I Ate • New York • Part 4

The residents of downtown Manhattan have a daily reminder of the horror of 9/11. Scaffolding and fencing still surround the area where the World Trade Center once stood. There is signage promoting a beautiful design with architecturally-splendid buildings, pedestrian walkways and shopping. But, almost 8 years later, it sadly remains an unfinished project.

The "alert" remains high. On a prior trip, I was walking on the Manhattan side under the Brooklyn Bridge and stopped to take a photo when I was approached by a policeman who asked me not to take photos of the structures. I probably could have had my camera confiscated or been hauled off to jail for these shots of the entrance to my friend's building. One side of the building has a view of both the Brooklyn and the Manhattan Bridges. The other side, which fronts Police Plaza, has been manned 24-7 by U.S. Marshals since 9/11 and is closed off on both sides to vehicular travel. As you can see, one cannot drive through without an o.k. from the marshal-on-duty who then releases the upright plate making passage possible. I asked one of the marshals if there were any plans to re-open the street and he responded "not likely".

But, like typical New Yorkers, my friend and others in the neighborhood 'deal with it' and life goes on!

Not to leave you on a 'downer' and since this is I Ate • NY, one of the fun things of this neighborhood is that it sits at the mouth of Chinatown (and is a stone's throw to Little Italy.)

Dim Sum Go-Go, 5 East Broadway

Turnip Cake, Pumpkin Cake & Roast Pork Bun

Dumpling Sampler

Coming Next: A private party, the markets, walking across the Brooklyn Bridge and scenic shots.