Pop Tate's

My favorite palace without a doubt in Riverdale is Pop Tate's Chok'lit Shoppe, which is the only place I'll lower myself to eating cupcakes in this crappy era.

Pop Tates in Better Times!
Mr. Hunt can be seen reading the paper.

Randolph Hunt is Pop Tate's best customer as well as his most intoxicated. There is a little placque over the toilet that says, "Randolph Hunt Memorial Toilet" even though Mr. Hunt is by no means deceased. In fact he is writing this, right now, this new journalism. He is editing this as well, and later will pay himself just about enough to go out an buy a takeout Chinese restaurant container of Heineken, or maybe
even Guinness, if he's feeling bold. He has been known to run up a tab at Smith's Bar nearly, and try to get out of town visiting friends to pay for it. Randolph Hunt's story has inconsistencies to say the least. His life is melting like an old-fashioned ice cream parlor atmospheric device.

He really really believes that losing the store would be horrible, so please don't tell him that it has closed. What will go in the site where Pop's used to be? Forever 69, or 420 For Beginners, or the Formula 409 Outlet store, it doesn't matter. Maybe even Domino Sugar the Broadway musical or the new Crown Confectionery and Crackhouse. If so, meet Randolph at the Chocolate and Pita Shop on Merrimack Street in Tuscarora Country or on the last remaining parkbench on Winter Street in Lower Manhattan.

Review of the new Redhook IKEA store

First of all it was hard to find, due to not having ANY sign, or even a street address number. It's right in the center of Redhook—which forms, with Riverdale, the "Tri-Cities"—so you think it would be easy, but if you've ever BEEN to the center of Redhook you'll know what I mean. There are no signs or numbers because nearly everything that's there has been exactly the same for 1000 years. The only thing older than the shops are the 1000 year old trees. Once you do find it, you're shocked by the poor lighting and ventilation. I kind of liked that, though, it's so anti-retail. The further you get towards the back of the store the darker it gets too, until you notice the the front is lit pretty much by the light coming in the open screen door. The back is lit mostly by candles. The whole place isn't any bigger than your average Starbucks. And they have coffee brewing, for free, you just have to wash out your cup when you leave. Also, you can sit around on some shipping crates and eat 1000 year old eggs if you feel like it. I asked for the Lingonberries, the reason for my visit, and was told maybe next week. In the meantime would I like to buy a used Jenga game with blood stains? Or a picture puzzle of Charles Martin Smith and a wolf, which I suspected has several missing pieces. I like the way the clerk keeps a pencil behind his ear and ties your purchases with brown paper and string. I noticed an old pickle barrel and was about to remove the heavy marble lid when an old-timer stopped me, saying, "Whatever you do, don't remove that lid, for GOD'S SAKE!" So I didn't. I'll give this place seven and a half stars, on a scale of 10. Sorry, no address is available. No phone. Open every day, just about.