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I am now back home from my new year trip to New York City last week. I started my new year with a trip, and yes to New York. I know most would think that I should have gone to Hawaii, or Carribean, but I get my vitality from the energy in New York City.
I was staying at a pretty swank hotel during my visit. They had people who had people to wait on you and take care of your every need. Well... not every need, but pretty damn close.
The funny thing about these trips is that, I never find any inspiration in any of the really upscale places. The thing I love about New York is the places nobody ever recommends or writes about.
There is a small Cuban restaurant three doors down from my hotel, they open at 6 in the morning. It's like you are transported to another time. As soon as you open the door, there is blaring music, the cooks are singing and dancing, and its like it's their policy to remember each customer they have by name and the food you eat.
They waved and greeted me soon as I walked in, then one of the girls said, "Spanish coffee, cream, sugar and cinnamon right?" I just nodded. Then the grillman asked, "Cuban, or ham, egg and cheese sandwich?" I went for the Cuban egg and cheese sandwich, which I tell you is the real deal, not something like the one you'll find at many places in Florida that's a phony imitation.
Your breakfast will come in stages, you'll get everything you ordered when it's ready, so while waiting, they'll just offer some fried sort of bananas just out of the oil.
In the mean time, a lot of drivers and deliveries are coming in and out, bringing in everything they got, then they get food and drinks before they go. This Cuban restaurant's clientele is as diverse as you can see anywhere, from cops in their suits, construction workers of all stripes, different professions, age and shape, and all New Yorkers by birth or by absorption.
After half an hour or so, a young girl wearing a neon shoes walked in, and as the grill man saw her, he humoredly yelled at her, "Hey...where did you get those Dominican shoes?" Then there was a huge laugh from everybody, including the girl.
This kind of self-generated and natural humor is outstandingly different from the pretty elegant or fashionable joints, where laughter is hardly ever heard.
I noticed the absence of one regular girl in that restaurant after a while. I asked the grillman about the girl or where she was. And I learned that she was mugged two nights ago on her way home from a party. She ran into a couple of junkies, she fought back, she was beaten and bruised her face. She could not win, she didn't have enough power to bring them down.
It is illegal in New York to carry personal protection tools like Stun guns and pepper spray. Crimes like this working girl has experienced could have been stopped, and she wouldn't have to miss her work because of a street beating.
I told the grillman, who by the way is the owner too, to hold my table, and that I'd just go back to my hotel and be back in few minutes. Soon as I got to my hotel, I loaded up a few samples in a bag and went back to that Cuban restaurant. I had a little chat with the grillman/owner in the back, and before I knew it, I couldn't find my bag of samples. I misplaced it, sad to say. My memory has really been bleary these days.
I forgot a couple of Wildfire Sprays, Hot Shots, and a box of Lipstick Pepper Spray. My loss is their gain, and there were enough tools to cover the whole crew.
New York City is a fab place to live, work and visit. They have made improvements for the safety of everyone and their citizens. But still, they shouldn't have removed the right of everyone to be able to protect themselves from bad spirited mooks and any troubles.
The anti personal protection laws are stupid, and should be overturned.
I was staying at a pretty swank hotel during my visit. They had people who had people to wait on you and take care of your every need. Well... not every need, but pretty damn close.
The funny thing about these trips is that, I never find any inspiration in any of the really upscale places. The thing I love about New York is the places nobody ever recommends or writes about.
There is a small Cuban restaurant three doors down from my hotel, they open at 6 in the morning. It's like you are transported to another time. As soon as you open the door, there is blaring music, the cooks are singing and dancing, and its like it's their policy to remember each customer they have by name and the food you eat.
They waved and greeted me soon as I walked in, then one of the girls said, "Spanish coffee, cream, sugar and cinnamon right?" I just nodded. Then the grillman asked, "Cuban, or ham, egg and cheese sandwich?" I went for the Cuban egg and cheese sandwich, which I tell you is the real deal, not something like the one you'll find at many places in Florida that's a phony imitation.
Your breakfast will come in stages, you'll get everything you ordered when it's ready, so while waiting, they'll just offer some fried sort of bananas just out of the oil.
In the mean time, a lot of drivers and deliveries are coming in and out, bringing in everything they got, then they get food and drinks before they go. This Cuban restaurant's clientele is as diverse as you can see anywhere, from cops in their suits, construction workers of all stripes, different professions, age and shape, and all New Yorkers by birth or by absorption.
After half an hour or so, a young girl wearing a neon shoes walked in, and as the grill man saw her, he humoredly yelled at her, "Hey...where did you get those Dominican shoes?" Then there was a huge laugh from everybody, including the girl.
This kind of self-generated and natural humor is outstandingly different from the pretty elegant or fashionable joints, where laughter is hardly ever heard.
I noticed the absence of one regular girl in that restaurant after a while. I asked the grillman about the girl or where she was. And I learned that she was mugged two nights ago on her way home from a party. She ran into a couple of junkies, she fought back, she was beaten and bruised her face. She could not win, she didn't have enough power to bring them down.
It is illegal in New York to carry personal protection tools like Stun guns and pepper spray. Crimes like this working girl has experienced could have been stopped, and she wouldn't have to miss her work because of a street beating.
I told the grillman, who by the way is the owner too, to hold my table, and that I'd just go back to my hotel and be back in few minutes. Soon as I got to my hotel, I loaded up a few samples in a bag and went back to that Cuban restaurant. I had a little chat with the grillman/owner in the back, and before I knew it, I couldn't find my bag of samples. I misplaced it, sad to say. My memory has really been bleary these days.
I forgot a couple of Wildfire Sprays, Hot Shots, and a box of Lipstick Pepper Spray. My loss is their gain, and there were enough tools to cover the whole crew.
New York City is a fab place to live, work and visit. They have made improvements for the safety of everyone and their citizens. But still, they shouldn't have removed the right of everyone to be able to protect themselves from bad spirited mooks and any troubles.
The anti personal protection laws are stupid, and should be overturned.
About the Author:
If you live in some idiotic liberal state, or even if you don't, defend your stuff with a security surveillance camera or else it'll get stolen. And then nobody's thrilled. Except the guy who took your stuff.
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