 |
|||
        |
|||
 |
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
|
 
black cadillac
|
The Incongruous CityMrs L sees and hears it on the streets of ManhattanMonday, August 25 A memory: When I first moved to Manhattan, in 1991, there was a great, legendary dive of a restaurant called Shopsins at the corner of Bedford and Morton Streets in the West Village. A family ran it, and they had about a hundred unbelievably delicious soups on the menu. Mr. Shopsin, the owner and chef, was notoriously bad-tempered and all manner of epithets and abuse came out of the kitchen. His wife took the orders, and his behaviour, with equanimity. She would let you go behind the counter and pour your own coffee after she’d seen you come in a couple of times, but she absolutely would not give up the coveted front table, which sat right in the window, for less than a party of four, even if the entire restaurant was empty. One day I took two of my daughters in for lunch and we ordered. My youngest asked for french fries. Mrs. Shopsin rolled her eyes and sighed and tapped her pencil against the pad. She shook her head. "Don’t piss him off," she said. We forgot about the french fries. a memory, 1992: I got into a taxi in Soho late at night, raining, and when I got in the taxi the driver crossed himself, floored the gas and ran straight into a parked car. previous | next | back to main page |
 |
|
 |
|||
 |
|||
Comments
Great to see things going in the right direction for you…professionally and I assume health wise—It’s almost a year since seeing your concert in Schaumberg…what a year, huh?! Looking forward to the new album…hope Joe Henry is going to collaborate on something and that one of the covers is a Kristofferson…call me selfish.
Have sometimes thought one of the greatest incongruities is a Memphis-LA-Nashville-London gal living for over 25 years in New York City (and apparently loving it)! Then again, at the end of the day, paradox attracts and congruence is a bore.
All the best,
Lou from Pittsburgh
[Posted by Lou from Pittsburgh on 08/26 at 01:24 PM]
This reminds me of the Soup Nazi on Seinfeld.
[Posted by Jam on 08/29 at 02:26 AM]
So, it’s 4:29AM…I could be Jam instead of Jan.
[Posted by Jan on 08/29 at 02:28 AM]
It’s one of my great regrets that I never went into Shopsin’s when it was on that corner. When I go by the new restaurant there I think to myself that it would look a lot better with a “Connect 4” game in the window! I’ve been to the new Shopsin’s location but only with someone who was born and raised in the West Village. Gotta have cred.
[Posted by katchoo on 10/11 at 02:41 PM]
Nice to read these fun and pithy tales of the city…and to be reminded of Shopsin’s. They made a memorable spicy peanut soup I still pine for. And the ambiance…well, eating there was sort of like being inside a time machine.
Oh, and by the way, you rocked at the Mountain Stage concert on Saturday. Wonderful show all the way around.
[Posted by Gerry on 10/27 at 01:45 PM]
Post Comment
Comment Policy This is Rosanne's web site, where she can freely express her opinions. Readers of any persuasion may also express opinions, and are solely responsible for those opinions. The following are unacceptable: personal attacks, obscenity, vulgarity, profanity, commercial promotion, impersonations, incoherence and SHOUTING. We reserve the right to take down any comments that, in Rosanne's opinion, violate the rules.