I rolled into Noho at about 2pmEDT and it was like I never left. I immediately saw two girls holding hands walking down the street. Then I saw a gaggle of white-haired members of the Class of '57 walking along with their old husbands.
I'm staying in the house where Sylvia P. attempted suicide c. 1953. I guess her spattered blood must be sacred or something, because the house hasn't been renovated since the '70s. I've complained loudly that they completely redid Big B last summer, installing a surfeit of bathrooms and creating little suites with social areas. L-House is OLD SKOOL and the bathroom smells like and reminds me of Big B back in my day. I can't wait to take a shower with one of those huge turbo shower heads. My room also has that old nubby wallpaper and is the same size/dimensions as my junior year room in Big B. It's even right next to the bathroom.
I just had me a tasty salad at the Haymarche. Usually I hit T&T like a tornado the minute I roll into town but for some reason, I'm not feeling it just yet. I'll definitely go, but it's not like I'm jonesing. Maybe I can convince Elinor to go there for lunch.
Things change here, and things stay the same. The Hay is big and ridiculous, but they still have the best ho-cho. The Smiffies, even though they are a decade my junior, look the same, dress the same (except for those pesky Crocs) and give off the same vibe. It's like they all sprout from the same hedgerow.
Shiney gets here manana!
I desperately want to bring Bob here. It would be taking a huge gamble on whether he'd love it or hate it. I told him about the unusual practice of pedestrian rights here in Noho. I was crossing the street anywhere-else-style (i.e. stopping and looking both ways, like Sesame Street taught me) and this apparently frustrated a driver who had stopped for me. Here in Northampton, pedestrians, like swans, are royal. We place a foot in the street and by law all the cars have to stop and let us pass. The driver shook her head and drove right on. There are flashing lights and signs that say "FAILURE TO STOP FOR PEDESTRIANS $200 FINE."
For some reason, this upsets Bob.
There are (by my count) six sushi bars here, and only one place I can think of where one can get a big steak. This ain't a meat town. I can think of a few good burger places. But not like Texas.
Massachusetts taxes probably wouldn't sit well with him.
A condo goes for at least $300K here.
But it is so awe-inspiringly, breathtakingly gorgeous! The trees! The pond! The bricks! SIX SUSHI BARS! How can you not love Noho, Mass??? I do. But I love Borpe more. He has arms for hugging and legs for putting my dirty feet on.