4 Notes
The NYC Nomad on Central Park South
Coming “home” after being out of the city, even if just for a weekend, can be a difficult transition. I get out of a certain rhythm I have with the city and the project, with living with people, and often it feels like I should just be going back to my old apartment. With that in mind, I made sure to save a week with my good friend Pauline after a two week trip to Peru because I knew it would be an easy way to reintegrate. You may recall that I stayed on Central Park South once before, but that was when Pauline was out of town and it was only for a few days so a real week was in order.
Pauline is a friend of mine from Tufts. She grew up in New York and is one of the most social and involved people I know. When she’s not saving the world’s monuments from destruction (at World Monuments Fund), she’s importing and selling foutas via Fouta Lifestyle (the Fouta has been my towel of choice for the past 7 months), and when she’s not doing that she’s planning a great party at her place. She even baked a tart (which I helped with) during my stay.
The apartment is ideally located, in a building that was converted from a hotel to condos some time ago. The doors pretty much open up on to Central Park, and Pauline and I took advantage of this with a Saturday morning run. The doormen got to know my name, and without fail, asked me if I needed a taxi each morning. I think I really puzzled them when I refused a taxi with all my stuff as I left to move to Park Slope. I prefer to move by Subway, if for nothing else than the looks / comments I get walking down the street and getting on the train.
The week went by quickly, but it was a lot of fun. We went to the Burger Joint in Le Parker Meridien which was appropriately described to me as “one of the best well known secrets in New York." The annual gingerbread competition also happened to be going on there. King Kong was impressive!
I treated Pauline and her boyfriend to a dinner at Caselulla, one of my favorite places I’ve been to as a result of this project. So many times you go back to a place and it isn’t as good as you remember. I think this place was better. The pig’s ass sandwich, wine collection, and papadew peppers stuffed with mozzarella and wrapped with speck were all excellent. The owners just opened another place called ”Elsewhere“ nine blocks south on 43rd street. I’m looking forward to trying it so email me if you live in that hood and I’ll take you there!
What did I miss in the neighborhood?
