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Tag Archives: My Date with

Point & Shoot: Dinner Date with David, The Owner of Boca Chica Owner

Dinner with David

The Owner of Boca Chica

Meet David

Location: Chinatown, NY

Origin: Manhattan, NY

Occupation: Owner of two cool downtown restaurants.

Hobbies: Yoga, sculpture and the fine art of brewing coffee.

How We Met: I am a regular at one of David’s restaurants.

Interesting Facts: In addition to Boca Chica, David also owns Lupe’s East L.A. Kitchen (my favorite spot in all of NYC). And although David is old enough to be my father, he can hang like a bro.

Drinks

After two years of holler’n about Lupe’s, I finally grabbed David’s attention and cleverly used this opportunity to invite myself on a dinner date with the man behind Lupe’s, the kitschy pink diner I call my home away from home. David suggested that we share a meal at Boca Chica, his festive Latin American restaurant located in the heart of the East Village. The first thing that immediately sets Boca Chica apart from Lupe’s (besides live Latin music and dancing) is a full cocktail menu. We got to drinking straight away. Payman, bartender extraordinaire, whipped us up  several tropical concoctions (off the menu) that were all made from fresh ingredients and served with TLC. Just to jazz things up a bit, I brought along my favorite drinking accessory— fun straws! For about the first half of our cocktail hour, I gushed like a school girl about my adoration for Lupe’s (“Groupie” deduction points). But seriously, if there was an apocalypse, Lupe’s is where you would find me, rationing out the fish tacos and coco water among my beloved. David seemed touched by my sentiment.

Payman, Bartender Extraordinaire

Thumbs Up!

Savoring Every Sip

Dinner

After throwing back a few drinks, David and I were ready for our grand feast. I insisted David order for me, so he recommended we share a fresh avocado salad and the coco shrimp appetizer (which were both D-licious). Despite the fact that David is a pescatarian, he insisted that I order the Piniones—sweet plantain rings filled with seasoned ground beef—although I did feel a bit guilty not choosing something that we could share (“Greedy Little Pig” deduction points). During dinner, David and I bonded over our passion for art and art history. We gossiped about the mischief of Caravaggio, and unriddled the puns of Modern Art. Being an artist himself, David has a great appreciation for the human form which he channels through sculpture (“Bohemian” bonus points). David also painted the large panels in Boca Chica and is solely responsible for the décor at both Lupe’s and Boca Chica. I just love a man who possesses both an eye and a talent for the      visual arts.

YUM!

 Old World Humor

The Conclusion

Pros: Is a handsome Bohemian entrepreneur and is the genius behind Lupe’s.

Cons: Likes the Grateful Dead and is old enough to be my father.

David is a real bohemian whose artistic touch is equal to his keen business sensibility. His hospitality is warming, especially on a cold wintry night. Unfortunately, we stuffed ourselves silly during dinner and left no room to try any of the sweets at Boca Chica. Perhaps David and I will save room for dessert another time. Until then, I look forward to that cup of coffee David promised to make me at Lupe’s with their new espresso machine. Now that’s what I’m talking about.

Goodnight  Sleepyhead

Song by The Dandy Warhols

Point & Shoot: My Date with A Mad Man

My Date with A Mad Man

Meet Tony

Location: NYC.

Origin: Taiwan.

Occupation: Ad Man.

Hobbies: Eating and traveling.

How We Met: Tony and I met at my birthday party at Hanson Dry.

Interesting Facts: Tony is a newbie to the city and cannot watch horror flicks in cinemas as he is prone to loud screaming during pivotal scenes.

Madison Square Park

It was my first date with a real Ad Man and I was absolutely thrilled at Tony’s willingness to indulge me in my Mad Men infatuation. Being the clever devil he is, Tony befittingly suggested we meet at Madison Square Park. Tony was right on time, and equipped with enough cigarettes to get us through an entire Sterling Cooper office party. In addition to Mad Men, Tony and I also share an interest in photography and he really embraced this aspect on our date. As we walked together through the park, Tony captured many of his own moments with an iPhone as impromptu photo opps were everywhere! We photographed each other, Asian Tourist style, posing with Echo, Jaume Plensa’s giant head sculpture. After we left the park, I slipped into a mannequin bust that was left on the street, and Tony and I found a very cool photography installation on Park Avenue where a camera projected our photo onto a large glass wall. This was just the start of our date and we had already stumbled upon so much fun! Tony’s plan was to take me to see Fuerza Bruta so we had a quick glass of Prosecco at a neighboring bar before the show started. I could hardly wait.

My New Bust!

  Photography on Photography

Deep in Thought

Posing with my Cans

The Date

Fuerza Bruta didn’t exactly fit into our Mad Men theme but I really appreciated Tony choosing to share this experience with me. The show was visually striking with such incredible lighting and Tony and I were like a couple of kids in a candy store with cameras in hand. We were having such a great time… until I started to notice things. Tony was REALLY photographing the show, and while glued to his iPhone, he managed to out photograph me! Was I being petty? Does it really have to be all about me and my camera? I decided to let it go and to just enjoy myself… when I began to detect other women’s interest in MY date. Tony is a good looking guy, handsome in fact and these man hunters were after my prize! Before I knew it, Tony was whisked away into their hen huddle on the other side of the dance floor, and officially appointed as their event photographer. My mouth was hanging open in disbelief, the only thing I could do was bust Tony for his full on “Don Draper Action.”

What Would Don Do?

What Would Betty Do?

iFoto

Busted!

Enjoying The Show

Holla Back

Later That Night

Tony is a total chick magnet and I knew I had to act fast. In a desperate attempt to put the attention back onto myself, I suggested we do Karaoke at One 7.  My strategy was to woo Tony with a carefully selected serenade in a half-empty, dimly lit bar (“Dork” Deduction Points). I don’t think I could have suggested anything more lame. Tony was really cool about it and even though he can’t carry a tune to save his life, he dived in fearlessly with a Beatles song. I was really impressed with his courage and “try anything” mentality. Tony, through choosing his own carefully selected serenade, saved my grace.

Karaoke Champion

The Conclusion

Pros: Is handsome, creative, and open to new experiences.

Cons: Is handsome, prone to Don Draper-isms, and is an iPhone addict.

Tony is adventurous, open-minded and classy. He has quite the eye and makes very good aesthetic choices, from the food he eats to the photos he takes. He is quite a catch… perhaps too fetching as he certainly attracts a lot of attention. He’s a sly fox in a meadow full of bright-eyed, bushy-tailed does. We talked about possibly grabbing lunch one afternoon around Madison Avenue…oh what would Betty Draper do?


TTYL

Point & Shoot: If I Stay Too Long, My Date with Jon

If I Stay Too Long– My Date with Jon

Meet Jon

Location: Brooklyn, NY

Origin: Flushing, Queens

Occupation: Movie Production (Dark Knight Rises)

Hobbies: Making stuff with his hands, installing chandeliers, and going on “Safari Adventures” in art museums.

How We Met: Jon and I were introduced at a mutual friend’s going away party.

Interesting Facts: Jon does EVERYTHING: photography, film production, music, plumbing, and electrical wiring. Jon also directs the Montreal-based sketch comedy troupe Uncalled For.

The Date

What’s immediately impressive about Jon is his attention to detail. Jon did his research and took the time to inquire about my interests before planning our date. After supplying Jon with a laundry list of my likes and dislikes, I was 100% sure I was in good hands. We met at Kellogg’s diner and took a leisurely stroll around Williamsburg while Jon gave me a mini tour of some really cool graffiti art, including an impressive mural by Shepard Fairy (“Street SmArt” bonus points). In a bold move, Jon suggested Karaoke at The Manhattan Inn, followed by Zebulon to see this singer named Shilpa Ray. Cool as a cucumber, but eager as hell to brag, I casually disclose that I had just gone on a date with Shilpa and am a big fan of her music (“Shilpa Ray” bonus points all around). I don’t know if Shilpa was included in my list of “likes,” but Jon was definitely hitting the nail on the head. We had some time to kill before Karaoke, so I suggested we have a whiskey at Bar Matchless, loosen up, and let the photos rip!

Shades after Dark

Bar Matchless Photo Opp!

Later That Night…

We headed over to The Manhattan Inn but unfortunately Karaoke was not happening (deduction points). However, being the great improvisors we are, Jon and I made the best of the situation. We ordered another drink, found a cozy nook in the corner, and expanded further on our likes and dislikes; all the while discovering how much we have in common. For instance, Jon appreciates pork, David Lynch, sketch comedy, and wearing shades after dark. When I found out that Jon also shares a similar aversion to dumbed-down Bromance flicks like The Hangover, I was absolutely over the edge. I could hardly believe my luck! We spent most of the night Laughing Out Loud because Jon is funny AND he gets my jokes. As we finished our drinks, Jon took notice of my nail polish color (“Attention to Detail” bonus points). Compliments are tricky because if not executed properly, they can have an adverse effect on your date but Jon was noticing all the right things. It was all too good to be true…could this be the end of my dating blog??

“Karaoke Bust” deduction points.

Classic Upside Down Book Gag

One Drink Becomes Two…

Fixing up and Enjoying A Smoke

Much Much Later…

It was time to make our next move. Jon suggested we stop by a taco truck on the way to Zebulon and grab a quick bite but when we arrived, there was no taco truck in sight (“Taco Tease” deduction points). We finally arrive at Zebulon only to discover that we also missed Shilpa’s set, which included a performance art piece in which Shilpa ripped up her student loans in protest. That was a major bummer. I was just about to start tallying up all of Jon’s “Missed the Boat” deduction points, when I realized how late it was— Jon and I had completely lost track of time. No wonder everything was closing up, it was way past our bedtime. We were having so much fun making up the date as we went along that we had no idea the night just slipped right past us. This is the sign of a good date.

Foraging!

Sidewalk Garden Fun

Cigarettes and Flowers:

A Modern Romance

The Conclusion

Pros: Jon is super fun, we share a lot in common, and he gets my jokes.

Cons: He’s always traveling and/or working, and is younger than me.

Jon is kool, plain and simple. The ability to improvise on the spot and to make the most of any situation is a valuable trait and Jon embraces spontaneity very well. He’s a stand-up guy who takes the time when you give him your time, which after all is the most sacred commodity we possess. I hope that his overbearing schedule eases up as it would be fun to lose more time on our next excursion— a safari trip to the Natural History Museum.

Just Look at This Guy!

G’Night!

Thee Oh Sees Remix by Al Lover

Point & Shoot: My Date with Chris “Hot Date” Lindstrand

My Date with Chris “Hot Date” Lindstrand

Meet Chris

Location: Midtown (East), N.Y.C.

Origin: Leuven, Belgium.

Occupation: Swedish Antique Dealer.

Hobbies: Flea marketing, horsing around, & Mechanical Engineering.

How We Met: Chris was a Navy Lieutenant with my best friend Shannon.

Interesting Facts: Chris’ real name is Per (pronounced like pear) and he was born on Groundhog’s Day.


The Dinner

It was my big night with Chris “Hot Date” Lindstrand, and just as luck would have it, it was raining cats and dogs. Wet weather can be such a drag, but it’s also an opportunity to huddle close, share an umbrella, and witness chivalry at its best. With that in mind I slipped into a mini skirt, grabbed an umbrella, and took my chances, rain or shine.  Chris suggested Banjara, a colorful, glimmering Indian restaurant in the East Village, to be the backdrop for our photo date. We had only just popped the cork to our wine and Chris was already racking-up some major “Art Star” bonus points for his confidence both behind and in front of the camera. Over the course of dinner we seized every photo-opp possible, played with our food, bonded over our pains of being the middle child, and rejoiced in our love for antiques and flea marketing. As dinner came to a close, Chris became concerned about the portions at Banjara being too small. Being a total gentleman, he wanted to make sure I was well-fed so I had enough energy for sex later (“Sex Jokes” bonus points!) I laughed out loud. Chris picked-up the check. We hit the road.

Gentleman Bonus Points

Laughing. Out. Loud.

Do Play with Your Food.

“Art Star” Bonus Points.

Cheers!


Horsing Around

After dinner we strolled around a wet and glossy Lower East Side. Chris took the bait and offered to hold my umbrella as we walked together in the rain. Normally this would have earned Chris some additional  “Chivalry” bonus points, but seeing that we were not walking nearly close enough, Chris failed to keep the umbrella over my head, resulting in some “Chivalry Fail” deduction points. Eventually the rain subsided  and we just horsed around for hours. I had a feeling that he and I could have a good time just about anywhere because of his Go-Go Gadget Navy Intelligence complimented by his fanciful whims ( “Agent Cooper” bonus points). We crashed stoops, shopped for fruit, and poked our heads into just about anything that looked fun. Eventually we stumbled upon a cozy secluded wine bar, tucked away from the bright signs and headlights of the Village and polished off a carafe of wine. We sat by the open windows transfixed in a deep silence, and for just a moment, it felt as if we were in Rome. That’s what I call magic.

Still Hungry from Dinner

Preparing for Dessert

 Hunter. Gatherer.

Smelling the Flowers

Mega “Art Star” Bonus Points

My Marlboro Man!

The Conclusion

Pros: Clever, F.U.N., and acute (not to mention cute).
Cons: Lives in Midtown and a bit too understated in his personal style.

Chris “Hot Date” Lindstrand’s got the goods. He is an adventurous outgoing gentleman who has no problem taking the lead or going with the flow. Our evening was effortless, humorous and even magical at times. I can’t wait for date two when we horse around his family’s antique store. The photo-opps will be endless!

Just look at this guy!

Song by Psychic Dancehall