Three Deep at Weber's

The Hudson County Court House As Seen From Weber's Tavern

In today's New York Times the City Room carries a post ab0ut a bar in Hell's Kitchen, Rudy's, on 9th Ave. between West 44th and 45th, that serves free hot dogs with drinks.

It’s the free hot dogs that got my attention. Just out of the Navy in December, 1960, I soon turned 21. Weber’s Tavern was just around the corner from my house on Court House Place in Jersey City. Weber’s was on the NE corner of Baldwin and Newark Avenues. The magnificent Hudson County Court House was on the SW corner of the same intersection. It has been restored and every once in a while a television program will film there.If you stood in Weber's doorway and looked diagonally across the intersection, you would see the Court House as it appears above.

Artie Weber would serve free lunch every weekday. He would make sandwiches and pile them high on two large trays placed at either end of the bar. The sandwiches would vary. One day he might have cheese sandwiches, another day baloney, and then some days spiced ham. Others too, just can’t recall right now. White bread and two or three slices of the cold cut d’jour if I remember correctly. Beer was 10 cents a glass. Weber’s beer was an ounce less than the standard glass. Still, it was a great beer. Rheingold, Schaffer, and Piels were the big guys on tap. Some would chastise the bartender if they had a ‘Coney Island’ head. Others would complain that there was no head. De gustibus non est disputandem. (Whiskey Sours were made correctly with a lovely head. Try and get a good one today. Frothee is still on the market but it just isn’t used much -long story)

At one point during the day, the bar would be two and sometimes three deep with standees behind those parked on the stools. Locals, including off duty cops and firefighters, jurors, lawyers (mostly public defenders), jurors, an occasional miscreant, and off duty bartenders from other taverns could be among those who would share the moment. Ironworkers, teamsters, and longshoremen might be there too if they didn’t make the shape or work was slack that day. Bookies, one and sometimes two, were also busy. Their condition had them using the bathroom frequently. Their activity was known by many and they were considered off limits in the tavern -safe from a collar. A gentleman’s agreement. The liquor salesmen who might stop by later were often ex fighters. In ‘Requiem for a Heavyweight’ Jack Palance had the voice of a man who took a lot of punches -had it cold. Try YouTube. But that's another story.

Some of the local old timers were pensioners and not too well off I would think. On occasion you might see one of them slip a sandwich (wax paper wrapped of course) into a suit jacket, or sport jacket pocket. You’d know they were going to do it and you watched from the corner of your eye. A sandwich for later. Fedoras and ties did these gentlemen wear. And the stories they could tell -if you asked.

Yes free sandwiches. And there was also a tradition called the ‘come back.’ Buy three beers and the next one would be on the house. A ‘good luck’ or a knock on the bar top by the bartender would accompany the freebee. Run it out: If you spent ninety cents for nine beers, you would get twelve beers. Every once in a while the bartender might give you a ‘come back’ after only two or even one drink that you paid for. Rarely was a forgetful or distracted bartender contradicted. That left a dime out of a dollar. That would be for the bartender. Hypothetical of course -most left the bartender more.

It was in Weber’s that four of us, watching and listening to the news of John F. Kennedy’s assassination, decided to drive to Washington, DC. The line in DC was long. It was getting late. We stood and watched and thought of him and I know we each must have said a prayer. And then we went back home. Over time the 10 cent beer became 15 cents and all too soon the 15 cent beer became 20 cents. Things were never quite same again.

Path of Gold (click to enlarge)

Si, se puede!

Where is that fresh spring breeze coming from?

Why over there, -from the housing project! Wafting thoughts of 'A Tree Grows in Brooklyn' and '...a rose in Spanish Harlem' accompany such good feelings. Congratulations Sonia!

(This morning President Obama nominated Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court. She lived in a Bronx housing project with her mother and brother.)

Tom Paine

Brainwashed Nazis

ALL HAIL THE PARTY!

Nazi's, neo-fascists, are all a bit the same ball of wax. Here's Wikipedia defining neo-fascism : "Neo-fascism usually includes nationalism, anti-immigration policies or, where relevant, nativism, anti-communism, and opposition to the parliamentary system and liberal democracy." Goring (above) come to mind? Limbaugh? Based upon what I have heard and seen of Limbaugh, I find it easy to picture him as Minister of Propaganda in a right wing, neo-fascist (I think I was just redundant here) state. One thing about the bozo Nazis -many think they had great uniforms. Some like Goebbels, the Nazi Minister of Propaganda, just didn't look good in a uniform. An ugly dude.

Yes, Limbaugh in a Nazi like uniform -easy to see. Tailored to fit his robust frame, the hat a remembrance of Nixon's idea of what White House police should be wearing -anyone remember that? Yes there he is, our man Limbaugh: full out in boots, Buster Brown belt, a riding crop, short arms, medals, etc. (Sorry Patton) and the rest of a stunning panoply of regalia intended to excite a fawning group of right wing ideologues so focused on following the ranting sound of piper Limbaugh they fail to see the edge the cliff. When I hear someone say that they like and listen to Limbaugh, I know much of what I really need to know about that person.

And Republicans are very careful not offend him lest other Republicans take offense. Mea culpas abound. All hail the party!

Limbaugh was called on his radio show this week by an irate Republican who accused him of being a brainwashed Nazi because he advocated torture. The caller, a former Marine and Army veteran, told him this was not Nazi Germany and asked Limbaugh if he remembered the Nuremberg Trials.

Tom Paine

April 13, 2009: Republicans are much excited about April 15th. National demonstrations, called Tea Parties, will be held in in support of lower taxes. These guys are drooling thinking about it. Nothing like a demonstration to help move things along. Go teabaggers.

Bunning and the Specter

FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS

Bunning and the Specter

Ginsburg lives long and Bunning runs
Toward a specter ringing a bell
"The bell, the bell, for whom, for whom does it toll?
Is it Ginsburg?"
The specter stops and darkly turns,
"Why my bell is rung for you, for you.
Come as you are.

For Ginsburg travels a different road;
It's length not known by you.
And the music heard along its way
Is never heard by those
Who, chasing the sound of my bell
Find me.
Come!"

Thomas Paine

Republican U.S. Senator Jim Bunning predicted over the weekend that U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Ginsburg would likely be dead from pancreatic cancer within nine months. The Louisville Courier-Journal reported:

During a wide-ranging 30-minute speech on Saturday at the Hardin County Republican Party's Lincoln Day Dinner, Bunning said he supports conservative judges "and that's going to be in place very shortly because Ruth Bader Ginsburg ... has cancer."

"Bad cancer. The kind that you don't get better from," he told a crowd of about 100 at the old State Theater.

"Even though she was operated on, usually, nine months is the longest that anybody would live after (being diagnosed) with pancreatic cancer," he said.

Shivawn and Zippy

This picture was taken at a mall after Zippy's act. I remember he skated a bit.

In the video below, Shivawn plays the violin.

Damion Suomi - Archer Woman from Sean Buzzgrinder on Vimeo.

DON'T NEED ANY STINKING BADGES!

Yesterday our man appeared on Fox News Sunday. The Decider, referring to Republican ideology when he speaks of "....a philosophy that is compassionate and decent..." continues to insult. He, nor the supposedly intelligent Republican right, seem not to have an understanding of the condescending nature of their use of the word compassion. Are there rings to be kissed? Genuflections to be made? I don't remember the exact line fromTreasure of the Sierra Madre but there's a line that goes something like "Badges? We don't need any stinking badges!" Read compassion here. So go back to where ever you came from. Put your trailing ermine robe in storage and give your luggish ring of compassion to an appraiser who will tell you it's glass. Godspeed and enjoy retirement. (I just walked the dog and am listening to his last official news conference, and he is again referring to compassion. 'nuff already!)

Tom Paine

GRAVITAS AND LIKEABILITY

James Michael Curley

Poets, lawyers, and politicians, many of them I would think, successful ones, manifest a certain gravitas and likability. Gravitas? Several years ago political and social pundits were tripping over themselves in an effort to say gravitas first, or second, or third on the Sunday morning television news panels. The word is less heard still gravitas remains an element critical to a candidate's image. A stump speech, a formal speech, or impromptu banter are all enhanced when the speaker possesses this gravitas yet quickly is able to join it with wit. Gravitas sounds somewhat serious, so sober. But it is a bit of that. Yes gravity and...likability. Huckabee has it. Obama has it. Others don't. (Having said that, I think Hillary looked and sounded great on SNL during the campaign.)

James Michael Curley, a Mayor of Boston, was known for his oratory. When he campaigned his neck size increased so much that he needed a shirt with a larger collar. He was essentially a jump up street urchin who learned the hard way how to take the vote. Yes take. He learned to quote from literature and poetry. He might not have read the book but he was able to quote from it, make his point, and by inference his audience might consider him well educated. Poetry and literature were in his bag and well he used those clubs. (I golf). Abraham Lincoln. Imagine listening to him! To have been at Gettysburg, to have been at one of his debates with Douglas. A politician who aspires to high office or an ambitious lawyer would do well to study great speeches and continually study the art of debate. Although debating and attendant rhetorical skills are important and can be learned, gravitas and likability cannot.

Poets, politicians and lawyers (and their campaigners) leave us with unforgettable words:"Tippecanoe and Tyler too!", "I like Ike", "If the glove doesn't fit, you must acquit!" The poet? Well, as someone must win and someone must lose, look to Whittier who left us with "For of all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these: It might have been."

Tom Paine