Polite Savages (tm)

New York, New York

     The New York Times reported today that Mayor Bloomberg kicked off a tourist welcoming campaign featuring everyday New Yorkers as tour guides.  The campaign's main principle is that New Yorkers are friendly people ready to help.  He is trying to shrug off that storied stereotype that the average citizen is mean and only out for himself.  If it were a movie, we would see a bewildered family from the Mid-West dressed in coordinating shorts and bright shirts turning a map about while tens of people scurry by and ignore their plight.  The end of the scene would probably show a taxi driving by and splashing them.  As with most stereotypes, it's just not true.  New Yorkers are friendly people, too friendly if you ask me.  In the past couple of weeks, we've had two strangers approach us and tell us their history with our house.  It's interesting but it can be a bit off-putting.  Like when the ninety year old man told us that he rented the top floor front room for $17 a month back in 1927 and he a lot of "good times there."  Thanks for sharing.    

     But as for sharing my knowledge of the city, I've always been more than ready to assist.  One of my colleagues who does not live in the city asked me what might be pleasant to do outdoors this holiday weekend.  I suggested the following:

1.     Check out the new Greek and Roman Art Galleries at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and then head upstairs to the Met's roof garden cafe for a cocktail and a beautiful view of Central Park

2.     Have brunch outside (try the pretty and down to earth back garden at Paradou).  Then go for a wander in the West Village or Meat Packing District and spy into historic houses and browse through tony shops.

Familes that Coordinate

     Yes, that's true to a degree.  I know you've seen best friends that wear similar outfits.  Fathers and sons with matching sweaters and mother and daughters wearing the same dresses but in different sizes.  Such coordinated clothing can be found on the Internet from Hanna Andersson.  Apparently Swedish families love looking like they just stepped off the stage from a way-off Broadway production of The Sound of Music.

     One of the benefits of living in an economically developed society is that there is a plethora of inexpensive goods available in the marketplace.  Family members don't need to look the same.  People can afford to express their individuality.  And if families want to identiy as families then do it where it really means something, on the inside.  Share the same values and beliefs but don't share the same clothes.

 

Wine Tasting

   On July 9, 2007 the New York Times ran an article, "It's a Tasting, not a Guzzling, L.I. Wineries Remind Guests", about the growing trend of wine tasting guests that seem more like college kids on spring break in Panama City instead of responsible adults trying to enrich their palates.  Needless to say, getting drunk at a wine tasting and skinny-dipping in the adjacent lake is hardly appropriate or considerate to other guests. 

     I though of this article because last night, I went to a lovely wine tasting of wines from the Loire Valley and some new world wines at Chelsea Wine Vault.  In case you were wondering, I was the epitome of self-restraint.  We sampled some beautiful wines and tossed around words like flinty, chalky, minerality, vanilla, nose, body and fruit bomb.  I stretched my limited knowledge of wine.  I sniffed deeply from the glass and then made thoughtful faces as I set the glass down.  I ooh-ed and ah-ed for my favorite wines and said that they had "remarkable depth," or were "lovely and enticing."  Granted not perfect wine-speak but good adjectives nonetheless since they avoided naming specific aromas.  What if I described something as "grassy" when it was really "citrusy"? 

     But really, it was like sitting through a time-share presentation.  Everything was magical and would greatly improve my life.  Representatives from the distributors were on hand to extol the virtues of their wares.  I felt like I was an active audience participant in an infomercial about Loire Valley wines.  Eventually you were either convinced by their pretty words or guilted into buying something.  My partner ended up buying 12 cases. 

     Some of my favorites were the Domaine Laureau Savennieres "bel Ouvrage" and the Domaine Frederic Mabileau St. Nicolas de Bourgeuil "Eclipse" both distributed in the U.S. by Jon-David Headrick Selections and Teira Sonoma Sauvignon Blanc distributed by Teira Wines.

     My favorite quote from the evening was "It's forty years after the summer of love, it's time to get back to acidity" so said one of the wine distributor reps. 

Vacation

Yes, I am on vacation so hence no updates.  New entries will begin this week so stay tuned and thank you for your support!