Tag: new york city

New Yorkers, We’re Nicer Than You Think

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New York City is the 5th most visited city in the world, so I think it’s fair to include some sage advice from a New York native every now and then.

What makes one a native, you ask?  It’s when you reach this moment of realization described by John Updike: The true New Yorker secretly believes that people living anywhere else have to be, in some sense, kidding.

Also, I’ve lived here for just a little over 16 years.  Admitting that makes me feel really old.

greenshit

New Yorkers have a bad reputation for being rude, cold, direct, unfriendly, and blunt.  Which is true.  But mostly it’s only true because you’re in the way and we’re in a hurry.  It’s also not true and here’s a great example of why.

Yesterday, I got off the subway and headed toward the gym, heavy gym bag slung over my shoulder.  It was a bit rainy, but nothing serious.  I was wearing these boots that are a bit slippery–although I will never understand why any shoe maker would make BOOTS that have a slippery heel, aren’t boots meant for inclement weather?!

So a bit of rain, plus my slippery boots, plus my head in the clouds resulted in me first slipping on the wet pavement and then me tripping gracelessly over my own feet until I came crashing down so hard on the pavement that I literally bounced.  Bounced! 

As my gym bag went flying off to the right all I heard behind me were loud gasps of “OH MY GOD!” and “OH NO!”  I could even imagine what I must have looked like falling for absolutely NO REASON.  Thankfully I was wearing a large puffy jacket (I’m so over you, Winter) and it somewhat cushioned my fall.  Somewhat.

As I was attempting to pick myself up off the ground as quickly as I could, two teenage boys (that looked like the kind of kids that would be shot in Florida) stopped and immediately tried to help me up, and were all, “You okay, ma’am?”

“I’m okay, I’m totally fine…thank you so much, I’m fine,” but I wanted to crawl in a hole and hide forever.  And also, when did people start calling me ma’am??

I instantly decided that the gym was just not going to happen, and changed direction and started walking home instead.  A really nice, older homeless guy started walking down the block with me and said, “Honey, don’t be embarrassed, we all fall down sometimes…you’ll be okay.”

I didn’t know if I should laugh or cry, I probably did a little of both.  Then I went home and ordered Thai food and watched really really bad tv.

See, New Yorkers, they’re nice people.  When you fall, they pick you up and they tell you it’s going to be okay.

For Eats: RedFarm

gisela2 Comments

Customer service is truly a lost art in America.  Or, at least in Manhattan.  And if you’ve ever had the misfortune of having to go to a Duane Reade, you know exactly what I’m talking about.

Everyone that works at Duane Reade is all…

cell

and you’re like…

hello

and they’re like…

ok

So you’re like…

waiting

To which they’re like…

ohmygod

Until you finally leave with your overpriced toothpaste and your hair spray feeling all…

crazypills

That’s why when you stumble upon a place that actually DOES care about their customers, you treasure it and hope that no one discovers it so they can’t take it away from you, except that it’s so great that you also want to tell everyone you know.

Back in late January, my friend and I decided that it was not too late in life to take ballet classes.  Adult beginner ballet classes.  Because, you know, it’s never too late to become a Prima ballerina.  And also, up to this point, I really believed that despite my love of eating, my short legs, and my lack of flexibility, I was always really destined to be a dancer.

Well, friends, that dream is never going to be realized because I looked a lot less like this:

ballet1

And a lot more like this.

dance2

After accepting the cold, hard reality that we will never be cast in swan lake, we decided we deserved a great brunch after the utter humiliation of sadly flailing about in ballet shoes.  It was about 10 degrees outside and neither of us wanted to have to go very far, so we settled on a new place that opened up on the upper west side only a few blocks down: the magical RedFarm.

We stumbled in out of the 2nd or 3rd polar vortex (I don’t know, I lost count), and were immediately greeted by the host.  It was packed, and we had no reservations, yet somehow they were able to find a spot for us at the communal table pretty quickly.  I should note here that we were both in gym cloths, had no make-up on, and looked pretty unfit to be eating at a nice restaurant.  Yet…they still welcomed us with open arms.

As I mentioned before, it was bitterly cold and because RedFarm just opened, they hadn’t gotten their “winter door” yet which helps block a lot of the icy air from coming in every time someone enters.  So my friend and I were just a little bit cold, but we were okay with it because, well, because wine.

wine

However, the host or owner (not sure which?) noticed us looking a little rough around the edges (and also cold) and DESPITE the fact that the place was totally packed he said, “Girls, I just can’t watch you shivering over here, I’m going to move you to a warmer table.”

I mean?

I wanted to be all like…

hug

And it didn’t stop there!  The entire staff, from the hostess to the waiters to the bartender were just…awesome.  Points for knowing the menu, points for knowing the wine list and points for making great recommendations–and bonus points for everyone wearing really cool t-shirts.  It felt like a cozy neighborhood joint that had been there forever.

Yet, that wasn’t even the best part.  The best part was the food.  They take Chinese Cuisine to a whole other-worldly level.

I mean, just look at these adorable Pacman inspired dumplings!

092411RedFarmZM06.jpg

And clearly, anything that reminds me of the 80’s is aces in my book.

joan

Also: the mussels with eggplant & okra.  ORDER IT.

Also also: this bizarre chicken stuffed with shrimp thing–I cannot figure out how they made it, but AH MAH GAWD.

chicken

When you combine excellent service with an inspired menu, it’s well worth the price of admission.

So the next time you poo-poo the Upper West Side for not being as “foodie” as other parts of Manhattan, give RedFarm a try.  And then I want you to write me a note thanking me.  Because you will.  You will totally thank me.

yourwelcome