Less is More

I'm the kind of person who has a hard time getting rid of stuff.  I wouldn't say I could be a subject for 'Hoarders': I throw things out constantly, and I'm not a compulsive shopper (anymore.)  But when it comes to certain unnecessary things, I have a habit of holding on to them for no good reason, and then when I finally get around to purging, it's such a relief I ask myself what took so long?  It basically comes down to procrastination. 

So the thing that took me forever to get rid of this time is cable TV.  Okay, you can say it doesn't take up a lot of space: after all, it's only a box (or in my case, two boxes, but they don't really collect dust.)  You can even argue that it doesn't necessarily take up time.  It's like anything you have, it only takes up the time you put into it, or get out of it.  There are plenty of people who would argue that in the age of DVR's and TIVO, you can budget your time by recording the shows you want to watch and only watching that.  Well, that should be true but for me it wasn't.  Even so, I wasn't chained to the TV by any means, but what was really bothering me was the monetary expense.  How could I, in my right mind, spend so much for so little?  In the end I'd gone down the basic package, so I didn't even have most of the good channels, yet I was still paying way too much. 

I try not to be a cheapskate.  There is a difference between being cheap and thrifty, though there's a fine line.  Still, the longer I kept cable, the more I'd do sums in my head, thinking of all the other things I could spend my money on.  Therein is the key:  if I think about things like rent and utilities, sure it's useful but it's not a satifactory means of saving.  So I operate on my Wishlist Currency: how many months of savings = another trip to London, Afternoon Teas, a fabulous pair of shoes, art books, or even a gadget I'd been eyeing.  Now all those cable shows don't sound as exciting, and certainly aren't as tangible. 

What really did it for me, though, was when I got around to calling my cable provider, in an attempt to find a lower priced TV/internet package.  I see ads all the time for deals that were more than half of what I was paying, for new customers, and that didn't seem fair.  In the past I'd call from time to time and get a small chunk of money lopped off my bill, and it seemed reasonable that this should happen again.  This time, though, the person I spoke to wouldn't budge.  Well, fine with me lady! 

So it's been a few weeks since I've been TV-less, and I have to say, I rarely notice it's missing.  Yes, I have Netflix, but that's dramatically cheaper, and I borrow DVD's from the library which is free.  In the future I'll probably get some sort of coverter/antennae so that I can have a couple of network channels, but I'm not even in a rush to do that.  Picking this time of year to quit was convenient, because most of the shows I follow are on hiatus, but even when Fall comes around I can watch them the next day online.  (I didn't have BBC America, so I'd have had to find another way to watch Doctor Who anyway.)  Actually, what I miss the most is the clocks on the two boxes I had to bring back, but that too shall pass. 

I don't know if this has been a rant or a smug back-patting moment - you decide.   All I can hope is that life is slightly less complicated.

A Somewhat Crazy Long Walk: High Line

It's hard to classify this walk as crazy, as it's designed to be walked from one end to another.  You could cut out early, but even if you walk the full length, it's maybe a mile at the moment.  What makes this more of a challenge is getting to the High Line in the first place.  The closest subway station is the 8th Avenue line, which means you still have to make it to 10th - and in my case, it seems I always start from a greater distance away.  Recently I came from Midtown East, and let me tell you, I'm glad I wore comfortable shoes.

Though the inception of the High Line as a public space began over a decade ago, it look time to convert the former elevated train tracks to something resembling a park, not to mention getting the support to do so.  There's a book out explaining its history, which incidentally is a lovely coffee table book, particularly for those who love anything New York.  What would you call that, by the way:  New Yorkophiles?  That sounds weird, but what can you do?  Anyway, it opened to the public in 2009, the year I took some of my craziest long walks, and it's lengthened gradually since then. 

Now the High Line has become immensely popular, which also makes it a little too crowded sometimes.  Still, it's no Grand Central Station, and for anyone looking to get some excellent bird's-eye views of the city, it shouldn't be missed.  If you're like me and hate stairs, quite a few exit points have elevators.  They've got it covered.





A panoramic view

The Lady's backside: guess she doesn't want your tired and poor anymore.

 A relaxing way to watch traffic

Leafy and potty

Kitty cat


These are only a handful of pictures I've taken up there.  It's certainly a photog's haven.

In keeping with the spirit of this blog, I have to say that on a nice day this would be a fantastic place to take tea in a slightly informal way. I've probably mentioned before that I don't possess any outdoor space of my own, so I can't do 'Tea in the Garden' on a whim.  With its decent amount of seating areas, though, something can certainly be made of the High Line.  There's enough entertainment in people watching, flower admiring, and skyscraper-gazing, on top of the fact that there's some actual live music here and there.  And, of course, one end of the park is by the Meatpacking district, just a scone's throw away from the West Village, which means Tea and Sympathy, The Tea Set, Bosie Tea Parlor, DAVIDs Tea, to mention only a few spots to pick up your tea and cakes if you didn't pack any.  Oh, and let's not forget Chelsea Market!  Don't worry about the calories...you can always walk them off.

A little note

It looks like I hit 6000 pageviews...it's always nice to know someone's looking.  Thanks for reading, everyone!!!

Iced Tea

Every day seems to be a National Something Day...Talk Like a Pirate Day, Pancake Day, Hairball Awareness Day...it goes on and on.  Some days seem to overlap, and I'm sure many are being created anew each year.  It's probably some big marketing ploy, but as long as there's no National Stab Someone on the Subway Day, I'm not going to complain about it.  I'm not going to observe it either, unless there's a coupon involved, or a coincidence. 

Last Sunday was apparently National Iced Tea Day, and I found myself experimenting with iced tea on Sunday...totally by happenstance.  It's something I've tried to perfect over the years, though I think in the long run iced tea is a matter of taste.

My first attempts that didn't involve mixing powder with water was well over a decade ago.  I remember using my old white 'brown betty' teapot - I still have that one, it's my first useful teapot purchase, but I rarely use it - to brew black tea extra strong, as per a recipe's requirements.  Then I boiled up some simple syrup, which later ended up being useful in making cocktails (the Mojito phase...), and then I combined the two liquids and refrigerated.  Later I poured the concoction over ice.  It was pretty good, though not exactly out of this world. 

Like all my tea drinking, with the exception of the occasional strong breakfast tea or chai I don't add sweetener.  To me, well made tea does not need to be sweetened, whether it's hot or cold.  And fruit teas really really don't need anything added to them.  Now I basically brew up slightly stronger tea in a pot, and pour over lots of ice in a tall glass (or thermos if I'm taking it to go,) and it's a lovely drink, especially in the summer.  If I serve others iced tea, I'll give them the option to sweeten, like I would with hot tea, but I prefer if they tasting before adding anything to it.  I won't express disapproval either way, since I still need iced coffee to be sweet (though not too sweet, and only natural sweeteners.  Ugh, I had a 'skinny' iced vanilla latte from Starbucks not long ago and well, like I just said, Ugh.) 

Back to Sunday, I had a small packet of Organic Saigon Chai from DAVIDsTEA.  On the label it encourages the user to 'try it iced, Viet-style, with sweetened condensed milk.'  Now, I've never been to Vietnam, don't know anyone close to me from Vietnam, and even if my Dad were still alive I don't think he'd have to many tea-drinking experiences, so I'm just going to have to take DAVIDs word for it.  Since chai is one of my sweetening exceptions, and I happened to have a can of sweetened condensed milk that cried out to be used, away I went.  This resulted in a delicious, refreshing glass of Sunday afternoon.

So where's the picture?  you may or may not be asking.  Well, I wasn't being lazy (not that lazy anyway), but I have to say it wasn't the most pleasing-looking beverage I've prepared.  It kind of looked like creamy rusty water.  Perhaps I hadn't made it strong enough.  So you'll have to take my word for it - it was good.

I decree every Sunday should be Iced Tea Day!...at least for the summer months.  Ice Cream Day, too. 

Crazy Long Walk: West Village

Normally, when I think of my long, long walks I think of covering a longer distance, like from Uptown to Downtown, or through a large park space.  It's not a stretch, though, to talk about wandering essentially one neighborhood, but in a pretty thorough fashion.

Recently, after a poor attempt at winning plane tickets, I had a lot of pent-up energy and a system full of iced tea - that courtesy of the new Alice's Tea Cup mini-shop in Books of Wonder.  So I took that energy and walked throughout most of the West Village, mostly window shopping but generally getting a bit of air, and a rare mild tan.

Though a good portion of Greenwich Village has given way to chain shops and restaurants, it's retained enough of its charm to still merit a visit from time to time.  There's plenty of independent places, and it feels like a step into the past while not seeming like a museum - nor does it seem contrived.  There are tourists about, but they don't clog up the pavement like they might in Midtown.

What I also like about this neighborhood is my ability to get lost without feeling lost.  If I'm looking for a particular street, I tend to veer off the wrong way, and manage to explore blocks I haven't seen in a while.  I decide that I must come back to these streets, and eventually I find my intended destination, if I even care to find it after all. 

Finally, it's one of my Teahoods - one of the largest concentration of favorite tea haunts in New York.  I only needed to mention that, probably, and you'd understand why I come here to wander when I can.

A record shop.  Yes, kids, we used to have these on every corner.  The 'For Rent' sign on the door is kind of freaking me out.

 

 Caffe Reggio - still going strong.  I must try sitting outside one day.

Pack in my college years, it was nearly impossible to find loose tea in New York outside of Chinatown.  I developed my habit by visiting places like Porto Rico and nearby McNulty's.  Sure, they smell overwhelmingly of coffee, but that not a bad thing.

A wonderful bookshop - I went to two Jasper Fforde signings here, and hope to one day watch one of their "radio dramas".  It's on Greenwich Avenue, just down the road from Tea and Sympathy.  Scones....

A beautifully aloof kitty on MacDougal Street.


When I think of clean clothes, Van Gogh's name rarely springs to mind, but this place is gorgeous. 

Our Mutual Book

I still seem to be carrying on the habit of reading two Dickens books a year.   It seems pretty reasonable for a reader like me anyway.  I don't read in the order he wrote usually, but it seems that recently I've been in his later years.  Our Mutual Friend was his last completed novel, and I'd say one of his best. 

He seems to have toned down slightly on the ridiculous at this point.  I mean, everyone's still interconnected - it wouldn't be a Dickens novel without coincidence, but it's woven in a marginally more believable way.  The names are still sometimes goofy - can you say Boffin without smiling?  and of course Sloppy is a funny name, but it's a nickname (I think).  People are still caricatures, but with an air of seriousness, like Jenny Wren who makes the same complaint over and over again, but instead of making her pathetic, she is a truly resourceful, hardworking person who puts up with disability and a hopelessly alcoholic father by being eccentric enough to cope with everything.  The ladies are less simpering - you couldn't imagine Lizzie Hexam offering to sharpen her husband's pens to keep herself occupied - and while I wasn't necessarily enamored with any of the male protagonists, at least a few of them were people I wouldn't mind knowing - Noddy Wilfer, for instance, seemed like a cool guy to have as a dad.  Indeed, this book could almost have been titled Fathers and Daughters, there were so many of these important pairings. 

In Our Mutual Friend (I would have initialized the title but it might be mistaken for an texpletive,) class distinction is put under the microscope.  Even at the time of publication, readers may have started to ask themselves, are high class people really classier?  Does education make you 'better', or arrogant?  In the end you could say there's good and messed up in every level of society.  Food for thought at a period where the middle class was in development.

I'd started this book at the end of last year, with Bonnie, as Our Mutual Reading, but both of us petered off for a while.  I have to admit I ended up finishing my reading electronically.  It didn't take away from the enjoyment of the process, but I wouldn't recommend it for some of Dickens' other books, where you really really really have to keep going back to remember the cast of characters.  iPads might have a different feeling - I'll have to ask Bonnie...whenever she finishes reading. 

The Crazy Long Walk

I'm a walker.  Not a runner, driver, biker, or skater, just a walker.  I love to walk, plain and simple.  I even like the word 'walk' - it's one of the few words that bring out the New York accent in me.  If I feel like being fancy, though, especially if I'm carrying a parasol, I might say 'promenade', or even the Austen-tatious 'take a turn'.

However, I don't like having to walk.  There's a difference.  On a nice, or at least decent day, if a place is within walking distance, which for me could be a few miles depending on footwear and what I'm carrying, then I want to hoof it.  If the weather is daunting, or I'm not feeling too well, or for any other whiny reason, I will make a fuss if I 'have' to walk. 

Those who live in car-only regions might shudder at the lengths I'll walk to, though the same people have no problem with spending hours at the gym or participating in some exhausting sport or other.  I'm not at all sporty, and am certainly not an adventurous person physically, so this is it for me.  Here's why it's my thing:

Taking in the Scenery

Sure, you can see a lot from an automobile, but it's more of a passing glance than a true soak-in.  When you're on your feet, you can stop without waiting for the next exit (though I don't recommend stopping while crossing the street.  That's just dangerous.)  And you can get the sense of a city this way - the gradual changes in neighborhoods, the endless shops, restaurants, and people.  Though I don't like crowds, I do have my people-watching moments, and this is a way to observe humanity without commitment.  If you really want to look at people, though, take a hint from my dearly departed Grammie and sit in a parked car.  I promise you, you will see some crazy stuff.  

Dogs are always fun to watch too.   They are so happy to be outside and moving, and the mood is just contagious.  Not to mention the fact that they're usually cuter than the people (this coming from a cat person!)

Burn It!

Did I mention I'm not a fan of exercising?  I don't hate it, but there's a reason why every gym membership I've had has lapsed into non-renewal, even the ultra-cheap Planet Fitness one (I've spent more money in Starbucks during one sitting than in one month's membership.)  I get tired of going somewhere, changing into workout clothes, and then spending a chunk of time in public sweating and panting.  Somehow, though, I must burn those cake-induced calories, and walking is my way.   It's one of the few ways I move where I don't wear out quickly, and I'm usually the one in a group that wants to keep going, while everyone else has called it a day.  I'm also brisk walker, so there is a measure of working out going on.  I'm trying to wear the proper shoes, though, because I'm usually traversing on concrete, and with the wrong footwear it's damaging to the rest of the body to go the distance. 

Cheaper!

Besides the cost of footwear, it costs absolutely nothing.  You can't find fault with that!

Endorphins and Whatnot

I love to relax at home with a good book and some hot tea when it's pouring out, or retreat to the a/c when it's sticky out.  But when the weather's bad for walking for a long stretch, I start to feel gloomy.  After a substantial hike, though, my mood tends to be at its best.  There's scientific explanations for this, but I'm not a scientist, so suffice it to say it does a body good in more ways than one.

Photo Op!

Again, you see so much when you cover lots of territory, and you'll probably want to remember what you see.  Carrying a camera certainly helps keep the memories alive, and let's stop there before this turns into a greeting card.

I've kept a semi-regular New York photo blog, and most of the pictures were taken from the marathon walking sessions.  Here, though, I'm going to have a new feature, covering some of my favorite long walks.  It's almost the reverse of the 'Wish You Were Here' feature, because there I tend to want places to be a short distance from my home.   So, new paths coming soon!

Seven

I've been blogging for seven years.  There's been a few changes to format -  I've reorganized a little, changed the name of my main blog - and I don't post as frequently.  Even so, I'm pleased that I've kept this online record, and can look back on many tea times and whiny moments with some sense of clarity.  So cheers to me!

If Catherine can't come to Britain...

A few months ago I had every intention of returning to Britain in April 2012.  Then other plans/money/issues/life got in the way, so I had to postpone the trip.  It was a little disappointing, but I've been learning patience in so many avenues of my life, so it's really okay.  Resourceful person that I am, I try to find mini-trips, or at least pockets of time that make me feel that I might be elsewhere.

This happened in a big way last Thursday, when I found out that Doctor Who was filming in NYC.  This almost never happens - usually they're in Wales or London, so it was bizarre to find the actors actually shooting scenes within ten blocks of my place of work!  Sadly, I only found out on the day of and didn't have my camera with me.  My cellphone has a camera, but honestly I can draw better pictures.  And I draw like a blind ape.  Still, standing in Tudor Place with a crowd of Whovians, watching 'The Doctor and Amy Pond' riding a 1930's car and running over and over again is something that won't leave my mental photo album for a long time.  Besides, plenty of people have posted their photos of the day online: I've even seen the back of my head in some of them!

Then there was Friday evening, which was mostly New Yorkish: after work I hiked to the High Line, walked most of its length, and exited by Chelsea Market.  It was a good place to take my camera, which I finally brought with me.  Then I bought some chips at A Salt and Battery and sat outside watching the interesting people of the West Village pass by.  Nearly everyone made a comment about the fish and chip shop, or the next door Tea and Sympathy.  So, close enough.

Now, I'm not a parade person.  Crowds and loud noises are things I usually flee from, and I'd done enough on Thursday evening.  But Saturday was gorgeous out, so I found myself at the tail end of the Tartan Day Parade in Midtown.  This way I got to see all the kilts without the headache.  And I do love the kilts! I did a whole paper on them in college.  Sigh.  Anyway:





Bagpipes!!!!!


I love the outfit of the girl on the right. 


Scotties everywhere!  So well behaved, too.
Correction (thanks, Doug): they're West Highland White Terriers.  Still well behaved.



Since it's been a really long time since I've been to Scotland, it was certainly a pleasure to see this little reminder.  I'd love to go back again, especially now that I'm knowledgeable about its history, culture and of course literature.  On my one and only trip, all I knew about Scotland was haggis (which I still haven't tried,) the Loch Ness monster (which I don't care about anyway,) and that my grandfather had been born there.  I also knew some lyrics from a folk song about Bonnie Prince Charlie, but as a kid I thought it might have been about a mythical figure.  So it's time to return, but in the meantime, we get our little reminders here and there in my hometown.

Coffee and Tea Festival 2012

 

 

I haven't been in writing mode AT ALL lately.  In fact I haven't had such a long writing slump in over a decade.  Now I can't blame the winter, because it was one of the warmest ones on record.  Anyway, I'm trying now to rise above the block, and thought I'd get started by posting a few pics from last month's Coffee and Tea Festival.

I'd left a three year hiatus between festivals, basically because it doesn't change much.  This year it was on 34th Street, which was different, and I'd gotten a half-off discount via the Daily News (so this post is almost an Adventure in Grouponing,) so I figured why not? 

Crowds are daunting, and this event was no exception.  I was almost intimidated when I came in, because the people checking our tickets on the ground floor were really tetchy.  I've worked trade shows in the past, and I know you're supposed to be a bit more hospitable, but I clenched my teeth and headed upstairs.  Thankfully on the event floor people were friendlier, but boy were they in abundance!  So this introvert made a decision to focus only on the tea promoters.  Coffee's been doing a number on my system lately, and this way I wouldn't find myself in the middle of a barista competition.  I mean, I like a well made cup of anything, but it's not exactly a sport!  But I'm grumpily digressing.

The lectures were in a separate area, but they were too crowded too.  This narrowed things down quite well for me, and I found myself finally enjoying myself as I sampled many kinds of cookies, biscotti, cheeses (thanks Cabot!) and of course teas.  I tasted tea from the Azores, which I'd never heard of before.  The closest I got to a coffee tasting was from teabean, who bakes coffee beans and infuses them with tea.  Weird, but not bad.  My favorite tea, I'd have to say, was from Best International Tea.  They had an English Breakfast tea that was just perfect - buttery and delicious, strong but didn't need milk. 

So, not a bad time, but not something I need to do every year.  It took me nearly two months to write about it, but there it is.  Maybe it's the kickstart I need (besides a good cup of tea.)

Wish You Were Here: DAVIDsTEA

This is kind of a stretch.  I mean, technically I can walk to one of their branches from work.  But my definition of here fluctuates, especially in the wintertime.  Even during this winter when we've rarely dropped below freezing, and had less snow than London, I find myself in hibernation mode.  So anywhere that's a commute from my apartment building, or would take too long to visit in a lunch hour, is far enough to wish closer.  At least it's closer than Montreal...

I'd visited DAVIDsTEA (capitals!!!) about two months ago, on a post Alice's Tea Cup walk down Third Avenue.  (There's an Alice's just a couple of blocks from here as well, so it looks like we're getting another Tea Strip in Manhattan!) I liked their friendly service - bubbly but not overmuch, and not sullen either.  On a decent weather day last week, I decided to get some air, and some tea, so away I went after work.

For over a year now, I've been in the habit of drinking coffee in the morning.  I'm trying to break this habit, and the best way to do so is to fortify my tea arsenal.  I keep a little teapot at work with a built-in infuser, so I was up to the task of making loose tea at my desk.  It only takes a minute or two extra in maintenance, and I think it's worth it.  At DAVIDs I told Amanda, the nice young lady who helped me (what am I, a grandmother?), about my coffee issues, and she suggested Coffee Pu'erh, which is Pu'erh with coffee beans and chocolate and almond flavor.  I haven't tried it yet, but it seems like an interesting way to bridge the gap. 

Speaking of chocolate, I picked up a sample of Chocolate Rocket, which isn't 'tea' at all but a maté, which I normally don't go for.  If you mix it up with a flavor medley, including, obviously, chocolate, it's a nice hearty drink that's still light enough to be of tea consistency.  I like the Long Life Oolong and I can't wait to try Glitter & Gold and The Earl's Garden.  I didn't quite buy up the store but got enough small packets to make for a few weeks of novelty.

Purists might be wagging their waggables at me right now and thinking I've gone off the deep end with all these flavored teas.  On their behalf (and please stop wagging; you'll get whiplash) I assure them that this store has estate black and greens that are only flavored with green tea, so there's choices for everyone.  I'm pretty well stocked in both kinds of teas now.

The store, on 65th and 3rd (there's also one on Bleecker,) has a little seating in the back, and only a few cookies and things for snacks (a gluten free cookie as well,) so you can spend some time relaxing here.  Mainly, though, its strength is as a tea retailer.  There's teapots and cups and bath teas and gifts, and everything seemed reasonable in price.  And did I mention loose tea, lots of loose tea! 

Since I doubt they'll open a branch right next to my job, as the east side location is somewhat close, now I'm going to hope for a future shop on Steinway Street.  I think we have plenty of tea drinkers in Astoria, and we really don't get enough tea shop love here. 

In the meantime, the subway directions: 59th Street NQR456, 63rd Street F, 68th Street 6.  Possible 2nd Avenue Subway stops in the future.

The Future of Us and a Pairing

A man who worked in the local library showed me how to do a search on the Internet.  Google wasn't around yet, so it must have been on Yahoo.  I didn't have a computer at home, and wouldn't have a personal email address for another couple of years.  I knew people who did, but they were either nerds, well off, or needed it for something work related.  Besides sending emails and looking up something for school, the Internet wasn't an everyday concern for me.  A cell phone-carrying friend was still a rarity, and phones were only phones.  If you were in a restaurant, you only checked in physically, and your opinions on them or any product you tried tended to be via word of mouth.

That was my 1996, the year I landed my first full-time job, and started to live what I thought was a grown-up life.  If I was able to see my current Facebook page at that time, what would I think?  Would I like older Catherine, or would I try to change my future and whatever disappointments I'd perceived?

The Future of Us addresses this line of thought.   High school students and neighbors Josh and Emma are living a normal day to day life in 1996, when Emma sets up an America Online address and out pops Facebook circa 2011 with all the minutia and keywords of our time.  When they realize what they're seeing is their future, they are faced with the problem of whether they should make changes to their life now or be affected at all by what they see.  Of course every tiny step they make affects their future statuses in rather large ways.

That's it without spoilers, but I have to say it's a fun concept, especially for someone of that generation.  Well, I'm slightly older, but close enough.   The Future of Us is not going to be my favorite book of the year - the only laugh I had was the speculation over someone's post: "I miss Pluto,"  and it started to feel repetitive, but it was a quick read anyway.

So what would I pair with this book?  I'd say Apple Peach fruit tisane from McNulty's, my beverage of choice in the mid-nineties.  And anything else I used to eat around that time - I was really skinny fifteen years ago.

And they're cozy!

 

People have different ideas, about certain words.  "Nerd" or "Geek" are good examples of these.  You might use these titles on someone who watches Star Trek or knows more about them computer doohickeys than you do, but someone who actually goes to the conventions wearing the ears and speaks html fluently would disagree. 

The word "foodie" is used fast and loose nowadays.  What is a foodie, anyway?  Someone who frequents more than two restaurants in their neighborhood, or someone who knows the names of the head chefs in every restaurant within a ten mile radius of their home?  Is it the guy who can make recommendations to the tourist on the street, or the guy who can recommend a wine by its region, year and specific vineyard?

Depending on your definition, I may or may not be a foodie.  I live in New York, which is one of THE restaurant capitals of the world, and specifically Astoria, a place that even draws Manhattanites out for dinner.  A good portion of my friends are regular restaurant goers, and walking guidebooks.  Anyone who's read this blog knows that I've tried as many tea places I could get to, and have both positive and negative criticisms for most of them.   I don't know, though.  Despite being able to tell you many of the best and worst places to have brunch in Astoria, and which tea room is most generous with their clotted cream, I have a much simpler side as well.  I freely admit I have passed the threshold of McDonald's in recent months (more than once), and I get occasional cravings for Cup of Noodles (which is easily satisfied.)  And I love, and will always love, coffee shops and diners.

When I was a kid, it was a rare treat to go out to eat at all.  It was almost a celebration to be taken to Neptune Diner on Astoria Boulevard.  I continued going there with my friends more regularly as I got older.  Then there was the Georgia, Buccaneer, Bel Aire, even the long-gone Sage Diner (the latter missed the 'e' in its lit sign, which was fitting if you were flopping there on a late night.)  These places were good because you could come at all hours, with a few or many friends, and even if you were broke you could get something small and not be judged.  You were really there to socialize and get a bite to eat, and rarely did anyone look at their plate with a critical eye.

The smaller version of the diners were the coffee shops, though the names were sometimes interchangeable.  Here you'd get the breakfast special or a souvlaki, or even a cup of coffee - though some places have you sit at the counter if you come alone or just get a coffee.  That's a little irksome, but over time I've come to understand they needed to save space for parties of four.  My local coffee shops were the unfortunately named Mini Star and the Blue Restaurant.  In its later years the Blue also had a Mexican menu - their Huevos Rancheros were out of this world!  It was a New York institution, one which is still thriving in some neighborhoods - I saw a good amount of them on the Upper West Side recently.

Why am I talking about these places in past tense?  It's not like they don't exist anymore -well, except for the Sage and the Blue.  I've been to quite a few of these within the year, and will continue to go.  But I think of these in terms of the past because most of the people who came with me to these places either no longer do so.  Some have moved away, so naturally they can't go.  What's more alarming to me, though, are those who've moved on, or those who just don't understand the point of these places. 

That's the problem with New York now.  The old faithful establishments are scoffed at as inferior, or only to be viewed ironically. (Cue hipster vitriol here)  But even if someone is not a hipster, it's just a prevailing attitude that has to be balanced out.  I'm mainly directing this towards Astorians, since it's the area where I've been able to observe the trend toward upturned noses.  Coming from somebody who just might be a foodie, what the heck is wrong with diners?  I love a good brunch like the rest of them (and must admit it was a nice treat to have one at Diwine, where you get serenaded by a top-rate jazz singer), but do I really need to pay $15 each weekend for eggs and a mimosa?  Honestly I usually come out of brunch still hungry, something that never happens to me at a diner.  And yes, I know diners have brunch specials too.  The difference is, if you're on a budget you could just get a flipping muffin.  Also, the staff at diners tend to be friendly and homey without being gushy about it.  That's more than I can say for a recent experience at Alice's Tea Cup, Chapter III (but that's a rant for another day.)


These two meals combined were cheaper than one brunch at the new joints.

You might say this is odd coming from the Tea Queen of Astoria.  I've always moaned against the lack of a good cup of tea in diners and coffee shops.  Still, this lack happens even in the newer restaurants.  It's a small miracle to find a Mighty Leaf teabag, much less a proper pot of tea at the correct water temperature.  This is a commonplace problem, but (big surprise!) the meal isn't always about the tea. 

Also, I'm not raising a fist to the air at all the changes in my hometown.  It's fun to make new discoveries, and I hope the businesses do well.  I am merely saying that sometimes I want to (or need to) keep it simple, and there's nothing wrong with that.  In other words, in with the new doesn't always have to mean out with the old...unless you're watching an episode of 'Hoarders.'



I mean a song was written about this place!  Oh, and the Seinfeld thing.

(Some Of) My Favorite Books of 2011

It's been a long year in the library...

I'm not too good at making top ten lists, and when it comes to reading, it's really difficult to narrow down.  Still, among the 60 + books I've read this year, some were more gripping, inspiring, or hilarious than others.  I whittled it down to twelve, in date order.  So I guess one favorite per month isn't bad.  I paired some of these with tea, and the rest I'll leave up to you. 

1. The Sherlockian by Graham Moore
One of my Sherlock Holmes - related reads of the year, except this one is a mystery that encompasses modern times and the detective work of Arthur Conan Doyle. 

2. One of Our Thursdays is Missing by Jasper Fforde
Since 2001, a year without a new Jasper Fforde book is like a month without ice cream: I'll survive, but I won't like it! Even better of course, is when the new book is a Thursday Next novel - that's a 2 for $5 sale on Haagen Dazs pints! (I know they're 14 ounces now, but we pretend.) The latest installment takes place in the BookWorld, where the fictional Thursday Next looks for the missing RealWorld Thursday Next. The newly mapped out BookWorld (particularly Fiction) is well done, a reference to reading on e-readers is made, and now I'm getting excited. I need to read this one again. Have your mechanical butler bring you a nice cup of Rooibos with this one, because it's 'red' tea. Get it? No?


3. The Way We Live Now  by Anthony Trollope

I'm still working through the Barchester novels, but so far I'd say if you only read one Trollope, this should be the one.  It was astoundingly modern, especially for something written over a hundred years before I was born.  It's long but moves swiftly.

4. The Immortal Dinner by Penelope Hughes-Hallet
Imagine spending an evening with John Keats, Charles Lamb and William Wordsworth without having to pick up a book. This is based on the host, Benjamin Haydon's, account of the dinner and also explains the significance of the subjects discussed that evening. If you're at all interested in writers and artists of that time period, and I am, you'll enjoy this fly-on-the-wall experience.  I'd try Tay Tea's 'Muse' herbal blend with this one...because these guys are some of my greatest inspirations.

5. The Earth Hums in B Flat by Mari Strachan

One of the sad ones - a mystery, a girl who thinks she can fly as investigator, and mental illness.  If you can handle gorgeous writing and depressing reading, then this is your book.  Also, it takes place in Wales. 

6. Eating for England by Nigel Slater
Food, eating and food shopping habits in England. An Anglophile's delight. Have some PG Tips and some real Cadbury chocolate with this one.

7. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
I wrote about this one already.  Scroll down.

8. Bel Canto by Ann Patchett
Oh my goodness.  I can't believe I never read this one until this year.  I'm not a fan of 'hostage situations', but this novel makes the experience almost poetic.  You are warned from the beginning that it won't end well, but somehow you manage to move through it and savor the ride.  Tea with lemon and honey...I just think that's what an opera singer would drink.

9. Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? and Other Concerns by Mindy Kaling
Fun and funny even if you don't watch the Office.  It's too easy to say she's of an Indian background so drink Indian tea, so no...have some Oolong.

10. The House of Silk by Anthony Horowitz
A Sherlock Holmes story, well done but darker than most.  If you know most of the actual Conan Doyle stories, you'll pick up a lot of references. 

11. A Jane Austen Education by William Deresiewicz
I love it when men learn life lessons from Jane Austen.  It turns her into so much more than a chick-lit writer. 

12. Turn Right at Machu Picchu by Mark Adams
Did I mention I've been to Peru?  It's been years, but reading this more adventurous trip (I just took the train from Cuzco - no hiking.)  It's easy enough to pair with Coca Tea...if you're in Peru.  You might have access to a Pisco Sour otherwise (I've had these in Jackson Heights.)


I feel like I should have spent more time on these books here, but I've moved on.  For 2012 I hope to be more thorough when in 'book blogging' mode.  There's always room for improvement!

Wish You Were Here 1: Van Gogh's Ear Cafe

When it comes to restaurants, New York has it all? Or does it? In my rare excursions outside of my hometown, I have found places that are exceptional enough to warrant a return trek in the future. Because of this, I'm establishing a 'Wish You Were Here" feature, meaning why don't they have something like this in New York? Readers might object - they may be familiar with something that resembles this cafe or that shop. This is a possibility since I haven't been to every business in the five boroughs. So feel free to submit your substitutes. I'd be glad to give it a go - unless of course it's the horribly overpriced version (which means it's not really a substitute, is it?)



The morbidly-named Van Gogh's Ear Cafe is located in Union City, New Jersey. There's a college nearby, but otherwise this was the only place that seemed to come even close to a student hangout. The neighborhood is almost bizarre: nearly every store on its block and the others nearby were hair salons. I have never seen so many salons in one place. Seriously, if you are ever in this area, before you relax in the cafe, just explore a little bit. You might find a really good deal on a haircut.


With your fresh coif, you can enter the warm cafe and, if it's not too busy, you'll have a choice of plush chairs or a nice table. You could come alone or with a group and be suitably seated. You don't have to be a hipster to fit in here: I saw little kids and elderly folks along with woolen-capped bespectacled youngsters. And this is a relief. In any some couchy places around Astoria, for instance, you're mostly surrounded by "I knew this place before it was cool" types, which I've had up to here and back again. This in itself makes me hesitant about having a Van Gogh's ear in New York. Pretentiousness is inescapable.

I mean, check out the entertainment.  He's just some guy from the neighborhood, no quirkiness, no irony, just playing classical tunes on his guitar.  It was unobtrusive but enjoyable. 

I had a Thin Mint Latte, which would have been dessert enough for me, though the warm and oh-so-perfect for autumn Apple Crumble was wonderful.  There's a full menu of food, drinks and desserts, and it doesn't go overboard on the Van Gogh theme.  Next time I'll have to try the loose leaf teas.

We of course sat by the bookshelves.  The books were on sale, but the selection was nothing to write home about.  To me, this was the only downside.  You want to sit for a while and relax with a book, but if you didn't bring one of your own (and for once I was lax on this end), you might feel a little antsy. Lesson learned.

So, while it would be nice to have a place like this within walking or subway distance from home, it would probably be a disappointment because it'd attract crowds who'd likely buy one coffee and spend hours with their laptops trying to be noticed.  You know what I'm talking about, Starbucks.   Anyway, it's a short bus ride from Port Authority, and honestly the views were worth it.  We passed a library in Weehauken that looked like it was out of a fairy tale.   If you can't get it to come to you, you must make the journey.  I sound like a fortune cookie.

Adventures in Grouponing 3: Radiance

Let me just start by saying something positive about Radiance.  Of all the tea rooms I've been to, the staff at Radiance has the best tea knowledge.  Elsewhere you'll get someone who might just know the difference between black and green tea.  I selected Pao Chong, which is an Oolong - because you can't go to an Asian tea room and have Earl Grey.

And now let me continue by being kind of negative.  For one thing, it's called a Tea House, which puts me in mind of a major fashion label, and this is fitting (get it, fitting?) because the price of an Afternoon Tea for two would actually put a dent in the price of a couture dress.  I used a Groupon, which gave us over 50% off, meaning before tax and tip we paid $25 each.  That's with the Groupon.  Yes, the discounted rate is what I'd pay for my share in the afternoon tea at Alice's Tea Cup.

"What?  Why are you comparing Radiance to Alice's Tea Cup?  They're two totally different places?"  Yes, they are.  At Alice's, you may wait forever for a table, but it's an equal opportunity wait, and when you are seated, you get served swiftly, and you walk out - no, your roll out, completely satisfied.

After a wait of nearly an hour between both courses, here is what the two of us shared:

Granted, they still had to add the dumplings to the above, but they were still small, and there were only two of them

Can you spot the tiny scones?

Dessert was better, though a bit overkill on what you can do with green tea.  Yes, I did like all the sweets.  I didn't say the food tasted bad.  It's just that it wasn't worth $25, much less $55, per person. 

Holding on for dear life to my only means of sustenance...


I'm not saying I won't go back to Radiance.  I don't get there often enough, because it's far enough from my job to not be able to make it for lunch, but close enough to my job to not really want to got there on the weekends.  It is close to Central Park, which is a good selling point (but let's not forget so is Alice's and a number of more reasonably priced places.)  I'm also not saying don't go to Radiance.  It's a lovely place, and people even have parties for children there (though I wouldn't).  I am saying I will keep searching for a more ideally priced Asian-style tea room.  I will be laying off the
Groupons, I think.  It's more often not worth it than a good thing.

Just Great

You all might remember a post I did on a bakery that opened up on Steinway Street called Cream.  It wasn't bad - between decent cupcakes and chocolates, not to mention macarons, I welcomed Cream with open arms. 

Then, just like that, it closed.  I was disappointed, but not tragically so.  They'd never taken my suggestion to add a good tea menu, and I can go anywhere for your average bag-in-a-cup that was on offer.  Still, when I learned there would be a similar place opening up in its stead, it wasn't bad news.

A short time later, I saw that Great was open.  A quick peek inside didn't rev me up or anything - it looked more like your generic deli in midtown Manhattan than a cozy bakery, even if they did still have cupcakes.  That didn't exactly encourage me, and neither did the new name.  Great?  Not my favorite word - nearly as overused as its subtitled "Yummy Eats".  (Again, it's not that these words need to be retired, just used less frequently.  Thesaurus people!)

On the way home from work one day, I decided to stop in and pick up some cupcakes or pastries, whatever looked good.  I stood at the counter for some time, and the two people working there never turned around once to help me.  They weren't busy, either, just pretending I wasn't there.  I know I can be crankanoid sometimes, but it was pretty blatant.  Soon afterwards a friend of theirs came in and they both rushed to get him some cake.  Now I've said this before, but I don't need to be fussed over.  I do, however, like an acknowledgement that I'm a living, breathing, potential regular.  Well, that did it for me.  I got a pint of Haagen Dazs from the grocery instead.

I did give them one more chance.  In May, I was on Steinway with Millie and feeling slightly hungry, and in need of caffeine.  So we went in, and like the weather, the staff was a moderately warmer this time.  I got a piece of red velvet cake and a cup of coffee (I guess the tea hadn't been promising.)  There was seating, so we stayed for a while.  And here comes another overused word...Meh.  It wasn't horrible, or of Teany caliber, but it just didn't come close to blowing me away.  The coffee was good, but that's not gonna cut it when you're steps away from Starbucks.  There was pizza, too, but we don't really need anymore pizza in Astoria.  We're set.

When I saw that the storefront had a realty sign in it last week, I did not mourn or wonder why.  I only now hope that something better comes to replace it.  Heck, even another Martha's Bakery would satisfy me.  Just don't turn my head with promises of Greatness unless you plan to deliver.

Adventures in Grouponing 2: Tea Set

One of the biggest benefits of being broke is that you're forced to take a staycation.  As a homebody, this is not a problem.  Of course, it's not healthy to stay indoors entirely, so I made a few plans and used an online coupon, this time to some success. 

A few months ago I purchased a Living Social coupon for The Tea Set, which is on 12th Street and Greenwich Avenue.  I was almost hesitant about this one, as it's just down the block from Tea and Sympathy, but if they both end up doing well, maybe it's a good thing.  Could we possibly be developing a strip of tea shops?  Oh please make it so! 

My other hesitancy was about its 'B' rating from the DOH.  For those of you not subject to such ratings, it's a relatively recent thing to have eating establishments graded 'A', 'B' or the very doomed 'C'.  I'm not a stickler about these things; if I've been going to a place for a while without complaint, a 'B' rating will not stop me.  'C' on the other hand...with so many places to choose from I think I'd skip these.  The Tea Set had a 'B' rating, which meant that I didn't want to bring anyone with me for my first visit, just in case.  Not a problem!  As I mentioned in my last post, I'm not averse to taking afternoon tea alone.

Just to be safe, I made an online reservation.  It was good that I did this, as it turned out that Tuesday at 2PM had a rare late lunch rush.  It cleared out halfway through my hour there, but even during the busiest time I was greeted in a friendly manner and shown my seat in the middle of the action. 

More than anything, what would bring me back was the excellent service.  The guy who helped me (once again I failed to get a name) was helpful and conversational without being over the top.  He was able to make tea suggestions, and checked up on me on a regular basis.  Also, a gentleman who sat near me asked for gluten free options, and though there aren't too many of these on the menu, the staff prepared something special for him not from the menu.  You have to give them points for that! 

It's also really cute inside, with cushioned seats and black-and-white sunflower chairs.  There's a relatively private seating area in the back, with a little bookshelf (books!), and two cozy window seat-tables.  On nice days there's some outdoor seating.

As for the actual afternoon tea.  Well, one of the tea sandwiches did have tomatoes in them (my nemesis), but since I hadn't mentioned my aversion, I only have myself to blame.  Once removed, all of the sandwiches were good: you can't go wrong with Gruyere cheese!  A slight complaint about the bread: it was cut from a baguette, which was delicious and crusty, but its natural hardness made it a bit difficult to be dainty.   A couple of times my hand went projectile into the 3-tiered service, nearly causing a spill.  I'm not exactly a ballerina, so your mileage may vary.  There were little tarts, with cream and jam on the side, and macarons (!), one of which was made with sesame seeds, a first in my book.  Also, there was a lovely chocolate mousse cake - are they seeking my assassination?  The only thing missing were scones, but since The Tea Set has the whole French vibe, it's forgivable.

My tea was called Organic Femmes Fatales, would is aptly names as it's to die for.  A green tea with coconut and safflower - almost islandey but okay with French-style pastries.  It came in a tall glass with a strainer you have to flip over to sip the tea.  I want one!

So it looks like 'Grouponing' isn't a total waste of energy.  It really is up to the place of business to make it workable.

Note: My digital camera has served me well over the years, but it's starting to have some issues.  It'll conk out during most important moments, such as when I want to take a picture of my flipping tea! I had to resort to my less-than-gorgeous camera phone.  So I'm saving up for a new, hopefully awesome camera.  These don't come cheap (and neither does afternoon tea), so I decided to put a PayPal 'Donate' button on the sidebar of this blog.  No pressure, but feel free!

On Eating Alone and a Pairing

I recently finished Alone in the Kitchen with an Eggplant: Confessions of Cooking for One and Dining Alone, which is a collection of essays by mostly current writers about, well, what the title says.  Though there are recipes throughout, the book doesn't seem intended to be a "foodie" book, but almost anthropological: Who are these people who cook for themselves, and dare to be seen alone in a restaurant?  Not all the writers were single; some merely celebrated the moments they have to themselves.  Some suffered from self-pity, but not as many as you'd think.  After all, these are writers we're talking about.  Writing is a solitary activity; you don't usually choose to be a writer if you can't handle your own company for great lengths of time.  So this book probably doesn't reflect the feelings of every solitary diner.

Now I'll offer my take on eating alone:  I don't mind it at all.  I don't think I have a preference when I'm at home.  I have no problem with cooking for myself, though food shopping for one is annoying when you're on a budget.  Oh, and try to find workable recipes, especially in baking, that yields for one.  Like some of the contributing writers in 'Alone in the Kitchen', I got over the guilt of preparing nice meals, on nice plates, for just me, but at the same time I feel no guilt if I just feel like a bowl of cereal for dinner.  When you live alone, you have the luxury of mood.

Dining out alone is another story altogether.  It's more socially acceptable at lunchtime.  I go out with my sister a couple of lunches every week, and when she's not in I have no qualms about going out on my own.  What I don't like, and forgive me for being curmudgeonly, is when I go to a public eating place and people I don't know want to share a table.  I know midtown Manhattan is crowded, but unless I've made plans to eat with someone, I prefer being alone with my lunch and my book.  The other day I was eating in the concourse at Rockefeller Center, and a woman asks if the table I was sitting at was free.  I assumed this meant could she share the table with me, and I grudgingly said yes.  When she waved her family of four over, I was this close to busting a gut, but thankfully the table nearby opened up.  Serves me right for picking tourist central for some peace and quiet.

Lunchtime grumpiness aside, I almost never go out to dinner alone. For the most part, I just don't feel like it, but I guess it's also because there's some view in society that dining alone is wrong.  Most diners and coffee shops won't even let you have a table - they stick you at the counter.  Some people like counters; I don't.  Rumor has it that most restaurants will seat the 'table for one' patron at the worst possible place, like next to the restrooms.  Not that I've had too many incidents to reference on this point, but I did think of the first time I went to Cafe Lalo.  I was alone, and was seated in a table that took a bit of effort to squeeze into, all the way in the corner.  For me that's not a problem, because it afforded me some privacy.  On the second visit there were four of us, and we were right in the middle of the action.  Now, I've heard the reason why single diners are given the least desirable tables is because the staff don't expect to make much in tips from just one person.  Well, maybe the single diners just don't like being treated like second class citizens and get put off from tipping as generously as they would otherwise.  Then there's also the social stigma attached to the solitary person, all alone on an evening out.  This shouldn't bother me, but knowing it's how you're viewed does not make eating out alone any easier.  The world was not designed for introverts.

Today I have my first cold of the season, so I imagine my dinner will be a bowl of soup (sniff).  At least that is meant to be pathetic.

The pairing:  I was going to recommend reading 'Alone in the Kitchen with an Eggplant' with a tea-for-one teapot, but forget that.  Feel free to take out the nice linens, make a large pot of your favorite tea, complete with whatever cakes or cookies or scones float your tiny boat.  If that's not your thing, that's fine - it's up to you and you alone!

Adventures in Grouponing: The Big Teany Fail

This year I entered the wonderful world of Grouponing.  A number of websites have developed that offer you daily discounts in the form of online coupons.  I use Groupon and Living Social, but for the sake of simplicity I'm going to use Groupon as the go-to term (think of it as the Bandaid of online coupons.)  I've gotten discounts at Barnes & Noble, a bakery, Whole Foods, and of course a bunch of tea establishments. 

It's a marketing strategy, of course: businesses want to attract new business, or bring back past customers, and the best way to do that is to make the customer feel that they're getting a good deal.  As in "I'd never in a million years get a bikini wax, but I saw a Groupon for 65% off, so...OUCH!  Well, at least it wasn't full price."

In my case, tea places are constantly opening in New York, and this gives me more of an incentive to try new places.  So over the next few months, I will have reviews connected to my Groupon splurges, in an effort to see whether or not it's all worth it. 

This brings us to Teany.  Since 2003, I'd been to Teany a good number of times.  It was one of the few ways to get me to the Lower East Side, and one of the only vegetarian restaurants I could be said to frequent.  I'd gone there with a variety of friends, but mostly Bathy, who was delighted with their scones and even entertained fantasies of working there.   Their Afternoon Tea was first-rate and very reasonably priced, their tea list was extensive and their playlist was fantastic. 

Then there was a fire.  This closed the shop down for about a year.  I wondered if it'd ever come back, but I didn't quite mourn it.  After all, I still had my standards: Tea & Sympathy, Alice's Tea Cup, and new favorites like Radiance (which I have a Groupon for, stay tuned.)  Plus, since Teany's neighborhood's not in my path, I didn't exactly see it regularly, so I could pull an 'out of sight, out of mind' mentality.  It took me many months to even find out it had closed.

When it reopened, though, I let myself become excited, and the first return trip was a good one.  My complaints were only mild, which I could say for almost every place I visit.  The next time was not as good.  I found out they'd stopped the practice of Afternoon Tea, which rather turned me off to returning.  I figured if Bathy wanted scones I might go with her.  Then I found a Groupon offer: for $5 you get a $10 coupon.  It seemed Teany was trying to woo me back. 

Even so, circumstances/desire or lack thereof delayed my return until the coupon's expiration date.  So some might argue that my problems could be blamed on procrastination.  Before I continue, I must address that.  You see, a business that has offered discounts on Groupon must know that people might wait until the last minute.   So they should plan for this contingency.  Well, Teany did not plan.  At all.  In fact, they did the opposite.

Upon entering Friday night, I felt something was a little off, starting with the fact that our table's detritus was not cleared for a long time.  It was not super crowded, so we figured it wouldn't take long.  When the girl came to clear the table, I showed her the Groupon and she said it had been particularly busy today because of the Groupons.  Fine enough, but after clearing the table she did not clean it.  Ew.

Then we heard the first 'Sorry', when the girl (who was pretty young, as was the only other staff in the place, a guy who looked about 15) addressed a woman sitting near us.  It seems she'd just given away the last slice of cake the woman had ordered to a takeaway.  The woman looked none too happy, especially when she ate the alternative.  Aren't you supposed to look cheerful when eating cake?  Otherwise what's the point?

Next the first unthinkable happened.  We found out there were no scones left.  None.  Bathy was crestfallen.   Another 'Sorry' ensued.  I hadn't heard so many sorries outside of going with Bonnie to that Indian tailor in a basement in Jackson Heights.  My only relief was that they still had the 'teanychino', but I must admit even that was just okay.  Bathy got a slice of strawberry shortcake, which was just dry. 

I didn't want to be further disappointed (the menu was not what it used to be either), so I asked for the farmhouse cheddar toast, which is supposed to come with pesto and tomato.  Then I waited.  And waited.  Waited, by the way, through a surprisingly lackluster soundtrack.  It must have been half an hour before I noticed the guy behind the counter taking slices of wheat bread from what looked like Stroehmann's or Arnold's - you know, the kind you get at Key Food for $2.50 a loaf.  I thought they couldn't possibly mean to use that bread...could they?  I kept wondering as I continued to hear the girl say 'sorry' at other tables. 

Finally, my order came...



I was stunned for a few minutes.  My first coherent thought was that I know I said no tomato, but couldn't they have least put some pesto on top?  But the real problem was that I waited far too long for something that takes less than three minutes to make.  How do I know this?  Well, because that's how long it took me to make this:

I mean, it could be cat vomit...I should know - Moofer was sick later that night.

For the first time in my life, I sent my food back.  In fact, I just turned in my Groupon and we left.  The girl sorried again and offered pretty much anything else on the house.  She also said she felt bad being a part of 'this', like she was on a sinking ship. 

So that's it.  I try to find something good about a place, even when it's mostly bad, but I can't think of one thing.  Okay, at least I didn't see evidence of vermin.  But I can tell you this:  I am officially DONE with Teany. Horrible service, terrible food.  Makes McDonald's look like a great night out. 

In the midst of writing this post, I read online that the co-owner of Teany, Kelly Tisdale, just had a baby with Mike Myers.  That's pretty awesome, so congratulations....this makes it more difficult for me do be this negative in my review, being a fan and all, but it's not a personal attack. 

The growing number of women I'm acquainted with who have recently become mothers can tell you that when they go on maternity leave, they get somebody to look after their job or business while they're away.  I'm not sure anyone's looking after shop at Teany right now.  It's like kids are playing 'Restaurant' with stuff in their kitchen, but they're starting to get bored.   At this rate, I'd prefer to see Teany close down than  experience what we did on Friday night.

I was a loyal customer, but there are limits.  I truly hope my next Grouponing adventure makes up for this.

Great Expectations and a Pairing

I've made an unofficial point of reading two Dickens novels a year since 2008.  It's not an impossible task, though it helps when you get one that doesn't go on and on.  Nicholas Nickelby was a good story but went into tangents that had nothing to do with the plot. Bleak House was another one, but there was something about the story that made that appropriate. It ties in with the impossibly long course of a legal case. 

My version of Great Expectations was over 600 pages, but it was a small volume, one of those gilded pocket-sized Barnes & Noble classics that came out a few years back.  There was very little in the way of excess - most characters fit into the story somehow, even if you don't realize it until you're near the end.

Though nearly all Dickens novels have some depressive themes, things are usually well resolved at the end through a series of coincidences and sudden returns of fortune.  Great Expectations has these elements, but the expectations are not what they seem.  The protagonist, Pip, isn't fully likeable.  He's not bad, but he's a snob who wants to rise higher than what those who really care about him are capable of giving him.  He gets put in his place and manages to pull through the many disappointments that inevitably find him.   On the plus side he wasn't simpering and sanctimonious like some of Dickens's orphans (I'm looking at you, Oliver!) The lawyer, Jaggers, was supposed to be this important personage in the story, and although his position was important, he didn't strike me as thoroughly interesting.  Estella, the pretty girl raised by Miss Havisham and the one who steal Pip's heart, is of course unlikeable, but not evil by any means.

The title is applied to Pip in the story, but it works for others too, particularly Miss Havisham.  She's a caricature like only Dickens could invent, but not an entirely unsympathetic one.  I wonder if she would have benefited from modern-day therapy. Anyone who hangs around a house wearing an old wedding dress and surrounded by the detritus of her jilted youth could at least use a professional shoulder to cry on.

There's also an element of mystery to the story.  Who is the benefactor who has given young Pip these Great Expectations?  Is it the obvious person or an entirely new character?  And how is pretty much everybody connected?

This one veers into the favorites column.  I'd pair with a tea that starts out sweet but has a bitter aftertaste. Drink this with an old, stale piece of wedding cake. 

Not Another Cupcake Blog!

I know.  The Blogosphere is inundated with cupcake blogs, and I've done enough posts myself on places that are both legendary and fleeting.  But let's face it: cupcakes and tea go together like coffee and donuts.  So how 'bout another one?

On Friday evening, I went to 'Little Cupcake Bakeshop' in Soho, or Nolita, or West Chinatown, I never know the boundaries of these neighborhoods.  It's by Prince and Mott Street, so you decide.  Bathy and I had already eaten at Caffe Reggio (yep, I still go there, though it's been a while), and after taking a nice stroll east, we found this place in all its gleaming white and pinkness.

About pink and me: For a certainty I'm feminine, but despite my love for tea time and fairies and baby animals, I'm not a girly-girl.  I'm not dainty, despite my small hands, and I don't wear high heels.  I giggle, but I rarely squeak (unless I see a particularly cute baby animal.)  Pink -not the singer, the color- can be too much for me sometimes, so it's one of the least represented colors in my wardrobe and home decor.  I don't mind if others are into pink, or in this case pink-and-white.  For these folks, you really need to try this place.  For everyone else, well, it's not that pink.  As for atmosphere, I'll give them this: love the chandeliers!  Someday I need to put a few of these in my apartment.  There was also a decent amount of seating, which means the baked goods come a tad pricey, though not any more than most nowadays: cupcakes go for $3.

Bathy had a kind of lemon cake, which I only had a bite of so I can't in all fairness offer my judgement on it.  I did taste lemon, which is half the battle.  I could not resist trying a Blue Velvet cupcake.   It was made with blueberries, though I'm pretty sure it was food coloring that give it that turquoise interior.  The frosting was a cream cheese, and altogether it was somewhere between moist and dry, and definitely more cupcake than muffin.  I did taste blueberry but it wasn't overwhelming.  It went well with the raspberry iced tea - they use Harney's which is always a favorite in my books.

Their bathroom was nicer than home, which was probably why a male patron decided to use it for his evening shave.  I guess I'd rather walk in on that activity than anything else he could've been doing in there.

I'd still say one of the best cupcakes (and cheaper) you could find in downtown Manhattan is in Sugar Sweet Sunshine, but Little Cupcake Bakeshop is pretty lovely.  And (here comes a plug), it's a lovely backdrop for a discussion of beauty products a la Pretty Opulent.


More useless camera-phone pics coming your way!

The Before Picture: 

Teddy Bears!  Squeak!

 

Guys come here too!  Don't be afraid!

Subway: N/R to Prince Street; 6 to Spring Street, M to Bway/Lafayette