munkey biz ISSUE 3
@HAPPYMUNKEY_
Contents Munkey Biz - Issue 03
@HAPPYMUNKEYGOODIES
HAPPYMUNKEY PODCAST ON 13
ITUNES
“How hemp can save
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GOOGLE PLAY
Letter from HAPPY MUNKEY
SPOTIFY SOUNDCLOUD
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HAPPYMUNKEY TV 2
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“GREATEST MOMENTS IN WEED HISTORY” RECAP
our Planet”
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28 DIY Valentine’s Truffles with the
Happymunkey goes
mediblist
day
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Munkey art
to Albany lobby
CANNASCOPES february 2020 3
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H
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gh HappyMunkey Family! What a tremendous start to year of 2020. If January is an indicator for the rest of the decade, we are in for a wild ride! This month the HappyMunkey crew is getting ready for its Website and “Munkey Mart” Launch Party in Boston on February 19th! Definitely make sure to reach out if you will be in Boston and want to attend! For all of our Munkey Biz readers y’all can get
a sneak peak at the website before the official launch party by going to www.happymunkey. com! ! Our supporters in Boston have been begging for us to take the Happy Munkey vibes on a road trip up North and we are stoked to finally be hanging with all of our favorite MassHoles. Next we are proud to announce In March we will be hosting the first ever Happy Munkey curated concert series! This is something the founder of Happy Munkey have been dreaming of since we started, and I promise y’all won’t be disappointed with what they cook up! Absolutely stay tuned for more details! In this issue you take a trip with us to Albany for the first Cannabis Lobby Day of the 2020 legislative session, get a sneak peak to the newest episode of “Greatest Moments In Weed History”, learn a delectable infused truffle recipe, check in “My Cannabis Accountant” right in time for tax season, learn how Cannabis can save the world, and much much more! We truly thank you for your support, it means the world to us at Happy Munkey
letter from
HAPPY MUNKEY
that you’ve taken the time to read and experience “Munkey Biz”! Enjoy the rest of the issue! Meet you all here at the same place, next month!
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HAPPYMUNKEY PODCAST
ITUNES GOOGLE PLAY SPOTIFY SOUNDCLOUD HappyMunkey co-founders Ramon and Vlad sit down for a conversation with Shiest Bubz, founder of The Smokers Club and Purp Invaders. Tune in Feb, 2, 2020. 6
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"Greatest Moments In WEED HISTORY" RECAP
by david hernandez This past month the HappyMunkey crew was invited to the Brooklyn Podcast Festival’s live podcasting of “Great Moments in Weed History” at the Bell House in Park slope Brooklyn. The show was hosted by three titans of cannabis comedy. Abdullah Saeed, the host of the James Beard Award-nominated series “Bong Appétit”; David Bienenstock, the former Head of Content at HIGH TIMES, and guest host Ben Sinclair, the co-creator, writer, and star of “High Maintenance”. During the show hosts had us laughing at their quick banter as they took us on an old school journey down New York Cannabis memory lane. An absolutely appropriate theme for the night as the crowd was filled with New York legends young and old, responsible for carrying the torch of New York’s unique cannabis culture. 8 f o o dy m a g | i s s u e 0 1
The story “GMIWH” began to tell was about Michael Ellis Cezar better known as Mickey the Pope, the Pope of Pot, a New York Legend notorious for his pot having nature. As the hosts traced the thread of Mickey’s life we were transported from his birthplace Greenwich Village to the Cannabis holy land that is Amsterdam to learn how the Pope of Dope was first inspired by the magical cannabis plant. Much like the magical Amsterdam trip that inspired our Co-Founders to start Happy Munkey. During Mickey’s time in Amsterdam he and a group of anarchist leaning cannabis lovers made history when they converted a houseboat to cannabis giving wonderland! At the peak of Mickey’s time Amsterdam, event though it was technically illegal to sell flower, he was making $20,000 a day selling cannabis to ever from local governments officials to newly emerging tourist market. Essentially pioneering the modern day Amsterdam cannabis coffeeshop scene the world loves. Mickey however didn’t do this to line his pockets he actually used most of his money helping others. From the canals of Amsterdam we then follow Mickey back to the streets of New York with his new found love of sharing the cannabis plant. Fast forwarding a bit, when back in New York Mickey starts the legendary underground delivery service named “1-800-WANTPOT”. Sticking to his altruistic nature Mickey made a living selling cannabis but more importantly he gave a lot of it away! Primarily helping individuals dealing with Aids and homelessness. If you would like to learn more about the “Pope of Dope” check out the June 1991 Rolling Stone’s article about Mickey and look out for the full podcast episode from “Greatest Moments In Weed History”! The Biggest take away from the night was that the New York cannabis culture was forged long before our current cannabis moment. Many brave individuals devoted their live’s work and energy to putting cannabis in the hands
of the people that need it regardless of what the laws determined legal. Getting arrested, getting raided, and failing drug tests, are all part of the occupational hazards of fighting for the plant we love. Never let anyone ever tell you different because a little legal tension never stopped Mickey and it 100% wont stop the movement. Remember cannabis is for the people and will forever will be! Thank you to all those out there fighting for the freedom of the cannabis plant, and keep the good fight going! industry! From NFL legend Ricky Williams and Cannabis attorney Marc Wasserman to Barcelon cannabis pioneer Cedric Peres and Bhang Corp President Jaime Pearson the energy in the space was radiating positivit & productivity!
Truly nothing feels better than traveling over 2500 miles to be received by a cannabis community as vibrant and welcom ing as our own in New York City! Thanks to everyone who powwowed with the HappyMunkey tribe this past week! The Happy Munkey spirit lives everywhere and we are excited to start brining that energy global in 2020! Definitely stay tuned as the HappyMunkey team might be coming to a city near you very soon! 9
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Brand Ambassador SpotLight meet black rose @iamblackrosenyc Meet Black Rose. Our Brand Ambassador/Content Consultant at HM. She has been a supporter of the culture since day one. Black Rose is Comedian/Actor and a true Renaissance Woman. She’s a supporter of the cannabis movement and helps spread awareness with her comedic wit and great energy. A Socialite hailing from Harlem(NYC) with Dominican roots, she represents the Afro LatinX community. One of our favorite roles she plays is “La Doña” where she portrays the role of an older Latin lady who has her own views on cannabis. We see Rose bring to life images we might have experienced with our parents or grandparents growing up and the stigmas around the matter. We hope to help inform everyone the benefits of CBD oils and how they can help with arthritis, fibroids, cervical cancer, anxiety, seizures and so many other things. You’ll be seeing Black Rose represent the brand at various corporate events like Cannagather and HappyMunkey Sponsored events. As she quotes herself “HappyMunkey Will Be A Household Name” We can’t wait to show you all the laughs and moves Black Rose has in store. 10
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MONTHLY ACCOUNTING & TAX ADVICE by MCA ACCOUNTING SOLUTIONS MYCANNABISACCOUNTANT.COM MONTHLY ACCOUNTING & TAX ADVICE Tax season is now in full swing and there are advertisements all over tv, the internet, Instagram, all with different products and services that offer to help you maximize your tax refund this tax season. While most tax return preparers are honest and professional, there are some that offer to prepare returns with false information in order to increase a refund or decrease the amounts owed. This often leaves the taxpayer exposed to additional taxes, penalties and fines when the IRS figures out that information in the returns is not correct. Please remember that you are always responsible for the information on your tax return even if someone else signs it along with you. Here are a few tips to make sure you do not have any issues this tax season: •
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Check the potential tax preparer’s professional credentials. Only Enrolled Agents, CPAs and Attorneys are authorized to represent taxpayers before the IRS in all tax matters Stay away from tax preparers that claim they can obtain larger refunds than other preparers. Avoid tax return preparers who base their fees on a percentage of the refund that you are owed – this is an illegal practice. Run quickly from a tax preparer that offers to deposit all or part of your refund into their financial accounts and pay you after they receive your refund – there are options for people that do not have bank accounts – and you will never see your money… NEVER sign a blank tax return form It is best to avoid the fast tax refund advance loans. These loans often cost hundreds of dollars and the IRS offers direct deposit for free in less than two weeks from the time of e-filing of the tax return. Be sure that the tax preparer’s Name, PTIN (Preparer Tax Identification Number), and signature are on your return BEFORE signing your return. If the preparer’s information is missing or you see the words “Self-Prepared” where their information should be, do not sign this return. Do not meet someone on the side of the road or at some random, public place and hand them your tax documents unless you have
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properly researched them. I have had clients lose their tax info this way and the person was nowhere to be found. This is an important one…READ YOUR TAX RETURN AND REVIEW THE NUMBERS ON IT BEFORE SIGNING!! – Shady tax preparers can add phony businesses, made up dependents and false deductions to make the tax return results better...but as a reminder - YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT IS ON YOUR TAX RETURN…so if you do not read the return and there is false information on there and you sign it, you have now committed tax fraud and may owe the IRS penalties and back interest.
by SANNAOHANA WELLNESS
The moral of the story here is to use common sense when hiring a professional to handle filing your taxes. It is also wise to do some research on anyone that you hire to prepare documents with such sensitive information. To assist you with getting ready to file your taxes, below is a quick list of the most popular items needed to prepare the majority of tax returns. Individual Tax Item Checklist W2 forms from employer(s) 1099 forms from contract positions Mortgage Interest Statements Property Tax Bills Interest income Tuition and fees for higher education Student Loan Interest Statements Medical and Dental Expenses Cash Contributions Non-Cash Donations Childcare Expenses Self-employed business expenses K1s from any businesses owned Important Upcoming Tax Deadlines March 16, 2020 – S-Corporation Tax Returns and Partnership Tax Returns Due April 15, 2020 – C-Corporation Tax Returns Due April 15, 2020 – Individual Tax Filing Deadline
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What if I told you that you could be completely surrounded by Cannabis wherever you go? And that this magical Cannabis world is future Earth completely healed, sustainable and balanced? Cannabis Sativa, aka Hemp is weed’s less psychoactive cousin, most recently associated with its medicinal compound, CBD, is a fast growing herbaceous plant with deep roots in human evolution since the ancient civilizations. Aside from providing medicine and food, hemp is an incredibly versatile crop that has the potential to save the planet.
Hemp nourishes soil. Hemp can help reestablish deprived soil with nutrients and enhance its natural microbiome
Hemp reduces plastic contamination.
Jack Herer, author of “The Emperor Wears No Clothes” and cannabis/hemp activist known for his famous strain, Jack Herer, once said, “Hemp is the future of mankind or there will be no future”
Hemp can be made into biodegradable plastic and it is non-toxic, as opposed to the poisonous plastic derived from petroleum that takes thousands of years to decompose, sheds chemicals into our food, and is currently polluting our oceans and killing our wildlife.
Was Jack Herer Right?
Hemp can be made into Biofuel.
Looking at the current state of our planet, there is certainly cause for concern. The concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2)in our atmosphere, as of 2018, is the highest it has been in 3 million years as a result of human impact. Earth’s climate is being deeply affected and therefore it is affecting it’s oceans, plantlife and wildlife too. Deforestation, contamination, Greenhouse gases, soil deprivation, are now more than ever posing a threat to the survival of all organisms on earth, including humans, and it could all be reversed with hemp.
Hemp can be made into biodiesel that can be grown locally and inexhaustibly.
If we look back, Hemp was grown abundantly throughout the world up until the 1900s. In fact, farmers were required to grow Hemp in America or they could go to jail if they didn’t, due to its high demand during war times. Hemp use was so common that even money was originally printed on it and hemp itself could be used as “legal tender” (money).
Why hemp? Jack Herer said it’s best! file:///Users/Sofya/Downloads/cannabis-2028244_1280.png “Because cannabis hemp is, overall, the strongest, most-durable, longest-lasting natural soft-fiber on the planet. Its leaves and flower were, depending on the culture, the first, second or third most-important and most-used medicines for two-thirds of the world’s people for at least 3,000 years, until the turn of the 20th century” “Botanically, hemp is a member of the most advanced plant family on Earth. It is a dioecious (having male, female and sometimes hermaphroditic, male and female on same plant), woody, herbaceous annual that uses the sun more efficiently than virtually any other plant on our planet, reaching a robust 12 to 20 feet or more in one short growing season. It can be grown in virtually any climate or soil condition on Earth, even marginal ones.” “Hemp is, by far, Earth’s premier, renewable natural resource. This is why hemp is so very important”
So How Can Hemp Save the Planet?
Hemp reduces Carbon Emissions. Hemp has the ability to absorb and retain Carbon dioxide from the environment at a very fast rate in a process known as Carbon Sequestration
Hemp reduces Deforestation. Our Rain forests are disappearing due to deforestation from agricultural development, urbanization and industralization. Hemp brings some hope, it can replace trees as the primary source of raw material for wood and paper. Hemp is able to produce 4 times as much paper in one year than trees that take years to grow would in an equivalent section of land.
Hemp makes the planet healthy Hemp nourishes our body’s Balance System, our Endocannabinoids System (ECS). Most animals have an ECS which influences the function of every organ system in the body. In addition hemp produces vital proteins and vitamins for animals and humans
Hemp helps expand our consciousness. Through practices such as CBD Yoga, meditation and breathing exercises, Hemp could be used as a tool to help us connect deeper to ourselves, and the natural world around us. The secret to unifying our planet and creating a shift in perception is through connection. Hemp, like its more psychoactive cousin, is a connector and can help enhance our awareness and help us tap into our true selves and the universal consciousness.
Hemp is a planet detoxer.
About the authors:
In contrast to cotton, Hemp does not need pesticides and as a result decreases the need for contaminants in pesticides that poison our planet. In fact hemp absorbs contaminants such as heavy metals and helps keep soil and the air clean.
SannaOhana Wellness was started two years ago with a mission to enhance our community's perception and eliminate the stigma toward Cannabis by delivering Endocannabinoid System education and a one of a kind Restorative CBD Yoga experience. We focus on teaching our students how to reach a higher level of awareness that enables them to detect when there is a physical or emotional imbalance and to use Cannabis Yoga as a tool for self healing so that they can restore their own balance.
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ALBANY LOBBY DAY 2020 by david hernandez
The HappyMunkey crew made our way to the New York State Capital up in Albany for the 2020 Start SMART NY & NORML NY Cannabis Lobby Day! We had an inspirational time in Albany seeing the New York Cannabis community from far and wide come together to voice support for Cannabis legalization. Before hitting the halls of the capital, we met in the capital’s lunch room to game plan our lobbying efforts. We then were divided into groups based on the New York county we resided in, and team leaders were appointed to help guide us from the various meetings with state politicians. Our friends at High Mi Madre, Pilar DeJesus and Emily Ramos fearlessly led our team into the capital chanting and holding signs that proudly read “We Want Home Grow” & “We Need Consumption Lounges”.
For those who do not know, the 2020 New York legislative session began back on January 8th and will continue until it’s close in June. This year New York has the special opportunity of making up for the last legislative session’s short fall to legalize cannabis in the state. Last year New York came extremely close to legalizing cannabis for recreational adult use but ultimately balked. Cannabis legalization was added to this year’s draft of the NY Budget, making it very possible New York might actually take the 16 f o o dy m a g | i s s u e 0 1
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green leap and make way for legal recreational adult-use cannabis . The final budget vote is in early April, and until then the fight is on like Donkey Kong.
rafael
Our first stop was Assemblymen Daniel J. O’Donnell’s office, where we were met with a warm reception and handshakes from O’Donnell. After making introductions and explaining how important cannabis legalization is to us, O’Donnell shared his support of the legalization movement! He also added that he rarely sees people from his district make the trek to Albany, and how much of an impact it makes to meet the people he represents . The next stop was State Senator Brian A. Benjamin office’s. Unfortunately senator Benjamin wasn’t available but we were able to meet with his aide Phil Giltner. Giltner applauded our lobbying efforts and encouraged us to continue! Giltner also explained that while Senator Benjamin is not outright against the proposed budget bill, he warned that social equity and safeguarding the rights of Black and Brown people is of the upmost priority. Our next stop was the scheduled press conference on the 3rd floor of the capital. As we walked down the halls of the capital building towards the press conference the sounds of pro cannabis chants started to ring out. We followed the voices until we got to an ornate large stairwell and a podium, filled with the all the other groups of NY canna-activists we met with earlier standing behind it. We joined the crowd on the stairs adding to the back drop of cannabis concerned individuals, and the press conference began shortly after. We heard from patients and advocates alike that spoke on the negative medicinal and social impacts of continuing to wrongly and improperly treat cannabis like a dangerous drug. The words shared were extremely powerful and it was truly inspiring to see the New York cannabis community show out and support a singular cause. We ended our day by protesting cannabis prohibition the first way we ever learned to, by smoking it! A group of us made our way to the steps of the Capital building and all participated in the #MunkeyChallenge. From cannon sized joints filled with that sweet sweet NY Haze, to hits of solvent-less dabs of Dinosaur Food off the Puffco Peak, we indulged in cannabis the way we know it should be allowed and one day will be! We don’t always get the privilege to see the amazing work and culture the rest New York State, outside the city, has been developing, but during Lobby day we did! To sum it up with the words of Alex a Cannactivist from upstate New York, “I definitely felt the culture today”! For those of you at home there has never been a more important time to get involved! Making it up to Albany like we did is definitely one way to show your support for cannabis legalization, but there are plenty of other ways to get your voice heard! Something as simple as Googling “My Local Representatives In Albany”, will lead you to a long list of links that will help you effortlessly find and directly contact the politicians representing you in New York. Our biggest piece of advice is do not ever think any one action is too small to make a difference! Go outside, get your voice heard, and keep fighting for cannabis liberation! We know no one is simply a one-issue activist, but without our politicians hearing the concerns of the people that put them in office, we can not legalize the cannabis plant! If you would like to find out more ways to get more involved or tag along with Happy Munkey on our next trip up to Albany make sure to reach out! 18
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HOW TO INVEST IN CANNABIS STOCKS LIKE WARREN BUFFET by tahir johnson Warren Buffett, also known as the Oracle of Omaha is one of the most successful investors of all time, and the third richest person in the world behind Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates. Buffett is well known for his investment principles, and you can follow his rules to make money investing in cannabis companies. One of his most notable principles is “never invest in a business you cannot understand.” Chances are if you’re reading this you may know a thing or two about cannabis, but did you know that legal sales in the US are estimated to surpass $19 billion before the end of 2020? Investing in the stock market is one of the keys to building wealth, and putting money into this new industry can present a great opportunity to see your money grow. I recently put out a YouTube video, 4 Cannabis Stocks You Can Buy on Cash App on Any Budget. If you’re not already investing in the stock market, this is an easy way to get started because chances are you may already be using the app to transfer money. Cash App also offers no fee trading, and allows you to buy fractional shares. This means you won’t be left out even if you’re not balling like Buffett and all you have to start with is $1. Another one of Warren Buffett’s rules that you can follow to see a profit investing is to buy and hold stocks for the long term. As of the market close on January 21, 2020 shares of Canopy Growth, the largest cannabis company in the world sold at $24.15. To show you how this works in real life, consider this. Apple stock started selling on December 12, 1980 at $22 per share and if you had bought and held just one share it would have been worth $14,896 as of November 2019. The first iPod was released in October 23, 2001 and would have costed you $399 to purchase. If you had spent that amount on Apple stock instead and held it in your portfolio it would be worth over $62,000 today. Make sure you keep that in mind next time you visit your local dispensary. Despite the fact that he’s a multibillionaire one of Warren Buffett’s top rules is to never stop learning. If you’re passionate about investing in cannabis there is no shortage of conferences and events that you can attend to learn more about the industry. The National Cannabis Industry Association, will be having its Northeast Cannabis Business Conference (formerly Seed 2 Sale) in Boston, MA February 19-20 hosting 3,000+ industry experts and professionals. This will be one of the most incredible opportunities to network and get insight on East Coast cannabis markets and all facets of the industry that you can find. Tahir Johnson is the East Coast Busines Development Manager at The National Cannabis Industry Association and a former investment advisor. You can text me at (202) 871-8793 or follow @tahdiddy on Instaram and Twitter for more cannabis and investing insights. *This article reflects my personal is for educational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice. Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer
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TERPENE FAQs HUMULENE
OCIMENE
AROMA hops woody earthy
AROMA sweet woody herbal
Potential Medical Value Antioxidant Treatment of: inflammation
Potential Medical Value Treatment of: antiviral antibacterial antifungal decongestant
Also found in... BASIL
Also found in... MANGOES 22
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cannascopes ARIES
FEBRUARY 2020 √
CANCER
strain: Grapefruit
strain: Zkittlez
horoscope: Three of Coins: Follow your vision and medidate on it.
horoscope: Three of Coins: Follow your vision and medidate on it.
TAURUS
LEO
strain: Wedding Cake
strain: Super Silver Haze
horoscope: Two of Wands: Things are shifting in your life and the best way to stay in control is to focus your mind. Meditate.
horoscope: The Fool: Embrace the beauty of the unknown. Check in with
GEMINI
VIRGO
instincts and heart.
strain: Purple Punch
strain: Birthday Cake Kush
horoscope: Two of Wands: Things are shifting in your life and the best
horoscope: Six of Swords: Create space in your mind to hold space and for
way to stay in control is to focus your mind. Meditate.
yourself. Get out of your own way and silence the ego.
LIBRA
SCORPIO
strain: Mint Cookies
strain: Cheese
horoscope: Six of Pentacles: Help is there for you, should you be open to recieve it. Find balance in giving and recieving. Do not give
horoscope: The Magician: Things are working in your favor. Clarity is key in thought and communication.
what you don’t have.
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√
SAGGITTARIUS strain: Acapulco Gold horoscope: Ace of Swords: You have strong power in your words and you are well equiped to create a successful plan.
CAPRICORN strain: Death Star horoscope: Temperance: Utilize your gifts and spend time working on what you love.
Aquarius strain: Diamond OG horoscope: Ten of Pentacles: Contact your ancestors, pray, or/and meditate. You are on a path of prosparity, whether it be phsyical, emotional, or both.
PISCES strain: Mr. Nice horoscope: Ten of Wands: You are given many gifts and your challenge is to balance them keep them sharp. Focus on this.
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Being that I’m from uptown I took a liking to the upper West side. As a kid it was a safe haven full of museums and restaurants, hell it was even sandwiched between two parks. To the east laid central park and to the west, right along the Hudson River, was Riverside. As a kid, I spent many weekends in these parks, just bouncing between them to find the perfect playground. So it’s no wonder that as an adult I’d still be drawn to the neighborhood, but now for different reasons. I now live on the upper westside, so what once was my weekend playground, has now become my backyard. And as many smokers know, one of the best places to smoke is in your own backyard. I’ve been able to walk around the neighborhood and find the beautiful nooks and crannies that I didn’t see or appreciate as a kid. But now as a daily smoker with the tendency to be on the move, I’ve been able to come across some nice views and great munchies along my walks. So let’s start with a word of caution, smoking in public isn’t legal in New York so you run the risk of $50 fine and a summons from the NYPD. Though not as bad of a consequence as a couple of years ago, be vigilant of your surroundings and also be respectful to the people around you. On another note, my medium of choice is the Blunt Wraps, preferably just the inner leaf of the illustrious vanilla Dutch Master, I’ve learned It last longer for the walks outside and doesn’t require as much relighting. Now that that’s settled and everyone’s arms and legs are safely in the vehicle, lets take a ride through the Upper Westside and I’ll share some of my favorite local haunts when I’m out for a smoke.
BLUNT WALKS WITH RAFAEL
I start my blunt walk around 89th street & Riverside Dr. going further downtown. On the park side, there is a monument dedicated to the soldiers and sailer of the union army in the civil war. And If you check it out on the weekend, sometimes you’ll see some skaters regularly kickflipping or grinding up and down the stairs (they’re usually pretty good). As you walk along the park going south, you see a couple of civil war cannons and a garden or two with some benches with a nice views of New Jersey. Now I usually enter the park on 84th street because there is a large rock, made of manhattan schist, that provides the perfect solitary moment to smoke, and just so happens to be a famous thinking spot for Edgar Allen Poe while he wrote his story “The Raven.” After that I make my way down past the schist, on 82nd there are some stairs that lead closer to the river. To the left of the stairs is a locked off entrance to the freedom tunnels but it provides a pretty good glimpse of the graffiti filled walls that line the tunnel, sometimes with a quick interlude of an Amtrak train passing by. Once you’re actually on riverside, you can walk freely on the bike path, as people pass you by unbothered (so long as it isn’t a busy day or you aren’t making it obvious you’re smoking). At this point you should have an unfettered view of the river, both uptown to the George Washington bridge and down to south jersey, so take a second to take in the view. On 79th street there is the boat basin, which is a year round dock for house boats and yachts, but because of the winter most of the dock are vacant. During the spring and summer the boat basin is home to a resturant and bar with some great quesadilla. Talking about food, around this time the munchies might be kicking in so I might stop off at Zabar’s (78th & Broadway) and pick up a knish and some spanakopita or I’ll keep pushing along the river. As you walk past the boat basin you’ll notice a playground with some oversized slides and sea saws that date back to the 1970s. Now i don’t know if it was because I was high, but of course I had to try them. Just imagine a grown man going down these giant slides in the middle of the afternoon. Suffice to say I should have clipped my blunt, but I couldn’t pass up smoking on a slide. Turns out this playground is also one of the main supply shed for the parks department. So after a possible light scolding, I make my way down around 74th-76th street, there are a couple of tracks and baseball fields were some geese tend to congregate during the winter (they must be Canadian geese looking for some New York warmth). Past them is a modern cafe that faces Riverside Park Pier 1 that serves some great fresh sandwich or coffee in morning in the spring and summer. On the pier itself, it offers an amazing view of upper and lower Manhattan and you might see fishermen lining the railings trying to get their daily catch. By this time I’ve finished my blunt and now my hunger starts brewing. Once I leave the park around 72 street, I make my way to Greys Papaya on Broadway if I’m looking for a cheap and quick bite to eat. Afterwards I’ll head to Levain Bakery (74th & Amsterdam), for some of the best cookies in the city. they are crunchy and chewy at the same time, it’s like a combo of the crunchy Chips Ahoy! On the outside and a warm chewy Chips Ahoy! On the inside. Once I satisfied my sweet tooth, I usually look for an activity near by, such as the Natural History Museum or the Haden Planetarium on 77th and Central Park West. Both offer hours of activities and an amazing time being high around such large dinosaur bones and planetary displays. If that’s not your speed, around the corner (77th & Columbus) is the Grand Bazaar NYC flea market, that’s open every Sunday year round. The Grand Bazaar NYC has a bunch of venders selling vinyl record, vintage furniture, and other Knick-knacks that are usually offered at a flea market. Also at the market they offer fair foods if you’re trying to get your shish kabob fix.
At this point I’m tuckered out so I might head back home, but on the way I almost always stop by 129 west 81st street. Now that address might not mean anything to you, but for those sitcom fans of the late 80s into the 90s, they might recognize this place as the exterior of Seinfeld’s apartment in the show. It’s not much to see if you aren’t a fan but it’s a nice secret tucked in between the blocks for those in the know.
The upper west side has so much more to explore, like Central Park and everything above 89th street, but I’ve got to leave some adventures to write about for the next time.
So on that note, Thanks for taking the walk with me, and stay high and stay safe in these here New York streets. 28
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TRUFFLES by Chef Josh
INGREDIENTS
Cups unbleached all purpose flou
12oz good quality chocolate, chopped Additional 12oz chocolate for coating, (same as above) 1/3 cup heavy cream- or non-dairy cream
Place baking sheet in the freezer for a few minutes to help the ganache balls set. Step 3 - finishing the truffles
2 shots Raspberry liqueur
While the ganache balls are setting in the freezer, melt the remaining 12ozs of chocolate in a bowl over a saucepan of simmering water, stirring occasionally. Set the bowl aside and let cool slightly, still stirring occasionally, until just warmer than room temperature.
DIRECTIONS
Using candy tools, or a fork and spoon, drop the truffles into the melted chocolate, quickly roll to coat completely, and transfer to a baking tray lined with parchment. Repeat until finished.
2 tbsp butter/coconut oil
Step 1 - making the ganache Slowly heat cream until it starts to steam. Put chocolate in a bowl, pour hot cream over the chocolate and stir until chocolate is melted and incorporated into cream. Whisk in butter until smooth and glossy. Add the raspberry liqueur and mix well. Chill until solid all the way through, 1 to 2 hours. Step 2 - forming the inside Using a small melon baller or spoon, scoop out about a tablespoonful and quickly roll it into a ball. Repeat, lining truffles on a baking sheet.
Put the tray in the refrigerator until outer shell hardens. Store in a cool, dry place. Alternate finishing- easier method Put enough cocoa powder in a bowl to form a small pile. Wearing rubber gloves and working with 1 truffle at a time, drop the truffles into the cocoa powder, roll to coat completely, transfer to a lined baking tray. Store in a cool, dry place. You can also melt different types of chocolate to coat some in Dark, Milk or Bittersweet chocolate. If coating with the cocoa powder you can also add cinnamon or use powdered sugar. 3 1 f o o dy m a g | i s s u e 0 1
ART
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