As an unmistakably retired veteran, Bobby Pastrami’s penchant for wearing comfy pants suggests his fondness for napping and general relaxation. In contrast, my smart blazer and carefully coordinated neckwear is indicative of my desire to take on deadlines, on top of an existing workload filled with lecturing, grading and offering electronic support. In terms of […]
Both of us had just gotten off shifts from our retail jobs, which kept us indoors while the sun remained overhead, so it was difficult for us to see inside. Our snooping through the windows on Exchange Court was justified by a banner that hung out front, which read “Studio Tours.” Previously, the only reasons […]
Remaining comfy in these summertime months should really be a snap – if only we were allowed to take off our pants. Apparently my life-long ambition to live in a treehouse (think Rivendell) wherein my mandated dress code of “pants are optional” is far from an accepted reality. Oh well. As a result of all […]
The list in my hand was as straightforward as could be: masa, black beans (canned), avocados (3), jalapeños (2), plantains (a few) and cilantro (lots). In keeping with the when-you-go-shopping-for-others ritual, an inevitable phone call came through along with a request for a few more items – limes and adobo seasoning. Naturally, this after I […]
At just over 5 feet, 9 inches tall, I currently hold the prestigious title of “Tallest Villari in Recorded History.” This, of course, is according to my father, Bobby Pastrami, who considers my half-foot advantage over him to be a definitive piece of evidence for his otherwise unsubstantiated claim. Another oft-cited “fact” being, “this is the […]
“Can you please go inside?” I begged toward the rooftop, where a soon-to-be 70-year-old man was slouched over in a defiant hunch, his Ryobi chainsaw revving. “No, get the lah-duh!” he hollered down, in that patois ubiquitous within the urban-core of RI – an accent that I have self-consciously conditioned myself to be aware of […]
The instructions were simple – make six quarts of your choice of soup, pair with a six-pack of beer and then trade it with approximately 15 or so privileged, mostly super-Caucasian 30-somethings with nothing better to do on a chilly winter’s eve. This is a soup swap. As has been tradition for the past nine […]
I soon found myself apologizing for being “presumptuous” as I attempted to extract further details. It was unclear why I had been summoned for this interview in the first place. “How would you describe ______?” Surely this was some kind of pre-holiday farce and I was not in on it. What am I doing here? More […]
On a blistery January day, comfort in any form is always welcome. Near the corner of Pearl and Broad Streets, cozied beside the sidewalk – recently coated by a dose of freshly fallen flakes and buzzing with hopeful beggars from Crossroads – a short sleeve serves as a most unexpected epicurean destination. With the holiday season […]