Breakfast Tour

Levity was in a good mood. If anyone had been able to see past the illusions that kept certain details in check, they'd have known at a glance. She sauntered along the sidewalk, tail in full swing, making her morning rounds.

"Morning, Anthony! Anything to report?"

The barbershop owner paused in his shoveling and beckoned her over. With a highly conspiratorial air, he said, "Vaughn got hold of fresh blueberries from somewhere."

"In January? I might be interested. But it'll break my heart if the next word out of your mouth is smoothie ."

With a pleased chuckle, Anthony said, "Pancakes. Tell Vaughn I sent ya!"

"Better yet, let's tell the whole city." They cheesed for a selfie and Levity sauntered on, tapping in a caption.

Headed for Daybreak Diner on a hot tip from Anthony's on E Street. Who else has a sudden hankering for blueberry pancakes?

Twenty minutes later, she posted pics of a stack of three, big as her plate. While she was eating, the bell above the diner's door rang at least a dozen times. Folks called hey, and when Levity took her leave, Vaughn blew her a kiss from the kitchen window.

Time to move on to the next place.

Because Levity was quite famously a big girl with a big appetite. And one of her mottos was that breakfast was the best meal of the day. So she made the rounds, mixing it up, making sure everything was good, keeping here eyes open, finding reasons to care.

"Anything new?" she asked Faye, who brought refills of everything.

"Ohhh, I don't know, honey. Nothing comes to mind."

"Really? You know I rely on you for more than oatmeal!"

Faye tapped her chin, then asked, "Did you hear there's a new government office opening up down on First Street. In the old Peabody building."

"Mmm? That's a positive, isn't it? Nothing good comes from a building standing empty for too long."

"Oh, sure. But my Davy peeked under the tarp. Always been a snoop, that man. And we're stumped. Maybe you can get to the bottom of it."

"There was something under a tarp?"

"The sign. Big official sign. Cut into marble, he said. But who ever heard of the Office of Ingress?"

Levity sat back, shook her head, and admitted, "That's a new one. Thanks, Faye. I'll look into it!"

Oatmeal reaches new transcendence at Nutmeg, on the corner of Maple & Main. My add-ins: chopped dates, toasted pecans, spiced pears. What's your pleasure?

After that, it was steak and eggs at Morrow's.

Sizzle & a soft yolk. Bliss. Also notable: Morrow's has added a little free library out front. Bring a book, swap a book, stay for breakfast.

Followed by the highly photogenic huevos rancheros at Las Palmas.

This. Just this. Well, okay. I may have added an indecent number of those tiny corn cakes Maureen fries up. So addicting. Go for them. Then you'll understand.

Mindful of the morning staff meeting, Levity finished up with oysters and eggs at Ama's, where they had a framed award on the wall beside the register, naming them one of the Top Ten in Town for breakfast by Divinity Highstreet of the Parsnip .

Backing up a sister here. These little honeys RANK. Not to be missed.

Levity wasn't paid or comped by any of the eateries she visited. She ate what she liked where she liked, and if the food was good, she became a regular. Oh, she regularly changed things up so her feed didn't get redundant. She'd try new places. Order new or seasonal items on the menu. Food was the simplest way for her to connect with her city and its neighborhoods.

And people did seem to appreciate her posts.

Likes were quickly piling up, and she skimmed through comments. Nothing yet from muzjiks . She was ninety-nine percent sure that was Murph's personal account. He didn't comment often, but she liked knowing he was—probably—watching. It gave her an extra reason to smile for the camera. And to double-check her grammar and spelling.

Tippy had responded, spamming the drool emoji.

And yes, there was Becca. She complimented Levity's generosity and urged her not to be late.

Mick was far less oblique. He placed an order for strudel.

Levity checked the time and reversed directions. Because she really did have a big appetite. And Murph had always shown a fondness for apples and cinnamon.