Race to City Hall, Part 2: The Issues
There has been much talk in this mayoral race of the middle class. This is nothing new. Politicians usually like to appeal to those in, or wishing to be in, the middle class because it is on the foundation and the principles of that middle class that this nation was built upon. The American Dream is a simple one, not one of luxurious extravagances. Yet, it is those same politicians that put in place legislation that works to undermine that same middle class they once claimed to be championing for.
New York City is no exception. Hell, New York City is the Petri dish in which the middle class was killed. The gap that exists between the 1% and everyone else is even greater in this city. Rent has steadily gone up while incomes have become stagnant. High rises are being constructed in lieu of affordable housing. The bankers that placed bets against the American people were never punished. 46 percent of the people living in New York City are living at or below the poverty level, and 42 percent of children born in the bottom fifth of the income distribution remain in the bottom.
But it’s not too late for Gotham. The following are the three issues I believe feed directly into the growth of the middle class and upward social mobility for the lower class. Reforms in these three sectors could offer a greater portion of the population more opportunities, and change the illusion of the American Dream into a real possibility.
New York City is no exception. Hell, New York City is the Petri dish in which the middle class was killed. The gap that exists between the 1% and everyone else is even greater in this city. Rent has steadily gone up while incomes have become stagnant. High rises are being constructed in lieu of affordable housing. The bankers that placed bets against the American people were never punished. 46 percent of the people living in New York City are living at or below the poverty level, and 42 percent of children born in the bottom fifth of the income distribution remain in the bottom.
But it’s not too late for Gotham. The following are the three issues I believe feed directly into the growth of the middle class and upward social mobility for the lower class. Reforms in these three sectors could offer a greater portion of the population more opportunities, and change the illusion of the American Dream into a real possibility.
Education
In 2010 the New York City School District spent $19,597 per student, the most of any city in the United States. Yet our graduation rate for 2012 was 64.7 percent, down from 65.5 percent in 2011. Additionally, college-readiness statistics showed that only 38.4 percent of high school students are considered ready for a college career. Boston, on the other hand, spends less per student and yields an 82 percent graduation rate and outperforms New York in math and reading levels. What are they doing in Massachusetts that we aren’t doing here? If anything, it proves that more money spent does not aggregate better results. It could also mean that the money that should go towards educating our kids might be misspent. Our Department of Education is notoriously bureaucratic. This list of “75 Examples of How Bureaucracy Stands in the Way of America’s Students and Teachers” mentions bullet points like “more than one person in a central office may play the same role, meaning resources are unnecessarily duplicated,” “budgets are not based on what things actually cost,” and “principals lack the freedom to decide how to spend school dollars in ways they know would support their own students and teachers, because the district central offices often control school budgets.”
One way some propose to break through the bureaucracy is with charter schools. Charter schools are publicly funded but privately run, which means they don’t have to abide by the bureaucratic system the Department of Education has set up. They are free to experiment with their teaching methods and curriculum. They also offer students and their parents greater involvement in choosing the type of education they want to receive. Charter schools, however, are not free from standardized testing, and studies have found few charter schools outperform their public school counterparts. Others criticize charter schools’ transparency and their capacity to become for-profit entities.
A long-time problem of our public school system is our rigid method of evaluating a teacher’s abilities through their students’ performance in standardized tests. An article written last year in The Atlantic said, “test scores reveal when kids are not learning; they can’t reveal why,” and proposed an alternative plan. It said that the kids, who have the greatest exposure to their teacher’s strengths and weaknesses, should evaluate their teachers. Because of this exposure, they found that the students were better at evaluating their teachers than say a professional or a principal who sits in on a class for a few hours a day a couple times a year. The results showed that students were good at picking out teachers who were engaging and were most likely to effectively teach students. Part of the success of the assessments was in the wording of the questions. Instead of asking questions like “do you like your teacher?’ or “is your teacher nice?” the study asked students to respond to statements like “students in this class treat the teacher with respect,” “my classmates behave the way my teachers wants them to,” “our class stays busy and doesn’t waste time,” and “in this class, we learn a lot almost every day.” Perhaps a combination of student evaluations, standardized tests, and classroom observations should be used to determine the effectiveness of our teachers, ensuring we do not put too much weight on one form of evaluation, thus curbing the possibility of teachers trying to skew the results through cheating. This multi-pronged approach might also help shed some light on why some kids fall behind.
Last semester I volunteered at a public school in my neighborhood. Every Saturday morning from January until June I went to PS 375 to teach kids in grades 3-5 a bit of math. The experience was fulfilling and enlightening, and in some ways created more frustration in the system than I had expected. I learned that most of those kids didn’t know how to tell time. I learned that some parents think Doritos and iced tea are acceptable breakfast foods. I learned that what those kids ate that morning (or didn’t eat) had the ability to not only change the kids’ temperament, but also their ability to learn and participate in the little games we prepared for them. I learned that a lot of kids assume they’re not good at math. However, I did not learn if this was a consequence of some test result, teaching methods, or something else. I learned that the brightest students in the class did not have the option to be placed in advanced math-- there was no advanced math, or advanced anything for that matter, the teachers were all just trying to play catch up. I also learned that even the brightest students had trouble solving math problems that were set up as word problems. It was as if they understood the words but didn’t understand what was being asked of them. Did they need to add? Subtract? Multiply? They’d look at me blankly hoping I’d just tell them what they needed to solve. This brings me to a third reform.
In the same Atlantic issue, there was an article of a public school in Staten Island that implemented a new approach to teaching. The principal of New Dorp High School, Deirdre DeAngelis, found that “students’ inability to translate thoughts into coherent, well-argued sentences, paragraphs, and essays was severely impeding intellectual growth in many subjects.” This new curriculum that was implemented placed great focus on teaching the basics of analytical writing, in nearly all academic subjects, in the hopes that the students could write thoughtful, well-organized essays. The purpose was to shift away from creative writing assignments and use writing “as a way to study, learn, or to construct new knowledge or generate new networks of understanding.” Of the students who received this new writing instruction, 81 percent of them passed the English Regents in 2011, up from 67 percent in 2009; global history went up from 64 percent to 75 percent. Graduation rates also rose from 63 percent to 80 percent.
Of the reforms proposed by mayoral candidates, two stand out the most: Christine Quinn wants to lengthen the school day, and Bill de Blasio wants to provide universal pre-k and after school programs by taxing those who make more than $500,000 a year.
Longer school days: Studies have found that longer school days, or even more hours in school, do not necessarily equate to better teaching or better learning. Students in countries like Finland and South Korea, who routinely outperform the United States in science, reading and math, spend fewer hours in the school year in class. These countries have shorter school days but have more of them. It could be argued, then, that a better solution would be a longer school year, with shorter breaks in between, decreasing the chances that students forget information that was taught to them the previous school year. Unfortunately, lengthening the school year is a more costly option than lengthening the school day.
Universal pre-k: A leading advocate of early-intervention programs James Heckman, a Nobel laureate, calculates that for every dollar invested in a four-year-old, society gets back $7-$12 in decreased costs for incarceration, income support and the like. It is in these formidable years that kids retain information best, giving many public school children the opportunity to enter elementary school with the ability to read and write at grade level. This, of course, all depends on the intensity of the pre-k programs. Head Start did not end up being as successful as some would have hoped because classes were too large, teachers weren’t well-trained, and the curriculum varied too much. Universal pre-k is one of the few plans that would help increase socioeconomic mobility and close the gap in test scores between the rich and the poor. It would be interesting to see what plans de Blasio has to ensure our investment in this program is a fruitful one.
Lastly, there was a study that showed there were four factors that contributed directly to income mobility: mixed-income neighborhoods where people from the middle-class and lower-class are interspersed; two-parent households; better elementary schools and high schools; and “more civic engagement, including membership in religious and community groups.” When discussing affordable housing, it should be noted that location of the housing is just as important as the availability of it. We need to ensure that when we build more affordable housing the units are in communities with a mixture of incomes, and that the children from low-income families attend school with the children of middle-income families.
One way some propose to break through the bureaucracy is with charter schools. Charter schools are publicly funded but privately run, which means they don’t have to abide by the bureaucratic system the Department of Education has set up. They are free to experiment with their teaching methods and curriculum. They also offer students and their parents greater involvement in choosing the type of education they want to receive. Charter schools, however, are not free from standardized testing, and studies have found few charter schools outperform their public school counterparts. Others criticize charter schools’ transparency and their capacity to become for-profit entities.
A long-time problem of our public school system is our rigid method of evaluating a teacher’s abilities through their students’ performance in standardized tests. An article written last year in The Atlantic said, “test scores reveal when kids are not learning; they can’t reveal why,” and proposed an alternative plan. It said that the kids, who have the greatest exposure to their teacher’s strengths and weaknesses, should evaluate their teachers. Because of this exposure, they found that the students were better at evaluating their teachers than say a professional or a principal who sits in on a class for a few hours a day a couple times a year. The results showed that students were good at picking out teachers who were engaging and were most likely to effectively teach students. Part of the success of the assessments was in the wording of the questions. Instead of asking questions like “do you like your teacher?’ or “is your teacher nice?” the study asked students to respond to statements like “students in this class treat the teacher with respect,” “my classmates behave the way my teachers wants them to,” “our class stays busy and doesn’t waste time,” and “in this class, we learn a lot almost every day.” Perhaps a combination of student evaluations, standardized tests, and classroom observations should be used to determine the effectiveness of our teachers, ensuring we do not put too much weight on one form of evaluation, thus curbing the possibility of teachers trying to skew the results through cheating. This multi-pronged approach might also help shed some light on why some kids fall behind.
Last semester I volunteered at a public school in my neighborhood. Every Saturday morning from January until June I went to PS 375 to teach kids in grades 3-5 a bit of math. The experience was fulfilling and enlightening, and in some ways created more frustration in the system than I had expected. I learned that most of those kids didn’t know how to tell time. I learned that some parents think Doritos and iced tea are acceptable breakfast foods. I learned that what those kids ate that morning (or didn’t eat) had the ability to not only change the kids’ temperament, but also their ability to learn and participate in the little games we prepared for them. I learned that a lot of kids assume they’re not good at math. However, I did not learn if this was a consequence of some test result, teaching methods, or something else. I learned that the brightest students in the class did not have the option to be placed in advanced math-- there was no advanced math, or advanced anything for that matter, the teachers were all just trying to play catch up. I also learned that even the brightest students had trouble solving math problems that were set up as word problems. It was as if they understood the words but didn’t understand what was being asked of them. Did they need to add? Subtract? Multiply? They’d look at me blankly hoping I’d just tell them what they needed to solve. This brings me to a third reform.
In the same Atlantic issue, there was an article of a public school in Staten Island that implemented a new approach to teaching. The principal of New Dorp High School, Deirdre DeAngelis, found that “students’ inability to translate thoughts into coherent, well-argued sentences, paragraphs, and essays was severely impeding intellectual growth in many subjects.” This new curriculum that was implemented placed great focus on teaching the basics of analytical writing, in nearly all academic subjects, in the hopes that the students could write thoughtful, well-organized essays. The purpose was to shift away from creative writing assignments and use writing “as a way to study, learn, or to construct new knowledge or generate new networks of understanding.” Of the students who received this new writing instruction, 81 percent of them passed the English Regents in 2011, up from 67 percent in 2009; global history went up from 64 percent to 75 percent. Graduation rates also rose from 63 percent to 80 percent.
Of the reforms proposed by mayoral candidates, two stand out the most: Christine Quinn wants to lengthen the school day, and Bill de Blasio wants to provide universal pre-k and after school programs by taxing those who make more than $500,000 a year.
Longer school days: Studies have found that longer school days, or even more hours in school, do not necessarily equate to better teaching or better learning. Students in countries like Finland and South Korea, who routinely outperform the United States in science, reading and math, spend fewer hours in the school year in class. These countries have shorter school days but have more of them. It could be argued, then, that a better solution would be a longer school year, with shorter breaks in between, decreasing the chances that students forget information that was taught to them the previous school year. Unfortunately, lengthening the school year is a more costly option than lengthening the school day.
Universal pre-k: A leading advocate of early-intervention programs James Heckman, a Nobel laureate, calculates that for every dollar invested in a four-year-old, society gets back $7-$12 in decreased costs for incarceration, income support and the like. It is in these formidable years that kids retain information best, giving many public school children the opportunity to enter elementary school with the ability to read and write at grade level. This, of course, all depends on the intensity of the pre-k programs. Head Start did not end up being as successful as some would have hoped because classes were too large, teachers weren’t well-trained, and the curriculum varied too much. Universal pre-k is one of the few plans that would help increase socioeconomic mobility and close the gap in test scores between the rich and the poor. It would be interesting to see what plans de Blasio has to ensure our investment in this program is a fruitful one.
Lastly, there was a study that showed there were four factors that contributed directly to income mobility: mixed-income neighborhoods where people from the middle-class and lower-class are interspersed; two-parent households; better elementary schools and high schools; and “more civic engagement, including membership in religious and community groups.” When discussing affordable housing, it should be noted that location of the housing is just as important as the availability of it. We need to ensure that when we build more affordable housing the units are in communities with a mixture of incomes, and that the children from low-income families attend school with the children of middle-income families.
Stop-and-Frisk
Michael Bloomberg and Ray Kelly have made many assertions regarding stop-and-frisk. One of them is that stop-and-frisk was the driving force behind our low murder rate. Another is that since African-Americans are usually the victims of these crimes, stop-and-frisk protects those who are most fervently opposed to it. A third assertion they have made is that without stop-and-frisk New York will return to the 1970s, an era when crime was rampant in the city. The problem with these assertions is that not only are they not based in fact, they are actually very inaccurate.
The fact is violent crime has been decreasing since the 1990s in all cities across the United States. There have been many theories as to why this decrease has occurred, including a decline in lead-based products have made people less violent; the legalization of abortion has prevented would-be criminals from being born; and an up tick in incarcerations has meant that criminals are in prison and not on the streets to commit crime. The problem with the incarceration theory is threefold: 1) the increase in incarcerations started occurring in the 1970s but we didn’t see a substantial decline in crime until the 1990s; 2) countries like Canada have actually been jailing fewer of their citizens but have also seen a decline in crime; and 3) it has been found that this exponential increase in arrests leads to criminogenic effects, essentially doing more harm than good. A study has shown that “arrests, especially for minor offenses (54% of federal prisoners are serving time for drug offenses, with only 11% for violent crime), provokes a response by offenders making them more likely to commit future crime than if they have not been arrested.”
There are two more likely explanations for the across-the-board decline in violent crime. The first is that our technology, including DNA testing, has gotten better and has made it easier to catch criminals. The second is that targeted policing strategies have made our police force more efficient. The technology has allowed police to know where a majority of violent crimes occur, and policing strategies have put more boots on the ground in those areas of high crime. Ray Kelly himself attributed the drop in homicides to “antigang strategy meant to suppress retaliatory violence among neighborhood gangs.” These strategies, not stop-and-frisk, are the likely culprits for the decline in black-on-black crime.
Bloomberg defended the numbers showing that 87 percent of the people stopped are people of color. He said these numbers made sense because a large portion of reported murders are committed by people of color. Guys, he’s just trying to protect you. Won’t you just let him protect you? The assertion that stop-and-frisk protects people of color is laughable, ignorant, and severely out of touch. It is true that a majority of these crimes are committed by people of color, which would explain why a larger percentage of them are stopped. I take heed with how effective, or rather ineffective, police officers are at stopping people of color. If they were properly trained at spotting suspicious behavior the percentage of people found innocent of any wrong doing would be lower, and it certainly wouldn’t be anywhere near the 90 percent that it has been since stop-and-frisk started to go into practice in 2002. I also find it troublesome that of the whites that are stopped, a greater percentage of them are found to be guilty of something. That isn’t to say that whites are more guilty than people of color, that is to say that cops are better at identifying suspicious behavior in white people because when they look at a white person they are able to see not their race but their behavior.
The same can’t be said for people of color. There is one seizure for every 27 white people that are stopped. For Hispanics that number increases to 99 people stopped. For black people the number is a staggering 143. These numbers would indicate that racial bias plays a huge role in the way stop-and-frisk is ultimately implemented. Adding insult to injury are the quotas encouraging officers to perform a greater number of stops, and the dehumanizing way many officers choose to carry out the stops. The practice of stop-and-frisk doesn’t make people of color feel protected by the police, but rather targeted.
A greater consequence of this practice is the disproportionately large percentage of blacks and Hispanics serving time in prison. Although whites claim a higher percentage of marijuana use than blacks or Hispanics, in 2011 roughly 6,000 whites were arrested for marijuana possession, while Hispanics saw 16,000 arrests and blacks saw 26,000 arrests. It has been reported that many of these arrests occur because cops tricked them into showing them the marijuana they were in possession of (by asking them to empty their pockets) or the cops forcibly, and illegally, searched them.
Roughly 80 percent of African Americans can expect to be jailed during their lifetime, 68 percent of which continue down the path of crime. The recidivism rate is high because many find it’s hard to shake the stigma of having been in prison, decreasing the odds of finding a decent job. A life of crime is a more viable option for a large percentage of those that have been jailed, greatly limiting their ability to move up the socioeconomic ladder.
The fact is violent crime has been decreasing since the 1990s in all cities across the United States. There have been many theories as to why this decrease has occurred, including a decline in lead-based products have made people less violent; the legalization of abortion has prevented would-be criminals from being born; and an up tick in incarcerations has meant that criminals are in prison and not on the streets to commit crime. The problem with the incarceration theory is threefold: 1) the increase in incarcerations started occurring in the 1970s but we didn’t see a substantial decline in crime until the 1990s; 2) countries like Canada have actually been jailing fewer of their citizens but have also seen a decline in crime; and 3) it has been found that this exponential increase in arrests leads to criminogenic effects, essentially doing more harm than good. A study has shown that “arrests, especially for minor offenses (54% of federal prisoners are serving time for drug offenses, with only 11% for violent crime), provokes a response by offenders making them more likely to commit future crime than if they have not been arrested.”
There are two more likely explanations for the across-the-board decline in violent crime. The first is that our technology, including DNA testing, has gotten better and has made it easier to catch criminals. The second is that targeted policing strategies have made our police force more efficient. The technology has allowed police to know where a majority of violent crimes occur, and policing strategies have put more boots on the ground in those areas of high crime. Ray Kelly himself attributed the drop in homicides to “antigang strategy meant to suppress retaliatory violence among neighborhood gangs.” These strategies, not stop-and-frisk, are the likely culprits for the decline in black-on-black crime.
Bloomberg defended the numbers showing that 87 percent of the people stopped are people of color. He said these numbers made sense because a large portion of reported murders are committed by people of color. Guys, he’s just trying to protect you. Won’t you just let him protect you? The assertion that stop-and-frisk protects people of color is laughable, ignorant, and severely out of touch. It is true that a majority of these crimes are committed by people of color, which would explain why a larger percentage of them are stopped. I take heed with how effective, or rather ineffective, police officers are at stopping people of color. If they were properly trained at spotting suspicious behavior the percentage of people found innocent of any wrong doing would be lower, and it certainly wouldn’t be anywhere near the 90 percent that it has been since stop-and-frisk started to go into practice in 2002. I also find it troublesome that of the whites that are stopped, a greater percentage of them are found to be guilty of something. That isn’t to say that whites are more guilty than people of color, that is to say that cops are better at identifying suspicious behavior in white people because when they look at a white person they are able to see not their race but their behavior.
The same can’t be said for people of color. There is one seizure for every 27 white people that are stopped. For Hispanics that number increases to 99 people stopped. For black people the number is a staggering 143. These numbers would indicate that racial bias plays a huge role in the way stop-and-frisk is ultimately implemented. Adding insult to injury are the quotas encouraging officers to perform a greater number of stops, and the dehumanizing way many officers choose to carry out the stops. The practice of stop-and-frisk doesn’t make people of color feel protected by the police, but rather targeted.
A greater consequence of this practice is the disproportionately large percentage of blacks and Hispanics serving time in prison. Although whites claim a higher percentage of marijuana use than blacks or Hispanics, in 2011 roughly 6,000 whites were arrested for marijuana possession, while Hispanics saw 16,000 arrests and blacks saw 26,000 arrests. It has been reported that many of these arrests occur because cops tricked them into showing them the marijuana they were in possession of (by asking them to empty their pockets) or the cops forcibly, and illegally, searched them.
Roughly 80 percent of African Americans can expect to be jailed during their lifetime, 68 percent of which continue down the path of crime. The recidivism rate is high because many find it’s hard to shake the stigma of having been in prison, decreasing the odds of finding a decent job. A life of crime is a more viable option for a large percentage of those that have been jailed, greatly limiting their ability to move up the socioeconomic ladder.
Jobs and the Minimum Wage
The minimum wage in New York City is currently set at $7.25. That is the same amount paid to most minimum wage workers throughout the country. It has also been stuck at that rate since 2009. Meanwhile, the number of low wage jobs in New York City has increased by 164,016 since 2008. Middle wage jobs, however, have decreased in that same time frame by 140,471, the greatest decrease seen in manufacturing jobs. Of those who have middle class jobs, few have seen an increase in their incomes in the past three decades. Joseph Stiglitz, author of The Price of Inequality and a Nobel laureate, noted that, “median household income was actually lower in 2011 ($50,054) than it was in 1996, adjusted for inflation ($50,661). Over the longer period, 1980-2010, median family income essentially stagnated, growing at an annual rate of only .36 percent.”
Welp, that’s it, folks, I’m moving to Sweden. OK, I’m not actually moving to Sweden, I’d stick out like a sore thumb, or rather because of my height, I would opposite of stick out. There have been bleak moments in this research, few as bleak as the income gap, especially when you realize this wasn’t some survival-of-the-fittest-type accident. Between the deregulation of the banking system; the disparity in the way we tax wages versus capital income; the high cost of education; predatory lending; cuts in government benefits; outsourcing; and high medical costs no one should be surprised that the middle class is shrinking, or that it has been to the benefit of those at the top. The next person who says that people should just pull themselves up by their bootstraps, or who suggests that one must merely work hard to rise above, is getting acid thrown in their privileged face courtesy of me. Stiglitz wrote in his book, “Something has happened to our sense of values, when the end of making more money justify the means.”
Let’s start by debunking the myth that if you increase the minimum wage businesses and contractors are going to hire fewer people, or worse, take their business elsewhere. It is the thought (or should I say threat?) of these people that by increasing the minimum wage, unemployment will also increase. The problem with this theory is that we don’t exist in a vacuum so things rarely work out that way in real life. If we take a look at the unemployment rate of San Francisco and San Jose, whose minimum wages are $10.55 and $10 respectively and are the highest in the country, you will see that not only did unemployment not go up, but it has been decreasing at a rate much faster than New York City’s. It is obvious that the argument made by people like Bloomberg to keep minimum wage from increasing is merely a tactic to keep those at the top from having to give a greater portion of their profits to labor. Minimum wage in cities should really go up with the cost of living and not the rate of inflation. It is ludicrous to expect someone in New York City to make a living on the same amount of money as someone in Boise, Idaho. (I should add that in San Francisco, small businesses and non-profits were exempt in the first two years of the minimum wage increase, and I believe it would be a good idea to follow their example.)
As for middle class jobs, we should look towards more sound investments than manufacturing. Manufacturing is the sector that has seen the greatest drop in jobs in the past few decades. Innovations in technology have meant that those manufacturing jobs that once belonged to people now belong to machines. Charlie Chaplin lamented the efficiencies of technology in Modern Times, which was released in 1936. It’s true that there are still a large number of jobs in manufacturing, but given the seeming inevitability of the demise of the middle-income manufacturing job, why are we still holding so steadfast instead of looking for ways in which the job market can evolve with technology? Charlie Chaplin knew we needed to evolve in 1936. Why didn’t we just listen to the Little Tramp?
Welp, that’s it, folks, I’m moving to Sweden. OK, I’m not actually moving to Sweden, I’d stick out like a sore thumb, or rather because of my height, I would opposite of stick out. There have been bleak moments in this research, few as bleak as the income gap, especially when you realize this wasn’t some survival-of-the-fittest-type accident. Between the deregulation of the banking system; the disparity in the way we tax wages versus capital income; the high cost of education; predatory lending; cuts in government benefits; outsourcing; and high medical costs no one should be surprised that the middle class is shrinking, or that it has been to the benefit of those at the top. The next person who says that people should just pull themselves up by their bootstraps, or who suggests that one must merely work hard to rise above, is getting acid thrown in their privileged face courtesy of me. Stiglitz wrote in his book, “Something has happened to our sense of values, when the end of making more money justify the means.”
Let’s start by debunking the myth that if you increase the minimum wage businesses and contractors are going to hire fewer people, or worse, take their business elsewhere. It is the thought (or should I say threat?) of these people that by increasing the minimum wage, unemployment will also increase. The problem with this theory is that we don’t exist in a vacuum so things rarely work out that way in real life. If we take a look at the unemployment rate of San Francisco and San Jose, whose minimum wages are $10.55 and $10 respectively and are the highest in the country, you will see that not only did unemployment not go up, but it has been decreasing at a rate much faster than New York City’s. It is obvious that the argument made by people like Bloomberg to keep minimum wage from increasing is merely a tactic to keep those at the top from having to give a greater portion of their profits to labor. Minimum wage in cities should really go up with the cost of living and not the rate of inflation. It is ludicrous to expect someone in New York City to make a living on the same amount of money as someone in Boise, Idaho. (I should add that in San Francisco, small businesses and non-profits were exempt in the first two years of the minimum wage increase, and I believe it would be a good idea to follow their example.)
As for middle class jobs, we should look towards more sound investments than manufacturing. Manufacturing is the sector that has seen the greatest drop in jobs in the past few decades. Innovations in technology have meant that those manufacturing jobs that once belonged to people now belong to machines. Charlie Chaplin lamented the efficiencies of technology in Modern Times, which was released in 1936. It’s true that there are still a large number of jobs in manufacturing, but given the seeming inevitability of the demise of the middle-income manufacturing job, why are we still holding so steadfast instead of looking for ways in which the job market can evolve with technology? Charlie Chaplin knew we needed to evolve in 1936. Why didn’t we just listen to the Little Tramp?
A New Hope (?)
The fact that our elected leaders are the ones who put in place these economic and political systems that take advantage of their citizenry has a little silver lining. Robert Kennedy said, "Every society gets the kind of criminal it deserves. What is equally true is that every community gets the kind of law enforcement it insists on." It is up to us to elect leaders who will take care of the best interests of all the members of the community, who understands that our society performs better when fewer people are struggling, who is neither an accomplice to nor complacent towards inequality, who knows that creating a fair and balanced society does not mean taking from one group to give to another, and who knows every one of us, at our very essence, want the same things: a good education, good health care, access to good food, safe streets, and the opportunity to rise above.
Race to City Hall, Part 1: The Democrats
New York City is made up of five boroughs, 8.24 million people, nine professional sports teams, more than 1,700 parks and playgrounds, 20,000 street vendors, 12,000 tons of garbage, 13,000 yellow taxis, and exactly one mayor. That mayor is responsible for all city services, police and fire protection, enforcement of all city and state laws within the city, and administration of public property and most public agencies, including the Department of Sanitation, Department of Transportation, City Planning, and the Board of Education. He also oversees the city's budget of $50 billion a year, which happens to be the largest municipal budget in the United States. This mayor is no lame duck. The mayor in this city has great potential to influence the lives of the people inhabiting it, in good ways and in bad ways. Their decisions can affect crime, unemployment, revenue, immigration, how our kids are educated, and the general health of the people. There is a lot at stake when voting for mayor, yet very few people actually make their voice heard. Of the 4,375,736 registered voters, only 1,154,802 voted in the 2009 elections. That is only 26 percent of the total possible voters.
If lack of information is the problem, I am here to help. The first part of the series outlines all seven of the Democratic candidates*. The second part of the series will outline the three Republican candidates, plus a special section for the comptroller. The third set of the series will discuss in greater depth the three issues I believe to be the most important in this race: education, stop-and-frisk, and minimum wage laws. These three topics have many conflicting opinions that divide not only our candidates but our city, and each of these three things have the potential to greatly affect other aspects of city living.
Maybe information isn't the problem. Maybe you just don't believe in the system. Because of the corruption of candidates in the 70s, laws have been put in place to increase transparency by requiring all candidates to list all donations, and limit spending, which in effect limits the influence of big money. This is good for the general public because this is one of the few elections where our collective voices have the potential to have greater influence than their collective dollars. But that potential can only be met if we choose to speak, if we choose to cast a vote. So what say you? Will you join me?
*click on the picture of the candidate to be redirected to their campaign's webpage
If lack of information is the problem, I am here to help. The first part of the series outlines all seven of the Democratic candidates*. The second part of the series will outline the three Republican candidates, plus a special section for the comptroller. The third set of the series will discuss in greater depth the three issues I believe to be the most important in this race: education, stop-and-frisk, and minimum wage laws. These three topics have many conflicting opinions that divide not only our candidates but our city, and each of these three things have the potential to greatly affect other aspects of city living.
Maybe information isn't the problem. Maybe you just don't believe in the system. Because of the corruption of candidates in the 70s, laws have been put in place to increase transparency by requiring all candidates to list all donations, and limit spending, which in effect limits the influence of big money. This is good for the general public because this is one of the few elections where our collective voices have the potential to have greater influence than their collective dollars. But that potential can only be met if we choose to speak, if we choose to cast a vote. So what say you? Will you join me?
*click on the picture of the candidate to be redirected to their campaign's webpage
Sal Albanese
Pro:
*A former teacher at John Jay High School, Albanese has 11 years of experience with the New York City school system.
*He was part of the NYC Council (but that was from 1982-1998)
Con: very little information could be found on him outside of his own web page.
How can I judge a person’s record if there is no record to be found? Even on his website, the issues he addresses are limited to education, political independence, public safety, and transportation, and he does so in a very roundabout way. Not looking great for Albanese.
*A former teacher at John Jay High School, Albanese has 11 years of experience with the New York City school system.
*He was part of the NYC Council (but that was from 1982-1998)
Con: very little information could be found on him outside of his own web page.
How can I judge a person’s record if there is no record to be found? Even on his website, the issues he addresses are limited to education, political independence, public safety, and transportation, and he does so in a very roundabout way. Not looking great for Albanese.
Bill de Blasio
Pro:
*in June 2011 he organized communities against the proposed cuts to the education budget and staged a last minute call-a-thon. The success of this rally saved more than 4,600 teacher layoffs.
*Has continuously championed in favor of transparency, urging all publicly traded companies report all of their political spending
*Sued the city to turn over data on the city’s revenues from fines. (Information that should be made readily available to the public but was difficult for even the Public Advocate to obtain.) It was found out that revenue from fines that regulate small businesses have grown by almost 70 percent in the decade since Bloomberg took office.
*Introduced a bill in Council that would ban the use of polystyrene by city agencies
*Sponsored a bill to recycle electronic waste.
*Was on the city council from 2001 until 2010, when he became Public Advocate
*Has a Masters of International Affairs from Columbia
*Pushed the Council on the Paid Sick Leave and Living Wage bills
*Is the ONLY candidate to mention women’s issues on his campaign platform. The points that stood out the most to me are: fixing pay inequity; expanding designated spaces for breastfeeding at work; and pushing to curtail sexual assault by launching a wide-scale public service announcement campaign that “expands awareness and empowers bystanders to confront harassment.”
Con:
*Doesn’t have the same name recognition of other mayoral hopefuls, and seems to lack the type of passion that drives voters to the polls
*Was accused by Sal Albanese of hiring political operatives at taxpayer expense
*Red Sox fan
Bill de Blasio is a bit of an idealist. People sometimes hurl that word about as an insult, looking to paint that person as out of touch, but I think it’s an important quality to possess when you’re looking to run a city, especially if you’re looking to advance that city forward. It is the idealists that see the potential in something and strive to meet it. At times I worry it’s that same idealism that might be his downfall, creating a rift between him and those with power. He understands that it’s impossible in New York to make a living off of the current minimum wage of $7.25 so he has proposed to raise the minimum wage to at least $10 an hour. This proposal has been met with a vocal opposition from the business elite insisting they would hire fewer full time employees if they were required to pay them a “living wage”. He believes universal pre-K and universal after-school programs are necessary tools in helping advance our city’s students. But that plan could see some resistance from those he plans to tax -- people earning more than $500,000 a year – in order to pay for the programs.
“We live a Tale of Two Cities,” is a line he has uttered a few times during his bid for mayor, painting a city divided into rich and poor. I believe it is very important to bring up this division and outline comprehensive ways in which to bridge the socioeconomic gap, and he has. But part of bridging the gap is working well with, and understanding, both sides. It’s great that he has given a voice to so many who have become so disenfranchised by the systems our local government has put in place. It would be great to see if and how he could also work with those in the upper class to create a more symbiotic relationship.
*in June 2011 he organized communities against the proposed cuts to the education budget and staged a last minute call-a-thon. The success of this rally saved more than 4,600 teacher layoffs.
*Has continuously championed in favor of transparency, urging all publicly traded companies report all of their political spending
*Sued the city to turn over data on the city’s revenues from fines. (Information that should be made readily available to the public but was difficult for even the Public Advocate to obtain.) It was found out that revenue from fines that regulate small businesses have grown by almost 70 percent in the decade since Bloomberg took office.
*Introduced a bill in Council that would ban the use of polystyrene by city agencies
*Sponsored a bill to recycle electronic waste.
*Was on the city council from 2001 until 2010, when he became Public Advocate
*Has a Masters of International Affairs from Columbia
*Pushed the Council on the Paid Sick Leave and Living Wage bills
*Is the ONLY candidate to mention women’s issues on his campaign platform. The points that stood out the most to me are: fixing pay inequity; expanding designated spaces for breastfeeding at work; and pushing to curtail sexual assault by launching a wide-scale public service announcement campaign that “expands awareness and empowers bystanders to confront harassment.”
Con:
*Doesn’t have the same name recognition of other mayoral hopefuls, and seems to lack the type of passion that drives voters to the polls
*Was accused by Sal Albanese of hiring political operatives at taxpayer expense
*Red Sox fan
Bill de Blasio is a bit of an idealist. People sometimes hurl that word about as an insult, looking to paint that person as out of touch, but I think it’s an important quality to possess when you’re looking to run a city, especially if you’re looking to advance that city forward. It is the idealists that see the potential in something and strive to meet it. At times I worry it’s that same idealism that might be his downfall, creating a rift between him and those with power. He understands that it’s impossible in New York to make a living off of the current minimum wage of $7.25 so he has proposed to raise the minimum wage to at least $10 an hour. This proposal has been met with a vocal opposition from the business elite insisting they would hire fewer full time employees if they were required to pay them a “living wage”. He believes universal pre-K and universal after-school programs are necessary tools in helping advance our city’s students. But that plan could see some resistance from those he plans to tax -- people earning more than $500,000 a year – in order to pay for the programs.
“We live a Tale of Two Cities,” is a line he has uttered a few times during his bid for mayor, painting a city divided into rich and poor. I believe it is very important to bring up this division and outline comprehensive ways in which to bridge the socioeconomic gap, and he has. But part of bridging the gap is working well with, and understanding, both sides. It’s great that he has given a voice to so many who have become so disenfranchised by the systems our local government has put in place. It would be great to see if and how he could also work with those in the upper class to create a more symbiotic relationship.
John Liu
Pro:
*Proposed an overhaul of the city’s five pension plans in 2011, saying the consolidated investment strategy could save the city at least $1 billion. The proposal would merge the five boards, which had 58 directors, into one smaller board that would oversee the $120 billion in investments. Better returns in investments would mean less of the city pension money would have to come from taxpayers.
*Was on the New York City Council from 2001 until 2010 when he became comptroller
*When a contract for Turner Construction Company jumped in value from $7.5 million to $73.5 million in 1.5 years, he audited New York City Economic Development Corporation, questioning the agency’s transparency.
Con:
*charged with fund raising fraud for his campaign as comptroller. Many of the donations listed came from people that either said their boss gave them the money to donate, they didn’t donate, or people that just plain didn’t exist.
He is the man in charge of our finances and he was charged with finance fraud? Even if I put that aside, his campaign page lists just three issues that he wants to talk about: going green, transportation, and education. Sure, these are very important issues, but I would like someone a little bit more well-versed in the many facets of running our local government. Where are his opinions on the minimum wage, stop-and-frisk, crime, affordable housing, government contracts, or immigration reform?
*Proposed an overhaul of the city’s five pension plans in 2011, saying the consolidated investment strategy could save the city at least $1 billion. The proposal would merge the five boards, which had 58 directors, into one smaller board that would oversee the $120 billion in investments. Better returns in investments would mean less of the city pension money would have to come from taxpayers.
*Was on the New York City Council from 2001 until 2010 when he became comptroller
*When a contract for Turner Construction Company jumped in value from $7.5 million to $73.5 million in 1.5 years, he audited New York City Economic Development Corporation, questioning the agency’s transparency.
Con:
*charged with fund raising fraud for his campaign as comptroller. Many of the donations listed came from people that either said their boss gave them the money to donate, they didn’t donate, or people that just plain didn’t exist.
He is the man in charge of our finances and he was charged with finance fraud? Even if I put that aside, his campaign page lists just three issues that he wants to talk about: going green, transportation, and education. Sure, these are very important issues, but I would like someone a little bit more well-versed in the many facets of running our local government. Where are his opinions on the minimum wage, stop-and-frisk, crime, affordable housing, government contracts, or immigration reform?
Christine Quinn
Pro:
*as head of the Housing Justice Campaign for the Association of Neighborhood and Housing Development she pushed to provide more housing to low-income residents
*She challenged an administration policy requiring people seeking food stamps to be electronically fingerprinted
*Pushed against the administration’s plan to build a football stadium on the west side of Manhattan in 2004
*Became a member of the city council in 1999, until becoming the Speaker in 2006
Con:
*after insisting she was against an extension of term limits, she pushed the council to vote for the extension in 2008, incidentally also extending her time in New York City Council
*She kept shelving the bill on paid sick-leave for years, regardless of its strong approval in Council. She eventually brought the bill to the floor to be voted on in March of 2013, reaching a deal which would require small businesses to provide at least five sick days a year to employees. Another coincidence: Gloria Steinem withdrew her support in February of 2013 because of Quinn’s refusal to allow a vote on the bill. Steinem later ended up endorsing her.
*Also kept the Living Wage Bill from being voted on, echoing Bloomberg’s sentiments that it would put an undue burden on businesses and drive down employment. The bill was eventually passed but excluded employees of commercial tenants in subsidized developments, like retail workers. The exemptions decreased the number of employees affected by the bill from 600-700 to between 400 and 500.
*Supported a change in campaign finance rules that would significantly expand the ability of union, corporation and advocacy groups to spend money on behalf of local candidates
*Was also accused by Sal Albanese of hiring political operatives at taxpayer expense
*When Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley failed to give Quinn credit in a newspaper interview, Quinn cut funding to Crowley’s district, justifying the cuts by simply stating, “It is what happened that year.”
*In 2008 it was revealed that there was a longstanding practice in the Council to funnel discretionary funds to fictitious organizations to save the money for later distribution. Some blamed Quinn for allowing this to happen under her watch as Council Speaker.
*Has been accused of using Council funds to reward allies
I like the idea of Quinn but not the reality of her. It would be great to have a female Mayor, really it would, just not her. If a man did the things she has done I would think he was a rubbish candidate. She is a smart woman and an astute political player in that she knows how to play the complex game of New York City politics. Sometimes her moves work in favor of her constituents, sometimes they work in favor of big corporations, but they almost always work in favor of Christine Quinn. From reading many articles on her and her policies something struck me about the decisions she makes: they always seemed to serve her in some way. If they also helped the “commoners” the policy would be heavily publicized, if it didn’t it would be tersely brushed off. Obviously, I expect a politician to be a bit self-serving, otherwise how would they forge ahead in their career? But I also expect a good politician to every so often do something even if it works against their best interest, simply because they know it’s what’s best for the people they’re representing, and that's something I've not seen from Quinn.
She’s very cunning and manipulative, more so than any other candidate in the field, and I don’t trust her to truly look out for this middle class she keeps insisting she’s championing for. How could she be pro middle class and refuse to even bring the sick-leave bill to the Council floor for three years? How can she be pro middle class and limit the number of people who benefit from the Living Wage Bill, which would require employees in city-subsidized projects be paid at least $10 an hour with benefits? She likes to take credit for the positive things that occur in the Council with her at the helm, like claiming that she saved 4,600 teachers’ jobs by not slashing the budget, which was only done after intense pressure from Mr. de Blasio. But she won’t take responsibility when council members behave corruptly under her watch. Many of the things she claims to have accomplished, and the things she claims she can reform have prompted me to keep uttering the same two questions: “Is that true?” and “But how?” The answers were often “Not entirely” and “Not sure.” At the end of the day, though, what it really comes down to is whether or not I believe New York City will be better off in four years with her as mayor. I don’t think it would be.
*as head of the Housing Justice Campaign for the Association of Neighborhood and Housing Development she pushed to provide more housing to low-income residents
*She challenged an administration policy requiring people seeking food stamps to be electronically fingerprinted
*Pushed against the administration’s plan to build a football stadium on the west side of Manhattan in 2004
*Became a member of the city council in 1999, until becoming the Speaker in 2006
Con:
*after insisting she was against an extension of term limits, she pushed the council to vote for the extension in 2008, incidentally also extending her time in New York City Council
*She kept shelving the bill on paid sick-leave for years, regardless of its strong approval in Council. She eventually brought the bill to the floor to be voted on in March of 2013, reaching a deal which would require small businesses to provide at least five sick days a year to employees. Another coincidence: Gloria Steinem withdrew her support in February of 2013 because of Quinn’s refusal to allow a vote on the bill. Steinem later ended up endorsing her.
*Also kept the Living Wage Bill from being voted on, echoing Bloomberg’s sentiments that it would put an undue burden on businesses and drive down employment. The bill was eventually passed but excluded employees of commercial tenants in subsidized developments, like retail workers. The exemptions decreased the number of employees affected by the bill from 600-700 to between 400 and 500.
*Supported a change in campaign finance rules that would significantly expand the ability of union, corporation and advocacy groups to spend money on behalf of local candidates
*Was also accused by Sal Albanese of hiring political operatives at taxpayer expense
*When Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley failed to give Quinn credit in a newspaper interview, Quinn cut funding to Crowley’s district, justifying the cuts by simply stating, “It is what happened that year.”
*In 2008 it was revealed that there was a longstanding practice in the Council to funnel discretionary funds to fictitious organizations to save the money for later distribution. Some blamed Quinn for allowing this to happen under her watch as Council Speaker.
*Has been accused of using Council funds to reward allies
I like the idea of Quinn but not the reality of her. It would be great to have a female Mayor, really it would, just not her. If a man did the things she has done I would think he was a rubbish candidate. She is a smart woman and an astute political player in that she knows how to play the complex game of New York City politics. Sometimes her moves work in favor of her constituents, sometimes they work in favor of big corporations, but they almost always work in favor of Christine Quinn. From reading many articles on her and her policies something struck me about the decisions she makes: they always seemed to serve her in some way. If they also helped the “commoners” the policy would be heavily publicized, if it didn’t it would be tersely brushed off. Obviously, I expect a politician to be a bit self-serving, otherwise how would they forge ahead in their career? But I also expect a good politician to every so often do something even if it works against their best interest, simply because they know it’s what’s best for the people they’re representing, and that's something I've not seen from Quinn.
She’s very cunning and manipulative, more so than any other candidate in the field, and I don’t trust her to truly look out for this middle class she keeps insisting she’s championing for. How could she be pro middle class and refuse to even bring the sick-leave bill to the Council floor for three years? How can she be pro middle class and limit the number of people who benefit from the Living Wage Bill, which would require employees in city-subsidized projects be paid at least $10 an hour with benefits? She likes to take credit for the positive things that occur in the Council with her at the helm, like claiming that she saved 4,600 teachers’ jobs by not slashing the budget, which was only done after intense pressure from Mr. de Blasio. But she won’t take responsibility when council members behave corruptly under her watch. Many of the things she claims to have accomplished, and the things she claims she can reform have prompted me to keep uttering the same two questions: “Is that true?” and “But how?” The answers were often “Not entirely” and “Not sure.” At the end of the day, though, what it really comes down to is whether or not I believe New York City will be better off in four years with her as mayor. I don’t think it would be.
Bill Thompson
Pro:
*intends to overhaul stop-and-frisk, stating that it’s a useful police tool (he has said would ban the practice of racial profiling)
*He became the President of the Board of Education in 1996, until becoming city comptroller in 2002.
*Test scores rose overall for four straight years while he was the President of the BoE
Con:
*the Times reported that under Thompson’s watch as comptroller the performance fo the city’s pension funds have lagged behind other public pensions
*Not one proposal for what he would do for our education system on his webpage. Odd, considering his vast experience with the Board of Education
Given his 12 years with the Board of Education I expected some inspiring and progressive ideas from Thompson on how to increase the graduation rate of our public school students, which is currently at an abysmal 55 percent. Instead, he has proposed a ho-hum plan that is part Bloomberg, part Quinn, and not entirely realistic. He stated he wants to avoid school closures (but how?), vowed to involve parents in policy making, extend the school day (Quinn also proposes this), and pledged to reduce schools’ emphasis on testing (but didn’t state how schools would be evaluated instead). Thompson said, “I don’t want to be an education mayor, and I know that the current mayor has talked about that often. I want New York City to be an education city.” Wait, what? Lauren Passalacqua, a Bloomberg spokesperson, said of Thomspon, “Leadership involves speaking hard truths to voters, not telling different audiences and special interests what they want to hear.” Which is the impression I get from Thompson, and not just when it comes to education. I think perhaps the reason why he hasn’t given any concrete answers to anything is simply because he doesn’t have them. In that sense, he reminds me of ol’ Mitt Romney and I am left equally bored and equally unsure of why he’s running for office.
*intends to overhaul stop-and-frisk, stating that it’s a useful police tool (he has said would ban the practice of racial profiling)
*He became the President of the Board of Education in 1996, until becoming city comptroller in 2002.
*Test scores rose overall for four straight years while he was the President of the BoE
Con:
*the Times reported that under Thompson’s watch as comptroller the performance fo the city’s pension funds have lagged behind other public pensions
*Not one proposal for what he would do for our education system on his webpage. Odd, considering his vast experience with the Board of Education
Given his 12 years with the Board of Education I expected some inspiring and progressive ideas from Thompson on how to increase the graduation rate of our public school students, which is currently at an abysmal 55 percent. Instead, he has proposed a ho-hum plan that is part Bloomberg, part Quinn, and not entirely realistic. He stated he wants to avoid school closures (but how?), vowed to involve parents in policy making, extend the school day (Quinn also proposes this), and pledged to reduce schools’ emphasis on testing (but didn’t state how schools would be evaluated instead). Thompson said, “I don’t want to be an education mayor, and I know that the current mayor has talked about that often. I want New York City to be an education city.” Wait, what? Lauren Passalacqua, a Bloomberg spokesperson, said of Thomspon, “Leadership involves speaking hard truths to voters, not telling different audiences and special interests what they want to hear.” Which is the impression I get from Thompson, and not just when it comes to education. I think perhaps the reason why he hasn’t given any concrete answers to anything is simply because he doesn’t have them. In that sense, he reminds me of ol’ Mitt Romney and I am left equally bored and equally unsure of why he’s running for office.
Erick Salgado
Pro: speaks up on behalf of immigrants
Con: No experience in politics
He seems well-meaning and very passionate. That’s not enough.
Con: No experience in politics
He seems well-meaning and very passionate. That’s not enough.
Anthony Weiner
Pro:
*spent seven years in city council before running for Congress in 1998 to replace Chuck Schumer
*Was a congressman from 1999 until 2011, often standing up for issues that were important to his constituents in NYC
*Good taste in spouse
Con:
*in the 12 years he spent in Congress he passed only one bill. True, bills are hard to pass, especially with the current trend in Congress, but he also only sponsored 202 bills. Compare that with another representative from NYC, Carolyn Maloney, who in her 20 years in Congress has sponsored 603 bills and passed nine. God, she should run for mayor. The one bill that did get passed was at the insistence of one of his campaign donors.
*Attempted to bar the Palestinian delegation from entering the UN
*Has the highest turnover rate of any other member of the New York House delegation. He had three chiefs of staff in one year.
*Dick pics. So many dick pics.
*He missed 5.5% of roll call votes in Congress. Might not seem like much but the median is 2.6%.
I was ready to move on and forgive. I never thought this whole sexting thing was really a big deal, albeit embarrassing for his wife. That was until the latest revelation that turned him into an utter joke. Had the news been about someone he sent messages to prior to his resignation I might be singing a different tune (I said might). But the timeline is very important and cannot be ignored. They simply cannot say this is their private business to handle privately as a private couple. They are not a private couple. They could have been but they made the choice to thrust themselves into a mayoral campaign. This is not private business. It could have been but Weiner clearly had no intention of masking his identity. It seemed almost like he reveled in bragging to his sexting partners about not just who he was but what he could do for them (and to them). The fact that it happened a full year after his supposed repentance tells me that this behavior is something pathological. Unfortunately, that pathology is not simply for sending illicit messages to his political fans, but pathology towards extreme narcissism and hubris. It was this narcissism that made him such a bad team player in Congress. It’s his hubris that creates such a disdainful attitude towards so many people he encounters, including many in the press corps.
There is no doubt he loves New York City. It is very possible his time in Congress was more of a means to an end so he could return to his beloved city and say, “OK, I’m ready to run you now.” But running this city takes more than just an extreme love for it and an adamant insistence that you can do it. You need to show you can work well with the other people governing this city, people like the council speaker, the city comptroller and borough presidents, and heed the advice of the public advocate. You need to show that you can abide by a certain set of rules put in place to ensure our city isn’t run by a corrupt figurehead. You need to be a good problem solver. You need to be OK with being hated for a majority of those solutions you come up with. You need to have a sense of diplomacy. These are qualities that make someone worthy of running our great city. It would require a certain amount of sacrifice and restraint from Weiner to elevate himself to that level of worthiness. Something tells me sacrifice and restraint aren’t his strong suits.
*spent seven years in city council before running for Congress in 1998 to replace Chuck Schumer
*Was a congressman from 1999 until 2011, often standing up for issues that were important to his constituents in NYC
*Good taste in spouse
Con:
*in the 12 years he spent in Congress he passed only one bill. True, bills are hard to pass, especially with the current trend in Congress, but he also only sponsored 202 bills. Compare that with another representative from NYC, Carolyn Maloney, who in her 20 years in Congress has sponsored 603 bills and passed nine. God, she should run for mayor. The one bill that did get passed was at the insistence of one of his campaign donors.
*Attempted to bar the Palestinian delegation from entering the UN
*Has the highest turnover rate of any other member of the New York House delegation. He had three chiefs of staff in one year.
*Dick pics. So many dick pics.
*He missed 5.5% of roll call votes in Congress. Might not seem like much but the median is 2.6%.
I was ready to move on and forgive. I never thought this whole sexting thing was really a big deal, albeit embarrassing for his wife. That was until the latest revelation that turned him into an utter joke. Had the news been about someone he sent messages to prior to his resignation I might be singing a different tune (I said might). But the timeline is very important and cannot be ignored. They simply cannot say this is their private business to handle privately as a private couple. They are not a private couple. They could have been but they made the choice to thrust themselves into a mayoral campaign. This is not private business. It could have been but Weiner clearly had no intention of masking his identity. It seemed almost like he reveled in bragging to his sexting partners about not just who he was but what he could do for them (and to them). The fact that it happened a full year after his supposed repentance tells me that this behavior is something pathological. Unfortunately, that pathology is not simply for sending illicit messages to his political fans, but pathology towards extreme narcissism and hubris. It was this narcissism that made him such a bad team player in Congress. It’s his hubris that creates such a disdainful attitude towards so many people he encounters, including many in the press corps.
There is no doubt he loves New York City. It is very possible his time in Congress was more of a means to an end so he could return to his beloved city and say, “OK, I’m ready to run you now.” But running this city takes more than just an extreme love for it and an adamant insistence that you can do it. You need to show you can work well with the other people governing this city, people like the council speaker, the city comptroller and borough presidents, and heed the advice of the public advocate. You need to show that you can abide by a certain set of rules put in place to ensure our city isn’t run by a corrupt figurehead. You need to be a good problem solver. You need to be OK with being hated for a majority of those solutions you come up with. You need to have a sense of diplomacy. These are qualities that make someone worthy of running our great city. It would require a certain amount of sacrifice and restraint from Weiner to elevate himself to that level of worthiness. Something tells me sacrifice and restraint aren’t his strong suits.
On Turning 30
It has been two weeks since I turned 30. I’ve been marinating in this supposed maturity and wisdom for 14 days now, and I can say that this time, this birthday, absolutely feels different.
I started preparing for the big day six months ago, declaring that the celebration would extend from the usual week to a full year. This meant that any little trinket or meal or pair of shoes I coveted would become mine in the name of my 30th birth(year) celebration. In addition to treating myself to the mild extravagances I also decided to make a list of things I wanted to accomplish by my 30th birthday and called it my “30 before 30” list.
When you face your 30th year of being a breathing, living human you start to analyze your accomplishments, the person that you have become, and the person you one day wish to be. I liked where I was in my life professionally, and I was heading in the right direction personally, but always wished I did more to positively affect those around me, whether friends or absolute strangers. Because of this desire, my list ended up being a mix of silly things I always thought would be cool to do and altruistic things I had always wanted to do for other people. I turned to my notebook, numbered a page from 1-30, and started to think of the little things that would bring a bit of joy and color to my life. It took a bit of time to even come up with the 30 items, and a few of the ideas were leant to me by other people, but this is what I ended up with:
4. Ask a stranger out. A friend tells me it doesn’t count because we didn’t actually get a chance to coordinate our schedules enough to go on that first date but I met the dude, flirted for a little, and shortly thereafter I asked if he wanted to have a drink with me some time. It counts to me
5. Learn to play a song on the drums. I’ve always loved the drums, even briefly taking up the snare drum in 4th grade when we could elect to be in the school’s band. I quit because I hated lugging the thing around. Adult me hated that I would be so flippant with my dream to be an awesome drummer chick, so adult me found a teacher at Guitar Center. I started with some of the basics and slowly started to work on the components of my chosen song, Maps by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. After a month and a half of weekly classes, and much practice on my fake drum set up on my mattress, I can say I now know how to play one song on the drums. I can also say I have a new hobby.
6. Ride a subway train end to end. I’m not entirely sure why I decided to do this. Maybe there was a certain romanticism about it that I had built up in my head; I would sit on the train, observing the goings on of the people coming in and out. I thought I would observe the everyday and find something extraordinary in it. Instead I rode a train for an hour and a half. At least it provided me some respite from the heat. The key to riding a train end-to-end is finding one whose beginning and end you can enjoy. In my case I picked the Q train, which started in Astoria and ended in Coney Island. I later treated myself to a corn dog and a ride into Brooklyn to get me some hot fried chicken.
8. Get a new tattoo. I’d been wanting to get a tattoo of a sugar skull or a phoenix for some time. I ended up choosing to do a sugar skull tattoo when I found an excellent artist to carry out my vision to commemorate my grandmothers through a piece of art on my body. The subsequent tattoo session ended up providing me an incredible experience and one of the most memorable stories I’ve ever heard. Oh, and a kickass tattoo.
10. Buy a round for the bar. I had always wanted to say to the patrons at a bar “this round’s on me!” Of course, I knew I would have to wait for a moment where there wouldn’t be that many people at the bar before offering anything. I was coming home from work one evening when it started pouring rain. I decided to seek asylum from the rain in the bar right outside my subway stop. There were four people at the bar, including two blind men and their service dog, so I seized the opportunity to announce to everyone that the next round would be on me. My intention was to go in for a drink, buy a round, and wait out the rain, but when you buy a round for the bar, everyone else wants to return the favor. I ended up hanging out and discovering that the gentlemen were actually musicians and the other two patrons were from out of town. The connections I made with the people I bought a round for added real value to the money I spent.
11. Reupholster that chair. A couple years ago I came home to discover a strange chair just sitting in the middle of my living room. My then-roommate saw it on the side of the street, thought it a perfectly good chair, and brought it home. I’ve since wanted to give the chair a little face-lift. I’m not totally done with the project, as I decided to turn it from a simple reupholstering to a full-on refurbishing. Side note: when the employee at Home Depot tells you it’s ok to spray paint a chair indoors as long as you keep the area well ventilated, don’t believe him.
12. Find someone to write a profile on. I find we spend so much time talking about ourselves, posting what we do, think, eat, all in the hopes that someone finds us as entertaining as we find ourselves. (Says the girl writing a blog.) I thought it would be more interesting to find someone I would want to know more about and write about them instead. I chose to write a profile on a bartender from Blue Ribbon. While having a post-work drink one afternoon, I was talking with the bartender when he made an interesting comment that caught my attention. He told me he had been working at Blue Ribbon for 20 years and has literally watched people grow up through the window at the restaurant. I wanted to know more.
18. Reach out to friend. She was my best friend all through college. I met her the very first day of freshman orientation and was by her side for most of the following four years. If she went anywhere without me people would ask her where her “little friend” was. Through a series of events involving pride and dumb immaturity, She and I broke up. I had always wanted to reach out to her if for no other reason than to tell her how much her friendship meant to me. As luck would have it She was also thinking of me and reached out one day this past spring. I took the opportunity to reach my hand out as well. This item on the checklist was not only the first to be crossed off my list but the one that mattered most to me. If I accomplished nothing but this I would have been happy.
19. Organize a charity/fundraiser. I might have taken some liberties with the definition of fundraiser but with the profits from my airbnb room rental that don’t go to rent, I am donating to a battered women’s shelter. I figured it would be apropos to help a shelter by providing shelter.
20. Perform in a burlesque show. When I was asking people for ideas of things to add to the list, someone recommended I do something that terrifies me. I have watched burlesquers and always admired their ballsiness, but the thought of going up on stage and disrobing in a room full of strangers terrified me. I never thought I would be able to do something like that, so I sought to prove myself wrong. I took some classes and signed myself up to perform in the student showcase. I watched many videos of ladies performing burlesque to get some ideas for my choreography, and spent a week rehearsing my number in my living room (hope none of my neighbors were home), tweaking it to fit the timing of the song I had selected, W.O.M.A.N by Etta James. I even went out and bought my first ever corset, which instantly transformed my body and posture, but also ensured I could barely breathe. The stage name I picked for myself was actually a name given to me by a friend to describe the crazy, fun, uninhibited person I become when I drink: Tina Tornado. I was nervous throughout the performance but I felt a wave of exhilaration. On my way home I kept giggling to myself reflecting back on the awesome thing I had just done
23. Drink a glass of champagne once a week. I got this idea at work one day when we were filming at a jewelry store and they popped a bottle at the end of the workday. I thought it was such a great way to make an ordinary day feel a little special.
27. Cook at least once a week. I had become so wrapped up with work that I allowed myself to become incredibly lazy once I got home. (Well, lazier than usual.) I forgot how much cooking calmed me down and how much pleasure I derived from creating something delicious.
29. Don’t buy any more shoes until you repair the ones you have. Ha! Who am I kidding? I didn’t accomplish this. I failed at this the minute I got an email from Piperlime informing me of some sale, which was approximately one week.
30. Throw epic 30th birthday party. I wasn’t going to do this but the more I thought about it the more I liked the idea of gathering my friends and family and buying them all a round or two. I can’t say what I ended up with was epic but it was pretty special.
So what made this birthday feel different? I guess I could say it was the time. I spent so much of my twenties trying to figure out things-- the world, myself, my path—always unsure of whatever answer I came close to. Each experience, whether a hurdle or an achievement, got me closer not to an exact answer, but to the knowledge that an exact answer wasn’t necessary, to the knowledge that it’s ok to get a little lost from time to time.
I am at a point where I am confident that if I get lost I know I have the capacity to find my way again. That confidence was not something I had in my youth, and it was only a product of getting miserably lost.
When I was listening the tattoo artist tell me about her cancer she noticed something about me and figured that I was listening so intently, so calmly because I had gone through a similar experience. In a way I had. Luckily, the experience wasn’t cancer, but it was something that made me realize sometimes shitty things happen in life. You can’t find a reason for it so you just have to accept it, not reluctantly but in a way that allows you to propel forward. When you focus not on the unfairness of life—and it can be terribly unfair—nor on the feeling of being lost, but rather the small joys, the ability to cross off items from a silly to do list, the quotidian, all the minutiae that make up your life, that, while seeming complex, is actually so very simple, that’s when aging becomes a beautiful thing. We are born, we live, we die. I feel lucky to be a part of it all.
I started preparing for the big day six months ago, declaring that the celebration would extend from the usual week to a full year. This meant that any little trinket or meal or pair of shoes I coveted would become mine in the name of my 30th birth(year) celebration. In addition to treating myself to the mild extravagances I also decided to make a list of things I wanted to accomplish by my 30th birthday and called it my “30 before 30” list.
When you face your 30th year of being a breathing, living human you start to analyze your accomplishments, the person that you have become, and the person you one day wish to be. I liked where I was in my life professionally, and I was heading in the right direction personally, but always wished I did more to positively affect those around me, whether friends or absolute strangers. Because of this desire, my list ended up being a mix of silly things I always thought would be cool to do and altruistic things I had always wanted to do for other people. I turned to my notebook, numbered a page from 1-30, and started to think of the little things that would bring a bit of joy and color to my life. It took a bit of time to even come up with the 30 items, and a few of the ideas were leant to me by other people, but this is what I ended up with:
- spend the day doing things for others
- buy someone’s check secretly
- travel somewhere on my list
- ask a stranger out
- learn to play a song on the drums
- ride a subway train end to end
- stay on the 6 past Brooklyn Bridge
- get a new tattoo
- buy myself a camera
- buy a round for the bar
- reupholster that chair
- find someone to write a profile on
- eat at Le Bernardin
- go to a gun range. Shoot a gun
- learn to juggle
- do a split
- do mushrooms
- reach out to friend
- organize a charity/fundraiser
- perform in a burlesque show
- sabre a champagne bottle
- go a week without spending money
- drink a glass of champagne once a week
- write to Mayor’s office about “Don’t be that guy”
- make a good risotto
- write a blog post every other week
- cook at least once a week
- redesign the blog
- don’t buy any more shoes until you repair the ones you have
- throw epic 30th birthday party
4. Ask a stranger out. A friend tells me it doesn’t count because we didn’t actually get a chance to coordinate our schedules enough to go on that first date but I met the dude, flirted for a little, and shortly thereafter I asked if he wanted to have a drink with me some time. It counts to me
5. Learn to play a song on the drums. I’ve always loved the drums, even briefly taking up the snare drum in 4th grade when we could elect to be in the school’s band. I quit because I hated lugging the thing around. Adult me hated that I would be so flippant with my dream to be an awesome drummer chick, so adult me found a teacher at Guitar Center. I started with some of the basics and slowly started to work on the components of my chosen song, Maps by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. After a month and a half of weekly classes, and much practice on my fake drum set up on my mattress, I can say I now know how to play one song on the drums. I can also say I have a new hobby.
6. Ride a subway train end to end. I’m not entirely sure why I decided to do this. Maybe there was a certain romanticism about it that I had built up in my head; I would sit on the train, observing the goings on of the people coming in and out. I thought I would observe the everyday and find something extraordinary in it. Instead I rode a train for an hour and a half. At least it provided me some respite from the heat. The key to riding a train end-to-end is finding one whose beginning and end you can enjoy. In my case I picked the Q train, which started in Astoria and ended in Coney Island. I later treated myself to a corn dog and a ride into Brooklyn to get me some hot fried chicken.
8. Get a new tattoo. I’d been wanting to get a tattoo of a sugar skull or a phoenix for some time. I ended up choosing to do a sugar skull tattoo when I found an excellent artist to carry out my vision to commemorate my grandmothers through a piece of art on my body. The subsequent tattoo session ended up providing me an incredible experience and one of the most memorable stories I’ve ever heard. Oh, and a kickass tattoo.
10. Buy a round for the bar. I had always wanted to say to the patrons at a bar “this round’s on me!” Of course, I knew I would have to wait for a moment where there wouldn’t be that many people at the bar before offering anything. I was coming home from work one evening when it started pouring rain. I decided to seek asylum from the rain in the bar right outside my subway stop. There were four people at the bar, including two blind men and their service dog, so I seized the opportunity to announce to everyone that the next round would be on me. My intention was to go in for a drink, buy a round, and wait out the rain, but when you buy a round for the bar, everyone else wants to return the favor. I ended up hanging out and discovering that the gentlemen were actually musicians and the other two patrons were from out of town. The connections I made with the people I bought a round for added real value to the money I spent.
11. Reupholster that chair. A couple years ago I came home to discover a strange chair just sitting in the middle of my living room. My then-roommate saw it on the side of the street, thought it a perfectly good chair, and brought it home. I’ve since wanted to give the chair a little face-lift. I’m not totally done with the project, as I decided to turn it from a simple reupholstering to a full-on refurbishing. Side note: when the employee at Home Depot tells you it’s ok to spray paint a chair indoors as long as you keep the area well ventilated, don’t believe him.
12. Find someone to write a profile on. I find we spend so much time talking about ourselves, posting what we do, think, eat, all in the hopes that someone finds us as entertaining as we find ourselves. (Says the girl writing a blog.) I thought it would be more interesting to find someone I would want to know more about and write about them instead. I chose to write a profile on a bartender from Blue Ribbon. While having a post-work drink one afternoon, I was talking with the bartender when he made an interesting comment that caught my attention. He told me he had been working at Blue Ribbon for 20 years and has literally watched people grow up through the window at the restaurant. I wanted to know more.
18. Reach out to friend. She was my best friend all through college. I met her the very first day of freshman orientation and was by her side for most of the following four years. If she went anywhere without me people would ask her where her “little friend” was. Through a series of events involving pride and dumb immaturity, She and I broke up. I had always wanted to reach out to her if for no other reason than to tell her how much her friendship meant to me. As luck would have it She was also thinking of me and reached out one day this past spring. I took the opportunity to reach my hand out as well. This item on the checklist was not only the first to be crossed off my list but the one that mattered most to me. If I accomplished nothing but this I would have been happy.
19. Organize a charity/fundraiser. I might have taken some liberties with the definition of fundraiser but with the profits from my airbnb room rental that don’t go to rent, I am donating to a battered women’s shelter. I figured it would be apropos to help a shelter by providing shelter.
20. Perform in a burlesque show. When I was asking people for ideas of things to add to the list, someone recommended I do something that terrifies me. I have watched burlesquers and always admired their ballsiness, but the thought of going up on stage and disrobing in a room full of strangers terrified me. I never thought I would be able to do something like that, so I sought to prove myself wrong. I took some classes and signed myself up to perform in the student showcase. I watched many videos of ladies performing burlesque to get some ideas for my choreography, and spent a week rehearsing my number in my living room (hope none of my neighbors were home), tweaking it to fit the timing of the song I had selected, W.O.M.A.N by Etta James. I even went out and bought my first ever corset, which instantly transformed my body and posture, but also ensured I could barely breathe. The stage name I picked for myself was actually a name given to me by a friend to describe the crazy, fun, uninhibited person I become when I drink: Tina Tornado. I was nervous throughout the performance but I felt a wave of exhilaration. On my way home I kept giggling to myself reflecting back on the awesome thing I had just done
23. Drink a glass of champagne once a week. I got this idea at work one day when we were filming at a jewelry store and they popped a bottle at the end of the workday. I thought it was such a great way to make an ordinary day feel a little special.
27. Cook at least once a week. I had become so wrapped up with work that I allowed myself to become incredibly lazy once I got home. (Well, lazier than usual.) I forgot how much cooking calmed me down and how much pleasure I derived from creating something delicious.
29. Don’t buy any more shoes until you repair the ones you have. Ha! Who am I kidding? I didn’t accomplish this. I failed at this the minute I got an email from Piperlime informing me of some sale, which was approximately one week.
30. Throw epic 30th birthday party. I wasn’t going to do this but the more I thought about it the more I liked the idea of gathering my friends and family and buying them all a round or two. I can’t say what I ended up with was epic but it was pretty special.
So what made this birthday feel different? I guess I could say it was the time. I spent so much of my twenties trying to figure out things-- the world, myself, my path—always unsure of whatever answer I came close to. Each experience, whether a hurdle or an achievement, got me closer not to an exact answer, but to the knowledge that an exact answer wasn’t necessary, to the knowledge that it’s ok to get a little lost from time to time.
I am at a point where I am confident that if I get lost I know I have the capacity to find my way again. That confidence was not something I had in my youth, and it was only a product of getting miserably lost.
When I was listening the tattoo artist tell me about her cancer she noticed something about me and figured that I was listening so intently, so calmly because I had gone through a similar experience. In a way I had. Luckily, the experience wasn’t cancer, but it was something that made me realize sometimes shitty things happen in life. You can’t find a reason for it so you just have to accept it, not reluctantly but in a way that allows you to propel forward. When you focus not on the unfairness of life—and it can be terribly unfair—nor on the feeling of being lost, but rather the small joys, the ability to cross off items from a silly to do list, the quotidian, all the minutiae that make up your life, that, while seeming complex, is actually so very simple, that’s when aging becomes a beautiful thing. We are born, we live, we die. I feel lucky to be a part of it all.
A Story to Tell
I heard an incredible story on Sunday. I was at [Tattoo Parlor] chatting with the artist Sue on the design of the tattoo she was about to put on me. It was meant to be a sugar skull to commemorate my grandmothers. We were talking about what she would draw in the eyes when she casually mentioned that she was going into surgery in the coming week. I asked her what the surgery was for when she said, “I have stage four breast cancer.”
About two years ago she found a lump in her breast. Breasts are generally lumpy but this one felt different. This one didn’t move around like the rest of the tissue normally found in a boob. She was also experiencing odd health symptoms that signaled to her that something was off. She went to the doctor to get the news she knew she was inevitably going to have to hear: she has cancer.
It was an aggressive cancer, already a melanoma by the time it was found. Survivors of cancer themselves, Sue’s parents offered their moral support. Unfortunately, though, because her parents were also affected by the disease, it probably meant that Sue was a carrier of the hereditary gene that determined whether or not her cancer would also affect other parts of her body. She underwent testing and found that she was in fact a carrier of this gene. As a carrier she had an increased risk of developing certain types of cancer including ovarian, cervical, uterine, pancreatic, and colon cancer. The genetic mutation didn’t guarantee that she would have to battle cancer but it didn’t mean that she wouldn’t have to, either. She chose to undergo a double mastectomy and a hysterectomy and start receiving chemotherapy to increase her likelihood of survival.
The removal of her breasts and uterus sent her into premature menopause. Unlike with menopause, where estrogen levels drop gradually, Sue’s estrogen levels decreased sharply. Lacking the main producers of estrogen—her ovaries and breasts– she began to experience hot flashes and drastic mood swings, her body becoming more fragile due to weakened bones. The chemotherapy she was receiving was also creating a shock to her system, although she didn’t experience the same hair loss others usually do. But the cancer kept spreading.
Cancer was found in her lymph nodes. Of the 14 that were removed, nine of them had cancerous cells. The removal of her lymph nodes made it even harder for her to fight off infections, delivering another blow to the general condition of her body. Because her body had trouble healing, Sue could not get breast implants after her double mastectomy. She instead opted to use her own tissue from her abdomen to form the two nipple-less lumps that would become the stand-ins for her breasts. This surgery left scars on her belly that she said look like train tracks, and an all-new belly button. She chose to cover up some of the scar tissue with a tattoo of a tiger.
After two arduous years, Sue went in to get an MRI of her brain. Doctors found a mass that, while not cancerous at the moment, would eventually become a melanoma. The silver lining of this recent news was that the mass is in her pons. The pons regulates swallowing, bladder control, hearing, equilibrium, taste, posture, sleep and respiration. If the mass were in another part of her brain, say her frontal lobe, she would experience changes in her personality. A mass in the pons meant that she would likely die in her sleep, foregoing the pain and suffering that generally accompanies brain cancer.
I sat there listening, occasionally asking a question, while she drew my tattoo and revealed the details of her life. She said she’s usually reluctant to share her story with people, often finding that the topic makes them uncomfortable, making them question their own mortality. She sees that people try to find answers and solutions to the unsavory details, hoping that whatever they suggest ends up being the magic key that fixes things. But there is no fix. There is just a life to live, which she’s chosen to spend with what’s familiar to her: her family, her friends, and tattooing. What she likes best about tattooing is knowing that a bit of her is going to carry on in the form of the artwork she puts on people’s bodies.
When I first showed up to the parlor I was upset that I had to wait so long to get the tattoo started. I had made the appointment weeks prior and thought the tattoo would have been designed by the time I walked through the door that night. As I listened to her story I started wishing I had gotten there even earlier, had more time to really talk to her and hear more of her story. I was amazed at how calmly she told me these details, with hardly an air of sentiment. That’s not to say she was blasé about her fate but rather seemed to accept the path that lay in front of her. She knew her time was limited, and she knew there was nothing she could do. That was her reality, but instead of being encumbered by it, it seemed to set her free. I left [Tattoo Parlor] late Sunday night with a new tattoo and Sue’s story, proud to have been permanently marked-- in more ways than one-- by the woman with absolute bravery in the face of certain death.
About two years ago she found a lump in her breast. Breasts are generally lumpy but this one felt different. This one didn’t move around like the rest of the tissue normally found in a boob. She was also experiencing odd health symptoms that signaled to her that something was off. She went to the doctor to get the news she knew she was inevitably going to have to hear: she has cancer.
It was an aggressive cancer, already a melanoma by the time it was found. Survivors of cancer themselves, Sue’s parents offered their moral support. Unfortunately, though, because her parents were also affected by the disease, it probably meant that Sue was a carrier of the hereditary gene that determined whether or not her cancer would also affect other parts of her body. She underwent testing and found that she was in fact a carrier of this gene. As a carrier she had an increased risk of developing certain types of cancer including ovarian, cervical, uterine, pancreatic, and colon cancer. The genetic mutation didn’t guarantee that she would have to battle cancer but it didn’t mean that she wouldn’t have to, either. She chose to undergo a double mastectomy and a hysterectomy and start receiving chemotherapy to increase her likelihood of survival.
The removal of her breasts and uterus sent her into premature menopause. Unlike with menopause, where estrogen levels drop gradually, Sue’s estrogen levels decreased sharply. Lacking the main producers of estrogen—her ovaries and breasts– she began to experience hot flashes and drastic mood swings, her body becoming more fragile due to weakened bones. The chemotherapy she was receiving was also creating a shock to her system, although she didn’t experience the same hair loss others usually do. But the cancer kept spreading.
Cancer was found in her lymph nodes. Of the 14 that were removed, nine of them had cancerous cells. The removal of her lymph nodes made it even harder for her to fight off infections, delivering another blow to the general condition of her body. Because her body had trouble healing, Sue could not get breast implants after her double mastectomy. She instead opted to use her own tissue from her abdomen to form the two nipple-less lumps that would become the stand-ins for her breasts. This surgery left scars on her belly that she said look like train tracks, and an all-new belly button. She chose to cover up some of the scar tissue with a tattoo of a tiger.
After two arduous years, Sue went in to get an MRI of her brain. Doctors found a mass that, while not cancerous at the moment, would eventually become a melanoma. The silver lining of this recent news was that the mass is in her pons. The pons regulates swallowing, bladder control, hearing, equilibrium, taste, posture, sleep and respiration. If the mass were in another part of her brain, say her frontal lobe, she would experience changes in her personality. A mass in the pons meant that she would likely die in her sleep, foregoing the pain and suffering that generally accompanies brain cancer.
I sat there listening, occasionally asking a question, while she drew my tattoo and revealed the details of her life. She said she’s usually reluctant to share her story with people, often finding that the topic makes them uncomfortable, making them question their own mortality. She sees that people try to find answers and solutions to the unsavory details, hoping that whatever they suggest ends up being the magic key that fixes things. But there is no fix. There is just a life to live, which she’s chosen to spend with what’s familiar to her: her family, her friends, and tattooing. What she likes best about tattooing is knowing that a bit of her is going to carry on in the form of the artwork she puts on people’s bodies.
When I first showed up to the parlor I was upset that I had to wait so long to get the tattoo started. I had made the appointment weeks prior and thought the tattoo would have been designed by the time I walked through the door that night. As I listened to her story I started wishing I had gotten there even earlier, had more time to really talk to her and hear more of her story. I was amazed at how calmly she told me these details, with hardly an air of sentiment. That’s not to say she was blasé about her fate but rather seemed to accept the path that lay in front of her. She knew her time was limited, and she knew there was nothing she could do. That was her reality, but instead of being encumbered by it, it seemed to set her free. I left [Tattoo Parlor] late Sunday night with a new tattoo and Sue’s story, proud to have been permanently marked-- in more ways than one-- by the woman with absolute bravery in the face of certain death.
Simply Having a Wonderful Christmastime in NYC
The locations above are some of the places I like to go to get into the Christmas spirit. They are as follows:
1. Union Square Christmas Market, 2 & 3. Pete's Tavern, 4. Gramercy Park, 5. 30 Rock, 6. Wolman Rink, 7. The Plaza, 8. Fifth Avenue, 9. Cartier, 10. Saks Fifth Avenue windows, 11. The tree at Rockefeller Center (but only on a weekday or late at night to avoid the crowds), 12 & 13. Lincoln Center, 14. Christmas trees!
1. Union Square Christmas Market, 2 & 3. Pete's Tavern, 4. Gramercy Park, 5. 30 Rock, 6. Wolman Rink, 7. The Plaza, 8. Fifth Avenue, 9. Cartier, 10. Saks Fifth Avenue windows, 11. The tree at Rockefeller Center (but only on a weekday or late at night to avoid the crowds), 12 & 13. Lincoln Center, 14. Christmas trees!
21 years ago my mother, my sister and I moved from Puerto Rico to upstate New York. We were a tiny team of three leaving the familiar comforts of home for a new and strange land. We moved on December 14 so the move also meant we’d have to find a new way to spend the holidays. In Puerto Rico we had a large extended family with whom to share some pernil and arroz con gandules, to sing the familiar songs of the parrandas, and to toast to the new year. In New York we had us. Granted, the three of us are all awesome but us didn’t include my grandmother and her cooking, or my grandfather in a Santa hat, or my brothers, or father, or cousins, or the myriad of people that we would visit or would visit us with friendly smiles and open arms. (And usually food. Oh the food.) Instead we had to adapt.
At first I was thrilled with Christmas in New York; Home Alone was my favorite movie at the time and I wanted to be in this land where the McCallisters live. I wanted to see the big houses that have attics and basements (not a thing in Puerto Rico), I wanted a new wardrobe that consisted of boots and coats and scarves, and, most of all, I wanted to see the snow. The first time I saw snow was a thrilling experience. Here was this thing that I had only experienced through the movies and now it was real and in my hand. I made my first snowball and proudly brought it to my mother, who was still laying in the warm bed. That first winter was filled with sleigh rides and snowmen and hot chocolate and watching TV by a warm fire, all first-time experiences that I found exhilarating and exotic. But despite the fun we were having, that first Christmas day felt very strange and eerie to me. It was somber, a stark contrast from the cacophony I was used to. That morning after opening presents our isolation from the rest of our family became abundantly clear to me. We usually would get ourselves dressed up, take a picture in front of the tree, and head out to our grandparents house for the festivities that would no doubt include enough food to feed a small village and heated debates about sports and politics. Not this year. Or in the many years that followed. Some years we were fortunate enough to share the holiday with another family or have visitors from home, but mostly it was just the three of us. We built our own little traditions like having mom make chocolate chip pancakes after opening presents or watching one of the movies we received as a gift, but to me something was missing. Where was the merriment I expected this holiday to be filled with? Don’t get me wrong, we had a happy household, but that happiness always had a slight twinge of loneliness. To me, this holiday was one to be shared with as many people as possible, and I just had the two. Things started to change when I moved to New York City. For starters it is really difficult to feel isolated in this city. You are always surrounded by other people, and it is nearly impossible to go out into the public and not have at least one human interaction. On days when you want to be left alone this can be a bad thing, especially since said human interaction is not necessarily a positive one. But around the holidays things seem to change. The curmudgeons (myself included) become more cheery. People lift their heads up and take notice of one another, doors are held open, strollers are hoisted up stairs, offers of assistance are extended to strangers, and pleases and thank yous are abound. Something about the holidays creates a shift in people. Maybe the self-reflection that occurs at the end of the year makes people aware of our similarities and all our individual humanness. Maybe other people also believe that the holidays are for sharing the feeling of goodwill. Maybe it’s the eggnog. For this New Yorker it’s the beauty of the city. Come December it seems to transform from the dark, dreary, and gritty concrete jungle I know and love into this magical, light-filled wonderland. The same feeling I had when I first saw snow is how I feel when I walk the streets of New York at Christmastime. I love to see the trees strewn with strings of lights, people carrying shopping bags filled with gifts for loved ones, store windows decorated in greens and reds and golds and silvers, little markets with handmade goods pop up in the public squares, the smells of burning firewood and cinnamon wafting through the air. And don’t even get me started on the Christmas tress being sold on the sidewalks. The smell alone makes me so happy I want to stop and hump every tree I see, digging my nose deep into the branches, inhaling the spruce musky goodness. Walking the streets of New York during the holidays I feel like I’ve entered into a movie world, where things are perfect and anything is possible. It’s hard to be bitter. It’s hard to notice the things and people that are missing when you look around and realize all the good things you have in spades. I have the great fortune to live in this wonderful city and share it with people whose goodness constantly surprises me. I am fortunate enough to have a family that has finally come to grips with my controlling nature and lets me host Christmas each year in my apartment. This year I will make dinner for them, stuffing their faces with the half Puerto Rican, half American menu I’ve prepared for them, and get them properly sauced before going to bed. In the morning we will wake up and open presents while sipping on champagne, my mom will make her chocolate chip pancakes and we will eat them in front of the TV while Elf or Home Alone or Die Hard or Christmas Vacation plays. It’s simple, it’s quiet, it’s all I need. |
Some music I listen to to get me in the Christmas spirit. Obviously I like jazzy renditions:
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Gift Ideas
Below are some items that I consider to be good gifts. With the exception of the beer making kit, I can attest to the awesomeness of all these items. And they're all under $100.
Hungry? Thirsty? Good, 'cause I have some recipes.
My Christmas Menu:
Main
Arroz con gandules (rice with pigeon peas)
Roasted Brussels sprouts
Creamed cauliflower
Dessert
Baked apples
Drinks
Old Fashioned
Mulled wine
For these recipes visit my recipes page above or click on the picture to the left to be redirected.
Main
Arroz con gandules (rice with pigeon peas)
Roasted Brussels sprouts
Creamed cauliflower
Dessert
Baked apples
Drinks
Old Fashioned
Mulled wine
For these recipes visit my recipes page above or click on the picture to the left to be redirected.
A New Yorker's Guide to the 2012 Election: House of Representatives Edition
It is said that Puerto Rico’s national sport is politics. I mostly paid no attention to such things because I grew up in the rare Puerto Rican household where politics were avoided. My mother believed politics and religion too contentious as topics to discuss freely with company or even with close family members. Strong differences of opinion tended to polarize members of my family to the extent that they wouldn’t talk to each other for periods of time. They’d eventually make up but it gave my mother the impression it was best to steer clear of such topics and stick to mostly scatological talk.
For that reason, I’ve managed to avoid politics for a majority of my life, never really having an opinion on them because I never informed myself enough on policies and rhetoric. Eventually, though, that part of me that is tremendously opinionated and likes to know things, lots of things, got the best of me. Being a resident of New York City didn’t help matters much either. Or that the policies that are currently on the table with candidates—from Presidential to Senatorial to Representatives—have the ability to affect me so directly. Congratulations, politicians, you have my attention. But I, like most people, have been focusing most of that attention on the Presidential race, ignorant of the candidates that are running for the House of Representatives.
Last year the House was meant to vote on raising the debt ceiling. The House is the only body that has the power to borrow money on the credit of the United States. (They are also the only body that originates bills to raise revenue or impose taxes.) The debt ceiling is basically the maximum amount of money the government can borrow in credit in order to pay things like wars and Federal programs and reduce their budget deficit when the revenue they accumulate (taxes) isn’t enough to pay for things. A vote to raise the debt ceiling is done to continue spending that has already been approved by Congress and the President. The Government Accountability Office explained it this way: “The debt limit does not control or limit the ability of the federal government to run deficits or incur obligations. Rather, it is a limit on the ability to pay obligations already incurred.” So when we reached our spending limit, the House was meant to vote on raising the debt ceiling so our government could continue paying for things, otherwise they need to immediately put a stop to spending resulting in a government shut down. When debating the increase in the debt ceiling, Republicans—and some Democrats—wanted the increase to be coupled with a plan to reduce the growth of the debt. The problem arose when the two wings couldn’t agree on the ways these cuts should be made. Republicans did not want any increases in taxes (which would have increased revenue and aided in decreasing the debt) and proposed instead large spending cuts (cutting government-funded programs). Democrats favored tax increases with smaller spending cuts. Tea Party members were the assholes putting pressure on the more moderate Republicans telling them either it’s large and immediate spending cuts or fuck you. The two parties debated so long our government almost defaulted on their legal obligations like paying Social Security and Medicare benefits, military salaries, interest on the debt, and many other things. Such bickering, in turn, caused a decrease in confidence in our government, creating anxiety among our investors (local and international) and causing them to take their money elsewhere. Republicans have also used this stalemate to say that if you want a President they will work with we have to elect Romney. I, for one, don't readily cave to threats made by bullies.
The debt ceiling debacle should highlight the many important reasons why we need to fix the way the House of Representatives is currently working. It is meant to represent its constituents and have the best interests of the public in mind. Instead, the House has become more and more partisan, looking for ways to give a boost to their respective political parties. District maps are drawn so that a district is made up of a very similar demographic, ensuring that said district stays one party for as many years as possible. When a district is composed of the same types of people the person representing it is less likely to try to please someone with a different opinion. Also, alliances are made within the House to get someone in your good graces (you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours), and Representatives generally vote as leadership directs.
The introduction of these Tea Partiers has also had a negative impact in the way the House ultimately functions. Members of the Tea Party are very far right leaning and are not known for their abilities to compromise. Republicans are meant to be fiscally conservative but these Tea Partiers have also come to define Republicans as socially conservative. Instead of focusing on issues that matter and help our government run more smoothly, they busy their time with proposing bullshit legislature dealing with social issues like abortion, contraception and gay marriage. What irks me the most is that members of the Tea Party advocate a strict adherence to the US Constitution while also completely ignoring some of the most basic and inalienable bullet points contained within. Like “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.” This means we can’t pass laws based on what it says in one particular religious book, be it the Koran, Torah, or even the Bible. And yet there they are trying to say we need to do such and such a thing because it says so in the bible. I’m sorry, but that’s the reason why YOU need to do such and such a thing, don’t tack me on to your bigoted religious “morals”.
So what can we do as a people to reverse this dysfunction? Hold your Representatives accountable. Try and see the other side. Elect people on their intelligence and savvy and their ability to work well with the other side. But most of all, stay informed. We live in an age of information and yet somehow a majority of our population is grossly ignorant to the facts. Why is that? I understand “news” organizations have become more and more partisan, reporting opinions rather than facts, but it is our duty to combat this and call bullshit on those that insist on slinging it.
To help the situation, I’ve created a handy dandy chart outlining all the men and women running for the House of Representatives. Read the facts and decide who you like best. I also encourage you guys to further research the person within your district and get more information if what I provided is not sufficient. If you have trouble reading the print (what, you don't have a loupe?) here is the PDF version of the file. Also, if you're unsure exactly what district you're in, or if you live outside the New York metro area, here is the map of New York with all the districts. Make sure you are on the 2012 map as district lines have been redrawn.
For that reason, I’ve managed to avoid politics for a majority of my life, never really having an opinion on them because I never informed myself enough on policies and rhetoric. Eventually, though, that part of me that is tremendously opinionated and likes to know things, lots of things, got the best of me. Being a resident of New York City didn’t help matters much either. Or that the policies that are currently on the table with candidates—from Presidential to Senatorial to Representatives—have the ability to affect me so directly. Congratulations, politicians, you have my attention. But I, like most people, have been focusing most of that attention on the Presidential race, ignorant of the candidates that are running for the House of Representatives.
Last year the House was meant to vote on raising the debt ceiling. The House is the only body that has the power to borrow money on the credit of the United States. (They are also the only body that originates bills to raise revenue or impose taxes.) The debt ceiling is basically the maximum amount of money the government can borrow in credit in order to pay things like wars and Federal programs and reduce their budget deficit when the revenue they accumulate (taxes) isn’t enough to pay for things. A vote to raise the debt ceiling is done to continue spending that has already been approved by Congress and the President. The Government Accountability Office explained it this way: “The debt limit does not control or limit the ability of the federal government to run deficits or incur obligations. Rather, it is a limit on the ability to pay obligations already incurred.” So when we reached our spending limit, the House was meant to vote on raising the debt ceiling so our government could continue paying for things, otherwise they need to immediately put a stop to spending resulting in a government shut down. When debating the increase in the debt ceiling, Republicans—and some Democrats—wanted the increase to be coupled with a plan to reduce the growth of the debt. The problem arose when the two wings couldn’t agree on the ways these cuts should be made. Republicans did not want any increases in taxes (which would have increased revenue and aided in decreasing the debt) and proposed instead large spending cuts (cutting government-funded programs). Democrats favored tax increases with smaller spending cuts. Tea Party members were the assholes putting pressure on the more moderate Republicans telling them either it’s large and immediate spending cuts or fuck you. The two parties debated so long our government almost defaulted on their legal obligations like paying Social Security and Medicare benefits, military salaries, interest on the debt, and many other things. Such bickering, in turn, caused a decrease in confidence in our government, creating anxiety among our investors (local and international) and causing them to take their money elsewhere. Republicans have also used this stalemate to say that if you want a President they will work with we have to elect Romney. I, for one, don't readily cave to threats made by bullies.
The debt ceiling debacle should highlight the many important reasons why we need to fix the way the House of Representatives is currently working. It is meant to represent its constituents and have the best interests of the public in mind. Instead, the House has become more and more partisan, looking for ways to give a boost to their respective political parties. District maps are drawn so that a district is made up of a very similar demographic, ensuring that said district stays one party for as many years as possible. When a district is composed of the same types of people the person representing it is less likely to try to please someone with a different opinion. Also, alliances are made within the House to get someone in your good graces (you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours), and Representatives generally vote as leadership directs.
The introduction of these Tea Partiers has also had a negative impact in the way the House ultimately functions. Members of the Tea Party are very far right leaning and are not known for their abilities to compromise. Republicans are meant to be fiscally conservative but these Tea Partiers have also come to define Republicans as socially conservative. Instead of focusing on issues that matter and help our government run more smoothly, they busy their time with proposing bullshit legislature dealing with social issues like abortion, contraception and gay marriage. What irks me the most is that members of the Tea Party advocate a strict adherence to the US Constitution while also completely ignoring some of the most basic and inalienable bullet points contained within. Like “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.” This means we can’t pass laws based on what it says in one particular religious book, be it the Koran, Torah, or even the Bible. And yet there they are trying to say we need to do such and such a thing because it says so in the bible. I’m sorry, but that’s the reason why YOU need to do such and such a thing, don’t tack me on to your bigoted religious “morals”.
So what can we do as a people to reverse this dysfunction? Hold your Representatives accountable. Try and see the other side. Elect people on their intelligence and savvy and their ability to work well with the other side. But most of all, stay informed. We live in an age of information and yet somehow a majority of our population is grossly ignorant to the facts. Why is that? I understand “news” organizations have become more and more partisan, reporting opinions rather than facts, but it is our duty to combat this and call bullshit on those that insist on slinging it.
To help the situation, I’ve created a handy dandy chart outlining all the men and women running for the House of Representatives. Read the facts and decide who you like best. I also encourage you guys to further research the person within your district and get more information if what I provided is not sufficient. If you have trouble reading the print (what, you don't have a loupe?) here is the PDF version of the file. Also, if you're unsure exactly what district you're in, or if you live outside the New York metro area, here is the map of New York with all the districts. Make sure you are on the 2012 map as district lines have been redrawn.
Hakeem Jeffries, 8th DistrictJeffries wrote and sponsored the bill (that is now a law) that eliminated the stop and frisk database used by the NYPD
Jerrold Nadler, 10th DistrictI want this guy to be my Congressman. Let's see: he was named Assemblymember of the Year by The National Organization for Women, opposed Clinton's impeachment, helped pass bills granting economic aid to the families of those killed on 9/11, opposed tax breaks for high-income earners. and on and on
Carolyn Maloney, 12th DistrictShe has long been a champion for women and women's rights. She introduced the Breastfeeding Promotion Act to prohibit the firing of women for breastfeeding in the workplace; authored legislature to provide federal funding to clear the backlog of rape kits; and introduced the Childcare Affordability Act to increase access to childcare by providing tax credits. Her appearance on the Colbert Report was a bit more successful.
Joseph Crowley, 14th DistrictIn 2011 he stood up on the House floor to condemn the GOP...without saying a word. It's a speechless speech and it can be seen here. It's pretty great and ballsy.
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Allan Jennings, 5th DistrictThis guy, oh this guy. He has been charged with sexually harassing five female subordinates. Not only did he call his dilemma a battle between good (him) and evil (them), but he also claimed that he couldn't have possibly harassed these women because some of them "couldn't attract a howling wolf in the middle of a wilderness."
Yvette Clarke, 9th DistrictOh, Yvette, how I wanted to like you. I want to be on your side, honest. But then you went on the Colbert Report and made the odd claim that there had been slavery in Brooklyn in 1898. It was a very strange interview. At least she loves Brooklyn. The clip can be seen here.
Michael Grimm, 11th DistrictGrimm has done some badass and important things in his time as an FBI agent. As a Congressman, though, he hasn't been the most honest person. He is currently under investigation due to accusations that he accepted contributions in exchange for his assistance in obtaining a green card. And has been a bit of a bully to his opponent calling him a failed actor that lives in his father's basement. (His opponent does live with his father as he's going through a divorce.)
Charles Rangel, 13th DistrictIn 2010 he was censured by fellow House members for ethics violations including renting four below-market apartments in Harlem, using his Congressional parking as storage (free parking needs to be declared to the IRS), and failure to report income from the rental of his beachside villa in the Dominican Republic.
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But the worst of them all is this guy...
During hurricane Sandy there was a user on Twitter spreading rumors disguised as breaking news. He claimed things like the NYSE was flooded, that conED shut off electricity preemptively, and that governor Cuomo was stranded on the island and was seeking refuge. Most of what he posted was retweeted with vigor, some by major news organizations. It was later found out that the man behind the tweets was Shashank Tripathi, the campaign manager of Republican nominee Christopher Wight, of the 12th District. Unlucky break for Christopher to have such a douche nozzle on his team. Wight seems to be one of the few Republicans that is fiscally conservative but not socially conservative, something we desperately need in the House.
A Few Things to Know Before Coming to New York
People think New Yorkers are rude. I say we're just misunderstood. Part of that is we have unwritten laws that we expect all who enter our tiny island to know. The problem is few guidebooks inform visitors of these laws and they all go and do stupid shit like spend an entire vacation in Times Square or walk while looking upwards in a daze. Ugh. Then you'll get a "crazy" New Yorker saying things like "ugh, move!" or "umbrellas up." Those may or may not be actual things I've yelled at tourists. And, yes, we can always tell when someone is a tourist. It's almost as if everyone got together and decided that a uniform is required for traveling: jeans, sweatshirt or t-shirt, sneakers, bad haircut. Pumas if you're from Italy, Uggs or flip flops if you're American, a backpack worn in the front if you're from anywhere in Europe. This may sound rude but dressing like you live here will change the way people treat you, like they take you more seriously as a person. The other incredibly important thing to understand is that our sidewalks are our streets and there are traffic laws for navigating on foot. They inlcude:
Our other means of transportation-- the subway-- also has a general set of rules:
I've also enlisted the help of other fellow New Yorkers to give their words of wisdom to visitors and newcomers. Click on the pictures to see the advice each person gave. Knowing these simple tips will make your visit that much more pleasant and might give you a more genuine glimpse of New York.
- walk fast. If you want to saunter about stick to the right side of the sidewalk. If you need to check something, pull over entirely to an area where people aren't walking.
- If it's raining and you're carrying an umbrella, lift it up when you walk past other people lest you poke someone in the face.
- don't stand idly at the top of the stairs of the subway entrance.
- don't walk more than two people wide. Sidewalk space is limited so don't take all of it up by walking arm-in-arm with every member of your family. I mean, unless you want me to turn it into a game of Red Rover and try to break the link.
- the right side of the escalator is for standing, the left side for walking. Leave the left side clear, damnit, or I will kill you!
Our other means of transportation-- the subway-- also has a general set of rules:
- don't hug the subway pole. I don't want to touch you or the pole you've just rubbed your whole body on.
- stand to the side of the doors and let people get out of the subway car before stepping in.
- never press the red button that is meant to stop the train. (This might sound obvious but I did see a tourist almost hit it once because someone got left behind at the last station.)
- on most trains "Brooklyn bound" means that it's heading south and "Queens bound" or "Bronx bound" means that it's heading north. If you still head in the wrong direction, fret not; get off at the next station and switch. Easy peasy.
- be nice and give up your seat to pregnant women and the elderly.
- if a subway car is totally empty while others are not, there's a reason. There's usually a particularly smelly homeless person or the A/C isn't working or someone's dog took a huge dump or someone vomited. Do not get into these train cars.
I've also enlisted the help of other fellow New Yorkers to give their words of wisdom to visitors and newcomers. Click on the pictures to see the advice each person gave. Knowing these simple tips will make your visit that much more pleasant and might give you a more genuine glimpse of New York.
Shopping for Produce: summer edition
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I live in a neighborhood that is known as a food desert, which means good produce is hard to find. Because of that, I love going to the Union Square market and walking around, seeing what's in season, being inspired by the possibilities of things I could make with all the fresh fruit and vegetables. I decided to ask my friend and chef David Diaz to come with me so I could ask him a little about the produce that's in season, what he loves to cook with, and why the people who think organic food tastes better are kidding themselves. He did say, though, that organic eggs are leaps and bounds better than their non-organic counterparts. I would take his word on this as he is a known ooviphile. Yeah, I just made that word up but it certainly describes David Diaz.
When I worked in the restaurant business I noticed that when spring time rolled around chefs would geek out because it meant that ramps were finally in season. I wondered what were some of the ingredients that are great for a chef or home cook to pick up at the market and what would be some nice things to make with them. These are some of the things we came up with: Tomatoes There is a huge variety of tomatoes to be found in the farmers market and a nice array of possibilities of what to do with them. You can buy regular beefsteak tomatoes, heirloom tomatoes, sun gold tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, these little tomatoes that look bruised but are actually super flavorful. You can, of course, make some gazpacho or a tomato sauce but Diaz suggested making a simple salad of tomato, burata, with a drizzle of balsamic reduction and a sprinkle of fleur de sel. I also like to make a simple salad of tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, garlic, olive oil and vinegar. Some call this an Israeli salad or an Arab salad. Look for tomatoes that are firm but not hard, are not bruised and have a vibrant color. Corn I love corn but spent many years not being able to eat it on account of the braces I was forced to wear for 4 1/2 years. Corn is very versatile as you can play with its sweetness or savoriness, you can even turn it to ice cream. Chef Diaz told me of a dish he makes at Brasserie Beaumarchais, the restaurant where he is chef de cuisine, where he removes the corn from the cob, makes a stock from the cob, boils the corn in the corn stock and makes a puree out of it. Since the corn is starchy he uses it in place of cream in making this creamy mushroom sauce to be served on lobster. I sincerely miss this man's cooking. I personally love Mexican corn where you grill the corn, slather it with mayonnaise, sprinkle (re: cover) it with cotija cheese, add a little cayenne pepper and a squeeze of lime. I also like making seared scallops with sauteed corn, bacon, cherry tomatoes and a little bit of onion. Insanely good and simple. Summer squash Unlike their winter cousins, summer squash have a thin, edible skin and a much milder flavor. They are high in water content like mushrooms so if you saute them make sure to leave room for proper browning or else they essentially just end up steaming in their own liquid. I like to just slice them up and saute in butter and a bit of salt to taste. They were also a great addition to the couscous I made. You can also make a summer vegetable gratin with the squash, tomatoes, zucchini and eggplant. Swiss chard I first played with swiss chard years ago when I made a pizza bianca with sauteed swiss chard and again when I made a really great swiss chard gratin. (Confession: I love making gratins. It's cream, a bit of garlic, and lots of cheese, oh and some vegetable. So warm and comforting.) Fun story: years later I got a call from my sister telling me of a customer who thought swiss chard was a type of cheese and how ridiculous she thought that person was. Apparently my culinary exploits have turned her into a monster. A spoiled, culinary monster, and I couldn't be more proud. I plan to do this to all my siblings. Pick swiss chard with green leaves that are intact and make sure to rinse them of any dirt. They can be cooked in pretty much any way you would cook spinach, and you'll also end up with a much milder, crowd-pleasing flavor as chard is not as bitter as spinach. Peaches I love peaches. For whatever reason I find them to be sensual. They are also very versatile. They go great alone, with cheese, in pie, in salad, as a crumble, as ice cream, etc. I like to slice them up in wedges, crack some black pepper on them (sounds weird but so good), serve with some prosciutto and basil. So much better than prosciutto e melone. Pick ones that smell really fragrant; the more you can smell the peachiness of it the better it will taste. Make sure they aren't bruised but are also not hard; you don't want there to be a crisp when you bite them. There are so many great options of things to buy at the farmers market and generally if they have it it's because it's in season. I encourage you guys to wander around and see what strikes your fancy. If you have any questions you can ask the vendors and if you want inspiration for what to do with what you buy feel free to contact me. |
The Boobs of New York
from the awesome movie Everything You Wanted to Know About Sex
Breasts are once again causing a big commotion. Why can’t they just stay out of the spotlight? They could learn a thing or two from balls—they’re quiet and unassuming, and when was the last time you heard someone debate on what to do with them?
Breasts have been a source of contention, debate, speculation and admiration since their inception, which one can assume was the dawn of time. Their role in the world is greatly varied depending on whom you ask. Some look at them and see nutrition, some see a sexual object, others see art in the beautiful female form. There are women who bind their breasts to hide their female-ness and prevent unwanted attention. There are women who augment them to enhance their attractiveness. Women have burned their bras as a symbol of women’s liberation, both figurative and literal. Great attention has been paid to those who deviate from social expectations of how they should be displayed, whether it’s because they’re supported by a conical contraption or because a woman who has undergone a double mastectomy has decided to swim topless. Janet Jackson’s breast changed the way major events are televised. And let’s not forget Meatloaf’s attention-stealing pair in Fight Club. Now, Mayor Bloomberg has jumped on the breast bandwagon with Latch on NYC, a program that is meant to promote breastfeeding and turn a blind boob to formula.
This isn’t the first time the mayor has taken the initiative to “guide” his constituents down the right path. In 2002 he started his crusade against cigarettes by banning smoking indoors and increasing the tax on them. In 2005 it was trans fats that were banned in all restaurant kitchens. That was also the first big measure in his fight against obesity. By 2008 all chain restaurants were legally obligated to post the caloric count of all their food items. 2011 saw the ban of smoking in city parks, plazas and beaches. This summer he is looking to pass a ban on all sugary beverages over 16 ounces, and officially enact Latch on NYC, where access to baby formula will be restricted in order to promote breastfeeding.
Many citizens take issue with the mayor telling them what is best for them instead of being allowed to choose for themselves. Bloomberg’s bans have the potential of coming off as elitist policies enacted by someone who is far removed from the realities his constituents face. Many believe he is overstepping his boundaries. Maybe he is overstepping but there is no denying the efficacy of the bans he has put into place.
Part of the reason many of these policies have worked so well in making New Yorkers healthier is because the bans are usually coupled with opportunities. Bloomberg didn’t just take smoking away; he made it easier for smokers to quit. In New York you can call 311 to sign up to receive free nicotine patches or you can visit New York State Smokers’ Quitline to receive Nicotine Replacement Therapy (patches or gum) and the help from a Quit Coach to increase your chances of quitting successfully. Because of the ban and the aids to help people quit, adult smoking has dropped to an all time low of 14 percent. His fight against obesity is also a fight for healthier options. In addition to cutting back on the trans fats and sugary beverages, there has been an increase in farmers markets (especially in those zones labeled as food deserts); programs like Health Bucks have been enacted to make fresh produce more affordable; and there has been a push to make New Yorkers more physically active by adding more bike lanes, promoting programs like Summer Streets, where New Yorkers can partake in rollerblading, salsa dancing, rock climbing for free, and kicking off the Citi bike share program.
And therein lies my problem with Latch on NYC. While all these other crusades offer opportunities, this particular mission feels more like a finger wagging in the face of women who have just spent nine months growing a human being from scratch. The website states that the initiative was started to “support the mother’s decision to breastfeed.” This to me says, “We want to support your decision as long as it’s the decision we would make.” Shouldn’t we put an initiative in place that supports a mother’s right to choose whichever way she believes is best for her and her child? I fully understand that breast is best and offers short- and long-term benefits for the mother and child, and considering that 90 percent of NYC mothers start breastfeeding, I think they understand it too. It seems that the ones who don’t understand the real issues are those who enacted the initiative in the first place. Women don’t just need to be made aware of the benefits of breast milk; they need those added programs that would help women to breastfeed longer. By the two-month mark, only 31 percent of NYC mothers are still exclusively breastfeeding. Chances are this drop off is not a consequence of lenient formula distribution or lack of information. In all likelihood, the drop off is a result of many little elements that make it more difficult for a woman to breastfeed exclusively for the recommended six months.
Shorter maternity leaves might be one of those little elements. Women from the lower socioeconomic spectrum usually can’t afford to take too much time away from work after giving birth. This means that to exclusively breast feed her child she would need to pump. Unfortunately, A) pumps are expensive, and B) few work places have areas that allow women to pump safely without the scrutiny and wondering eye of coworkers. Pumping also takes a lot of time depending on how much milk a mother produces. And we all know time is something all new mothers have in spades.
Sometimes women have problems producing breast milk or have issues with their baby latching on. It would help in this instance if Latch on NYC would make lactation consultants more accessible instead of making formula harder to obtain than bath salts. Maybe they could promote a program like Boob Bucks wherein you get two free consultations with a lactation specialist if you produce less than 30 ounces of boob juice a day. With their aid, milk would start flowing like wine as mothers watch their kids grow smarter by the suckle. That’s how breast milk works, right?
We also can’t discount that stress oftentimes adversely affects milk production. Maybe if we didn’t make women feel like horrible mothers, telling them that their kid won’t be as healthy and smart and will probably never be president/gold medalist/{insert ridiculous goal mothers have for their kids} if they’re not breast fed, then they might be able to relax for a God damn moment and actually be able to do that thing that should come naturally to them. And if it doesn’t come naturally to them, can we stop with the judginess? Does it really affect you if some mother somewhere is formula feeding her kid?
I’m hoping Latch on NYC just ends up being the beginning of this initiative. I hope that in time mothers will find it easier to breastfeed their babies, whether it’s because of easier access to lactation consultants, better maternity leaves, or more relaxed social views on breastfeeding in public (breast benches could be a thing, you guys). All I know is persecuting women and taking away their rights will not work in favor of the villagers with pitchforks in this city.
Breasts have been a source of contention, debate, speculation and admiration since their inception, which one can assume was the dawn of time. Their role in the world is greatly varied depending on whom you ask. Some look at them and see nutrition, some see a sexual object, others see art in the beautiful female form. There are women who bind their breasts to hide their female-ness and prevent unwanted attention. There are women who augment them to enhance their attractiveness. Women have burned their bras as a symbol of women’s liberation, both figurative and literal. Great attention has been paid to those who deviate from social expectations of how they should be displayed, whether it’s because they’re supported by a conical contraption or because a woman who has undergone a double mastectomy has decided to swim topless. Janet Jackson’s breast changed the way major events are televised. And let’s not forget Meatloaf’s attention-stealing pair in Fight Club. Now, Mayor Bloomberg has jumped on the breast bandwagon with Latch on NYC, a program that is meant to promote breastfeeding and turn a blind boob to formula.
This isn’t the first time the mayor has taken the initiative to “guide” his constituents down the right path. In 2002 he started his crusade against cigarettes by banning smoking indoors and increasing the tax on them. In 2005 it was trans fats that were banned in all restaurant kitchens. That was also the first big measure in his fight against obesity. By 2008 all chain restaurants were legally obligated to post the caloric count of all their food items. 2011 saw the ban of smoking in city parks, plazas and beaches. This summer he is looking to pass a ban on all sugary beverages over 16 ounces, and officially enact Latch on NYC, where access to baby formula will be restricted in order to promote breastfeeding.
Many citizens take issue with the mayor telling them what is best for them instead of being allowed to choose for themselves. Bloomberg’s bans have the potential of coming off as elitist policies enacted by someone who is far removed from the realities his constituents face. Many believe he is overstepping his boundaries. Maybe he is overstepping but there is no denying the efficacy of the bans he has put into place.
Part of the reason many of these policies have worked so well in making New Yorkers healthier is because the bans are usually coupled with opportunities. Bloomberg didn’t just take smoking away; he made it easier for smokers to quit. In New York you can call 311 to sign up to receive free nicotine patches or you can visit New York State Smokers’ Quitline to receive Nicotine Replacement Therapy (patches or gum) and the help from a Quit Coach to increase your chances of quitting successfully. Because of the ban and the aids to help people quit, adult smoking has dropped to an all time low of 14 percent. His fight against obesity is also a fight for healthier options. In addition to cutting back on the trans fats and sugary beverages, there has been an increase in farmers markets (especially in those zones labeled as food deserts); programs like Health Bucks have been enacted to make fresh produce more affordable; and there has been a push to make New Yorkers more physically active by adding more bike lanes, promoting programs like Summer Streets, where New Yorkers can partake in rollerblading, salsa dancing, rock climbing for free, and kicking off the Citi bike share program.
And therein lies my problem with Latch on NYC. While all these other crusades offer opportunities, this particular mission feels more like a finger wagging in the face of women who have just spent nine months growing a human being from scratch. The website states that the initiative was started to “support the mother’s decision to breastfeed.” This to me says, “We want to support your decision as long as it’s the decision we would make.” Shouldn’t we put an initiative in place that supports a mother’s right to choose whichever way she believes is best for her and her child? I fully understand that breast is best and offers short- and long-term benefits for the mother and child, and considering that 90 percent of NYC mothers start breastfeeding, I think they understand it too. It seems that the ones who don’t understand the real issues are those who enacted the initiative in the first place. Women don’t just need to be made aware of the benefits of breast milk; they need those added programs that would help women to breastfeed longer. By the two-month mark, only 31 percent of NYC mothers are still exclusively breastfeeding. Chances are this drop off is not a consequence of lenient formula distribution or lack of information. In all likelihood, the drop off is a result of many little elements that make it more difficult for a woman to breastfeed exclusively for the recommended six months.
Shorter maternity leaves might be one of those little elements. Women from the lower socioeconomic spectrum usually can’t afford to take too much time away from work after giving birth. This means that to exclusively breast feed her child she would need to pump. Unfortunately, A) pumps are expensive, and B) few work places have areas that allow women to pump safely without the scrutiny and wondering eye of coworkers. Pumping also takes a lot of time depending on how much milk a mother produces. And we all know time is something all new mothers have in spades.
Sometimes women have problems producing breast milk or have issues with their baby latching on. It would help in this instance if Latch on NYC would make lactation consultants more accessible instead of making formula harder to obtain than bath salts. Maybe they could promote a program like Boob Bucks wherein you get two free consultations with a lactation specialist if you produce less than 30 ounces of boob juice a day. With their aid, milk would start flowing like wine as mothers watch their kids grow smarter by the suckle. That’s how breast milk works, right?
We also can’t discount that stress oftentimes adversely affects milk production. Maybe if we didn’t make women feel like horrible mothers, telling them that their kid won’t be as healthy and smart and will probably never be president/gold medalist/{insert ridiculous goal mothers have for their kids} if they’re not breast fed, then they might be able to relax for a God damn moment and actually be able to do that thing that should come naturally to them. And if it doesn’t come naturally to them, can we stop with the judginess? Does it really affect you if some mother somewhere is formula feeding her kid?
I’m hoping Latch on NYC just ends up being the beginning of this initiative. I hope that in time mothers will find it easier to breastfeed their babies, whether it’s because of easier access to lactation consultants, better maternity leaves, or more relaxed social views on breastfeeding in public (breast benches could be a thing, you guys). All I know is persecuting women and taking away their rights will not work in favor of the villagers with pitchforks in this city.
Unique Brunch
Of the little things I love in this world -- napping during a thunderstorm, people watching, pie -- brunches are near the top. There was a time when a Sunday brunch was something I dreaded, a time when I worked them and tended to the hungover and the hangry instead of sitting down with time on my hands and enjoying them. Now that I've shifted vocations I have the opportunity to enjoy brunch more frequently, indulging in the luxury of sleeping in, day drinking, eating food high in fat and comfort and doing things at an easy pace. Luckily, New York is a big brunch town with an abundance of restaurants peddling pancakes and mimosas. Most places take the easy route when putting together and executing a brunch menu -- eggs benedict, omelette, scrambled eggs, pancakes, waffles, oatmeal. While these are all fine options (and I do have a go-to spot for a really great traditional brunch) I do have the tendency to get bored and often wonder "what else is out there?" Here are a few great restaurants that have decided to have a little fun with their brunch and provide us with some items to break the gustatory monotony.
(With the exception of Miss Lily's, all the posts have multiple pictures so feel free to scroll through or play the slideshow.)
(With the exception of Miss Lily's, all the posts have multiple pictures so feel free to scroll through or play the slideshow.)
Extra Virgin
Oh man do I love Extra Virgin. If someone says, "let's do brunch," I instantly throw out Extra Virgin as an option. What I love so much about the brunch here is that they have something for everyone, ensuring that no matter who I bring or what I'm in the mood to eat all parties will leave satisfied. Chef Joey Fortunato's philosophy on food is "to make it really delicious without making it precious," which he achieves to great effect. I've made my way through the menu and I can confidently say it's all really delicious, nothing I would tell people to steer clear of. I will say, though, that there are always two items on the menu that somehow make it to the table (and my stomach) every time: the Basque scramble and the gorgonzola fondue, both incredibly unique and full of flavor. And they make a turkey burger that is actually flavorful and juicy with this insane porcini aioli that I started dipping everything into. Extra Virgin is located at 259 W 4th St in the West Village and is open for brunch from 11 AM to 4 PM on Saturdays and Sundays.
Oh man do I love Extra Virgin. If someone says, "let's do brunch," I instantly throw out Extra Virgin as an option. What I love so much about the brunch here is that they have something for everyone, ensuring that no matter who I bring or what I'm in the mood to eat all parties will leave satisfied. Chef Joey Fortunato's philosophy on food is "to make it really delicious without making it precious," which he achieves to great effect. I've made my way through the menu and I can confidently say it's all really delicious, nothing I would tell people to steer clear of. I will say, though, that there are always two items on the menu that somehow make it to the table (and my stomach) every time: the Basque scramble and the gorgonzola fondue, both incredibly unique and full of flavor. And they make a turkey burger that is actually flavorful and juicy with this insane porcini aioli that I started dipping everything into. Extra Virgin is located at 259 W 4th St in the West Village and is open for brunch from 11 AM to 4 PM on Saturdays and Sundays.
Joseph Leonard
I heard about Joseph Leonard through the Facebook or Instagram or something that someone posted a picture to. Anyway, social media can sometimes be a great thing because it led me to this West Village restaurant. It's a small place on the corner of Grove Street and Waverly Place and reminds me of a fancy luncheonette. It feels like a place where people go to have good food and a good time, the patrons at the bar invariably striking up a conversation with one another and perhaps sharing some food or a drink. Sous chef Shuai Wang put the brunch menu together with items that "are at least a little bit comforting and a little familiar." The food is not complicated, most dishes having just a handful of ingredients. But what he does with those ingredients is really satisfying and surprising in a way that makes you say "why didn't I think of that?" Take, for example, the country fried bacon. It is cooked, battered, fried and served up hot, salty, crunchy, spicy from the tabasco, with a drizzle of honey. It is sweet death on a plate, as in "kill me now, this is too good." Joseph Leonard does their brunch on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:30 AM until 3:30 PM but I recommend getting there earlier as the wait can get a bit long.
I heard about Joseph Leonard through the Facebook or Instagram or something that someone posted a picture to. Anyway, social media can sometimes be a great thing because it led me to this West Village restaurant. It's a small place on the corner of Grove Street and Waverly Place and reminds me of a fancy luncheonette. It feels like a place where people go to have good food and a good time, the patrons at the bar invariably striking up a conversation with one another and perhaps sharing some food or a drink. Sous chef Shuai Wang put the brunch menu together with items that "are at least a little bit comforting and a little familiar." The food is not complicated, most dishes having just a handful of ingredients. But what he does with those ingredients is really satisfying and surprising in a way that makes you say "why didn't I think of that?" Take, for example, the country fried bacon. It is cooked, battered, fried and served up hot, salty, crunchy, spicy from the tabasco, with a drizzle of honey. It is sweet death on a plate, as in "kill me now, this is too good." Joseph Leonard does their brunch on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:30 AM until 3:30 PM but I recommend getting there earlier as the wait can get a bit long.
Locanda Verde
This was the fanciest (and least wallet-friendly) of the brunch places I visited. The food, luckily, did not feel stuck up or contrived as you sometimes see in places that are located in the more upscale neighborhoods. This Tribeca haunt offers up a brunch with an Italian twist, serving dishes like wood-fired uova al forno with borlotti beans, mozzarella and black tuscan kale, and a breakfast stromboli with poached eggs, fennel sausage, spinach and strachiatelle. The bloody mary also gets the Italian treatment with some grappa in addition to the vodka, bay leaves and a skewer with a cube of mortadella and a peperoncini. With the food, drinks and atmosphere, I would say this would be a nice place to bring a date, or in my case, your mother. Brunch at Locanda Verde runs Saturdays and Sundays from 10 AM to 3 PM.
This was the fanciest (and least wallet-friendly) of the brunch places I visited. The food, luckily, did not feel stuck up or contrived as you sometimes see in places that are located in the more upscale neighborhoods. This Tribeca haunt offers up a brunch with an Italian twist, serving dishes like wood-fired uova al forno with borlotti beans, mozzarella and black tuscan kale, and a breakfast stromboli with poached eggs, fennel sausage, spinach and strachiatelle. The bloody mary also gets the Italian treatment with some grappa in addition to the vodka, bay leaves and a skewer with a cube of mortadella and a peperoncini. With the food, drinks and atmosphere, I would say this would be a nice place to bring a date, or in my case, your mother. Brunch at Locanda Verde runs Saturdays and Sundays from 10 AM to 3 PM.
Maharlika
Maharlika is a recently-opened Filipino restaurant in the East Village. Upon arrival the owner, Nicole, greets her guests and introduces them to the dishes and ingredients of the Philippines that they will encounter on the menu. Like my favorite cuisines, Filipino food consists of a lot of warm, comforting dishes born out of necessity and incorporates slow cooking and the less-than-desirable cuts of meat. Most Filipinos eat garlic fried rice with egg and meat of some sort like longganisa, a sweet, garlicky pork sausage, or tocino, cured pork shoulder. At Maharlika you can find the traditional Filipino breakfast along with twists on classics like eggs benigno, which uses spam, and eggs imelda, which are similar to eggs florentine with the taro root leaves replacing the spinach. Brunch is served Saturdays and Sundays from 11 AM to 4 PM.
Maharlika is a recently-opened Filipino restaurant in the East Village. Upon arrival the owner, Nicole, greets her guests and introduces them to the dishes and ingredients of the Philippines that they will encounter on the menu. Like my favorite cuisines, Filipino food consists of a lot of warm, comforting dishes born out of necessity and incorporates slow cooking and the less-than-desirable cuts of meat. Most Filipinos eat garlic fried rice with egg and meat of some sort like longganisa, a sweet, garlicky pork sausage, or tocino, cured pork shoulder. At Maharlika you can find the traditional Filipino breakfast along with twists on classics like eggs benigno, which uses spam, and eggs imelda, which are similar to eggs florentine with the taro root leaves replacing the spinach. Brunch is served Saturdays and Sundays from 11 AM to 4 PM.
Miss Lily's
Boy do I wish I had gone with more people to Miss Lily's. I decided to go one Sunday to this Soho spot by myself to check out the Jamaican version of brunch. With items like jerk pork belly hash, Jamaican rancheros, and curry lobster rolls I didn't know what to choose from but eventually settled on the traditional Jamaican breakfast as a way to introduce my taste buds to Miss Lily's. The whopping plate of food that arrived made me wish I had two stomachs. I still couldn't really tell you what ackee is but I can tell you it was insanely good, the saltfish adding a nice savoriness. I did learn that festivals are corn sticks similar to the Puerto Rican surullitos but a little sweeter with a slightly different texture but just as tasty. I did end up surrendering to the plate of food, unable to polish it off completely, it left me in pain and at the same time yearning for more. Brunch at Miss Lily's is on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 AM to 4:30 PM.
Boy do I wish I had gone with more people to Miss Lily's. I decided to go one Sunday to this Soho spot by myself to check out the Jamaican version of brunch. With items like jerk pork belly hash, Jamaican rancheros, and curry lobster rolls I didn't know what to choose from but eventually settled on the traditional Jamaican breakfast as a way to introduce my taste buds to Miss Lily's. The whopping plate of food that arrived made me wish I had two stomachs. I still couldn't really tell you what ackee is but I can tell you it was insanely good, the saltfish adding a nice savoriness. I did learn that festivals are corn sticks similar to the Puerto Rican surullitos but a little sweeter with a slightly different texture but just as tasty. I did end up surrendering to the plate of food, unable to polish it off completely, it left me in pain and at the same time yearning for more. Brunch at Miss Lily's is on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 AM to 4:30 PM.
Saro Bistro
This is a cute little restaurant located in the Lower East Side and run by the Chef Eran Elhalal and his wife, Jackie. The brunch menu has a Balkan spin (bet you didn't know that was a thing) with items like satarash, a chunky pepper relish topped with two eggs; savory pie filled with ingredients like five-hour baked beans or spinach and cheese; and ingredients like sweet peppers, paprika and kefir. In the winter they serve pasuji, a dish of slowly baked beans topped with eggs and served with a homemade spicy sausage sure to revive anyone from a hangover or warm those winter blues. Eating at Saro you get this feeling like you're consuming something from your childhood, like something your grandmother made for you and then you remember you didn't grow up in the Balkans (unless you actually did). "Even though a lot of the food is very old, the concept is to introduce people to something new," the chef said of his native cuisine. Saro serves brunch Saturdays and Sundays from 11 AM to 4 PM.
This is a cute little restaurant located in the Lower East Side and run by the Chef Eran Elhalal and his wife, Jackie. The brunch menu has a Balkan spin (bet you didn't know that was a thing) with items like satarash, a chunky pepper relish topped with two eggs; savory pie filled with ingredients like five-hour baked beans or spinach and cheese; and ingredients like sweet peppers, paprika and kefir. In the winter they serve pasuji, a dish of slowly baked beans topped with eggs and served with a homemade spicy sausage sure to revive anyone from a hangover or warm those winter blues. Eating at Saro you get this feeling like you're consuming something from your childhood, like something your grandmother made for you and then you remember you didn't grow up in the Balkans (unless you actually did). "Even though a lot of the food is very old, the concept is to introduce people to something new," the chef said of his native cuisine. Saro serves brunch Saturdays and Sundays from 11 AM to 4 PM.
Talde
I'd never been so upset that Park Slope is so far away from me as I was while eating at Talde. The length of the train ride made me feel like I should have packed an overnight bag or something but knowing that this deliciosity awaited me at the end of my journey made it all worth it. I went to Talde with some friends because A) we were celebrating my birthday and B) I needed as many mouths as possible to try the insane menu put together by Chef Dale Talde with the aid of some herbage. Looking at the menu one can instantly recognize the foodstuff one gravitates towards not only when they crave breakfast but when they've been up all night drinking, etc, and require something to soak up the alcohol and alleviate the pain of the previous night's debauchery (sorry Xana). The food you're served all has that vaguely familiar quality in that it has flavors you've experienced but not quite in the way they're put together at Talde; the fried rice is mixed with sausage and cheese, hearty chunks of bacon are found in the pad thai, a cheesesteak is served with kimchi on a sweet bun. Eating here you get the sense that the food was prepared by someone who loves food and enjoys nothing more than sharing it with you. Brunch at Talde is on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 AM to 3 PM.
I'd never been so upset that Park Slope is so far away from me as I was while eating at Talde. The length of the train ride made me feel like I should have packed an overnight bag or something but knowing that this deliciosity awaited me at the end of my journey made it all worth it. I went to Talde with some friends because A) we were celebrating my birthday and B) I needed as many mouths as possible to try the insane menu put together by Chef Dale Talde with the aid of some herbage. Looking at the menu one can instantly recognize the foodstuff one gravitates towards not only when they crave breakfast but when they've been up all night drinking, etc, and require something to soak up the alcohol and alleviate the pain of the previous night's debauchery (sorry Xana). The food you're served all has that vaguely familiar quality in that it has flavors you've experienced but not quite in the way they're put together at Talde; the fried rice is mixed with sausage and cheese, hearty chunks of bacon are found in the pad thai, a cheesesteak is served with kimchi on a sweet bun. Eating here you get the sense that the food was prepared by someone who loves food and enjoys nothing more than sharing it with you. Brunch at Talde is on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 AM to 3 PM.
Recipe of the Week?
French Toast!
Movie Scavenger Hunt Tour
Working in reality TV and living in NY it is easy to become pretty cynical. Being impressed by something or someone takes quite a bit. (The size of Lenny Kravitz's head is one of those things, though. It's insane how huge it is. It should have moons orbiting it or something.) It's easy to forget all the wonderful things surrounding us in this city and sometimes it takes a really great -- or at least pretty entertaining -- movie to remind us how visually striking and diverse NY really is.
I'm not a huge fan of coming to New York and experiencing it through a tour group so I've put together my own little tour of New York for out-of-towners -- or people living here looking to rediscover NY -- to partake in. It's a scavenger hunt tour where you have to find where the following scenes were filmed and take a photo at the location as a way to check it off the list. I admit that it takes a little courage to step outside the box and go somewhere unfamiliar. You might even get a little lost in this tour. But I like the sense of adventure it creates and the feeling I get when I see something in person that I've only seen in a movie (like the first time I saw snow). Besides, some of the best things I've discovered I've only found because I got lost. So even if you don't get to check all the little locations off the list you might find some other little gems worth revisiting that you would have never experienced had you remained in the confines of Times Square*. Click on the thumbnails below to enlarge the image and see the clue. You can also get a printer-friendly version here.
*Writer's note: stay out of Times Square. Also, stay out of Herald Square. Neither really offer much in terms of fun or culture or food. If you want to come to NY but would still like to be around other tourists, it pains me to say this because it's already pretty crowded for my taste, but head to SoHo. It has good shopping, good food, it's central, good for walking and nearish the water. The West Village is also good.
PS
Don't forget to check out this week's recipe for cheesecake.
I'm not a huge fan of coming to New York and experiencing it through a tour group so I've put together my own little tour of New York for out-of-towners -- or people living here looking to rediscover NY -- to partake in. It's a scavenger hunt tour where you have to find where the following scenes were filmed and take a photo at the location as a way to check it off the list. I admit that it takes a little courage to step outside the box and go somewhere unfamiliar. You might even get a little lost in this tour. But I like the sense of adventure it creates and the feeling I get when I see something in person that I've only seen in a movie (like the first time I saw snow). Besides, some of the best things I've discovered I've only found because I got lost. So even if you don't get to check all the little locations off the list you might find some other little gems worth revisiting that you would have never experienced had you remained in the confines of Times Square*. Click on the thumbnails below to enlarge the image and see the clue. You can also get a printer-friendly version here.
*Writer's note: stay out of Times Square. Also, stay out of Herald Square. Neither really offer much in terms of fun or culture or food. If you want to come to NY but would still like to be around other tourists, it pains me to say this because it's already pretty crowded for my taste, but head to SoHo. It has good shopping, good food, it's central, good for walking and nearish the water. The West Village is also good.
PS
Don't forget to check out this week's recipe for cheesecake.
Ways to Cool Off in NYC
I’m a tropical creature and feel more comfortable in warm temperatures. As I’ve spent a good portion of my life in an area that makes Hoth look like paradise – upstate New York – I welcome the warm summer months with open arms. Or at least I do until the temperatures hit above 95 with a humidity of a grillion and it feels like what I imagine Mordor would be like in which case I adopt the sunny disposition of an Orc. July and August in New York are brutal; the concrete, cars, and people dial up the temperatures and make everybody on this island (and its boroughs) a little murdery. For this reason it is very important to find little ways to cool off and remove the swampy feeling from your body. Below I’ve outlined some of my recommendations to revive you from the summer reds.
Astoria Pool
Located a few blocks from the Ditmars stop on the N train, this is one of the few public pools I would venture to. It is huge, clean, in a nice park, overlooking the RFK Bridge and near some pretty decent food. I would recommend grabbing a Bomb sandwich at Sal, Kris and Charlie's Deli and having yourself a little picnic after a dip in the pool. It is literally the size of my forearm and has pepperoni, mortadella, ham, turkey, roast beef, American and Provolone cheeses, lettuce, tomato, onions, hot and sweet peppers, mayo, mustard, and vinegar. Here is a picture of said sandwich. The pool is free and is open from 11 AM to 7 PM until Labor Day.
Located a few blocks from the Ditmars stop on the N train, this is one of the few public pools I would venture to. It is huge, clean, in a nice park, overlooking the RFK Bridge and near some pretty decent food. I would recommend grabbing a Bomb sandwich at Sal, Kris and Charlie's Deli and having yourself a little picnic after a dip in the pool. It is literally the size of my forearm and has pepperoni, mortadella, ham, turkey, roast beef, American and Provolone cheeses, lettuce, tomato, onions, hot and sweet peppers, mayo, mustard, and vinegar. Here is a picture of said sandwich. The pool is free and is open from 11 AM to 7 PM until Labor Day.
The pool at King and Grove
I'm a little reticent to share this with people. It is currently my new favorite place as it is not too far, has a shady area, good food and booze. There is no price to use the pool but you do have to order something from the restaurant or bar. The menu includes small snacks like sweet and spicy roasted nuts and arancini; crostini with ingredients like sheep's milk ricotta, truffle honey and chives; salads; and some main courses like pork sliders, crispy soft shell crab grinder and a dry aged burger. The most expensive item on the menu is just $15 and all the drinks are just $9. (Have I been in NYC so long that I consider $9 affordable?)
*update*
according to the website they are now charging non hotel guests $45. This was not the case the last few times I visited. Bummer.
I'm a little reticent to share this with people. It is currently my new favorite place as it is not too far, has a shady area, good food and booze. There is no price to use the pool but you do have to order something from the restaurant or bar. The menu includes small snacks like sweet and spicy roasted nuts and arancini; crostini with ingredients like sheep's milk ricotta, truffle honey and chives; salads; and some main courses like pork sliders, crispy soft shell crab grinder and a dry aged burger. The most expensive item on the menu is just $15 and all the drinks are just $9. (Have I been in NYC so long that I consider $9 affordable?)
*update*
according to the website they are now charging non hotel guests $45. This was not the case the last few times I visited. Bummer.
The pool at the Grace Hotel
I was first introduced to this place years ago by a friend who would host pool parties every year for his birthday here. They have since started charging $40 for a day pass to the pool which also includes use of the sauna, showers and steam room. It's a pretty hip place in the unhippest neighborhood in town, Times Square. Still, the tranquility that this offers is a welcome respite from the hullaballoo outside. Dip in the pool and order a drink at the swim up window that connects to the bar.
I was first introduced to this place years ago by a friend who would host pool parties every year for his birthday here. They have since started charging $40 for a day pass to the pool which also includes use of the sauna, showers and steam room. It's a pretty hip place in the unhippest neighborhood in town, Times Square. Still, the tranquility that this offers is a welcome respite from the hullaballoo outside. Dip in the pool and order a drink at the swim up window that connects to the bar.
Riverpark
There are the usual watering holes like Frying Pan or Beekman's but if you're looking for something a little different and a bit more upscale I recommend coming to Riverpark. It's located on E 29th Street overlooking the East River and they offer a great three-course lunch prix fixe for $28. Come at night with a date and let the city and the food do the seducing for you. Below are pictures of some of the selections available with the prix fixe. Not included in the pictures: the ricotta doughnuts and banana and brownie sundae we had for dessert. And now I'm hungry.
There are the usual watering holes like Frying Pan or Beekman's but if you're looking for something a little different and a bit more upscale I recommend coming to Riverpark. It's located on E 29th Street overlooking the East River and they offer a great three-course lunch prix fixe for $28. Come at night with a date and let the city and the food do the seducing for you. Below are pictures of some of the selections available with the prix fixe. Not included in the pictures: the ricotta doughnuts and banana and brownie sundae we had for dessert. And now I'm hungry.
Il Laboratorio del Gelato
I stumbled upon this place while walking around with my siblings, the starkness of the interior being the thing that piqued my curiosity. Soon I found myself ordering a cup of the honey lavender gelato even though I had just finished eating. Bite after bite my sister and I were amazed with the utter etherealness and other-worldly quality of this gelato. If a cloud had a flavor it would taste like this. The lavender was not perfumey but lent it a nice spice in the way that cinnamon does, the honey just the right amount of sweetness. I returned on an especially hot day but they did not have my cold cloud. Instead I ordered a scoop of creme fraiche and a scoop of chocolate amaretto crunch. I soon forgot about my cloud. Why, dear Lord, is this all the way in the Lower East Side?
I stumbled upon this place while walking around with my siblings, the starkness of the interior being the thing that piqued my curiosity. Soon I found myself ordering a cup of the honey lavender gelato even though I had just finished eating. Bite after bite my sister and I were amazed with the utter etherealness and other-worldly quality of this gelato. If a cloud had a flavor it would taste like this. The lavender was not perfumey but lent it a nice spice in the way that cinnamon does, the honey just the right amount of sweetness. I returned on an especially hot day but they did not have my cold cloud. Instead I ordered a scoop of creme fraiche and a scoop of chocolate amaretto crunch. I soon forgot about my cloud. Why, dear Lord, is this all the way in the Lower East Side?
Kayaking on the Hudson
I'll admit, I didn't actually kayak. I did just finish eating a huge brunch and I'm not exactly the athletic type (although I did notice two people just lounging in theirs). But it is right on the water, which is usually a few degrees cooler than anywhere else in this city, and it is free. They offer it on weekends from 9 AM to 6 PM and Thursdays 5 PM to 7 PM at Pier 40, Pier 96 and 72nd St.
I'll admit, I didn't actually kayak. I did just finish eating a huge brunch and I'm not exactly the athletic type (although I did notice two people just lounging in theirs). But it is right on the water, which is usually a few degrees cooler than anywhere else in this city, and it is free. They offer it on weekends from 9 AM to 6 PM and Thursdays 5 PM to 7 PM at Pier 40, Pier 96 and 72nd St.
Summer Essentials
I remember many years ago there was a semi funny show on TV called The Mommies. There was a character in the show who always wore a fanny pack from which she would often pull out some absurd item that was necessary in the moment (I remember she once pulled out a jar of frosting for a cake). I frequently spend my days traveling from one corner of the city to the other and rarely have the opportunity to pop by my house to grab something I may have forgotten so I try to be like this character and carry all the absurd necessities I might need throughout the day. While I'm not advocating that you carry your industrial size hair dryer a la Princess Vespa, I do suggest to be equal parts boy scout and Phyllis Nefler: I carry items that pull double duty so that I'm always prepared to look good. I mean, erm, I'm just kidding, I'm not actually THAT vain. OK, so maybe I am. Anyway, these are the items that I find come most in handy when you're out all day, either running errands or working or just out enjoying the day.
In addition to these items I also have my phone with the music for when I'm too lazy to read. In the summer I like to listen to music that makes me feel like I'm on the beach or on my way to somewhere tropical and not in fact in a concrete sauna. I asked two buddies of mine to also compile their own summer mixes. James based his mix on a summer day saying, "I planned it out like a summer day. Starts with the sunrise on track one. Waking up slow on track two. Things get moving on three. Summery music from a bunch of genres. Day builds and then mellows again." Mike wanted a mix of upbeat summer tunes and slower, mellower ones that are a bit on the romantic side. You can access the mixes and listen to them on Spotify if you have an account. Have fun and stay hydrated!
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Summer ReadsDress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim by David Sedaris.
Funny and irreverent. The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao
by Junot Diaz A beautiful novel about an overweight nerd trying to learn about love and his roots Persopolis
by Marjane Satrapi a memoir of growing up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. Funny, dark and heartbreaking. The Little Prince
by Antoine de Saint-Exupery one of my favorites of all time. Sweet and beautiful, it changes with you Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
by Hunter S. Thompson his amazing writing totally makes up for how messed up it all is. |
HarlemI had never been north of 125th Street until last weekend, my disinclination to ever do so stemming from the very common misconception that there really wasn’t any reason to. It was a shame that it took me this long to explore what turned out to be a very vibrant and diverse neighborhood but I’m very glad that it was the place I chose to kick off this blog.
Harlem is where my grandparents moved to when they left Puerto Rico during the Second World War. They had moved here separately from the same town in Puerto Rico with their respective siblings and reconnected randomly at a dance, my grandfather instantly taken aback by the very striking Carmen Nereida. They got married here and raised a family here, living in apartment #15 at 602 (now 622) W 132nd Street until 1963, when they relocated to Puerto Rico once the economy improved. Harlem is where my mother and uncle grew up, often playing stickball or baseball or basketball on the street with all the neighborhood kids. My grandmother would go shopping on 125th Street for clothes and other necessities for the family. Harlem is very much a part of our family history and it’s where my sister and I ended up building a home for ourselves some 44 years after our grandparents left. My foray north began with a stop at Le Baobab, a restaurant located in what is known as “Little Africa” serving Senegalese food. I ordered the chicken yassa, a stew with chicken marinated in lemon and garlic and stewed with onions, garlic, lemons and mustard. It was served with a heaping side of nutty rice with a soccer game playing as entertainment, although I must say I was more entertained by the men watching it and yelling at the TV in French. It was a no-nonsense type of place so don’t expect great service but do go for the warm, comforting food that will fill your belly. Thoroughly satiated, I kept heading north up Lenox where I could admire all the beautiful brownstones on the tree-lined streets. Once in the heart of Harlem I popped by Hue Man Bookstore for a little respite from the heat. They have a little café where you can sit and watch the people go by or you can sit with a book and learn a bit about African American history. While they do have some titles found on the New York Times bestseller list, a majority of the inventory is dedicated to works by or about African Americans so check out something by Toni Morrison or Cornell West or Bill Cosby. Harlem has many parks to choose from but a friend of mine had recommended that I check out Grant’s Tomb by Riverside Park so I headed west to pay this Grant fellow a visit. The area was very quiet with hardly any visitors, which was fine by me. Nearby there was a recently wed couple taking pictures and a group of people having a get together in a gazebo. The area surrounding the tomb has these benches that reminded me of Parque Guell in Barcelona with their brightly colored mosaics of the cityscape. I gotta figure out what I need to accomplish in life so that my body can be enshrined in an awesome monument when I die, surrounded by cool benches that no one sits on. I have a feeling writing a blog and producing reality TV won’t cut it. I wanted to further learn about the history of Harlem so I headed north to check out Strivers’ Row, only slightly regretting going on this walkabout on such a hot day. Originally built for upper-middle-class whites, the three rows of townhouses are found on W 138th Street and W 139th Street between Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd and Frederick Douglass Blvd. Once completed, they sat empty as they were built at a time when whites were abandoning Harlem yet the company that owned the houses refused to sell them to blacks. When they were finally made available to black residents it was the hard-working professionals, or strivers, that bought the houses giving them their current name. Had I still not been stuffed from my yassa I would have popped into Miss Maude’s Spoonbread for some good ole’ Southern comfort food (I did end up visiting the following day). Forget Sylvia’s and Amy Ruth’s and head a little further uptown to Miss Maude’s. I went with a friend to help me with the eating and we ordered the sampler platter-- which came with the smothered chicken, ribs, catfish, brisket and three sides-- and the chicken n’ waffles. I had never had my fried chicken with waffles but I really enjoyed the salty and sweet and the ambiguity of which mealtime I might be consuming. Was it breakfast? Brunch? Dinner? In the end it didn’t matter because I would eat it any time of day (or cold for that matter), the chicken moist, flavorful and crispy and held up to reheating the next day when I savored the leftovers. All the items on the sampler platter were solid and satisfying and we washed all this food down with some bangin’ sweet tea. And unlike my previous restaurant experience, the service was very attentive and friendly. Sometimes I sit at home wishing Miss Maude’s had a much wider delivery range so I could eat there more often but then I’m thankful that the space between me and all that fatty, soulful goodness exists, allowing me the opportunity to walk off the meal and avoid looking like Jabba the Hutt. On that walk south to work off the meal I would recommend doing a little shopping, window or otherwise. B. Oyama has some bespoke menswear. If I had a dude, or money, I would have picked up some things from this store. Their stylish inventory includes button up shirts, silk ties in a litany of colors, jackets, suits and leather boots. Prices for shirts range from $125-$175; for jackets $350-$550; ties are $100; and suits range from $550-$950. They also offer custom made options. If you’re a hat person swing by Hats. by Bunn. In business for 30 years, Bunn custom makes every hat found on his clients’ heads. He makes a wide range of chapeaus, including fedoras and Panamas but refrains from making what would be considered a “Sunday hat”, believing the hat you can wear on Sunday to church you should also be able to wear on Wednesday to work. Hats start at $70. At The Brownstone you can find clothing and accessories for women that are ethnically inspired. Run by Princess Jenkins and established in 2006, The Brownstone is a contemporary boutique that specializes in clothing for larger women but caters to women of all sizes and is a place Ms. Jenkins says is a part of the fabric of Harlem. Here you can purchase clothing, hats, jewelry and cosmetics provided by local vendors. I don’t know about you but lots of walking and browsing makes me very thirsty. Of the places to grab a drink in Harlem I chose to go to Ginny’s Supper Club, located downstairs from the Red Rooster. They were doing Motown Mondays hosted by Ne-Yo and featuring Kevin Ross and Elijah Kelley. I wasn’t going to say no to that. At Ginny’s you can choose to pay $20 for a table or $10 for standing room. I chose the latter because it was just me and I find that I meet more interesting people at the bar. I got there at 7 PM not knowing when the show would start. The show, of course, didn’t start until a few hours later but my wait was made pleasant by the food and the libations brought to me. I ordered a Harlem Mule, a refreshing drink of whiskey, ginger, basil and peychaud’s, and the Maitake Mushroom Wontons. The menu that night was limited because of the special event but I didn’t much mind as the wontons – which were served with a cabbage puree, sweet chili sauce and a parmesan garlic foam -- were delicious and served with plenty of bread with honey butter, and man do I love me some honey butter. Nearby was a group of girls seated, singing along to LL Cool J in between bites of the rib eye and the roast duck. The DJ set the vibe, playing tunes by Usher, Prince, Mary J. Blige and Michael Jackson while I chatted up a gentleman at the bar who gave me his insider tips to Harlem. He recommended that I visit Londel’s Supper Club, Chez Lucienne, Paris Bistro, and the newly opened The Cove, just down the street from Ginny’s. He also told me to visit the Harlem landmark Lenox Lounge. “This [Ginny’s] is downtown come to Harlem. At Lenox Lounge everyone is from Harlem. Thursdays they have an open mic night that will blow your socks off,” he said. But after the performances by Kevin Ross and Elijah Kelly that night and various other artists that sang their renditions of songs like Aretha Franklin’s “A Natural Woman”, Nat King Cole’s “When I Fall in Love” and Whitney Houston’s “I Believe in You & Me” I knew I didn’t need to go to Lenox Lounge to have my socks blown off. I couldn’t have had a better time. I returned to Harlem to check out the gentleman’s recommendation Chez Lucienne. I was tempted to return to Red Rooster to try the shrimp and dirty rice but I figured I should try some place new. They have French classics like escargot Provencal, vichissoise and poulet roti (roast chicken). They also have lunch staples like burgers, salads and sandwiches. I ordered the roast chicken, which was flavorful and rosemary-y, and a glass of Sauvignon Blanc. I sat back and took it all in, listening to the faint sound of an accordion begging to be heard over the city’s natural symphony created by the people and vehicles. It felt a bit French but not, and sitting there I got the sense that I was in a place that was at once familiar and foreign. That’s how I would describe Harlem, too. With all the different ethnicities the feeling you get wandering Harlem changes from block to block, the scents you smell and the languages you hear signaling who you might encounter. It’s a place full of history, diversity, culture, food and vibrancy. Walking around you recognize you’re in New York but it’s definitely a New York you’ve not yet experienced, and you'll wonder what took you so long to become acquainted with the melting pot that is Harlem. |
Why I'm Here
At the Jackie Kennedy Reservoir
New York is one of those cities that reveals itself to you slowly. It’s not like those slutty cities in Italy that dare you not to love them (I’m looking at you, Florence). New York is dark, gritty, stinky, mean and petulant. It doesn’t greet you with open arms, it disdainfully barks, “what the fuck do you want?” Sure, there is plenty to love about New York but it takes time and patience to really appreciate all its bounties.
It took me a full ten months to realize New York was the one for me. I had moved here from Puerto Rico to keep my sister company for a year while she finished up her degree, the move expedited to snatch up an apartment with a washer and dryer in unit. For the first few months we used an air mattress as our only furniture while we got our finances in order. However, having grown up on TV with all the accoutrements made it difficult to shake our dependency on cable and we always found a way to afford the Time Warner bill. The only friend we had was my sister’s boyfriend so we kept ourselves entertained by having themed drink nights. There was a city outside waiting to be explored but we sat perfectly content on our air couch, clutching to the notion that the world outside was far too expensive and hostile for the likes of us.
The first few jobs I had did nothing to assuage that notion. I first worked as a waitress at a Kosher restaurant in the Upper East Side, which closed much too fast for me to make any actual friends. I followed that with seven months of hard time at Mercer Kitchen where I was a robot geisha, I mean a hostess. The only emotion I was allowed to register was delight. I would be delighted to walk you approximately two feet to your table and completely ignore you until you leave, when I will tell you what a delight it was to have you dine with us. In places like that employees bond easily and quickly, usually over their shared hatred of a boss or the vapid clientele. It was there that I made my first New York friends, and the watering hole where we drowned our sorrows, Fanelli’s, would become my first real hang out. Still, I found it difficult to really enjoy myself with the little money I made so I found something that promised lots of easy cash.
I had done a job search on the ever-reliable Craigslist and came across a post for foot fetish models. I figured I would be getting paid to essentially have my feet massaged. Oh 24-year-old Cristina, so dumb and naïve. I went to the penthouse of the hotel where the foot party was being held dressed in a sexy-yet-respectable dress and open toed sandals to show off my goods. The scene when I arrived seemed harmless at first glance – men in business suits chatting up girls dressed in sexy-yet-respectable outfits – which upon closer inspection became more and more surreal. Dark corners were filled with girls getting their toes sucked and tickled, the open spaces filled with men lusting after feet and girls trying to get theirs rubbed. I couldn’t decide if I wanted someone to approach me or if I wanted to be left alone so I sat on a couch and just took it all in. As the night progressed it became more like a creepy funhouse but instead of images of clowns it was toes and feet, the sight of an exposed vagine being the thing that finally drove me out. Maybe being a robot geisha wasn’t so bad after all. I knew I wasn’t a prude but maybe I wasn’t as liberal as I imagined myself to be. Having walked out of the party without any extra cash in hand, I’d have to save money for the holidays by cutting back the whole eating of food thing. Food is overrated anyway, right? (False. Food is awesome.)
Luckily, I switched gears and started waitressing at a different restaurant before I withered away completely. It was at Shorty’s 32 that I finally started to find my groove in New York. I made friends that introduced me to some of their favorite haunts, one of whom showed me that you can be poor and still enjoy this city. He introduced me to museums, many of which had either suggested donations or had a time frame when they were free, and showed me the vantage of just walking around this city as a means of entertainment. I worked slow lunches with the sous chef who often taught me how to make the dishes on our menu or would just answer the many questions I had about food and cooking. It was through him that I really got to indulge my passion for food. And it was through the money I was making serving that I was able to explore the culinary delights the city had to offer, tasting my way through bone marrow, foie gras, sweet breads, deep fried hot dogs, crepes, tandoori lamb, chocolate bread pudding, oysters… ugh, food is awesome.
While New York was still dark and gritty, there was a lighter, more beautiful side to it, one that my eyes had been opened to and I would never be able to un-see. It was a place that kicked my ass every once in a while but offered me such wonderful things in return that I didn’t much mind. Hidden gems lurked everywhere; a little garden here, a tasty restaurant some dude told me about there, art friggin everywhere. But what I liked best about New York was who I could finally be here. In a place full of misfits, where freaks roam free without a care in the world, I was able to just be me. It didn’t matter that I was sarcastic, neurotic, opinionated, and foul-mouthed; so were a lot of people. No one cared that I wasn’t American enough or Puerto Rican enough, and I stopped caring too. I was sharing an island with people united by their different-ness and it was exactly where I was meant to be all along.
It’s five years later and I’m still constantly amazed by the things I discover in New York. The problem is that after five years of being in the same city and in the same apartment it has become easy to fall into a rut, much like all the other ruts that occur a few years into any relationship. This means that there are fewer opportunities to be amazed. This is my fault, really, for choosing to go to my trusted restaurants instead of risking it with new ones; for sitting at home watching TV instead of figuring out what the three dimensional people are doing; for taking exactly the same routes to go anywhere; and for hardly ever even venturing outside of Manhattan. I’m sorry for neglecting you and taking you for granted, New York. I'm here to remedy that, though. I am ready to venture out into the unknown and discover the things I haven’t seen. I am here to remind myself why I fell in love with you in the first place and to show people why they should love you too. I will eat, drink, observe, and involve myself in all that Manhattan and the other boroughs have to offer (Except for you, Staten Island: you’re a part of New Jersey as far as I’m concerned.), and report on my findings here with a weekly entry. I know that New York won’t let me down; I just hope I can do her justice.
It took me a full ten months to realize New York was the one for me. I had moved here from Puerto Rico to keep my sister company for a year while she finished up her degree, the move expedited to snatch up an apartment with a washer and dryer in unit. For the first few months we used an air mattress as our only furniture while we got our finances in order. However, having grown up on TV with all the accoutrements made it difficult to shake our dependency on cable and we always found a way to afford the Time Warner bill. The only friend we had was my sister’s boyfriend so we kept ourselves entertained by having themed drink nights. There was a city outside waiting to be explored but we sat perfectly content on our air couch, clutching to the notion that the world outside was far too expensive and hostile for the likes of us.
The first few jobs I had did nothing to assuage that notion. I first worked as a waitress at a Kosher restaurant in the Upper East Side, which closed much too fast for me to make any actual friends. I followed that with seven months of hard time at Mercer Kitchen where I was a robot geisha, I mean a hostess. The only emotion I was allowed to register was delight. I would be delighted to walk you approximately two feet to your table and completely ignore you until you leave, when I will tell you what a delight it was to have you dine with us. In places like that employees bond easily and quickly, usually over their shared hatred of a boss or the vapid clientele. It was there that I made my first New York friends, and the watering hole where we drowned our sorrows, Fanelli’s, would become my first real hang out. Still, I found it difficult to really enjoy myself with the little money I made so I found something that promised lots of easy cash.
I had done a job search on the ever-reliable Craigslist and came across a post for foot fetish models. I figured I would be getting paid to essentially have my feet massaged. Oh 24-year-old Cristina, so dumb and naïve. I went to the penthouse of the hotel where the foot party was being held dressed in a sexy-yet-respectable dress and open toed sandals to show off my goods. The scene when I arrived seemed harmless at first glance – men in business suits chatting up girls dressed in sexy-yet-respectable outfits – which upon closer inspection became more and more surreal. Dark corners were filled with girls getting their toes sucked and tickled, the open spaces filled with men lusting after feet and girls trying to get theirs rubbed. I couldn’t decide if I wanted someone to approach me or if I wanted to be left alone so I sat on a couch and just took it all in. As the night progressed it became more like a creepy funhouse but instead of images of clowns it was toes and feet, the sight of an exposed vagine being the thing that finally drove me out. Maybe being a robot geisha wasn’t so bad after all. I knew I wasn’t a prude but maybe I wasn’t as liberal as I imagined myself to be. Having walked out of the party without any extra cash in hand, I’d have to save money for the holidays by cutting back the whole eating of food thing. Food is overrated anyway, right? (False. Food is awesome.)
Luckily, I switched gears and started waitressing at a different restaurant before I withered away completely. It was at Shorty’s 32 that I finally started to find my groove in New York. I made friends that introduced me to some of their favorite haunts, one of whom showed me that you can be poor and still enjoy this city. He introduced me to museums, many of which had either suggested donations or had a time frame when they were free, and showed me the vantage of just walking around this city as a means of entertainment. I worked slow lunches with the sous chef who often taught me how to make the dishes on our menu or would just answer the many questions I had about food and cooking. It was through him that I really got to indulge my passion for food. And it was through the money I was making serving that I was able to explore the culinary delights the city had to offer, tasting my way through bone marrow, foie gras, sweet breads, deep fried hot dogs, crepes, tandoori lamb, chocolate bread pudding, oysters… ugh, food is awesome.
While New York was still dark and gritty, there was a lighter, more beautiful side to it, one that my eyes had been opened to and I would never be able to un-see. It was a place that kicked my ass every once in a while but offered me such wonderful things in return that I didn’t much mind. Hidden gems lurked everywhere; a little garden here, a tasty restaurant some dude told me about there, art friggin everywhere. But what I liked best about New York was who I could finally be here. In a place full of misfits, where freaks roam free without a care in the world, I was able to just be me. It didn’t matter that I was sarcastic, neurotic, opinionated, and foul-mouthed; so were a lot of people. No one cared that I wasn’t American enough or Puerto Rican enough, and I stopped caring too. I was sharing an island with people united by their different-ness and it was exactly where I was meant to be all along.
It’s five years later and I’m still constantly amazed by the things I discover in New York. The problem is that after five years of being in the same city and in the same apartment it has become easy to fall into a rut, much like all the other ruts that occur a few years into any relationship. This means that there are fewer opportunities to be amazed. This is my fault, really, for choosing to go to my trusted restaurants instead of risking it with new ones; for sitting at home watching TV instead of figuring out what the three dimensional people are doing; for taking exactly the same routes to go anywhere; and for hardly ever even venturing outside of Manhattan. I’m sorry for neglecting you and taking you for granted, New York. I'm here to remedy that, though. I am ready to venture out into the unknown and discover the things I haven’t seen. I am here to remind myself why I fell in love with you in the first place and to show people why they should love you too. I will eat, drink, observe, and involve myself in all that Manhattan and the other boroughs have to offer (Except for you, Staten Island: you’re a part of New Jersey as far as I’m concerned.), and report on my findings here with a weekly entry. I know that New York won’t let me down; I just hope I can do her justice.