Doubled up weekend

Friday night, K took a group of us out to Kittichai to thank us for helping her over Christmas. The food was fantastic, especially the sea bass and the tiger shrimp. The waiter turned out to be a friend of Viv's that I had met a month or two ago. It took me a while to place him, but once I figured it out I introduced myself.

Afterwards, I made my way up to Laurent's for Guillemette's galette party. I thought I was late, but the galette's hadn't been cut. Food covered the kitchen table; the galettes were lined up on the counter. I was stuffed and couldn't have eaten a thing. I ran into Leila, whom I haven't seen in almost four years. And then Jean appeared. I was so tired I didn't recognize her at first. Someone handed me a glass of champagne and I chatted with random people here and there. Guillemette handed Jean a slice of the galette. She took a bite and soon Jean was showing me a feve. She was crowned queen for the second year in a row.

After my glass of champagne, I took my leave. It wasn't until I was on the subway platform that I realized I hadn't said goodbye to Laurent. As soon as I returned home, I emailed him an apology and a word of thanks.

On Saturday I went to the Neue Gallery for the Egon Schiele exhibit. I had never before been to the museum, and found it lovely. The exhibits are housed in a mansion commissioned by industrialist William Starr Miller, and completed in 1914. The museum felt European in the way in which paintings were displayed on its floors amidst Viennese clocks and cabinets and in the small gallery spaces. I knew little about Schiele (the first time I had heard his name might have been in relation to a Rachel's album), and thoroughly enjoyed my introduction to his watercolors, paintings, and drawings.

The next day, Guillemette would ask me if I noticed anything in particular about the exhibit. When I confessed I hadn't, she asked if any of the drawings reminded me of Laurent. The likeness became suddenly apparent. She said Patrick had first mentioned it to her.

I took the bus home. It was still early, but I was starving having eaten little all day. Walking from 8th street, I decided to stop by the Pearl Oyster Bar. A line had formed outside. The doors would open at six. It was 5:45. I stood in line.

By the time the doors opened the line had grown to be at least twice as long. As people filed in, a woman directed them to tables or seats at the bar. I took a seat next to two women from New Jersey who immediately introduced themselves. They were in town for the day, taking time away from their husbands and children. I ordered oysters and the signature lobster roll with shoestring fries. Regina had recommended the fish sandwich, but it wasn't on the dinner menu.

The food was fantastic. The women next to me chatted with each other and a lone woman at the end of the counter. She had ordered as soon as she had sat down. She said she lived in the area and would come all the time during the summer. When she got up to leave, we all said goodbye. The woman next to me beamed. "See! We got her name for you. We're working it for you!" I laughed.

As I left, Mimi called. She asked if I wanted to have dinner. I told her I had eaten, but I'd have dessert. We decided to meet at Ony.

We sat down and the waiter took our order. Mimi ordered the hakata ramen and I ordered the mochi ice cream. My ice cream came out immediately. I ate as we chatted. When I was finished, the ramen arrived. Mimi said she couldn't finish it and offered me a third. After our meal Mimi ordered the mochi ice cream. I felt we were eating in a Martin Amis novel.

Sunday, Guillemette called to ask if I wanted to see the Pixar exhibit at MoMA. I told her I had a birthday brunch in Astoria, but if we went early I could go. We agreed to meet at 11.

The show was small, but fun. The best part was on the second floor, where four projectors showed a widescreen film on the inspiration and early sketches of the Pixar animators. Using the metaphor of a paste board, the camera zoomed into and out of sketches, animating bits and pieces. When the film was over, attention turned to the back of the room, where a zoetrope showed animated Toy Story figures. People oohed and ahhed as the zoetrope sped up and slowed down, illustrating how the flashing light used persistance of vision to animate the seeming mess pasted on the disk.

I was late to the brunch. People were leaving as I walked in. I talked to Rachel for a bit about her job and her plans for the day before she left. I stayed to have brunch before going to the Museum of the Moving image to play Dance Dance Revolution; I couldn't get past the first level.

As the afternoon wore on, I decided to walk to Astoria Park to watch the sun set. I walked west on 36th and then randomly chose a street on which to walk north. When I got to the park, I took a walk around the track before making my way to a bench by the river. I called Jean and talked to her for over and hour as the sun dropped behind the horizon. As we talked, the lights turned on in the apartment buildings across the river and became reflected in the water. The day grew cold.
Posted by eku at January 10, 2006 11:24 AM