Something's Not Quite Right

I had lunch today at Freshco Burrito Taco on Sullivan Street around the corner from my office. It's a super cheap open kitchen take out Mexican restuarant catering to students. The food is nothing to write home about (or blog about for that matter) but is no better or worse than corporate-owned Chipotle. I had the chicken soft taco, of course (not pictured here -- Paullyblog lacks a staff photographer).

As I sat there, I began to get the feeling something was just not quite right. First of all, all of the staff was Asian, including the guy working in the kitchen. I'd never been in a Mexican restaurant where I might speak more Spanish than anyone else in the place. Secondly, it was set up like every Chinese takeout place I'd ever been to in NY -- pictures of the food on the menu over the counter and all. Then I started to think, well, maybe they're Phillipino or something -- hispano/Asian fusion? Then my eyes fell on something I had overlooked before -- a giant Buddah sitting on the countertop. I have a serious suspicion that this place was serving Moi Goo Gai Pan and General Tso's chicken not long ago, before the market demanded cheap tacos.

Years ago during law school, the local Mexican restaurant shut down. A few weeks later I saw the cook from the Mexican place working happily in front of a wok in the Chinese open kitchen at the strip mall next to Food Lion. I was amused at the time to see a Hispanic guy working in a Chinese restaurant. After today's experience, I guess what goes around comes around. God bless our melting pot.

Undergrad Speak

I found myself in an elevator this morning a two undergrads got on, a tall thin man, and short woman with wavy hair speaking a mile a minute.

She turned to the man and said, "... Yes, I have to go to the library -- slash -- I really need to eat something."

So I wondered, was she talking to this guy in some sort of instant messaging language: "I have to go to the library/I really need to eat something," or was her companion named Slash: "I have to go to the library, Slash. I really need to eat something"?

It remains a mystery to me.

I Had to Get Up at 5:30am, but It Was Worth It

I know the euphoria caused by moving back to New York is going to wear off one of these days, but in the meantime, I'm going to revel in it all. When I got the chance to go with my family to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, I jumped at the chance. I was prepared to stand on the sidewalk for a few hours and tough it out with the other 2.5 million parade goers, but I got a pleasant surprise. As Dave (a guy we met who was watching the parade next to us) said, to get stuff in New York, you gotta know someone. Well, my brother in law knew someone and we got into a VIP section for parade viewing. The weather was nice, the parade was festive and hanging out with the family was just fun. I know hard boiled New Yorkers never go to these touristy things, but you really take them for granted when you don't live here. It was nice watching the parade without the canned blather I usually hear on TV. Hmmmmm ... I wonder what's next? Watching the ball drop on New Year's Eve in Times Square? Well, I doubt it. Unless of course, my brother in law knows somebody.

Here are a few photos:


This is one of my favorite photos because we started the day in a McDonald's on Eighth Avenue and there were some comely Pilgrim girls sitting next to us having McGriddles -- and there they are around the bottom of the turkey!

Hannah Montana was a special, unexpected bonus.


To infinity and beyond!

Although it's hard to tell from this photo, Santa was very exuberant. He would wave enthusiastically at the crowd while standing and then sort of collapse back into his seat.