On the Yellow Brick Road with Crazy Js

PROLOGUE: I haven’t posted in a few days. Put it down to my continued recovery from the King’s death, plus general fatigue and some other things I won’t put a name to. Anywho, below (beginning with No. 4) is a serialized account of a recent outing that debuted on Twitter. This is a holiday (233 years young is our great nation) and slow weekend, so perhaps something light is just what the doctor ordered.


4, YESTIDY TOOK CARE OF BUS. @FANCY FOOD SHOW. (more on show in upcoming post) AFT, THESE (SELF-DESCRIBED) CRAZY JORDANIANS KIDNAPPED ME ... MORE TK1:46 PM Jul 1st from txt
5, ... CRAZY JORDANIANS INSISTED I GO SHOPPING W/THEM INSTEAD OF 2 MARIE CLAIRE EVENT 4 GOOD CAUSE ... MORE TK1:50 PM Jul 1st from txt
6, ... AFT LIL ARM-TWISTING, I WENT SHOPPING - 4 COSMETICS: BIOTHERM ... MORE TK1:54 PM Jul 1st from txt
7, ... I STEER CRA Js AWAY FROM MACYS 2 BLOOMINGDALE’S IN SOHO. NO BIODERM ... MORE TK.1:58 PM Jul 1st from txt
8, ... SO OFF WE WENT 2 SEPHORA. NO BIODERM. THE CLERK SUGGESTS BDALES. NO GO, WE SAY. QUICK GET MACYS ON THE PHONE. DIAL 411, THE CLERK SAYS I PHONE 311 INSTEAD. THEY TELL ME TO DIAL 411… MORE TK ...2:47 PM Jul 1st from txt
9, ... B4 I DAIL 411, THE CLERK SUGGESTS GOOGLE AND THEN TAKES MY PHONE AND TEXTS GOOGLE HITS ME BACKS ... MORE TK.4:21 PM Jul 1st from txt
10, ... GOOGLE TEXTS, GIVING ME SEVERAL MACYS IN DC (I HAVE DC NO.) AND ASKING WHETHER I WANT MACYS NY ... MORE TK.4:44 PM Jul 1st from txt
11, ... MWHILE, ANOTHER SEPHORA CLERK USES HIS SMART PH 2 GET MACYS FROM INTERNET. AFT SEVERAL TRIES I GET PERSON ... MORE TK.7:33 PM Jul 1st from txt
12, NO BIODEQM @MACYS!! NOT 4 A YEAR. AND NOT 4 A YEAR IN THE WHOLE U.S. CRA J #1 IS DEFLATED ... MORE TK.7:39 PM Jul 1st from txt
13, ... IN SECONDS THE CRA J IS RE-INFLATED: LETS GO GET SOME BEERS, HE SAYS ... MORE TK.7:43 PM Jul 1st from txt
14, ... WE SET OFF 4 SPRING ST. CAFE AND BEERS. @THE CORNER OF SPRING/BWAY COMES A HUGE DOWNPOUR. SOAKING WET, WE SPRINT 4
BANANA REPUBLIC ... MORE TK7:50 PM Jul 1st from txt
15, ... We fake shopped in Ban Rep, the Cra Js following me like little ducklings. ... More TK8:52 PM Jul 1st from web
16, ... I told the clerk staring at our little caravan that Cra Js were drag queens on their first shopping expedition. Big laughs ... More TK8:55 PM Jul 1st from web
17, ... By now, there is a manageable downpour and off we go the 1-1/2 block to the bar at the Spring St. Cafe. Yea!!! ... More TK9:04 PM Jul 1st from web
18, ... At the cafe, we introduce ourselves to bartender, David. I order Prosecco and the Cra Js order STELLA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!9:21 PM Jul 1st from web
18a, ... Over the Cra Js' 3 beers (a piece) and my two Proseccos, we spoke of many things - fools and kings, which makes us hungry ... More TK.
9:27 PM Jul 1st from web
19, ... Choice made – Spice Market – we set off on foot, with me as GMS. Following the yellow brick road west across Spring St. ... More TK9:44 PM Jul 1st from web
20, ... Near Crosby St., Cra J # 1 stops us. Inspiration! We should go to Babbo, Mario Batali's joint that has a 3-mo. wait list ... More TK9:56 PM Jul 1st from web
21, ... Like Spice Mkt., Babbo is NWest, so it does not change the GMS too much. We continue west and turn north at 6th Ave. ...More TK10:03 PM Jul 1st from web
22, ... On way, I see Greenhouse, a venue of many parties that I've been invited to. Now, I know how to get there when I care to go ... More TK10:06 PM Jul 1st from web
23, ... Approaching Houston, I explain to Cra Js Soho/Noho. We are not too far from Babbo, though I've no idea where it is ... More TK10:10 PM Jul 1st from web
24, ... Time to ask for directions – I am woman, I do not mind. We stop at Mex place and ask the hostess. She's vague ... More TK10:11 PM Jul 1st from web
25, ... While the hostess is away, a male colleague of hers approaches stand. I ask whether he's an actor. "You look actorly," I say ... More TK10:20 PM Jul 1st from web
26, ... He is not an actor but says if I were an agent, he would give it a try. New grad plans to teach ESL in China ... More TK10:24 PM Jul 1st from web
27, ... He wants to know whose roles he could take; I name a few, including Clive Owens. He looks a bit like a young Martin Sheen ... More TK.10:26 PM Jul 1st from web
28, ... Hostess and Cra Js think he looks like MS, too. OK, time to go. Stomach growling. He tells us that Babbo is up street ... More TK.10:28 PM Jul 1st from web
29, ... Off we go, then one of the Cra Js stops a woman w/big cup of ice cream and asks her to look up Babbo on her smart phone ... More TK10:30 PM Jul 1st from web
30, ... Woman w/ice cream tells that we should be near Wash and Waverly and Grove. Grove is just a couple of blocks away ... More TK10:32 PM Jul 1st from web
31, ... We see Grove but keep walking north – clueless. The woman w/ice cream grabs us and turns us back toward Grove. ... More TK10:33 PM Jul 1st from web
32, ... While on Grove, I see Waverly and suggest we take it. We're not sure but moving anyway. We see more people with smart phones ... More TK10:35 PM Jul 1st from web
33, ... Babbo is at 110 Waverly. We are @150. Now we walk cautiously toward yellow brick road: Lions, tigers and bears – OH MY! ... More TK10:39 PM Jul 1st from web
34, ... What to say to Wizard, who has a 3-month wait list? We are plotting and planning and scheming. We now have a plan ... More TK10:42 PM Jul 1st from web
35, ... Since Cra J#1 dined at Babbo last year by asking politely for a table, we decide that he will do the talkin’ ... More TK10:43 PM Jul 1st from web
36, ... We are @Babbo now. Before we go through door, we reconfirm the plan. Once inside we approach the hostess stand ... More TK.10:46 PM Jul 1st from web
37, ... "Good evening, may I help you," the hotess asks ... More TK10:48 PM Jul 1st from web
38, ...Cra J #1:"We don't have a _______" "How many are you," hostess interrupts. "Three," I say ... Stay tuned for end of serial Thu. (2 July).11:03 PM Jul 1st from web
39, Doing low-fives and inner cartwheels we move over toward the door, out of the way until we’re called … ... More TK10:51 AM Jul 2nd from web
40, Doing low-fives and inner cartwheels we move over toward the door, out of the way until we’re called … ... More TK10:51 AM Jul 2nd from web
41, …We decide to sit at bar until Babbo bartender informs that his joint is for those who are eating AND drinking ... More TK10:59 AM Jul 2nd from web
42, …Pas de probleme … Cra Js order beer and I water w/lime until. We even act as unofficial hosts in our post at the door ... More TK11:05 AM Jul 2nd from web
43, …COME ON DOWN! We’re seated and outfitted with menus and chickpeas ... More TK11:10 AM Jul 2nd from web
44, Cra J #2 pronounces that we are eating #10 chickpeas; #1 who is a chickpea prince confirms it … More TK11:16 AM Jul 2nd from web
45, … FYI: Chickpeas come in numbers – the larger the better. 11 is the largest … More TK11:23 AM Jul 2nd from web
46, … Regardless of number, these CHICKPEAS!!!! There are so many taste sensations that my palette is going into cardiac arrest … More TK11:23 AM Jul 2nd from web
47, … Server arrives w/bottle of red. Dry, w/med.-body and a lil friction B4 it finishes off smooth and quick. Palette is stabilized … More TK11:29 AM Jul 2nd from web
48, Can speak. But can’t see – the menu, not even with my glasses. And the tea light. And the phone of Cra J #2 … More TK11:34 AM Jul 2nd from web
49, Asking Babbo Wiz to raise lights is not on the table, so Cra J #1 reads the antipasti list for me ... More TK11:34 AM Jul 2nd from web
50, … Tortuous, b/c there is Italian on the menu and Cra J #1’s Jordanian accent to work through. Still, I order the “beef” tartare … More TK11:44 AM Jul 2nd from web
51, … Cra J #1 orders Grilled Octopus; #2 the Duck Bresaola. Since this is not sort of place where your microwave meal is ready … More TK11:46 AM Jul 2nd from web
52, …in two minutes we continue speaking of many things – fools and kings. In its own good time, chow arrives … More TK11:47 AM Jul 2nd from web
53, … Silence please. When server leaves, we hold hands. I say grace to Allah/God. I give Jesus a shout out, but not Muhammad … More TK11:51 AM Jul 2nd from web
54, … We reverently touch utensils to food, which is so purdy it makes you just want to stare at it … More TK11:57 AM Jul 2nd from web
55, … But we did come to dine, didn’t we. We love it, we share it. I’m really digging the beets in my “beef” tartare. Who knew? … More TK12:00 PM Jul 2nd from web
56, … I don’t order a primi course. Cra J #2 orders the Goose Liver Ravioli; #1, spaghetti with a red sauce I still can’t find on menu … More TK12:02 PM Jul 2nd from web
57, … By far, the best red sauce I’ve had with spaghetti. The flavors stick to the palette like a leech … More TK12:04 PM Jul 2nd from web
58, … But Goose Liver Ravioli (which is ALWAYS on a menu that changes daily) … Heretofore, my palette has never had such unthinkable, unspeakable acts done to it. Cra Js? … More TK12:08 PM Jul 2nd from web
59, … Left on Cra J #2’s plate is the sacue from the Goose Liver Ravioli. We all want to lick the plate, and confess it. We don’t … More TK12:14 PM Jul 2nd from web
60, … Third course: Me: Rabbit; Cra J #1: Braised Beef; Cra J #2 Grilled Quail. It’s all scrumptious, transportive. Oh la laaaa!!! ... More TK12:17 PM Jul 2nd from web
61, … Cra J #1 is planning our next move: private club at Soho House in the Meatpacking District. Once upon at time, he went there, too – with a member ... More TK12:23 PM Jul 2nd from web
62, ... Remind him that club's exclusive. Not bowed. Got swagger, enhanced by success w/Wiz and Wiz’s good wine and Wiz’s better food … More TK12:42 PM Jul 2nd from web
63, … It’s about midnight. My body is shutting down. It’s been up since 4:30 am; That’s about 20 hours. Cra J #1 waves me off … More TK12:55 PM Jul 2nd from web
64, … Cra J #2’s body is shutting down, too. Meanwhile, we look at the dessert menu. I’m definitely not interested; neither is #2 … More TK1:22 PM Jul 2nd from web
65, … Cra J #1 votes with the majority on dessert but not on the nightcap. The check is settled, we say goodbye to our hosts … More TK1:31 PM Jul 2nd from web
66, … and happily (and sleepily, at least 2 of us) off we go to see …More TK1:40 PM Jul 2nd from web
67, … another Wiz. We’re back on the yellow brick road – with a lot more swagger … FIN1:58 PM Jul 2nd from web


EPILOGUE POETIC: Would not receive us Soho House the Wiz. Offended were not we fresh off Babbo Wiz audience. Went we to homes respective. Reunited day next at Southwest Porch (more porch post upcoming) in Bryant Park a post-mortem Babbo Wiz audience.