Buses from New York to Boston

The entries on this blog that deal with the well rutted road from New York to Boston seem to be getting the most attention, usually accessed by the knowledgeable but impecunious types curious about Fung Wha. Here is some advice: if you purchase your tickets online from greyhound through their e saver section you can pick up a ticket for $20 one way. Yes, this is $5 more than the Chinatown bus, but you pull into midtown, as opposed to Chinatown, and these buses adhere to higher safety standards. These are just a few points to consider in the decision making process. The fact is, if your bus catches on fire, has a flat, falls apart, spontaneously combusts or is involved in an accident, you will get to spend a lot less time in the city, assuming you arrive unscathed. The extra $5 might just be money well spent if you can commit to a definite departure time.

Of course, that $5 could also be used to purchase some tasty egg tarts or some choice goodies from Tong-in mart for the ride…

Zotero

Apparently, the AHA now has a blog. Unless you are a historian,(even if you are), this is probably not the most exciting event of the past month or two. Nevertheless,  the AHA blog discusses something very cool, which is Zotero, a new plug in for firefox that does all types of nifty things. You don’t even need to be a historian, or in any way academically inclined to make good use of this free technology.

Cafe Luluc

My absolute favorite place for breakfast, at least in the Northeastern United States, is easily Cafe Luluc on Smith Street in Brooklyn. I am going through the motions here in Boston, and planning my escape. Cafe Luluc has incredible food at amazing prices. The eggs with hollandaise over smoked salmon ( a superior rendition of eggs Benedict) are my favorite, served with exquisite fries and a salad. The pancakes are stupendous as well, but, personally, I simply can’t resist the opportunity to have french fries for breakfast. The one potential kink is the place is cash only: you must hit the ATM first.

Also, unless you are into waiting, it is vital to show up before noon on weekends, or even better, stop in on a weekday and have a truly leisurely repast, filling the time between coffee refills by riffling through the numerous magazines on a rack by the door, for your reading pleasure.

Anyway, in the interest of sharing the love, here are some directions:

• Address: 214 Smith Street (between Baltic and Butler). Take the F or G to either the Smith or Baltic street stops.
• Phone: (718) 625-3815
• Hours: Mon-Thur: 7:30a.m.- Midnight

Coffee and Procrastination

I have been battling the end of summer blues in a serious way and lapsing into prolonged periods of denial, fueled by long bike rides. I have also noted that lingering late at night in cafes helps me ignore that the leaves are beginning to change and that “night” arrives earlier and earlier… All that, and classes have started as well, which means back to the grind. Even though it is only the first week, I already feel the creeping tendrils of anxiety and stress slowly winding about me….

Best to find a safe haven in procrastination and the diversions of Davis square.

In that spirit, I encourage those of you that have made (or plan to make) the trek to Tacos Lupita to venture further down Elm to Davis Square, where you will Find Diesel cafe. The coffee is fab, and they have diner booths as well as pool tables. The one drawback is their draconian fee for wireless access. Other than that, a great spot with excellent coffee. If you need a book to accompany that steamy mug of divine java, McIntyre and Moore, a great used bookstore is conevniently located next door ( a fine example of urban planning done right!).

Tacos in Greater Boston

It seems I am always going on and on about New York, and neglecting my second home – Cambridge. Well, Boston and Cambridge have one thing New York does not: good Mexican food. The perfect fish taco is still to be found at a certain taco stand in the middle of La Paz. It is easy to find – follow the locals. They serve both fish and shrimp. I recommend ordering “dos de camaron con todo para llevar”. Then, take those tacos and find a nice bench…. In the northeast things are a little more difficult, but, a good place to start would be Tacos Lupita at 13 Elm St. in Somerville, my current favorite. The tacos al pastor remind me of my feckless youth spent in search of the best waves and the perfect taco. This place even looks like a California taqueria. Boca Grande, and Ana’s are also good, but this place is like home wrapped in a steaming tortilla (home for me is sunny CA . Like every good New Yorker, I am from somewhere else). To top it off, they also have traditional Southern california pricing that corresponds with happy memories of my youth as well: you can eat and get change for a $5.

Jonah Feld has done a great service to the greater boston community by researching, mapping and compiling information on the culinary offerings at Tacos Lupita and beyond. His blog has comprehensive reviews of most items on the menu.