The End of Exile

For the last 6.5 years (yes, I was counting) my firm has been headquartered in Long Island City, New York. From the location, you might assume that I work for a bodega, a strip club or in U.S. Army recruiting, but that is not the case. For now, let's just say it's a company with its name on a Manhattan skyscraper or three.

Long Island City brought with it many new experiences:

• riding the G train to work. Most people on the G train are either connecting to another train that takes them to a place where it makes sense to work or they are unemployed (alternatively, they may work at a job where their clothes are off at the end of their shift)
• frequent shootings in the nearby train station and once one so close to our building that a bullet was lodged in the gym window
• crossing the infamous "Boulevard of Death" each morning and praying I didn't give more evidence to the moniker by being the X thousandth pedestrian killed
• our CEO being disallowed from walking outside the building without a security guard
• needing to run errands during the day and being forced to get on the train to get to a Duane Reade
• being unable to purchase normal nearby staples like greeting cards, pantyhose or a bottle of Tylenol (the bodegas only sold "loosies" of medicine, not whole boxes)
• wearing thick-soled shoes to work so I wouldn't cut my feet on the broken syringes or 40s on the sidewalk
• making sure I got to work late enough that I wouldn't run into the Riker's Island parolees who get dropped off on the corner
• making sure I left work early enough that I wouldn't run into the ... ahem ... area entrepreneurs who sold their wares, in body or drug form, after dark
• being asked by incredulous car service drivers "this is the HEADQUARTERS?"

Now don't get me wrong, LIC also had its advantages. For Mets or tennis fans, Shea Stadium and the USTA Center are a quick jaunt on the 7 train away. Well, I guess that's only one advantage and that, for only part of the year. I guess the other plus is I never felt that we were in danger of a terrorist attack there, even during the 2003 Blackout that stopped trains basically right outside our window. We did have a roof deck, but that was a blessing and a curse as some employees actually used it to tan during lunch. I wish I were kidding.

And now, for the first time in my life, I'm working in midtown. How sweet it is!

New (Old) Discovery - Negroni

As a long-time martini drinker, I'm very into gins, and am unable to order a martini at a bar that serves only the likes of Beefeater, Tanqueray, Gordon's etc. In those instances I have to get a Ketel One martini (don't get me started on how any hole-in-the-wall bar will have 25 vodkas, but if they have three gins it's miracle).

Anyway, my problem has now been solved: I have just discovered the negroni cocktail in the same way Columbus discovered America -- millions of people already knew about it. Equal parts gin, Campari and sweet vermouth, with a twist of orange (I prefer mine on the rocks) I now have a new option when the gins on offer are basic. The negroni doesn't require anything fancy like Miller's or Rudd209 or even Hendrick's...Beefeater is just fine for a negroni.

The sad part is, my friend David was among the millions who were aware of the negroni (and of my disappointment with limited gin selections) and never told me about it. Had to find out about it at a cocktail seminar at a food and wine festival. Imagine, just because I display some alcoholic tendencies, he assumes I'm familiar with every single mixed drink?!?!?

Try a negroni someday soon, you'll see what I mean. Cheers.