Federal Street

Federal Street between Van Buren and Jackson is an urban canyon. Narrow, shadowed and cool, and a nice reprieve from the blasting morning sun. Walking past the Monadnock Building, I peer through its broad windows into the end of the 19th Century: Frank's Barber Shop, whose only concession to modernity is a female stylist, and Cavanaugh's, an old-fashioned bar in which Hinky Dink Kenna wouldn't look out of place. Then it's into the 20th Century with a swing through the doors of Intelligentsia Coffee (this week's delightful discovery) where I got a large to go, the third punch on my free drink card and a brief listening to "Driver 8" by R.E.M., over the loudspeaker.

This stroll up Federal was good karma, and a breaking of a recent string of minor debacles.