Above is the bemused smile of a coworker-turned-friend. Today, she came from her home in Kew Gardens to explore my neighborhood of Astoria with me. (Apparently, it's getting more famously-talked-about). She brought a large canvas shopping bag because she wanted to stock up on the fresh affordable fruit at "30th Ave Fruit Market", below...
Strolling along the sidewalk, a summer breeze carried the ripe scent of peaches and apricots to us. It was heavenly! I introduced my Wisconsin-born (and unashamedly "uninformed of unique foods") friend to lychees--and showed her how to peel them. She bought fruit to make sangria. With her bag laden, we headed south to a Turkish bakery...
Jessica loves baklava (Yes, that one, she knows). The counter-girl was pleasant, giving us a generous tasting of a different pistachio pastry. Baklava is an old recipe that originated in Assyria and was updated in the 1400s by the Ottoman sultans.
From there, we proceeded to lunch at Bare Burger. Zagat rated them "Top 10 Burger in NYC". They open at 11:30am, so we had to politely wait outside for a short while. A public bench (artistically punctured) served its purpose for us. Even the restaurant employee who was rolling out the canopies (for outdoor seating) joined in our conversation about movies. I was urging Jessica to see "Chef"! (read about it in my previous blog post).
Once inside, I gave Jessica time to "digest" their detailed menu. She loved how they explain their efforts to sell organic food: the farms and dairies producing the items on their menu, how their ceiling was "reclaimed" from a barn at one of those farms, and why "Organic" & "Fair Trade" are important. They're menu is lively! Juicy burgers can be made of beef, turkey, lamb, wild boar, elk, ostrich, bison, and been curd. You can wrap it in lettuce leaves or put in on a whole-grain bun or brioche. All kinds of veggie toppings and farm-fresh cheeses and home-made sauces exist.
I ordered a wild boar burger with some Colby cheese--which you don't see often--on brioche. No bacon needed because I wanted to taste my boar and cheese. Our shared appetizer was a basket of cornmeal-crusted fried pickle spears. And a summertime Sarsaparilla! (which Jessica had never tried but equated to Root Beer). The soda is also organic, from Maine, with evaporated cane sugar in lieu of corn syrup. She had an old-fashioned milkshake.
I told her how much I enjoyed the Sookie Stackhouse Series, which she lent me: 14 books, and I've just started the last one! We've been adamantly in agreement that the books are UNIMAGINABLY MUCH better than the "True Blood" series (which was inspired by the books, and each book-jacket says so). The only thing that HBO did right was their casting of characters: they really do look like the image "painted" by the author, Charlene Harris. However, after the first book, the HBO TV show leaves the plots and ignores the rest of the incoming characters and storylines. Instead, it's totally different--and disappointingly so. Alas, such are the errs of TV production in America. And apparently, there are millions of fans who agree with us! After the 2nd season, "True Blood" steadily lost viewership.
After some very fun hours together, Jessica had to head to the city for more grocery shopping at Trader Joe's. (I wish they would FINALLY build one in my neighborhood!). So, with hugs and a kiss, I wished her well!
With the day being so bright and comfortable, I decided to head home and pick up that aforementioned book to read in one of the nearby parks. I chose Lewis' preferred park: Rainey Park along the East River.
I found a park bench--clean of fallen tree berries--and made myself comfy with a thermos of homemade iced tea. The wind rustled through the leafy trees above, and birds and butterflies frolicked nearby. 3 swings were in motion at the playground, across the park. Kids were avoiding the sun-heated metal slide. I've taken myself to use that slide a few times, and its such a childish rush!
A "Circle Line" sightseeing charter boat puttered down the river. I had my own sightseeing. In a corner of the park, a baby shower was set up: cloth-covered tables, folding chairs, a BBQ grill, and a banner… all in requisite pastels. Nearby, older gent was practicing his golf swing, while his doggie pranced around, trailing its leash. Suddenly, a husband/wife couple cut into the park through a gap in the fence, and their 2 dogs scampered over to "chat"/sniff the golfer's dog. All the adults waved and made salutations, as polite neighbors do. It was lovely to see how the couple took it upon themselves to pick up loose trash that they spotted. Pride in the community!
A jock was "shooting hoops", killing time while his girlfriend ran laps around the park. A gay guy ran in the opposite way, encouraging his petit doggie to keep up. We both allowed our gazes to admire the tank tops that sauntered by. More "pride" in the "community", ha ha! Well, at least a few people "dress to show off"… after all, that's what flâneurs do.
Lastly, a cute scene emerged--the kind that you imagine could be used in a movie to describe the beginning of a love scene. A young woman in a shapely outfit was playing with her brown/white labrador. Suddenly, from behind me, a young man entered the park. Attired in black ensemble of T-shirt, pants and sandals, he led an equally black dog. He spent time teaching his hound tricks, with doggie snacks as reward. (just like I add an extra dash of vodka in a martini as reward for a day well-spent). At one point, his dog ignored the lesson in "fetch" and ran over to meet the girl's dog. The young man stayed behind, looking. The dogs got along swimmingly, chasing each other for quite some time. The young man kept watching but wasn't certain about retrieving his dog. The girl eventually began entertaining both dogs, throwing things for them to chase. This encouraged the young man to approach. You could imagine the 2 dogs bringing their owners together for a first date. But, the boy halted and soon his dog returned to him. The girl looked at them. Smiled. But as the boy returned his attentions to his dog training, she resumed exercising her own dog. Ah well! Maybe another time.
I realized that the sun had slipped down, after hours of its travel. It was a good time to saunter home, light my "Midnight Jasmine" candle, turn on some evening Latin-beat music (I love its percussion and brass), and get ready to welcome Lewis for cocktails and dinner. Earlier, I mentioned martinis… and what a good idea!
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