I'm back!

Did you miss me? I really needed that break, it's been so busy, hectic, and most of all, HOT. Yesterday, the heat subsided a little--when I went out for lunch, I walked for 5 minutes, then said "Hey, you guys, I'm not sweaty yet! Woohoo!" Of course, by Saturday the temperature is supposed to be back up to the mid 90s, so that didn't last very long. I've been drinking lots of iced green tea and, on an especially hot day, we had these delicious icy treats. Yes, they may be completely unnatural, but sometimes that is exactly what you need! Anyway, it cooled off just enough for me to turn the oven on and do my first baking in EEEEOOOONS. And wouldn't you know it, the cookies didn't even turn out that well. Oh well, try, try again! At least they look kind of pretty and I think the recipient will enjoy them.


So what have I been up to? Well, as I mentioned in my last post, Py was visiting for the last few weeks and we racked up quite a count of meals eaten in restaurants, starting with Omen, continuing on to Bar Americain (which I found myself enjoying much more than I thought I would), Dinosaur BBQ (the night that Lebron James announced where he was going--I only know this because the people at the bar started howling), Kefi, and I know I'm forgetting some. Of course, I did not get a single picture of what we ate. Too self-conscious, see. Oh yeah, and there was the night that Brian Williams bought our dinner and then the next day we made an appearance in Page Six....let me quote, if you don't want to click the link:

"Brian Williams showed why he's well-liked by NBC colleagues the other day. He played third base for the "Nightly News" softball team as they were beaten by the "Today" squad 14-3 in DeWitt Clinton Park. When the thirsty players repaired to the back garden at Druids on 10th Avenue, Williams felt so bad for a couple whose romantic dinner was interrupted, he insisted on picking up their check."

Yes, all my dreams have been realized, for I have made Page 6. HAHA!! No, seriously, it was very sweet of him, although we weren't having a romantic dinner so much as a late dinner during which I was complaining about how sore my legs were after the gym. Druids, by the way, has excellent food.


But it hasn't all been eating, either--there's been drinking, too. And after a first failed attempt to get to Pony Bar (they were filming something, so we adjourned to Hello Berlin instead), we dropped by after the World Cup final. They have a mind boggling (to me, a beer novice) array of craft beers on tap. And by the way, that final was really, really boring, except for the last 15 minutes or so. Come on! The 3rd place game was MUCH more exciting. Anyway, congratulations, Spain.


We had lots of friend time, including a much-needed trip to Otto's Shrunken Head for some tiki drinks and cocktail monkeys (how did all those monkeys end up in my bag, people?), a movie night featuring a screening of the amazing Black Dynamite (less amazing was this movie about a stone-faced detective and his babboon partner. No, really!) complete with pizza rolls and mini-weenies. Not to mention a (almost entirely) no-cook cocktail party where some of us clutched entire pitchers of mojitos. And we went to a couple of street fairs, including this one on 4th Avenue where a gust of wind caused all the balloons at one of the stalls to disappear into the heavens. 99 luftballons indeed.


And of course, no summer would be complete for us without a trip to Coney Island. We checked out Luna Park, which isn't that much different from Astroland (well, newer rides), but as you can see from the makeshift sign above, it's still delightfully seedy. Although also clearly fancified--look, a multi-colored arrow!


The real draw though, is the Cyclone. Every year I think "man, could this roller coaster get any more rickety?" And every year, the answer to that question is "YES." We rode in the front car for the first time ever and it was about 100 times more terrifying. I swear I almost shot out of my seat during the first drop, thank goodness for my death grip on the bar. Those people who raise their hands over their hand on roller coasters? You are all crazy. Gosh I love this ride! I did feel a little neck pain for a day or two afterwards, which I guess means I'm getting old after all.


Oh gosh, HOW COULD I FORGET THIS. While we were at Coney Island, we (or I should say Py, I am soooo unobservant) saw NICK CAVE!!! He was with his kids who wanted to play Shoot the Freak. Sneaky photo taken by Py (click through and see another shot). We were too shy to go and say hello.

Well, are you still reading? How are your summers going? I'm happy to be back and posting again :)