Back in Jackson Heights

Cecile and I arrived at Jackson Heights last December 27, 2007, just a few days before the start of the new year. And we would be celebrating New Year in Jackson Heights.

We had stayed with Renelle at Demarest, New Jersey for the Christmas “noche buena” where we met Renee, the Italian-American wife of Ben (my cousin) and also John (new friend of Renelle).

Our stay in New Jersey was also highlighted by the 1st ever NBA basketball game we watched. Patrick went along with us for this Pistons vs. Nets game. Tickets courtesy of Renelle. Thanks Ding-ding!

Now, we are in Jackson Heights, where the buildings are formerly for military housing. Olwen showed us the entrance to the bunkers. Now, that is why there is a basement in the buildings. And Logan greets us everyday!

This neighborhood is a green neighborhood with a lot of small gardens located within the compounds. But with the cold winter weather, we didn’t really get to appreciate the green.

Tapas @ Cafe Andalucia

Patrick had met us at Virgin Records at the heart of Times Square. Cecile and I had been browsing around for dad’s “yodeling music.”

But tonight was reserved to find and taste good food around Manhattan. And with my cousin, Patrick Velez, showing us around… we were sure to taste something really good tonight.

Our steps soon led us to Café Andalucia located at 533 Ninth Avenue, between 40th and 39th Street, New York. Host is Guillermo. But we didn’t get to meet him. I guess, he was the tall guy in the kitchen who would occasionally go out to talk to some customers in the bar.

This café is pretty small. Only six tables and a long bar that cuts through the entire place. There was a TV set on the far left side of the bar from where we sat, but it was tuned to a Spanish-speaking cable network. I saw news clips on the assassination of Benazir Bhutto and George Bush Jr.


On the bar, there were only 4 customers. One middle-aged lady was drinking alone on one corner and soon struck up a conversation with a native American. We were not surprised to see him move up the bar and sit next to the woman.

The three of us were the only customers which occupied the tables.

While this bar reminded Cecile of Cosa Nostra in Malate, this bar reminded me of the bar the cops at NYPD Blue or Hill Street Blues would frequent after their shifts. After all, we are in New York.

Known as the Café Andalucia, Tapas Bar and Gallery, one would see some paintings for sale on the wall.

We both praised Patrick for the good choice of restaurant. Cecile ordered tapas (which was really good) while I medallion pork with white creamy sauce. Patrick also had a couple of bottles of beer. Buttered bread with garlic was served and matched well with the tapas. Both Patrick and I would wipe the pieces of bread unto the sauce of the meal.

So much Toys R Us

Cecile and I visited Toys R Us, after Patrick had to leave for a party, after our early dinner at Cafe Andalucia.

Strands Bookstore

Strands is a bookstore that Olwen Abergas used to frequent during his early years of living and working in NYC. “18 Miles of Books” says Strands Bookstore, located at 828 Broadway (12th Street) and another at 95 Fulton Street.

According to www.strandbooks.com it was in 1927, Ben Bass opened Strand Book Store on Fourth Avenue. This used to be New York's legendary Book Row. The Strand was one of 48 bookstores on Book Row, which started in the 1890's and ran from Union Square to Astor Place. Today, the Strand is the sole survivor.

Ben's son Fred started working in his father's store at the age of 13 and took over its management in 1956. Later, Fred moved the store to its current location on Broadway at 12th Street. He rented 4,000 square feet of space, but now, The Strand now occupies 55,000 square feet of space.

This Sunday evening, we spent an hour browsing through many books. Upon entering the store, we deposited our shopping bags, except the small grey Apple shopping bag which contained a “Black Hawk Down” DVD game.

We parted ways inside the book store, trying to expIore as much space as time would allow. I quickly browsed through the NYC coffee table books and picked up “Subways, The Tracks That Built New York City” by Lorraine Dheil (US$6.95) and “New York’s Bravest: Eight Decades of Photograph from the Daily News, edited Shawn O’ Sullivan (US$15.99).

Olwen picked up “Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini (US$11.21) for us.

In the second level, wasily accessible by stairs, I picked up “Our Century in Pictures” by Time Magazine (US$19.95). There were at least four shelves of photography books, plus four piles of bargain photography books. Am sure Nady Nacario would enjoy browsing through these books.

Cecile got “New York Burning” by Jill Lepore (US$7.95) for her mom.


Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist George F. Will, in the 70s wrote, "the eight miles worth saving in this city are at the corner of Broadway and 12th Street. They are the crammed shelves of the Strand Book Store."

Just hope Cecile and I can enjoy reading these books over warm brewed coffee.

Thrift Shops along 17th

The thrift shops along 17th Street does provide real bargains and nice pictures of building facades here in the Big Apple.

Olwen, Cecile and I went to around four thrift shops in this street. I had buzzed Patrick earlier saying we were in this neighborhood looking for bargains. And bargains, we did find, specially, old vinyl records. Used CDs cost only US$1.00 but I didn’t recognize any artist or titles.

I picked up a few crystals. But Cecile said there was nothing different among these items, except for the very cheap cost.

Cecile found an old “Fantasia” vinyl record or LP (long playing album). LPs were the standards for music prior the advent of CDs and MP3 players. I saw a double LP for a Gershwin Performance. Cost only 20 cents per lp. I really should have bought a few more LP collection, mostly of classical music.

Cucina Stagionale

It was Annie Brasil’s last night (29 December 2007) at the Cucina Stagionale Restaurant and Bar here in the Big Apple. Olwen, Chief and I first went to the Village Vanguard, one of the more popular jazz bars here in Manhattan. There was a long line for the 10:30 show. Using Ben’s portable GPS, we tracked down a couple of other jazz bars in the area but somehow, our steps led us to Cucina Stagionale.

This place is located at 289 Bleecker Street corner of 7th Avenue. The place was not really full and the crowd were mostly watching the Giants and Patriots football game.

A nearly-bald guy floor manager greeted us and pointed us to Annie who was at the end of the bar with other friends. She moved up to us and greeted us. Kababayans!

She sung her last set for tonight and the past ten years (as she would later reveal to us!). Yes, this was her last night. Photos. Photos. Photos.

Now, who is Annie Brasil. Yes, she is the mother of Richard Merck and Rachel Anne Wolfe. Cecile would later describe more of Annie. Her contemporaries include Pilita Corrales, Mercy Molina. And that she used to be a regular guest at “Seeing Stars with Joe Quirino.”

She joined us after her last song. Guess, we were the only Filipinos in the place now. “Huwag na kayong babalik dito” she whispered us as she described her next career move to Florida for a gig.


God brought us to Cucina Stagionale for a reason and I guess, to hear and listen Annie sing on her last night, after a ten-year stint here, was the reason. And am sure she smiled in her heart to meet us!

Why Travel?

One of the many things Chief and I really like doing together is traveling, going to near and far exotic and exciting places.

Since 2001, when we first traveled together to Tagaytay City, where we were first “married” by our friends, the steps of our lives have taken us to many cities and countries.

Today, as I am scribbling these words at Apartment 1G, 85-15, 84th Street, Jackson Heights. This is Olwen’s place in Queens, New York City. We just spent our Christmas holidays with my Tito Rene, Tita Nenen and my cousins. By next Monday, we shall join the thousands at Times Square with thousands in Times Square and millions across the globe who shall anticipate the drop of the ball!

This blog hopes to capture those memories through words and pictures, with a ton on trivia and insights about the places and people through these steps of our lives.

Hope you enjoy taking these steps with us!

Photo shows Cecile and I front of the San Francisco cityscape. Taken December 2007 by Eric Garcia.