Call me a penny pincher, but

I try to enjoy myself when I go out, and not worry unduly about the cost of things. For the most part I've succeeded. Like anyone with a healthy view of their personal finances, though, some things just stick out like a sore thumb, and put at least a slight damper on the good times.

Yesterday I had brunch at Brick Cafe in Astoria. Brunch is one of those luxuries I happen to love, and Brick does a good job of it. I had the french toast with strawberry syrup (there's real strawberries involved - that's a plus), and it was lovely. My friends had no complaints about their omelets and french toasts, and we spent a long, happy time sitting out the ubiquitous rain showers. I'm still glad I went, wouldn't change a moment of it, but -

Why, why do they have to charge 3 BUCKS for a cup of tea? It was a bag of Stash Earl Grey next to a small cup of hot water, and it did taste nice, but COME ON!!! A box of 20 might cost $4 tops, so the margin of profit was astronomical, and for what? I could have splurged for a pot at Himalayan right down the block.

It's just the principle of the thing, and it's certainly not a unique issue to Brick. So many of these cafes/lounges are charging way too much for such an item. Maybe if the tea bag got up and sang Swanee River for me I'd feel better about shelling out $3, and then I'd feel even more inclined to plunge it into hot water. People. Be reasonable. Don't make me cringe when I come into your establishment to relax and have a nice meal with friends. Bring it down to $2, at least, and I'll feel more inclined to visit regularly, and write something a little nicer. Thank you.