Tag: history

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Guns in the Family

Colt Automatic 32 Caliber Rimless, Smokeless PistolThere’s been a lot of talk about guns, gun laws and the future of those both in New York and this country, especially with the NRA heavily promoting this gun outlaw Armageddon with Obama as president. I’m not really going to get into my side of this yet, but I will comment on that my family has always had guns. Typically hunting rifles, shot guns etc.

My Great Grandfather lived in San Jose, CA. I know this well because I have a pocket book from him with most of his personal information, thoughts and life. He’s marked down all the items he’s owned (vacuums, cars, guns and other electronics), prescriptions (drugs and there chemical nature, glasses), bills that need to be paid, news stories, bank account records, stock portfolio and just comments, quotes or passages from the bible.

I thought I would continue to add comments from his book to the blog for record and my own history. The first page I turned to was a record of the gun he owned: The Colt Automatic 32 Caliber Rimless, Smokeless Pistol. This hand gun has an original patented date of April 20th, 1897 and was last patented on Dec. 22, 1903. The number seems to be low, but I won’t post it here.

Pictured above, he sold the gun on November 21st, 1960 to a Jack R in San Jose, CA for $17.50. Today that same gun in mint condition is worth $550. Although no other remarks are made in his black book, I wonder of the history. I know these guns were issued to men in World War I, of which my GGF fought in. I think about where that gun has been, who might have held it, shot it and what it may be doing now (sitting in someone’s collection presumably). The gun had lived its course for him, and he kept a record of it’s release for any unfortunate event there was a need.

My Great Grandfather wrote in the beginning of this black book:

“God grant me the serenity to accept things I cannot change,
the courage to change things I can,
and wisdom to know the difference.”

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Disappearing New York

This week’s Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations show (Feb 2009), a constant on the DVR schedule btw for Tony’s snark and direct take on travel and food porn, he aired a show on “Disappearing New York” (NOTE the link in the pic is actually to Jeremiah’s blog “Vanishing NY”).

Russ & Daughters was mentioned but it’s still remains. It’s located down the street from me on Houston st (pronounced “House-ton”). I wouldn’t say I’m a regular but the lox, smoked salmon and sable are phenomenal, but I prefer the bagels from Murray’s. It’s one of the pricier options for your smoked fish, caviar and specialty foods, but don’t forget the service is great as well. I hope Joe Russ’s vision stays with us for another 100 years.

Minetta Tavern – I’m ripping this post direct from NY Mag. Minetta Tavern used to be in my staple of old bar hang outs as I’d either start or end my evening there with friends. We’d sit at the bar and have scotch or grab a table for some old school Italian pasta. Keith McNally bought the place last year and it’s finally reaching opening status, scheduled for March 10th. According to a recent interview in the Observer, much of the old fell will stay, however, all the cocktail prices will go up to ridiculous NY club offerings ($14) and the food will now be French. R.I.P. the original Minetta Tavern that I knew and drank at many of nights…

Vesuvio – It’s official. Location for sale signs are up in the windows. Vesuvio is no more. TBD for what comes next all I hope is they keep the iconic store front for the memories.

Bar 108 – This is a new spot that opened up a month or two ago on Houston and Thompson’s North west corner. It replaced the very low key Italian speaker’s heaven: L’angolo Cafe. I watched several of the World Cup matches there when Italy played and it was just like being in Italy. The staff and patrons were all speaking Italian and I only new how to order Peroni. The Italian cafe will be missed and based on the new airs of 108, this bar is best suited for Murry Hill, UES or at best Financial District – I give it a year max to survive in SOHO/Greenwich.

The former Moondance Cafe, much loved by the SOHO neighborhood, which moved is now being replaced by a monkey cage, um, hotel (Construction Watch: Moondance to Pole Dance at Soho Hotel)

Lola Shutters as well in the neighborhood but I’m not too sad about that place based on my reviews…

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Top 10 Christmas Movies to remember the holidays

Ah happy day. The day that all those Christmas movies will stop playing (that and some dog movie starts up tonight), and of course some families gather and celebrate the “holiday’s”. I just caught a show on the history of Christmas and learned a few interesting things in passing. Christmas Trees derive from pre-Christian Germanic paganism where the tradition of decorating fir trees and evergreens in the winter was to signify the solstice. I also understand that Christmas started as a pagan festival spanning most of the month of December even before anyone had heard of Jesus Christ. Last, most historians believe Jesus was not born on the 25th. I’ll be relaying this to my Jehovah family that’s actually joining us this year for dinner.

Back to movies, here’s my top 10 Christmas movies – in no particular order:

  • The Christmas Story – Ah Ralphie, we all felt your pain in reaching for that Red Ryder BB Gun, finally getting it and then… shooting your eye out. “Only one thing in the world could’ve dragged me away from the soft glow of electric sex gleaming in the window. “
  • National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation – “Where do you think you’re going? Nobody’s leaving. Nobody’s walking out on this fun, old-fashioned family Christmas. No, no. We’re all in this together. This is a full-blown, four-alarm holiday emergency here. We’re gonna press on, and we’re gonna have the hap, hap, happiest Christmas since Bing Crosby tap-danced with Danny fucking Kaye. And when Santa squeezes his fat white ass down that chimney tonight, he’s gonna find the jolliest bunch of assholes this side of the nuthouse. ” That pretty much sums it up.
  • Elf – I seriously saw parts of this movie at least every other day this whole month. “It’s just like Santa’s workshop! Except it smells like mushrooms… and everyone looks like they wanna hurt me… “
  • Gremlins’ – ah the simple movie of how ignorance and human error brings considerable chaos and evil to all…. and partying with your friends for the holidays! What a great film. – “The worst thing that ever happened to me was on Christmas. Oh, God. It was so horrible. It was Christmas Eve. I was 9 years old. Me and Mom were decorating the tree, waiting for Dad to come home from work. A couple hours went by. Dad wasn’t home. So Mom called the office. No answer. Christmas Day came and went, and still nothing. So the police began a search. Four or five days went by. Neither one of us could eat or sleep. Everything was falling apart. It was snowing outside. The house was freezing, so I went to try to light up the fire. That’s when I noticed the smell. The firemen came and broke through the chimney top. And me and Mom were expecting them to pull out a dead cat or a bird. And instead they pulled out my father. He was dressed in a Santa Claus suit. He’d been climbing down the chimney… his arms loaded with presents. He was gonna surprise us. He slipped and broke his neck. He died instantly. And that’s how I found out there was no Santa Claus. “
  • Die Hard – Die Hard can arguably be one of the best action films of the 80’s and it helped catapult Bruce Willis to star material as he portrayed the most real and vulnerable action start to date. – “Hey babe, I negotiate million dollar deals for breakfast. I think I can handle this Eurotrash. “
  • Love Actually – I didn’t like the movie at first but it grew on me after a few viewings. I’ve even karaoke’d Mariah Carey’s hit song on the bus. – “Daniel: Well, because I thought it would be something worse.
    Sam: [incredulous] Worse than the total agony of being in love?
  • Scrooged – Bill Murry is one of my early favorite comics and how can you not enjoy is Frank Cross character: “The bitch hit me with a toaster.” or “I never liked a girl well enough to give her 12 sharp knives. “
  • The Simpsons Christmas Special – now when they merge the Halloween special with the Christmas one, that will take this show to the top of my list. – “Homer: Aah! Thirteen bucks? Hey, wait a minute!
    Clerk: That’s right. One hundred and twenty dollars gross, less social security, less unemployment insurance, less Santa training, less costume purchase, less beard rental, less Christmas club. See you next year.
  • How the Grinch Stole Christmas – this one was a toss up from the animated Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and the animated version of this soul warmer where the Grinch’s heart grew three sizes that day- “And his fib fooled the child. So he patted her head, he gave her a drink and he sent her to bed. And when Cindy Lou Who was in bed with her cup, he crupt to the chimney and stuffed the tree up. Then he went up the chimney himself, the old liar, and the last thing he took was the log for their fire. On the walls he left only hooks and some wire. And the one speck of food that he left in the house was a crumb that was even too small for a mouse”.
  • The Nightmare Before Christmas – What the Simpson’s didn’t do, Tim Burton succeeded – “Jack Skellington: [singing] There’s children throwing snowballs / instead of throwing heads / they’re busy building toys / and absolutely no one’s dead!”