NYC Xmas Trees

“Each stand in the city makes do with whatever space is available, whether it’s under the F train or in the shadow of the projects. As diverse as the locations are, each Christmas tree vendor is even more unique. It’s a New York subculture that paints a diverse and ambitious picture of the New York the city struggles to be.”

– “NYC’s Incredible Christmas Tree Seller Subculture” (photo essay), Nick Stango, Gizmodo

It’s a tough racket …

“While most New Yorkers are drawn to the glitter and nostalgia of the Christmas tree business, few see it for what it is: an exacting, complex and bitterly competitive industry. Vendors wage bidding wars each year over plots of land in city-owned parks and ink deals with local shopkeepers or property owners to construct their tree stands on the busiest sidewalks.”

– “Hidden Malcontents: New York’s Christmas Tree Industry,” Adam McCauley, City Beats

1963 March on Washington: 80,000 Cheese Sandwiches

“In New York, volunteers showed up at the Riverside Church at 3:00 AM to make bagged lunches. The bagged meal, comprised of a cheese sandwich, mustard, marble cake and an apple, could be purchased by marchers for 50 cents. Working in shifts until 4 in the afternoon, the assembly line crew paused once for a few words from Dr. Robert Spike, director of the Commission on Religion and Race of the National Council of Churches: ‘As an act of love, we now dedicate these lunches for the nourishment of thousands who will be coming long distances, at great sacrifice to say with their bodies and souls that we shall overcome.’ In all, 5 tons of American cheese went into the 80,000 lunches that were loaded onto refrigerated trucks and shipped down to Washington.”

– “Eating on the March: Food at the 1963 March on Washington,” Smithsonian Magazine blog [links added]

Mazel Tov, Arvind Mahankali!

Last Thursday the Scripps National Spelling Bee was won by 13-year-old Arvind Mahankali when he successfully spelled “knaidel,” a word for “matzoh ball.” Surprised a young man with an Indian name can spell a Yiddish-derived word? Kid’s from Queens, fahcryinoutloud! As Lenny Bruce said, “If you live in New York … you are Jewish.”

But you think any aspect of Jewish-American culture is without controversy, especially in New York City? Fuggetaboutit.

New York’s Filthiest Fine Restaurants

Slobs like you decide where to eat by consulting Yelp, but the monied classes rely on Le Guide Michelin Rouge, which rates restaurants by awarding stars. New York City’s Health Department rates restaurants too, according to hygiene, and eateries must post their sanitary inspection letter grades in their front windows. Gawker has noticed that some restaurants with high Michelin ratings have low health inspection grades. These include:

New York Bike Riders Prepare for Winter

Actually, that’s not a bicycle with a sweater. It’s an example of “yarn bombing.”  Read about the genre here:

“Graffiti’s Cozy, Feminine Side,” Malia Wollan, New York Times

The wooly bike above is parked on East 23rd Street in Manhattan, across the street from the School of Visual Arts.

Short link: http://wp.me/p6sb6-b8M

Image by Mike Licht. Download a copy here. Creative Commons license; credit Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com

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AJE on TV in NYC

First Tunisia, then Egypt, and now  … the Big Apple. Al Jazeera English is coming to New York City, subletting the RISE cable channel. AJE has been virtually shut-out of U.S. markets due to post 9/11 xenophobia, but the U.S. media relied on Doha-based Al Ajzeera for coverage of the recent Arab Spring uprisings, so the absurdity of the exclusion has become apparent.

More:

“Al Jazeera English Arrives on N.Y. Cable,” Brian Stelter, New York Times

Short link: http://wp.me/p6sb6-aMp

Image by Mike Licht. Download a copy here. Creative Commons license; credit Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com

Comments are welcome if they are on-topic, substantive, concise, and not boring or obscene. Comments may be edited for clarity and length.

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