Monday, August 31, 2009
Sunday, August 30, 2009
R.I.P.
Edward Moore "Ted" Kennedy February 22, 1932 – August 25, 2009
Thank You for not forgetting those often forgotten and for all your hard work
Smart & Sexy...
I, like most women, have a thing for undies, but I am not an undie snob. The pieces I have almost always have a vintage feel to them but are made modern by washing machine friendly fabrics and contstruction. A few days ago I ran across the cutest lace boy short panties by Smart & Sexy, a line of underwear that, believe or not, is usually sold in Walmarts.The company offers underwear trends in great colors and fabrics at affordable prices. A part of the sales get donated to the Women's Alliance, an organization that supports and prepares income challenged women entering the work world through the generous giving of business suits and life skills (interviewing skills, financial skills, professional appearance, etc.) .
Smart and Sexy...
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Friday, August 28, 2009
Screening Ideas..
Now that the wall o'shoes is up I want a screen to cover it and quiet that area down. I haven't seen any that strike my fancy so with the idea of using 2 sets of folding doors to create the screen off to Home Depot I went. I was not prepared for all the options but happy to know that once I finally make a decision I can have a one of a kind customized folding screen for as little as $50 plus the labor and effort.
The panel screens excite me because I can work within the panels and upholster or wall paper, studd or use moulding to enhance them.
These plain ones also have so many possiblities! I can use moulding to create odd graphic patterns or customize them with paint and stencils or ebony stain them and glue on color matching picture frames that allow me to switch up images..decisions, decisions, decision...
The panel screens excite me because I can work within the panels and upholster or wall paper, studd or use moulding to enhance them.
These plain ones also have so many possiblities! I can use moulding to create odd graphic patterns or customize them with paint and stencils or ebony stain them and glue on color matching picture frames that allow me to switch up images..decisions, decisions, decision...Thursday, August 27, 2009
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Worth Turning The Oven On In This Heat
I made this recipe the other nigh. It simple and quick, it takes about 1/2 hour to put together. Feel free to experiment and substitute the veggies! I made one with spinach and potatoes instead of squash and it was amazing!
The recipe makes 2 tortes - Freeze one!
1 bunch green onions, thinly sliced
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons all purpose flour
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
3/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
2lbs Yukon potatoes & 12 ounces yellow squash,
cut 1/8-inch-thick rounds
6 teaspoons olive oil
Preheat oven to 375°F.
Butter two 8-inch-diameter cake pans. (I used square ceramic pans)
Preheat oven to 375°F.
Butter two 8-inch-diameter cake pans. (I used square ceramic pans)
Set aside 1/4 cup sliced green onions.
Toss remaining green onions, cheese, flour, thyme, salt and pepper in medium bowl to blend.
Create 1 Layer potatoes in concentric circles in bottom of 1 prepared pan, overlapping slightly.
Drizzle with 1 teaspoon oil.
Drizzle with 1 teaspoon oil.
Sprinkle with 1/6 of cheese mixture.
Repeat procedure remaining potatoes, squash, oil, and cheese mixture.
Cover pans with foil.
Bake until potatoes are almost tender, about 40 minutes.
Cover pans with foil.
Bake until potatoes are almost tender, about 40 minutes.
Remove foil; bake uncovered until tortes begin to brown and potatoes are tender, about 25 minutes longer.Cut each torte into wedges.
Sprinkle wedges with 1/4 cup green onions; serve.
(Can be made 6 hours ahead. Cool. Cover with foil and chill. Rewarm, covered with foil, in 350°F oven until heated through, about 30 minutes.)
Taking A Second Look
The other day I posted about my current soap obsession Coconut & Hibiscus Shea Butter Soap w/ Songyi Mushroom by Shea Moisture ( http://www.sheamoisture.com/ ). I am still obsessed and using the soap, which after 4 weeks of use has improved the texture and tone of my skin so that I returned to Duane Reade two weeks ago and purchased the accompanying body lotion (13 oz for S9.99). I just started using it and will need to wait to see if it only enhances the benefits using the soap has brought.
In my last post I was more concerned about the smell of the soap. In this post I want to share a bit of information about the company. In 1991 the owners immigrated from Liberia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberia )to New York. In 1992 they began to manufacture body, hair and beauty products using old family recipes. Like Carol's Daughter, the originators of Shea Moisture started out by selling their products via a network of local street fair vendors before moving their items into beauty and health stores and opening their own store.
The company purchases their ingredients from women run cooperatives and indigenous farmers in Africa at market prices with the intent of improving the standards of living for their suppliers and the communities around them. They work with ECOSERVE and AFRICARE to ensure sustainable harvests and The LIBERIAN EDUCATION FUND and TODEE MISSION to support the building of schools and provide accessible education for impoverished children. Locally a percentage of their sales is donated to groups that support and encourage youth and community development. In addition their Sundial Stores provide support for local artists and craftspeople by displaying and selling their goods and encouraging the entrepreneurial spirit which push their own business along.
Wow - Now I am even more impressed by this product!
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Tuesday's Mental Musings
My father collected swords and for a bit taught my sister and me how to fence. On Sunday’s he would vest, glove and mask us and himself and we would spar. When not in use the foils were mounted on velvet plaques that hung in the foyer of our apartment. I know this sounds strange. Most people don’t expect people who were born and raised in Brooklyn to know such things.
Fencing requires many skills. It is like dancing and when in sync with your opponent a ballet forms. My sister Monique had more patience than I. She parried and riposted and moved me around without breaking a sweat always poking or touching trying to provoke me so that I would lose my head. Had it been a real duel she would have drawn blood. Poking/Drawing blood angers your opponent and in the game of fencing garners points. Anger distracts and makes one react rather than act and more often than not allows you to be taken down.
I was never good at the dance and the poking never made me react, I just absorbed the pokes and kept moving. I didn’t like the dance and always went in for the end result, the kill, which doesn't exist in the sport of fencing with foils. I preferred to use the least moves to win, taking my opponent down at the legs and by doing so ended the ballet way too soon, good on a dueling field with a sabre (saber) and a horse, bad on a fencing court, or in our case a tiled hallway, with foils. I had to learn to play. I had to learn to tease, moving with and against my opponent so to linger and touch and garner points. I had to learn to stay within the accepted confines of the game. To be honest despite learning the skill of such play isn’t something I have ever mastered.
I haven’t fenced in years. Sometimes when in a situation I remember the lessons learned but that doesn’t mean I put the almost forgotten skills to use. I still prefer to go in for the kill by being direct and concise besides sometimes situations call for different lessons, different moves that I am still learning.
Monday, August 24, 2009
From Rome By Way of Spain...
I love lip-lip (stains, glosses, moisturizers) but hate and rarely wear lipsticks because they never, no matter how much they promise to, seem to stay in place. But I believe I may have found the solution to my lipstick "issues". The other day during my lunch break I headed to the local drugstore to escape the heat. While wandering up the hair product aisle I came upon a misplaced make up display unit for an unheard of by me brand, Carlo di Roma. FYI, despite the name the make up hails from Barcelona, Spain.
Unmarked and seemingly ignored, the sleek black encased lipsticks, eyeshadows, liners and blushes tempted me to play a bit while I cooled down from the heat outside. One of the products in the line that intrigued me was a felt tipped marker lip liner pen. The color selection was amazing and rather than layer your lip with a waxy pigmented application the pen stains the lip with a matte pigment. Of course I quickly realized rather than just lining my lips I could use the pen to fill them in with color as well, The stain by itself is interesing, a intense matte, but once glossed your lips have a pigmented glow that is, in my opinion, more appealing than a heavy lipsticked lip. The intensity of a colored lip is still there but less jarrring and supports rather than fights a shadowed and lined eye.
I ended up walking away with 3, yes 3!!, INFALIBLE LIP LINER pens at $3.99 (see attached image - Royal Red, Apple Red, Luce) each. After bragging to my sister about my "find" she deflated my bargain ego by telling me that the Dollar Tree also carries some of the products from this line!
Check out Carlo di Roma's site for more items being imported to the states -
Sew Brooklyn
There was a time when downtown Brooklyn aka Fulton Street was over-run with fabric stores selling all types and quality of fabrics. Those days are long gone. With all the development and rent hikes most of the stores closed down. One of the last hold outs is FULTON FABRICS @ 398 Bridge Street off the Fulton Street Mall.None too pretty on the outside, which is lined with barrels of cheap fabrics sometimes for as little as $1 a yard, it is the only one left on the strip. Once you enter the store and take the time to look around it it only then that you realize what you have stumbled upon.
In addition to finding simple cottons and linens and rayons in some amazing prints and colors this place offers mostly upholstrey fabrics at all levels of quality and price. The photo I have attached is a sample of what they carry, but more importantly shows the higher range in pricing, which runs from $1 yard to no more than $16.00. Many of the fabrics run only $3.00 a yard and they even stock cotton sheeting fabric, which is hard to find, at 105 inches wide for about $3-$3.99 yard. So worth the trek downtown!
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Saturday, August 22, 2009
The Bronx Remembered
In the late 70s David Gonzalez ( http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/g/david_gonzalez/index.html%20) returned to the neighborhood of his youth to teach photography and during that time captured the area's energy and people - http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/08/19/nyregion/bronx_gonzalez/index.html
The Dream
By now Dear Readers all of you know I am not one to chase after style based on brand or cost. In fact I truly enjoy finding style and quality in unknown brands and at unheard of prices. But I have a dream that I have kept quiet about until now. And that dream is to one day own a Cartier Tank Watch, preferably vintage and preferable pristine.Conceived in 1909 and introduced in 1919 this watch is celebrating it's 90th year in demand and now that Michelle Obama has worn one in the official White House photograph, as did Jacquelyn Kennedy in the 1960s, I suspect that I will have lots of options to choose from once all the watch companies pick up on the trend. I know I will buy one of those "inspired" watches and wear it and love it as best as I can even while I dream of the perfect Cartier Tank.
Roped In
It seems the curtain tie back has found it's way onto the fall 2009 runways in the form of a belt. If you must indulge in this macrame revist why not head to your local fabric and sewing shops and buy some upholstrey chord and a few tassles....
Remember
When you see these
(Roberta Freymann)
or this
(Banana Republic)Remember My Earlier Post About This
http://www.mccallpattern.com/item/M5943.htm?tab=list/whats_new&page=all
http://www.mccallpattern.com/item/M5943.htm?tab=list/whats_new&page=allFriday, August 21, 2009
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Rejecting This Trend
It seems that high boots are back or still here, depending on where you're coming from, and it is the foldover boot that is being pushed for this season version.(http://www.saksfifthavenue.com/main/ProductDetail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524446227536&afsrc=1&site_refer=GGLBASE001&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=ParentItem0462216446315)above )Sorry, I am not buying into this trend. If I want to wear boots under pants I will.
Even if the boots are as neat looking as the above Chloe Tall Foldover Boots eventually with time and wear they are going to look, to me anyway, like the linen Free People Boots below ....(http://www.freepeople.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/products.detail/productID/890057be-45c7-456c-94b2-d7780f913a8d/categoryID/eb344a5e-2eb4-44f2-9bd1-39502a8fe6d1 )
4 Simple Steps
I recently decided that I needed to start putting some effort in wearing some of the makeup I keep finding myself buying. Unfortunately doing this is really hard for me as it requires more effort than I tend to extend in the morning. Most of the time I just apply the simpliest of make up before heading out of the door.About a week ago I was so inspired by the "mistake proof" 4 simple step application instructions on Maybelline New York's Eye Shadow collections that I ripped the page from the magazine I was reading and taped it up on the bathroom mirror for morning inspiration. Since then I have been following the steps using the eyeshadows I already own - Mid-range color all over lid, deeper color in crease, highlight color on brow bone and the deepest color on outter eye corner and rimming the eyes. Keeping the pattern in mind and changing up the colors has resulted in some interesting but always lovely results! Now I am putting the effort into learning to recognize the full made up face staring back at me ...
Slow Transition
The sheath dress ala Michelle Obama is continuing to be a strong influence in women's fashion this fall. One of the simplest ways to transition those color and fabric appropriate dresses into the colder months is to wear a shirt underneath it. This coming fall/winter season the shirt of choice is the turtleneck. It was seen on many of the runways as a support player beneath those sheath style dresses. Get thee to the Gap!
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Must Be Jelly...
Way back when my *sister and I both wore jelly sandals, a PVC plastic version of the classic fisherman's sandal originally produced after WWII in response to a leather shortage. No, I was not a child in the 40s but I suspect after decades of being warehoused somewhere in France all the left over shoes found their way to the area in Brooklyn we lived in. My mother, always on a budget, bought them for us at a store called John's Bargain Center, the predecessor to the 99Cents Stores. Despite their pretty transparent colors and water friendly wear we both hated them and to this day, the occasional Old Navy Flip Flop aside, neither of us will entertain the idea of wearing any shoes made of rubbery plastic. I can't help but wonder if the designers of crocs or those at YSL and Chloe, who are making and selling shoes for way more than any plastic shoe should be sold for, ever had to listen to the taunts of their childhood peers while wearing shoes that were once reminders of financial struggle -
*My sister just reminded me that she was further tormented because she had the added pleasure of wearing the matching hooded jelly jacket.
*My sister just reminded me that she was further tormented because she had the added pleasure of wearing the matching hooded jelly jacket.
Tuesday's Mental Musings
In our youth we believe by seeking to express who we are and what we believe in we can change the world, a world, our world. We believe in a revolution of some sorts. We believe change can occur in a relatively short period of time. Most of us flounder somewhere between feeling helpless and believing we can do great things and our actions or inactions promote it. But when action or inaction, as the case may be, is taken to manifest what we believe in everything done is with the expectation that on some level there will be a reward of some kind.
The reward is a personal thing defined only by the person seeking to not only express him or herself but to be heard and affect the world in which they live. Even when the end result is for the elevation or evolution of the group the act of initiating change is a selfish one, it would have to be in order for it to occur. If we did not place our desire to understand, express or achieve above all else there would be nothing. Desire is personal. Desire drives a person to act. Desire is natural. Desire is selfish and there is nothing wrong with that. It is in selfishness that we seek and it is in selflessness that we let go.
I challenge anyone to review all acts of kindness, revolutions of thought and shifts of power and purpose and consider the fact that if the person(s) behind those changes had not had the original and selfish desire to initiate and promote change through their actions and words nothing would have happened. They could have elected to do nothing, many of us do. The decision to act and all actions up until what was/is created takes a life of its own and can no longer be owned by the initiator are all needed acts of selfishness.
The choice to act upon that desire is personal and we choose to act in order to satisfy ourselves. No one does something they don’t want to do. We make decisions, even when our hands feel forced to do so. We choose to do the things we do. I am not considering what type of satisfaction is sought by our actions because satisfaction is, again, a personal fulfillment of a need. Whether we choose to sit in our martyrdom or revel in our joy are further choices we make and a blog post for another time.
The reward is a personal thing defined only by the person seeking to not only express him or herself but to be heard and affect the world in which they live. Even when the end result is for the elevation or evolution of the group the act of initiating change is a selfish one, it would have to be in order for it to occur. If we did not place our desire to understand, express or achieve above all else there would be nothing. Desire is personal. Desire drives a person to act. Desire is natural. Desire is selfish and there is nothing wrong with that. It is in selfishness that we seek and it is in selflessness that we let go.
I challenge anyone to review all acts of kindness, revolutions of thought and shifts of power and purpose and consider the fact that if the person(s) behind those changes had not had the original and selfish desire to initiate and promote change through their actions and words nothing would have happened. They could have elected to do nothing, many of us do. The decision to act and all actions up until what was/is created takes a life of its own and can no longer be owned by the initiator are all needed acts of selfishness.
The choice to act upon that desire is personal and we choose to act in order to satisfy ourselves. No one does something they don’t want to do. We make decisions, even when our hands feel forced to do so. We choose to do the things we do. I am not considering what type of satisfaction is sought by our actions because satisfaction is, again, a personal fulfillment of a need. Whether we choose to sit in our martyrdom or revel in our joy are further choices we make and a blog post for another time.
Booted into Fall
I am still enjoying the summer but I must admit my wardrobe mind is already reaching for the fall especially since all the stores are now abound with fall clothing and accessories.Sadly my reaching started back in July while shopping and having a deep debate with a friend of mine that doesn't buy or wear leather and was complaining about being sucked into to buying outrageously priced "life conscious" options. I laughingly explained to her that there are many stylish and fashion forward people who buy non-animal shoes, belts and bags because of budget not because they want to save some animals skin and suggested that she look about her because there are tons of options outside of her usually shopping scope. I then walked her into Pay-Half and much to my own surprise found these very cute booties for $24.99.
They are made of man-made materials by a company called Qupid. Curious I found the company on the net - http://www.qupidshoes.com/ . Unfortunately they sell only wholesale. I don't know their work ethics or like some of their styles but I do love there mission statement -
"We understand that fashion need not exclude the financially challenged, we are able to meet all the demands of the industry at an affordable price."
Monday, August 17, 2009
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Dressed for the 40s
The style of 1940s are back upon us. It must be our current financial and political states pushing us towards this nostalgia. I don't mind, I love many of the dresses from that time period and find myself rifling through my pattern collection for those that are reminiscent of the style, like the attached silk dress from Talbot's Fall Collection ( http://www1.talbots.com/talbotsonline/product/itempage.aspx?item=A59988&PFID=1427&BID=&h=P&sk=P ).This simple neck tie dress offers more versatility than might be expected. I am already seeing long sleeved crew neck t-shirts beneath it and hand made looking cardigan sweaters atop it in order to bring it with me into the colder months of late fall and early winder.
SooooBlueberrymuffined
If you haven't noticed by now - I have a thing for muffins and I prefer to make them because I can decide how large or small and chocked full of goodness they are. A few days ago I bought the biggest juicest blueberries and decided to make some muffins to enjoy for the rest of the week (see above).Following is the very easy recipe - ENJOY!
1-1/2 c flour (50/50 Wheat/White)
3/4 c Sugar
1/2 t salt
2 t baking powder
1/3c vegetable oil
1 large egg
1/2 c milk
1 cup fresh blueberries
Topping -
1/2 c sugar
1/3 c white flour
1/4 c soften butter
1-1/2 t cinnamon
Preheat over 400F degrees
Prepare muffin tins - line/cooking spray/grease with butter-dust with flour
Combine flour, sugar, salt & baking powder in main bowlIn smaller bowl crack and mix egg, add oil + milkMix liquid into dry mix in main bowl.
Fold in fresh blueberriesFill muffin tin 2/3's wayPlace 1-1/2 t *topping atop each, use back of spoon to spread even.Bake for 20-25 minutes -to test use poke toothpick into center.
It should be dry when pulled back
*to make topping mix sugar, flour and
cinnamon and add in butter, mixing with flour until it is paste like.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Friday, August 14, 2009
Today's Card
I pulled this card from my Tarot deck a few days ago..3 times!!..today I found it on the street while wandering and photographing some of the public gardens in my area...It's the Princess of Disks (this card touches upon the most important issues about being in love with life - its creation, its experience, its excitement and promise of fulfilment) hmmm
Summer in the City
Despite the mass ownership of AC, for most city kids cooling off during the summer while in the city is about running through a sprinkler in the many public parks or a fire hydrant opened with permit and making their way to a public pool or occassionally hopping a train to a local public beach for the day.
Part of city life is experiencing what a city summer offers
Go out and Enjoy!
(All Images © Simone Rene 2009 - Houston & Avenue A)
Sequined & Beaded
The 1950s and early 1960s saw a swift increase in the rise of immigration from Haiti to the U.S.. This was soon after Francois Duvalier (“Papa Doc”) became president of Haiti and people were fleeing the repression that followed. Many Haitians found their way to New York, which boasts the largest communities of Haitians in the states. It was in 1964 that Fabrice Simon arrived here with his family and it was in the 1970s that this designer, simply known as Fabrice, took the disco era fashion world by storm dressing the likes of Cornelia Guest, Natalie Cole and Ivana Trump. Launched in 1976 his clothing was often sensuous, body conscious and with it's hand beading and sequins reflected the influence of some of his homeland's art and traditions.Fabrice passed away in 1998 but this year will feel his influence as graphic and abstract sequined pieces are finding their way back into fashion. I have a love for Haitian sequin art and if tastefully done see nothing wrong with adding a little bit of glitz and glamour to a wardrobe. It will be interesting to see what designers will come up with this time around.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Inspiration Manifests Itself...
I first ran across this picture on Design Sponge - http://www.designspongeonline.com/2009/07/before-after-ashleys-pallet-daybed.html , a blog I truly enjoy reading. I have since seen this photo of photographer Ashley Campbell's pallet bed all over the place, including posted as inspiration on a number of friends profiles.
A few weeks before seeing the post I took this photo of a pile of pallets. They were stacked out in the back of the Brooklyn Lowes near the garbage bins. I love pallets and am always inspired by what I would and could do with them if I had the room.
So if you live in Brooklyn and are inspired by making furniture out of pallets get thee to Lowes with a pick up truck and some muscle!
A few weeks before seeing the post I took this photo of a pile of pallets. They were stacked out in the back of the Brooklyn Lowes near the garbage bins. I love pallets and am always inspired by what I would and could do with them if I had the room.So if you live in Brooklyn and are inspired by making furniture out of pallets get thee to Lowes with a pick up truck and some muscle!
(my picture -9th Street - Back of Lowes, Brooklyn)
Fit & Tied
The other day I was surfing TVland.com and caught an Episode of The Beverly Hillbillies, a show I have never really had any interest in and, sadly, still don't. I was bored and needed a bit of mind candy and it fit the bill. Just as I was about to switch over to play a game of Diamonds the Jane Hathaway character entered the scene wearing an amazing tie/ascot thingy that pushed her prim and proper 1960s skirt suit to a personalized level that would never have been achieved without it.
I believe the tie worn by the character was an ascot tied with what is called a Ruche knot. I could be hallucinating which is fine because the idea arrived at is always the point. Without luck I searched and searched for an image of that outfit to share, instead I leave you with these and your imagination hoping you will go on a journey of your own as well.
I also found instructions for tying a Ruche knot and now come fall no scarf will be safe! More importantly I can now see the shape of such a tie and am already considering what scraps of silk I will experiment with!Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Tuesday's Mental Musings
Always and forever only happens after we have died. While we are alive there is no such thing. It is the end of our story, not the beginning or the middle.
Having the fantasy of winning and owning something or someone for always and forever helps us reach for or run from, depending on who you are, the actualization of what we desire. Turning the fantasy into reality never concludes in an “always and forever” even when we have achieved our goals. Creating reality is just a further turning in this cycle we call life.
Only in the end, in the synopsis of our life’s achievements when we become known for whom we were, what we did and whom we loved, does always and forever exist.
(ha-ha..A short one this week!)
Monday, August 10, 2009
My Dream Book
The Compact Edition of The Oxford English Dictionary, Complete Text Reproduced Micrographically (in slipcase with reading glass) (v. 1-20) [DELUXE EDITION] (Hardcover)Possibilities..
I love this Vogue dress pattern and can see so many options - turning the bow into a trailing sash, creating an actual bow with tail, removing the bow and leaving the space open to store my purse...so many things that can be done..did I forget to mention that for the next 2 days select Vogue Sewing Patterns are on sale - http://www.voguepatterns.com/list/whats_new/page-1Games People Play In New York City
It seems that the games of New York childhoods are in vogue.
I have to admit I was extremely surprised when I recently ran across an article in the New York Times highlighting some of the childhood games many urban bred New Yorkers grew up with, games that required the simplest and cheapest of equipment but offered just as much comradery and challenge as those with uniforms, stadiums and high paid players.
Following is a quick outline of a few "New York" games. May I suggest you invest your time and energy in one of your liking as soon as possible before they become too "in" and the prices rise to meet and match the demand of the sport -
One of the biggest board games ever played in the streets of New York city is Skully. From 2 to 6 players kneel or lay atop a playing board, usually hand drawn in the middle the street, trying to move their pieces from marked area to marked area in the least amount of flicks.
When I was a kid making our caps, the pieces used in the game, was often more important than actually playing the game. The pieces were a personal statement about the player and many of us made the effort to and took pride in finding the most interesting metal soda or beer caps around. The design of the caps often became our trademark and after being filled with whatever could give them weight and stability were sometimes further personalized with paint and marker. Most of us used melted candle wax, crayons or workman's putty but the hardcore players dug up tar right from the street we played on. For history check out http://www.streetplay.com/skully/com/skully/
Stick Ball -
I remember watching the neighborhood boys play this game in the middle of the street, dodging and crawling under cars to retrieve the handball used for the game long after the corner lamppost turned itself on. The bat was always a "borrowed" mop or broom unlucky enough to be left unsupervised. Before it could be used to hit balls sometimes 2 blocks away the guy who made the best bats would artistically tape up one end to create the hand grip and then lovingly store it after each game. If you're interested in learning more about this street game become sport check out http://www.stickball.com/
Hand Ball-What could be more simple? A wall, a rubber ball and your hands was all that was needed to play this urban version of racket ball. Growing up we knew which courts or walls we could play at and unless we had "game" stayed away from the hardcore players whose callused hands could and would sometimes pop the pink spalding balls used in the game with just one return to scare us "kids" off the courts. With over 2000 handball courts all over the city anyone can find a place to play at their level or a game to watch in awe. Check out http://www.icha.org/ for info.
Paddle Ball - I remember my first paddle. It was called a "Black Beauty". A hand me down from my mother it had metal trim around its edge that proved rather useful when I had to defend myself while walking home from a specific handball court in an area in Brooklyn that I should have never ventured into. But the danger and fear and need for protection were well worth the games I played during my Paddle Ball Era. This game was supposed to have been invented in New York city in 1940 by a handball player who hands could no longer tolerate the cold. In addition to using paddles instead of hands the ball used in the game is smaller and harder than a handball. Check out Handball Organizations in the City for clubs and tournaments.
Now I am waiting to hear that they are bringing Ringolevio (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ringolevio) and Johny On the Pony (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buck_buck) back and I will officially be re living my urban New York childhood!
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