Posts
I've given up fighting with Blogger for now...
Visit the new blog on Wordpress...
http://cheapdateli.wordpress.com
I may be back...it depends on how goes the learning curve on Wordpress!
Monday, October 20, 2008
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Kryzukna, come-a he-ya! - my Babcia
I have been on the phone all night listening to people with computer problems and trying to help them. I've been trying to get to the bottom of error messages, explaining how to use wysiwygs and set up folders, and trying to help friends get their Internet back to where it was. Granted, I am working towards a Master's in Library Science (which is a type of IT degree these days) but this was my one night off! I LOVE computers and how easy they have made many things, but I truly wish that we could go back to the way things were...no cell phones (how did we ever survive?), no email, and Blue Laws. I love Blue Laws! For those of you who are to young to remember, stores used to be closed on Sundays. The only things that were open were the supermarket (for a few hours), the druggist (same), the bakery (again, same), and families used to go to Church and have Sunday Dinner with the family (hence why I was thinking of my babcia...that's grandmother in Polish for all you non-Polish folk! I miss her cucumber salad and her beets with beef bits and especially the cherry soda and cookies from D'Amicos in Brooklyn!). There was a much simpler time not so long ago, where the things that gave us so much joy were not quite as complicated as they are now. For a girl who loves her toys, I truly miss having nights where I could just crack open a book, make some tea, and unplug the RJ11 from the phone and have a quiet night! This edition is about things that could take place now and could have taken place then...some things have not changed! There are still some great places to hear live music, places to walk while holding someone's hand, and great old movies to see again!
Oh, and the quote above? My babcia didn't speak much English, though she tried. She spoke this strange pidgin language that was a combination of Polish and English that I called Ponglish. She has been gone for about eleven years now, but the one thing that can take me back oh so quickly is hearing my friends scream that at me (they thought it hilarious). That and hearing, "Ranoush? Ranoush? Kryzukna no he-ya...where Kryzukna? Where Kryzia?" In case you haven't figured it out...Kryzukna and Kryzia are Little Christine and Chrissie in Polish...yup, that would be my name! Kind of sounds like I should be rooming with Nanook of the North!
Got a case of the blues...
Since I started the new drug therapy, I've been wired, a bit irritable, and very melancholy. (I did lose five pounds this week though...woohoo!) It's a perfect week for me to go see a blues band. I'll be able to relate! And I'm in luck...a great new blues band that is starting to get booked for more and more gigs is playing. I don't usually post cover bands, but my buddy Jay F. is the drummer, and they really are good! Make a point of checking out Smokin' Gun at the Handlebar in Port Jeff on the 18th! (Hey, Jay, what do I have to do to get a shout out for this blog on your site? Be nice!)
Speaking of Jay and Port Jeff, Jay Scott will be playing at Lulu's Village Pub on Thursday!
Thursday, Phil Minissale will be playing at Bobbique and Friday at Cool Beanz! If you have not seen him, make a point of going...he is the future of blues! And with no cover on Thurs and a kick-butt beer list...how could you not? I may just pop down after I get off at the library!
Saw this great band at the last Lobby show...Last Charge of the Light Horse. To me, it sounds like what would happen if Phish and Cake had a baby...I have been playing the CD in my car since the show! It's kind of jam band meets punk/alternative, and the singer definitely sounds like the singer from Cake. Just got an email from them...and I know it's way early, but mark your calendars as they will be playing the Vail-Leavitt Music Hall on November 20.
It's all Greek to me!
This weekend is the St. Paraskevi Greek Festival in Greenlawn! I love Greek food (though no one wants to be near me after I chow down on a gyro with extra onions and yogurt sauce!) and what better way to partake in the epicurean delights, the music, and maybe a little ouzo (I hope I spelled that right!)...Hey, Soren and Rich...I hope you're reading this! Hopa! (And Mitch, since I do know that you read this regularly, tell your partners in crime!)
Lon Chaney, anyone?
Got an email from Ben Model...he's the gentleman who plays at the Cinema Arts with the silent films, he also plays at the MoMA and is one of the very cool people mentioned on this blog a lot. He's a very talented organist who plays accompaniment for those silent films I mention on here (If you haven't gone to see one of these shows, you should! Back in the day, movies didn't have soundtracks or even a voice track...they were silent and musicians would play in time with what was happening in the movie...). Well...Ben will be playing at Cinema Arts on the 28th with a showing of the flick "West of Zanzibar" with Lon Chaney! It's (and Ben, I'm going to quote you) a creepfest not available on DVD! As I am a girl who loves old horror flicks, I may just have to end class early to see this!
Also at CAC, the Theatre of the Wild is presenting "Know Your Enemy" --a retrospective of American war propaganda. Sound lame? I don't think so! Click on the link and you'll see what I mean!
All for now! I'll try and update again on Saturday before I go to Bruce's fundraiser! Hope to see you all there!
You know the deal...have a gig? Email me at cheap.date.long.island@gmail.com! And please note...I am probably hooking the URL to a Wordpress page in the near future, so I can get the best of a blog and a website at one time! Keep an eye out for the upcoming new, HOT site!
Oh, and the quote above? My babcia didn't speak much English, though she tried. She spoke this strange pidgin language that was a combination of Polish and English that I called Ponglish. She has been gone for about eleven years now, but the one thing that can take me back oh so quickly is hearing my friends scream that at me (they thought it hilarious). That and hearing, "Ranoush? Ranoush? Kryzukna no he-ya...where Kryzukna? Where Kryzia?" In case you haven't figured it out...Kryzukna and Kryzia are Little Christine and Chrissie in Polish...yup, that would be my name! Kind of sounds like I should be rooming with Nanook of the North!
Got a case of the blues...
Since I started the new drug therapy, I've been wired, a bit irritable, and very melancholy. (I did lose five pounds this week though...woohoo!) It's a perfect week for me to go see a blues band. I'll be able to relate! And I'm in luck...a great new blues band that is starting to get booked for more and more gigs is playing. I don't usually post cover bands, but my buddy Jay F. is the drummer, and they really are good! Make a point of checking out Smokin' Gun at the Handlebar in Port Jeff on the 18th! (Hey, Jay, what do I have to do to get a shout out for this blog on your site? Be nice!)
Speaking of Jay and Port Jeff, Jay Scott will be playing at Lulu's Village Pub on Thursday!
Thursday, Phil Minissale will be playing at Bobbique and Friday at Cool Beanz! If you have not seen him, make a point of going...he is the future of blues! And with no cover on Thurs and a kick-butt beer list...how could you not? I may just pop down after I get off at the library!
Saw this great band at the last Lobby show...Last Charge of the Light Horse. To me, it sounds like what would happen if Phish and Cake had a baby...I have been playing the CD in my car since the show! It's kind of jam band meets punk/alternative, and the singer definitely sounds like the singer from Cake. Just got an email from them...and I know it's way early, but mark your calendars as they will be playing the Vail-Leavitt Music Hall on November 20.
It's all Greek to me!
This weekend is the St. Paraskevi Greek Festival in Greenlawn! I love Greek food (though no one wants to be near me after I chow down on a gyro with extra onions and yogurt sauce!) and what better way to partake in the epicurean delights, the music, and maybe a little ouzo (I hope I spelled that right!)...Hey, Soren and Rich...I hope you're reading this! Hopa! (And Mitch, since I do know that you read this regularly, tell your partners in crime!)
Lon Chaney, anyone?
Got an email from Ben Model...he's the gentleman who plays at the Cinema Arts with the silent films, he also plays at the MoMA and is one of the very cool people mentioned on this blog a lot. He's a very talented organist who plays accompaniment for those silent films I mention on here (If you haven't gone to see one of these shows, you should! Back in the day, movies didn't have soundtracks or even a voice track...they were silent and musicians would play in time with what was happening in the movie...). Well...Ben will be playing at Cinema Arts on the 28th with a showing of the flick "West of Zanzibar" with Lon Chaney! It's (and Ben, I'm going to quote you) a creepfest not available on DVD! As I am a girl who loves old horror flicks, I may just have to end class early to see this!
Also at CAC, the Theatre of the Wild is presenting "Know Your Enemy" --a retrospective of American war propaganda. Sound lame? I don't think so! Click on the link and you'll see what I mean!
All for now! I'll try and update again on Saturday before I go to Bruce's fundraiser! Hope to see you all there!
You know the deal...have a gig? Email me at cheap.date.long.island@gmail.com! And please note...I am probably hooking the URL to a Wordpress page in the near future, so I can get the best of a blog and a website at one time! Keep an eye out for the upcoming new, HOT site!
Thursday, October 9, 2008
If toast always lands butter-side down, and cats always land on their feet, what happen if you strap toast on the back of a cat and drop it? -- Wright
Ah, the autumn...the leaves are falling, the kids are in school, the temperature can't make up its mind as to what it wants to do. For the next few days, it's going to be incredibly beautiful outside...much too pretty to spend your days cooped up indoors! Pretty soon, our Indian Summer will be replaced with bitter temps and our leaf peeping with hot toddies by the fireplace. I love all the seasons, but to me there is nothing better than the time of year when it's just too nice not to take a walk during the day and feel the wind and sun on my face; at night I cozy up with a shawl and some tea in front of the fire to dissipate the slight chill that now is about. Days like these are the ones I wait all year for!
Of course, I had a reason for the quote I listed above...have you ever pondered about something that just does not have an answer? Something that most people would find ludicrous or just plain silly? Like why the commercials for Kentucky Fried Chicken sometimes play "Sweet Home Alabama" in the background? Why if men are from Mars and women are from Venus, wouldn't we all be aliens? Why are golf clothes so hideous? Why people like me have not had their laptops taken away by their friends yet? I question everything these days...
These boots were made for walking...
There are lots of great places to get out and see the leaves changing color! I'm a leaf peeper myself, and I have missed some of the brilliance of the maples, but my daily walks in the woods are proving to be a visual treat. Check out the following parks for a hike or picnic:
Lakeland County Park with its boardwalks is handicap accessible and wheelchair friendly as is El's Trail.
West Hills features the Walt Whitman Trail and Jayne's Hill, the highest point on Long Island.
The William Floyd Estate is still open, and FREE house tours are available from 10-4. There are some in depth programs as well, including Three Centuries of Floyd Furniture and Old Mastic House: Simple Architectural Tour. Call 631-399-2030 for more info! (Note to my design students...this would count as extra credit on your project!)
Make me laugh!
Home movies can be a great way of capturing some of life's sweetest (and some bittersweet) moments. Cimema Arts is presenting Home Movie Day! Click on the link to find out more, or if you have a movie you might like to present!
I'm kind of bummed as I found out about a cool event these guys had going on a wee bit too late! This one I'm going to post kind of early so you can make plans...The Silent Clowns film series is the longest one of its kind in NYC...coming up is a Halloween special featuring John Barrymore in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde on the 26th.
Walk to the beat of your own drummer...
The Staller Center presents the Contemporary Chamber Players--Percussion Plus on Wednesday, October 15. No ticket information is given for the others in this series, so I'm willing to bet it's FREE!
Now, this one exceeds Cheap Date guidelines, but I'm putting it out there as it's worth a mention...advance tickets for Marshall Crenshaw at University Cafe are $25 each...he'll be there on the 19th.
On Saturday the 18th, Lara Herscovitch and David Bailey at the Hard Luck Cafe, $10 per person.
Caroline Doctorow will be playing at the Amvets Hall #18 on Carlton Avenue in East Islip on the 18th. Not sure of the price, but she's worth seeing!
Also on the 18th, a Miss Chris fave...Miller's Crossing will be playing at Palmer Vineyards.
The Nancy Atlas Project will be at Stephen Talkhouse on Friday the 17th, $15 general admission.
The 18th also brings us Mary Lamont at Millhouse Inn.
Wow...these guys are still playing! The Moroccos will be at Brookhaven National Lab on the 18th! Order your tickets online and they are only $15 each (will be $20 at the door!).
On Saturday the 18 (Again! There's just too much good music this weekend!) Shenole Latimer will be playing with Gail Storm at Sparky's Texas BBQ.
We're coming to get you...
Halloween happenings are going on all over! Here's some family friendly events:
From the 30th-November 1st, the Long Island Ducks will be hosting a Haunted House at Citibank Park...$5 get you in the door. If you go on Halloween night, there will be QuackerJack's Halloween Extravaganza ($10 per person) with costume contests, trick or treating, and Grucci fireworks!
BBGG Farms in St. James on 25A (North of Deepwells) has a great little pumpkin patch, crafts and plants for sale, a corn maze, and MORE! Free to get in, but everything is priced separately, so read the signs.
Also coming soon...the Long Island Maritime Museum's Annual Halloween Boat Burning! I never miss this!
The Girl Scouts present the Horrible Haunted Trail of Terror in Bayport for the next two weekends, $10 per child, adults FREE!
One more...the Cradle of Aviation is hosting Haunted Hangars...daytime is for the kiddies, but the nighttime is for the groovie ghoulies like me! (Hey, anyone else remember that cartoon? That was one of my all time favorites as a kid! And for those of you who know me now, you're probably all thinking, "Why does that NOT surprise me?)
Pumpkins and cornstalks and mums, oh my...
I started new medication for my thyroid a few days ago (THAT was what was causing all the other problems...my thyroid shut down! Who would have thought? Now I have to take synthetic hormones to get my pituitary to slow down...mood swings are supposed to be one of the side effects. Wonderful...This is what the new man in my life gets to deal with, me swinging wildly from teddy bear to Godzilla. Get yer boxing gloves ready, honey!) and I was WIRED today! I rearranged all the furniture, scrubbed everything down, and did up my deck for the season...I was all hopped up! I got all of my plants and cornstalks at Daisy Garden in Bayport...I LOVE THIS PLACE! Mums for $2.50 each, cornstalks for $7, how can you go wrong? (However, trying to get the cornstalks home was a bit more problematic as they were over 8' high and I drive a Yaris hatchback...a lot of people got a good laugh seeing my little tiny speck of a car driving home at fifteen miles an hour with the hatch open, the hazards on, and about four feet of cornstalks sticking out the back...)
For Bruce...
As I had mentioed in last post, there will be a benefit for Bruce Parker this weekend at the Off-Key Tikki in Patchogue, $10 gets you in. I'm asking you all to do me a favor and try to attend (including all of you that don't know me personally, don't know Bruce, etc...). I know the guy. He's incredible. One of the nicest guys I know. Make a point of going. Email me if you have questions.
Ok, you kooky cats, all for now. You know the routine...if you have an event that should be here, let me know at cheap.date.long.island@gmail.com.
Of course, I had a reason for the quote I listed above...have you ever pondered about something that just does not have an answer? Something that most people would find ludicrous or just plain silly? Like why the commercials for Kentucky Fried Chicken sometimes play "Sweet Home Alabama" in the background? Why if men are from Mars and women are from Venus, wouldn't we all be aliens? Why are golf clothes so hideous? Why people like me have not had their laptops taken away by their friends yet? I question everything these days...
These boots were made for walking...
There are lots of great places to get out and see the leaves changing color! I'm a leaf peeper myself, and I have missed some of the brilliance of the maples, but my daily walks in the woods are proving to be a visual treat. Check out the following parks for a hike or picnic:
Lakeland County Park with its boardwalks is handicap accessible and wheelchair friendly as is El's Trail.
West Hills features the Walt Whitman Trail and Jayne's Hill, the highest point on Long Island.
The William Floyd Estate is still open, and FREE house tours are available from 10-4. There are some in depth programs as well, including Three Centuries of Floyd Furniture and Old Mastic House: Simple Architectural Tour. Call 631-399-2030 for more info! (Note to my design students...this would count as extra credit on your project!)
Make me laugh!
Home movies can be a great way of capturing some of life's sweetest (and some bittersweet) moments. Cimema Arts is presenting Home Movie Day! Click on the link to find out more, or if you have a movie you might like to present!
I'm kind of bummed as I found out about a cool event these guys had going on a wee bit too late! This one I'm going to post kind of early so you can make plans...The Silent Clowns film series is the longest one of its kind in NYC...coming up is a Halloween special featuring John Barrymore in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde on the 26th.
Walk to the beat of your own drummer...
The Staller Center presents the Contemporary Chamber Players--Percussion Plus on Wednesday, October 15. No ticket information is given for the others in this series, so I'm willing to bet it's FREE!
Now, this one exceeds Cheap Date guidelines, but I'm putting it out there as it's worth a mention...advance tickets for Marshall Crenshaw at University Cafe are $25 each...he'll be there on the 19th.
On Saturday the 18th, Lara Herscovitch and David Bailey at the Hard Luck Cafe, $10 per person.
Caroline Doctorow will be playing at the Amvets Hall #18 on Carlton Avenue in East Islip on the 18th. Not sure of the price, but she's worth seeing!
Also on the 18th, a Miss Chris fave...Miller's Crossing will be playing at Palmer Vineyards.
The Nancy Atlas Project will be at Stephen Talkhouse on Friday the 17th, $15 general admission.
The 18th also brings us Mary Lamont at Millhouse Inn.
Wow...these guys are still playing! The Moroccos will be at Brookhaven National Lab on the 18th! Order your tickets online and they are only $15 each (will be $20 at the door!).
On Saturday the 18 (Again! There's just too much good music this weekend!) Shenole Latimer will be playing with Gail Storm at Sparky's Texas BBQ.
We're coming to get you...
Halloween happenings are going on all over! Here's some family friendly events:
From the 30th-November 1st, the Long Island Ducks will be hosting a Haunted House at Citibank Park...$5 get you in the door. If you go on Halloween night, there will be QuackerJack's Halloween Extravaganza ($10 per person) with costume contests, trick or treating, and Grucci fireworks!
BBGG Farms in St. James on 25A (North of Deepwells) has a great little pumpkin patch, crafts and plants for sale, a corn maze, and MORE! Free to get in, but everything is priced separately, so read the signs.
Also coming soon...the Long Island Maritime Museum's Annual Halloween Boat Burning! I never miss this!
The Girl Scouts present the Horrible Haunted Trail of Terror in Bayport for the next two weekends, $10 per child, adults FREE!
One more...the Cradle of Aviation is hosting Haunted Hangars...daytime is for the kiddies, but the nighttime is for the groovie ghoulies like me! (Hey, anyone else remember that cartoon? That was one of my all time favorites as a kid! And for those of you who know me now, you're probably all thinking, "Why does that NOT surprise me?)
Pumpkins and cornstalks and mums, oh my...
I started new medication for my thyroid a few days ago (THAT was what was causing all the other problems...my thyroid shut down! Who would have thought? Now I have to take synthetic hormones to get my pituitary to slow down...mood swings are supposed to be one of the side effects. Wonderful...This is what the new man in my life gets to deal with, me swinging wildly from teddy bear to Godzilla. Get yer boxing gloves ready, honey!) and I was WIRED today! I rearranged all the furniture, scrubbed everything down, and did up my deck for the season...I was all hopped up! I got all of my plants and cornstalks at Daisy Garden in Bayport...I LOVE THIS PLACE! Mums for $2.50 each, cornstalks for $7, how can you go wrong? (However, trying to get the cornstalks home was a bit more problematic as they were over 8' high and I drive a Yaris hatchback...a lot of people got a good laugh seeing my little tiny speck of a car driving home at fifteen miles an hour with the hatch open, the hazards on, and about four feet of cornstalks sticking out the back...)
For Bruce...
As I had mentioed in last post, there will be a benefit for Bruce Parker this weekend at the Off-Key Tikki in Patchogue, $10 gets you in. I'm asking you all to do me a favor and try to attend (including all of you that don't know me personally, don't know Bruce, etc...). I know the guy. He's incredible. One of the nicest guys I know. Make a point of going. Email me if you have questions.
Ok, you kooky cats, all for now. You know the routine...if you have an event that should be here, let me know at cheap.date.long.island@gmail.com.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
I'm all in favor of keeping dangerous weapons out of the hands of fools. Let's start with typewriters.-Short
Boy, howdy! This is turning out to be some week for me. I've been dealing with some personal drama (no, not going to talk about it here, but to my good friends...thank you for being there for me! It helps to be able to talk sometimes!) and I've been really stressed out. This blog has actually been one of the bright points this week. Quite a few people have told me how much they like it, and I've been INUNDATED with emails of things to post on here. As I am a frustrated writer (I've been working on a compendium of short stories I've written for a few years now that I'd love to get published, but there's something kind of cool about having that unfinished book that you want to finish, PLUS I do get pieces published here and there with my freelance gigs, so I do get some gratification!), seeing all the emails lets me know that people really do read this thing and that THEY LIKE IT--It's a good feeling!
Quirky, but cool!
I'm going to list for you some sites that are just really neat for all sorts of reasons...
One of my library amigos told me about this really cool site called Pandora--it's an intuitive online radio station that lets you load songs up and then starts recommending songs based on your picks.
Looking to track the latest tropical storm? Click here!
How about video tutorials on everything from C# to erotic massage? Yobler has the answer!
I'm not even going to try to explain The Museum of the Obvious!
For a good cause...
Most of you have no idea who Bruce Parker is. That's okay, I'll fill you in. Bruce is one of the nicest guys to ever walk the planet. If you have been to one of the Patchogue Riverfront Committee events (such as the SeaFair), Bruce has touched your life as well. He is always the first person to jump in and help someone, and now it's time to help him by attending a fundraiser in his honor on October 18 at the Off Key Tikki. For more info, take a look at the postcard/flyer below:
Rock and roll hoochie koo...
This little hoochie mama (and I mean that in a nice way) has been hearing about some great acts coming our way...
Raina Rose at Once and For All in Patchogue on Thursday, October 9.
Johnny Cuomo at Grounds and Sounds Cafe on Friday, October 10.
Homegrown String Band at Heckscher Park this weekend...love them!
Iain Campbell Smith Saturday night at the Eclectic Cafe.
Bob Malenky at a house concert on October 10, reservations required. Call 212-662-6575.
Ghost stories!
Here's a spot for the whole family...White Post Farms does child friendly hayrides, $8 per person, FREE during the week!
This one is great, from what I hear! Camp Pa Qua Tuck does a spooky walk that gets a five bat rating!
This sounds cool...a brand new Halloween adventure! The Twilight Pumpkin Spectacular features over 3,000 lit up jack o' lanterns...I must see this!
Apple dumplings...
October 11 and 12 brings us Mill Neck Manor's Fall Harvest Festival! With a country store, baked goods, and a pumpkin patch, plus lots of things for kids...this is a must attend!
The Jericho Cider Mill is one of my favorite places this time of year!
Naughty cartoons!
The Cinema Arts Center brings you some rather adult content this week in what would normally be thought of as a children's format...The Dark Side of Dr. Seuss and another one that I will not put the title of here as this is strictly a PG format will be featured!
Life on an island...
is wonderful, to be sure! Thank you, Paula from FINS, who forwarded so much to me...as this one is relevent right now, I'll take the liberty of cutting and pasting right now:
Special Fire Island Lighthouse programs in October include the Columbus Day Hike, at 11 a.m. on Monday, October 13, and Ghost Stories and Legends of Fire Island, to be held at 7 p.m. on Saturday, October 25. Both of these programs are free.
I'll add more of Paula's info as the time comes!
Now, I promised I'd do a Best and Worst Dive Bar edition...I could name a few, to be sure! But I'm reaching out to all of you--tell me about the best and worst dive bars you have found. Feel free to elaborate!
All for now...I'll be back in a few days with lots more! Got something that should be here? Let me know at cheap.date.long.island@gmail.com! (By the way...the spacing issues are something with Blogger! I keep going in and fixing the HTML, but mysterious tags keep magically appearing! UGH!!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
