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| Central Park |
This is what I feel like most of this Winter in NYC has looked like and I'm just about at my limit! On those days when the sun does come out, you can see people trying to pretend Spring has finally arrived, wearing lighter jackets and, in some cases, shorts, even though temperatures have barely started to reach 50 degrees.
During this cold, frigid, pain inducing season, though, we can still find ways to laugh, spend time with friends, and experience some beautiful moments. My personal joy during the Winter months comes from going to dinner and seeing live theatre. Fortunately, there are a wide array of both here, so all I have to do is walk down the street (while stopping at regular intervals at Starbucks to get warm along the way). With the added bonus of the twice yearly occurrence of Restaurant Week, the choices become even more plentiful.
At the end of February, my trusty companion, Von, and I made our way to Crossroads American Kitchen and Bar. The best that can be said for this place is they have really nice decor and lots of space. We didn't actually get to eat a full meal there, because there was a problem in the kitchen (they lost our order) and by the time they had our entrees ready, we had to leave to make our curtain time a few blocks away. I did get to try their wedge salad, which was tasty but hardly gave me a good idea of what their food is like (how can anyone really mess up a salad, unless there's some kind of insect or band aid hiding in there). Von's appetizer of lobster mac-and-cheese was quite good and I was a little jealous I didn't make a different choice when I ordered, especially since this course was the only one we were getting.
With that disappointment behind us, we headed over to the Imperial Theatre to see Jake Gyllenhaal and Ruth Wilson in "Constellations," a play about a couple's relationship, but with a twist. They showed us the different ways events can play out based on the "infinite possibilities" that come from the choices that are made and each one's reaction to the other. It played with the idea of parallel universes where every decision we make (and don't make) exists, but we are only conscious of the one we live in.
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| Jake and Ruth in one version of their dance |
Jake and Ruth would perform a scene, then very quickly reset (literally) and do the same scene again, but with different emphases and responses. The physicality alone of having to perform this way was impressive, but even more so was how the actors had to instantly change from crying, for example, into being joyful. It felt a little schizophrenic at times, but was fascinating to watch and note how the least little thing we do can have a great impact on our lives and the lives of those around us. I left thinking about many of the choices I've made in life and wondering, "what if....."
The following week, I decided to be an awesome brother and take my sister, Faith, out for the evening. It was still Restaurant Week, so we tried E&E Grill House. I had a little anxiety about the timing, because, once again, we had a tight curtain time to meet. This experience was far better, though (we actually got to eat a full meal!). They had a great staff and the food was really good.
From there, we made our way to the theatre, just in time for the show, Les Miserables, to start. Now, this was never a show I was dying to see; it just wasn't one that was on my radar. The only time I'd seen it all the way through was when I went with Faith to see the movie starring Hugh Jackman. But, I knew Faith was a big fan and she hadn't seen this version on Broadway yet. It was suggested that I could have just dropped her off after dinner and said, "see ya," but that would have brought down my awesome quotient, don't you think?
The show started with a prologue to set up the story and I have to say, rarely am I caught up in a live musical within the first 10 minutes. It usually takes some time for me to suspend reality and get immersed in the story, but this time I was grabbed from the beginning by the music and the emotion and that's all because of one person.......Ramin Karimloo. His voice is outstanding, but besides that, his grasp of the character of Jean Valjean had me believing everything that came out of his mouth. Once this prologue ended, I leaned over to Faith and just said, "whoa." The whole show was that way and for anyone who loves musical theatre, and this show in particular, this new version is one you should see. It was raining when we left the theatre, but I didn't really care too much; I had just experienced something that was truly beautiful.
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| Ramin Karimloo as Jean Valjean |
I'll end this entry with an event Von and I tried for the first time, the Time Out New York Whiskey Walk.
Oh, but before that, I have to give rave reviews to the last restaurant Von and I visited for Restaurant Week, Perry St. We had, what seemed like, five different servers looking after us. We never had to ask for anything and the food was beyond good. They are truly all about providing exceptional service.
Now, back to Day Drinking on the Lower East Side, I mean the Whiskey Walk. It was really more of a tasting, as most of the places we visited gave us a shot of Irish Whiskey to try. Like Restaurant Week, this was a great way to see some new places that we might not otherwise find on our own in a part of Manhattan we don't often get to. The highlights were The Copper Still (good food), Mama's Bar (fun atmosphere and great bartenders), and Thunder Jackson's (reminds me of New Orleans). The biggest lowlight was Shades of Green (get a bartender who's not in such a bad mood!). The most unusual place we went to was Libation, which is a full-on night club. Once you get past the velvet rope, you can't tell whether it's light or dark outside and everybody is having a party (all at 3:00pm in the afternoon!). Not a bad way to spend a Saturday afternoon overall!
Finally, I want to give a shoutout to Mr. Von and a film he helped bring to life, Allure. It's making the rounds at film festivals all over the world and recently premiered in New York. It's a great piece of filmmaking and tells several intertwining stories of women from other countries and their lives in NYC. If it comes to your area, check it out!
