interesting day yesterday...

after an uneventful Saturday evenng (tired, finally went to the Dive Bar on 95th---kind of loud and boring), as cityboy broadened his horizons, discovered some new neighborhoods and had a great conversation with a bartender.
  No Bushwick for cityboy yesterday (the normal Sunday drill) because the L was down. Also, a friend from BAN was supposed to be flyering against an abusive landlord in Spanish Harlem, an cityboy said he would join him. I arrived at the arranged place (117th and Park) only to find my friend missing---still, even getting there from the subway stop at 116th and Lexington was revealing--some new high rises, many restored brownstones, still a lot of a hispanic population, but many white people walking around. Not really disappointed when my friend did not show (no telephone number for him) and about half a block in from the corner we were supposed to meet at was a garden, and a very young and pretty garden member sitting on one of the benches. Her name was Christina, and we had a fun conversation about the neighborhood, rent prices, her apartment (In Schomburg Towers on 110the and fifth) and a few other things. When she closed the garden at 3, it occurred to cityboy that rather then just returning south, this might be the time to look around the tip of the south Bronx. So cityboy grabbed the 15 bus; it sped over the Willis Avenue Bridge and let him off at 137th and Willis Avenue. Very heavily Hispanic and working class, but a few blocks west on Alexander Avenue, some lovely brownstones existed, and a conversation with a guy who liked my Brooklyn is Not For Sale shirt, directed me to a bar on Bruckner Boulevard about three blocks west. Around there are much stronger signs of gentrification, indeed the bar I entered, the old Bruckner's now rechristened as Mott Haven bar had an eclectic mix of all the ages and races. I sat at the counter, looking for some interesting conversation, but, alas, the others at the bar were into themselves, and I had to content myself with watching the end of the Yankee game and having some cider. Nice bartender though, made me feel comfortable. Probably not the best time to go the bar---the tail end of brunch. When it was over, I walked to the 6 train on 138th and third---and looked at that street (138th) east from the concourse. Four or five luxury high rises on those blocks; seemingly out of context with the rest of the neighborhood. These buildings never end. Would like to return to the area at some point, maybe early evening when the bar patrons might be more oriented to conversation.
   Last stop: Standings, my favorite baseball bar--anxious to figure out how the Oakland A's were making a pennant run, seemingly with a nondescript group of ball players. I watched a decent amount of the game, which they won from the Angels, but the highlight of my time there was a conversation with bartender Sam, about many issues including places to drink, his mother, finances, the pennant races and a few other things. Sam is a very nice guy, and this was the first long talk we have had. It took place between 7 and 8, when the bar was empty except for the two of us. By eight, a few other regular customers had come in, Sam turned his attention to them, and I watched some of the Nationals-Cubs game before leaving. Felt that this was a very satisfactory stay at the bar.
 Finally read a bit at the Bean near 8th street (the largest Bean)  while gorging myself on a chocolate Gelato dish and coffee.
 Tonight, the BAN meeting, then maybe visit my friend Brittany at her job at the Dive Bar at 101st street (there are four dive bars, in case you are interested). Remember last week, after the meeting, I wandered west, hung out a little bit on the high line, looked into the half moon bar and that was it. Would still like to do that again, but well...lets leave everything open, will report tomorrow.