Rapoport’s Dairy Restaurant.
Jeff Schlanger’s memories of Rapoport’s Dairy Restaurant.
Here are a few words about my feeling for Rapoport’s today (2024):
In Rapoport’s as soon as you sat down, even before the menus were passed out, a fragrant basket of fresh-baked warm rolls was on the table along with a dish of pickles so that hungry clientele could be eating and tasting while poring over the amazing array of satisfying possibilities.
In 1958-60 I found myself drawn into this experience as a member of an artist’s co-op right next door at 99 2nd Avenue on the second floor called the Nonagon Gallery. We were all hungry and had much to discuss over coffee and celery tonic about our mutual survival and outreach.
My first New York exhibition of ceramics was in January 1960 in the Nonagon. Visitors all climbed the stairs right next to Rapoport’s with one exception: Peter Voulkos from California came down the stairs from abstract-expressionist painter Herman Cherry’s loft on the third floor where he was staying. He stood right next to me and pointed out the one piece where an eager young artist forgot about himself and let the fired clay carry the human content. Pete was the greatest and the mass of intensely fired art he left us all still is.
Simultaneously at the Nonagon, Cecil Taylor used to come in and practice on the old upright piano in the space. Cecil never forgot the lift from this early hospitality, even when his unique concert hall improvisations around the world were being played on a freshly-tuned Bosendorfer grand exclusively.
The whole neighborhood was like that at that time. Mutual encouragement for experimental music & art had
infiltrated the community for a while. It was deeply inspiring then and now. At age 87, I realize I’ll never forget the center of it all for me: that aromatic welcome in Rapoport’s !
Rapoport’s Menu Picks:
Mushroom Barley Soup (Wednesday & Sunday)
Cold Chav (in season)
Cherry Blintzes
Kasha Varnishkes
Coffee Cake & Coffee
Dr. Brown’s Celery Tonic
Of course, I also knew Ratner’s on the next block. However, by the late 1950s, it had also gone through its first ‘modernization’. Still great food but Chrome! Formica! Lights!
I remember Rapoport’s as being continuously connected to the warm ambience of an earlier era, larger, not so tight, much more conducive to long, urgent conversations. However, right next to Ratner’s was a theater originally opened as the Commodore in 1925 for Yiddish Vaudeville & movies.
By the summer of 1966, it was the Village Theater presenting the cutting edge of the
jazz avant-garde including Ornette Coleman, Albert Ayler and one of the final performances by John Coltrane. I was there. That stunning experience was the beginning of my 50-year musicWitness drawing project.
By 1968-71 it became the famous Fillmore East presenting and recording many of the greatest rock stars during their breakout years. I was there too. And Ratner’s Dairy was in the perfect spot to stay seriously busy satisfying the tastes of a new generation.
https://jessejarnow.com/2020/02/village-theatre-1965-1968-fillmore-east-pre-bill-graham/
(If you check out Jesse Jarnow's blog there are also many Angry Arts against the American war in
Vietnam events. Maurice Sendak offered a chalk talk in one of them.)
Here are a few words about my feeling for Rapoport’s today (2024):
In Rapoport’s as soon as you sat down, even before the menus were passed out, a fragrant basket of fresh-baked warm rolls was on the table along with a dish of pickles so that hungry clientele could be eating and tasting while poring over the amazing array of satisfying possibilities.
In 1958-60 I found myself drawn into this experience as a member of an artist’s co-op right next door at 99 2nd Avenue on the second floor called the Nonagon Gallery. We were all hungry and had much to discuss over coffee and celery tonic about our mutual survival and outreach.
My first New York exhibition of ceramics was in January 1960 in the Nonagon. Visitors all climbed the stairs right next to Rapoport’s with one exception: Peter Voulkos from California came down the stairs from abstract-expressionist painter Herman Cherry’s loft on the third floor where he was staying. He stood right next to me and pointed out the one piece where an eager young artist forgot about himself and let the fired clay carry the human content. Pete was the greatest and the mass of intensely fired art he left us all still is.
Simultaneously at the Nonagon, Cecil Taylor used to come in and practice on the old upright piano in the space. Cecil never forgot the lift from this early hospitality, even when his unique concert hall improvisations around the world were being played on a freshly-tuned Bosendorfer grand exclusively.
The whole neighborhood was like that at that time. Mutual encouragement for experimental music & art had
infiltrated the community for a while. It was deeply inspiring then and now. At age 87, I realize I’ll never forget the center of it all for me: that aromatic welcome in Rapoport’s !
Rapoport’s Menu Picks:
Mushroom Barley Soup (Wednesday & Sunday)
Cold Chav (in season)
Cherry Blintzes
Kasha Varnishkes
Coffee Cake & Coffee
Dr. Brown’s Celery Tonic
Of course, I also knew Ratner’s on the next block. However, by the late 1950s, it had also gone through its first ‘modernization’. Still great food but Chrome! Formica! Lights!
I remember Rapoport’s as being continuously connected to the warm ambience of an earlier era, larger, not so tight, much more conducive to long, urgent conversations. However, right next to Ratner’s was a theater originally opened as the Commodore in 1925 for Yiddish Vaudeville & movies.
By the summer of 1966, it was the Village Theater presenting the cutting edge of the
jazz avant-garde including Ornette Coleman, Albert Ayler and one of the final performances by John Coltrane. I was there. That stunning experience was the beginning of my 50-year musicWitness drawing project.
By 1968-71 it became the famous Fillmore East presenting and recording many of the greatest rock stars during their breakout years. I was there too. And Ratner’s Dairy was in the perfect spot to stay seriously busy satisfying the tastes of a new generation.
https://jessejarnow.com/2020/02/village-theatre-1965-1968-fillmore-east-pre-bill-graham/
(If you check out Jesse Jarnow's blog there are also many Angry Arts against the American war in
Vietnam events. Maurice Sendak offered a chalk talk in one of them.)
