a date

Once upon a time a million, trillion years ago, a typical date was dinner and a movie.  Aside from married people, does anyone even do this any more?  I don’t think my son, or any of his friends, have ever done this.

Well, tonight I am.

About three weeks ago I get an email from my good friend Gail. The subject line reads:

 I need a “date.”  The reason?

Annual Celebration of Lyn's involvement with the production of ALEXANDER!!  

Gail is great at finding excuses to celebrate.

We have a five o’clock reservation at Estiatorio Milos, as we are seeing a screening nearby of Interstellar at seven.  Both of us arrive a half hour late; it takes almost an hour to get crosstown.  It should take about 15 minutes, max.

I have never been to Milos.  Zagat rates it as the number one Greek restaurant in NYC; it lives up to its hype.  It is of course beautiful, but that would be expected.  What is surprising is the warm welcome from the concierge.  I’m the first to arrive, and I ask for a square table vs. a banquette.  I don’t get the expected, “I’m sorry; those are reserved for parties of four.”  I am accommodated immediately.

Gail arrives soon after I do.  She exudes warmth and energy. As soon as she sits down, Gail orders champagne, and we toast Alexander. 

Without looking at a menu, we both order the same exact meal.  A half dozen oysters, grilled branzino, and a side of asparagus.  But even before the meal arrives, the waiter comes by with a small baby basil plant and adds some leaves into our olive oil, making the wonderful toasted bread even better. 

The main course is a whole cooked deboned fish the waiter splits for us.  It is light and delicious.  We finish every last bite, including the skin (the head of course is not served)..

The dessert we split is a heavenly combination of fig, quince (some kind of exotic fruit), and yogurt.

The restaurant and company are both exquisite.  Gail is fun and funny and smart and interesting.  She is also kind and generous.  

Before we realize it, it’s seven o’clock.  We leave the restaurant and arrive at the theater a few minutes late, but we are still admitted.

As for the movie?  It’s complicated with big ideas. Visually stunning. Larger than life music. Big name stars.  Robots acting as human-like beings. A lot of time in a spaceship. And a very long 169 minutes.

The movie I will soon forget. The dinner? Maybe never.