📍The Commerce Inn, New York City

I've been heads down, back to my roots, building a little startup. It's felt good, and I've been back into a routine I enjoy. Part of that is working over the weekend. I go to a WeWork like it's a normal Monday to Friday day, save for one thing. I stop to eat breakfast or brunch somewhere. Often solo, but not always. This was a solo day. 

I've been making the rounds, hitting my favorite places, and some new places. This is a new place (for me), close to a WeWork where I was planning to work. I wanted pancakes, and these looked fluffy. Then I saw that Rita Sodi and Jodie Williams were behind The Commerce Inn, which sealed the deal for me. 

I started with a coffee. It was 10 a.m. after all. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that refills were included. It's hard to tell sometimes, and I drink coffee as if it were water. It wasn't super busy; about half the tables had patrons, including some kids. The bar had one guy on the other end engaging the bartender in a discussion about the French constitution. A steady stream of people entered as I sat at the bar. 

I chatted with the bartender about the menu. My dilemma was the patty melt. I wanted it, but I came for pancakes. Would I be bold enough to do both? I knew I would the minute I sat down, but I had to ask how big they were and what he thought. I had to feign anguish before agreeing to my foregone choice. I ordered the patty melt and the pancakes.