CDG

I took the Metro-North train into Grand Central Station at 8:30 and was at Chez Weis by 10. Public transportation is a good thing. Ron and I went dinner shopping at The Chelsea Market. The East Coast may not have the farmer’s markets and boutique veggies we have access to but the variety and volume of goods is inspiring. Seafood, of course, wins out hands down. There are fish markets all over the city and I am sure that the one we were in is at least as good as most. You can choose from prepared or unprepared. Branzino was a 12” whole filleted white fish [Italian Sea Bass] stuffed with black olives, herbs and garlic; the cooking instructions were posted on the case. Maya Shrimp were glazed with herbs and spices. Swordfish steaks were crusted with toasted black sesame. There were six different smoked salmons. We bought way too much! The bakery, a chain called Amy’s, had baked goods piled high everywhere. My quest was for a single baguette [actually a “Tuscan Log”] and I had to run a gauntlet of enticing creations. I succumbed to chocolate biscotti and semolina, golden raisin and fennel twists [their signature bread].
We were walking everywhere so I didn’t feel too guilty.
Tuesday AM Betsy and I took a walk on the High Line, a new elevated park that will eventually follow an old rail line from the Hudson to 30th St. The first revelation was a new view of the architecture; there were no trees or awnings obscuring the view. Local schools and businesses vie to provide their students and employees to maintain the gardens. Public art is installed around every turn. After a brisk 90-minute walk I was turned over to Ron for the gallery crawl. On one block of 22nd alone we visited 16 galleries. At the end of the block we entered Comme Des Garcons, the oh-so-chic couturier. A young man silently greeted us as we passed through the futuristic brushed steel tube into the glossy white cave. Dressed in slacks, skirt and jacket concocted from a dozen or so tweeds, worsteds, gabardines and serges, he was thinking “ oh, you poor man; you are way to large to find anything here.” I didn’t find anything. The CDG fashion statement de jour was a variety of sleeve caps sewn onto garments in mostly unexpected places. I strongly recommend a visit.