Florent & The Meat Packers

WS Entry: #8

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In the past week, I chanced upon two articles that made me nostalgic about New York. One stirred up memories of the beginning chapters of my supposed "grown-up" life. The other pretty much summarizes the character of a New Yorker. One is the definitive proof that the 'sterilization' of NYC is practically complete. The other gives me hope that the true character of the city will never disappear.

Restaurant Florent is probably one of the last, if not the last stalwart in lower Manhattan's Meat Packing District (is Coyote Ugly still around?). Due to the endless gentrification and skyrocketing rents in the borough, the formica-packed diner will close its doors at the end of June. Gone will be another place where one's craving for steaks and 'moule frites' at 4AM can be satisfied underneath a canopy of cigarette smoke and flourescent lights.

Then, there is the Smithsonian essay answering the question if New Yorkers are rude. There are days when you just wanna smack them. There are days when you just feel like you could rant, rave and act like they do. Are they rude? You decide after reading this essay in the Smithsonian by Joan Acocella.