Random tidbits

Went to lunch yesterday with two lovely people from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office . We had delicious Chinese food in midtown and I learned about a sport they have there called "river tracing," where you wade in the clear water and hike a stream or a river to its origin. ... They've also got gorgeous, little-known islands in the south China Sea called the Penghu Archipelago. It looks beautiful and under the radar. I'm trying to scheme my way over there.


I also want to take a wild food and ecology tour through Central Park with "Wildman" Steve Brill who goes foraging for edible plants (sassafras, mustrard greens, mint, field garlic). According to his Web site, he was arrested in 1986 for eating a dandelion.

Since I had already eaten my sandwich at my desk by the time 11:30 rolled around, I decided to take a free tour of the Grand Central neighborhood
with historian, and storyteller Justin Ferate.

Well, let me tell you, it may just be the city's best kept secret (though there were well over 50 tourists there). The mustachioed and bow-tied Ferate gave an energetic one man show with a Strand tote slung over his shoulder. He played everyone from Donald Trump to the Queen of England, regaling us with all sorts of deliciously improbable history. I couldn't stay for the whole thing and the tour hadn't even left its meeting point at the Whitney Museum sculpture garden when I had to leave about half an hour later. I kept thinking that my Dad would love it.

The Date Nut is back

Holla! I'm back. And I want to marry the street vendor I've been buying coffee from every morning. I'm drawn to him not only for the caffeine, but because he is so unbelievably friendly and always comments on how nice the weather is. I can't believe he sits in that cart all day with stale donuts and sugar packets.

"You're always so cheerful in the morning," I told him today. Then I ordered a large with milk and two Splenda. He smiled.

He probably drinks coffee all day.