THE HOT ROCK (1972)

This amazingly underappreciated 1972 heist film starring Robert Redford and George Segal was filmed all over East Meadow, including the Nassau County Jail and Hempstead Turnpike, where during one key car chase scene, they pull into the parking lot of the old Modell's, where Home Depot is now. All done to the funky, funky soundtrack music of Quincy Jones...

Here is the trailer, which features said chase scene. Enjoy!

RIP FORTUNOFF

"It's the end of an era!" exclaims the voice on the recent spat of commercials announcing the liquidation sale of Fortunoff, a furniture/jewlery/appliance retailer who has been in business here in the Tri-State area since 1922.

It's sad to see a place you grew up going to, especially as a New Yorker, fall victim to the economy, as this guy who posted a YouTube commentary on the fall of Fortunoff so eloquently puts it.

My grandmother and mom used to take me to Fortunoff when I was a kid, and my fiancee wanted to register there for her wedding shower.

Though I might not have been a regular at Fortunoff, it's sad to see a place I remember since my youngest days go away just like that.