New York City is filled with quickly-moving people who are eating quickly. Halal Carts can be found throughout the city; these are a prime source for a meal on the go. I stopped at one the other day, just off Greeley Square on 33rd. Like most carts, this one has a heavenly savory smell suffusing the sidewalk around it, drawing people in. I bought a falafel sandwich with hot sauce ($4) — delicious and filling. Ate it on a bench in Greeley Square park, surrounded by people talking, eating, reading.

The iconic on-the-go meal here is the pizza slice, as memorialized on the show Louie. I remember seeing the show’s opening sequence before I moved to NYC and feeling surprised at how Louie stands there in the middle of the shop, unceremoniously polishing off his slice. But that is the norm here.

 Every time I’m out walking around during the mid-day to evening timeframe, I see at least one person (generally a guy) wolfing down a pizza slice as he hurries down the sidewalk. Fortunately for me, I too can do this — there’s a place just around the corner that serves up vegan slices (I’m allergic to dairy):  Cafe Viva.  Their “slice” is a generous quarter-pie portion, heaped with tasty toppings.  Here’s the Vegan Picante slice I had today — soy meatballs, onions, red peppers. Totally filling, for $4.25.