My grandfather was born in what is now the Ukraine, but was then known as Czarist Russia. When he later emigrated to the U.S. and got married to my grandmother, he wanted to go on …
August 17, 2012
New York
Niagara Falls, Like Grandpa Used to Love
New York, NY: The High Line and Other Adventures
When I was in New York City, there were two things everyone wanted me to see: Occupy Wall Street and the High Line. In my very limited time, I opted for the High Line. Anyway, …
New York City, 4 a.m. – 7 a.m.
I left Boston at midnight, bound for Pittsburgh, and I knew I'd face a layover. When I ordered my Megabus tickets, I knew the first leg would only last four hours. I knew I'd have …
November 17, 2011
Lights On Has East Coast Clout
“It seems the fans were more into us in New York than they were in San Diego.” Tim Hines plays guitar in the band Lights On. He lives in La Mesa. He’s not sure why …
September 15, 2010
Raising the Bar
Why don’t you slip out of those wet clothes and into a dry martini? — Robert Benchley "M and H. This must be it,” I said, stopping before an unlit gray door on which the …
May 26, 2010
International New York: Ellis Island and the United Nations
Is New York City the center of the universe? Perhaps at least the multicultural capital of the world? There’s no lack of people who believe this, and you may be one of them after visiting …
New York City Weekend
New York City was more than I expected this time around; however, it was colder than my feet at night. My numb fingers fumbled for my MetroCard, dollars in my pocket, then a beanie for …
Finding Honesty (and Irony) on Wall Street
Not much is currently popular about Wall Street, but pre- recessions and depressions, America’s financial institutions reveled in a period of immense prosperity. From politics to architecture, Greek and Roman civilizations heavily influenced much of …
Strawberry Fields, Central Park, New York
He was one of four British teens who forever changed the face of rock & roll. An advocate for peace, politically outspoken and senselessly murdered — but his words continue to inspire. For these reasons, …
November 9, 2009
Autumn in Manhattan
Getting to New York City from the West Coast remains a reasonable flight, even with changes in air travel. Once there, Manhattan offers beautiful fall days in the city. On a recent trip in mid-October, …
October 26, 2009
Dream Senses, New York Minute
Hello, Matthew: What exactly is your brain doing when you use one of the five senses in a dream? I always figured it was just some outside influence that your brain incorporated into your dream, …
July 8, 2009
Melissa Plaut in New York City
I Hate Second Avenue I went back to driving a cab after a hiatus of six months. When I showed up at the garage for my first shift, my buddy Sam updated me on the …
August 9, 2007
Melissa Plaut in New York City
The Five-Nine The 59th Street Bridge was a wreck. I knew because I called a few of my taxi buddies one night while they were driving their cabs. I was on an "extended hiatus" and …
July 26, 2007
Melissa Plaut in New York City
Sex Drive I was having another long, disjointed night, which is normal when you drive a yellow cab in New York City. But this night in particular it seemed like everyone had sex on the …
June 19, 2007
It's the Opposite of a Caribbean Minute
Heymatt: This week our local paper had in its sports headline something about the Mets and a New York minute. What is a New York minute? Are there only 58 or 59 seconds in their …
October 26, 2006