Origami, Gama & LES

Another morning of teaching origami to the children at the American Museum of Natural History. This time the teaching table was in the Grand Gallery (77th Street entrance), containing the newly restored Haida Canoe (minus its former occupants). Before and after pictures of the Haida Canoe.

Back home where I debated the merits of venturing out again. The subway was still a mess and I had some unfinished business, so I begged out of the Bed-Stuy BBQ and went in to Gama for JY's birthday bash. I made an appearance, but my foul mood wasn't lifting, so I decided to leave before I said or did something I'd regret later. JY looked so happy to be surrounded by her friends.

After a call from W, I stopped by for a chat and some hot chocolate. I was gonna call it a night, but not before I picked up a hot pastrami on rye at Katz's for my bro.

Eastern Noodle

Please pull my noodles.

Slightly earlier in the day, hmm where was I going? Thought I was lost, but then realized I was on the right side of the Manhattan Bridge. I'm still afraid of those buses down there, that everyone seems to love.

Sunnyside CSA

Lunch at Wild Ginger, this time with SR. The waiter recognized me and asked if I wanted the "Ginger Ale" along with my lunch special. He was kind of smiling at me when he said it, which I thought was weird. It might be because I'd been to the restaurant pretty often in the last few weeks and each time I went it was with different women. Maybe he thinks I'm some kind of vegan playboy?

The newly forming Sunnyside CSA was meeting that night at the Grind, a local coffee shop. I'm already a member at the West Village CSA, but I wanted to see what I could do to get this local CSA up and running. Met all the core members and told them I'd be back to help out during the season. People there were excited about all the good local press for the CSAs in NY. Can't wait to get my fresh veggies.

Tribeca Arts Center

My second visit to the Tribeca Arts Center in as many weeks. More plays and speechifying. No Erica with a C this time around. No post-event plans tonight, so I walked up through the desolate streets to New Wonton Garden and had some noodle soup. Something seemed different about the place.

Momofuku & Sullivan Diner

Dinner with JT, another old work buddy from back in the day. It had been a long time. Today it was time for another visit to Momofuku Noodle Bar. I seem to be straying from vegan-ness more and more - so much tasty pork all around me. Anyway it was way too much food. Are we stuck, I feel like sometimes I get stuck. We ordered too much food. Back to JT's for some backgammon; she kicked my ass. I forgot the lilt in her voice, but that was a long time ago.

Ended up at Sullivan Diner after that to meet MC's French posse. It all made me want to visit Montreal again.

Flags of our Fathers

Since there was no more basketball (at least for me), I finally got to see Flags of our Fathers. Actually bought the book when it came out, but gave it away as a gift before I had a chance to read it. Had also just missed a chance to see both of Clint Eastwood's Iwo Jima films at MMI, so I was excited about the movie. Doesn't everyone know about the flag-raising on Mount Suribachi? My brother had commented about the lack of battle scenes for a war movie, but how faithful was that to the book. I know that the Thin Red Line movie had fairly large departures from the events and narrative in the book. Anyway, I'll need to see Letters from Iwo Jima before I render judgment on Clint's films.

Another Saturday Night

I hate going out on Saturday nights. It's amateur night. All the insufferable "work hard, play hard" folks are out on this night. But I wish I wasn't at home. Not tonight after my recent string of failures. It would be nice to get a phone call from someone that actually wants to see me, an email from someone who misses me, to be invited out, even on a Saturday. But that didn't happen, not today, not tonight. I'm still stinging from that Kansas loss last night.

Jayhawks Suck

Kansas looked terrible tonight. The teams made a combined 45 turnovers. Ugh. Of course there's no way I can win my pool(s) now.

Damn Yankees at the Brick Prison

AH met me after work, so we could grab a bite before we went uptown to see Damn Yankees at the old high school.

Another visit to Wild Ginger. Do I eat there everyday? We finished dinner early and had enough time to go across the street to Caffe Roma (really some of the best pastries in nyc) for some coffee and newfangled puzzles.

Finally made our way up to HCHS, but was saddened to see the courtyard fenced and locked shut. It was the first time A had been to the school, the source of so many of her (flat) friends. The kids looked so small, I guess we were all that size back then. Anyway the performance was fun and full of the energy typical of a high school production, but Birdy, the girl playing the Devil in disguise, was fantastic. And who doesn't love Heart, A Little Brains; a Little Brains, or Whatever Lola Wants. All the Aces in the right places, yeah!

Photos from that night.

Big Wong & Basketball

My fun for the day started with some more tasty goodness at Big Wong down in Chinatown.

It was the first time I'd ever had beef with peas.

Then it was home to catch some March Madness. I had the Kansas Jayhawks winning it all in my bracket and they were slated to play the Salukis of Southern Illinois. The Jayhawks (barely) prevailed and I was looking good since the my other three teams that night also secured victories to advance to their respective Regional Finals. Could this be the year?

Did You Say Pirates vs Ninjas?

Why yes, yes I did.

Air Guitar Nation & Minca

Another night of music, laughter and noodles.

America-in-Play

Stopped off for drinks at L'Orange Bleue and veggie dumplings at Dumpling House on Eldridge before I rushed down to the Tribeca Performing Arts Center to catch America in Play. I was to provide moral support for EB, one of the playwrights featured at tonight's reading (one of three).

Afterwards we (EB, AG, & KC) went out into the night in search of eats. (I'm always out looking for food.) We ended up at Yaffa's Tea Room for a late bite. Are they affliated with the Yaffa Cafe? Though I didn't see too many goth kids at the Tea Room unlike the hordes that apparently lurk in the shadows on St. Marks.

An early Rite of Spring

No green drinks for me this weekend. Instead I was looking forward to a concert at Carnegie Hall, thanks to my cousin. The Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France was scheduled to play some Ravel and Stravinsky this afternoon. I remember hearing the Rite of Spring for the first time in 7th grade music (led by Sousaphone playing Mr. Johns) and was a bit freaked out by the seemingly random downbeats of the strings. Turns out I wasn't the first to have an emotional reaction at their first experience of the work.

On to Kefi for a post concert meal. I'd been wanting to go there for a while, and another success! It was all very tasty and I managed to (mostly) stay vegan for another day. Some wonderful pics and other enjoyable tidbits of the day.