in the fall of 1929 frank magro, age five, approached new york harbor in a boat. the passengers were explicitly warned "don't everyone go running to one side" as boats tipped over all the time from immigrants wanting that first view of the statue of liberty. it's true. they did tip over all the time. fortunately frank's did not.

tonight i watched the sunset over new york harbor, on this little patch of wonderfulness that me and frank's son and our friend zack found last weekend. it's at some dead end road behind a construction path, through some gravel, near the someday legendary trolly car launch pad. it has really nice benches, sunflowers, and daisies too. it's not crowded. people are quiet and peaceful. it's a block away from my house.

staring at the sea, the boats, the planes, and the tide i felt somehow moved by the statue of liberty, which up until today was a stupid tourist attraction i've refused to visit or think about with any seriousness. but frank magro saw it differently. so did millions of people. my grandparents too, and i wish i could ask them. (wisdom can be punishing when we consider what we 'could have' asked them before they died). and the statue of liberty made me think of public art, what it's for, and the value of certain institutions. it's been dawning on me, through this and other recent events, there is reason for institution. though you won't find me mainting any (institutions), i may stop bitching about them so often... at least a select few.

probably there is a guy, maybe a girl, maybe a whole team of people that are responsible for lighting the light in the statue of liberty every night. i refuse to believe it's efficient enough to use, let alone trust, a computerized switch. i'd like to imagine that uncle joe has the honor of turning on the lights. and when he does it he feels somehow noble, lighting a new way, however capsized by nike and starbucks, for still millions of people. or at least a few. that's cool.

then i found sunny's. sunny's is legendary as a former speakeasy living room bar for friends and family. "everyone is friendly" they told me. "everyone talks and no one is pretentious" they told me. i'll be damned if it isn't true. i made friends. they offered me pizza because they forgot to order pretzels. they played T-Rex and Willie Nelson. they had a captains hat on the still. i'm not going to tell you were it is. look for it. it's worth it. take the bus.

i forgot to mention the very bright beginning of my little walk to the hang out area... i left my front door to a whole team of neighbors raising their arms to wave and smile at me. hi shel! it's like mister rogers neighborhood over here. and i am the duck-billed platypus. and they were upset i had a flat tire. and they hoped i would have a nice night. and i loved them like my aunt beverly. i'm going to bring them a salad on sunday.

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