the Grumpies
I’m writing this post from onboard a plane heading from Charlotte to NYC. My last minute booking has Charlotte-LGA-SEA as my route home which is certainly less than direct. My layover in New York is about 5 hours and I’m going to take a rush-hour risk and leave the airport and pay a surprise quick visit to Cafe Grumpy in Brooklyn.
The Grumpies are fighting a tough fight to get some recognition for the advanced level of mojo they’re bringing to the heathens of NYC. Greenpoint Brooklyn is still a ‘hood thats not on the map of a lot of New Yorkers and its a struggle to convince inveterate Manhattanites that there are good reasons to jump on the G train.
These guys should be staring out from the front page of the Sunday New York Times for the level of game they are bringing to the Big Apple. Hearing the rumor two days ago however, that Katz’s MotherF-ing Delicatessen on Houston might be losing its lease(!) makes me wonder if the Seinfield-Friendsization of New York in recent years has watered down the soul of this once proud town. There is so much noise in New York that some beautiful signal is going unheard.
If you live within a half days journey to Brooklyn, sacrifice some of your time to the coffee gods by making a pilgrimage to Cafe Grumpy and you will be rewarded with an experience beautiful, rare, and under appreciated.
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Now I’m in a cab speeding away from the airport. I had forgotten how nostalgic a window seat on a Laguardia approach can make me. Flying right up along Manhattan from that vantage point triggers a flood of old memories of past lifetimes as I see old neighborhoods and places - buildings scrolling by like the slipcovers of lost chapters of my life. Its almost overpowering emotionally given how frayed my nerves are from exhaustion.
April 11th, 2006 at 6:17 pm
Tell me you were *not* actually blogging *in* the cab…
April 11th, 2006 at 8:13 pm
It was great to see you, Tonx, and the way you shotgunned that one-fourth of a Red Stripe with such aplomb. My only regret was that your stay could not have been longer. We could’ve hit up Totonno’s. Please say you’re coming back soon and for a longer period of time. Please.
April 12th, 2006 at 12:24 pm
Too bad i missed you. Don’t you know my work schedule tony? For shame.
April 12th, 2006 at 1:27 pm
B-frog -
yes, I was in fact blogging in the cab. I think I’ve gone insane.
ian -
I’ll definitely be back there for a real nyc experience as soon as i can manage it.
sam -
next time… glad to hear you are hooked up with those guys.
April 13th, 2006 at 9:06 am
hah…scurrying over on a layover…that’s love. i would do the same. yeah, their location is tough. i tried getting out there from manhattan during a lunch break and it’s a haul on the G. so i’ve resigned myself to driving out there on weekends. glad to see they finally got press via the NY Daily News. what the?! Katz’s losing their lease?! first 2nd Ave. Deli and now Katz’s. hopefully they don’t completely disappear. maaan, tough town. BUT, YES, EVERYONE GET YOURSELVES OUT TO CAFE GRUMPY! (at the risk of losing a table). glad for the introduction to Victrola Coffee. cheers to Chris and Caroline!