Urban General Stores

Finally paid a visit to the Hamptons. Had never been - considered a major oddity as a former Gilander. In search of possible "Vittles" column fodder, a friend took me to what he called "an authentic general store" in Sagaponek. As he waxed on about how you don't find idyllic stores like this anymore, chock-a-block with everything from cleaning supplies and victuals to firewood and sun tan oil, I couldn't help but think that he was wrong. He had to be. New York City has everything. So, of course, it has it's general stores too. We just call them bodegas. And, by golly I love them. Forget white-bread Sagaponek, cute as it is. Lizzie can have it. I'll take a gritty, street-corner, 24-hour, Latino or Korean corner bodega in all its glory any day of the week. Viva New York!