MitchW

I've come to learn, after decades of shows, that nothing in NYC is ever truly sold out. Or to put it another way, one can always get a ticket.

I think they need a place with general admission, or at least some standing area in front of seats. Lest we forget another of my least faves - Webster Hall.

Which reminds me of: I guess that depends on what one's definition of "out of the ordinary" is.

Let's decide what heinous venue they'll play at here in NYC... Terminal 5? Brooklyn Steel? Maybe Pier 17 (which would be fun). Bowery Ballroom - though I guess they're too popular for that? Open for the Stones at the Meadlowlands = HELP!!

Similarly to @Sneakeater, I'm not feeling great. Unlike @Sneakeater, however, it's not Covid, apparently just a cold I caught somewhere on our way home. At least that's what it appears to be, after testing negative two days in a row. But one has to start cooking at some point. So... Last night, pan-roasted chicken thighs, red beans, rice, peas and carrots. Night before last, penne marinara and roasted Brussels sprouts.

As long as @Orik was recommending, we weren't about to just toss the dice, so in our short stay in Madrid, we had dinner at two of the above recommendations: La Buena Vida and Saddle. As we were staying in the Cheuca district (or is it called Justicia?), that meant we could walk both to and from our dinner reservations, perhaps even stopping off for a preprandial cocktail each night. Perhaps. So as mentioned before walking to dinner: A stop off at Del Diego Cocktail Bar. For a Martini and a Manhattan. Obligatory crisps and crackers, in this case. Then on to dinner. Sig Eater started with the classic Iberian ham croquettes, while her partner wanted 'shrooms... And got 'em. Our main courses don't appear on the menu above, as they were both specials. Chef came out to chat about what he was cooking, and that made the decision easier. Fantastic red mullet served atop its bisque. This was great. My knockout wild duck dish, with some creamy potatoes. I had asked chef about the broad beans on the menu, and he was nice enough to send out a small ramekin for us to taste - tasting straight out of Florence, meaning delicious. Fine meal - lovely service...I think we ended with a couple of sherries, because I don't see dessert on our bill. On our way to dinner at Saddle the following night, it just so happens that Saddle is located across the street from the Ministerio del Interior, and some other important stuff on the block, as there were policia et al. everywhere, toting their machine guns. Which either makes you feel safe...or maybe not. But it also means there is generally a divey bar nearby, because those public servants don't make a lot of dough. At least, not legit dough... I kid, I kid. But it works out just great for the two of us - we love the dive bars. Yes, we were an early res at 9 PM, but that's how it goes, after a light lunch and a couple of hours walking around in a museum, a nap, and hunger. The food here was great, and the service was...omnipresent. From the Martini cart at the start (we demurred), to the bread, oil, and butter service (don't tell Sietsema, but the bread and butter was more expensivo than that unnamed place on Avenue A). Lotta butter. Olio. Great bread. Amuse me... Re amuse - fantastic brodo. Paté en croute... Full portion, split tableside for us. It's great that Saddle also offers "1/2" portions on many of their dishes, which enabled us to try more. And more... Boletus w/grilled, wild rabbit, whitefish and paprika crumbs "El Sequero." Holy shit, this was good. Wood Pigeon Tortellini - Game consommé, chestnut infusion and wild eel. Those were the starters! For my main course... Mont Royal Pigeon - Potato gnocchi and inside meatballs (inside here meaning the innards). Another fucking winner. Here's where things got interesting. Significant Eater did not like her main...at all. From the first bite. But...they noticed, came right over, and basically forced her to choose something else. She did, and was quite happy with the wild sea bass (which was on every menu around, from San Sebastian on down), done fairly simply. Kudos to the staff for that. Another tidbit..I spilled some wine drops onto our tablecloth. They came over with dots to cover it up! This came... And we almost had enough. But we didn't, so queso was consumed. Nice petit fours to send us on our way. Oh - one more interesting tidbit. Saddle was the first place, after two weeks in France and Spain, where my Cap One card would not go through. Sig Eater's Cap One card would not go through. So they said let's go outside, maybe the connection will be better. It wasn't. But there were like 6 people there with us, watching the credit card transaction...I felt like Anna Sorokin. A different card was proffered, and off we stumbled into the night. We had an early flight Saturday, and wanted to stay close. And eat early. That's easy, in Chueca,. Our apartment was directly above: Which our airbnb host practically insisted we try. Scoff if you must, but... The wings were fucking great. And on a Friday night, around 7:30 PM, they were turning people away. We'd reserved. As should you...https://celsoymanolo.es/ The Madrid portion of our trip was way too short; gotta do a week next time...this city is great.

Haven't been, don't know if that'll ever happen. But...Helen Rossner has been, and it must've been tough (or was it?) for ol' Helen to to give props to someone (April Bloomfield) who knew and allowed terrible things to go on in a restaurant she partly owned and was in charge of. I'm so happy for April's psyche...and happy that April has come to terms with it. Oh lookie here - Helen feels guilt!!! And ambivalence. Didn't April already hand stuff off to someone else, somewhere else? I guess that lesson wasn't learned. Just...no.

In our short stay in Madrid last week (next time, it'll be a longer stay for sure), we (re)visited both the Museo del Prado as well as the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía. We had a need to (re)see some classic works, and both museums had excellent exhibitions currently running. At the Prado, before spending time getting as depressed as possible, we took in this: Reversos - a quite fascinating look at what goes on behind and in back of a work of art. Then it was time for depression, so we trudged to this: The Lost Mirror. Jews and Converts in Medieval Spain - what is there to say? To cheer ourselves up, we took in Bosch, el Greco, Goya and Velazquez. I then needed a drink. What an amazing museum; that's all. It's also great because they don't allow photography - I wish every museum would do the same (I know, I know, I take pictures, but I do it without annoying everyone around me, and also with the knowledge that, for instance, Las Meninas is not going to be better because I'm in front of the fucking painting). The following day, we headed out after lunch to the Reina Sofia. In addition to (re)seeing Guernica and it's attendant works (I particularly like the Dora Maar photographs of Guernica in progress), there was this wonderfully curated exhibition: Picasso 1906 -- The Turning Point - basically focused on one year of Picasso's life (when he was 25), an in depth look at what influenced him, and his influence on modern art. Astounding stuff. Since they let you take photographs at the Reina, what the hell... El Greco, for Picasso. Gertrude Stein, for Picasso. Picasso, for the world. Stendahled out.

How was the food?

When we first started listening to Chronic Town, R.E.M.'s debut EP (thanks to a piece I'd read by Christgau in the Voice), my then partner, other friends and I would often listen and try to figure out what lyrics were being sung. We never did. And I was lucky enough to see them on their first swing through California, at the Keystone Palo Alto, in June, 1983.

Try gin.

In San Sebastián, not necessarily a city known for its cocktail scene, we went to the fancy bar in our somewhat fancy hotel. Ordering a wet Martini for my wife, and explaining how she likes her Martini, said Martini was served. Only problem was, it was made with Martini Rosso. However, last night here in Madrid: both the “wet” Martini and the rye Manhattan were just fine (albeit free poured, but at least not shaken). Del Diego Cocktail Bar, in Chueca.

Magma = food good, service comical.

Yes, the no comments thing was basically started because they didn’t want anyone disagreeing with anything they wrote, even the factually inaccurate stuff.

One of the more disturbed paintings! Another… With a murder of crows. Another of his 3 final painting.

Of course, many VvG exhibitions over the years have been seen by many. This is his last, final painting. He painted, and then shot himself in the heart that evening, and died two days later.

I use a vacu-vin (sp. ?) once I open a bottle of vermouth, and keep the bottle refrigerated. They’ll last at least 3-4 weeks that way. And fwiw, I mostly buy and use 375 ml bottles, except when that’s impossible.

Really good meal at Soces last night.

She’s a good chef. Pig & Khao still hanging in.

Now I really miss that chicken and porridge dish from his first place here.

It’s good, and yeah they sure like to advertise!

One of @Sneakeater's favorite vegetables: Fioeretti, roasted along with some Brussels sprouts. But I only use olive oil, salt, pepper, and in this case, Silk chili. It was a side dish for spaghetti and meatballs! This needed no side...stir-fried chicken thighs, with carrots, celery, scallions, mushrooms, ginger, garlic, chili oasta of some sort. Jasmine rice. Freshly made crab cakes, vegetable samosas (possibly my favorite thing from Trader Joe's - it's the only frozen product I buy), and Brussels (again) in the Jacques style (i.e. sliced, sautéed).

We're gonna be in Spain in a week or so - Donostia and Madrid. We wanted to go back to Rekondo but closed for vacation, as are a number of others.

My last recommend from Chambo was Magma. We're going next week. Along with Soces. Le Gran Bain has a big counter/bar for solo diners and have always had good food there.

I'm sorting through, and reboxing, my collection of 45s. These are there: RIP