Franky: "Hey, Haldita, how's your life on the fun side?"
Me: "My life IS fun. Now, which side of fun do you mean?!"
How can New York not be fun, with all its offerings and the extra bonuses of having some of my great friends residing in this city? Just can't get better!
The first evening at Andrea's, after saying a brief hello at 9pm to her neighbouring friends having a dinner party, we went to the Dutch restaurant downtown to check out the hotties she had previously encountered on her last visit. Alas, we got there, and no cool dudes in sight. We had a lot of catching up to do anyway. We travelled to Venice and Edinburgh together in June last year, and there was much to discuss.
Friday, I walked through Central Park to the West side and down until my feet could no longer take it. The evening consisted of drinks at Arnie's for a handful of visitors coming from out of town (as in New York) to get better acquainted before his big birthday bash the following night. Elliot's appearance was half the size he used to be and absolutely delightful. I can only describe him as one of the finest characters, with charms like Cary Grant, who looks like Rock Hudson and an accent that can only bring out the best of his humour in an overstated manner. He also has a mind of his own!
As he arrived, even later than me, first into the kitchen, we embraced each other after a long haul of not seeing each other as though it was only yesterday. We do keep in touch regularly over long telephone conversations. He lit a cigarette and told me his secret of losing all the weight almost effortlessly. He was an inspiration to watch. Then he recommended we move to the guestroom for a tiny spliff.
"Are you sure, Elliot?" I asked in doubt.
"Yes, Daaaarling. Of course, it's okay." He nodded and led me to the second room, which had magnificent views over the grandness of Queensboro Bridge.
As we lit up, I noticed a red tramway named 'Roosevelt Island', full of people passing right below the entire frontage window.
The scene could not have been more surreal... As of my life.
At this moment, Arnie walked into the room in distress and said:
"Trust you guys to start this! There are official government people at this party."
"But what's wrong, Arnie?" Asked Elliot, surprised.
And so, Arnie grabbed the joint from his hand and flushed it down the toilet in the en-suite bathroom.
"That's it," he claimed, "I'm flushing it down."
"But why?" Elliot rolled his eyes up in the air. "But no one told me!"
On that note, we moved into the living room to mingle with the guests.
As we left the party after 22:00, Elliot accompanied me to dinner at Rosa Mexicano, where they make guacamole on a tray at your table, accompanied by a pomegranate margarita.
Saturday, I yellow-cabbed my way down to the Gold Coast to meet up with Elliot for a round of Soho. We passed Washington Square and walked along the trendy shops under sunlight, sometimes hidden under the typical tall high rises. Went to some of the first innovators of the 'concept store' as in Kisan and lunched at the first restaurant we could find with open-air space to the outside and seats amongst the mad rush of the weekend shoppers. Just as we arrived inside, two people left by the open, airy entrance, and we sat there, dazzled by the crowd passing by and the breeze of that beautiful spring day New York offered. Wish I could remember what I had for lunch that day! No report.
Before getting too comfortable after lunch, I had to bid Elliot farewell till later that evening and rush to our hair appointment with Andrea. Sooooooo, sex and the city! Haha. Once back at Andrea's, it was so much fun getting ready, over a glass of bubbly, for Arnie's party in the most girlie way possible. We managed to stumble down two blocks in our high heels to the 'salon' where it was held. I was wearing my daring Tina Turner dress, bought with Elliot in Vienna, in a sandy/brown colour, and my friend wore a slick New Yorker look in a black fitted skirt and cream top with a wrap-up leather belt. The Louboutins were a must.
The birthday bash was a total success. Although I was hardly drunk, the excitement of going through a good friend's past years in one night, with the accompaniment of his family and people he met along the way, some of whom had flown many a mile to help celebrate his life so far, made the evening fly by, as another great memory.
There was a surprise appearance, organised by his sister in charge of the event, by a drag queen singer and dance artist who had everyone watching in amazement at how her somersault in the air turned into the splits straight onto the floor! Super talented. The show ended with the song... New York, New York!
Andrea and I left under her umbrella in the pouring rain.
Sunday was rainy and cold. We got ready for brunch at the top of Barney's Store, where the hip hung out. Quite a few diners stopped at tables to say hi, as is usual for Sunday brunch. We eavesdropped on the girls talking and shopped a little in the open space. I bought my first skinny-leg trendy pants. Andrea left me in the heavy downfall at Madison's to continue my shopping chores.
That evening back at Andrea's, I passed out like a baby in front of the TV in my new, comfy tracksuit.
And this was the first weekend coming to an end, and next... We will head on to the adventures that followed. Exciting stuff!
Me: "My life IS fun. Now, which side of fun do you mean?!"
How can New York not be fun, with all its offerings and the extra bonuses of having some of my great friends residing in this city? Just can't get better!
The first evening at Andrea's, after saying a brief hello at 9pm to her neighbouring friends having a dinner party, we went to the Dutch restaurant downtown to check out the hotties she had previously encountered on her last visit. Alas, we got there, and no cool dudes in sight. We had a lot of catching up to do anyway. We travelled to Venice and Edinburgh together in June last year, and there was much to discuss.
Friday, I walked through Central Park to the West side and down until my feet could no longer take it. The evening consisted of drinks at Arnie's for a handful of visitors coming from out of town (as in New York) to get better acquainted before his big birthday bash the following night. Elliot's appearance was half the size he used to be and absolutely delightful. I can only describe him as one of the finest characters, with charms like Cary Grant, who looks like Rock Hudson and an accent that can only bring out the best of his humour in an overstated manner. He also has a mind of his own!
As he arrived, even later than me, first into the kitchen, we embraced each other after a long haul of not seeing each other as though it was only yesterday. We do keep in touch regularly over long telephone conversations. He lit a cigarette and told me his secret of losing all the weight almost effortlessly. He was an inspiration to watch. Then he recommended we move to the guestroom for a tiny spliff.
"Are you sure, Elliot?" I asked in doubt.
"Yes, Daaaarling. Of course, it's okay." He nodded and led me to the second room, which had magnificent views over the grandness of Queensboro Bridge.
As we lit up, I noticed a red tramway named 'Roosevelt Island', full of people passing right below the entire frontage window.
The scene could not have been more surreal... As of my life.
At this moment, Arnie walked into the room in distress and said:
"Trust you guys to start this! There are official government people at this party."
"But what's wrong, Arnie?" Asked Elliot, surprised.
And so, Arnie grabbed the joint from his hand and flushed it down the toilet in the en-suite bathroom.
"That's it," he claimed, "I'm flushing it down."
"But why?" Elliot rolled his eyes up in the air. "But no one told me!"
On that note, we moved into the living room to mingle with the guests.
As we left the party after 22:00, Elliot accompanied me to dinner at Rosa Mexicano, where they make guacamole on a tray at your table, accompanied by a pomegranate margarita.
Saturday, I yellow-cabbed my way down to the Gold Coast to meet up with Elliot for a round of Soho. We passed Washington Square and walked along the trendy shops under sunlight, sometimes hidden under the typical tall high rises. Went to some of the first innovators of the 'concept store' as in Kisan and lunched at the first restaurant we could find with open-air space to the outside and seats amongst the mad rush of the weekend shoppers. Just as we arrived inside, two people left by the open, airy entrance, and we sat there, dazzled by the crowd passing by and the breeze of that beautiful spring day New York offered. Wish I could remember what I had for lunch that day! No report.
 |
| Washington Square |
 |
| New York's diverse facets |
Before getting too comfortable after lunch, I had to bid Elliot farewell till later that evening and rush to our hair appointment with Andrea. Sooooooo, sex and the city! Haha. Once back at Andrea's, it was so much fun getting ready, over a glass of bubbly, for Arnie's party in the most girlie way possible. We managed to stumble down two blocks in our high heels to the 'salon' where it was held. I was wearing my daring Tina Turner dress, bought with Elliot in Vienna, in a sandy/brown colour, and my friend wore a slick New Yorker look in a black fitted skirt and cream top with a wrap-up leather belt. The Louboutins were a must.
The birthday bash was a total success. Although I was hardly drunk, the excitement of going through a good friend's past years in one night, with the accompaniment of his family and people he met along the way, some of whom had flown many a mile to help celebrate his life so far, made the evening fly by, as another great memory.
There was a surprise appearance, organised by his sister in charge of the event, by a drag queen singer and dance artist who had everyone watching in amazement at how her somersault in the air turned into the splits straight onto the floor! Super talented. The show ended with the song... New York, New York!
Andrea and I left under her umbrella in the pouring rain.
Sunday was rainy and cold. We got ready for brunch at the top of Barney's Store, where the hip hung out. Quite a few diners stopped at tables to say hi, as is usual for Sunday brunch. We eavesdropped on the girls talking and shopped a little in the open space. I bought my first skinny-leg trendy pants. Andrea left me in the heavy downfall at Madison's to continue my shopping chores.
That evening back at Andrea's, I passed out like a baby in front of the TV in my new, comfy tracksuit.
And this was the first weekend coming to an end, and next... We will head on to the adventures that followed. Exciting stuff!
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