New York in the Morning

And I mean early morning. As in 2am to 5am. That's when people watching gets fun. It's a different kind of people watching that one can do on the streets of Nolita, the LES, the UES -- less about fashion and style, more about personality traits and quirks that come out, especially on the subway.

Early Morning Musing No. 1

What's the motive behind singing out loud in public while listening to music using earphones? In some cases the perpetrator is caught and bashfully throws an apologetic look to the reluctant audience, whose involuntary twinges from the high notes that are just not high enough and just a slight bit flat, effectively cut short the free concert. In other cases the star almost defiantly croons out the off key notes to the dismay of his fellow subway comrades, staring down anyone who dares to glance his way. I rather understand the people who fall in the first category. Sometimes a song is damn good. But the latter category...hmm Perhaps one can say that this guy has guts, but I think it's more that this guy has a misplaced sense of self-importance, and the rest of us early morning subway goers are unfortunately the victims of this selfish crime.

Red Hook Ikea, you amaze me!

After about a year hiatus from this bright yellow and blue oversize refrigerator box on the waterfront of Red Hook, I finally took a trip back.

Not only can you go to Ikea for the Swedish meatballs, Ikea now offers crayfish with assorted seafood for a low low price of $4.99. Pwhahaha! Amazing. Crayfish? Really? Yes! Eat this treat while admiring the (actually amazing) view of the Statue of Liberty and Manhattan's Financial District. See the sun set in the west from the large bay windows of the cafeteria. Admire the old shipping, docking, unloading cranes that pop out from the sea grass-like plants, ermmm at the right angle that is.

What will Ikea think of next!

New York Living III

I've been to the Metropolitan Museum quite a few times over the past seven years, but never have I stumbled across the Robert Lehman Collection. I have no idea how I could have missed during all my visits, but i must say that I was rather taken with it, especially the neoimpressionist watercolors by Paul Signac and Henri Edmond Cross. I know that they're not great works of art, more so rough sketches, precursors to oils, but they were so lively and fun. A nice gem in a sometimes overwhelming museum (note to self: do not wear new boots that need breaking in during a museum visit also bring a snack for later...there is a decided lack of eating options around Museum Mile).

The Northern Spy Food Co.

I do love Brooklyn, but I'm also a little sadden to realize that so many great restaurants, cafes, bars, and stores are popping up in the East Village, and I know none of them. I did however have the opportunity to check out the Northern Spy Food Co., which I passed months ago while walking to different East Village eatery. A cute place, with quite good food, if a bit too loud for my taste. A sweet chilled corn soup with bacon and mussels and squid and mussels with white beans (I think the broth in the later dish was reduced down a bit too much but otherwise nice). MMMM MMMM MMMM The burnt sugar ice cream was a nice little treat at the end too.

Okay okay I think I'll stop going out to eat for a while...mmm mangoes sound good right now

New York Revisited: Cracked out apartments

My accommodations in Aswan aren't swanky. They also don't have the charming decorations my New York landlord put up in the kitchen and halls. Talk about decor creating a certain ambiance, these 'speak' for themselves.

This is why YOU can't visit me:

It may not look like much, but my apartment is Clean and Helthy