Saturday, November 20, 2021
44 Down - Secretive things?
. . .
We joyfully welcomed the Left Coast Contingent (LCC) today, America's Loveliest Nephrologist, the Oakland Heartthrob and daughter, for a holiday visit.
Sunday, November 21, 2021
We went to see "Wicked" with the LCC and, while the presence of three out-of-towners including one person not old enough to vote gave me cover, I admit that I liked the show. Additionally, a working knowledge of "The Wizard of Oz" is needed to appreciate "Wicked" fully and I don't think that younger generations are as well prepared as we are.
Before the show we ate at La Grande Boucherie, 145 West 53rd Street, that beautiful space that I was visiting for the third time in two months. Unfortunately, the food and service at this expensive establishment has declined each time. For example, the Saumon Provençale, pan-seared salmon, roasted potatoes, black olives, confit cherry tomatoes and capers, seemed attractive, even at $34. When asked for it to be cooked no more than medium rare, the waiter said that was unlikely and delivered a dry, well-done piece of fish. Now, to enjoy the lovely surroundings, I suggest that you merely order an overpriced drink and eat your own pretzels.
Tuesday, November 23, 2021
London is my favorite tourist destination. I have been there numerous times over 35 years. Two challenges have persisted all that time -- the language and cheap eats. There simply isn't the equivalent of the hot dogs at Gray's Papaya, dollar-a-slice pizza or bacon, egg and cheese sandwich with a cup of coffee for a few bucks. The only relatively reliable cheap eats in London that I have found are the branches of Pret A Manger and Wagamama. Pret has been in New York for years, although it seems to have been unable to bring the hoisin duck wrap across the Atlantic. https://www.pret.co.uk/en-GB/products/UK007579/hoisin-duck-salad-wrap
The pan-Asian, noodle-centric Wagamama appeared locally much more recently and now has three Manhattan locations. Today, I visited one for the first time in an enormous space at 605 Third Avenue. There were booths, counters, ledges, accommodating well over 100 people. Additionally, a big tent stood outside, unused in this chilly weather.
The menu isn't that extensive. The focus is on noodles in various guises and dumplings. I had the Tantanmen (meaning “noodles being carried” because they hung from a pole carried by the vendor) Beef Brisket Ramen - Korean beef brisket, half tea-stained egg, menma (fermented bamboo shoots), kimchi, scallions, cilantro, and bok choy in chicken broth ($18). It was an excellent choice. The big bowl of soup was hot, the strips of beef had a crispy edge, and the menma and kimchi gave it a spicy kick. On the other hand, it would hardly qualify as cheap eats anymore.
Wednesday, November 24, 2021
The trial of the organizers and perpetrators of the fatal 2017 rally in Charlottesville, Virginia ended yesterday with significant victories for the plaintiffs. The jury hung, however, on federal charges of propounding "racially motivated violence." I want to step back from the particulars and explore language for a moment.
Anti-Semitism was central to the demonstrators. "Jews will not replace us," they chanted. Taking that as the racial component of the demonstration and the resulting violence, are Jews a race? Are we a nation, a religion, a creed, an ethnic group? Who decides and would we be satisfied with any label?
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I received four e-mails this morning from Ticketmaster, the mammoth, worldwide on-line ticket agency, confirming payments that appeared in our bank account yesterday. While the amounts produced some ecstasy, I was more moved by ending the agony of waiting for the long delayed transactions. I will spare you the details, but merely comment that it is impossible to communicate with Ticketmaster, except to buy and sell tickets. Certainly, buying and selling are the overwhelming interactions that you are likely to have with Ticketmaster, but, occasionally, an ancillary matter might arise, such as "Where is my long-delayed payment?"
Using the telephone, a very last century approach, is fruitless.
The telephone number published for Ticketmaster customer service reaches a prerecorded message lamenting how busy they are (ignoring how profitable that must be) and directs you to their website without allowing the opportunity to record a message. The website attempts to be very informative, suggesting a number of issues and their resolution.
If, however, there is no information about long-delayed payments, you follow the path to "How do I contact Customer Service?" That page offers several platitudinous remedies, but very fine print at the bottom states "Still haven't found what you were looking for? [Contact Us]" Pressing that button brings you to "How do I contact Customer Service?", the page you just left, a Möbius strip of frustration and insult. I spent nearly two weeks frustrated and insulted by Ticketmaster's deaf and dumb stance until yesterday's bank statement. That might also explain my grumpier than usual demeanor in that period for which you only have Ticketmaster to blame.
Thursday, November 25, 2021
The evening news naturally featured coverage of the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Although it passes only two crosstown blocks from Palazzo di Gotthelf, I haven't seen the parade in person since I was a wee tot. The huge balloons were always my favorite. However, what was then differs substantially from what is now.
Today's parade included balloon versions of the Pillsbury doughboy and Ronald McDonald, examples of the inexorable commercialization of American life. Also, floating over midtown Manhattan were inflated versions of Grogu, Pikachu and Ada Twist, household names, but not in this household.
I cannot identify with any precision the balloons that delighted me in my youth, but here is a photo gallery of balloons over the years. https://create.passitdown.com/
To pursue this subject more pedantically, here is a list of balloons by year of introduction.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/What I have not been able to locate is a list of balloons appearing by year to actually relive my experience. Is there a good researcher out there?
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If you don't want to stand outside in Manhattan next year at Thanksgiving, here is a comparison of holiday life in the 100 largest U.S. cities based on 20 key metrics, including weather, costs, charitable giving and store decorations. https://wallethub.com/edu/best-places-to-go-for-thanksgiving/67603
If you are looking to find the right spot to spend the other 364 days, you can outsource your choice to this quiz. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/11/23/opinion/sunday/best-places-live-usa-quiz.html
Friday, November 26, 2021
Mother Ruth Gotthelf born 112 years ago today, which added to our Thanksgiving celebrations over many years.
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The New York Times Book Review is 125 years old, even older than my mother. To commemorate this, it is asking its readers to choose the best book of the last 125 years. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/11/24/books/best-book-vote.html
It has narrowed the field to 25 entries. I read 7-1/2 of them; I could not stick with "A Gentleman in Moscow." Additionally, I skimmed "Ulysses," saw "Gone With the Wind" in the movies, saw "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" on stage, saw "To Kill a Mockingbird" in the movies and on stage, and saw a Harry Potter pastiche on stage. By a generous count, I "know" 13 of the 25 works. Does that reflect poorly on me or on the list? In any case, I am not ready to announce my choice of the best book of the last 125 years. No rush.
. . .
R.I.P. Stephen Sondheim (1930-2021)
Serve to keep the Shogun tranquil
Faced with these Loreleis
What man can moralize?
. . .
Answer = GLANDS
I went to La Grande Boucherie once and loved it so I went again: second time disaster. I will not go again, however nice the surroundings.
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