Only in New York

One: Someone left a whole bunch of free stuff on the street the other day.  I had just stepped out from a bar with Lush.  Shirts, dresses, books, lamps.  It was like a yard sale except no one was around.  "Maybe they're off somewhere," I said.  "It's 11 pm," she countered.  She scooped up an oxford and fingered some bracelets while my eyes lit up at the stack of National Geographics.  I took only one, the December 1983 issue with  the Byzantine Empire as the feature.  I've been getting more interested in Anatolia, Central Asia and Western China/Northern India since I came back.  Only in New York.

Two: KDawg and I strolled to Soho on Tuesday so we could get gear for our upcoming camp to the Catskills.  There's a new Whole Foods opening at the corner of 2nd Ave and Houston.  I never really saw this before, but for the opening, it was like some hot new club.  Chefs were making pasta, wine was uncorked and all the invited guests got to take home a pot of tulips.  It was crazy.  The line snaked around the block as people stood in line to get into this 'exclusive event'.  It was even crazier cause the weather was so great that day – I would have just popped off into a cafe somewhere nearby. 

Screw Whole Foods.  Actually, whoopee for Whole Foods (not so much for taking advantage of the organic food movement and catering overpriced stuff to yuppies, but more for being a Texas company that is taking over snooty cities everywhere).  I love Whole Foods (I'm a yuppie).  It's the design. The lighting is softer, and if you notice that all the areas next to windows have no food – they're magazine racks or cafe tables or soapstuff.  The food is hidden in the center (or in New York, underground).  The store looks like a nice hangout place.  Only in New York.