New York Lifer
When you have grown up in New York City, and continue to live here in your adulthood, it is hard not to be constantly reminded of the geography of your memories. The"this is where that happened" syndrome, or the "there used to be a... but now it's gone" reverie.
It is melancholy sometimes to be constantly reminded of how life has changed. One day I was walking on broadway and 76th street, and they were removing a Duane Reade sign. Underneath it was the old signage from the Gitlitz delicatessan - It was such a poignant moment to remember the deli and the many meals I had shared there wiith my family. It was where I was first introduced to an open faced turkey sandwich with all the fixings. Gitlitz was one of many old Jewish delicatessans that used to dot the upper westside.
I think that much of my childhood was spent shopping so I have keen memories of stores that used to exist. There was a little button store on broadway that sold only buttons, thread and sewing supplies. That is no longer there. There was the old Henri Bendels on 57th street that was chock full of chic accessories and clothing. It is no longer there. There was the old FAO Schwartz on the corner of 58th street and fifth Aveue. Not the glitzy, shopping mall it has become. I adored that store and often imagined running through it and grabbling as many toys as I possibly could in an allotted peiod of time.
There was the original Betsy, Bunky and Nini, a hip little shop in the east 60's. I believe Betsy Johnson was involved with it and it had the most glorious selection of hippie-chic clothing, vintage garb and wonderful jewelry... There was the store on the corner of Bank Street and West 4th that carried incredible tie dyed outfits made famous by Janis Joplin in her heyday. That, needless to say is no longer there.
I was reminded of these past memories by the debut of David Duchovney's new film " The House of D".
Although I have not seen it yet, the title refers to the old women's house of detention that was in what is now a public garden between 8th and 9th street and 6th avenue in Manhattan. I used to pass it on a weekly basis when visiting my grandmother who lived nearby. You could hear incarcerated women yelling out the window to their loved ones looking up from the street. I was always a little afraid of these women bellowing out of that prison. And I think I was relieved when they tore it down.
I moved to Park Slope only 5 years ago. it has been a kind of joy to have no memories of the streets and stores here. I have begun to create my own history - this is where I shop, this is where I have my cup of coffee - no past memories invading the present. It's a relief to not be stepping over my past as I do so often in Manhattan - And yet, soon, this too will be a place of memory. Sooner than I might think
It is melancholy sometimes to be constantly reminded of how life has changed. One day I was walking on broadway and 76th street, and they were removing a Duane Reade sign. Underneath it was the old signage from the Gitlitz delicatessan - It was such a poignant moment to remember the deli and the many meals I had shared there wiith my family. It was where I was first introduced to an open faced turkey sandwich with all the fixings. Gitlitz was one of many old Jewish delicatessans that used to dot the upper westside.
I think that much of my childhood was spent shopping so I have keen memories of stores that used to exist. There was a little button store on broadway that sold only buttons, thread and sewing supplies. That is no longer there. There was the old Henri Bendels on 57th street that was chock full of chic accessories and clothing. It is no longer there. There was the old FAO Schwartz on the corner of 58th street and fifth Aveue. Not the glitzy, shopping mall it has become. I adored that store and often imagined running through it and grabbling as many toys as I possibly could in an allotted peiod of time.
There was the original Betsy, Bunky and Nini, a hip little shop in the east 60's. I believe Betsy Johnson was involved with it and it had the most glorious selection of hippie-chic clothing, vintage garb and wonderful jewelry... There was the store on the corner of Bank Street and West 4th that carried incredible tie dyed outfits made famous by Janis Joplin in her heyday. That, needless to say is no longer there.
I was reminded of these past memories by the debut of David Duchovney's new film " The House of D".
Although I have not seen it yet, the title refers to the old women's house of detention that was in what is now a public garden between 8th and 9th street and 6th avenue in Manhattan. I used to pass it on a weekly basis when visiting my grandmother who lived nearby. You could hear incarcerated women yelling out the window to their loved ones looking up from the street. I was always a little afraid of these women bellowing out of that prison. And I think I was relieved when they tore it down.
I moved to Park Slope only 5 years ago. it has been a kind of joy to have no memories of the streets and stores here. I have begun to create my own history - this is where I shop, this is where I have my cup of coffee - no past memories invading the present. It's a relief to not be stepping over my past as I do so often in Manhattan - And yet, soon, this too will be a place of memory. Sooner than I might think
posted by mamainwaiting at 9:56 AM
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