Billy's Bakery

9th Avenue and 21st Street

How engaged and mildly cheerful the workers are in the

 window of Billy's Bakery in Chelsea.  Not a bad sort of job

 really. Decorating cup cakes used to be a very popular

 activity at our children's birthday parties

Recipe for cupcakes from memory:

Ingredients:

The weight of two eggs in butter and sugar

I teaspoon warm water

a pinch of salt

a dash of vanilla

4 oz. of self raising flour.

Method:

Cream butter and sugar

add egg beating carefully add salt and vanilla

add water

fold in sifted flour

Bake for 25 minutes at 350' 

Something a little self-consciously retro about Billy's

 but charming nonetheless.