Plump & Drunk

Jose organized Friday night festivities in his neighborhood: Astoria, Queens. I haven’t been there in over 10 years. It seems more developed than the last time I went.
We had dinner outside at a relatively new Thai restaurant, Leng. Then walked over to Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden, a huge Czech beer garden that’s close to 100 years old. I’ve wanted to try this place for a while, so this event was the perfect excuse.

Jose downs some Hoegaarden.


Patrons crowded under an umbrella during a summer thunderstorm. Though you can see the large space and all the tables in this shot.

Washington, DC: God bless America

Had work in Maryland early this week… all the hotels around the convention center were sold out, so I stayed in downtown DC (new area for me) and commuted out. I haven’t spent time in the District in a very long while. Walked near the Capitol building one night; it was nice to see the monuments and people hanging out on the Mall after work. Of course, there are many worse places to be on a business trip, but as always, it’s nice to be back in my apartment.

Columns of the National Archives building.


Starbucks sign in Chinatown.


Face on the side of an office building (I think it was the EPA’s building).


Inside the Metro (subway).

A sign I may have lived in NYC too long

Was summoned for jury duty for the 3rd time last Tuesday! Four years ago I was picked to serve on a trial: excruciating. Fortunately this time was fairly painless. I spent a day in the courthouse and took lunch at Odeon in Tribeca. I went back the second day, but was released after about 15 minutes. Now I’m good for 6 more years.

Spotted: designer Isaac Mizrahi in my jury pool. Brian, if you think I’m fibbing, check out the June 12 video blog on his website.

Summer begins in the city

A new addition to my block: the Children’s Learning Garden funded by Toyota.


Went to Long Beach for the day with Aimee. Ah, the humanity! The beach was a little more crowded than St. Simons…


Discovered a new bar right on the Hudson. Here’s a shot of the fountain on the walkway along the river.


The theme of Rick’s birthday party this year was “Viva Las Vegas.” It wouldn’t have been complete without a Velvis (velvet Elvis).

Chicago: The foggy city

Flew to Chicago from New Orleans Monday night for work. Stayed downtown on Michigan Avenue. Before my meetings started Tuesday, I took a boat tour that highlights the city’s architecture. This was pretty cool. I didn’t realize the river runs through so much of downtown Chicago. (I suppose when I usually go to Chicago, it’s either too cold or I’m too busy to wander around.) My tour companions were a bunch of European tourists and a group of 8th graders who were surprisingly very well-behaved.

The Tribune tower, home of the Chicago Tribune.


Some interesting townhomes on the river.

After 90-degree weather with 90% humidity in New Orleans, Chicago was rainy and in the 60s. And there was this intense fog that lasted for 3 days. Not sure I’ve ever seen anything like that, even in San Francisco.

View of a parking deck from my hotel room. What up, fog?

New Orleans: Really easy

Went to New Orleans again the first weekend in June, my 3rd post-Katrina trip. These trips started as a way for me to support the New Orleans economy as the city rebuilt after the storm, but now they’re a yearly pilgrimage that I’ve come to treasure.

Flew in Saturday morning, had breakfast at Clover Grill, and did a ton of shopping in both the French Quarter and the Garden District. Was really happy to see the streetcars on St Charles Ave. back in operation.


Had dinner Saturday night at the temporary yacht club on Lake Pontchartrain. (The former one was destroyed during Katrina and they're just beginning construction on a replacement.) On the way to dinner we drove through Lakeview, one of the neighborhoods hardest hit during Katrina, and I can see much progress this time compared to 2 years ago. The road to recovery in New Orleans is definitely a marathon, and not a sprint. However on each trip, I can see the differences: more restaurants and shops open for business, more homes rebuilt/repaired.

I stayed in Fabourg Marigny, the neighborhood adjacent to the French Quarter. My hotel was off Esplanade Avenue, a street with some stunning historical homes. I discovered this area on my first trip down after Katrina. It’s only a few blocks from the Bourbon Street scene, but seems a world away. So chilled out and residential. I like it a lot. My hotel room was actually in a Creole cottage behind the main hotel, which made it seem like I was staying in a little house vs. a formal hotel.


One of Eric’s close friends passed away suddenly last fall, and there was a benefit for his family on Sunday afternoon at “Rock-N-Bowl.” This is actually New Orleans’ oldest bowling alley (it’s been around since the 1940s), and it has a band stand. The Chee Wheez played, and some of the lanes were open for bowling. Had a cheeseburger for dinner at Snug Harbor and got a monsoon in a go-cup. Forget about the hurricane – the monsoon is New Orleans’ most dangerous cocktail. I walked around the corner to my cottage, sat in a gliding chair on the porch, and did some writing as the sun set.

Good times on the porch.

Not sure what else to say about New Orleans except that for me, it's an easy place to be. It really is. Who knows, maybe you will find me living down there one day.

Atlanta: Get behind the wheel

Even though I hadn’t planned to spend 8 days in Atlanta, I certainly could have been in worse places. When I wasn't with my aunt, I did manage to shop & spend time quality time with old friends. Special thanks to Nora for letting me stay in her townhouse on basically no notice. And I am happy to report that I successfully drove (and parked) a rental car all week with no fender benders!!

Food & alcohol-related adventures:
- Happy Hour at Uncle Julio’s, where the signature drink is the “Swirl,” a blend of frozen margarita and frozen sangria. I should have known this was a dangerous way to start an evening…
- Drinks outside at TAP in Midtown
- Dinner at Eclipse di Luna
- Sunday brunch at OK Cafe

Spotted:
- Cee-Lo of Gnarls Barkely fame in a parking lot in Buckhead, presumably after getting take-out from a Lebanese restaurant
- CT from the Real World at Front Page News in Midtown one Friday night
- Mario Batali & Michael Stipe having dinner two banquettes over from ours in Elettaria in the West Village back in April. (OK, so I’m obviously behind on blogging, but that sighting was too good to not mention!)