The NEW YORK CHRONICLES: Morning Coffee

Sunday, April 21, 2013

SUNDAY MORNING COFFEE

My Sunday morn Coffee? How I love it so. There's nothing quite like it, and it's one of my best moments of the week, most times "the Best." Yes it is. And not for just me, millions I'm quite sure. If you work 6 days a week, as I, or you work five, that Sunday morn coffee just can't be beat. Most might have it down at the kitchen table. The coffee pot brews, you retrieve the Sunday Paper and settle in. Settle in what that good ol friend, your morning cup of Joe. You chit chat with the husband, wife, boyfriend, girlfriend, whoever, and you sip that good ol friend, your morning cup of coffee, Java. Is it Brazilian, African, Colombian Jamaican, or Sumatra, no matter, it's your favorite and it brings you joy. Most of us drink good ol regular American Coffee, regular, Black, with milk and sugar, just milk no sugar, Milk, Cream, Half & Half, there's a number of ways to enjoy, your morning cup of coffee.

For me, my morning cup is never in my house as most. No, I always go to the cafe. I've been doing so for almost 30 years now. Nothing wrong with having it at home, but me, I always have it out, at one of my local cafes. One is American (Regular Cup of Joe) the other Italian (Espresso or Cappuccino). For the past few days, I go to the American Bakery/Cafe more often. I usually have a little breakfast before I go, sans (without) coffee. The coffee is reserved for the cafe. I do this for two reasons, never having coffee at home. Number one, after I take a show, have my breakfast and put on my clothes, I just want to get out of the house and into my beloved city, New York. Two, I only have my coffee at the cafe because to me it makes it more special. And it's not just about the coffee, it's the whole total package. I have my coffee, yes, but I'm among others. There are always the counter girls at the cafe who are all quite lovely. A nice morning getting back and forth, perhaps a bit of chit-chat with the girls and they're always so sweet. Usually I have friends there, so there's a bit of conversation with them, sipping my regular coffee, "Milk No Sugar." I read, I write, I lsiten to the music, sip, love, and enjoy my coffee, that very simple and one of lifes "Great Pleasures," and guess what? It cost very little. And especially if you compare it to the outrageous price of cocktails these days, that with the price of the drink $14-$17, and tip, can end up near $20.00 per. I love a good cocktail, but not at that price. My morning cup of coffee has superior value compared to the current days cocktail prices New York. Sad really.

Yes, I usually see friends, have a good chat, then it's into the papers, The Times, Post,

The Daily News, whatever is lying around the cafe. Guess what? They free. I can go on my computer and surf the net. I'll get any news or info I could possibly want. If I don't like the music playing at the cafe, which is usually good, but can occasionally be quite bad. I'll just plug in my ear plugs, go to Youtube, and watch a Rolling Stones video. Listen too, of course. Or I'll just plug into my iPod Touch and listen to my great Musical Library. No Crap Rap of course, just good ol Classic Rock, R&B, and "Frank" Sinatra that is!

I write, I read, I load up news from the Huffington Post on my iPod to read on the train (Subway) later, I see friends, sometime make new one, I sip my Coffee, I injoy. That's my Sunday morning coffee, or any day of the week for that matter. My morning Coffee.

Daniel Bellino-Zwicke

NEW YORK and The $3.00 PBR

New York and the $3.00 PBR, Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer has been a God-Send to many New Yorkers. As you all know, the US Economy has been in the Shitter for the past 3-Half years or so.

Many people are out of work, and many who are working, are taking home Half-as-Much Money or more of what they used to make. People have had to buckle down and give up or curb many things they enjoyed previous to the current state of our economy, which is in almost a Depression Era State.

Yes, everybody says that we are not in a Depression, we're in a recession. Those are the Rich and Well-Off talking. To many, the state of our Union and their feelings are of Depression.

So, because of the Terrible State of our Economy you have given up eating out 3 times a week, you buy less clothes, spend less on Entertainment and any number of things and you haven't had a vacation in the past two years, maybe more. You given up a lot. We all have.

Now when it comes to socializing, going out for a few Beers or Cocktails with some friends, you've had to cut back on that too. But hey, you gotta draw a line somewhere, and everyone is entitled to a few drinks to unwind every now and then. But if you live in the Great City of New York this can be a costly undertaking, especially in this day, and of all times, to be having a Boom in The $14, Sixteen-Dollar-Or -More-Cocktail.W hat is a Poor Working Guy or Working Girl to do??? Well Boys and Girls, let's Thank God for that great thing of wonder and the Bars and establishments who so graciously and kindly serve it, The $3.00 PBR, That's right, a $3.oo Beer in The Land of The Over-Priced $16.00 Cocktail, Manhattan, New York, NY..... It's quite Sad, Greedy too.

Yes, Thank God and let's thank the Kind-Heart proprietors who serve $3.00 PBR'S or any Beer for just $3 or $4 in a New York Bar. You are doing you fellow man a public service and we thank you for that. Whoever you are, you are to be commended, and Shame-On-You, all those places that serve $14 PLUS Cocktails. "RIP-OFF" !!! Wish the masses would Boycott these places and patronize places like Blue & Gold Bar, 7B, and anyplace who has a heart. Bars that serve 3 and 4 Dollar Beers.

I just have to say, it's great to go to a place like Blue and Gold Bar on East 7th Street and know that you can have 3 or 4 Beers for just $12 to $16, accounting for a Buck a Pop for the Barkeep. Now that's pretty good. I have had the best times hanging at Blue & Gold with some friends. You sit at the Bar or get into a nice comfy booth, drink your Beers ($3 PBR'S), relax, listen to the Music, Chit Chat, and just enjoy, and it's not going to cost you The Shirt Off Your Back.

Yes, you can have 4 Beers, tip included for the price of 1 Rip-Off Drink at one of those Rip-Off Joints. And if you are Dumb enough to have four drinks in one of those places, guess what it's going to cost you? About $75 my friend.

Well, do the Math, and if you can afford $75 for only 4 drinks, God Bless You. And if you can't, you've got an alternative. Right, your local $3.00 PBR Joint. They're a God-Send.

Daniel Bellino-Zwicke