The NY Times phones it in

In this Sunday's travel section, NYT examines 2 eateries, "newly minted atttractions," in a brief article on "Mr. Obama's Neighborhood": "Valois Cafeteria, a greasy home-style diner . . . where elderly black men hold court at postage-stamp-sized tables" (or, rather, "slim" tables?) and the Medici on 57th, a "popular Italian restaurant" where "dapper African-American families [share] deep-dish pizzas."

Oh well, at least they got the address of 57th St. Books right (where "tweedy academics rummage through the dusty shelves.")

Since when does 57th Street Books have dusty shelves? They should complain.

Yes, I agree that this is the laziest article about Hyde Park you could possibly write. Maybe the staff cuts mean that things like this are actually just assembled by a search engine that collects whatever has appeared most often in the NYTimes along with "Hyde Park" in the past.

The Medici on 57th, a "popular Italian restaurant" where "dapper African-American families [share] deep-dish pizzas."

I'm putting this on a certificate and giving it to Hans later this week, courtesy the Times. He'll get a kick out of it.

He's expanded this popularity and consummate Italian-ness to the highly diverse, natty crowds of Normal, IL, by the way:

http://hydeparkprogress.blogspot.com/20 ... sbach.html

Makes about as much sense as some cosmetic item on some farm animal.

Pathetic. It's like reading a MadLib restaurant story.

The [adj.] decor belies the [adv.] cooked, [adj.] food that comes out of the [adj.] kitchen. Best bets include [adj.] [noun] and the locally famous [pl. noun]. Etc.

You too can be a paper of record and never have to leave the comfort of your own home.

You may like these responses:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/04/trave ... ref=travel