Dec. 28 I printed 2012’s new year predictions. Celtic psychic Paula Roberts, whom I’ve consulted annually for 20 years, said: “Con Ed downtown power station has blackout, darkening part of Manhattan.”
LINES are cut, trees down, power’s out, people hungry, homes destroyed, streets flooded, animals lost — but the show must go on.
A downtown fashionista lost her transportation. Panicked, late, in Missoni coat, Dior handbag, Manolo stilts, she desperately stood in a puddle hoping to flag a lone car. One single taxi suddenly rumbled down. Its passenger motioned to her. Grateful, the fashionista asked why this stranger stopped. Answer: “I work at Chanel. Seeing your Dior bag, I knew you weren’t a mugger.”
FILM production halted. Unsafe locations couldn’t support shooting. Electricity OK, water damage minimal at Steiner, Silvercup, Kaufman stages and Brooklyn’s stages. The problem was transporting cast and crew. Can-do New York crews won exterior permits on a case-by-case basis for “30 Rock,” “Orange Is the New Black,” “Zero Hour,” “Elementary,” “Deception,” “The Good Wife,” “Blue Bloods,” “Smash,” “Golden Boy,” “Person of Interest,” “Socio” — shows already filming at their stages.
WHETHER sunny, windy, rainy or foggy, prevailing is lunacy.
Drag comedian Hedda Lettuce and “an adult gay star” are drumbeating Breaking Glass Pictures’ “sexy” DVD “Go Go Crazy” sequel to their “The Big Gay Musical.” It’s about a raunchy club owner, porn star, fame-hungry shameless, backstabbing, sabotaging contestants, Speedos and desperation. This announcement must obviously be to attract the attention of our Sanitation Dep’t.
And: PigPen Theater Company’s “The Old Man and the Old Moon” is “giving free tickets to Hurricane Sandy’s homeless. Like copping p.r. for this so-called “critically acclaimed troupe’s new raved-about play” is just what a displaced, hungry, cold, wet, fearful soul who lost family and/or pets craves right now.
UPSTATE troopers were moved downstate. Upstate residents, trying to find just one NYSEG truck — could not.
NYSEG (New York State Electric and Gas) delivers electricity to approximately 873,000 and natural gas to more than 259,000 customers across 40 percent of Upstate New York. Including decline in response times to downed trees and transformers, the service frustrates many. Amigos, pay attention: NY State Electric and Gas seems not owned by or in New York State. It’s a subsidiary of Iberdrola, an overseas multinational corporation. In Spain.
Memo to los ejecutivos de NYSEG: Don’t forget about New York! We need your help! My Spanglish isn’t as bueno as Mayor Bloomberg’s but: No te olvides de Nueva York! Necesitamos su ayuda!
AIRLINES, themselves struggling, have helped. JetBlue’s matching every $50,000 in customer donations to the Red Cross plus mileage for each dollar donated . . . Delta’s providing water bottles, snacks, blankets, sandwich boxes and amenity kits.
UNFAMILIAR faces showed at untouched Upper East side’s mom-and-pop stores. The thinning shelves had coffee, bread, cheese and eggs staples. Luka restaurant, 71st and First, remained open. Staffers refused to go home. At Lenny’s, one twinkie produced a debit card for $4 and was refused. The register’s sign read: “Cash only. No credit cards at this time.”
A senior, whose john hasn’t worked in a week, found a 1950-ish PC Richard transistor radio. With it she’s managed to stay connected in her fifth-floor walk-up.
ONE non-Sandy complaint from Palm Beach, where there was early voting. Citizens report people holding Obama signs near election sites intimidated those wanting to hoist Romney signs. They’ve complained to the local officials.
REP. Jerrold Nadler, advertising for volunteers to distribute food and water in the West Village: “Prepare to walk and climb darkened stairways in buildings with outages. Volunteers with supplies will go in teams. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes. Bring water and snacks for personal consumption. Also, if you have, flashlight, backpack, batteries and pens.”
From Council Member Rosie Mendez: “Our commmunity’s hardship is devastating. We are working hard with Con Ed. Once we get electricity, we will help pump the water. Our elderly are stranded in high floors without food or water.”
HOURS before shabbos. Friday. Englewood. ShopRite. Packed with rich and poor, white and black, Gentile and Jewish. Loud message over the speaker: “Sorry. Very sorry. We don’t have challah. But we do have one pound kishkes.”
Only in Englewood, kids, only in Englewood.
AND this now powerless, homeless lady, sleeping at a friend’s Upper West Side place, grabbed dinner at Shun Lee on 55th. Next table, one youngster said: “When we lost power Dad said he’d send his plane, and I could bring five friends. I said no. The private jet would make me seem so spoiled. I’m happy at a hotel on his credit card and having car service!”
Only in New York, kids, only in New York.