I spent 15 minutes perusing the menu of the diner Emma recommended. Man, that menu is HUGE! It also made me want to eat there really bad. It'll be on my official "New York Trip Bucket List," which doesn't exist and probably won't happen. But a boy can dream!
As for crazy story ideas, I love the idea of interviewers picking the next interviewee. Further, have them tell you who their worst enemy in life is, and then find and interview THAT person.
I just love this story of Mr. James & his magical health food & rug cleaning business! A success story of a Trinidadian immigrant! Perfect Monday morning read after all this very bad political news. Thank you Anne!
An interview with little brother replete with WITSEC-style voice distortion and occluded face would be a popular episode for the Cafe. I would offer Q1 -- at what age was little brother able to carry the Kirby vacuum up the stairs unaided.
When I was 13 in the late 90s I read my first-ever NYC novel - "Caperucita en Manhattan", a modern retelling of little red riding hood set in (you guessed it) Manhattan, by Spanish author Carmen Martín Gaite. It made me feel, like thousands of people before me felt, that this was a place where anything could happen and everyone was interesting and full of wonder.
Where I'm trying to get at is - there's something about your writing and the way you go about these missions that's making me, an almost 40-something from Spain, feel connected to these stories as if you were re-discovering my childhood neighborhood for me. And that's so cool!
Now I’m sad I never put you on the case of a mysterious store in my old neighborhood — Kettle and Thread. Sometimes you went in, they were serving coffee, sometimes you went in, they were knitting and told you to leave
Immigrants are the BEST!!! Brent is such an enterprising, creative young man. The best of luck to him. I always love your investigative stories, Anne; maybe you were Sherlock Holmes in a previous life. And congratulations on your latest quarterly results; your CFO deserves a raise, don't you think.
It's amazing how you get people to open up! What would you say your hit/miss rate is? One idea for a column is a lookback at some of the folks who weren't so forthcoming!
Aaron, I just spent half a day trying to get storefront psychics to chat with me. Zero luck. They're super secretive.
Another story I've been after for a while, with zero success is a subway "showtime!" troupe. The last one took my card and texted me but then they wanted me to pay them for an interview.
I also strike out with folks who claim they don't speak English. Some, I suspect, just don't want to talk with me!
I feel the "Real™" local NYC stores are the ones that sell three non-related things. Down the street from my apartment is a beauty salon that also fixes watches and has art leaning up against the wall outside on the sidewalk selling for $10-25 per poorly done amateurish painting -- which, believe me, one of these days I'm going to buy one because damn it, I support local artists!
The other type of shop I like the most is the one that is too narrow, like the "exercise health and supplement" store around the corner that only, and I mean only, sells giant tubs of protein powders. No other supplements need be stocked!
Dane, I'm with you. Those are both great categories. Some of my favorites are the store in Bay Ridge that sells life insurance and art. And the place in Red Hook that only sells moss.Do you remember the place near Grand Central that only sold umbrellas?
Thanks for writing for us. What about a week where each interviewee chooses the next? I feel like 5 degrees of separation from Mr. James would be very unexpected
For the readers from outside NYC, please note: most Brooklyn stores offer either dry foam cleaning or fresh juice, and many offer both. But the sign font here is just BIZARRE.
Thanks for featuring me, Anne!! Also, love the dual passions of a rug cleaning store and a juicery.
Passion is the word here, Emma! Mr. James is a VERY ENTHUSIASTIC man!
I spent 15 minutes perusing the menu of the diner Emma recommended. Man, that menu is HUGE! It also made me want to eat there really bad. It'll be on my official "New York Trip Bucket List," which doesn't exist and probably won't happen. But a boy can dream!
As for crazy story ideas, I love the idea of interviewers picking the next interviewee. Further, have them tell you who their worst enemy in life is, and then find and interview THAT person.
Wow Justin, your version of the game really takes it to the next level.
And I can tell you from the experience, everything on the menu is fantastic. You can't go wrong!
I had no doubts!
I love the idea of Cafe Anne matchmaking! People who enjoy your writing are the exact people that I want to hang out with <3
Yay haha me too Emily!
I just love this story of Mr. James & his magical health food & rug cleaning business! A success story of a Trinidadian immigrant! Perfect Monday morning read after all this very bad political news. Thank you Anne!
So glad you enjoyed, Sallie. Thank you!
Little brothers everywhere love the Court Square Diner!
Too bad our next meetup is at Paris Baguette!
An interview with little brother replete with WITSEC-style voice distortion and occluded face would be a popular episode for the Cafe. I would offer Q1 -- at what age was little brother able to carry the Kirby vacuum up the stairs unaided.
When I was 13 in the late 90s I read my first-ever NYC novel - "Caperucita en Manhattan", a modern retelling of little red riding hood set in (you guessed it) Manhattan, by Spanish author Carmen Martín Gaite. It made me feel, like thousands of people before me felt, that this was a place where anything could happen and everyone was interesting and full of wonder.
Where I'm trying to get at is - there's something about your writing and the way you go about these missions that's making me, an almost 40-something from Spain, feel connected to these stories as if you were re-discovering my childhood neighborhood for me. And that's so cool!
Wow, what a delightful compliment to get, Valentona! Thank you! \
And I tried to find an English translation of the novel—what a great premise. But so far no luck.
Now I’m sad I never put you on the case of a mysterious store in my old neighborhood — Kettle and Thread. Sometimes you went in, they were serving coffee, sometimes you went in, they were knitting and told you to leave
That sounds like the best store ever, Hilary! And yes, according to Yelp, it is permanently closed.
Immigrants are the BEST!!! Brent is such an enterprising, creative young man. The best of luck to him. I always love your investigative stories, Anne; maybe you were Sherlock Holmes in a previous life. And congratulations on your latest quarterly results; your CFO deserves a raise, don't you think.
LOL it's true, Jessica, that my CFO/intern really does most of the work around here.
It's amazing how you get people to open up! What would you say your hit/miss rate is? One idea for a column is a lookback at some of the folks who weren't so forthcoming!
Aaron, I just spent half a day trying to get storefront psychics to chat with me. Zero luck. They're super secretive.
Another story I've been after for a while, with zero success is a subway "showtime!" troupe. The last one took my card and texted me but then they wanted me to pay them for an interview.
I also strike out with folks who claim they don't speak English. Some, I suspect, just don't want to talk with me!
I feel the "Real™" local NYC stores are the ones that sell three non-related things. Down the street from my apartment is a beauty salon that also fixes watches and has art leaning up against the wall outside on the sidewalk selling for $10-25 per poorly done amateurish painting -- which, believe me, one of these days I'm going to buy one because damn it, I support local artists!
The other type of shop I like the most is the one that is too narrow, like the "exercise health and supplement" store around the corner that only, and I mean only, sells giant tubs of protein powders. No other supplements need be stocked!
Dane, I'm with you. Those are both great categories. Some of my favorites are the store in Bay Ridge that sells life insurance and art. And the place in Red Hook that only sells moss.Do you remember the place near Grand Central that only sold umbrellas?
Your profiles of New Yorkers are my absolute favorite thing to read in a newsletter.
Thanks Samm! That means a lot. And as you can imagine, they are extremely fun to write.
Thanks for writing for us. What about a week where each interviewee chooses the next? I feel like 5 degrees of separation from Mr. James would be very unexpected
OMG that is a terrific idea, Amac! I could do 4-5 mini profiles of each person as I go down the chain, all in one newsletter. Can't wait to try this!
I think it'd be even better if the first person was a random person off the street.
I love this experiment! It's kind of like Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon...
Congrats on your growth!! When I grow up I want to be just like you!!!
Love the store front story!
Thanks FTF! I am behind on my farm news! Looking forward to catching up!
For the readers from outside NYC, please note: most Brooklyn stores offer either dry foam cleaning or fresh juice, and many offer both. But the sign font here is just BIZARRE.
My "friend" speaks the truth, everybody. Forgot to note this in my "story."
citrus is good for removing stains so perhaps buy one get one free
Another brilliant read. (My stock response, but I like you knowing that I came, I read, I enjoyed.) Hugs from afar.
And I love knowing. Thank you Beth!
This reminds me of the Vivi Bubble Tea/ Mobile store on 50th and 5th in Sunset Park
Wow, that's a great one I did not know about, Sheri.
Definitely check it out! I tried attaching the pic but I couldn’t! Its such a interesting spot - the bubble tea is in the phone store!