Heath "Needing the Weekend" R.'s Profile

This is a good-sized white-wall gallery on the LES. When I visited today, they were showing work by Exene Cervenka. It combined the number 46, paper ephemera, and esoteric spiritual themes. Interesting stuff.

Inspired by an article in a recent edition of the Times about galleries on the LES, I went on a bit of an art walkabout this afternoon while C. went to a canning class. This was my first stop.

At $12, it's a reasonable ticket, and it seems that they host three exhibits at a time -- with no standing collection. There's also a cafe on the top floor that's open weekends. Worth visiting for the outdoor balcony view alone. On the fifth floor is a small library, where you can more leisurely browse through the catalogs and monographs.

Be sure to use the stairs instead of the elevator. It's faster, even if the big green elevator is pretty cool. Just be careful not to slam the door -- and avoid the emergency doors, which will set off alarms.

Of the current artists, Daniel Guzman is the highlight, with Steven Shearer at a close second. The museum store stocks an ample supply of art and design books, as well as recent art journals. Worth checking out.

Hanging out with Amit and the gang working in the Y Combinator/Heysan/Photojojo space South of Market until I can check into my hotel later today. Camping out in the conference room catching up on work while noshing on a poppyseed bagel and cup of joe from Brain Wash, a not-too-far away coffee shop.

Tellingly, when Amit took me out to get my morning sustenance, he bypassed the deli at the corner and opted instead for the longer walk in the morning heat. And I'm glad he did. The combination cafe/laundromat reminds me of the joint bars/laundromats in Chicago and other places -- they even have a numbered sign that lights up when your machine is done -- but I'd rather drink coffee and work while waiting for the rinse and spin to end than get beery, you know?

The girl behind the counter seemed a little sleepy but was nice enough. We confused her with my stay-to go!-stay-to go! indecision, and then she proceeded to put my coffee in a glass pint... she then dumped it into a paper cup to go. "Last call," she said, to make sure we were serious.

By 10 a.m., they had no more plain bagels, but they did have poppyseed, which is close enough. It's a good bagel, and the cream cheese was fresh.

I'd return. Not a bad place to start the day if you're in the area.

It's an Albertsons, and that about says it all. They have a very limited magazine selection, and they don't have comic books. They did have a couple of superhero coloring books we could choose from, though, so it worked out OK in the end.

The three of us had an excellent experience here. The bathroom is open to the public, and it's pretty clean. Be sure to wash your hands before eating! We got two sandwiches -- turkey with avocado and a BMT -- and a kid's meal with a small turkey sandwich, a juice box, and a toy. One bag of chips for the table and two cookies... for less than $20. Subway's fast food, but it's fresh and relatively healthy. I didn't get the vibe Jill C. got at all. In fact, the woman behind the counter was pretty energetic and responsive to our joking around. Besides, they pointed out the kid's meal deal to me... I would have just bought everything singly... and I appreciated that.

The budget toy selection here is quite impressive. Hot Wheels costs $1 a piece, like at most places, but I also picked up some Play Doh, a kaleidoscope, rocket balloons, and other playthings -- a 24-piece puzzle -- for between $1 and $3. Look for the deals -- and not just in the One Spot or whatever that sale area is called -- they're all over the place.

C. and I came here for an early lunch -- they had just opened around 11, and we really wanted breakfast, but lunch it was -- and we sure weren't disappointed. Get the cornbread service if they offer it. It's free, and the honey butter is delicious. You won't need honey in its own right. The bread doesn't use whole kernels, so it's not too old school, but it's not overly processed, either.

She got the quiche, which was excellent and light. And I got the soup and sandwich special -- a bowl of clam chowder (New England) and a hot ham sandwich. Relatively light and healthy. One of my better times at a Marie Callender's.

Now if only someone would explain to me the appeal of their Wednesday wine special. Who goes to Marie Callender's for wine?

I haven't tried the deli counter, but they make a mean pizza. C., my son, and I came here for dinner one night, ordered a pizza and sodas, and we were set. The pizza was perfect. The decor leaves a little to be desired, but you can't beat this for a down-home, sit-down, Friday night pizza dinner. Excellent.

Awesome. Comfortable, an all-you-could-want-to-eat menu -- in that they have quite a wide selection -- and relatively inexpensive prices. Good for the whole family. C. and I each got the soup and salad combo -- all you can eat! -- which was awesome. And my son got a cheeseburger, which seemed decent. A good family restaurant just off the beaten path.

A bright spot along this stretch of average chain eateries. The Mariposa Inn has been here for a long, long time. And it's a wonderful old-school Mexican family restaurant. I forget what we all got, but everyone enjoyed their dishes. The chips and salsa were fresh and delicious. And my tamarindo was tart and tasty. If you find yourself in the area -- and just off the highway -- make a point of coming here. You'll be glad you did.