If you have been reading my blog for the past year, you have noticed that I have a particular enthusiasm for The Greek Cup, and all of its design variations. Here, a new one! I have never drunk from this cup before. Until now. The Discus Thrower.

I am pleased to say that after several posts about The Greek Cup, some readers have begun to associate me with The Greek Cup. Some have written saying that whenever they see The Cup, they think of me. Now that is flattering.

Recently, my husband and I stopped in to Laziza Sweets on Steinway Street in Queens to sample some of their fantastic pastries. 'Beyond Baklava' doesn't begin to describe the vast selection. Like the tiny date- and pistachio-stuffed cookies in the window. There were so many varieties I have never seen before. Because when do you really find yourself in a bakery in an Egyptian neighborhood, after all. As I sipped my small coffee, which was served in The Greek Cup, I thought to myself, how funny. I guess all ancient civilizations use The Greek Cup.


Laziza Sweets
25-78 Steinway Street
Astoria, Queens
718.777.7676

Having finally experienced the aesthetic perfection of the real Greek Cup, I have come to like the copies better for some reason. Study this racey example above. Wow. On a coffee cup yet. Free from the constraints of perfection, the knock-off Greek cup can spread its creative wings. The mottled background is a nice departure from the original. As is the border shape for "It's Our Pleasure to Serve You." And the border color harkens back to the urn on the opposite side; a nice subtlety to tie the cup together...

Eureka! I have discovered the Greek Cup, right in my own backyard. I was buying some Polish sourdough rye today at a local bakery, as I do every 2 weeks or so, when I spied The Stack. Greek Cups! And so I got to have my first cup of coffee in NYC in the genuine Greek Cup (version with urns). 50 cents. Just a little milk. Although she added a lot. It tasted extra good.

This bread deserves a detail picture all its own. Here it is. $2.20 for the loaf. So delicious. "Granny's Rye" if you want to order it. Just look at that crust!

You will find this a little nutty. After living here in NYC for nearly a year, I have yet to get a deli cup of coffee that is served in the Greek Cup! So now, (the nutty part) I am specifically seeking out delis that use the Greek Cup to get my coffee. I spotted one such place on my way into Manhattan the other day. (You have to come above ground in Queens to transfer from the G to the 7, and I spied a group of 4 guys standing out front of a place, all sipping out of The Cup.)

So on my way back to Brooklyn a few hours later, I ordered myself a small coffee (75 cents) at the same place. And wouldn't you know it, they ran out of the real thing, and I got this knock-off. I like it, but I don't. It has the Greek keys. It has a lovely picture of the Parthenon with a very nice framing element. But no escutcheon on the other side. Just an uninspired square. Yuck. That is what makes the other so beautiful. The way it plays with the negative space. The columns are not lyrical on this one either. Too boxy. And the typeface is not in the "Greek font." I want the real one. Did you know there are two different versions of the real one? One has the columns, the other, urns. Interesting.

I am going to the fabric district now, and I will stealthily seek out The Cup. Time for my afternoon coffee anyway. If I find more knock-offs in my coffee travels, I will surely photograph them for you here. I get so deeply interested in the weirdest things...

1. ate breakfast (actual breakfast pictured above: pb toast and coffee. how do you like this coffee cup? my friend just gave it to me. it is accurate down to the raised seam, but it is ceramic, not paper.)
   
2. wrote a blog entry
3. got involved in looking at too many websites while looking for pertinent links
4. searched blogger to see if my blog has been indexed yet
   
5. searched "perlov blog" and found mine and a few others that talk about me. neat
   
6. searched "elaine blog" and found this one
7. thought about writing to all elaines who have blogs just to say, "hey my name is elaine and i have a blog too!" but didn't.
8. tried to find out how i can get stats for my blog
9. checked my web stats when i couldn't figure that out
10. banned myself from the computer
    
11. set the egg timer and got to work