Okay - as promised, here is the second installment of A Commuter’s Manifesto.

Please keep in mind that this was compiled from hours upon hours of research and “man on the street” style reporting - basically, I just asked people what drives them nuts about commuting, and they pretty much gave me these answers*.

PART II: WHEN RIDING THE SUBWAY Read more

I’ve been working in the West Village for a few weeks now and I’ve been enjoying one of this job’s biggest perks: free live music at lunch. In Washington Square Park, everyday some jazz band or solo guitarist is playing. And some of them really impress me.

My first week, I heard this incredible reggae band, featured in the Tribeca Film Festival’s Playing for Change. I still remember the catchy tune they played that day in the park. Then there’s a small jazz band that plays almost everyday. Their very talented trumpet player does these amazing solos.

But my favorite band so far has been a small group including a base, washboard, and fabulous violinist. When I first heard them play, this violinist, a strikingly beautiful Asian woman, was awing the crowd with a solo in the song Summertime. Happily, they’ve returned every couple days to the park right around lunchtime.

In the wake of the devastating earthquake in Sichuan province in China, the Chinese-American communities in NYC are opening up hearts and wallets to help victims. An estimated 20,000 are believed to be dead or buried, with the toll expected to go up as rescuers go into the more remote areas. Many of the survivors are sleeping out in the street, either because their homes are gone, or they can’t trust that any structures still left standing are structurally sound enough to not collapse on them. Food is in short supply, and practically depleted.

The New York Consolidated Benevolent Association, based in Chinatown, has raised thousands as a result of a letter-writing campaign to over 60 member organizations. According to the MSNBC website, they hope to raise $100,000. And City Councilman John Liu, who represents the Asian area of Queens [including Flushing, Elmhurst, and Bayside], urges New Yorkers to donate to the American Red Cross International Response Fund, which is also sending relief to victims of the recent cyclone in Myanmar.

Rego Park, Queens
quick facts:
location: Central Queens bordered by Elmhurst and Forest Hills
subway stop: 63rd Drive, Rego Park [V and G lines]
Brief history: Basically farmland until the 1920s, when the REal GOod Construction Company purchased the land and built 575 eight-room homes; apartment buildings followed. Until 1962, there was a Long Island Railroad station in Rego Park.

I decided to start this series closest to home, where I live. When I say “I live in Rego Park”, I get one of two responses:
1) Where’s that? or 2) Oh, isn’t that where the mall is?…….Actually the Queens Center Mall is in Elmhurst, just over the LIE. Rego Park is becoming a shopping mall of sorts, with a little mall on the Boulevard [Sears, Marshalls, Circuit City, Bed Bath and Beyond, Old Navy], and another one to come in 2009 [Home Depot, Kohl’s, Century 21].

Bukhara-on-the-Boulevard? Rego-stan? Forest Hills’ poorer cousin? Shopping mecca? If you judge Rego Park by its hub — the corner of 63rd Drive and Queens Blvd., you’re missing something. Venture down 63rd Drive toward 99th Street, up to 108th Street, and further down to 67th Avenue, and notice a scene which looks like it could have come out of Anatevka or “Borat”. Stores have signs in Cyrillic Russian lettering, and in winter, many heads are covered with big fur hats, and in all weather, “babushkas”. Rego Park is the center of immigrants from what is now Uzbekistan, a former Soviet Republic, and specifically from the areas of Bukhara,Samarkand, and Tashkent. These are not the Russians of Brighton Beach. These are people of Central Asia. If you walk on the north side of Queens Boulevard up 63rd Drive past Citibank, CVS, and Dress Barn, you enter another world. Walk down the long block toward 98th Street. and stop in the delis with the signs in Russian — one is mid-block, and the other on the corner. You will see an amazing array of smoked fish, cheeses, pickles, fresh yogurts, sweets, breads, and pastry. Continue on just past 99th Street and stop into Tandoori Bukharian Bakery. Eat a samsa - the Central Asian version of the Indian samosa. If you walk to 108th Street, otherwise known as “Bukharian Broadway”, you run into even more of these Central Asian delicacy shops. The fresh yogurt is amazing, and the sweets are like nothing you have tasted before.

But Rego Park is also getting an influx of young American families, and young professionals who are sick of paying rents $3,000 a month for an apartment the size of a walk-in closet, or who are sick of paying rent at all, and want to own a co-op for less than $500,000. There is now a Starbucks at the corner of 67th and Queens Boulevard, and a new vegan place with Soho-like decor and soft couches across the boulevard [Tierra Sana]. But the old standbys are still popular — London Lennies [seafood] on Woodhaven Blvd, Ben’s Best serving up kosher deli for over 50 years, and Knish Nosh [knishes and other Jewish dishes. Other places that don’t disappoint are Avellinos [Italian] near the 64th Street entrance to the subway, Tung Shing Palace, [Chinese] one block east from Avellinos, and the Shalimar Diner on 63rd Rd. across from the library.

Photo from Ticketmaster.com

I went to the Union Square Theatre last night to see one of my favorite comics, Eddie Izzard. Some British friends had introduced me to his hilariousness a while ago and I’ve adored him since.

I had never been to a big name comedy shows and didn’t know what to expect. I was a bit surprised with the line wrapping around the block just to pick up tickets, but it moved quickly and we got in with time to spare. The stage was set up for Jump, a martial arts show with an Asian-styled set and a stage floor made of a bouncy material. Looked pretty intriguing.

When Eddie Izzard entered the stage, he received thunderous cheering. He was not in drag, which surprised me a bit. After taking advantage of the stage’s bouncy floor, he launched into a hysterical routine on subjects such as politics, the Stone Age, Wikipedia, and God. I had not seen him do any of this material before, but it was delivered in his characteristic style of non-sequiters and British wit. I found myself laughing almost non-stop for the whole show.

So I live in Morningside Heights. I kind of think it’s the best neighborhood in Manhattan, but you don’t have to agree.
Anyway, MH is right between the Upper West Side and Harlem. Slowly but surely, the UWS has been creeping up higher and higher. The frontier, now, is around 125th street.

Two block south of 125th Street & Broadway is China de Puebla, a delicious new Mexican-Asian fusion restaurant. It represents the changes in these parts. It’s gourmet, yet still affordable. It’s posh, yet unpretentious. I highly recommend after your stroll through my lovely neighborhood.

I met up with fellow bloggers at Cooper 35. Located in the East Village, this establishment has funky decor with a slightly Asian flair. Despite the summery weather, the garden was unfortunately closed, but it definitely looked like a fun hang out.

I was happily surprised to open the menu and find the prices incredibly low. A whole list of yummy-sounding cocktails for four dollars each! I ordered a Sangria and a $3 bowl of Soba noodles in soy broth. After munching on delicious hummus and chips, the server brought out a huge bowl of noodles, definitely a good deal for 3 bucks.

I’ve wanted to go to Sushi Samba every since I’d heard that Sex and the City had filmed several episodes there. Just becuase it looked cool. A few months ago a visiting friend suggested the place for Saturday brunch, but when we got there we were informed they only do brunch on Sundays. So when some friends wanted to go out to brunch yesterday, I suggested we go there (finally).

Located in the West Village, this establishment is convenient by train and surrounded by other fun shops and restaurants. The best thing about the place is probably the unique decor. Bright colors, tables of interesting shapes, bamboo stalks, and a uni-sex bathroom set up with bamboo and barrel sinks. The brunch menu has a range of items (some traditional, some Asian-Brazillian fusion). You can order the dishes family style at $15 a person (though that does not include drinks).
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Photo from zenpalate.com

Sometimes you need a break from everything in the middle of the day. A Zen Palate just opened up in the Financial District, so I decided to check it out for lunch with some coworkers. Zen Palate is a Vegan chain restaurant that serves pan-Asian cuisine. Union Square is its most popular location, but it is expanding to other neighborhoods. I was glad to find one near work.

We had to wait 5 minutes or so for a table, but we decided it was worth it. The decor was simple and true to the name (Zen). A cool little shelf in the wall served as a resting place for a golden Buddha. I ordered a Wonton soup (which excited me greatly, since I haven’t had wonton soup since becoming vegetarian a decade ago) and Tofu delight. The food was delicious, and surprisingly filling. My co-workers, all non-vegetarians found their meals equally satisfying. All in all, a nice break from the monotony of the work day.

Well, it’s official: I’ve been profiled.

This morning, while walking past the Chinese Consulate on 42nd Street, I noticed a woman standing on the sidewalk handing out flyers to the (mostly Asian) passersby. My reaction was my usual person-handing-out-flyers reaction: hands in pockets, eyes to the ground. But as I approached, the woman didn’t even make the slightest attempt to hand me one!

I know! Can you imagine? The flyer-woman outside the Chinese Consulate, handing out a Chinese-language publication, refused to offer one to the six-foot-tall white guy with his hands in his pockets! How racist!

Whatever, lady. I’m sure the Falun Gong demonstrators across the street would have been more than grateful for a moment of my attention. So maybe I don’t read Chinese… I still think the characters are pretty!

Sigh. Well, at least now I know what it feels like.