scruffy days

Suzanne brought me back this tasty delight from Montreal. Made in switzerland, go figure. ‘apetit’ found in a local market in bensonhurst, brooklyn.

My Make-A-Wish summer continues with a relaxing day at Jones Beach, Long Island with Suzanne and Mario. It was great to feel soft sand again under my feet, and even took a refreshing dip - I swam out and treaded where my feet couldn’t touch the ocean floor (which isn’t saying much, really, considering my height). However, I’m convinced I kept stepping on aggressive crabs in the shallower water. I swear one pinched my heel, which was my cue to skedaddle out of there.

Planes kept whizzing by sporting advertising banners, polluting the view of the clear sky. Ended the day with a sweet treat from Friendly’s.

Three Californians now residing in NY can’t go wrong with free tix to Friday’s game at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. But we can’t cheer publicly for the Angels; otherwise we could get lynched in this stadium full of Yanks fans. I haven’t been to a baseball game since I was in elementary school, so being back in a stadium so many years later is extremely nostalgic. Seeing some of the same souvenirs/cheering crap (foam hands, flags & other cheesy knickknacks) brought me back. A few observations: lighting so intense at this evening game that it seriously simulated daylight, almost all digital advertising, and this in contrast with ConEd’s ad saying “Use Energy Wisely”.

Angels won this one, 7-4. Yay! (x__x)

Man, do I mean little. I’d researched what awaited in this mecca and read that the 69th St. exit off the 7 line was the gateway to this Filipino version of Chinatown/Little Italy/etc. We arrived and saw Krystal’s restaurant, a couple balikbayan box stores, Phil-Am market, Perla’s restaurant, and Renee’s Kitchen - all tucked under the 7 tracks. And this is pretty much it for Little Manila. To top that, the train comes extremely often, so it’s extremely loud outdoors.

Anyways, we decided to chow down at Krystal’s and get our usual - lumpia and sinigang. Krystal’s here has more to offer in the sweets & cakes arena, AND prices are $2-3 cheaper than their East Village sister in Manhattan. Mario and I couldn’t take our eyes off the hot pink meringues and our convo drove an old lady to sit in the corner, as far away from us as she could get. The waitstaff pretty much ignores you here. We were trying to signal that we wanted to order dessert, but were served the check instead. Instead, we ended up heading around the corner to Ihawan, seated ourselves again and ordered leche flan and halo-halo. Yummy! Everyone sitting around us had delicious looking dishes and cold, sweet drinks - either halo-halo, avocado con hielo or iced buko. We could barely move, so we waddled down Roosevelt Ave. and found an elevator back to the train.