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Susan Weinrebe
October 28, 2005 Day Three, Saturday, October 28, 2005
More Sweat Equity
Meeting “Mr." Matles
It’s All About Me At The Spa
No Strangers in NY
Sushi? Sure
American Ballet Theatre
What? Eating Again!
On Location in Manhattan: With Susan Weinrebe – Day One
On Location in Manhattan: With Susan Weinrebe – Day Two
On Location in Manhattan: With Susan Weinrebe – Day Three
On Location in Manhattan: With Susan Weinrebe – Day Four
It’s easy for me to get up at 7:30 in the morning, just not if I’ve gone to bed at 2:30 A.M. the night before and walked 15 miles in high heeled boots all day. But I’m not complaining. Back into my workout gear I got, downstairs I went, and into New York Underground Fitness I stepped.
That’s when I met Eric’s sister, Brooke, climbing, climbing, climbing on one of the machines, hardly breaking a sweat and looking the perfect advertisement for her brother’s business. Like everyone I met on my trip, Brooke was sweet, helpful, and welcoming. Who ever said those mean things about New Yorkers?
Met Roberta at “our" place, after a quick workout, keeping my promise for the second time to Eric. The Bread Factory served us fast, fresh, delicious salmon roll ups while Roberta called ahead to a couple of the places we planned to stop.
Nearby, a farmers’ market seemed to be doing a land rush business on produce. People staggered by under the burden of bags of fresh fruit, vegetables, and especially, so close to Halloween, monster-sized pumpkins. Oh, the sights you can see!
Again, just around the corner we came to Spa Já where I was about to be pampered within an inch of consciousness. and bumped into, of all people, Brooke! “You really clean up good!" I told her. She was on her way to work and a little jealous, I think, of the facial and massage I was about to have. Yes indeed, my workout had been intense. I owed this to myself. Now that she could recognize the artistically unique design of the building, Brooke could return anytime for her own pampering. It was, just down the street!
Enter a world of quiet apart from the noise of the traffic and visual whirl. Ascend a flight of stairs into white serenity, a fountain bubbling from an earthen jug, the gentle flotation of aquariums set into the wall and exotic blooms. That is Spa Já, a haven of spare design that refreshes the senses with its Asian/Continental aesthetic.
Bring on the scented oils and kneading hands! This was going to be pure bliss. For several hours, my complexion was improved, my muscles loosened and my stress soothed away by the tag-teaming ministrations of two Brazilian ladies.
It’s been my pleasure to have spa treatments at grand hotels across the United States, plush resorts and baths in Europe and even ancient structures dating from Roman times in the Middle East. None, however, so well presented the entire experience, or appealed to all the senses with such total artistry, as Spa Já.
After I’d been poured back into my clothes, a pot of steamy herbal tea and some cookies were waiting for me at a banquette. Again, Giovanna, co-owner with James, herself an artist, had given the final flourish to my hedonistic morning.
Since I’d only eaten a few cookies, it was time to find a snack. Just a few steps out the door and Roberta and I bumped into the opera singer, Jennifer Beattie, who’d performed at one of the soirees at Bosendorfer NY. She and friends were running off to an engagement and we were running off to the nearest restaurant…, which happened to be just behind us when we turned around.
It is impossible not to find good things to eat in New York. Virtually any street offers such a myriad of restaurants and food stores, that one can gastronomically circle the globe in a block’s stroll. Miso and sushi, fresh, tender and eye appealing, eaten at the counter of MoMo Sushi, recharged us as we charged on.
Walking into Matles Florist was another sensory transport. Every surface and even the floor were dense in a riot of blooms, which, in the temperature-controlled air, wafted scent like entering the Garden of Eden. I got to tell Yossi, the owner, how much I liked his flowers. Later in the month I called to have him wire a gift for me all the way to Montana. Meanwhile, I coaxed a grin from behind his cactus beard and teased him until he let me take a picture with a few of his flowers.
Once again, we dashed on our way, looked through a few shops where I found token gifts to bring home, before Roberta dropped me off at the hotel.
A little wine, a little cheese, a little news, and I was good to go again. This time, we were seeing a smorgasbord of selections danced by American Ballet Theatre at City Center. The stellar evening included selections from Robbins to Tharp that showed off the versatility of the talented hometown troupe.
This time, the walk was a little longish, but I wouldn’t have missed it for the experience of joining the after theater crowd at Café Fiorello. We quickly found seats at the antipasto bar, overflowing with Italian delicacies. Seafood and salad lover that I am, heaping platters and bowls mounded with beautifully presented food made choosing a challenge. Fortunately, our menu was organized to let us have some of this and some of that while the waiters flirted, brought more excellent flatbread, and treated us to a most delicious Muscato di Asti.
As all good things must end, once again, I tucked myself in and said sweet dreams to my third wonderful day in the city.
Brooke At NY Underground Fitness
Photo courtesy of Susan Weinrebe
Bread Factory Breakfast
Photo courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
Toting Pumpkins From Market
Photo courtesy of Susan Weinrebe
We Found The Farmers' Market
Photo courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
Roberta Amid Pumpkins At Market
Photo courtesy of Susan Weinrebe
Yossi Of Matles Florist
Photo courtesy of Susan Weinrebe
Susan Among Blooms-Matles Florist
Photo courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
Spa Já Tea Break
Photo courtesy of Susan Weinrebe
Choices At Spa Já
Photo courtesy of Susan Weinrebe
Singers On The Street
Photo courtesy of Susan Weinrebe
Roberta Enjoying Sushi
Photo courtesy of Susan Weinrebe
Waiter And Susan - Antipasto Bar
Photo courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
On Location in Manhattan: With Susan Weinrebe – Day One
On Location in Manhattan: With Susan Weinrebe – Day Two
On Location in Manhattan: With Susan Weinrebe – Day Three
On Location in Manhattan: With Susan Weinrebe – Day Four
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