Sunday, September 25, 2011

STEELY DAN Rock The BEACON

. . Steely Dan... September 22, 2011
Steely Dan Rocked The Beacon Theater the other night. All last week, as a matter of fact, playing a seven night engagement that drew throngs of loyal fans and Steely Dan Freaks, including this avid fan here. I went on Thursday night which was Fan Request Night, whereby fans choose their favorite songs that they'd like to hear that night. Theoretically the songs with the most votes are the ones played for the concert. Well, it pretty much turned out that way, but the band led by
Front-Man Genius "Donald Fagen" the Jerseyboy (Passaic) who eluded to the fact that although it was request night, the band might not follow the list of winners exactly to a tee.
Well most fan favorites were played, including; Aja, Riki Don't Lose That Number, Dirty Work, Do It Again, Reelin in The Years, Josie, Peg, and the finale "Kid Charlemagne." Basicaly, the only song missing that you know it just had to be in the top 5 or 6 vote winners was Deacon Blues which many were screaming for, including "Mwa." The song was not played. I bet of a disappointment, but hey, you really can't complain with a show like the band put on that night and the repertoire of songs chosen.
Fagen, Becker, and the whole band were just great. The band consisted of a 4 piece brass section of a Trumpet, Alto and Tenor Saxophone, and a Bone Player (Trombone), bass, drums, 2 Keyboards, Fagen and Lead Keyboard, two guitars including Becker and three Female Back-Up Singers. They all performed outstandingly.
A little hint. For all you kids out there. If you want to see a real band play real music not canned sampled crap like they make today, next time Steely is in town, check them out. them, the Stones, Allman Brothers, Crosby Stills and Nash or some other great Rock Band from the 60s, 70, and or 80s. You'll not regret it.
Donald Fagen and Steely Dan Rock !
Daniel Bellino Zwicke
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Donald Fagan and Walter Becker
STEELY DAN
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3f7cd-screen2bshot2b2015-09-192bat2b3-00-532bpm
GOT ANY KAHLUA ?
The BIG LEBOWSKI COOKBOOK
ABIDE in IT !
.

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

MAYOR BLOOMBERG ..JAY WALDER and The MTA STOLE $8-MILLION DOLLARS from HARD WORKING NEW YORKERS !!! And GET AWAY With IT ! "A SIN"

MIKE BLOOMBERG ..JAY WALDER and The MTA SUCK !!!




Well folks, Citizens of New York, Mike Bloomberg and the MTA have done it Again. They have SCREWED the Hard Working Citizens of New York about $8 MILLION DOLLARS. Stole it from us. If you are one of many who purchase the Highly Overpriced 7 Day Unlimited Metrocard for $29 last week as I did and I do every week, then You've Just been Screwed out of $8.29 of your Hard Earned Money by Jay Walder, The MTA, and Mayor Mike Bloomberg who let this happen. Jay Walder, the MTA and our Mayor Mike Bloomberg are STEALING $8.29 from me and about a million other Hard Working New Yorkers by taking our $29 for a 7 Day Metrocard and only proving us with 5 days of service and basically telling us New Yorkers who purchased these metrocards last week to go F_ _k Ourselves. As they have said that allthough we purchased these metrocards for $29 to get 7 Days of Unlimited use, and they only provided us with 5-Days, they say it is to difficult to Extend the Passes for 2 more Days or to refund us the $8.29 "We Are Untitled To." In other words, yes, they are Spitting in Our Faces and basically telling us F _ _k You. 
   "Nice Huh?" They are Screwing us again and getting away with it, and Mayor Mike Bloomberg who had the Subway and Buses Shut Down, to "Add Insult to Injury" is allowing the MTA to Screw us, not Extend These Passes that should be extended and not Refunding us Money we are intitled to. Bloomberg is responsible as well as jay Walder as they are letting this happen. "Don't we have any rights any more?" First Bloomberg renames the Queensborough 59th Street bridge the Ed Koch Bridge, which 90% of New Yorkers "DID NOT WANT" The MTA Raises Fares again this past May, Bloomberg Shuts Down the Subway, which was fine, but Crippled the CITY by Closing down Bus Service which should not have been done. The Buses should have been running since the Subways were not. Bloomberg CRIPPLED NEW YORK by not having the Buses Running. He Sucks, Jay Walder SUCKS, and The MTA Sucks.
   When is this Crap all going to End?




DANIEL BELLINO ZWICKE

Sunday, August 28, 2011

BLOOMBERG RUINS The DAY

  Thanks a Lot Mike. Thanks for "Screwing Up" Worse than any Mayor in The History of New York has ever done. Bad Call. You Blew It. You Stole a Day of Our Lives. The new York City Subway System has NEVER been Shut Down (other than 9/11 Emergency) voluntarily and for good reason,  it doesn't need to be, and it didn't yesterday, and not so early at 12 Noon. Or if you did, shut the Subway because of underground tunnel precautions, "Why the HELL Didn't You Keep the Bus System Running" you MORON ? !!!!!!! You CRIPPLED the CITY Worse than any storm ever could have.
     Mayor Bloomberg, because of Your Foolish Decision, there were virtually no businesses open. Because you shut down the Subway and "Unnecessarily Shut Down The Bus Service" You Crippled the City. "Thanks a lot Asshole." There were no Cafes, almost no Restaurants, grocery stores open.... 99%  of all businesses were closed, Not Because of the weather, but because people couldn't Get to Work, so business owners had to close as a result of their employees not being able to get to work because, not only did you Shut Down the Subway, but you made an even MORE FOOLISH DECISION to Shut down Bus Service. "WHY?" The BUSES could have kept running! People Needed them ! You made the City lose a couple Billion Dollars in business, or more.
      You ruined the day of natives like me who couldn't go to a cafe or restaurant and for Tens of Thousands of Tourists who had no restaurants to go to eat, and especially under the conditions we were in, everyone could have used either; a Cafe, bar, or restaurant to go to instead of having to walk for blocks to find one of the very few grocery stores or delis open to have a sod and a tiny bite to eat on the street instead of sitting down relaxing in a nice Cafe, Bar, or restaurant, which would have been nice and was sort of a necessity. you Ruined it! You Ruined our Day  and Unnecessarily so. If Buses at least were running as they would have been, people would have been able to get to work and back home, on Buses and restaurants, Cafes, Bars, grocery stores, delis and other businesses would have been opened and you wouldn't have "RUINED The DAY of MILLIONS of PEOPLE." How do you Feel Asshole. Thanks a lot. Nice F_ _ k Up Mike !!!!!

Friday, April 15, 2011

Thee BEST ITALIAN Food in NEW YORK Can Be Found at BAR PITTI

 BAR PITTI




BAR PITTI
Greenwich Village New York



When it comes to great Italian Food, in a city (New York) that is known to have the Best Italian Food in the World outside of Italy, it's hard to beat Bar Pitti, which is why Bar Pitti may very well be the "Best Italian Restaurant" in New York City! Yes!
Wait a minute, scratch that "maybe." No, Bar Pitti serves without a doubt, thee "Best Italian Food in New York." You don't think so? name one that is better. And please only qualified people please. No followers or Hack Food Critics like
Frank Bruni.
Who could compete? Maybe Babbo, Del Posto, Elio's, Lupa. They are all good, but none as good and consistent as Bar Pitti.
Il Mulino is absolutely "Aweful!" An "Overpriced Lackluster Restaurant" with horrible ambiance, mechanical annoying service, and food that is merely good, and no better and insanely "High Prices." It's a place for "Followers" who run with the crowd and wouldn't know real good Italian Food if it came up and Bit Them in The Ass.
Babbo many would say. Well Babbo is quite good, but just can't hold up to Bar Pitti with more of a true Italian feel, great food at truly real Italian Prices. Babbo is a great Special Occasion restaurant, but for everyday eating, Babbo doesn't even come close to Bar Pitti for "Great Quality Price Ratio," and even not considering the prices, if they were the same, though the food at Babbo is very good and I've had a few very enjoyable meals there, I have been disappointed a couple of times, something that has "Never" happened to me at Bar Pitti and I've eaten there more times, yet never been disappointed, not once, and always had a great time. So even if the prices were the same, Bar Pitti still has an edge, with Better More Consistent Authentic Italian Food than Babbo.
How bout Maialino, Laconde Verde, Osteria Morini, and others? As MC Hammer would say, "Can't Touch This."
So if you're looking for Thee "Best Italian Food in New York" there's one name, "Bar Pitti."


Recommended Dishes:

Coda d'Vacinara (Braised Oxtails) 150 Points on a 100 Pt Scale

Bolito d'Manzo (Boiled Beef) Taste a whole Lot Better than it sounds!

Polpettine d' Vitello (Veal Meatballs)

Fegato al Salvia (Calves Liver sauteed w/Sage)

Paparadelle con Sugo d'Coniglio (Pasta with Rabbit Ragu)

PUNTARELLE Wild Roman Greens Salad w/Anchovy Dressing


by Daniel Bellino Zwicke








SUNDAY SAUCE
When Italian-Americans Cook
by Daniel Bellino-Zwicke








THE FEAST of THE 7 FISH

ITALIAN CHRISTMAS




Thursday, March 17, 2011

BIG LEBOWSKI ..."The DUDE Abides" !!!

 BIG LEBOWSKI  ......."A Movie Everyone Needs To See"


   THE BIG LEBOWSKI, Jeff Bridges Opus as "The DUDE." A movie everyone should see sooner or later. Better sooner, as it will enrich your life. A Funny "Feel Good Movie" about a Funny, Feel Good, happy, Carefree Guy, Jeffrey Lebowski, better know as "The Dude." Don't call him Lebowski as he meets-up and has a conversation with another Jeff Lebowski in the city of Los Angeles. The Dude says to him, "Don't call me Mr. Lebowski! You don't call me that! I'm The Dude. So that's what you call me, or you can call me Dudster,  His Dudeness or El Duderino if not into the whole brevity thing!"
  Well, no, this movie may not be for everyone. I can see that, but it is to millions. it's actually a Cult Movie that has a legion of Fans who absolutely Love it and of course El Dudeness himself, "The Dude." What's not to Love. A wonderful Cohen Brothers film with John Goodman as The Dudes main sidekick Walter, co-starring Steve Buscemi as Donny another friend of The Dude, Tara Reid as the nymphomaniac Porn Star wife of the other Jeff Lebowski, the Millionare handicapped one and Julianna Moore as the Millionare Jeff Lebowski's Left Wing Artist Daughter Maude.
  The Dude is a Happy Go Lucky 70's Leftover Hippy former Rock-Roadie Unemployed Slacker of the First Degree who is a Fanatical Bowling Pot Smoker who Loves White Russians or as he calls them, a  "Caucasian,"  (a Cocktail made with Kahlua, Vodka, and Milk).
    The Dude happens to get into all sorts of misadventures that intertwines him with "Bunny" the nypho Porn-Star, her Husband millionare Jeff Lebowski, Jackie Treehorn the Porn King, The Malibu Sheriff, Maude, and a Gang of Bumbling Extortionists. 
      Are we makinmg any sense? Take my word for it and that of Millions of others! See The Big Lebowski, it'll change your Life! For the Better!




by Daniel Bellino Zwicke

Saturday, March 5, 2011

CHARLIE GOING to HAITI with SEAN PENN

CHARLIE SHEEN Going to Haiti With Pal SEAN PENN"

  Is Charlie Sheen headed to Haiti with Pal Sean Penn.?  Well Penn has invited Charlie, and Charlie says, He's as Excited as Hell to be going down there. "Tigers Blood" and "Winning" for Haiti, "Sean Penn" and "Charlie Sheen." Should be interesting to say the least. Will Scarlett Johansson go as well? Sean Penn, Scarlett Johansson, Charlie Sheen 3Sum? Sounds Interesting!
In a statement, Penn said: "I think his energies, intelligence and passion could be both of service and servicing to him, as it is to all who are touched by the struggle of the Haitian people.
"Charlie is one of the very few public people who cannot be accused of using the media to his own benefit. I would very much like to show my old friend the world of needs on the ground in Haiti, and introduce him and his tremendous wit to our hard working Haitian staff."
Well, consider the invitation accepted.
In a conversation with "Access Hollywood" host Billy Bush, Sheen said, "I'm excited as hell because, you know, if I can bring the attention of the world down there, then clearly this tsunami keeps cresting."


Daniel Bellino Zwicke

Sunday, February 27, 2011

YOU NEED A GOOD WATCH

"Not Unlike A CHICKEN in Every POT" We Need 
A GREAT WATCH on VERY WRIST"


A Good Watch. It's something every man needs, few have. Well, percentage- wise anyway.
I'm not talking about a Timex, or "God Forbid" one of those nasty looking Casio watches. A Rolex or Omega are the most popular top end standards, not everyone can afford to spend $3,00 for a Omega or $5,000 and up for a Rolex. If you can afford it, there is nothing like having a Rolex Submarine or GMT Master. The classic look of these two great watches is timeless. ONE look at the Submariner and you'll notice it's all business with classic yet simple design, that is "Timeless." The Submariner is a sport watch but because of its timeless design can be worn with a suit for business or Tuxedo.
   This watch made of the fine stainless-steel with a classic black face, black dial, and Mercedes style hands. It is waterproof to 300 meters and is powered by a World Class movement. Believe it or not, a Rolex at $5,000 is a bargain. Considering that there are watches on the market that go for $10,000, $20,000, $100,000 and even 1 Million Dollars, which as much is I love watches, feel that anything over $20,000 is absolutely insane. Obscene even. A Rolex will give you instant cache, no matter how rich the group you are amongst. So the the cache a $5,000 Rolex gives, even comparable to a $10,000 to $100,000 watches, the Rolex Submariner or GMT Master is a bargain.
   So back to everyman needing a good watch and what one can afford to spend. As stated, if you can afford the Rolex, you've just got to get it. If you can't afford the Rolex or Omega, you have other options as their are great watches available for $350, even less that have the look of watches cost $3,000, $5,000 or more. I bought a S. Coifman Dive Watch that can almost be put in the same league as the Submariner or GMT Master. My S. Coifman has the same top tier stainless steel, saphire crystal, and Swiss Movement as the Rolex watches. It is 100% Swiss made from a famed Swiss watch company that has been in business for some 150 years. This watch is practically every bit the equal to a Rolex from a quality and style point of view. The watch normally retails for $1,500, though much cheaper than the Rolex, it is total equal in terms of quality. I paid just $299 for the watch that looks every bit the part of a $3,000 plus timepiece. 
  If possible, if you decide you will buy and were a good quality time piece, the first step would be to get a great Dive watch, such as a Rolex or Omega if you've got that kind of cash? If not, and you can get your hands on something like my S. Coifman Diver for $500 or less. you can even get a Invicta Pro Diver for $200 or less that looks pretty much like a Submariner, and the quality is pretty good.
   So you get a great looking Diver, your next step would be to get a beautiful looking classic style dress watch with a great Crocodile, Alligator, or fine Leather Strap. A company called Sturhling Original makes some amazing looking dress watches that look like $5,000 and $10,000 time pieces but can be had for $250 or less at Amazon. No Bull. It's true, some of these Sturhling watches look just like $100,000 ones.
    Men, get yourself a great watch, put on some Levis, a great shirt, good leather shoes and belt, and you are set. Add a good sport jacket and you'll look like a Million Bucks. A lady killer.


by DANIEL BELLINO ZWICKE
    

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Did YOU SEE The GRAMMY'S 2011

 WILL THEY EVER MAKE GOOD MUSIC AGAIN ???



Lenny Kravitz

Lenny Kravitz is one of just a hanful of musical artist to make good music
in the 21st Century, the Century with The WOrst Music of All-Time !!!



Why is the Music so Bad these Days!  Is it a Lack of Talented Artists? I think so. I know so actually. But even more than the lack of talented artists, is the lack of good taste by a large segment of the general public, namely those 30 years of age and under. They have such terrible taste in music and accept and like such "Garbage" as Hip-Hop and House Music. So the talentless musicians of the day continue to make Garbage, Noise, it's not music, as was exhibited at the Grammy's which i watched in a state of mortification. One terrible song after the other. That "LADY GAGA" is Horrible. She couldn't Shine Madonna's Shoes.! There was a little bit of good music here and there, but it was few and far between. Not like in my day, with such great artists as The Beatles, The Supremes, Marvim Gaye, Frank Sinatra, Elvis, Madonna, The Rolling Stones and On-and-On.

  Thank Goodness there are a few good artists here and there, like Lenny Kravitz who some have compared to one great artists of the 70's Sly from Sly and The Family Stone. A band I loved when I was a young boy.

   I listen to all my great music of the past, as there is hardly anything worth listening to these days. And it's not a generational thing, for along with loving my music of the day with such artists as the Doors, Stevie Wonder, Simon & Garfunkle, The Stones, I also grew up loving the music of my parents and older generations. As a young boy I Loved my moms music in Tony Bennett, Sinatra, Elvis, Nat King Cole. Good Music is Good Music. The reason I don't like the music of today is that, plain and simple, "Most of it is Crap." Garbage! Capito?

  When they make good music, I like it, as is the case with Lenny Kravitz whose song Fly Away is one of the most Rockingest Songs ever made. Bravo Lenny. In a day with so much Mediocre crap, and even worse, you are there making Music, "Real Music." Can you teach some of your contemporaries? I will not call then peers, as they are not on the same level as you. Will this World ever see Good Music ever again? Or are we assigned to just listening to the Music of the past, like: Classical, Big Bands, Jazz, Rock & Roll, Sinatra, The Beatles, Motown, Philly Sound, Bob Dylan, etc., etc..


Daniel Bellino Zwicke





READ THIS !   Is OLD MUSIC KILLING NEW MUSIC ? Article by  Ted Goia, 
in The ATLANTIC with rebuttal by author Daniel Bellino Zwicke ...
    

Sunday, February 20, 2011

CAN'T WOMEN PUT The TOILET SEAT UP and STOP BITCHING

 That's right! "Can't Women Start Putting The Toilet Seat Up" and PLEASE STOP BITCHING about men not putting the "TOILET SEAT DOWN" ??? Why is it that We're (MEN) are supposed to put the seat down? Why Can't Women Put The TOILET SEAT UP, and PLEASE STOP Your BITCHING About MEN NOT Putting the Seat Down. Why do we have to do it? Don't we get any rights? WHY the HELL Do WOMEN Always Have to Bitch So MUCH? Why do we have to hold the Door for them? Can't they Hold it for Men? What's Up With That? They Want Equal Rights? Well Fine! Let's Give it to them? Let woman start Holding Doors fro Men, let them let men go first, Let them Put the Toilet Seat Up. Why Do Women Always Have to Bitch. "I Gave You the Best Years of My Life." Vice Versa. millions of Men have given Women the Best years of their lives Only to Be Screwed Over by them.
  Why Do Women Always have to Bitch? Hey, maybe that's the Big Difference between Men and Women? Women Love to Bitch!!! Well a whole lot more than men anyway. And at least when we bitch, it's usually about something pretty Important, not something as "Trivial" as Putting the Toilet Seat Down." So there!



DBZ

Saturday, February 19, 2011

NAME CHANGE for the 59th St. QUEENSBOROUGH BRIDGE is PURE INSANITY

OK gang. Have you seen the latest bit of insanity? Bloomberg and other City officials want to rename our beloved 59th Street Queensborough Bridge. Are you Kidding me or what Mike? BAd, Bad, Bad Idea! Did you here me Mr. Mayor? Bad Idea? This beloved bridge has two names already. Doesn't need another. It's thee "Queensborough Bridge" in case you didn't notice, also know as 
"The 59th Street Bridge." Slow Down, You're going too fast!
  The Tax Payers of this city don't need you throwing away Millions of Dollars (Cost of changing roadsigns and other things related to a name change) for a Insane Name Change. Are you "out of Your Mind Mike?" Have you forgotten the other Ill Fated Insane attempts at change the names of New York streets, neighborhoods, and landmarks? Remember the attempt to change the name of 
"Hells Kitchen" to CLINTON? Not!!! How bout the ill fated name-change of 6th Avenue to "Avenue of the Americas." That, I must admit wasn't a bad idea, but as you well know, "Never Caught On." 
  And Mr. Mayor when was the last time you heard someone call the Tri-Borough Bridge, "The Robert F. Kennedy Bridge." Not often, I'd wager to bet. 
  Mayor Koch was a great Mayor. I Loved the jog he did, and you're doing a fine job as well, but this idea of trying to rename a bridge that already has a great name as it is, "Is just plain Dumb." Sorry, but it is. I don't believe the city's taxpayers want you to through away our money on such Foolishness. "Give it up Mike."
  Name a street, park, a school, after Koch, but the 
"Queensborough Bridge." That's Insane!




by DANIEL BELLINO ZWICKE

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

"PHANTOM PUNCH" SONNY LISTON....Remake of The MECHANIC

 Wow, saw a great movie last night, "Phantom Punch" about the life of Sonny Liston, one time World Heavyweight Boxing Champion. The life of Sonny Liston makes for a great story, and this was. Never even heard of it before. I know my friend, the great writer Nick Tosches wrote a wonderful book about Sonny calle "The Devil in Sonny Liston." Nick was in talks with Martin Scorsese on making a movie about Liston based on Tosches book. It never happened. I remember asking Nick how the movie was coming a long, and Nick saying sarcastically that Marty (Martin Scorsese) was too busy making movies with Leonardo Di Caprio and Disney.
He was peeved. Can't blame him. And speaking of Maartin Scorsese, it was he who directed what many consider the greatest boxing movie ever made, "Raging Bull," starring Robert DiNero as Boxing Champ
Jake LaMotta and a great performance by Joe Pesci playing Jakes brother Joey LaMotta. Let us not forget other great boxing movies like Somebody Up There Likes me starring Paul Newman as Rocky Grazziano and Will Smith portraying the great Mohamad Ali in "The Greatest.
  Anyway, back to Phantom Punch whic stars Ving Rhames in a wonderful portrayal of Sonny Liston who started boxing while serving a prison sentence in a Missouri State Prison. The prison Priest gets Sonny started in boxing. he trains and mentors him, and Sonny soon has one thing on his mind, to one day become World Heavyweight Champion. I will not give much away, but will say that I Loved the movie. It is very entertaining, a moving story, and great historical document, not only telling a story of a Black man who rose from the depth of prison to become World Champ, the movie also shows the injustice, sometimes doled out to Black People, especially in those days. It also shows, and African Americans should take note, that not all White People are prejudiced as some of those in the movie and in real life. Just as there are bad black people, there are many more good and wonderful African Americans. Great Movie. I Loved it. It is on Netflix, that's how I saw it, and I highly recommend it. it gets to Thumbs and Two Big Toes Up. See it!
   Saw The "MECHANIC' last week. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Starring Jason Strahtom reprising the Charles Bronson role of the original motion picture made in the 70's with Jan Michael Vincent co-starring as Bronson's protĂ©gĂ©es in the picture. This remake is action packed from beginning to end and everything is totally believable. I was on the edge of my seat a good part of the movie and had to cringe at some of the violence. Nasty. OK, so I liked the movie and paid the $12.50 simply because that night I wanted to go out and be entertained. And I was. I have stated over and over, $12 and $13 we pay in New York to see a movie is way to high. Many agree, and there are 100,000s of people boycotting movie theaters because of the exorbitant price.  Opting to watch movies on TV and Netflix. On this night I was committed to paying the "High Price," as a treat to myself. I was satisfied. The movie was very good, but not so good that I would say you have to run out and see it right away. You can wait till it comes on HBO or Netflix.
   Of these two movies, The MECHANIC and "Phantom Punch," I would have to say that Phantom Punch was quite a bit better. The movie moved be, and costing just a small portion of my monthly Netflix bill, about .50 cents, as opposed to $12.50 for the Mechanic, I don't even have to tell you whcih was by far the better deal. Do the math.
  So, in conclusion, "You just have to see "Phantom Punch," if you have Netflix and I would even say it is worth paying up to $9.99 to buy a Dvd if you have to. Yes the Mechanic was very good, but I'd say wait to see it on cable or Netflix.

by Daniel Bellino Zwicke

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

LINDSAY LOHAN

LEAVE LINDSAY ALONE ALREADY!!!


Did Lindsay steal that bracelet or not? Is it just some sort of a mix-up as Lindsay camp has stated, or did she really steal it, as the jewelry shop people claim? Who cares? Leave the poor girl alone. It seems as though some have it in for this girl. I'll tell you. The jewelry shop owners are looking for a lot of free publicity and notoriety at Lindsay's expense. Leave her alone. So the girl may have some problems and has in the past. Leave her alone for Gods sakes. Let her sort them out and live her life without being pounded unmercifully practically day after day by the press and whoever.
What good would it accomplish putting her in jail for six months as some have said she could possibly get if found guilty of stealing the "Stupid Dumb-Ass Necklace." Who cares.
Give Lindsay a break. Even if she is guilty, let her pay a fine and retribution to the jewelry people, and or do community service. That is, "IF" she is guilty! Remember, right now Lindsay Lohan is Innocent until proven guilty. These Birdbrains should drop the charges, they have already gotten about a Million dollars of Free publicity. Give it up. Leave Lindsay alone already!
By Daniel Bellino Zwicke and "The DANNY REPORT"

Monday, January 31, 2011

REMEMBRANCE of THINGS PAST ....New York

Oh The LION'S HEAD


The old Lion's Head Bar, Greenwich Village. There was not another bar like it. It was thee Writer's Bar of New York. Filled nightly, and daily with Newspapermen, Writers, novelists, and journalists, the likes of Jimmy Breslin, Pete Hammill and brother Denis, Norman Mailer, Frank MacCourt, and throngs of others. The Lion's Head was thee extension of the great daily newspapers News Rooms; The New York Times, and especially the Daily News, New York Post, and Village Voice too. They brought their Preists, friends, and visiting family. The great actress Jessica Lange was a waitress here.
   You could, High, Low, or Middle Brow to go. All you needed was some sort of style and grace. Unlike some of the Juke Boxes these days, the one at the Lion's head had style and grace as well. Filled with the likes of Sinatra, Dean Martin, Bob Dylan,  Chet Baker, The Stones.
   I'll never forget the first time I brought my girlfriend Dante there. Listening to Sinatra, drinking a beer, and smoking a Marlboro, she said, "I looked Sexy with the Cigarette." 
   I'll take that from a beautiful young Columbia Coed. Oh, "The Good Old Days." Are they gone. Sadly the Lion's Head is.
   
by Daniel Bellino Zwicke

Sunday, January 16, 2011

IN NEW YORK a "REGULAR" CUP of COFFEE is "KING" !!!

Coffee and Cafes. Two things very near and dear to me. Million so others as well. In New York, we have the Best, “For getta bout it Seattle” !!! I remember 25 years ago and more when there were no Starbucks and just very few cafes in the hole city. More or less the only cafes were in Greenwich Village, Little Italy, and the East Village. There were hole neighborhoods, completely cafeless and if you wanted to go to one you had to go to the Village or Little Italy, nothing on the hole Upper East Side.
   Anyway, Coffee and Cafes are a huge thing these days and part of many a life.
Coffee and cafes, let me tell you about some of the best and my impressions. Hey, I’m a guy who has been frequenting cafes for years, each and every day, just about. I haven’t Jumped on the Band Wagon in the past 5 or ten years. I’ve been riding it for 30.
   Number “One,” in New York,  a good Cup of Joe is King, “Regular” not
Grande Caramel Latte and overpriced crap like that. Not the esoteric overpriced espresso, Cortado, Machiato, Blue Bottle, and Site Specific Coffee, and blends that try to break down and make too make of a good simple thing. You know what I mean. A “Cup of Joe,” is King. Used to be Five Cents at coffee shops all over the city. Well that’s going way back. Hey don’t get me wrong, I love Espresso, Espresso Machiatto, and the great Cortado they serve at Abraco. It’s just that I gotta tell you, a “Regular” is King and let’s hope it always will be.
   Abraco is utterly awesome. Maybe the Best Single tasting coffee in town, is their Cortado. Man it’s tasty. Just out of this world. But I have some problems with Abraco, as I’m not someone to pay a Premium for what I call “Hit and Run Coffee”
What is “Hit and Run Coffee” you ask? Well, let me tell you. Hit and Run Coffee is a coffee that you get at places like Caffeteria, Abraco, Third Rail Coffee, and tiny little Coffee Bars that have little or no chairs and tables and maybe just a small counter space for standing. Listen, I’m not in the habit of paying  $3.50, $4.50 or “More” for a cup of coffee, having to stand at a counter, drinking it in short time and leaving. Ending up $5.00 or more less in my pockets. Well you may think, “What’s $5.00?” Right? What’s Five Dollars? Imagine if you have 5 $5.00 coffees a week for one year. Do you know how much money that adds up to? Relax, I’ll do the Math for you. That’s $1,300 my friends. No small sum? Multiply that by 5 years and you’re talking $6,500, or by Ten Years and we’re talking $13,000. That’s a lot of Friggin Cash my friends. Hey I’m not saying you should not go out and have coffee. I do all the time. Heck, on my days off, I sometimes end up in cafes three times in one day.  I spend about $1,508 a year on coffee, $7,500 in five years or about $15,000 in ten. That’s a lot. But I get a lot. Heck, I used to spend about $2,200 a year on coffee,  $10, 000 or more in 5, or about $20,000 in ten years. But I have cut back. I’ve seen the light. I hardly ever spend $5.00 on a coffee any more. All I need is the $2.00 variety. A good honest “Cup of Joe,” a “Regular.” And I need to get my money’s worth. If I just wanted a good cup can easily make a great one in my house for just “15 Cents a Cup,” but I go and have one at a CafĂ© for 15 times that amount. Why? The extra $2.35 I pay for the coffee plus tip, is to be able to “Sit” down and relax in a nice pleasant atmosphere. I’m not gonna pay 27 times ($3.75 Average price coffee at Upscale Coffee Bar) to stand at a counter and not being able to sit down and relax. At home I can  make a tasty cup of Coffee from the Highest Quality Coffee money can buy with the coffee I buy at  “Porto Rico Coffee” on Bleecker Street in Greenwich Village, just a half block from my house. No, I pay all that extra money to sit in the pleasant environment of a nice coffee. Also to see other people, maybe a friend or the possibility of meeting someone new and interesting. I read, I write, I hang with friends, I relax. I can not do that at a overpriced “Coffee Bar” that doesn’t have any place to sit.
  And speaking of Porto Rico Coffee, it mystifies me that people are so foolish as to pay $11.95 or more for a mass-produced commercial pound of Coffee from Starbucks instead of going to the “Best Coolest Place in Town” to be some of the World’s Finest Coffee at Porto Rico Coffee, people who have been doing this for more than 100 years, not 20. It just doesn’t make sense. By the way, the coffee I buy at Porto Rico is just $5.99 and $6.99 a pound, half the price of a pound of Starbucks Coffee.
   Anyway. It’s all up to you. I’ll  stick with my Regular “Cup of Joe” with a Espresso and Cappucino thrown in here and there, and as a special treat a Cortado from Abraco every now and then. And I’ll get to sit down and relax with my coffee each day, putting an extra $1,000 a year in my pocket, or Airfare and a few nice meals when I go on vaction. How bout you, “Hit and Run”and pay more, or Sit Down and Relax, Pay Less, Save, and put a Thousand Bucks a Year in your pockets, or $10,000 in ten ? 


by Daniel Bellino Zwicke