Brrr

It's cold outside!

I think the low the other day was 9 degrees F (without wind chill - or whatever it's called now - taken into account).

I'm glad Winter is finally here, but it bugs me that I need to get some moisturizing cream for my cold, cracked hands.

New York Miscellany for Faraway Friends

Team nymiscellany! Yes, I'm becoming a bit of blog slut - kinda like a bog slut, but less okefenokee swamp.

Meatballs & Homemade Blueberry Ice Cream

I've decided to scale back my social activities this year. I was feeling a little overextended at the end of 2006, which might have had something to do with my recent illness. Anyway, no poker this year, and also smaller gatherings at home.

So we had a dinner party with the two friends who were there at the beginning of my culinary experiments (Summer 2004, mac & cheese!) I'd just seen an episode of Good Eats focusing on meatballs, so I had meatballs on the brain, this recipe in particular. Also wanted to whip out the ice-cream making machine that I'd bought years ago (in that initial surge of culinary experimentation) which was now collecting dust in the cupboard above the stove. Found my copy of Ben & Jerry's Homemade Ice Cream & Dessert Book and settled on a sweet cream base for the blueberry ice cream. Yum-o! I cheated a bit by including my mom's curry dish on the dinner menu and also served some fresh bread from Parisi Bakery along with fresh ricotta from DiPalo Fine Foods. I love shopping for food in what's left of Little Italy.

JL arrived early with Bass and fruit in hand, VI a little later with the much discussed "nut milk". She quickly made the three of us (HYB abstained from the nut milk) some breezy, honeyed cocktails. I somehow managed to finish cooking the meatballs, curry, and rice before we settled in for some quality time in front of the boob tube. (Note to self, finish making ice cream BEFORE guests arrive, that Cuisinart machine is noisy as all getout!)

I've been sick

for the past three weeks. My doctor told me I have a double ear infection, not to mention infections in my sinuses, throat and lungs. I'm afraid of permanent damage to my hearing. Ugh.

Mozart at the Morgan

Met up at Murray's Cheese inside the Grand Central Market before heading over to the Morgan Library to view some Mozart manuscripts. The collection is completely insane, and by that I mean breathtaking. The Morgan owns three copies of the Gutenberg Bibles, more than even the Vatican! Here's a link for the lowdown on the history of the Morgan Library including some info on its recent renovation.

JL, and bro parted company, but not before running into an old Wes drinking buddy on the street. We'd better change our phone numbers quick! :)

Headed down to 14th to stop in on DF's birthday bash at Pizza Bar. Didn't we go to a pizza bar the other day? So we made a quick stop at the Dirty Bird to make sure there would be no repeat of the pain on New Year's Day.

Met the dancer girls and some out-of-towners and taught some dance moves and hopefully "demonstrating excellence" before calling it a night. Oh man, I need some rest.

I win

I won my first battle of the year.
I thought that Guillermo del Toro was the director of Pan's Labyrinth, since his movies tend to be fantastical in nature, but my friend got him confused with that other Mexican director, the one who did Harry Potter 3: Revenge of the Jedi, also not to be confused with that other guy, the one who did Babel.
Victory is sweet indeed.

Happy 2007

Started off 2007 full of food and drink, surrounded by friends, old and new. I was told I was the best dancer in the world (which is a slight exaggeration, maybe most fun dancer would be more apt.)
This is going to be the best year ever.
Can you feel it
Can you feel it
Can you feel it