My father would be attending PS 160 in the late 1920's. It is still standing, a CBJ Snyder school, now housing the Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural and Educational Center
I found that a recurring topic on my blog, Pseudo Intellectualism, would be my memories of the wonderful place I grew up in on the Lower East Side, Knickerbocker Village. I lived there from 1952-1964. There has also been an avalanche of new information coming in from my old friends through our group emails. All of this has refreshed our collective minds and I decided to shift my old posts (from the last two years) to this dedicated site as well as add new recollections. Hopefully other lost KVer's can arrive here and feel free to share as well. Note 1: Many posts are an outgrowth of history projects I did with kids while teaching on the LES. Note 2: As this blog has evolved it has also become a view of life in NYC during the 50's and 60's.
Lou and Willie's" Deli was actually called "Persky' on East Broadway. Willie Roenberg was one of the owners.
#1. Annie Dillard talks about her fascination with science and minerals in particular. Then she goes on to details anecdotes concerning various Americans who became obsessed with the possibility of discovering valuable or interesting mineral deposits or rock formations within or close to their home environments. She speaks about men - almost all these scientific minded people are male - who discover veins of coal, copper, bauxite, and so on. She depicts the ordinariness of their fascination and the fact that it tapped into the extraordinary. Like nature had these incredible finds waiting to be unearthed all around. People who could see the worth of what was all around them or, in some cases, beneath them, excavated and found, just beneath the surface of their obsessive preoccupations, depths of riches and fascination. So in exploring the history of KV we go back into what had been the ordinary and find it layered in a criss-cross of historical significance. A transmutation of the lung block, redeemed as a bold social experiment tinged with ambitions as immodest as a revolution and as commonplace as sandwiches - ordinary though it may be but still - the most delicious sandwiches of the twentieth century. Buried beneath the surface of the KV heritage are connections to so may aspects of our culture and NYC's greatness as to be not only unfathomable but irrefutable. Do you know what I'm saying here?
Yes. I was thrown out of the Canal theater a number of Saturdays for rolling on the floor, in the aisles laughing. I think one of the movies that prompted my gaiety was "Psycho" - the shower scene. What can I tell you? I guess I wasn't tuned into the mood. At the time. Also saw many rock and roll movies at the Canal, Elvis films and the Murray the K fests. Saturday I often would go there with Joey Maldonado and his cousins. We would load up on candy by the quarter pound from that obscure bakery that was just around the corner on Madison Street, quarter block from Catherine - around the corner from the Brokowsky's fruit store, Gogol's and the pharmacy on the corner. Next to the newstand. Remember? By the bus stop. See what I'm saying? (In your mind, can you see it?) Bakery had golden and tan tile design but couldn't hold a candle to Savoia. No marble floors either.
the first movie I ever went to was at the Tribune Theatre (near City Hall, now by the site of Pace University), a Disney cartoon 'Lady and the Tramp', also remember going there with Ronnie, David and maybe Paul, think it was '62 to see 'Safe at Home' starring Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris....I saw 'The Time Machine" with David at the Canal theatre in 1960 (academy award to George Pal - special effects), we were so taken by the notion of time travel that we proceeded to go home and build a time machine...somehow we got hold of some wood, nails, rope and wheels..after a couple of days the time machine started to take shape although it looked remarkably like a pretty decent scooter so we decided it needed a safe haven and hid it in a pit on Monroe St...one that we were able to climb...on the third day the time machine was stolen from the pit...we never saw it again...probably in the year 3000 by now..
A great B.L.T. is a complex eatable symphony. One in which all the parts maintain their individuality, yet at the same time, surrender their tasty nuances in the true spirit of gastronomic gestalt and dwell as one.This equinox I choose Sumano's Bakery Ciabatta bread. Though I was skeptical about it's naked, pale texture, I felt it would toast up well and its many crevices would add some fun places for the mayo to go.With the mayonnaise choice I have to stay with tradition and of course go with Hellmann's though for some reason it's known west of the Mississippi as “best foods”. Please do not waste my time with this hippie safflower oil concoction or some other type of healthy alternative. For when it comes to mayonnaise for my Ultimate B.L.T. there is no east or west, there is only Hellmann's…. case closed.
My ingredients are now all together, but the intense work has just begun. For now without the correct timing and the correct application of all the ingredients, my ritual could easily plummet into a spiritual abyss. All ingredients must sit together (as one) at room temperature as I invoke the spirit of all the great B.L.T. makers in all the luncheonettes in the greater metropolitan area of New York. I heat my cast iron skillet (using a Teflon pan would be heresy) to a comfortable medium heat. I lay the bacon down 4 strips per sandwich and as I do the strips greet the metal with a friendly sizzle “hello”. As they are slowly cooking I cut the tomato's, neither too thin or too thick and lay them down ever so gently on a plate to await their glorious marriage. The lettuce has been carefully washed and spun with all traces of ribs removed. The mayonnaise jar is open and waiting to join this eatable canvass.
Once the bacon is turned the toast swings into action. It has to be brown all the way but with no traces of crusty darkness.As the toast is finishing I remove the bacon and pat it down with a paper towel. Now it's time to assemble my edible equinox creation. Mayo on both pieces of toast, then the tomato's and I prefer the lettuce between the tomato and the bacon, for I feel it's texturally more secure that way. I don't want an immediate confluence of tomato and bacon; I like the lettuce to work as a buffer. Here's where many folks really go askew: they push the bread down so hard that the bacon is crushed. No, no a thousand times no. One must gently, ever so gently caress the concoction together. After which one will take a sharp knife and make a diagonal cut. A straight cut is what people from small towns in Nebraska and Ohio do. Those of use who are members of the B.L.T. illuminati always make a diagonal cut. The masterpiece will then be placed on a plate and then consumed in a way as to enjoy the warm and crunchy (yet still pliable) bacon, the exploding sensation of a dry farm Molino tomato, the juicy lettuce, the condiment-ing mayonnaise and ever so supportive bread. My first Ultimate B.L.T. goes to my neighbor for her birthday. With that offering I realize now that I am truly invoking the Japanese Equinox celebration of Hign-e. Yes with my ultimate B.L.T. offering I am illustrating the six perfections: perseverance, effort, meditation, wisdom, observance of precepts, and giving.
11/13/07: Even standing in the cold rain, the Baroque facades on these buildings are fantastic. Brussels has some of the best architecture in the world, all types, all styles. Standing in the middle of the main town square one is overwhelmed with the magnitude of detail and size.
11/14/07: I am currently in Brugge in NW Belgium. It appears to be a quiet town with all old and small buildings, perhaps pre-Victorian, with a network of canals similar, but without the gondolas and singing rip-off-the-tourist gondoleers. I'll learn more tomorrow as we get a tour prior to dinner.
12/5/07: Just finished a fresh grilled tilapia sandwich while sitting outside looking at the expansive white sands of Clearwater Beach and the far reaches of the Gulf of Mexico, realizing I am flying back to DC tomorrow morning into the remnants of the latest Alberta Clipper to wreak havoc on the Nation's Capitol. Enough to upset the strongest and staunchest among us.
Smack in the middle of the slum-mulligan of Manhattan's lower East Side two barefaced, rectangular apartments rear their bricks twelve stories into the air. Jointly christened Knickerbocker Village, they cover four whole city blocks. Between the two units is a concrete playground, and within each will be a garden. Each of the 1,593 apartments has wooden parquet floors, electric refrigeration, tiled bathrooms, outside windows. The elevators are self-operating. Rentals range from $22.50 for 2½ rooms on the ground floor to $87.50 for a 5½-room penthouse. Average is $12.50 a room. Knickerbocker Village will cost about $9,000,000, and with the exception of Rockefeller Center is the only large structure which Manhattanites have noticed abuilding these last two years. Last week it was ready for occupancy.
Because Knickerbocker Village is also Manhattan's first experiment in government-financed, low-cost housing, RFC's Chairman Jesse H. Jones, East-Sider Alfred E. Smith, many a minor wig gathered in its banner-decked playground to mark the day. Said Al Smith: "I was tempted to swap the Empire State Building." Chairman Jones thumped the tub of slum clearance. Informed that the first of the two units was already 95% rented, while the second unit (to be opened Dec. 1) was 50% rented, he waved an expansive hand at the holiday bunting, declared: "I know of no ... safer investment for public funds than to clear about 500 acres of your slums."*
Whether or not Knickerbocker Village was a fitting inspiration for such official rejoicing was last week a red hot sociological question.
In 1929 Realtor Fred Fillmore French began buying land on the lower East Side. By swearing his 42 brokers to secrecy and using dummy corporations, he managed to get some 15 acres for $5,000,000. Then in 1931 he announced a grandiose scheme for the erection of a $50,000,000 development for junior Wall Street executives. At this point he found that he could not get credit. At the same time Fred F. French Operators, Inc. began passing its dividends on $14,000,000 of preferred stock. The project remained only a scheme with a staggering upkeep in land taxes.
When Congress authorized the RFC to make loans on slum clearance projects, Realtor French picked out the worst block in his holdings and ecstatically presented it to Mr. Jones as a worthy subject for clearance. His choice was "Lung Block," so called because of its high tuberculosis mortality rate. On it lived 650 families. In its backyards were seven jakes. On this fester Mr. French proposed to build a low-cost housing project. Mr. Jones agreed to do business, and RFC lent 85% of the required $9,000.000.
Average cost of "Lung Block" to Knickerbocker Village was high: $3,116,000, or $14 per square foot. The tax assessment was therefore reduced by two-thirds to bring the monthly room rental down to the $12.50 stipulated by the RFC. Because the average rental on "Lung Block" had been about $5 a room, Knickerbocker Village remained a low-cost housing project only in the minds of the white collar workers, who proceeded to fill it.
It's been awhile since I last went off on a tangent about the love of my life. Long time readers know exactly who I'm talking about. That's right, I'm talking about the king of cool and the sexiest man to have ever lived DEAN MARTIN. Oh my beautiful Dino, my obsession with you gets stronger all the time. Wait, I just remembered Jay and Jo were going to drive across country with me so I can lay across his grave. Remember Jo? You promised to pack snacks and not remove my leather boots. *Sigh* what a wonderful trip that would be.
This is one of my favorite Dino songs. He is such a goofy bastard he screws up the whole thing and it's perfectly delightful that way.
And you tell me there is no one you want to see in a sex video??? This one ranks up there with Mr. T.
He's sooo smooth. I love his sexy, lazy smile...always looks like he's chuckling over something naughty he just did.
He always looked like he was having fun and I think that is what made such a difference. Okay, I now have to admit that I am old enough to remember seeing him on telly and watching his show. Back when they could smoke and drink on air!
DEAN MARTIN? Jesus lady, you are 24. Dean was way cool and I don't want to take that away from the man but he is like fucking, you know, dead. Died in 1995.
Well, he was born in 1917 so that is like a long fucking time ago you know. He was 26 years older than I am.
I wonder if his pecker still got up once a day when he was my age, I know that I have to keep slapping mine down.
Oh yeah, I won a sing off with King Of The Road one night. And I've been told that I do Dang Me better than Roger Miller did.
Leighann- When I started writing I was talking about you but then I thought it might make you uncomfortable so I switched the name at the last minute.
Tha Bossmack- Welcome and thanks. One request though, please don't call me babygurl. It really creeps me out.
Single- I just looked at your blog and caught on. He must have found his way here through you. Damn that hot eye of yours! Dean does have a sexy smile. I sent an e-mail your way.
Jo- Just don't make me wear tennis shoes/sneakers or whatever they are called. You don't want to make me cry. You are right about the lap thing. He is that good. You wouldn't know what happened until a week later. Hence that naughty smile.
Reb- I have a few dvd's and tapes of his show. He never let go of whatever he was smoking. I wish I could watch them non stop.
Billy- I know, he died on Christmas Day when I was twelve. I didn't even become obsessed with him for several years after that. Makes no difference though. I think it would be weirder if I were that obsessed with someone living. That would be scary. You know what else is scary? Fourteen inches. Geez!
GR- You can't catch STD's through his pants. Wait, can you? Well, maybe lay down some saran wrap first.
Fantastic. Dino was the man. It's understandable, but a shame that his heart broke after his son died. Dean was the MAN!! Cheers Knight!!
Coolest cat in the ratpack would be so cool if he and frank were around to see george clooney and brad pitt remake oceans 11 I am an older one, always loved his show as well as the classic Dean Martin celebrity Roasts get those dvds if you havent ever seen them knight they will satisfy your obsession even more when the moon in the sky like a big pizza pie thats amore salud dino
I mentioned over at Jay's post that I could see you as Kim Novak. I know Kim was in a movie with Frank but I always wanted to be her in a movie with Dean.
I listen to his music all the time. I always wanted to touch his craggy face. I loved his TV show, especially when he'd jump on the piano without ever spilling a drop from his highball glass and never an ash fell from the cigarette.
I love that someone your age appreciates a man like Dean. I'd like to adopt you now. And I'd like to come on the road trip. I'll bring extra boots.
Matt-Man- Yes, I remember reading what his daughter wrote about that situation. He just stopped living after his son was gone.
Robert- I think Frank would have George and Brad offed for such behaviour. Dean would laugh at them. I do have some of the roasts on tape. They were hilarious. You laugh the entire time.
Dianne- Me as Novak? You flatterer! I wish. How did he get on the piano without ever spilling anything? How could that be? But it's true. I don't think his daughters were terribly fond of the way he wasn't around growing up. I read Deana's book. I would love if you adopted me! Of course you are welcome to join us on the road trip.
Im just curious do you have videos of deans movies with Jerry Lewis??? And wasn't he a detective in a matt helm movie once or something like that??? You are so right, those roasts were hilarious Didn't dean have a thing for angie dickinson??? Are you blonde or brunette miss knight?? maybe you could have made a good lana turner or natalie wood ah hollywood lol
(see more pictures at the bottom of page) -(Click on Blog Archive on bottom right to see older posts and pictures)
As part of our Lenten Spiritual Programme our Commandery and Auxiliary joined with Brothers and Sisters of the 3rd District Commandery on the 27th of February to The Franciscan Valley of Prayer and Silence in Saltpond in the Central Region.
We all met at the church premises at dawn and by 6.00 am we were on our way. There was a welcome speech and a talk on repentance and the cardinal and venial sins and how to atone for them. We had Confession and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and then we went for a walk following the way of the Cross. All 14 Stations of the Cross were completed up a ruggedly hill and even to the real life size tomb. After this we went on a steep climb depicting the way to heaven. This was an experience on how difficult the journey in life to paradise is. The joy and happiness when we reached the top was evident in the faces of the pilgrims and the view of Gods creation before us, the hills, valley, sea, horizon, landscape and forest was amazing, especially to those of us who lived in cities.
We came back down from the breathtaking view and Holy Mass was celebrated by three priests. The 3rd District Commandery and District 4 Ladies Auxiliary made a presentation of Ghc1,200 to the Conventual Franciscan friars who are in charge of the Valley.
The Ladies Co-ordinating Committee was established to co-ordinate the activities of the three Grand Ladies Auxiliaries in Ghana with Sis. Josephine Sey as the first Chairperson.
The Ladies Auxiliary have been very active in organising in all the five countries in West Africa. The first Ladies Auxiliary was organised in Liberia followed by Philomena's Auxiliary at Sekondi, then Kumasi, Keta and Denu respectively all in Ghana. The ladies are a strong support of the Knights whenever they turnout.(A turnout is when the Order appears for an event in full military uniform)
Running concurrently with the Knights and Ladies are the Cadet Commanderies & Junior Auxiliaries. These are the nursery stages of the Order where young boys and girls, as future leaders, are groomed to take over from the older Knights and Ladies.
Meeting Days of Commandery and Auxilliary of Queen of Peace, Madina - All meetings are held at the Queen of Peace Catholic School premises.
The Patron Saint of the Ladies Auxiliary is The Blessed Virgin Mary and her colours are Blue for love and White for purity
In 1981 Brothers & Sisters started settling around the Queen of Peace Parish in Madina. The numbers continued to increase with its members of the Order from different Commanderies and Auxiliaries settling in Madina and its outstations i.e. Ashaley Botwe, Adenta, Kwabenya and Ashongman.A zonal group was formed with members from different Commanderies and Auxiliaries. These numbered about 50, as the numbers increased members began thinking of establishing a Commandery and Auxiliary in the Queen of Peace Parish.In no time,36 new applicants were recruited,these fresh applicants were under the guidance of eight faithful brothers who held aloft the hope for a Commandery for the Parish.An application for a Charter was sent to the Supreme Headquarters in the USA. On 18th July 2004, the Queen of Peace Commandery #604 was chartered with new members only. The Sisters held meetings with the Deputy Organizer, Sister Elsina Kakrabah-Quarshie. Elections were held and an application for a Charter was submitted to the Supreme Headquarters in the USA.On the 27th of October 2004 the Queen of Peace Ladies Auxiliary #510 was chartered.Inauguration for both was on the 6th May 2005
The eight points of the cross are the signs of Eight Beatitudes given at the Sermon on the Mount by our Lord Jesus Christ which you must forever preserve. These are:-
Almighty God, in your infinite wisdom and love, you chose John the Baptist as precursor for us guiding our souls into the way of eternal salvation.
Queen of Peace celebrated their 10th Anniversary in grand style. The theme for the celebration was "Celebrating 10 years of the Lord's favour. Come let us praise the Lord". A series of activities were organised prior to the final ThanksgivingMass held on 31st May 2015. Events included a health walk
where we all trecked up the Aburi mountain early in the morning and ended with a keep fit session of moves and dance. We also held a dinner dance, where Citations and Certificates were presented to some members.
On the 31st May Holy Mass was celebrated by the Most Reverend Gabriel Edoe Kumordji, Bishop of Donkorkrom. The con-celebrants were Rev. Fr. Charles Owusu Ansah and Rev Fr. Nimorious Domanzing.
After Mass there was the introduction of the officers of the newly inaugurated Accra East District 3 Ladies Auxiliary of which Queen of Peace is a part. The programme ended joyfully with Cadets and Juniors being awarded certificates of merit. .