spring is flooding the fly-overs, but we’ve yet to see it here

there are blustery 30 mph winds gusting by (bringing with them insulation flakes from the construction of shiny new condos, and other bits of urban detritus), but we know that warmer weather and sunnier skies are just around the corner because…ralph’s has opened for the season! not the big-box abomination that underpays its workers and violates union agreements (see: strike at all the large grocery chains several years ago), but the classic italian ice shop around the corner from my house.  

i. love. ralph’s. the fruit ices (passionfruit, mango, honey dew are aces) are a delightful, “healthy” (well, less bad) treat; the mysterious “candy bar” creme ice is superbly satisfying (not sure which candy bar they use – it seems to be an amalgamation of sorts – but i’ll eat it!); the black cherry vanilla is studded with massive cherry chunks…and that’s before you get to the specialty shakes! it’s all phenomenal, cheap (2 bucks for a hefty “small” container sates even my monster-sized sweet tooth)…a neighborhood institution not to be missed and a welcomed harbinger of the dog days to come.

however, no ralph’s in the cards for us today. husband took the day off work, so we went adventuring! first stop was dumont’s, which i had been hankering to try and which we found to be quite satisfactory (freewilliamsburg’s glowing review: http://www.freewilliamsburg.com/restaurants/archives/2005/03/_dumont.html).

the decor is, for the most part, classic and elegant (cocktail menu has six offerings, all timeless, first among them a “perfect manhattan”), a little bit of an old-timey salon feel inexplicably mixed with random and unlikeable overly frou-frou accents (like the large mirror framed by delicate floral etchings, or the hideous purple flowers over the bar). booths are comfortable, with dark wood furnishings and brown paper covering the tables. service is friendly, capable and unobtrusive – perfect for an intimate lunch.

husband got the cheese burger – at thirteen bones (topping it with gruyere upped it from the regular price of twelve), you’d expect it to be impressive, and it was. not being one for the meat-eating myself, i’ll have to rely on his second-hand account of what looked to be delectable: he found the gruyere lacking in bite, but was otherwise satisfied. the pile of french fries were perfectly crispy and nicely flavored, but left mainly untouched next to the shiny burger.

i had the seasonal ravioli – today it was stuffed with ricotta and dressed in a wild mushroom sauce. the serving, as with the burger, was substantial (somewhat uncharacteristic of a ravioli dish), and mouth-wateringly good. my first bite of a mushroom morsel was rather salty, but the ricotta in the ravioli was more than good enough to recompense. it was topped with some unremarkable haricots vert and a truly succulent roasted tomato and clocked in at $14. my taste for pasta and cream sauce was certainly sated, but there are definitely spots where you can get more bang for your buck (still my favorite: oak cafe, on graham). still, glad to have tested it out.

afterwards, a trip to the new comic book store that’s opened up on metropolitan (a few doors past the always-good hana foods). it’s not the comic book store of our childhoods – the original sign over the door has preserved the space’s past as a sicilian bakery (somewhat reminiscent of cafe habana in nolita – where the sign over the door advertises fresh italian pastries).

a large hanging mobile constructed of shiny blue arrows welcomes you into this new store, and shelves and walls are replete with vintage signs and beautiful books of graphic art, as well as collections of retro comics (little lulu, anyone?) and childhood favorites (the little golden books series found a home on one of the bookshelves there). and apparently, the creator of the garbage pail kids (jenny jelly and gang) has deemed it his new favorite comic book store. typical williamsburg music was playing, and the proprietor (occupied on his powerbook for most of our visit) kept an espresso machine behind the counter, from which he produced free shots for husband and sam (who we met there). must remember the name of the place, as it is sure to be the destination of future lazy afternoons. 

and now, back to the much less satisfying re-reading of marbury v. madison…

this is me, signing out.

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