All posts by louise crawford
Memories of My Dad From An Old Friend
An old friend, who now lives in Northern California, wrote me a lovely email full of memories about my dad.
I have been
thinking about our childhood together and your Dad today. In
particular, remembering sometimes when I would come to dinner, and how
funny, and warm, and yet awe-inspiring your Dad was at the same time.
Perched on the moderne black dining room chairs with the cold leather
and the wind whistling outside from the Drive, the Fiesta china, and
your Dad's understated and really keen questions, observations,
hilarious jokes, until he had had enough, and his attention went on to
other things. At those dinners, I felt really intimidated and yet
excited at the same time.
thinking about our childhood together and your Dad today. In
particular, remembering sometimes when I would come to dinner, and how
funny, and warm, and yet awe-inspiring your Dad was at the same time.
Perched on the moderne black dining room chairs with the cold leather
and the wind whistling outside from the Drive, the Fiesta china, and
your Dad's understated and really keen questions, observations,
hilarious jokes, until he had had enough, and his attention went on to
other things. At those dinners, I felt really intimidated and yet
excited at the same time.
Gosh, and then many
memories of your apartment in the 1960's start to wash in, from the
texture of the carpet in the entrance hall, rough under the feet, and
the piano, that takes me to the bright sound of the Thelonious Monk
improvising on through the wall… oh too much to put in email. And
memories of you guys — though, I have those at least three or four
times a month, thanks to a Nika Hazelton cookbook of American food you
once gave me that is my Bible for good American home cooking- my
younger boy makes a mean chocolate cake from it…
memories of your apartment in the 1960's start to wash in, from the
texture of the carpet in the entrance hall, rough under the feet, and
the piano, that takes me to the bright sound of the Thelonious Monk
improvising on through the wall… oh too much to put in email. And
memories of you guys — though, I have those at least three or four
times a month, thanks to a Nika Hazelton cookbook of American food you
once gave me that is my Bible for good American home cooking- my
younger boy makes a mean chocolate cake from it…
Leon Freilich, Verse Responder: Qualifier
QUALIFIER
You want to go to heaven,
You always say.
But, you quickly add,
Not today.
What’s Been Up With Me?
What a week it has been. I have been tethered to my computer doing a very labor intensive and tedious freelance job.
I have also been working on the OTBKB makeover. I was hoping to launch the new design next week but it looks like the process may take a few more weeks. Elizabeth Reagh of Good Form Design is hard at work on our new logo and programmer/web designer Veronica Paez is hard at work on the new site.
Mid-September is also the 5th anniversary of OTBKB and I must say I am in a reflective state of mind. For the past five years I have rarely missed a day of blogging. Five years. Looking back and forwards, I have been doing a lot of thinking about where I want to go from here.
That said, I am strongly committed to continuing the blog in its new, improved form.
Labor Day is the first anniversary of my father's death. This has also put me in a very melancholy mood; I am having frequent flashbacks about his last days. There is much pain in those memories and it been an extremely difficult year. The loss of my father is a pain that deepens with time.
That said, I have great memories of my father and I miss him very much.
I wasn't planning to blog this Labor Day weekend because of all the above reasons but I know that the elections are coming up and people need information! So I will be back over the next few days with news about the upcoming elections and the candidates that have been vigorously fighting for the people's votes.
Look at the Cicadas: Listen to the Sound of the Cicadas
"" 
You can't miss the sound of the Cicadas on Third Street this year.
Photographer Efrain Gonzalez saw this big Cicada hanging on a tree near Carroll Street on 6th Avenue.
"He was slow enough so I could get a few nice pics. Kewl," says Gonzalez.
Thanks Efrain!
If You Haven’t Been Paying Attention to the Local Political Races: Start Now
The Democratic primary is on September 15th. While many of us were off on summer vacation, the campaigns for Mayor, Comptroller, Public Advocate and City Council have been raging.
There were debates and forums. Many were in the spring when the Democratic clubs were deciding who to endorse and few citizens were paying attention.
During the summer, there was another set of debates/forums while the newspapers decided who to endorse.
In June and July, the campaigns canvassed the neighborhoods in order to get Democrats to sign their petitions so that they could get on the ballots. Maybe you met the candidates then.
Maybe not.
At street fairs, parades, events in Prospect Park, JJ Byrne Park and on Seventh and Fifth Avenues maybe you saw the candidates there.
But maybe you didn't.
In recent weeks your mailbox has probably been full of campaign advertising from City Council candidates like Gary Reilly, Brad Lander, Josh Skaller, John Heyer and Bob Zuckerman in the 39th.
Maybe you read them. Maybe you threw them away.
Because the primary is on September 15th much of the campaigning goes on while citizens are in summer vactation mode. For those of you that think, hey, the 15th doesn't matter because it's just a primary think again.
–This is a Democratic district and the Republicans don't have a chance in the general election.
–That means, the winner of the primary election IS the de facto winner!
(That said, we have a marvelous Green candidate, David Pechefsky, running in the general election. Still, the Green Party has very little chance of winning).
In the next week and a half while citizens return from summer vacation, the kids go back to school and real life starts up again, there is still time to catch up and decide who you want to choose for these important city positions.
For City Council in the 39th district (the seat currently held by Bill di Blasio) there is a great group of candidates. You can read about them here.
For City Council in the 33rd district (the seat currently held by David Yassky, there is a complex and interesting group of candidates. You can read about them here.
I plan this week to do a follow up to my Breakfast-of-Candidates series. I am interested to see where they're at now just a week away from Decision Day. Certainly, they are much more seasoned than they were back in the spring when the campaigns were just heating up.
Certainly, they have matured, focused their positions, become better campaigners. Certainly, they are more sure of themselves and seasoned. They have also sharpened their tallons and have spent much time attacking one another.
In this the last week before the election all is fair in politics and war: the attacks are coming fast and furious. It is important to pay close attention and find out what is just gratuitous attack politics and what might be meaningful. I will try to keep you informed on this.
My job now is to remind you that the City Council election is still wide open and it's up to YOU to decide who is the right person for the job.
NY Times Endorses Jo Anne Simon for City Council in the 33rd
District 33, Brooklyn (Downtown Brooklyn, Greenpoint, Williamsburg, Brooklyn Heights): There are several excellent candidates vying to replace Councilman David Yassky, who’s also running for comptroller. Stephen Levin would be a prime candidate except for his entanglement in the Brooklyn Democratic Party machine. Evan Thies, an aide to Mr. Yassky, has been active on reform and clean-air issues. Jo Anne Simon has an impressive legal background and has been a strong community organizer who has done important work for the disabled. We endorse Ms. Simon.
New York Times Endorses Brad Lander for City Council in the 39th
District 39, Brooklyn (Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, Kensington, Borough Park): The top three candidates to replace Councilman Bill de Blasio, who is running for public advocate, are a remarkable group. Josh Skaller, a former Harvard composer of computer music, has made a name fighting big development in the area. Bob Zuckerman, a former director of the Gowanus Canal Community Development Corporation, is an activist for environmental issues and gay rights. But it is Brad Lander who has the stronger history of working with the diverse issues the Council addresses. As the former director of the Pratt Center for Community Development and longtime director of the Fifth Avenue Committee, Mr. Lander has worked for affordable housing and for more jobs, parks, mass transit and other community needs. We endorse Mr. Lander.
No Words Daily Pix: Photograph by Hugh Crawford
OTBKB Music Video: Sister Sparrow and The Dirty Birds
Sister Sparrow and The Dirty Birds is the name of the band and I'll be
talking about them in more detail in the next week or two. In the
meantime, this video showcases their song Freight Train. But because
it's a making of the song type of video, Freight Train doesn't actually
come in until 1:07 into it. Stick with it though, it's worth it.
–Eliot Wagner
No Words Daily Pix: Photograph by Hugh Crawford
OTBKB Music: Free John Fogerty at The Seaport, 7pm Tonight
John
Fogerty, who usually
plays arenas for big bucks will be playing Pier 17 at The South Street
Seaport for free tonight at 7pm.
As you probably know, John was the leader of Creedence
Clearwater
Revival
back then, and has also written one of the best ever songs
about baseball, Centerfield. He has a new country tinged album
released yesterday, with the grammatically incorrect title of The Blue
Ridge
Rangers Rides Again. I've had a chance to listen to that album and
it's flat out a lot of fun.
That album consists mostly of covers, with only one Forgerty song.
Among the songs are Rick Nelson's Garden Party (with Don Hendley and
Timothy B. Schmidt of the Eagles) and When Will I Be Loved with Bruce
Springsteen singing backup.
While I doubt Bruce will show (although you never know with him),
plenty of other of your fellow New Yorkers will probably crowd onto
Pier 17, so if you are planning to go see John, get there early.
John
Fogerty, Pier 17 at The South Street Seaport, A or C Trains to
Broadway-Nassau or 2 or 3 Trains to Fulton Street (exit at Fulton
Street and walk east to Pier 17), 7pm, free.
–Eliot Wagner
No Words Daily Pix: Photograph by Hugh Crawford
OTBKB is Having a Makeover
In celebration of our 5th anniversary OTBKB is having a makeover. The full spa treatment:
A new look
A new logo
Improved functionality
Great new advertising capabilities
New writers
New content
And lots of the same old great stuff like No Words Daily Pix, Postcard from the Slope, Smartmom, Breakfast-of-Candidates, OTBKB Music by Eliot Wagner, Tom Martinez: Witness, Leon Freilich, Verse Responder, The Feldman Forecast, Greetings From Scott Turner and coming soon OTBKB Movies.
So this week will be catch as catch can while I work with my programmer and designer on all the changes. Hopefully the new site will be up and running soon.
In the meantime, if you're interested in advertising on the new OTBKB shoot me an email…
If you're a journalism student or just a smart person/writer who is interested in interning at OTBKB let me know about that, too. Learn how to edit and run a sucessful blog from a pro: (louise_crawford(at)yahoo.com
I am also looking for a cartoonist.
No Words Daily Pix: Photograph by Hugh Crawford
Tom Martinez, Witness: Bloomberg Arm Wrestles Female Champ
Mayor Michael Bloomberg made a surprise campaign appearance at the New
York Arm Wrestling Association's outdoor competition in southern
Brooklyn near Coney Island. Here he is engaged in a mock battle with
the women's champion, Joyce Boone. The women standing in pink (Pascal,
from Queens) was defeated in an earlier round.
Photo: Tom Martinez
OTBKB Music: John Forgerty at The Seaport for Free
I'm giving you a few days notice on this. John Fogerty, who usually
plays arenas for big bucks will be playing Pier 17 at The South Street
Seaport for free this coming Wednesday, September 2, at 7pm.
As you probably know, John was the leader of Creedence Clearwater
Revival back then, and has also written one of the best ever songs
about baseball, Centerfield. He has a new country tinged album due out
tomorrow, with the grammatically incorrect title of The Blue Ridge
Rangers Rides Again. I've had a chance to listen to that album and
it's flat out a lot of fun.
That album consists mostly of covers, with only one Forgerty song.
Among the songs are Rick Nelson's Garden Party (with Don Hendley and
Timothy B. Schmidt of the Eagles) and When Will I Be Loved with Bruce
Springsteen singing backup.
While I doubt Bruce will show (although you never know with him),
plenty of other of your fellow New Yorkers will probably crowd onto
Pier 17, so if you are planning to go see John, get there early.
John Fogerty, Pier 17 at The South Street Seaport, A or C Trains to
Broadway-Nassau or 2 or 3 Trains to Fulton Street (exit at Fulton
Street and walk east to Pier 17), 7pm, free.
–Eliot Wagner
Tom Martinez, Witness: Bloomberg Arm Wrestles
Mayor Michael Bloomberg at the New York Arm Wrestling Association's
outdoor contest with men's all around champion, Giorgi Gelashvili.
Photo: Tom Martinez
Leon Freilich, Verse Responder: Damn Scamn
DAMN SCAMN
I dreamed I'd suddenly grown old
–Ancient, wrinkled, hoary–
And woke with a rotten feeling
I'd been caught in a horror story.
To reassure myself all's well
And merely had had a bad night ,
I looked in the mirror and spotted a plot–
Someone colored my hair white!
No Words Daily Pix: Photograph by Hugh Crawford
No Words Daily Pix: Photograph by Hugh Crawford
No Words Daily Pix: Photograph by Hugh Crawford
The Current Weather in Park Slope
Brought to you by the Feldman Family from their local weather tower.
Care Bear on Fires on Letterman!
I missed it because we were flying home from California. I just watched the You Tube video of the girls on David Letterman on Wednesday night and they really rocked performing their great song “(Don’t Want to Be Like) Everybody Else” from the new CD, “Get Over It.”
Today is My Birthday!
And my sister's, too.
OTBKB Music: Saturday Night at The Rockwood Music Hall
A good place to hide out from the rain on Saturday would be The
Rockwood Music Hall over on the Lower East Side. It has a pretty good
line up from 9 pm to 2 am.
9pm: Sasha Dobson: An OTBKB Music favorite, Sasha will be playing will
a full band. No doubt she will be playing songs from her upcoming EP,
now scheduled for release in October. Mostly mid tempo rock with
inventive, jazz-inspired vocals and some tasty guitar work.
10 pm: Fionn O Lochlainn: Fionn is a mostly acoustic singer songwriter with wonderful vocals.
11pm: Sister Sparrow and The Dirty Birds: A blues based rock band.
Pierre over at The Gigometer recommends their live show highly (I've
heard them but not yet seen them).
Midnight to 2am: Brooklyn Bugaloo Blowout: A band with a floating
memebership. Tonight's edition includes Leah Siegel, Chris Cheek, Bill
Sims Jr., Andrew Sherman, Tony Mason and Tim Luntzel. Their songs
include I Got Loaded and The Fkin'g Knicks. As their Myspace says, "it
should be a party."
The Rockwood Music Hall, 196 Allen St. (F Train to Second Avenue, take
the First Avenue exit, cross Allen St. and walk 1/2 block south).
–Eliot Wagner
No Words Daily Pix: Photograph by Hugh Crawford
Leon Freilich, Verse Responder: Recession Bonus
Recession Bonus
"Landlords" are gone, replaced by "owners."
"To Let" signs too, "For
Rent."
Language changes with the times
So words don't mean what they meant.
Different too are available flats,
Once exceedingly rare;
Now apartments can be found
Just about anywhere.
All About Fifth: Interview with Stone Park Cafe’s Josh Grinker
All About Fifth , the Fifth Avenue BID blog, has an interview with Stone Park Cafe chef and co-owner Josh Grinker about seasonal cuisines, challenging wines and more. Interviewer Rebeccah Welch asked Grinker: What are the greatest challenges and rewards of being a small business owner?
Grinker:
I will give you a short answer to what I see as a very complicated
problem. The system is not set up to support small businesses, despite
what the politicians say to the media. The tax system is screwy,
insurance is a nightmare and there is a maze of local agencies that
make doing business very difficult. Both locally and on a Federal level
there are inherent policies that if properly enforced would drive
virtually all small business owners in this city out of business. This
is a problem, because it means as a business owner you live with
constant insecurity. Who knows when a Department of Labor officer will
show up at your door and start harassing your employees or a Department
of Sanitation officer will cite you for having some windswept papers at
your doorstep. Immigration is another huge hurdle. I was a student of
labor history in my younger years and owning a small business and
employing and being basically responsible for the livelihoods of twenty
five people has totally changed my perspective on the issues of
advocacy. Advocates and bureaucrats have no idea what they are doing or
how their actions impact the economy and ultimately people’s lives.
I will give you a short answer to what I see as a very complicated
problem. The system is not set up to support small businesses, despite
what the politicians say to the media. The tax system is screwy,
insurance is a nightmare and there is a maze of local agencies that
make doing business very difficult. Both locally and on a Federal level
there are inherent policies that if properly enforced would drive
virtually all small business owners in this city out of business. This
is a problem, because it means as a business owner you live with
constant insecurity. Who knows when a Department of Labor officer will
show up at your door and start harassing your employees or a Department
of Sanitation officer will cite you for having some windswept papers at
your doorstep. Immigration is another huge hurdle. I was a student of
labor history in my younger years and owning a small business and
employing and being basically responsible for the livelihoods of twenty
five people has totally changed my perspective on the issues of
advocacy. Advocates and bureaucrats have no idea what they are doing or
how their actions impact the economy and ultimately people’s lives.
Late Start: We Took the Red Eye From Oakland
The red eye just slays you if you don't sleep a wink on the plane…