From the Vault: Thanksgiving
It's been a busy and fulfilling autumn in our Urban Home. The last leaves have turned, and many afternoons have been spent watching them drift earthward in the courtyard, where they form a golden carpet just right for the cavorting battle of the neighbor's plump black cats and the swooping play of bats from my bat house. Black cats, bats and other symbols of Halloween were a high spot of the season, as both a Halloween history piece I wrote and one about the It Gets Better movement got significant traction, thanks to readers who responded so positively. I was especially touched by the response to the latter. Thank you, all.
Halloween came to a head with a performance of Nevermore, a wonderful play about Edgar Allen Poe that combined musical theatre with Victorian mechanicals. I was treated to it by my dear friend Alma. After the play, we were chosen to be interviewed by a theatre reporter about the production -- a pleasant and, I'll admit, proud surprise. To thank Alma for the play -- and more importantly, for the years of our great relationship -- I fulfilled a longstanding promise to her (and myself) and treated her to an evening at Keen's. As we sat by the fireplace in this landmark steakhouse, drinking wine and Absinthe and eating prime beef, we felt transported in time to Poe's day proper.
Both John and I are film buffs, a love that asserts itself especially during the autumn, when discovering a film on a crisp Saturday is a quintessential New York City experience. We took full advantage of our Film Forum membership by attending a Halloween showing of Psycho
. A simple late-afternoon showing of a Godard film became a special night thanks to a spectacular dinner at Commerce. This Village charmer is John's and my favorite restaurant, where Chef Harold Moore, Tony Zazula and their staff never fail to deliver the perfect experience. And we saw a documentary about The Magnetic Fields with our dear friends Douglas and Kat, with whom we then shared a wonderful time at one of New York City's landmark pubs. This evening was the perfect amuse-bouche for Thanksgiving, which we have shared with our family of friends for more years than any of us can remember.
Evenings out are important for as mid-November descends, thoughts and activity return to the home. This autumn, we finished the year's canning with party-favor pumpkin butter as well as doses of mincemeat for those brave enough to try it. The Thanksgiving menu was planned, examined and tweaked. This year, I ordered a fresh kill turkey, after a trial-run dinner in early autumn convinced me that I could cook it. We will have the traditional side dishes, including mashed potatoes, candied sweet potatoes, my grandmother's cranberry sauce, biscuits and Mama Diva's greens.
Typically, I don't like to offer too many appetizers at Thanksgiving, for the meal itself is so big, but it is a good idea for a day when seating times may be staggered. So, this year, I am presenting an expanded appetizer board. Along with giardiniera from last summer's canning, I will offer a simple cheese dip and sourdough toast points. We will open some of the wine from our California trip, and anyone who wants cocktails can garnish their Manhattan with home-brandied cherries. For dessert, along with pumpkin pie, I am going to offer an orange cheesecake, crowned with a stained-glass drizzle of candied citrus.
Halloween came to a head with a performance of Nevermore, a wonderful play about Edgar Allen Poe that combined musical theatre with Victorian mechanicals. I was treated to it by my dear friend Alma. After the play, we were chosen to be interviewed by a theatre reporter about the production -- a pleasant and, I'll admit, proud surprise. To thank Alma for the play -- and more importantly, for the years of our great relationship -- I fulfilled a longstanding promise to her (and myself) and treated her to an evening at Keen's. As we sat by the fireplace in this landmark steakhouse, drinking wine and Absinthe and eating prime beef, we felt transported in time to Poe's day proper.
Both John and I are film buffs, a love that asserts itself especially during the autumn, when discovering a film on a crisp Saturday is a quintessential New York City experience. We took full advantage of our Film Forum membership by attending a Halloween showing of Psycho
. A simple late-afternoon showing of a Godard film became a special night thanks to a spectacular dinner at Commerce. This Village charmer is John's and my favorite restaurant, where Chef Harold Moore, Tony Zazula and their staff never fail to deliver the perfect experience. And we saw a documentary about The Magnetic Fields with our dear friends Douglas and Kat, with whom we then shared a wonderful time at one of New York City's landmark pubs. This evening was the perfect amuse-bouche for Thanksgiving, which we have shared with our family of friends for more years than any of us can remember. Evenings out are important for as mid-November descends, thoughts and activity return to the home. This autumn, we finished the year's canning with party-favor pumpkin butter as well as doses of mincemeat for those brave enough to try it. The Thanksgiving menu was planned, examined and tweaked. This year, I ordered a fresh kill turkey, after a trial-run dinner in early autumn convinced me that I could cook it. We will have the traditional side dishes, including mashed potatoes, candied sweet potatoes, my grandmother's cranberry sauce, biscuits and Mama Diva's greens.
Typically, I don't like to offer too many appetizers at Thanksgiving, for the meal itself is so big, but it is a good idea for a day when seating times may be staggered. So, this year, I am presenting an expanded appetizer board. Along with giardiniera from last summer's canning, I will offer a simple cheese dip and sourdough toast points. We will open some of the wine from our California trip, and anyone who wants cocktails can garnish their Manhattan with home-brandied cherries. For dessert, along with pumpkin pie, I am going to offer an orange cheesecake, crowned with a stained-glass drizzle of candied citrus.
Gratitude is my favorite sentiment, and during this time of year we try to remember the less fortunate with a donation of funds, goods or time. This year as always, there is so much to be thankful for. We went from taking our first vacation in fifteen years to successfully overcoming a summertime health scare. Autumn, inaugurated with a home-improvement project, fittingly concludes with giving thanks. Once the dishes are washed and the leftovers distributed, we will sip cognac and watch the slanting rays of sunlight on their last days of being golden. Soon enough, the shortening days will be illuminated by winter’s diamond glare, with all the activity that time brings. But for now, it is enough just to be thankful.
I love that you love scary things. Very cool. So glad I found your blog. H
ReplyDeleteI was sad to miss this year's feast, but thankful to have spent it with my Richmond family. We went 'round the table saying what we were thankful for. Bob was thankful that he paid attention when his mother was cooking! It paid off.
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