Welcome to my Neighborhood
New York City has short blocks going east to west and long blocks heading north to south. Three short blocks are about as far as one long block so a walking distance is usually described as so many of the former and so many of the latter. I live on a long block; it is a side street just four houses from a busy commercial area called Avenue J. If I walk east towards the subway station along the short blocks of J, first I find Dunkin Donuts/Baskin Robbins. They even have soy meat in their egg and cheese sandwiches because it’s a kosher franchise. I love the cookies and caramel iced lattes but in the mornings when they have a line I go to the Bagel Hole where you can make your own coffee with extra milk and Splenda.
The new and used bookstore is just across the street and they are so small but still have all the new Barnes and Noble like reads. Just after hearing about the punctuation book, Eats, Shoots, and Leaves I saw it there in the window. The book taught me a joke.
Q: What is the difference between a cat and a comma?
A: A cat has claws at the end of its paws, but a comma is a pause at the end of a clause.
Brilliant! Even better the public library is practically next door. The children’s section is as big as the adult and reference section put together, which is nice for some, but I do not have kids.
There are two kosher markets half a block away in either direction with overflowing produce stands outside. Always better than supermarket stuff. They have Chalav Yisroel cheeses and all brands of chumus, tehina, vegetarian liver, and Turkish eggplant. My favorite Yo Soy or Silk soymilk in vanilla, regular, and chocolate is always on the self. Three blocks away is a similar place with a fresh olive bar and they sell rose water that the man said was for baking but I plan to bath in it.
99-cent stores are so much fun and four are nearby. I can get cheap nick-knacks that are actually useful like a teakettle, glasses or a can opener. They have Chinese slippers at three for five dollars, two dollar tank tops with built in bras, and a pastel striped purse perfect for fitting my puppy. They even sell disposable tins like restaurants give for take-out in case you did not wash your Tupperware.
The butcher has closed down but one of the hot foods to go places now sells fresh meat but after four on a Friday it will be all sold out. They are like Boston Market but better. You can get chicken fried, baked, roasted, or barbequed in sweet, salty, or spicy flavors. The same goes for potatoes. There are many vegetable side dishes and casseroles. I call them the “bachelors’ kitchen”
There are news stands underneath the subway where the man pops out of the window grabbing exact change as quickly as I can type and behind is his bodega which we called corner stores in San Francisco. They have cigarettes, chips, soda, juice, and little packets of salty nuts. Duane Reade is next door but there is always a line and of course Rite Aid is a few blocks the other way. The liquor store is open on Sundays.
I can eat out everywhere for days. Subsational is open really late and they have corn dogs. There are three pizza parlors which sounds nice but of course everyone prefers a different one so going for pizza with a group is challenging. I like Natanya on my corner because they have no sauce with fresh tomato and garlic in square slices and you can have green olives instead of just black. Circa has a salad bar, pasta bar, and sushi bar. People also go for their Starbucks coffee because I can proudly say I have no idea where to find a Starbucks in Brooklyn. I love Circa’s cafeteria like trays I fill with creamy soup and spicy fake crab rolls. You have to be careful in the salad bar line during lunchtime; those ladies will take your turn or grumble if you do not know the etiquette. Garden of Eden has the best French onion soup and low-carb muffins.
Heading west of me is Jerusalam Steak House with meat orders so large there is no room for your choice of two sides. I usually get a double order of Israeli Salad (tomatos, cucumber, and red onion in lemon juice and olive oil) but French fries are popular and adults like the rice and bean dish. There is China Glatt which has nothing on Shang Chai but it is closer and cheaper than Shalom Hunan (a whole three long blocks away). Kosher Delight is like McDonalds or KFC without the dairy. I like the onion rings but the chicken made me sick once. On Cony Island Avenue, another commercial area west of me is Olympic Pita with dark turkey meat turning around and around. They have falafel sandwiches with all the trimmings and make this eggplant cooked so crispy it’s like potato chips.
I guess I didn’t mention the electronic store my friend works at and her favorite Al Dente restaurant. Or the bakeries that have fresh bread, black and white cookies, and rainbow cake, and Oh Nuts with chocolate in bins and the obvious. There are three Judaic stores with shiny silver everythings, religious music, and lots and lots of books. I forgot the two hat stores, the man selling counterfeit CDs, and the twenty-four hour laundry mat. The people traffic is enormous and some silly families dress their children in matching outfits. They trip over the elderly ladies pushing their carts. I am sure there is more to describe but you will just have to come see me and Avenue J.
The new and used bookstore is just across the street and they are so small but still have all the new Barnes and Noble like reads. Just after hearing about the punctuation book, Eats, Shoots, and Leaves I saw it there in the window. The book taught me a joke.
Q: What is the difference between a cat and a comma?
A: A cat has claws at the end of its paws, but a comma is a pause at the end of a clause.
Brilliant! Even better the public library is practically next door. The children’s section is as big as the adult and reference section put together, which is nice for some, but I do not have kids.
There are two kosher markets half a block away in either direction with overflowing produce stands outside. Always better than supermarket stuff. They have Chalav Yisroel cheeses and all brands of chumus, tehina, vegetarian liver, and Turkish eggplant. My favorite Yo Soy or Silk soymilk in vanilla, regular, and chocolate is always on the self. Three blocks away is a similar place with a fresh olive bar and they sell rose water that the man said was for baking but I plan to bath in it.
99-cent stores are so much fun and four are nearby. I can get cheap nick-knacks that are actually useful like a teakettle, glasses or a can opener. They have Chinese slippers at three for five dollars, two dollar tank tops with built in bras, and a pastel striped purse perfect for fitting my puppy. They even sell disposable tins like restaurants give for take-out in case you did not wash your Tupperware.
The butcher has closed down but one of the hot foods to go places now sells fresh meat but after four on a Friday it will be all sold out. They are like Boston Market but better. You can get chicken fried, baked, roasted, or barbequed in sweet, salty, or spicy flavors. The same goes for potatoes. There are many vegetable side dishes and casseroles. I call them the “bachelors’ kitchen”
There are news stands underneath the subway where the man pops out of the window grabbing exact change as quickly as I can type and behind is his bodega which we called corner stores in San Francisco. They have cigarettes, chips, soda, juice, and little packets of salty nuts. Duane Reade is next door but there is always a line and of course Rite Aid is a few blocks the other way. The liquor store is open on Sundays.
I can eat out everywhere for days. Subsational is open really late and they have corn dogs. There are three pizza parlors which sounds nice but of course everyone prefers a different one so going for pizza with a group is challenging. I like Natanya on my corner because they have no sauce with fresh tomato and garlic in square slices and you can have green olives instead of just black. Circa has a salad bar, pasta bar, and sushi bar. People also go for their Starbucks coffee because I can proudly say I have no idea where to find a Starbucks in Brooklyn. I love Circa’s cafeteria like trays I fill with creamy soup and spicy fake crab rolls. You have to be careful in the salad bar line during lunchtime; those ladies will take your turn or grumble if you do not know the etiquette. Garden of Eden has the best French onion soup and low-carb muffins.
Heading west of me is Jerusalam Steak House with meat orders so large there is no room for your choice of two sides. I usually get a double order of Israeli Salad (tomatos, cucumber, and red onion in lemon juice and olive oil) but French fries are popular and adults like the rice and bean dish. There is China Glatt which has nothing on Shang Chai but it is closer and cheaper than Shalom Hunan (a whole three long blocks away). Kosher Delight is like McDonalds or KFC without the dairy. I like the onion rings but the chicken made me sick once. On Cony Island Avenue, another commercial area west of me is Olympic Pita with dark turkey meat turning around and around. They have falafel sandwiches with all the trimmings and make this eggplant cooked so crispy it’s like potato chips.
I guess I didn’t mention the electronic store my friend works at and her favorite Al Dente restaurant. Or the bakeries that have fresh bread, black and white cookies, and rainbow cake, and Oh Nuts with chocolate in bins and the obvious. There are three Judaic stores with shiny silver everythings, religious music, and lots and lots of books. I forgot the two hat stores, the man selling counterfeit CDs, and the twenty-four hour laundry mat. The people traffic is enormous and some silly families dress their children in matching outfits. They trip over the elderly ladies pushing their carts. I am sure there is more to describe but you will just have to come see me and Avenue J.