NYC, Day 3: Far East Side

A day of ethnic enclaves and we finally had our multicultural apotheosis: At Mandu Bar on 32nd (second location on University Place, btw), I came to the realisation that only the maitresse d' and one waiter were definitely Korean. The other waiter was probably Chinese and all the cooks certainly were (as I left, I called out to them, saying "Jiao3zi hen3hao3chi1!" and they responded with delighted smiles and enthusiastic thumbs-up, as well as a babble of Chinese that I couldn't comprehend), and the Latino bussboys could at least say "Hi, how are you?" in Korean.

The dumplings--made fresh on view in the front window--were fantastic. But the best part was simply getting a chance to sit down after chasing street food and exploring shops all day. We did Chinatown--I mean fockin' did it. If there's a back alley we didn't traipse down, well, all I can see is that it must not be wide enough to get two bodies through side-by-side. Not much to show for it though, but I did drop $50 at a Midtown Korean bookstore.

Tomorrow, the Met Museum, the Asia Society, and die Neue Gallerie. I'd better get some rest!