Ellen's Stardust Diner - Hurricane Sandy Edition
I happened to be stuck in New York City when Hurricane Sandy hit. My flight was scheduled to leave on that Monday. I unsuccessfully attempted to find a flight the day before. I figured I'd stick it out, it wouldn't be that bad. I was wrong about that one. Really wrong. The friend I was staying with works near the Times Square area. His company put him up in a hotel in the area due to the transit shut down on Sunday.
I didn't stock up on supplies since I was near everything I needed in the event something went down. I decided to go out for lunch on Hurricane Monday. I read about this Thai place that sounded pretty good. I walked about 3 blocks and got soaked in that time. The water was starting to penetrate my shoes. This prompted me to give up on the Thai place. I turned the corner into a place called the Stardust Diner. I figured a diner would work out fine. I could get in and out pretty easy.
I walked in to a full house. Luckily, I was able to get seated within 3 minutes of arriving. I sat down and looked at the menu. As I was deciding on what to order, one of the waiters gets called up to the main area to sing a song. In my head I said the following... "Oh great, this place is one of those zany places like Joe's Crab Shack where they sing every 10 minutes." I was wrong. It wasn't every 10 minutes, it was a constant stream of wait staff and songs. They sang their renditions in the vain of Broadway.
Broadway tunes to me is like sunlight, holy water or garlic to a vampire. I shrivel up and start hissing.
So I had this WTF look on my face and noticed these 2 middle-aged women next to me eating it up. I looked at them and started this conversation.
Asif - Did you come here on purpose?
Women - Haha, yes. Didn't you?
Asif - I was looking for another restaurant but got soaked. I came into the first place I could.
Asif - This singing. Does it stop?
Women - Hahaha, no. It's fun!.
They also told me they were on holiday from New Zealand. We also talked about canceled flights and the impending hurricane.
A short while after, another waiter performed and walked along the top of the divider and tried to get the tables involved. Seriously, I had to leave this place ASAP. I pretty much scarfed my quesadilla down because the Broadway songs were puncturing my soul. But I got stuck. As soon as I got the bill and signed, they started a restaurant-wide dance train line to Shake Shake Shake Senora - Harry Belefonte.
Women - Why aren't you handing your bill to the waitress?
Asif - Because if I get up, I'll get sucked up into that dance train. I'm not risking that.
Women - You should, it would be fun.
Asif - No way.
I said goodbye to the ladies and got out of there as soon as the song was over and the dance line dispersed. Too much for me.
Posted by: Asif on 02.25.2013 - New York, NY