today'$ $hit li$t: Capital One

yes, there is snow on the ground.
and yes, some light snow is still falling.
and this morning the city changed its seemingly determined mind by closing schools for the day, which does let you know that this is more than a slight dusting.
but . . .

every bank in the neighborhood of Astoria is open, except for . . .
(wait for it)
Capital One.

and not just one branch.
the Capital One branch on the corner of Steinway and 31st Avenue (one block from a subway stop serving the R, G and V lines) is closed.
no note on the door.
no working pens at their outside ATM (in case, you know, you might want to do some banking on the last Friday afternoon of the month).

the Capital One branch on the corner of 32nd Street and Broadway is also closed, despite its proximity (less than one short block away) from the running at or close to scheduled above ground N and W lines.
closed.
no note on the door.
no working pens inside their unlocked vestibule (in case, you know, you might want to do some banking at their ATM on the last Friday afternoon of the month).

and worse yet, the gentleman at the Subway across the street (32nd and Broadway (give 'em some business, leave 'em some tips)) who graciously loaned me a pen so I could fill out the ATM envelope (the rest of my deposit - signed checks and filled out slip - was already prepared) said that the bank had been open until around 1.
HAD BEEN OPEN.

damn, the worst is over, campers.
it's all down hill from here.
there are children on every single street out playing in the snow.
so if you made it into work, you certainly can make it home from work because THE WORST IS OVER.

let me repeat: EVERY OTHER BANK IN ASTORIA, Astoria Federal, Chase, et al, is still open.

but Capital One decided to close the doors on its customers on the last Friday afternoon of the month with no notice, no announcement and no explanation (and no working writing utensils anywhere near their ATMs).

a long time ago I was taught that retail banking is a service industry.
the folks at Capital One, at least in Astoria, don't seem to have been taught the same lesson.