Jackson Heights loves the Ramones

Yesterday, Saturday June 11th- I chose to wear my black (of course) t-shirt of the Ramones to wear on my way to the Forrest Hills New Yorks Sports Club. On my walk to the 74th/Broadway station in Jackson Heights I spotted a young woman wearing the same shirt. We smiled at each other in solidarity. In the east village this is not an uncommon phenomenon, but in Jackson Bites it sure as hell is. I don't even see anyone in Forrest Hills wearing Ramones tees and that is the neighborhood that spawned this awesome punk band. But then, it gets weirder. When I was back in my hood from the gym another girl was wearing a Ramones tee. I couldn't believe my eyes. Two Ramones t-shirt sightings in one day in Jackson Bites??? Are there really like-minded punk rockers in my neighborhood? Can a cool punk rock bar to replace the Archie Bunker Budds bar be next? Ha, fat chance!

Jackson BITES!

I met a very cool neighborhor about a year ago and to this day we are good buds. And we first met at the only bar I can stand hanging out in in my hood, Budds Bar. Sadly, that little hole in the wall full of drunken Archie Bunkers is now closing. Geez, there ain't much in Queens, but now this? I will go easy on this bourough, it ain't all that bad. I am a Manhattan native that moved out because I wanted more space for my hard earned money. It is a nice place to be and my apartment rocks. But I find the east village is still the only place I can hang in, despite its increasing frat boy prescence. But when I am too lazy to go across the river, Budds sufficed as a nice haven for me and my friends in Queens. Now Budds in getting ready to join the likes of Tupelo, a cool divey punk bar in Astoria. The ONLY other bar I like is the Bohemian Beer Garden in Astoria. But if I am going to travel that far, I might as well go to the East Village.

Jackson Heights, Baby!

Ok, I am not a great blogger since I hardly ever post. That is because NO ONE is reading this shit. But, in case some does, I have to post a little discovery that I made about Jackson Heights, where I am presently an apartment owner. This area is cheap! Yippee!

Now, I am a manhattanite; Manhattan native; Manhattan snob. However you wish to call it. I love NYC, and by NYC, I mean Manhattan. But, since moving back from California in 2001 I have grown a huge fondness for the boroughs. Growing up in Manhattan with my Manhattan centric family, I never crossed the river unless it was to go to Shea Stadium or the airport. My mother and I did a brief stint in the Bronx, two years, so that she could get her degree at Lehman College, but as soon as she graduated, we got the hell out. By the time I had a life of my own, I left New York altogether and went to the left coast for a while. When I came back I could no longer afford to live in the island that spawned me. That SUCKS! So, I got familiar with Astoria. Visited friends all over Queens and Brooklyn. Even hung out there and saw shows. A new world opened up for me. I even got my own place in Jackson Heights. I ain't saying I have Queens pride, but I do have a huge appreciation for it. This borough is alright. It ain't hip though. Astoria and Long Island City are trying, but the east village still rules in my book.

But, the whole point of blogging today was to talk about my quest for fixing a zipper on one of my favorite shirts. I went to a cleaners in Astoria and they told me it would cost $13. I went to a cleaners in Forrest Hills (birthplace of the Ramones) and they said it would cost $25. I don't know why I did not go to the cleaners in my own hood first, but when I did, the guy behind the counter said he would fix my zipper for FOUR FUCKING DOLLARS! JH wins, baby!