{"id":5638,"date":"2016-09-04T21:23:33","date_gmt":"2016-09-05T01:23:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wsbj.com\/sorabji\/?p=5638"},"modified":"2016-09-04T21:23:33","modified_gmt":"2016-09-05T01:23:33","slug":"pollo-vivo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wsbj.com\/sorabji\/2016\/09\/04\/pollo-vivo.html","title":{"rendered":"Pollo Vivo"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\tMoments after taking this picture a ghastly stench overwhelmed me. I would consider myself lucky that\u00a0I do not live on this block, but it happens to be right under the subway and the odds of me choosing an apartment here are not favorable.<\/p>\n

\"Pollo

Pollo Vivo, Astoria.<\/p><\/div>\n

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I was reminded of the BAG OF DEAD BIRDS<\/strong><\/a> I spotted on Northern Boulevard back in 2009. At first it seemed\u00a0almost bizarre to see such a thing. Then a friend\u00a0reminded me\u00a0that\u00a0New York\u00a0has\u00a0countless Pollo Vivo places where one can buy freshly killed chickens, hogs, goats, and other animals. These places cater mostly to immigrants from cultures where seeing what you are about to eat while it is still alive just makes sense. Americans herd their chickens and cows into prisons. The treatment they endure there is mostly unseen. Pollo Vivo places level the playing field, but I think they\u00a0ghettoize the killing of their animals just the same as Perdue. Pollo Vivo places\u00a0offer you the living, breathing\u00a0animal for your inspection. But they behead it behind\u00a0a curtain. A shop on 21st Street and Astoria Boulevard (now occupied\u00a0by a liquor store) had signage\u00a0on its front door asking that its\u00a0customers\u00a0please not request to watch the slaughter of the animals they purchased. I am also reminded of wandering through Rainey Park and spotting a slaughtered chicken. I was awake and pumping iron at 6:30 am this Sunday. I hope your day was similarly balsamic.<\/p>\n

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