GRAND GIRLS
We left 85 degree plus temperatures and bright sun in Florida for the cool gray of Manhattan. We’ve had several days of cool weather with one bright warm bit of sun on Friday.
After settling in and purchasing supplies, we spent the next two afternoons with our granddaughters. At their ages (3 and almost 7) seeing their grandparents is still a real treat. F. danced and spun around and just beamed as she told Grandpa all about an adventure making pretend pizza for one of her dolls. Later E. trotted down the steps of the school bus and leaped into my arms to give me a hug. What could be better than these greetings!
E. loves art and is quite creative. One project was creating a museum in a large empty carton to display all the furniture and other objects belonging to her Calico Critters collection. Of course, F. had to assist, but I was impressed by how cooperative she was and how much more controlled in her efforts than several months ago. It was a joint effort and only near the end did the older sister become a bit frustrated with the younger one.
It’s a routine that the girls read or are read to while they eat their dinner. F. enjoyed hearing her new train book again and again while E. could easily have read the Clementine chapter book herself, but preferred to have Grandma sit next to her and read it aloud. Being a grandparent and being able to spend lots of time with them several times a year is a gift and a pleasure at this stage of life.
NEW KIND OF ROM-COM
This is not the best season for catching new movies. The available crop is not as appealing or wide-ranging as is the case leading up to the Oscars. That said, “Long Shot” had good, if not stellar reviews, and seemed like it could be fun to see. We showed up at a nearby theater for the 9:15 am show only to discover that it was truly upscale, and also that since it was Saturday there was no senior rate. Nixing tickets at $25 each, we opted to wait and go to Union Square for an early afternoon showing.
Long Shot is silly, funny, preposterous and a mixed bag. First the good stuff: Charlize Theron as Charlotte Field is wonderful as the immaculately groomed, exquisitely turned out U.S. Secretary of State. And the scene of her in the situation room high on drugs sitting on the floor dealing bluntly over the phone with a foreign leader is priceless. The romance between her and Seth Rogen as Fred Flarsky, a schmo of a journalist in cargo pants and a turquoise windbreaker, is improbable. I think the filmmakers realize this since there is a very long lead-in before these two encounter each other as adults.
But the film does turn the usual trope of the successful man and the less achieving, less talented woman on its head. Charlotte is clearly the “alpha male” here, and that’s fun to watch. The dubious elements: the F word embellishes or degrades every line, depending on your perspective; I found its overuse tiresome. Also, the humor is often sophomoric, particularly related to a video used to mock Fred as a suitable mate. Overall, I’d give the film a B, but then I’m probably not the target audience.
DINING OUT AT OLD FAVORITES
At Highlands, a Scottish-influenced restaurant in the West Village, the bar was packed with a noisy crowd watching the lead up to the Kentucky Derby. We were gratefully ushered to a quiet table in the empty dining room. The very pretty coral sea trout mousse was a tasty and different starter and the beer brined chicken breast with grilled asparagus and artichokes delectable. Their penicillin cocktail was a hit as well as a glass of Central Valley chardonnay. Less memorable was the fish and chips.
This Upper East Side tapas place is very popular and always excellent. This time we sampled the roasted red peppers and asparagus (wonderful!), smoked salmon fillet, and the chorizo sausages plus the Chief Penguin’s customary order of patatas bravas.
On First Avenue at the Queensboro Bridge, this cozy Greek restaurant is also a favorite of ours. Service is efficient to brisk, but once you have all your food, they don’t rush you out the door. We generally order small plates rather than entrees and again enjoyed the shrimp in tomato sauce with feta crumbles, a tomato and cucumber salad topped with a nice-sized wedge of feta, grilled halloumi cheese, and plenty of crusty bread. We liked the complimentary strips of honey cake so much, our waitress brought us another plate! Wines by the glass and also cocktails are available.
Note: All photos ©JWFarrington.
