Pastrami pop-up whets appetites for ‘Maisel 2’
BY TEQUILA MINSKY
A vintage Ford Fairlane and 1950s
Buick were parked on Lafayette
St. near Kenmare.
Fans on a line stretching around the
corner of Broome St. and running to
Cleveland Place drooled for pastrami,
cheesecake, Dr. Brown’s soda and
knishes —New York delicatessen fare.
It’s the pop-up Carnegie Deli at 201
Lafayette, “in operation” until Sat.,
Dec. 8.
During the fi rst hour on Sat., Dec.
1, more than 200 hungry New Yorkers
came through, the line having swelled
hours before the actual 11:30 a.m. opening
time. The promotion for the launch
of the second season of “The Marvelous
Mrs. Maisel” is loaded with 1950s deli
nostalgia, including a menu that boasts
a pastrami sandwich for 99 cents.
The fi rst season of the award-winning
Amazon Prime TV show garnered
14 nominations and fi ve Emmys —for
writing, directing, lead and supporting
actresses and comedy series. The second
season began Wed., Dec. 5.
Snappy dialogue set in period 1958
New York is a recipe for fun entertainment
as “Midge” Maisel, a middle-class
Upper West Side housewife, makes
forays into the edgy Downtown scene
as a stand-up comic after her husband
leaves her.
A lot of inspiration is taken from
Joan Rivers for Midge’s character —
she’s slightly softer but equally bawdy.
During the fi rst season, Maisel gets arrested
twice for lewdness on stage and
has a few sympatique encounters with
Lenny Bruce.
Actress Rachel Brosnahan (who, incidentally,
is the niece of the late Kate
Spade) plays the lead.
Happening Village venues of that era
are recreated, particularly The Gaslight
Cafe, which was at 116 MacDougal St.
Others include the Kettle of Fish, Music
Inn and the Village Vanguard.
The fourth episode of the fi rst season
touts a “Save The Square” rally, with
Jane Jacobs at the arch in Washington
Square Park. This reporter stumbled
on the fi lming of that “Stroller Brigade”
Downtowners Carl Feinman and Judy Sommerville dug into their pastrami sandwiches.
Delivery boy “Frankie, from Howard Beach,” who said he rode his bike
there, handed out menus as the line stretched to Cleveland Place.
episode in June 2017.
Back at the Lafayette St. Carnegie
Deli pop-up, when “owners” Lou, Bernie
and Max are asked, “How long have
you been here?” the answer is “Since
1937.” (They’re actors, in character.)
Delivery boy Frankie, handing out
menus along the line, said he was from
Howard Beach and rode his bike all the
way to Lafayette St. When this reporter
told him she would e-mail him his photo,
he asked, “What is that?” After all,
the year is 1958.
Along with the black-and-white-tiled
fl oor, tin ceiling and vintage menus
posted inside, the long wall is covered
with framed and signed celebrity photos
to recreate the Carnegie Deli feeling.
In fact, though, a month after the
New York gastronomic icon closed in
December 2016, all the actual photos
were tossed out.
As “owner” Bernie schmoozed with
the diners, some local Downtown denizens,
Carl Feinman (from Southbridge
Towers) and Judy Sommerville (from
Tribeca), ordered “The Maisel” (pastrami
and salami) while a friend ordered
“The Susie” (turkey and coleslaw).
Cheesecake or a black-and-white
cookie are dessert offerings at 50
cents.
When it came time for the bill, it
read, “$0, It’s on Midge Maisel.” Instead
donations were taken for the
Lower Eastside Girl’s Club.
PHOTOS BY TEQUILA MINSKY
“Mike,” behind the takeout counter,
with the menu on the wall, at
the Carnegie Deli pop-up.
212.254.1109 / www.theaterforthenewcity.net / 155 First Ave bet 9th & 10th
Bread & Puppet
Music by Hans Eisler
Text by Bertolt Brecht
Directed Peter Schumann
Thur - Sat 8 PM, Sun 3PM
December 05 - 16
The Bohemians
by Claude Solnik
Directed by Hamza Zaman
Thur - Sat 8PM, Sun 3PM
December 06 - 22
The Dick & Anita
Holiday Hour
by Jeff Davis & Elliot Roth
Directed by Jeff Davis
Thur - Sat 8 PM
December 06 - 08
20 December 6, 2018 TVG Schneps Community News Group
/www.theaterforthenewcity.net