One of the perks of living in D.C. is that the city is perfectly situated on the Northeast corridor; its a launchpad for adventures near and far.
As of late, most of the fun has been in NYC (Thank goodness I’m fully vaccinated)! My calendar has been filled with day trips, overnights, and multi-day engagements in the city that never sleeps… sometimes beyond, even to the Hamptons! Some occasions have been meticulously pre-planned weeks in advance, others have been more spontaneous - all of them have been amazing! After a trying year as the epicenter of the pandemic, it is an incredible relief to see reopening going somewhat smoothly. Reservations to many of my favorite and wishlist places are a bit more challenging than usual to come by, but the spirit of the city is slowly coming back.
Luckily for me, the timing of one of my Octobber summons left me with a bit of flexibility to stay an extra day to catch up with my friends Bre Jolie and Marissa Beckham before rushing back home to unpack and pack again for my next trip. A scheduling syzygy of this sort is a rare occurrence not to be taken for granted and fully capitalized upon, so plans were made for an eventful, unforgettable girls night out!
There was a short debate over dinner plans, but we all agreed to try something new: Cathédrale. The TAO Group’s newest outpost has impressively transformed the basement of the Moxy Hotel East Village into a restaurant that is as scene-y as it is instagrammable. A wire mesh sculpture by Edoardo Tresoldi in the main dining room is evokes a dramatic, cavernous feeling in an appropriate tribute to the restaurant’s name. It might be hard to find another cathedral with free-flowing wine and cocktails, though.
It was a gluttonous meal comparable to the last supper: oyster du jour, yellowfin tuna cru, and steak tartare were the primer dishes. Diver scallops, the masterful ‘banquiere’ filet mignon, faroe island salmon, were the entrees shared liberally amongst friends. Couscous, broccoli, and garnet sweet potatoes were the complementary accoutrements. We had ordered beignets for dessert but, regretfully, we had to dash to the next destination before it made it to the table.
Greenwich Village is a formidable neighborhood that houses a fair portion of NYC’s most beloved creative institutions. We had tickets to a comedy show at The Fat Black Pussycat, sister club to the Village Underground. I often find myself going to comedy shows with low expectations, since comedic value is measured by an intensely personal, subjective barometer. The talent at the Fat Black Pussycat played it fairly safe but was met with near-universal warmth and laughter. Emmy Blotnick and Mike Yard were my favorite performers of the night, but even the more amateur talent elicited some belly laughs.
We were all a bit sad when the show ended, realizing that the night was still young and full of opportunity. It was Bre Jolie’s idea to keep the fun going… across the street to The Blue Note. As a cultural institution known for booking the best talent, there was no doubt as to whether or not a good time would be had. The headliner that evening was the widely acclaimed, well awarded, and incredibly respected musician Robert Glasper. As a result of his celebrity, it was jam packed when we made it inside. The venue was buzzing with incredible energy. We ordered a round of nightcap drinks while waiting eagerly for the show to begin. When Glasper took his seat at the keyboard on stage, the venue came under his spell instantly.
It was a night to remember, and I hope for many more. I’m exclusively yours in NYC (or elsewhere on the North Eastern seaboard) at my Northeastern Corridor Travel rates. Let’s make incredible memories!