Sometimes I’m tempted to walk into J&R Music and Computer World and ask where I can find the Extraterrestrial Alien Detection Appliance department. Now, despite whatever you may hear from my husband, I am not insane. With no intention of insulting those who do believe in alien life forms (particularly since with a husband, comes a mother-in-law – concrete proof of alien life forms), I am not looking for an encounter of any kind. I am merely a tester of my own theories, one of which is that J&R has EVERYTHING.
I will skip the portion of “Stating the Obvious” during which I would discuss their extensive selection of both Music AND Computers. I’ve worked Downtown for 14 years now, and there hasn’t been a single electronic commodity that I’ve wanted to purchase that I haven’t been able to find there. When our air conditioner broke in the middle of a heat wave and the effect the heat had on us threatened our marriage, I knew where to get a new AC. Whenever the countless video game creators came out with a new console or joystick that my 10 year old had to have, I knew where to get it. When my gadget master had to have a DocuPen so he can scan paper on a whim with something that looked like a wand, I knew where to get it.
Last night I had a 6pm, nonrefundable (the most effective way to guarantee that I’ll actually go), exercise class in Soho. I left work at 5:30 and was trying to figure out if I had enough time to go pick up a 72-in One Memory Card Reader and Writer that my husband mentioned he wanted. Now, I’ve been burned before with respect to holiday shopping. Its almost as though the world is waiting to hear what my husband wants, and rushes to the store to buy out all of the inventory before I get a chance to make my purchase. Now when he mentions something that he’d like, I take off running.
J&R is 5 short blocks away from my job, so I decided to go for it. There’s nothing like speed walking and breaking into a sweat – before going to work out – to make you feel like going home and laying down. Yet another reason to go for it!
I walked into their store on the corner of Park Row and Ann Street, and approached a salesperson. I showed him my post-it note with my husbands latest order scribbled on it. He nodded approvingly as he said “a 72? Sure, we have it” and pointed to their Memory Section a few steps away. Apparently I should’ve been excited by the fact that it was a 72, but the reality is, I don’t have a clue what I’m buying or what it’s for. But as I suspected, J&R had it in stock. To make an already long-story short, I came, I saw, I shopped, and then I walked a block down to the E train and made it to Spring Street by 5:48pm.
Once again, I was able to find what I was looking for in one of Downtown’s longest standing retailers. When it comes to electronics and gadgets, what don’t they have? I’ll get back to you on that, but don’t hold your breath. They may even have a breathing apparatus section.
And if J&R DID have an Extraterrestrial Alien Detection Appliance department, and I WAS able to purchase whatever it is that I would need to find E.T. (to share M&Ms with), and E.T. asked if he COULD phone home – my response would be “Sure. J&R is within walking/bike-flying distance. They sell phones there.”
