Tag Archives: diamond district

SUKKOT / BET ON CRAZY

September 23, 2024 – 12:34 pm

Ten years ago the Hassidim were hurrying home from the Diamond District. The High Holidays had come early this year with Sukkor coinciding with the ancient pagan festival of Mabon, which commemorates the autumnal equinox. Sukkor is not only a bridge across the Indus, but the festival honoring the 40 years during which the Hebrews […]

By Peter | Posted in Bet On Crazy, Diamonds, NEW YORK, semi-fiction, War | Also tagged , , , , | Comments (0)

RAIN 9/10/2001 by Peter Nolan Smith

September 10, 2024 – 6:17 pm

September 10, 2001 was a rainy day in New York and the Weather Channel predicted precipitation throughout the afternoon. .3 inches humid and wet. I exited from my East 10th Street apartment at 9.13 and headed toward Velseka’s on 2nd Avenue. My breakfast of a bagel and coffee came to $2.11. I gave the waiter […]

By Peter | Posted in 2000s, Bet On Crazy, history, NEW YORK, semi-fiction | Also tagged , , , | Comments (0)

Rolling Stones – Shea – October 1989

July 27, 2024 – 8:16 pm

October 1989 Joey from Bay Ridge, a client at Manny’s diamond store in West 47th Street, repaired elevators.He was as filthy as a coal miner and as greasy as an oil rigger. “Every job was an emergency.” He pulled out a wad of bills with a filthy hand. “I like getting paid in cash.” A […]

By Peter | Posted in Bet On Crazy, friends, rock, semi-fiction | Also tagged , , , , , , | Comments (0)

OI VEY CHEESECAKE by Peter Nolan Smith

April 4, 2023 – 1:07 pm

As a young boy growing up outside of Boston, my classmates and I were jealous of the liberal closed-day policy of Beaver Country Day School. The predominantly Jewish school had more snow days per annum than any other institution south of the St. Lawrence River and the shuffle of Holy Days shortened their school year […]

By Peter | Posted in Bet On Crazy, holiday, NEW YORK, semi-fiction | Also tagged , , , , , , | Comments (0)

HAPPY HEARTS by Peter Nolan Smith

February 14, 2022 – 1:30 am

Every Valentine’s Day diamond dealers and jewelers on 47th Street anticipate a mid-winter spending spree by lovers for their loved ones, yet year after year sales numbers have fallen by double-digits, as the economic downturn cut into the income of the middle-class. Diamonds might be a girl’s best friend, but not this year. Yesterday the […]

By Peter | Posted in Bet On Crazy, Diamonds, semi-fiction | Also tagged , , , , | Comments (0)