Thursday, July 11, 2013
Jeff and I took the train to Manhattan to have lunch with CeeGee, my younger son. We walked from Grand Central Terminal west to the International Center of Photography on 43rd Street & Sixth Avenue to see the current exhibit which was The ICP Triennial. Every three years, the museum showcases contemporary photographers from around the world. The exhibit attempted to broaden the definition of photography and to expand the possibilities of the medium beyond any traditional conception of photography. It was interesting and somewhat inspiring.
Good Taste – Taam Tov
Afterward, we walked north to The Diamond District – 47th Street between 5th & 6th Avenues – to the only Kosher Uzbek restaurant in New York City, Taam Tov. We climbed the steep linoleum-covered stairs up to the third floor to find several men waiting for take-out orders. One of the men held the door to the dining room for us and we entered. CeeGee and I had read on-line that the restaurant replaced a Chinese restaurant and the management had not changed the Asian décor. We were just a little disappointed to find a renovated space with newly painted walls decorated with Mediterranean murals.
Green Tea
We arrived after the traditional business lunch hour, so there were plenty of tables for us. The food at Taam Tov, which literally means ‘taste good’ in Hebrew, represents the flavors of Bukhara, a provence in Uzbekistan. Bukhara is located on the ancient Silk Road and has been inhabited for 5000 years. The roots of Jewish people settling in Bukhara reach back more than 2500 years. The community was separated from other Jewish people but managed to survive in spite of innumerable odds. As a result, the people created a unique culture of rich literature, beautiful music, tasty food, and other traditions.
Casual Interior
We began our lunch with a delicious cold baba ganoosh and a round loaf of tasty lepeshka bread. Bullwinkle had the pelmene soup which had small meat dumplings in a rich spiced broth. We shared salmon kebabs and vegetarian pilaf, both of which were delicious. CeeGee took home two home-baked pastries to eat later. We enjoyed everything and hope to return soon to try other items on the menu.
Bright Lights and Stardom
After a hearty lunch, we walked to Broadway to visit the lobby of the landmark Embassy Theater. The theater opened in 1925 and the lobby has been restored and is used as the Times Square Visitors Center. On display is the New Year’s Eve illuminated ball which descends a pole on the roof of the old NY Times Building at midnight to mark the new year. There are also other small exhibits about the history of Times Square.
The Naked Cowboy
Back out among the crowds of tourists on Broadway, we walked south to 42nd Street. That small part of Broadway has become a pedestrian mall with chairs and places for tourists to sit and ponder why they thought going to NYC in the heat & humidity of summer was a good idea.
Tourist Bus
We were able to escape the tourist crowd and find air conditioning on the Broadway subway line downtown to 34th Street. Bullwinkle had to pay homage to his favorite temple of consumerism: B & H Photo. Tired, hot, and exhausted, we found coolness and comfort at a coffee shop called Gregory’s Coffee. Refreshed, we returned to Grand Central for the train ride home to green suburbia. It had been a full and very good tasty day!