Week of August 15, 1999:

Love goes against the grain -- The setting is the World Trade Center early morning on a weekday. You're not going to work - but thousands of others are. Don't get out of the way - it's time for some fun and games at their expense.

Analysts and brokers aside, when was the last time you found yourself scurrying 'round the Mall at the World Trade Center at 6:30AM on a Monday morning? Til' recently, I could give an emphatic NO to that one. Moonlighting at one of our prestigious downtown financial concerns has had many perks, and one of them is the rush one can get being one of three people walking east on the Northbridge from the World Financial Center, struggling against a literal tide of humanity coming at you. What a rush! And after 18 hours of no sleep, somewhat dangerous.

One of my favorite activities in the city is this: position yourself on the southern edge of what they call "PATH Square," which is where the 12 odd escalators rise to the concourse level from the PATH tubes, emptying hordes of Jerseyans into the already busy mall area. So, you're standing at the southern end, okay, the escalators should be on your left. Just when a fresh batch of unsuspecting Hobokenites rises to the top of the escalators and begins their exit, make a mad dash for it towards the northern end of the square! See how many people you can knock off balance as you go. Count the number of curses hurled your way. Extra points for spilled coffee! I've never run the distance, but i've walked briskly, and if you can muster the courage to hold the morning paper in front of you as if you were actually reading as you do this, it's even more fun. That i've done. I'm sick. Send contributions so I can go see a therapist. I don't have health insurance.

When you've had your fill of these pathetic teenage games, at that hour there's actually plenty to do down there, believe it or not. I'm a fan of 7AM CD shopping at Borders Books, Music and Cafe (Church and Vesey, NE corner of the mall.) When finished with your shopping, sit in the cafe on the second floor - drink coffee and stare out at the mayhem below. Fine and Schapiro, Ecce Panis (both just downstairs) are both reliable but a little too upscale for this excursion - what you ought to do is head to Sbarro's next door for a breakfast that tourists staying in the Marriott seem to swear by. Really - a platter of scrambled eggs, bacon, hash browns seated in front of those horrid gold tinted mirrors that Sbarro's is so famous for - hope you didn't do any drinking the night before - you may just be sorry.

Of course, a safer option is to head outside to Krispy Kreme (3 WTC/on Church Street) just a few doors down from Borders. You're out of the stuffy mall that can never quite seem to shake the scent of BO and disinfectant -- you can even sit in the WTC plaza that is now open for the summer, while you get all sticky from those wonderful glazed donuts, whatever you call them -- on a recent visit, I asked for two donuts. The cashier proceeded to rattle off a list of 8 or 9 varieties. I waved my hand and interrupted --  "Just give me the good ones," I said -- we reached an understanding instantly. 

Directions: 1/9 to Cortlandt Street, C/E to Chambers Street, N/R to Cortlandt Street.

Email: dj@asan.com

Next Update: 21 August 1999

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