A New York Minute
Posted by jtbourne on February 27, 2009 · 4 Comments
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I arrived in New York last night and walked off the plane and into the oh-so-familiar (and questionable) odors of JFK. I’ve really come to feel that NY is my second home. I think people love it in the way you love that ratty old sweatshirt. As soon as you walk into the baggage claim there’s a sea of (generally non-white) drivers holding signs with people’s last names, as well as a slew of taxi and car service drivers waiting to take people to their destinations. It’s completely different from other airports where people have friends and family pick them up. Just drivers everywhere.
Bri and I are running out to meet a couple of her friends, but I wanted to quickly document some thoughts. New York pizza, bagels and deli’s are exactly what you hear about throughout the rest of the US and Canada. They aren’t overrated, it’s just the best damn (unhealthy) food you can track down. We had two slices for dinner today, and it was unbelievable. This thin, crispy but not dry, perfect doughed-delight is last-meal worthy. You can go places where selling pizza with pepperoni on it is an inconvinience for the staff. They churn people in and out so fast, largely because most people just order an unspecified “slice”, which is just cheese.
“Gimme a slice”
“Yeeea, no problem boss”.
The deli’s can be a bit nerve-wracking, largely because if you don’t have your order ready, they’ll just point at the person behind you for their order, leaving you to feel like a rejected American Idol contestant. The best part is that they aren’t chain deli’s, or chain bakeries, or chain pizza places, just some guy who opened a store. But it’s worth the pressure, the sandwiches are so damn good. The Soup Nazi isn’t that unrealistic a character in this city, but you’d risk it to watch them cut that Boar’s Head meat and stack it Empire State Building high.
“How bout those f#$%in Mets?”
“Ah. F#$? em.”
I’ve only had NY back in my life for a few years, and I love it. I don’t have time to do it justice, just know that NY can feel like home when all the people around you seem to be in constant chaos.
Because I love it:
See ya at the Isles game tonight!
I'm a hockey player turned writer. After playing for Alaska Anchorage in the WCHA (NCAA), I carried on with an NHL tryout (New York Islanders in 2007) before spending a couple seasons in the AHL/ECHL (last year was 2008-09). My father, Bob Bourne, won four Stanley Cups with the Islanders in the '80's, as did my fiancee's dad, Clark Gillies. I'm now the web editor for theScore's hockey blog "Backhand Shelf."
Welcome back to NY. We are a surly bunch especially when we are in a hurry. We live in perpetual motion. Our creed is lead, move or get the h*ll out of our way. Totally homer NY attitude, but I think we have the best food anywhere. You name the cuisine you can find it here. Travelling is my passion and I do quite a bit of it, but I love coming home to NY. Nothing beats living here. IMO we have the best of everything. Enjoy your stay.
You’re so right about the smells of JFK! I thought I was the only one who thought that
Nannerpuss would have been incredible anyway… But the eye coming off? Takes it to a whole different level.
Isn’t that just the icing on the icing? There’s lots of youtube tributes that pay it appropriate homage.