Archive for January 2010
Astoria Slice
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Observations and commentary on the ever shifting urban milieu called Pizza:
Pizza is the fruit of choice for the lifelong New Yorker, a greasy elixir that nourishes the soul. A proper slice is an avenue through which salvation may be found- sort of a cheesy eucharist.
There are borough based niceties known to sophisticates- the overloaded and enormous slices of Manhattan and the Bronx, the crunchy crust and sparse cheese found in “the Queens slice”, the perfect ratios and oil dripping sauce of the Brooklyn and… Staten Island slice. There’s also the fancy “wood burning oven” sort offered by places like “John’s” in the village, of course, but that’s a little “fine dining” if you ask me. There are further specific qualities to each borough’s slice, but I won’t bore you.
Careful observation and sampling of the goods over a four decade long study has led to the following observation- As the ethnic tides of immigration into New York have waxed and waned, the character of New York Pizza has picked up influences gathered from other world cuisines, no doubt because of who is actually cooking the stuff. Moving from the characteristic pentateuch of borough based stylings into a generic citywide slice which owes much to the influx of Latin American labor into the formerly southern Italian dominated kitchens, I’ve noticed a shift in flavor and delivered product. Don’t mistake me, not saying its bad or good, just saying that it is.
The pie above is a June 2008 specimen from Gino’s on Broadway here in Astoria, which has since undergone a change in ownership and staff. Shortly after the pizzeria changed hands, the composition of their product changed noticeably, taking on the new citywide standard- which I call Pizzadilla. The pun is based of course on the Mexican fare called Quesadilla, which modern New York Pizza is beginning to resemble.
The Mozzarella (which is pronounced MOOTSARELLAH, not MMAHTSSARELLA by the way) is less fatty than it should be and the sauce has far less olive oil used in in its recipe. A proper slice- according to me- should drip an orange oil and need to be blotted at the apogee of the fold, it should also nearly sunder its crust when folded. Pizza should also NEVER have ham or pineapple… just what the hell is wrong with you people? The new Ginos also offers the single funniest menu item I’ve ever seen on sale in a Pizzeria- the Salad Slice (which is indeed a slice of pizza with a salad piled onto it).
Newtown Pentacle readers who find themselves on Steinway Street between 30th and 31st should direct their attentions to Rizzo’s, which is a prime example of the “Queens Slice”.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Alive and well
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Sorry for the lack of postings in the last few days, but the next big batch of photos and research has been occupying me, and I’m a little “written out” at the moment. As mentioned in previous posts, I’m attempting to control myself- to not allow an “all cemetery” Newtown Pentacle to emerge. Of course, that would indicate that there was some sort of grand plan governing when things appear here, or that these postings are following an agenda of some kind. Nothing could be further from the truth, and the weather has largely shut me down for the last month or so on the “gathering content” front lines. As is usually the case during this time of the year, I’m frustrated by my inability to be outside due to my vulnerable and weakened constitution.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The good news is that I was recently invited to take a series of shots indoors at JetBlue’s Terminal 5 at JFK airport, while under the supervision of airport personnel which assured no hassle with security. Certain restrictions (don’t shoot security or actual runways) applied, and the vast majority of the shots are in the hands of and controlled by a major metropolitan ad agency, but I’m authorized to share a subset of them publicly- which will be coming sometime this week. Proper postings will resume shortly, why not subscribe to the RSS feed found in the toolbar to the right so you don’t miss anything? No spam or commercial crap from me, can’t speak for wordpress but that’s really not their style- and the nice bit about “push” services like RSS is that you’ll be able to read the Pentacle on the gizmo of your choice.
New Calvary
– photo by Mitch Waxman
While scuttling away from that ribbon of malefic neglect called the Newtown Creek one fine day, on my way home to the yellow brick splendors of far off Astoria, your humble narrator suddenly had the sensation of being observed and followed by malign forces. Such paranoia is a failing of mine, of course (I’m all ‘effed up), as I’m given to wild flights of imagination and illogical conjecture about everyday and ordinary experiences which are mundane occurrences for everyone else. The impression that I think I’m somehow special would be erroneous however, as this is more curse than blessing.
Simply put, your humble narrator lives very much in his own self defined world- which in this case, framed by the steel overpass of the Long Island Expressway and the cyclopean walls of New Calvary Cemetery. A narrow and neglected sidewalk carried me toward an aperture in its high iron gates.
Calvary Cemetery is owned and managed by the Archdiocese of New York. It consists of four cemeteries and has about 3 million interred:
First Calvary Cemetery: full by 1867, located betw the Long Island Expressway & Review Ave.
Second Calvary Cemetery: located on the west side of 58th St betw Queens Blvd & the Brooklyn-Queens Espressway, land acquisition ended in 1888
Third Calvary Cemetery: est. 1879, located on the west side of 58th St, between the LIE & the BQE
Fourth Calvary Cemetery: est. 1900, located on the west side of 58th St, betw the LIE & 55th Ave
Mailing address: Calvary Cemetery, 49-02 Laurel Hill Blvd., Flushing NY 11377-7396
– photo by Mitch Waxman
New Calvary Cemetery isn’t “special” in the way that nearby Mount Zion and FIrst Calvary are- in terms of historic significance or psychic impression. The latter locations impart a sense of devastating loneliness upon their visitors, evoking a sensation of walking sanctified ground- while New Calvary is actually a very nice and quite pleasant place.
Far larger than the other “suburban cemeteries” New Calvary stretches out in a vast trapezoid of manicured grounds that extend from Queens Blvd. to 55th avenue (north to south) and 49th-58th streets (west to east), is trisected by both the BQE and LIE, and there are far worse places to visit on a sunny afternoon. It abuts Mount Zion Cemetery on 58th street.
from wikipedia
The Rural Cemetery Act was a law passed by the New York Legislature on April 27, 1847, that authorized commercial burial grounds in rural New York state. The law led to burial of human remains becoming a commercial business for the first time, replacing the traditional practice of burying the dead in churchyards and on private farmland. One effect of the law was the development of a large concentration of cemeteries along the border between the New York City boroughs of Queens and Brooklyn.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
note:
There are many new interments, every day, at New Calvary (roughly 60,000 people die in New York City during an average year) – the recently dead and their families are everywhere. Newtown Pentacle “policy” on such matters is still in a state of evolutionary flux, but for the present, focusing in -with or without significant obfuscation of identifying information on the grave marker – on the monuments of the recently deceased is something I’m a little “squirrely” about. Feedback is appreciated, by the way, on this subject and its ethical implications. On the one hand- there it is, out in the open in public. On the other, no one wants to see their dad’s name on some blog. What do you think? Leave a comment, if you dare…
– photo by Mitch Waxman
First Calvary, whose altitude is at a remarkably lower declination than New Calvary, drapes nearby Laurel Hill, but is isolated by the vast complexes of highway bridges which span and overpass the area from its younger sibling.
A visit to New Calvary is actually a very pleasant experience, although the vast majority of the markers here are mundane and mass produced owing to their production during the middle and late 20th century. Such generic markers are utilitarian and seem to be weathering well, but discovery of iconic and unique statuary in the tradition of the O’Brien or Doherty monuments at First Calvary eludes me in here.
If you decide to enter this place, there’s a “no trespassing” rule- which is seldom enforced unless you’re acting like a jerk. You may get told to leave, I once had a groundskeeper keep a very close eye on me but wasn’t confronted. Reason being is that there are active funeral rites being performed. Be cognizant of the feelings of others if you bring your camera with you… another reason I prefer First Calvary is that its mostly full and nearly empty of the living.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Do not mistake my deep affections for the venerable Calvary as an attempt to make its younger offshoot seem facile or cheap. This is a very impressive place, with subtle landscaping and gentle hills. Surreal, one has the impression of perambulating a technicolor movie set, dressed with grass that is “too green” and statuary strategically painted with moss and nitre. The bronze door above is actually from a mold, as I’ve seen other examples of it all over the cemetery belt.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Lucky for me, this notion of paranoid pursuit that had caused me to enter Third Calvary brought me there at the apex of the autumnal sun, the so called “golden hour”. When lighting conditions are such, one tends to just shoot and shoot, as they will pass quickly. The sunlight become orange gold and the shadows assume a blueish hue. Such complimentary reactions of color are pleasing to the human eye, evoking the wild theories of the radical painter and art theorist Josef Albers.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The grave markers in New Calvary point to lessons learned in the older cemetery, with long concrete foundations providing stable ground for the stones to rest upon. The disturbing subsidence common at the older facility is not seen as often here, probably due to the differing hydrological qualities of the substrate soil.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
I’ve learned that many of the Mausoleums found in the Newtown Pentacle are designed with a window of stained glass and a small altar within. The deceased are held in the crypts which lie on either side of this space. The site orientation of most of these mausoleums is east/west and the stained glass was calculated to be illuminated by either sunrise or sunset. The ornate designs revealed during such intervals is remarkable, and if you happen across Calvary at this time of day, look for such ephemera.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
This is a curious optical artifact I’ve been referring to as “me and Jesus”. The reflection on the right side is me. You can just make out my hand holding the camera, the collar of my filthy black raincoat, a specular highlight on my sunglasses, and the outline of my black fedora. On the left is the shadow pattern of a bearded man with long hair. The obvious explanation is that the backlit stained glass is projecting an image on the tomb glass I’m focusing past… but the image in the artwork is not wearing a crown of thorns, and the image on the left is.
Weird.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Hey, you never know what you’re going to find at Calvary.
Thawing Thursday linkage
Lovecraftia-
Well, it seems that the Deep Ones have been spotted in Antarctica by the Japanese. They dare much, these Deep Ones, for the city of the Old Ones– infested with Shoggoths– still awaits rediscovery atop the Earth’s forbidden peaks at the austral pole. Has to be, because Lovecraft was actually right about a lot of things- although his racial politics were distasteful even by the standard of his times.
- photo from Pinktentacle.com
The Ningen, ladies and lords, and the glory that is pinktentacle.com.
The Occult-
Check out the story of an Orthodox Jewish exorcism, which is part of an ongoing Dibuk Possession at failedmessiah.com
Politics-
Check out Geoff Dyer’s comparisons of the British and American mindset at nytimes.com
Discredited, but worth a look-
Miss Murray’s Witch Cult in Western Europe
Tragedy in Haiti
Looks like a 100,000 may have died in the Earthquake on Tuesday. 48 tons of emergency supplies and 2,000 Marines are onboard speedy ships coming to help dig out, set up field hospitals, and facilitate law and order. An air craft carrier and multiple support vessels are enroute as well. The Coast Guard just arrived to set up communications and air traffic control. It is time to live up to our national mythology, and damn the cost of it. Count on the national government to find a way to focus the charitable urges of the nation- a flood of donations and canned food drives- with shipping arranged by some friendly corporation. The Mexicans are a rather large presence in the region as well, and don’t be surprised if even Cuba shows up to help.
And- America must resist the urge to “fix” Haiti during reconstruction in any way except to leave behind a staggering amount of useful stuff. Our national will has tried to “fix” Haiti several times before and it hasn’t worked out very well for anyone concerned. Haitians are clever, just broke. They can do a lot more with a cord of lumber and a set of tools than they can with a paper grocery bag full of cash, and there’s enough unsold raw material sitting around in American warehouses and factory docks to build a stairway to the moon out of PVC pipes and drywall.
This is the head of the snake, of course, and a vast conveyor belt of aid is being loaded up all over the East Coast. America is coming, and this is when we are at our national best- when our friends are in trouble. The Eagles are coming.
note: Growing up in Brooklyn, I knew A LOT of Haitian families, and my heart goes out for the people of Port Au Prince. There are so many Haitians in Brooklyn, by the way, that this may as well have happened to New York. God speed, good luck, hold on for a couple of days and stay warm- the Cavalry is just on the other side of the hill… hopefully.
For Google’s listing of organizations working on Haiti relief efforts, click here.
Tales of Calvary 9- A Pale Enthusiast
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Amateurish and lazy explorations of Calvary Cemetery and the Greater Newtown Pentacle, with associated blog postings foisted upon an unsuspecting public and amplified by a never ending barrage of self promoting debasements of all that is true, have revealed many strange things to your humble narrator, and by extension- to you my gentle lords and ladies of Newtown. Today, the Doherty monument in First Calvary gets its turn. There is nothing “odd” about the monument, in fact the reason I call attention to the thing is the supernal beauty of its working. This is one uncanny bit of carving, and unfortunately these photos do not do it justice (still adjusting to the new camera).
Art school faculty, turtlenecked and smoking french cigarettes, would probably describe it as “Sophia, goddess of wisdom- in the form of a christian angel, sitting within a Roman structure, crowned by a cross- representing an agglutination of civilized democratic-christian progress advancing since the time of the Greeks and the Roman Republic and ultimately manifested as The United States. The angel casts her eye skyward, vigilant, with a sword in her hand. A pacific and expectant expression suggests the nearness of the second coming and resurrection of the dead.”
Such imperious and hyperbolic thinking was very much in vogue in the years between 1900 and the first World War.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Eugene Doherty and his wife Mary J. Doherty are buried here. Their headstones have bas reliefs of palm fronds draped across them. The little flags are planted at the graves of military veterans in New York Cemeteries on national holidays to honor their service. I found no evidence of Doherty serving in the military, but that probably just means I didn’t know where to look.
After all- I’m just some ‘effed up lunatic who spends his spare time scuttling around trash dumps, toxic waste sites, and cemeteries who gets his kicks bad mouthing the past- Right?
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Mr. Doherty, it seems, was a man of some reknown. He was a leading member of the Irish community on both sides of the Newtown Creek, and stood shoulder to shoulder in prestige alongside Battle-Ax Gleason in the eyes of his countrymen.
A manufacturer of rubber, Doherty specialized in the sort of material demanded by “turn of the 20th century” Dentists for the manufacture of dentures. His heavily advertised (see sample at bottom) Samson Rubber was a standard component for the manufacture of false teeth. The factory, incorporated as Eugene Doherty Rubber Works, Inc., was located at 110 and 112 Kent Avenue which is in Greenpoint (or Williamsburg, depending on whether or not you’re trying to hard sell a building).
rubber, from wikipedia
The major commercial source of natural rubber latex is the Para rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis), a member of the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae. This is largely because it responds to wounding by producing more latex.
Other plants containing latex include Gutta-Percha (Palaquium gutta),[1] rubber fig (Ficus elastica), Panama rubber tree (Castilla elastica), spurges (Euphorbia spp.), lettuce, common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), Russian dandelion (Taraxacum kok-saghyz), Scorzonera (tau-saghyz), and Guayule (Parthenium argentatum). Although these have not been major sources of rubber, Germany attempted to use some of these during World War II when it was cut off from rubber supplies. These attempts were later supplanted by the development of synthetic rubbers. To distinguish the tree-obtained version of natural rubber from the synthetic version, the term gum rubber is sometimes used.
A neat image of the the Doherty Rubber Works building late in its heyday (1920) can be found at trainweb.org, if you can believe anything I say, and they have a great description of the whole scene in context here. I warn you though, you’re going to learn about the Brooklyn Eastern District Terminal!
Also, in a completely unrelated coincidence, NAG is located at 110 Kent in modernity. Here’s the place on a google map, click “streetview” to compare to the 1920 shot above
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Eugene Doherty died in 1906, his wife Mary in 1914. Luckily for Mary, the denture business was a lucrative one, and her years of mourning were spent in material comfort. At her death, she bequeathed the staggering sum of $621,148 to her heirs.
$621,148 in 1914, mind you, and federal income tax had just become a reality in 1913. That’s at least $10,000,000 in modern coine.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Life sized, if you’re a 5 foot tall woman, the statue itself is disarming and has weathered existence in the corrosive atmospheric miasmas extant about the nearby Newtown Creek for 94 years, only losing a thumb. The colour, oddly, doesn’t stain sanctified Calvary. Xanthian skill representative of true artistry went into the shaping of this stone, but I haven’t been able to find the name of the sculptor in public record.
If you see it, stand close and look into its eyes, then leave when the chills begin. Whatever you do, don’t look back over your shoulder at it afterwards, lest an adjusted hand hold on the sword, or the impression that the angle of its head has shifted might be seen. Remain an observer- in Calvary- ever the pale enthusiast- ever an Outsider.
Hey, you never know what you’re going to find at Calvary Cemetery.
Also, just as a note- today, January 13th, is Clark Ashton Smith’s birthday, and St. Knut’s Day as well.
Eugene Doherty Rubber Inc. - Late 19th/Early 20th century Advertising
The Newtown Pentacle 