square of approximately the 60 and 70’s  1970/*see comments) 
The changes in Times Square over the past twenty years have been pretty miraculous. I would hate to imagine the impact it would have on the lives of New Yorkers if it was still a porn haven. The fact that MTV is on The Great White Way is bad [...]

Slavery and NYC

 
 (New York Divided: Slavery and the Civil War)
My next episode will feature the ghost of a slave called Hardy. So I decided to post something on slavery and NYC. Here are my other posts in which Hardy is mentioned.
Episode Nineteen – October 2009
Expedition to Sandy Ground, Staten Island
Historical Sandy Ground
Just A Car Ride To Staten Island
Looking [...]

Larry Wright – Street Bucket Drummer

I inserted the above video of Larry Wright in this story post: Forces of Heaven and Hell . . . I had been looking for a Civil War drum solo video, but couldn’t find one that fit the sound I had heard. So I decided to use Larry. I’ve seen him playing countless times over the years. His beats are usually knocking [...]

New York City – 1928

(NYC video – 1928)
I love the photo below. So much hasn’t changed. Plus I look at it and can “smell the past.”

(Lower Manhattan, 1928 – Fairchild Aerial Surveys)
Here are my STORIES and PHOTOS

The Chameleons – Monkeyland

(Studio version)
The Chameleons are one of my favorite bands. I was lucky enough to see them live in NYC on one of their reunion tours a few years back. In ‘94 I also saw the lead singer’s band, Mark Burgess and the Sons of God in Hoboken, NJ at a club called Maxwell’s.

(Live at the Camden Palace)

Here are my STORIES and PHOTOS

So It Is Written by Savage Republic

I love the sound of this band. It’s very unique. It’s called tribal-industrial-art-punk.
“So It Is Written” is from the album, Jamahiriya. I have one of the original pressings on vinyl.

I included another great song by Savage Republic in this story post: That Damned South Street!
Check out their wesbite: Savage Republic
Here are my STORIES and PHOTOS

Living in the 1920’s

(Angelina Jolie, The Changeling movie still)
The first thought that popped into my head while watching the below video was that I need to re-read This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

 Here are my STORIES and PHOTOS

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