About the cartoonist: Bob Eckstein is a writer, illustrator, author, and contributor of cartoons to The New Yorker and West Side Rag. Check out his popular newsletter, The Bob. And listen to Bob on Rag Radio — HERE.
See all WSR Cartoons here.
Subscribe to West Side Rag’s FREE email newsletter here. And you can Support the Rag here.
Please limit comments to 150 words and keep them civil and relevant to the article at hand. Comments are closed after six days. Our primary goal is to create a safe and respectful space where a broad spectrum of voices can be heard. We welcome diverse viewpoints and encourage readers to engage critically with one another’s ideas, but never at the expense of civility. Disagreement is expected—even encouraged—but it must be expressed with care and consideration. Comments that take cheap shots, escalate conflict, or veer into ideological warfare detract from the constructive spirit we aim to cultivate. A detailed statement on comments and WSR policy can be read here.
Brilliant as always. But the omnipresent yoga mat, the current must-have (and must display!) accessory, is a truly special, laugh-out-loud touch. Thank you!
Love this! RIP Absolute Bagels.
Great farewell to Absolute. I am reminded of the poet/humorist Christopher Morley’s
Epitaph for Any New Yorker:
Christopher Morley
(1890-1957)
Epitaph for Any New Yorker (1920)
I, who all my life had hurried,
Came to Peter’s crowded gate;
And, as usual, was worried,
Fearing that I might be late.
So when I began to jostle
(I forgot that I was dead),
Patient, smiled the old Apostle:
“Take your eternity,” he said.
Little known fact: The woman with the yoga mat expired during a Hot Yoga session.
❤️ Finally, a perfect ending to the Absolute story.
How long does one wait in line for a heavenly bagel before realizing they aren’t getting any closer to the front and, perhaps, they are mistaken about which afterlife they have arrived in.
What’s that signpost up ahead…?
<3
I’m so sorry they closed down. After the little coffee shop at the corner right near then close down they were the only place that you could grab a quick bite to eat or a bagel to go. I miss them already.
I love this cartoon. I guess heaven is the upper, upper, upper west side?