Buying bread here became a problem. It is often highly sugared, and not up to the standard I am used to. The solution was n obvious one – there must be a sourdough bakery nearby.
“Google Maps” was, as ever my friend. A quick search revealed “Librae Bakery” a block and a half away. A brief visit later, and I had a very pleasant breakfast of scrambled eggs on a rye baguette in front of me back at the apartment. Nice though it is to have breakfast “out”, it is expensive and perhaps I would benefit from not being obliged to having it “with cheese”. It seemed appropriate to enjoy this with some episodes of “The Real Ghostbusters”, given my visit the previous day.
As I have iterated, I found myself in a shorts situation, having an insufficient quantity of wearable items. To resolve this, I visited a number of establishments in the area. My findings were that most were insufficiently stocked in the items I desired, or on the chance they did have such things I would need to re-mortgage my home in order to afford them.
Success came in the form of a store called “Nordstrom Rack”. Finding items in my size was a challenge, but I did find a navy version in the area of the rack where my size was, labelled “6”. A visit to the fitting room later confirmed that I am indeed size “6”. While these were not furnished with the side pockets I am used to, I decided to compromise on that aspect, and handed over (virtually) the requisite $19.97. The queue to pay was long, but a period of time in air-conditioned cool was not in any way unwelcome.
Afterwards, I purchased a “cold brew” and took rest in Washington Square park. From where I was sat, I noted that listening to improvised jazz, buying cannabis products, and asking questions about Jesus were all options I had. I resolved to only do one of the three.
I took a comfort break back at the apartment, sheltering somewhat from the heat which by this point was “splitting-the-sidewalk”. Here I managed to fix my “AKG” headphones, which had somehow become detached on the journey from Aberdour.
I took the “6” train to 59th/Lexicon, and then the “W” to Astoria Boulevard, in the borough of Queens. Here I was to meet my very lovely friends Nancy, and Gill, from Washington DC. We go back 15 years now, from when Charlotte and I “Couch-surfed” with them in 2010. They have been so kind to have met me here in NYC whenever I have visited.
We have so much in common, both in terms of interests and ideology. These were all discussed over beer at “Bohemian Garden”, and then fish at “Elias Corner”. This particular establishment was Greek in ethos, as was the entire neighbourhood. I am so lucky to know such good people and we very much “set the world to rights”. I had such a good time I completely forgot to take any photographs, but I will on our meeting tomorrow.
After some very tasty gelato at “Figo il Gelato Italiano”, we made our way back to Manhattan on the “W” train before I waved “goodbye” in order to catch the “6” back to Astor Place, and my current adopted home.
It was a truly lovely day of domesticity, and very good friends.
