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Monday, March 03, 2003 Page: 3A
WWhen you’re engaged in a passionate defense of the pierogi and potato
pancake and your boss pokes his head in the room, you might conclude your
voice carries a tad much.
But that won’t at all quell an urge to cross your arms and snivel to said
boss, “He started it.”
My colleague and soon-to-be team member did start it, though, with some
sarcastic nonsense about “nouveau Northeastern Pennsylvania cuisine.” ‘Twas
his way of dissin’ the entrenched European delicacies we’ve all long known and
loved.
“Psst. Forgot to caution you about one thing,” my boss whispered to the
infidel. “She’s From Here.”
I capitalize the F and H, see, so the characterization, joke though it was,
will leave no ambiguity.
From here indeed.
And OK with that, despite, well, everything that entails.
Despite finding myself, for example, at an unfortunate loss just a weekend
ago while anticipating the return of a native. What’s new and stimulating to
do in NEPA? my old friend inquired.
We could bowl, perhaps disco-style at midnight to really shake things up.
Or ice-skate, she said, which would have been workable were the evening not so
slushy-sloggy.
Traditionalists, we first dined out, commencing with something – ahem –
called Chinese Pierogies at a delightfully unassuming little stop on Parrish
Street called the Par Four Cafe. Delectable – but not the only “local” dish
to get us gushing. And my comrade turned big-city long ago, which must count
for something.
Next up was a round of trivia, which set me to thinking about what other
people, tourists aside, do for kicks in other locales – you know, “real”
cities.
Sometimes they go to trivia bars, I’ve learned. Anyone read about the
growing trend – old-England style quiz nights in the pubs? I’m adding it to my
growing “Things Someone Really Needs To Start Here” list. Perhaps in tandem
with Beer ‘n’ Bible, a catchy name my brother-in-law coined that might
describe another headline-grabbing trend of recent note: young urbanites
gathering to dissect the deep questions over a couple of cold ones.
I’m From Here, so I can criticize
What else? Anyone care to start an official list of things we want and
need?
Knitting groups perhaps? The craft’s regained footing, especially among
young roots-seekers.
How about film circles, the annual highlight of which would be an Oscars
party to rival any West Coast soiree?
I mean to take nothing away, mind, from the hundreds of interesting folks
who have forever tried to interest restless natives in interesting things –
pottery, fly-tying, tobogganing, exhibits of everything from artsy birds to
ancient radios.
Come to think of it, perhaps our real problem is not a lack of options but
of elemental wonder.
Incuriosity immobilizes.
It fetters us to the pierogi and frightens us from the piperade (which is
at heart merely a stew). It causes us to crab that there’s nothing to do, when
in fact so much unfolds right in front of our eyes.
Ah, NEPA. You’re so much richer than we recognize. Yet such a long way off.
I can say that. I’m From Here.
Reach Sandra Snyder at 831-7383 or ssnyder@leader.net.