Dude. "Can I get change" means "can I get the change broken down into smaller units". Not "can I get back the difference between this and the total on the bill". That part comes by default unless otherwise stated!

God, I know, right? But then I started talking to myself about how she needs the $2 more than I do, BUT STILL. It's not like I got a lot of service.

I started talking to myself about how she needs the $2 more than I do

that's very sweet of you. not getting the change I asked for is a pet peeve of mine that often results in the server getting a much crummier tip than I had originally intended. Yours was lucky to have you.

I finally ate at Applebee's! And it was delicious.

Harrumph. What did you eat? And where was this supposedly good chain restaurant in the city? I went to a TGI Fridays once in Manhattan. And it was the sketchiest, most depressing place I have ever been to in New York. When we got there, the police had already shown up.

Seeing those chains walking around...oh hell, I don't know where we were, somewhere in the place I generically call NYC... was odd. I don't know why entirely. Maybe that they weren't standalone structures so much as jammed into some space.

And where was this supposedly good chain restaurant in the city?

Queens! And I had a buffalo chicken sandwich. The bread was somewhat insufficient, but still.

That TGIFriday's by Penn Station? I've walked in and out of there at least once.

I have to say, when traveling, I usually go to chains. Because while I've had some wonderful meals in random non-chain restaurants, I've also had some awful ones. So I'd often rather go for "acceptable" than risk "gross" (ie "The Worst Mexican Food Ever, In Oklahoma City")

Plus, most of those low price type chains (applebees, outback, whatever) have beefed up their takeout options, which I love if I don't feel like sittign there and just want to go back to teh hotel.

That TGIFriday's by Penn Station? I've walked in and out of there at least once.

That's the one. We had seen a movie down there, and there's nowhere to eat down there, and we didn't know any better. Nowadays I guess I would go to Keen's, would have cost about as much as that dump.

There's an Applebees in Battery Park City, just north of the World Financial Center.

there's nowhere to eat down there

Mustang Sally's and/or Harry's. Perfectly good bar food.

You would think that it would not be horribly difficult to find a pair of uncropped, reasonably priced cargo pants.

This is also my GF's lament and has been for several years now.