Jacket: Burberry | Boots: Zara | Sweater: J. Crew | Leggings: American Apparel | Sunglasses + Bunny Ears: Halloween Costume Pop-up Store on 41th and 5th | Necklace: Urban Outfitters
I have to say, this week thus far has been rather surreal.
Here I am, sitting in my pitch black apartment, with countless hallmark candles
lit around me… typing on a pre-charged laptop. Living the dream!
It is day #3 of the all-encompassing Hurricane Sandy experience. Of course, based in downtown Manhattan, we were all hit pretty hard – most of us without electricity or running water (and it could a few days still). It is quite staggering to me, actually, how remarkably divided the city is at the moment, between the haves and the have-nots (namely, the divide that occurs right around 35th street).
Ever determined to take things in stride, I convinced hubby to treat Sandy as though it were a special occasion and dine at Daniel (likely, due to the disarray of the storm, we were able to get last minute seating, though it was still pretty packed for a Wednesday!).
When life strikes you with adversity, do you simply hide and weep, or do you try and make the best of things? I like to think that I fall into the latter camp.
Dressed in my Sandy best (I bought some last-minute Halloween gadgets at a pop-up store, and these boots were a new Zara acquisition!), we decided to brave the storm and head uptown for a delectable tasting experience. Was it worth every savory bite? You betcha! My slow baked Atlantic cod (doused with potato boulangere and littneck clam chowder) was perfection… and did I mention my Hudson valley sautéed duck foie gras as starter? Indulgence to the extreme!
That’s the funny thing about life… the intense juxtapositions of the extremes, particularly in this town (I almost choked when the Daniel lady asked hubby whether he bought his own jacket, seriously?!). After a while, you really begin to notice this jarring divide as you head steadily downtown, from a lit-up playground to a dark netherworld cast in the forgotten shadows. My heart goes out to the 800,000 or so New Yorkers, who, like myself, are trying to make do under these suboptimal circumstances. One thing I will toast to, however, is the indomitable, “can-do” spirit that I’ve seen showcased across this city – truly something to appreciate and aspire towards!
