I’m never getting drunk again. Its so rare that I do, and while I’ve always had a perplexingly high tolerance for it, alcohol doesn’t agree with my constitution (the reason I think my mother never drank, though I did plenty for many years in my youth). Those who enjoy drinking have the benefit of doing so socially and publicly. And I quite like the idea of that, but I’d rather go to a coffee shop and smoke weed, I suppose. I DID HAVE FUN THOUGH! Was at Metropolitan, a laid back gay bar w/a friend I hadn’t seen in a while, a place I’ve been to a handful of times, and love the vibe (though the DJ was really uneven). But I suffered for two days after, which is absurd. 3 vodka and cranberries, a glass of sangria at a dinner party before. BLECH. Still, I was perfectly coherent, wrote articulate emails when I got home, and then felt too spinny so went to sleep. Not getting enough. And then same last nite even though I could’ve slept all day (I had to prepare my lecture for today). Sleep is usually my elixir. That and the color yellow.
So on my way to teach at SVA earlier, I was suddenly craving a grilled cheese sandwich, something I never eat, but my body wanted the grease. And lo and behold A & A Coffee Shop (see pic below) appears! Where I’m able get one quick and cheap without sitting down! This place is one of the last uber tiny mom-and-pop coffee shop/grills in NYC (see pic below), and happens to be in the building next door to my shrink’s. She once mentioned it, but I never went inside.
It reminded me of a place I used to go to when I lived in the Financial District 20 years back (probably because those kind of places were the only ones open after 8pm down there back then). Its like a very narrow pizzeria with a window onto the street, and a few stools at a counter. Another endangered species in this town, WHICH HAS A NEW MAYOR TONIGHT, WELCOME BILL DE BLASIO! He won as predicted. And I voted for him though I was tempted to vote “Green”, the party not candidate. But changed my mind after my student today, who admittedly isn’t the most sophisticated, said in reply to my question of whether she was voting: “Um, I’m not political. I don’t believe in politics. Yeah sorry, I don’t even watch the news anymore.” To which I said, “Well, its going to impact you anyway, you know”, smiling, and she said “I guess so.”
The lack of any real debate, seriously campaigning dismayed me though, and I’m not convinced De Blasio isn’t just a blowhard who knows how to style his songs, if you know what I mean. Here’s a quote from his acceptance speech, if you don’t: “So far, I like it… “We know that we are not defined by the cold steel of our skyscrapers but by the strength and compassion and boldness of our collective spirit. We are all at our best when every child, every parent, every New Yorker has a shot. And we reach our greatest heights when we all rise together.” A sweet talker.
His record would indicate someone not prone to running city government with a board room mentality, which is hopeful (though Bloomberg’s resistance to cronyism had its benefits). So I’m hopeful. As I’ve already said, I think NYC may have a rocky adjustment period, if not initially, but it will depend on who de Blasio appoints, and whether he really takes in Wall Street/taxes the rich. Anyway, here’s to a little old New York becoming new again in the future!
