Antiquated Fixtures of Wine
Wine artifacts and customs from the past
By Josh Perilo
“Her name was Mara Palmer,” instructed Artemus in his genteel Southern drawl, “and she was a Bulgarian Aristocrat.”
“And this thing she had,” I said, “it was like an antenna?”
“It was a swizzle stick. A Champagne swizzle stick. It was made by Dunhill.”
Artemus described again, in detail, the odd contraption that this fascinating Mara (who sounded like a character from a Raymond Chandler novel) would use whenever she drank sparkling wine. A small, silver cylinder encased a set of prongs. When extended, the prongs would be inserted into the glass of Champagne and twirled quickly. Read more
Neapolitan Cookery Ready For Its Close-up
Wood-burning oven provides savory flavors
By Tom Steele
I can’t remember ever visiting a two-week-old restaurant that had its act so completely together. Credit must be bestowed on Tiella’s co-owner Mario Coppola, whose hands-on management style results in a tightly run ship. And Peppe Castellano’s Neapolitan cookery is as authentic as it is intensely delicious. Read more
Blood Matters
Donating blood to yourself in advance for surgery
By Fred Cicetti
Q: I’m a geezer planning to have surgery in a few months. I was wondering if I can donate blood to myself in advance?
A: Yes you can. This is called “autologous” blood donation. It’s done in the weeks before non-emergency surgery. The blood is stored until the operation. Autologous donation is most often employed in surgery on bones, blood vessels, the urinary tract and the heart, when the likelihood of transfusion is high. Read more
Going Lean in Hard Times
Time for New York politicians to stop ‘porking’ out
OK, class, let’s talk about pork. Pork, of course, is not kosher. Like many, I suspect one of the reasons it was listed in the biblically proscribed list was that if not properly handled, it caused diseases like trichinosis. Once that worm got into your system, you could die from it.
I tell you all of this since there is another kind of pork—that which exists in politics and abounds in New York, where the Legislature has given away more and more money each year. The party in power gets more of this pork (so-called projects and special member items) to give away than the minority party. Read more
From Mess to Masterpiece
How ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ rose from the ashes to become the quintessential New York film.
Last week I saw Breakfast at Tiffany’s again for the first time.
Even though I can practically recite every line by heart, I viewed the classic with fresh eyes when it played at the Sunset Film Festival in Carl Schurz Park because I had just finished Sam Wasson’s behind-the-scenes book about the movie, Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M.: Audrey Hepburn, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, and The Dawn of the Modern Woman. Read more
Watching New York’s Checkbook
To The Editor:
As an advocate in New York City for more than three decades, I’m often asked, “Where do my tax dollars go?”
Those answers can be found at the Checkbook NYC website recently launched by City Comptroller John Liu. Read more
Subway Health Concerns
To The Editor:
I am very concerned about the public health implications of the Second Avenue Subway construction. The dust is aggravating the asthma of my family members. What will the long-term effects be? Is anyone monitoring this? Plus, our building is now infested with mice, from the construction.
Did New Yorkers get to vote on this subway? It is hurting the property values all along Second Avenue. When will it end?
Beth Demel
Upper East Side
Senior Park Needs Clear Label
To the Editor:
I think a Senior Park at John Jay Park is a very nice idea (“At John Jay Park, You Must Be This Old To Enter,” July 15). However, a comment in the story about the name of the park containing “nothing that says seniors or older people” caught my eye and got me to thinking. Read more
CECD2 Story Not So Simple
To The Editor:
The CECD2 made a promise to the families of the Upper East Side that it will engage in a data-driven zoning process (“CECD2 Divided Over School Rezoning Process,” July 22). I am personally committed to delivering on this promise and will ensure that zoning does not stall while we sort out the interpretation of the bylaws. In my view, committees are necessary to efficiently conduct the work of the Council. However, there is nothing that prevents individual members from moving ahead with information and data gathering—the first step in the zoning process.
Shino Tanikawa
Co-Chair, CECD2 Zoning Committe
Why Did Restaurant Close?
To The Editor:
Nice remembrance of Ristorante Primavera (“New York Loses a Treasure,” July 22) in Our Town. My wife and I have lived in the neighborhood for more than 40 years, a block away from Primavera at 82nd and York, and sad to say we’ve never set foot in the place (the location, by the way, used to be a dumpy-looking auto parts store). Read more
