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Indeed a good question. But my perception is that what's bothering me is inside the peel.

I haven't tried. I don't think it would make a difference, though.

The Knitting Factory and the Cornelia St. Cafe have the virtue of being much less expensive venues.

Now, now, folks. You aren't going to settle this with a duel at high noon, are you?

The Vanguard is a great venue. The drinks are just acceptable, but remember: That's not why you're there. It's a kick to go to Birdland, too, but it can put a big dent in your wallet. Consider going to the Iridium to hear Les Paul play at 8 or 10 P.M. any Monday. I went to hear him a few years ago when the Iridium was still on 63 St., but two of my students in the Jazz course I taught this semester went to hear him and loved it. I did too, when I went with my brother. The food was nothing to write home about but, again, that's not why you're there.

There are some really valuable scientific resources online for free, however. My brother used online medical abstracts accessible on PubMed to help save our father's life over 8 years ago.

There might be a question if they hadn't mentioned how high their cancellation fee was.

Thanks a lot, Mudpuppie!

Maybe. It's something I hadn't noticed until fairly recently (a matter of months or a couple of years; I can't remember exactly how long). Sucks if I've gotten allergic to yet another thing. It's only with raw apples, though. No problem with hard cider or pastries made with apples.

I somewhat regret the fact that I've travelled more in parts of Asia and Europe than the U.S. and other countries in the Americas. No, I don't regret it too much because I wouldn't give up my travelling experiences for anything, but I know very well that there's a lot of country out there to see in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, etc. One of these days, I'd like to visit more parts of those countries. But Africa also beckons... Anyway, if any of you haven't seen The New Yorker maps of the world, you owe it to yourself to find a copy somewhere. They're hilarious and do reflect an attitude many New Yorkers have, reflected in some funny but pointed remarks by fifi about "flyover country."

I just ate an apple a few minutes ago. Bad idea, as I'm still a bit prone to coughing, though finally mostly recovered from a flu. I find that apples seem to encourage coughing, and I don't mean from particles of food going down the windpipe. I forget this and eat them anyway because I like them, but it's disturbing me. Does this happen to any of you? Any insight into what in ripe organic apples might be irritating my throat?

I think that fee is pretty heavy.

Eli, I'd recommend the Temple Bar, west side of Lafayette just north of Houston (look for the lizard-like emblem, as the name isn't on the door). No dress code. It's an elegant but casual bar. Definitely recommended for cocktails, but you might want to get only one per visit, as they cost around $12-13 apiece.

do you think the preachers are taking note? I dunno. why do you think threads like this are salutary? While some of the hard-core preachers may not be taking note or, even if they are, may not change their ways, others will. To use a 60s and 70s term, it's all about consciousness-raising, isn't it? I used to make complaints that eGullet was too skewed toward high-end dining, with some members having a real attitude problem, preaching condescendingly that, essentially, no meal that costs less than at least something over 1/6 of my monthly rent is worth a damn, and that I should shut up about food because some people can pay the cost of my alto flute for dinner or wine every day of the year. I think you remember what I'm talking about. And while my complaints had limited effect at first, I think it's fair to say that they were taken into account. I have to say, though, that complaints about foods certain posters don't like are on-topic. I, for example, would never eat a meal at a place like Burger King or McDonalds unless that were necessary to avoid genuine hunger. I think all of us have standards. And eGullet can and does encompass a variety of diners, home cooks, and industry professionals with a variety of interests, priorities, likes and dislikes, and income levels. In my opinion, however, a call for more sensitivity and inclusiveness is seldom inappropriate.

do you think the preachers are taking note? I dunno.

Indeed, and that's why threads like this are salutary.

Fully agreed, beans.

Jenny, I think it's weird that nowadays, you can get a good CD player for $20 (or at least I did - I think $15 on sale at J&R), but it's really difficult to get a cheap radio anymore. Maybe your best bet might be to get the cheapest CD player you can find and a pair of tiny speakers you can connect the headphones output to. But then again, you don't want to play hip-hop on some wimpy speakers, do you? Oh well, back to food.

I'd say that in all seriousness, a lot of the items on the Russian food list sound like they might be appetizing. Of course, I have no way of knowing what they actually taste like.

Is there evidence that weightlessness in outer space tends to cause or accentuate weight change among astronauts and cosmonauts? If so, has this been significant enough for any efforts to be made to combat it?

I like the fact that Ya-Roo's heart is in the right place in that she wants to do well by her employees, even if some of her concepts of humane employment may not be affordable. Seems to me, it would make sense to start with relatively low pay and give the employees raises and increased benefits as the restaurant, hopefully, shows profits. But Ya-Roo's decency shows through, and I salute her for it.

Don't feel bad about the seafood aversion, Jenny. I was out with a Japanese friend yesterday who likes fish but dislikes all varieties of seafood. I said "So you don't eat uni or anything like that," and you could see her look of disgust. She says lots of her friends say she isn't really Japanese, but the bottom line is that she just doesn't like the stuff. Your writing style is engaging, and I think this blog will be fun to read.

I don't have the slightest idea, but do wish you the best of luck.

Thanks a lot. The prices at Il Patrizio don't sound outrageous at all for a kosher restaurant. Box Tree is really upscale but it sounds like it was enjoyable and worth it to you.

Thanks for the reports, Bloviatrix. Where are these places located, and if it's not too rude to ask, what kinds of prices are we talking? I think the 18% service charge is dumb because I usually leave more than 18% but might be less likely to if forced to include an additional 18% in the regular bill, ridiculous as that sounds and really is.