A fine Mother's Day

[dreamshark]

 On Sunday, my son surprised me with a perfectly thoughtful Mother's Day gift - a CD of the original cast recording of The Music Man. I lost that CD years ago when  someone broke into my car and stole the CD player. The thief was disdainful of my musical choices and didn't even bother to steal the stack of CD's, but that one happened to be in the player. Every now and then I run into the empty CD case and grieve over my lost musical. Thorin took note of that, ordered me a new one, and waited for the next opportunity to present it as a special gift. I am often made uncomfortable by obligatory presents, but this is the perfect type of gift - something only someone who was actually paying attention to you would realize that you wanted. 

Thorin then treated me and Richard to a rather extravagant Mother's Day dinner at Hector Ruiz's newest restaurant: Don Raul (50th and Xerxes). Hector Ruiz is our favorite local celebrity chef - Mexican born and French trained. We often eat at the 3 in our neighborhood: Rincon 38, Ena, and La Fresca. The food is recognizably similar from place to place, but each restaurant has a slightly different theme and each dish is unique. Don Raul is a small-plate restaurant (similar to Rincon 38) but more international in its influences. We ordered 5 plates for the 3 of us to share, which left us with enough room for 3 desserts. Every single thing was delicious, and we all enjoyed sharing and comparing them. 

Then we came home and I listened to my new CD with Thorin. Still one of my top 10 favorite musicals, and I'm delighted to have it back. 

Comments

[lydy]

That sounds like a really lovely Mother's day. I love that musical, and Rincon 38 is one of my favorite restaurants. I must tryDon Raul.

[pameladean]

Awwww, that's wonderful.

I love Rincon 38 but had not realized that the same person had also opened other restaurants in the area. Will make a note of that for some future special occasion.

P.

[dreamshark]

Yeah, they run in a line down Grand Avenue.

Rincon 38 at 38th St with the little tapas plates. Cafe Ena at 46th. This one is Spanish and Caribbean, regular size appetizers and entrees as opposed to tapas plates. Also I think his largest restaurant, so easier to get seated. And finally at 48th St, La Fresca. This one is Mexican food as prepared by a French chef, definitely different than the others. La Fresca has a very nice patio, so hit this one on a pleasant day and sit outside.

There's another one in Northeast that we haven't tried.

[bibliofile]

Sounds like a fine day indeed.

Also, that's the best kind of present! Lucky for both of you that the opportunity existed and that Thorin noticed.

[carbonel]

I haven't been to any of those restaurants, and should try at least one.

While it wasn't a present, I still remember my delight when I realized (at least a couple of decades ago) that I had an Internet at my disposal, and there was probably a CD of the musical Hair. There was, and it had a few songs that hadn't been on the cast album that was such a part of my teens.

I love The Music Man, and it's great that you have your own copy again.

(When I was in college, my stereo was stolen, along with about a third of my record collection. The thief apparently had sufficient leisure to go through all of them and pick and choose. He scorned the folk music that was the bulk of the collection, but anything that was vaguely rock-like was missing.)

[jbru]

That sounds like quite a lovely day. I'll have to remember some of those restaurants when Mary and I are looking for something new or fun.

[laramie]

Sounds like a great Mother's Day! Good for Thorin to notice and think of the CD as a present. Like others, I love The Music Man. Wasn't there a fannish version of that done long ago?