I’m going to be absent for a while so this might be my last visit to Veniero’s for a while. So, I bought a lot (the 10″ NY style cheesecake now cost $39)… just crazy! New discovery: the coconut cake is awesome!!
112 E 11th St @ 4th/3rd Aves
New York, NY 10003
This French / Mediterranean restaurant in the East Village is a return.
They’ve a few sections and outdoor area. The main dining hall has high ceiling, is my fave. The live music during our brunch is bit loud but over all is enjoyable: nice atmosphere, food and service.
Both Contadina (the garlic bread is bit too salty) and Steak Au Poivre are really good.
Germany‘s classical music scene is very much alive, I took some of them, from concerts to operas during this trip. Surprisingly, I even ran into Midori whom I haven’t heard from in decades.
According to New Yorker‘s 2022.6.20 issue, A Grand Tour of Germany’s Opera Paradise ⇓ Germany has 80 permanent opera house that putting out 7,000 to 8,000 performance each year, which is third of the world total.
The Grand Tour of Germany’s Opera Paradise
Germany is, on statistical grounds, the most operatic country on earth. The Bundesrepublik has more than eighty permanent opera houses, which in a typical season present seven or eight thousand performances
This park bordering Nassau-Suffolk is relatively new: since 2002. The narrow park, runs between 2 other state parks: Bethpage and Cold Spring Harbor. We parked at Woodbury Road lot, (it doesn’t seem to have a bathroom) and walked white trail.
Green, green and very green. The white/yellow flowers are Japanese honeysuckle.
Panicum and Honeysuckle plant
Wineberry and Oriental lady’s-thumb smartweed
1027 Flatbush Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11226
A lovely live performance venue that seat 3,000. It was first opened in 1929 and operated by Loew’s till 1977 when it closed. The last film there was Bruce Lee: The Man, The Myth 李小龍傳奇/李小龙传奇 that was released in Hong Kong in 1976.
After a few years restoration, it reopened in 2015. The interior is pretty
and grand, which is 1929 appearance, but the stage is modernized.
This was one of five “Loew’s Wonder Theatres” in New York. Lo Ta You 罗大佑 held his concert here in 2022.
Parking isn’t easy. We gambled in a private lot behind the theater – can’t find pay meter after parked. It was ok for us, luckily.
132 2nd Ave
New York, NY 10003
Will return: good food and people with friendly price.
After the concert in Brooklyn, we looked for a restaurant that opens late and allows our own bottle.
The interior of this East Village branch is down to earth and very casual. Their ribs are tenderly cooked (off the bone) and are tasty, although some are on the sweet side. The portions are big – there were eight of us, with two college boys. Yet, we could only finished half the meat we ordered, and multiple doggie bags to take home with.
There is a photographer milling around who offered to take pictures for us … then offered one complimentary and the rest sells at $15 each when buying at least two. We did buy, out of … who needs prints nowadays?
When bill came, the friend who insisted of paying, asked me how much tips he should leave – new in US. I looked and said, just double the tax.
“Make sure they haven’t …” Another friend reminded me.
“No they didn’t.” I said.
…
And of course they did and Irene just doesn’t see it or can’t read…
They allowed us to have the Buffalo Trace (no corkage fee). I never liked bourbon’s taste, earthy or like dirt … but this one is pretty good, especially on the rocks. Three of them finished the bottle.
We closed their shop. Good times had by all. Thank you!
Kings Theatre
1027 Flatbush Ave., Brooklyn
This is my first ever Chinese singer’s concert. I suspect that I’m the only non-fan in the audience. The reaction is strong, even he hits the wrong notes and couldn’t reach high notes: 还是老了, 嗓音已然不行了 还走调.
Luo Dayou (Lo Ta-yu/罗大佑/羅大佑; 1954-) is an icon not only in Taiwan, but Hong Kong and China. His sister modestly told me that he’s the 教父, the grandfather of pop culture. He has a ten years old daughter.
Looking him up on the internet, did I realize that 明天会更好 Tomorrow Will be Better was written by him, music and lyrics.
I was in Hong Kong when this song hit the wave and street in Oct 1985, after the first charity song, Do They Know It’s Christmas? in Dec 1984 in London and followed by We’re the World in March 1985 in US. However, I couldn’t remember it was the Cantonese version or the Mandarine version, which is widely circulated, led by Su Rui (苏芮/蘇芮,1952-). All I remembered is Jenny Tseng 甄妮 (1953-).
A little background of the song: 1982, UN General Assembly adopted proposal by Costa Rica to designate 1986 as the “International Year of Peace.” The following year (
EU agrees on all phones/tablets must use the same charging ports in two years. Wondering how much time has they spent in reaching this consensus. For me, an ordinary consumer, I care more about the other end of the wire: the wall side of it – because this is the end that decides if you can charge or not. For example, Germany or Europe in that regard, is lagging behind US and China, even the 4-star hotel in Berlin doesn’t have usb charging port. It’s simply bewildering.
Apple has to change
One of many areas in Tampa. 7th Avenue is the Main Street, filled with cigar bars and restaurants. It’s pretty dead during the day but very much alive after 9pm.
Restaurants & wine bars
… other destinations
Are
you
on
the
Highway
to
hell?
Am I???
There are many road side signs on 7th Avenue or around Ybor:
THE ROUGH RIDERS RODE BY HERE 1898: The intersection of Seventh Avenue and Twenty second Street was a sandy cross-road connecting three army encampments in the Ybor City area during the Spanish-American War.
At this cross-road was located a water-trough where the Rough Riders watered their mounts.
Col. “Teddy” Roosevelt frequently rode by here on his horse “Texas,” followed by his little dog, “Cuba.”
Erected by the Columbia Restaurant 1961
The Krewe of the Knights of Sant’ Yago
In 1175, Pope Alexander III, authorized “La Orden Real Sant’ Yago” to protect the Pilgrims’ Way to the shrine of Santiago (St. James), at Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain. Among the Spanish conquerors of America, Ponce De Leon, Panfilo De Narvaez and Hernando De Soto were members.
In 1972, Ybor City civic leaders, Dr. Henry Fernandez, Cesar Gonzmart, Joe Granda, Joe Lopez, and Daniel Martinez obtained the first charter of the Order in America. The Krewe is dedicated to the preservation of Latin traditions in Tampa. The Columbia Restuarant is Krewe headquarters. Many of its functions are held here.
This road side sign was erected in the memory of Don Giovanni A. Grimaldi:
“With the advent of the cigar industry in 1886, the Italians were attracted in mass to the environs of Ybor City. They found employment in cigar factories, the building of the Tampa Bay Hotel, the construction of railroads, and farming.
The Italians settled in the eastern area of Ybor City, then called “La Pachata” in honor of a Cuban rent collector and the first settler in the area.
Their descendants have achieved high political positions and notable success in the fields of finance, commerce, and various professions. Their contributions to the growth and cultural life of the Tampa Community have been substantial.”
A night out June 2024
Halloween 2023
620 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY
The Art Deco six story structure with a limestone facade British Empire Building, was designed by Raymond Hood (1881-1934), who was the principal architect of the Rockefeller Center. It competed in 1933. The rooftop garden is a popular venue for events and weddings. The current store on the 5th Ave is Cole Haan.
