On our recent trips to the Met, we were delighted with the
beautiful new David H. Koch Plaza,
even if many of us don’t like the name. But we were dismayed to see that most
of the food carts that once lined Fifth Avenue were gone. Last year there was a
wide variety of offerings including smoothies and juice, waffles and crepes, coffee and pastries,
as well as the usual hot dogs, kebabs, and sandwiches. Now only eight carts
remain in the four-block expanse that sees over 6 million visitors per year,
and mostly just hot dogs and kebab. We finally found a smoothie cart on the
northern end of the plaza, but, not surprisingly, prices had been raised. Many
families can’t afford the high prices at the Met’s own food service or prefer a
wider choice – and even when there was a full array of food carts, the Met’s
cafeteria and cafes were always crowded.
I asked a police officer where the carts went, and he said he didn’t know, but my online research revealed that there was a major police crackdown on the vendors on May 28 at the urging of wealthy Fifth Avenue residents and the Met itself, which apparently views the carts as an unsightly distraction from its nice new plaza. In fact, the Met’s promotional rendering shows a plaza completely free of food vendors. They might call it clean and neat, but for some of us, the lively New York gathering place has become empty and sterile. There now are beautiful fountains and convenient tables to sit at, but little food to enjoy.
I asked a police officer where the carts went, and he said he didn’t know, but my online research revealed that there was a major police crackdown on the vendors on May 28 at the urging of wealthy Fifth Avenue residents and the Met itself, which apparently views the carts as an unsightly distraction from its nice new plaza. In fact, the Met’s promotional rendering shows a plaza completely free of food vendors. They might call it clean and neat, but for some of us, the lively New York gathering place has become empty and sterile. There now are beautiful fountains and convenient tables to sit at, but little food to enjoy.
July 2014
July 2015
