grande blu di patate
This week’s playoff game occurred on the very day of our son Max’s 30th birthday, which complicated things for the old Couch Potato. I couldn’t very well opt out of the party for a sporting event that was a complete non-event for everyone else in the family – especially for Max’s mom, my beloved wife, for whom a football game is thought of as an opportunity to go through her closet.
Jill planned a beautiful day for Max. It’s a big birthday for both of them — she was, after all, as much a participant in the event thirty years ago as he was, having been in labor together for twenty-nine-hours.
You don’t forget a thing like that.
Max had mentioned a few weeks before that he was getting into classical music again (Max is a musician), so Jill scored three tickets to a concert at Merkin Hall on 67th Street – with members of the New York Philharmonic playing. I was the holder of the third ticket. The concert started at 3:00; kickoff was 4:30. And we were booked for a 6:30 dinner with Alison and Shannon joining us. Between the two events, I would miss most of the game. The obvious answer was TIVO, but I can’t get interested in a game that’s already over – even if I don’t know who won.
Over is over.
I started my negotiations early, casually mentioning that the Giants play-off game was starting at 4:30, but that it was okay, my son’s 30th birthday surely took precedence. I would be happy, I said, to miss the game.
Now Jill was guilty. Step one.
An hour later, Jill started calling Max. He had been up for something like 40 straight hours over the weekend, playing a gig on Friday night until around 2:00 A.M. and then deciding to just stay up until 4:30A.M. to start his Saturday deliveries. He’s drives a truck to support his music. Anyway, the truck wouldn’t start in the cold, he had to get a tow, etc. It turned into an all-night, all-day mess and now, on Sunday, his birthday, he was properly sleeping it off.
“All I’m getting is his answering machine,” said Jill, getting nervous. “I don’t think he’s going to make the concert. And you want to watch the game. I feel like an idiot.” “No, baby, I’ll go to the concert with you. You said we should hear more good music, so we’ll do it.”
“You’ll fall asleep.”
Well, she had me there. There something in classical music that stimulates an area in my cortex – the lower, lower cortex, actually – that I find very spiritually relaxing. I’m special that way.
“The game doesn’t start until 4:30,” I said. “Why don’t I first-act the concert and leave at intermission?”
“What about Max’s ticket?”
“Maybe he’ll show. You never know.”
Then Alison called about dinner.
“You know, Shannon will want to see the end of the game. Could we make Max’s birthday dinner later? Like 8:00?”
Perfect. We could. We did. We ate at Recipe, on Amsterdam Avenue and 82nd Street, a wonderful addition to our neighborhood. Recipe specializes in comfort food of a very high level – lots of wonderful stews and roasts with locally-grown braised root vegetables in the winter. Jill had the pumpkin gnocchi with root vegetables. The boys had the lamb chops with lentils, parsnips, Brussels sprouts, etc.
Alison went for the short ribs.
Jill enjoyed the concert as best she could. There was an empty chair to her right (Max’s), a snoring husband to her left and three unruly children behind her, one of whom was kicking the back of her chair all through the Mozart. She’s always had amazing concentration.
The Giants won big.
As a former cheesehead, I will not gloat.
Amazing concentration and a master of improvisation. Gloating is permissible.
Love your blog and knowing the details of your life. I am very nosey. Will start my own as soon as I finish my book. Happy B’day Max. xx to Jill, Carol
Funny how things work out, sometimes we have to just let things happen. Yes, I agree it was a great game! I also have a son Doug who will be turning 30 in March and I’ve been wondering what we can do to celebrate such a wonderful occassion! Any suggestions?? Happy Birthday to your son as well!
Three cheers to Jill for patronizing classical music! I am a violinist in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and fellow sometime Umbrian in centro storico Spoleto. My husband and I have been big “stealth” fans of your blog for sometime now, after gobbling up your delicious “Living in a Foreign Language”. (Btw, we met a couple who is renting the house of your former realtor – Jo Jo, was it? The one who moved to Mexico?) We tried your carbonara recipe last month when we were in Spoleto. (Thumbs up to the onions!) Coincidentally caught your great performance in Radio Days on the same visit, watching it on DVD with some fellow Woody Allen fans. If you get into Spoleto during the Due Mondi festival next summer, stop by and have a drink and some Korean/Umbrian cuisine. (Strangozzi stir-fried in kimchi and maiale). We live in a 400 year old former convent – a cantaloupe-colored house with green shutters just down the steps from Piazza del Duomo on Via delle Mura Ciclopiche on the corner of Via Vaita de Domo. Our upstairs neighbor are owners of the Palazzo Dragoni hotel and he is the chef of a restaurant in Trevi we have been meaning to trek to – Taverna del Sette. Have you been? We hear it’s not the usual humble Umbrian fare, although we love that too. Here’s a blurb on it. http://umbriabella.blogspot.com/2011_07_01_archive.html
I’m sure you have been to Tempio del Gusto, our favorite.
Keep up the great work on your blog!!
sunday: one word – “niners”
Great to hear that Max is exploring music to the fullest.
Gloat now, ma gli “quarantanove-ers” dovevano vincono adesso!
@ ronica — we learned the best thing to do is let your son decide how to celebrate his birthday. Whenever we try to suggest our ideas, it doesn’t work
@ David Jones and Larry — as a former ‘niners fan, I suffer with you; as a current Giants fan … we’re going to the super bowl!!!! Sorry about that.
Love your books and blog and if I may be so bold, I would like to make a suggestion. You have , on occaision, made comments about your love of smoked meat….well, Do I have a place for you…..Its a little off the beaten track, but well worth the effort. Morcher’s Pork Store http://www.morschersporkstore.com / in Ridgewood Queens….Its a throwback to the 1950′s….a great neighborhood butcher ….. If you are looking for great product, fair prices….and flat out terrific customer service, its a must visit…..If you do go, Tell Herbie that Bob from NJ sent you…I’m sure he is doing all kinds of smoked delicacies for the Super Bowl….and if you are lucky, Ziggy will have made some chicken soup that day…OMG…..On my way to Morcher’s I will sometimes get off the M train at at Essex St and hit the Essex Street Market ….pick up some cheese a Saxelby’ s then hit Boubouki for some spinach pie……its like going to Greece without the hassle of getting there….The woman, Rhona, has some real talent….again tell her Bob from NJ sent you….she is a real sweetie.Then go around the corner to Iggy’s on Ludlow St, for the best Bloody Mary in NYC for $5 ….Sorry to prattle on, but wanted to share with a fellow Giant’s fan and foodie.
Bob J