I Love New York!!!!!!

Okay People, I’ve been away for a while…a few trips, some family time, a change in jobs, a lot of volunteer work and a new BFF, who I am totally in love with (yes my FAV dining companion—who knew?).

First, since I went off the scene was NYC. OMG…I still can’t believe that I went there on my own. I think it was just the thing I needed to solidify the fact that I really like my new life. I mean; before this, (communicating with you all and really climbing the career ladder) I was really challenged to hold my own and it feels so nice to have a sense of who I am and what I believe. Not claiming to know it all by any means…but I’m starting to have more than an idea.

That said; NYC was amazing. Ducking into a warm, smelly but comfy, private B&B in the gentrified Harlem was somewhat comforting. Let’s face it—I’m not the one to have empathy for folks who take advantage of the poor; but it was cool. The owner was a dude from Ireland—a 70s transplant who wanted better for himself and to build a life in the city. Anyone can relate to that, right?

Then as I missed breakfast every day and slept in, he caught me on my fag breaks in the garden and talked to me about the establishment and how fucked up things were on Wall Street---lawyers and stockbrokers coking-it-up. “Why do you want to visit ground zero?” he says….”there are much more interesting places then that here”.

We spoke of politics, family and neighborhoods and I quickly found out that I wasn’t the only non-conformist in the house. It made me sleep better knowing that I could be my regular old hippy self and sleep as long as I want; stay in my room as long as I want and do exactly what I wanted without the weird “you don’t belong here looks".

He led me to Brooklyn and gave me hints about Marcy Ave (more like a Bay Area district); and though I sit here writing between checks I’m making on handmade parsnip, carrot and sage pasta that I acquired at the local farmers market, I can’t help but think he really saw the” real me”. I mean I went shopping for $30 dollars and got two hoop skirts (very fly) and three tops---WTF? I mean this scene was bustling with culture and no pretention like uptown. I’ll be staying in Brooklyn next time!

I stumbled on a Central American restaurant called Shachis right near the subway and OMG….the seviche was the best I’d ever had! The service was friendly, the plantain chips were fresh, light and crispy, and the ham and cheese empanadas were delish! I mean, it’s like they knew I would be there that day—and the best thing ever was that there was only three other people in the place; the plasma played Latino/a soaps while I ate, and I was so full that I really wanted to take a nap at the table. And all this for under $20.

I also managed to get to a place called Devin’s fish and chips where the salty owner didn’t care to greet me and gave me serious West Indian tude the whole way through! The shrimp were light and crispy with a seasoning that made them NOT need any tartar or hot sauce. I ate nearly all of them in 3 minutes flat. The chips were fresh cut skin-on fries lightly salted with a bit of black pepper too. All this with a side of fried (sweet) plantain was, as Snoop Dogg says, the shiznit (lol)! The shiznit for $12. Can you believe that---I can’t! I know exactly where to go the next time I’m there.

Yes…I visited a few other places, but none of them nearly as memorable (no offense 61 Key and Madame le Fleur)! The city was full and lustrous this time; the weather was more than warm, and the trees were dripping with spurs just waiting to mate. It was quite beautiful; and even though I got lost several times on the subway….I was at a tranquil sort of peace with myself that let me explore the places I didn’t dare to go and didn’t schedule into my planned excursions. This time NYC was liberating and I can’t wait to go back with my BFF and trek the many museums.

I’ll say it—I love New York! Pun certainly intended! Take that Taylor Made!