Last night after work, I took a jaunt in the East Village even though it was freezing out. I needed a dose of edgy but charming bohemia that only the East Village could supply. Since my younger days in Berkeley, I have always felt rejuvenated by a certain flea-market aesthetic mixed in with a dash of organic je ne sais quoi. It’s a part of town that feels like home to the creative and marginalized especially because of its history as an artistic hotbed. The verve still lingers in the air like the smell of potpourri. Though many may complain that the area has become overly gentrified over the years, the ever-present seediness provides a perfect backdrop for shops and restaurants to shine illumined, like cozy gem-like installations. Certain standouts include Mama's Food shop, the French restaurant Lucien, the stores on E. 7th and 9th St., Flea Market Café, and of course Veniero’s Italian pastry shop. (photo of Mama's not taken by yours truly)
