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CUISINE & COCKTAILS: EAST END DINING CLASSIC AT THE OLD STOVE PUB

by Danielle Niecey
written by Danielle Niecey

Joseph DeCristofaro, Ann Dexter Jones (Photo credit: Nicolette Richards/Ambassador Images)

Manhattan, New York, October 19, 2022 – If you’re in search of a great restaurant to host your next mixer or looking for a night of dining for two, I know just the place! The iconic Hamptons classic Steakhouse, The Old Stove Pub, has made its mark by opening its new location at 1076 First Avenue at 59th street in Manhattan, New York!

The staple, Old Stove Pub, has set itself apart, as the new local go to hotspot for dining and cocktails after having established itself in the Hamptons since its opening in 1967.  As an already successful eatery, this famed culinary gem has attracted a regular clientele of high society, A-list celebrities, CEOs, Athletes and wrung in the support of its local communities and their families.

Owner Joseph De Cristofaro has reintroduced the Old Stove Pub back to dining in the heart of New York City. With a clear goal in mind, Joseph aims to be a part of the culinary renaissance that reinstates the Big Apple as the dining Mecca of all the East Coast! 

The opening event was held on October 19th, 2022, with a room decorated with culture makers, media personalities, photographers, designers and more! Of the many in attendance these notable names were present to celebrate the grand opening of the East End Classic at the Old Stove Pub. The guestlist included owner Joseph DeCristofaro,  Maria Helena DeCristofaro, Patrick McMullen, George Rush, Joanna Molloy, Philip Delouvrier, Carole Delouvrier, Walter Thomas, Justine Harari, Angela Janklow, Pam Taylor Yates, Carmen D’Alessio, Ann Dexter Jones, Claire Mercuri, Minnie Osmena, Ben Widdicombe, Karen Peterson, Leesa Rowland, Larry Wohl, and Jean Shafiroff. 

Samplings of Lamb, Steak and Shrimp were the highlight at Old Stove Pub’s grand opening on Oct 19, 2022

As we mingled around a low-lit open floor, the guests delighted themselves with tasty appetizers, hors d’oeuvres, an open bar and deliciously chilled champagne. To entice our palates, we were introduced to a sample of the entrees offered at the Old Stove Pub which included portions of tender, juicy prime steaks, succulent rack of lamb, and mouth-watering roasted chicken. Not to be outdone, fresh seafood samplings of salmon, and scallops were presented for samplings as a highlight of the a raw bar that features fresh plump oysters, jumbo shrimp; and generous sides of roasted cauliflower and creamed spinach.

Joseph DeCristofaro, Maria Helena DeCristofaro and friends (photo credit: Patrick McMullen/PMC

 

Are you ready to indulge in the amazing  cuisine and drinks offered at The Old Stove Pub? Perfect. Old Stove Pub is open for dinner from 4:00 pm – 9:00 pm  on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday

 

Alternative dining hours on Friday and Saturday run from 4:00 pm – 10:00 pm both offerings have a full bar and dinner menu. Enjoy!

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Curtis ’50 Cent’ Jackson, Mona Scott Young & Van Lathan Investigate Hip Hop Homicides on WeTV

by Kadeem Lundy
written by Kadeem Lundy

After finding great success with his hit Starz crime drama series Power and BMF, Curtis ’50 Cent’ Jackson is exploring real-life homicides within the hip hop industry in a new docuseries for WeTV and AllBLK called Hip Hop Homicides. Jackson serves as executive producer of the series along with Mona Scott Young and Vanessa Satten. Van Lathan hosts each episode during the eight-episode first season. “Hip Hop Homicides” explores the murders of popular hip-hop artists.

On Thursday (November 10th), The Knockturnal attended a screening for the upcoming third episode of the docuseries which focuses on the murder of Magnolia Shorty. Prior to episode three the first two episodes explored the murders of Pop Smoke and King Von. Jackson, Young, and Satten were in attendance at the screening which took place at New York City’s Crosby Hotel.

During a panel discussion following the screening, Jackson, Young and Satten spoke about developing the series. Young stated about the mission of the series was, “To find a way to not only maybe uncover new leads or provide some measure of answers, if not closure for family, friends, and fans, but also find a way to keep those memories and to get to know them as 50 cent in different ways.” “I love hearing everyone laughing along because I felt like you guys kind of got to know her [Magnolia Shorty] in a different way. Right? And so a big part of our commitment was one keeping their legacies alive, preserving it and also allowing their fans and their loved ones to express themselves. We also heard at some points from moms that their voices were silenced. And everyone knew the headline, they knew the marquee name, but they didn’t know the person. They didn’t know who they were. And so all of those things went into our thinking and our crafting as we put the show together. But it was very important for him to be told by us, right and because I think we care in a much different way. And we wanted to do something that would again be a legacy project.” Young added

“We don’t really want to have a bunch more seasons because it means more deaths, but at the same time, you want to be able to shine a light on it and talk about the artists that were lost and their legacies. The biggest thing was the families were excited that we were able to tell the stories that they thought hadn’t been told or that people hadn’t been celebrating accurately. Unfortunately, working in hip hop media we are watching these cases over and over happen synchronously. We just saw PNB Rock and TakeOff [gunned down]. We actually had this show premiere the week that Takeoff passed, which was a very hard thing to figure out how to celebrate when you’re dealing with that tragedy at the same time. So it really is an odd situation because you don’t want to keep covering these stories. Some will be focused on some of the older ones I don’t know. But at the same time without these stories, you don’t have a show like this existing,” Satten commented.

Jackson pointed out that there are over 600 homicides connected to hip hop. “And each one of those stories is interesting as going into this, it’s someone’s entire life at that point and them putting their energy and everything into music and some of them have one foot in the street one foot is in the music [industry]. But it happen and it’s interesting to see the aftermath of it and how people handled it”, Jackson explained.

“Hip Hop Homicides” airs on WeTV on Thursdays and streams on ALLBLK on Mondays. The episode focused on Magnolia Shorty will air on November 18th.

Photo Credit: WeTV/ AMC Networks

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Why ‘Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” is the best werewolf movie ever made

by Richard Schertzer
written by Richard Schertzer

Of course, I am in no way, shape or form trying to disparage Lon Chaney’s work as the wolf man, but a lot of the old-timey have not seemed to age well over time. They obviously didn’t have computers to render the finalized werewolf believable instead of laughable, which is where the Alfonso Cauron 2004 film Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban comes in. 

This third film in the Wizarding World franchise sees Harry Potter being haunted by a newly-escaped prisoner named Sirius Black, who has been said to have aided Lord Voldemort in the killing of Potter’s parents. 

The main plot of the film isn’t what I’m here to talk about, though. I’m here to talk about one scene, in particular, where the Defense against the Dark Arts teacher Remus Lupin turns into a werewolf after forgetting to take his potion to prevent the incident from occurring. 

 

In the course of the scene, Lupin is ready to attack and kill Harry, his friends and Professor Snape, until Black transforms into his dog disguise and takes on the hairy brute. 

This is all to say that this is one of the most intense sequences in the Harry Potter series. It takes the series into a darker turn for fans and audiences. It is also a milestone in the horror genre and, more specifically, a werewolf movie.

I have never seen a werewolf film honor its horror roots with such amazing CGI and a sympathetic character. This third entry in the series is something that many werewolf films don’t truly understand. It harbors a sympathetic victim of this werewolf curse. Other films before and after it have given generic characters to their horror pictures. They fail to connect with audiences and the characters come across as flaccid and lifeless that fail to resonate anything with audiences. 

Harry Potter’s third movie combines the dark macabre with a touch of comedy that is sorely missed from previous wolf movies. I am so happy that I grew up with this gem.

 

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On the Scene: Casita Maria’s Fiesta! 2022

by Lenique Vincent
written by Lenique Vincent

Casita Maria’s Fiesta! was held for the first time since the pandemic in New York City’s Plaza Hotel on October 11. The event honored Latino groundbreakers such as Puerto Rican Postwar and Contemporary artist Tony Bechara, chairman of the NBCUniversal New Group, Cesar Conde; and immigration rights leader Gaby Pacheco.

“Since 1934, Casita Maria has served as a beacon of hope and safe haven for thousands of families to celebrate the unique, powerful, and rich culture of the Bronx and New York City communities of color,” Pacheco asserted while doting on the organization that taught her ballet in the early 2000s. Since, Pacheco has been advocating on behalf of immigrants and gained national recognition for her work to pass the DREAM Act; which works to grant immigrant students legal status and eventually, U.S. citizenship.

As the son of immigrants, Cesar Conde took to the stage with gratitude for both Casita Maria and his parents. “They always taught us, the one thing in life that no one could ever take away from you is your education,” Conde recalled. “The work that Casita Maria is doing in educating and empowering our youth and opening up all those opportunities in life for them, that is the work that is priceless,” he marveled. Tony Bechara expressed the same sentiment noting, “I want to thank Casita Maria because many, many years ago, waves of compatriots of mine from Puerto Rico were arriving here in New York looking for a better life. New York being the beacon of hope. There was no one to help them. Casita Maria filled that void. They were the first to do it.”

Located in the South Bronx, Casita Maria has taken on the responsibility of exposing Latino youth to the opportunities many of their parents and grandparents sought via immigration.  Fostering a community of innovative young professionals for decades, Casita Maria celebrates their consistent wins with Fiesta! The fundraiser enables the organization to continue serving over 1,000 students every year while being an anchor within the community.

To learn more about Casita Maria and for ways to get involved, visit https://www.casitamaria.org

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On the Scene: ‘Weird: The Al Yankovic Story’ Cast on the True, the Made-up and the Weird at NYC Premiere

by Dano Nissen
written by Dano Nissen

Divine inspiration captures a musician in a glorious moment. It’s fleeting. The rush is on. Right then and there, an impromptu recording session produces their hit song you know and love — in real time. But that only happens in movies. Right?

“I was watching the Michael Jackson ‘Bad’ video on TV, the world premiere,” Weird Al Yankovic told The Knockturnal. “And immediately thought — ‘fat’. They were walking through the turnstiles in the subway. What if this guy was like 900 pounds and couldn’t get through the turnstiles? And before the video was over I had a concept for the video.”

Weird Al’s “Fat” is to Michael Jackson’s “Bad” as “Weird: The Al Yankovic Story” is to “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “The Doors” or “Sid and Nancy.” Biopics tend to take artistic liberties, not limited to the genesis of songs. It’s almost mandatory that at some point in one of these movies a band member will go, “wait a minute,” then commence jamming the riff to what will be their biggest hit. “Weird” tends to take artistic liberties with those well-trodden artistic liberties. 

In real life, no, Yankovic did not write most of his songs spontaneously, nor did he have a torrid love affair with Madonna nor did he make a mortal enemy of Colombian drug kingpin Pablo Escobar — all of which happen in the movie.

“A lot of times when I write a song it’s a matter of me thinking about something for a long period of time,” said Yankokovic. “[‘Bad’ is] the exception to the rule. Usually it’s me thinking about what are the variations on the theme I can explore.”

The Knockturnal spoke to the cast, director and some of the real life people who inspired the not so true story at the New York premiere of “Weird: The Al Yankovic Story” at Downtown Brooklyn’s Alamo Drafthouse on Nov 1. 

Daniel Radcliffe, standing on the carpet with Yankovic, is noticeably shorter. About eight inches. His vocabulary also differs. 

Radcliffe, beginning to speak about his favorite Weird Al song not included in the film called “Bob”, let out a reflexive “ah, fu-,” narrowly avoiding consummating the f-bomb. A cursus interruptus. “I didn’t even get through the whole word,” he said. “So it’s fine.”

Yankovic has not and has never, according to himself and all known documentation, sworn. “He doesn’t. It’s true. I do, unfortunately. I grew up on film sets so I swear like a sailor,” said Radcliffe. “And I’m English, so it’s like charming when I do it.”

Despite the disparities, Radcliffe pulled it off. After all, he didn’t have to play the teetotalling, clean-mouthed, sperm donor eligible (Yankovic’s a cool six foot) version of Al. Radcliffe plays Weird Al’s parody of Weird Al — international sex symbol, MMA-trained, binge boozing, libidinous rockstar Al. 

“Dude, it was one of the things that I loved getting to do in the film,” said Radcliffe. “Everyday I was getting to do a fight scene or a song and dance number or comedy with Rainn Wilson or Evan [Rachel Wood].”

One of those song and dance numbers is “I Love Rocky Road,” a parody of Joan Jett’s “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll.” In the film, Radcliffe lip syncs the song in front of a rowdy crowd of bikers, punks and other hard-looking folks. Along with his performance in Madonna’s “Like a Virgin” parody “Like a Surgeon,” Radcliffe cited “Rocky Road” as his favorite to do. 

“I was never in a band growing up and I got to live out that fantasy during that sequence,” he said. “Al was on set everyday. He would come in with notes occasionally, mostly about musical stuff we were doing.”

While interacting on set, Radcliffe said he never urged the man he was spoofing to spoof himself and his most famous role — Harry Potter. Weird Al has taken on many big franchises like “Star Wars” (twice) and “Spider-Man,” but has never gone to Hogwarts. “I’m almost surprised it hasn’t happened anyway. Potter does feel like it’s pretty rich ground for parody,” said Radcliffe. 

During one of Yankovic’s days on sets, he had a rather famous friend and fan visit — and make a brief cameo in the film. “The making of this movie was a blur,” said Lin-Manuel Miranda. “I was there for a morning. I got to hug Al.”

Miranda has long admired the parody artist, gushing over him in numerous interviews. Now, he’s friends and coworkers with a larger than life figure to him. He said, “I feel like I’m friends with Santa Claus.”

His Saint Nick-esque persona notwithstanding, Yankovic is pretty approachable, according to the “Weird” director Eric Appel. Appel said he wanted Yankovic’s blessing to do the movie so he reached out to mutual friend Patton Oswalt to set up a meeting. 

In that very first meeting, Yankovic threw out some of the more outlandish components of the film, namely, Pablo Escobar’s appearance as a primary antagonist. “That came from the very first conversation I had with Al in 2019,” said Appel. ”I believe Al had just binge watched all of ‘Narcos.’ And Escobar was just right there on the tip of his brain. He was like, ‘I think it would be really funny if we had a sequence in the movie where I turned into John Wick and Escobar just makes sense as a 1980s super villain.”

Even the pitch meeting smacks of a parody of an off the walls Hollywood boardroom. “I saw someone’s tweet a while ago that said this movie feels like someone’s fake movie from ‘30 Rock,’” said Appel. He did an impression of Alec Baldwin’s Jack Donaghy talking to Tina Fey’s Liz Lemon from the NBC show, “We got Harry Potter as Weird Al, Lemon.”

Yankovic didn’t just take the idea of Escobar from watching Netflix; he took one of the actors from streamer’s hit show to play the drug lord. Arturo Castro, who plays a prominent member of the Cali cartel in “Narcos” and Escobar in “Weird,” joked, “This is the only part that was a real fact. Al Yankovic got rid of Pablo Escobar.”

As for the surviving Escobars and their acolytes who might watch his repeated portrayal of Colombian cocaine czars, he said, “I really hope they have a sense of humor.”

Weird Al didn’t really face off with Escobar in the jungles outside Medellín. He didn’t do practically anything featured in the movie. But he wouldn’t have done any of this at all — the successful novelty music career, the fake biopic — without the mentorship of Dr. Demento. 

Early in his career. Yankovic came under the tutelage of Barry Hansen, better known as the Los Angeles comedic radio broadcaster Dr. Demento. 

As the movie goes, Weird Al submits a tape of “My Bologna,” a parody of The Knack’s “My Sharona” to Dr. Demento, played by Rainn Wilson, to instant acclaim and commercial success. Dr. Demento actually did receive that tape, recorded in a bathroom at Cal State San Luis Obispo, by a curly-haired college student. But it didn’t catapult Yankovic into overnight stardom. Hansen said it took about six years for Yankovic to cultivate his art and gain mainstream traction. 

“Every year it seemed like he learned to do something new, something better,” said Hansen of those first six years. “He started out making these homemade tapes and then he started being able to produce his own records. Then he started being able to produce his own videos. Now he’s co-producer of this movie.”

“Weird: The Al Yankovic Story” is available for streaming on Roku. 

 

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Moonrise Ventures Opens Williamsburg Market in Brooklyn

by Kadeem Lundy
written by Kadeem Lundy

After the North 3rd Street Market in Brooklyn was closed in 2020, a new food hall operated by the hospitality group Moonrise Ventures called the Williamsburg Market has recently opened in its place. The Williamsburg Market features food options from 17 vendors which include: Alidoro Italian Sandwich Shop, Chef Bill Kim’s Urbanbelly, Malai Ice Cream, Harlem Seafood Soul, Ivy Stark Mexology, Paper Plate, and more. The concept of the Williamsburg Market offers guests an intimate ‘French country farmhouse meets Brooklyn industrial’ aesthetic. The space also features a gorgeous 360-degree brass and marble bar, an indoor/outdoor dining room, and kiosks for each vendor. The Knockturnal was in attendance at the market’s grand opening celebration in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

While at the opening, The Knockturnal sampled Paper Plate’s signature chicken sandwich and fries which was served with a mini vanilla Oreo milkshake. Prior to opening in it’s permanent location at the market, Paper Plate debuted as a vendor at the Smorgasburg outdoor food market. The Knockturnal also sampled the chicken and waffles from Harlem Seafood Soul. Harlem Seafood Soul was originally established as a food truck in Harlem by Chef Tami in 2016. Aside from their seafood offerings Harlem Seafood Soul is known for their fried mac and cheese balls.

“It is truly a unique opportunity to bring together such a talented group of chefs and operators under one roof here in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, one of New York City’s most exciting and dynamic neighborhoods,” said Cameron Schur, Managing Partner of Moonrise Ventures, who also calls Williamsburg home.

Photo Credit: Lexi Lambros

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Test Riding the 2022 Harley-Davidson Nightster: Classic Icon, Modern Experience

by Tristen Yang
written by Tristen Yang

This fall, to celebrate the newest addition to the Harley-Davidson Sport category, I was invited to test ride the 2022 Nightster motorcycle. I’ve been looking forward to follow the next chapter of the Sportster story and for a chance to renew my love of Harleys after test riding the Sportster S last year, so the Nightster was the perfect opportunity to hop back on the road. What I found riding this bike around Chicagoland was more than just my passion for motorcycles: the Nightster served as a vehicle for discovery and expression. 

My journey began at the Harley-Davidson Headquarters in Milwaukee, where I met with Paul James, PR Manager at Harley-Davidson, who gave me a walkthrough of the Nightster. Immediately, I was struck by how elegant this bike was. In lush Redline Red (also available in Vivid Black and Gunship Grey—for me, red can’t be beat), the 2022 Nightster takes the quintessential profile of the iconic Sportster model and updates it for a new generation.

The first thing I noticed was the Revolution Max 975T powertrain, with its snaking exhaust headers and Metallic Charcoal finish. The powertrain is complemented by exposed rear shock absorbers that highlight each other to make a sleek profile with obvious might, striking that perfect balance between refinement and strength. When the Sportster was first introduced in 1957, it was positioned as an alternative to heavy cruisers, and the 2022 Nightster continues this legacy, built in the enduring Sportster silhouette. After plenty of time admiring the Nightster with Paul, I hopped on. In just a few minutes, I was immediately comfortable with the bike. The forward riding position, mid-mount foot controls, TFT display, and safety enhancements remind you that you’re riding a piece of cutting-edge technology. Equipped with signature Harley-Davidson gear including a limited-edition H-D x Jason Momoa Ka Pō jacket, insulated leather gloves, and BOOM! Bluetooth helmet, I was in good hands and ecstatic for the ride back home.

I picked up the bike in the middle of October, when autumn was just starting to come into full effect. Everyone talks about the changing colors of the coast lines on the East Coast, but you can’t beat the picturesque landscape of the Midwest in the fall. On the ride back to Chicago, half the trees still clung to their green leaves, the other half erupting in deep oranges, yellows, and reds. It had rained just a few days before, and even through my helmet, I could smell the aroma of wet earth along the road as I drove through miles of vibrant trail and fields down the I-94. The Nightster immediately rejuvenated me, alleviating the burnout and tedium of my busy lifestyle.

The Ride Modes beautifully complement the safety technology like ABS (Anti-lock Braking System), TCS (Traction Control System), and DCSC (Drag-Torque Slip Control System) intervention. Each mode uses a carefully calibrated combination of safety settings, translating to an incredible amount of flexibility and confidence on the road. No matter the adventure, and even with the maximum amount of intervention in Rain Mode, I always felt like I was the one riding the bike—and not the other way around.

The new liquid-cooled, 60-degree V-Twin Revolution® Max 975T powertrain is the heart of the 2022 Nightster
The Nightster features three Ride Modes: Road, Sport, and Rain. Each Ride Mode consists of a specific combination of power delivery, engine braking, ABS and TCS setting. Road is an all-around option for everyday riding, while Sport is for speed and Rain for low traction situations.
The Nightster's fuel tank ingeniously placed under the seat

The City

After I’d made it back to my home in Lincoln Park, it was time to give the Nightster a test in the city, I was curious to see how this motorcycle would handle Chicago’s busy traffic, crazed drivers, and bicyclists. As a city dweller and motorcycle enthusiast, it can be hard to find the right bike for the crowded, chaotic conditions of city riding. Unsurprisingly, the Nightster delivered the same great performance on the highway as it did on the streets of Chicago.

My first destination was downtown, to meet some friends in Fulton Market for dinner and drinks. I love Fulton Market—the rows of delicious restaurants and innovative bars remind me of my days in LA, lounging with friends and family at open air malls like the Grove. The close-packed buildings, broad streets, and gorgeous industrial architecture remind me of my favorite parts of Brooklyn, too. As much fun as it is to be in Fulton Market, getting there is another story. The streets are congested, parking is a chore, and there are always tons of pedestrians. Usually, I’ll just grab a bus or a train, but I took this as a good opportunity to test the Nightster.

The Nightster’s low seat height at 27.8 inches and light weight (481 pounds, wet) make it a quick and nimble machine that’s extremely pleasurable to ride through downtown Chicago. In addition to its razor-sharp handling, the fuel tank transposed under the seat shifts the center of gravity lower on the motorcycle, making it even easier to maneuver with confidence. As with all motorcycles, parking was a breeze on the Nightster. Getting to Fulton Market is such a pain that I made sure to leave well in advance. Between the agility of the Nightster and the ready parking I found on a motorcycle, I got to my location 30 minutes before my friends—enough time to get some shots of this beautiful bike.

The month I had it, the Nightster was my “yes man,” always encouraging me to say “yes” to adventure. The bike gave me an open invitation to be more curious, and to be as excited to take the ride to my destination as I was to be there. This is what I love most about riding a Harley in Chicago: it gives you a reason to explore the city and experience the incredible variety of living here, like feeling the warm breeze of the lake or discovering a local restaurant tucked in the city’s remote corners.

Naperville

On National Motorcycle Ride Day (October 15th), I took another opportunity to say “yes” and test the Nightster’s long-distance capabilities and ride modes.

Right after I jumped on the highway, I immediately grew a hunger for more torque and acceleration. As soon as I flipped on Sport Mode, the engine roared to life. For the past two weeks, the Nightster had been my nimble sidekick, taking me through city streets with tactility. Little did I know the understated power of this machine. The liquid cooled Revolution Max engine is insanely smooth—switching gears was effortless, with none of the jitters common to older bikes. 

Before arriving in Naperville, I saw some off-the-beaten-path signs to the Green Valley Forest Preserve and Whalon Lake. Still in a mood to say “yes,” I decided to make a detour. I let myself be taken in by the incredible autumnal beauty of this part of Illinois while the Nightster handled the rural roads with ease. When you need it to, the bike seamlessly blends into the background, making it an intuitive ride. Again, I felt invigorated and rejuvenated cruising through autumn trees and endless fields.

When I arrived back home, a Triumph Scrambler parked in my usual spot caught my attention. Hearing my motorcycle engine, the owner of the Scrambler, Christian, opened his window to introduce himself and we immediately hit it off. Having a motorcycle is a great way to meet people and I was pleasantly surprised by instantaneous connection between bikers and the love of riding. Noticing Christian also had a Harley-Davidson Bluetooth Helmet, we instinctively decided to pair up and explore the city.

Over the next few days, Christian and I strapped on our helmets and set off for adventure. With Bluetooth connected, we had crystal clear conversations as we roared down highways, discussing movies, bikes, and everything in between. Mostly, I’ve used my helmet for navigation and music, but this was the first time I’d used the microphone to talk in real-time on the road. Riding with Christian while having a fluent conversation became a unique and special way to grow our friendship. 

Kettle Moraine and Baháʼí Temple

As my time with the Nightster was coming to an end, I wanted to finish with a scenic ride through Wisconsin and cruise through the nature preserved roads of the historic Kettle Moraine.

I flipped on Rain Mode to tackle the rain-slick roads, and I immediately noticed an increase in traction. I could feel the throttle response change to the inclement conditions almost instantaneously. That kind of tactility is so important on a motorcycle as powerful as the Nightster; even on a wet highway, the Nightster in Rain Mode gave me reassurance. The nimble 19-inch front and 16-inch rear tires also made carving down winding roads effortless. I’m not the most confident backroad rider, but my apprehensions faded on the Nightster. 

Even this late into fall, there were still plenty of green leaves on the trees, mixed in with the more traditional fall palette. Being immersed in nature grounds me, a juxtaposition with hectic city life. Taking those winding roads in Wisconsin, the Nightster gently purring underneath me, and the rich, crisp air all around… I felt a calming sensation of serenity I’ve never experienced before.

On my way back, I stopped by the Baháʼí Temple in Evanston. Since coming to Chicago, I’ve always wanted to see it. The Baháʼí Temple is one of twelve standing temples of worship for the Baháʼí faith in the world. I’m not a particularly religious person, but its famed architecture convinced me to see it in person. A superstructure in ornate concrete and quartz cladding, the central dome of the building, surrounded by nine pillars each adorned with symbols from world religions, stands tall among immaculately curated gardens. Nothing in the area looks like it, and when you’re standing within its Foundation Hall, looking up at the intricate details, you are transported someplace else.

I had an amazing time riding the 2022 Nightster. This bike is a marvel of engineering, delivering a smooth, comfortable experience that doesn’t sacrifice an ounce of power. It’s a stunning design, sleek and modern while echoing the best features of the classic Sportster. With the Nightster, I got to experience more of myself and the Midwest: heading downtown for drinks, riding with Christian, and taking day trips up to Wisconsin to highlight a few. The Nightster handled the transition from city to country seamlessly, allowing me to express my curiosity and passion for adventure—which is the underlying theme of my relationship with the Nightster: expression. Expressive in its design and expressive in the way it makes you feel.

When I think back to my (too-short) time with the Nightster, I’ll remember the incredible experiences that this machine gave me. The way it encouraged me to say “yes.” From its ease of use and comfort to its incredible power, the Nightster is a proud entry in the legendary history of Harley-Davidson’s design and legacy and a beautiful homage to the beloved Sportster. 

The 2022 Harley-Davidson Nightster motorcycle is now available at Harley-Davidson dealers starting at $13,499.

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