Thalia

Last night Jason took me out to eat at a restaurant of my choice, to pay off the bet he lost to me about Star Wars. Paula joined us as well. We ate at a restaurant I've always wanted to try but never have, Thalia at the corner of 8th Avenue and 50th Street. What a delightful experience in every way--the food was fantastic, every bite. Paula and I ordered the baby spinach salad (with candied walnuts, roasted apple slices and a maple syrup vinaigrette) and the crab cake appetizers to share, and Jason got this mushroom, polenta and truffle reduction combo. Then Paula and I each ordered pumpkin crusted scallops, and I think Jason got either the halibut or the salmon. We tried to figure out what to drink with this and settled on a nice fruity white wine--I generally prefer red but if there's a white with some fruity/berryish notes to it, I like those. (I am no oenophile so bear with my utilitarian vocabulary!) For dessert we shared the chocolate tasting plate. I will say, all that rich food is a little difficult on my system right now, and I had a hard time sleeping last night but it was worth it--I had such a good time. The wine was so good, and it was wonderful spending time with my ducklings. I also loved the atmosphere--environment is a big part of my enjoyment at a restaurant, and this place had beautiful colors, all warm oranges and browns and recessed lighting and shadow boxes. I found it interesting that the restaurant "works" as an upscale environment, considering that 1) it's on 8th Avenue which can be poretty honky-tonk, because it's so close to Times Square, and 2) it's so big. But with the proper lighting and layout, you can achieve intimacy anyway. A work of design genius!

Thank you Jason!!

(no subject)

I'm watching NY1 right now, and they're showing footage of this little Brooklyn girl, Nixzmary Brown, 7 years old, who was tortured and finally murdered by her mother and stepfather. I can't even recount what they're saying what does to this girl. She died of a blow to the head, her body was covered with bruises, she was tied to a chair like an animal. She had to eat cat food and use a litter box. Jesus. Jesus.

They're showing these...parents...being dragged into the arraignment. The "mother" is bending over so the camera can't show her face. The "parents" are pleading not guilty. And the brother of one of these monsters is saying:

"Of course he's innocent. A lot of people discipline their kids in a different way. He comes from a different background, understand?" said Miguel Rodriguez. "We are Mexicans, so when we discipline, most Hispanics discipline their kids by giving them a spank, stuff like that. That's about it. We don't go farther than that."

Jesus. It's Lisa Steinberg all over again. It's Robert Sandifer, it's Cheryl Downs.

There are sometimes it just hurts to be a human being.