Betty Lives!

General Foods Kitchens Cookbook

1959

I grew up on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in the 70’s when New York in general, and that neighborhood in particular, were considered gritty and blighted.  But the community that lived there  - people the media liked to call “the Upper West Side Liberals” - knew something that suburbanites and Upper East Siders didn’t: our neighborhood was the best.  First off, there was the superb housing stock: turn-of-the-century brownstones and lush pre-war spreads.  Second, we were framed by parks to the East and also the West.  My neighbors, whom we knew, were an economical and racial rainbow.  My mother entrenched herself firmly among them and to this day two of her closest friends are women she met in our building.  “Shhh, don’t tell anyone!” we whispered.  “Stay put!”  “Our real estate values will go up!”  And, of course, they did and those that lived to tell have seen Zabar’s grow from the corner store to the behemouth that ate Broadway.  Woolworth’s and the greasy spoon diner have been replaced by Banana Republic and Tom Valenti.  It’s so fancy, it’s unrecognizable to me now.  So I moved to Brooklyn.

Geographic familiarity is comforting and when my daughter started pre-school 7 of the 12 moms in the class had grown up within ten blocks of my family.  Sadly, we were about 15 years too late to be pioneers here, but that doesn’t dampen our enthusiasm for the neighborhood.  Our housing stock of brownstones and pre-war apartments is without par.  We are blessed with a park that is even more beautiful than Central (in my opinion). My neighbors are an economical and racial rainbow.  Not only do I know them, I socialize with them.  Because like my mom, I believe in building community where you find it. Every year in early September we have a block party and the highlight for me is when, early in the evening, we drag our tables and chairs into the street and eat dinner together.  It’s such an unlikely sight in this vast urban landscape and it makes me feel blessed.

At this point you are no doubt wondering how this random post is related to the Betty Project.  Here it is: in my General Foods Kitchens Cookbook one of their entertaining ideas is a house-to-house dinner for you and your neighbors, so I proposed such a thing to my block.  Much to my surprise people jumped at the idea and soon we had hosts for hors d’oeuvres, first course, main course and dessert as well as plenty of alcohol for every stop.  We held it last Saturday night and I have to say (proudly) it was a huge success.  In keeping with the mid-century theme I made meatloaf and an updated green bean casserole (complete with fried onions).  It was a pleasure to be with my neighbors, some of whom I knew only marginally, and to see their homes and children.  In these uncertain times, when both peace and prosperity seem elusive, it is even more significant to build our communities where we find them.