Charles Addams's New York

Smart, Very New York Humor


New Yorker magazine articles tend to be long. Sometimes, perhaps, your mind needs a break. You take your relief in the form of a glance at the cartoons. Refreshed you're ready to tackle that article again. Now imagine rooms filled with these moments of relief, those smart quick laughs, the very New York humor that is a New Yorker cartoon. You want to go to there, don't you? Well, you should.

An exhibit of Charles Addams's cartoons is up at the Museum of the City of New York until May 16th. He is the most well-know New Yorker cartoonists -- starting his work for the magazine in the 1930s. He is also famous for creating the Addams Family, and it is very interesting to see the Addams Family become the iconic ghouls they are today throughout his drawings.

The exhibit is curated with thoughtfulness and humor. When the stories that Addams told in his cartoons are placed side by side on the museum walls they lead to even more laughs and smiles. The cutouts of Addams's characters frolicking on the walls add to the whimsy and fun.

Seeing so many of the illustrations together you realize what a great commentary these cartoons were, and in many cases still are, on society, specifically New York City's society. My favorite is the one with the barricades around a banana peel on a city street. Smart, fun humor. Go see for yourself.

Museum of the City of New York
1220 Fifth Avenue at 103rd St.
New York, NY 10029
Remember East Harlem residents get in for free.

All images © Charles Addams
Permission of Tee and Charles Addams Foundatio

Local Stop: East Harlem

Earlier this week the New York Times covered East Harlem in their Local Stop section. They visited El Paso Restaurant, the Graffiti Hall of Fame, Metropolis Studios and the Raíces Latin Music Museum, among other stops. I think I would have chosen the Museum of the City of New York and a more off-the-beaten-path restaurant, but nonetheless it's great to see the hood getting some coverage.

What East Harlem stops would you have covered?


Take a look at their slide show of East Harlem haunts.

Photo: Suzanne DeChillo/The New York Times

Hat Tip: Levi

Dreams Nearly Washed Away in the Rain

James De La Vega takes a less permanent approach.

Super Weather: Spring is Almost Here

This weekend gave us the most amazing weather. Walking around Saturday at dusk it almost felt like spring. Lots of people were out and about, music playing from open windows mixed with the sounds of a basketball game. It almost made me want to plan a barbecue or slip on my flip-flops. Almost, almost, spring is certainly close.

Become Your Dream

Dreams Were Everywhere Today:

In the trash in the morning....



and again in the evening.












James De La Vega was busy today.

Chef from Aquavit Comes to Harlem

"It is Very Important to Bring a Restaurant to Harlem." - Marcus Samuelsson

The New York Times interviewed Marcus Samuelsson, known for his culinary achievements at Aquavit, about his yet-to-open Harlem restaurant, Red Rooster Harlem. It will be located on 125th St in Central Harlem which is a bit outside of the East Harlem demographic, but it's still exciting to get such a great chef opening up a restaurant uptown. Expect to see fresh local foods on the menu.

See the full article.

Photo by Casey Kelbaugh for The New York Times.


Hat Tip to Dad.

James De La Vega, "Become Your Dream"

A little snow didn't stop James De La Vega from hitting this old bookshelf with his signature tag, "Become Your Dream." I'm dreaming of another snow day...



Spotted on Lexington and 103rd.

Has anyone else seen De La Vega's work? Let us know where.

103rd St Mural

A New 24 Hour Mexican Restaurant to Open in East Harlem

Maybe you've noticed that shuttered restaurant just as you head up from the 103rd 6 train. It used to be a 24 hour diner -- a rare place to get a late-night bite in the area -- until last summer when it closed. But, by next week we should have a place for our midnight-snacks once again. I've been noticing some movement going on in the restaurant for the past couple of weeks, and today my suspicions were confirmed when I popped my head in to ask what was going on: the restaurant will be opening next week. It will now be a Mexican restaurant, but it will continue to be open 24 hours. Let me know if you visit La Fonda on Lexington and 103rd and what you think of the new place.

East Harlem: Where the Wild Things Are

When you walk into Legacy: The Preservation of Wilderness in New york City Parks, on view at the Museum of the City of New York, you are surrounded by huge images of the Bronx River Park. You weave through the "river" and move on to more large-scale park images organized by borough: Manhattan, Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx.

Here's the full piece and slideshow I wrote for The Daily Green on the exhibit. Check out the show this weekend. Say "I'm a neighbor" and get in the museum for free.

One of My Favorite Authors Lives in Harlem

In this Saturday's New York Times Real Estate section there was an article about a family living in the Sugar Hill section of Harlem. I soon realized that family was the Kogans and Deborah Copaken Kogan, the mother, photographer and writer in the article was non-other then the author of Shutterbabe. Shutterbabe is a fantastic novel about Deborah working as a war photographer and struggling to find balance in her life. As a photographer and writer myself, Deborah is an inspiration to me, so, I was very excited to see that she lives near by. Perhaps we'll bump into each other.

Here's a slideshow of their home.

Hat tip to my dad for showing me this article. Thanks Dad!

Photo from The New York Times, Chester Higgins Jr./The New York Times

A New East Harlem Novel

INFINITUDE8 sent me a tip about this book.

A new novel is out about East Harlem in the 1960's. The Hierophant of 100th Street seems fascinating as does the author, Cullen Dorn, who grew up in East Harlem. The book is partially autobiographical.

Here's a brief description from the publisher:


The Hierophant of 100th Street is a remarkable, unusual book: a metaphysical novel set in a violent world of slums, gangs, and prisons. Drawing on the author's experience of growing up in the infamous East Harlem neighborhood of 100th Street in the 1960s, the story follows 17-year-old Adam Kadman and his 9-year-old brother John through their respective initiations into the realities of street life while simultaneously introducing real-life characters who dwell in the life of the spirit.

Veiled in the guise of fiction, most of what appears in the book is actually a truthful account of the author's real-life experience. Like the author, the young Adam also ventures out from the slums of New York to discover the meaning of life amid the horrors of existence, and finds romance, mysticism, and purpose.

Buy The Hierophant of 100th Street.

The Sidewalk Philosopher Strikes Again

On my last posting about The Inspirational Marker Wielding East Harlemer, Joe commented on the postletting us know that the artist was James De La Vega. Here's another one of De La Vega's masterpieces that I spied this morning on my way to work. Now, you or I might see mattress on the sidewalk and think, "Eeek, bedbugs!" But De La Vega thinks, "Canvas!" And I love him for that.



Spotted on 102nd St

Costco Opening Video from Northhattan

After Long Wait, East Harlem’s Costco Opens from Bradley Gallo on Vimeo.

Thanks Bradley!!

East River Plaza: My Great Costco Visit

Last night I finally hit up the East River Plaza on 116th near the FDR. The only store that's open yet is Costco. I live in a tiny studio apartment that I try not to get too cluttered, so I wasn't sure if the store that sells everything in bulk would be the right fit for me or my apartment. But I did get a free yearly membership to Costco (normally $50) so I gave it a try.



Coming Soon: The East River Plaza Directory.... lots of stores labeled "coming soon" like, Old Navy and Marshalls


Look for Target this summer




The View of the FDR from Costco




Some of My Loot