It's been a month since we started living in Park Slope. I can't begin to say how happy I am to be here. We've been frequenting the Botanic Garden (check out the plants currently in bloom) and the Zoo regularly, which is great. The hood is very relaxed. There is an energy here that I've missed since moving out of Manhattan years ago. But it's a better energy, I find. It's very positive.
The food and cafe culture here is also awesome as well, by the way. I brought my laptop for a while to the Tea Lounge which has soft chairs you sink into, an huge selection of cofees and teas and great atmosphere. Since we've moved, however, I've been working at Starbucks pretty regularly, because I can use VPN over T-Mobile's HotSpot WiFi. That's great, but I really wish there were a free hotspot cofeehouse somewhere. This morning I was surprised to find the new little Prospect Perk Cafe had opened, selling great pastries and real coffee. A small coffee under a dollar! Take that, Starbucks.
I somehow feel that I've arrived and can take my life off hold again. If any of my Internet friends and colleagues are reading, these are some of the reasons I've been unavailable, along with the usual nesting/settling in that comes with a move.
The music is excellent at the Starbucks in Park Slope today. The atmosphere isn't the Tea Lounge but there's WiFi. Today I brought my PC and WiFi card and tunneled into the VPN to telecommute from here. Life is kind. After a long hard winter, I deserve the little treat of being able to work from a cafe.
Robin pointed me to this article in the Village Voice about Sunset Park.
On Fifth Avenue in Brooklyn
to take Lorenzo's walk.
To view the festival of visual treats
along the crowded city street.
The dollar stores and taquerias
the ladies selling food
out of makeshift shopping cart grills
shish kebab or corn on the cob
covered with parmessan cheese
an old man in a cowboy hat and boots
playing an accordian
singing out of tune
in Spanish
big beat cars crusing the avenue
mammasitas and pappasitos cruising the sidewalks
boys in baggy gear
girls in skin-tight lycra
babies covered in baby carriers
men playing dominoes on the corner
on a card table next to a bodega
vendors hawking produce and bootleg videos
Mr. Softee selling soft serve
blasting the incessant Softee song.
A wonderful place for a walk.
A carnival for Lorenzo's eyes
on our busy boulevard.
On Fifth Avenue, Brooklyn.