Bar Pitti

The other night I went in to see 'Eat, Pray, Love.' .. Gosh it did good things for me. I need to see it again. ..And I'm pretty sure that I'm going through the eating phase right now? (Wells, the book did that.)

So I did the movie alone. Then I went to a solo dinner at Bar Pitti... I enjoy the time I have with myself. It took me awhile to find this, but I'm here. At certain moments I feel like I’m a wild horse, or that I’m best friends with the wind.  And yes, I laugh to myself when people take notice. I thought we saw it all New York.

Why Bar Pitti? I went there three years ago with friends, and I haven’t forgotten it since.  Also, after watching Julia Roberts eat Rome the way she did, Italian was the only thing to do. So at 11ish pm the Pappardelle Alla Fiesolana was placed in front me. (House made pasta, tomatoes, Parmesan cheese, and bacon with a cream sauce.YesYes It was that good.) This was the same dish I had 3 years ago. I had to check up on it... It was just as good as my memory told me, even though there was less bacon in comparison to the first time. O well, these things are to be expected. They give us less, we pay the same or more, and there's nothing we can do about it because they have all the power. 

Achoo. When I was near done with the pasta my Sicilian Waiter took an interest in my journaling. He asked how many pages I write a day/ Me: “3?” He then asked if what I was writing was “secret?” Me: “It’s a secret if you want to look at it.” Then I told him that if he were to tell me how o make their pasta I would allow him to read my journal. He then, said, “Ta know with the eggs, ad with the flour.” But he said that as he started to walk away, which was a clear indication of sorry no.

One beautiful aspect to eating alone? You can appreciate and taste what you're eating because there are no other distractions. I realized this after having what seemed like a personal moment with my food. And immediately after that moment I wondered how many people of all those around me that night remembered their meal, the way I remembered mine. That meal put a smile on my face as I walked home.

Prices? O so reasonable.  

Photos? I know, not so good. I'm going to try to purchase a new camera with monopoly money next week. I'll let you know if it's a success. 

He Loves Her

1 Downtown Train (9:14 a.m.)

Astor Place

Three Swedish Fish at Astor & Broadway. (10:47 p.m.)

The Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory Plus…

This is half my find. 

The Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory is now my favorite place of favorite places since ice cream is my drug of choice. I wish I could ski down a mountain of ice cream cause I wouldn’t mind falling then, falling would be the best.

When you get inside it’s much like having a visit at an ice cream shop at the Jersey shore (Inland, not Seaside.)  due to the laid back atmosphere, the music, the families. I’d rather sit inside even if it's sunny out. It doesn’t give me daja'vu. It’s more like coming across a pleasant memory.

The ice cream is fresh/natural, the toppings are first rate, the roasted almonds taste like roasted almonds, and not bland hard things. The next time I go I’m getting a waffle cone with three flavors. I usually get the large sundae, but it’s time for a change. (My sundae: 1 scoop Vanilla Chocolate Chuck, 1 scoop Chocolate Chocolate Chunk, 1 scoop Coffee, Hot Fudge, Roasted Almonds, Whipped Cream. I'm respecting it with caps.) 

When you walk aways from the Ice Cream head towards the street, then turn left, then left again at the River Café. There is a park there you should see. I take it there aren’t many people that know about it since the grass seems quite happy about life... It’s a nice place to eat the ice cream. Do it?

After you’ve explored Dumbo’s downtown head back to the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory area to the Brooklyn Bridge Wine Bar because they have good food. It’s a concession stand set up, which includes them in the food truck hype.

The food is yes. (Cheese Platter, Pulled Chicken Sandwich, etc. They're renegades, they don't have a website.) the prices are low cause they just started their five year lease this June. Attention: Go before the prices go up. I had the Baby Back Ribs with claws slaw, and I nearly ordered fries on the side cause the price told me it wasn’t going to be enough. It was enough, and I’m pretty sure I robbed them?

Everyone likes to talk about their liquor license cause I guess we're all twenty-one at heart. But let's not forget about the eats, even though the title of their concession stand is a bit misleading... You could have named it anything..And you went with "Wine Bar." It makes me want to hang my creative head and cry.

Go before the season is over, (October.) cause they’ll only be back in March.

Bouchons

I have few things to say on eats this week. The previous post caused a serious back-up due to the indecision of writing it. I’m still unsure if I was able to say anything worth hearing. I’m too close.

 Anybes, Bouchon Bakery won the Strongest European Chain Bakery/Restaurant In Town (In relation to dessert) competition.  They had no idea this competition was going on, which is how most competitions should be conducted I think. When a person/establishment does their best work without anyone looking it’s a renewal of hope for mankind. There are still good people and eateries out there.. 

Who were the competitors? Bouchon Bakery from France, Financier also from France, and Le Pain Quotidien from Belgium.

Le Pain has a nice lemon tart, (Get the small, the large enters -- this is too heavy - - territory.) yet I wasn’t so happy with their other choices. After striking out with three varied pastries they lost me.

Finacier. Hm. They have a good french toast pastry that’s only served in the morning. You might want to bring it home and toast it. It’s yum that way. Okay, moving on.

 Bouchon Bakery where to start? Everything I’ve had there has caused me stop and say, O my, before returning to the eating, until it’s all gone, or after the 6^th time I tell myself to stop. The chocolate Bouchons, which are shaped like corks,  (French to English.. Bouchon: Cork) seem to be a love child of a brownie and a chocolate soufflé. Good for them!

I also had their peanut butter cookie sandwich which took me three days to eat. It’s like 'wichcraft’s PB cookie, except larger, and the filling seems to be butter & peanut butter, so ya know it’s extra healthy. I suggest that you eat half, then store the other half in the freezer for awhile. It turns into something glorious after two days. And if there’s some nutella around, you might want to do that too... not that I would know.

Bouchon's croissant was the best I’ve had in the city so far, which still doesn’t meet my standards for the perfect croissant. I tried to make my own last night due to a friend’s suggestion of, “Why don’t you make your own?”  My response: “You know what? I will!” Yeah, it didn’t turn out well. Sigh. There is a cookie dough like block doing time in my fridge right now… Another sigh. And, I can’t! I’m sugared out! Maybe I’ll wrap it up and give it to the doorman? I bet he’ll like it.

Bouchon I pledge my love to you, and only you. Until I find something better.

Six Shoes

La Esquina 114 Kenmare St. (12:17pm)

China Town, ny

I've been food shopping in China Town. 

I do it for the experience, and I guess the food as well. Hm, how to explain this. When I go to Whole Foods it's like stepping into a JCrew, everything is where it should be, it's nice. When I walk around China Town it's like spending a time at Urban Outfitters, except the quality of the products are better. (I know Urban, you've got your reasons. I'm just sayin'.)

The last trip to China Town wasn't the norm, since I've been steering away from things that start to seem like "the norm" these days. So I nosed around instead of marching straight to Sun Vin Grocery, a place that has many brands of yummy rice noodles, frozen dumplings, and spicy chili garlic sauce. 

Upon the nosing around I found this "Chinese Cake" cart on Mulberry and Canal. Holy peanut butter & jelly. There's a man selling these pancake/waffle like cakes (It isn't cake.) that taste like Madeline cookies, (Or Madeleine, there seem to be two spellings for it.) but lighter for a dollar. That is correct one dollar. 

A few paces away from that was a bald coconut table. I haven't had coconut water from the coconut since 2005. My eyes widened when I watched the teenage looking boy slice open the coconut with a large knife. He seemed so happy when he handed it to me. Or maybe that was me projecting my own feelings? 

The moral of this one? China Town: It's raw and authentic. The people there work hard, and there's something about sweat that I respect.

When there do purchase fruits and vegetables on the street. Do bring cash with you if you don't plan on spending a lot, o and the seafood markets are, "cash only." (I received this information in a severe manner.)

Beehive

Wagner Park (9:42 am)

E. 71 Street btw 2nd & 3rd (12:17 pm)

Is This Who I Should Be?

Colombus Circle, (JCrew) Ny. (3:36 pm)

Harlem, ny

I'm going to write this like EU.

Today I woke up and decided to go to the Botanical Gardens cause I've never been. (It's not today anymore, I started writing this days ago.) I took the 4 all the ways to the Bedford Park stop. When I got off I went towards the diner across the way to ask which way was the Botanical. (I know I can figure this stuff out with my phone. The thing is, I like to talk to people.) (A pink rose from the Rockefeller Rose Garden from the day I returned.) 

In the diner the waitress I spoke with had no idea what I was asking her, but the guy seated at the counter who was thoughtfully eavesdropping did. He told me, "It's all the way down Bedford, you're gonna go up a hill, then down a hill... Then you'll see trees, and it's there." Some where in between this a Russian guy materialized at the counter with two Poland Spring bottles.

The Russian: "How much?"

Cashier: "$2.50"

The Russian: "If I wanna pay $2.50 I go to Manhattan. I give you $2.00."

The cashier nodded, the Russian handed over $2.00. .... And that is how things happen in the Wild West, I mean in the Bronx.

After the goodbyes I walked the  nine-ish blocks to the Botanical. (Each block equaled two.) But I got there. And when I did I walked the path all the ways to security to find out that the Botanical Gardens are closed on Mondays. (Wow, Jane you're awesome at planning things.)

Yup, I slowly walked back thinking, I guess I wasn't supposed to go to the Botanical gardens today. Then I went on to the next thing. Cupcakes. Someone told me about a place I should check out in Harlem. So off to Harlem it was.

Harlem is just like what people say about it, but better. On the way to cupcakes I passed a lone brick on the side walk, a piece of fried chicken also on the sidewalk, and a black cat lounging against a building. I stopped to say hello to the cat, as I bent down he/she stretched out it's nails as if to say, wanna dance? At that I backed away as I said, "okay Kitty, bye now."

Now onto the "better." While I walked I also had a chance to see some stupendous wall art or graffiti, a small fire hydrant themed block party, which caused me to remember the Brooklyn block parties I participated in back in my day. (I've experienced block parties in the suburbs. Yeah, it isn't the same. It's rather dull. Sigh, how I long for the days when I used to throw tomatoes at passing cars.) And yes I did over hear two separate conversations on the street that were about this person being arrested, then that person being shot. Yet, when that's the norm, it's like discussing anything really. In a whole thought or circle I found the  people friendly, I felt well received.

At the cupcake shop, I sat down to a red velvet cupcake dressed in butter cream icing. It was terrible. The cake was dry, the icing was over-powering, but thank goodness for the over-powering icing otherwise I wouldn't have been able to eat it. (Why did I eat it?)

No, I'm not telling where I had it, cause that isn't what I like to do. Why am I reporting this? Wells, when I do sing about something, there are good reasons for it. And you should know that I'm taking the assignment of finding good eats as a serious matter..... I can't tell you how cranky I become when any amount of money is spent on bad food. But, when the good food is found life is ice cream. So when I write about eats, I mean it with my whole heart.

The Scratch Off Lottery

I'll let you know if he wins. (Park & Beekman, NYC, 11:02 am.)

Just Married (For the 3rd time.)

Dumbo, Brooklyn, NY

Trader Joe's Wine

A month or so ago I found out through a friend that Trader Joe's wine is bleeding cheap due to a bothersome divorce between Charles Shaw and ex wife.

After learning this I thought: Wells good for him, and Ha! (I figured this was vengeance for an ill deed. I'm not sure why my brain went there?)

A week later with the information fresh in my mind I told someone else. The response was the excitement that usually comes along with hearing a piece of information that one isn't supposed to.... "Really??" -x "Really." -J. Then I thought really? Is this really true? Then, I figured I should probably find out if this were true before sharing with others.

This task went on the Make-believe To Do List. Ya know when ya tell yourself to do a thing right before it pops out of your head forever? That is the Make-believe To Do List. Ahh-choo,  so as I stood in line at the Union Square Trader Joe's yesterday, I stepped out of line and approached the general manager. I told her what I had heard. She told me, "Yeah, no. Actually there's a wine glut, and we buy the Shaw wines in bulk with cash, which allows us to be affordable."

Although the truth isn't as gripping, I prefer it.

The Metronome

The Metronome

By Kristen Jones & Andrew Ginzel

I've heard varying explanations of the digital numbers/wall sculpture of hand and smoke that is located at One Union Square South. My two favorites are: the numbers are the deficit debt of the country, and, it's the death rate of those who die due to smoking, hence the smoke.

Wells, I've grown weary of simply going along with that. So, I started to ask around.

The first person I spoke with was the security guard at Nordstrom who said, "It's the deficit debt of our country." I thought fine with me if you wanna keep believing that ball of yarn.

Then I spoke with Mike this guy on the street who was attempting to sell me something. I asked what he thought the smoke meant. His response: "I think it's Harry Potter, you know cuz of the smoke, and that looks like a wand." And I've gotta say, I loved that response! But something told me the wall sculpture was not connected to Harry Potter.

Then I spoke with the Duane Reade manager. His conclusion was that, "Sony had probably left it there....Maybe it had something to do with a movie?" Okay, I thought, that isn't entirely unreasonable? But, he was sure of one thing. The digital numbers out front are a representation of time.

Attention: We need to stop complicating our lives like this. Stop buying large pieces of furniture so you can store and view plates that you're never going to use. I apologize. This is unrelated. ....If you wanna collect something buy a bookshelf, cuz plates go on the table! Okay, I'm stopping.

The last stop was the building management office, where I most likely should have started. Actually, no I did this for the experience, I could have googled this information...  At the management office I learned that the digital clock and the artwall are a combined effort to have the public think about time, to have us think about how it's larger than us, and how we should probably be taking in every moment we can.

When I say time, I mean the time that is told according to the movements of the moon in relation to the earth. (So, please don't go there to set your watch.) The hand that is out there is George Washington's hand that was casted from his statue across the way at Union Square Park, and the smoke is supposed to symbolize the subway smoke, as well as smoke from inside of the earth. (I know that part sounds like a stretch, but it's written in this beautiful press release package that I got from the building's  --in case anyone asks this -- folder.)

The installation was officially inaugurated on October 21, 1999. (Right before the millennium. Ah haa.) Regardless of size, I guess eleven years can erase the meanings of some things. It may be time to put a plaque out there, no?

Beard Papa's

Every
NYC Beard Papa's (aside from the one on W. 79th.) has closed. And it may have something to do with that link. 

I'm kidding, although that website is not helping their cause.

Earlier this week at the W 79th street Beard Papa's the manager explained that the other BPs aren't really connected to the flag ship, the 79th St. spot. That these Beard Papa's were chains, and that she didn't know why they had failed. Um...She has to know this info. She probably didn't feel like going into it with some girl who asks a lot of questions... My guess is that following the house rules was not in the contract, therefore they strayed away from what works. Starbucks rules for a reason. Consistency.

Back ta Papa's.

I was so pleased with life when I realized that New York still has a Beard Papa's. Then, I was displeased to see the emptiness of the restaurant. This was the same place that had a line of people snaking out of the entrance at any given time for the first two years it was open.

The only reasons I can think up for it not working are the shop to restaurant make-over, and perhaps they stayed longer than they should have. Beard Papa's has already established themselves as a -- get what you ordered then go -- spot. And if I'm right, if they remodeled in a final effort to stay awake, it may have been the wrong move. We all have to know when to call it.

The ironic part about all this is that they have something to say. The cream puffs are yum, the flavors are many, and some of them aren't boring. (Pumpkin, coffee, green tea, Earl Grey tea.) I can also speak for the cheese cake sticks. Yo, it's worth the calories. It's hard to find stuff worth the calories these days. (I had my last Mr. Softie cone last week. Never again.)

So-s if you likes the cream puffs take the 2 or 3 to 72nd and skip the rest of the way.

p.s. There is a Grom next door. Do it. Do both.

p.s.s. Beard Papa's started out in Japan. And yes, I'm a little confused about the logo picture of an old mountain man smoking a pipe, and by the three or so french deserts on the menu. But I'll go along with it for now.

'Forget'

Forget

By Kevin Tobar Pesántez

~

In doubting moments and fleeting skies,

an aroma of mellowed malevolence arises.

That is, when the writer forgets to write

and the reader forgets to read.

When the lover loves no more

and when the heart pumps only in discontent.

When the past is no longer a Man

and when the night turns into day.

When the river runs dry

and when the desert is no longer.

That is, when the soul will have no home

and when the body decomposes.

In doubting moments and fleeting skies,

an aroma of distant memories and blackened hope arises.

That is when the writer writes no more

and the Poet dies on distant shores.

Then the walker won’t walk

and even the waiter won’t wait for those moments gone by.

Yea, these are the doubting moments of time,

this is the world forgetting each second and minute of life.

In doubting moments and fleeting skies,

the world run over loses its aroma of life.

And the liver forgets to live,

and the dier can’t even die.

~

Kevin is a traveling student, poet, philosopher, performer, and artist. He is originally from Queens and although he is living quite the idealistic lifestyle many people in New York City don’t believe him! When in the city you can catch him slamming some spoken word at the Nuyorican’s Poets Café and other venues as well or checking out all the amazing summer events. He is currently working on some experimental writing work and various experimental theater pieces to hopefully develop internationally and of course bring back home to eventually perform in good ‘ol NewYork City. He is departing for Bangalore, India in the fall to be inspired once again and to get duly angry to the social injustices that are ever abundant there. All in all Kevin is a committed artist that works towards social change and spiritual balance with the prevalent modern lifestyle of dog eat dog…but stuck in a cubicle of course.

The Alexis P. Suter Band

Last Thursday evening I was in my living room attempting to write the previous post while doing my best at avoiding the bluesy/gospel sounding music below. (I live across the way from Wagner Park, where there are free concerts every Thursday night.) 

My technique of ignoring the music went a little like this: Jane hops on her bed to stare down at the ant like people below, she wonders how much fun they're having, she paces around on her bed, she then returns to her computer in the living room, and repeat. Yips I did that until I realized, O yeah this isn't going to work if I force it. (Note to self: Nothing ever works when you force it.) So I went downstairs with Baby, (My dog.) in bag since Wagner Park doesn't allow dogs. 

When I got to Wagner there were more people there than what the view from my window reported. I took a spot ten or so feet behind the sound table right near a pair of deserted shoes and a thrown over walker. There was some serious positive energy going on there... When the band went on to their next song, I started to move to the music. How can you not move to lyrics like: "Don't have to move your head....Don't have to move your lips, just move your hips..Do the hip shake baby." And before this was sang, Alexis P. Suter, of the Alexis P. Suter Band said into the mic, "Shake your hips cuz I'm tired, and I don't feel like breaking the stage." Ah, how glorious is that? 

When the concert was over I headed towards the stage without a plan. I knew I had to find something out. But I wasn't sure how to go about it.

While I was taking a photo of a poster that was attached to the stage, I was approached by this guy who introduced himself, and who asked if I followed the band. I told him no, that I lived close by and I couldn't fight the sound that traveled up. He then communicated that he used to play with the band. Then he asked if I would like to meet them. (! What?) 

What I learned when I met Ray Grappone (The drummer/percussionist.)  was that he was Brooklyn born and raised, that the band writes their own songs, and that, "I used to tour with  Chorus Line." When I looked Ray up I learned that he performed in over 20 off and on Broadway productions, that Ray played at places like the Lincoln Center, the New York State Opera, and Madison Square Garden. He's done more, but the reason I'm highlighting accomplishments is cuz he barely spoke about himself. There's something to that. 

When I shook hands with Alexis I noticed that she wasn't wearing any shoes. She was in her socks. She wore a button up dress shirt, and her voice.. Her voice sounded like what producers do when tweaking other person's voices when at the studio. This woman could sing opera if she chose to. But let's leave her voice in the waiting room for a sec and focus on her presence. She didn't seem like a woman. She seemed like a passion. .. I've never seen anyone so entirely drenched with what they're doing. She isn't doing, she is the music. And it isn't for the money, it's more of a -- this is how I feel alive -- thing... I met a man from Whales on my rooftop a week ago...He said, "If you do what makes you happy money will come." I hope that's true world. And moving along..(Alexis can sort of be seen here.)

When I spoke to Alexis I asked the dumbest question evah, "How did your voice get like that?" Alexis explained that she's a bass/baritone. Then she mentioned something about smoking a lot of Marlboro Reds. .. I followed that question with: "When did you start singing, have you always pursued it?" The response: Alexis started singing at three, her mother was a singer, who sang with Mahalia Jackson and Harry Belafonte. Alexis then expressed that she started out singing in choirs, and that she never stopped. 

Afterwards, I acknowledged the New York City moment, then I went up stairs and looked up the Alexis P. Suter Band. A Myspace Page came up and I listened to, "In The City." Yeah, sometimes I feel that way. But not on that day. 

The Alexis P. Suter Band will be back playing with B.B. King this month. I suggest you check her out cuz there aren't many people like her around. 

I'm still sending you good vibes!