SO LONG SUCKAS!!!

At 9am EST on Friday, September 19, 2008, I did the most amazing thing I have done in a long time: I quit my job! 

It took every ounce of self control for me not to skip out of my HR Manager’s office yelling, “SO LONG SUCKAS!!!!” - but being the mature, poised adult that I am (stop laughing), I managed to, at least until I go to the elevator.  I also may or may not have been humming the chorus of George Michael's "Freedom" on the way home...

Do his waxed eyebrows/precisely trimmed sideburns and facial hair scare you too?

That’s right, during a week of turmoil in the financial markets beyond what I could ever have imagined even a few months ago, I decided to resign from a perfectly stable, currently decently-paying-but-eventually-lucrative job at one of the world’s most reputable companies. 

AND GOD IT FEELS GOOD!!!

This must be what those guys who have been wrongly imprisoned, and later released because DNA forensic testing proved their innocence, must feel like. Okay, maybe not the best analogy! Anyway.

It has been the most humbling experience to admit to myself that a job that once made me excited to go to work, that challenged me, that I took pride in, was now making me truly miserable.  It was depressing to realize that I was working 16+ hour days with zero sense of accomplishment or satisfaction, that I was really BORED, that none of it was worth it since I knew I did not want to stay in finance anymore. But once I admitted this to myself, the decision was easy, and it was just a matter of time before I pulled the trigger.  The next time I meet someone who asks me what I do (which in our society always means what one does for a living because we totally define ourselves by our jobs whether we want to/realize it, or not), I cannot wait to say, "Oh, you know, this and that. I'm exploring my options."  And I love run on sentences.

Of course, voluntary unemployment entails a plethora of new concerns….how long can I live off savings before finding another job? How can I be sure that I’ll be happier in a new job/industry? How will I survive not taking cabs while in 4 inch heels? Am I going to have to rent forever? Will I have to start eating ramen (and not good ramen which I set out to do, but cheap, packaged ramen)? Will I be in agony when I can no longer afford to go to whatever new restaurant is opening? Opera season is starting soon – am I going to have to settle for the shitty seats in the back where you can only see half the stage (the botton half)? AHHHH!! But in the grand scheme of things, these are insignificant problems, and since I am self-confident to the brink of arrogance, I know I’ll be successful in my new endeavors. =) 

So what are these new endeavors? Stay tuned...because I obviously now have time to write more crap, more frequently, for your entertainment. 

Toodles!!!!!!!!

P.S. For all my friends who have doubts that I can live frugally with no income, I'd just like to say that I haven't taken a cab for over 48 hours. Baby steps...

Men Require Patience!

sidebar:
Sorry for the lack of posts! I know you all turn to me for shallow, mindless entertainment to help you get through the day at your unfulfilling jobs. Oh wait, that's just those of you who work in finance...ha ha ha

Anyway, I haven't been bothered to write anything lately as I've been busy with a lot of things - getting back on track with a few personal and professional goals, but balancing it with some amazing times with friends. Cue Toca's Miracle =)

The past three weeks have been an insane mash-up of mid-Saturday afternoon parties at Bagatelle, sweating it out at PS1 Warm Up, late night backgammon games at the lounge above downtown Cipriani (closed until Sept 2, tear), goodbye dinners, renting a ridiculous Zipcar to go Philly just for the Coldplay concert (and a cheesesteak!), happy/hookah hours, great reunions with old friends, breaking lampshades at Bijoux (it's too dark, I couldn't even take a picture with my BB!), rooftop cocktails, underground mixers, noodles (Momofuku, Ippudo, Soba-ya, Matsugen have been covered thus far!) picnics and naps in Central Park, surprises, disappointments, dalliances, run-ins...and much, much more! Now, I'm just craving some time at the beach with a book and one of those coolers with the cup holders on top!!

My dream is to fly...

Coldplay concert in Philly

Chris Martin is not just another punk from UCL!

The promotional (and cheap) Prius zipcar we rented.

You can't see me, but I'm behind the monkey...we got a few looks.

Perfect night

Perfect skyline from The Frying Pan

Isabelle, my friend who came to visit from DC

She's still recovering from that weekend b/c I'm an excellent hostess! =)

PS1 in Queens

(little known fact: AMAZING street meat truck by the entrance)

The crowd at PS1 for Au Revoir Simone 

(or was this from LCD Soundsystem?)

I love Central Park Sundays

A random Tuesday night luau-themed party! 

Laughing at "Bowery Lounge"

Rooftop

(You'd be that happy too if you were ON VACATION in NY 

and LIVED in the Bahamas!)

Snow & sparklers!!

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A few weeks ago, I was digging through an old box of junk and came across a photo of my parents and me - I'm an only child, as if it weren't obvious - taken in Montreal in 1989. I was four at the time, my dad had just finished his Ph.D. and started teaching, my mom was still doing her residency in neurology. They were new to the city, and probably had no money and few friends - just a lot of hope for the future and especially for me. Since I pretty much look the same as I did at that age, and this blog is anonymous, I'll just have to describe the photo to you. It's a candid shot of them in a park, probably near McGill University.  It was probably at some time in the fall since the foliage in the background is a wash of yellow, orange, and red. I had just broken my left arm, which is in a sling and pitiful pink cast. He and my mom are totally ignoring me (typical!!) and laughing about something - and not just laughing, but laughing-from-the-gut-until-you-cry-laughing.

I stole the photo from a family album because it's my favorite picture of my parents. Theirs is the most enviable relationship I know, not just because it's withstood difficult times, including a near-divorce when I was in fourth grade, but because they're never boring and always have fun together. They wake up everyday with a different attitude than most people I know - everyday, even bad days, are fun with them and they never go to bed upset at each other.  They are each other's best friend; whenever I swear one of them to secrecy about something, the other finds out within an hour.  The photo struck a cord with me because lately I have been so frustrated with dating in this city! I really just want to be single, but of course, my life is situational irony at its best (or worst?). When it rains, it pours.  Everytime I meet a nice guy (yes, they exist in NYC!), I lose interest in about two seconds because I find him...boring.  And there is nothing worse to me than being boring.  Guess I just like the crazy/cocky/workaholic/alcoholic/model-aholic/player guys, and they sure do like me! Sigh...

But earlier this week,  I got an email from I couple I met at Bagatelle that dispelled any cynicism my hopelessly romantic self may have developed recently.  Bagatelle is a restaurant in Meatpacking, managed by the same people behind Kiss & Fly, the club next door.  It is the only restaurant I've been to repeatedly where I have no interest in the menu. The chef is last in command there - after the DJ, the bartenders, the (mostly) cute waiters, and the energy on Saturday afternoons.  Where else are people dancing on tables and chairs, banquettes and the bar, at 3pm?! Rain or shine! Where else are bottles of champagne delivered by a waiter in a Superman cape carried by six guys with sparklers?!

This Saturday, I was at Bagatelle, in the restroom line, when I met a really sweet woman, Viviana. She was probably in her late 50s/early 60s, not exactly the general demographic at these parties. Screaming over the music, she told me that she and her husband were in town for the weekend visiting their four kids who all lived in the city.  When I got back to my table, I noticed she and her family were next to us - their kids had convinced them to stay  after their actual (civilized) brunch, but they felt slightly out of place.  It's akin to dragging parents to a club, except replace the strobe with broad daylight, and the vodka with magnum bottles of rose!

Bagatelle "brunch"

(a speaker caught had on fire, and no one stopped dancing or noticed it was removed)

Bagatelle champagne delivery!

Of course, I'm all about everyone having a good time, and somehow convinced Viviana and Andres, her husband, to dance on chairs while I took videos of their family.  Turns out, they have been married for over 30 years, and were the liveliest, funniest, most interesting, successful, and chic-est couple over 60 I've ever met.  (When I grow up...)

I got this email from them on Monday:

Dear CM:

We had a great time at Bagatelle on Saturday and were very glad to meet you.  You are a very lively and lovely woman.  You will find love when and where it is least expected.  Men require patience my dear! I will upload the pictures from Bagatelle and send them to you soon.

I hope we can do it again sometime soon.

Stay in touch,

Andres & Viviana 

To get to the point, uhhh...I'm not sure if this story had a point.  If it does, I guess it would be that I just like hearing stories about great, fun relationships like my parents or Andres & Viviana have, even if it's far removed from my life! Also, men require patience!

One last pic for Bruce, who suggested more male-friendly content: Enlighten me as to whether or not these are the same...and why anyone would want two of the same?!

Noodle Bar Review - Intro

sidebar:

Who actually knows the words to Earth Wind and Fire's "September"?........yea, I didn't think so! The chorus goes:

ba dee da say do you remember

ba dee da dancing in September

ba dee da never was a cloudy day

You're welcome.
---------------------------------------

I'd love your feedback on this...email me or leave a comment! Thanks!

What:
(Attempt to) review (almost) every single noodle bar in New York City....and by every, I mean only the places I feel like reviewing.

Why:

1) I really want to write about food, but something different from what's already out there. Is it just me or are most food/restaurant review blogs/sites, including some really popular and well-respected ones, BORING BEYOND BELIEF?!! Sad, since being a food critic has to be one of the most enviable jobs, but it's true. They review the same places, say the same things about those same places, and are generally unenthusiastic.

But as far as I know, no one has ever written a comprehensive review of noodle bars in NYC. Some places on my list have gotten a lot of hype (Momofuku, Matsugen, Ippudo, etc.), but a lot of others have never been reviewed at all, so this little project will be something fresh.

2) Noodle bars are a restaurant category just small enough that I can cover most of them, and just large enough that a review will hopefully be interesting and worthwhile. Plus, it's a noteworthy genre - it's made otherwise nameless chefs into celebrities (David Chang), and celebrity chefs jump on the bandwagon (Jean-Georges Vongerichten).

3) Soba, ramen, dangmyeon, udon, etc - I love it all!

Who:
My friend Gemma, who has an exceptionally discerning palate, and is never timid to say what she really thinks, is going to join me. Thanks girl!

When:
We are aiming to visit, and I aim to write about, at least one spot a week...until we're totally sick of noodles, get (noticeably) fatter, or finish with our list (see below). If I didn't have a life, I would try to go the same night each week, for consistency.

Where:
NYC only, with the exception of that place in NJ that is apparently the best noodle shop outside Japan.

--------------------------
Grading Criterion:
Gemma and I will rate each noodle bar independently out of a total of 100 points, allocated as follows:

35 points Noodles - texture, taste

25 points Broth - flavor, temperature

15 points Toppings

15 points Overall taste

5 points Service

5 points Ambiance

The List
There are 31 thus far, which means we'll be done in 8 months...which means this list needs revision. Am I'm missing any places worth reviewing? Or including places you hate? Let me know!

Bo-Ky Restaurant
Chikubu
Eastern Noodles
Food Shing
Goubuli
Kampuchea
Kelley & Ping
Ippudo
La Cascade
Matsugen
Mee Noodle Shop
Menchanko-Tei
MenKuiTei
Minca
Momofuku Noodle Bar
New Chao Chow
Nooch
Noodle Bar
Noodles on 28
Ollie's Noodle Shop & Grill
Omen
Onigashima
Rairaiken
Ramen Setagaya
Saburi
Sapporo
Santouka Ramen (This is in NJ. Yes, we are very dedicated to this project)
Soba-ya
Soba Koh
Soba Nippon
Udon West