tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683382864156505640.post7126273393562028010..comments2023-08-14T11:44:27.299-04:00Comments on Jeremiah's<br> Vanishing New York: The Grassroots TavernJeremiah Mosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11791516443125872364noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683382864156505640.post-73246348886211057172018-01-04T11:58:09.252-05:002018-01-04T11:58:09.252-05:00Hi Jeremiah, first time posting, love your blog an...Hi Jeremiah, first time posting, love your blog and book. <br /><br />I've been coming to "roots" as most regulars call it for over 25 years, half my life, and it feels like yet another part of my life has fallen off, like shedding skin, but not for renewals sake. <br /><br />A lot of us considered the bar a home away from home. It welcomed a remarkably diverse crew of artists, LGBTQ, actors, musicians, etc. Always great conversation. It was always a good idea to come early, as most regulars did and leave before the bros showed up, but twilight there was always "the magic hour" as filmmakers call the perfect time to shoot a scene. <br /><br />And what a scene it was!<br /><br />Brian<br /><br />ps: The bartender with the black eye is Maria. She has worked there for 27 years and was given two weeks notice that the bar was closing. The new owners have promised nothing to the former bar workers and management has kept them in the dark.Dr. Brianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16268809308756543909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683382864156505640.post-17149127779600366542018-01-03T08:34:22.951-05:002018-01-03T08:34:22.951-05:00I remember the Grassroots well from Alphabet City ...I remember the Grassroots well from Alphabet City days in the 80s. Learned to avoid it, as there was just too high a percentage of aggressive antagonistic drinkers. Lots of fights broke out there - if that was what you were seeking, it was a good place for it. But we weren't seeking senseless violence at that time.<br /><br />Just as a side note - it's fun to make up our own definition of words, but it eventually becomes an impediment to communication within the community. For instance, "déclassé" doesn't mean "without class." It means "fallen in social class" or "degraded." And "diaspora" doesn't mean "lost," but rather "a dispersion of any people from their homeland."Scouthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07860208585189661470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683382864156505640.post-70350433016581325672018-01-03T02:58:46.737-05:002018-01-03T02:58:46.737-05:00I started hanging out at the Grass Roots in 1978. ...I started hanging out at the Grass Roots in 1978. Frank O'Conner taught me how to play darts there. I remember the guy who used to bring his hound dog in every night. He would sit on the stool next to him and sometimes drink beer out of a mug. I remember when the bartenders would get up onto the bar and dance whenever New York New York would play on the jukebox. St Mark's Bar was also an option, but 1st Ave seemed so dangerous. The Holiday, around the block, had cheaper beer (I never drank anyway), but most stuck with the Roots most nights. While we're at it, the Kiev for kielbasa and eggs at 4am when the Roots had to close was also a thing:).Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10907058155086144302noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683382864156505640.post-83027938132520174762018-01-02T23:22:38.840-05:002018-01-02T23:22:38.840-05:00For those interested, there's a terrific book ...For those interested, there's a terrific book called "St. Marks is Dead" by Ada Calhoun.Bradhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00989674167667007225noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683382864156505640.post-66885511131004914182018-01-02T22:48:03.541-05:002018-01-02T22:48:03.541-05:00This has gotta be one of your best blog entries ev...This has gotta be one of your best blog entries ever. Kudos.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02458122912768885977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683382864156505640.post-50745221437706995952018-01-02T21:02:05.397-05:002018-01-02T21:02:05.397-05:00Thank you Jeremiah for just being there!
When I re...Thank you Jeremiah for just being there!<br />When I read your blog sober I get mad.<br />When I read your blog drunk I get sad and cry.<br />I never imagined greed could take such a toll. <br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10236459893635846286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683382864156505640.post-18276010084453668052018-01-02T15:16:01.087-05:002018-01-02T15:16:01.087-05:00Lovely article , thanks for this. My favorite: ...Lovely article , thanks for this. My favorite: "who are we to be excused from loss". Just finished your book over the holidays and have recommended to many other people...while I don't agree with everything, I'm very much onboard with your thesis. (we part ways on the revitalization of 42nd street...If it had to happen, Im glad it was done during a very brief era that had SOME regard for preservation...i.e. the New Amsterdam Theater, the facade of the Empire, and the New Victory. If it had been done in the 80s we would have a street that looks like 6th ave with Brutalist "plazas" no one would ever go into. And if it was done right now the whole block would be leveled and be soul-destroying glass condos with subway tile and edison bulbs in every lobby. So I gaze at it now and think...well...at least its crowded and somewhat alive and has operating theaters). Marc J. Hamptonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07472224100298822578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683382864156505640.post-62668236398768953512018-01-02T15:12:29.467-05:002018-01-02T15:12:29.467-05:00Wonderful piece of writing! Marnie MuellerWonderful piece of writing! Marnie MuellerAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17947879070067027168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683382864156505640.post-46064187896941599892018-01-02T11:14:01.416-05:002018-01-02T11:14:01.416-05:00In the 1980s got punched a few times at the Grassr...In the 1980s got punched a few times at the Grassroots but also I returned the punches very well. Also the smell was part of the Lower East Side, ah breathe the air, was heavenly!Mykola Dementiukhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02267125930152870083noreply@blogger.com