Meeting Misai part two

Friday night, I met Misai and Kumiko for dinner. We met on the corner of Lafayette and Spring. I had tried to describe the location of the restaurant, but then decided to just meet them at the subway to walk over together. We went to Petrosino, on the corner of Houston and Norfolk. When making reservations I thought it was a different restaurant. We were standing outside and I called to ask where they were, before I realized I was thinking of a different restaurant. The food was ok; the wine was very good.

We talked about their past few days. They had seen the Lion King and gone to the Statue of Liberty. Misai bought another pair of shoes. She was wearing one pair she had just bought. She said it was difficult to find shoes that fit her in Japan. She also bought a pair for her sister, who she said was as tall as I was. She also gave me her portfolio and asked me to show it around. She's a fashion designer looking for an agent or promoter in the city. I told her I'd ask around, but that I was not so well connected in the world of fashion.

Afterwards we went to Mannahatta. I chose the place for its proximity to CBGB. Kumiko had worn a CBGB T-shirt when we met, and I wanted to show her the actual club. At Mannahatta, Misai asked me where the older people partied. She thought the crowd was somewhat young. It wasn't until I realized that her view of New York comes from Sex and the City that I understood what she meant, but not having watched the show, I didn't know where they filmed.

When we arrived, salsa music was playing and I danced with Misai. While she knew the basic steps, when I attempted a cross body lead into a open turn, she faltered, but laughed each time I tried it. Then the music turned more hip hop and she gave me her passport and purse to hold onto while we danced.

At one it was time to go. Their flight was at seven in the morning and they were planning on leaving the hotel at five. We said goodbyes on the corner, took some pictures. I put them in a cab and started walking home when I realized I still had Misai's passport. I flagged a cab and headed up to their hotel.

Passing 50th Street on 3rd Avenue, cars swerved around a man pissing in the middle of the street. The cab driver looked back and said, "Only in New York. It takes a lot of beer to get someone to piss in the middle of the street. Though I don't think I could ever drink enough to do it."

At the hotel I took the elevator up to their room and knocked on the door. Misai looked surprised to see me and even more so when I returned her I.D. She screamed and thanked me. She told me to meet her in the lobby for a drink, but by the time we entered the small bar it was closing. The owner said they were closing early due to Passover. For the past two hours they had only had one party of six and it wasn't worth staying open. He suggested a few bars down the street.

By then it was late. Misai decided it was too cold to go out. She decided she should try to get some sleep. Or she was going to write in her journal. We said our goodbyes again, waving to each other before she walked to the elevator and I took the stairs out into the street.
Posted by eku at April 24, 2005 11:49 PM