B

more luncheonette photos

you'd almost swear you were right in the middle of a set. a years-old neighborhood diner oozing with character. behind the counter, an old greek couple takes your orders and cooks them to your liking. buck twenty-five for cheeseburgers—where else in this city can you find such a deal—home-made grease fix mixed in with lots of stories and personal attention. unbeatable bargain especially in a city where smiling and talking to strangers seem like absolute taboo.

mama B, or simply B to the greenpoint locals, apparently has incredible memory. i had only been there once or twice a month ago but when i decided to bike by for monday dinner, she remembers that id already been there. not bad for someone who's probably in her 60s, or even 70s. i give my order of cheeseburger with a side of her homefries. in the middle of cooking my meal, she greets the 2 others who walk in—somewhat knowing bits and pieces of their lives as she asks questions on how so and so are doing. asks me if i want onions on my burger. yes please, with a little mayo too. grandpa lou, B's husband and somewhat grumpy-on-the-outside assistant, talks to her in greek as he clears out the coffee canisters and takes out the trash. B tells me to to sit at the next barstool. the one i was on was bit wrecked and wobbly coz it was the kids' favorite seat for spinning around. food's ready. longest i have ever waited for a burger but time didnt seem to matter. i ask for a little extra mayo on the side. tatos with mayo, dutch-style. B gives her opinion on older women dating younger men. doesn't work, she says. only works if it's the other way around. the couple sitting next to me teases each other. the whole dining experience is a documentary film waiting to happen—a 35ish year old neighborhood diner run by a greek couple, a greasy spoon turned haven of sorts. i ask B how much the damage was. $3.25 for everything. i give her 4 with the change hers to keep. she insists on me getting the 75 cents back, though. and thanks me endlessly as though i had just enriched her life immensely.

maybe, i will get to that documentary on B and the luncheonette fountain one of these days.

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side project: concert in september

B is for other things as well. for one. it's for Bandastiks, a concert im helping organize. instead of dying of office boredom yesterday, i was able to whip out some marketing materials in time for the night's update meeting. B is for Bikram as well. hot yoga which is more like bootcamp really. reached my 10th class mark last monday. mustve lost a 100 lbs of sweat and toxins now since that first class. feels great surviving and thriving in each 90 minute 100 degree session. great mental exercise. lastly, B is for B.I.P. just got invited to be the guest at some awards ceremony and fancy french dinner on friday. should be good but wait, that's V, not B. crap, time to end this blog. bye.