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But before that, there was pie.
A whole group of us got together at Grand Central Terminal for dinner, and in the lower depths of the facility there is this food court, and in the food court is a place that makes pies and cakes. Josh and I spied the pie and mulled over whether key lime or mud was the better option and of course went with key lime.
Over dinner, as the pie sat between us at the table, Josh noted that we should eat it on the subway. "Train pie!" either he or Rose cried, and so train pie was born.
Look, if Improv Everywhere can take off their pants on the subway, we can all share a pie. It was very communal, as well as being very yummy.
But all of this was mere prelude to the evening, and why we were on the subway in the first place: We were taking the 7 train to the Q25 so that we could disembark and walk into the formerly named InSpa World -- now called Spa Castle, clearly after the many whirlpools and hot tubs available back in medieval times.
It might sound a little dodgy, but this brand-spanking-new building looks like a 5-star hotel. You walk in, fork over $35 and can stay all day (we were just going for about four hours, until midnight). You get a uniform of unfortunate pink and orange if you're a woman (gray and blue for the menfolks) in the locker room, and a wristband that resembles a watch with a number on it (and an RIFD chip to access your locker). You leave everything but your bathing suit and the uniform in your locker, including shoes, and the place is yours. Anything else you buy -- from massages to scrubs to slushies -- gets rung up on your number and you check out later and settle the bill.
We hit the pools. You have to hit the pools. On the roof of the building are these large, elongated outdoor swimming pools with spray jets and massage hoses and a little flume area that makes you feel like you're rushing down a river, there's a hot tub alongside the main pool, there's a hotter hot tub on the far end made of cedar (aka "the lobster pot"), there's a kiddie pool (no funny animals, just a lovely shallow reflecting pool), there's a sauna. There's a food area, and a place where you can buy whipped or fruity drinks and drink them while still inside the pool.You can sign up for massages but by the time we got there they were all full up so I can't report on that.
Inside the locker rooms there are mineral (allegedly) baths if you don't mind getting nekkid in front of everyone else -- these went from 102 degrees to 109 and let me tell you, those 7 degrees do make a difference; there are also two
By the end of the night prunes and raisins had nothing on us for wrinkles, and we were tired but happy as if we'd done some kind of major workout. I am absolutely, totally going back there again. Sooner rather than later.
Thanks, Rose!
They say a sun shower is good luck, but it's darn hard to photograph. You can see the patch of sun on the asphalt, and if you zoom in on the blue car you can see the rain fall.
A nice break from the tropical heat in Jackson Heights today, and Bette the Tree weathered it all well.
At this time of year, everyone's thinking about what might get left under their tree.
Me, I actually got a tree!
Well, me and the rest of the Jackson Heights neighborhood. I heard this tremendous drilling sound outside this morning while getting ready for work and discovered they were digging up the sidewalk. Who knows why? The city has its ways. Maybe, I thought, we're getting more cable. Or wi-fi. Or something.
When it all stopped, they'd left a sapling behind!
Before (a few years ago), the view outside my bedroom window:
I feel like I got a gift!
When I left today to head to the subway stop I turned down a side street and discovered the actual tree fairies: They were digging up sidewalk and planting the little guys all over, which was very exciting. I know Mayor Bloomberg came up with this "million trees" idea, but I never thought it'd end up in my backyard (figuratively speaking, as I don't have a backyard, and if I did it would smell like fried onions).
I shall call it Bette (after the Divine Miss M, who is also behind the project).
$1250 / 2br - You want it (East Village)
Reply to:xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: 2008-01-15, 12:07AM EST
We are in need of a roommate as of Feb. 1st. Please keep in mind that
you will not be on our lease, as this will be a sublet situation. We
ideally would like a roommate to last longer than 3 months however,
we've had shitty luck finding a sane responsible roommate that pays
rent/bills on time, puts toilet paper on the rolling dispenser and
isn't in some sort of mental crises.
About us time!
We are a couple in our mid twenties. I'm (Lace) 25 and pbag Patrick is 27. We have solid jobs with solid INCOMES. I work in the art/design SoHo world by day and sloth around in the world by night. He works in the marketing midtown world by day and the music world by night. We have a LONG HAIRED WHITE FUR BALL CAT named Marcus. If you are allergic to cats in any way please do not respond. We are pretty laid back. We do try to get out 2 nights a week. We like to cook at home half of the week.
The spot
-Does not include utilities. Rent is 1250...40 for gas/electric...30 for cable/Internet.
-Is located on 1st ave between 13th and 14th two min away from the
L and about 10 min away from almost every other train in the city.
-3 room apartment. One room for us...one room for you..and one room is a small music studio.
-The room we are renting is 10x10 with one window and one closet.
-It is unfurnished
-One bathroom..this is never an issue being that my work day starts
later than most. You'll only being sharing/picking a bathroom slot with
Patrick.
-One living room that we would like to share. Yes share...not hog.
We do not want someone to come home and sloth all the time on the couch
watching tv.
-We have a mini bar.
-We have a full kitchen equip with many appliances. You are welcome to use all.
-We have a huge LCD that we like to share. Yes, share..again not hog.
-We have one closet in the single hallway that is shared.
-We have a roof that we love and respect.
You:
-Between the ages of 24-30
-DO NOT RESPOND IF YOU CURRENTLY LIVE OUTSIDE NY. NO EXCEPTIONS.
-DO NOT RESPOND IF YOU ARE UNDER 24...UNLESS YOU ARE A RESPONSIBLE TRUST FUND.
-Must have a j.o.b.
-Proof of your j.o.b./pay stub so we know you can afford this place every month.
-Rent is due on THE FIRST OF EVERY MONTH. Do not test this, as the rent
check comes out of my account and I'm tired of playing the spotting
card. Quite frankly..it's ridiculous bullshit if you are past a certain
age and cannot pay rent on time. I'm/We are out of patience. I/We will
end the sublet agreement if rent is not paid on time and you will have
2 weeks to find another place.
-Clean! We are not anal...however if you make a mess..clean
it...if the toilet is gross..clean it if it's ur turn...buy paper
towels if it's ur turn...take the garbage down if it's full. It's that
simple.
-If you smoke cigarettes..it's fine to a degree...we do
occasionally...mostly in our room if we do or if we are having a drink.
Please don't make it a habit of smoking constantly in the shared
spaces.
-If you smoke the M it's fine as well...but again...don't make it a
habit in shared spaces. In warmer weather...outside..go on the roof.
-No smoking in the hallway under any circumstance ever. This should be obvious, however I feel that I need to cover the bases.
-It's cool if you have a friend or 2 over once in a while...just give the heads up.
-Don't leave your shit on the roof..seriously. If you're up there
with a friend have a beer or a few...THROW THEM AWAY. The roof is a
pleasure..don't abuse it. We throw sweet bbq's/roof parties in the
spring/summer/fall..so something to look forward to.
-Again..we have a mini bar...it is okay if you have a
drink...again a drink...not the bottle. Our patience is gone with this
as well. Do not feel you have the right to drink half a bottle or open
an unopened bottle of ours. It's utterly disrespectful. Buy your own
for the mini bar if that is the case.
-Do not feel you have the right to eat our food...it is not okay. Buy
your own. If you are starving...and really don't feel like
motivating...or if your like crazy sick...then hey...it happens..go
ahead and grab something from our stash...tell us if you do this...and
replace it asap. Not a habit....every once in a blue moon.
-No..it's not okay to use our bathroom crap..besides hand soap. Please buy your own..it's really not going to break you.
We are not looking for a friend..just someone who is sociably
functional and responsible in every roommate regard. If your a decent
human being then we want you. This might seem a bit oddly anal however
I feel it's best to cover previous issues we've had.
To move in:
-Security asap + 1st Rent amount due on Feb 1st= $2500
-Proof of employment...a few current pay stubs will do.
-Sign a temp 3 month sublet contract. This will be terminated if
rent is not paid on the first. If it's not working for you by the third
month...then feel free to move on.
We'll give you ur keys once you hand over the security.
Lastly..we want to meet you! We'll respond accordingly. Please tell us about yourself and mention a few time/day frames to work with.
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1st ave google map yahoo map
- it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests
PostingID: 539486238
So, I went to see "I Am Legend" with about 3,000 other screaming New Yorkers on Tuesday night. Liked it, not a whole lot but a whole lot more than Mike did.
Can we start the countdown now to Will Smith's conversion to Scientology? Because he's hanging out with Tom Cruise way too much. I get they're now BFFs and all (apparently Jada took a shine to the Cruise on "Collateral"), but TC showed up at Will's Walk of Fame appearance in LA earlier this week, and then TC stole the red carpet at the premiere. He's in like every frickin' picture with Smith.
Someone suggested to me that the Cruise might be trying to get a little more cred for being human and friendly and like, a regular guy and all by hanging out with Smith, but in my opinion, if you're going to do that you have to remove your sunglasses on the red carpet especially when the red carpet is being held at night.
The man is walking Cheez Whiz.
Will, run away, quickly.
Anyway, so then I was walking home today. For reference, here's the "I Am Legend" poster (in case you've been under a rock and haven't seen it all over the world):
And I passed by this on my way to the subway:
And at first I was like: Same font? And then: Lone guy running in the empty street? And then I had to take a second look. So far as I know, there's no tie-in with Puma/"I Am Legend," which leads me to believe just this: Piggyback!
I am dubious.
Evidence of the writer's strike is already popping up in NYC. I took a picture of the sign posted on the doors of the Ed Sullivan theater where Letterman is taped. Picketing started this morning at 30 Rock (NBC). Maybe i'll swing by and get another pic for this post. Personally, I've have some thoughts on this but I'll scribble them out here, later tonight.
Anybody who knows me knows that I am a bit directionally challenged. After 10 years in NYC I just recently had a major breakthrough where I finally can conceptually understand whatsubway exit signs such as "3rd Avenue South East Corner," for example, mean. Fortunately I now no longer have to think at all. The DOT is unveiling new directional decals at subway exits.
Getting off the subway,
completely disoriented, and having to squint to read street signs in
each direction, or worse, walking in the wrong
direction for a block, well those days are over sister. The decals will
appear in midtown, and look quite nice. Thanks to streetsblog for the tip.
This is how you know a) you're in New York and b) you're on your way to Brooklyn.
I hold no illusions about the neighborhood where I own property (that is, my one-bedroom): With Manhattan real estate officially certified insane, and the best parts of Brooklyn gentrified and cutesiefied and thus largely priced out of reasonable possibility of ownership, that means all eyes are slowly turning to Queens. Long Island City, Astoria and Forest Hills have long been on the list of desirable places in this borough, which still gets no respect. At least in the Bronx there's fear (for what that's worth, however inaccurate). And in Staten Island, everyone figures you're a suburbanite. But Queens often gets the giggle of being somehow ... low-class. As Betty's sister noted on "Ugly Betty" one night (I paraphrase), "We live in Jackson Heights. Our yards smell like fried onions."
Not true: We have no yards. But I digress.
Suck it up, folks -- Queens is the place to be. And that's good for me. I like living here, I like Jackson Heights a lot, and as I've noted here and there with some glee, the rest of the city is taking notice. I'm all fine with gentrification, frankly. It means my apartment is worth more. And so when I sell it, I can actually retire to somewhere nice and pay off on the place. I'm all about thinking towards that 15-20 year future, assuming I'm still here at all. Some may wail and gnash their teeth about gentrification, but I'm looking forward to it.
But, I've always noted to folks, we're a long way off. How do I know? We don't even have a Starbucks. Not that I would go there, I don't even drink coffee, but even Astoria has a Starbucks.
That changed today. From The New York Times' Sunday Real Estate section:
Jackson Heights, Queens, has in recent years become a favorite destination for young couples and families priced out of Brooklyn neighborhoods like Park Slope and Carroll Gardens.
Michael P. Carfagna, the owner of MPC Properties in Jackson Heights, says many of these displaced Brooklynites are drawn to Jackson Heights for its prewar buildings, especially those with large blocklong interior gardens. He began a marketing campaign last year with advertisements that described the area as “More Park, Less Slope.”
Prewar studios within the historic landmark district in Jackson Heights range from $139,000 to $179,000. Prewar one-bedrooms there cost upward of $250,000, but those in postwar buildings outside the district can cost less than $200,000. Mr. Carfagna has several such listings, including a $183,000 one-bedroom in a postwar building at 33-15 81st Street that requires a down payment of 15 percent.
Buildings west of 82nd Street and within easy walking distance of the main subway station at Roosevelt Avenue and Broadway, where the E, F, R, G and 7 trains converge, tend to be more expensive. The E and F trains run express and are only three stops from Manhattan. Buildings in the high 80s and low 90s carry lower prices; they are still close to the No. 7 train, a local line, but a long walk to E or F trains.
According to Mr. Carfagna, many of the young Brooklyn and Manhattan transplants work in creative industries or new technology. “They come for the diversity and all the great food out here,” he said. “They see it changing and gentrifying, and they want to get in before it goes up and gets too well known. Let’s call it a cheap but good date.” The area also appeals to empty nesters, he added, particularly ones who lived here when they were younger or have relatives who never moved away.
Mr. Carfagna saw plans for a Starbucks in the area as proof that it had finally arrived. “Starbucks really does its homework before moving in,” he said.
Emphasis mine.
Now, I need to find out: If your building was built in 1941, are you pre-war or post-war? Aren't we just "war"? And if so, how does that fall on Mr. Carfagna's continuum?
Starbucks, bring it on.
