Monday, July 26, I get myself a present at Bell Atlantic … a Qualcomm 860 digital phone to replace my model 800 which is almost two years old. And although they work exactly the same and have the same keypad layout, the 860 is extremely thin and light. I barely notice it in my pants pocket. And like most things I get, it’s not as big on the bells and whistles (like the Nokia which plays thirty different songs for its ringer) but more on ergonomics, quality and efficiency. Dinner is Mexican at MaryAnn’s.
Tuesday, July 27, Although the shop is on vacation, I go down to the office while Bryan is at work. My colonoscopy is Thursday so I stop for the laxative (colyte). We’d missed our sushi while out of the states; I know that our friends in England wanted us to try some places but I’m very funny about raw fish. One of the few places I feel best about is Mie on Second Avenue and it was great to be back there, especially the warm greeting by the owner and staff.
Wednesday, July 28, I have my last breakfast at 9 before fasting for the next 24 hours. I have the car inspected (they gave me a great Year 2000 sticker for it). I visit Jim Lenney (Trinity Church, Cranford’s choirmaster/organist) and his boyfriend, Jamie Pulliam. Since Jamie isn’t a phone talker or an e-mail writer, I hadn’t had the chance to really sit and talk to him for probably half a year. Jim was out so it was Jamie and I talking about colonoscopies and having a martini (hey, the doctor's instructions said "clear liquids only").
Thursday, July 29 and we’re at the ambulatory care center of St. Barnabas Hospital at 6:30. I’m the first scheduled and everyone’s on time so the colonoscopy proceeds at 7:30 am – the doctor’s first analysis (at least until the biopsy is returned) is colitis.
Anyway, I’ve told the surgical team that I want low anesthesia as I’m quite sensitive to it. A note to those undergoing the procedure – I’m also the type that asks for low novocaine during dental fillings (not that I’ve had a cavity in the last seven years). Without the heavy dose that they normally administer, one can easily feel the probe pushing around one’s insides. Not exactly the most comfortable thing. But it does mean that I get out early with very little aftereffect.
The hospital team said I could return immediately to a regular diet, so Bryan and I end up at The Cloister Café at 238 East 9th Street. We’ve eaten at this faux Italian restaurant a number of times; none of their preparations are traditional but they do have a great outdoor garden covered with grape vines.
But tonight faux goes to faux pas when my pasta entrée is delivered before I even finish my gazpacho! As there is no chance of me getting to the pasta in the next ten minutes, I am forced to send it back. The waiter is a bit surprised by it, but there’s obviously not much he can say as it’s pasta in a garlic and oil sauce. And since both courses are very tasty, I must respect the food.
Friday, July 30, we have mai tais at Pangea and Thai food at Holy Basil on Second Avenue, just upstairs from the Telephone Bar & Grill. In the last couple of years, this restaurant has just kept getting better and better. Now they have added beautiful food presentation as well; dinner was a real treat.
We’re home from 9 to midnight at which point I get hungry again! So I go to Tad’s Steak House in Union Square; yes, this is the small chain with locations in San Francisco as well. For you Bostonians, it’s like Charlie’s in Kenmore Square was; you get in line, order your steak and it’s ready by the time you get to the register. No, this isn’t Peter Luger’s! But where else can you get a steak, baked potato (now, this is one thing that places like this do very well) and salad for under ten bucks?
During the last few days, this is what I listened to:
It’s dinner with Scott "Dangerboy" Reich and Susan Merlucci at the Flea Market near Tompkins Square Park. Looking for a good, reasonably-priced French brasserie in the East Village? Look no further.
By midnight, I'm listening to Ralph Vaughan Williams’ “A Pastoral Symphony” (his third) conducted by Adrian Boult in 1968, almost fifty years after its first performance. Boult was Vaughan Williams’ foremost interpreter; while one may disagree with the performances, their connection implies that Boult’s are definitive.
Sunday, August 1 and we order in from Three of Cups, a place for which we’d had the menu; minestra and pizza for B, gazpacho for me and pasta with parsley sausage, lots of garlic, broccoli and tomatoes. Not bad but not great. At 9 pm, it’s dessert and cappuccino at Café Centosette and sleep by 10 pm.
Monday, August 2, for dinner, it’s Mexican at MaryAnn’s. Have I mentioned how important it is to have margaritas (or even sangria) here? The food is really American-style Mexican and requires a little alcohol so one isn't so picky about the cuisine! Also, cash only.
Tuesday, August 3, it’s dinner with Bryan and Danger at Yaffa on St. Mark’s Place; I like the hippie menu, much like places in San Francisco. Scott works for VH-1 and their offices, along with the other on-line services of MTV Networks, have moved into joint quarters near Astor Place.
Wednesday, August 4, in the evening I go to Barnes + Noble for the oral biography of Truman Capote by George Plimpton that I had left with the boys in England; they only had the hard cover but that’s fine with me.
Then it’s dinner alone at Pete’s Tavern on Irving Place; yes, this is the steak house where O. Henry ate. I have two glasses of good pinot noir but the steak was rather tasteless and the clams on the half shell somewhat fishy (although not bad to eat). But a good place to read the book.
Then, it's off to Virgin Records in Union Square. I'd recently heard the new Victor Calderone mix for Madonna’s “Beautiful Stranger” (from the Austin Powers 2 soundtrack) which really improves upon the original. I also got Leonard Bernstein conducting Lucas Foss’s “Song of Songs” (with Jennie Tourel) along with other works; it was something I’d heard the other night while listening to WQXR. It’s quite avant garde but quite moving as well.
I also get two Faure “Requiems” to add to my growing collection of them (one from 1998 with Cecilia Bartoli and Bryn Terfel, the other from 1994 with Barbara Bonney, Jennifer Larmore and Thomas Hampson - both also include Maurice Durufle's "Requiem"), a classic 1971 Smetana “Ma Vlast” with the Boston Symphony Orchestra under Rafael Kubelik (just when I had started attending Tufts University nearby) and more Vaughan Williams.
Finally, the just released fifth act of "the CIVIL warS" [sic]. It's the collaboration of Philip Glass and Robert Wilson that was originally intended to be an all day performance accompanying the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Needless to say, it's never been performed in totality. Act V is the Rome section and (for me) features Laurie Anderson in the role of Mrs. Lincoln (it's way too complicated to get into; if you're very interested, e-mail me).
Thursday, August 5, we have dinner at Pangea after martinis at Dick’s; this is also my personal appeal to Eric Asimov, food critic of the NY Times - review this restaurant!
Friday, August 6, on the way to work I listen to Leonard Cohen’s “Various Positions” (the one with “Dance Me to the End of Time” and “Hallelujah"). This is one of the cd’s I bought the other day in my continuing replacement of my vinyl records. And I think I’ve gained a new appreciation for it; say what you will about his voice (which I don’t mind, btw), I believe that he is one of the great tunesmiths (think about “Suzanne” and “Bird on the Wire").
I'm on my own tonight so I decide to go to Pangea for dinner at 7; this was the best choice for a quiet place to read, I thought. But not five minutes after I sat down, Ronni Leopold (you remember the hat Bryan made for her birthday party in May?) walks in to have a drink so I invite her to join me at a table on the upper level.
Just as I did, she needed a quick drink so we tried the Pangea (tequila, triple sec and pomegranate juice), then decided on a bottle of Veuve Cliquot Ponsardin. As we sat and chatted, I found so much in common with her; if you’re astrologically inclined, maybe it’s because we’re both Tauruses (Tauri, really). She’s a truly fascinating woman.
Of course, I ate (Italian sausage, fennel and spinach over rigatoni), while Ronni has french fries as she hadn’t planned on having dinner. Well, to say the least, it put me in a much better mood than I had been!
At 9:30, I run off (after saying hi to Pat from St. Mark’s-in-the-Bowerie and reminding her I’d introduce her to Tony Jewiss+ when he arrives) to the movies. I've been wanting to see “Trick.” Bryan doesn't care for the current state of gay cinema so there are times that it's easier for me to go alone.
At first, I thought it was terrible and the characters never achieved depth (the supporting ones – particularly the straight roommate) but by the end I pleasantly surprised at how much I liked the leads, Christian Campbell and J.P. Pitoc. Plus, I would be lying if I didn’t admit that I have trouble with straight actors playing gay (we gay people has acted all our lives; there’s a big difference).
Saturday, August 7, by 11 we’re both up and at breakfast at the Lunch Box. As it’s a beautiful day, we had decided to take a drive but couldn’t decide where. Our eventual choice was Willard Brothers Woodcutters (300 Basin Road, Trenton NJ 08619; 609-890-1990); we had gotten the wood for our handmade endtables here.
Bryan has decided to try his hand at frame making and carving and besides, the woods are so incredible here. But because of traffic delays, we barely make it there before closing so Bryan only gets a chance to pick up some basswood and maple before they close. Driving back on Route 1, we went antiquing, finding a wonderful two-sided store – Dragonfly (Antiques and Collectibles)/Kustom Kulture (Retro Shop From Kitsch to Kool) at 1775 Brunswick Avenue in Lawrenceville. And although we didn’t find anything then, we’ll be back.
By 6 pm, we had made our way into Metuchen, where Michelle Petersen (his boss) had lived. We decided to eat at Radhana’s Thai Kitchen, a tiny hole in the wall behind Main Street. It wasn’t quite as good as we had remembered but it’s certainly a treat in that small town. I had crispy “Golden Bags” filled with shrimp, chicken, carrots and corn and followed by duck in yellow curry; Bryan had sweet pancakes in a satay sauce with carrots and corn followed by shrimp and chinese eggplant.
By 8 pm, we were back at the apartment looking at five packs of pictures that Bryan had been taking over the last six months; yes, he had finally had them developed. After 9, we went for drinks at Dick’s and then to John’s Italian Restaurant to see our friend Donn (he’d been away for a few weeks). By 11 pm, we were ready to head home.
Sunday, August 8, I took the opportunity to listen carefully to Lukas Foss’s Song of Songs, based on the Song of Solomon. Especially the second of the four movements … ripe sexuality, deep religiosity.
Monday, August 9, Bryan and I decide to try a new restaurant on our street. Léon is a French, brasserie style restaurant on 12th Street near the corner of First Avenue. I think the capacity is only about fifty people, and they just got their liquor license that day (we had picked up a bottle of wine because they didn’t have it over the weekend).
Bryan had asparagus in garlic sauce followed by steak tartare while I had marinated salmon with cucumber spaghetti followed by a perfect hangar steak covered in a onion and red wine reduction. The dessert wasn’t all it could be, as the bottom of the cake was burnt, but the glass of free-poured Martell Cordon Bleu helped immensely. Along with a Ketel One for Bryan, a glass of merlot for me and espresso, the total was only $80. Quite reasonable for the food.
Tuesday, August 10, I pick up Bryan at 5 and we return to the apartment to sell his bicycle. Yes, the one he bought from Robbie Alterio more than a year ago and which he has ridden twice or so. Oh, well, at least it’s not collecting dust anymore.
With the proceeds, we decide to have dinner at La Balconata on Sixth Street; for awhile their continued success was touch and go but a couple of positive reviews in local papers have increased business. I have very good fried zucchini followed by the rigatoni alla pana (zucchini and squash in a tomato cream sauce) which is particularly good this evening. Bryan has his European-style shrimp cocktail followed by chicken breasts in creamy mustard sauce (more “mustardy” than Café Centosette). We even have fruit tarts for dessert.
By 8 pm, we’re back in the house; I spend almost an hour talking to Jeff Marshall on the phone. Recently, Bryan and I were saying that we'd be much better friends with Jeff and Alli if we all lived in the same town. I really miss going over to Jeff's; when I lived in Boston we'd usually get together every Wednesday night around 10 pm to go to Anchovies for pasta and clams. Ah, memories.
Wednesday, August 11, it's the day before Bryan’s 30th birthday and three days before our 2½ year anniversary. He goes for a long birthday lunch and drinks with his coworkers. I picked him up at work and then we had to decide on where to have his birthday dinner. Now, I’m the foodie and we always go to good restaurants, so I wasn’t surprised when he wanted a choice of McDonald’s or Wendy’s after our drinks at Dick’s.
But suddenly, he made a choice for Atomic Wings, the new place on First Avenue. And did we pig out with wings and nachos and chili and more. But the velveeta cheese on the nachos was bad and should have been avoided.
Thursday, August 12, Bryan Joseph Johnson is 30 years old today! I had flowers delivered; they were really beautiful, all violets and whites with three yellow roses “tipped” in purple in a large basket. He was very pleased. It was his desire to spend most of the day in bed and that’s what he does except for lunch.
Friday, August 13, it’s off to dinner at Mie for sushi. Once again, I'd like to point out that Mie is head and shoulders above most of the other sushi joints in town. Go there if you can.
Saturday, August 14, Bryan and I have been going out for 30 months; I think I'll try for 30 more years!
It was supposed to rain all day so we decided to cancel our drive to the Poconos. And although it never did rain, it was hot and humid. And so it was that we saw Lili Taylor in “The Haunting” after a terrible lunch and drink at Penang, the Malaysian restaurant on Third Avenue.
Quick note: this particular branch of Penang is not owned by the same owners as the other three in NYC and the quality is just abysmal (I even told the waitress that when we didn’t finish our food – we just came for the cool air before the movie).
Anyway, the movie. Although in the beginning, it seemed like it could be a decent psychological thriller, by the first third of the movie it had degenerated into standard horror fare. By the end, they even had to behead the blond heterosexist guy to keep it in the genre. Boring except for the special effects.
Afterward, we went to Pangea for pina coladas (we both also had pasta dishes). Back home, we watched Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and ordered delivery from San Loco, a very tasty taco joint with two locations in the East Village.
Sunday, August 15, we met Dangerboy around 2 pm for a walk to SoHo and the Andy Warhol “The Last Supper” exhibit at the Guggenheim SoHo. A perfect day for a walk so we went in and out of various plant and antique stores after the museum and then a drink at Penang on Spring Street. Now, this is the good one; we’ve eaten here before. But the drinks are certainly expensive - $9 each for a Bloody Mary and two daiquiris!
Continuing our walk, we found ourselves peckish around 5 pm. I decided I needed Italian food so we wound up at Cucina di Pesci on Second Avenue. We sat outside (on the Fourth Street side); and the food tasted good (I had salad and chicken parm, B had asparagus followed by fusilli in pesto, Scott had the black linguini).
Monday, August 16, most of the day taken up with the diocesan newsletter, Ecclesia. I've gotten quite adept at this; does your church need their newsletter done?
Tuesday, August 17, a hot and muggy day and a long one as I work on the newsletter until past 6:30 pm. By the time I get to the apartment, Bryan has spoken to Dangerboy so we decide to meet for drinks at Standard on First Avenue. This is a very industrial, but small, bar; quite pleasant for a quick drink really.
After a rather large martini there, we walked down First without being sure where we’d have dinner. The few places that we had in mind were crowded but then we came across Monk, at 309 East 5th Street (“French-Armenian Cuisine”). Scott had a salad and filet mignon in green peppercorn sauce (quite good); Bryan had potato crepes (much like those frozen pizza balls) that were quite tasty, followed by a vegetable plate (an assortment of many of their items and almost enough to turn me into a vegetarian); I had an eggplant puree (much like a babaganoush) followed by beef kufta.
Now, my eggplant was nothing to write home about, but the entrée was even more boring. Although the beef was described as “tartare-grade” it really didn’t seem to matter. The dish was basically ground beef and mashed potatoes. Quite plain, really. Nonetheless, considering the company it really was a pleasant place. Plus, since it’s French, smoking was allowed (making Bryan happy). We also had martinis before and espresso after dinner. A rather expensive meal made more so by my insistence on a 1994 Martinet St. Emilion (yes, red wine); the total was almost $180 including tip. We got home around 11 pm after a nightcap at Dick’s.
Wednesday, August 18, by 9 pm we were happily eating sushi at Mie. By 11, we were back in the apartment and cleanup time to prepare for the parents arrival.
Thursday, August 19, I do a final straightening of the apartment before the arrival of my parents, my brother Mario and his new girlfriend Joanne. It turns out that I have met her before, although I didn’t think I did. She and my brother arrived about fifteen minutes before my parents, giving us just enough time to tour the apartment before making our 7 pm dinner reservation at John’s Italian down the street.
The food was traditional and usual for John’s; huge portions and not quite the best.
Mario went for the portobello mushroom special against Bryan’s advice; his reward was huge, overdone pieces in a thick sauce. My father had refused to order it when the waiter told him the cook wouldn’t slice it as thin as he likes – smart move.
Bryan had the stuffed mushrooms instead which were better, my parents both played it safe with bruschetta, and I had my regular clams oreganota in deep grease.
For entrees, my brother finished off a large bowl of fettucine alfredo, Joanne enjoyed a traditional spaghetti and meatballs, Mom went with a penne special with broccoli rabe and sun-dried tomatoes (quite tasty), Dad with linguine with very tiny clams (which unfortunately were a bit tough), Bryan had cappelini with red mushroom sauce (which pleasantly surprised him – he didn’t know they did a red version) and I had a quite good chicken parmigiana.
For dessert, we had promised my mother that we’d take her to Veniero’s around the corner (from a restaurant founded in 1908 to a pastry shop from 1894). But once we got there and found the wait to be almost an hour, we went to DiRobertis on First Avenue. I believe the pastry to be better there anyway and there’s never any crowd; also Phil Rizzuto claims that they have the best cannoli on the planet. He may be right. So after coffees and pastries, we walked them back to the parking lot and by 10 pm they were all on their way home.
Friday, August 20, I have to go for a follow up visit from my colonoscopy to Dr. Stefaniwsky. He assures me that the “colitis” was mainly a bruise, although he doesn’t say quite as much, and gives me a prescription for Flagel for non-pathogenic parasites common to those with HIV. And aren't you glad you asked?
I stop in Cranford to pick up some compact discs and am surprised to find almost a dozen by Leonard Cohen – I already have half a dozen in NYC!
As I’m solo for dinner, I chose Pangea where I have a Greek salad and jambalaya along with a carafe of Montepulciano, the current favorite red wine of restaurants in America it seems. I take a seat at the bar afterward for fun conversation with someone who remembered the Ninth Circle and a lady who works for the hotel the puts up the guests for Ricki Lake so it’s a fun conversation. And I’ve got to find out what I had for a digestif as it was very good; it tasted like Jaegermeister with mint (trust me, it tasted better than it sounds).
Saturday, August 21, I pick up around the apartment until noon when we go to the Lunch Box. Although this has been our regular weekend brunch place, the clientele and slow service is forcing us to find some place new.
Afterward, we walk through the Union Square farmer’s market getting gladioli (the vase hasn’t seen any in a couple of years) and walk around Chelsea. Boy, that’s an ugly area on Saturdays!
After a quick stop at home to change, we walk over to Cornelia Street in Greenwich Village. I’ve recently hear a few restaurant reviews not only about specific restaurants, but also of the street itself. Only one block long, it sports a good half dozen fine establishments including Po, featuring chef Mario Batale, a fine oyster bar and more.
For our first experiment, we chose a continental/French cuisine at the eponymous Cornelia Street Café at #29. A winner!
We start with Ketel One martinis followed by a glass of white wine for Bryan and a glass of red for me. For food, B has portobello mushrooms, trout and bread pudding; I have smoked salmon, duck breast in berry sauce and angel food cake with whipped cream and berries. I have to comment on the duck breast as it was just perfect. As I said to the waitress (the service was superb, by the way), I’d recently had very bad duck in Brussels (where I thought it was a piece of tough steak) and decent (but not exemplary) duck at the Hotel de Crillon in Paris. I was starting to become afraid of ordering it! This was just wonderful, looking like little pieces of London broil.
Resting over cigarettes in the bar with a Cointreau for B and a port for me (gratis from the bartender), we have decided that this place is a keeper. Downstairs they have jazz, so we think we’ll invite Bryan’s boss Michelle and her friend for an evening out. One final point – the whole dinner was only $98 with a $25 tip. That’s incredible!
We also listen to the first album by It’s A Beautiful Day; I’m surprised that Bryan knows of it.
Sunday,
August 22, I finally finish off George Plimpton’s oral biography
of Truman Capote; a brilliant compilation of quotes which really made
Truman come alive again and which naturally makes me quite sad when he
dies “again.” But kudos to Plimpton for a balanced portrait of Capote;
the final chapter is the eulogy that James Dickey gave at a writer’s dinner
not long after his passing – a perfect ending. Highly, and I mean
highly, recommended to everyone.
B and I have lunch at Wendy’s at 4, come back to the apartment for awhile and then go off for a real dinner at 7:30. Having no set destination, but wanting to window shop, we head off towards Tompkins Square Park. Walking back along St. Mark’s Place, almost directly opposite Yaffa, is Pepe Rosso at #110. Their take-out menu declares “No Diet Coke, No Decaf Coffee, No Skim Milk – Only Good Food.” Interesting approach!
Inside, there are large tables seating six to eight people so one may sit with others; it wasn’t crowded so we had a large table all to ourselves. Run by real Italians (and cute at that), the service was perfunctory but decent. Bryan had a salad of spinach, bacon and Roquefort cheese followed by homemade parpadelle with sausage and spicy tomato sauce; I had organic greens, oranges and goat cheese followed by the penne special with prosciutto and asparagus. Plus a glass of house white and red and good bread with virgin olive oil for dipping. I found my food almost perfect (if even a bit too al dente for my taste) but Bryan’s pasta could have done with a bit more cooking. I’m not a big believer in moist pasta; dry seems to sit better especially as this was particularly thick parpadelle. Nonetheless, it was all quite tasty. I believe that we will try it again, especially because of the price (Salads were $5 each, entrees $9 and wine $4 - $43 plus tip, cash only).
By 9 pm, we were comfortably under the covers watching an E! special on “Bewitched.” I know, sounds silly, huh? But it really was a fascinating portrait of Elizabeth Montgomery and (for me) the various gay things “behind the scenes.”
Monday, August 23, a perfect weather day and a regular work day for both of us; at 6 pm we wind up at In Padella at 145 Second Avenue on the corner of 9th Street and decide to sit outside to watch the crowds. I’ve had some problems with the food there before, mainly because of “black” or squid ink pasta. This time I’m smart enough to specify plain penne for my puttanesca sauce and am rewarded with great pasta. Bryan had penne with broccoli and shrimp; along with a carpaccio appetizer for me and vegetable “polpettes” for B, the total cost was $43 plus ten bucks for tip.
Tuesday, August 24, it’s my mother’s 75th birthday; we’re going there for dinner in the evening. Not only is Mario there, but also Frank Loyacano, the elderly painter who does my parish newsletter covers.
Wednesday, August 25, my father’s 76th birthday although one would never know it. We go to MaryAnn’s for Mexican and a well-deserved margarita.
Thursday, August 26, Bryan and I have sushi at Mie; I later meet Dangerboy (remember, he's actually Scott Reich of VH-1 - he'll be in Los Angeles over Labor Day weekend working on a Goo Goo Dolls project) at Standard Bar for drinks.
[Although it has been totally edited out, this once contained a full description of my leaving the family business after five years. It would be another whole year before I would be gainfully employed.]
Friday, August 27, hot and humid, but Bryan and I decide to walk up Fifth Avenue, he lights a candle at St. Patrick’s before we arrive at the Museum of Modern Art. I’ve been meaning to see their current exhibits which include unusual architectural house ideas, “Fame” and some very cool cars. Obviously, now I have the chance!
We decide on Pangea for dinner – always the default for celebrations or the other! After dinner, I sit and meditate after listening to Respighi’s "Pines of Rome" and "Fountains of Rome."
Saturday, August 28, At 11 am, Bryan and I try a new place for breakfast – the Cooper Diner on Second Avenue at 5th Street, across the street from MaryAnn’s. They’ve recently changed location (ok, just across the street) and it looks very clean. And what a surprise! Yes, it’s a diner, but they take our order quickly and the food appears within minutes – this is a proper diner kitchen. The food quality and cleanliness is even a step up from the Lunch Box without the crazy customers; all for maybe a dollar more per person. We’ll be back, even considering it’s a longer walk.
After a quick stop at the Union Square for fresh gladioli we hop in the car for a trip to New Jersey. Bryan was hoping we’d find some garage sales or large flea markets but it’s not to be. So we decide to visit the Liberty Science Center, part of the Statue of Liberty complex just off the NJ Turnpike. Well, it’s not the Museum of Science in Boston or the one in Chicago or that interesting inter-active place in San Francisco or, or! Really for kids under 12 we rather thought but it does kill a couple of hours for us before our real plan begins.
By 6 pm, we’re back in NYC; Danger and Susan meet us at the apartment. Then it’s off to Standard Bar for cosmopolitans and then sushi at Sharaku (the address is 14 Stuyvesant Street but it’s easier to say Third Avenue and 9th Street). B and I have been there a couple of times before; it’s extraordinarily clean and the presentations are quite beautiful. Of course we order too much but we really enjoy it. As much as I feel Mie is the best in the East Village, Sharaku probably is a bit better, just not as homey. B and I really feel like family at Mie.
Sunday, August 29, Bryan gets up soon afterward and we decide to see if our experience at Cooper Diner was an aberration. And except for only slightly slower service, it isn’t. I have exactly the same thing as the day before while B opts for an omelet that even he can’t finish.
Walking around the East Village, we find the Charlie Parker jazz festival in full swing at Tompkins Square Park; it’s an annual event that runs all afternoon.
Then it’s back to relax at the apartment before meeting my cousin Gina (Lorraine Dizzia’s daughter) for sushi at Mie. She’s on the Living Diet; from what she tells me it’s 85% raw food, 15% cooked. I really don’t believe in these myself; why not just a balanced diet?
Well, at any rate, we have a fine time together. She’s really a together person; she’ll be attending Duke Law School in a year but until then she’s going to San Francisco, Europe and then a season on a horse farm in Montana. Like me and the other progressives in the family, she’s interested in exploring what life has to offer as opposed to what she “has to do.”
Monday, August 30, first stop is the post office to change my address permanently to NYC. Then to visit Craig+ at Trinity. A little before 1 pm and I’m at the unemployment office.
Tuesday, August 31, the month comes to a close with, well, a bang and a whimper. Bryan and I go to dinner at Pangea and by 8 pm we’re in the apartment; the rest of the evening is spent with us on our computers.
And so ends August, although I’m sure that the fat lady has yet to sing!
"Je ne regrette rien." - Edith Piaf
now my appetite's whetted, please take me to september
yikes, talk about too much information - take me back to the home page