Okay so the offical Spring Equinox was four days ago, but one of the signs that spring really has arrived in NYC is the rush to eat and drink al fresco. Especially in some really cool spot like the Shake Shack. Because nothing says "Hey, let's grab a nice, juicy burger outdoors!" than a damp, chilly grey day.
Sure, it wasn't as cold as it's been in the last couple of weeks, but it's colder than it was two days ago, when it was in the 60s. Today it was in the mid-40s, tops. Not cold enough for a hat, scarf and gloves, perhaps, but too cold to stand in a line about 100 people long. For a HAMBUGER.
I mean, look at these people!
Wait, there's more.
I had to go to the back of the line for a closer look.
Look at that guy with the yellow suitcase. Did he fly in especially to eat here today?
Seriously, the burgers at the Shake Shack aren't that good. I've had one and, frankly, it gave me a stomach ache. Gave three out of four of us a stomach ache, in fact; the one who didn't get a stomach ache didn't order the burger.
But I don't care how good a burger is, it is not worth standing in a line like this in 40-odd chilly degrees for. Yet this kind of inexplicable behavior seems to be happening more and more every day in this city. Who are these people? And what am I doing sharing a city with them?
I guess we know who they are: These are the folk who are filling up all those new luxury condos spreading around New York like mold and robbing the city of its esoteric feel. People with no imagination or taste, happy to follow the crowd while believing they're actually leading the pack. Nobody's lining up here for the burgers, they're lining up for the bragging rights. "Hey, been to the Shake Shack yet? We went last Saturday. Oh, yeah, it's open. Had the burger. It's the best."
Yeah right, dude. Totally worth waiting for an hour in the cold for. Now let's go chase that burger with a cupcake from the Magnolia. They're the best.
I think your picture makes you look "hot" for an older dame!!!!! Love your work!!!
Posted by: matt | March 27, 2007 at 10:47 AM