Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Central Harlem, 110th Street Between Manhattan and Columbus Avenues


Mary Sargent © 2008 …………………………………….. click to enlarge

Right next door to Check Cashing is Miss Mamie's Spoonbread Too.



Mary Sargent © 2008 …………………………………….. click to enlarge

Being appropriately hungry, I walked right in and had myself some authentic Southern cuisine. That being fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy and sautéed spinach. Cornbread. And coconut layer cake. I hate to say this, but since the only iced tea they had was sweet (as in sweet tea), I had white wine instead. I know you don't drink white wine with fried chicken, but I couldn't come up with anything else. I don't like sweet drinks. Except for the occasional cocktail. Whiskey sours are good with Asian food. I mean the old fashioned kind of Asian food. With the stylish regional Asian food, of course, sake. But I'm off the subject here. OH. Wny didn't I ask for iced coffee? Anyway, when the food came, I'm afraid I forgot all about my readers and didn't photograph it. How was it? Satisfying, no complaints, but not outstanding. Of course, my mother was Southern.




Mary Sargent © 2008 …….. click to enlarge

When I went in, it was still kind of early, 6:30, and there were no tables outside, but a bit later when I came out, it was darker and their outdoor café had appeared. I had a disagreement with Luka the other night about whether picket fences are appropriate on New York streets. True to my uncompromising and rigid sense of what's right, I don't think they are. Let me hear from you out there so we can break this tie. If you want to vote against me, just sign yourselves anonymous.

See map.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

OK--now that I see that photograph I understand what you mean. THAT picket fence does not belong on THAT street by THAT restaurant. It looks lonely and painful. HOWEVER,just take a stroll farther down Broadway, starting with our dear Henry's, with its lovely picket fence, and across the street, TOAST, with a bright red picket fence, and another block down, SOL de SOLIEL, with a spattered green Jackson-Pollock fence--they are just fine. Now I know I've convinced you, right?

Anonymous said...

Well, I'll take on both of you, in that - and I won't be anonymous, either! - in that (I forgot where I was headed; well, I always fold when I have to disagree with this particular photographer). Okay, let me start over. I think that this (cute) little white picket fence looks very gerrybuilt and temporary (which it is, I guess), just as much of our city is, so it is a perfect symbol for that aspect of New York, and does belong where it is. It looks like it just flew down from elsewhere and may take off at any moment, and that is perfect for me.

Anonymous said...

Forget the picket fence problem (if indeed there is a problem)! What about that great restaurant photo! I'm so happy that the food was only so-so, so I don't have to feel that I have to march self uptown to eat there.

Anonymous said...

I love the sad little picket fence. It has a powerful sense of poignancy. Longing to be something, or somewhere it's not.