Letter From New York - Bowling Manhattan Style

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Friday October 31st 1997

Bowling Manhattan Style

In the August 1st Letters I had a piece on Bowlmor... ten-pin Manhattan style - and showed one of their ads. And for those of you following the Windsor Jeweler ads, they are printing ads again in the New York Times, and for a while there, they were far less nasty, and were almost normal.

Not so Bowlmor. The model in this ad (left) may be different than the one in August, but the message is the same... Not what you might be used to if you are used to Australian ten-pin bowling centres. I looked around for an ad for an Australian bowling alley. Found AMF's... most sedate.

Bowlmor has been going since 1939 according to their latest ad. If you feel like dropping by, the lack of lights and the music ("Techno, House and Jungle Music") will convince you, that you're not in Camberwell anymore.

Dining Out Manhattan Style

In an article called "Let Them Eat Elsewhere", Bob Morris of the New York Times Magazine reports on an exclusive restaurant called "Le Bilboquet". Apparently the restaurant has a certain je ne sais quoi, as it is very popular, but many would-be diners are openly discouraged.

No address is given and the restaurant's phone number is unlisted. The owner, a Monsieur Philippe Delgrange, is reported as saying, " We don't take anybody who comes to the door... It's a matter of, do you belong here or not".

Part of the charm of Le Bilboquet, would seem to be the laissez faire attitude of the waiters. Mr. Morris on the waiters: "As usual, the waiters were dancing, yelling happily and bringing the wrong orders."

If you are really hanging out for dinner at Le Bilboquet, you could try looking for it in opposite Lowell Hotel on the Upper East side.

Alone and Away, Manhattan Style

I read somewhere, years go, of a tribe in a sparsely populated region of Africa, who at nights, huddle together in a very small area, even though they have plenty of open space. The person reporting this phenomenon suggested that the vast space lead the people to feel the need for close contact.

The opposite would seem to apply in Manhattan, where there is little space, and people appear to isolate themselves. At nights I see people in the elevator of our apartment building, carrying their dinner (fast food for one) and a video. I don't know who our neighbours are and they sleep on the other side of the wall. I don't even know what they look like as I only see them scurrying too and from work. Hoards of people are expelled from the subways nightly, to go their separate ways, alone. And on the way home, in the streets, you can hear many of them, talking to the person they are closest to, themselves.

Your Questions and Comments

Paul emailed from Australia: I just spent 2 years on Manhattan on 25th between 7th & 8th. Loved it but missed the beach. Used to get the Long Island train out to our friend's place and hit the water running to run straight back out. Where's my wetsuit I used to cry!? Yikes it was cold. Not like Bilgola Beach.
Anyway, thought I might say hello, check out our site at www.dragonslayer.com.au.

Mahamati from Australia emailed: Sound pollution. Can someone who knows both places tell me if the horn honking compares with Mumbai (Bombay)? If so it would be hard to believe. Trucks [there] have signs saying "Sound Horn Please", - as if an invitation was needed. Stationary for ten mins in jams, heat 33 with 75% humidity, no air con taxis, (or very few on particular runs eg.airport to hotels) and solicited by all manner of physical affirmities thrust thru the windows in hope of a few rupees, horns blaring continually - why do I love it! Some people say it is the Asian New York, but I missed NY while in US so don't know.... any views?
Mahatmi, I haven't been to Bombay, but I have been to Calcutta and I think there's a lot of similarity between New York and Calcutta. Perhaps that's why there's a large Indian population here (certainly a lot of Indians drive cabs!), it must seem like home. I've asked a few Indian cab drivers if they think it's similar and they all say yes.
There's an area called Curry Hill where the Indian restaurants and stores are located. It's a place where many cab drivers stop for food. Whenever I'm there, if I close my eyes, from the noise and aromatic smell of curries, I think I could be in Calcutta.

John, an Australian emailed: A friend told me about your web site - I like it. I will be moving to New York in January with my girlfriend. Do you get together for a beer at all with new comers to the city - although have been traveling there once a year for a week for the last seven years - it will be a new scenario living there..
There's no get-together for newcomers that I know of, John, although there's a monthly happy hour at the Australian Consulate that you could check out. Your idea is a good one. Email when it's closer to your arrival time.

Peter, an Australian from New York, in an Australians Abroad Messageboard entry: I was surfing around and found "vegemite.au.com" if anyone wants a bit of a giggle. By the way, another place to buy Vegemite is Zabar's, if you want to take out a second mortgage to get it. Is the supermarket at 49th and 2nd cheap for Vegemite? Zabar's wanted something like $8.00 for a very small jar. I work for New York City, and if there's anything I can do to help any fellow Aussie out there give us a holler. I do know my way around the City. Cheers! Peter Goslett, pgoslett@dorsai.com. New York
Peter, I didn't actually buy the Vegemite at Associated on 2nd Avenue, but I think I would have noticed if it had an exorbitant price. Will have a look next time I'm up that way.