It's been 663 days since I have been in NYC. That is way too long to be away from a place that I love. Yes, I do love this city. I have loved it for as long as I can remember. It is not blind love. I do understand this city has its faults. I also understand NYC is not for everyone. But more people choose to live in NYC than any other city in America, so I am not alone in loving this city. From the moment I step outside to hail a cab at LaGuardia, I can feel the energy of NYC. I never feel that in any other city. I have joked that I need NYC like a junkie needs heroin. This city gives me that same euphoric feeling.
I also love my family. I have a list of jobs that my Aunt Maryann needs to be done at her house. So I started my day with a trip to the local hardware store. I only had to walk a block up Elliot Avenue to pick up lunch at Andrew's Pizza. My first slice in 663 days. Damn you Covid! Only a pandemic could keep me away from a NYC slice of pizza.
This trip to NYC is the first flight we have taken since February 2020. This is also the first time I've seen anyone in my family since October 2019. It felt so good to hug my cousin Terri when we went to Zum Stammtisch for dinner.
Zum Stammtisch is a German Restaurant on Myrtle Avenue in Queens.
I miss NYC pretzels as much as I miss the pizza. This pretzel almost brought tears to my eyes.
Kasespatzle
Another thing I love about New York City is the ethnic restaurants. The old school ones like this place make you feel like you are eating in Germany. After ordering our dinners, I went with Dom to the deli side of Zum Stammtisch.
He picked up lunch meat for sandwiches and I took pictures of deli meats, some that I haven't seen in years.
It's hard to explain the joy that a simple dinner out with my Aunt and cousins brought me after being away for so long. Since Covid affected all of us, I'm guessing you already know how I felt being surrounded by family that I love.
Day 2
The restaurants on Woodhaven Blvd in my Aunt's neighborhood have built some impressive outdoor eating areas. We took the Q53 Express bus to Rockaway this morning.
Rockaway Beach has been my favorite beach since the 1970s. My grandfather would take us here when we visited in the summer. It has great waves for body surfing. A perfect way to spend a day in NYC.
Christy is so happy a lady was selling Italian Ices on the beach. Even though the waves were not that good, I spent most of the day in the Atlantic Ocean. I got a few good rides and it felt great to be in the ocean again. I spent some time floating on my back and letting the water take me where ever it wanted. That is what my grandfather used to do when I was a kid. While I stayed where the waves were breaking so I could ride them, he floated further out and floated over the rolling waves. As I floated out there today, I realized I am currently about the same age he was on those trips to Rockaway in the '70's.
When I first brought Christy to NYC in 1985, I had no idea she would love this city as much as I do 36 years later. Here she is buying another Italian Ice on 116th Street...
...while I got a slice of pizza a few doors down the street.
After dinner with my Aunt, we ended the night on the back porch with the "Monk".
Day 3
Whenever I think of home, it is my grandparent's fourth-floor apartment on the left side of the last four-story building in this picture taken from Fresh Pond Road subway station.
Christy doing her best Vanna White as I solve the puzzle of "What NYC Subway Station have I been to the most?"
A 56 year old man sitting on the stoop of the apartment building he once walked up from his 2nd floor apartment to his grandparents 4th floor apartment all by himself 54 years ago.
This 108-year-old building is where I have so many great memories from my childhood through my so-called adulthood.
I once hit a spladeen onto the roof of this building during a stickball game from a half block down 64st (it is a short block). The highlight of my stickball days.
Christy and I walked through the neighborhood. The buildings were familiar to me but most of the businesses were unfamiliar to me. I am pretty sure this used to be the Evergreen Bar where my Grandma’s cousin Jerry was the bartender. I watched a few Mets games here as a kid with Jerry giving me free sodas.
It used to be a German neighborhood, it seems to have diversified a bit.
After walking along Fresh Pond Road for a few blocks, this is one of two businesses I recognize from my childhood.
Corato's Pizzeria is the other one. It has moved across the street but still serves a great slice of pizza and garlic knots. Back when I was a kid, we were staying at my grandparent's apartment and me and my dad were the last ones up late one night watching TV. He asked if I wanted some pizza. I said sure. He said he would pay if I went to get it. So I ran to Corato’s after midnight and picked up a pie. The older kids and others on their stoops kept saying come on kid I want a slice of pizza as I ran by them. I’m pretty sure we ate that whole pizza by ourselves.
Of course, we got lemon Italian Ices on our way out of Corato's which Christy is still savoring as we wait for a train to Manhattan.
We started in Manhattan on the Lower East Side to pick up a jar of barrel fresh pickles. Some 3/4 sour and some full sour.
If you are in NYC, stop at Grand and Essex and discover how good a pickle can be.
Even though the LES has been gentrified, there is still some great street art to be found walking through the neighborhood.
Too bad this place was closed.
It was a beautiful day in the city, but it was very hot. I had Christy pose under the Delancy & Chrystie sign. Then I promised to find a Mister Softee truck for her. I knew we could find one at Union Square Park. So we headed uptown.
We walked past the incredible Grace Church at E 10th and Broadway.
After spending some time with God...
...we found Mister Softee, an angel on the hot & muggy streets of NYC on 15th Street across Broadway from Union Square Park.
The twist cone and an air-conditioned subway car were just what these two oldtimers needed.
Our night ended with the Monk, some German wafer cookies, and a bag of Wise Garlic and Onion chips.
We convinced my Aunt Maryann to join us on another trip to Rockaway Park. It is another 90-degree day in the city. The beach is the best place to be.
I saw this little cafe on our last bus ride to Rockaway. Today I got a picture. We will have to try Bernadette's someday with my mom.
Maryann is happy to be at the beach. She also spent her younger years at Rockway Beach.
Yes I was disappointed there were no waves again today...
...but I am at Rockaway with family so this is a great day.
The beach is really empty considering how hot it is today.
It seems really strange to see Rockaway so empty.
I deliver a pizza to these two on the beach.
The view from my blanket on the beach.
We had some time before the next B53 bus leaves 116th Street so we stopped here.
This is a picture of 116th St eighty years ago.
Maryann treated us today at Nick's Italian Ice.
Trust me, there is a big smile hidden by that cup full of lemon ice.
The local subway station.
You know it's going to be a good day when the Pink Panther greets you on the way to the subway.
We entered the Bronx Zoo at the Bronx River entrance. Even though we just walked several blocks from the subway to the zoo, it is hard to believe we are in the city once we entered the zoo.
Christy knows people at zoos all over the country. Today we had zookeepers feed the bears treats as they took us around the exhibit.
We also had keepers throw chunks of meat into the African Wild Dogs exhibit.
We rode the Wild Asia Monorail.
On our way out of the zoo, Christy noticed there were a few Zoo employees at the bison exhibit. So we walked over and were told this calf was born an hour ago on exhibit. It was so cool to see a newborn bison.
Obviously, we've been to a lot of zoos. It's been some years since we've been to the Bronx Zoo. This is an amazing zoo. Walking the grounds here makes you feel like you are walking out in natural areas for these animals. It truly is an incredible way to spend a day. Just another reason why I love this city.
We found a street vendor selling Italian Ices on Pelham Parkway under the elevated subway tracks.
I've seen this several times on this trip. I like the message.
After a tasty dinner at London Lennie's, we ended the night with the monk while relaxing on the back porch.
After spending the day working at my Aunt's house, Christy and I met my cousin Michelle for dinner in Brooklyn. We picked this German restaurant Black Forest because it is near where Michelle is staying and we've eaten here on previous visits.
Michelle insisted on taking pictures of us. Sure I was smiling because that plate of schnitzel looks fantastic. But it is also because it is so good to see family after 15 months of isolation.
Christy seems even happier to be in NYC than me.
After dinner, we walked around Carrol Gardens and Downtown Brooklyn.
As we walked around catching up with Michelle, I took a few pictures.
Baresi is a family name on my Italian side so I had to take this picture.
The streets of New York City are full of so many things to photograph.
This bakery was still open at 10:30 pm. Yet another reason I love this city.
Day 7
I saw this on the subway walls at the Woodhaven Blvd station. It made me laugh every day. So I took a picture of it.
It's our last day in NYC. We met Michelle again today. This time at the Farmer's Market in Union Square Park. This is a great market.
I love farmers with a musical sense of humor.
The contrast of a Farmer's Market with six-story buildings surrounding it makes for interesting photos in my opinion.
There are always groups with a wide range of issues or ideas in this park. It is one of my favorite parks in this city because there is always something going on here.
We headed downtown just to aimlessly wander through my favorite city.
I famously hate these modern steel and glass buildings.
But this one caught my photography eye because of the Picasso like reflections of the stone buildings reflected on the glass.
Anyone who has ever walked with me already knows that I will always fall behind when I am taking pictures. Christy and Michelle kept walking and I kept taking pictures.
I caught up with them because there was a line for Levain Bakery.
We ate our cookies from Levain Bakery in Washington Square Park. This is another place my Grandfather always took us. It truly is a great city park where something interesting is always happening...
...today it is a reincarnation festival. Believe me, I couldn't make this up.
I love city parks because of my many childhood visits to Central Park and this beautifully eccentric park.
We took the F train from West 4th St to Carrol St in Brooklyn. I had to have a couple of slices before we head home tonight.
Pasticceria Monteleone is like walking into a dream. We have been coming here since I first stopped here in 2010.
We loaded up on Italian cookies, a few pastries, and my very expensive favorites pignolis.
We had about an hour at my Aunt Maryann's house before the taxi ride to Laguardia Airport. After packing everything up, I had my favorite food in the entire city. My Aunt Maryann had a pan of veal cutlets for me. I finished 5 of the 8 cutlets, then we had the pastries and cannolis from the pasticceria.
Of course, the Monk showed up to say goodbye to us.
Christy doing her best Faye Wray at the airport.
The best part of leaving NYC to me is taking it home with me. Caputo's is down the street from Monteleone. Two amazing bakeries a block from each other on Court Street in Brooklyn.
Let's just say these Italian cookies didn't last long once we got home.
It's already been 180 days since I've been to NYC. I have to get back there soon.
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