A Look Back - February 2023
Although a pretty quiet month we did have Jake come visit us over President’s Day weekend which meant one thing, good eats!
The month started off much like January ended, cold. We kicked off the month trying out Crown Shy a one-Michelin-star restaurant downtown. Not the easiest to get to but after an Uber in what looked like a party SUV we enjoyed a four-course family-style menu. Jenn started with a glass of white wine and I had a gin martini. For our food, we started with stuffed churros, crudo, and shrimp. Our main course was a massive pork katsu that was one of the best I’ve ever had. We struggled with dessert and thankfully went with a perfect cream puff. It was a great meal and well worth the long trip.
Only a few days into February, Jenn was off on her first work trip of 2023 to the Fairmont in Berkley. It was the longest gap between work trips Jenn has had since she started this job. With Jenn gone it meant that it was Frasier and I left to hold down the fort. I took him for a long walk and we spent the rest of the day lounging around before he got picked up to go to Far Fetch for a week. A few days after Jenn left I went to Miami for a work event. A few days after I arrived in Miami, Jenn met me and we had a few days together in weather that almost didn’t feel real. I think we asked each other at least two dozen times if we ever used to live in weather like this. While I was working, Jenn got a massage and spent time at the beach. In typical Jenn fashion that meant she was burnt to a crisp on Saturday so we went to a nearby movie theater and saw the latest re-release of Titanic in 3D on an IMAX screen. It wasn’t what most were probably doing in their day in Miami but it was a great way to spend our day out of the heat. We finished up our brief time in Miami at Jose Andres restaurant where we sat outside overlooking the pool and ocean and enjoying a massive tapas meal. It was aggressively overpriced but fortunately pretty tasty.
The next morning we flew back home on an early flight. It also was Super Bowl Sunday so we thought it would be a great idea to order some pizzas from the newly opened Emmy’s where our old diner used to be. We ordered it a little before the game started and Jenn graciously went to go pick it up when Uber eats said it was ready. Over an hour later Jenn had been given multiple free drinks, brought inside and kicked out more than once, and at the end told that they just had too many orders and weren’t going to be able to make our pizzas. At this point, it was almost half time so I quickly scrambled one of our HelloFresh meals together and we watched the second half of the game together.
It was only a few days after the Super Bowl that Jake traveled across the country to spend a long weekend with us. He arrived late on Thursday evening and for the next few days, we ate at some of the best restaurants and bars. Our first day was the only bad weather we had so we stayed in, watched the movie Plane, and finished off the night at one of my favorite places in the city, Le Coucou. To make it easy we all went with their blind-tasting menu and what transpired over the next few hours was culinary magic. From the fantastic starters to the crudo, fish, leaks, and an unbelievable steak. After cocktails, we split a beautiful bottle of Pinot noir and finished off with some unbelievable desserts.
Our busiest day was by far Saturday. After dropping off Frasier at NY Tails on the UES we dropped off the car and made our way to brunch at Loring Place. After brunch, we did a little window shopping and popped into a great bookstore before heading back to midtown to take in A Doll’s House starring Jessica Chastain on Broadway. For about ten minutes before the show started she sat there staring directly at the audience on a chair that circled the stage before more and more of the cast came on stage. The show began a few minutes after 2 PM, and what transpired over the next two hours was mesmerizing. After the show, we walked from broadway all the way to our dinner reservations at Cote. We did make a quick pit stop at the massive Macy’s (which I had never been to before) and Pottery Barn before our dinner began. Like we did the previous time Jake was out we went with the Butcher’s Feast which continues to be the best Korean BBQ in the world. After dinner, we had time to kill before our 9 PM reservations at Thyme Bar which we spent at Eatly, Harry Potter Store, and lastly killing time at a Paris Baguette. When we were finally whisked downstairs to the Thyme Bar we did a three-course drink-tasting menu with some of the most innovative drinks we’ve ever had. I’m not sure any of the drinks were great but the creativity and artistry at work more than made up for any shortcomings. By the time we left a little after 11 PM we were cold, tired, and a little tipsy.
The next day Jake woke up with a massive earache and was able to get into One Medical where they diagnosed him with an ear fungus (not a joke). He got some medicine at a local pharmacy and for the rest of the day we took it easy in our apartment, played some games, and relaxed. We did have dinner at our local Mexican restaurant, Empellon, which has become a staple for all out-of-town guests. We all had tacos and margaritas and enjoyed their divine chips, salsa, and guacamole.
On Jake’s final day in the city his ear was starting to feel slightly better so we did an early morning walk in Central Park with Frasier. It was cold and a little damp but Frasier loved every second of it. We closed out our culinary experience at Ci Siamo in Hudson Yards. Both Jake and Jenn love their Italian food so it was not shocking that they loved it here. It was great to have Jake out, whenever he comes it feels like we still only live a few miles away versus across the country.
We closed out February celebrating Frasier’s 4th birthday. Jenn did a great job decorating, getting him an automated bone that rolls around, and putting on his birthday bandana. It was a great celebration for our little Frasier.
TV WE WATCHED
For a shorter month with travel, we actually got a lot of TV this month. Far and away the highlight of the month was the new show Shrinking on Apple TV + which at times cliche is the easiest and most fun to watch. We did wrap up the second season of Industry which has moments of being great but otherwise is all over the place.
BOOKS I READ (OR LISTENED TO)
With my goal of 35 books this year I really wanted to make sure I had a strong start to the year and getting three books done this month was great. My favorite was A Carnival of Snackery which continues my love affair with all of David Sedaris’s writing. I just think he has a witty sense of humor that I adore. I didn’t love Us Against You as much as the first book Beartown. And Die With Zero was a book I heard was good on a podcast I listen to and although it has some incredibly salient points they begin to repeat themselves after a while.
MOVIES WE WATCHED
I obviously mentioned a couple of these already but shockingly the one standout movie from this month was The Man From U.N.C.L.E. a super well-made spy movie that has been on my list to watch for years and I finally got around to it. Titanic continues to be a great movie even in 3D IMAX.
THEATER WE SAW
The only show we saw this month was A Doll’s House with Jake. Although I usually don’t like a spartan set where they want you to fill in the gaps I found that this was a rare play that might have worked better. I found the first thirty minutes of this play to be incredibly slow but as the plot points began to weave together I was hooked.
GAMES I'VE BEEN PLAYING
Not an exciting month of gaming, outside of when Jake was here I really didn’t play a ton this month.
2023 GOAL TRACKING
Goal #1: Read 35 Books: I've read 5 books and am on track.
Goal #2: Keep Weight Under 140: I've yet to go over 140lbs
Goal #3: 12 Monthly Recaps: 2 for 12.
