I guess now is the time to plug a 2007 movie with John Cho.  It’s not Harold & Kumar Toke the New York Subway, although that wouldn’t be a bad idea either.  It’s called West 32nd Street, and it was directed by Michael Kang, a Korean American filmmaker of some reknown, especially on West 32nd Street.

It’s good research for understanding the backroom third floors of New York’s Koreatown, which sits on West 32nd Street between Broadway and Fifth Avenue.

Otherwise go to the NY Times for the latest look around from ground level.  Their latest profile mainly  discusses 20th Century architecture and living at West 32nd Street, a block well known to Koreans and Korean Americans as the street where Pinkberry is. 

Lately, I think the New York Times has got Korea on the brain, as so far, they have profiled a lot of Koreacana (I know. I know.  It’s a made up mash of Korean and the suffix -ana in an attempt to replicate Americana.)   The Times has examined jjimjilbangs (saunas) in Queens, dining at West 32nd Street, and even one Korean restaurant entrepreneur’s take on ssam at Beard Foundation nominated Momofuku in the East Village.

It’s great to know that Korean food on both sides of home are getting better.  Although, the Times writers had better come to Seoul fast, because they’ll have nothing but Outbacks and VIPs to review if things continue as they are now. 

For you Koreatown fans here are a few links:

Koreatown Map (Mondo)

Slideshow on Koreatown (NYT Real Estate)

Video on Korea New York (NYT)

–Editor

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