All day I dream of Improv, Le Barricou and Lee

roof-top skies

So, I think it's time to talk about the elephant in the room.  And by elephant, I mean the one dressed up in a pink tutu, with a bright sequined tube top and a fake fur boa wrapped around her trunk.  Yes, it is time to talk Burning Man.  The only reason I bring it up, is because it will be here in three weeks, and I have been full-on planning for it, so that's why these entries are taking so long to ahhh...get entered.(my excuse).

OK, maybe I don't need to go into much detail, but I will say that  Burning Man is an amazing journey that everyone should fully participate in at least once in their lifetime.  I've done it five times, and each time is more spiritually awakening than year before.

disco pants

Within the community, when the festival is about to take place, we get super excited, and thrift shops, bargain basements and Tibetan stores feel our urgency to dress and express ourselves. It's on.

With that in mind, I knew that Brunch #29 would be kicking off the next weeks of prep time, trying to fit every possible event into the shortest time imaginable.  Leading up to Burning Man, many camps who create music, art or both, throw some insane fundraisers, and we all try to attend, to show our support.  We had a long list, finishing up with  Lee Burridge's amazing "All day I dream of" parties on a killer roof-top in Brooklyn. 

sausage and eggs

It was no surprise that leading up to Brunch, I had a small crew ready to chow down.  So, I chose a brunch spot that was walking distance, called Le Barricou, and sent the invites out.

But these things happen for a reason, and this Sunday was no exception.  The restaurant was very atmospheric, old-school French bistro with high ceilings and lovely fans sending the cool air down into the crowd.  Unfortunately, they did not take reservations, and the only table available was outside, in the 90 degree heat. 

We had no choice, and tried to make the best of it, but it was a bit difficult.  See, I had an improv performance earlier that day, and wore black on black for the stage, which is GREAT for the stage, not so great for sitting in the HOT afternoon sunshine.  (damn New Yorkers, we complain when it's cold, we complain when it's hot). (just HAD to throw in that I was on stage). 

sunset

Anyhow, the orders were placed, the waiter was on point, and the good conversations began.  As we slowly started to melt,  our lovely waiter kept bringing water out to us.  This may not have been the booziest brunch, but it was the wateryest.  I think at some point , the manager must have really felt sorry for us, because we were finally able to get a table INSIDE, and we squished our way to relief.

preview

The food was stellar, I had the omelet Auvergnate without ham, and could not stop eating it till it was all in my belly! Good food, good times. 

Afterwards, it was off to the roof-top, to hear Lee Burridge take us to another stratosphere, and he did not disappoint. More friends showed up, and we danced our asses off for hours, until the sun set over the city skyline....I feel like I've said this before.  (but, does it get old?).
 
Then, finally, a subway ride home, and then I spent another hour pulling plastic containers out from under my bed.  It's time to start putting outfits together for the burn.

 

BRUNCH #29 -  East Williamsburg

PLACE: Le Barricou

TRACKS: Pepe Bradock - Deep Burnt

                   Afrilounge - Lux Dementia

EATS:  flat omelet with potato, gruyere served with mixed greens, Spicy lamb sausage & two sunny side up eggs served with hand-cut pommes frites & mixed greens, Black Forest ham, gruyere cheese, served with two eggs over easy and mixed greens, bloody marys and lots o water.

OUTSTANDING QUOTES:"Girl, you can find me on facebook, and poke me all you want." Dan Uhl

Welcome to Fraggle Rock!

Summer in NYC is an amazing mix of full-on gatherings, from amazing roof-top parties, to Opera in the park and food festivals lining famous streets.  However, there is nothing as fulfilling as a house party.  When you are blessed with  friends who have the divine luck of getting a first floor apartment with a backyard, replesent with trees, hammocks and chairs, and they invite you over for Sunday Brunch, there is no thought but to say YES. 

That's exactly what happened for Brunch #28.  This Sunday was not at a restaurant, but at a friends apartment in Williamsburg, and they supplied all the food and drink a human could ever hope for.  As an added bonus, they brought the DJ, and yes, it was on.

And so it was, that on a beautiful sunny Sunday, we arrived at the lovely apartment of Rachael and Anna Maria, affectionately known as Fraggle Rock, to get down and dirty for a brilliant afternoon of twenty friends, doing what we do best.....being together.

The girls went all out, with delightful dishes to please every pallete. There was the baked omelette with swet potatoes, white potatoes and brocolli, apple and raisen french toast, sausages, salad, and cereal.  Mimosas ruled the day, and yes, we were pretty happy.  Dancing with bare feet on fresh grass, stretching and reaching for the sky, as the music bellowed and we followed. Wiseacre played for hours, each track bringing us to another level of togetherness.  Lee Mayjahs made a guest appearance, and threw down some tracks , and we moved to the rythmn he supplied. 

The day crecendoed, until we realised the sun was setting, so we raced up to the roof top and watched the amazing sun drip colors over the skyline of NYC, and we rejoiced in it's beauty and somber glow, knowing that it would disappear and return again tomorrow.

Finally, the night ended, and I smiled as I rolled myself into a cab, heading home to walk the dogs, dodge tourists, and marinate in what a beautiful surprising day it was.

But can I rant for a moment?  The cab driver was a dick, and tried to pick me up.  Seriously, this was a gross second, as he seriously refused to drop me off, and drove around my block trying to convince me that he was a cool guy.  Finally, he let me out, and I had a NY moment when I had to decide: do I take it to the next level?  Or calmly walk away.  And I did, my friends.  I walked away with the chlling realization that you can have an amazing day in this city of ours, but you never know where the cruel moment of reality will hit you, and you have to always be ready.

 

 

 

 

BRUNCH #28 - Williamsburg

PLACE: Fraggle Rock

TRACKS:

EATS:  baked omelette with swet potatoes, white potatoes and brocolli, apple and raisen french toast, sausages, salad, and cereal.  Mimosas, Bloody Marys, and Gin!
OUTSTANDING QUOTES:

House of the Lords

First things first....I need help with the project, especially in the Summer.  There is so much happening, so much to do, places to see, family to hang with , that sometimes it is difficult to stick with a plan.  So, I apologise for changes to plans....restaurants that get left out in the heat, and to the peeps to let me know they are coming the day of brunch.

I wouldn't change Brunch #27 for anything in the world.  What a gift,  on one of the hottest days so far... 105 degrees in the city, hazy, bright, and very sweaty.  Our lovely friend invited us to her family home in Long Island, and with a few hours to prepare, we had a caravan of two cars and eight peeps with dogs included, heading out of the freaking heat-based island of brick and glass , en route to the beach.

But, not before we were stuck in an insane traffic jam on Houston and Broadway, for what seemed like forever, because of - surprise - another street fair.  Side note... I love street fairs, or at least I loved street fairs, until all street fairs started to be the same street fair, only on a different street.  The same funnel cakes, roasted corns, fruit-based smoothies, etc.  Why would the city have a street fair on Broadway, anyway?
And, I'm done. 

So, we arrived at the house of the Lords, and it was everything you could ever want.  The house itself is preserved in a time-warp from the 70's.  Glass doors everywhere, a fountain in the foyer, super-groovy wallpaper,  lots of space for the dogs to run around, and our own beach to swim in, then lay on the grass and look at the sky.  This was to be our schedule for the next day, and I think we did a pretty good job accomplishing that.  

After getting very tipsy on gin and tonics - what else would you drink at this scene -we decided to spend the night and were very lucky to have Ella, the Regal Vegan, who planned an amazing meal for us to celebrate...us.

After sitting outside for hours with manic mosquitoes coming in for the kill,  I finally went to bed.  The next morning, I was woken up at 6:00 am to watch the sunrise, and the day began.  Drinking white wine, laughing, more jokes, sitting in the basement, 'cause it's cooler, then prep time.  The menu was mushroom and onion baked omelet, dragon fruit, fig, peach and banana salad, kale and tomato sauteed, and lots and lots o mimosas. Divine.

Afterwards, with our bellys full, we returned to the city.  My dogs slept for 10 hours, and I slept right along with them.  5 stars for the weekend, and the Lords.

 

BRUNCH #27 -Long Island

PLACE: The House of the Lords

TRACKS: Guns N' Roses - Welcome to the Jungle

EATS: mushroom and onion baked omelet, dragon fruit, fig, peach and banana salad, kale and tomato sauteed, and lots and lots o mimosas.
OUTSTANDING QUOTES:  "hanging in the house of the Lord"