JUSTIN ANTHROBLOG

Chess Culture in NYC and Boston: Casual Pick Up Games

Chess culture in NYC is quite unique. Nowhere else will you find so many places to play chess where all you need to do is show up with a few dollars and the desire to play a game. While you can find formal tournaments at places like the Marshall Club in NYC or through Continental Chess, there are also a variety of other casual places where you can find pickup games.

These games include the Chess Forum, Union Square, and Washington Square Park.

Chess Forum is located in the East Village and is composed of a storefront selling chess sets as well as a back area where one can easily participate in a pick up game. Participants range from beginner to advanced, old and young. The cost to play is free for students or $5 an hour for adults. The setting is quite cozy, and there is typically classical music playing in the background. This environment makes for a particularly appealing setup. One can easily pass many hours at this location engrossed in a number of games lasting from quick 5 minute games to those with longer time control. The hours at the Chess Forum can accommodate most everyone’s schedule as they are open from 12 pm to 12 am.

Participants appear to be more casual players, as opposed to more serious and higher rated players who might prefer to play in rated tournaments. This makes for a lighter and more fun atmosphere than what can be experienced in rated tournaments, where players are typically very serious and even stressed due to the nature of the tournament being rated, as well as the potential money at stake.

In Washington Square Park and Union Square Park, players also pay $5 to play chess against opponents. The difference is that instead of being nestled inside in a cozy environment, one is playing outdoors where they are subject to the elements of nature. Therefore, on a hot or rainy day, chess games can be interrupted or very uncomfortable.

Besides NYC, Boston is another city where one can play pick up games. Harvard Square offers the opportunity for some casual chess games. There, opponents typically wager $5, with the loser paying the winner. When I was there, I found the strength of the opponents to range from about 1500 to about 2200, providing a challenging environment for the average player. Harvard Square offers a nice, centralized location for tourists, students, and commuters alike to have an opportunity to play a challenging game in the heart of an academic and busy city.

These casual pick up games in NYC and Boston represent one of the benefits of living in the Northeast and especially NYC, where one can easily find opponents to engage in a chess game. These opportunities may be not be present in other parts of the country and may be due to the popularity of chess in urban areas like NYC and Boston.

POKE

Introduction

What is Poke? Poke, pronounced poke-ay, is a traditional Hawaiian dish that means “to slice or cut” in Hawaiian and refers to diced cubes of protein, usually in the form of raw fish like salmon and tuna, marinated with soy sauce, sesame oil, and other condiments and served over rice and topped with vegetables and crunchy toppings. Poke is a variation of sushi and appears to be as popular, if not more so, than Japanese sushi.

Poke has slowly made its way to New Jersey, bringing an explosion of newly-established poke restaurants near Mountain Lakes. Although Inspiration Roll in Denville is closed, two other poke restaurants are thriving, both of which are less than a year old and serve as excellent options for poke. One is Fresca Bowl and Poke Mahi in Denville, and the other is Poke Works in Rockaway.

1. Fresca Bowl and Poke Mahi

While I was in Princeton, New Jersey, I had the pleasure of dining at the Fresca Bowl and Poke Mahi there. I was pleased to find that another opened in Denville and to discover that it had done so at the hands of the same owner.

The restaurant offers fresh, flavorful poke in addition to other healthy and unique offerings, including açaí bowls, chia bowls, kale bowls, oatmeal bowls, and pitaya bowls. I have only tried their poke bowls, though their other options seem just as nutritious and appealing.

As far as their poke goes, they offer pre-made selections, including the Traditional, the Forbidden, Taco Poke, Spice It Up, No Rice Poke, and the Korean Rib Bowl. My favorite is the Traditional, which consists of tuna, mango, seaweed, cucumber, edamame, and a Napa cabbage salad. The Forbidden is made of octopus, chipotle aioli, red radish, jalapeño peppers, and other vegetables; Taco Poke is made of taco shells, tuna, and guacamole; Spice It Up is made of brown rice, salmon, cucumber, scallions, radish, and pickled mushrooms; No Rice Poke is made of mixed greens, tofu, quinoa, and other vegetables; and the Korean Rib Bowl is made of pork ribs marinated in gochujang sauce (red chili paste), along with pickled mushrooms, asparagus, and other vegetables.

Crunchy toppings are also available and include sesame seeds, fried garlic, and fried onions.

The açaí bowls, chia bowls, kale bowls, oatmeal bowls, and pitaya bowls all appear to be vegan and are served with fruits, nuts, oats, and seeds. Pitaya is a pink or white fruit that tastes like a cross between a pear and a kiwi and is rich in vitamins. A pitaya bowl is a smoothie bowl made with pitaya as its fruit base and is not commonly seen in poke restaurants.

The interior of Fresca Bowl and Poke Mahi is inviting and there is a small eating area. Its location is excellent, as it is located on Broadway in a central part of Denville, and their service is friendly and efficient.

I highly recommend Fresca Bowl and Poke Mahi if you are interested in trying poke or one of their other nutritious bowls: their wide array of healthy and appetizing options to choose from ensure a unique dining experience.

2. Poke Cafe

Poke Cafe is located in Rockaway in the area behind Olive Garden and offers a variety of options in addition to bubble tea and fruit teas, slushies, and smoothies. Specializing in both Chinese and Japanese cuisines, their poke bowls go beyond the typical salmon/tuna offerings to combine the two cultures.

Though Poke Cafe’s portions are large, their ingredients are fresh and savory. Dishes include unique combinations such as General Tso’s Chicken and Shrimp, Beef/Chicken Poke, and other standard Tuna/Salmon options. Their spectrum of dishes ensures that people of all food preferences will be satisfied, including those who prefer cooked protein.

Poke Cafe’s menu options are similar to ones at Fresca Bowl and Poke Mahi: bowls may be custom or pre-made. Poke Cafe allows their customers more freedom, however, in that we can select a base (such as rice, salad or zucchini noodles), a protein (salmon, tuna, or cooked protein like the ones in General Tso’s Chicken and Walnut Shrimp), toppings (including avocado and seaweed), and sauces (such as sriracha aioli and ponzu sauce, a tangy sauce made of citrus, rice vinegar, mirin, and soy sauce).

Inside the building, there is a small dining section that is frequently occupied but rarely full.

Despite Poke Cafe being located further from Mountain Lakes than is Fresca Bowl and Poke Mahi, it is worth the drive. On the plus side, it conveniently stands near Rockaway Mall, offering a palatable culinary affair following a shopping spree!

Overall, Poke Cafe offers a satisfactory option for those who want a bowl without raw fish. Therefore, I highly recommend it for its value, quality, and multitude of offerings.

Invitational Chess Tournaments

There are a number of invitational chess tournaments where participants can compete for norms, such as FIDE GM, IM, and FM norms. These tournaments occur at several major sites and are run by organizations such as the Charlotte Chess Center. I have recently participated in several of these tournaments, run in NYC. These tournaments span several days, with one to two games a day and feature high rated players in general, from those who are National Masters to those who are Grand Masters. The entrance fees are high for lower rated players but offer the opportunity to play consistently high rated players as well as to garner norms.

Participating in chess tournaments can be challenging and stressful, but ultimately very rewarding. During these tournaments, one can play opponents from nearby as well as opponents from around the world. These tournaments range from all-inclusive events, where anyone can participate, including beginners, to more elite tournaments where only highly-rated players are invited. The tournaments can be one-day events or span many days. In addition, the time control of these events can range from as little as 20 minutes to as much as about 4-5 hours a game. One can get a chess rating from participating in US Chess Federation tournaments and winning games; with higher ratings, chess titles can be earned, such as FIDE (International Chess Federation) Master, Grand Master, and International Master (IM) earned in FIDE tournaments. I am currently a National Master who has been playing in chess tournaments for about 10 years and have participated in nearly 300 tournaments.

Recently, I participated in the New York Spring Invitational IM Norm Round Robin from April 14-18, 2022. This 9-round tournament spanned 5 days, with players invited from around the country, including multiple Grand Masters and International Masters. This was a FIDE International Chess Federation rated tournament where players had a chance to gain IM norms. You can achieve the IM title by gaining three IM norms and a 2400 FIDE rating. Each player had 90 minutes per game with a 30-second increment added to each move. During this tournament, I had a chance to play Levy Rozman, who has a YouTube channel entitled Gotham City Chess with over one million subscribers. I was playing black against him. While I ended up losing the game, the experience was an interesting one, particularly because Levy created a video of our game, memorializing it on YouTube.

Hunger in New Jersey

Despite being an affluent state, hunger in NJ is still prevalent and is an especially big problem for some schoolchildren. Close to 300,000 children in NJ face hunger and receive most of their nutrition at school, and 540,000 live in families who have difficulty paying their bills. It is well known that children who are hungry cannot concentrate in school and do more poorly academically overall. There is even some evidence to suggest that children who grow up with food insecurity are sicker, suffering from chronic diseases like asthma, as well as mental health issues like depression and anxiety. NJ lawmakers have passed several pieces of legislation to address this issue. One latest proposal is to provide school lunches for all children regardless of their financial situation.

Recently, NJ Senate Majority Leader Teresa Ruiz proposed a resolution on the state Senate Education Committee that Congress make the free meals program available to all students regardless of their family’s income. This would provide free meals to New Jersey’s 1.28 million students. At the present, only those whose families with incomes of 130% below the poverty level would qualify for these free meals.

There have been recent advances in the provision of free meals to NJ students. In September 2022, the Working Class Families’ Anti-Hunger Act was passed, which provides free breakfast and lunch to middle class students.

Working Class Families’ Anti-Hunger Act

Free Lunches During the Pandemic

During the pandemic, the U.S. Department of Agriculture allowed all students to get free breakfast and lunch regardless of their family’s household income, increased reimbursements to schools, and enabled communities to provide summer meals regardless of the percentage of kids qualifying for free or reduced-price meals. As a result, there were 10 million more students receiving meals. This likely greatly benefited students during this difficult time. Child hunger can have many negative consequences, causing not only impaired academic performance but also long-term poor health and behavioral problems.

Keep Kids Fed Act

On June 25, 2022, President Biden signed the Keep Kids Fed Act, which provides for the continuation of funding and support for communities to provide children healthy meals during the summer and provide support to schools and daycare providers in view of supply chain challenges and high food costs. This legislation was supported by both the Senate and the House.

In New Jersey in 2018-19, about 38% of public school students were eligible for free and reduced-fee meals. It is estimated that there are about 150,000 children in New Jersey who qualified for free meals but did not receive them due to limited access and knowledge of them.

Debate

There are interesting arguments on both sides of the debate. One issue is that there can be shame or embarrassment for those who get free lunches in school. By having universal free lunches, this issue would be eliminated. In doing so, perhaps more children would take advantage of the meals offered in schools and benefit from them.

Another issue that has been raised is the timing of the meals, especially breakfast. In most schools, free breakfast is offered before school starts. This narrows the number of children able to take advantage of these meals if they are unable to get to school early. Solutions to these problems include offering meals during class time, which has been successful in some parts of the nation.

Finally, some critics question whether funding for those who can afford food is the best use of funds. However, I think feeding all NJ schoolkids is money well spent because it will contribute to their success in the future.

Conclusion

Universal free meals in school is something that has been proposed in NJ. Though NJ is an affluent state, there are pockets of poverty where children may not be getting the nutrition they need to succeed. By offering universal free meals in school, greater numbers of children may receive the nutrition they need to succeed in school and beyond.

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Diners

New Jersey is known for many things – and having many top diners is one of them. According to many, New Jersey is the “diner capital of the world.” The reason for this historically is because of New Jersey’s accessible highway systems and the need for quick, affordable meals by working people. The father of diners has been identified as Jerry O’Mahony of New Jersey, who built the first stationary lunch wagon in the 1910s and started a prefabricated diner company that built over 2,000 diners from 1917 to 1956. Other diner manufacturers followed in his path. Many New Jersey diners are Greek-owned and therefore tend to have authentic Greek dishes on their menus. With 500 diners in New Jersey, you can drive in many parts of the state, including around Mountain Lakes, and run into multiple diners. But which are the best diners? The following is my review of some of my favorite diners in our area:

Brookside Diner

The Brookside Diner, located on Route 10 in Whippany, is an unassuming diner which has a somewhat dated decor. It is not as upscale as the other diners, and its prices are aligned with the decor. Menu offerings include the classic burgers and sandwiches as well as paninis, focaccias, and typical breakfast fare. They have a whole section of “nostalgic entrees” which include things such as a turkey dinner and shepherd’s pie as well as Italian specialties, Greek specialties, and a seafood section including items such as shrimp scampi and seafood fra diavolo. While the ambience may not be as inviting as some of the other diners, I was impressed by the quality and freshness of the food and the overall value.

My recommendations: Focaccia sandwiches and “nostalgic entrees.”

Brownstone Pancake Factory

While technically not a diner, the Brownstone Pancake Factory feels like a diner and was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives several years ago. Located in Edgewater, Englewood Cliffs, Brick, and Freehold, NJ, the Brownstone Pancake Factory is known for its scrumptious breakfast offerings including their namesake pancakes. I have been to the location in Edgewater, and despite it being a distance from Mountain Lakes, I think it is worth a drive if you are close to New York City. In addition to pancakes, their offerings include salads, pasta, chicken entrees, and fajitas.

My recommendations: The pancakes, which come in assorted flavors such as Oreo Cookie and Jersey Chicken and Cheddar Pancakes, are a must-try since this is what they are known for. You will not be disappointed by the fluffy, flavorful pancakes.

Denville Diner

Nestled in downtown Denville, Denville Diner has been a fixture on Broadway for years. It has a homey environment and offers an array of sandwiches and breakfast foods. Diners can eat in the cozy dining room or can take out. Choices range from breakfast staples like pancakes, omelets, and breakfast sandwiches as well as classic sandwiches and burgers.

My recommendations: My favorite is the chicken souvlaki sandwich with a side of potatoes. This is a Greek style sandwich which is filling and comes with a side salad.

HIbernia Diner, Rockaway, NJ

The Hibernia Diner in Rockaway, NJ is located on Green Pond Road in Rockaway. It has a comfortable and updated decor, and is a bit more formal than your average diner, which makes for a nice dining experience. It feels more like a restaurant than a typical diner. Offerings include delicious soups, sandwiches, salads, and entrees. The tempting dessert case offers a range of delicious and attractive desserts such as cheesecake and tiramisu. The prices are reasonable and the portions are generous.

My recommendations: The soups are excellent, especially the French Onion soup.

Paul’s Diner

Located on Route 46 in Mountain Lakes, Paul’s Diner has been around since 1947 and is family owned. Easily recognizable on Route 46 East, it offers an array of sandwiches and has efficient, friendly service. It is a good option for when you do not feel like straying too far from home. The eating area is moderate-sized and the ambience is inviting. They offer a very diverse selection of salads, sandwiches, burgers, and entrees. It is reasonably priced and is a favorite of mine.

My recommendations: My favorites are the specialty sandwiches like the chicken souvlaki sandwiches and the grilled Reuben sandwiches, which typically come with salad or fries.

Randolph Diner Bar and Grill, Randolph, NJ

The Randolph Diner Bar and Grill, located on Route 10, is a bustling diner with an extremely wide array of menu offerings, ranging from omelets, pizza, and pasta to typical burgers, salads, and sandwiches. They offer specialty items ranging from Southern cuisine such as Southern Fried Chicken and BBQ Ribs and Chicken as well as many main entrees ranging from Chicken Murphy to Veal Sorrentino and even NY Strip Steak and London Broil. They even offer 6 different types of Eggs Benedict. They also serve tempting desserts displayed in the dessert case. The Randolph Diner Bar and Grill is likely to satisfy everyone in a large group, from those looking for casual fare to those looking to indulge with Surf and Turf. Prices are on the slightly higher end for the more upscale choices.

My recommendations: My favorites are the Greek specialties like the Moussaka and Pastitsio.

Sparta Classic Diner

The Sparta Classic Diner is currently closed due to a recent fire. I did not have a chance to review it due to this closure. However, the menu appears to be very diverse, including pizza, tacos, burgers, salads, and diner sandwiches. Once it reopens, I hope to have a chance to sample the food.

Summit Diner

The Summit Diner is New Jersey’s oldest diner, dating to 1939, and is located in downtown Summit. It has a cozy interior, with counter seating and a small number of booths. Its menu offers many New Jersey classics such as Taylor Ham and Egg. Their hours start at 5:30 am-4 pm Monday through Saturday and 6:30 am-4pm, so it is perfect for early risers and commuters who live in Summit as it is down the road from the Summit Train Station. This is a must-try diner for those who appreciate New Jersey history. If you go, just keep in mind that you must pay in cash.

My recommendations: New Jersey’s iconic breakfast sandwich: Taylor Ham and Egg.

Summit West Diner, Denville, NJ

The Summit West Diner is related to the Summit Diner in Summit, NJ. It sits on Route 46 West and has a similar appearance to the Summit Diner. It has a cozy feel inside, and its decor is similar to the Summit Diner. Offerings include delicious sandwiches, breakfast items, and salads. Sandwich platters come with both soup and french fries. The prices are reasonable and the food is very high quality.

My recommendations: My favorites are the sandwiches including the Reuben sandwich platter.

Tick Tock Diner

Tick Tock Diner is recognized as one of New Jersey’s oldest and biggest diners. Established in 1948, it is located in Clifton on Route 3 and is fairly easy to recognize from the highway with its “Eat Heavy” sign. It is a convenient stop from a drive back from New York City. I have had some of their sandwiches, soups, and desserts. The Tick Tock Diner offers a wide variety of items, including typical breakfast fare and soups, sandwiches, and burgers. Out of all the offerings, I was most impressed by the fresh and generous sized desserts. The prices are on the higher end for a diner and are more aligned with a true sit-down restaurant.

My recommendations: Desserts are fresh, delicious, and especially appealing.