Hot Enough For You?

Monday, July 18, 2011

When I wrote last week that tonight presented an opportunity for America’s Favorite Epidemiologist and I to engage in post-marital conversation, I was looking at the Mets original schedule, not realizing that a make-up game had been scheduled with the Florida Marlins. Apparently, my lovely bride had also not seen the revised schedule, because, rather than facing an evening alone with Grandpa Alan, she had made a dinner date with her dear friend Diane, the Leather Lady. So, two wrongs made a right: While I will be engaged in watching several dozen grown men playing a child’s game, she will be out on the town, turning heads and defying gravity.

The Sunday New York Times Magazine had an article yesterday by James Traub on the diplomatic role being played in Pakistan and Afghanistan by John Kerry, former President of the United States Except Ohio. Traub wrote that "Kerry’s roots run deep in the New England gentry," as an explanation for his patience and understanding. However, I’ve not forgotten that Kerry’s paternal grandparents were Fritz Kohn and Ida Löwe, who changed their names to Frederick and Ida Kerry in 1900, and converted from Judaism to Roman Catholicism in 1901. They moved from a Vienna suburb to Chicago in 1905. Kerry’s mother’s ancestry, on the other hand, goes back to an off-course Carnival cruise that landed in Salem, Massachusetts in 1630.

For comparison’s sake, Joseph Goldenberg (not really his name, but that’s another story) arrived in New York in 1905 and Joseph Gotthelf in 1906. While both crossed the Atlantic by steamship, family lore has it that neither dined at the Captain’s table. In any case, I’d like to speculate that Kerry’s Jewish roots may be more accountable for his diplomatic skills than his roots in Salem, Massachusetts where 19 people where hung as witches in 1692.

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Wah Kee, 150 Centre Street, was the first stop on this (ad)venture on January 4, 2010, the day I began working at the big courthouse at 60 Centre Street. 18 months later, it has closed and been replaced by Red Square Café, which was my destination on another 90° day. However, when I walked in, I found a sight reminiscent of the bathroom attached to the Contessa’s chamber on certain recent occasions, that is, leaks, water, wet. The staff was so busy mopping and sopping that they could not attend to my immediate need for nourishment.

Fortunately, I did not even have to leave the premises to find an excellent alternative. Mika Japanese Cuisine & Bar occupies the second floor at 150 Centre Street, and it also appears to be newly opened. It offers a serene setting, lots of blond wood, suggestions of parchment walls and doors. I ordered a lunch special, three rolls plus salad for $11. I had a tuna roll, a crunchy salmon roll and an eel roll, all tasting very fresh. In addition to the sushi bar, Mika offered a variety of hot dishes, such as tempura, teriyaki and noodles which I’ll be sure to try on cooler days. Service was good; my water glass was refilled without prompting. The airconditioning was very effective.

You’ll have either of two reasons to be in the neighborhood of 150 Centre Street, jury duty or shopping for counterfeit designer handbags. In either case, keep Mika in mind.

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

On Associated Press wire today:
"A New Zealand newspaper group is reporting that the deadly February earthquake in Christchurch unearthed a suspected Israeli spy ring." At first, you have to wonder what does Israel have to fear from New Zealand? The flight distance between the two countries is 10,097 miles. They apparently have no contiguous borders. Well, maybe that’s the point. Positing New Zealand as a threat to Israel is guaranteed to prove highly satisfactory to the beleaguered Israeli security establishment. The spymasters will always be right. "What did I tell you, Moishe? We have those Kiwis right where we want them."

What can you do when you only have one hour to have lunch with Alan Heim, who, as a friend of your brother's since their adolescence, had known you for a very long time, who has had a distinguished professional career including an Oscar for motion picture film editing, who married a woman who had also been a dear friend of mine from her college days, and who has always been a wise and witty observer of humanity and its opposite? You talk fast and make a date to meet again next week. By the way, we went to Dim Sum Go Go, 5 East Broadway, because this was an Important Occasion.

Thursday, July 21, 2011

PROVOLONE (See below)

94° at noon, 97° at 2 PM; what more can I say? Actually, I ventured forth nevertheless to pick up a George Gently video reserved at the library branch on East Broadway. I then went into Thien Huong, 11 Chatham Square (October 12, 2010) for some simple Vietnamese food. The grilled chicken over rice noodles ($5.50) was very light on the chicken, but they were generous with the airconditioning. A watermelon slush ($2.75) also helped keep me cool.

NY Times crossword today, 26 across = In favor of the first book?: Abbr.

Friday, July 22, 2011

The prediction for today is 100°, give or take a stroke. With much regret, therefore, I am forced to remain at the Palazzo di Gotthelf to await delivery of a new bathroom shower door. The trucker was unwilling to estimate his time of arrival in spite of my begging him to get here bright and early to allow me to rush off to work. Instead, I'll sit here by the fire with my wonderful memories of other days when I was able to ride the subways when the temperature was 100°.