Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Behind every great man...



Here's the famously wonderful blog of the Mrs.

Mr+Mrs

I remember when the second Austin Powers movie came out there was a trailer that they played on TV and you thought it was for Star Wars that went something like...



Like Star Wars and Austin Powers, if you can only read one blog a day, read the better one, hers. But if you can manage two a day, check out mine, too.

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Steve&Kylie: Ariel's Trip Pt. II



So the second day of The-Grand-Birthday-Weekend-with-Ariel, being Saturday, found Ariel and me standing outside of the Al Hirschfeld Theatre waiting for the clock to strike 10 a.m. EST.

The night before, my good friend and Ohio Columbus Mission-mate Steve Fuller, who is out here with his wife for a marketing internship with the New Jersey Nets, contacted me, and we hatched this plan to see a broadway show with our wives. Steve's a big fan of Broadway. He, with his wife Kylie, saw 26 shows last summer.

We chose Playbill's most recent addition "How to Succeed in Business w/o Really Trying" featuring Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe and John Larroquette (I remember him from Richie Rich). He gave us the low down on the art of "rushing" or getting to the theater the day of in hopes to score cheap tickets.

Steve and Kylie wanted to see two plays, but we only wanted to see one. We stood in line for "How to Succeed" seeking four tickets. and the Fullers stood in line for "Sister Act." We got four tickets, but unfortunately they didn't get any.

We reconvened, snagged breakfast and then wandered around Times Square waiting for the Wicked raffle.



As Wicked is the hottest thing on broadway, maybe next to The Book of Mormon, there is a raffle set up to give out discount tickets. There are no rushing policies or freebies of any sorts. The raffle is it, which happens everytime there is a show. They sift through the names and pick out twenty or so lucky winners that then get the option of purchasing two front-row tickets at $25 a piece.

Steve convinced me to try. I didn't really want to see two plays in one day; however, my wife really wanted to see Wicked, so I thought we would just try, fail and then say we at least tried it. We hit the line for the matinee raffle, and all four of us entered our name. Since the Fuller duo had already seen it they encouraged us to come and if they won, they would allow us to buy their tickets. Thinking we wouldn't win we entered our names.

We won.



Well, Kylie won. But if one follows a logical series from A to B to C, "we won" would be C.

Her's was the second name called. She freaked. We freaked. Everyone else was just a little bit more disappointed. She was more than happy to part with the tickets, but she wanted to keep the little green button that said, "I won the Wicked lottery!" I thought the trade off was more than fair.

Following our victory of chance, we followed Steve and Kylie into the biggest Toys"R"Us I've ever seen. Five floors and a ferris wheel ("Five Floors and a Ferris Wheel" would make a great name for a punk band). Steve and I acted like little kids and the girls got to go into the two-story Barbie house.

Here are photos.


The Ferris Wheel



Yes, those are gigantic Lego buildings and that's a life size Jurassic Park T-Rex



What's the problem, ma'am?



Nice leg warmers. Nice ascot.


After kid heaven we booked it back to the theater.



Wicked was phenomenal. And there is just nothing like sitting in the very front row. You don't have anyone else in front of you. No one's moving their head. No kid is jumping up and down in the seat. People are distracting, moving or blocking your vision. There was just a couple feet of great music spewing from the underground orchestra box between us and the action.



In fact, at one spot, Elphaba comes over to the front of the stage and opens a trap door to yell at Dorothy. At that point I could have leaned forward and easily slapped her pointy black hat right off of her head. I didn't. But I could have.

Seeing that play was a great birthday present from the Fullers and an awesome experience with my wife.

Post Wicked, Ariel and I jumped aboard a southbound train and headed to SoHo. Steve and Kylie snagged a table for four at Lombardi's, the oldest pizzeria in America, and despite the waitress's evil glares, sat down and ordered before the rest of the party showed up. We arrived right before the pizza came out. I don't know what that waitress was going on about, but our service remained subpar for the rest of the evening.

In the pizza war, Mariella's wins in price, but Lombardi's wins in quality. The ingredients are fresh and for $16 for a 14" that can feed two, it's a pretty good deal. We conquered a large pepperoni while we laughed.



Right after pizza, we walked across the street to Stevie F.'s favorite find, Rice to Riches. It's a rice pudding place. It was actually very, very delicious. It was like a frozen yogurt place that sold rice pudding. Very trendy with really clever marketing.



Post pudding we strolled along down to Chinatown dodging little Asian ladies saying "Hanbag, hanbag, Prada, Gucci, hanbag," and then headed up Broadway popping in and out of SoHo shops.

An Uptown-bound train took us back to the Herschfeld where Ariel and I enjoyed another wonderful production with two very good friends.



The play was fabulous. Radcliffe really surprised me. This role proves a third dimension to his acting capabilities. Ariel laughed hysterically when he and Larroquette sang "Stand Old Ivy." The choreography on that number was crisp and very enjoyable. Though there are differences from the movie, which I am used to, I felt the overall production was a joy of a time.

So, two Broadway shows (one front row) with my wife for $110. Pizza from the first pizzeria, and exquisite rice pudding. Company with Steve and his lovely wife. I couldn't have asked for more. A great second installment to an unforgettable weekend, the day was marvelous.

Friday, June 3, 2011

The Weekend




No more Winword, Excel or Outlook. No more wading past smoke breaks or Starbucks lines.

No more listening to the rhythm of $550 calfskin oxfords kissing 50th, singing of confidence and client meetings.

No more Brioni wool, Ralph Lauren cotton and Brooks Brother's bow-ties. No hand bags, man bags and briefcases.

No more New York Times or breaking news. No more waves of capitalism pouring up the subway stairs to the entrances of an every-other-week paycheck.

Monday's the next deadline. Sunday's the next suit. And tomorrow looks like it will be a beautiful day.

I do have to work, but it won't be in the midtown high-rise. I'm needed at some special events.

Tomorrow I have to wake up early. I'll post more of my weekend with Ariel then.

Enjoy yours.

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Ariel and Il Vagabondo



I am currently harvesting PR grapes by the truckload. The grapes have been plucked from vines nurtured since my arrival in New York. As the clients and events will remain nameless, the experience will speak for itself on the pages of my portfolio and in the spotlight of interview. My cup overflows with gratitude; however, the empty light on my internal fuel gauge glares at me all day long - the weary of accomplishment.

So for the next couple of days, while I only have work to NOT write about, I will publish the past events of this last weekend. It was my birthday weekend, and I got the gift I wanted, the visit of my best friend.

Despite the tempestuous weather, subpar service from American Airlines and JFK airport in general, Ariel passed through the turnstiles of Sutphin St. and into my arms last week. She was what I wanted and she was what I got.

Tom, my boss, has really wanted to meet my wife, so Ariel accompanied me through the subway tubes of the 1 line and up the 28 floors of 750 Seventh on Friday to grant the request. While I worked, Ariel toured the surrounding streets and shopped some.

There was a certain sense of pride when I was able to show her the view from the glass corner conference room that overlooks Times Square. It's the kinda view that belongs in movies, like specifically the HBO production Too Big to Fail. They filmed it in my office.

We reconvened at three when I was let out of work for the holiday. Ariel and I then walked up 5th Ave., shopping and dreaming (more of the latter), and thinking what our life would be like if we lived out here. This particular weekend was a holiday and Fleet Week at that. Fleet Week is where all the service men and women from the National Guard, Navy and the Marines dock their vessels in New York City and sport their pressed military dress everywhere. It's something different. Apart from the chaotic and grunge of the the sidewalks and buildings you have the simple and clean uniforms of the nations finest. But the weekend festivities attract much more than just military personnel.

With the heightened amount of people in Times Square and New York in general, Ariel commented close to Rockefeller Plaza, "What are the odds that we would ever see anyone we know out here? New York is such a big place, even if we had friends it would be unlikely we would run into them." I nodded in agreement, there were just so many people everywhere

As Ariel purchased, packed and wore the completely wrong pair of shoes for such an occasion. We were forced to take refuge on a shade-covered path on the corner of Central Park and survey the damage to her feet. I've seen used fallout shelters that looked better. We were wondering what we should do next. We wanted to get something to eat, but I didn't know what Ariel wanted and we didn't know how far she could walk, especially on her war-torn soles.

While we sat on the park bench and scoured Google maps looking for answers. A friendly shadow with an even friendlier voice crept up beside me and started to laugh.

"Look at this. Look at this. What are the odds?" said Tom Goodman, my boss.

What were the odds? Not an hour before we mentioned this very un-probability, and sat under the covered park along 5th in disbelief.

He was so impressed that we happened to meet on the bench that he continued to sit with us for the space of ten minutes or so even though he was on his way home. He said he walks that particular shade-covered path when the weather is agreeable, because he gets exercise with a beautiful backdrop. The stars aligned and we all found ourselves laughing and enjoying each other's company.

Now Tom is the type of person that raises the morale and the confidence of everyone around him. He believes in the goodness of people and makes you feel like a million bucks. He just doesn't talk the talk, he walks the walk. He asked us, "Now what are you going to do next?"

I mentioned how we were looking for somewhere to eat. He instantly recommended a family place called Il Vagabondo. He said Emeril loves the Veal Parmigana and it has an indoor Bocce court. The oldest one in the city actually. While we were sitting there he called ahead and said there were two good friends coming for dinner in about 30 minutes and were to be all taken care of. And when Tom said it he meant it.



He told us to ask for Charlie and shipped us on our way down a street waving his hands and telling us how much we would love it.

We did.

Il Vagabondo is very unobtrusive and genuine. There were ten or so happy, formally dressed Italians at the bar when we entered. Though some where yelling at each other and others laughing, they all seemed to be in the same group. We waded past them to get to the host. I asked for Charlie and the man behind the counter said, "Why? Does he owe you money?"



I, taken off guard, started to speak of the park meeting with Tom, which made him laugh.

"I'm Charlie," the middle-aged, charismatic Italian said. "We're gonna take good care of you."

He proceeded to show us around the place, from the bocce court in the back room, past the kitchen and to our table. He sat us down and told us someone would be with us shortly.



The food there was unbelievable. I had the Penne ala Vodka, which is my pasta weakness. Every cell in my body cries in joy at the scent of Penne ala Vodka and this was the best kind I've ever had. However, the Mrs. and I were most impressed with the eggplant spread that was brought out with our bread. It tasted similar to marinara sauce, but apparently was made out of something that I had written off as completely useless.

After we finished, Charlie came out and asked us if everything was good. We both responded with praises of the cuisine, the service and the atmosphere.

"Good, good, good. And if there is any desert or coffee we will get that for you now. If not, please enjoy the rest of your evening as Mr. Goodman has taken care of the bill."



Of course he did. He does everything and anything like that. We just smiled and didn't know what to say. That meal was a God-send on a hot day. A date with my wife in one of the best restaurants in New York was the best early birthday present I could have asked for. But the thing about Tom is that you don't have to. He knows what can make someone's day and delights in producing that very thing.

Ariel and I spent the rest of our night walking the streets of New York laughing and enjoying the fact that we weren't 2,000 miles away. It was good to have her here finally. It was comforting to finally take the box in my head with New York stuff in it and splice it with the box in my head of Ariel and home.

Though Friday was good, the rest of the weekend actually kept getting better.

I am sorry the images aren't very good. I forgot to get them off of Ariel's camera. These are courtesy of the Internet.