Village Stories IV: A Gem on St. Mark's Place

Just waiting to be sipped


----A Postcards from New York Encore----


Dear Postcards from New York Reader,

Remember the last time you had a "real" New York Egg cream.

As soon as the clerk started pumping the vanilla syrup into the old school Coca-Cola glass, I was transported back to the late 1970s.

I was 8 or 9 years old, sitting on a red vinyl stool, the kind that sticks to your legs when you wear shorts on a hot, humid summer day, at the lunch counter, at a Woolworth's, in the Bronx. My grandmother, who we called Oma, was sitting next to me. We waited in silent anticipation for the soda jerk to present us with our order.

Ohh, the first foamy sip! We never used the straw to begin, so we could laugh at our cream soda mustaches; we always laughed, big belly laughs, and then Oma would kiss my mustache off. How I miss her; Oma always said that she thought clouds must taste like this and someday when we were in heaven, we'd be sipping up all those egg cream soda clouds.

Luckily, you don't have to wait until heaven. A small piece of it is at St Mark's Place and 2nd Avenue at Gem Spa, a tiny 24/7 newsstand. Just think, you can get one any time of day or night! To make the experience extra special, I recommend ordering your vanilla or chocolate egg cream soda in a Coca-Cola glass, not a take away cup. This way, you are forced to take a few minutes to really cherish one of life's simple joys.

Enjoy!

Joseph Knight
For Postcards from New York


Address to remember: Gem Spa, 131 2nd Avenue, New York, NY, 212-995-1866. Open 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

Directions: From Times Square MTA N, R and W to 8th Street, walk across Astor Place to St. Mark's Place walk two blocks to 2nd Avenue. From Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street take MTA 1 Bus to 8th Street.

Photo by Joseph Knight


©Copyright 2007-8 The Cable Group

Villiage Stories III: Sunday "Times" at the Fountain

The Fountain at Father Demo Square

----A Postcard from New York Encore----


Dear Postcard from New York Reader,

Doesn't this fountain look inviting? Too good not to be enjoyed.

So, if Central Park is a hike, and you don't have the luxury of a private park nearby like those lucky folks who live around Grammercy Park; Father Demo Square extends a welcome invitation.

For a visitor, it's a great spot to take a break after wandering around the West Village, and for a New Yorker, it is a perfect time-out place to peruse the Sunday Times before your day goes into high gear.

Father Demo Square at the intersection of Bleecker and Carmine Streets and Sixth Avenue was a construction eyesore for the longest time. The Square faces the facade of Our Lady of Pompei Church and is a tribute to former pastor Father Antonio Demo (pastor from 1899 - 1933), who was responsible for building the church and adjoining school in the early days of the last century.

The Squares renovation was finally completed this spring. Now refurbished, antique style benches and colorful flower beds surround a three tiered wedding cake fountain.

The tiny park, fashioned after an Italian piazza, is open every day until 1 AM and can be enjoyed anytime, but I think it is best experienced early Sunday morning before the temperature heats up and the sun reaches it height.

Grab your favorite sections of the Sunday Times, and maybe a few magazines that have piled up; Throw anything on, you'll only be gone an hour or two, and head for the nearest subway. Once in the Village, pick up a steaming hot cup of coffee, cappuccino or espresso from Rocco's Pastry Shop and Espresso Cafe at 243 Bleecker, then find an empty bench or seat, spread out your papers and magazines and listen as falling sheets of water drop into the fountain's pool. The sound is hypnotic.

Question; do you lose yourself reading the papers and magazines, or is it the people around you that capture your attention?


Jacqueline Cable
For Postcards From New York


Addresses to Remember: Father Demo Square, Bleecker and Sixth Avenue, New York, NY 10014.

Rocco's Pastry Shop and Espresso Cafe, 243 Bleecker Street, New York, NY 10014, 212-242-6031, http://www.roccospastry.com/

Directions: From Times Square MTA 1 to Christopher Street, short walk to Bleecker Street, N, R, and W to 8th Street short walk to Sixth Avenue, A, C, or E to West 4th Street, short walk to Bleecker.

Photo by Joseph Knight

©Copyright 2007-8 The Cable Group

Villiage Stories II: Simpy Amazing Cannoli!

Mmm! So-o good

----A Postcards from New York Encore----

Dear Postcards from New York Reader,

Indulge! Expect a little shiver of anticipation as the dessert fork lifts the rich luscious ricotta filling to your lips and eagerly awaiting tongue. Stop. Do not swallow before you allow all the flavors of the creamy custard to dissolve.

One luxurious cannoli is more than enough to leave you completely satiated; but, go ahead, be decadent, and have two.

By now, my guess is you have figured out that I have a wicked sweet tooth. My one cardinal rule: The sweets must be absolutely wonderful, never so-so or just okay. The calories have to be worth it!

Rocco's Pastry Shop and Cafe's cannolis, and all their desserts and cookies are worth every last calorie. A true Southern Italian pasticceria, the dolci (sweets) are never too sugary.

Friendly and slightly crammed, the shop's great to visit with friends for desserts or alone with a good book.

Most of the time I write about things readers outside New York must wait until they visit to experience. Not this time. Rocco's will ship anywhere in the continental US. Call 212-242-6031, order now, and you can enjoy these mouth-watering cannolis tomorrow. Don't you deserve a treat?

Buona fortuna!

Jacqueline Cable

For Postcards from New York

Address to remember: Rocco's Pastry Shop and Espresso Cafe, 243 Bleecker Street, New York, NY 10014, 212-242-6031.

Directions: From Times Square MTA 1 to Christopher Street, short walk to Bleecker Street, N, R, and W to 8th Street short walk to Sixth Avenue, A, C, or E to West 4th Street, short walk to Bleecker.

Photo by Joseph Knight

©Copyright 2007-8 The Cable Group