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May 18, 2008
Springtime in NY
Last night, I returned to Los Angeles from my most relaxing vacation in years. I used frequent flyer miles to travel to NYC and stayed with my fabulous friends, Lessie & Camille, in Brooklyn.
I arrived Tuesday night and had dinner and drinks at Life Cafe, one of several neighborhood haunts by their flat. Camille told me the discouraging news that the next season of The Real World will be filmed in their neighborhood, which will probably make their neighborhood haunts unbearable during the process.
Wednesday I went to the Brooklyn Museum and saw the Takashi Murakami exhibit, which began in its life in LA. I have to say, I'm not a fan. But it was worth going to see his portraits of Daruma the Great, the man who brought Zen Buddhism to Japan. Here are the names of the two portraits I saw, which are also Zen Buddhist phrases to reflect on:
That I may time transcend, that a universe my heart may unfold.I also saw Judy Chicago's The Dinner Party and other art that made me wonder what art curators think being a feminist means. I was particularly disturbed that none of my WILPF foremothers were included in the history of feminism. They won Nobel Peace Prizes for goodness sake!I open my eyes but see no scenery, I fix my gaze upon my heart.
Then it was off to Century 21, the best kept secret of NY: designer department store at discount prices. I didn't have the Not For Tourists guide on Wed, so I wandered the streets from the subway trying to find Canal St. I'm grateful I did, because I ended up stopping at a jewelery store that was going out of business and picked up a fabulous peridot ring.
Then I found C21 and realized it was across the street from The World Trade Center, a place I wasn't planning on visiting. Bought a salad at a panini place and ate in an urban park next to the store while reading Eat, Pray, Love. Eventually wandered into the store and ended up getting two purses, a $50 skirt for $4, a polo, work pants, and jeans.
Met the crew in Union Square and ate dinner at Max Brenner's Chocolate by the Bald Man. Had the most amazing turkey crepe ever, a "scotch" neat, and the fruit crepe w hazelnut and chocolate sauce for dessert. The waiter seemed to really dislike me because it took forever to get my drink and instead of scotch, I was given cognac. Well, same family, right?
Traveled onto another restaurant/bar in the NYU area. Can't remember the name, but was able to order Cote du Rhone by the glass. Came to realize that it's a much more common wine in NYC than it is out here on the West Coast.
Thursday took an adventure to the Lower East Side to find the best bagel & lox in NYC according to New York Magazine. I hiked .67 miles from the subway stop to Houston St (pronounced "How-stun" btw), to find that Russ & Daughers is primarily a fish store. No worries though, because it was a nice day and I was able to eat my sandwich on a bench in front. Alas, I never made it far enough uptown to have the perfect black & whiter. Next time, though.
After spending a good hour getting to a Kinko's and post office to mail my HR forms to my new employer, I trudged out of the neighborhood to the East Village where I pick up a really cute shirt. Thank goodness because I was seriously over heating in my sweater and wool coat. Got a big bag to carry my outwear in and wore the shirt out of the store.
Took the 6 train uptown with the intention of going to the Met - you know, to be cultural and all. Found my way to Central Park and it spoke sweetly to me, reminding me that it was just as acceptable to commune with nature as it is to relish Great Art. So I sat on a hill and read till I got hungry and strolled along to the Boathouse, where I had a cheese & fruit platter with Pinot Grigio. Continued to travel the lake (which I originally mistook to be only as large as what I could see from my perch at the Boathouse). It was truly an amazing experience. Like any love affair, it had to end - this time, with my nose reminding me that I'm allergic to nature.
It took me awhile, but eventually I was able to use Lessie's Not For Tourists guide to find my home church, the flagship Macy's store in Herald Square. I didn't have much time to commune with my beloved, as Camille had texted me to meet her in Union Square, so after a brief tour of the women's section (and restroom), I did some power shopping in the handbag department and found my new love, a Michael Kors black lambskin tote.
We at at the Republic of Tao, which has delicious food (ordered the glass noodles) and sangria, but is far too loud for my taste. Then it was back to the LES to meet up with Lessie & Camille's "third roommate," Neal and his friend whose name is escaping me. More drinking and carousing ensued and a magical taxi home revealed how close LES is to Brooklyn.
On Friday, I woke up later than usual and finished my book. Then went back to C21 to return the black bag I had purchased there (far less desirable than my Michael bag) and went to the UN to meet Linda, ED of JAPA, for lunch. Friday was a rainy day (the rain stopped me from taking a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, another next time in NY activity). I had a 3 course prix-fixe meal: hearty vegetable soup, skirt steak, and fresh-made tiramisu. Alas, they messed up Linda's order and it arrived long after mine (and only after she questioned the wait staff). The steak was delicious, but my potatoes and vegetables had way too much butter. I fear I wasn't very good company, since it was difficult for me to focus on WILPF when I was in vacation mode.
Linda insisted I should browse the shops at Grand Central on my way to MOMA, and I'm happy I did because the browsing allowed me to arrive at MOMA on Free Friday. 4 to 8 p.m. is free, courtesy of Target, which is the only time to go to MOMA since otherwise it is the most expensive ticket in town. I was particularly keen on getting there because I had read a NYT article about an Esquire covers installation. I think it took me longer to read the article than it takes to view the exhibit, which is literally a corner of a much larger room. It was all good, since I was able to also see the most magnificent Monet water lilies ever, a triptych that takes up an entire wall. Also saw Van Gogh's Starry Night, and some Picassos.
Left wondering if I should stop again at Macy's or perhaps try Filene's Basement in Union Square. In the end, I decided I was too tired and went back to the apartment, where Camille was anxiously awaiting my return (she had graciously lent me her keys). We both took naps and when Lessie got back from her Studio Time (glassblowing), we headed off to Williamsburg where we ate an amazing meal of chicken, sweet potatoes, spinach, and green beans at Peter's Since 1969. Then it was a trudge through the entire neighborhood to get to a place to dance. Watching the bartender make mojitos was worth the walk in open-toed shoes, getting my hair matted down by rain. Seriously I have never seen a person's arm move as fast as his did mashing up mint, sugar, lemon, and lime. It was truly a decadent experience. Alas, despite rushing upstairs to have him make our second round, he tired of the job and passed me off to the far inferior female barkeep. Then we went next door for another drink (my choice for the round was water), and eventually to another watering hole in their neighborhood. Camille & Lessie apologized a few times, cine rainy Friday nights are Netflix nights and the bars were much less crowded than normal. They were sad I wouldn't be there for a Saturday extravaganza, but I knew my liver was grateful for the reprieve. Being home the entire day before starting a new job is just what the doctor ordered.
Saturday we had the most amazing brunch ever. Can't remember the name of the place, but I had mimosa, coffee, a cheese, pepper, and onion omelet, delicious potatoes, and crispy bacon. Plus, we had a Common siting. Stopped by a jewelery store for some power shopping before going to Brooklyn Industries. Had to leave relatively quickly to catch the subway (wherein I finally learned how to add money to a subway card) to Port Authority. My dear friends helped drag my suitcases all day and got me to the Newark Airport bus stop. Arrived way earlier than I normally do for flights, and spent the time having a pleasant convo with my good friend in DC whom I realized I haven't seen in at least two years(!) My goodness how time is flying.
The only casualty of the trip was my purple scarf, which helped me beat the rain on Friday and found a new home with my pals in Brooklyn.
Next time: Propsect Park, a Broadway Show, and a black & whiter.
Pictures are on Facebook. I've been at this computer too long and am too lazy to try to gather them onto this blog.
Posted by cj at May 18, 2008 12:49 PM