12.20.2005

Et tu, Red Cross?



Even in the middle of a transit strike, New Yorkers worry about what things like free coffee mean for local businesses.

from Gawker:

"As promised, walkers and cyclists are invited to the Borough Hall “way station” which will serve as a gateway to the thousands of Brooklynites who are expected to walk or cycle to work over the Brooklyn Bridge. Borough Hall will be open to those who need a break, a bathroom, or a hot cup of tea or coffee.

The Red Cross is at the end of the Williamsburg bridge offering cookies and coffee in some sort of disaster relief “we’ll be there” cups. The Dunkin Donuts people down the street — not happy."

And are homeschoolers bothered by the strike at all? Erm, actually, yes. We had to cancel two classes today. If we choose to walk, it will take us more than two hours to get the classes, and back. It is 23°F outside. No, thank you.

4 comments:

Becky said...

You're just teasing and tempting me with Greek coffee shop fare, aren't you lol.

Hope all goes well during the strike. My parents, both in their 70's, opted to stay home from work today; Dad though he might hoof it, but from the Upper West Side (high 90's) to the 20's on Park Avenue South is a bit of hike under the circumstances and fortunately stayed home. Should make my sister's family's holiday visit (they arrive tomorrow from Kenya) interesting!

la Maitresse said...

Hmmm...All the literary folk live around there (up to about the 110's).

I don't mind walking - if it's pleasant outside. I once walked from Columbia U. to Union Square, in the summer. Stops at Emack and Bolio's and Jamba Juice kept me going.

I think your father made the right decision if he cannot carpool it downtown. My walking speed is 1 Manhattan block per minute. 70 blocks in freezing cold rates an automatic "No, thank you!"

Becky said...

I once enthusiastically walked an old college friend -- a recent graduate in Chinese studies and a suburban type more used to driving than walking -- all the way from the Upper West Side (what can I say about we literary types, snort!) down to Chinatown in August heat. He nearly passed out toward the end but revived a bit in a wonderful hole-in-the-wall restaurant where he spoke to the owner and ordered off the menu in Chinese. Best Chinese food I've ever had.

la Maitresse said...

That's a good prize. I love authentic Chinese.

And Becky has a good point. Trick to finding real Chinese if you don't have a Chinatown, offered by my Hong Kong friend: "Don't order from the white-people menu."

Ask if your restaurant has "another" menu. Ask for translation/suggestions if you can't read it. Congratulate yourself. You have found authentic Chinese food.