Oh, how the past week was a whirl! Go, go, go and go, and I
sort of like it that way. I figure that I can sleep when I am dead, n’est-ce
pas?
Manhattan’s Maritime Hotel is one of my favorite summer
go-to spots for cocktails al fresco at its La Bottega restaurant (sitting
under the bobbing lights beneath the stars is dreamy delicious), and I
certainly imbibed a glass (or three!) with my pals from David Yurman. From
there it was downstairs to the hotel’s super-stylish—but unaffected—Matsuri restaurant.
I am crazy for the décor at this swanky spot, from the stunning, oversized
lanterns hanging overhead to the slatted ceilings. But it’s the cooking that’s
the real star at Matsuri, and, frankly, the prices cannot be beat. I suggest
ordering from the tapas-like “Sakana” menu and sharing fabulous fare, such as the
deep-fried sesame chicken with spicy mayo ($8), the shrimp potstickers ($10)
and baby back ribs ($13). Where else in Chelsea can you eat so well—and for so
little cash?
Glamorous digs and gorgeous eats at Matsuri, my favorite
go-to spot for sharing swanky eats in the heart of Manhattan’s Chelsea
neighborhood.
Next up was a weekend trip to upstate New York, so I decided
to road test the Volkswagen Jetta TDI, and,
wow!, I am saving my pin money to buy one of these amazing cars. The Jetta’s
pickup was incredible (the “T” stands for turbo), the sound system blew me
away (blaring Bryan Ferry as you zip over a vertiginous mountain pass adds a
certain devil-may-care glamour to the experience), and the gas mileage was
unbelievable (29 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway). (And I looked
oh-so-chic cruising through the fields outside of Cooperstown, New York, in
those slick lines and stylish detailing.)
Here I am rocking out behind the wheel of the fabulous Volkswagen Jetta TDI.
Plus, I had my first experience at
the diesel pump at the gas station—thank goodness the tank had “Diesel”
emblazoned all over it, or it would have been trouble. Best of all, my new dog,
Jasper, a two-year-old Boston Terrier who I fell in love with at the pound,
seemed to approve wholeheartedly of the car and kept trying to stick his head
out the sunroof like some furry beauty queen.
Meet my new partner-in-crime, Jasper, a two-year-old Boston
Terrier who prefers the finer things in life (just like his jet-setting
owner!).
It’s time for my monthly trip to the Midwest for Delta
Sky magazine, so expect a report from the Heartland.