It has been a while since my last blog post but mentally, I am not there. The effects of the political administration have made me both physically and emotionally ill. However, I need to shake it off and so, this past weekend was the well-needed cure….
In three weeks, I will be 70 years old. Truth be told, it isn’t the easiest birthday to come to terms with. But this past weekend was perfect! My three kiddos, Jake, Roman and Oona treated me (along with my husband) to a weekend in New York City.
And a fine early birthday it was!!
Jake flew out from LA but was in the city for business purposes. Oona flew in from Cincinnati and Roman..well, he lives in the city so he took the subway to be with us. It was a fantastic time from Friday afternoon to late Sunday morning. I couldn’t have rubbed Aladdin’s lamp to wish for a better time.
Here’s how it rolled:
Friday: Vincent picked me up at work at noon. We were blessed with weather that welcomed the beginning of the new spring season. After dropping Chippy off at PetSmart for the weekend, we were on our way. Check-in at Hotel Chelsea was at a great time of 3:00 PM. Jake took care of the reservations so everything ran smoothly.
Casually dressed for our drive into The Big Apple. I’m wearing big NYC hair too! Nashville by Margu wigs! Don’t mind the mess. I’m transitioning my winter clothing for the summer!
No traffic as we made our way from the PA and NJ Turnpikes to the Holland tunnel and finally, to our destination.
Friday afternoon 1PM headed to the Holland Tunnel…
No traffic. Beautiful Day. Clear to see the skyline!
And now–we’re in the City. Ahhh. It’s so beautiful!
We arrived at the Hotel a few minutes before check-in. And, as always, a practitioner of time management, I ran from car to front desk to get a parking voucher for our car. The hotel had a discounted pricing for a garage around the corner. And, our room was ready. I headed back to the car, handed my husband the room key and told him to drop our bags in the room so we could drive around the corner to the garage.
We’ve arrived!
Marilyn is seated next door. Greeting us with a ukulele tune!
Bags dropped off, my husband told me I would LOVE the room, and off we went.
Spring in the city. Depending where you are, the east and west ends of Manhattan can have a wind-tunnel effect due to the rivers Hudson and Harlem. The side streets were windy but, the warmth of the sun made the walk back to the hotel more than bearable.
There weren’t a lot of people walking on side streets due to the wind!
*** Of note: Back in the late 1970’s/early 80’s one of my friends lived in Chelsea, not too far from the hotel. It was a great time to be young and living in the city. Rents were affordable. Bar drinks were cheap. There was a grittiness that was appealing and slightly romanticized. NYC had not become completely regentrified yet and there was a charm that could be appreciated by those of us who lived there.
Now, Chelsea, although retaining much of its charm, is turning into Cityburbia with fast-food joints and Fed Ex centers and the annoying bike lane. Guiliani’s Disneyesque Times Square it making the way downtown, and I do miss the grittiness of the city. But–that’s another story and that’s change.
Back to the hotel.
I was astounded at the old-school beauty of the Hotel Chelsea. Doors leading to corridors with elaborate chandeliers overhead. Crown molding which I, in my mind, had visions of taking a crowbar out, dismantling the molding and bringing it home. Paintings in the hallways were fun. Artistically designed to please the guests—it was like walking back into time.
Plenty of old-world charm and oh boy, if these walls could talk!
Our room was even greater. I almost cried at the beauty of the hardwood floors. They brought to mind memories of our house before moving to Long Island and visualized every apartment in Manhattan that I’ve lived in. The room was perfect! Nice closet space. The bathroom’s deep tub and golden fixtures made me smile.
The hardwood floors made me misty-eyed.
The bed was incredibly comfortable!
And for those having a throwback to the 1970’s, the name of the hotel is embriodered on the sheets–just in case you wake up not knowing where you are!
The loveseat and cushioned chairs gave a comfort of being in one’s favorite sunny nook at home.
The furnishings were delightfully funky and quirky and I loved that!
Tons of fun works of art in halls, rooms and throughout the hotel made us smile!
It was a pleasurable place to rest before meeting up with the kids. Roman arrived first, and was impressed with the room. Then Jake, arrived and a few minutes later, Oona. She met one of her friends who was working in the city and they caught up on old times.
Everyone loved the room and Vincent and I suggested before dinner, we head to the Hotel’s bar for cocktails on us! As mom would have it, I asked Jake for the millionth time “do you think you’ll move back east—to New York.” And, with a Cheshire Cat grin, he responded “I have something to tell you…” He broke the news to me that he and his girlfriend of many years had purchased a home in LA. I guess that was my closure. Anyway, there are enough bedrooms in the house for multiple guests so hopefully, we will be spending Christmas in California!
LA! Home of the SNL skit “The Californians”. Maybe I’ll become one! “Ouuuu, mah son is, like, sooo Californian” and I can’t wait to get there and envelope myself in the Cali Culture!
Downstairs at the Hotel’s Bar area, it was nice to see a crowd on a Friday evening–I haven”t experienced that since my days on Wall Street–fun times! Our host seated us in an area of living room vibes! A series of large rooms across from the bar area lent itself well for many patrons. There was a wedding reception in one room. And in ours, people unwinding from a busy week. We enjoyed catching up with each other while enjoying perfectly-blended drinks then it was off to dinner.
A toast to the weekend! As usual, my big mouth is opened! We had a cocktail blast!
On this Friday evening, the wind died down from the afternoon and we walked from the hotel to The Cookshop. It has been a while that I have dined in a restaurant with a youthful and fun vibe and The Cookshop was it. Jake has been here before and said the food was good. He wasn’t lying!
Dinner at Cookshop!
We started off with Deviled Eggs which, admittedly, I was envious. They were better than mine! We also had the focaccia which was served with whipped ricotta flavored with lemon and Rosemary. Diet begone for a bit—the carbs are getting’ in my belly! The oysters we ordered were incredibly fresh and more delicious than Garron Noone!
Yum! I didn’t take a lot of pics because we were having fun and eating. The oysters were extremely fresh. The dipping butter for the Focaccia was out of this world.
I had the spaghetti because it’s Lent and I’m not eating meat on Fridays. Vincent had a pizza, Roman, a burger; Jake had the very healthy Fluke and Oona opted for a pork chop. Lots of lively conversation and good times. There is nothing that can be said derogatorily about service in NYC restaurants. Service was outstanding. Overall, it was wonderful food and a fantastic time.
The family that dines together…loves food and stays together!
A slow walk back to the hotel on the side streets adorned with beautiful brownstone homes. I couldn’t help but wonder just what do people do for a living to be able to afford living in the city in such magnificent homes. Not all of them are millionaires. Some have been handed these homes down as an inheritance and some..well, they were smart enough to buy when nobody else wanted them. But why can’t I live back here???
We spotted this at the same time. I fell in love with the owners without even knowing who they are. I love NY!
After we bid good night to Jake and Oona at their hotel and bit Roman farewell at his subway stop, it was off to an incredibly peaceful sleep on a very comfortable bed at the Hotel!
Saturday: Rise and shine! And I deserved a hot soak in the oversized tub! Lots of Epsom salts, and thinking about the previous evening put a smile on my face but today was to be a busy one. After getting dressed, I enjoyed two Nespresso’s while waiting for the kids to arrive.
This tub though. Deep and wide and like a mini-spa. I could have spent all morning soaking but I had things to do and places to go!
Knowing it was going to be a busy day, I wore my old reliable J. Crew Pixi pants from the year of the flood, a turtleneck, light scarf and loafers. All I needed to change for dinner was my shoes!
The day was gorgeous. That early spring day where the sun is shining and when you take that first step outdoors, it’s brisk and cool, but as you begin walking, you end up carrying your outerwear!
Could not have asked for a better day! The sun was shining. The weather was warm. It was delightful!
We walked over to The Smith, 27th and Broadway but first made a flea market stop. It was fun to browse through but better deals can be found at a local thrift shop. The Smith was buzzing! And a good part of it was it being the first glorious weekend of spring. Families with young kids. Lone diners. Couples. Large groups. It was fun to be in a lively, and not subdued atmosphere!
If you’re in NYC, might I suggest stopping at one of The Smith locations for brunch. We were at the Nomad location.
Another wonderful meal!
I had Shrimp & Grits and those grits were outstanding! Vincent went with a plain salad—which is why he is a thin Frenchman and I have a belly that could house a baby kangaroo. Jake went with the Ranchero Scramble a Tex-Mex blend dish, Roman opted for Avocado Toast and Oona the Smith Eggs Benedict. We were happy and stuffed and ready for more walking when we left.
Chock-full of shrimp and real grits, this was just what I needed!
The purpose of this constitutional was to head to the Palace Theatre to see Glengarry Glen Ross starring Bill Burr, Kieran Culkin, Bob Odenkirk and Michael McKeon. More on that in a bit.
Who knew an early birthday weekend would be so epic?
We made a side stop. Roman was smart enough to have the foresight of knowing we would all need to use the bathrooms so he got us passes for Rock Center! They were well-appreciated! We had a little tour of the SNL studio where he works then it was on to walk to the theatre. It’s been a while since I’ve been to a play. Kinky Boots was the last one and my favorite play has always been Albert Innaurato’s Gemini, which I was lucky enough to see Danny Aiello in—twice! We are going back a bit.
A look upward at the SNL site.
Me and my babies. “Live from New York…”
It truly was a fun afternoon!
My stepdaughter, Claire, was a part of the Glengarry treat but was unable to be there.
The play was a hoot—a dark comedy with very dramatic moments. The best cursing play of all time. Even I can’t curse with the finesse of these guys—and I have a very astute foul mouth!
What a cast…
And for me, it was even more exciting to see David St. Hubbins aka Michael McKean in the play!
Seriously though, watching these powerhouse actors was a goosebumps-on-your-arms experience . It is always a thrill to see stellar theatre acting and the comedian Bill Burr was the most natural—my theory is he’s used to stand up comedy and preforming live. It was a full house and we all enjoyed it.
The Palace theatre–all seats are great…
I was able to snap this pic as the cast left the stage. The standing ovation was well-deserved!
Because we had to hurry it up a bit for dinner, we took the subway halfway back to the hotel. JHC, I miss the NYC subway so much. The older I get, the more I despise driving. I lack patience and there are way too many arrogant drivers. I long to just be able to walk up the street, get into a subway car and ride underneath all the bad drivers hovering on the road above me.
See how happy I am to be on the subway? As one who despises driving in the suburbs and who misses public transportation–I was in my glories!
We had an hour to get ready before heading downtown to Le CouCou. This was going to be a dinner event! The sister restaurant to La Bourse et la Vie in Paris. Both run by the same chef but the one in NYC has a Michelin star!
All dressed appropriately, yes. Appropriately, there is an underlying dress code at LeCouCou. No ties or jackets are required but it is suggested to elevate your mode of dress for dining. No baseball caps or those mesh shorts men wear in January. Dress nice. And it is always a pleasure to dress for dinner. It was an even better pleasure to see my children dressed so well. They always understand the assignment.
Meeting up in the hotel lobby to head to dinner!
When we arrived at the restaurant, I was not prepared for what lied ahead of us. It was spectacular. The aesthetic was elegant—magnificent chandeliers, beautifully set tables, high ceilings, subdued lighting. All the boxes were checked. The service was wonderful too. From the moment we arrived, we were treated as though we were regular patrons. I received Birthday greetings from all!
Le CouCou was abuzz. And it is a magnificant restaurant!
Table for five–beautifully appointed.
Five people can oftentimes be difficult to seat but the table was a very accommodating size. We started out with yellowfin tuna, scallop, espelette oil, spring onions and the buckwheat fried monkfish, cucumbers, and curry vinaigrette. Both were gorgeously presented and tasted even better. After that we had Crépinette de volaille au foie gras which was chicken and foie gras, last year’s pear. We had a good laugh because we couldn’t figure out what “last year’s pears” meant—and when we inquired, it was what it was—pears from last year!
A sampling of what we started off with
The pears last year were a most excellent vintage!
Oona’s roasted duckling! Make way!
More food!
I went with a small plate for my main dish. Sweetbreads. I can’t pass those glandular delights by. They were served in a tarragon cream sauce with maitake mushrooms. Pommes Dauphine, puffy potatoes were served on the side. I’ll tell you right now—the sauce was incredible. Roman and Vincent kept dipping bread into the sauce—it could have been soup—that’s how good it was!
The sweetbreads. THE SWEETBREADS! If I lived in Soho, I would order this for takeout once a week!
Oona and Jake had the roasted duckling, Roman had sea bass and Vincent had his usual filet de boeuf. Everyone was very pleased. And the great thing that Roman pointed out was the portion sizes. They weren’t huge portions, but weren’t bite-sized either. The portions were perfect!
Vincent’s steak, bone marrow and purred potatoes. Our meal was exquisite!
We placed Vincent in charge of ordering the wine and he went with a bottle of the least expensive which turned out to be a nice hearty but light red.
Dessert? Oui! Jake and I ordered Marjolaine—but mine came with a candle and a “Happy Birthday message! Vincent had lemon sorbet, Oona had Vacherin aux fruits exotiques which was the most amazing dessert I have ever seen or tasted in a long time. A passion mango sorbet, with coconut cream (you could not even taste the coconut) in a perfect meringue. Roman had a baba au rhum which didn’t look like a typical baba. It resembled a big slice of sponge cake accompanied by two bottles of rhum! We had a good chuckle over that!
My Birthday Dessert! They should have given me 70 of these!
We were also presented with mini-Madeliene cakes and..
mini macarons! How cute is that?
Hands down, it was the best birthday meal I have ever had in my life!
Best dinner ever!
Back at the hotel for more cocktails, we ended a fantastic evening!
Back at the hotel for a nightcap. Either Mommy had too many enjoyable spirits or I am studying Cinema Verite–the art of the shaky camera!
Sunday: Ahh. All good things must come to an end. Jake and Oona were flying to Cincinnati. Jake for business and to see the boys and Oona to go home. Roman spent the night with Jake at his hotel and met us for a late breakfast/early brunch. We headed downstairs to the Café Chelsea for well-needed coffee. With Vincent’s two croissants, my avocado toast and Roman’s eggs, we ended the weekend.
A delightful breakfast at the hotel.
Vincent ended up ordering two croissants!
I had avocado toast with poached eggs and Roman had eggs!
With bags in tow, we bid Roman a big thanks and goodbye at the subway, and we walked over to get the car. One stop was made—I stopped into Aesop for a jar of the brand’s excellent hand cream. I treated myself!
My gift to me. Every time I apply it on my hands, I think of the weekend!
And as we bid farewell to New York City—just like that—it was over.
Goodbye New York. Goodbye Jake and Roman and Oona.
An entire weekend of just enjoying my kids. Like old times. Only this time, they took care of me. I was teary-eyed the rest of the day. Not in a morose way, just in that way, where you go back in time to the present and you realize that, regardless of how bad a parent you thought you were, you can look at your kids with pride and realize you did a great job raising them!
They will forever be my little kiddles!