SPOTTED PIG ....WHITE HORSE TAVERN ... GREENWICH VILLAGE, NEW YORK

Starting the week off good, as usual with a nice cup of Coffee at my daily coffee stop Once Upon a Tarte on Sullivan Street in Soho. Finished the week up pretty good,  trip to The Metropolitan Museum of Art (some Inspiration) and a night out for some drinks and a Spotted Pig Burger. Plan to meet up  around 8:15 at the Pig. Well as everyone knows, it can be a bit difficult to procure a table here, unless you come after 12:30 or so. But 8:15 on a Sunday Night, you're gonna wait. And wait we did. I figured I'd arrive early and scope things out. Got there at Ten Minutes to Eight. Talked to the Maitre'd, asked how long it would be for a table and that we wanted to sit upstairs. "Upstairs is going to be an hour or more," he stated and asked if I wanted to leave my cel number and he would call. Sounds like a plan. "OK." So I figured I'd head over to The White Horse Tavern for a beer or two while I waited.
     Now for those of you who don't know, The White Horse is quite famous. It's been around for some 130 years or so and is the place where famed poet Dylan Thomas drank himself to death. The place is has seen many famous patrons, including, Bob Dylan, Mary Travers, Jim Morrison, Norman Mailer, and famous Beats such as Jack Kerouac. Well, anyway I've had drinks at the White Horse many times over the years. And in the past few years of so many being out of work with our economy in shambles and little money around, The White Horse with $5.00 Beers and $6.00 drinks is not a bad place to drink if you need a couple pops but don't want to get Raked over The Coals as with $12.00 plus drinks. It's not unusual for places to be charging 16 and 17Dollars for one freakin cocktail, "A Travesty." So Beers and Cocktails at reasonable rates, but it is the History and the fact that it so old and of another era of which very little is to be found anymore, The White Horse Tavern is very attractive prospect.
    So i go into the White Horse and grab the last two stools at the bar. Order up a nice Rolling Rock tallneck and get myself comfy with Cel and Beer waiting to meet up with friend Joel. . Joel gives me a call,he just got off the train. I tell him to come on over to The White Horse. He asks if we're eating there? I retort "No" that we have to wiat for our table at the Pig.
       So now back to The Spotted Pig, The Burger, waiting for a table.. We're half way into our second beers and I get a call from the Maitre'd, our table is ready. We scoot over to the Pig. We get there and they go to give us a table downstairs, then the Maitre'd remembers we wanted to sit upstairs. He apologizes. "No big deal," and we end up having a couple more drinks at the Bar downstairs as we wait for our table. Thirty-five minutes later we get to sit down. "Finally!"
    We order a couple more drinks, Bourbon Old Fashion and Scotch on The Rocks. We put in an order for Deviled Eggs and Devils on Horseback, "Two Devils." Both are pretty good, as are the two Burgers we get, but guess how much it cost. Well we spent $30 for our drinks downstairs, then $110 for our drinks, Deviled Eggs and Burgers upstairs for a grand total of $140 for a few drinks and beers, a couple tiny appetizers, and the two renowned Spotted Pig Burgers. Was it worth it? Yes and No! No because if you consider that we could have had Burgers and the same amount o drinks at, let's say the equally or more famous Corner Bistro for about $60. Complete. We could have saved $80 and done this all over again, twice instead of once. Then again the Yes is that you've got to treat yourself every now and then. To some this $140 would be no big deal. They do it all the time and think nothing of it. To me it is a little bit of a big deal, and it should be. I don't do this everyday. Hey, i had a good time, and yes it was worth it. Oh yeah, didn't I say already it wasn't worth it, "Well Yes and No" it all depends on how you look at it, and we did have a good time, The White Horse Tavern and The Spotted Pig, two places worth checking out. And just one short block apart!





PS .... In the Info section of The Spotted Pig's website where they give you all sorts of info on the restaurant, "excuse me, Gastropub), where to park, hours of operation, etc.,. In the Info section there's a spot Who owns The Spotted Pig? answer they give is
April Bloomfield, Ken Friedman, and some pals. I'll fill in the blanks of "and some pals," in case you don't know, thee "and some Pals" are Mario Batali, Jay Z, and Bono. Yes Bono as in U2 Bono.... Just for your information.
  Later.








Daniel Bellino Zwicke

THE WHITE HORSE TAVERN

DYLAN THOMAS'S LAST DRINK

photo Daniel Bellino Zwicke

UPSTAIRS at The SPOTTED PIG

The CARLYLE and RENAISSANCE at The MET

  Took a trip up to the Metropolitan Museum of Art today. The World's Greatest Museum. "No Question." don't you agree? Well! There are always 3 or 4 Special Shows going on along of course with the vast permanent collection. The show I went to see today was of Renaissance Portraits. And what a show it was, with more pieces than I would have expected and more of one great artist in particular "Botticelli" the great Florentine with such Gorgeous works as Primavera and of course
The Birth of Venus. There were quite a number of Botticelli's in the show, as well as a number of Bellini's and I spotted a Carpaccio. The show was very enjoyable, but enjoyed even more some of my favorites in the museum after I went trhough the Renaissance Show, I browsed a few Caravaggio's,  a couple La Cranche's, some Titian's, Tintoretto's, El Greco's, Canaletto's (scenes of Venice) and even a couple famed Violin's of The Greatest Violin Maker Ever, Antonio Stradivari. Not bad?
 Well, after I left The Met I strolled down Madison Avenue for a few blocks, just enjoying a nice Passigiata down the way, and along the way passed beautifully appointed boutiques madison Avenue is famous for and at 77th and Madison, New York's Coolest most elegant hotel "The Carlyle" a luxurious hotel at its best complete with the renowned Cafe Carlyle where Bobby Short performed and held court for so many years, and my fave "Behmelman's Bar." Stop in and have a drink, "If you can afford it." Doesn't come cheap, but it's worth the Treat.




Daniel Bellino Zwicke

CARAVAGGIO

The LUTE PLAYER

Metropolitan Museum of Art

The CARLYLE

NEW YORK'S COOLEST HOTEL

     

THE DUDE ABIDES

 Thought I'd talk about something dear to my heart today. I have many. The Big Lebowski. Yes, The Big Lebowski, The Cohen Brothers Classic, Cult Classic starring Jeff Bridges as "The DUDE," a lovable "Pothead Slacker" living in LA, Los Angelos, The City of Angels as the Cowboy Drifter Storyteller (Sam Elliot) says, weaving the story throughout. The Dude is accosted by a couple of goons in a case of missing identity. These goons, hired by Porno Mogul "Jacky Trrehorn (played by Ben Gazzara) to collect on a debt to him by one of his Porn Starlets Bunny, otherwise know as Bunny Lebowski. Treehorn sens the goons to collect the debt from Bunny's husband Mr. Jeffrey Lebowski. The goons, instead of going to Bunny's husbands house and collecting from him, mistakenly end up at The Dudes house, trying to ruff him up.
    When of the goons states that your Jeffrey Lebowski and Buuny is your wife, The Dude clammers, "Doe's this place (his apartment) look like I'm Fucking Married?" Then for more proof that he's not married, The Dude says and points out, "Look man, the Fucking Toilet Seat is Up," proof enough to most in America that he's probably not married.
     More mishaps ensure, and the Dude is drawn into a Fake Kidnapping Sceam and other things.
One  of The Dudes great passions, along with Smoking Weed, Kahlua, Drinking White Russians, and listening to Creedance (Clearwater Revival), is Bowling, and much of the film takes place in a bowling alley, bowling with friends and Bowling-Mates Walter (John Goodman) and Donny (Steve Buscemi) as they BS, Drink Beers, and Bowl against Smokey and Arch-Enemies "Quintanna (John Tarturro) and "Liam."
     The Big Lebowski is a funny "Feel Good" movie that has gained astronomical Cult Status that
has garnered many fans who attend Big Lebowski Festivals several times a year in cities around the country. A great movie, if you haven't seen it, put it on your list, and you might become an "Acheiver."










Daniel Bellino ZWICKE

THE DUDE ABIDES

Jeff Bridges as The DUDE

IT'S NATIONAL PEANUT BUTTER DAY ! WHO KNEW ???

ELVIS EATS A PEANUT BUTTER & JELLY SANDWICH

WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE?

National Peanut Butter Day, who knew? Not me! First time I ever heard of it. Yes today on my beloved 1010 WINS NEWS, All-News-Radio, you get a lot of great little facts from them, and I got this little tidbit this morning. I'll have to take note if this fact pops up anywhere else today; on CNN, local TV News, The Daily News or NY Post. We'll see.
     Anyway, yes today, Tuesday January 24 is National Peanut Butter Day in The Us of A. I guess you can say Peanut Butter is a National Treasure, an Icon and something dear to most Americans. Yes we all grow to love it as kids, beginning as toddlers, then on to Kindergarten when Mom packed Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches into our lunch boxes. We loved it then, and it stays with you throughout your life once deeply ingrained into childhood. Yes I eat them still till this very day, PBJ's, Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches. They taste good, and I always have Peanut Butter and Jelly on hand in the house. So if you run out of everything else, the cupboard may be bare, "You always have Peanut Butter and Jelly." It's not just for emergencies, but it's nice to know it's always there. It's great to eat when you're hungry and in a rush, takes just a couple minutes to make and Voila you've got yourself a tasty nutritious PBJ.
    Who was the Biggest Lover of the stuff himself? he loved PBJ'S but is really famous for his Fried Peanut Butter and Fried Banana Sandwiches. Yep! You got that right, "Elvis." God Bless Him.






Daniel Bellino Zwicke

PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY

JFK'S FINAL RECORDINGS Being RELEASED

The SIMPLE PLEASURES of LIFE

 Oh to the simple pleasures of Life. Truly the best things, simple, inexpensive or free, uncomplicated too. They soothe and satisfy. What are they? Different for different people, reading a book, watching TV, listening to Records, or just rocking on a porch chair. Simple and satisfy.
    For me, living in New York's Greenwich Village and being way out of 20s and 30s, and pretty far into my 40's of learned to enjoy the simple pleasures of my life.
   I awaken each day. Rise from my and on my way to the bathroom hit the power button on my 1970's Weltron Space-Helmut Radio. It's tuned to 1010 Wins All-New Radio, and this is one of just a number of simple pleasures of my life. Yes, listening to 1010 Wins News Radio, "All The News All The Time" as they say. Their slogan. I commune with nature and listen to the News, all the news. I get the weather, local news, entertainment (the latest on Brad and Angelina, George Clooney, whatever happened to Charlie Sheen? Last years news.), World News and current events like like now the 2012 Presidential Primaries or the latest on the Costa Concordia Shipping disaster in Italy, they found 2 more bodies today, bring the death toll to 13 unlucky souls.
     I listen to the radio, it's old fashion and I love it. Old Tech that has been around since the early 1920's. And it's pretty much the same these days, in all its Wonderfulness. Yes I Love it. I remember loving it with great passion listening as a very young child, the Four Seasons driving around in the car (a Green early 60s Plymouth) with my Dad, or listening to the GE Radio at home, The Beatles, Supremes, Shirelles. Listening to the radio all my life, and never ever tiring of it through the years. How could you? Well if you listen to most of the crap music they make these days. But you don't have to. There is all sorts of choices; all Kinds of Music; like Classic Rock Stations, Jazz, R&B, Crappy Hip-Hop, Oldies Stations 101 WABC, Talk Radio, News Radio, this that and every other thing. Radio is great, and TV nor Computers nor anything have been able to kill it.
   Listening to the Radio, a simple pleasure of life.
Well back to the morning ritual, listening to the Radio as I commune with nature if you know what I mean. I have a great book that I read as I listen and _ _ _ _,  365 Days of
The Rolling Stones. 365 pages with 365 Wonderful pictures of The Stones and little tidbits of info. It's quite fun. 
      I wash my hands and brush my teeth. I watch a little bit of morning TV. Make a quick breakfast, Oatmeal, a couple Fried Eggs, Egg Sandwich, or maybe just a fresh Banana, very simple. 
     Switch over to music radio, the Oldies on 101 or some Classic Rock. Jump in the shower listening to some Stones, Beatles, Marvin, whatever. Get dressed, turn on the 
cel phone, pack my bag with Laptop, Hotspot, books, and what-not, and it's off to The Tarte, my daily morning pit-stop for Coffee, i read, I write, relax, chat with cafe friends. I just love it, a Simple Pleasure of Life, morning time at the local cafe, Coffee in hand, laptop, books, friends, yes it's good.
  Then it's back home, make a little lunch, charge the battery of the laptop, hang a bit, listen to the radio, the Simple Pleasures of life. Finish up and it's back out for my second cafe stop of the day, unless I have some running around to do, to the bank, by personnel or home essentials whatever.
    Then head up to work. Work and head back home, for some simple pleasures of life. Put on the PJs, put on the TV, lie back on the sofa, watch TV and relax, The Simple Pleasures of life.


PS  ... "Later that day," while at Corrado Bakery Cafe on Waverly Place in Greenwich Village, another Coffee and beautiful Brazilian Music on the stereo. 
Bosa Nova. Lovely songs sung by a young Astrud Gilberto. She sings Corcavado and it brings me back to my ex-girlfriend Dante. She was 10 years younger than me. A student at Columbia University. I was teaching her many things; about Music, food, different ethnic cuisines, art, literature, what-not. Well I was playing a Astrud Gilberto cassette and when Corcavado came on, she just melted hearing the words,    "This is Where I Want to Be In Your Arms Until Life Fire Lights its last ember," something like that, it's a lovely beautiful song sung by many Brazilian artists over the years but especially beautiful when Astrud sings it. "A Simple Pleasure of Life."






Daniel Bellino Zwicke

COFFEE a CAFE

The SIMPLE PLEASURES of LIFE

GIANTS GOING To SUPERBOWL .... GIANTS BEAT The San Francisco 49ers 20 to 17 .... .... January 22, 2012

ELI MANNING With VICTORY CHEER

as The NEW YORK GIANTS are On THEIR WAY TO 

a 4th SUPERBOWL APPEARANCE 

 Yes Giant fans, the Giants are on their way to their 4th Superbowl appearance and chance to Win a Fourth Superbowl and 8 Time NFL Champions after a dramatic Overtime Win.. Eli Manning led the Giants to Victory with 2 Touchdown passes. 












by Daniel Bellino Zwicke

The MORNING COFFEE ... In NEW YORK REGULAR COFFEE is KING

My Morning Coffee. Couldn't live without it. Get's me goin, hundreds of Millions a day. each and every day. You just gotta have that cup of Joe. For most Americans, it's in the house, though millions get it out. On the go, at the office, or if your lucky, you'll sit down and enjoy it leisurely at your local cafe, as I.

    I Love my morning Coffee, the Coffee itself, but it's not just the coffee, it going to the cafe, chit-chatting with the counter girls, maybe bumping into a friend, or having a conversation with a cafe regular like me.

I'm happy to get my Coffee, jump onto my Laptop, read the News, my emails, Surf, do a bit of writing, Or a lot!

And that first sip. Taste so Good. I just Love it, "warm and Comforting" that Morning Coffee is. Don't you just Love it? I do! How many Millions do? Americans, Italians, the French, Swedes, an-on-and-on, 1 Billion people every day, Two or Three, who knows. OK, I just did a little research (I wouldn't have been able to do this Pre-Internet Days). OK, about 150 Million Americans drink about 225,000,000 cups of coffee every day. Worldwide about 1.5 Billion people drink about 225 Billion cups of Coffee on a daily basis. Wow!

In Italy, your morning Coffee could be either an Espresso or Cappuccino, but after 1130 A.M. Italians no longer would drink Cappuccino or Caffe Latte any longer in the day, and they laugh at Americans who order a Cappuccino in a restaurant after Dinner.

      For me, my morning Coffee has just gotta be a regular. Nothing else will do. Well maybe an occasional Cappuccino which was my morning coffee for years at what used to be my favorite Caffee for a couple decades, Caffe Dante. I Loved my Cappuccino, but many a time, I sat there in Caffe Dante wishing I had a Regular Cup of Joe. The cappuccino doesn't last as long as that Cup of Joe, plus it's "Twice the Price," and when you go out for about 800 Coffees a year, as I do, the price of the Cappuccino plus tip can add up to quite a lot more Money. I've figured it out, to about $750 a year if I still had the same Cafe and Coffee drinking habits as in the past.

     A regular American Coffee is more satisfying, just the right balance of roast Coffee Beans brewed in the drip method with just the right amount of water. I add some Milk, no sugar, and for me, that is my perfect cup of Morning Coffee. You can keep your high priced Cappuccino, Espresso, and those ridiculous things they serve to Amateur Coffee Drinkers at Starbucks. It's all Marketing which most Americans are easily Brainwashed into. The same reason that "Ridiculous Sitcoms like Two and a Half men and other sitcoms are popular. And the same reason why that "Awful Garbage Hip Hop" is so popular. Most Americans have "Horrible Taste," are Followers, and easily Brainwashed. Sorry, but this could be the only reason why Millions would pay Millions of Dollars every day for "Abortionated Drinks" like Caramel Lattes and the like, and such "Awful Tasteless Noise as Hip Hop."

Ok, I've made my point. Back to my Morning Coffee, and it's just gotta be a "Regular." In New York, a "Regular Coffee" is King. No matter that many Cappuccinos, Espresso, those ridiculous Starbucks Concoctions are drunk everyday. In comparison they make up just a small percentage of the many various forms of coffee that can be made. Regular American Coffee is king, whether in your home, on the go from a Deli, after Lunch or Dinner in a restaurant, or even in, yes Starbucks. More than 85% of the millions of cups of coffee made every single day in New York, day after day, 365 of them a year, 85% of them are the good old American Classic, American Coffee. A Regular.


Daniel Bellino Zwicke

IN NEW YORK

REGULAR COFFEE Is KING