Local Haunt: Harlem Tavern

Tonight, we went to dinner at Harlem Tavern. We had watched eagerly all spring as the brick walls rose around the perimeter, as the interior of the bar was outfitted, as the neon sign was hung, and finally as the outdoor furniture appeared. The time had come to try it out. Harlem Tavern is the only beer garden in the neighborhood; it provides one of the largest outdoor dining areas nearby, too. Often, I'll get off the train and see a line of people waiting outside the wall, waiting for a table. It's one of the best places to take a big group—the long benches are perfect for lingering with a bunch of friends.

Weathering the Storm

Well, Irene petered out into a tropical storm, and though she did lots of damage to cities around NYC, we were mostly spared her wrath. This morning, we woke expecting wind and rain to be lashing our windows. Instead, most of the storm had blown over in the night and by midday, things were looking pretty good in our neighborhood. We ventured out with our fellow Manhattanites to survey the damage, grab a cup of coffee and breathe (relatively) fresh air. I love the smell of after-a-storm. The air is wet. You can smell the leaves and the dirt and not the trash. Even in the middle of the city, there is a damp freshness (I realize that sounds paradoxical.) But as we explored our neighborhood, we saw many traces of safeguards not needed. Better that way than the reverse...