magical dream date

For some reason it came up in conversation that Mike and I both liked trying different beers and we decided we should hang at one of the various places around town that specialize in beers on tap.  When he texted me on Friday I wasn't really thinking about the fact that we were making plans to hang out for our friday night.  It ended up being a really good time and reminded me of the last time I went on a magical dream date, 4 YEARS AGO.

Maybe it also reminded me of my last magical dream date because Amy is the last blogger I have had the pleasure of spending an evening with.  Mike does a video blog which I'm a little envious of.  I really like the way he puts his together, but hearing and seeing myself on video reminds me why I was never able to make the video blog thing happen:




Still it was fun to be a part of his blog, and to have him make a guest appearance on mine.  And it inspires me to plan more magical dream dates with people.

Elliot, I'm coming for ya!

thanks for the birthday wishes

Especially Amy for sending me an email full of wonderful gifs of all of my favorite things.

Last year of my 20's.  Here we go.

I couldn't have said it better myself

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Please refer to Amy's blog for my thoughts on the halftime show.

Also, this:

treasures under the bridge

Amy met me for brunch this morning after which we wandered down to the south street seaport.  I can't remember the last time I would have been down in this part of town, it's definitely worth the trip though.

Especially when there is an amazing market set up:

It was mostly food so I was glad I had been sated by brunch otherwise I may have gone nutty.  Instead I just enjoyed some casual browsing.

I did indulge in a soda from this place though:

June, take note, you may want to get some of these flavorings the next time you need a refill for your soda machine.

I had a hibiscus ginger soda and it was ridiculously delicious.  Neither Amy nor I was prepared for how good it was.

If TSA didn't take everything away from me I would bring some back with me.  Or maybe I should just not leave nyc...

one last time

It truly is the end of an era as Dan is moving out of this apt that he's been in for the past several years.  Even though I "know" all of the people who are living there now, Dan is the last of the originals that is leaving and I have to say I was not prepared to be so sad about it.

I mean, when I say I've had some good times at this apt I mean I have had some good times.  And I felt that we touched on all of the classic activities at the party the other night.

Right down to disturbing all of the neighbors by misleading my friend Chris in to setting of the alarm that was recently installed on the door to the roof.  It was actually pretty horrible, but at the same time reminiscent of when we pissed off the downstairs neighbors by doing the single ladies dance for like 3 hours straight.

Before we had to evacuate the roof it was really nice.  We managed to be up there for the final hours of daylight and the beginning of dusk.  And because we snuck up the back way it was only those of us in the know; Dan, Amy, Patrick, Jerry, and me.  I couldn't have asked for a better group.

Once we made our way back down to the apartment though we got to do one of our other favorite activities; dancing to ridiculous pop music.  I can always count on Dan to dance with me, and I will miss it very much.

I do find some comfort in the knowledge that there is a little piece of me that will stay in this apartment at least for a while.  When I moved away from NY in December I gave my plants away to my most trusted friends.  Dan has done an incredible job keeping them this long but now he's going to have to gift them to the apt.  I hope that they will bring the new tenants as much happiness as they brought me.

And I hope that I will get to come back and visit them soon.  Like maybe if there is a 4th of July party or something...hint hint...

magical dream date

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I was supposed to be taking Amy out for a magical dreamdate on saturday night, but it was she who swept me off my feet.

We met up in the west village and started our evening at Taim.  I was not prepared for how warm it was going to be yesterday so I was way overdressed.  The ginger lemonade was exactly what I needed.

After filling ourselves with middle eastern deliciousness we went to the theatre to pick up our tickets but then still had an hour to kill before the performance.  While wandering through the west village we came upon One if by Land, Two if by Sea, pictured above.  It was so beautiful, it made me want to come back in some alternate reality where i'd actually be able to afford to eat there.  But I did have one of the best cocktails i've ever had.  They call it a "darker and stormier", it's on their seasonal fall drink menu list and contains muddled blackberries.

Being at the restaurant we had to discuss what the name meant.  "something from a poem maybe?" "Something about warning people".  Well we were close (not really).  It's from a Henry Wadsworth Longfellow poem about the midnight ride of Paul Revere and how they would signal with a lantern to spread the word.  I had to look it up.  But what struck me was that just the other day when we were in the Met walking around waiting for Meghan we walked right past this painting:

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Is it a sign?  Or does there need to be a third Paul Revere reference in my life?  That's how it works right, threes?  Alright well I'll keep a vigilant watch, not unlike those townfolk.  I've got my eye on you Paul Revere.

Anyways, back to the dreamdate.

My drink was the perfect thing to have before settling in to my theatre seat.  The play was interesting.  It's been really weird going to see so much theatre lately after not having gone in so long.  It takes me back.

At this point I would really like to get Amy, Dan, and Meghan together to discuss the plays I've taken them to.  I feel like they've been so incredibly different, and yet at the same time so alike.  I only wish I could take them, and everyone, to see "Three Eco Friendly Self Propelled Clowns" but until somebody wants to do a revival it will just have to live on in the memories of those of us blessed enough to have been in the audience.

I like this idea of the theatre dream date.  Maybe it will be my thing.  Like Barbara Walters most fascinating people.

thank you Amy

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Wow, it's like a whole new blog around here!  Amy (of ilikeyoulikeyou.com fame) designed some really amazing logos for my blog and inspired me to do a complete makeover. 

Let me know your thoughts on the new classy look : )



dream date pt 2

Even after Dan and I had our pre show drinks we were still early for the play so while we waited in the darkness we managed to play MASH for both him and me.  I am ok with the future events of my life, I think it was kind of harsh that he had to specify that I am to have a bicycle with NO basket, but whatever, i'll make do.  At least I don't have to drive the Weinermobile like Dan. 

After the play was over we needed to forget the memories of the bad bloody mary's and the boring play with a trip to the Standard for some AMAZING bloody mary's and great people watching.

I've actually only ever had the bloody mary at the Standard on Sunset in los angeles, which is slightly different than the one served in the west village.  It came garnished with a sprig of rosemary!!! so fancy!  It was really delicious in the drink but also just when you brought the glass up to your face you were enveloped in this really nice rosemary scent.  I still would have appreciated a stalk of celery but I have no complaints. 

We sat in a communal section of the outdoor space which was soon invaded by a family that looked straight out of Growing Up Gotti.  They were actually from Italy but looked like they modeled their lives after the trashiest of Italian icons.  We had fun spying on them for a while but the lack of service led to our disinterest as the bloody mary wore off. 

We eventually found our way upstairs to the highline, upon which we walked uptown.  We ended our night at Barrage where Amy met us for a $2 beer. 

All in all it really was a magical nyc sunday dream date.