I've lived in the Bay Area for over six years now, and it's really hard for me to imagine living anywhere else. In some ways, I've truly become a San Franciscan -- I hate it when people call it "Ess-Eff" or "San Fran"; I wax poetic about our produce, our people, our attention to what's going on in the world... I love this place, dammit.
But it's still not "The City". It is very much "the city"... but not "The City" with capital letters. That honor, that nickname, will always be reserved for the place I grew up. And though I haven't lived in New York in over 15 years, most people will still tell you that I have a very New York sensibility about me -- it's amazing how many people ask me if I'm "from the East Coast", despite my lack of an accent.
All that said, it's hard to believe that C and I have never been to The City together -- it's a place we both love, and have both been to since we were married, just... never at the same time.
As it turns out, we both have to go for work in a few weeks, and it happens to coincide with his birthday weekend. So, we're sending the dogs to their sitter, taking a couple of days off, and spending four days in Manhattan. We'll probably head to the Island for a day to see my cousins, and so I can show C the house I grew up in, but other than that, we're just playing in the city.
We have several reservations already... New Yorkers, let me know if there is a place we can't miss... and, if you want to weigh in on the Aureole vs. Bouley debate, please feel free.
On Sunday night, we have late reservations at Babbo (YAY!), while C's birthday "lunch" on Monday, before we head to the airport, is at Gramercy Tavern.
- I'm considering doing Bouley for lunch, and perhaps Aureole for dinner -- or would we be better served going vice-versa? I'm also planning to eat pizza - lots of pizza. What else can't we miss, people?
