Tuesday, June 26th, 2007, 6:30 PM Sal & Carmine's, 2671 Broadway (Upper West Side), 1 slice for $2.50 The sad fact of the matter is that as I've developed my pizza palate I've lost the ability to enjoy your average corner slice because, well, your average slice is really, really bad. So as I strolled down the Upper West Side hankering for a slice, I realized my only viable option in this 50-block neighborhood is Sal & Carmine's. That's a sad indictment of our times. As expected, my slice was great and really brightened my evening. I'm thankful these guys are still here, doing their thing. Because sometime in the not-too-distant future they too will disappear (they're not getting any younger). That will be a tragic day.

Sunday, June 17th, 2007, 3:00 PM Luzzo's, 211 1st Ave, New York, NY (East Village), 1 mushroom pie for $18 My mother was leaving for month-long trip to California and wanted one last taste of quality pizza before all hope was lost. So she came into the city and we went down to Luzzo's. I was in rare form this day and readily consented to a mushroom-topped pie. And you know what? It was really good. I guess my dirty little secret is that I'm warming up to the concept of toppings. Of course I mean this in a horribly elitist way. I'm talking broccoli rabe or fresh mushrooms, and only on high-quality artisan pies. Don't think for a second I'll start ordering pepperoni Dominos pies. That's nasty on levels I don't want to comprehend.

Tuesday, June 12th, 2007, 1:00 PM Pizza Box, 176 Bleecker St, New York, NY (Greenwich Village), 2 slices at $2.25 each While my pizza was fresh, this must be the worst Pizza Box experience I've ever had. Two minutes before I arrived a veritable army of suburban moms and baboon-like kids descended upon us like it was their holy destiny. They oozed into every open crevice like the blob, blocking the tables, stealing seats, and forming a massive ordering line the likes of which I've never seen. And they were loud. And confused ("Did I ask for a Fanta or a Coke? How much are those slices? I also want a Fanta. No, make that a Coke."). I barely survived the experience. But survive I did, and I suppose I'm a better man for it.

Sunday, June 3rd, 2007, 6:00 PM Rose Pizza & Pasta, Penn Station, lower concourse, New York, NY, 2 slices at $2.55 each I just got in from New Jersey and had to eat immediately if I was going to make it through the day. Given the culinary mecca that is Penn Station, my only feasible option was pizza. So I headed off to my old reliable, Don Pepe, by the Krispe Kreme. But as I lay my eyes on the greasy, off-colored pies that sat limply on the counter, I just couldn't bring myself to do it. So I took a huge gamble. I walked down to the lower concourse and tried another Penn Station pizza shop. And it was pretty good, as far as soulless, nutritionless junk food can be. I'm not saying it's going to win any pizza awards any time soon (or ever), but by Penn Station standards it certainly held its own.

Saturday, April 21st, 2007, 1:00 AM Joe's Pizza, 7 Carmine St, New York, NY (Greenwich Village), 1 slice for $2.25 Sometimes you just can't fight the urge to down a late-night pizza slice even after your finer senses remind you how blatantly unnecessary it is. Tonight was clearly such a night. I had spent the entire day relentlessly pursuing fine food in all its manifestations (lobster rolls, apple gelato, pumpkin cupcakes, etc). Hunger really was the least of my concerns. So as I headed toward the subway in this twilight hour, freshly consumed Kati rolls still finding their place in my overcrowded stomach, I really didn't need a slice of pizza. But words were exchanged, ideas were suggested, honor was challenged, and bold moves were required. And so I danced with Joe's for one last brief moment before descending back into the urban abyss.

Monday, April 16th, 2007, 8:30 PM Angelo's Pizza, 117 W. 57th St, New York (Midtown), 4 slices at $2.00 each (approx.) Nothing noteworthy to report from the Angelo's camp on this fine night. Another day, another pie.

Monday, April 9th, 2007, 10:30 PM George's Pizza, 726 W. 181st St, New York, NY (Washington Heights), 3 slices at $1.75 each The counter guy was surprisingly busy tonight (is late Monday night some notorious pizza crunch time?) and left my slices in the oven far longer than normal. I guess he tried to make up for this by throwing in free garlic knots. But I prefer my pizza well-done anyway so I had no complaints. But why oh why did I order three slices? It was excessive and unnecessary and I regretted it from the moment I finished off the final one. I've got to be more disciplined about that.

Thursday, April 5th, 2007, 8:30 PM Penn Station Pizza, Penn Station, upper concourse (by Krispy Kreme), 2 slices at $2.25 each I honestly didn't want pizza for dinner tonight. I wanted something that might actually be fresh and healthy. But Penn Station is no mecca for health nuts (especially late at night, after the commuter rush has passed and taken all the prime pickings with it). And I had a train to catch, so I had no time to dawdle. So I went with ye olde reliable: Don Pepe, the pizza shop next to the Krispy Kreme. It's quick, cheap, and somewhat tasty...which really is what Penn Station is about. So while I didn't eat royally tonight, at least I ate. And that counts for something.

Saturday, March 17th, 2007, 1:00 PM George's Pizza, 726 W. 181st St, New York, NY (Washington Heights), 2 slices at $1.75 each Straight on the heels of two weeks in Dubai and Turkey, I was starved for the decent, authentic New York pizza that was inaccessible for so long. I had returned home the day before in the middle of a nasty snowstorm that was severe enough to kill all notions of immediately leaving the apartment. So I had to go through an entire sleep cycle before I could venture out and enjoy my favored fruit again. But Saturday eventually came and lunchtime rolled around and George and I did business and the world was at equilibrium once again. Oh, the hazards of traveling.

Friday, March 2nd, 2007, 3:00 PM Tony's Pizza, 4233 Broadway, New York, NY (Washington Heights), 1 slice at $1.75 In need of a tide-over slice before an impending party at my place, my friend Mike and I scheduled a quick pit stop at Tony's. As usual, the offerings weren't exactly fresh, but they did their job and we both walked away happy. Mike has now designated Tony's his favorite place in the neighborhood, but given the candidate pool consists of just two places, this designation is of dubious statistical significance.

Friday, February 2th, 2007, 11:30 PM Koronet Pizza, 2848 Broadway, New York, NY (Morningside Heights), 1 (huge) slice for $2.75 My friend, another old-time patron who hasn't visited for ages, expressed his surprise at the decent-tasting grease-lacking quality of tonight's servings. Maybe Koronet really has cleaned up its act. Or maybe that was the drinks from earlier in the night talking.

Saturday, January 27th, 2007, 1:30 AM Rosario's Pizza, 173 Orchard St, New York, NY (Lower East Side), 2 slices at $2.00 each This was my third visit to Rosario's and my best pizza experience here yet. But that's not a compliment, since my first experience was terrible and my second was merely tolerable. This one was actually enjoyable. But it still wasn't great. It won't be winning any awards. I'm still convinced the Rosario's legacy is irrevocably gone.