Lunch at The Metropolitan Museum of Art with Fellow-Docents, Appointment with an Ophthalmologist and Dinner with Friends at ‘Il Tinello’.

Wednesday, August 21, 2024

Fairfield-New York City-Fairfield

Lunch at The Metropolitan Museum of Art with Fellow-Docents, Appointment with an Ophthalmologist and Dinner with Friends at ‘Il Tinello’.

The Big Apple called today-and we responded!!! It was so fab to be New Yorkers again But to begin at the beginning of the day… We awoke this morning in yet another venue—the well-appointed guest room of our friends, Bonnie and Art, in Fairfield, Connecticut, where we had arrived well past midnight. It was little wonder that we woke late to go downstairs and find that Bonnie had put out a lovely mini-breakfast buffet for us: her homemade blueberry muffins, her homemade granola (she told me there was yogurt in the fridge) and Art had actually gone out, while we were still asleep, to buy me decaff coffee! Now how thoughtful is that? My mind was blown away! We had a quick breakfast, however, as we had to get to Manhattan on the first off-peak train, if possible. And, prior to that, we needed to drive to our friend, Mary-Lauren’s house to pick up a bag of my DVDs that she had left there for me. I was going to take those into the city to drop them off, later in the afternoon, at the apartment of my friend, Ruchi, who had offered to carry them to Bombay for me. So, there were 20 DVDs that I picked up that morning.

That done, we drove away without meeting anyone in the house as they were already at work. We parked our car in the Day Parking slot at Southport Station, bought our senior discounted tickets from the ticket machine and we were off.

Journey into Manhattan:

It was just wonderful to ride the Meto-North train again. Although it was reminiscent of the countless journeys we took, over three decades, into Manhattan to get to work, this was slightly different. We were clearly on ‘vacation’ and had a whole lot of things to think of that were not work-related. As it was end-August and my NYU faculty members were all on vacation, it did not make any sense for me to go to my old office building to meet anyone—it would be completely dead. Llew, on the other hand, had plans to meet his former colleagues and, in particular, our friend Anna, with whom he would have lunch. I was headed to the Metropolitan Museum of Art to have lunch with some of my friends.

So, I got off at 125th Street in Harlem (still filthy & smelly--as I always do when I am headed to the Met) and Llew carried on in the train to the last stop at Grand Central Station. I then walked one block down to the subway station and took the 5 train to 86th Street from where I walked a few blocks to the Met. It was already almost 1.00 pm. It was simply terrific to stroll along the Upper East Side (still immaculate and ultra posh) on a particularly lovely day when the temperature was just perfect. I reached the Met in ten minutes and at the Main Info Desk on the main floor, I found my friend, Friea waiting for me. One big hug later, we were joined by our other docent friend, Liz, and without much ado, we made our way to the Staff Cafetaria for lunch. It was great fun to see my learned friends again.

Lunch with my Met Docent Friends:

It is always a thrill for me to eat in the Staff Cafeteria at the Met for old times’ sake. You might think I’m crazy but, apart from the nostalgia element which is important to me (I spent years eating lunch there on Sundays in-between the Highlights Tours I gave), it really has one of the tastiest Salad Bars I know and I always looked forward to assembling a salad there and douzing it with their incredible Caesar Salad Dressing. I included stuffed dolmades (vine leaves with rice, herbs and pine nuts), artichoke hearts and tons of blue cheese plus cubes of grilled chicken—you can just imagine how scrumptious (and how large) my salad was! My two friends also chose salads and armed with these meals, we made our way to the fountain courtyard to eat.

Great food aside, the best part of these meals with long-time friends is the ability to catch up on everything that has gone on in our lives since the last time we met. And yes, we had tons to talk about—and we did. Plus, there was the bonus of meeting yet another docent friend, Carmen, who had also graduated with our batch of docent trainees in 2000! It was terrific having a reunion with her. So, in every way, it was a grand lunch and I enjoyed every second of it.

A Really Special Fashion Exhibition at the Met:

My friends advised me to make certain I took in the stunning exhibition in the Costume Institute entitled, ‘Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion’ which featured designs from everyone you can think of beginning with the 1950’s House of Worth & Schiaparelli to contemporary designers like Issac Mizrahi, the House of Dior, Alexander McQueen, Michael Kors, etc. What was amazing was that the designs were inspired by various elements from the natural world—flowers, fruit, vegetables, even insects. As with all Costume Institute exhibitions, the outfits were beautifully curated. Each one was a work of art in its conception, design and execution: what one needs to admire and note is the structure of each garment. I found it all breathtaking and spent far more time than I had expected.

Appointments with our Ophthalmologist off Park Avenue:

Still, towards the end I had to run as I had a 3.00 pm appointment with our ophthalmologist, Dr. Daniel Rosberger, who has been treating me for just a year (I had my last check-up with him exactly a year ago) and Llew for at least 15 years. Llew joined me there to get our annual check-ups. The testing, scanning, dilation, injection of veins with dye to ensure there was no bleeding in the eye, was all so detailed, but at the end, it was done. As always, I am impressed by the thoroughness of the procedures and the attention to explanation. The patient is never kept guessing about what is going on. Overall? News is not bad, at least not for the moment. Next check-up recommended for next year.

Stroll Down Lexington Avenue to Meet a Friend:

With our eyes well and truly dilated, we walked down Lexington Avenue. Llew told me he’d had a very nice lunch with Anna and had caught up on a lot of office news since his departure. We were headed to our friend Ruchi’s apartment on Lexington Avenue and spent a good hour gabbing with her, her husband and college-going son. It was wonderful to be in Manhattan again—to take in its energy, its verve, and its sense of being unchanging. We spent a lovely hour with Ruchi and I finally handed my DVDs over to her. I also met her older son (I know her younger one well) and her husband and after about an hour, with a promise that we would meet again in Bombay, we left.

Dinner with Close Friends at ‘Il Tinello’:

Having walked about twenty blocks downtown to Ruchi’s place, we had both worked up quite an appetite and were well and truly ready for dinner. So, next, we strolled down Lexington Avenue to keep our dinner appointment with two of our closest friends, Amy Tobin & her partner, Rothschild, at ‘Il Tinello’, a very glam Italian restaurant. Llew had last seen them when they had come to Fairfield to bid us goodbye, just before we left together for India. I had met Amy last August—exactly a year ago—when she had helped me so much in closing down my office at NYU and loading my stuff into the train. I will never forget how helpful she had been to me. A true friend in need! The meal was simply superb and the service outstanding. Bruschetta for a starter at ‘Il Tinello’ was followed by 4 different plates of Pasta: Orchiette with Brocolli Rabe & Italian Sausage (me); Rigatoni with Bolognese Sauce & fresh Mozarella (Amy); Ravioli with ground veal & spinach (Llew) and Spaghetti Vongole (with clam sauce—Rothschild). We shared Tiramisu for dessert. Italian is not my favorite cuisine for nothing!!!! There was much drama at the next table as the waiter rustled up a fancy dessert called Zabaglione for the ladies at the next table. It is such spectacles that make eating out in New York so much fun! Dinner done and the bill paid, the four of us walked two blocks ahead to Grand Central Station to take the train (and subway for them) back to Southport! What a terrific day we’d had in New York! We’d done all our errands and met good friends, we’d eaten superb meals and we’d used every minute of our time in The Big Apple.

Until tomorrow, cheerio…