I’m Amanda. I’ve got wide eyes, a smart mouth, and a MetroCard. And I’m not afraid to use them.
Last night I discovered a national treasure - an Upper West Side Chinese restaurant that serves free white wine with every meal. Upon being seated, you’re told, not asked, “White wine, yes,” as the server puts the glasses and a full carafe on the table. Each time Cade poured a glass for me and then himself, our server - whose features and mannerisms began reminding me more and more of a sugar glider - would immediately refill the carafe.
Dogwood flowers shone in the sun, cherry blossoms loomed overhead, and Cade and I were ushered in the gates of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden ahead of the throngs of people not affiliated with a certain investment banking firm. It was the boy’s moment. Sure, the corporate climate is umm, partly-cloudy with a high chance of tedium, but Cade has free access to most museums in Manhattan and many cool events around the city. And I get to be his invited guest. Yippee!
Re-entering New York, rain laps the asphalt, pooling in the parking lot. The suitcases at the baggage claim carousel - the one marked for an airline my fellow Flight 1334 passengers and I didn’t fly in on (our carousel is broken and that burly airport worker is tired of hoisting each piece of luggage in the air and yelling, “Whose is this?”) - are wet. Some drenched.
From an email from my friend Nick, who is now employed again and working in the Chrysler Building. (He also lives in the East Village and pays about $200 a month in rent. If he weren’t such a nice guy, I’d be completely envious and loathe him):
If your 1 train was delayed on Wednesday around 9 a.m., you can thank Cade.
On my last night in New York, the universe reminded me of one reason why I love the crazy metropolis in which I live.
*Here’s a fabulous story from guest contributor/co-worker of Cade, A. This incident strikes me as being something that would probably only happen in New York. Enjoy.
The subway is more than a ride. It’s a free show.
I love public transportation, because it’s the ultimate multitasking tool. You can literally get ready for work on your way to work. I read, listen to music, and relax on the subway, but mostly, I watch people. New York City really isn’t so anonymous when you get on the train. Your fellow passengers are thisclosetoyou. Smells and paths intersect. Your every move is on display.
*I wanted Cade to call my AudioBlogger number and tell this story as he told it to me, but he refused. He’d prefer to have me try to rehash the whole thing from memory despite incredible odds, one being that I was laughing so hard during the conversation that I’m sure I missed many details. This is my attempt to share Cade’s tale of apartment woe. (Cue Law and Order music here).
