THIRTY DAYS IN NEW YORK, part deux

 

I wanted to get a cup of coffee.

This is not a casual decision. I can't go just anywhere, and get whatever swill they're straining out of their coffee bean grinds. It needs to be the good stuff, with labels like "Fair Trade" and "organic" and "made by hipsters" all over the place. I like the kind of coffee beverages that have a lot in common with my ex-boyfriend: both are unnecessarily complicated and slightly bitter. The ex is long gone, but I still like fussy coffee drinks.

So I took a walk, in the hopes of finding an overpriced coffeeshop somewhere. It shouldn't be that hard, right? I was in Brooklyn.

But from what was supposed to be a quick jaunt around the neighborhood, I turned that way instead of this, and ended up wandering aimlessly towards the waterfront, right into the middle of Cobble Hill. 

That's where the rich folks live. When row houses are fancy, they're called "Brownstones." This is Brownstone territory.

I walked all the way to the waterfront, where I stood beneath the expanse of the Brooklyn Bridge and contemplated my place in the universe.

But then I lightened up at the sight of these lovely fellows.

It was a beautiful day. And a beautiful day for a wedding. 

I turned left.

The remnants of piers gone by poked out of the water, just hanging out beneath the sun.

I was extremely intrigued by those old wooden posts. 

That's the Statue of Liberty way back there. Click on the photo to enlarge it, and you can see Lady Liberty a little better. 

I still hadn't had coffee. But it was getting late. Time for lunch. I found pizza. I had a slice topped with eggplant, my favorite.

Actually first I found these cannolis, but I'm embarrassed to tell you I ate them before I had the pizza. And yes I ate both of them. How do I choose which I liked better? It's like Sophie's Choice of desserts. Both were delicious. FYI, cannolis in Brooklyn are only $2.75. In Manhattan they are like $4. 

It was after St. Patrick's Day, but they had leftover green sprinkles, so why not? "Sprinkles are for winners," as the Geico lady says, and I was having a good day. So I deserved them.

And then I turned a corner and was greeted by this:

Well that's a nice how-do-you-do after a lovely meal. Glad I ate the eggplant pizza and nothing with meat. Blech. But again, this is what happens in NYC. And whatever that butcher is making out of this stuff must be deeeeeelicious. Fresh. 

I continued my long walk. The nice neighborhood ended. I walked into the wilds of hipster gentrification, where the brave 20somethings are roosting with their beer gardens and their juice shops, and I passed a shuffleboard club?...playing bad 80's hip hop.

Is this really a thing? I guess it is no more or less boring than bowling. Everyone was drinking huge glasses of beer. Have fun, peeps. I kept walking.

I stumbled upon a coffeeshop where a full jazz band was playing. Ah, that's better.

I never got any coffee! But it was too late. So bought hot chocolate, and had a seat for a little while and enjoyed the tunes. I would show you the audience but it was much lower in number than the amount of people in the band. But again, that's NYC. And there were people waiting by the door to play. Open mic night.

I faced the brisk night air and just walked along the streets, taking photos of the various things to see.

The white building is the Brooklyn Museum. I should go in there.

Perhaps another day.

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[Scott Tal]

While in Brooklyn, if you're in the vicinity of Baked, you might consider trying their Sweet and Salty...

[Jeff]

I really enjoyed this post. Interesting how the pursuit of a good cup of coffee can take one on an adventure. I like the idea of,and of actually going on a walk and just see what in life presents itself to me. I heard someone refer to this as "meandering as a spiritual practice"---similar to your mention of standing under the Brooklyn Bridge and contemplating your place in the universe.