Gotham Gal

Dinner, theater and the bowery

We had quite the evening last night.  We started at Kyma which is a Greek restaurant on 46th and 8th.  Believe me, nothing to write home about but edible.  Delicious food in the theater district is hard to come by.  I know a few new places have opened up recently but I am not sure they are in the location we were.

Second Stage Theater's next production is Next to Normal which premieres in a week or so.  The place was packed last night with lost of theater buffs from writers to actors.  Fun to see their reaction to the play.  Next to Normal is a musical.  I am generally not a big fan of musicals but the songs are fresh and the music is pretty good.   Tom Kitt is the composer who wrote the music for High Fidelity. 

Next to Normal centers on a family.  The set was clever.  An open house, 3 flights up.  At all times you can see the characters if they are on stage in different areas of the house.  As first I thought the musical was about a typical dysfunctional suburban family but as the story unfolds there is more to it.  The story is about loss and mental anguish, looking at the past while attempting to deal with now.  One person in a household who happens to be completely nuts can really screw up the foundation of a family.   

The voices and acting were really good but I found the production to be about 25 minutes too long.  Much preferred the first half to the second half.  They have been tweaking the musical every night so by the time Next to Normal opens they will probably flush most of that out.  At least I hope so.  Interesting topic but it just went on a little too long.   Jessica and Emily are going on Sunday so let's see what they think.  We both said it was worth seeing. 

We happened to have tickets to Vampire Weekend, who I can't listen to enough, at the Bowery Ballroom last night.  Jessica had bought tickets for last night for her and her friends a few months back.  Wednesday night was for the over 16 crowd and last night was for the over 21 crowd.  She freaked when she realized it since she could have bought the tickets for Wednesday night in the first place.  Fred went down to the Bowery Ballroom on Wednesday night, established that she could not get in on Thursday night so they let him buy tickets right there for that evening so Jessica could see them.  Very nice of the the Bowery Ballroom because they were sold out.  Her friends couldn't make it at the last minute but Fred and Jessica went down to the Bowery Ballroom around 1030 on Wednesday night so Jessica could see them.  We were then left with tickets for last night.  I couldn't resist.  After the play, we grabbed a cab and headed down to the Bowery.  Fred had already seen the show and it was late so we stayed for 5 songs.  Vampire Weekend is great.  The band just graduated from Columbia University.  They are young and adorable.  Their songs are fun.  Really glad I got to see them play.

Home around midnight.  I think I might be getting too old for this.

State of the Union?

As much as it pains me to watch George Bush, I felt compelled to watch the last State of the Union last night.

I realize that there is past protocol to applaud the President as he enters the room.  But the smirk on his face as everyone applauds him infuriates me.  Even as the Senate applauds, I wonder what could they possibly be applauding?  The speech was the same rhetoric we have heard for the past 7 years.  Lies and more lies.  Bush speaks for unity and change but once the speech is over, it is business as usual.

Was I hoping for something different?  Perhaps.  Bush's time is over, thank god, but hoping for him to take the last year to leave on a high note.  Instead, he is leaving the US worse off than when he was handed the Presidency 7 years ago and continues go to down that path.  Our standing in the world, our economy, the war in Iraq.  Shall I go on?

Just more rhetoric.  I am sick of the lies and the empty words.  Is Obama or Hillary going to change that?  Perhaps that is what everyone sitting in the House last night was thinking.  Then why all the standing ovations?  I found the applause hollow and I believe most Americans saw through that.  Just because you are a President doesn't mean you just get a round of applause because you show up to the podium.  Maybe the applause were for the fact that his Presidency is almost over.   They were on my end.

Brussel Sprouts

I have actually been cooking a lot but have been very lame on the postings of recipes.  I made Brussel Sprouts last night.  It was quick, easy and really delicious. 

Vegetable oil
2 1/2 lbs Brussel Sprouts - cut in half
2 T. unsalted butter
2 T. light brown sugar
1/4 cup maple syrup
2 T. cider vinegar

In a large non-stick skillet cover the bottom with vegetable oil.  Just cover the bottom no need to have any depth.  When the oil is shimmering, toss in the Brussel Sprouts to cover the pan, season with some salt and pepper.  Let the Brussel Sprouts stay over the high heat for about 2 minutes.  This should really brown some of them.  After about 2 minutes, give the pan a shake and toss around the sprouts.

Add the the butter and brown sugar and lower the temperature to a medium high heat.  Stir until the butter and sugar is melted.  Add the maple syrup to the skillet and continue to cook over a medium high heat, stirring occasionally for about 6-7 minutes.  The sprouts should start to really get browned.  After this, add the cider vinegar and stir in for about another 30 seconds.

Done.  A real sweet treat.  Might be good with some dried cranberries tossed in.   

Monocle

Not sure where I read about the magazine Monocle but I just started receiving it.   I am really enjoying it.  Monocle focuses on global affairs, business, culture and design.  It is basically a magazine for the flat world.  The first issue I received had articles on the US election as well as the new high speed rails all over Europe ( God I wish we had those in our country), the world's greenest grocer out of Switzerland, the largest health care trade show in Dusseldorf, an independent surf-inspired clothing company in Cornwall, a newspaper in Israel and a Christian company that has been building planes specifically designed for evangelical missions in Africa.  There are many more stories but all interesting and I really like the global slant.  As our world gets flatter and flatter, it is eye opening to read the views from other media publications around the world who might be focusing on something that people in our own country are not but perhaps should be. 

Who to vote for?

I am so on the fence.   What is interesting is the same conversation I keep having with people.  The pro's and con's to Hillary and Obama.  One day I lean one way, the next day I lean another. 

I have always believed that the campaign you run says something about the candidate from the onset.  Obama and Hillary have both run good campaigns.  Obama came out of the gate slowly but continues to reach new heights daily.  Hillary has managed her campaign well from the get go.  Although the last few days Hillary doesn't seem to be in charge of her own campaign, Bill does.  That does not sit well with me.  If she is the candidate for Presidency, she should be the voice not Bill.  I love Bill but send him home. 

I've really enjoyed the last few debates between Edwards, Hillary and Obama.  It is obvious that each one of them is smart and understands the issues at many levels.  All 3 are incredibly intelligent which is refreshing.  I never believed that George Bush understood the basics of supply and demand which is obvious from the mess we are in now.  So to see 3 stellar Democratic candidates talk openly and honestly about issues from energy to social security to Iraq to the Middle East to college educations for everyone is inspiring. 

So who is my candidate?  What I like about Hillary is that she is smart.  She understands how Washington works.  She has done a great job being a junior senator and assumed that role with her sleeves rolled up.  She has worked inside Washington playing politics, making sacrifices to get things passed and learned how to reach over to the other side of the table.  She is tough and has no problems making decisions.  She is also organized.  Take a look at Chelsea Clinton and you know that there is more to Hillary than meets the eye.  She gets that our country is in turmoil and we need a major change to take place.  I do believe that Hillary has a very different agenda than Bill and that should come out more during her campaign but doesn't.  Is she too controlled?  Yet on the other hand, she does get Washington and is that a good thing?  Is she going to be able to look at the way Government is run with a set of fresh eyes?  I am worried that we will be in for another round of politics as usual even though Hillary doesn't want to go there, she already has her relationships in Washington etched in stone. 

Obama.  Smart, sharp, visionary.  All the things you want in a candidate.  Is it a good thing or a bad thing that he has absolutely no idea how Washington runs.  Will he get there and spin his wheels?  Will he be able to make tough decisions quickly or will he spend too much time attempting to get everyone on his side of the table.  His speeches about change and a new America are inspiring but part of me says "where's the beef"?  Hillary talks about how she will get things done and Obama talks more about big picture.  Big picture doesn't work unless there are some great producers in the background executing on the dream.  Is he another Jimmy Carter?  Talk is cheap.  We need substance. Yet having Obama as the new face of America is inspiring.  I want to believe but there is a small part of me that is hesitant.  Is he prepared for the ugly Republican machine that will charge up to win the race to the White House.  The race becomes nasty because after all, these candidates are vying for the most powerful job in the nation or perhaps the world. 

Our country needs to take a dramatic and radical change as a leader in the western world.  Who has the capabilities to do that?  Is it Hillary or is it Obama?  In many ways I'd love to see Hillary and Obama work together.  I think they'd make a killer team that would be felt for years to come.  She is a true CEO and he is a great Chairperson.  Egos are both probably too big for that to happen but as I write CEO vs. Chairperson, that is where the fence sits.  Which is better?  CEO or Chairperson?  Having Obama travel around the world meeting leaders is powerful, Hillary executing in DC and getting policies in place.  Maybe they could convince Bloomberg to come in an run the Fed.  Perhaps a dream but  that would by my dream team.  I am going to have to make a decision which side of the fence I should be on by February 5th when I walk into the voting booth on Super Tuesday.

I will say one thing, it has been one helluva race.  Every vote in every state counts.  The next 10 days will be big.  Will it come down to the convention or will the decision be made before hand.  Only time will tell. 

Park Avenue NYC

We took a journey and went up town for dinner Friday night to Park Avenue Winter.  It was a worthy trip. 

Conceptually I love the idea of the restaurant.  Every season the restaurant closes down for 48 hours and does a complete makeover.  Menu and decor.  So next, Park Avenue Winter becomes Park Avenue Spring. 

We were a party of 6 and sat at a small round table which really allowed all of us to have a conversation together which was perfect. 

I got lots of tastes because the menu is eclectic and diverse so everyone was struck by something else.  I started with the fluke sashimi.  Large sliced persimmons and a chopped root veggie (can't remember which) and a buttery piece of fluke on top.  Different and delicious.  Keep in mind the servings are huge.  I got 5 pieces which were enough for a meal.  I traded off some for other tastes around the table.  I got a taste of the prawns.  Each prawn is covered with rice noodles and deep fried and served over sliced pieces of grapefruit.  Quite good.  The two best were the scallops and the calamari.  Sliced calamari served in a round bowl of chopped veggies and crunchy peanuts.  Very Thai.  Spicy and delicious.  The deeper you dig in the bowl, the better it tastes.  The chef had come out earlier to talk with us (not because of me) and told us to order the seared scallop sandwich.  He said it is fantastic.  He was right.  A rectangular sandwich with scallops and vegetables on top of toasted bread covered with a sauce.  Warm, tasty and innovative.  I'd definitely order that on my return before it becomes spring.

The portions for dinner were huge.  We also had a variety of "for the table" tastes.  I went with the grilled veal chop that is served with sauteed mushrooms on the side.  The veal chop is supposed to be covered with green garlic bread crumbs but with my aversion to garlic, I asked for it with out the crumbs.  Perfectly cooked and simple.  I was so stuffed at this point and still tasting everyone else's plate that a few bites is all I could muster.  The Chateaubriand was beautiful and served with a classic sauce on the side.  Big Maine Lobsters simple cut in half an grilled.  The sides were also good.  Potato Latkes that were crispy and tasty, cauliflower gratin doused in cheese, crispy french fries, creamy spinach and parsnips, basmati coconut rice and miso glazed Brussels sprouts.  All good.

Dessert was just a few things to taste.  The Chocolate Cube is the dessert to get.  Hard chocolate covering a mixture of cake and cream inside.  How bad could that be?  The warm gingerbread was quite good too with apple puree, spiced raisins and cinnamon.  We also had the one of the winter white desserts which I'd pass on.  Coconut angel food cake with a white caramel panna cotta and a coconut curry sorbet.  Maybe my taste buds were more interested in the chocolate type sweets.

All and all, a big hit.  I would definitely go back for Spring because I'm not so sure I'd make it up town again this Winter. 

Being a Mom

I have written on this topic before, being a Mom.  I have been thinking a lot about the ever changing roles Moms play.  At least the ever changing role I find myself in. 

I have been super busy lately which is why I haven't blogged daily since we have returned from Xmas vacation.  The longer I have been out of the classic work life ( 9 to 5 in an office ) my new work life has evolved as so has many of my friends who have opted to balance the life of work, play and be a mom.

I have managed to create an umbrella for myself of different jobs.  Make sure everyone gets the TLC they need in our home from making dinner every night to scheduling the monthly, yearly and random doctor appts, bday events, dinner parties, theater, date nights, travel, summer activities, etc, etc.  Over the years I have been active in the school which I sit on some committees that happen to be active right now and I stay involved with a non-profit and sometimes have meetings to brainstorm or raise money.  Although I am not needed daily I keep on top of a few investments that we are in. 

Bottom line, my days are pretty busy these days but in many ways my job, per se, is lonely.  I have many balls in the air and try to sit down and write a blog at one point of the day but lately it hasn't happened.  There is something missing being the lone man in an office that has many jobs that I can only fill.

When I ran the cosmetics department at Macy's Kings Plaza, I found a true friend who ran the accessories Department.  We are still good friends today.  The businesses we were running were totally different but we had a camaraderie.  We had coffee in the morning and maybe lunch.  The conversations could be about anything but in essence we shared an office.  Sure I talk to friends over the course of the day and we discuss anything from eye cream to politics but once I hang up, I am sitting alone in my office with a huge "to do" list.

Believe me, I am quite aware what a full wonderful life I lead but believe it or not, sometimes it is lonely.  My guess is there are many more women out there that feel the same.  I'd love to hear from you. 

Gottino

Greenwich Avenue (not Greenwich Street) has been going through a slow change since Gusto came to town.  Could Greenwich Avenue become a small restaurant row?  Gottino is the newest addition to the neighborhood.  Gottino could be a great addition to any neighborhood.

Small, intimate, a large bar and maybe a few tables.  No reservations.  Feels like a bar that has been around a long time somewhere in Italy.  It is a wine bar.  Wines of the day and a menu of other wines.  The menu is all about tasting and sharing.  My favorite.  The best part is that everything you taste is absolutely delicious.  We didn't have a loser. 

You tend to drink heavily because the atmosphere is so nice you want to hang as long as possible.  I wasn't waiting for an entree so I just continued to order a few things here and there while refilling the wine class. 

We had three cheeses which come with a poached slice of pear and a few cherries.  Nice touch and of course toasted peasant bread on the side dabbed in olive oil.  I also ordered a plate of prosciutto on the side that comes with 3 pitted dates.  Delicious.  The brussel sprouts are shaved and served with pecorino and walnuts actually come cold but are crispy and tasty.  There is a section on the menu of crispy toasts served with toppings.  We tried the roasted butternut squash mixed with chopped radicchio, roasted prunes ( I think ) and drenched with balsamic vinegar.  A really interesting combo that totally works.  We also had a round of toasts smeared with a farm cheese and dried cherry tomatoes that had been drenched in olive oil on top.  Can't beat it.   The most interesting thing we had was the pork, beef and date dumplings.  They were little large oddly shaped meatballs that had a sweet and savory taste happening.  Really delicious and completely  innovative.   Everything comes on little plates or small bowls.

Everything, including the wine was a treat.  We went early to make sure we got a table.  The place was rocking when we left.  It is the perfect local hangout.  Returning is not even a question. 

I love LA

Maybe because I was born there, maybe because I lived there during college while I had an internship, maybe because my family has lived there off and on over the years or maybe it is that I just love LA. 

The good news for me is now my brother and his family lives out there so not only do I get to visit, I get to hear about the latest and greatest.  It is a beautiful thing.  We cover NYC and they cover LA.  A perfect combo.

We had perfect weather this weekend.  We drove to Manhattan Beach for lunch and walked around.  Manhattan Beach is very mellow and from a distance appears to define the clean California life.  I happen to prefer the grit of Venice where my brother and his family lives but an afternoon at Manhattan Beach isn't so bad. 

Back to Venice where we had to take a quick walk down Abbot Kinney. Probably one of my favorite streets which continues to grow.  We had dinner at Matsuhisa which I had not been in years.  Not what it used to be but it was a fun evening.

Sunday we woke up and had brunch at Axe.  A fantastic breakfast with lots of celebrity sightings which the kids loved.  If you get to Axe, order a few pancakes for the table.  They are like no other.  Brown rice, lots of grains, and fluffy.  A real treat. 

After Axe, we made our way over to the Farmers Market in Santa Monica.  Wow.  The fruit in LA can not be beat.  Picked up a few items for dinner and drove to the Getty up in the hills.  The collection is nothing to speak about but the architecture of the Getty, the beauty of the setting and the views are wonderful.

Dinner at home.  Monday I had to get one class in at YAS which teaches spinning and yoga.  Opted for spinning.  Went home, showered and off to the airport.

A perfect weekend spent with the family and my brother, his wife and their kids.  Also, a good mid-winter fix.  I really do love LA.

Come Back Little Sheba

Are there not enough new playwrights out there?  Why is there a need to resurrect old plays?  I realize that Come Back Little Sheba, Inge’s major hit in the 1950’s could be called a classic but I much prefer the new vs. the old.

The story line is depressing.  Couple has been together for over 25 years because she got pregnant and he had to do the right thing. They lost the baby, never had any kids, and all they have is each other.  After all, this is the 1950’s and they were basically outcasts. He has been dry for 10 months but did some serious alcohol abuse before.  A young woman, who is going to the local college comes to live with them.  The entry of this woman in their lives brings back a lot of old angry memories. 

The main character played by  S. Epatha Merkenson is superb.  Although her character is just classic 1950’s wife.  She keeps the house clean, and doesn’t do such a good job at that while spending the day attempting to talk to anyone from the postman to the milk man or the neighbor if they will listen to her during the course of the day.  She is lonely and beyond subservient to her husband.  Kevin Anderson, who plays the husband is also quite good.  There are a few young actors who are making their debut which is always nice to see too. 

It was just an incredibly depressing play.  As we were walking out, the couple in front of us, who had obviously seen Come Back Sheba the first time around made a few comments that just summed up the play.  He said to his wife, “well that play did not stand the test of time”.  She said, “they don’t make women like that anymore, thank goodness.”  Thank goodness is right.