Harry's New Nikes and The Organic Grill

Friday, May 27, I finally got Harry his birthday present. His birthday was last Saturday May 21.  He had mentioned that he need to get new everyday walking shoes, and I figured this would be an easy gift since I frequently shop online at 6PM and had even found and ordered shoes for Herb successfully from 6PM.com including a pair of  Made in the USA and water resistant New Balance crosstrainers he wanted. But Harry wasn't sure of his size and really wanted to try a number of styles.  Brick and mortar shopping was going to be challenge with his work schedule.  Most of the places he was familiar with and within walking distance of work close at 7pm. and he often gets last minute customers waking in to make purchases from the Vitamin Closet. Also the New Balance store on West 42nd Street that Herb frequented has long been closed and the closest New Balance store is in White Plains.  But Nike makes great atheletic shoes and the NikeTown is on the East Side at 57th off Fifth and a quick subway ride from Gary Null's and stays open on till 8pm.  So Friday evening we headed down to NikeTown and Harry found a pair a water repellent Nike Air Pegasus Trail Runners he liked and they were on sale (lucky me!) and after a little bit of frustration since about "his size" not being available it turned out he's a 9 1/2 and they had his size in both colors.  So Harry chucked his old pair and walked out on  happy feet, comfortable, well-supported, and stylish with a broad smile on his face wearing his new Nikes.

After shopping, we heading down to the East Village near St. Marks to The Organic Grill at 123 First Avenue.  Right away I liked it when I walked in.  The deserts are displayed prominently in a glass case below the counter.  I immediately spotted a huge jar of blondie and chocolate lavender macaroons and Harry spotted what looked to be some kind of berry topped "cheese cake".  When we sat down at one of the polished wooden tables  I saw that many of the chairs still have the trademark horseshoes fastened to their backs. 

THE ORGANIC GRILL
123 First Ave (btwn 7st. & St.Marks Place)
New York, NY 10003
Daily 12:00pm-10:00pm
Tel: (212) 477-7177
Fax: (212) 477-4442
http://www.theorganicgrill.com/
American Express, Cash, Mastercard, Visa

For starters we shared their guacomole and baked corn chips.  Harry immediately commented on the fresh celantro used in the guacomole and how great it is when chefs make that extra effort to use fresh  instead of dried herbs.   I reminisced about the herb and tomato garden that I used to keep on my fire escape within easy reach of the kitchen window.  I just put out some potted flowering plants -- hot pink hydragenas and mums and an overflowing crimson flowering hibiscus -- out in front yard along with the old dark green metal garden bench in my efforts to resume the cottage-style garden Herb and I once kept.  But I haven't started up the herb garden as of yet though I do have a new lavendar plant on my kitchen windowsill. We had kept several varieties of mint in abundance as well as catnip, sage, basil, oregano, lemon verbana, thyme,
dill and and lavender.   A delight for us in the kitchen and just to snack on while gardening and also for the visiting birds who often left with a sprig of this and that in their beaks.  Herb kept a  pair of little snippers handy on a string for anyone who happened by.