Before Thanksgiving

This past weekend had been a whirlwind of movies, dining, a bit of art, and that is pretty much it.  For the first time since I have moved here, I haven't gone anywhere gay (meaning a bar or a club) for the entire weekend.  It is pretty weird but on some level very refreshing.   I saw Candy, Volver, and Casino Royale. 

On Saturday afternoon, during a few day stretch of incredible warmth for this time of year, my friend and I headed to Madison Park to eat at ShakeShack.  This little shack, with only outdoor seating, is devoted to serving hamburgers, hot dogs, and milkshakes and is a grease craving boys dream.  Created by the people who own deliciously hip Indian Tabla (which sits against the park) ShakeShack has one of the best hamburgers in the city.  By city, I am not including the buroughs.  In the summer, the line to just order wraps around the park.  Granted the hamburger is a little on the small side for the price but every bite is a delicious delight and given that we really didn't wait very long for it, well worth it.  They also have milkshakes along with shakes made from custard whipped at a high speed to create what they call a "concrete." 

I then went to MOMA to view their new exhibit on an incredible building called the CCTV building being built in Beijing that pretty much is THEE sign that the United States is having a hard time.  10,000 people work on this building every 24 hours, seven days a week, which began construction in 2004 and is going to be complete in 2008.  Last time I checked we were still deciding what to do with ground zero,which footprint is a quarter the size of this buildings.  Um hm.  A building so large and so massive in scale that the actual financial center of Beijing will be displaced and pretty much relocated to the region circling the building.   Designed by Rem Koolaas, "it comprises three buildings  and a media park situated on a site east of Beijing's Forbidden City, embodies a proposal for social and urban change   through a rethinking of the tall building. CCTV is a private building that will have a uniquely   public Visitor's Loop, while its mirror image—TVCC, or the Television Cultural  Center—is a public structure housing a   state-of-the-art broadcasting theater, cultural facilities, and a five-star hotel."

Saturday night I had dinner at The Tasting Room in Soho, though I am not sure they would say they were in Soho since it is a little left of everything.   Another great discovery thanks to the Michelin Guide, this place is supposedly a staple of the NY dining scene and I have to say that I absolutely agree.  The menu changes nearly daily to use the freshest, best, most interesting ingredients possible.   The menu is very different and very creative and like the little places that dot the countryside in Europe.   Quince ice cream sandwiches were a highlight as was the foie gras and codfish sweetbreads.  My one little annoyance was that they took more than 5 minutes to bring a menu which says to a foodie that the restaurant has an idea of themselves.  You are supposed to be at their beckoning, say.  Sunday morning I had brunch with a bunch of friends in the Hudson hotel, an Ian Shrager hotel, which I was able to do because I didn't go clubbing last night at 6am.   Like all of his hotels the lobby and public spaces are fabulous, uber contemporary designed, trendy, and interesting while I am sure (like all of his others) the rooms are shoe boxes.  The door to enter the room hits the bathroom door which smashes into the bed, and so on.   The Restaurant, as it is called, is a cavernous-like room with the kitchen centered in the middle of it.  The ceiling has to be at least 2-3 floors high.  The tables look like a medieval banquet as does the actual restaurant now that I am thinking about it.   I had vanilla bean and mango glazed french toast.  MmMmm..

All movies reviews to come soon.

Comments

[matt from DTB]

i'm staying at the hudson this coming weekend. yes, the rooms are pathetic. but we don't plan on doing anything there but sleep. should be good! i haven't been to new york in a long time. i'm excited.