the adventures of pamalicious

You know I have always thought of myself as a Northern trapped in a Southern Belle Body, lol  Every since I was little I have always felt that I belonged in a big crowded 100 mph urban city.  Funny how life ended up because I met and married a New Yorked and in 1989 found myself plop dead center in Manhattan. 

As part of my continuous cradling in the bosom of God, his father owned a rent controlled apt. up on 215th street and when he got married, he just turned it over to us.  So we were living with a Manhattan address for DIRT CHEAP. Our apt. faced the Indian Creek (I think that’s what it was called) Park and we could see the Columbia Univ Soccor Field if we stood outside.  We were right on the cusp of the Bronx, you could walk, lol We took the A train to the end of the line 207th street and then walked to our spot.

I lived there for 8 years and then in Jersey City for 2 years.  I hit NYC at a most wonderful time.  Times Square was still seedy, Hip Hop was getting it’s sea legs and I was in my early twenties.   What a combo!

I sat around for maybe 6 months, getting acclimated and then I struck out to get a job.  It took me two weeks before I was working at United Way’s off Park Avenue.  The whole NYC thing was overwelming at first, I can admit that but when I got used to it and the trains etc.  It was on and popping. I met my first NY friend there and we spent many a day walking, talking and exploring.

I don’t remember alot of names of things but I remember so much.  I took like a fish to water down in the village and the Olive Tree was one of my favorite restaurants in the whole world. It’s off W 4th and they serve Middle Eastern cuisine.  What makes it cool is that you can write on the tables, they will rent you board games and they play continuous Charlie Chaplain movies!  The Schwarma is TO DIE FOR!!  Next door is this other little dark cafe, that we used to haunt for breakfast. They had the best french toast. A dollar a slice with some coffee and some poetry and it was a great say sunday early afternoon.

The hubby and I used to frequent this great movie house that showed independents. You could order some great food besides popcorn and chill out.  I totally expanded two things when I lived there: my theatre and my music.  We would just go to all these haunts and holes in the wall and listen to the sound of NYC. 

I developed my ‘interest’ in that which is freaky by hanging in Times Square, lol lol  I’ve been to the movies and in the shops and awakened that side of me as well.

I can remember it being 3:00 am and it being like 95 degrees and you could get up throw something on, hit the train and go to the ‘city’ and there be something to get into even if it were just a diner, lol   

The most exciting job I had while I lived there, because I worked on and off based on how much money the hubby was making…was at The Writers Guild of America, East.  Them being on strike is what sparked my NY memories to begin with. I was the Executive Asst. to the President.  That was a cool job indeed.  I became a member and at any point and time you would see a celebrity just stroll in.  I worked on the awards back when the East Coast first started doing them (the westcoast did them before the eastcoast).  During the time I worked there, I did all of the que cards for the awards, arranged Christopher Reeves and Susan Lucci’s travel etc.  I met them also.  I remember Christopher being very very tall, lol lol  and Susan being very very small.  I also was the receiver of all of the scripts that were in the nomination process.  It was cool to like get the script for Boomerang as they were hashing out credits etc.  Another cool part was that during Oscar season - we got to see all movies for free.  The hubby and I would live in the theatres.  My movie going and diversity was alot better than it is now.  I spent time over at the Screenwriters Guild as well. I ran into Kevin Bacon one time, lol lol 

Our office was very near all the talkshows, and this was during the time my mom’s was on that circuit, so I have been on alot of shows, lol  Donahue, Montel, Sally Jesse Raphael, Geraldo. They were all within walking distance.  You could just go and we used to take long lunches an sit in the audience for a show or two, or when my mom was on there, I would be able to go backstage and all of that.  I usually sat somewhere near her body guards (I was so infatutuated with one of them. He gave the Eulogy at the hubby’s furneral SIGH). 

During that time is also when I had my Al B. Sure encounter.  I was standing on the corner of where Uptown Records was at the time.  I was at the Colesium Bookstore - and the hubby was coming up on my right and Al B. Sure! was coming up on my left.  I was so torn, but not for long - I went straight for Al B.  I had the opening line, that we are born on the same day. He stood and talked to me for a hot second and moved on.  The hubby didn’t talk to me all the way home, lol

Also my girls and I stood outside the Timberland shop one time right after New Jack City and watched Allen Payne try on Timberlands, lol  One time, we ran into Mary J way before she was so recognizable at the ATM like the rest of us, lol lol 

Philadelphia used to have the best food on the planet, of course until I moved to NYC.  That bagel and cream cheese every morning did me in people!  Those mile high pastrami, cornbeef and tongue sandwiches from Carnegies Deli oh boy.  A good friend of mines was Asian and wanted to be Italian so she knew all the hot Italian restaurants in the area. Shopping and shopping and did I say shopping!  About three years now, I visited NY and got taken to the backstreets and copped me a NICE BAG!!!  They on the cutting edge. 

Wow! So many memories.  If we ever get the kinda loot that you need, I definately want to get me even a hole in the wall in Manhattan so we can visit when we want.  Caun has not been to NYC and that is one of my dreams to take him.  It needs to be spring or early summer.  We need to do the Museum of Natural History, we need to stand in Times Square at night and take that famous shot you take on the Triangle, we need to go up to Hunts Points and see some real hookers (LOL).  I need to take him to Macy’s and let him roll around in the Sean John section and then walk up and down 5th Avenue.  I need to go to FAO Schwartz and be a kid again. We need to walk through Central Park, I need to take him down to the courts and watch the street ballers. We need to go to Washington Square Park.  We need to take the Ferry out to the Statute of Liberity, we need to go to Ground Zero and pay our respects.  We need to be all up in China Town.  We need to stand at the Appollo.  WE NEED TO JUST GO!!!!!

Man!  I’m missing it - Man I’m missing it!