Old Man and the City

After a long (by St. Simons Island standards, not by Manhattan island standards) wait to get through the Lincoln tunnel, we made it into the city a little after 7:00. Even though I used to go every six months or so for work, and on occasion for things like stalking Lance Armstrong, by my math the last time I was there was probably a good 3-4 years ago.

How easily we forget. It's just so damn big and bright, and it's so easy to forget the true scale until you are in it. So many things rush into my brain-memories from films and shows, memories of my own past trips, thinking fondly of people I know and love who also loved the city long before I knew it (my Dad living in the village in the 50s, my Aunt Sandra there for school at a tender young age, Uncle Rodney working for Tiffany). It's a bizarre rush to the head...and mostly I am overwhelmed with the opportunity - such precious little time and literally infinite number of ways to spend it.

Having done my share of NYC driving (not to mention living in DC for 13 years and now living in Atlanta's traffic, which may trump even New York's), I was rather at home navigating the trusty CR-V through the city to our midtown hotel, the Shoreham, just off 5th a few blocks south of the park. We scored a street spot for easy unloading and got checked in - complete with complimentary champagne. We got the girls walked settled, I took a quick shower, and by 10:20 we were off!

Those of you who know and love John would assume that at that hour, "off" means "off to bed". Would you believe that at that hour he willingly - and cheerily - headed off to Chelsea in a cab to dinner? HUGE husband props :).

We chose a place my dear client at NRDC had recommended - she sent a fantastic list of Italian places with notes about her experiences there...she said they weren't in order but this one was first so I figured maybe it won out. Oh. And she mentioned she once saw Stipe there. Sold! As even my husband knows, I have loved Stipe since the 80s, and true love lasts a lifetime :). In fact, my first trip to NYC was to see the boys from Athens play at Madison Square Garden for free when I was coordinating the voter registration volunteers for their tour (another amusing story for another day).

It was very nice; the restaurant is tucked in the very hip and mod Maritime Hotel - a design dream just from the walk around the lobbies. We had a great shrimp bisque with cocoa powder garnish, I had a wonderfully subtle gnocchi with wild mushrooms, and John had the special...a bolognese made not with beef or sausage but with turducken! We polished it off with pistachio gelato and enjoyed the very comfortably hip scene.

Back at the hotel, Laika continued her fascination (much like Amelia's bathroom) of staring at herself in the shower mirror. I don't know if she was doing one of those "I have to look fabulous in case we see Carrie and Big" checks, admiring her young appearance for 18 years, or if she thought it was another dog :).

And then, the moment!

To walk the dogs we had to go up Central Park, which was a hike in the temperatures that were headed south towards 20. We headed out through the lobby and a nice sharply dressed woman with long curly blond hair bent to greet Laika and cooed over her. Laika seemed beside herself with excitement thinking that it was Carrie...I knew better but whom was I to crush her glee? I also teased Laika often whenever a black Lincoln towncar pulled up as we walked up 5th Ave to the park..."Laika....! Do you think that's Big!? It totally is his car".

Yes, I know. Demented and sad.