Half an hour early for the reservation. East Williamsburg’s industrial neighborhood. Traveling in the morning without caffeine is masochistic.
—Yeah, I made reservations. I’m waiting for friends. I’m way too early.
No windows, just a giant skylight, like a photographer’s lightbox. The barista-owner keeps me company at the bar. Aleksei arrives, then Nez, apologizing for being five minutes early. The owner walks us through today’s menu. His descriptions sound like bedtime stories he might tell his children.
—Did you get the grinder? I ask Nez.
—Yeah.
—Which one did you get? asks the barista.
—We have a friend who is really into coffee. He recommended it.
—This place is so nice; he’s gonna be so jealous, I say triumphantly.
—He is in South Korea now, Nez explains.
—When he’s back, we should get together and sample our beans, I suggest.
—Yeah, that’s a good idea, says Aleksei.
To top off the three pour-overs, we order the “Strawberry Cream” cortado—which, the owner tells us, contains no strawberry. We pass the small cup as we let out a “wow.” We thank our new friend—whose name we never asked—and step outside. Cloudy but warm. The first spring day of the year.
—Where to? asks Nez.
—Emily’s, says Aleksei with Google Maps in his hand.
As usual, I follow the Millennials. But the pace is slower today, less determined.
At the classic Italian deli, we snap photos of the storefront like tourists. The old man behind the counter, permanently crouched, asks what we want. We fumble, but walk out with two giant sandwiches, proud—like teenagers completing an adult task.
Off to McCarren Park.
We take over a graffiti-covered table in front of “the boys” skateboarding. Nez takes a huge bite of her bologna sandwich.
—It’s so satisfying to get exactly what you were craving, she says.
—Beautiful weather, great coffee, a sandwich. I could sit here all day like this, says Aleksei.
I shift my attention to the sound of the skateboarders behind me. True, I could sit here all day, but with Aleksei’s short attention span, “all day” lasts about ten minutes.
—Everything was on point today, says Aleksei.
—See? We don’t need Aaron, says Nez, ordering a Lyft.
I will email you when I post a new article.
