Winter Storm Janus: Photo

Woke up expecting the winter storm Janus to be a pushover and I wasn't wrong. There was only a few inches of snow and public transit wasn't really affected too much. However, trains were overcrowded this morning and it was pretty chilly. Snapped a photo of the 8th Avenue station before the train arrived!

Yaya: Friendly Neighborhood Cat!

The sight of a stray cat in 8th avenue's residential areas is not a rare event. Although the amount of Chinese families who own pets are going up slowly, there are still very few households with them. Over the years, I've seen my Italian and Hispanic neighbors move out of my neighborhood and take their pets with them. Walking down the block, I used to be wary of the growling, barking dogs that would greet and reach through the gates gates of my neighbors' houses. There was one house on the block with 2 or more dogs and even some cats. The dogs are all gone now but the abandoned cats remain.

In the movie Bolt, there is a sentimental quote from an abandoned cat that stayed with me.

"They pretend they're going to always be there for you, and then one day they pack up and move away and take their love with them, and leave their de-clawed cat to fend for herself! They leave her, wondering what she did wrong."

- Mittens

There is a stray cat that's very known by the community here around the local post office. Her name is Yaya and she has been around for as long as I remember. Not much is known about her or her history except that the block where she frequents is where her former owner used to live. Whether they moved or died, they did not make arrangements for Yaya. You can tell that this cat was brought up by humans by how affectionate she is. She approaches a friendly inviting person with her tail pointed up in the air and then circles their leg rubbing her side against them.

We were worried after not seeing her in her usual spot for a while but then found out recently that she was being taken care of by the local post office and has fattened up tremendously!! Winter conditions can be very harsh on stray cats. Glad that you found a place to stay warm, Yaya!

Takoyaki Balls

If you didn't know, you can get takoyaki balls at 8th avenue from the tiny shop between 56th and 57th street next to Xin Fa Bakery (Sorry, do not have the name!) I can tell you that they're not very authentic and are a far cry from the famous takoyaki balls you can get at St. Marks in Manhattan. There's only a dab of octopus inside with a lot of dough.
My verdict: SKIP. Not worth it.
And if I remember correctly, they were also very pricey.

If you must have something, try the rice noodles there which are average but at least, authentic.

Foggy 8th Avenue at Night

Leaving 8th Avenue train station at night.

Kai Feng Fu: 48th Dumpling House

Anyone can tell you that one of the staple foods of Chinese culture is the DUMPLING. And I do not mean the round, usually steamed bun (bao) that is usually filled with vegetables and meat that most foreigners mistaken them for. The chinese name is jiaozi and if you haven't tasted one by now, you have been missing out. It usually consists of minced meat and vegetables wrapped in a thin and flat, rice dough skin. Fillings vary a lot from shrimp to pork with leek. The Chinese dumpling is usually fried or steamed and is shaped peculiarly like the shape of a half-circle. Well, I guess there are many variations of dumplings but this is the main and most general type that I am defining.

On 8th Avenue, there are many places that serve these dumplings. The prices are very fair and most cost around $1 for 4-5 dumplings. The dumpling market is very competitive here!

The store that I will be reviewing today is very well-known to this community's residents. Most of its customers are returning ones that first got a taste when they were in Junior High School. Others are drawn to the cheap and value-packed foods that they serve. You can get their most popular item: 4 pork-and-leek dumplings here for $1.

Don't let the place or the appearance fool you, these are some good dumplings that will make you come back for more. Make sure you get enough of the watered-down hot sauce, vinegar and soy sauce. Facilities do not look very clean and there is not much room for seating so I usually do take-out. The lady at the counter is loving but brisk and quick to the point. Other notable items are their scallion pancakes $1 and Hot and Sour soup $1.25. Their noodle soups also appear to be popular.

Also don't be shy, you can spend more than $1.