This morning’s wailing child breakfast interruption put me in mind of young parents’ dilemma. Does getting out of the house with your tot have to be disruptive?
How can those in possession of a small child enjoy a protracted fine dining experience? There is the simple “get a babysitter” way. Too simple, too costly. We like to shlep our kid everywhere.
Top chefs, here is your next frontier: 4 course tasting menu for 2+. Parents will wear snuggies and hold the baby during the entire course.
Here at All The Best, this is a positive lifestyle spot, so the pros will be of the “all in favor” variety. The “cons” will not be akin to those who offer us fraudulent claims to entice us to part with our money.
Simply put, Pros stand for yes and Cons for no.
So, you ask, what are we voting for?
Well, let’s see what we can say about immigrants that meets my positive take.
The fact remains that mass migration and nativist backlash have stalked one another for more than a century.
Idrees Kahloon, Economists Love Immigration. Why Do So Many Americans Hate It? in the New Yorker
Full disclosure is warranted: I was 6 when I arrived in Jackson Heights. My parents applied for political asylum when I was nine.
My expectation of growing up in the land of my birth was replaced by my life as an alien in America.
Oh, of course, I adapted to my new home, sporting a Queens accent with ease. For many years under all that Americanization, I still felt like a foreigner.
The plus side of immigration coming from inside the immigrant experience is the opportunity it offers to those of us “yearning to breathe free.”
It may sound like propaganda, but we of the alien persuasion tend to be extreme in our patriotism. We are filled with the desire to make sure America meets all of its promises.
Patriotism, like all things in the great divide that America has become, is a fraught subject.
Let us stipulate that the grateful immigrant is a good citizen. We work hard as a rule. We pay taxes. We act in accordance to our civic obligations.
I’ve listed four reasons to honor the contributions immigrants make.
They also often pick up the slack jobs that the second or third or tenth generation won’t work.
Jingoist considerations are the first things that come to mind. You know, retorts like “they are different” qualify.
There’s reason one through twenty to turn immigrants away.
Describe your dream chocolate bar.
Nuts are the not so secret ingredient that meets my chocolate fantasies. Small pieces of nuts as in the Baci from Perugina are the epitome of sweet deliciousness. It’s the crunch that takes goodness to greatness.
What are your favorite brands and why?
Brands are meant to be a bit clubby. The seller has invited us to be part of, for example, the Rolex family or the Ralph Lauren gang. We’ve bought in.
My favorite brands are nothing so heady as these or Tiffany’s or Baccarat.
I used to get a kick out of the Levi’s brand [maiden name], and there’s nothing like a personal connection to make a brand feel special. Full disclosure I generally wore the Wrangler blue jeans brand back in the day. Now, I am consigned to NYDJ.
I prefer Kelloggs cereals and would not trade their Raisin Bran for any other. Noosa makes a better yogurt than Dannon or Chobani. Naked Juice sells a pre-made smoothie as good as the specially blended ones I used to enjoy.
For cleaning supplies, I favor Method and Swiffer is tops.
What is your favorite type of weather?
Why is the weather always everyone’s go-to small talk? Is it the only neutral topic for your office elevator ride?
My theory about our fascination with weather is that there is a climatologist manque in each of us.
Not for nothing that Groundhog Day – the film and actually Feb 2- is such a vibrant theme in our lives.
We admire the ability at prediction even if we deride the result. “Wouldn’t you know it? Didn’t need the umbrella today.”
Speaking of umbrellas, I always refuse to or forget to carry one.
It’s not only because I love the rain. It’s also because umbrellas are annoying. And I find the rain purifying.
The college I attended eons ago had an enviable geography department. I wish I had known about the scope of its teaching as an undergrad.
I think I would have enjoyed a career in city planning. Maybe.
At any rate, this world-class program celebrates its centenary this year. The actual anniversary was postponed from 2021. Cent anni!
Whether it’s golden or not is subject to circumstances but silence (or at least quiet) is a treasure.
It is also often elusive. Our friend Dr. Arline Bronzaft tries to spread the secrets of quiet to noise-polluted populations. Her current endeavor has a great title, too.
It’s always welcoming. And very welcome. It is, as you might have surmised, a good cup of coffee.
The where in this case? Turns out to be a small quirky shop on Lexington. Not just quirky but with a quirky name.
Peaky Barista turns out to be a 3 location family-owned mini-chain about town.
The name apparently connects to the caps on display (and for sale). I always associated them with cab drivers back in the day.
Maybe I will wear one from my own collection of peaked caps on a future visit.
There’s a guarantee built into the Constitution of the United States that the newly constituted federation will pay any debts it had incurred before the founding of the Republic.
This clause brings to question why paying our duly acquired debts has become a near-yearly drama.
As Benny (Joseph Buloff) from Somebody Up There Likes Me says “pay the check.”
Health benefits are often a draw when foods or drinks seem off-putting.
Green is healthy; you know, like lettuce or broccoli, but in a drink… well, the color can be extreme. That said, a green smoothie can be so delicious. I will attest to the perfection of this satisfying drink.
Red could be said to be on the other side of the color spectrum. Don’t think stop when you see this beverage in your fridge.
All The Best