At the internet cafe here on the Rue Clichy, I am the only single person. Every other person, all 24 of them, have long distance partners. I say this because they are all in front of webcams. For hours. Each day. Staring at their love typing. These people perhaps should not be apart. Their lives revolve around each other. They do nothing except want to be together. How else could you explain staring at a screen of a person staring down, at a keyboard, you don't see their face! Then, when their time is up, making that quick day ending phone call (expensive!)
Such is the second less enjoyable type of long distance affair. Come to think of it,the brazilian girl I knew, her sister in New York, that's all she did too, webcam to brasil. With her clothes on! Can you believe it?
Saturday, May 27, 2006
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
How do you say too much?
Looking over Frank Duca's shoulder I spotted the book Blink. I wouldn't have thought twice about it, but it was at the Access Hollywood crew office. We were having a discussion about work conditions, about compressed time, about doing more. It was apt.
I was pinning a mic on Danny Meyer (Gramercy Tavern) while he was talking on the cell phone. He is one of the most gracious men I've ever met. He commented on the circumstances with a sad smile "we all have to be more productive, don't we?"
Today I made a potentially fatal error at work. A fundamental setting on my camera was switched. I didn't notice it, because I would never switch it to that setting. (for all you worry warts, it really wasn't fatal, a little gamma correction etc, should save crucial footage.) Why did I make such a mistake? Because I allowed myself to be influenced by the conditions of the job. Instead of taking my time, at my pace, I was working at an accelerated pace. Mistakes happen at high speed.
This is the direction of the world. How we carve ourselves into it or out of it will define our lives and our work.
Speed kills, remember?
I was pinning a mic on Danny Meyer (Gramercy Tavern) while he was talking on the cell phone. He is one of the most gracious men I've ever met. He commented on the circumstances with a sad smile "we all have to be more productive, don't we?"
Today I made a potentially fatal error at work. A fundamental setting on my camera was switched. I didn't notice it, because I would never switch it to that setting. (for all you worry warts, it really wasn't fatal, a little gamma correction etc, should save crucial footage.) Why did I make such a mistake? Because I allowed myself to be influenced by the conditions of the job. Instead of taking my time, at my pace, I was working at an accelerated pace. Mistakes happen at high speed.
This is the direction of the world. How we carve ourselves into it or out of it will define our lives and our work.
Speed kills, remember?
Monday, May 22, 2006
I am Jealous of ....
Had dinner with Sarah on Thursday. Discovered a few days later that I am very jealous. Not of her boyfriend, Rooster, well, okay, a bit, but rather of her situation. Like all ungracious people, I chided her for having a long distance relationship but then I realized that what she has is perfect, and I want it. No fuss. No coming over when you are really tired. No hot and heavy detail oriented I am in every facet of your life relationship. Just some good old fashioned sex - and a vacation! every other week! Because someone is always traveling so you do those things you would never do if you both lived in the same city.
Not to mention you can easily ignore their faults, which you never see, you can dream about seeing them, which you rarely do, you have someone to talk to every couple of days, and can, as Sarah said, genuinely look forward to seeing them. Plus who wants sex every day with someone you barely know? Every other week keeps the fling aspect going, the sex vacation aspect of it going. You can mythify and deify. You will be oh so much more tolerant.
So yes, I am jealous. I want my out of town relationship! Sarah!
Not to mention you can easily ignore their faults, which you never see, you can dream about seeing them, which you rarely do, you have someone to talk to every couple of days, and can, as Sarah said, genuinely look forward to seeing them. Plus who wants sex every day with someone you barely know? Every other week keeps the fling aspect going, the sex vacation aspect of it going. You can mythify and deify. You will be oh so much more tolerant.
So yes, I am jealous. I want my out of town relationship! Sarah!
Thursday, May 18, 2006
PhD Thesis Waiting To Happen
Next to my building on Avenue B is the Tompkins Square Gospel Fellowship. This is a church organization hailing from North Carolina. They have transformed the townhouse at 149 Avenue B into their church / meetinghouse / living quarters / visitors quarters. They have owned the building since 1985.
These kind people have a style befitting their roots and values, a style that points to them as "greenhorns" in the city. They did not move here to be changed, but rather to impart their values to the city.
Now, here is the thesis. Which is stronger, the City, or the people of the Gospel Fellowship? Are they more likely to be changed by the city or have an impact on the neighborhood? Of course this is an infinitely sliding scale. This is a classic situation, and those specialized in this type of research may be well advised to explore this opportunity.
These kind people have a style befitting their roots and values, a style that points to them as "greenhorns" in the city. They did not move here to be changed, but rather to impart their values to the city.
Now, here is the thesis. Which is stronger, the City, or the people of the Gospel Fellowship? Are they more likely to be changed by the city or have an impact on the neighborhood? Of course this is an infinitely sliding scale. This is a classic situation, and those specialized in this type of research may be well advised to explore this opportunity.
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Avenue B Bar Survey
This is a rough draft ONLY.
Avenue B Bar Survey Part One
By Fred Soffa
For anyone who lives in the East Village the proliferation of bars and restaurants in the last few years is striking. Over the past 15 years, it is nothing short of remarkable. Avenue B at night was described this way in 1992 by a very observant resident of 13th St.: “Mona’s, Vazac’s, and every place else was shuttered.” Although, as Manny, a patron I met at Maia Meyhane who grew up in the neighborhood added, there were delis where Ding Dongs meant you wanted to buy heroin. Remarkable might be an understatement.
Yet with any change comes discontent, removal and loss. With additional uses come the attendant discomforts specific to that use. The proliferation of bars on Avenue B has added cars, honking taxis, and late night revelers. To any reader of this newspaper, these new establishments are contentious. To some, they have lowered the living standard of the neighborhood. The State Liquor Authority is being challenged for granting exemptions to the Alcoholic Beverage Control law, regulations that if enforced could radically curtail new bars in many East Village locations.
To add to a sophisticated discussion of this many faceted problem, I decided to conduct a survey of the bars on Avenue B, specifically between Houston and 7th St. Just who is out at these establishments? I conducted this survey in 7 bars (skipping one - sorry I was running out of gas.) I spoke to a total of 101 patrons. Roughly between 5 and 10% of the total patrons at all these establishments, depending on how busy the night. While I do not conduct surveys for a living, I have an extensive background in surveys: collecting, organizing, and analyzing data.
My primary purpose was to determine where the patrons lived. Patrons were asked which neighborhood they lived in. Those two people who declined were excluded. People were happy to talk. I do not think I was lied to, it is rather a simple and even expected question in New York. I also asked what percent of their going out happened in the East Village, but this question was not as perfectly answered. For my own edification I asked what brought them to the East Village to go out, instead of say, their home neighborhood.
Here’s what I found, bar by bar.
Out of Town
East Village 5 Borough incl Foreign Total Surv
Vazacs 5 6 5 16
Maia Meyhane 3 4 3 10
Mama's 3 10 0 13
Croxley Ale 1 9 4 14
Midway 0 6 6 12
Le Souk 0 13 9 22
Manitoba's 5 8 1 14
17 56 28 101
To a large extent, this data set is clear. Roughly 17 percent of the bar patrons on Avenue B below 7th Street on a typical Saturday night reside in the East Village. Not one responder listed the Lower East Side as their residence, so there is no effect here on a wider or narrower definition of the East Village geographically. The bars that were the most heavily populated by East Village residents tended to include in their patron base the friends whom the East Villagers brought with them. The newer bars tended to have fewer local residents. The bars that style themselves as clubs, destinations, or hot spots had fewer local residents, as might be expected: these types of establishments cast a wider net looking for those patrons who desire a very specific experience.
Friends of East Villagers listed being out with their friends as the number one reason they were in the East Village. With respondents not from the neighborhood the number one reason for coming to the East Village was the “vibe”, a combination of “edginess” and an absence of “frat boy types”. The younger the respondent, the stronger the lure of the “vibe” of the neighborhood. Long time residents and older patrons actually described the existing scene as “lame” and “gone”.
The number of out of town and overseas visitors, (incl the handful of Jerseyites and Long Islanders, sorry) was surprising, but in retrospect, should not have been. After all the tour buses lumber up Avenue A, Ginsberg, Spaulding Gray, and a whole host of artists have popularized the neighborhood through their works, the labor union history should not be overlooked, and while a bit off the path, the East Village has a significant place in the history of New York City. That coupled with the high number of distant visitors in this city, very few of them getting up to work early on Sunday morning, many of them here to have fun, would yield a high number of distant visitors going out.
Another group that was a surprise was the number of people who said they worked in the East Village. Lacking virtually any office space or major retail presence, we now see that perhaps the mass of bars and restaurants has become the primary employer of the neighborhood. As an ex-waiter, it is well known that workers in bars and restaurants constitute an inordinate percentage of the patrons of those establishments. The East Village will hew to this rule, just like any other locale.
Yet a quick mental survey of a midtown bar: happy hour workers, tourists, and on a rare occasion, a denizen -- is what we would expect. An Upper East Side establishment also draws a significant percent of it’s patrons from beyond it’s borders: clearly Queens and Brooklyn are alcoholically underserved. Perhaps the uptown avenues have been so loud for so long that the issue is not as flammable. Or, more familiar with these types of establishments we simply consider them the norm for their neighborhoods.
A quick note on age: Virtually all respondents were under 45. Primarily 25-35. Literate. I didn’t ask, but would surmise 80% had seen some college or graduated. Only significant gay presence was at Manitoba’s. There were a lot of hookas, but I am a hooka virgin, so I cannot surmise or infer from this. The one bar I skipped was a large hooka bar, perhaps most similar in type to Maia Meyhene.
A quick and partial tour of the terrain, bar by bar:
((the following needs to be made more regular from bar to bar, and will consist of the following information: Name, address, year license granted, capacity. Room description (patrons and space))
Vazac’s:
Old established bar. Rock and roll crowd. Drinking hole. It was telling that the first person I queried was from England. He’d read of the East Village in his guidebooks. Times change from over the counter drug sales at Vazac’s in the 70’s. The majority of out of towners were friends of the locals. Capacity 125
Maia Meyhane.
Recently converted from a failed “French New Wave Cinema Bar” to a hookah bar. Dark, not too loud. Primarily weekend traffic. Larger parties, including ex East Villagers and their friends, East Villagers and their friends. DJ stand. Capacity 100
Mama’s
A new bar, but an extension of an old institution (an established restaurant). Younger crowd. DJ stand. Significant “L” crowd, Williamsburg, Greenpoint. Perhaps got priced out of the East Village. Crowd goes out more, perhaps, that other patron groups. Capacity 75
Croxley’s
New bar. Sports bar in a neighborhood that could care less about sports. High percentage of first time to East Village patrons. Finance types. The gateway bar to the neighborhood? Capacity 150 w/o garden.
Midway
Did this used to be Scenic, just weeks ago? Live band just finished. More club type, young get dressed up (in clothes to panic your mother). Ruder. More of a destination place, much larger outside smoking presence. Capacity 250
Le Souk
A very large, recent establishment that includes a multi-level restaurant, two floor incl the basement. More of a draw, not let’s go to the East Village, but let’s go to Le Souk, although not exclusively. Hookas. Velvet rope and line of patrons outside waiting to go in. Table service. Clearly a “special” place, not a neighborhood hangout. Capacity 500?
Manitoba’s
Older bar. History in neighborhood. Older crowd, significant gay patronage. Smaller crowd. Seems to be quite the drinking place. Capacity 75
That concludes the snapshot. My intention is to get those mental gears turning. What is a typical bar and who goes there? Is that a real entity? A myth? A composite? Is there any neighborhood in Manhattan that would draw a majority of its patrons from its neighborhood? On a weekend? What sensibility is there in creating a mass of drinking establishments in close proximity?
What sort of perfect storm has created bars on Avenue B? An availability of cheap rent, empty space, and a lack of competition for the real estate leases from retail stores who wouldn’t have enough foot traffic to survive on Avenue B? Zoning laws? A reputation as the “partying” neighborhood? A younger demographic on the census tracts, eager to go out? Are there more bars on 2nd Avenue but we just don’t notice it as much because they have a lesser impact?
This is a complex issue, more complex at a city wide scope than the limits of Avenue B. The second part of this story will examine the questions raised by Jane Jacobs and Saul Bellow, perhaps not with an end in sight, but with the hope to both expand the problem and define it, handle it, in a broad, philosophical sense.
Avenue B Bar Survey Part One
By Fred Soffa
For anyone who lives in the East Village the proliferation of bars and restaurants in the last few years is striking. Over the past 15 years, it is nothing short of remarkable. Avenue B at night was described this way in 1992 by a very observant resident of 13th St.: “Mona’s, Vazac’s, and every place else was shuttered.” Although, as Manny, a patron I met at Maia Meyhane who grew up in the neighborhood added, there were delis where Ding Dongs meant you wanted to buy heroin. Remarkable might be an understatement.
Yet with any change comes discontent, removal and loss. With additional uses come the attendant discomforts specific to that use. The proliferation of bars on Avenue B has added cars, honking taxis, and late night revelers. To any reader of this newspaper, these new establishments are contentious. To some, they have lowered the living standard of the neighborhood. The State Liquor Authority is being challenged for granting exemptions to the Alcoholic Beverage Control law, regulations that if enforced could radically curtail new bars in many East Village locations.
To add to a sophisticated discussion of this many faceted problem, I decided to conduct a survey of the bars on Avenue B, specifically between Houston and 7th St. Just who is out at these establishments? I conducted this survey in 7 bars (skipping one - sorry I was running out of gas.) I spoke to a total of 101 patrons. Roughly between 5 and 10% of the total patrons at all these establishments, depending on how busy the night. While I do not conduct surveys for a living, I have an extensive background in surveys: collecting, organizing, and analyzing data.
My primary purpose was to determine where the patrons lived. Patrons were asked which neighborhood they lived in. Those two people who declined were excluded. People were happy to talk. I do not think I was lied to, it is rather a simple and even expected question in New York. I also asked what percent of their going out happened in the East Village, but this question was not as perfectly answered. For my own edification I asked what brought them to the East Village to go out, instead of say, their home neighborhood.
Here’s what I found, bar by bar.
Out of Town
East Village 5 Borough incl Foreign Total Surv
Vazacs 5 6 5 16
Maia Meyhane 3 4 3 10
Mama's 3 10 0 13
Croxley Ale 1 9 4 14
Midway 0 6 6 12
Le Souk 0 13 9 22
Manitoba's 5 8 1 14
17 56 28 101
To a large extent, this data set is clear. Roughly 17 percent of the bar patrons on Avenue B below 7th Street on a typical Saturday night reside in the East Village. Not one responder listed the Lower East Side as their residence, so there is no effect here on a wider or narrower definition of the East Village geographically. The bars that were the most heavily populated by East Village residents tended to include in their patron base the friends whom the East Villagers brought with them. The newer bars tended to have fewer local residents. The bars that style themselves as clubs, destinations, or hot spots had fewer local residents, as might be expected: these types of establishments cast a wider net looking for those patrons who desire a very specific experience.
Friends of East Villagers listed being out with their friends as the number one reason they were in the East Village. With respondents not from the neighborhood the number one reason for coming to the East Village was the “vibe”, a combination of “edginess” and an absence of “frat boy types”. The younger the respondent, the stronger the lure of the “vibe” of the neighborhood. Long time residents and older patrons actually described the existing scene as “lame” and “gone”.
The number of out of town and overseas visitors, (incl the handful of Jerseyites and Long Islanders, sorry) was surprising, but in retrospect, should not have been. After all the tour buses lumber up Avenue A, Ginsberg, Spaulding Gray, and a whole host of artists have popularized the neighborhood through their works, the labor union history should not be overlooked, and while a bit off the path, the East Village has a significant place in the history of New York City. That coupled with the high number of distant visitors in this city, very few of them getting up to work early on Sunday morning, many of them here to have fun, would yield a high number of distant visitors going out.
Another group that was a surprise was the number of people who said they worked in the East Village. Lacking virtually any office space or major retail presence, we now see that perhaps the mass of bars and restaurants has become the primary employer of the neighborhood. As an ex-waiter, it is well known that workers in bars and restaurants constitute an inordinate percentage of the patrons of those establishments. The East Village will hew to this rule, just like any other locale.
Yet a quick mental survey of a midtown bar: happy hour workers, tourists, and on a rare occasion, a denizen -- is what we would expect. An Upper East Side establishment also draws a significant percent of it’s patrons from beyond it’s borders: clearly Queens and Brooklyn are alcoholically underserved. Perhaps the uptown avenues have been so loud for so long that the issue is not as flammable. Or, more familiar with these types of establishments we simply consider them the norm for their neighborhoods.
A quick note on age: Virtually all respondents were under 45. Primarily 25-35. Literate. I didn’t ask, but would surmise 80% had seen some college or graduated. Only significant gay presence was at Manitoba’s. There were a lot of hookas, but I am a hooka virgin, so I cannot surmise or infer from this. The one bar I skipped was a large hooka bar, perhaps most similar in type to Maia Meyhene.
A quick and partial tour of the terrain, bar by bar:
((the following needs to be made more regular from bar to bar, and will consist of the following information: Name, address, year license granted, capacity. Room description (patrons and space))
Vazac’s:
Old established bar. Rock and roll crowd. Drinking hole. It was telling that the first person I queried was from England. He’d read of the East Village in his guidebooks. Times change from over the counter drug sales at Vazac’s in the 70’s. The majority of out of towners were friends of the locals. Capacity 125
Maia Meyhane.
Recently converted from a failed “French New Wave Cinema Bar” to a hookah bar. Dark, not too loud. Primarily weekend traffic. Larger parties, including ex East Villagers and their friends, East Villagers and their friends. DJ stand. Capacity 100
Mama’s
A new bar, but an extension of an old institution (an established restaurant). Younger crowd. DJ stand. Significant “L” crowd, Williamsburg, Greenpoint. Perhaps got priced out of the East Village. Crowd goes out more, perhaps, that other patron groups. Capacity 75
Croxley’s
New bar. Sports bar in a neighborhood that could care less about sports. High percentage of first time to East Village patrons. Finance types. The gateway bar to the neighborhood? Capacity 150 w/o garden.
Midway
Did this used to be Scenic, just weeks ago? Live band just finished. More club type, young get dressed up (in clothes to panic your mother). Ruder. More of a destination place, much larger outside smoking presence. Capacity 250
Le Souk
A very large, recent establishment that includes a multi-level restaurant, two floor incl the basement. More of a draw, not let’s go to the East Village, but let’s go to Le Souk, although not exclusively. Hookas. Velvet rope and line of patrons outside waiting to go in. Table service. Clearly a “special” place, not a neighborhood hangout. Capacity 500?
Manitoba’s
Older bar. History in neighborhood. Older crowd, significant gay patronage. Smaller crowd. Seems to be quite the drinking place. Capacity 75
That concludes the snapshot. My intention is to get those mental gears turning. What is a typical bar and who goes there? Is that a real entity? A myth? A composite? Is there any neighborhood in Manhattan that would draw a majority of its patrons from its neighborhood? On a weekend? What sensibility is there in creating a mass of drinking establishments in close proximity?
What sort of perfect storm has created bars on Avenue B? An availability of cheap rent, empty space, and a lack of competition for the real estate leases from retail stores who wouldn’t have enough foot traffic to survive on Avenue B? Zoning laws? A reputation as the “partying” neighborhood? A younger demographic on the census tracts, eager to go out? Are there more bars on 2nd Avenue but we just don’t notice it as much because they have a lesser impact?
This is a complex issue, more complex at a city wide scope than the limits of Avenue B. The second part of this story will examine the questions raised by Jane Jacobs and Saul Bellow, perhaps not with an end in sight, but with the hope to both expand the problem and define it, handle it, in a broad, philosophical sense.
Sunday, May 14, 2006
Saturday, May 13, 2006
Soccer, New York Style
Check out this article I wrote, now published in the Villager. Soccer at the East River Park.
http://www.thevillager.com/villager_158/eastriverparrk.html
not bad, the writing is awful, although so it the writing on this blog.
http://www.thevillager.com/villager_158/eastriverparrk.html
not bad, the writing is awful, although so it the writing on this blog.
Friday, May 12, 2006
Thursday, May 11, 2006
Teenage Prayers Video Link
Yesterday I was hanging out with Tim Adams and Remy Weber of the Teenage Prayers. Watching a performance video from a recent show right here in New York at the famous Lakeside Lounge. We decided to share it with the world. I say we because while yours truly is not a musician, I did participate in the project by shooting and recording the video.
So here it is, fully compressed down to the lowest possible quality for the web. It still sounds good, and the shooting isn't bad for one camera. But now is not the time for me to be shy.
So enjoy the sights and sounds, and let the band know what you think.
fred
And for those you know who know Tim and Remy, okay, myself, you can imagine that the conversation was multi-faceted, complex, and too long to be summarized here. Yes we touched on the media, being an artist, carving out a livable situation in this town, and the hazards of modern living, not to mention landlord degradation, and 10 schemes how to make money doing what we know how to do.
So here it is, fully compressed down to the lowest possible quality for the web. It still sounds good, and the shooting isn't bad for one camera. But now is not the time for me to be shy.
So enjoy the sights and sounds, and let the band know what you think.
fred
And for those you know who know Tim and Remy, okay, myself, you can imagine that the conversation was multi-faceted, complex, and too long to be summarized here. Yes we touched on the media, being an artist, carving out a livable situation in this town, and the hazards of modern living, not to mention landlord degradation, and 10 schemes how to make money doing what we know how to do.
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Today's post -- click here for link
today's post is on my other blog, covering both.
header should have the link, or else click
http://betweenhereandtheunknown.blogspot.com/2006/05/death-of-friend.html
header should have the link, or else click
http://betweenhereandtheunknown.blogspot.com/2006/05/death-of-friend.html
Tuesday, May 09, 2006
Lucky's Juice Joint is not Lucky or Civilized
Okay, so I'm trying to buy a juice at the place on 11th St and 2nd Av. I've been there before, and they are very aggressive, coming at you and saying, can I help You, can I help You. Now, a juice joint isn't like MickyD's where there are three things on the menu, and they are all the same. There are a slew of options, the menu is long, and you can mix and match.
Aware of all this, I walk in and slink way over to one side. The counter is on both the long and short side of the 25x50 foot space, but I am as far away from either side as I can be, to buy myself time to read the menu. It's Sunday afternoon. I have my sunglasses on. But alas, from 90 degrees on my right comes a voice SIR, CAN I HELP YOU? I stay silent and don't turn. The voice is coming from somewhere out of my life of sight. The voice leans in (how do I know? it's getting louder) SIR SIR - like I've committed some kind of crime and need to be apprehended -- Until finally I say, Do you mind if I read the menu first?
So now here comes the manager running right at me, some 40 year old white guy like myself. GET OUT OF MY STORE- shouting this as he flails his arms - HOW DARE YOU DISRESPECT MY STAFF LIKE THAT!! Have no illusions, this is the man who concocted the "we will confront all our customers in the name of courtesy" strategy. Now, I stay nice and relaxed and go - Babes, I just want a juice you know, do I have to engage in a conversation with someone SHOUTING at me that I can't even see -- but he didn't get the point. He just kept screaming GET OUT OF MY STORE. YOU CAN'T BUY ANYTHING until we were on the sidewalk.
Of course I felt pissy. I just wanted a juice. I tried my best, but I failed. Now I did mention to Mr Manager that I have spent, oh, 5 years in retail sales and 5 years in restaurants and so I understand customer service which clearly he does not. But since he doesn't understand, he didn't understand.
Fast forward to Monday. I'm in room 252 of 60 Centre Street, aka the courthouse, aka the room where Dateline and ABC shoot all their standups, except now it's for the injunction to stop the asshole who owns the building next to ours to not demo the facade elements one week before the building has a Landmarks hearing and I'm talking to Monica, the cute one I've always had a little crush on, she's a designer too, and she goes -Oh, I know exactly which place you're talking about, they make me feel so uncomfortable, I'm so glad I'm not the only one. Which makes me feel vindicated. 100%
Aware of all this, I walk in and slink way over to one side. The counter is on both the long and short side of the 25x50 foot space, but I am as far away from either side as I can be, to buy myself time to read the menu. It's Sunday afternoon. I have my sunglasses on. But alas, from 90 degrees on my right comes a voice SIR, CAN I HELP YOU? I stay silent and don't turn. The voice is coming from somewhere out of my life of sight. The voice leans in (how do I know? it's getting louder) SIR SIR - like I've committed some kind of crime and need to be apprehended -- Until finally I say, Do you mind if I read the menu first?
So now here comes the manager running right at me, some 40 year old white guy like myself. GET OUT OF MY STORE- shouting this as he flails his arms - HOW DARE YOU DISRESPECT MY STAFF LIKE THAT!! Have no illusions, this is the man who concocted the "we will confront all our customers in the name of courtesy" strategy. Now, I stay nice and relaxed and go - Babes, I just want a juice you know, do I have to engage in a conversation with someone SHOUTING at me that I can't even see -- but he didn't get the point. He just kept screaming GET OUT OF MY STORE. YOU CAN'T BUY ANYTHING until we were on the sidewalk.
Of course I felt pissy. I just wanted a juice. I tried my best, but I failed. Now I did mention to Mr Manager that I have spent, oh, 5 years in retail sales and 5 years in restaurants and so I understand customer service which clearly he does not. But since he doesn't understand, he didn't understand.
Fast forward to Monday. I'm in room 252 of 60 Centre Street, aka the courthouse, aka the room where Dateline and ABC shoot all their standups, except now it's for the injunction to stop the asshole who owns the building next to ours to not demo the facade elements one week before the building has a Landmarks hearing and I'm talking to Monica, the cute one I've always had a little crush on, she's a designer too, and she goes -Oh, I know exactly which place you're talking about, they make me feel so uncomfortable, I'm so glad I'm not the only one. Which makes me feel vindicated. 100%
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