{"id":4922,"date":"2011-10-23T17:24:35","date_gmt":"2011-10-23T21:24:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ontapfortoday.com\/?p=4922"},"modified":"2011-10-23T17:24:35","modified_gmt":"2011-10-23T21:24:35","slug":"today-in-a-new-york-minute-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ontapfortoday.com\/2011\/10\/23\/today-in-a-new-york-minute-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Today: In a New York minute."},"content":{"rendered":"

[tweetmeme source=\u201delizabethev\u201d only_single=false]One of my favorite things about New York is the undeniable character of its many neighborhoods. \u00a0Each is different, and it seems, inhabited by its own sort of people. \u00a0I spent the weekend visiting my friend Meg, enjoying a practically perfect two days in the city. \u00a0Having spent so many weekends at her Upper East Side apartment when we were younger (and better equipped to drink Orangina cocktails at O’Flanagans until 4 in the morning), I was happy to finally make the trip down to see her not-so-new-anymore place in Brooklyn.<\/p>\n

As I stepped out of the taxi at her street corner in Williamsburg, I was instantly charmed. \u00a0I loved every minute of it.<\/p>\n

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Except for the minute during which a fellow yoga class participant peeled off his jeans in the lobby of Go Yoga<\/a>, primed to down-dog in boxer briefs (holey ones, at that) and a hitched up flannel shirt. \u00a0Yes, really. \u00a0Meg and I stopped in for what was supposed to be a foundations class, but turned out to be \u00a0a class of die-hard regulars, some of whom may have invented yoga. \u00a0Or at least pretended to. \u00a0Despite being a bit more challenging than expected, it was a great class. \u00a0The instructor seemed very kind, and offered gentle corrections and modifications. \u00a0She massaged my back a little at one point, which was both welcomed and sort of weird. \u00a0I decided to embrace it. \u00a0Sort of. \u00a0If nothing else, it was a nice distraction from the underoos.<\/p>\n

Earlier in the day, Meg and I headed over to the West Side to do something I haven’t done in, oh, fifteen years: ride a bike. \u00a0When Meg suggested renting from The Waterfront Bicycle Shop<\/a> earlier in the week, I was both excited and terrified. \u00a0Would riding a bike be just like, well, riding a bike? \u00a0After stashing my giant Michael Kors in the basket and climbing onto the seat, I awkwardly fumbled for the pedals and pushed off. \u00a0It was a wobbly start, at best. \u00a0As we approached a stop sign ahead, I realized I didn’t remember how to break. \u00a0Gone are the days of back pedaling.<\/p>\n

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It didn’t take long to get into the rhythm of things, though, and soon I was smiling like a cheeseball, cruising along the Hudson River. \u00a0From high atop my bike seat (serious question– are those thing supposed to hurt?), I watched soccer games unfold, skyscrapers fly by, runners enjoy their Saturday long runs, and caught a glimpse of the Statue of Liberty on my right and Ground Zero on my left. \u00a0I was reminded that in a New York minute, as the song goes, anything can change.<\/p>\n

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After an hour’s ride (for a bargain: $11, including the awesome basket), Meg and I strolled through the West Village, looking for a place to grab a bite to eat. \u00a0We quickly settled on Spasso<\/a>, located on a corner perfect for people watching. \u00a0I snacked on grilled bread with house-made ricotta, drizzled with honey and topped with shaved almonds. \u00a0It was divine, as was the weather. \u00a0To be eating outside in late October is really a gift from the above, likely sent to make up for underwear yoga man.<\/p>\n

Just as our tea and coffee arrived, we heard a man yell “Learn to drive,” and looked up to see that he was yelling at… a student driver<\/em>. \u00a0Brilliant. \u00a0I really do love New York. \u00a0And New Yorkers even more so.<\/p>\n

Also On Tap for Today<\/strong>:<\/p>\n