Ippudo

We met Turtle and Ravi for lunch at this noodle shop. The Boy in the Checkered Shirt embarrassed himself when he couldn't find the front door. We liked the decor, but immediately began looking for a bagel when the meal was over.

Patsy's Pizza and Casa Havana

I went skating and the Boy in the Checkered Shirt went snow-boarding. After skating T and I went to Patsy's Pizza for some pasta. I toyed with the idea of getting the lasagna, but opted for the spinach ravioli instead. It was a good decision. I had a glass of shiraz. T had a penne in a cream sauce and a red wine that I had never heard of before. He let me taste it and it was fine, but I was happy with my shiraz.

After we went to Gym Bar for a beer. There the Boy came back from Hunter Mountain and was very hungry. We went across the street to Casa Havana. He ordered a huge plate of Pechuga Empanizada. We each had a Dos Equis.

Petrossian

Very cold day. Met up with Turtle to go skating in Central Park. Stopped by this cafe to get a coffee and pain au raisin. The buttery roll kept me warm.

Five Napkin Burger

After a second viewing of Avatar, the Boy in the Checkered Shirt and I wandered 9th Avenue looking for a place to eat. We'd been discussing lamb burgers and saw that they had one on their menu, so in we went.

He ordered the burger, while I went with a chicken peanut salad. While we waited for our food, he took his contacts out (but not at the table).

The lamb burger was just OK.

The Weekend

Went to a birthday party in Williamsburg. This song stuck in my head.

Five Guys

After meeting the Boy in the Checkered Shirt at the gym, we decided to head down to Julius's Bar for their burgers. We were both very hungry and the length of the trip down to the West Village cemented the thought of a burger into our minds. When we go to the door at Julius's and read the Closed by Order of the City's Department of Health sign posted to the locked door or hearts sank. We stumbled around the Village looking for anything that might satisfy us. We entered two restaurants that had long waits for a table. About to surrender and head home, we walked past Five Guys. I didn't know they had locations outside of DC, convinced the Boy it was a good idea, and went inside. We each ordered a cheese burger and shared a large order of fries. We pigged out on peanuts while we waited.

Nizza

I met up with Frank for lunch to discuss his lively drive down and back to Key West over New Year's Eve. We walked down 9th Avenue looking for a place and decided this Italian restaurant was as good as any. He ordered a cup of the bean soup and a grilled chicken salad. They goofed and brought him a bowl of the soup, so he shared. I ordered a cup of the pumpkin and leek soup with a turkey sandwich. We finished with a café americano and cappuccino.

Jimmy's Diner

After a night of whooping it up at Webster Hall, we slept in and woke up hungry. Sticking with the Body&Soul theme and because it was Martin Luther King Jr Day, we decided to find some soul food. A web search turned up this diner in Williamsburg.

The restaurant was full when we got there, but the bartender told us to wait outside while she chased some slackers away. Within five minutes we were seated in the corner. Our waitress reminded me of a cheery Molly Shannon. She made menu related small talk with every table. When she brought us a plate of fastnachts I decided her overly pleasant demeanor was palatable.

The Boy in the Checkered Shirt ordered the huevos rancheros and I went with the eggs, sausage, potatoes and pancakes I'd been craving. We both had coffee and shared an order of sweet potato fries.

The Weekend

Jazz standards for skating at Bryant Park.

Mercadito

Went skating in Bryant Park with Emily, Scott, and the Boy in the Checkered Shirt. It was the Boy's first time on skates. He did very well, never fell, and after a few laps on the crowded ice was offering advice to other struggling novices. "Fall backwards!" he called as he glided past a young man barely able to get up from a dip to his knees.

We stayed at the rink for a couple of hours, then decided to hop a train downtown to Barrio Chino for some margaritas and late lunch. We landed on our barstools during the few hours between meals when the kitchen was closed. So, we stayed for one drink, then strolled over to Mercadito in the LES. The day was unusually warm for January and it felt good to be outdoors.

At Mercadito we met up with Frank. Another round of drinks and some tacos rounded out the day. When the bill came, we agreed that Tres Hermanos was more bang for the buck.

Five Star Punjabi

I took the day off from work. Around noon I took the train to Long Island City to have lunch with the Boy in the Checkered Shirt. We walked to this Indian diner and overate on their buffet. From there I went back home and fell asleep.

The Weekend

The boy's ringtone borrows from this song.

Grand Morelos

Suffering from a cold, we decided to leave the house but not wander too far for breakfast.  We took the train two stops to Grand Avenue.  After a failed attempt at the Willburg Cafe (we ordered, but instead of our meals we were served a bill), we went up the street to this Mexican style diner.  The Boy in the Checkered Shirt ordered a vegetable omelet with home fries and toast.  I had french toast with a side of turkey bacon.  I skipped the coffee.

The Weekend

A wonderful song that draws me back to September.  It was part of our yoga practice in Greenport.  And continues to be symbolic.

Northeast Kingdom

We had planned to go skating today, but it was windy and very cold.  Not necessarily bad things for a day at the rink, but the Boy in the Checkered Shirt despises the cold and I'm a sucker for a reason to stay close to home.  We called up fellow Bushwicker Angelo and proposed a walk through the neighborhood looking for new food options.  A good proposal, but the cold was very cold and once we got outside it turned into a direct walk to this institution for what we knew would be a good brunch.


We started with Bloody Marys and coffee.  Angelo ordered the scallion pancake with beans, Meer had scrambled eggs with potatoes and salad, and I had the butternut squash quiche with a side of beef sausage.  

The Coronet

Spent New Year's Eve at Serenity Now in Greenport.  As always, it was a relaxing weekend of over-eating and lounging around in sweat pants.

The morning of the 1st, four of us took an impromptu dip in Peconic Bay's frigid waters.  My participation can be attributed to equal parts peer pressure, face saving, and the failure of better judgement.  2010 could be the year I realize my judgement isn't necessarily better.  I hope this becomes an annual tradition.  My toes have forgiven me and the shrinkage was temporary (although a shocking sight later when I jumped in the shower to wash off the salt water).

The morning of the 2nd, Kelly invited us to join her for yoga.  Meer, Luswin, and I accepted.  Being a holiday weekend, we were the only four in the class.  The studio was a converted meeting space on the second floor of Greenport's masonic lodge.  Truly a beautiful space with a large fire place and frescoed ceiling and large windows.  I enjoyed sweating there.

After the workout, we were joined by the others for breakfast at this Front Street institution.  The wait staff kept us alert and the coffee was hot too.  Meer and I shared a ranchero and Greek omelets.

Afterwards, we went back to the house and played a few hands of Facebook Scrabble (cuz, why play facing each other across a board?).