pronounced joi-sie

Let’s go “DownNeck” for dinner, she suggested. 

Huh? 

The accent sounded odd on the second syllable, Jersey-style. 

Down-NECK refers to a south-swooping neck in the Passaic River in Newark, New Jersey.

It’s not far actually, just 12 miles from New York’s PENN station on west 33rd.

Ride 15 minutes on NJT and then breeze through Newark’s PENN Station.

About a four minute walk and you’re here.

The Ironbound section of Newark.

It’s a nightlife district rich in Portuguese, with 75% of the people coming here from some other country and with an enviable 97% employment.

They call it “Ironbound” because it is bounded by railroads on all sides.

With the lowest crime rate in Newark (!), it’s been a social place to go for garlicky food and decent drinks for decades.

Iberia is a sprawling complex of restaurants and bars, outdoor seating, live music, a huge parking lot and fantasy brickwork. 

Like a theme park with lobster!

This kinda place serves beer food!

Paella, naturally, 

and a sirloin steak with insanely garlicky shrimp.

The neighborhood is old school retail with fading signage, glassware and crockery shops, gifts and clothing and Brazilian music.

The food was not haute but it was fun and still memorable. 

And hey! 

For a beer-fueled, garlic-laced cultural experience it was ideal.

So inexpensive too, and we took the PathTrain home.

This was fun. Is there an UP-neck in New Jersey?

I’ll be here all weekend

A water tank and some cell antennas met on a roof.

They fell in love and got married. 

The ceremony wasn't much.

But the drinks and reception were excellent!

http://clocktowertenants.com/2010/09/enter-tanks.html

no place I'd

“Rather Be” by British band CLEAN BANDIT, 

featuring a vocal track by Jess Glynne.

1. Debuted at #1 on the UK Singles Chart

2. Fastest selling single of 2014, best selling since 1996.

3. Already over one month at #1, selling well over

                   1,000,000 copies

4. Made the Top 10 in over 25 countries

5. Filmed at Tokyo’s famous Tsukiji Fish Market 築地市場

http://clocktowertenants.com/2012/05/warm-and-dry-wherever-you-are.html

Dar wins again

Technology appears to be enhancing human stupidity.

Now that we know Joan River’s endoscopist took a selfie while she lay anesthetized and dying, consider this.

Drivers still need to be told that texting at the wheel can be fatal. 

Hello?

We were always this stupid, 

but now tech magnifies consequence.

Even in places like highways and operating rooms where we are responsible to our fellow man.

Nobody seems to care unless it involves them.

In my view, that’s worse.

And the stupidity gap only widens from here.

memorial en Cru

Evelina Antonetty was a south Bronx firebrand born in Puerto Rico. Her Mother sent her alone to NYC in 1932, when she was just 10 years old.

She was raised here by her aunt, a woman well into community activism. Antonetty gained a reputation quickly; she was naturally courageous and quick to denounce injustice.

People called Antonetty the “Hell Lady of the Bronx” because she was so outspoken in the face of local politicians.

She fought with Paul Newman, too, about the movie “Fort Apache, the Bronx” because it cast South Bronx Blacks and Latinos as drug pushers, pimps and murderers.

http://clocktowertenants.com/2013/01/maybe-closer-to-aiello.html

In 1974 she passed on running for a vacant seat in the State Assembly, suggesting her supporters get behind a young unknown named José Serrano.

He’s been our Representative in Congress ever since.

wiki