The Prolific Plaidy

I don't like to call anyone my mentor (for some reason I equate that word with Svengali) but when it comes to European history, Jean Plaidy comes close. She is possibly the author I've read the most of, although I haven't quite finished every novel she wrote.

Though I've always been a Ravenous Reader, I didn't really get into historical novels until 2000, when I picked up The Captive of Kensington Palace, a Jean Plaidy book about the pre-queen life of Victoria. It's probably not her best work, but it was enough to fire up my curiosity about English history, so I took out another Plaidy book, The Revolt of the Eaglets. This one covered the early Plantagenet period and introduced me to Eleanor of Acquitaine. I was officially hooked.
After that it was one Plaidy after another. She wrote about every king and queen of England from the Norman conquest to Queen Victoria. Not only that, but she did it from the point of view of every important character of the time, so you can see history from different angles. Of course, some of it must have been conjecture on the part of the writer, because one cannot possibly know what everyone was thinking at the time. Still, it was amazing to sympathize with people that one would previously have considered to be pure evil. I think the only person I couldn't feel bad for no matter what was Henry VIII. He's just not likable, I'm sorry.

In over six years, I've completed 39 of her novels - and there are many more to go. They are not difficult reading, but at the same time it's not simplified. I am amazed to see the amount of historical knowledge Jean Plaidy (her pseudonym) had and was able to organize into stories. I mean, I've heard of experts of the Regency period or the Tudor era, but hundreds of years is a lot to be an expert on. Though I don't think I'll ever come that close (and perhaps I don't want to,) I must say as a result of reading these books, I wanted to know more. This led to me reading more about history than I ever thought possible - this coming from the girl who failed her American History Regents exam. Plus I was curious enough to read historical novels from other writers over the years.

Though Jean Plaidy (whose real name was Eleanor Hibbert) died in 1993, I can't say she left me wanting more. She wrote more books than any other writer I've ever been into. Even if I did end up reading all her books - and I probably won't since under the name Victoria Holt she wrote stuff I just can't get into - I'm glad I picked up Plaidy. It's been quite a ride.

Bubble Buddies

I was pleased to find out Tavalon has bubble tea. I was even more eager cash in my coupon for free bubble tea this Monday. I had the Green Tea Latte - though I'd never add milk to hot green tea, put it over ice and tapioca pearls and it's refreshing. It was a little bit like green tea ice cream. Bonnie tried the Taro Tornado. She agreed with the staff that it tasted like good cereal milk (think after Lucky Charms.) I'll be sure to return to Tavalon - though it's not a large place, they are knowledgeable about tea and that's the main thing. (By the way, the first picture is from their website.)

And now, a scene from Sense and Sensibility

I found this picture on a coffee/tea blog. It's taking tea Pre-House.

Next!

Though I'm not looking forward to summer, I have at least one event that will be exciting: the "Next" Jasper Fforde book. It's a Thursday Next this time around, and it's been three years.

Between that and Spiderman 3, there are some diversions in life that will keep me from getting too depressed about not going away any time soon.

My Tea Things #3

This is a strawberry teapot. I don't think I needed to say that.

I'm not really a strawberry eater - I've only had a few good ones in my life and the "straw" parts get on my nerves. They don't gross me out like tomatoes, though. I think they are one of the best looking fruits, actually.

Whenever I look at this teapot, though, I am reminded of a plush strawberry doll Marie and I came across in a home in Plumstead (east of London.) It was so vacant looking it brought out the ridiculous in us. So, armed with my new (at the time) camcorder and Marie's cartoon voice, we did a mock children's show that I'll probably never show to anyone. Still, good times. In case you were wondering, his name is "Mr. Strawberry." He didn't smell like Strawberry Shortcake.

The teapot is kind of small, so it's mostly used for decoration. I've had it forever, don't really remember where I got it. That's kind of unusual for me.

Should I like this or be insulted?

I stumbled across teabirds today. It's a blog that features cute girls drinking tea. It's kind of a humorous idea, and I have no problem with someone appreciating attractive tea lovers. My only issue is that the girls tend to look the same - mostly white, extremely thin (do they stick a finger in their throat after sampling the scones? I know that's mean, but I'm catty, especially when it comes to tea.) The biggest problem is the lack of comment moderation. Someone left a really nasty comment in a past post, and no one thought to remove it. Whoever submits pictures to this site needs to expect to be objectified.

I think I'll keep my own tea drinking pics right here. It would be bad enough to have someone leave a nasty comment about me - it would be even worse to have my picture rejected. Oh the horror!

What will they think of next?

(Similar sentiments exist for Babes with Books.)

You just don't see this in Astoria

Since I literally cannot travel anytime soon (unless one of you lovely people out there would like to finance a trip for me :}), I have to enjoy whatever memorabilia or photos I have from trips past.

I've never been inside the Tower of London, though I've been right next to it, but someday I guess I should take a tour. Amazing how this place went from being a royal residence to a daunting prison. At least one Catherine I know (Howard, the fifth wife of Henry III) was beheaded here. Her cousin Elizabeth survived her stay at the Tower, and lived long enough to send others here to their ultimate demise (or sometimes just a frightening stay.)

That's just a fraction of the historical events that transpired at the Tower, I don't even want to get into the torturing. But I have to say, stare at this place from the bridge and you'll be impressed. If you're from the U.S., this is even more true, as we just don't have buildings dating back to the eleventh century.

Funny Tea Room Name # 6

Let me preface this by saying that as I've never been to the tearooms in this series, I'm not knocking the tearoom itself - I just love the endless possibilities these entrepreneurs can choose from by simply using the word "tea" in their name. Or should I say possibiliteas? Sorry, couldn't help it.

Teance - Sounds kind of mystical - is someone trying to channel Lu Yu? Or do they mean to rhyme the title with Beyonce? Either way, one of these years I must get out to California, as they seem to have a plethora of tea rooms.

Trippin' on Treacle

I can't believe I let years go by before having Tea and Sympathy's treacle pudding. This weekend I was reminded of how wonderful life could be, just sitting with a friend in a cozy little British tearoom on a kind of cold February evening. The treacle pudding is just a step away from being too sweet, and just a moment away from perfection. The custard poured on top does not take away from the flavor, it simply enhances it. I do recommend that if you have tea with it (I had chamomile lavender herb tea as it was too late for caffeine), you don't need to add sugar - the treacle provides enough sweetener.

There's nothing more to add. Try it sometime, you'll see what I mean.

Recycling the Past

What is it with these childhood favorites being remodeled lately?

First Strawberry Shortcake started wearing jeans. Now Holly Hobbie has been reincarnated. Apparently the new Holly is descended from the original, and she has her own TV show. Good for her.

I don't completely disapprove. These latest versions aren't bad role models for little girls - and I don't think Holly or her friends will be shaving their hair off anytime soon. I would never encourage boycotting the products just because I'm nostalgic. I say to parents, Sure, go for it!

I was looking for the classic Holly Hobbie stuff with Bonnie this week, and it's kind of needle in haystack. Though it's not completely extinct, old Holly does play hard to get. Maybe it will become like Classic Pooh, where both version live side by side in harmony.

If only all problems in life were this stressful.

Candy From a Baby?

So I went to get my taxes done, accompanied by Pam. The wait was slightly long, though not impossibly. We were just a little hungry and suddenly the little candy machine (like the ones in grocery stores but smaller) was looking really good. I had my eye on the Mike and Ike's, so I inserted a quarter and turned the knob. Out of nowhere this little girl came out with her mom, and the girl made a beeline for my candy, sticking her hand in the dispenser and helping herself. I was saying, "no, no" to her, because I was too surprised to say anything else. Then her mother grabbed her and smacked her, yelling all the time. The girl starts shrieking at the highest decibels, of course, and Pam and I just stared in disbelief. Then the happy family leaves...um, without even saying sorry to me or offering a quarter in compensation.

We couldn't help but laugh afterwards, and the rest of the waiting room joined in because that's what happens when the ridiculous happens. It made me think, though. How will the child learn how to behave when all she knows is smacking and screaming? Pretty sad. I may have been out 25 cents, but at least I got a laugh out of it while the kid learned absolutely nothing.

(I still love Mike & Ike's. My teeth don't, though.)

Taking a Stand

I went to a new tea place in the East Village, called Gramstand. I didn't take any pictures, sorry, basically it was minimalist and clean looking. By the storefront window there are two green armchairs that looked cozy, but they were occupied by two girls chattering. I heard far too many f-words to enjoy my proximity to them.

There were also some lounge-type couches in the back, but as I was alone it didn't feel comfortable. So I settled on a table towards the center.

The service was friendly, order at the counter, and the tea I had, GramStandard, was good - much like Mango Indica. It was the spacing that got on my nerves.

I can't really blame the store owners. The place is large enough, and airy. Sadly, some patrons don't quite grasp the meaning of personal space - on a Sunday afternoon! - and before long I was surrounded by three laptop users. Literally surrounded. I know I have an almost superhuman sense of smell, but I tell you it's not a good situation when you can smell the breath of someone on their laptop, because that's how close he was. Tea and gagging are not a good combination.

I guess my verdict is that it's a decent place for those living roundabouts 14th Street and Avenue A, and I wish my own neighborhood could come up with a similar concept. But for me, it was too far of a walk from my other destination, Trader Joe's, for it to be worth it. I know I live and work in a crowded city, and I'm a laptop person myself, but people need to respect other people's space, just a little bit. And maybe there is something the Gramstand owners can do - after all some of my favorite tea places (Teany, Tea and Sympathy, Sympathy for the Kettle) are not large at all, and yet I don't get the feeling that I'm about to be crushed by a hovering laptop.

I do give points for a decent bathroom.

My Tea Things #2

Combining two things I feel for: Sherlock Holmes and tea. Anyone who has shopped in the touristy areas of London will recognize this type of teapot: some come with pictures of English royalty, others have well known sites like castles and still others show scenes from famous British literature.

I've already gushed about Sherlock Holmes, and I'm not ready for a repeat performance. I've actually had a bit of trouble watching my beloved Jeremy Brett version, as this was something I shared with my Dad in the last few months of his life...I just can't bring myself to watch those shows anymore. Still, I love this teapot and its shape is just perfect - functional and scenic.

I will try to feature something for #3 that won't remind me of something sad.

The Ultimate Love/Hate Relationship

My feelings on Grand Central Terminal all depend on the time of day I'm there.

Midday it's usually a decent place to stroll around. Most people are in lunch mode, and are sauntering about, looking at the shops or heading for the dining level. This is a nice time to head for Posman Books, a small bookshop but okay for browsing. I remember before the more recent renovation there was a Barnes and Noble, but I'm kind of glad it's not in Grand Central as it would be an overload I think. There's a L'Occitaine En Provence, which I sometimes visit during the sales. There are two Starbucks and an Oren's Daily Roast, not to mention the Grand Central Market, with is frenzied fancy food. I go there for my occasional Devon Cream fix. Did I mention there's a Junior's? You can't complain about the shops. This time of year one is thankful to be near a place that is shielded from the outdoors (it's beyond cold this week).

Here is the hate portion of the relationship: rush hour. Tons of commuters mingle with hordes of tourists in a mad dash for their destinations. Some days I get upset that I can't stand still for a moment without getting trampled on, and on other occasions I am frustrated at the folks who just don't move fast enough. There are passageways everywhere, and constant threat of collision.

In these ways I guess Grand Central Terminal/Station truly represents New York.

By the way, I took these pictures during a mid morning break. As I snapped one pic the flash went off and some guy passing in range kept repeating "Did you get me? Did you get me?" I pretended not to hear him.

Not Petit on Taste

Le Petit Prince is on Broadway in Astoria, on the same block as Tierras Colombianas and steps away from many notable Greek restaurants. It's one of the best things to happen to Astoria in recent years. The breakfast pastries are out of this world, and their tea! They use Mighty Leaf as their supplier, and may I say it is mighty fine (the teabags are of good quality, therefore forgivable.) Here I've had one of the best Darjeeling teas in my life.

The tarts are sublime, actually everything I've tasted so far has been just about perfect. Even the Fraisier was enjoyable, and I don't normally eat strawberries. C'est Magnifique!

My sweet tooth is fully satisfied.

My Tea Things: 1

I've been collecting tea paraphernalia for over a decade now, chiefly teapots. Thought I'd show you just a few of these. This one is my favorite teapot, purchased in some outlet mall in Pennsylvania in 1995. My cat, Cinnamon, was almost 3 at that time, and I was more than pleased to see an item that combined two of my most beloved things, tea and cats (especially orange and white cats,) in one teapot. Though Cinnamon has been gone for over a year now, the memories, and the teapot, remain.

Big Mouth

I haven't done a Zeno post in a while. This photo illustrates completely what she does all night long. She's the chattiest feline I've ever encountered. Good thing I love her.

On the go at St. Mark's Place

Anyone who knows me is aware of the fact that I really don't like to walk and eat. Ice cream, maybe...you know, some food is made for strolling and I've indulged in a pretzel on the go here and there. For the most part, I need to sit for a few minutes and digest - I have the most sensitive digestive system. If I'm dining out alone - which I am not afraid of doing, I'm not completely socially phobic, I like to have a book to read.

Passing by this place on St. Mark's Place, I couldn't help but find it intriguing. "Bamn!" sounds like a euphemism, or something heard on a food channel, but it works well for what it provides. It's an automat, all kinds of fast food, including some Asian entrees. It looks bright and cheery. I haven't actually tried anything from Bamn! yet, but maybe when the weather is outdoor friendly I'll pick something up to snack on in a nearby park.

An Old Favorite

When I was still in college -way back when- I was just beginning to practice making bagless tea. I had only a couple of teapots (I still have the one from Lechter's - does anyone remember that place?) and a tea strainer from Dean & Deluca's. Whenever I had the chance, I would traverse Manhattan in search of a good tea supplier. This was some time before I shopped online, and most searches were undertaken by foot. When I found Porto Rico, I was really excited. As you walk in, you are assaulted by the coffee smell. Though I'm not really a coffee person, it's definitely pleasing. Sometimes being around such an overpowering amount of coffee is enough to wake me up. I, of course, was only interested in buying loose tea, which they scoop in little brown bags labeled with the name of the tea of choice. From this location (there was one on Bleecker Street, it might still be there) I bought Moroccan Mint Tea. That was when I was just getting into green tea, as it was mild on my sensitive stomach. I did not realize it had enough caffeine to keep me awake at night. I decided to drink a pot in the evening and ending up rambling to my Dad about all and sundry until well after midnight. Per Dad's request, I bought some loose herbal teas to add to my growing collection.

A similar buying experience was McNulty's...all those apothecary jars of tea to smell...my favorite at the time was Blueberry, though Rose Petal came in close second (come to think of it, I'd really enjoy a cup of that right about now.) This shop was on Christopher Street. They also sold tins of teas from different British companies. By the counter there was brick tea up for purchase. It was too pricey for me, but as a part of tea history I always made a point of looking at it.

I'd learned about these sources chiefly from books I'd borrowed from the Central Library. I never go there anymore, because I can request what I want online. Between Manhattan and Queens, I have access to so many books, it's surprising when something isn't available. Anyway, books about tea always have a Where To Buy section, and of course New York is always listed.

Thanks for indulging me in this tea nostalgia moment. I mean to collect all these memories into a book, but I procrastinate. Maybe a pot of Moroccan Mint at 8PM will motivate me.

I got windburn downtown, but it was fun

Just the name of this restaurant (on East 6th Street, one of those Little India blocks) makes me want to give it a try. I've been to the real Brick Lane, and ended up not going to any of the restaurants, and I'm still curious. Instead I went to a vintage shop, similar to the one shown above.

Gone! Gone! Gone!

The fact that it took this long for me to find out that Coliseum Books is closed for good is probably an indication of why it is closed. Someone had to mention it to me at work, and then I was like "huh?" Then I found out they'd had 40 - 70% off closing sales. Of course, I get wind of it after it's over. Can't even get the consolation prize(s).

On top of this, I pass by Gotham Book Mart every week. They've been closed for months now, seemingly on vacation, but now there's a "For Sale" sign on the window.

Then, of course, the Wild Lily Tea Room is gone. I knew that was coming, but I hate seeing a tea shop go down.

All this seems to coincide with my recent resolve to stop shopping. I've been good, rarely giving in even during the January Sales, but I suppose I'm not the only one with similar tastes who are crippled financially. It's really too bad. Much as I like Barnes and Noble, I was glad to have Coliseum, with their little cafe, a mere walk away from my job. Gotham was okay, a bit dusty, but I always had that feeling that it was a "real" bookstore.

It's really hard to be a successful independent bookseller nowadays.

On a cheerful note, the wonderful Wagamama is coming to the USA at long last. So far it's only opening in Boston, but as that was the first destination for a Lush East Coast store, I'm pretty positive we'll see some in NY in the future. I love Wagamama, with their big bowls of noodles and cafeteria seating. If they opened in Midtown near my job, I'd be in ramen heaven.

Peaceful Tea Taking

Sometimes when I go out for a nice cup of tea in the City, no matter how good the food, how splendid the tea, I still feel a bit wrecked. I've always been moderate in my caffeine intake, so that's not it. It's the whole "no matter how nice the tea room I'm still in NY and that's stressful" vibe that gets to me. I didn't feel that in The Adore.

If you want table service, simply go upstairs. It's not a huge area but not minuscule - we got a table in mere moments. It's got a rustic feeling, simple and unassuming. As you can see from the picture, I had a person sitting directly in back of me, and staff milling around, and yet Bonnie and I felt rather private as we sipped our Mariage Freres tea blends. I had the one called Eros (kind of rose flavored), and Bonnie had the fruity Bolero. We each had generous sandwiches, and topped it off with a tart. I happen to love lemon tarts: they tend to destroy my stomach, but I was fine this time. Definitely would I recommend this place if you are in the Union Square area (my favorite part of the City, full of tea places, bookshops, and all other pleasant shopping.)

Notice Bonnie's magic hands as she graciously removes the tomatoes from my sandwich.

84 Charing Cross Road

The movie was on last night - I'd seen it for the first time last spring, at which point I also read the book (usually I do it the other way around, but there's always the exception). It became an instant classic for me - both book and movie - a feat that is rarely reached for me, with the exception of some Jane Austen novels and Anne of Green Gables. I'm not sure I listed it among the 51 books I finished last year.

Helene Hanff was a writer living in New York. In the movie she is portrayed by Anne Bancroft, who seduces the reader with her smoker's voice, both rhapsodising about the texture of British books and ranting about slow deliveries.

Hanff was a voracious reader, possibly even more so than I because in the age of little to no television and before the Internet, reading was it. She may have lived in Manhattan, but she was wary of the word "antiquarian" as she was certainly not rich. Her love for English literature led her to an advertisement for Marks & Co., a used book store on 84 Charing Cross Road, London. Charing Cross Road, even now, is well known as a book lover's haven, and conveniently located in the theater district. It's also bordered by Trafalgar Square. My first London book purchase was on this road, though I think it was in a chain bookseller. (It was a Queen biography - the band, not the royal one...that realm of interest came to me a few years later.)

Moving on... Helene (now we're on a first name basis) established a relationship with Frank Doel at Marks & Co., who found British books rarely sold in America - at reasonable prices anyway. From the late 1940's to the late 60's she requested mostly non-fiction - her tastes were a bit different from mine as she rarely read fiction.

What I loved is that from such a long distance, she could rant all she wanted about slow deliveries, and receive nothing but mild-mannered replies from Frank Doel. So when she heard about the post-war food rations in England, she found a company in Denmark that sent all kinds of meat and other limited products to London and sent these as gifts to the employees of Marks & Co. Eventually she began to receive notes from the other employees, as well as Doel's wife Nora.

Of course Helene began to consider a visit to England. When I first saw the movie I kept wondering what was taking her so long? I know she wasn't rich, but neither am I and I've been there a number of times. But we are talking about over fifty years ago. People didn't just jump on planes when the mood struck them. She did, though, finally plan to come over for the Queen's coronation, but then she found out she need root canal work, which took a large bite out of her funds. (Groan!) I kind of related to this, because my root canal cost me $1000, and this was with dental insurance. So she continued her written correspondence instead. In fact, she didn't make it to England until 1971, when both Frank Doel and Marks & Co. were gone.

I loved the movie and the book in different ways. I wanted to live in Helene's apartment in the movie, sans the smoke. Like me, she was happiest surrounded by books, though she was not afraid of throwing out books when she ran out of room. But the book offered further details not mentioned in the movie, so I can't put one over the other.

Shortly after buying the book I also bought The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street. After last summer, I never even had a chance to open the book, I just knew it was written by Helene Hanff. So when I finally looked into it this week, I was surprised to realize this was in fact the sequel to 84 Charing Cross Road. It's more in the form of a travel diary - her long-awaited visit to London. So far, so good.

Don't look for a bookshop on 84 Charing Cross Road now - last time I checked, it's a wine bar. Things have certainly changed since Helene Hanff and Frank Doel kept in touch. Now if someone in New York wants a book from England, they can simply visit Amazon's UK site. Hardly anyone writes letters anymore, so I don't think the book would have been written if Helene was born sixty years later. I wonder if she would have kept an online journal.

Love is All You Need

Tea for (Chapter) Two

Pam and I had a lovely afternoon tea at Alice's Tea Cup, Chapter II. I know, I've complained about this place before, but on Friday afternoon there was no wait and excellent service. I could seriously live off the Lapsang Souchong chicken sandwich. We tried Cholestea, which was kind of chai-like, and Trafalgar Square - I obviously chose it for the name, but like the menu promised, it tasted like a Peppermint Patty. And as usual, we couldn't finish everything between the two of us. The orange currant scone was resurrected for the next morning's breakfast (with a cup of tea, duh.) My only complaints, 'cause there has to be some, was the usual minimal serving of clotted cream, and the two girls near us with their laptops. I'm sorry, it's just not the kind of place for laptops! Can't we escape from this millenium for one hour? Guess not.

For the first time we were seated in the fairy room or whatever it's called. It's pretty cute with all the wings and kids' pictures. Cozy, too.

By the way, a Chapter III is coming on East 81st Street. I'm sure I'll be checking out in the near future. Doubt they'll ever come to Queens.