Cooper Union for Graphic Design

[bears_and_dogs]

<p>sorry for cheating by few views but I won’t have access later today and wanted to do it already for thirty three hundred.</p>

<p>Elena Kagan gotten confirmed of today and I heard from the radio what is up in her alum HS and where her brother happened to teach, Hunter college HS, NYC.
For those never heard of the name, imagine the hardest, gifted-est, scary-est, THE best-est public (or even private, prep, boarding all thrown in) HS you can imagine, and you aren’t too far away.
Do not mislead by affiliation to every so-so kids’ match/safety college, CUNY Hunter itself.
I doubt its honor college kids could do their 8th grade works.
I wrote about how typical Hunter HS students are in some parents turf thread and gotten dissed pretty much by parents of other high achieving yet nice and well adjusted kids, but that (what I said)‘s the truth and sorry, heli moms, none of your gifted kids’ elite proud local HS won’t even match.
Kid done jump off the building and dead because they are rejected from Harvard, not because they were not good enuff, but all their classmates; 150 or so were about the same and HYPSMIT could not all be taken kids from one HS.
Yet my kid’s friend who happened to gone Hunter would often call, text in wee hours inviting him to parties and smoke weeds and something more before pulling exams, in other words, had “life” so not all Hunter kids are created same.
And, please read this kid’s essay PDF, not only the NYT article. my oh my.
I cried for Peter, MLK Jr, bit of OBama before the winning.
Things will change, happen, get better, if we got these kids in that prison cell of the school tower, and faculties that chosen this very essay to be read at the ceremony.
<a href=“http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/05/nyregion/05hunter.html[/url]”>http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/05/nyregion/05hunter.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

[greenwitch]

<p>Bears, thanks for the link, I read it all including the kid’s speech. Great speech! And unlike what he said, it was quite inspiring but not for the usual (sappy) reasons. Hopefully the exposure will help the faculty get the school admissions on track. One test… geez!</p>

[bears_and_dogs]

<p>thanks for thanks G
it is not only one test, if you care to know, here is what you need to do “before” the killer test.
<a href=“http://www.hchs.hunter.cuny.edu/index.php/admissions/[/url]”>http://www.hchs.hunter.cuny.edu/index.php/admissions/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>in fact, every single NYC kids are given chance. The Hunter timeline is different from regular public school application. If anyone wants to do it, there would be no conflict choosing one school over the other because when they’d hear admission results in different years; Hunter kid start in 7th grade while all other middle schools start from 5th or 6th grade, HS from 9th grade. Hunter does not take in any transfer student, noone is coming in after 7th grade, but of course you could get out whenever you want, to go to Sty, Bronx, or burned out and rehab, so it is not exactly a prison.
If they scored 99% or something on 5th grade state exam, you are invited to apply. thou, in the past private schools that want to prevent brain drain ( and loss of tuition income) would make every effort to stop kid and family go for Hunter: not releasing test score, scheduling major event on the exam date on purpose etc.
Now that at least Hunter will start sending invitation to apply directly to students, not to the school body, which might have been neglected it for whatever the reason, like poor overworked public schools in the other hand, could not bother worrying about one kid who made the cut, and families with limited mean can not pay for required fee (especially for elementary school’s evaluation) nor understand complicated procedure. There is not enuff staff, teacher to look out for extremely gifted kid, because they’d be just bored and ADD-sh and at home, being spanked for being smart a** and laughed at reading books, etc, etc.
I am in bit of gloom now, reality settled in.
It will be a huge task if anyone would try to change the entire school system. My time and my kid’s time are done, we came out scared but alive. I consider myself lucky being super nosy and confrontative, most minolities, immigrants are not like that, they opt not to speak up, sometimes because of their immigration status, but more likely from reverse racism.
I want to do something about it, so I write here, for now.
I know you and some others out there make effort to understand, I really appreciate it.
and
this is what required for wannabe Hunter parents of 4 year old, since the kid does not know what Hunter or no Hunter yet ( or do they? creeps)
<a href=“http://hces.hunter.cuny.edu/?m1=1&m2=1[/url]”>http://hces.hunter.cuny.edu/?m1=1&m2=1&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

[greenwitch]

<p>Bears, I just looked at your last link! My God, it’s like those Border Collies who run around on an obstacle course jumping through hoop after hoop. Who has parents like that? They are really testing the parents!</p>

[bears_and_dogs]

<p>there are more than enough moms (naturally, most these tasks fall into their hands) don’t mind wearing garish costume, put makeup on and hold glittered hoops for their puppies to perform in the circus ring.
to be considered for round 1 could already serve you the big bragging right. my kid’s kindergarten classmate was one mili percentile short or something and the mom would tell whole universe about how close the kid was, and would never get over nor given up.
The kid disappeared eventually, maybe made it second time lucky?
From elementary school to HS entrance was used to be automatic but gotten changed some years back.
Now, every kid had to pass the same exam to get accepted into HS. the article did not mention it, but that could be the cause of decline in diversity. There used to be very smart rebels/ slackers in HS who came up from its elementary school, just had to jump hoops once and be done with it.
I suspect alum “sex and the city” actress was one of them? which one is Cynthia Nixon? what? the smart redhead one? oh, I could be wrong then.</p>

[bears_and_dogs]

<p>hello thirty four hundred and more</p>

<p>back to topic: why Peter spanking Edward’s bottom?</p>

<p>1876 Peter Cooper failed big time as presidential candidate from Greenback party, Edward was backing up other candidate and friend who also lost but did better than Peter, Samuel Tilden
1878 Edward won the run for mayor only by courting Republican and those who were anti Tammany Hall - the democratic party political machine, though Edward himself was a Democrat, this made him look like hypocrite and dishonest, must be against the “parental law of peter cooper ltd "
the cartoon satire was published in Puck (weekly humor magazine, like, today’s " People” “US” “OK” ?) on May 21, 1879</p>

[bears_and_dogs]

<p>Happy thirty-five!
I am dog sitting for a friend about another week or so. What regular family pet dogs do in NYC is to sniff and pee as they walk on leash leisurely along paved sidewalks.
So many dogs around so many pee hotspots to check out. I’d walk much slower than usual, taking time to let him sniff and pee.
On the outer wall of a building where Lexington avenue starts, across from Gramercy park is this small low profile plaque I never noticed before walking past there million times.
"One Lexington Ave
Cyrus West Field
Born Nov 30, 1819 - Died July 12, 1892
Here for forty years was his home and here the plans were made for the first Atlantic cable laid in 1858 "
This actually is an important piece of history and Peter Cooper’s life, and thanks to the dog, now I know the guy who first thought up about sinking telegraph cable in bottom of Atlantic ocean all the way from England had lived just few blocks from my job and on now THE hot pee spot of all the Gramercy dogs. </p>

<p>It was a big deal, summer of 1858, to celebrate initial success of completed cable - fireworks almost burned down the City-hall. Tiffany sold “souvenir” cable piece. Cyrus was hailed as greatest hero in his Mass hometown-coming.
The cable was made of copper and about an inch diameter, just submerged in the ocean 2-3 miles deep from the boats carrying the coil of cable till it rested on the ocean bed where happened to be pretty flat like prairie, all the way to the Irish coast. Just like that? no wonder it gotten broke and dead in few weeks.
But this guy never quitted, took twelve or so years until finally stabilized the system and took monopoly of transatlantic telegraphing business, phew.
One of Cyrus Field’s rich friends (suckers) were Peter Cooper, who stuck with the plan investing largest amount for the entire cost.
Here is the clip of 150th anniversary held at NY historical society last year.
<a href=“150 years of transatlantic cable - YouTube”>150 years of transatlantic cable - YouTube;

[bears_and_dogs]

<p>yay thirty six hundred views.</p>

<p>I had no idea!!
here is a fresh out of the oven book might answer the question I posted before
<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Fortunes-Change-Liberal-Remaking-America/dp/047017711X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1281649199&sr=1-1-spell[/url]”>http://www.amazon.com/Fortunes-Change-Liberal-Remaking-America/dp/047017711X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1281649199&sr=1-1-spell&lt;/a&gt;
I just heard the author’s interview on good ol WNYC, might try reading it soon.
(finished “Moo” nice, wanted more hog story… I was hoping he’d start walking talking like Animal Farm.)</p>

<p>^the author said biggest riches today got now-er, liberal-er things to worry about and spread wealth for, like environment or Obama-had-been, means not so for our kids per se who are basically clothed fed read write 'rithmetic-ed yet asking more.</p>

[bears_and_dogs]

<p>happy thirty seven!
I am walking the cow ---- is one of Daniel Johnston’s song and my charge (the dog) is holstein patterned, rather pudgy and cow slow.
Here is another discovery, thanks to sniff and pee on cow speed.
The building next to the one cableguy lived has plaque as well which I never noticed before. On it says</p>

<p>" Peter Cooper
Inventor, philanthropist, founder of The Cooper Union
and beloved citizen of New York
elected his house in the fall of 1850
and lived here until his death
on April 4, 1883"</p>

<p>The address is 7 Lexington Ave, corner of East 22nd street, now it is one of those fancy condo or co-op. I don’t know what Peter’s house looked like or who when how gotten teared down. Since he got his school building preserved forever thru fire and flood, I bet his legacy is kept intact.
But, imagine, Peter lived right next door to Cyrus Field when the guy was struggling to get the cable thing working which Peter invested pile of money in.
They must have bumped into each other often. It must been awkward for so-called best friend wrapped up with money. My manga brain would write dialogues as such</p>

<p>" hello, good day, Cyrus (where is my return? you loser)"
" why Peter, how nice to see you ! ( why won’t you drop dead already, grandpa?)"</p>

<p>If they’d all met in cyrus Field’s house (now where dogs love to pee) and discussed about the cable issue, the occasion could have looked like this.
<a href=“http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/treasures/treasure.cfm?object=299359[/url]”>http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/treasures/treasure.cfm?object=299359&lt;/a&gt;
The painting is at NY State museum, Albany.
The artist was some dude took liberty by putting had-been-dead guys in it AND painted himself in there just because he could. It is funny to think what he had done since the painting is so, like, otherwise serious and stately…
Pictured, left to right, are Peter Cooper, David Dudley Field, Chandler White, Marshall O. Roberts, Samuel F. B. Morse, Daniel Huntington( the dude), Moses Taylor, Cyrus W. Field, and Wilson G. Hunt.</p>

[bears_and_dogs]

<p>naturally, the kid’s “I feel guilty” speech - post# 81-85 - is now all rage in local parenting blog site around the city after NYT head story went out. Then I noticed the students’ population numbers does not match and dug again.
The fact; elementary school to HS acceptance is no longer automatic, is true, but nowhere it says they have to take the killer test with new comers.
sorry and edit.</p>

[bears_and_dogs]

<p>hello thirty eight hundred views.</p>

<p>In the Central Park, behind the Met museum, there stands ancient Egyptian obelisk nicknamed Cleopatra’s needle, though it is not really related to the queen. There are three of them - one each in London, Paris, and here in NYC.
I am now plaque fetish. there is one on the base stone it says,</p>

<p>“This obelisk was elected first at Heliopolos, Egypt in 1600 B.C. It was removed to Alexandria in 12 B.C. by the Romans, presented by the Khedive of Egypt to the city of New York.
It was elected here on February 22, 1881 through the generosity of William H. Vanderbilt.”</p>

<p>what it got to do with Cooper Union?
to receive and elect this giant piece of granite was the hi point of then mayor of NY, Edward Cooper’s career.
Of course Vanderbilt who payed for transportation, the park commissioner who organized it, even master masons who staged laying of foundation were remembered but no mention of Edward. His term ended as the needle went up in the NYC at last.
It was a long journey.
secured as a gift to NYC in May 1877
set sail from Egypt June 12 , 1880
pulled by horses from Hudson river to the park arriving July 20, 1880.
masonic ceremony for the cornerstone October 2, 1880.
<a href=“http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9F03E4DB153FEE3ABC4852DFB667838B699FDE[/url]”>http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9F03E4DB153FEE3ABC4852DFB667838B699FDE&lt;/a&gt;
open the PDF and look at the formation of masonic parade/ ceremony. It was a whole different world in NYC.
elected on Feb 22, 1881. </p>

<p>today, it looks quite washed out after all these years but standing steady on foundation topped with something look like iron lobster craws on four corners holding up the obelisk.
One of many favorite spots in the park for tourists and locals.</p>

[artsmarts]

<p>Actually I always felt Hunter’s entrance system was one of the most fair of the NYC high schools. Either you passed the test or you didn’t and then if you passed the test your essay is read and entrance is based on the judging of the essay. In other words you need to read a certain percentage on the test (98%???, can’t remember) and then your essay must pass muster so you could pass the actual test and still not get in. It’s highly selective and the odds are daunting but many of the other NYC high schools do interviews which select out kids (for example, I’ve known some extremely brilliant kids who didn’t get into schools based on interviews (test scores off the charts), often because they were shy in an interview or not a “team player” type of kid. I’m not so sure this is as valid as the Hunter/Stuy/Bronx Science systems (only test scores) because there’s a complicated application system and you can end up with a brilliant kid at a very mediocre school because of a “bad” interview. At Hunter you either get the answers right or you don’t, at many other high schools considered good you have a lot more variability and while that can increase diversity it also allows for wiggle room preferences for kids whose parents get way too involved. But I don’t think one should judge the NYC parents too harshly because as I said the stakes can be much higher than in your typical town or community. There just are very few schools at the hs level that mid-level good, they’re either bad or great. </p>

<p>It becomes very difficult in NYC because the high schools seem to be either stellar or not good at all…there are very few mid-level choices.</p>

<p>You’re always going to get test prep and tutoring, hard to avoid. I suspect the stakes have gotten higher at Hunter recently due to the economy and you’re probably getting more kids applying and accepting admissions who are from higher income families who can afford to test prep and tutor. In the past these kids would have gone to the higher level private schools but money is tight and Hunter is prestigious and free. This is probably why you’re seeing a decline in minority enrollment which is a shame. I must say that the one time I was at Hunter when the test was being given it seemed to be an extremely diverse group of kids and parents . . . what’s knocking these minority kids out is probably the test prep or lack thereof but there certainly are a lot of minority kids making the cut for the test.</p>

<p>No answers for how to make this more “fair” but if they’re going to do portfolio reviews and interviews they’d better use that system in a more compelling manner than I’ve seen happen in other NYC schools…remember parents can (and do) “help” with portfolios.</p>

<p>My only complaint in the past about Hunter’s process is the 7th grade level admissions. I think this makes it very hard on kids who commit to a junior high, go one year, and then have to apply to Hunter and leave a school they’re pretty much settled into.</p>

<p>But I’m not so sure their system isn’t more equitable than any other options I’ve seen.</p>

[artsmarts]

<p>you need to read a certain percentage on the test (98%???, can’t remember)</p>

<p>of course I meant you need to pass a certain percentage on the test and actually I think the cut-off is around 99.6% or something insane like that.</p>

[bears_and_dogs]

<p>hello thirty nine and welcome back smarty, yo Hunter cut off cleared mom!!</p>

<p>^the question was asked by this nice caring mom at “new students’ parents/ friends orientation” in last Sep. as I was spying on.
" but you do not have meal plan, what my child going to eat? "
we are in the classroom on the second floor, in the foundation building, from the window, you could see that you are in the heart of East village; literarily surrounded by all kind of cheap eateries going around the world : tako yaki ( octopus ball ) to gyro, bagel, pizza, falafel, burgers and chicken nuggets.</p>

<p>so what and where do they get food?
some fav haunt from my kid’s CE class days
if Switters, loveblue and others are lurking, try some. but my regret, the automat came back with bang! in St Marks is now gone, replaced by cafe.</p>

<p>sandwiches - St Marks market, 23sh St Marks - half underground level food market open late. for lunch, good veggie sandwiches (zucchini, roasted pepper) half decent eggplant with real provolone cheese, Turkey and cranberry sort, etc. $5-6
also sells hard to find Happy HIppo and Milka bars by Kinder’s. when you are down, all you need is one Happy Hippo. but they are packed by fives, pitch in with friends and share.
<a href=“http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://orderinny.files.■■■■■■■■■■■■■/2008/04/more-happy-hippo.jpg&imgrefurl=http://orderinny.■■■■■■■■■■■■■/2008/04/&usg=__VrMZfacr_LmCcoACj6obvp8Q7YQ=&h=228&w=304&sz=25&hl=en&start=8&zoom=1&tbnid=WKAy5BvtGlJq-M:&tbnh=87&tbnw=116&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dhappy%2Bhippo%2Bcandy%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dsafari%26sa%3DX%26rls%3Den-us%26tbs%3Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1[/url]”>http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://orderinny.files.■■■■■■■■■■■■■/2008/04/more-happy-hippo.jpg&imgrefurl=http://orderinny.■■■■■■■■■■■■■/2008/04/&usg=__VrMZfacr_LmCcoACj6obvp8Q7YQ=&h=228&w=304&sz=25&hl=en&start=8&zoom=1&tbnid=WKAy5BvtGlJq-M:&tbnh=87&tbnw=116&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dhappy%2Bhippo%2Bcandy%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dsafari%26sa%3DX%26rls%3Den-us%26tbs%3Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1&lt;/a&gt;
Weird Japanese sweets are available, too, dorayaki, manjyu. ( see wagashi posting in <em>squee</em> page 33. 34sh)</p>

<p>pizza- 2 Bros Pizza, 32 St Marks - here, you can buy big cheese slice for a buck. pepperoni and mushroom slice are $ 1.50. It was supposed to be grand opening promotion but that “grand opening” period lasted forever to attract students and the price gotten stuck. I have not eaten it myself but looks basic, dough-y, filling, mediocre kind of pizza. </p>

<p>french fries - Pommes Frites, 123 2nd Ave - Belgian fries at best, bit costly $ 5- 8 sh depending on the size but come with neat dips from many choices: rosemary garlic mayo, wasabi mayo, curry ketchup etc. another thing to share with friends. filling, hot, yummy.</p>

<p>next post " the ramen war" followed by snacks for moms plus THE more weird stuff.</p>

[artsmarts]

<p>“yo Hunter cut off cleared mom”
Ah but I didn’t say that Bears, I said I happened to be there…</p>

<p>As for the food choices around Cooper Bears is right, the place is chock block full of eateries, the only problem might be that there’s not a lot of veggie places but if you like pizza, you’re in great shape. The only other problem might be sticker shock for those coming from the “hinterlands”. It’s going seem very expensive. There are also tons of corner “Delis” where you can pick up a yogurt and a banana or some such thing.</p>

[bears_and_dogs]

<p>smarty, my dear, how else could you get into the prison turf extention test spots?
being exam proctor? education writer? doorman? some show-off parent invited you to come along?
don’t you think I’d try to spy outa nosiness?
no smart friend of my kid from his grade school made cut off but one girl I did not know so well, she did not get in after all.
he met few Hunter kids only afterward, so no exam spying for me.</p>

<p>after “ramen war” etc, should be added “fruits and yogurt war” coming soon!!
Cooper dorm guard said only RA is about moving in, new kids aren’t coming till next week or so. school won’t start till Sep.
I will do epic four-thousand views post with ramen?</p>

[artsmarts]

<p>Prison turf describes the spot exactly Bears, not exactly the most visually appealing “campus.”
How about Johnny Rockets, is that still there, walking distance. Price of yogurt and banana, $10 at your friendly local deli…well actually that would include a drink probably. I remember a friend coming to visit from a pretty darn good size town out West, ordering a piece of pie and a cup of coffee and he just about fell off the stool when the check came.</p>

[greenwitch]

<p>It’s funny, I bought a few pashmina scarves on St. Mark’s Place (right near Cooper) and they were much less money than any other place I’ve seen them. Even at other outdoor markets. </p>

<p>NYC has good prices, but you have to DIG to find them. </p>

<p>And since my D1 already HATES the food served at her school, fending for yourself and actually getting food you like, sounds a bit better. It will be a long year for D1.</p>

[artsmarts]

<p>That’s very true for clothing.
And true for food to a degree.
IMO Chinatown restaurants are probably the best deal.</p>

[bears_and_dogs]

<p>four thousand views!!! the epic post !! (who cares!?)
reason and season, seasoning and slurping to be cerebrated!
I do not know why but around the corner from Cooper, St Marks place ( part of what should be East 8th street between 3rd Ave and Avenue A) between 3rd and 2nd Avenue is the closest to what you’d expect as “little Japan” in NYC. Turtle Bay near UN to Midtown East might work for business men but for young kids, at St Marks you get grimps of what back streets of Shinjuku Shibuya Harajuku might look like. why it is so, I have to study up but many half legit Japanese eateries have been in the area for the long time.
It is kind of natural thing that hyped ramen invasion had to be started here in the East village. </p>

<p>for those have not yet seen the 1985 Japanese cult film about ramen “Tampopo” it’s pre requisite for the ramen fun.
<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tampopo[/url]”>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tampopo&lt;/a&gt;
please see it if you can, then you will know what’a big deal. (hopefully)
It was created out of some true facts, there this town called Ogikubo bit out of Shinjuku, Tokyo, have few popular ramen joints fight over which one is the best, they all had specialties in toppings, kind of noodles or broth. one of those restaurant was called " Haru ki ya" ( in my opinion, movies’ title tampopo = dandelion and haru ki= spring tree connects) after all, it is about personal taste, yet media would write up reviews ratings and people’d line up in front of restaurants to eat’em up (literally)</p>

<p>here we are in NYC, ramen took more than two decades after showing of Tampopo to sink into “hip”-er side of population. there are few old timer joint serving OK noodle soups but this place called “Ippudo” changed everything.
I was not aware of all the rage in Japan but it was said, best tonkotsu (pork bone fatty broth) ramen ever created.
for greater international expansion in mind, the owner came up with somewhat Americanized recipe for the occasion and added creative side dishes, drinks, ravish decor and cute staff, opened on 4th avenue just up from the Cooper Union.
The other one is called “Setagaya” its first restaurant was on 1st Ave with shio ( salt clear broth) ramen only. naturally they are pressed to have other kind of broth, most popular shoyu (soy sauce) and miso. other locations are added, one on St Marks, one in University place each serving specialties.
Tried and true best ramen joint in NYC before those two fancy new comers debut have been the place called " Menkuitei" in midtown. they are bit sloppy side being the top-dog but had insight and already opened and operated East village branch, across from Cooper’s foundation building.
I should add here, this fusion place " Momo f-u-ku"(otherwise editted out) that might have started it all more than the movie from 80s. even thou " Tampopo" and its director won critical acclaim form euro authorities, did not so much from US. - Oh, I should mentioned, if you have seen " Inspection" recently, young Ken Watanabe was in “Tampopo” as dorky side kick. noone back then would have imagined out of all other promising Japanese actors galore, he’d be the Hollywood star oneday… </p>

<p>back to Momo<strong><em>u, it is a tiny noodle bar started in the village and became daring of, I don’t know what you call it, those category of NYer who decide what we should know and eat and read watch if you want to have decent conversation in decent parties in decent places with decent people just like themselves so they could feel all decent and superior.
I have eaten there in midst of hype as birthday treat from my American friend, but, gawd forbid, it was awful.
golden rule of the ramen is, according to Tampopo, " if not piping hot, it is not ramen"
at Momo</em></strong>u, the guy behind the counter would “garnish” ramen ever so carefully with peas, egg, pork, bamboo shoots to make it beautiful while already overcooked and somewhat lukewarm-sh broth are loosing its momentum every passing mili-second!!!<br>
I wanted to scream, " just hand it to me, you don’t have to worry about how slices of pork are lining up, clock is ticking, darn it !!! "
it was not only lukewarm, everything everyone were raving about was mediocre at the best. I did not say anything bad-bad to my friend who treated me, but I made sure to show her “Tampopo” DVD from the library.
Momo***u still operates in the area and now published its own fancy cookbook and all. But I consider they are not in this game, along with any many fusion placees happened to serve sushi AND ramen (warning sign, VERY wrong thing to do) and the one called “Rairai ken” on East 10th street where local media loves but all us Japanese eaters avoid.</p>

<p>bears and dogs’ ramen saga: denouement - where to eat good ramen near Cooper? - no ratings or winners, because it is all about personal taste, really. it change by what dish you pick, who is cooking it ( faster the better) serving it (quicker the better) how the weather is (hot, cold, wet, dry all affect noodle’s texture) etc, etc. ramen is art. really, Really.</p>

<p>Ippudo
4th Avenue between 9th and 10th street
pros: could be the best ramen I ever eaten in my NY life.
system called " kae dama" second serving of cooked plain noodle for cheap if you can refrain slurping all the broth and save enough pool for the second. thou naturally it won’t be hot anymore: only good for filling your tummy up, without breaking bank, for their servings are small yet price is sky hi.
cons: $$$$, long-sh wait in peak times, closed between lunch and dinner hours except Sundays, 3:30PM to 5PM when I am usually most hungry.</p>

<p>Setagaya
34 St Marks Place ( between 2 and 3rd Avenue)
pros: offers totally meat free broth and topping veggie ramen. It have been a challenge how to serve real ramen to pork free people, but done here and done well.
you get to see interesting ramen related Japanese reality/ cooking TV show marathon on the overhead screen while waiting for the food.
cons: service is slow and not enthusiastic. servers’ English is bit challenged, as postings on the wall. original deep pointy bowl shape is cool looking but hard to eat from.</p>

<p>Menkuitei
63 Cooper Square (which is part of should-be 3rd Avenue along with Cooper Union properties)
pros: $$, place is big, less wait, quick service, tried and true basic noodle dishes, wide variety of seasonal sides and drinks.
cons: cash only, no credit debit card accepted.
compare to original midtown joint, everything is less spirited. lack of grime -constant pork-y steam and smoke rising in open kitchen gyoza making by sweaty grumpy (really) old Japanese men in grease stained white shirts- make and feel taste not as good.
sort of dumper to see too many young skinny somewhat Asian NYU girls quite not gotten concept of ramen: they’d use soup spoon for support and eat noodle by single strand, take forever to eat, leave half or so untouched bloated noodles behind = nothing but crime committed in the ramen world.- and they are almost always accompanied by wide eyed awe struck boys also have no ramen skill.
have anyone read joke book based on the blog called " stuff white people like" ?
<a href=“http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/2008/01/20/11-asian-girls/[/url]”>http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/2008/01/20/11-asian-girls/&lt;/a&gt;
It does worry me because in some degree not a joke but truth. </p>

<p>I guess this is too much… coming soon, snack for moms, weird stuff and fruit and yogurt.
PS and for you, smarty, the legend of the “dollar dump” from Chinatown</p>