CityBreak: One (glamorous) Night in Soho: Part I
Posted by Guest Author - 25/02/10 at 11:02 am
Let me speak for Philadelphians when I tell you that we have a love-hate relationship with New York. In fact, this turf battle goes all the way back to the American revolution when Philly and NYC argued over being the nation’s capital (until we all agreed to let the Southerners create Washington, D.C. and we all see how well THAT worked out). Ever since then, we’ve been the kid brother to our big glamorous neighbors north and south. And we have Rocky. So there.
Consequently, New York has never had the hold on us that it does for the rest of the country. Why? Because it’s so much LIKE us. And most of the best stuff is accessible in Philly anyway. Fabulous chefs, theater, music productions, art exhibits? It all spills over. So why would we battle traffic to head into a city that’s bigger, noisier, and more expensive?
Because we can.
That, and the fact that all of us women secretly want to walk in the shoes of Carrie Bradshaw.
Whenever I make a trip up to NYC, I notice that my Philly friends shrug and my friends from elsewhere coo and twitch with envy. And sometimes that cooing and twitching reaction is just enough to convince me that being in striking distance of the Big Apple IS kinda cool…
And men, if you are looking for a “sweep her off her feet” kind of date, read on and take notes.
So this month when I got an invitation to do a Friday night in SOHO without having to drive, make reservations, or plan a thing —-”yes” was an easy answer. My date picked me up at my place of business and when I popped outside to see the man, his luxury car, and a steaming Starbucks latte waiting for me in the cupholder —well, my feet were already swept.
Once inside the car, I received a set of restaurant reviews with instructions to choose one. He’d made reservations at all 3 and would cancel the two I didn’t select! People, this is the stuff of dreams and cheesy TV shows!
My choices were:
1. Mesa Grille: A Bobby Flay restaurant
2. Lupa Osteria Romana: A Mario Batali restaurant
3. And a third one that with funky themed decor whose name I forget.
Tune in tomorrow to hear which one I chose, which hotel my date surprised me with, and the crazy shenanigans that ensued…
