Ferry videos from the camcorder

This is from my new and relatively inexpensive MN200NV camcorder from Minolta.   It's not for taking videos on the Staten Island Ferry, but it is a nice way of learning the camera.  Plus, I stayed cool.  It was 100 degrees so the breeze was awesome

 

JUNE 20th WASHINGTON DC

 FREE JAZZ CONCERT

BLOG ENTRY #35: Boring but cool...my ferry ride during 100 degree weather

 

BLOG ENTRY #34 Mamdani beats Cuomo

 Zohran Mamdani won the primary for mayor in New York City.  I didn't vote for him, but I do like him.  So congratulations to him.  Mamdani now faces Eric Adams and Curtis Sliwa in the November elections.

There are quite a few theories regarding this upset win.  I think the campaign asking New Yorkers to not rank Cuomo worked.

I will probably vote for Adams this fall.  I am not convinced Mamdani can do anything regarding crime, and  since he was recorded as saying he wanted to defund the police, good luck getting their support.

I can't see Mamdani freezing rent.  I am not saying I am for rent increases, but will freezing rents help or harm?  Especially when landlords cry broke because they aren't getting more money.

As nice as it would be , I also can't see Mamdani eliminating the bus fare.   Taxing the rice to fund his idea sound nice, but I will take a wait and see approach. And I am curious to see how Albany takes to that, since the governor is more in charge of MTA than the mayor is.

And going back to my earlier point, since Mamdani has a documented past supporting defending the police, who is going to support the businesses during crime sprees, like the one we had during the pandemic?

And good luck going up against President Trump.

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/06/24/mamdani-leads-cuomo-nyc-mayor-race-00422363

BLOG ENTRY #33: Political texts part 2

 I recently posted that I received a text message from someone with Working Families requesting that I not rank former Governor Andrew Cuomo on the ballot for mayor of New York.

I said I probably won't honor the request and I won't.

Of all the candidates I have seen, Republican and Democrat, Cuomo is the strongest one to at least hold his ground against Donald Trump. The rest of the group running as Democrats all seem like nice people, but that is all.

I like Zohran Mamdani, but compared to Andrew Cuomo, he is grossly inexperienced.  I can see the President having his way against him.

Then, there is Mamdani's promise to make buses free and safe.  He claimed he would tax the rich to pay for that. I don't see how that would be a long term solution, but I also thought MTA was mostly run by the governor.  Kathy Hochul could possibly pull the free fare off, but how would she explain that to the upstate residents who still pay for their bus ride?

Most of the candidates are pledging to make the city more affordable.  With Manhattan rents averaging 3K-5K a month, how do any of them propose to reverse that?  You can't send everyone to the most affordable borough, the Bronx.

Andrew Cuomo is nowhere near as friendly appearing as his opponents, but I don't really need friendly.  As I said, I need someone with the balls to stand up to Donald Trump.  Cuomo is pledging to remove the mentally ill from the subways and forcing some type of treatment for them.  I am for that.  People complain about homelessness underground and don't feel safe.  At least Cuomo has a plan.

BLOG ENTRY #32: POLITICAL TEXTS

 I received  text message today (6/13) from someone claiming to be from the Working Class Party, requesting that I not rank former Governor Andrew Cuomo at all on the ballot for New York City Mayor.

It's not the first time I got a political text, so I wasn't angry or even annoyed.  In fact, if you wish to get my attention, the best way to get my attention is to text me.  Call me if you want to piss me off.

I doubt if I will honor the request.

BLOG ENTRY #31: MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL

 OK, I have a YouTube channel and I don't.

Technically, if you have a Google account, you also should have a free account with YouTube.  So, technically I have a channel.  I am not a YouTuber though.  

Like most people, I use my cell phone to take videos.  Not of accidents or violent encounters, but of things of interest while I am out.  Recently, I took videos of a Pow Wow at Inwood Park.

On this channel though, I found that I took some videos about 12 years ago when I was in Daytona Beach.  That led me to add videos I took earlier this year from the Holiday Train Show at the Botanical Gardens in the Bronx and the Caribana Parade from Toronto.

The best thing about You Tube is that I can add my videos to my blog.  In the past I took videos that I couldn't add to the blog because the video was too large.  YouTube is easier to transfer.

https://www.youtube.com/@jgNY1964

BLOG ENTRY #30: Forgive my tardy

 A part of retirement, I am still learning is adjusting, readjusting and REadjusting to you new time schedule...or not.  Up until I retired in January, I just knew how I was going to spend my time.  I knew I was going to travel, do photography, write, blog, work of genealogy and clean my cluttered apartment.  So far, I have fairly managed to do photography and blog.  

 I forgot to list that I was going to catch up on some rest. 

I was never one to sleep eight hours straight, but since retirement, I manage to get my eight or nine hours over ten.  If I am in bed at midnight, I will get my seven-eight hours of sleep, but it will be by 9 or 10 AM.

If I go to the library to write or blog, it is by about 1 or 2 PM.

Lately, I have been lazy.  I have been trying to send off a blog entry at least once or twice a week and I slacked off.  For my own personal reason, I am correcting that.

FOODIE REVIEW: CARMINE'S-A-

 A few things of note regarding my food reviews:

1.  GENERALLY, I only take the time to review spots I put in my links as recommended places.
2.  Most of the reviews are collaborated by my partner-in food, Chloe and myself.  Since it is my blog, I will do some by myself.
3.  I won't review fast food places like McDonald's  or Burger King.
4.  I don't only review spots in New York City

Carmine's has two locations in New York City,  They offer other spots, which I won't review until I visit them.  For this review, my partner-in-food and I visited this place twice and except for a couple of very minor issues, we enjoyed ourselves.

Carmine's is known of being family style Italian Food, meaning the plates come out ready to feed most of the party seated at the table (in case you didn't know).  This way, you dish out what you want .  On day one, the two of us ordered garlic bead, baked clams (for me), shrimp Parmesan and a Caesar Salad (you need something to flush everything down).  On our second visit, we ordered the Caesar Salad, Calamari (for me), shrimp Parmesan  and Spaghetti with meatballs.

The verdict:

First, the food was outstanding.  Next to seafood, my favorite dish is Italian.  Carmine's  serves up healthy (or unhealthy if you plan on eating by yourself) dishes and I am almost guaranteeing you that you will be begging for a doggy bag. Me-9, Chloe, 8

Second, the service.  Even with Carmine's being so large, we didn't wait an unreasonable long time for the food.  All of the servers were professional and friendly and kept us informed of everything.  The staff let us know of shift changes and made certain we were taken care of before he left.  The restaurant was also diverse.   Me-9, Chloe-8

Atmosphere/Ambiance  I personally enjoy the design.  It reminds me of a restaurant during the 1970s.  The lights were dimmed a little with wooden tables and floors.  Me-9, Chloe 8

Overall, I rated Carmine's a 9 and Chloe gave it an 8.  I will warn you that it is deceptively pricey.  Plates generally cost $25 and more and it is doubtful if you will just order a place of salad.  For a party of two, it is safe to say you will order two or three plates (say garlic bread, spaghetti and calamari).  That particular threesome will run you close to $100, without drinks.  As it is well worth it,  examine the menu carefully before putting yourself in a position where you need Joy (the dishwashing liquid and not happiness)

My personal recommendations?  The lasagna is great.  The shrimp parm was well worth it.  he baked clams appetizer is worth having seconds.

FOODIE REVIEW: Charles Pan Fried Chicken B-

This is actually more than just a foodie review.  Charles Pan Fried Chicken is actually one of my recommended eateries in my links. 

I actually came across this place a couple of years ago at their Upper West Side location, after hearing the boast about having the best fried chicken in New York.

Essentially, CPFC is a soul food spot that has not only friend chicken, but smothered chicken, turkey wings, pulled pork and barbeque smoked spare ribs.  The assortment of sides include, macaroni and cheese, potato salad, yams, black-eyed peas, white rice and cabbage.

The restaurant is best known though for the pan fried chicken.  It is not deep fried the way you would normally see at some places.  At Charles, the chicken is fried in the old fashioned, but huge black frying pans.

How's the food?  Well, it made my list, which means, well it is not terrible, lol. For Charles Pan Fried Chicken , I pooled the opinions of my cousin Al and one of my best friends Chloe.  The opinions vary.

Chloe went to the Upper West Side location and was disappointed.  For her, the chicken had too much garlic.  She was also turned off with the yams and the baked macaroni and cheese.   She rated it a C.

Al loved everything (chicken, macaroni and cheese and corn bread) and gave the place a B+, in part for the food and also because it is Black owned and operated.

For me, being Black owned and operated is a great acknowledgment,  but nothing for me to grade on.  You will see that in future reviews.  

The Upper West Side location is a little cramped with their set up. The staff greets you when you enter, which is a little annoying for me, but still nice and unique.  The chicken was very good.  I found it crispy and well seasoned.  I usually order ala carte since I don't care for wings, but thoroughly like thighs.  I ordered potato salad and macaroni and cheese and was turned off.   Potato salad is always a dangerous road and this potato salad has a different texture than what you may normally be used to (softer) and needed more relish, onions and maybe a little sugar.  As for the mac and cheese, I was never one to prescribe to the idea that dumping cheese into a pot of macaroni makes it taste better,   And I personally hate stringy cheeses in my mac and cheese.  Mozzarella has no place in mac and cheese.  I prefer a mixture of cheddar cheeses and even a sauce.  The sides were....meh, but not bad enough for me to turn people away.  The corn bread was good.   The lime punch was dangerously sweet.  People with A1C issues may want to think before drinking.  I rated my experience a solid B.  Also, I thought the flagship location on 145 Street is better.  In any case, try for yourself and feel free to email your feelings.

https://www.charlespanfriedchicken.com/

BLOG ENTRY #29 MAYORAL DEBATE part one

I watched the democratic debate a couple of days ago for NYC Mayor.

Interesting.

Nine people debated.

For me, the front runners were :

Andrew Cuomo: most experienced and strongest leader

Michael Blake:  powerful underdog.

Zohran Mandami:  hopeful ideas

I guess I would rather see Cuomo lead the state as opposed to taking a smaller seat as the mayor.

Blake intrigues me.    He appears strong without being unnecessarily mean.

I can see Blake or Cuomo dealing with inner city crime and the police.

Mandami seems nice.  He is very likeable.  He also has unreachable goals.  His plan to make city buses in New York free is a pipe dream.   Why would the governor go along with that?  Why would the rest of New York State allow the governor to make NYC bus service free while they have to pay full fare?

I don't believe anyone's pledge to get affordable housing  in New York.  Everyone needs to come up with a better idea.  According to multiple sources, Manhattan rent is an average of over $5,000 a month.  Average rents in Brooklyn are over $2700 a month.   Everyone can't live in the Bronx even though the average rent is just over $1600 a month.

Nobody really seemed to address mental health and the homeless issue.

The remaining candidates don't seem strong enough to lead.  Cuomo is best suited to combat Trump.   I can see Blake growing balls to deal with him but Mandami would get eaten alive.

I still see the race  coming down to Eric Adams vs Andrew Cuomo vs Zohran Mandami.  Adams is compromised but still a stronger face vs Trump than the others.

POW WOW part 4

 

POW WOW part 3

 

POW WOW Part 2

 

POP WOW June 1 2025

 

This was my first Pow WOW