New York, you didn't let me down

This past weekend I spent less than 36 hours in New York hanging out with my aunt, uncle and my cousin, Christine. Every time I'm there it's a great trip, but this time New York really did good. Here's why.

The Uniqlo gods brought me and Jessi together.
Even though I didn't plan to meet up with her, I ran into Jessi at the Uniqlo check-out line just a couple of hours after I landed. (There is always time for Uniqlo.) I know what you're thinking. You're thinking we must have done the girly "omigod! omigod!" jumping and screaming routine. But no, you're dead wrong. We're too cool for that. All we did was laugh and hug and crab dance a little.

My uncle spotted Ang Lee at the subway station.
It was so awesomely ironic for my aunt and uncle to visit NYC from Taipei and spot a famous Taiwanese person. My dad and uncle actually grew up in the same village as Ang Lee and they went to the school where Ang Lee's dad was the principal. For the record, Ang Lee looks taller and skinner in real life, and he was wearing a baseball cap, dad jeans and a huge dorky backpack. When he noticed four Chinese faces grinning at him, he grinned back and nodded as if to say, "Yes, you are correct, Chinese people. I am Ang Lee."

We ate at Bobby Flay's restaurant, Bar Americain. We also ate at Olive Garden.
Bar Americain was great. So much food! So close to the hotel! It was my first time at Olive Garden. Olive Garden was, um, also close to the hotel. The funny thing was seeing overseas tourists take photos of their food there.

Splitting a 6-pound lobster with Jess and Ray.
And raw clams. And proscuitto and melon. And Spanish fries. And French beans. And a pitcher of sangria. And Ray ate two sides of rice and one of black beans. Francisco's Centro Vasco. That's all I have to say. Look at the freaking size of that thing! And see the little bowl of yellow liquid? I thought that was to wash our fingers with. But no, it was melted butter.

Comments

[Jessi "uniqlo luva" Pervola]

hahaha such a good post. I love the Ang lee thing. oh, yeah, and it was cool running into you too. *shrug shrug, crab dance*

btw, that lobster looks like something out of lord of the rings or harry potter. I'm going to have bad dreams tonight.

[Everett]

I was gonna say that "I love the Ang Lee thing", too. I guess that you have become such a good writer that your writing gives people the same reaction.

Good post.

[Jess]

that ang lee story cracks me up because I AM ASIAN! i understand! haha!

look at ray going for that claw. tongue sticking out and everything..

you and uniqlo man. and jessi too! i love how u took your family there. as if you were doing it for them. and not to fulfill your own agenda...!!

[Chris C]

WOAH - that lobster must've been on steroid or something! Thanx cous for spending the weekend with us at NY :)