Halloween 2014

"I Don't Have the Cure. 

I AM the Cure!"

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Keeping up the years-long tradition, our friends Jerry and Celio have created another magical Halloween theme party. 

For 2014 it's "Studio 54". Andy, Liza, Jerry, Bianca. THE David Wronski. Hundreds of others in attendance.

THE Michele T. Fillion, seen arriving at Studio 54.

Claims it's an "Arctic Princess" Costume

Long Lines to Get In.

Admittedly, a little nervous as we head to the door.


Will He Notice Us?


The Master of Ceremonies, Jerry Harmyk.

Seems like he's in a good mood.


He doesn't let just anyone past the velvet ropes.

What a joint.

Bianca! Riding a Horse!

The Drinks Flowed Endlessly.


That Halston! Liked His Martinis.

Babes, everywhere.

Is there Such a Thing as Too Big a Smile?

Or, Too Many?

Guest of Honor: Mr. Warhol.

That's Him on the Left.

Buddies on the Town.

More Lovelies

Braden and Priscilla from Brooklyn . . . 

By Way of Brazil and Google.

No. There is No Such Thing as Too Big a Smile. 

Hope for the Future.

Too Cute!

Jerry, Judy. 

Judy, Jerry.

(The Coat is Real!)

Hard to Get.

(2014 Costume Contest Winners)

Donald Rumsfeld and His Lovely Date Sia.

Yes, She Swung from the Chandelier.

That Witch. And, Dorothy.

Treats Make for Smiles

All in the Family.

Sibs Sticking Together. 

Intergalactic Warrior Avenger Super Fantastic Masked . . . 

It Goes on.

She Stripped. The Joint Went Wild.

Such a Spoiled Gliteratta . . . 

Sheared Baby Mink Made to Look Like Cheap Chenille!

Could Someone Get Liza to . . . Simmer!

Andy Likes Him Some Witch.

Holly Rose and her Male.

Mystery Celebrity.

Now, That Some Witch.

 Pumpkin Angel. Tomato Boy. Juvenile Delinquent.

Guess Which is Which?

Too Much Internet for That One.

Smiling? Or, Petrified? Doesn't She See Him?

Petulent Princess.

Mas Stylin'.

Joke Boy-oh-Boy!

Walter's New Dance Shoes.

All the Bouncers Dressed Like Andy Warhol. 

"Sorry Lady. That is Not a Halloween Costume." 

"Arctic Princess? 

Really!"

It Went Downhill After That.

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Be sure to discover the winners of this year's best costume contest.

See Halloween 2013

See Halloween 2015

See Halloween 2016

See Halloween 2017

Vanishing New York

http://vanishingnewyork.blogspot.com/

Buddhism on Riverside Drive

With a Vital Message from D. T. Suzuki

Photo and complete text: diogenesii.wordpress.com — not available

Unlike most of the buildings in Hiroshima, the bronze figure of Shinran Shonin (1173–1263) — the Japanese Buddhist monk who founded Jodo Shinshu (Shin) Buddhism — miraculously survived the devastation. The 15-foot statue had stood 2.5 kilometers northwest from the hypocenter of the detonation of the atomic bomb. It depicts Shinran Shonin in his missionary travel robe as he appeared most of his life propagating the doctrine he developed to reveal the one unobstructed way through which one can become awakened.

Closeup of the face of the Shinran statue.

In 1955, the statue was removed from the Hiroshima park, packed into an enormous wooden crate, and shipped to New York City, where it was presented to the New York Buddhist Church on Riverside Drive near 106th Street in Manhattan as a testament to the devastation of the atomic bomb as well as a symbol for hope and world peace.

On 11 September 1955, just over ten years after the bombing of Hiroshima, D. T. Suzuki — one of the most influential figures in introducing Zen Buddhism to the West — gave an eloquent keynote address at the statue’s unveiling ceremony. In this address, I think Suzuki best answers the question, “Why?”, that I began with:

The present state of things as we are facing everywhere politically, economically, morally, intellectually, and spiritually is no doubt the result of our past thoughts and deeds we have committed as human beings through[out] the whole length of history, through aeons of existence, not only individually but collectively — let me repeat, collectively. As such, we are, every one of us, responsible for the present world situation filled with [its] awesome forebodings. The bombing of Hiroshima was not, after all, the doing of the American armies, but the doing of mankind as a whole, and as such, we, not only the Japanese and Americans but the whole world, are to be held responsible for the wholesale slaughter witnessed ten years ago….

As far as I can see, [we must find] the living Shonin who is surely among us answering to the call of his name; only we have not been able to hear his response, our ears have not yet been fully opened innerly as well as outwardly to [that] still small voice….

We must realize that modern civilization is thoroughly oriented towards dehumanizing humanity in every possible way; that is to say, we are fast turning into robots or statues with no human souls. Our task is to get humanized once more.

The statue stands a few blocks from Columbia University, where much of the atomic bomb program began.

OH! BOY!