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Lindor’s home run sends the Mets into the playoffs with an 8-7 win over the Braves, who need a win in Game 2 of the Twin-Bills

Lindor’s home run sends the Mets into the playoffs with an 8-7 win over the Braves, who need a win in Game 2 of the Twin-Bills

ATLANTA– The Mets are headed to the postseason after Francisco Lindor’s two-run homer in the ninth inning capped a wild back-and-forth final two innings to give New York an 8-7 victory over the Atlanta Braves in their opener on Monday Makeup doubleheader squeezed in before playoffs begin.

Atlanta would also secure a wild card spot by winning Game 2, eliminating Arizona. If the Mets win, the Diamondbacks would get in at the expense of the Braves.

The Braves led 3-0 in the eighth behind rookie starter Spencer Rumpfenbach, but that was long forgotten by the end of this thriller.

New York took a six-run eighth lead, capped by Brandon Nimmo’s two-run home run. The Braves regained the lead with four runs in the bottom half when Ozzie Albies delivered a bases-loaded double with two outs for a 7-6 lead.

The Mets weren’t done yet. Starling Marte hit a single with one out against Pierce Johnson (7-5) and Lindor delivered his 33rd home run, a drive into the Braves bullpen in right-center.

“I got the pitch I wanted and you never know if the ball is going to go out of bounds or not,” Lindor said. “But I feel like I got it 100 percent, and I just kept saying, ‘Thank you, Jesus.’ We’re one step closer, we have to finish it. End, end, end, end.

Edwin Díaz (6-4) secured the win with a season-high 40 pitches despite giving up Albies’ go-ahead run, which came after the Mets failed to cover first, allowing Jarred Kelenic a two-out infield Hit.

Díaz demanded to return to the mound for the ninth time.

“I don’t care what you say, I’m going back out there,” he recalled telling manager Carlos Mendoza.

The Braves had the potential tying score at second in the ninth, but Díaz struck out Ramón Laureano and retired Travis d’Arnaud with a grounder to shortstop.

New York had lost 77 consecutive games by three runs in the eighth inning or later since May 17, 2023. Díaz slammed his glove to the ground and the Mets celebrated briefly behind the mound after becoming baseball’s newest playoff team.

“It’s not the end of the road for us, but my goodness, does it feel good,” Nimmo said.

New York had to hold off on celebrating its 11th postseason berth in 63 seasons, its first since 2022. There was one last game in the 2024 regular season.

“Have you ever seen a game like this?” Mets owner Steve Cohen tweeted.

Albies, a switch-hitter who can only hit with his right hand while dealing with ongoing pain from a wrist injury, hit a two-run home run in the third and a bases-clearing double in the eighth Base of the wall. Laureano also hit a home run for the Braves.

After managing just three singles in the first seven innings against Wechselbach, the Mets’ offense came to life in the eighth inning.

Schlafenbach was sent off after Tyrone Taylor’s leadoff double. Joe Jiménez didn’t strike out anyone and allowed three straight hits, allowing the Mets to make it 3-2.

Atlanta then turned to closer Raisel Iglesias, but he gave up a game-tying single to Jose Iglesias, a sacrifice throw to Mark Vientos and Nimmo’s 23rd home run to the seats in right field.

The unusual twin design became necessary after two games were canceled last week as Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc across the southeastern United States

The Braves could have won their seventh straight postseason appearance on Sunday, but a loss to the Kansas City Royals left them tied with the Mets, 88-72. Arizona finished the regular season 89-73.

MORE RAIN

For a brief moment at the end of the sixth round it looked as if the season would be extended a bit. Rain began to fall in Truist Park, forcing crowds to seek cover. But it was never hard enough to stop play, unlike the torrential downpour that hit the Atlanta area last week. An inning later, the sky brightened as fans returned to their seats.

NEXT

Atlanta had held back Chris Sale because his scheduled start last week was rained out. However, he was unable to take part in the second game due to back problems. The favorite for the NL Cy Young Award was replaced by journeyman Grant Holmes (2-1, 3.78).

“It’s not an IL thing,” Braves general manager Alex Tnthopoulos said. “It’s an everyday thing. If we could let him pitch and it was safe to do that, we would. No matter, we need him if he knows where we want to go.”

New York had provisionally named Luis Severino to start the second game of the doubleheader, but he was pushed back to the Wild Card Series and Joey Lucchesi (0-1, 10.38) was called up from the minors for his second start of the season.

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AP MLB:

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NYT headline asks why Trump attended Alabama-Georgia game when he ‘says he’s in danger’

NYT headline asks why Trump attended Alabama-Georgia game when he ‘says he’s in danger’

A New York Times headline asked why former President Trump sought “the embrace of 100,000 fans” while claiming on the campaign trail that “he was in danger.”

NYT writer Shawn McCreesh wrote that Trump appeared to “enjoy the dangers of his job” as he attended the Alabama-Georgia college football game Saturday night, despite having “bragged about the mortal danger he was in” after two assassination attempts is located”.

“Should his supporters, his rivals, the press and the public from now on view his every appearance as an act of death-defying bravery, as he and his supporters suspect? And whether he really is the most distinctive man in the world. “Why was he wandering around a football stadium in the Deep South, in a state where he doesn’t have to campaign, throwing away poultry and posing for selfies?” asked McCreesh on Sunday.

September 28, 2024: Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Former President and current Republican presidential candidate Donald J. Trump waves to the crowd as he speaks with Republican Senator Katie Britt (right) of Alabama at Bryant-Denny Stadium for a football game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Georgia Bulldogs. (Gary Cosby Jr.-Imagn Images)

McCreesh added that “some” at the game expressed “cynicism” about Trump’s performance, referencing an anonymous grounds and facilities worker about safety measures.

NY TIMES SUPPORTS KAMALA HARRIS AND CHOOSES DEMOCRAT IN 17TH CONSECUTIVE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

“I don’t think it’s a smart move for him to come,” the worker said. “I would say about half the people are probably upset.”

McCreesh reported: “Security was tight, traffic was gridlocked, bomb-sniffing dogs roamed the grounds and hundreds of thousands of people were told to arrive early to pass the magnetometers in time for kick-off.”

He also spoke with Thomas Radney, a 53-year-old attorney from Alabama who McCreesh described as “a rare Democrat among the red-clad, red-voting crowds there that day.”

“He’s as safe here as he is in his mother’s arms – 95 percent of the people here think he’s second,” Radney said.

Trump

New York Times writer Shawn McCreesh suggested that some gamegoers were frustrated by Trump’s performance. (ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)

Radney said Trump’s performance primarily served his ego.

“Alabama is going to vote for him by a large margin,” he said, “so the fact that he’s here just proves that he wants awards and people waving, that’s his whole thing. ‘I want people to cheer for me.’ “

The New York Times published a scathing op-ed about former President Trump two days after the assassination

Trump supporter Ben Wilson acknowledged that the former president probably shouldn’t have attended the game because of the tight security measures.

“I’m with him, but I would have preferred if he had just stayed away today,” Wilson said, “for logistical reasons.”

In a statement to Fox News Digital, Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said: “Leave it to The New York Times to vilely label everyone a threat to democracy. They’re just angry that Kamala Harris would be booed out of the stadium if she did it.” The fact is that Kamala Harris, the Democrats and their media activists are the ones encouraging those who threaten President Trump’s safety. There have been two heinous assassination attempts on President Trump. Their violent rhetoric is directly to blame.”

Trump in suite

The Trump campaign attacked The New York Times for publishing the article about questioning Trump at the football game. (Kevin C Cox/Getty Images)

He continued: “Their outright lies and weaponization of the justice system to perpetuate countless witch hunts against President Trump were nothing short of vile and despicable. “If the Democrats and Kamala Harris don’t come out and apologize for their hateful rhetoric and tone.” While striking down their attacks that have fanned the flames of violence, they are explicitly advocating for and inciting more bloodshed against President Trump.”

This was the first time this year that Trump attended a college football game.

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The infamous High Ground scene in Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith was Steven Spielberg’s idea

The infamous High Ground scene in Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith was Steven Spielberg’s idea

Stunt coordinator Nick Gillard says the infamous “High Ground” scene in Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith was Steven Spielberg’s idea.

“I think Spielberg… I think so [was] Spielberg’s idea, this scene. “I may be saying too much, but I’m pretty sure,” Gillard told the Chris and Company podcast. “It just is, George.” [Lucas] hung on it. We hated it, it’s common knowledge that we hated it. We had a different version for it. We fought as hard as we could to change it, but George wouldn’t have any of it.”

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Electric vehicle submerged in salt water catches fire in Siesta Key

Electric vehicle submerged in salt water catches fire in Siesta Key

SIESTA KEY, FlaThe Pinellas County government posted a video Saturday showing an electric car bursting into flames in Siesta Key.

According to the post, electric vehicles caught in salt water can catch fire. Hurricane Helene caused catastrophic flooding in the Bay Area, and some electric cars that came into contact with the floodwaters began producing sparks.

Scooters, bicycles, e-bikes, and electric vehicles all use lithium-ion batteries, and if these batteries are damaged by flooding, there is a high risk of fire.

“Water and the ion batteries don’t mix and they literally explode,” Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said during a news conference Friday.

Stay connected to FOX 13 TAMPA:

  • Download the FOX Local app for your Smart TV

  • Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news and current headlines

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The Scottish grandmother who wowed The Voice with Rapper’s Delight

The Scottish grandmother who wowed The Voice with Rapper’s Delight

Bette is originally from Blantyre, South Lanarkshire and moved to Canada in 1968.

She has been singing since she was five and performs in church and school choirs.

TV audiences heard how Bette had cared for her husband Stewart for many years as he battled dementia.

She said his death in January inspired her to appear on the show in his memory because he was such a “fun guy.”

She said it was incredible to perform in front of the judges, especially Tom Jones, who she looked up to as a young singer.

She said: “I still can’t believe I had the audacity to call him Tom.”

“When I was five, my mother said that when she took me to church, people around me would say, ‘Put her on the pew so we can hear her better,’ and that’s how I started.

“I sing whatever is on, but I’m more interested in ballads and gospel. I was classically trained, so Tom Jones and Shirley Bassey were my big favorites.”

The self-proclaimed “full-time grandma” said her song choice was inspired by her grandchildren’s love of rap music and encouragement from son and manager Stewart.

She said: “I said to my son, you want me to memorize this, with no cards or nothing? And he said, No, Mom, you just do it like you’re singing your songs.”

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When is the Walz-Vance vice presidential debate? Here’s how to watch in Australia and what to look out for

When is the Walz-Vance vice presidential debate? Here’s how to watch in Australia and what to look out for

The men who want to become America’s vice president are preparing for their first and probably only televised campaign debate.

It’s another important moment in the US election campaign, which polls show is still an incredibly close fight. Tim Waltz And JD Vance are both relatively low-profile politicians who haven’t spent much time on the national stage – so many voters don’t know all that much about them.

The debate will be moderated by CBS News at the network’s broadcast center in New York City.

Who are the candidates for vice president?

On the Democratic side, Kamala Harris is Vice President Tim Waltza former high school teacher and American football coach.

Walz, 60, was first elected to the National Congress in 2006, representing a rural district in Minnesota. He left Congress in 2019 to become the state’s governor.

For the Republicans, Donald Trump is the vice presidential candidate JD Vancethe author of Hillbilly Elegy, a bestseller about life in impoverished rural Ohio.

Vance, 40, was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2022 after serving in the U.S. Marine Corps and working as a venture capitalist.

When is the vice president debate?

The debate starts at Tuesday, 9 p.m., local timewhat is 11am Wednesday, AEST.

How can I watch the vice president debate?

In Australia you can watch the debate on the ABC News Channel.

We will also be live-blogging the debate here on the ABC News website.

American host broadcaster CBS will also stream the debate on its website and YouTube channel.

What are the rules for the vice president debate?

The rules agreed upon by both campaigns are similar to those of previous presidential debates.

  • The debate will continue 90 minuteswith two commercial breaks of 4 minutes.

  • CBS journalists Norah O’Donnell And Margaret Brennan will ask the questions and moderate the debate.

  • After he is asked a question, he receives it 2 minutes to replyand your opponent will then get 2 minutes to reply. Each candidate is then given one minute to present further counterarguments. At the discretion of the moderators, candidates may each be given an additional minute to continue the discussion.

  • become candidates no questions are asked or topics in advance.

  • It will be no audience.

  • No props are allowed.

  • No pre-written notes are permitted, but candidates are provided with a pen and paper.

Something that had proven controversial in previous presidential debates was the decision to mute the candidates’ microphones when it was not their turn. In this debate, CBS says it “reserves the right” to mute microphonesbut they could stay hot all the time. Therefore, there could be more back-and-forth discussions or chaotic interjections in this debate than in the presidential debates.

Six things to pay attention to:

Midwest Dad vibes

Both Walz and Vance were chosen as vice presidential candidates, at least in part, to appeal to certain groups of voters.

Both men shared their backstories about rising from humble beginnings and embracing the role of “Midwest Dad.”

Their respective campaigns hope to appeal to middle America, a far cry from Harris’s progressive home state of California and Trump’s world of Manhattan real estate and luxury resort living in Florida.

But each will portray the other as extremists. Vance called Walz “one of the most left-wing radicals in the entire United States government at any level.” Walz is known for criticizing Vance and Trump as “weird” and “creepy as hell.”

Questions about Walz’s military history

Both Vance and Walz served in the military, but neither in combat.

Vance served four years in the U.S. Marine Corps, including about six months in Iraq in 2005 as a military journalist.

Walz served in the National Guard – part of the U.S. Army Reserve – for 24 years but retired in May 2005. That was three months after he filed to run for Congress and two months after his artillery unit was told it could be deployed to Iraq.

This has become one of the things Vance attacks Walz with most often. He described Walz’s decision to retire shortly before a possible deployment as “shameful.”

He also criticized Walz over a 2018 video shared by the Harris campaign in which Walz said he carried guns “in war.”

The Harris campaign later said Walz “misspoke” when he said he carried guns in the war. Vance accused Walz of “stolen bravery.”

Vance’s views on Project 2025

A central part of the Democratic Party’s strategy is linking Trump and Vance to the controversial Project 2025. The “Presidential Transition Project,” launched by the conservative Heritage Foundation, includes controversial policies such as banning abortion, eliminating climate change programs and the Dissolution of the Ministry of Education. It also proposes filling the civil service with loyalists and expanding the power of the president.

While some of Trump’s allies and former staffers helped craft the plan, Trump has insisted he had “nothing to do with it.” But Vance is close to Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts and even wrote the foreword to his upcoming book, noting that “these ideas are an essential weapon in the struggles ahead.”

These claims about cats

The most talked-about moment of the recent Trump-Harris debate was Trump’s claim that Haitian migrants were “eating the pets” in the city of Springfield, Ohio.

Load…

City and state officials, including Ohio’s Republican governor, claim there is no evidence of this. Shortly after the debate, Vance acknowledged that it might be untrue — but he still defended the claim and even encouraged social media users to share favorite memes.

Vance told CNN he has been “trying to talk about the problems in Springfield for months” and “if I have to make up stories so that the American media will actually pay attention to the suffering of the American people, then I will do it.” “.

It’s not the only pet-related claim Vance has had to defend. His comments in 2021 about the Democratic Party being run by “a bunch of childless cat ladies unhappy with their own lives” sparked a lot of backlash, including from Taylor Swift, who adopted the label, when she endorsed the Harris-Walz tick after the last debate.

Vance has argued that he was being sarcastic and trying to make the point that the Democratic Party is “anti-family and anti-children.”

Walz’s response to unrest in Minnesota

Vance regularly attacks Walz over his record in Minnesota, including his handling of unrest in its largest city, Minneapolis, in 2020. The unrest following the killing of George Floyd in 2020 caused $500 million in property damage.

Critics say Walz should have activated the National Guard sooner. Vance said Walz “allowed the rioters to burn down Minneapolis.”

Trump, then president, praised Walz at the time. A recording of a phone call shows Trump telling a group of governors: “I completely agree with the way he’s doing it [Walz] I’ve been taking care of this for the last few days.” Trump’s campaign said Trump praised the governor only after he called in the National Guard.

Another approach to fact checking

During the two presidential debates, we saw two different approaches to fact-checking the candidates.

In the first conversation between Trump and President Joe Biden, CNN anchors did not fact-check the candidates in real time. But the network’s official fact-checkers later found that Trump had made 30 false claims – far more than Biden.

In the second debate between Trump and Harris, ABC’s hosts conducted a live fact check. Trump and many of his supporters accused the moderators of bias because they addressed him multiple times and failed to catch Harris.

CBS says its hosts won’t be fact-checking live — but a QR code on the CBS broadcast will direct viewers to an online fact-checking service.

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Colts LB calls out Steelers RB Najee Harris over pregame antics

Colts LB calls out Steelers RB Najee Harris over pregame antics

The Pittsburgh Steelers suffered their first loss of the season on Sunday when they lost 27-24 to the Indianapolis Colts. Although quarterback Anthony Richardson left early with a hip injury, the Steelers couldn’t keep up with old foe Joe Flacco.

There may have been some motivation on the Colts’ part, due in part to some pregame antics from Steelers running back Najee Harris.

Before the game, the Steelers stood in the tunnel waiting to run onto the field. Harris realized he was on the jumbotron at Lucas Oil Stadium and decided to throw up not one, but two middle fingers.

A fan brought this to the attention of Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin, who then confronted Harris about his unimpressive day. In fact, Franklin called Harris “soft” and “84 run harder,” echoing Cordarrelle Patterson.

To say that Harris played no role for the Steelers in the running game is a massive understatement. Harris received 13 carries from quarterback Justin Fields and gained a total of…19 yards. Harris averaged a measly 1.5 yards per carry.

Patterson was much more effective. Patterson received six carries (seven fewer than Harris) and ran for 43 yards. That’s 7.2 yards per carry, with his longest run being 12 yards.

But when it came to the receiving game, Harris provided more yardage. Harris netted three of Fields’ six targets for 54 yards. His longest reception was 32 yards.

This year, Harris ran for 228 yards and zero touchdowns on 68 carries, averaging 3.4 yards per pop. The latter is a career low.


Franklin, meanwhile, recorded nine tackles, including six solo tackles. More importantly, Franklin and the Colts got the win and got back to .500 while also getting bragging rights for handing the Steelers their first loss of the year.

Harris and the Steelers will look to perform better against a struggling Dallas Cowboys team.

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Late night dining at restaurants is back

Late night dining at restaurants is back

You’ve probably seen all the news: When it comes to dining reservations in some of the country’s most restaurant-obsessed cities, 5 p.m. is the new 8 p.m. The lifestyle changes caused by the pandemic have led to a shift in our eating habits, inspiring more and more people to eat earlier than ever before; Early risers have never experienced such a wide range of ages. And since a restaurant’s business can soon slow down after the 7 p.m. rush, many who previously didn’t lock their doors until midnight or beyond announce last orders for dessert as early as 9 p.m. But night owls craving a night out will be thrilled to know that not every restaurant out there has subscribed to this new menu plan. In fact, some restaurants are banking on a late-night resurgence.

Chef Colby Rasavong of Nashville’s year-old Bad Idea, a Laotian restaurant in an old church, says, “After the pandemic, everyone wanted to go out, but the list of options for late-night dining had become smaller.” For us [to stay open until 1 a.m.] was an opportunity to get back in shape.” At this wine-focused dining room in East Nashville, Rasavong serves a special late-night menu from 10 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. He says he wants to “reduce any expectations of our dinner menu” and instead serve bites like snacks that allow guests to take full advantage of their unique space. This makes it easy to walk around while holding a fried bologna sandwich and doing a double fist pump Galabaoa Laotian dumpling full of pork and egg.

The Diana (fried bologna sandwich) from the late night menu at Bad Idea.

Victoria Quirk / Courtesy of Bad Idea


Returning to the carefree atmosphere of a pre-pandemic world was also an inspiration for Ryan Fitzgerald, one of the owners of ABV in San Francisco. “We’ve been open for 10 years, and before the pandemic, our kitchen was open until 1 a.m. every day, when people regularly ate later,” he explains, adding that it was important for them not to get too busy after reopening change after Covid-related lockdowns. This mural-adorned mission boîte stays open until 2 a.m. and the kitchen churns out pork tacos, ceviches, and octopus a la plancha until midnight.

ABV in San Francisco.

Courtesy of ABV


Fitzgerald says the last 30 minutes of her kitchen work are usually some of the busiest, as people try to figure out what might still be open in San Francisco. “People come from all over the city to grab one last drink and a burger,” he says. And while he can’t say it works for everyone — after all, most people still eat dinner earlier — he says being one of the few nightspots around has definitely helped his business.

ABV is a bar that serves a fantastic (and extensive) menu, so it’s no big surprise that the doors stay open late. But a restaurant with tasting menus like Cariño in Chicago is also successful in the late-night business. From 6 to 10 p.m., they serve a 14 to 16 course menu with flavors from across Latin America. From 10 p.m. to midnight, service switches to a 10-course taco omakase restaurant, which took a seat at 8:30 p.m., which was regularly the least popular booking of the evening. Today, chef Norman Fenton says the taco omakase constantly sells out, adding that you have to book about a month in advance if you want a weekend reservation.

Suadero on a wooden plate, part of the late night menu at Cariño in Chicago.

Courtesy of Kelly Sandos


For Fenton, this guaranteed sales has been incredibly helpful to his bottom line, but perhaps more importantly, the introduction of omakase has allowed him to creatively flesh out his sustainability efforts. “We are able to use by-products from our tasting menu and convert them into products for the late-night menu, which significantly helps us reduce our waste and food costs,” he says.

And for diners, Cariño’s omakase sessions offer an almost entirely different restaurant experience. “The late night energy is super cool,” Fenton adds. “People chat while Control Machete and Bad Bunny tramp around in the background; the hustle and bustle in the kitchen – it’s like a rock show late at night. As a result, we have a lot of regular guests.”

With late night crowds just beginning to grow, mood and energy are crucial to enticing them to stay awake past those earlier bedtimes. Bad Idea’s beverage director, Alex Burch, says being playful and creative during these hours helps attract people to these hours. One of their strategies was a series of late-night takeovers in collaboration with local chefs. “For example, Ryan Poli from Iggy’s took his amazing garlic bread and put crab rangoon stuffing in it,” says Burch. “These events have received strong support from restaurants across the city.”

While creating a special menu or building buzz programs isn’t necessary, some shift-specific specials can help generate interest. At Superiority Burger in New York City, which is open until 1 a.m. on weekends, there is a standard menu at all service hours, but chef/owner Brooks Headley says he also offers a handful of late-night specials could. Night hours: individually prepared pizzas, sometimes tiramisu, a bowl of tortoni, cheap drinks and bottled specials. He says they even occasionally auction Linguini Pomodoro over the loudspeaker for those in the mood for something heartier.

Many restaurateurs championing this late-night trend say they’re also doing so for a specific demographic: other food professionals looking for a great place to eat, drink and have a good time . According to Fitzgerald, most of the ABV Graveyard Shift guests are friends in the industry. And Headley says: “It can be busy late in the evening, it can be quiet in the late evening, but no matter what, it’s always an oasis in the neighborhood.” If I didn’t always work there, it would be my favorite place to go Depend.”

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The Upper East Side bouncer reveals he knows New Yorkers’ secrets

The Upper East Side bouncer reveals he knows New Yorkers’ secrets

When Park Avenue doorman Stephen Bruno goes through the building’s mail and sees an envelope containing sexually suggestive images, he and his colleagues immediately know who it’s intended for.

“We don’t have to look at the name because we know who owns it,” he told the Post about a certain resident who also had a habit of suggestively eating papaya fruit in the lobby.

In his new book, Building Material: The Memoir of a Park Avenue Doorman, Bruno talks about the two decades he spent working for New York’s one percenters and the intimate glimpses into their lives that he received.

New York City bouncer Stephen Bruno has written a memoir about his two decades on the job.

“They are often stressed and distant. They’re somewhere else,” Bruno told The Post. “They say hello, they’re still polite, but you can tell they’re having trouble with something, and often it’s business-related. Many of them work in finance.”

Bruno grew up in the Bronx and was 22 years old when he was hired as a summer bouncer at a building on Park Avenue. Now 42, he still works as a bouncer on the Upper East Side and has spent the last 14 years in the same building.

During one of his first night shifts at a tony co-op, he was reading a newspaper when he heard the elevator “ding” and watched as a tall man in a long robe came out.

The robe was open, revealing a “very orange” inner thigh. The man then began to stretch awkwardly in front of Bruno before remarking that he would have come downstairs sooner if he had known how handsome the bouncer was.

“He liked what he liked and he thought you would join in,” Bruno said. “He was a strange man”

Over the years, he has been privy to various residents’ romantic inclinations, from hot dates to late-night rendezvous.

He knew when two residents were coming into contact when he saw them riding the elevator between floors in the early morning hours during his night shifts.

As a bouncer, Bruno has gained intimate insight into the lives of wealthy New Yorkers. Courtesy of Stephen Bruno

Another resident had a girlfriend This would happen during the day, but at night he would entertain the gentlemen.

“Men would come over at two or three in the morning. He called downstairs and said, ‘So and so is coming for a nightcap,’ and he always had to say the name because it was always a different name,” Bruno remembers.

Then there was the woman who spent all her time worrying about ghosts.

“There is very little furniture in her apartment, just a candle in the middle of the living room,” Bruno said. “She always called because she saw ghosts. One time she crossed the street, just turned around and stared at the building for half an hour.”

Some residents turned out to be stingy and even downright mean.

Over the years, Bruno has been privy to various residents’ romantic inclinations, from hot dates to late-night rendezvous. Courtesy of Stephen Bruno

One time, during the holidays, he received only a candy bar as a gift from someone who regularly asked him for extra help.

Then there was a woman who hated him from the start and never forgave him for replacing a bouncer she loved.

“This lady crossed boundaries on a regular basis,” Bruno said. “One time another bouncer was mopping the floor and she came and walked through the area he was mopping, even though there was space on either side. We looked at her in surprise because it was obviously rude and she said, ‘Oh, I’m sorry. I just like to make you guys work harder.'”

But even if the territory is occasionally nasty and lewd, the good relationships and pleasant encounters with the residents far outnumber the bad ones.

When he attended graduate school for writing at Hunter College, he was extremely supportive of the Blooms, an older couple who lived in his building.

Bruno got his first job as a bouncer at the age of 22. Courtesy of Stephen Bruno

“It was my first year in my MFA program and I was totally discouraged. Mrs. Bloom recognized that,” Bruno recalls.

They invited him to dinner and to see a documentary about the playwright August Wilson, which they believed would inspire him. Mr. Wilson also came from a working-class background and had worked his way up.

“It showed me that I could be myself, a Latin brown guy from the Bronx, and still be an artist,” Bruno said. “You basically saved my life. I’m grateful to them.”

Mr. Bloom has unfortunately passed away, but Bruno is still in contact with Ms. Bloom, who now lives in San Francisco.

Two friendly elderly residents cheered Bruno on as he began his writing career. EMMY PARK

She wasn’t able to attend his book party last week, but her son came in her place. Bruno plans to visit her in December and give her a signed copy of the memoir.

“She was prouder of me every day that the publication got closer,” said Bruno, who is currently researching a novel that will be set in 1950s New York. “The day the book was published, she was overjoyed.”

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AFL: Free agency, trade, offseason tracker – FAQs and key dates

AFL: Free agency, trade, offseason tracker – FAQs and key dates

The 2024 AFL season has been captained and won by the Brisbane Lions, but there is no time to breathe as the offseason action is just beginning.

So when is the trading period? When does free agency start? What about the 2024 AFL Draft? We have the solution to your questions!


When does AFL Free Agency start?

The AFL Free Agency signals the start of the player movement period, with the first day commencing at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, October 4, 2024. The free agency period ends on Friday, October 11, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.

When does the AFL trading period start?

The official trade period begins a little later than the free agency period. The club may begin dropping off business from 9:00 a.m. Monday, October 7, 2024 to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 16, 2024.

When will the 2024 AFL Draft take place?

The AFL Draft will take place later in the season compared to the free agency and trade periods and is scheduled to take place over two evenings in 2024, with the first round taking place on Wednesday, November 20 and all other rounds on the same day take place Thursday, November 21st.

READ: Every club’s draft picks and important offseason information

When is the AFL Draft Combine?

The 2024 combine is scheduled to take place over three days, from Friday, October 4th to Sunday, October 6th.

Which free agents are still available?

There are a few names that could move including St Kilda’s Josh Battle, Giants duo Isaac Cumming and Harry Perryman and Richmond’s Jack Graham.

Which players could be traded?

There are some interesting names that have been brought into trade talks including Western Bulldogs star Bailey Smith, Port Adelaide’s Dan Houston, West Coast defender Tom Barrass, former No.1 draft pick Jack Lukosius, Tigers duo Liam Baker and Shai Bolton others.