Stuff

The way my mind works

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Theodore “Dash” Hardeen was Houdini’s brother. He was also a magician and escape artist, and in the early years performed with his brother. After Houdini’s death, Theo continued to perform in vaudeville shows. The engraving on his tombstone “he went around doing good, we miss you, dear” hit me hard. It’s such a personal comment that it had me considering what is greatness. Houdini was the greatest escape artist, but his brother’s greatness was measured by the lives he touched #theodorehardeen #whatisgreatness #magician #escapeartist #machpelah #cemetery https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodore_Hardeen (at Machpelah Cemetery (Queens)) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cory0q5rGeO/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Cemetery trees. The sense of loss and other emotions that take place at a gravesite seem to shape them #takeonalifeoftheirown #trees #idiosyncratic #deathshapesthem #machpelah #cemetery (at Machpelah Cemetery (Queens)) https://www.instagram.com/p/CopQq5DLNXk/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Perfect overcast day to visit Emanuel Goldenberg aka actor Edward G. Robinson. @phantom_jetty and I just watched Scarlet Street, a brilliant example of film noir directed by Fritz Lang, with stellar performances by Robinson and Joan Bennett. He’s not easy to find because he was placed in a crypt under the name Goodman. Someone left a fake flower and the six of spades. I think that card is significant-Grand Larceny reference? The last photo is the grave of his real family; mother, father and siblings. The mysteries of death. May his memory be a blessing #bethelcemetery #queens #nyc #edwardgrobinson #goldenberg #goodmancrypt #timetravel #history #etchedinstone (at Machpelah Cemetery (Queens)) https://www.instagram.com/p/ComucScr6CL/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Life can be a full circle experience. I live five minutes from where this picture was taken. I remember this being the last year I felt comfortable in my skin (long story). From the left: me, my mom, my little sister Julia, Papi and Nonna Stelli. My Papi died less than two years after this photo was taken. He kept his health issues to himself and collapsed in my Nonna’s arms while they were out dancing in Torino. Not a bad way to go #suddendeath #papi #nonna #torino #italia #shoreacres #mamaroneck #newyork #family #dancetillyoudrop (at Mamaroneck, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/CjgISF9LtE-/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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One of my favorite things is tasting and deciding on food and wine for our upcoming 2022 Innovation Gala @guastavinosnyc. I tend, in my real life, to be primarily plant based, but on days like these, I’m all flexitarian. The food, from beginning to end, was delicious. @chemotherapyfoundation #thechemotherapyfoundation #guastavinos #tastings #amazing #food #2022innovationgala #filetmignon #peruvianchickenalabrassa #mushroomravioli #balsamicinfusedpearswitharugulaandstilton #coucousandveggies #branzino #cauliflowersteakredcurry #peachcobbler (at Manhattan, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/CjGkkHcvytC/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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I really suck at taking pictures of myself on the little screen, but here I am in Only Murders in the Building, Season 2 Episode 4. It was 7:30 in the morning and freezing. Unlike Mr. Martin, who handled the cold like it was nada, I couldn’t stop shivering #lifeofabackgroundactor #onlymurdersinthebuilding #stevemartin #queensborobridge #freezingmyassoff https://www.instagram.com/p/CiL-Njdszbt/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Last night @synesthesia47. Congratulations @phantom_jetty! #fragmentstein #experimentalfilm #feature #anewtakeonhorror (at Bushwick) https://www.instagram.com/p/Ch41skOrH4m/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Larry Spruch, a theoretical physicist, was a patient of my dad’s. The letter was written just before he succumbed to lung cancer and it’s dated August 10, 2006, the day Dr. Spruch died #foundinmyfathersthings #larryspruch #humorfrombeyond #oncology #bravepatients https://www.instagram.com/p/Chw6rDCrABS/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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I could write a book about this photo and the people in it. This is the Vitale family in 1930. My grandfather, Emmanuele, is the young man who looks like his head is lopsided. Four sons or four daughters seem to be a thing in my family. In just a few years, my grandfather will fight in the Ethiopian War, get married to Bellina “Lina” Basola, have a daughter Anna, and then have to leave Italy because of Mussolini. He lands in New York City, starts his own business, and adopts that city and the country it resides in as his own. He was a complicated and at times very difficult person. Yesterday 8/15 was his birthday #nonnolello #vitale #lafamiglia #history #rummagingthrougholdphotos #biella #italy https://www.instagram.com/p/ChUhlAIrxBb/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Found this old photo in my dad’s office. On the back it says “Professore Carlo Forlamini….Carino” (Professor Carlo Forlamini …. Cute) Googled Forlamini and found a whole Wikipedia write up. Turns out he taught at the University of Torino, and that his methods of treating severe bouts of tuberculosis were used as recent as the 1970’s. My guess is that he may have been my great-grandfather Dr. Alberto Muggia’s teacher. The photo is from 1889, which makes Forlamini 46 years old in this photo. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlo_Forlanini #timetravel #family #solvingpuzzles #history #italy #torino #pavia https://www.instagram.com/p/ChR-ONtLElu/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Walking with the best daughter in the world @keeleystuff #daughters #wherewouldwebewithoutyou #walk #mamaroneck #newyork (at Mamaroneck, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/CgstqpCsOvx/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Plotting our destruction #wedeserveit #caturday #catsofinstagram #letsplaydressup #ilovemycat #pride https://www.instagram.com/p/Cgo2zllr-9i/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Summer drama in the Hudson #skies #hudsonvalley #hudsonny #newyork #summer #dramatic #likeme (at Hudson, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cge5BgKLjMh/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Ruins and abandoned buildings on a picture perfect day #abandonedplaces #ruins #moderndaypompeii #hudson #newyork #buildings #hotterthanhell (at Hudson, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/CgZUc7QrSn8/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Walked through an abandoned area of Hudson, New York. Lots of decay, resulting in a feast of texture and color #decay #abandonedplaces #hudsonvalley #hudson #newyork #texture #color (at Hudson, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/CgW0mJxLETJ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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My kinda place #timetraveling #records #antiques #memorabilia #hudsonny (at John Doe Records Hudson) https://www.instagram.com/tv/CgUuiVrAfcp/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Early mornings in Brooklyn be like this #bedfordstreet #williamsburg #newyorkcity #doubleexposure #iphonography #webtoons #web #youlookthewayifeel (at Brooklyn, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/Ce9E75Yr23E/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=