About New York

We could live here! It would be endlessly entertaining, if a bit expensive. However just read that NYC, while the most expensive American city is only the 44th most expensive city to live in (Tokyo might be the first). If this is accurate (source not recalled), then I can think of 43 cities I may not want to visit.

You can take a subway almost anywhere, get out and walk to places of discovery and interest. Densely populated and active, there always seems to be people walking around at all times of the day and night so in our experience, there is a feeling of safety in numbers. It is an exciting place to be. New York -also New Orleans appreciates its past while our beloved San Francisco, as was pointed out to us- tends to hide its history. Many of our younger residents may not think of SF as a union town and a working class city. San Francisco has moved into the present embracing technology while New Orleans has stubbornly resisted-not the healthiest of economic attitudes. New York has a keen mix of past and present.

We went to a Mets game at new Citi Field, next to where Shea Stadium used to be. We were provided the best seats, as I told Dexter, he will ever have- at least in association with me. Jeremiah once got us Giants tickets behind the on deck circle at PacBell Park but the Mets seats were comfy, plush seats. Plus this comped evening included a private room down the aisle with free food!

One day 25 years ago you're scooping ice cream side by side with someone and the next day you're still scooping- but Coco is getting you seats right behind the on deck circle. Five or six rows behind a fence and two all star bat boys, Jimmy and Victor who tossed our guys two baseballs during the game. With the power of the four seamed souvenir, these guys were rock stars and they knew it- but never neglected little kids. The Mets have this absolutely right. More baseballs could have been had, had Dext and Oliver been greedy.

The new field is splendid; more enclosed than Pac Bell Park- castle like but a fine place to watch a baseball game. Upon entering, the ushers seem to be old Mets fans. One told me that my oldest will soon be cutting school to go to ballgames as he did (or as he said, "we did- do you remember hopping the fence at Shea?") when he was a teenager. It felt nice to be included. My response was half honest hedge and half fake Queens borough accent.
About 17 years ago, Coco and Rex moved to Baltimore for less than a year, then settled in Brooklyn. For their honeymoon they traveled to as many minor league baseball games as they could fit into their trip. They are deceptive in their understatement, specific in their direction, and fascinating in their reveal- if you have the fortune to be their friends.

Last year, I mentioned that Rex has a great radio show that airs on Saturdays WFMU "Fools Paradise"- which is also extensively archived. Everything that he plays is from his gargantuan 45 record collection. It features a lot of music, occasional interviews, fun soundbites and homages to forgotten character actors and mostly, the unsung or forgotten heroes of rock and roll. His weekday job is as a producer at a New York radio station. Without knowing it, you've heard his voice.

I first met Coco when we both worked at Double Rainbow ice cream We both started as scoopers-but she became a manager first of the Haight Street store. I seem to recall that I got my gig at Polk Street when someone died and I happened to be standing next to the store keys. It was clear then that Coco was a good leader- who didn't place herself before her staff . The Haight Street crew always stood out with their wild crazy ways and the person fostering this fun atmosphere and making the workplace a good one was Coco. No one else you would want batting for you. They took us to Prospect Park and the Living Museum (how we refer to their place) in Brooklyn, as well as the Great Jones restaurant (with a fine jukebox of tunes not of this decade, certainly). We also met and became very fond of Cricket and Brisket.

Along the way I picked up a Flying Squirrels Cap (Double A Giants affiliate), Oliver got another ball from one of the guys who watch every MLB game everyday in the Fan/Man Cave. We also received a tour of the radio studio Rex works at. Rex set up a radio show for me and the boys, which ended up being called, "The Corn Dog show". I especially like the intro and out music and the commercial Rex set up for us, with one of the voices of NPR. I sound like a poor man's Michael Feldman doing his poor man's Groucho Marx. The inside workings of the new studio was impressive with its maze like paths and studio rooms. Of note, Rex has a particularly engaging "Hmmph" face, and good subtle reactions. It's possible that Ernie Kovacs was his father.

We took was a tour of the Tenement Museum in the East Village. Going through an old apartment building that has been historically preserved/restored, we follow the life of the Moore family as they lived here in 1869. One of the purposes of the museum is to provide an understanding of the migrant and immigrant experience in America. The story of the Moores, an Irish family can easily be connected today to a family from Mexico, Iraq, Cambodia etc.
It was brutally hot early in the week- and lesson learned, the kids, as great and willing as they are, do much better in below 80 degrees. Fortunate were our later days of 77 and a breeze. A walk across the Brooklyn Bridge- Dexter was spooked by the heights or maybe it was the crazy guy standing on the edge taking photographs. The ice cream at the Brooklyn Ice Creamery was really creamy and delicious , if limited in flavor choices. After the bridge trek, sitting on green grass, with a view and cone in hand we achieved our zen like bliss.

Walking in Brooklyn, a man jumped up from his sitting spot apologizing to the person he was speaking with on the phone to address us. "Richmond Flying Squirrels!" He had just moved from Richmond to New York and was excited to connect with anything back home. At least we could tell him where he could get another cap and as we walked away he called out, "we won the World Series!" Walking into bakeries in Carroll Gardens in Brooklyn brought back memories when we stayed at Niddy and Glen's while they were on their honeymoon 21 years ago- Caputo's bakery -still family owned, was established in 1905. On another day walking through Chinatown and the Essex Street markets we came upon an old candy store- Economy where blissful nostalgia ran amok. I bought a lot of candy. For myself. Our last evening we had a satisfying dinner at Bubbys on Hudson Street book ended with games of catch and tag in Tribeca.

In mid-week, we came upon a place opening in Greenwich Village (7thAveSouth/Charles) called the Imperial Woodpecker- SnoBalls!. Neesa, the proprietor was born and raised in New Orleans and our anticipation for a creamy sweet snoball was put on hold, as she waited for the okay from the health department. We returned on Saturday and made this our last stop. Recommended.

Anticipating warm weather, unfamiliar territory for the boys, we resisted planning too much. We knew that riding the subway would open other possibilities. Our first trip in a long time where we didn't see music; I had scoped out a show with Miguel Zenon but didn't make it and made only one stop other than the Record Mart to a record store, and got a nice Spiders (I Didn't Want To Do it) disc.

We chose our vacation before the always hot weeks of summer but also before the free concerts in the parks; fond memories of Abdullah Ibrahim & Ekaya at Bryant Park, Abbey Lincoln at the Twin Towers, Illinois Jacquet's Big Band outside of Lincoln Center with Jacquet in a torrid argument with someone not in the band. Our first visit we stumbled upon a giant all-star Central Park freebie that I can not remember who/what the celebration was for- Fela? And once saw Joe Papp's Shakespeare's in the Park -King Lear with Andre
Braugher (Homicide). Point being, a lot of great free offerings. All the same, I don't feel as if I missed any sights or events but I miss the days, the friends, and the pulse of this city.

Man, it was tough to go. Gotham, we got to get back.