We continue to receive astute feedback about food shopping in the West Village from our readers. Below, we have published a recent letter, along with a response by WestView’s own Caroline Benveniste.

Dear Editors:

May I add: Coffee, tea, and chocolate from Porto Rico Importing Co. on Bleecker Street; a real supermarket in Western Beef at 16th Street and 10th Avenue; and excellent produce and prices at Trader Joe’s at 14th Street and 3rd Avenue. (From my apartment on 11th Street, near 6th Avenue, this Trader Joe’s is exactly the same distance as the 21st Street Trader Joe’s.)  

 Now the question: Since we have two locked doors at our apartment at 56 West 11th Street, how can we arrange delivery for your wonderful paper? I sometimes see it at the New School lounge on my side of the street, but there must be a better way.

—Michele Garden

Dear Michele:

Thanks for your suggestions. I used to buy coffee at Porto Rico when I lived on Barrow Street, but, after I moved, I did not go there much. I also found that, while their coffee was usually excellent and the prices quite reasonable, the quality was sometimes inconsistent. I also used to shop at Western Beef when they were on 14th Street in what is now the Apple store; I don’t make it to their new location much. While they have excellent prices, it’s smaller than their previous location and it can get a bit claustrophobic. Finally, I do occasionally go to the Trader Joe’s in Union Square, but generally, it’s more crowded than the 6th Avenue location.

As for your question, one sure way to get your monthly copy of WestView News is to subscribe. For that, you have two options:

(1) Visit the website (westviewnews.org) and click the “Subscribe now” button on the right-hand side, or

(2) Send a check for $12.00 payable to WestView Inc. and addressed to Peter White, at 108 Perry Street, New York, NY 10014.

And, finally, here is a list of WestView News distribution locations:

Jefferson Market Library
(425 6th Avenue, 1st Floor)

Hudson Park Library
(66 Leroy Street)

MCF Rare Wines
(237 West 13th Street)

SeaGrape Wines
(512 Hudson Street)

Ottomanelli (285 Bleecker Street)

Senior Center at Greenwich House (27 Barrow Street)

Senior Center on the Square
(20 Washington Square North)

Senior Center at Our Lady of Pompei Church (Bleecker & Carmine Streets)Thanks for your suggestions! Please keep them coming at wvnewsinout@gmail.com.

—Caroline Benveniste

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