Workin' in Chinatown

Krikor Daglian
March 08, 2002

OK, so my New Years Resolution to write the buzz more consistently hasn't exactly gone to plan. But hey, I've been busy, not least of all with my new job at a New York City guidebook. It's a great job, admittedly, but it's somewhat annoyingly located in Chinatown, overlooking Chatham Square. I say annoyingly most of all because there's no way to get there from the Upper West Side that doesn't involve walking crosstown or changing trains a couple times. Not that this isn't all relative, of course: at least I don't have to travel in from NJ or LI, but in any case, I've now come to appreciate that I have to walk through the hectic streets of Chinatown, mostly since I started to notice the great signs they have there. I mean, where else can you go to Happy Event Wedding Planners, or the famous Dr. Toothy's Dental? And staring at me somewhat sinisterly across the street from my window is the Cuban Chinese Benevolence Association - what exactly goes on in there? How many Cuban Chinese are there out there anyway? Perhaps that one deserves more investigation...I'll get back to you on that.

The other great thing about working in Chinatown is how cheap it is. Lunch is usually well under 5 bucks, and served in heaping portions. And I bought a Snapple Iced Tea in a convieniece store for one dollar. When's the last time it was that cheap? Not to mention I get to try all those exotic Asian food with labels I can't read and pictures on the outside which may or may not resemble the food inside or even bear any relation to it. But I'll try anything if there are chinese characters followed by three exclamation points in a little exploding box drawn in at the top right part of the package.

I'm telling you all this because Chinatown is rapidly expanding as we speak. Something to do with the fact that we no longer restrict Chinese immigration. All I know is that Chinatown, which traditionally comprised the area south of Canal, east of the courthouse area around Foley Square, and west of Madison Street and the Manhattan Bridge, now has basically swallowed up Little Italy, much of the Lower East Side, from the river all the way up to Delancy. One day soon you may find yourself working in Chinatown as well, without even changing jobs. As for me, I'm ready for them to take over the island, as long as they keep the funny signs coming and dragon kiwi fruit chews in stock.