Window Shopping

Sunday, 2nd Avenue, Upper East Side

I'm looking in the window of a real estate office, daydreaming about all the fabulous apartments impossibly out of my reach. The ads in the window scream the attributes of the listings: Penthouse! Unrestricted park views! No coop approval! Spacious junior one-bedroom! 400 square feet! Full time concierge!

Two women next to me are clucking over and dismissing each offering. As I turn to walk away, one of them points at one of the photos and exclaims, "This one is actually pretty good. Oh, but UGH, that kitchen is totally unworkable." The other woman leans in to took and wrinkles her nose, then says, "Well, what do you expect for 3.4?"

That would be 3.4 million. Dollars. Which apparently doesn't even get you a "workable" kitchen, according to the ladies of the Upper East Side.