It all starts this Saturday noon, with my craving for some grilled pork Banh-Mi from one of my favorite (not any more) vietnamese sandwich shops Paris Sandwich.

I go into Paris Sandwich at 113 Mott St. (Betn. Hester and Canal) and order a sandwich and other stuff for a takeaway. My total comes to 14$. I give my card to the cashier and she tells me there is a minimum of $15 dollars for using a card. Thats a first for me from this store, which I have been to in the past.

Having a minimum is against the merchant policy laid out by Mastercard and Visa and I tell the cashier the same. She does not understand what I say, so I ask to speak to the manager. She goes to call the manager and comes back and says something to the extent that manager says sorry. I ask to speak to the manager at which time a lady comes out and asks me what the problem is. I tell her that it is unfair of her establishment to have a minimum policy on credit card transactions. While I am telling her this, the real manager, a guy in his early 30’s walks up and tells me to either follow the policy or leave.

Well, I tell him that I am leaving and that it still does not make his policy correct. I also inform him that I will file a complaint with MC and VISA via their online link. And I walk out of the store.

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At one under-construction tower in Williamsburg, that translated to a 100-foot-long banner poking fun at both the vice presidential nominee’s precious explanation to Katie Couric that she had foreign policy experience because she can see Russia across the Bering Strait from Alaska.

“Sarah Palin/Live here/See Wall Street,” reads the sign on the side of the Edge, a high-rise project going up on the waterfront at North Fifth Street. [link]

Come on people, move to Brooklyn.

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Our friends out at the L.A. Metblog are always going on and on about their favorite vegan ice cream place, Scoops. Though I’m not vegan, I do enjoy tasty vegan treats and to be honest, was kind of envious that I didn’t have a similar place nearby. Then I heard about Lula’s Sweet Apothecary.

Located in Alphabet City, Lula’s has a whole range of sweet vegan treats to tempt your palate. Ice cream, shakes, floats, flavored sodas, even a New York egg cream (with no actual egg or cream, of course). They also have cookies, cupcakes, and hot cocoa, for those whose sweet tooth isn’t partial to cold. And for those who are gluten intolerant, never fear - they have gluten-free options, too. Which means I can take my vegetarian husband, gluten intolerant brother-in-law, and vegan friends there and everyone’s sweet tooth will be satisfied!

Photographer extraordinaire and Metblogs pal Glen E. Friedman, who is part owner of Lula’s, tell us that if you mention Metblogs/Metroblogs when you order, you get an extra free topping on your sundae. I say try the caramel. Yum.

Lula’s is at 516 E. 6th Street between Avenues A & B. Tell ‘em we sent you!

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I share the view of many New Yorkers re those street fairs. They’re a pain in the ass! I’ve eaten the last of those sausage sandwiches and funnel cakes! There was one last Sunday in my Forest Hills neighborhood, and I avoided it like leprosy! Just when you thought street fair season was over, Pamela Skillings, the Manhattan guide at About.com, offers a schedule of the last installments of these banes of our existence. But, hey, if you still like seeing demos of must-have household gadgets, or yearn for more pad thai cooked on the street, check it out here

The Loisada Street Festival. David Shankbone/Wikimedia Commons

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I sure as hell didn’t know the answer to that question until I saw the cover of New York Magazine today. Maybe I’m the only one? But in case you didn’t know, David Paterson is the governor of New York State and he is legally blind.

Wowza. I’m going to go read the rest of this article later. I feel like a lame citizen for not knowing to begin with.

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I’m sure that you, like many people, have been at least slightly aware of all the political talk going on lately. You can’t really avoid it, even if you don’t watch the debates or read the political blogs or read the newspaper headlines - it’s everywhere in this general election year. Maybe you’re undecided. Maybe you’ve been decided since you were old enough to tell the difference between red and blue. In any case, if you haven’t already, you gotta register to vote.

In NYC, you can register by mail (scroll down to see links to downloadable voter registration forms), or you can stop by one of NYC’s Board of Elections offices (or use this convenient Google Maps link to find your nearest office). It’s really easy and the board of elections officials will help you if you have trouble with the form.

But hurry! If you’re not registered yet, you only have until October 10 to register to vote in New York State (this deadline also applies to changes to party affiliation for 2009). So pop your voter registration in the mail ASAP, or if you really want to be sure, take it in to the Board of Elections on or before October 10.

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I went to the Ginger Man last night for a friend’s birthday party. Like other Midtown bars, the place is packed at happy hour. I’m not a huge fan of crowded bars, so that put me off right away. I like a place where I can have a conversation, and the noise from the crowd made that difficult.

After shouting our birthday greetings to our friends, I took a look at the drink menu. It consisted of a huge selection of beers (possibly very good beers), but not much else. Not a lot of wine options or cocktails. Not a big beer drinker, I settled for an expensive vodka tonic and waited a good 15 minutes for the server to bring it over. We managed to carve out a little corner for ourselves in the back section. I ended up waiting even longer for my second drink. After giving up on it arriving, I ordered one at the bar. Then, of course, the server came and I had two vodka tonics.

I’d say the place might have good beer, but it has bad service and a not a great atmosphere. The Ginger Man just isn’t a sweet spot.

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I enjoy the Fall in New York City.

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Photo from gothamist.com

I’ve been noticing the growing number of fruity ice cream/yogurt shops in the city. They’re everywhere: Pinkberry, Very Berry, Red Mango, etc. In some parts of the city (ie. East Village), they’ve become the new Starbucks with similar establishments on opposite sides of the street, both packed. I know these companies are all competitors, but I’m surprised to find there’s so much room for competition for such a narrow niche. All these places look adorable and have very similar menus. Not that I’m complaining about having ample options to satisfy my sweet tooth in a relatively healthy way, it just seems odd how popular they’ve become in such a short time…

A few days ago, I planned to meet a friend for coffee and we ended up going to Red Mango instead. Maybe ice cream/ yogurt is the new coffee?

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If you’re lucky enough to live in an apartment in NYC with a view overlooking Central Park, any body of water, or the general beauty that is the NYC skyline, today is one of those days that all the money you paid for the place is worth it.

Crisp, cool, clear, and absolutely a welcoming mat to the fall season, today, October 2nd, the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi and my uncle (who makes me call him GREAT uncle), is just perfect. I couldn’t ask for a better day.

Have yourself some warm apple cider and get lost in open-eyed meditation of observing the beauty around us. Love.

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Go to Whole Foods, go to Trader Joe’s, go to the farmer’s market, go to one of several delicious vegetarian restaurants in NYC, explore the “Chinese” grocery stores, the Indian grocery stores and anywhere you can get your hands on some delicious veggies.

Don’t kill an animal for your dinner tonight. Or lunch if you haven’t had it yet. It’s your one day chance to be a vegetarian. Relish in saving a life, being green, healthy, and fantastically sexy - all in one!

Why? To celebrate World Vegetarian Day!

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Street Festivals Suck!

Besides being a nuisance to those living in neighborhoods, street festivals in New York City need to take the route of the squeegee men. They must be systematically eliminated or at least limited to a few every year.

Not only are these festivals generic, simplistic, and mass produced - they clog up the already narrow and much needed streets. It’s like U.N. Week every Sunday in some neighborhoods of Manhattan. There’s no way around or through certain areas.

Getting rid of these festivals would save the city tons of hassle and would also improve the lives of those living in the areas drastically by reducing the noise and digestive pollution that they carry. Not to mention, you’ll save a lot of cash instead of buying fake Pashima shawls and branded purses along with “authentic” trinkets made in China.

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Farm Sanctuary Walk 2008

Walk for Animals happens around the country and today those interested in joining the cause of saving these farm animals can join in the walk. There is a fee of $15 to register to walk, but I think you can also just show up and enjoy.

New York
Date: Sept. 28
Time: Registration 10 a.m., Walk 12 noon
Location: Columbus Circle
Local Walk Coordinator: Cody
E-mail: nyc@walkforfarmanimals.org
Phone: 831-818-2926
A printable flier is available here.

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Photo from nytimes.com

I went to see the musical Spring Awakening last night. My only knowledge of the show had consisted of some snippets on television commercials and a musical number played at the bar Splash on a Musical Monday. I had the impression that it either took place a while ago or among modern day Mennonites and that it involved a coming of age story. The show surprised me with rousing musical numbers, a touching story, and interesting characters played by very talented, very young actors.

The story centers around two young people discovering love in a strict and conservative society. The main characters stand out with their unique ability to see another kind of life.  Some of the show’s vibrant numbers include “The Bitch of Living” and “Totally Fucked”. This modern voice gave a sense that youthful optimism and angst have always existed.  From school girl crushes to wet dreams and masturbation, this production freshly portrays young people discovering their sexuality and illustrates some of the negative consequences of abstinence-only education. The plot follows the romances and tragedies of these young characters.

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And I dont mean on a cost basis

If you go to NYTimes.com you get this full page banner ad for about 10 seconds before you go on to the actual home page. I use firefox with Adblock Plus (god bless the inventors behind this) and started noticing that I would get a blank page and would come to the main page only if I refreshed the page.

On checking in Chrome I get the above screenshot.

Now I would expect this overtly intrusive advertising from the likes of the TOI, but not he NYTimes.

So dear editors and publishers of NYTimes, in case you are reading this, please take this mess away. Give us our real NYTimes back.

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