Earlier this week, Fred shared an entry in his diary with me. It's from June 17, 1980 and reads as follows: “drove Benj to his parents' home in New Hyde Park and his dad is a pleasant eccentric little immigrant man with an accent who said I didn't look "Klein" (small) and offered me a half finished beer. His face showed concern when Benj told hi …
There aren't many things in life where everyone can remember where they were when it happened. I know that I had been bartending that night but it was slow so I went home. Started watching it at the bar and when I got home, I was shuffling back and forth between coverage and the Knicks playoff game. For the Kardashians, it sent their lives down …
I am not really a fan of Starbucks coffee. Maybe a Frappuccino on a hot day but for a regular cup of coffee I have other favorites. But today’s news definitely changed my allegiance. Starbucks started a new program to encourage its staff to pursue a college degree. According to one news report, 70 percent of Starbucks workers don’t have a colleg …
My youngest daughter, Sydney, is in Israel this week. She was so excited when she called me a few months ago from school to tell me that she and her friend Jaime had applied together to take a Birthright trip. Sydney was even more excited when she called to tell me that they had both been accepted on a trip. Quickly, however, the excitement t …
I am not superstitious. Then again... When I board an airplane, there is a rule. Right foot first. And just before we get on board, Eve always will ask, "which foot again?" and I answer "right foot" and then I pretend I am stepping with my left foot but quickly put the right foot first. I have also began tapping the outside of the fuselage as …
It's Father's day tomorrow and in honor of my Dad, I submit the following excerpts from a previous blog I posted in July of 2010. My Dad.He helped me with my pinewood derby car for cub scouts by not building it himself He chased me up the stairs when my sister complained to him that I hit her (which I never did) His back was a saddle I rode, la …
I asked Joanne (she is uncomfortble in heels) and she has no answer, so I turn to you greater Gotham world. I have no clue and sincerely want to know: Why do women like (an understatement) shoes (especially high heels) so much?Rona, Nancy? Ladies, please help me!P.S. Photo is mine
It seems that there is always a current “what we thought was good for you, isn't”. Something that was considered healthy and even recommended, suddenly falls out of favor. Low dose aspirin. Take one a day. Now, not so good for you. Don't take low dose aspirin. Talk to your doctor. Coffee. Doesn't count toward your necessary daily f …
There is something about some New York sports fans that I find both interesting and frustrating. There is often this winner take all attitude that as a fan/coach/parent/kid(inside) can strike a raw nerve. This idea that nothing short of a championship is acceptable. Some even find it an admirable trait. It strikes again with the New York Range …
Our Gotham family gatherings twice a year always bring out the best in Gotham. Last night’s cocktail party was no exception. Gotham members from different groups came together with their friends for an evening of great conversation with beautiful views at The Top of the Garden. (Thanks Ashley!) And, there were many new friends to meet last night …
As I have written many times in many many blogs, I am not a sports fan. So, no one was more surprised than me when, I suggested that we change the time we were meeting friends for dinner Saturday night so that we could watch The Belmont Stakes before we left for dinner. I do not think I have ever voluntarily watched a horse race before. But there I …
I keep a few balls in my office. I have a hardball, a soft rubber ball, and a small blow up beach ball. There are all recreational diversions, sometimes used on boring conference calls or long Friday afternoons. I also have a yo yo. The self toss only gets me so far. I need something more. So sometimes I stand about ten feet away from my co …
One of my guilty pleasures is watching Breaking Bad. Prompted by my daughter and son, I started watching it for the first time about 5 months ago and I'm in the middle of the final season. I have never seen a show so well written, shot and acted. It's brilliant the way little details are woven into the story line and brought back to have meaning. …
Despite any prosperity I may have earned and enjoy, I have never evolved from my "On Sale" mentality. Said another way, I am a sucker for a "Sale" (I use quotes because the term is elusive and difficult to define, as discussed later). If and when I enter a store I am gravitationally pulled to the "Sale" or, better still,"Clearance" racks. And when …
There’s a detached garage at Flo’s mother’s house in Queens -- the house that Flo grew up in, my father-in-law lived in until his death five years ago, and her mother still lives in. The garage is used for storage and in all of the years that I took things in and out of that garage, the garage door was never locked -- until two weeks ago when I …
