KenzSailing

Well, here in the US the day after Thanksgiving draws to a close. Here at the Chez, that means one thing: I have entered the humming Christmas carols penalty-free zone. And I shall take advantage of this. Also, this is your annual reminder that Die Hard is a Christmas movie. w

Here in the eastern US, it is the evening of Thanksgiving day. The main meal at the Chez is mid-day, as decreed by OLoPP. Our evening snack shall be turkey sliders accompanied by a bottle of Prosecco. Because that, folks, is how we roll. Wherever you are, holiday or no, be well.

Hi GP, I'm going to intrude on your very entertaining thread to ask a question(we are booked on our first Regent cruise). I've read more than a few times that Sette Mari fills fast, so get there early. We are the opposite. If we show up 8:30ish, will the early birds mostly have moved on, and snagging a table once again becomes fairly easy?

See post 35 above.

The email from my TA explicitly says you can do this.

Well this does surprise me: https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/28788-disney-cruise-line-acquires-unfinished-global-dream.html Theory is that Disney will home port out of HK or Shanghai, where they have parks.

Lot of dust in the air right now, I'll wait for it all to become official-official. Two things I'll have my eye on: the % required when you switch to a firm deposit, and the time frame from cruise date when the non-refundable %s start to kick in. My magic 8 ball says Crystal will set the initial refundable at 15%, as opposed to 25%. Hope so.

Thank you May, I appreciate the kind words. Also, there's a brief recap of "A Weekend in the Country" aka OLoPP's Big Birthday Bash coming at some point. Quick peek: it was a resounding success.

Part The End: Nuuu Yawk City! This Episode: Until Next Time Mood: So, our last day in NYC. It was short and functional. OLoPP retrieved a brief breakfast repast from the to-go joint in the lobby(side note: the Hilton does that stuff well, which I would hope they would, as they've eliminated room service. Side side note: OLoPP had to do the deed as, in an effort to cut down on my packing, I only packed dress shoes. Even I am not enough of a fashion heathen to clomp down to the lobby in black dress shoes wearing workout shorts and a t-shirt.) Then it was the pack and cleanup routine. Followed by a rather harrowing cab ride to the Moynihan train hall(not exaggerating, we've been in the back of cabs in a few parts of this old globe. This guy's gas pedal and brake technique was...unique. Verstappen could learn a thing or two from him.) Anyway, we made it. Into the Moynie(tm) we went. Now, those of you bored enough to have read my prior ramblings will know we splurged on Acela first class. This got us into what Amtrak now calls the Metropolitan Lounge(used to be Club Acela.) The old Club Acela was appropriate for the old Penn Station: there was nothing charming about it. I was a low ceilinged bunker, stuck in the corner of the larger bunker that is Penn Station. The Metro Lounge? It's a total WOW. An enormous space on the second floor of the Moynie(tm) with huge windows over looking the train hall, which itself is a wonderful light filled space. It even has a balcony space long and deep enough for tables and chairs should you wish to bask in the to-and-fro of the hall below a little more immediately. I know I'm going on and on about a train station, but it's a comfort to know we can and will still build things in this country that are both beautiful and functional , rather than just settling for the functional. Oh, also, the ML has an expansive selection of goodies and drinks. I can't provide any detail on this, as we were quite sated from our NY stay, and did not venture close to the offerings. Protip: when you get to the top of the escalator and you enter the lounge, the nice lady at the booth will inspect your ticket. If you desire Red Cap service to the train tell her and give your name at this point. Pro ProTip: get the Red Cap Service: they will get you on your train first, and make sure your luggage is stored conveniently for you to retrieve. You can also tell them to arrange Red Caps at your destination(although this can be a little spotty.) Almost forgot my one gripe about the Moynie(tm.) We were departing NY on a Sunday, so I figured I'd pick up a NY Times at the station, last me all the way to DC(and beyond.) I went down to the main floor, walked past TWO different places selling designer chocolates(not talking Godiva), a fresh flower stand, and more than half a dozen froo-froo coffee places, only two of which were Starbucks. I even found a Duane Reade, which didn't sell newspapers. I could not locate a Sunday NY Times at a train station in NEW YORK CITY. Suddenly I'm back to despairing for civilization. Our train ride: as serene as our ride up was, the ride home was...not. First class was filled with a delegation from somewhere or the other, undoubtedly headed to some conference in DC(another day ending in Y in our nation's capital.) They were not sitting together, and were mighty unhappy about that. After many trips up and down the car by the guy who was clearly handling things for them pestering the attendant, the attendant had to summon the conductor for help. Finally, somewhere south of Philly, the situation was resolved to everyone's apparent satisfaction. Note: we both had the antipasti plate, and it was surprisingly good. After that: a quick ride share home on another gorgeous DC day(we had immense good weather fortune on this trip) and we settled back into reality. PS: the above version of "We'll Meet Again" closes the great Stanley Kubrick film Dr Strangelove.

Ah, mon ami, you're on the XXP list. That means TWO slices of Kraft Singles on your burger, on the house. Added bonus: the frites will be hot.

Part Something-or-Other: Nuuuuu Yawk City! This episode: a tavern downtown Mood: And not just any tavern: Gramercy Tavern, a place we've gone to for years and love dearly. After our afternoon at the thee-a-tah, we recharged for a bit and then caught a cab downtown to Gramercy Tavern on 20th street. It's the same wonderful joint we know and love, rocking away with its usual bustling atmosphere. OLoPP eyes widened in surprise when a host showed us to a table in the informal tavern(front) room, rather than the slightly more formal dining(back) room. I patiently explained to her, as I had before when she was clearly in "yes dear" listening mode, that there were two reasons: 1)the Dining Room has switched over to a tasting menu only format(no ala carte) and we didn't want to tackle that and 2) the Tavern Room now took reservations(formerly walk-in only.) So the TR it was. We had a great table with a view of the open kitchen dedicated to serving the TR. I had the skate, OLoPP the duck meatloaf. Both were consumed with gusto and satisfaction. The TR has a $35 burger on the menu. Watching the kitchen I learned that they sell a LOT of $35 burgers. If the Chez could do the same, I'd be booking CP the rest of our lives. Wanting to extend our NY experience a little bit longer, we ended the evening at the bar for a nightcap before heading back to midtown. We had avoided dessert, but somehow the TR large chocolate chip cookie with milk made its way to OLoPP. Fate, I guess. Then it was back to the Hilton and snooze land. Next and final: we take the A(cela) train

Wait a minute, have I missed something? What are you up to now Phileas? 😁

Prologue: A Weekend in the Country Well, the last bit of necessity arrived from Talbot's yesterday, so the universe is in harmony. We are off tomorrow afternoon. Let's light this candle. Hope it doesn't end like this:

Part Three: Noo Yawk City! This Episode: Breakfast at (Definitely Not) Tiffany's Mood: So the next morning we awoke refreshed and ready for adventure. After getting presentable, it was off to breakfast. Two blocks straight up 6th Avenue to our favorite hole in the wall: Astro. This place is a hoot, a modest little space, absolutely no frills. It must be featured in Euro budget traveler guide books, because the clientele always sounds like a mini-UN. It has a counter, everything else is booth space. And these booths are, shall we say, economical in their square footage. If you are happy sailing Crystal in a standard cabin, you'll be fine. Must have PH and above? Fuggedaboudit. The staff is all eastern European of indeterminate lineage, friendly but with an economy of time and motion(there's none of that Peter Lugar the-gruffness-is-part-of-the-charm nonsense here.) Stick to the basics: eggs, a protein, potatoes, toast, coffee. They have a large menu, but I would not wander too far off the map. For gosh sakes, don't order the Hollandaise, even on the side. Next up, the heart of the reason for our little adventure: a bit of theater. We had tix to a matinee of the latest, and perhaps last, work by the greatest living playwright working in the English language, Sir Tom Stoppard(a favorite of mine since high school.) The play is Leopoldstadt. It is a drama, and it is both serious and weighty. I won't go into details here, you can search on it if interested. It was very well done. Its subject matter makes it inappropriate to say we enjoyed it, but we did very much appreciate it. We followed this with a little down time in anticipation of our last night On The Town. Next: the Battery's down, and so are we(downtown, that is.)

Part Two: Nuu Yawk City! In this installment: the Bronx is up and the Battery's down Mood music (note: they had to change "helluva" to "wonderful") So, we popped out of our short cab ride from the Moynihan train hall to the sumptuous Hilton mid-town(note, it is not sumptuous, but it is functional.) Stayed here before, great location for our needs. Service is surprisingly good, rooms are clean and well maintained. Low points: no more room service( I understand the economics behind this, but the idea that I have to check into a Four Seasons or similar to get a cheeseburger to the room that isn't from Grubhub chafes me.) High point: they still have daily housekeeping(yeah, that's now a high point.) Fast forward a few hours spent just chillin'(old folk talk for stretching out and catching our breath) and we were off a pied(as OLoPP would say) to one of the finest restaurants in the US: Le Bernardin. Its menus is almost exclusively fish. It's not sushi, but for you raw fish lovers, the categories of appetizers are "almost raw" and "barely touched." The main category is "lightly cooked." It was divine: wonderful food, flawless service in a gorgeous NY setting. Protip: if you go here(and you should) dress for it. Think something chic in black(ladies, grey is considered a bold bit of color with this crowd.) Also, inflations fears(?) portfolio concerns(?) Not these folks. Le Bernardin is not a small room, so they need a lot of covers. We had an 8 PM rez and saw them seating couples at 10:30. Laissez le bon temps rouler! Next up: a very NY breakfast followed by the theater.

OK, so we're about to be off for four nights in the countryside celebrating OLoPP's birthday(not a round number or anything, but we don't need that excuse for a good time.) I'm billing it: A Weekend in the Country (AKA OLoPP's Big Birthday Bash) Some mood music: Four nights in the fall in the Virginia countryside at the base of Sky Line Drive. First, two nights at the sumptuous Blue Rock Inn, with dinner the first night at the well regarded Three Blacksmiths followed the next night by dinner at the Inn restaurant, helmed by the former head chef at Pineapple and Pearls. Then two nights at THE Inn at Little Washington, with the second night sitting at a kitchen table(big finish!) OLoPP is doing her part in the planning. She has already iterated thru about 48 ensemble combinations, with I'm sure another 78 to go. Today got a little dodgy when, after two trips to the attic, she could not locate the one piece she HAD to have to complete her look for one evening. Fortunately, the wayward piece turned up and quiet has descended on the home front. I know my role: get out the luggage and stay out of the way.

I've been getting hard-to-procure wine shipped to me for years, so I had the same thought Patty did. Yeah, most of this is governed by the laws of the state being shipped to. I looked at a mailer from one of the small CA producers I order from, and TX was on their shipping allowed list. Kind of surprised me. Doesn't speak to the specifics of procuring C wine however. For instance, TX may allow reception of out-of-state wines shipped directly from wineries, but not retailers. It's a hodge-podge.

So those who have been keeping up with the news know that last night was Steak Night at the Chez, and a good time was had by all. First, an appetizer from la mer: seared scallops on a bed of pureed potatoes seasoned lightly with salt, pepper and a touch of paprika, chives for garni (you can charge more when you call it garni): Then, from la terre, the beast: The finished product, portioned for two:

Well, it's Saturday, so tonight is Steak Night. And not just any steak, but the Delmonico: Two pounds, six ounces of prime grade beefy goodness. The Delmonico cut originated at the Delmonico restaurant in NYC, which claims to be the first public restaurant in the US.(Of course some folks in NYC claim to have invented the Reuben, which we all know is not...accurate. So I don't put too much weight on NY food claims.) BTW, this cut of mine is a bone-in NY strip. No one really knows what cut the original Delmonico was. Big night at the Chez.

"I got a horse right here..." This is how we spent last night, and it was fantastic. https://playbill.com/article/james-monroe-iglehart-jessie-mueller-phillipa-soo-and-steven-pasquale-star-in-kennedy-center-guys-and-dolls-beginning-october-7

Yep, I'll be singing its praises in a later installment.

Trip Report: Nuu Yawk City! Subhead: we conquer Manhattan. Ok, we pleasantly coexist with it for about 48 hours. How's that? Part One: Thirteen days ago we grabbed a rideshare to Union Station in DC on a bee-ooo-ti-ful fall morning. Boarded the 9:50 Acela to NYC(original marketing slogan "two hours and fifty-five civilized minutes.") And they're right, it's a lovely way to travel. We splurged on first class. Pro-tip: this is totally unnecessary on Acela. All the other cars are labeled business class, and that is a fair branding. Think United biz class from 15 years ago, before they started their Polaris class slight-of-hand, and you'll get the point. Biz class is 2x2 seating(wide seats) and most comfy. But we indulged. Anyway, in 1F you get a meal thrown in and included booze(no need to ask if the Prosecco is Champagne.) It was the AM, we both had the Denver Omelette. They were...warm and, I think, made with eggs. Not sure. (FYI, 1F is 1x2 seating, seats are identical to biz.) The trip was quiet and uneventful, thru the majestic sights of the finest industrial areas of the mid-Atlantic/northeast US. So, approximately two hours and fifty-five minutes later, we arrived NY Penn Station. Now here's where I must add detail. Penn Station has recently undergone, and is currently undergoing, a massive renovation. If you've ever been thru the prior version of PS, you will know it was like arriving to one of Dante's circles of hell. I'm not exaggerating. It was a bunker beneath Madison Square Garden that solely functioned as a way to get masses of humanity from point A to point B. It was soul crushing. One endured it only for the reward of emerging up and into the special super charged energy of that place called Nuu Yawk City. (Side note: like cities? Want to have your hear broken? Search on the original Penn Station. It rivaled, some say surpassed, Grand Central in its magnificence. Its demolition for the abomination that is MSG is a blight on the history of US urban planning.) Anyway, thanks to some funding from people who want government to actually work, the folks at Amtrak opened this thing called the Moynihan train hall, in the former post office building right across the street from the old terminal. It's where Amtrak now transits. And it is magnificent. Grand, spacious, tons of glass and light; to call it night and day from the former experience doesn't come close to doing it justice. Go to New York. Take the train. Transit the Moynihan. It will lift your spirits. And then we walked out into the bright sunshine of a crisp autumn day in busy, boisterous, noisy Manhattan. Buckle up city, we have arrived. In part two: I write some words about actually being in NYC.

I hope management carded that crew. I'm not sure of the variety, but they look like they're up to something nefarious to me.

I may have said this before, but I'm running out of material: I'll admit it: even before the Great Shutdown(tm) I loved cruise ship/line TV shows. Their cheesy predictability is somehow comforting. I guess it's my version of Real Housewives. Anyway, now that I've been exploring them on the internet, oh my goodness. Some of these are a grilled triple cheese sandwich wrapped in an exterior of cheese. Shoot this directly into my veins.

My gosh yes. Our Uber ride to Union Station that morning, the city was breathtakingly beautiful. And we popped out in NYC to a cool, crisp perfect fall day. Highlights to follow.