BARGAIN at the ATM

I've been spending a lot of time in a very Italian neighborhood in East Williamsburg. I really enjoy it. I come from a big Italian family myself (on dad's side), so I find the site of biscotti thru a bakery window, fresh pasta, well kept nails and eyebrows, lots of arm movement/hand gestures, and gaughty interior/exterior decorating very comforting as I adjust to my new life in Brooklyn.

There are several friendly faces I see almost every day, I even get a wink from some of them and I smile warmly in return because it's so nice to interact with people in a neighborhood where they at least make some effort to make you feel welcome.

My friends in the neighborhood who didn't grow up here always talk about the presence of the Mafia around these parts, but I'm not one to speculate even though some of them claimed to have "heard this" or "seen that" supporting they're around. I told these friends of mine about a strange experience I had and they were certain I had interacted with a couple of gangsters, but who knows.

here it goes:

I was meeting my friend Jasmine for a BLT at 6 pm. As we met up on the corner, I realized I needed to get cash. We spotted an ATM right accross the street at this bar I've always passed walking to the train. Usually there are 4 or 5 guys sitting in lawn chairs out front and they're always friendly and give a wave and a wink in my direction.

As I was about to put my card in, I felt a shadow of a small group of men from behind.

SOME OLDER ITALIAN GUY:

"don't put ya card in sweetie. you don't wanna do that"

ME:

"oh is it broken or something?"

akwardly smiling as I waited for my card deets to register

SOME OLDER ITALIAN GUY:
"no. no. your account number is gonna go down....you don't want that sweetie"

he said as he pulled out a HUGE wad of cash in a money clip - speaking in a soothing tone.

ME:
"OH"

i said half laughing/half gasping

SOME OLDER ITAlIAN GUY:
"Here. How much ya need? I just wanna give you some money. You don't need to give me nothing for it. I just.....ur a beautiful girl and I ah....... I ah..... wanna give you some money - thats all."

ME:

"OH- I'm really flattered........"

pondering for a moment, wondering what the right play is and what would happen if i did or didn't accept the offer.

" BUT......I CAN'T TAKE YOUR MONEY"

mouthing "DAMN" to myself as I walked away with my friend and $60 less in my bank account, but who knows what the outcome would've been if i would have taken it.

I've had other offers over the last couple of months to buy food, drinks, even shoes. I decided to accept my first offer last week. A nice older Italian man insisted on paying for my Italian Ice, and I let him because I'm really trying to save money right now. and of course - it would have been rude to refuse, after all it was only $2 and that felt ok.

Hope you are enjoying that early fall weather :) - ARX

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

Have a Good One!
love, anni xo

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Girls Talking on the Train

I was riding the train back into brooklyn yesterday, and I heard this girl giving advice to her other girlfriend about making her current guy jealous. It went a little something like this if i remember correctly:

"When your talkin 2 him on the phone, click 2 the other line and say, o hold up leeme get diz, den wait a few minutes,just press the mute button, and click back 2 him, say another guyz name, like, o sorry carlos ima talk 2 you later, and when he says, its jason or watever, b like o ma bad, hold up, wait 2 more minutes, and click back 2 your guy...workz great"

caught my ear for sure.....lol
ax

LOVE STORIES from NEW JERSEY

I really felt like watching that movie GOODFELLAS last night, but couldn't find my copy of it. I was chatting with my friend Aimee on the phone and she sent me this link after we talked about Italian mobster movie stuff. I love the clothes in this clip especially, and just the overall "vibe" in general.

JULIETTE

I can't believe these dance moves. They started a Pop Dance conservatory (julliard style) in Korea a few years back and I can see how it's paid off. This group is called SHINEE. I wish some of the shots were longer.