Jewels of Buddha

Everyone likes to talk about the diversity of New York City. My bet is, though, that most native New Yorkers don't usually ponder it much. It's just the way things are. But although the diversity theme sounds kind of cliche after a while, I always enjoy finding new examples of it. On a recent trip to the nondescript Dee & Dee Discount on Broadway in Astoria, I happened upon a new store called Jewels of Buddha, 31-90 37th Street, that has been around for a little over a month. It's usually a bit awkward browsing in small stores like this with the owners watching your every move, but Mr. Dawa and Mr. Jampa were very friendly. Their merchandise, most of it handmade in Tibet and Nepal, is pretty awesome. I am coveting one of their over-the-shoulder bags made from hand-woven cotton for $18. They don't look particularly sturdy, but they're a fashion statement if I ever saw one.

Musings of a New Yorker

Whenever she is asked where she is from, my mother often gives an answer that makes me chuckle. She replies, without any qualms, "I am from New York."

My mother arrived in New York from Cuba at the age of 6. Too young to remember the land of her birth nostalgically, but old enough to realize the change of scenery. Caught between being American and being Cuban, she chooses instead an identity that she fully understands and appreciates: being a New Yorker.

I can relate. Everytime someone asks me where I am from, I am always tempted to reply, "Planet Earth." It seems less daunting than explaining the truth: that I am half Cuban, half Guyanese. (Where else but in New York would you find someone like me?) People often think I'm Indian and try to hide their shock when they hear me speak Spanish for the first time. When someone picks up on the fact that there is something Hispanic about me, they assume I am Dominican. It doesn't bother me and these days, I no longer bother to correct anyone. Being ambigously ethnic is part of the identity I inherited from mother: being a New Yorker.

I open my blog with this long story because, although it is not directly related to the topic of my blog, I hope it lends credibility to my next claim, which is that what you will read here is the point of view of someone who feels unextricably linked to the city. This blog will be, in a sense, an insider's look at a city that has been the muse of many a writer. I am not interested in pointing out the best pubs, night clubs or pizza spots. In fact, I am not interested in judging what is the "best" of something in a city of over 8 million people and 8 million opinions. I'll leave that to the travel guides. Rather, I hope to offer peek into my personal encounters with the city and the things that catch my eye.

Check back soon!