Oh Hi, July

Can there be a more perfect day?

cheap food & free finds

those might be the things I love the most

by cheap food, I don't mean just any normal eats

I mean pizza, from Artichoke

the most epic slice of pizza ever to exist,

and coincidently the best in the city

this is the pizza I dream about while eating Baccio's take out at Vassar

(and just in case any non Vassar people, by some odd chance,

visit Poughkeepsie, Baccio's margherita pizza is a lovely,

olive oil laden, addiction-in-a-box)

just by the line that is perpetually snaking out of the small shop,

you can tell, this pizza is not to be missed

14th between 1st and 2nd is a sea of people making their way through a mammoth slice

some stand at the counter, sit on sparse wooden benches, loiter on every staircase available, and others just simply stand on the sidewalk,

because when you're in pizza-bliss, location hardly matters

the price just went up to 4.50 a slice, but it is massive & oh so worth it

I'm impressed with anyone who could finish their own slice

it's creamy, super savory with such a thick crust

think a few normal slices stacked,

slathered with an intoxicating spinach artichoke concoction and pieces of artichoke hearts

yes, it is a two plate pizza

Not only was there great pizza in my life today, but lots of freebies

I was pleasantly surprised as I walked down Ludlow St.

to find bags & boxes full of books, and old records

I went through that awkward moment of looking at the treasures,

and wondering whether these discarded items

were actually up for the taking, or if I got too close

someone would emerge from the shadows, and claim the stuff

embarrassing me, and crushing my dreams of free stuff

luckily, as I spied the Complete Vegetarian's Cookbook

I could not resist and I got past my apprehension,

to find out, it all was free!

I grabbed that cookbook (which can be bible # 2, seeing as I already have my Zagat 2010)

as well as the Tao Te Ching, a book on yoga & consciousness,

Kite Runner, the Canterbury Tales, and some vintage records

other people were encouraged by our searching and soon there was a small crowd

picking through books, shoes and records

this is why I love New York City,

you can be a broke intern, and shopping is still possible

in other news,

today is a celebration, I ordered Food Network magazine.