The Park Bench

"When we try to pick out anything by itself we find that it is bound fast by a thousand invisible cords that cannot be broken, to everything in the universe. " John Muir

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  • Six-Pack of Coke only $3.00

    Coke

    OK. The Coke is 2 for $6.00 at the Gristede's — stock up.

    Because that means, they're likely going to raise the price much higher than it's been, which has been, oh, $3.49 or even $3.69 I think.

    I may give up Diet Coke because I hear it's bad for you. On the other hand, I may not, because in the end, we're all going to die anyway and I see no reason to try to add 2 hours and 17 minutes of my life by not drinking Diet Coke.

    They don't have the Lime Diet Coke anymore at the Gristede's which has been unacceptable, but I guess it doesn't sell.

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  • So-So Street Fair in Jubfor

    Stilts 

    Photo (c) by Hals

    So there we were walking along just below 14th Street in that neighborhood that is called…uh…what *do* they call that area? You know, where there's the Strand and Grace Church and some crappy pizza places and that one shoe repair store remaining for 50 miles and that guy's bagel shop that used to have the Internet but doesn't anymore? You know that area, right? Let's call it "Jubfor," the "Jumble Below Fourteenth Street" until somebody corrects me.

    I didn't catch the name of the organizers, but it was an exact cookie-cutter stamp of every single other street fair we've seen for years. The funnel cakes. The momo caps. The $1.00 Thai food that turns out to be only a $1.00 because it's microscopic. The Pashnina scarves. And the New York State Lottery with a roulette wheel. Wait, is that *legal*? That, and the Kettle Cooked Corn were the most popular booths, but you know, something is missing. I tried to think what it was as I drank the fresh-squeezed lemonade that I watched the guy make out of a huge containor of ice and liquid, and predictably, it gave me stomach cramps about five minutes later.

    Used to be, street fairs had more "character" and weren't all identical. There'd be somebody with funky little antiques or used books, real finds. Somebody else would have homemade granola cookies. Yet another person would have unique art made out of old pieces of broken pottery. Your hardware store might come out and sell flashlights. The whole reason you'd go is because the off-brand remainder socks with the minor flaws, 6 for only $1.00, and who would notice the flaws?

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  • At Last, A Place to Sit Down: Cafe Green

    Logo
    We're all still mourning the demise of Broken Cup, the cafe that was down on First Avenue and E. 22nd Street, with the great home-brewed coffee, pastries, Scrabble games, used books — and the famous artwork up on the wall made up of lots of broken porcelain and found objects.

    The rent got too high for the owners and they moved out. After that, there was nowhere to sit down and read and just have some good coffee along First Avenue in the neighborhood, except Starbucks, which often is so crowded you can't get a seat (and not everybody likes that burnt-tasting brew there anyway) — and of course Moe's, always welcome, especially as they shout "Welcome to Moes!" every time you come in and make you feel at home. You can order something inexpensive and sit there for awhile, but you'll be tempted into one of the heart-attack options if you linger too long.

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    Photo (C) By Hals

    So I was thrilled to discover on one of my meanderings around the neighborhood that a new little cafe has opened, Cafe Green, which is organic and healthy — yet a little more innovative than the plethora of yoghurt-and-fruit smoothie joints that have invaded our area in the last few years.

    It's at 377 First Avenue between 22nd and 23rd Street, and the friendly owner, who was sitting outside on a park bench when we strolled by, said there was "NO FRYING!" of any of his dishes, quite an accomplishment in a world of fast-food drenched in animal by-product Fry-Max, of course…He's starting a backyard seating area soon — you'll have to try it.

    I was on my way somewhere else, so I didn't get a chance to try the fascinating multi-colored macaroons or fresh, tasty looking sandwiches like "Fresh goat cheese, Korean pearl, raisins, pine nuts, green leaf lettuce, and honey sauce" for only $5.50 — but I will definitely be back, and you will go there, too, as they have lots of interesting dishes like egg salad sandwich with sprouts — and it is all gluten free and salt free and said to be made of local products. (Ok, ok, Moe's don't worry, I will be back soon!)

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