April 22, 2020
With the New Moon and the remnants of the Lyrids Meteor Shower playing out, I knew my ceiling was not going to cut it tonight. I headed to the darkest place that is sorta nearby, Montauk Point: The End of Long Island. A great destination of Earth Day. It was Read more…
March 1, 2020
I am happy to report on some new vegan options on Long Island. Starting with Sweet Soul Bakery in St. James, an all-vegan bakery utilizing real and natural ingredient goodness. The result: deliciousness. I tried the vanilla cupcake with chocolate frosting after basking in all the v-vombs. The cake was Read more…
February 29, 2020
The entirety of the Pilgrim State Farm Colony was powered by its own power plant, generating electricity through the burning of coal in a transfer of energy: from chemical to thermal to mechanical to, finally, electrical energy. Massive carbon emitters, the use of this kind of electricity has been phased Read more…
I said I’d be back. But this time, I brought reinforcement. Today’s photographic missions were all about entrance, chasing the light as it streamed within the decaying structures of both Kings Park State Hospital and Pilgrim State. First, Kings Park State Hospital. We explored the doctors’ cottages because of the Read more…
January 31, 2020
When I was scanning satellite maps around the former grounds of The Central Islip State Hospital, I couldn’t happen but notice this: And I knew exactly what it was. The old patient cemetery or the Potter’s Field as almost all of the buried remains are marked only with a small Read more…
My report on Long Island’s Farm Colonies continues with an introductory visit to the former grounds of The Central Islip State Hospital. Like Kings Park State Hospital, Pilgrim State Hospital, and Edgewater State Hospital (not yet explored though mostly demolished and captured on video), the sprawling colony was intended to Read more…
Sitting in a diner and drinking coffee, this was youth on Long Island. With some choice table juke box selections, my favorite being Nirvana’s take on The Man Who Sold the World—inexplicably between jams twice its age as if placed just for this Pillar Box Red headed misfit in suburban Read more…
November 24, 2019
As a young weirdo growing up on Long Island in the 90’s, I always loved escaping to Huntington Village. I used to buy vegan chocolate chip cookies from the health food store on Main street that is long gone. You couldn’t find much vegan food anywhere in those days. Crushing Read more…
Established in 1885, the Kings Park Asylum–like all of the Long Island Farm Colonies–helped alleviate the overcrowding in The City’s asylums. I found myself on its grounds with only a couple of hours to spare and was overwhelmed with how many structures there were, easily accessible as they sat decaying Read more…
November 14, 2019
Years ago I started compiling pictures from my very first and all-time favorite abandoned place to photograph, Pilgrim State Hospital–now the Pilgrim Psychiatric Center. Growing up on Long Island, the sprawling decay of the state-owned farm colony was always a fascinating place. With a dark and sorted past, the local Read more…
November 13, 2019
A brief jaunt in East Patchogue, Long Island would have food, fun and photographs. To follow, some highlights of the area… if you happen to like vegan food, nature and cemeteries like me. Door dashed my breakfast because who the heck wants to get dressed and jump in the car Read more…
August 12, 2019
Officially one of my Favorite Things, I wanted to remind you all of the evocative beauty of the Swing Ride. These are from the Steel Pier in Atlantic City, Morey’s Pier in Wildwood, New Jersey, and Adventureland in Farmingdale, New York. The latter two are of my youth, where the Read more…
April 11, 2019
High Tide Taco Bar in Farmingdale has some vegan tacos and I ate them in between a whole bunch of errands. Always nice to report on new vegan options on Long Island, though I am not there very often anymore. How great to have more than one option to choose Read more…
June 3, 2018
Sripraphai brings delicious real Thai dishes, including Thailand’s street food staples, to Long Island. Besides the authenticity, they have a tremendous menu, including a designated vegetarian section and, my favorite, real Thai desserts. And they note all their dishes use of egg and fish sauce which is often tricky with Read more…
May 13, 2018
When you’re late for the Mother’s Day soirée you best bring a sack of White Castle! Well, this may be my new go-to move. My family got to feast on the new Impossible Slider, now available in all New York and New Jersey White Castles. Oh, and I got to Read more…
April 20, 2018
Vegan macaron alert on Long Island! Compassionate Cookery vegan macs are stocked at Jessy’s Pastries in Oceanside. So I was treated with an assortment of 6 after a particularly grueling week of teaching middle school students. Oh, and there’s a macarooooon over there, too! I love photographing these delicate treats Read more…
March 24, 2018
Remember when I went to get the seitan jackfruit pulled pork tacos at Radio Radio in Huntington Village? Well there are more vegan options right next store! Vauxhall is a cool bar and eatery right next store with a vegan-friendly brunch and dinner menu. We stopped by to sample. I got the Read more…
March 23, 2018
Why is it that January through March passes so quickly? To follow are tidbits of time in March, starting with the lemon bundt cake I made for my mother’s birthday. You get up and work and go home. This happens most days. Hopefully you do something important and worthy enough Read more…
March 3, 2018
Vegan eats are popping up all over the place! I get real excited about checking out new options on my home place of Long Island. Today, lunch at Wild Side Organic Bistro in Oakdale where they are serving up really delicious Indian fusion. “Indian” as in all my favorite flavors–heat Read more…
January 13, 2018
My Canon PowerShot G9X is always with me. It’s a lovely point and shoot with a throwback design that reminds me of my grandfather’s old cameras. I was excited to find a faux leather case that suits its aesthetic. I was also excited about this pro-introvert pin. I don’t have Read more…
December 3, 2017
I am having a hard time keeping up with new vegan offerings. And since “plant-based” was named the number one food trend for 2018, I’ll be very busy. Here is a quick run-down on some new-to-me vegan options on la isla largo. Real Food, Real People in Huntington Village. It’s fresh Read more…
November 4, 2017
With vegan options popping up and expanding all over the place, my vegan radar has a constant and continuous bleep-bleep. From new eateries to new options and special events, I wish my appetite can keep up. But when I saw the invite to The Refuge‘s Vegan Fest, I knew I Read more…
October 24, 2017
I had to go to traffic court in the Hamptons today. So after my plea bargain, I checked out some tofu scrambles that have been on my list. It’s not everyday I am that far east on The Island. First, Harbor Market & Kitchen in Sag Harbor. They offer fresh Read more…
October 11, 2017
So there is a donut shop in Great Neck, Long Island that is mostly vegan. How fantastic, right?! Foughnuts bills itself as a more healthful donut. And that means… vegan options! (Don’t tell the folks that are still scared of the v-word.) I stopped by on a rainy Monday to do Read more…
October 7, 2017
It’s been a while, I know. But there are NYC vegan burger happenings that have brought me out of “retirement.” Here are a few notes on the updated brackets above. These are entirely new* burgers from my last battle. And there are many more. Ok, so the “*” is for Read more…
September 28, 2017
The Farmers Markets end. I eat dinner in my classroom on Back to School night. (Kiku Sushi) Things get organized into colorful bins… …and I spray paint other things. The sunset grows more potent, weeping for the fall of its crown. (Long Beach, New York) And a small, sliver of Read more…