cityrag

Moving Images
pics out the car window...

crotan reservoir

west river

Johnny Depp + ? = bar fight
in the early 90's alphabet city was in it's final days as a subversive haven for the sex, drugs and rock and roll lifestyle. back then we bartended at NoTell Motel and Babyland, 2 of the best east village bars that ever were. after hours parties, drug abuse, naked dancing and bar fights were a nightly occurrence. the bars were packed every night with local artists, musicians, filmmakers, writers, punks and celebrities out for a taste of east village anarchy. some crazy stuff went down. like the Johnny Depp Babyland fight...

here's what was written in People, 10/3/94 (without any real info, no one was talking) ... "The night after his release from jail, Depp, flanked by leather-clad, heavily tattooed bikers, was at Babyland, a Lower East Side bar filled with cribs and nursery paraphernalia. Price, a Manhattan pipe fitter, claims that Depp bumped into him at the club's bar, after which Price says he was pummeled by the biker bodyguards and hit with a rocking horse."

here's what we recall...
Depp was in the bar with Jonathan Shaw (a well known tattoo artist who's done many of Depp's tattoos.) near them were a bunch of hard core bikers (they weren't body guards.) Depp was hanging out having a good time, everyone was being cool and leaving him alone (that the creed back then). this big mouth who's shitfaced drunk starts getting loud about Depp being there. he goes up to where Depp is sitting - PULLS IT OUT and says "hey Johnny Depp - SUCK MY COCK"! - BAM -everyone is out of their seat and fists are flying left and right at the guy. he was beat down with all kinds of baby stuff - cribs, toys. Depp got out. cops came, shit went down. it was an f'ing madhouse. a classic EV bar fight.

lesson: don't tell bikers to suck your dick (or someone close by them)

Respect

a 24 year young man died last week on the lower east side. candles were lit, bottles poured out and other tokens left in tribute and memorial.

Popping our cherry bomb
growing up in NYC our fireworks experience went like this... sparklers bought at convenience store at the jersey shore, small fireworks scored at local Italian sandwich shop, start to get fireworks regularly in Chinatown, find bigger stuff over in Little Italy, stops at South of the Boarder and other roadside stands on trips down south.

last week we discovered fireworks nirvana - a back woods hidden warehouse! (2 hours from NYC) Fireworks Express right over the NJ boarder in Maryland. lots of BIG aerial items, like we've never had access to. and cheap prices. JACKPOT BABY! for $230 bucks ($190 online + $40 there) we got TONS of stuff. 3-4 big shows, and lots of smaller novelty stuff for the nephews. the packaging is so fantastic and fabulous. it was like Christmas...

18 inch mortars with 6 inch shells that explode into 4 bursts/breaks like - "gold bees, blue/red star, silver dragon, crackle shower". 3 different boxes for $65. all kinds of roman candles $5 a pack, many different 100+ shot aerial shows - all around $3 each.

cute mini fountains .25 cents for a box of 5 (novelty ground items, tanks, cars and stuff - were between .25 cents and $2 and were buy 1 get 1 free!)

orders can be placed online (lots of freebies and discounts online) -or buy there. $200 minimum and you have to have an out of state drivers license (they can't sell to MD residents.) directions are: 123 Peninsula Drive - From : I-95 Take Exit #100A(Go 1 mile South on Route 272 to Peninsula Dr, turn West at Holiday Inn Express

direction lead to a run down industrial park in MD. go down a dirt road (barbwire on all around) and see a run down warehouse with lots of abandoned trucks that say "explosives". it's a bit weird, but inside the warehouse is PACKED with all kinds of amazing fireworks. they're open year-round, everyday until July 4th with extended hours - phone number 918-491-6262.

Buddy likes baths...

but Buddy don't like wet ears...

so Buddy gets the blower, and is clean and happy...

the end (thanks Sarah for Buddy's first email :-)

The V Lounge
on sweltering days you step down to the 2nd Ave F train and there it - the uptown V train waiting to start it’s run across the platform. icy cold air conditioning and plenty of seats. come on in and sit down while you wait for the F train (or better yet – it might just pull and and take you to your stop.) it’s the V Lounge!

Invincible Spirit

Govener GovNor
graf on abandoned building next to the Loreley on Rivington off Chrystie -