Day of Wine and Snoozes

Went to the Death Lunch for the fired coworker previously mentioned. We dined at Pasquale's Rigoletto, a highly generic Italian place on Arthur Avenue. Arthur Avenue was once the heart of the Bronx's Little Italy, but this district has largely de-Italofied just like its analog in Manhattan. There are still a few old dons and little nonnas toddering around, but for the most part the neighborhood has been rapidly assimilated by Albanians. There are almost as many burek joints as pizza parlors now ... in fact, many of the former pizza parlors have seamlessly transformed into burek joints, usually with no change of name (or even taking the word "Pizza" off their name).

But there are still several old-school neighborhood Italian eateries, and Pasquale's is one. Pretty generic main dishes of pasta with marinara ten thousand ways; bruschetta and cheese was surprisingly crunchy and good. Otherwise forgettable. Since this meal commemorated a workplace termination, it was somewhat subdued. I was actually hoping for a little more in terms of bitterness fireworks, but nothing really manifested beyond a couple awkward silences. Oh well. I guess if you're foolish enough to come to one of these things after getting fired, what can you do but act nice and lap up the pity?

As for myself, I lapped up a few glasses of red wine and thus am too sleepy and unmotivated to post anything other than this krap. At least it was all on the Pope's dime, as the university picked up the tab. Thanks JP2! And now, to hide under the desk and nap in the venerable G. Costanza tradition.

Comments

[Enrique Bana]

Since this post commemorated a workplace termination, it was somewhat subdued. I was actually hoping for a little more in terms of bitterness fireworks anecdotes, but nothing really manifested beyond a couple awkward cliches. Oh well.

I am too sleepy and unmotivated to post anything other than this krap.

[chris m]

(sound of dead horse finally disintegrating under this merciless beating)

[John M. Hicks]

          Mmmmm, red wine! I know I'm strange, but I like a full bodied grignolino with fettucini alfredo. At least you can get good Parmesan cheese up there, and not the bland Kraft and Sargento stuff that filters to this part of the world!

JH