Yesterday while enjoying the first half* of my lunch (onion bialy!) on a bench outside Kossar’s, I struck up a conversation with a lovely older couple (Steve and Lenore) to my right, who, it turns out, live very close to me. When I said I moved to the UWS 20 years ago, “to be closer to …”, Lenore said, “… all the Jewish people” before I could say “Zabar’s.”

If I hadn’t already felt kinship (or knishship, since we talked about knishes as well), that would’ve sealed the deal. These are the kinds of moments that make my day.

*I devoured the second (sesame bagel) upon arriving home.