Andrew J. Lederer

I see that the Cheyenne Diner, one of the last of the real New York diners, has closed and, though I thought about it, I never went there.

New York, as it was, is vanishing, replaced by a whole other city, and I never really got to know the old one.

Been to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden twice lately, though.

Every year, I think about going but don't generally get there 'til the Magnolia Garden is essentially gone, its remaining blooms browning on the branches. But this year, I've seen the trees as they approach full glory, watched the members of a wedding framed by their petals, been imbued by their sweet, somewhat narcotic scent.

Why can't there be a city parks department for things like shops and buildings and lifestyles and historical/cultural moments that preserves and maintains the world for us to visit when we get around to it, maybe with free admission on Tuesdays and Saturday mornings?

How come some guy is allowed to build a multi-story building in a place where I've yet to have a hamburger?