Sick in the City

Sorry for the week of radio silence, trusty readers, but I have a good excuse: I've been feeling puny! It started with a sore throat on Monday. I comforted myself with a piece of peanut butter pie from Magnolia Bakery.

Heavenly! I know I'm going to have to be careful having such an incredible bakery just a few blocks away from me. Don't want any "cupcake tops" spilling out of my jeans this summer. Nevertheless, a girl has to indulge herself when she's not feeling well!

It was an extra bummer not to feel well on Monday because it was the warmest day we've had since I've been here and would have been perfect for an evening jog. The other downer was that I had a pretty full week ahead: lots to do at work and an active evening social calendar. On Tuesday, I worked from home and met Neil and Nate at Chelsea Piers (an easy walk for me along the East River Park). We attended something called the Duke Idea, a program that sends the president of the university to visit alumni in various cities. He gives a few remarks about what's happening on campus and then sits down for an Oprah-style interview with a special guest.

Tuesday night's guest was Dan Ariely, a professor of behavioral economics, bestselling author and frequent guest on NPR. He is best known for his book Predictably Irrational, and his work seems to me to fall into the same category of Freakonomics or Tipping Point -- taking ordinary aspects of life and applying tools of analysis to find out what's really going on. I tried to take notes, but they're just messy jottings about things like reward substitution, loss aversion and the reality of the placebo effect. There are actually some very practical applications of his work related to questions such as how you incent patients to take their medicine.

Anyway, Chelsea Piers is a cool venue, and there was plenty of tasty food (especially the Cuban pork, black beans and rice and fried plantain patties). I got to see a number of people I know, including several from my China trip with an alumni group in 2009. It was one of those nights I realized again how lucky I was to get to attend such an awesome university. As we left, I was torn between walking home or taking a cab. It was so chilly, rainy and windy that Nate's umbrella kept turning inside out in the gusts. Exasperated, he finally threw it in the trash.

"Did you like President Brodhead's comments about all the tulips and dogwoods in bloom on campus?" Neil asked as we stood on Seventh Avenue and watched dozens of cabs pass by either full or off duty. "It was like a knife in the back. Welcome to April in New York! You're not regretting your move yet, are you?"

I just laughed. Irrational as it might sound, standing on Seventh Avenue in the rain, feeling sick, cold and tired, I was still so glad to have chosen this adventure. President Brodhead began his conversation with Dan Ariely by asking what "rational and irrational" elements there were in his decision to teach at Duke, and I couldn't help thinking I should make a similar list about my decision to move here.

Finally, a taxi stopped, and I kissed the boys goodnight. That ride was the best $6 I've spent so far, as it was pouring when I got home.

Sunday Lunch at Eataly

My goodness, I have a lot to report from this weekend! (If you want a sneak preview, you can skip to the wedding announcement from the Sunday Times. This is the big event I attended Saturday night at the Pierre. I'm in love with the paper's summary sentence: The bridegroom's work as a truffle farmer set him apart from other suitors.) However, I need to get some pics from friends to do that story justice, so I'll skip to Sunday for now.

Despite the fact I went to bed at 3 a.m., I was up early for church with Neil and Nate. After a quick call to Mom to give her the scoop on the absolutely fabulous wedding, I rode the subway to 28th street and stopped at Starbucks on Sixth Avenue. A very friendly gentleman started chatting with me as I walked out the door, and I had to walk two cross-town blocks making small talk with him. This was a good example of my well-documented tendency to be all too friendly to strangers (ask Leigh Ann about the "Marshall, you're barking up the wrong tree" incident sometime). But get this: the dude was from Lebanon!

"Where in Lebanon?" I asked.

He hesitated, trying to decide how much detail to give me. I'm sure he doesn't often encounter people who know Byblos from Tyre.

"No, really, I've been to Lebanon!" I pushed. "Where are you from?"

Turns out he's from Sidon, which I happen to know from last year is the home of a famous Crusader castle, renowned souks (markets) and a rather fascinating museum about the history of soap. And,also, might I add, the site where this truly attractive photo was taken.

Maybe I should have had this glamour shot available to defuse his interest. Instead, he very politely asked for my phone number as I hustled across Broadway with a friendly wave.

I met my dates on the steps of Marble Collegiate Church, one of their favorite places to worship in the city. It was a lovely service with a fantastic choir and a very engaging message about Simon Peter's denial of Christ and "being caught between a rock and a hard place." We even got to sing "Here I Am, Lord." I pulled out my trusty notebook to jot down some key points in the sermon, which is always a good sign.

Spiritually fed, it was time to tend to our tummies. (Warning: the lunch site was a subject of some debate, as Nate's affinity for Marble Church is increased by the church's proximity to Houston's. I managed to dodge the chain restaurant bullet this week, but we'll let Nate get his way soon.)

A few blocks south on Fifth Avenue is Eataly, the Italian market opened by Mario Batali, Lidia Bastianich and other power players of Italian cuisine. I'd heard about it from my Quincy friend K.C., but I was a bit frightened by some of the online reviews, which focused on crowds and confusion.

We played it like pros, putting our name on the list at the pizza and pasta station and then snagging a table in the antipasto area. (Standing-height tables only...maybe this is their way of preventing you from lingering too long? With separate areas for every sort of food and lots of lines, I think you've got to be a pretty serious foodie to love this place.)

With a plate of meats, cheeses, bread and spreads and a good bottle of wine, we easily passed the 45 minutes standing and snacking until our table was ready. I loved every unique mouthful: ricotta with honey and almonds, gorgonzola with orange marmalade, salami and parmesan.

We ordered a margherita pizza with proscuitto and a pasta special: pappardalle with chicken, arugula and a wine sauce. Scrumptious!

Despite the waiter's insistence we should order one item for each of us, this was the perfect amount of food to share. After a few bites of cannoli, we left delighted with the experience--and glad we'd missed the worst of the crowds.

I headed south and stopped at Bed Bath and Beyond to buy a few necessities before my mid-afternoon nap. Big mistake. The BB&B is fortunately (or unfortunately) located beside a Marshall's and TJ Maxx. Given that I am my mother's daughter, I am apparently incapable of walking by these establishments without taking a peek inside. I spent too much time wandering around and was feeling like quite a crankypants by the time I waited in the interminable line with my hangers, Woolite and reading lamp.

Since it was too late to nap, I spent the rest of the afternoon catching up with friends and family until Kurt and I decided it was time for another NY first: delivery! He went on Seamless, which lets you order from all sorts of restaurants online. I was craving pad Thai, so I got that and a papaya salad, and Kurt had tamarind chicken and some dumplings. We shared everything while watching 60 Minutes. A perfect end to the weekend!

One Pan Whiskey-Flavored Pork Chops

Today I worked from home so I'd be all set to cook my "thank you for picking me" dinner for Kurt tonight. Since I had already grocery shopped, I was pretty well-prepared, so I went for an early evening jog along the Hudson River Park. What fun! It's just a few blocks west of my apartment. I stopped to read a sign and learned it's the largest park to undergo construction in Manhattan since Central Park is greated.

It was great to be able to jog along looking at the Hudson and the Statue of Liberty. I didn't make it all the way down to Battery Park, but maybe I will set that as a goal for a longer weekend jog. I'd probably have to rent a bike to get to the starting point on 59th Street and back.

When I got back, the sun was starting to go down, so this was the view from our west-facing kitchen.

For my first cooking adventure in my new home, I decided to make Kurt a recipe I made ages ago but always remembered fondly: One Pan Whiskey-Flavored Pork Chops. It was from a Cooking Light recipe by a man who'd discovered how to make some lower-fat but still seemingly decadent dishes.

I'm too tired to type out the whole recipe, and you can easily find it online, but here are the highlights. You sear bone-in pork chops in a skillet (5 minutes on each side until golden brown) and then remove the chops and saute onions and mushrooms in the pan.

Add 1/2 cup of whiskey (I got Makers Mark in honor of my friend Anne) and let it bubble until the whiskey almost evaporates.

Add to the pan a cream sauce of 2/3 cup fat-free sour cream (I never use fat-free dairy products, but I thought I'd followed the directions the last time I made it and recalled it turned out okay), 1/2 tsp dried sage, 1/2 cup water, salt and pepper, and 2 tbsp flour.

Return the pork chops to the pan, cover and bake at 300 for one hour. I served it with mashed potatoes. I also made us a salad with spinach, grapefruit, apple, red onion and poppy seed dressing.

For dessert: toasted pecans sprinkled with sea salt and served over dulce de leche ice cream. We ate our dinner while watching the Australian movie Animal Kingdom. So nice to have someone to cook for and eat with! We agreed that the dirty dishes could wait until tomorrow.

Mid-Week Field Trip

It was crisp and sunny this morning when I headed out. I keep forgetting to post a picture of my street, so here's one Neil took when he and Nate checked out the apartment for me.

Super cute, right?

Anyway, I rode the same Sixth Avenue train to midtown but this time got off one stop earlier at Bryant Park to attend an all-day meeting. The upside was free lunch! It was a special event for some advisory partners, so there was quite a spread: served roasted cod in tomato and fennel sauce, lemon chicken, orzo with vegetables, roasted vegetables, salad with feta, olives and dessert. Yummers.

When I got home, it was a bit chilly and drizzly, but I put my computer bag down and then went out to shop for tomorrow night's dinner. I promised Kurt a special "thank you for choosing me" meal. We're having pork chops in a mushroom whiskey sauce. I'd been to a pretty basic grocery store on Sixth Avenue last night, but Kurt told me there is a D'Agostino a few blocks down on Greenwich Street. It was great. (This would be like comparing Winn Dixie or Food Lion with Fresh Market in my past lives--quite a contrast.) I love every little venture I make in this neighborhood.

School Day Pictures

Continuing my "school theme," this morning I walked over to 30 Rock to get my building ID made. (Note to Quincy friends: Where is Miss Debbie to do your hair in French braids when you need her?!)

Again, I must say I cannot believe I get to work at such an iconic New York City location! The bank has a flagship building at Bryant Park, so people act as if working in 50 Rock is sort of a consolation prize, but I  think it's a grand prize. I'm sure the novelty will wear thin at Christmas when tourists are lined up for Radio City and other attractions, but it seems like such fun right now.

For lunch, I made myself eat the rest of my $16 salad from yesterday (I decided I needed to spread that budget-buster over two days.) But since it was cool and rainy, I let myself get a cup of split pea soup too. I did a little midday stroll through the concourse and enjoyed seeing all the lunchtime diversions my new environment holds, including Anthropologie, Banana Republic, Crabtree and Evelyn, Pret a Manger (possibly my favorite chain), Ben and Jerry's, Hale and Hearty Soups, some fancy restaurants overlooking the skating rink, a shoe repair shop, a waxing salon, AT&T wireless, and an old-school barber shop. I love it!

On the way home, I figured out how to walk through the mall to the subway, and I found a grocery store on Sixth Avenue that should come in quite handy. I've promised Kurt a homecooked "thank you for picking me" dinner on Thursday night (his choice: salmon or pork chops), so stay tuned for my first cooking assignment in my new kitchen.

First Day of School

I had a fantastic first day at work! It was sunny and pleasant outside, and I wore a black sweater dress with black and white beads so I'd be properly attired for my phat evening meal. (More on that below.) Since I wasn't sure how my commute would go, I headed down 12th Street in my trusty black coat and baby blue scarf, wearing flats and carrying my hooker boots in a bag.

There is a subway entrance about a block and a half from my doorstep. (Yet another reason I totally scored with my living situation. Thanks, boys!) I had to walk a few blocks underground to get to the train I needed, so I'll probably stay outside in nicer weather, but it was good to know I could be inside if it's raining or cold.

I rode up Sixth Avenue and got off at Rockefeller Plaza, my new office. I wasn't sure exactly how to exit the subway, and I ended up taking a route that had me walking right past the staging area for the Today Show. The crowds had dwindled since it was already after 9, but that was definitely a cheap thrill.

My plan had been to get in a few minutes late because I wasn't sure my building access had been worked out yet (long story). So, I sat down, changed shoes, and emailed my friend Noelle, a gal from Charlotte who moved up here in November. She came downstairs to meet me. We picked up some coffee and then she helped me get settled on the 6th floor of 50 Rock. It is mostly a Marketing floor, but Noelle and one other Communications colleague are also working there, and one of the Marketing teammates who sits near me is someone I know from working in London.

I managed to get onto the bank's wireless network (minor miracle) and felt relieved I'm not starting a new job. Given all the other change, it's pretty awesome to be working on the same thing on Monday that I was doing on Friday. Around noon, Noelle came by to see if I wanted to grab some lunch, and we went back downstairs to the same area where we'd gotten our coffee.

There is basically an underground mall beneath Rockefeller Plaza. All of the office buildings have escalators to connect to it, and it's this subterranean world with all sorts of shopping, services and restaurants. Best of all, it's on the same level as the ice rink, so you can watch the skaters through the huge glass windows. We hit one of the places with a salad bar by weight, and I loaded up my clamshell with all sorts of goodies: roasted brussels sprouts, roasted butternut squash, tuna salad with capers, pasta salad, broccoli, corn, etc. Then I got to the cash register saw it would be $9 a pound and realized I had probably overdone it. Um, yeah. I bought a $16 salad. Welcome to New York!

The afternoon flew by, and around 5:30 I left to meet my manager, Sarah, who is in town for some meetings this week. Our PR agency partners invited us to meet them for dinner at Monkey Bar, Graydon Carter's restaurant in the Hotel Elysee. It's on 54th Street between Park and Madison, so it was an easy walk from my office. The description on the website is pretty apt: The dining room's lush red leather banquettes and dim, attractive lighting have restored the fizzy thrill of dining in a restaurant -- both glamorous and cozy -- and harken back to a bygone era when a gentleman never left the house without a tie and a lady always had a pair of white gloves in her purse.

Sarah and I got a drink at the bar while we waited for our dining companions, and I enjoyed a perfect cocktail. I think it was called a Monkeytini? I may honestly have to return to have it again. It was a bit like a mojito: tart and refreshing, but with a hint of ginger.

I started with the roast beet salad with goat cheese, walnuts and orange. I'd forgotten my camera, so Ben played photographer with his BlackBerry.

Sarah and I both got the Chatham Cod, which I found to be absolutely scrumptious. The menu was very understated, which I think fits the "old school" approach of the whole place. So, all I can tell you about it was that it had tomato, broccoli rabe and fennel sausage. There was also a nice dusting of some sort of dried herbs for a bit of a crust on the top of the fish. I loved it!

Ben's grilled chicken paillard with arugula, tomato and lemon was so lovely, I made him get a shot of it too.

For dessert, we ordered Eton Mess (my pick; I'd never had it before and was dying to try it...and it seemed like a perfect spring dessert since it's berries and meringue) and a chocolate chocolate-chip layer cake. I loved the Eton Mess. (Hypothesis: Banana pudding is to the American South as Eton Mess is to England. I bet you even get some people who like their meringue mushy and some who like it crispy, just like people and their 'Nilla wafers with banana pudding.)

We finished off the meal with cleverly presented malted mint balls. Big thanks to Kim and Ben for making my first day at work so special!

Now, here's where the day went a bit downhill. It was so pleasant outside that I decided I'd walk the few blocks back to the subway and just ride home. I was enjoying the challenge of finding my way around. This is one for the bad idea file. I had on my boots, and they are not made for walking. I accidentally got on an express train, which skipped right over my stop. It was a bit frustrating but a good learning experience. Fortunately, my neighborhood is quite lively (and safe), and there were still lots of people on the street at 11 p.m.

I climbed the five flights of stairs and made a beeline for the bathroom. New York Lesson Learned: Never leave a restaurant without availing yourself of the ladies' room. You do not want to hold in your Monkeytinis for 40 blocks. 

NYC Welcome Wagon

When I landed at LaGuardia, there were two handsome men waiting for me at baggage claim.

What more could you ask for?! Neil and Nate loaded my bags in their new car. Then we drove to meet my new roommate, their friend Kurt.

My room is pretty small, so I tried to whittle down my wardrobe to the bare essentials. My summer and winter clothes are boxed up at Leigh Ann's for now, and she has one box of shoes and books to mail me. 

(If you live in Charlotte, I must suggest you get yourself to the Junior League Wearhouse pronto to pick through the clothes, shoes and jewelry I had to part with. There was some good stuff! But honestly, this whole moving process has been incredibly freeing. I think we all have more clothes than we really wear or need. It feels great to be down to the basics.)  

"This is a cute street!" I exclaimed as we got closer to downtown.

"I'm glad you think so -- this is your new neighborhood," said Neil. "We're in the West Village."

While Nate parked, Neil helped me lug my bags up the five floors to my new abode, a small room in the apartment where Kurt has lived for almost 20 years. It's hard for a photo to do the room justice, so I'll try to describe it. There is a wardrobe and a dresser for my clothes, plus several hooks on the wall for scarves and other sundries. (Kurt very kindly got some new furniture at Ikea to spruce things up for me -- he had to rent a Zip Car, drive to Brooklyn AND carry the goods up the stairs.) He had fresh flowers in a small vase on the dresser, and the bed was ready with new sheets and striped bedding from Ralph Lauren. The bed was so artfully made, I hated to mess it up!

Here's the view from my bedroom window.

I'll post more about Kurt and the apartment later, but for now I'll just say I couldn't feel more fortunate to have landed here. The West Village is loaded with cute shops and restaurants; it was sunny and in the mid-50s yesterday, so lots of cafes had set out tables on the sidewalk. We can see the Hudson River from the street, and I can't wait to get out for a jog on the greenway path that runs along the entire west side of Manhattan.

We walked by a farmers' market on the way to Cowgirl, where we all had burgers. (It was about 3 p.m. by then, so we were all starving.) Nate had a fabulous mango margarita, which I'll look forward to enjoying on my next trip. (When I got home, Kurt had a funny story about Cowgirl; he said Monica Lewinsky and Chelsea Clinton were both living in this neighborhood for a while and once ended up eating at Cowgirl at the same time. Awkward.)

After lunch, we stood in line at Magnolia Bakery, where Nate and I each had a cupcake and Neil got some banana pudding. I spent the evening unpacking and hit the bed pretty early. All of the goodbyes and packing in Charlotte had worn me out!

This morning, I found my way on the subway to meet N&N at Christ Church United Methodist, which several of my Myers Park UMC friends had recommended. After the service, we had brunch inside Barney's (veggie fritatta for me, club sandwich for Nate, huevos rancheros for Neil), then we wandered around Barney's and Ralph Lauren and walked along Madison Avenue back to their place.

Late in the afternoon, I met up with Kurt, and he introduced me to the Chelsea Market. Cannot wait to go back--an awesome fish market, great sundries store, handcrafted chocolate, cheeses, etc. Great meals await us! I forgot to mention that Kurt made some curried broccoli soup and a ham sandwich on a baguette with chutney and arugula last night. He has a whole row of gourmet cookbooks in the fully-stocked kitchen. Can you imagine a better roommate for me?

One final note: the yellow flowers in my room were in tight buds yesterday. I thought they looked like some kind of baby tulips. Some of you may know that my move was inspired in part by a quote from Anais Nin: "After a while, the risk of staying tight in a bud became more painful than the risk that it took to blossom."

This morning, I did a double-take when I looked I looked at the vase and saw the tight buds had transformed overnight into daffodils!

Here's hoping the flowers aren't the only things blooming in New York this spring.